Tuesday 30 December 2014

Wet Thud's Mid-Decade Report: The Top 50 Albums of 2010-2014 (#25 - #1)






025. Black Lips Arabia Mountain (Vice, 2011)
Sixth record from the Atlanta garage rockers.

Key tracks: "Go Out and Get It", "New Direction", "Modern Art", "Family Tree", "Raw Meat"



024. M83 Hurry Up, We're Dreaming (Naïve, 2011)
Sixth studio album from French electro producer, Anthony Gonzalez.

Key tracks: "Midnight City", "Reunion", "Intro", "OK Pal", "Steve McQueen", "Wait"



023. Kendrick Lamar Good Kid, M.A.A.D. City (Top Dawg/Aftermath/Interscope, 2012)
Second studio release from Compton rapper Kendrick Lamar.

Key tracks: "The Recipe" [f. Dr. Dre], "Swimming Pools (Drank)", "Backseat Freestyle", "Poetic Justice" [f. Drake], "Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe"



022. Perfume Genius Too Bright (Matador, 2014)
Third album from the indie piano man.

Key tracks: "Queen", "Grid", "Fool", "Longpig"



021. Grimes Visions (Arbutus/4AD, 2012)
Debut record, made entirely in Garageband, from the Canadian singer/songwriter.

Key tracks: "Oblivion", "Genesis", "Nightmusic" [f. Majical Cloudz]



020. Jagwar Ma Howlin' (Mom + Pop, 2013)
Psychedelic debut full of grooves from the Australian trio.

Key tracks: "The Throw", "Come Save Me", "Man I Need", "Uncertainty"



019. The Vaccines What Did You Expect From The Vaccines? (Columbia, 2011)
Debut from West London indie rock band is wall-to-wall singalongs.

Key tracks: "Wreckin' Bar (Ra Ra Ra)", "Blow It Up", "Post Break-Up Sex", "If You Wanna", "All in White", "Nørgaard", "Wetsuit"



018. Kanye West Yeezus (Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam, 2013)
Kanye's sixth is a punk rock hip-hop anti-album.

Key tracks: "Blood on the Leaves", "New Slaves", "Black Skinhead", "Bound 2", "On Sight"



017. Sky Ferreira Night Time, My Time (Capitol, 2013)
American singer-songwriter finally delivers her first long-player after a string of teaser singles.

Key tracks: "You're Not the One", "I Blame Myself", "24 Hours", "Nobody Asked Me (If I Was Okay)", "Omanko"



016. Hot Chip One Life Stand (Parlophone, 2010)
Fourth studio album from British electro dance band.

Key tracks: "One Life Stand", "I Feel Better", We Have Love", "Brothers"



015. Lykke Li I Never Learn (LL/Atlantic, 2014)
Swedish singer turns in her most personal songs on her third collection.

Key tracks: "No Rest For The Wicked", "Gunshot", "Love Me Like I'm Not Made of Stone", "I Never Learn"



014. Young Galaxy Ultramarine (Paper Bag, 2013)
Fourth record from Vancouver indie pop outfit.

Key tracks: "Pretty Boy", "New Summer", "Fall For You"



013. Run The Jewels Run The Jewels 2 (Mass Appeal/Sony RED, 2014)
Second release from the collected efforts of Killer Mike and El-P.

Key tracks: "Close Your Eyes (And Count To Fuck)" [f. Zach De La Rocha], "Blockbuster Night Part 1", "Oh My Darling, Don't Cry", "Love Again (Akinyele Back)" [f. Gangsta Boo]



012. Daft Punk Random Access Memories (Daft Life/Columbia, 2013)
Fourth studio album from the French robots, and a host of friends.

Key tracks: "Get Lucky" [f. Nile Rodgers & Pharrell], "Doin' It Right" [f. Panda Bear], "Touch" [f. Paul Williams], "Instant Crush" [f. Julian Casablancas], Lose Yourself to Dance [f. Pharrell]



011. The National Trouble Will Find Me (4AD, 2013)
The sixth full-length from The National was their most successful to date.

Key tracks: "Graceless", "I Should Live in Salt", "Demons", "Pink Rabbits", "Don't Swallow the Cap", "Sea of Love", "I Need My Girl"



010. Disclosure Settle (PMR/Island, 2013)
English brothers Howard and Guy Lawrence offer a veritable tour of the UK underground dance scene, with a slough of guest appearances along the way.

