5. Ryan Adams - Easy Tiger: Prolific singer/songwriter Ryan Adams has remained one of the better "alt-country" singers out there, and every year he's come out with a new album, I'm in line purchasing it the day it's released. Fan loyalty, along with his incessant touring, has put Ryan Adams at the top of many critcs' lists. Easy Tiger is easily Adams' best album since 2001's Gold, and it reveals Adams at his emotional (and, of course, musical) best. "Rip Off" and "Oh My God, Whatever, Etc." are perfect examples of Adams' post-rehab musical recovery. Other tracks, like "Halloweenhead" and "Two" are just great fun, and lyrically strong at the same time. Whether you're an Adams fan or not, Easy Tiger is a worthwhile album.
4. Menomena - Friend and Foe: Menomena surprised me this year. After releasing albums in relative obscurity, Friend and Foe took the band to new heights. In fact, it's one of the few "progressive" indie rock albums out there that's still worth listening to, and Friend and Foe continues to grow on me. Mixing piano, saxophone, guitar, and a lot of synth instruments, Menomena stepped out of the box and created some beautiful indie jams. "Muscle'n Flo" kicks off the album with some great rhythms and syncopation, and songs like "Evil Bee" and "Wet and Rusting" give the band even more street cred. There's some beautiful piano work, and the band shares vocals throughout the album. Fans of the Flaming Lips will enjoy Menomena's eclectic blend of noise, rhythm, and progressive melodies.
3. Arcade Fire - Neon Bible: This was the year for Arcade Fire. After releasing Neon Bible in March, the band has toured extensively and gained some of the best critical praise from fans and journalists. Their lyrics have been analyzed extensively, and their music breaks genre barriers. Neon Bible is a sprawling collection of reflected religious and social ambiguity; it is a pseudo-concept album that envisions a dystopian North America in a time of 21st century terrorism. Songs like "Neon Bible" and "No Cars Go" show that Arcade Fire are tuned in to the state of the world, and have the musical credibility to back it up. There have already been comparisons to Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen, and these comparisons will certainly continue well into the next decade. Band of the year? I think so.
Article comments
1 - Tom Johnson
I definitely like the Iron & Wine album, but I've found that as the year has worn on, I'm not looking for it as much. I don't know exactly why, either, because it has all of the elements that made the EP with Calexico work so well for me. I can only guess that it's simply that my year has been overwhelmed by a handful of discs, unlike most years when I couldn't focus on any one thing too long. I had my list at least partially prepared in my head quite a while ago, which is unusual. Now I just have to actually sit down and write it out . . .
2 - handyguy
Neon Bible is an amazing album, and the Arcade Fire put on a great live show as well.
3 - Glen Boyd
Nice list Kevin. I noticed a lot of matches with my list for one thing, but also a lot of albums I would have included if I could've gone to fifteen (Iron & Wine and especially Arcade Fire). People like Leslie Bohn will be a lot happier with this then she was with mine I'm sure. Anyway, good stuff.
-Glen
4 - Kevin Eagan
Thanks to everyone who read and commented on this top ten list!
Tom -- I can totally see what you mean, this year was an excellent year for music, to a completely overwhelming extent. I know I had a hard time narrowing down this list, and there are other albums that almost made the top ten. Iron & Wine's album is better than his acoustic/solo stuff. I hope to see a Ryan Adams-esque backing band spawn from his recent stuff and take the road. Iron & Wine and The [fill in band name], anyone?
Handyguy -- Yes, Neon Bible is amazing. I just bought it on Vinyl for kicks, and it continues to amaze me.
Glen -- I agreed with a few of the ones on your previous list, and some of the ones you included made my "Top 20." It's just so hard to narrow down this year's best of. I didn't expect "Magic" to make the top ten list, but over the past month, it's really grown on me, and I had to include it (I can thank Blogcritics, in part, for that. You guys convinced me that the Boss is still alive and well).
5 - Josh Hathaway
Kevin, you've got some great choices here. I didn't like the Ryan Adams album, as a whole, as much as some of his others but like several songs from it.
Springsteen is going to come in second on my list this year, I'm quite certain. The Radiohead is good although I'm not sure where it slots in terms of their other records.