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Roger's Best of 2010
ATRL Senior Member
Member Since: 10/1/2002
Posts: 14,726
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You are all incredibly rad. This is the pre-Christmas update, and she’s a big one!
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Roger’s Top 60 Tunes of 2010
30. Gorillaz – On Melancholy Hill
This is their fourth track to make the year-end roster, and was instantly my favorite off the very first listen of their terrific album “Plastic Beach”. The Damon Albarn-led project was able to produce a track that struck the perfect balance; a track with an infectious back drop beat that is catchy enough for mainstream listeners, but ambitious enough to please the cool kids. ‘On Melancholy Hill’ is a nostalgic mind **** that makes you feel like you are floating.
29. Taio Cruz – Dynamite | Break Your Heart
Yes, I am actually disgusted with myself for placing this higher than a lot of other tracks. But – I cannot deny the fact that these two were some of my absolute favorite, go to ape-**** tracks throughout the year. ‘Dynamite’ is this year’s ‘I Gotta Feeling’ – a song that unites the people and has an appeal so grand it should be illegal. ‘Break Your Heart’, the song that introduced Taio Stateside, has that non-sensical repetitive chorus that has worked so well in the past (refer to: ‘SexyBack’).
28. Edward Maya – Stereo Love | Yolanda Be Cool f. DCUP – We No Speak Americano
The two dance tracks that swept the globe this year. ‘Stereo Love’ was an absolute enormous hit in Canada very early this year, probably one of the biggest radio hits of 2010 to be quite honest. The accordion-laden chorus is iconic in the club. And then came ‘We No Speak’, an old-school Italian track sampled stroke of genius that has a bat-**** chorus and a sense of novelty not seen since the ‘Macarena’. And yet again – the U.S. caught on so much later than the rest of the world.
27. Vampire Weekend – Cousins | Holiday
The first two of three for the well educated lads from V-Weekend on this year’s best of. ‘Cousins’ is akin to ‘A-Punk’ – an eclectic and complete thrashing of a track, one that is a true grit representation of their capabilities as musicians. Then you have ‘Holiday’ – the sunniest slice of pop-centric rock this guy has heard in some time. It’s recent use in TV campaigns was the last stamp of approval needed to make it one of the true iconic tracks of the year.
26. Spoon – Written In Reverse
This track came out early this year and I identified it as an early front-runner as one of the year’s best. It almost sounds disjointed, but I love the piano lead in to the chorus, “I’m writing this to you in reverse, someone better call a hurst”. It’s a choppy, yet affirmative single that shows how Spoon can experiment with new sounds and yet continue to produce music that is consistently of the highest quality.
25. Metric – Stadium Love
The exhilarating fourth single off one of the best albums of recent years, “Fantasies”. This track exemplifies the raw intensity of Metric’s capabilities. The lyrics portray an all out battle royale between nature’s fiercest creatures, drawing analogies to the idea of ‘Stadium Love’, where no is getting out without paying their dues. I saw these guys play live this past July, in front of a believe it or not 16,000 strong crowd in Toronto. I can truly say, without question, that they are now Canada’s band. The Tragically Hip will start to age, and we need new blood to take their place as the go-to band for a rocking good time. Exhibit A: Metric.
24. Taylor Swift – Mine | Fearless
I have a very sweet spot for Ms. Swift. I give credit to anyone who is that young and is able to write all of their own music with such clarity and authenticity. I mentioned last year that the reason she is so effective is because there is no more believable character in her songwriting than Taylor herself, and this could not be any more true than in the track ‘Mine’. I think, ‘You Belong With Me’ aside, it is the best track she’s ever written. A lot of people were very quick to write it off without realizing how much punch the track has; “you are the best thing, that’s ever been mine”. Then there was ‘Fearless’, the 5th single serviced to Country radio earlier this year from her sophomore album of the same name. It was always one of my favs off that album, and I thought it deserved some proper recognition as a sensible and again, well written track.
23. Eminem f. Rihanna – Love The Way You Lie
In terms of sheer success, this was by far the song of the year. And the love it’s received from the Grammy’s isn’t unprecedented. This falls in line with tracks like ‘Stan’ or ‘Lose Yourself’ where Mathers fleshes out a raw, intense story that builds momentum with each verse, leading to a penultimate killer send-off; “I’mma tie her to the bed and set this house on fire”. Throw in the most recognizable chorus of the year sung by who else but Rihanna, and you have a dynamite hit on your hands.
22. Broken Bells – The High Road
This was a fantastic idea for a super-duo, with Mercer from The Shins and Danger Mouse yielding one of the most fantastically odd tracks of the year. There is two distinct approaches in this song; “Come on and get the minimum before you open up your eyes” – let’s the vocals soar. “It’s too late to change your mind, let your loss be your guide” – let’s the harmonies smoke. These are two distinctive talents orchestrating something truly amazing.
21. Usher – OMG | DJ Got Us Falling In Love | More | Hot Tottie
A little less hesitant to have Usher as high because he is one of the hardest working male talents in the industry. These were the four tracks I jammed to all year, but he also released (I think) at least 3 others, all from a new album and an 8-track EP + a sold out, successful North American Tour. Phew. It definitely helps that he exploited the sounds of “Yeah!”, the track which took him to the next level a few years back. This dance infused hip hop sound is nothing new, Ne Yo and Chris Brown have both done it effectively. It’s just that Usher did it effectively, AND consistently all year.
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I was going to do albums #8-6, but I’m bloody tired.
So – tentative plan. Albums #8-6 posted sometime over the 24th-25th, taking the 26th off, and then 27th our Top 20 tunes and hopefully Top 5 albums will begin.
See ya then folks, Happy Holidays.
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Member Since: 6/20/2007
Posts: 37,153
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Taylor Swift
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ATRL Senior Member
Member Since: 3/19/2008
Posts: 37,076
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9/10
This is one set that's too much to handle. Gorillaz, Taio, Usher, Eminem, Taylor, Metric, Vampire Weekend... wow. I'm also rooting for the two novelty singles Stereo Love and We No Speak Americano.
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Member Since: 5/23/2007
Posts: 65,087
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7/10
Written In Reverse masterpiece
Stereo Love & We No Speak Americano, 2 of my favorite songs this year
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Member Since: 7/22/2009
Posts: 13,429
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8/10
Usher
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Member Since: 1/20/2009
Posts: 17,143
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8/10
Gorillaz, Edward Maya, Metric & VW are my favez from this set.
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Member Since: 3/18/2008
Posts: 25,896
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"Cousins" I LOVE this song & video
8/10
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ATRL Senior Member
Member Since: 9/26/2001
Posts: 22,475
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Oh man, is that a real action figure? BECAUSE I WANT!
Beyond #21, I either understand or like everything. Yes, this includes "We No Speak Americano". I SAID "UNDERSTAND"!
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ATRL Moderator
Member Since: 12/21/2002
Posts: 20,569
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Broken Bells, Gorillaz, Vampire Weekend, Metric, and Eminem! Great set.
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Member Since: 1/27/2006
Posts: 51,546
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"On Melancholy Hill" One of my favorites of the year
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Member Since: 6/24/2008
Posts: 21,950
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9/10
Gorillaz should've been higher
Happy Holidays to you, too
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ATRL Senior Member
Member Since: 6/9/2002
Posts: 6,789
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Amazing set, Roger! Great to see Gorillaz, Vampire Weekend, Spoon, Metric, Em/Rihanna, Broken Bells all on the list. And, i'm certainly willing to accept Metric as Canada's band. You can't do much better than that.
Can't wait to see the rest of your albums list.
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ATRL Moderator
Member Since: 2/19/2003
Posts: 34,484
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I am here for 27, 26 and 24.
And before you post your top 20, I'd like you to be here for me and send it via PM.
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ATRL Senior Member
Member Since: 7/23/2007
Posts: 35,994
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11/10
The High Road + Love The Way You Love <33
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ATRL Administrator
Member Since: 5/2/2000
Posts: 2,844
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Let me jump right on in here. STADIUM LOVE is one of the best songs going. Many other great picks, of course. Can't wait for the rest!
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ATRL Senior Member
Member Since: 5/9/2003
Posts: 3,779
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Metric is one of my top 5 pickups from this year. If they had released an album I would have them VERY high.
