2010 Top 10: Nicholas Fritz
Posted 12/29/2010 05:40AM by Nicholas Fritz as Top 10
Compared to past years, compiling this list proved to be difficult and not because there were too many great albums to choose from, quite the opposite actually. It was hard to think of ten albums that really deserved to be in the top ten for the year, and I would venture to guess that you’ll see a lot of repeats on everyone’s lists. This issue begs the questions, why the lack of quality releases in 2010? One obvious reason to me is that it’s just too easy to make an album these days and most bands put more time into building up their online “brand” rather than crafting quality tunes. Another cause may be that there are a plethora of bands at a plateau in their careers with nothing more to prove to fans. I came to that realization after looking over my picks and noticing that most of them are either debut albums or releases that show a band’s rebirth after a few lackluster efforts. At any rate, I was able to come up with my top choices for the year after a lengthy analysis so read on and enjoy.
1. The Felix Culpa – Sever Your Roots
Out of all the albums released in 2010, Sever the Roots is the only one I’ve returned to month after month without fail. The Felix Culpa has everything that I look for in a band from heartfelt vocals, powerful guitar riffs, and impeccable drumming, utilizing all those strengths to create a beefy full length that keeps me enthralled every play through from the first note until the last.
2. Letlive – Fake History
Fake History is the album that started the five-star rating craze here at Decoy this year, and for good reason, it’s an outstanding display of emotion that brings post-hardcore to the next level and renewed my faith in the genre. The only reason this isn’t in the top spot is because I burned myself out on it earlier in the year and don’t listen to it much anymore, whereas I still haven’t grown tired of my number one pick yet.
3. Local Natives – Gorilla Manor
Gorilla Manor was my savior this past summer, keeping me calm on a long flight across the U.S. to and from my destination. The silky smooth harmonies of Local Natives, combined with their expertly placed, percussion, and ambient guitars soothed my nerves and the album has kept me company on numerous other occasions throughout the year, earning its place in the top-three tier.
4. Circa Survive – Blue Sky Noise
It took me a long time to jump on the Circa Survive bandwagon, and I never really appreciated their music until the end of 2009. After becoming accustomed to their style of music over a short period of time, it was hard for me to adjust to the more stripped down approach they use on Blue Sky Noise but once I did, I fell in love with everything about the album. Circa Survive has proved that moving to a major label doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice your music and are quickly becoming a household name in the alternative rock arena.
5. Deftones – Diamond Eyes
I think it’s safe to say that the Deftones surpassed everyone’s expectations with Diamond Eyes. After scrapping their first attempt at a new album, no one really knew what to expect from the band but they delivered with their best effort since White Pony. Having the chance to see them in concert a few months ago, the new songs carry even more weight live and Diamond Eyes has helped to solidify the Deftones as one of the best heavy music acts of our generation.
6. Underoath – Disambiguation
I was mildly obsessed with Underoath during the They’re Only Chasing Safety and Define the Great Line days, but the combination of my tastes changing and their experimental approach on their next album resulted in me losing interest in the band. I checked out Disambiguation out of curiosity and it instantly clicked with me, just like their earlier efforts. I love the dark atmosphere, and the more raw drumming style of Daniel Davison mixed with Spencer Chamberlain’s gritty vocal approach. My love for the band has now been restored and I’m looking forward to their future releases with this current lineup.
7. Amia Venera Landscape – The Long Procession
If not for a fellow Decoy member, I would have unfortunately overlooked The Long Procession this year. With songs averaging around the eight-minute mark, Amia Venera Landscape may be lost on the impatient, but the more you listen to the album, the more you’ll get out of it. While the ambient segues within and between songs can drag at times, they provide much needed relief from the dizzying musicianship, making the listener yearn for the audible pummeling to begin again and it’s all the more satisfying when it finally does.
8. Eagle Scout – New Hands
New Hands dominated my speakers in the springtime and it’s the perfect soundtrack to a long drive on a warm day as the landscape starts to turn green once again. Eagle Scout reminds me of a more upbeat and uplifting version of The Get Up Kids, so they have the nostalgia factor working in their favor, and the singer’s innocent vocal delivery helps to drive home the idea that somehow everything will work out for the best.
9. Tame Impala – Innerspeaker
I don’t do weed, but Tame Impala makes me wish I did because then I would be in hippie heaven. Had someone played this album for me on vinyl, I would have thought it came straight out of the 70’s, with its entrancing psychedelic rock tunes featuring toe tapping rhythms and a vocal style akin to The Beatles. The production on Innerspeaker even sounds true to 70’s, with lo-fi guitars and muffled drum sounds, showing how the overall sound and feel of an album can make the songs truly shine in the right hands.
