@The_Glendon’s Top Tracks of Oh-Ten

Yes, this is way overdue, but I’ve only completely changed my life over the last couple months, so sorry. But, without further ado, here are my top tracks of 2010. 

 The rules I applied to myself were: only one track per artist (unless they happened to appear, be featured in, or remixed by, someone else). Also, these are really my most played tracks of the year and apply only to me. And it only places songs I’ve heard. I can’t listen to everything, natch. (Downloads links at the bottom.)

1. Alphabeat - DJ - If 2010 had any theme for me, it was my utter embracement of female-forward pop music. I’m secure enough in my masculinity and heterosexuality that I don’t need to be concerned how this might come off . I can thank a lot of this to my sister (who flooded our house with the likes of Paula Abdul, Wilson Philips and Janet) and also to @eflippin . It’s good to bond over music, and if your significant other thinks a certain type of music or artists is good, then take the time to really see what they like about it. It might help you discover more about that person than the music. I had been digging on Alphabeat for a while, but this song put me over the edge. I listened to it at work, bobbing my head while my partner @DigitalMoFoTomD thought I was crazy. In my car. While I was running. While I was getting ready to go out, when I got home from going out. Anyway, it got played a lot.

2. Kanye West - MONSTER (feat Rick Ross, Jay Z and Niki Minaj) - I’m a huge Kanye fan, he’s up there as one of my favorite artists of all time. So when he started dropping music for his G.O.O.D. Friday platform I was obviously excited. Then this track came out, and it just absolutely crushed it. Now, I wouldn’t even say it’s Kanye’s best song of his new album. I would say Runaway is probably my favorite. But this got played a ton, and we saw the peak of Niki Minaj. She will never top the verse from this track. And it was my favorite verse of any rapper this year. Showing up Kanye, Rick Ross and Jay Z on one track is impressive. However, I think it’s all downhill for her. She’ll never live up to it. I’m just glad Kanye’s back. 

3. Sean Roman - Phone Call - I had never heard of Sean Roman until I downloaded this track from some random music blog. I don’t even remember when or why. But this track just had a stickiness to it that I couldn’t shake. Just the slightest touch of 90’s Chicago house. A couple twisted samples similar to Burial. Just enough bounce to keep it light. 

 4. Aspirations - Get Fcked - This took me back to high school. Raging hard core, but throw in some samples and a chick singer to lighten it up. Aspirations manages to take a song about getting fucked over and turned it into an uptempo track that could be a summer anthem. In fact, it was my summer anthem.

5. jj - My Way - I have a big soft spot for jj. They’re music is so versatile. You just want to be in the sun, drinking somewhere and then all of a sudden you realize what the lyrics are. And it’s that contrast that makes jj special. Dreamy, floaty pop (hell they even have birds chirping in the song) and lyrics that are challenging asking “Who the fuck are you?” A random, perfect Lil Wayne cameo makes it that much better. If only Weezy could stick to jj cameo’s I wouldn’t feel like he’s been slipping.

6. Nika and Rory - LA Suxxx - Another summer anthem for me. The autotuned vocals of Zola Jesus over some washed out synths. And in the crunchy bass and it’s a perfect roof-drinking jam.

7. Big Boi - Shutterbug - Thank god for Big Boi. Seems like he’s the only one keeping big name hip hop fresh these days (outside of Kanye, although I really think he’s on another level). I don’t think Big Boi could have done this as Outcast. Andre 3000 just makes everything too cartoony these days. This will make your head bob off. Hard for me not to think of @pe3imagery when I hear this pop off.

8. Grinderman - Heathen Child - Definitely one of my most played. The video is crazy good too. Nick Cave’s guitar just burns up this track and his sneering, growling vocals are unmatched in 2010. Seems like if he was playing this track live he might bring out a condor on stage or bite the head off a gerbil or something. Vicious.

9. Freddie Gibbs - Fuck the World (National Anthem) - Hip hop is in a precarious place right now. Radio tracks go for the lowest common denominator and there are only a few standouts (see the previous Kanye and Big Boi comments). Then along comes Freddie Gibbs. Only from a place like Gary, Indiana could an artist like Gibbs come out. Forgotten, displaced and just flat out hungry. He demands you to listen. Gibbs has a Tupac flow, Biggie content and an attitude that is all Chicago. Great production on this track too. Whistling while yelling “fuck the world.” Like Peter, Bjorn and John meets the South Side.

10. Luke Roberts - Unspotted Clothes - I had never heard of Luke Roberts until I saw the video for this track. And what an incredible video it is. Reminds of me of some early 90’s fun. Love the clean production of this with the drawn out singing style. Roberts isn’t in a hurry to get anywhere in this track. And that’s why I listened through it so many times.

