Favorite Things 2010

Favorite LPs
No Glee compilations here, you've got to have artistic vision to make it on this list.



Gorillaz/Plastic Beach
Maybe the best Gorillaz album so far... and that's high praise.



John Legend & The Roots/Wake Up!
The Roots take some of the polish off of John Legend on this gritty album of covers.



Quadron
For the record, I bought this Danish album in late 2009, but it qualifies for this list because it didn't officially get released in the U.S. until 2010. That's good enough for me. Truly, this record is one of my all-time favorites. Perfect from start to finish.



Twin Shadow/Forget
New Wavey, emo soul that sometimes sounds like Morrissey, but I don't hold that against it.



Janelle Monae/The Archandroid
Spacey, cinematic soul that plays to the film studies nerd in me with references to Fritz Lang's Metropolis.



She & Him/Volume Two
Zooey Deschanel's voice makes me tingly like a schoolboy who needs a minute before walking up to the chalkboard. She and M. Ward make sweet rocking songs with references and influences that span decades of good popular music.



Spoon/Transference
Forward-thinking rock-n-roll.



Kanye West/My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
Kanye harnesses his demons into an entertaining hip-hop masterpiece, complete with all the crazy, cringe-worthy moments you would expect. But in the end, it's all worth it.



Jamie Lidell/Compass
Not a one-trick pony, Jamie Lidell shows his command of a variety of musical stylings all anchored by his powerful voice.



Airtight's Revenge/Bilal
Record label and record leaking issues tried to eff-up the career of one of my favorite singers. Thankfully, the setbacks didn't stop Bilal from creating a genius work of inspired music -- no classification available or required.