10. Taking Back Sunday – Live from Orensanz
Live albums never really appealed to me, except for a few of the MTV Unplugged releases, but Live from Orensanz put a spell on me the moment I heard it. Taking Back Sunday takes eleven of their most popular songs and reworks them to include a rich array of instruments and more serious vocal tone. Also, it’s interesting to hear John Nolan do backups on some of the more recent songs and he complements Adam Lazarra’s voice beautifully. The DVD footage included with the album is fantastic as well and really helps to appreciate the effort Taking Back Sunday put into reinventing these songs.
Honorable Mention:
Counterparts – Prophets
Transit – Keep This to Yourself
Comeback Kid – Symptoms + Cures
Stick to Your Guns – Hope Division
Iron Chic – Not Like This
Comments
Lehigh Valley, PA
Decent list. In my opinion some of your honorable mentions should be in your top ten rather than what you have there but it's your list and not mine haha. The only one I reeeeaaaallly do not agree with is Underoath. Did not feel that album at all.
Minnesota
I need to listen to that Felix Culpa album....
And I was actually really disappointed by more than a few of the albums on your list (Underoath, Eagle Scout, Circa Survive). Deftones, however, should be on everyone's list... even though it's fighting to make my list (it's got a HM spot for sure...).
Find me EVERYWHERE:
Coopersburg, PA
I don't particularly like my list either, haha, but these are the albums I either listened to the most or thought were noteworthy. There weren't a whole lot of albums that really grabbed me this year so it has hard to pick ten. I feel good about my top five, but the latter five and my honorable mentions could be moved around and it wouldn't matter to me. I would, however, move Amia Venera Landscape up higher after hearing it more the past few weeks.
Illinois
i really enjoyed felix culpa, it didn't make my top 5, but i liked it a lot. also, i like the eagle scout spot. i'll have to send this over to one of the guys in the band.
i didn't check out deftones, and it looks like a bunch of you guys liked it. might have to download it and play some black ops to it later.
last.fm/user/tragedyl0ve
twitter.com/1000cleverlines
1000cleverlines.tumblr.com
Coopersburg, PA
Yeah, pass it along to Eagle Scout, I'm sure they'll appreciate the Top Ten spot. And I would definitely recommend the Deftones album whether you liked their previous work or not, it's awesome.
Illinois
i didn't like their last album much, so i figured i might not like this one. i downloaded it for gaming time later, so i'll see if i like it or not
last.fm/user/tragedyl0ve
twitter.com/1000cleverlines
1000cleverlines.tumblr.com
Canada
Well, three lists in and I've yet to have a single one of my top 10/HM end up on anyone else's list... and I can't even pull the "I just like weirder junk than you guys" card either... you get happy points from me for not including Kanye though!!!
"These are our lives, but did they ever even matter - are we worth remembering?"
- "Tip The Scales"
Rise Against
Coopersburg, PA
Yeah man, great recommendation. After I made this list, I was still listening to that album like crazy and may have had it in my top five if I heard it earlier but it was hard to predict how much more I'd get into it.
Fishers, Indiana
You sold me on Amia Venera Landscape – The Long Procession. Let's do this.
Top Albums: 2011 | 2010 | 2009 || Tumblr | Twitter
Coopersburg, PA
I can't say enough good things about that album and judging from your general taste in music, I think you'll be pretty into it.
Fishers, Indiana
I couldn't actually "procure" it. I may just have to bite the bullet and buy it in good faith.
Top Albums: 2011 | 2010 | 2009 || Tumblr | Twitter
West Haven, CT
I always sort of feel that way about my lists. Only because there's no way to break down a list of 100 top picks to 15, without leaving out a good bulk of stuff I liked almost evenly.
The Cityscape Burns Brighter By The Hour.
Sunshine Coast, Australia
much love for the Tame Impala mention, but I have to disagree that this year has been average... I reckon it has been fucking amazing.
"If you want something done right, get a fucking Australian band to do it" - Chris Cheney
San Borja, Lima, Perú
This year has been pretty mediocre in music for me too, and I couldn't agree more with that felix culpa big mention, listented to that album several times and find it pretty engaging. I couldn't feel Underoath at all, same as always.
Coopersburg, PA
I guess it depends on your personal preferences as to whether you think 2010 was a good year for music or not. I'm just thinking back to other years and I feel like there were more albums that affected me more greatly than this year's releases. In my opinion, there were a lot of good albums released, but not a lot of great ones - to each their own though.