Kristian Mattson - under the moniker "The Tallest Man On Earth" has been my favorite musician for almost 2 years now. Wow. Time has flown. Every song still gets to me as if it is the first time I am hearing it, and they all get better with every listen. I have never been disappointed in anything I have heard by him, and now I am so enthralled that I doubt that it would even be possible for me to be let down by his music.
He releases new music pretty frequently, and each new song has, at the very least, one jaw dropping aspect. I honestly couldn't even begin to tell you how many times I have said "holy shit!" aloud in my car while listening to this man. His lyrics are shockingly deep and next to impossible to mimic. His guitar is somehow bright even through the deepest moments of darkness. Then there is his voice. Sweet Lord, his voice. What more could I say? With each listen, it becomes the only voice you'd ever want to hear again, if you had to choose.
One of my favorite things about The Tallest Man, is that I always manage to stumble across old songs or fantastic covers that I have never heard before. Today I came across some of his first songs and demos that aren't on any of his albums. As expected, I was blown away. Here you can hear some of the earliest versions of "The Blizzard's Never Seen The Desert Sands", and "Honey Won't You Let Me In". And New songs: "Like a Ribbon In a Hurricane", and "The Other Side".
I honestly cannot say enough about this man. He has changed my life.
Why? Out of every EP/LP of 2010 - Dom's- Sun Bronzed Greek God's - had the most replay-ability to me. I STILL listen to it almost daily. I STILL walk around humming the catchy hooks that pervade each and every song. Dom was a new find for me and they were a breath of fresh air. I was in San Diego the week after I had purchased the work and I can look back and fondly remember cruising the streets blasting "Living In America".. /It's so sexy to be livin' in America/It's so sexy/Baby, we're livin' in America./ Favorite Song(s): It's a tie between Living In America, Rude as Jude, and I Wonder.
Why? This year was the year of The Tallest Man On Earth for me. I found him through this album, but it isn't my favorite of his work. But I must confess, he is my favorite musician of all time. Therefore even when he releases something that isn't one my favorites of HIS, it is still one of my favorites nonetheless. Every listen through of The Wild Hunt, makes me love it even more. It grows and grows on you. As does The Tallest Man On Earth. He is already my favorite, yet I am baffled by new things in his music each and every listen. Favorite Song(s):Burden of Tomorrow or Drying of the Lawns
Why?Gorilla Manor was a huge surprise for me. The songwriting is incredible. The spirit of the band is felt on each and every song. When I first came across them, I had no idea that my next few months would be consumed by a sheer love for their music. So of course I went and saw Local Natives as soon as they came to town. Wow. I have never been to a better show. Suckers opened and I'm sorry to say I was wildly disappointed. Baffled is the word that comes to mind. Their front man was a mix of drunk/high out of his effing mind. But Local Natives literally saved the night. My group of friends left in unanimous agreement: Best show any of us had ever been to. More than any other band I found this year, I cannot wait to see what the future holds for Local Natives. Favorite Song(s):Who Knows Who Cares is my favorite song of 2010.
4. Big Boi - Sir Lucious Leftfoot; The Son Of Chico Dusty
Why? This is my favorite rap album I have ever come across. It is unique in so many different ways. It feels as if Big Boi recorded this album just for fun and then later though "eh what the hell?" and released it. It is so lighthearted and easy to listen to. No matter what song put on, you can dive right in and get lost in the music. He changes his flow (again, presumably for the shits and giggles) on every single song. The samples he raps over are incredible. Instrumentally the album is just as strong as his actual rap, which is really saying something. It's funny, witty, and completely mind blowing in all the right places. Favorite Song(s):Shutterbug or The Train pt. 2
Why? To be quite honest, I usually have trouble getting into a girl singer. That wasn't the case at all with Glasser. Ring is wonderful. Cameron's voice is beautiful and she uses it as if it were just another instrument to build on her massive sounding songs. Lets be frank - her songs kick ass. As I said in my review of Ring, It sounds as though Fever Ray and Animal Collective made hot love and had one helluva kid. Its sound lands somewhere between tribal/techno. It makes you want to let go and be free of everything. Favorite Song(s):Apply
Why?This album was completely snubbed in my opinion. Most underrated album of 2010. Everywhere I went all I saw was negative press about Sidewalks. I honestly wasn't a huge fan of Matt & Kim back in the day. This album completely changed my opinion of them. The biggest complaint I came across was "They aren't the cute and bubbly pair we all know and love anymore! (lulz)" What? How can that possibly be a complaint about a band? They grew. They became more serious (and quite frankly more talented) in their music. I found nothing to complain about with this album. I thought that the big production sound suited the duo perfectly. With Sidewalks, they took someone who wasn't a fan, and made me excited about everything they have done, and are doing. Favorite Song(s): Tie between Cameras, Red Paint, Where You're Coming From, Good For Great, and Ice Melts.
Why? Because it's The Black Keys. Because Dan Auerbach has more soul in his left kneecap than most people have in their entire body. Because Patrick Carney plays the hell out of the drums each and every song. They are the most powerful duo I have ever come across. Actually in this album, they use more instruments than they normally do. And I love it. I have been a big fan of The Black Keys for a long long time now, and this is my favorite release they have had since The Rubber Factory (which is my favorite Black Keys album). Dan Auerbach's new found falsetto is amazing. When I first him sing on Everlasting Light, I literally said NO WAY!! aloud. In fact the majority of the songs on Brothers leave you saying NO WAY to whoever is with you. Favorite Song(s): Everlasting Light, Next Girl, Too Afraid To Love You, or Tighten Up.
Why? I have been a Killers fan right from the get go. Particularly front man Brandon Flowers' showmanship. So I was very excited when I heard he was releasing Flamingo. Actually, I kind of greeted the album with low expectations. I wasn't sure how he would be without the band backing him. So when I listened to it I was surprised to find that he can more than pull it off on his own. It almost makes me wonder how much he writes for The Killers because Flamingo sounds incredible. His lyrics and melodies are always on point, but I was shocked at how well it came together instrumentally as well. Brandon Flowers has proved to be an incredible musician throughout his career and I am excited about the future of The Killers as well as his solo work. Favorite Song(s): Magdalena, Swallow It, Jacksonville or Right Behind You
Why? As much as I love this album I can't bring myself to say that it was the best of the year. I think the Kanye West story is the best of the year but that's it. Anyway, I have always been a fan of Kanye. Although I didn't purchase 808's and Hearbreaks because it didn't appeal to me at all. Other than that I have all of his work, and I must say, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy is my favorite Kanye album so far. He shows why he is regarded as one of the best producers in the game. Instrumentally this album is incredible. Of course the rapping is phenomenal as always. Kanye came through in a huge way with this work. It feels truly epic. Favorite Song(s):Dark Fantasy, Devil In a New Dress, or Blame Game.
Why? This album snuck up on me. I read some favorable reviews and I liked what I had heard enough that I decided to go ahead and buy it. After my first play through I thought that it was alright.. nothing too special. But it pulled me in enough that I listened through again, and the second time around I truly fell in love with Forget. I was drawn in by every song. It has a subtle catchiness that I had missed on that first play through. Yellow Balloon really opened me up to the rest of the album. It reminds you of being a child but in a really creepy way. And by the time I had gotten back around through the album again I had already decided it was one of my favorites of the year. Favorite Song(s):Yellow Balloon, Forget, or I Can't Wait