11. Crystal Castles - Not in Love (Featuring Robert Smith) - I like the new Crystal Castles album. I do. But until this came out it just felt like the same thing. Robert Smith hasn’t done anything this fresh in a long time. I just wish they would team up and do a whole album. The perfect collaboration. 

12. Gucci Mane - Pills (Prince of Ballard remix) - I’m not surprised, but it seems like every song about E is always good. (See !!!’s cover of “Take Ecstasy With Me” and Paper Route Gangstaz “Rollin”) Gucci is unapologetic in his style and marble-mouth flow. But this remix really steps it up. Adds in that 70’s vibe that matches up well with the track. Shout out to @jmclain for sharing in my Gucci love. Burrrrrrr. 

13. R Kelly - Best I Ever Had - As long as R Kelly is releasing music he’ll be on my list. This whole Demo Tape album was incredible. I loved that he just embraced all the young up and comers like Drake, but then proceeded to absolutely crush them on their own tracks. Typical Kells story. Although, I have to believe there’s no way R Kelly can have as much sex for the duration he claims. It just doesn’t seem humanly possible. 

14. Mount Kimbie - Before I Move Off - Another solid album. The whole thing bounces, blips and wobbles along. Warbly, pitched vocal samples add the playfulness that’s the perfect work soundtrack.

15. Matthew Dear - You Put a Smell On Me - I think Matthew Dear is really underrated. Even within indie music it doesn’t seem like he gets as much love as he should. This latest album was a gem. I think this track would particularly frighten my mom. Which of course still means a lot in my book even though I’m not 14 anymore.

16. Escort - Cocaine Blues - Major Rolling Stones vibes coming to me off this one. Plus there’s a solid verse about Chicago. How could I not love it? Would have fit as a summer jam back in 1975 just as much as it did in 2010.

17. Baths - Maximalist - Another great electronic album. Similar to Mount Kimbie it was hard to rate one over the other. Again, chopped up floating vocals. Another album that is perfect to toss on while working.

18. Das Racist - hahahaha j/k - Some of the charm of Das Racist is just how effortless it all seems. Great production with a Days of our Lives sample. Self-referential, great rhymes, turning back on themselves. This jam is the best of the best on the mixtape. 

19. LCD Soundsystem - I Can Change - I’m super bummed LCD is wrapping things up. I just want a new album every other year. Is that too much to ask? Another great full album, and similar to Das Racist, just effortless. This was my fave off the album.

20. TOBACCO - Fresh Hex (ft Beck) - The chopped up Beck vocals and crunchy synths were blasted off my roof at numerous occasions this past summer. 

21. Delorean - Stay Close - Got to see these guys open for Miike Snow at recordBar. I had liked their stuff, but the live show really captured me. Plus seeing @pe3imagery scaring the shit out of a bunch of tiny Spanish dudes was a highlight of the year. Seems like this was always playing as @eflippin and I were driving around Palm Springs at Coachella last spring as well. So that’s a lovely memory too.

22. Zola Jesus - Night - Reminiscent of Q Lazarus. What a great voice. Gotta thank @kckimchi for bolstering my Zola Jesus love.

23. Morgan Page - The Longest Road (Deadmau5 remix) - This was my intro into Morgan Page’s stuff. And that’s all courtesy of @ericcoomes. Plus the chick that sings this is hot. This was on repeat in my headphones at work any day after a long night. A new genre, hangover-house?

24. Major Lazer x La Roux featuring Gucci Mane - I’m Not Your Lemonade + Heroes and Villains Remix - A seemingly unlikely pairing/mash-up/thing just works. Heavy hitting bass on the La Roux section, then shit get’s appropriately messy when Gucci steps in.

25. James Blake - CMYK - This got me excited for the album. Then the album was a bit of a disappointment. But I guess I shouldn’t have expected a Monica and Aaliyah sample on every track. 

26. Rosanna - Waterfall (Fear of Tigers remix) - This goes hand in hand with the Alphabeat notes. A poppy little gem that seems like it could easily have been created by Nina in 1984.

27. Noah and the Whale - Blue Skies (The Twelves remix) - Also on the Coachella driving list, and I know it’s a fave of @eflippin. Kind of hard to be in a pissed off mood when this pops up. The Twelves remix adds a little LCD Soundsystem flavor to really up the track.

28. Pictureplane - Beyond Fantasy - I dig everything Pictureplane puts out. He gets some of that washed out vibe, but the beats hit hard enough that I don’t feel like some SoCal hipster listening to it. Now if he could hook up with fellow-Denver product Pretty Lights and come on tour to Vegas I’d be all set.

