Greetings Cruel World! And welcome to The State of Rock Review....... This is my attempt at something I am very passionate about, and that is music. In this blog I will be reviewing Albums and other music related things, articles, affairs etc... I am mainly writing this blog for my own kind of therapy and I want to show the world that good music is still out there, not to mention good rock music, but sometimes you just have to look a little harder than the radio or top 40 charts. Since this first blog is a little rushed and pressed for time, I will just being showing my favorite albums of the year and not completely reviewing them for this time out. Sorry in advance. I still think it is fitting that my Top 10 of 2010 has different styles of music of course mainly Rock, and that some of these bands you may have heard of and some you may have not. My goal is to let people in on my little world of Rock, and maybe get you interested in some new bands you haven't heard or maybe at least not in a while. I will in the future try to have at least 1 or 2 reviews up a month, and maybe more than 1 album at a time as well. Please give feedback and chime in on what you thought of the Top 10, and/or lets hear who you thought should be in the Top 10. I would love to hear from anybody that enjoys music as much as I do. I have also put a link up in green, to a song from each album as well. In closing I hope everybody gets some enjoyment or enlightenment out of my blog or at least some new tunes to listen too, and if you have any bands or albums you would like to suggest to review or let me know about I would love to hear them. I hope everybody has a fruitful and fantastic 2011. So without further interruption here is my Top 10 Albums of 2010!
10. Hellogoodbye - Would It Kill You?
After lineup changes and 4 years without an album this crazy little emo-band is back and they almost 100% ditched there emo sound....
Hellogoodbye- Would It Kill You?
9. Arcade Fire - The Suburbs
Your favorite Montreal group is back and gave us this gem of a 3rd album that some call overrated. Well I call it well done........
Arcade Fire- The Suburbs
8. Shout Out Louds - Work
On there 3rd album, this Swedish five piece changed up there sound a little from there previous albums and recruited American producer Phil Ek of the Shins and Fleet Foxes fame.......
Shout Out Louds- Show Me Something New
7. The Morning Benders - Big Echo
This San Francisco group has a Shins sound but with a 60's Brian Wilson edge as well. On there second album they got a little more modern but didn't leave that lo-fi sound behind. This is my favorite song of 2010....
The Morning Benders- Excuses
6. She & Him- Volume II
This unlikely pairing of great folk singer M. Ward and actor Zooey Daschanel has turned into this album into gold. With Wards Phil Spector wall of sound like music and Zooey's voice, you just can't beat this combination....
She & Him- Thieves
5. Broken Bells- Broken Bells
What do you get when you join the frontman of the Shins and Danger Mouse of Gnarls Barkley fame? You get Broken Bells and the number 5 album of 2010 that's what you get. Hell Yes....
Broken Bells- The High Road
4. Dr. Dog- Shame Shame
Out of left field or somewhere else comes Dr. Dog. This Philadelphia based band brings what is the ongoing theme of late a lo-fi late 60's early 70's sound with a modern twist. You can even hear some sound of Graham Nash as well in the songwriting. Hard to believe this is their 6th album and they are almost unheard of.....
Dr. Dog- Shadow People
3. Tired Pony- The Places We Ran From
Up we have a supergroup formed by Gary Lightbody of Snow Patrol fame. This album is fantastic it has members of R.E.M, Belle & Sebastian, and producer/musician Jacknife Lee. This group also includes guests like She & Him to create an alt-country style or feel which is what Lightbody envisioned for the album. Its worth listening too and owning and my number 3 album of the year.....
Tired Pony- Get On The Road
2. The Roots - How I Got Over
The Roots are consistently the best, most laid back, chill-axin, that's right I said chill-axin group out there. Why is this on the list, because it should be.. Most all the critics thought Kanye West's new album was the best of the year they are dead wrong. It doesn't even come close to this album if want to talk about rap and R&B. For record Kayne West's album is the biggest overrated piece of shit of the year. The Roots on the other hand are talent musicians as well as fantastic rappers. They bring a whole new level of cool, laid back grooves on this one. Listen for yourself.....
The Roots- Dear God 2.0 featuring The Monsters of Folk
1. The Black Keys- Brothers
Bustin' in at number 1 are The Black Keys. This duo brings there blues rock style to another level. I just can't stop listening to this album. It's allover the place. This album would be fantastic in any year. You listen to it once and you will want to listen to it again and again and again. Nuff Said.....
The Black Keys- Tighten Up
