First Half of '10 Album List

Hey yalls.... I just realized I've been super light on album reviews this year, so I figured I would do a little update seeing as we are nearly halfway done with this year.  I'm not going to write a review for each album, but I will write a sentence or two and let you know that you should pretty much OWN all 20 of these.  Sorry if there is not a lot of detail to these posts, it's just there was a lot to cover and I'm in the middle of Finals (excuses, excuses, I know).

1. 
   
   LCD Soundsystem :: This Is Happening
   
   Extremely varied album that (at least to me) seems encyclopedic in its influences.  It's got all styles, and everything in every song is functional (i.e. contributes to the sound).
   
   
2. 
   
   Local Natives :: Gorilla Manor
   
   Beautiful Beach Boy inspired harmonies; perfectly captures the LA indie sound with its clean guitars and double percussion.
   
   
3. 
   
   Tame Impala :: Innerspeaker
   
   Pyschedelia to the max... and awesome.  Wah-wah pedals, reverbed vocals... close your eyes and enjoy.
   
   
4. 
   
   Beach House :: Teen Dream
   
   Moaning, brooding vocals, echo-y, epic anthems, effects laden organs, and more.
   
   
5. 
   
   The New Pornographers :: Together
   
   The power pop pros do it again; they might have perfected their sound with this one.
   
   
   
6. 
   
   Caribou :: Swim
   
   Every song seems to be painstakingly crafted, with synths swooping in and at as vocals get effects laid on them; standout song is house style "Sun"
   
7. 
   
   MGMT :: Congratulations
   
   Most divisive album of the year; I really liked MGMT's new direction.  You either love it or hate it and I'm not going to write anything else.
   
8. 
   
   Broken Social Scene :: Forgiveness Rock Record
   
   More great stuff from the Canadian supergroup.  Less power-poppy than I expected, but still great.  "Texico Bitches" is my favorite.
   
   
9. 
   
   Avi Buffalo :: Avi Buffalo
   
   This album is fantastic, and it was made by a couple of a kids who are only just out of high school.  They have the simple sound of LA indie with their simple, clean electric guitar and young male vocals (if that makes any sense...)
   
   
   
   
10. 
    
    Surfer Blood :: Astro Coast
    
    The best (in my opinion) of the many lo-fi/pop releases this year.  They manage to create their own sound and identity, which is something of a problem for a lot of the lo-fi bands (whenever I'm listening to lo-fi, I have a friend who always makes the joke "didn't we just hear this song?").  This album will definitely get you ready for the summer...
    
    
11. 
    
    The Morning Benders :: Big Echo
    
    
    
    
12. 
    
    Flying Lotus :: Cosmogramma
    
    
    
    
    
    
13. 
    
    Sleigh Bells :: Treats
    
    
    
    
14. 
    
    Beach Fossils :: Beach Fossils
    
    
    
    
15. 
    
    Broken Bells :: Broken Bells
    
    
    
    
16. 
    
    Jonsi :: Go
    
    
    
    
17. 
    
    Delorean :: Subiza
    
    
    
    
    
18. 
    
    Titus Andronicus :: the Monitor
    
    
    
    
19. 
    
    Gemini :: Wild Nothing
    
    
    
    
20. 
    
    Yeasayer :: Odd Blood

Notable Mention:

Spoon, Hot Chip, the Delta Mirror, the Gorillaz

I haven't really gotten a chance to listen to the Black Keys' Brothers, the Besnard Lakes' Are The Roaring Night, Best Coast's Best Coast, Fang Island's Fang Island, Janelle Monae's the ArchAndroid, Harlem's Hippies, jj's n3, or the National's High Violet, but what I have heard from them I really like (I've done my best to stay up, but you can't be perfect....)

-- A Teenage Elephant

(Now go get some music!)

PS Trying something new... all of those images (except for the Tame Impala ones) are links to amazon...