29. Neon Indian - Sleep Paralysist - Another group that seems to have to nod to LCD Soundsystem. I dig the subtle horns.

30. Sonnymoon - Houstatlantavegas - Chill, sweet, female-vocal cover of Drake’s stripper anthem. Love the unexpectedness of it and it’s sexy as hell.

31. The Raveonettes - Lust (Trentmoeller remix) - I’m not the hugest Raveonettes fan, but the paired down, moody Trentmoeller take is right up my alley. This gets tacked on to the Sonnymoon track as a good start to any #sextasticplaylist.

32. Jonsi - Boy Lilikoi - The Jonsi album was definitely a successful solo effort. Tracks actually came together in a little more cohesive way than most Sigur Ros albums. And the weird, nature-bird-man look he adopted for the tour was great. One of the highlights of the Coachella trip last year. Love the Tiesto remix as well and it was a toss-up which to put on the list

33. The Units - High Pressure Days (Headman Rework) - Definitely a Devo/Talking Heads vibe on the vocal delivery. I could easily see @zachbrockhouse adding this to his karaoke repertoire. 

34. Ester Dean - Drop it Low (Remix - ft Lil Wayne and Chris Brown) - Club banger. And it was the first track I remember Chris Brown having after the “incident.” And regardless of what kind of guy he might be, he’s uber-talented and I enjoy his stuff. If you didn’t see him on Saturday Night Live it’s worth the time. Best dancer out there. Although @amwalloch can give him a run for his money.

35. The Big Pink - Tonight (Coyote Clean Up Dirty Dub) - From the band responsible for my #1 track last year. They had a remix EP out and this was a nice stand-out off that. Completely different vibe then the band’s sounds. Totally chill as opposed to an ear-drum bombing wall of sound. Gotta love the versatility.

36. Twin Sister - All Around And Away We Go - I don’t know what the deal is with the singer’s accent. But I think that’s what brings this to the next level of goodness. Good track to end the night with.

37. Bit Funk - A Question For You - Seemed like there were a lot of quality Bit Funk remixes this year. And with the build on this track I would say the question is rhetorical by the time the song wraps up.

38. Andreya Triana - A Town Called Obsolete (Mount Kimbie remix) - Tack this one on to Sonnymoon and the Trentmoeller remix for the #sextasticplaylist.

39. Clare Maquire - Ain’t Nobody (Breakage Remix) - Similar to that Zola Jesus track but toss in a little grimy dubstep bass. Where’s Fiona Apple been and can she hurry up and make some magic like this?

40. DiscoTech - The Velvet Underground - Rock & Roll - I could easily drink a six-pack out of the back of a Camaro to this.

41. The ACBs - Be Professional - KC’s own. I regret not getting into the scene as much as I would have liked. But every once in a while I’d stumble on some tracks. This is just a kick-ass track with a nice low-fi production vibe.

42. Robyn - Hang With Me - Not sure if the Laidback Luke remix of Indestructable came out in 2010, but it was a tough call between that one and this original. Another album that was solid all the way through.This started getting a little overplayed for me thanks to the repetitive nature of Vegas radio, but it’s still a nice little pop gem.

43. Rich Boy (ft 607) - Drop (Remix) - Was not expecting this production from Rich Boy, so it definitely made me revisit the former Cash Money soldier.

44. Christopher Wade - Falling In - Initially Wade’s vocals caught me off guard and I wasn’t sure what to think. I think they were just so passive, but the uniqueness really grew on me.

45. BBU - CHI Don’t Dance - Chi’s version of Das Racist? But maybe a little less ironic, and more party. And the Chi references always get me anyway. And it’s an appropriately used Goody Mobb reference.

46. The National - Anyone’s Ghost - Not sure what it was about this album that didn’t grab me as much as previous efforts. But this is vintage stuff and that is certainly a good thing.

47. Stromae - Alors on Danse (Remix feat. Kanye West) - This just seemed like a really odd pairing to Kanye, but it just works.

48. Arcade Fire - We Used to Wait - So this is a good album of course. But similar to The National’s album. It just didn’t fully engrain itself to me. But this track stuck out the most. 

49. Maximum Balloon - Groove Me feat. Theophilus London - Former TV on the Radio-er’s solo effort is a great new addition. And this is definitely my favorite thing Theophilus London’s done. This is the kind of thing Kid Cudi should be doing if he’d get over himself and stop trying to recapture the Crookers remix love.

