Best Of 2010 16-13

16) The National - Bloodbuzz Ohio

The National are probably my favourite band of all time.  Since first hearing their album Alligator a number of years ago, they along with one or two other artists have meant more to me than I ever thought any band could.  So it was with obvious apprehension that I downloaded this track back in March.  Did the band have it in them to produce yet another incredible record?  As soon as I heard the opening few seconds of Bloodbuzz Ohio with it’s utterly compelling drum beat, I felt embarrassed that I had ever doubted my musical heroes.  The lyrical depth was there, as was Matt Berninger’s stunning deep baritone, as heart-wrenching as it ever had been.  Tense, epic and oh so grand.  The track just like the rest of their fifth record High Violet was an absolutely triumph.

15) Yeasayer - Ambling Alp

While perhaps not quite as bizarre as previous Yeasayer entry O.N.E. this track is just as good, in fact it’s even better.  Ambling Alp is highly infectious, bright, uplifting and just ever so slightly odd.  Chris Keating’s vocals are intriguing, as are the falsetto vocal harmonies introduced as the track develops.  The band have always augmented strong vocal performances with a variety of layered and textured sounds and Ambling Alp is no different with horn arrangements, electronics and distinctive drum beats working in tandem with the gorgeous vocals to create the band’s best track to date. 

14) Robyn - Dancing On My Own

When Robyn first announced she planned to release three albums in 2010 I, like I presume a lot of others, was rather skeptical as to whether this would ever materialise and also if it did, what the quality of these three records would be like.  Well safe to say after repeated listens to the Body Talk series in their entirety (Body Talk Part 1, Body Talk Part 2 and Body Talk) Robyn was right and I was completely wrong to have doubted her.  Three great records with a couple of genuinely stunning standout tracks of which Dancing On My Own is one.  Lyrically it was vulnerable and poignant.  Musically it was breathless and exhilarating.  A pulsing synth beat, keyboard chimes and of course her incredibly addictive vocal hook helped create a heartbreakingly sad piece of pop music.

13) Kanye West - All Of The Lights

Kanye’s brilliance continues.  Before I go any further I best get the list of the ensemble cast that feature on All Of The Lights out the way.   Rihanna, Alicia Keys, John Legend, The Dream, Fergie, Kid Cudi, Ryan Leslie, Charlie Wilson, Tony Williams, La Roux’s Elly Jackson, and Elton John all play a part, or as one review put it “half of the musical world”.  http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/jngw  I think the most important thing to say about All Of The Lights is that it manages to flow incredibly well and avoid sounding over crowded despite the impressive guest roster.  Rihanna features more prominently than most of the other guest artists, taking control of the choruses with an catchy, addictive hook, while Kanye works his magic over the verses, rapping over a magnificent tribal beat.  I find the way the track was constructed fascinating.  While it is hard to pick out exactly who is who during parts of it, every vocal sounds so layered and textured that it really doesn’t matter.  I genuinely think that Kanye West is about the only pop star in the world with the audacity to even attempt something like this and it is to his immense credit that it works so well and sounds basically perfect.