Favorite 2010 Releases?

[Widerstand]

A good portion of the year is over, what are your favorite releases so far?

Personally, I didn't enjoy this year as much as 2009 or 2008. But there's still some good stuff. My top ten list so far:

1. Shy Guy At The Show - The Birth Of Doubt

http://www.plattenmuesli.de/wp-content/uploads/sgats_birth_of_doubt.png

A local band, with some of the most intense live shows I've been to. They play an Editors/Interpol/Joy Division'esque Post-Punk. This is pretty much their "hardest" album, and also my favorite of theirs. It's a concept album about an angel coming to Earth to live like humans. Yeah.. Uh. It is pretty damn nice ^^

2. Hostage Calm - Hostage Calm

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_u7gHxLyplB4/TCujnZfwmfI/AAAAAAAAAK8/T_jxaYQr8UI/s400/hostageclam.jpg

A really awesome release. Light-hearted, upbeat, somewhat playful Post-Hardcore, sticking close to their Melodic Hardcore roots, but also incorporating a lot of Jazzy and Indie Pop elements. Also, nice politics.

3. Ceremony - Rhonert Park

http://dyingscene.com/files/ceremony-rohnert_park-300x300.jpg

80's style Hardcore! Aggressive vocals, derp riffs. Need I say more?

4. 9mm Parabellum Bullet - Revolutionary

http://i39.tinypic.com/ous4kj.jpg

Japanese Screamo/Post-Hardcore. I have no fucking idea what they sing about, but the album title and cover art are awesome. Sounds like Thrice covering Anime Soundtracks.

5. Crystal Castles - Crystal Castles II

http://www.addictmusic.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/CRYSTAL_CASTLES_II_PACKSHOT.JPG1_-290x300.jpg

I didn't like this as much as their first album, but it's enjoyable nonetheless. Great Electroclash/Glitch release. And yeah, I have an e-crush on Alice Glass ~.~

6. Sed Non Satiata - Sed Non Satiata

http://www.echocanyonrecords.com/cover_releases/echo05__sed_st_LP_400.jpg

Post-Hardcore/Screamo. Some interesting parts, acoustic interludes, etc., but overall nothing too exotic. Very solid release all in all.

7. My Own Private Alaska - Amen

http://kulturterrorismus.de/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/MOPA-Amen2010.jpg

Pianodriven Screamo. A little repetitive, but very emotional and the whole concept of Piano+Drums+Screams works out really well.

8. Kvelertak - Kvelertak

http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww185/worldisbar/new2/1277210707_kvelertak_cover_small.jpg

Norwegian Black-Metal/Hardcore Punk crossover, with lots of playful parts, up-beat gang shouts about Norse mythology, etc. Overall, a lot of fun.

9. Egotronic - Ausflug Mit Freunden

http://www.ka-news.de/storage/scl/kultur/507659_m1t1w238q75v32322_egotronic-ausflug-mit-freunden.jpg

Anti-German Electroclash/Electropunk, but they make enjoyable party music, and keep the abstruse part of their ideology out of their lyrics.

10. Uffie - Sex Dreams And Denim Jeans

http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/crossfade/Uffie-SexDreamsDenimJeans.jpg

Chilled out Electropop with the typical Ed Banger style synths. Very lighthearted and enjoyable.



As far as EPs and splits go, the Comadre/Glasses split was excellent, as was the Touche Amore/La Dispute split. Other nice EPs were United Nation's Never Mind The Bombings, Here's Your Six Figures and More Than Life's Love Let Me Go. The Touche Amore/Make Do And Mend split was enjoyable too.

What I'm looking forward to is the Koji/La Dispute split, Jacob Bannon's (converge singer, makes ambient/post-rock'ish music) first solo LP, Wear Your Wounds, possibly a new La Dispute LP, possibly a new Gospel record and Bring Me The Horizon's There Is A Hell Believe Me I've Seen It. There Is A Heaven Lets Keep It A Secret.

[Apoi_Viitor]

My favorite releases so far have been:
1. Sed Non Satiata - Sed non Satiata - My favorite release so far. With Daitro's hiatus, Sed Non Satiata have easily become my favorite active screamo band.

2. Heaven in Her Arms - Paraselene - Along with Killie, these guys have been the pinnacle of the Japanese Screamo scene. A solid release by them. My only criticism is that its more post-rockish than their previous works.

3. Xasthur - Portal of Sorrow - This is far from Xasthur's best work....However, Portal of Sorrow is an interesting release, which is split between some of the best shit Malefic's ever done, and utter, awful, filler. It's a pity Marissa Nadler wasn't used more, but still, Portal of Sorrow is a some-what fitting end to Malefic's legendary BM project.

EDIT: I'll add more in a while. I have to give albums from Alcest, Natural Snow Buildings, Celeste, etc. more of a listen. I've done poorly at keeping up with releases this year.

[Sam_b]

The Monitor by Titus Andronicus is probably the best i've heard so far.

[F9]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/48/RecoveryCoverOfficial.jpg/200px-RecoveryCoverOfficial.jpg (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:RecoveryCoverOfficial.jpg)

Recovery, no question. Of course Eminem goes with no competition cause all the other artists i like, are either dead, stop making music, the groups were gone apart and some of them turn their music to shit.So yeah, im just sadly sticked to old shit, so it was a nice "surprise" listening to the recovery.

