Who is the frontrunner for 2k10 Album of the Year?


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Tue, 2010-06-08 12:31 | by Carles

Can't believe 2k10 is 'flying by.' So many album cycles, but no real 'clear cut album of 2k10 fave' just yet. Feel like we are still waiting for the buzzosphere to 'officially cream their pants' abt 1 album, but no single album has been 'good enough' to warrant mass spoogage. Really wish we had a 'gold standard' of 2k10, because as of right now, it is like we are all worshiping different Gods, valuing different versions of 'divine truth.'

Maybe we took for granted 2k9. I feel like that was possibly the 'peak' of the blogosphere, back when we had tons of positive vibes to share, and we weren't looking to tear down old indie bands like we are in 2k10. 2k10 seems really 'defensive' like we are protecting some the idea of some era that might never have existed, and hesitantly waiting for a new album that transcends our existences. Every time an album fails to come thru, we can't help but have a huge meltdown, reflecting on better days.

Do u think 2k10 has been a 'good year' for music or a 'shitty year'?
What has changed between 2k9 and 2k10?
Will 2k11 be a better year because
What are the chances that these relevant albums will win album of the year?

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MGMT - Congratulations

Seems 'impossible' that any website would mortgage their brand to 'take a stand' for this album. Even if people took the 'radical approach' and tried to make it sound like a masterpiece, it still wouldn't really be believable.

More than likely, this will be named the 'biggest flop' of 2k10, and it will enable websites to write overly in-depth articles about 'how and why' MGMT 'went wrong.' Like this album will be a case study on 'how not to manage sophomore release.' Feel like a lot of indie bands will study this flop, and do their best to make fans happy instead of writing a 'far out, trippy album.'

IS MGMT's album 'the worst album of 2k10'?

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Beach House - Teen Dream

Beach House seems to have 'delivered', and will probably be a 'Top 5 lock' just because it is 'their time' to become Tier 1 alt celebs. I think their product is generally consistent, and they produce buzz mp3s on schedule, so they deserve to be rewarded. Much like we honor McDonalds with our business for providing a consistent product, we honors Beach House for serving us adequately every 2 years.

Does n e 1 know if Beach House is a 'band' or just 1/2 people?

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Toro Y Moi - Causers of This

Wonder how this album will 'do' at the end of the year. I think Chaz Bundick probably needs to release another EP towards the end of 2k10 to 'remind every1 about his brand.' Worried that people might forget about chillwave era buzz mp3s by 2k10.9.

This album seems like it could 'finish anywhere.' Feel excited and scared. I think his brand has 'gotten stronger' since the album release, so maybe if he releases a few more music videos or EPs, people will still feel excited about the brand, and have a positive memory of his album.

Is the chillwave era 'dead' or just 'dormant'/'hibernating'?
Will formal music critics care about chillwave, or are they just looking forward to writing about Neon Indian in 2k11, and how he outgrew the chillwave genre?

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The National - not sure what the name of their album is
People apparently 'really like this band' or something. Not sure what they sound like. I'm sure they will end up in some top 10 lists since people find them to be meaningful, but also those same people might just go with the Arcade Fire instead.

Is the National for Cool Dads?

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Panda Bear - TOMBOY

Hope this album saves 2k10...
Worried...
What if it doesn't?
What if this album 'shatters' the AnCo brand?
What if AnCo kicks out Pandy if he shatters their brand?
What if Pandy becomes more relevant than AnCo because he makes their brand obsolete...
So much riding on this album...
Hope it delivers
or else...
not sure what's gonna happen.

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Arcade Fire - The Suburbs

Feel like this album might actually be 'undeniably good' or 'just a perpetuation of their brand.' Feel scared to listen to it, and reconnect with my indie roots from 2k5. Feel like I might learn some things about myself that I might not be ready to learn. Afraid of the Arcade Fires, like they might be the manifestation of some indie devil from the pits of indie hell.

Is the new Arcade Fire album gonna 'deliver' and take us on a fun, meaningful ride, or will we give it the MGMT treatment?
Is Canadian Indie rock 'dead' in 2k9?
Is the Arcade Fire pretty 'meh' to u?

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M.I.A. - /\/\/\Y/\

I think this will probably the 'most interesting' album review opportunities of 2k10, since you get to talk about all of the external forces surrounding her album, then u get to talk about how the music 'didn't live up to her message.' Ultimately a pretty funy process of being hollow. I feel like if you are making a top 100 list, you should probably put this in the 99 or 100 slot just to 'send a message' and be controversial. That is usually the best meme.

Will M.I.A. be remembered positively?
Does n e 1 really 'like' M.I.A.?
Do u feel worried for M.I.A., like she already 'used up her memes' before her album was released?
Did she metaphorically 'blow her load' too prematurely, or will she provide us with a 'cum fiesta' of controversial memes?

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WAVVES - King of the Beach

Not sure what vibe WAVVES will go for in his next album. Either he will go 'fuzzy buzz beach wave' or he will go 'sample based drug culture core.' Not sure how critical reaction will go, but seems like it has the chance to 'be definitive' if TOMBOY flops and we need another bro to chill with. Also capitalizes on the chillwave silence of 2k10. Really hope 2k11 gets here so that chillwave can 'evolve.'

Might be too 'dank wave' if he doesn't 'take a major step' with his new Mountain Dew MP3.
Feel like AnCo is 'premium weed' and Wavves is sorta like dank schwag.