50. Girl Unit - Wut - Similar to Pictureplane’s vibe. Wut wut wut.

51. TItus Andronicus - A More Perfect Union - Heavy heavy Springsteen influence so of course I love these guys. Hell, they even reference Born To Run in the track. I could do without the speech sample, but this thing has a raw energy that is hard to ignore. I definitely want to catch these guys live. Then we’d really see how they match up to Springsteen.

52. A-Trak x Gucci Mane x Lil Wayne - We Don’t Want No Goblins - The standout track from A-Trak’s Dirty South Dance 2, and another solid addition from Gucci and Wayne. I know everyone’s crazy about the Wayne/Eminem collaboration, but you can keep it. I want some more stuff like this.

53. Gayngs - The Gaudy Side of Town - The indie supergroup lived up to the billing. And you can’t go wrong with the smooth sax.

54. The Wheat Pool - Right Arm - Not sure where I heard about this, but it’s been consistently played all year despite my limited attention to alt-country. If I could only get the catchy gems like this I’ld have to start keeping an ear out more.

55. Pharrell Williams & Uffie - Add Suv (Armand Van Helden remix) - Pharrell’s latest stuff with N.E.R.D. has not been that interesting. But this bouncy party jam is a winner.

56. Rusko - Hold On (feat. Amber Coffman) - I can’t take too much of the womp womp dubstep, but this has just enough of a pop polish to keep it repeatedly enjoyable. Shout out to @jimmykeown for all his dubstep love.

57. Sufjan Stevens - I Walked - I dig the electronic touches on Sufjan’s latest album. I don’t think anything will ever top Illinoise for me, but the guy certainly knows what he’s doing.

58. Daft Punk - Derezzed - This was really the only thing off the Tron soundtrack that could come off as a single. I know everyone was expecting the next great Daft Punk album, and so was I, but looking back, the soundtrack should have just been expected for what it was. Still dig this track, but in the legacy of Daft Punk it’s probably not going to be in the top 25.

59. Gucci Mane - Dope Boys (Bird Peterson Remix) - Loved Bird Peterson’s mixtape Drankenstein. This is the stand out track from that. And it just firms it up that pretty much any Gucci remix is going to get lots of play by me.

60. Massive Attack (feat Hope Sandoval) - Paradise Circus (Gui Boratto Remix) - I have a huge crush on Hope Sandoval’s vocals here. And the minimal Gui Boratto style is perfect for a remix.

61. Sensual Harrassment - Fever - Yeah, it’s another chillwave track, but it picks up the pace a little and has some nice 80’s keyboards roaming around. Plus points for an awesome band name.

62. Perfume Genius - Mr. Peterson - This song is haunting and creepy. Reminds me of early Sufjan Stevens. I dig.

63. Mark McGuire - Brain Storm (for Erin) - I loathe the steroid-pumping, drooling Cardinal-fan-fave baseball player Mark McGuire. On the other hand, I really dig this. Chill, but builds up nicely. Holy Fuck-ish.

64. The Hundred In The Hands - Gigantic Tom Tom - How has this not been in a commercial? Has it been in a commercial? Sounds like something that would be in a Pert Plus or Kindle ad. And Kindle, if you can use the same music as Pert Plus then you fail as a brand. Regardless, I like this track. Until I see it in a commercial.

65. Free Energy - Bang Pop - This has that old-school indie sensibility to it that I love. Like Matthew Sweet reincarnated. Plus the video is awesome. 

66. Royksopp - Silver Cruiser - Another gem from Royksopp that’s perfect to work to.

67. Skrillex - Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites - Another great work track, but in a different i-must-get-shit-done way. Winner for lamest track name. Seriously, the track name almost makes me not like this song.

68. Crookers - Tee-Pee Theme (featuring Drop the Lime) - One of my fave tracks off last year’s Crookers album. Super short coming in at 1:40, but any longer and it probably wouldn’t work.

69. Boys Noize - Yeah - I really wanted to put the Boys Noize track “1010” on the list, but “Yeah” kept winning for me. Oh well, I’ll just have “1010” be the @1010_Collective theme song.

70. Brandon Flowers - Welcome To Fabulous Las Vegas - I have the list close out just like I had my personal life close out 2010. KC was fun and I am going to/currently miss all my friends. But the bright lights (and @eflippin) couldn’t have me away any longer. As for the song, I guess it’s the meaning of it that I like. I don’t really like the track compared to some of the others off Brandon Flower’s solo album. But the album was promising and I’ll take any new Killers-related stuff that comes out.

Downloads:

Tracks 1-23

Tracks 24-46

Tracks 47-70

Enjoy. And I’m already working on 2011. Or Oh-Eleven.