Moker's Top 10 Albums of 2010

Hello. Here we are again at the end of year round up. So let’s get straight to the point and in no particular order, here are my personal top ten albums of 2010:

Top 10 Albums of 2010

School of Seven Bells – Disconnect From Desire

With rich, weaving layers of emotional dream pop, this offering is as retro as it is avant-garde. A total sonic masterpiece. BUY / TRY / Full Time Hobby

Oh No Ono – Eggs

Bizarre and magical music from Copenhagen that’s outstandingly different, dynamic and incomprehensively multi-faceted. So crazy and swerving it almost feels like a living thing. BUY / TRY / LEAF

Lone Wolf – The Devil And I

A nu-folk soloist who plays the same game as every other singer-songwriter but somehow manages to gets it so right. A truly entertaining and intense exercise in song writing. BUY / TRY / BELLA UNION

Hurts – Happiness

Retro-pop never sounded so fresh as this dour duo single-handily breathe new life into a tired genre. Perfect in its overblown and ostentatious nature. BUY / TRY / SONY

Wild Nothing – Gemini

Delicate and touching nu-gaze pop that’s flawlessly executed. Warm, comforting and beautifully hypnotic. BUY / TRY / CAPTURED TRACKS

Tame Impala – Innerspeaker

This psychedelic album is less about revisiting the past and more about creating new spellbinding swirls and aural layers to consume you in its own exquisite way. BUY / TRY / MODULAR

Strange Birds – Strange Birds

Technically a seven track EP, this subtle Californian offering is deadly addictive in its offbeat tranquillity. A real master of understatement. BUY / TRY 

Pulled Apart by Horses – Pulled Apart By Horses

Noisy, punky, math metal… whatever this album might be, it’s an exhilarating rock and roll ride full of mouth-watering riffs and catchy, shouty choruses. A joy! BUY / TRY / TRANSGRESSIVE

Four Tet – There Is Love In You

With this ambient exploration the singular ‘Four Tet’ offers up another dose of mesmerizing beats and rhythms that are as irresistible as they are addictive. BUY / TRY / DOMINO

Band of Horses – Infinite Arms

Wonderful alt-country musings from this well-seasoned American band that is upbeat, reflective, mournful and celebratory all at the same time. A total triumph of an album. BUY / TRY / SONY

Want to hear these now? You can download my Spotify playlist of these top ten albums by clicking here. (Just to note: As Strange Birds are not on Spotify, I’ve replaced them with my 11th favourite album, the haunting post-classical ‘Infra’ by Max Richter. Well worth a listen.) [ED - Check out Moker's reviews from 2010]

Strange Birds - Summerbirds by Music Liberation