Best Songs of 2010: 50 Tracks That Blew Our Hair Back This Year
- Posted by Spinner Staff
- Comments (19)
50
'Rolling in the Deep'
Adele
This stomping, bluesy cut from the North Londoner's much-anticipated sophomore outing is also that album's first single and makes full, triumphant use of the singer's soaring vocal talents. The song finds Adele in a brooding but determined mood, ruing that "you could've had it all" but making it clear she's well beyond any mournful feelings, she's moving on and she means business.
Christopher Polk, Getty Images
49
'Nothing but the Whole Wide World'
Jakob Dylan
With his Wallflowers on possibly permanent hiatus, the Royal Son released his second solo album this year. Produced by that maximally praised minimalist T-Bone Burnett, 'Women + Country' opens with this lovely, homespun rumination. Sounds like a father's uneasy hopes for his own kids, though Dylan does mention a certain deity by name.
John Shearer, Getty Images
48
'Angela Surf City'
The Walkmen
"Life goes on around you." This is what Walkmen frontman Hamilton Leithauser chides almost tauntingly to his former lover in this tropicalia-infused tune. Far from laid-back and breezy, this is an anthem that swells with passion and bravado, drawing you into Leithauser's typically discontented world with a lovelorn fervor that's impossible to discount.
C Brandon, Redferns
47
'Enough's Enough'
Jamie Lidell
Right down to the addition of a flute, Lidell pays tribute to freaked-out '70s funk on 'Enough's Enough' while throwing in his own unique forward-looking style. With an airtight rhythm section, call-and-response backup vocals and Lidell's pitch-perfect falsetto, this track has had us tapping our feet since last spring.
Andy Sheppard, Redferns
46
'Miami'
Foals
You know what brings black-clad aging hipsters and neon-crazy dance kids together? This song. This five-piece from Oxford, England, do the song's name justice with a bright bounciness that, when paired with desperate lyrics, result in the sonic equivalent of naughty dance-floor contact.
Ross Gilmore, Redferns
45
'I'm Aware'
Clinic
With their trademark surgical masks, Clinic look like doctors ready to cut. On 'I'm Aware,' they offer up aural anesthesia, using lush '60s instrumentation -- strings, rolling acoustic guitars, trippy keyboards and Summer of Love harmonies -- to induce a psychedelic sleep state. "All the love is gone," frontman Ade Blackburn sings as our eyes begin to close, making this sound like a good thing.
Jim Dyson, Getty Images
44
'Shark in the Water'
VV Brown
Combining retro influences, oddball lyrics and a modern pop sound, Brown's breakout hit from her debut disc, 'Travelling Like the Light,' may be the catchiest single of the year (though it was released in Brown's native UK in '09). Who knew a song about a stalker boyfriend could be so much fun?
Angela Weiss, Getty Images
43
'Birthday Boy'
Drive-By Truckers
If the Drive-By Truckers were a barfly's usual order, they'd be a Boilermaker -- can of beer, shot of whiskey. No grenadine, no lime wedges or muddled sugar, no paper umbrellas. 'Birthday Boy' ain't destined to replace 'Happy Birthday' anytime soon -- it's written from the perspective of a jaded working girl. "I ain't got all night," she says. We'll make some time.
Rachel Been, AOL
42
'A/B Machines'
Sleigh Bells
This upstart duo has a simple formula: Take one huge beat, one tossed-off guitar riff and one line of lyrics, turn the recording levels way, way into the red and then sit back and watch everyone's speakers smoke. Simple? Sure. Effective? Just ask all the sweat-drenched, dancing kids with bleeding eardrums.
Tim Mosenfelder, Getty Images
41
'Post Acid'
Wavves
The title of this track from Wavves' third long-player may suggest a psychedelic comedown, but there's nothing remotely tired about this reverb-soaked summer jam for adderall addicts. With a shout-along chorus that insists, "I'm just having fun ... with you" ad nauseam, this snotty anthem all but dares you to jump around like a hyperactive idiot.