Key tracks: "Latch" [f. Sam Smith], "Help Me Lose My Mind" [f. London Grammar], "White Noise" [f. AlunaGeorge], "When a Fire Starts to Burn", "Confess to Me" [f. Jessie Ware], "F for You", "You & Me" [f. Eliza Doolittle], "Voices" [f. Sasha Keable] 



009. PJ Harvey Let England Shake (Island, 2011)
The Mercury-Prize winning eighth studio album from Polly Jean Harvey.

Key tracks: "The Last Living Rose", "The Words that Maketh Murder", "Let England Shake", "The Glorious Land", "The Colour of the Earth"



008. Frank Ocean Channel Orange (Def Jam, 2012)
The studio debut from Odd Future's Frank Ocean ushered in a new era of indie R&B, sometimes dubbed PBR&B.

Key tracks: "Thinkin Bout You", "Pyramids", "Bad Religion", "Sweet Life", "Lost", "Super Rich Kids" [f. Earl Sweatshirt]



007. Arcade Fire The Suburbs (Merge, 2010)
The Grammy-winning third album from one of Montreal's most famous exports.

Key tracks: "Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)", "We Used to Wait", "The Suburbs", "Ready to Start", "Month of May", "City with No Children", "Speaking in Tongues"



006. The Drums The Drums (Moshi Moshi/Island, 2010)
Surf-tinged debut from Brooklyn indie pop band.

Key tracks: "Me and the Moon", "Let's Go Surfing", "Down by the Water", "Best Friend", "Forever and Ever Amen"



005. Vampire Weekend Modern Vampires of the City (XL, 2013)
LP3 from indie rock troupe out of New York City.

Key tracks: "Hannah Hunt", "Step", "Diane Young", "Ya Hey", "Unbelievers"



004. Kindness World, You Need A Change Of Mind (Female Energy, 2012)
First full-length album from English producer, Adam Bainbridge.

Key tracks: "That's Alright", "Gee Up", "House", "Swingin' Party", "Cyan", "SEOD"



003. Robyn Body Talk (Konichiwa, 2010)
Pop music as devastating as it is danceable.

Key tracks: "Dancing On My Own", "Call Your Girlfriend", "Hang with Me", "Love Kills", "Indestructible", "Dancehall Queen", "U Should Know Better" [f. Snoop Dogg]



002. Kanye West My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam, 2010)
Yeezy's redemption after a less-enthusiastically loved fourth album, and ill-received run-in with Taylor Swift at the VMAs.

Key tracks: "Runaway" [f. Pusha T], "All of the Lights" [f. Rihanna], "Monster" [f. Jay Z, Rick Ross, Nicki Minaj & Bon Iver], "POWER" [f. Dwele] 



001. LCD Soundsystem This Is Happening (DFA, 2010)
Few acts have the guts to quit while they're on top. The best band of the past decade did just that, and with a swan song as good as this, who could blame them? James Murphy and his LCD Soundsystem released the best album of 2010, and five years on, it remains the best the decade has to offer.

Key tracks: "All I Want", "Dance Yrself Clean", "I Can Change", "Drunk Girls", "Home", "Pow Pow"






*** text-only version of the list ***

###. Artist Album Title (Record Label, Year of Release)