[Pirate Utopian]

Big Boi - Sir Lucious Left Foot The Son Of Chico Dusty
Bun B - Trill O.G.
Die Antwoord - $o$
Big K.R.I.T. - K.R.I.T. Wuz Here
Wiz Khalifa - Kush & Orange Juice

[Fawkes]

The Dead Weather's Sea of Cowards is fuckin tight

[Stand Your Ground]

In This Moment - A Star Crossed Wasteland

Haven't heard anything else even close to as good.

[Invincible Summer]

So far:

Yeasayer - "Odd Blood"
Excellent pop sensibilities with a very lush sound, yet without that tacky mainstream gloss.

Massive Attack - "Heligoland"
Seriously one of the best trip-hopesque/downtempo electronica albums I've heard, definitely one of the best MA albums.


Front Line Assembly - "Improvised Electronic Device"
Fairly standard for FLA, but I love to listen to it.

Suicide Commando - "Implements of Hell"
Evil as ever. Again, fairly standard aggrotech, even for masters like Suicide Commando, but great to listen to.

Fear Factory - "Mechanize"
One of FF's strongest albums to date. Brutal as hell.

Deftones - "Diamond Eyes"
Again, a really solid strong album that "makes" a band. Really shows how far the Deftones have come, one of my top albums of all time.

[Apoi_Viitor]

Castevet - Mounds of Ash - I have no idea where this band came from. Mounds of Ash is an astounding atmospheric black metal epic, from an obscure NY group. I'm pretty sure it's their debut release, but its a damn good one.

As far as ambient/neo-classical releases this year, I've given Max Richter, Balmorhea, and Nest some brief listening. From what I've heard, all three have solid new releases, but nothing that's blown me away. Max Richter's Infra seems to be getting the most playtime of the three, but it's no where near the quality of Castevet's or Sed non Satiata's releases.

[Lolshevik]

I'm just happy Iron Maiden put out a new album. :D

[Communist]

.

* "Y Not" - Ringo Starr
* "Diamond Eyes" - Deftones
* "Zeitgeist Concert" - Tangerine Dream

.

[Stand Your Ground]

Front Line Assembly - "Improvised Electronic Device"
Fairly standard for FLA, but I love to listen to it.

Suicide Commando - "Implements of Hell"
Evil as ever. Again, fairly standard aggrotech, even for masters like Suicide Commando, but great to listen to.

Fear Factory - "Mechanize"
One of FF's strongest albums to date. Brutal as hell.

Deftones - "Diamond Eyes"
Again, a really solid strong album that "makes" a band. Really shows how far the Deftones have come, one of my top albums of all time.
Those were fucking good too. :thumbup1:

[Sam_b]

I'm just happy Iron Maiden put out a new album

You wouldn't if you went to see them live a fortnight ago and played it in entirety whilst omitting the likes of Run to the Hills.

[Peace Sells..]

alcest - écailles de lune
eminem - recovery
celestia - archaenae perfectii
ceremony - rohnert park
the cool kids - tackle box
the rival mob - hardcore for hardcore
build and destroy - 2010 demo

[leftace53]

I'm just happy Iron Maiden put out a new album. :D
Agreed.


You wouldn't if you went to see them live a fortnight ago and played it in entirety whilst omitting the likes of Run to the Hills.
Boooo. Not cool Maiden, not cool.

[Jimmie Higgins]

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51zpqRIrjWL._SL500_AA300_.jpg (http://www.myspace.com/tysegall)http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51DyKik2HyL._SL500_AA300_.jpg (http://www.myspace.com/harlemduh)

And I just enjoy this photo:
http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/151/l_c8197769eeb84659a247d7bc98ee600f.jpg

[kitsune]

Cocco - Emerald
Tokyo Jihen - Sports
SAWA - Welcome to Sa-World
0.8 Byō to Shōgeki - S no Funky Dostoyevski Kamu Kamu Club
JinnyOops! - Eat Your Brain

and of course

Amanda Palmer Performs the Popular Hits of Radiohead on Her Magical Ukulele

I am really looking forward to

world's end girlfriend - Seven Idiots

[NoOneIsIllegal]

Alcest - "Écailles de Lune"
Dolcim - "We Carry the Fire"
Preface to the Dead Sea - "Preface to the Dead Sea"
Sed Non Satiata - "Sed Non Satiata"
Heaven in Her Arms - "Paraselene"
Celeste - "Morte(s) Nee(s)"

I haven't kept up with music too much this year.

edit: I'm checking out some of these other releases. Shy Guy at the Show is pretty good.. The vocals are okay, but I love the music. Will check out more of these bands/releases.

[fa2991]

hbV6YUreJk0

Volume Two by She & Him.

Everything else this year that I heard sucked, but to be fair I haven't listened to much music from this year. :p

Also, Recovery was almost as bad as Relapse.

[Jimmie Higgins]

Potentially these will be may favorites of the year too (once they are released):

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51MFjGYieXL._SL500_AA300_.jpghttp://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/511S05YPN3L._SL500_AA300_.jpg (http://www.amazon.com/First-Blood-Nobunny/dp/B003X43GHY/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1283309116&sr=1-4)

[Apoi_Viitor]

http://cdn.pitchfork.com/media/mtzion.jpg

It's growing on me...

[Omi]

Celeste - "Morte(s) Nee(s)"

Nice one. I love bands who put there work for free download on their own site, very sympathetic. Great music aswell!

[Das war einmal]

Just two songs that crossed my mind:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fnEKcKUa_Gk&ob=av2e

Ok, the album cosmic egg, dates back from 2009, but this single has been released in 2010

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4qk7fbN5NE

Oh ok, apparently this was released in 2009 aswell, but the radio only played it since the beginning of this year.