Ok, here is it folks. I haven’t done this for a while but 2010 was a year of musical re-awakening for me, and so I’ve decided to share my favourite albums of 2010.
10. Brandon Flowers - Flamingo
A latecomer to my list as I only really started listening to this a few weeks ago, it’s fast become a regular on my iPhone playlist. You probably know Brandon as the frontman from well known rock band The Killers. This solo album features Flowers ‘Springsteen-esque’ vocals over anthemic rock ballads.
Stand out track(s): Only The Young
9. Kings Of Leon - Come About Sundown
I’ll admit that I’m very late to the KOL party, but they became one of my favourite bands in 2010, due largely to their 2008 release Only By The Night which I only started listening to this year. After falling in love with that album, I started listening to Come about Sundown. Although nowhere near as good as previous albums, it still deserves a place in my top 10, mostly due to the fact that lead singer Nathan Followill has one of the best voices in rock.
Stand out track(s): Radioactive, Pyro
8. Rend Collective Experiment - Organic Family Hymnal
Hailing from Ireland, RCE are changing the face of modern worship music. Fusing their native Irish folk rock with modern worship, their music brings about a much needed fresh sound to the worship genre.
Stand out track(s): Movements
7. The Merriweather Deer - Archives EP
Hong Kong’s finest rock band of 2010 quietly released their Archives EP, shortly before lead singer Ephraim Bano departed HK for the US. Unfortunately the recording quality doesn’t do the songwriting justice, but it’s still impressive when you consider that the EP was a DIY home recording done on a minimal budget. The fact that the band is made up of some of the best musicians in HK, only adds to the fact that Merriweather will be sadly missed on the HK music scene.
Stand out track(s): Keep it to a minimal
6. Two Door Cinema Club - Tourist History
I had the privilege of seeing TDCC performing live in HK earlier this year, and they blew us all away with their upbeat brand of disco rock - think of a cross between Franz Ferdinand and Phoenix and you pretty much have Two Door. Great album, and even better live.
Stand Out Track(s): Something Good Can Work, Do You Want It All?
5. One Sonic Society - One EP
OSS is the new band of former Delirious? members Stu G and Jon Thatcher, joined by Paul Mabury on drums and Jason Ingram of vocals. Their version of Forever Reign is probably the best worship song that I heard in 2010. They have since come out with two more EPs, but neither match the brilliance of One.
Stand out track(s): Forever Reign
4. Brooke Fraser - Flags
I’m a massive fan of Brooke so I was excited to hear her latest release. Flags marks a slight change of musical direction for Brooke, who has obviously been influenced by Mumford and Sons (of whom she is known to be a big fan), which is in turn reflected in her new songs. Her collaboration with Aqualung on Who are we fooling proves that Brooke has still got what it takes when it comes to combining deep lyrics with beautiful melodies.
Stand out track(s): Who are we fooling, Coachella, Betty
3. Jonsi - Go
Having been a fan of Sigur Ros for many years, I was intrigued to hear what vocalist Jonsi’s new solo album would sound like, and I wasn’t left disappointed. Imagine a slightly weirder version Owl City with much better lyrics and less cheesy music, and you sort of have Jonsi. With Jonsi’s trademark vocals at the helm, it’s indie-pop music at its finest, and I love it.
Stand out track(s): Go Do, Boy Lilikoi
2. Mumford and Sons - Sigh No More
Mumford took the UK and the US by storm in 2010, bringing their indie-folk music to the masses, and instantly making anyone who plays the banjo the coolest kid on the block. These guys show just how much power and passion can be made by simple acoustic instruments.
Stand out track(s): Awake my soul, Little Lion Man
1. Gungor - Beautiful Things
As a worship leader, I listen to a lot of worship music as part of my job, and it’s safe to say that it can get a little tedious listening to the same stuff over and over in slightly different variations. Enter Gungor (previously called the Michael Gungor Band), and I think it’s fair to say that these guys are changing the face of what is considered ‘worship’ music. The boldness of the lyrics and the brilliance of the music have easily made this my most listened to album of 2010. Gungor are rightly starting to get the attention they deserve with a recent Grammy nomination and being named ‘Album of the year’ by Worship Leader magazine.
Stand out track(s): Beautiful Things, Dry Bones, The Earth is Yours
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*Note: Two of them are E.P. releases rather than full-length albums
**Note: All of these albums were released on the US iTunes store in 2010, which is where I almost exclusively buy my music these days.
So there you have it. Now tell me what your favourite albums of 2010 are?