Roger Kisby, Getty Images
40
'I Learned the Hard Way'
Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings
On the title track of their fourth LP, Jones and her band boldly left their comfort zone, adding a symphony orchestra and backing vocalists. With the retro-soul diva holding back just enough of her vocal prowess to add to the heartache, the end result is nothing short of a soul classic.
Getty Images
39
'Bright Lit Blue Skies'
Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti
Pink is plenty capable of writing his own '60s-style pop songs, but with 'Bright Lit Blue Skies,' he unearths a genuine psychedelic artifact, a swinging garage nugget recorded in 1966 by Boston's Rockin' Ramrods. The original should have been a smash, and even if Pink's cover isn't exactly burning up the charts, it's a little bit of cosmic justice: a second chance for a first-rate tune.
Michael Buckner, Getty Images
38
'Tightrope'
Janelle Monae, Feat. Big Boi
Ever fantasize that a great Bond theme song would come from George Clinton? We're thinking Monae did just that, as 'Tightrope' proudly boasts one of 2010's most infections rhythms, paired with Monae wailing on about naysayers, a guest spot by Big Boi and a well-timed orchestral moment. It's nothing you'd want to listen to while on an actual tightrope: You'd be way too inclined to move.
Daniel Boczarski, Getty Images
37
'Written in Reverse'
Spoon
Over the past several years, Spoon have transformed from a little angular guitar band to a full-on soulful combination of modern rock and classic R&B. But 'Written in Reverse' immediately recalls what we loved about Britt Daniel and Co. in the first place: audible angst, cryptic wordplay and a strong sense of urgency throughout these Texans' standout single from 'Transference.'
Kevin Mazur, Getty Images
36
'Scribble'
Underworld
Co-written by drum & bass producer High Contrast, with a huge nod to Underworld's epic live song "Do You Scribble," the UK duo's first offering in almost three years is everything we hoped for, and nothing we expected; melodic D 'n' B with a blissed-out Underworld sensibility. Galloping drums deliver the rising synth line to an exultant finish, while Karl Hyde's vocals tell us what we knew all along: "And it's OK/You give me everything I need."
Srdjan Stevanovic, WireImage
35
'We Don't Want Your Body'
Stars
The lyrics for Stars' 'We Don't Want Your Body' sound like the secret thoughts of a partygoer who just turned down the village idiot. But rather than reading like a non-redacted cable from WikiLeaks, 'We Don't Want Your Body' is way more inviting, musically, than the lyrical interpretation would ever let on. The devilish dichotomy makes it intriguing, but it's the music itself that makes it so damn good.
Gary Wolstenholme, Redferns
34
'Coma Cat'
Tensnake
"Can I get/Can I get get?" With its '80s R&B-influenced congas, bells and synths, German disco/house producer Tensnake's breakthrough single "Coma Cat" was ubiquitous in 2010. The infectious hook inspired by Jellybean Benitez along with its gratifying payoff insure that "Coma Cat" will continue to be a dance floor favorite, from the dankest backrooms to the most mainstream nightclubs, for years to come.
Myspace
33
'Younger Us'
Japandroids
Noise duos are dime-a-dozen nowadays, but none boast the striking songcraft that grounds Japandroids' two-ply rock propulsion. The emotional undercurrents first heard on the Vancouver group's breakthrough LP, 'Post-Nothing,' rise to the surface on this anthemic 7-inch, which continues the young pair's fearful, fuzz-laden fixation on growing up. Such premature nostalgia may be unearned, yet it still sparks fire.
Roger Kisby, Getty Images
32
'One Life Stand'
Hot Chip
Starting off as a cool come-on, complete with a big, dark bottom end and sneaky steel drum samples, the title track from Hot Chip's latest somehow ends up at a bright and sunny chorus about getting all hot and ... monogamous? All the ladies in the house, let me hear you say, "Awwwwww, how sweet."
Graham Denholm, Redferns
31
'Good Morning (The Future)'
Rogue Wave
Everyone loves a comeback story, and after a freak accident that left Rogue Wave's Zach Rogue nearly paralyzed, the Oakland, Calif.'s group seemed kaput. Which is why 'Good Morning (The Future)' felt all the more poignant: The clarity in Zach's voice has a ring to it that that you find in those who are cheerful not because they're in a popular indie rock band but because they're living to write another song.
Christopher Polk, Getty Images
30
'Excuses'
Morning Benders
This honeysuckle charmer is such a throwback it just begs to be put on the soundtrack of some early-'60s period piece. But just sounding retro isn't enough to make this list. The Morning Benders' Wall of Sound tribute scores big for its lulling chamber orchestra intro, its earworm melody and a sweetly layered a cappella break that should inspire contestants on 'The Sing Off.'
Roger Kisby, Getty Images
29
'Something Else'
Diamond Rings
John O'Regan, aka Diamond Rings, admits on 'Something Else' he's not his crush's cup of tea. "But just in case you change your mind," the androgynous Ontarian croons, "I wrote this song for you to sing." And what a fine song it is: four minutes of earnest vocals, subtle synths and understated post-punk guitar -- all set to a minimalist electro-pop beat. If O'Regan's potential paramour doesn't sing along, the rest of us will.
Myspace
28
'Rose Garden'
Shad
Shad masterfully bookends a jewel of a sample ("I didn't promise you a rose garden/Along with the sunshine/There's gotta be some rain sometimes") with witty observations on the neuroses of modern life. This soulful throwback -- helped along by the sunny vocals of Broken Social Scene's Lisa Lobsinger -- is a killer head-nodder, proving the rapper's prowess as a wordplay master.
Vanessa Heins
27
'Say My Name'
Holy Ghost!
From its somber opening notes to its anxious crescendo, the Brooklyn-based disco-synth group's dance floor-shunning, night driving, slow burner "Say My Name" is a dark piece of melancholic mastery. As Holy Ghost! are fans of both Sunny Day Real Estate and Larry Levan equally, the duo's moody song manages to be both upbeat and depressive, eerily marking itself as one of the most poignant songs in recent memory.
Ben Hider, Getty Images
26
'Crash Years'
New Pornographers
Some have suggested this song refers to recent Wall Street woes, but, really, it could apply to any troubled era. With its thick orchestral arrangements and glass-half-empty lyrics, 'Crash Years' conveys a sense of looking-back sadness, of having survived something bad -- but not necessarily for the better. The song is lush and complex but not bloated. And even though the Crash Years were surely dark, the New Pornos' 'Crash Years' is a beacon of light.
Tim Mosenfelder, Getty Images
- Filed under: The Hit List
Reader Comments(1 of 1)
jungat 12-14-2010
cool. now can you post some songs that more than 3 people actually heard this year?
bramesat 12-14-2010
And what would be the point of that? What I love coming to Spinner for is finding songs I've not heard of yet. Why would you want to see 50 tracks that are already on the most played list on your iPod?
Jacobat 12-14-2010
Maybe you should start listening to good music and you'll know all of these songs
Lzat 12-21-2010
First off, "good" music is relative. What one person likes, another person hates. People have different tastes.
What irks me about this pretentious article is that is calls itself the "best" 50 songs. Perhaps the person who wrote this article hasn't picked up a dictionary to read that best means excelling all others. For example, if I were to look for the "best" student in the class, I would pick the kid who performed better than everyone else in GPA, not the students I happen to like better. Likewise, a best of music list should include music than performed better on sales/charts.
The writer(s) goes even further to explain, "We've whittled down the hundreds of tunes that we dug throughout the year to those we think best represent 2010 musically." If you want to represent the year musically, then you'd have to consider music that more people have listened to and like. For example, if I were to pick movies to represent the year, I would include Twilight: Eclipse, despite the fact that I can't stand it.
Perhaps I this article wouldn't irritate me if the writer(s) wasn't so g.d. pretentious. He/she/them should've written the title of the article as "My favorite 50 songs" or "50 songs you might not have heard." Perhaps then I'd take the article more seriously as a whole and actually make an effort to listen to some of these songs.
Arlingtonat 12-14-2010
I must be getting old. I never heard any of these songs.
shauntaviousat 12-14-2010
what about will smith and willow smith? this racism
anon-mouseat 12-14-2010
it's not really racism...the song just wasn't good enough. besides, the list seems to be a lot of the same genre, outside of a few sprinkled songs. kind of wish it was more diverse :/
John Arnoldat 12-14-2010
Pure unadulterated garbage performed for the most part by howling, badly groomed freaks and typical of the depths to which American "music" has sunk.
But then it provides a perfect background to the moral decay that is trying to destroy this nation.
Lakeat 12-14-2010
This is a really strange list. It's like a hodgepodge of stuff you'd hear at Urban Outfitters or H&M or some bedbug ridden, over-priced thrift shop where people spend top dollar to look like a homeless person.
I'm not sure how most of these artists or these songs can be categorized as the best of anything. I've heard of only about half of these artists and I think it's great to include people who you wouldn't normally hear on the radio (assuming you still listen to the radio) BUT that doesn't mean any old rift raft should be awarded the bragging rights attached with being included on the Best Songs of 2010 list. I mean John Legend? How about some tracks from the Roots and their awesome album How I Got Over?
All harsh critiquing aside, I have to say kudos for putting Cee-Lo and Robyn in the top 5 (although the woman did release 3 albums this year alone I'm just sayin adding a second track wouldn't have killed you)VV Brown's Shark in the Water came out in 2009. Robyn's Hang With Me or Indestructible or Criminal Intent would've filled in nicely.
Adele's Rolling in the Deep, (even though the song was released only a couple of weeks ago)Florence + the Machine and the Black Keys were also nice additions. Not understanding what Kanye West or Drake for that matter are doing on this list. I mean was Nicki Minaj unavailable or did you fill your quota for females by throwing in Janelle Monae?
Ludichrisat 12-14-2010
We've all been punked....obviously
Paxton1at 12-14-2010
What is the point of this list of songs that no one has ever heard?
2JAYS1Pat 12-14-2010
that's what you call the hit list. C'mon guys theirs so much more out there. You need too know music first of all, and leave out wavve's post acid. That's as bad as most of the other junk you have on your so-called list.
Lucyat 12-15-2010
Never have heard of any of these unknowns When they sing like Celine let me know...I might give a listen
Anthonyat 12-17-2010
Everyone's opinion is going to be different. If you wanted to hear a top 2010 list that you are more familiar with then why don't you go to a website you're more familiar with? If you want to find music that maybe you haven't heard, then this is one of many sources you can use. No need to get angry, just move on to another list.
Bradat 12-18-2010
The whole point of any comment section is to be a critical thinker and defend your point of view.This "BEST" of list was posted on the welcome page; latest popular news; on AOL.Even the mindless masses can see this is a below average list.To post it for millions to see is asking for trouble.It is very easy to tell when a musician is talented vs.garage band quality.(I'm even sorry to offend the good garage bands!)This list just falls way below any reasonable average.Spinner must use the monkey throwing darts at a band/song list method(amazingly still only coming up with 20% average quality)Shouldn't flipping a coin at least come up with 50%?!
carlaat 12-18-2010
Did we all miss the point of "hair being blown back" tag line? They picked songs that are retro in some way... which excludes lots of other top 50 lists...
allyndpat 12-21-2010
Yes it seems the list IS REPRESENTATIVE of 2010. It's definately loaded with narccistic lyrics and lisping melodies. Totally showing how the music industry today gives credence to the bizzare. Extreme out of touch with reality.
mdrose725at 12-21-2010
I would say the words "on our best of" list kind of throw it out there it is not meant for everyone, just their own personal thoughts on it. I do not like any of the songs, does not mean others do not, just not my thing is all.
Daveat 12-21-2010
This should be named the "Crappiest 50 songs of the year", not "Best"...the majority of this trash I've never even heard of. Who picked this list???? And better yet, WHY?????