Well done 2010. You reminded me how very deep my ethereal blood flows.

#1 – Lali Puna: Our Inventions

I knew Our Inventions would top my 2010 list the instant I first heard it. This is an absolute masterpiece of sounds and melody, dreamy vocals and gentle, inventive percussion. The timing and sampling on each track is brilliant. The sequencing is perfect. Valerie Trebeljahr’s vocals are thin and alluring. There is not one second where I’m anything but entirely enthralled. It has provided me months of new surprises . . . another discovered noise, a blip, an off beat, or sigh that takes my breath away. Now over five years since Faking the Books, this new release has given my ears more than I could have hoped for in all of 2010. Lali Puna, I worship you, and your captivating, carefully crafted art.

#2 – Beach House: Teen Dream

Meeting Teen Dream late in 2010 has sustained me through the lulls of year-end new releases. Just entering track one, with the opening soft-yet-still-driving guitar line, I knew I’d be hooked. But then! Then came Ms Legrand. . . Oh Victoria, and your wonderfully deep, commanding vocals. Plus synth work, fantastic drum bits, genius backup vocal additions of ooohs and awwwes that make my heart want to burst. I don’t wonder at all why this album stayed on repeat for weeks, and in fact might hold my favorite song of the year: “Take Care.”

#3 – Thieves Like Us: Again and Again

Thieves Like Us totally know how to work a classic 80s sound, and prove with Again and Again why it’s still a fresh and worth-revisiting style. This album could have become a mess with the many electric pieces going at once, but instead is weighty and full, and generous with pensive emotion. Here again, true artistry proves that many ingredients can blend to give massive life and flavor.

#4 – Blonde Redhead: Penny Sparkle

I will admit, I was surprised by Penny Sparkle, and it’s kind of dumb for a girl like me to be that way, because on my softer side, I know about patience. This 2010 has reminded me just how much I’ve missed new beloved ethereal sounds in recent years. The kind of music that washes over you like a dream, offering earned energy in the process as opposed to quick jolts of pop, rock, electronica highs.

#5 – Broken Bells: Broken Bells

Broken Bells was the first new music to get me very excited this year. I listened to the NPR stream and fell more and more in love with every succeeding track, playing the stream straight through for something like 3 days in a row. I’m glad that Brian Burton is so genius and chose to work with James Mercer in making this album for me. Did anyone else see them play live on Ellen? The vocal variation at the end of “The High Road” absolutely blew me away. youtube it!

#6 – The National: High Violet

This one might have ranked higher on my list if I’d not been so infatuated with my first 5 all year. As it stands, I’m still swimming into the first few listens of High Violet. I know it will have staying power, even though there is melancholy there that keeps me cautious. I like to stay in the shallow end of this pool, as my tendency is to get swept away, and I’d rather temper my sad songs these days. I mean, he is evil, afraid he’ll eat your brains, you know?

#7 – Crystal Castles: Crystal Castles II

I guess I understand why some people can’t get into Crystal Castles. They are tough. Raw and dirty, sometimes so harsh it makes me want to punch someone in the mouth. I’d say this new album is the perfect follow-up to their freshman self-titled album. We still get Alice’s thrash-punk vocal effects, but then celestica and suffocation have her sounding oh so lovely. If only I could see her live . . . with Robert Smith. . .

#8 – Wild Nothing: Gemini

I don’t know why this is my hardest review. So much brooding for me in this album. I’m not fascinated with it like Lali Puna and Thieves Like Us. It doesn’t make me happy like Two Door Cinema Club, or riotous like Crystal Castles. It’s not sad as The National, but there is something so deceptively somber in Gemini. I think maybe it just makes me feel vulnerable. Whatever it is that I can’t quite put my finger on, this album does for classic 90s sound what Thieves Like Us is doing for the 80s.

#9 – Two Door Cinema Club: Tourist History

Hands down the funnest album of the year. No patience necessary on this one. Front to back up-beat pop goodness. Sugar in a syringe type stuff. Fast strumming. Hands clapping. Double time vocals. Drums that make you want to be sneaky and do something irresponsible. My playcount on some of these tracks hit the 30s in no time (and that’s not counting ipod plays.) If this album doesn’t make you happy, you might be dead inside.

#10 – The Radio Dept: Clinging to a Scheme

And here we are. Number ten was a hard fought slot. In many ways The Radio Dept shares this rank with Mr Kurosky and Arcade Fire. In the end, though, I give Clinging to a Scheme the nudge because where those lower two are expected awesome, The Radio Dept is brand new to me this year, and “Memory Loss” is one of my absolute favorite songs of the year with its hollow vocals and sparse percussion. Love the masculine side of dreamy vocalists.

very honorable mentions:

miles kurosky – the desert of shallow effects
arcade fire – the suburbs
broken social scene – forgiveness rock record
minus the bear – omni
school of seven bells – disconnect from desire
lcd soundsystem – this is happening
vampire weekend – contra
surfer blood – astro coast
los campasinos! – romance is boring

***cjkc 2010 digi-mix super deluxe double edition coming TOMORROW!***