Tops of 2010

#20 - 1

20. K'naan

"Waving Flag (World Cup Theme)"

A decent rework of a great song, even if it was for Coke. And even if Spain ruined Germany. Again. It still hurts.

19. Janelle Monae

"Cold War"

All-out assaults like this snap you out of it, whatever it is.

18. Twin Sister

"All Around & Away We Go"

Light.

17. Blood Diamonds

"Heart"

Another successful instance of the chipmunk voice. Alvin, Simon....Theodore!

16. Shad

"Rose Garden"

Shad is agreeable. Great foundational sample. Glen Beck better duck!

15. Four Tet

"Love Cry"

Love Cry makes you anxious. Even at 9 minutes, it's not long enough for you to find out what happens.

14. Caribou

"Odessa"

Approaching Hot Chip territory, on purpose.

13. Sufjan Stevens

"Too Much"

Survive the intro and be richly rewarded.

12. Sleigh Bells

"Tell 'Em"

I'm one to regard most things loud as obnoxious. Not this. They were too big for the stage at Coachella.

11. Yelawolf

"Pop the Trunk"

I miss my Deliverance-era Bubba Sparxxx, and holy macaroni does this fill in nicely.

10. Hot Chip

"One Life Stand"

Modern sweet.

9. Ol' Dirty Bastard & Ludacris

"Coochie"

Think about this right after he got out signed with Def Jam: "Got somethin' to prove I done got my groove back and all in the news//But papa got a brand new weed bag and some new blue suede shoes//I got another pep in my step, and a whole new glide in my stride//Sixty thousand on my neck and a million dollar look in my eye//And then she thought about it twice and said I can hit again//And I been waitin' for this moment since I got out the pen!" R.I.P.

8. Robyn

"Include me Out"

No other artist could make this beat sound so good, and no other beat makes Robyn sound so good.

7. Ray Lamontagne

"Beg Steal Borrow"

Classic guitar riff and (gasp) meaningful coming-of-age lyrics.

6. Mayer Hawthorne

"Your Easy Lovin' Ain't Pleasin' Nothin'"

Is it racist if you're surprised he's white?

5. Delorean

"Stay Close"

If this can't warm you up, go to the doctor.

4. Tame Impala

"Solitude is Bliss"

Everytime something is tagged as "psychedelic rock," I hope it sounds like this.

3. LCD Soundsystem

"All I Want"

It'll be at the top of most lists. Best of Coachella moment. Bowie loved it.

2. Gorillaz

"On Melancholly Hill"

I'm old enough now to know that this is a classic. Meaghan, remember that day at your lake on your birthday?

1. Hawksley Workman

"We'll Make Time"

His full vocal range is on display, not to mention his lung capacity. Builds from hushed chants to the most epic climax of 2010.

Intro #100-81 #80-61 #60-41 #40-21 #20-1

# 40 - 21

40. Jonsi

"Go Do"

SO much happier than the average Sigur Ros track. Bilbo could play this at his going-away party in The Shire.

39. Broken Social Scene

"All to All"

If you find yourself out biking and you need to beat a thunderstorm home, this will get you there.

38. Cults

"Go Outside"

The messages in Kindergarten sing-a-longs are no less true today. Put away your toys. Go outside.

37. Tennis

"Marathon"

Could be Best Coast for all I know, and I though it was until I looked at my iPod in San Fransisco.

36. Wale

"The Problem"

He stays "hungry as a plastic hippopotamus," self-conscious about criticism and low sales. I think it brings out his best.

35. Factor & Ron Contour

"Prairie Wind"

This whole album is tight. Factor and Ron AKA Moka Only, keep em comin'.

34. The Books

"Free Translator"

The Books are a more stable Ween. They can do a lot, but they don't try it unless they can do it well. If you have one of those Iron & Wine moments from high school, try this instead.

33. The Sheepdogs

"I Don't Know"

Best of Ness Creek moment from Saskatoon staples. AND there's a proper video!

32. Vampire Weekend

"Horchata"

I'm always suspicious when I like the same thing as every teenager in the world. But whatever.

31. LCD Soundsystem

"Dance YrSelf Clean"

If you salivated the first time you pressed play on This is Happening, this did not disappoint. The cow bell lulls you into a false sense of security before you get assaulted with e'rything.

30. Swollen Members

"Reclaim the Throne"

Same scenario as above, except the rest of the album is...... Well, on this you remember why Mad Child's your favourite tough guy to root for.

29. Kanye West

"Runaway"

The ironic toasts when it's on in public only make it better.

28. Delorean

"Real Love"

25+ degree? Check. Frisbee? Check.

27. Champion

"My Black Saab"

Crazy progression. Plus I always wanted a Saab.

26. Gorillaz

"Rhinestone Eyes"

Your rhinestone eyes are like factories far away... plus an elaborate Coachella show.

25. September Long

"Bigger Than Jesus"

The angelic vocals of Graham Walker, smooth bass of Matt Bakken, tick-tock of Chris Loopkey and 6-string mastery of Ryan Rogal. All Saskatoon.

24. Broken Bells

"The High Road"

The high road is hard to find.

23. Julian Lynch

"In New Jersey"

If a ghost played the banjo.....

22. Hawksley Workman

"Who Do They Kiss?"

Maybe it's just for grad students, but when school makes me sad this is a go-to.

21. Holy Fuck

"Stilettos"

Louis could not hold this in. My ears were ringing for a week.

Intro #100-81 #80-61 #60-41 #40-21 #20-1

# 60 - 41

60. Fang Island

"Daisy"

If I had a psychedelic choir I'd make them sing this.

59. Holy Fuck

"Stay Lit"

Definitely their most chill piece so far. It's like a dying keyboard calling for help.

58. Caribou

"Leave House (Motor City Drum Ensemble Remix)"

Listening to it again makes we want to bump it up the list. "Bring us back together" times infinity. This builds up handsomely.

57. Flying Lotus

"MmmHmm"

One of the few pieces of vinyl I own is a DJ Krush album; this could have come from that.

56. Girl Talk

"That's Right"

It's always tough to take a Girl Talk song out of context, that is, out of the album. But the Spacehog "In the Meantime" sample with Fat Joe over it makes it a standalone.