050. Warpaint Warpaint (Rough Trade, 2014)
049. Austra Feel It Break (Paper Bag, 2011)
048. Big Boi Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son Of Chico Dusty (Purple Ribbon/Def Jam, 2010)
047. !!! Thr!!!er (Warp, 2013)
046. Tanlines Mixed Emotions (True Panther, 2012)
045. Girls Father, Son, Holy Ghost (True Panther, 2011)
044. Washed Out Within And Without (Sub Pop, 2011)
043. Lykke Li Wounded Rhymes (LL/Atlantic, 2011)
042. Suede Bloodsports (Suede, 2013)
041. PS I Love You Death Dreams (Paper Bag, 2012)
040. Perfume Genius Put Your Back N 2 It (Matador, 2012)
039. Sleigh Bells Treats (Mom + Pop/N.E.E.T., 2010)
038. Damon Albarn Everyday Robots (Parlophone, 2014)
037. Azealia Banks Broke With Expensive Taste (Prospect Park, 2014)
036. Beach House Bloom (Sub Pop, 2012)
035. Cut/Copy Zonoscope (Modular, 2011)
034. The War On Drugs Lost In The Dream (Secretly Canadian, 2014)
033. The Black Keys El Camino (Nonesuch, 2011)
032. Drake Take Care (Young Money/Cash Money/Republic, 2011)
031. FKA Twigs LP1 (Young Turks, 2014)
030. Tame Impala Lonerism (Modular, 2012)
029. Yeasayer Odd Blood (Secretly Canadian, 2010)
028. Arcade Fire Reflektor (Merge, 2013)
027. St. Vincent St. Vincent (Loma Vista/Republic, 2014)
026. The National High Violet (4AD, 2010)
025. Black Lips Arabia Mountain (Vice, 2011)
024. M83 Hurry Up, We're Dreaming (Naïve, 2011)
023. Kendrick Lamar Good Kid, M.A.A.D. City (Top Dawg/Aftermath/Interscope, 2012)
022. Perfume Genius Too Bright (Matador, 2014)
021. Grimes Visions (Arbutus/4AD, 2012)
020. Jagwar Ma Howlin' (Mom + Pop, 2013)
019. The Vaccines What Did You Expect From… (Columbia, 2011)
018. Kanye West Yeezus (Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam, 2013)
017. Sky Ferreira Night Time, My Time (Capitol, 2013)
016. Hot Chip One Life Stand (Parlophone, 2010)
015. Lykke Li I Never Learn (LL/Atlantic, 2014)
014. Young Galaxy Ultramarine (Paper Bag, 2013)
013. Run The Jewels Run The Jewels 2 (Mass Appeal/Sony RED, 2014)
012. Daft Punk Random Access Memories (Daft Life/Columbia, 2013)
011. The National Trouble Will Find Me (4AD, 2013)
010. Disclosure Settle (PMR/Island, 2013)
009. PJ Harvey Let England Shake (Island, 2011)
008. Frank Ocean Channel Orange (Def Jam, 2012)
007. Arcade Fire The Suburbs (Merge, 2010)
006. The Drums The Drums (Moshi Moshi/Island, 2010)
005. Vampire Weekend Modern Vampires Of The City (XL, 2013)
004. Kindness World, You Need A Change Of Mind (Female Energy, 2012)
003. Robyn Body Talk (Konichiwa, 2010)
002. Kanye West My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam, 2010)
001. LCD Soundsystem This Is Happening (DFA, 2010)

Wet Thud's Mid-Decade Report: The Top 50 Albums of 2010-2014



A mid-decade report may seem unnecessary, and really it is. But let's be honest--come the tail end of 2019, we dweeby music-list-making-types will most certainly be busy counting down our favourite whatevers of the past twenty years, and so while we can, we must acknowledge this non-occasion for what it's worth. Virtually nothing. Here's a look at Wet Thud's favourite fifty albums from the first half of the decade…

050. Warpaint Warpaint (Rough Trade, 2014)
Second album from the California four-piece.

Key tracks: "Love Is To Die", "Disco//very", "Keep It Healthy"



049. Austra Feel It Break (Paper Bag, 2011)
Debut record from Toronto art-pop group.

Key tracks: "Beat and the Pulse", "Lose It", "Spellwork"



048. Big Boi Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty (Purple Ribbon/Def Jam, 2010)
First solo release from the less flamboyant half of OutKast.

Key tracks: "Shutterbugg" [f. Cutty], "Follow Us" [f. Vonnegutt], "Shine Blockas" [f. Gucci Mane], "Fo Yo Sorrows" [f. Too Short, George Clinton & Sam Chris], "General Patton", "You Ain't No DJ" [f. Yelawolf], "The Train Pt. 2 (Sir Lucious Left Foot Saves The Day)" [f. Sam Chris]



047. !!! Thr!!!er (Warp, 2013)
Album number five from the American dance-punk collective.

Key tracks: "Slyd", "One Girl/One Boy"



046. Tanlines Mixed Emotions (True Panther, 2012)
Debut record following a couple of successful EPs for the indie pop duo.

Key tracks: "Brothers", "All Of Me", "Not The Same"



045. Girls Father, Son, Holy Ghost (True Panther, 2011)
Christopher Owens' final release under the Girls moniker.

Key tracks: "Vomit", "Honey Bunny", "Hey Ma", "Love Like A River"



044. Washed Out Within and Without (Sub Pop, 2011)
The first album from Ernest Greene's indie-electropop Washed Out project.

