Submerge’s Year End List: 2010

Oh, lists. Who doesn’t love them? But do you really want to read as we ramble on for pages? You got things to do. Here are our favorite albums of 2010, described in 140 characters or less. Think of it as the Top 20 for the Twitter generation or the anti-Pitchfork. Your choice.

Keen composer, Joe Davancenes, and Kris Anaya successfully add orchestral depth to a pop aesthetic: hooks+texture=triumph.

Neo Soul, no. Bilal took this album to a whole other level, incorporating rock, soul and everything else to concoct a new dope. Addicting, yes.

Poetic lyrics, distorted guitars and boom crash drumbeats; everything you could ask for from an honest local punk rock album.

Venerable NYC shape-shifting indie rockers’ eighth album is full-bore electronic dream pop that makes us hope we never wake up.

Arguably their most focused work to date. TM has added pop sensibilities and vocals without straying too far from their weird roots.

Grant folded tales of outsider society and growing up gay into grandiose ‘70s Americana that made you wonder whether to laugh or cry.

Nothing short of bitchin’. Classic Huey Lewis, full of rad horn parts and boss harmonies. Very reminiscent of the Sports glory days.

Soulful, mournful, thoughtful…prototypical indie rock that isn’t afraid to rock. Buzzing guitars, sweet harmonies, bliss.

Khalifa proved he has the ear and vision to execute a project from start to end. He captured the cool and kept it concise, fresh and FREE. Kush.

Few can get away with a hook centered on “Man, I just shitted on ‘em,” but Nicki can, because in 2010 she’s on top. 

Splazsh does well to evade genre skanks; the London producer obfuscates links to established electronic forms, and then builds with them.

The concept was as flimsy as a greasy slice, but Chuuwee’s cold chillin’est flow and Bannon’s lo-fi break beats delivered the flavor in under 30.

Memorable melodies and harmonies galore. Ex-Bright Light Fever brothers scale back their sound and focus on what matters most.

Tongue-in-cheek, eyebrow-raising puns can’t topple the most lyrically hooky and deliriously catchy pop album of the year.

Much like watching carrion scavenge a carcass, this record invoked tragedy, beauty and natural order. See also; aesthetics of western Americana.

 

A flurry of lovely young talent exemplified by well-orchestrated songs smothered in harmonies and naive lyricism. A total sleeper of 2010.

It was a long time coming, but Big Boi delivered. From “Fo Yo Sorrows” to “The Train Pt. 2” classics were born, providing beauty in maturity.

Reverb-heavy dithering about monsters, reconnaissance missions and artfully buoyant indie ballads made for a sleepy summertime scorcher.

The family trio in their finest hour. Moog synth and glitchy beats dip in and out of operatic vocals–perfect for rainy days and break-ups.

Stripped down? Maybe. But that’s probably because you just boogied yourself naked.