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Best Coast - Crazy For You

It seems like people can either select Beach House or Best Coast. I wonder if both of the 'front women' are better served in the indiesphere by having a band name as their moniker, as opposed to just going by their real name. Maybe Feist represents the middle ground, because u weren't really sure if that was her name, or if it was her band or something. I wonder if Best Coast's album will be 'critically acclaimed' or just be sort of a second tier indie album that provides us with mp3s that we have already heard.

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Best Coast and WAVVES relationship
(Note: couldn't find a picture of them so just googled 'punk rock couple')

Couldn't find a picture of them, but hope they continue to take their public relationship to the next level. Really want them to generate some memes. Maybe start a blog where they can provide us with recipes for baked goods with weed baked into them.

They just need to come up with a name 4 their relationship [via Bennifer / Green Aggs and Ham]

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Ratatat - LP4

Sounded 2 much like their other albums. Feel like they might get a 'sympathetic' top 100, but putting them in ur top 10 list would make u seem super entry level. Can't believe they were so irrelevant/forgettable. What a 'disaster.'

Worried that Ratatat's career is 'over'.

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Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti - Before Today

Feel like this album is a 'lock' to be a top 5 album on most lists, with most journalists taking the opportunity to explore their relationship with lofi music. Album is pretty decent, but 2k10 is a 'weak year' and this album has been critically successful just because Ariel did 10 years of ground work before this album.

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Janelle Monae - The ArchAndroid

Every year, I think there has to be one African American female who is considered 'critically relevant' in the indiesphere. Feel like it is usually Erykah Badu, but this year it might be this girl because she is young, and a blipster. Not sure why this type of stuff 'gets into the indiesphere' because indie music is typically segregated, then there are random black artists who 'get let in the door.' Seems weird. Not sure who controls this stuff, but maybe it is SEO driven.

Do yall think the indiesphere is 'segregated'?
Who is the most authentic African American indie female?
Does any1 know why The Roots / Jay-Z / Andre 3000 / Outkast / Erykah Badu get 'indie coverage'?
Do u wish Pitchfork segregated their site and just launched an African-American hip-hop targeted content stream?
Do u think they could make mad $$$$ via streetwear advertisers if they did that?

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Joanna Newsom - Have One On Me

Ultimately 'pretty boring' and would be suicide for a website to put this in their top 10. More than likely, it will usually finish in the 7-15 range, and have a blurb written about how 'even though the album isn't approachable, it is still a marvelous effort.' If you are going to pick 1-2 women to be in your top 10, I think Beach House + Best Coast are better picks to 'brand ur site' as being buzzworthy and relevant. Joanna Newsom's fan base has already reached its upper limit, and you aren't really gonna acquire new readers by 'pointing them towards fun, buzzworthy new music.'

Is Joanna Newsom the most boring album of 2k10?
Will people remember this album, or did u already forget abt her?

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Vampire Weekend - Contra

Remember when this album came out on January 12, and it sorta 'kicked off' 2k10? Feel like it is possibly 'too mainstream' [via album sales. Maybe it would be chill to put it in the top 10, and write about how it was a 'solid work' and it 'shouldn't be overlooked just because they achieved mainstream success.'

I feel most excited about Vampire Weekend's 3rd album. I sorta hope that they all add 20 lbs of muscle mass, and start dressing like the Kings of Leon just to really 'take their market appeal to the next level.'

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She & Him - Volume 2

Really want to meet some people who say that She & Him is the best band/album of 2k10. Feel like they would be moderately overweight girls who wear halter tops, don't have boyfriends, and have 'girls night outs' surrounding indie concerts / music festivals.

Worried that they will never find a man who can make them happy.
Should Zooey Deschanel 'go solo' or perhaps form a band with her husband, Benjammin Gibbard.

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LCD Soundsystem - This is Happening

I would say the frontrunner for album of the year is probaby LCD Soundsystem's album. Their band brand isn't really too 'mainstream' like a Vampy Weekend type of band, but they still have 'credibility' due to their previous releases. I think it also helps that their album is theoretically 'upbeat' so that when people want to remember 2k10, they will say, 'oh yea, i guess that was nice. Guess 2k10 tried its best.'

I feel like maybe the blogosphere will just give LCD Soundsystem album of the year just more of a 'lifetime achievement award', kind of like when Martin Scorcese won the Oscar for "The Departed" even though that movie was a pile of poop / wasn't as good as all of the other movies that he directed. James Murphy has spent a while putting out solid mp3s, and since it is a weak year without a 'definitive album', we might as well use this opportunity to 'give him a prize'. Might not be his best album, but whatevz. Let's hand it to him, give him 2k10's album of the year.

Wonder if the JAMES MURPHY THEORY will manifest itself.

What will be the best album of 2k10?
Who will critics 'love' in the 2k10 album of the year race?
What albums did u listen to the most in 2k10?
Was 2k9 'the best year of music' in the history of time, or is it time to 'let it go'?
Will Panda Bear / the Arcade Fire save 2k10?
Can u believe we are basically half way done with 2k10, and there isn't a 'definitive album' out yet?
Will a new buzzband like the XX/WashedOut/Neon Indian emerge in 2k10?
How can 2k10 be saved?
Do u believe in the James Murphy Theory?