10. Balance 016 – Agoria [EQ Recordings]
Techno expert Agoria provides a master class in sonic synthesis; two discs of absolute bliss mixed like a murky cocktail on a faraway beach. It’s like that little scruffy puppy at the pound, imperfect and yet alluring in all the right ways.
9. Pendulum – Immersion [Warner]
It was only a matter of time before our finest broken beat export produced something really special. Immersion proves that metal guitars and illegal drugs really do mix.
8. LCD Sound System – This Is Happening [DFA Records]
James Murphy is a fucking genius and if you don’t agree I will fight you in the face. Take all the coolest genres in the world and mash them into a shiny disc shaped object and I present to you This Is Happening, aptly titled because, well, it really is… right now.
7. B.o.B. – B.o.B. Presents The Adventures of Bobby Ray [Grand Hustle Records]
I could handle listening to commercial radio if every cheesy chart smash featured B.o.B. The best thing about him is that he doesn’t pretend to be anything but a well marketed hook monster, kidnapping your ears with catchy melodies and recklessly infectious lyrics. My guilty pleasure of 2010… shhhhh.
6. Slash – Slash [EMI]
Maybe I’m just a huge Gunners fan, maybe I was all hopped up on his awesome autobiography but I just liked this album a lot. This long awaited solo effort is perfect windows down cruising music for the aging ‘90s chart metal guru.
5. Eminem – Recovery [Aftermath/Shady]
Taken from my own review in BMA: “I can say without a shadow of a doubt that the lyrical delivery on Recovery is the best I have ever heard, and I am a huge hip-hop fan. Recovery is raw, honest and complete.” Nuff said really.
4. Cee Lo Green – Lady Killer [Elektra Recordings]
Brilliant, soulful, funny, loves a late night rendezvous and knows how to have a good time in a navy blue suit. My review of this album reads more like a lonely hearts advertisement.
3. Janelle Monae – The ArchAndroid (Suites II and III) [Bad Boy Records]
The strength in this debut release from newcomer Monae lies in its warm diversity. This is nu-era pop perfection; I have a lot of high hopes for little Miss J in 2011.
2. Caribou – Swim [Merge]
Swim is like the musical equivalent of a girl who wears her underpants on the outside; it’s attractively quirky in all the right places, namely the groin. This is baby making music.
1. Rusko – OMG [Downtown Records]
Rusko has been the most impressive purveyor of dark alley grime in 2010, and this long-player is a testament to his abilities as a gutter genius.