Really the only thing on there I don't like is Edward Maya and that's only because I haven't heard. Highly anticipating the rest.
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ATRL Senior Member
Member Since: 7/24/2004
Posts: 12,563
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I like almost every songs, not a big fan of Usher f. Pitbull. Great list so far!
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ATRL Senior Member
Member Since: 10/1/2002
Posts: 14,726
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Merry Christmas everybody! Hope everyone had a great one.
Roger’s Top 10 Albums of 2010
8. Florence + The Machine – Lungs
So this album actually made the year-end last year, but at a much more modest position in the 30’s when I had this as a top 40 format. Given the extraordinary year she has had, I thought this album needed a second, more deserved form of recognition. Female artists from across the pond captivating audiences Stateside is nothing new, as we saw breakthrough years for Winehouse, Lily Allen, Duffy, and Adele – all within the past 3-4 years. Florence however, is quite different from the likes of Winehouse and Allen, who effectively used media attention and troubling life experiences to create surprisingly insightful records. The Welch lass kicks the brass and horns used by those leading UK ladies before her to the side, and reliably favors harps and garage rock. Instead of echoing the old sounds of Motown-soul, she has developed an adventurous pop sense that couldn’t be any more evident than on the track “Rabbit Heart” – which has an acid-fast Alice in Wonderland type of appeal. “Cosmic Love”, “Howl”, and “You’ve Got The Love” – are all ridiculously massive and readily defiant; whereas album standout, “Dog Days Are Over” – is a triumphant, almost homecoming type of track that assures her position amongst the very elite of the UK music class.
7. Gorillaz – Plastic Beach
I can admit that I never truly appreciated an album from the Damon Albarn-led group until this one. I was always a fan of the singles, but nothing struck me quite like ‘Plastic Beach’ did, or maybe I just didn’t take the time to appreciate them. Nonetheless, ‘Beach’ appears to be unanimously considered the album that showed these guys were more than just a novelty; that they are indeed an audacious and authentic band. This album is fairly diverse; there is elements of rap, and then complete 180-degree moments of atmospheric, and unexpectedly profound music. The rap moments, highlighted by the Snoop Dogg-driven “Welcome to the World of the Plastic Beach”, and the wannabe ad campaign, “Superfast Jellyfish” – are a nice contrast to the album’s other half. Those tracks, such as album standout “On Melancholy Hill”, “Some Kind of Nature”, and “Rhinestone Eyes” – reflect the ideas that permeate the album and the band’s emerging persona. This band is not disposable, but in actual fact, a tight-fitted rock outfit with messages worth hearing, and sounds worth jamming to.
6. Vampire Weekend – Contra
I was a huge fan of their first album, and that’s why after I heard ‘Cousins’ and it was so damn good, and then the album debuted at #1 with over 120k in sales – I was ape **** happy. Lead promo single, ‘Horchata’, was such a terrific embrace of their easy-breezy calypso-tinged sound. These guys were not looking to convert any nay-sayers, but to truly show they were comfortable with a sound that was both heavily admired and criticized the first time around. I guess what’s so incredibly fascinating and admirable about this band is that they incorporate such a wide array of musical elements – but never sound disjointed. The lead singer’s vocals are absurd but spot on, and the arrangements are so preposterous that they never fail to arouse a toe tapping, head shaking response. The sounds of calypso, Afro-pop, reggae, ska, and straight up American pop-rock soak the entire album and work beautifully together. Tracks like ‘Holiday’, and ‘Giving Up The Gun’, have the feel of just starting your vacation and a care free attitude. Tracks like ‘Run’, ‘California English’, and ‘Cousins’ – make you happy you are alive and well to enjoy the music. This is a band coming into it’s own, accepting their talents and making them flourish. We are going to see so much more terrific things from this band. ---------------------------------------------------
So on the 27th, the top 20 tunes, and maybe the top 5 albums will begin.
And probably a recap of what we've seen so far
Awesome sauce. And your guys' countdowns are crazy good by the way.
Happy Boxing Day, don't go too nuts you Canadians.
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Member Since: 2/19/2007
Posts: 33,412
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3/3
Lungs
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Member Since: 8/2/2008
Posts: 22,610
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Contra
Have the check out Lungs!
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