Key tracks: "You and I", "Eyes Be Closed", "Amor Fati", "A Dedication"



043. Lykke Li Wounded Rhymes (LL/Atlantic, 2011)
Sophomore record from the Swedish singer/songwriter.

Key tracks: "Get Some", "I Follow Rivers", "Sadness Is A Blessing", "Youth Know No Pain"



042. Suede Bloodsports (Suede, 2013) 
Darlings of British glam rock back after a decade off with a return to form.

Key tracks: "Barriers", "It Starts and Ends with You", "Hit Me", "For The Strangers"



041. PS I Love You Death Dreams (Paper Bag, 2012)
Second full-length from Canadian noise rock duo.

Key tracks: "Princess Towers", "Toronto", "Saskatoon", "Sentimental Dishes"



040. Perfume Genius Put Your Back N 2 It (Matador, 2011)
Second release from Seattle's Mike Hadreas.

Key tracks: "All Waters", "Hood", "Dark Parts", "Take Me Home", "Normal Song"



039. Sleigh Bells Treats (Mom + Pop/N.E.E.T., 2010)
Debut record from Brooklyn noise pop duo.

Key tracks: "Tell 'Em", "Infinity Guitars", "Rill Rill", "Riot Rhythm"



038. Damon Albarn Everyday Robots (Parlophone, 2014)
First solo record from Blur/Gorillaz frontman.

Key tracks: "Everyday Robots", "Lonely Press Play", "Mr. Tembo", "Heavy Seas Of Love"



037. Azealia Banks Broke with Expensive Taste (Prospect Park, 2014)
Much-delayed first long-player from the Harlem rapper.

Key tracks: "212" [f. Lazy Jay], "Yung Rapunxel", "Heavy Metal and Reflective", "Chasing Time", "Ice Princess", "Soda"



036. Beach House Bloom (Sub Pop, 2012)
Fourth studio album from Baltimore dream pop band.

Key tracks: "Myth", "Lazuli", "Wishes", "Other People", "The Hours"



035. Cut/Copy Zonoscope (Modular, 2011)
Third record from the Australian electro group.

Key tracks: "Take Me Over", "Need You Now", "Blink and You'll Miss a Revolution", "Sun God"



034. The War on Drugs Lost in the Dream (Secretly Canadian, 2014)
Third release from Philadelphia-based guitar rock outfit.

Key tracks: "Red Eyes", "Under the Pressure", "Burning", "Eyes to the Wind"



033. The Black Keys El Camino (Nonesuch, 2011)
Seventh long-player from the Ohio blues rock duo.

Key tracks: "Lonely Boy", "Gold on the Ceiling", "Dead and Gone", "Run Right Back"

032. Drake Take Care (Young Money/Cash Money/Republic, 2011)
Sophomore studio album from the Toronto rapper.

Key tracks: "Marvin's Room", "Headlines", "Make Me Proud" [f. Nicki Minaj], "The Motto", "Take Care" [f. Rihanna], "HYFR (Hell Yeah Fucking Right)" [f. Lil' Wayne], "Crew Love" [f. The Weeknd], "Lord Knows" [f. Rick Ross]



031. FKA twigs LP1 (Young Turks, 2014)
Debut full-length from British songstress.

Key tracks: "Two Weeks", "Pendulum", "Video Girl"



030. Tame Impala Lonerism (Modular, 2012)
Second release from Australian psych rockers.

Key tracks: "Elephant", "Feels Like We Only Go Backwards", "Apocalypse Dreams", "Mind Mischief"



029. Yeasayer Odd Blood (Secretly Canadian, 2010)
Second record from the experimental Brooklyn group.

Key tracks: "O.N.E.", "I Remember", "Madder Red", "Ambling Alp"



028. Arcade Fire Reflektor (Merge, 2013)
Fourth album from globe-conquering Canadian indie band.

Key tracks: "Afterlife", "Reflektor", "We Exist", "Flashbulb Eyes", "You Already Know"



027. St. Vincent St. Vincent (Loma Vista/Republic, 2014)
Record number four to come from gifted guitarist Annie Clark and her art rock alter-ego, St. Vincent.

Key tracks: "Birth in Reverse", "Digital Witness", "Prince Johnny", "Regret"



026. The National High Violet (4AD, 2010)
The fifth full-length from the Cincinnati-via-Brooklyn indie darlings.

Key tracks: "Bloodbuzz Ohio", "Anyone's Ghost", "Terrible Love", "Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks"