Best Music of 2010 (6-10) + 1

So I screwed up. I was listening to Jonsi last night and realized I absolutely love his album. So I surreptitiously moved it from 17 to 11. But that doesn't do it justice in my mind and I am rectifying that right now.

6. Jonsi-Go, 82

At first I though Go was Sigur Ros, but less so. But as I became enraptured with the final four tracks, I saw much more. They have wave after wave of crashing sound, glorious strings, and bright vocals. I simply cannot stop listening to Kolnidur and Hengilas. Hengilas makes me feel as if I'm standing alone in Sainte Chappelle, surrounded only by pure beauty. Truly wonderful stuff.

7. David Ford-Let The Hard Times Roll, 78

David Ford is one of my all-time favorites. His music is brutally honest and vulnerable. He exudes joy and passion on the stage. He's creative and unbelievably talented. "Panic" is a ripping diatribe of all sorts of things. "Making Up For Lost Time" is classically lovelorn, but littered with wry humor and an aw 'shucks attitude.' "Waiting For The Storm" is a personal cry, full of despair. "To Hell With The World" is one part separation from many things in this world and many parts an anthem to his girl, who's been 'crazy to stay by his side.' A favorite lyric: 'So let's stand and let's sing, and there are beautiful things, if you know the places they hide.' "Nothing At All" is full of personal reflection and probing questions. "Call To Arms" begins soft, and builds in both volume and emotion. It's a fitting way to end another great album.

8. Josh Ritter-So Runs The World, 77

Ritter is another one of my all-time favorites. I've had the privilege of seeing him in concert twice in the last year, both times amazing. This album did not measure up to his previous efforts, and even though his music grows on me more than almost any other, I don't see it rising too much. "The Curse" and "Southern Pacifica" mess up the flow for me; I can't seem to get into either one. I also didn't love love any specific track. That said, it shows the high standard and immense respect I have for Ritter, that I can write something seemingly negative and still love his album more than every album of 2010 but 7.

9. Hold Steady-Heaven Is Whatever, 77

Hold Steady is another artist I really hadn't listened to until this year. But prompted by the recommendations of two friends, I gave them a big try. Craig Finn's voice reminds me of the sound of Sum 41, American Hi-Fi, Stroke 9, Frickin A, and those types. Hold Steady produces a fun, fun sound that's easy to listen to. "Hurricane J" is a great song: 'but they didn't name her for a saint, they named her for a storm.' I also enjoy "The Weekenders."

10. Broken Social Scene-Forgiveness Rock Record, 76

I was first introduced to Broken Social Scene in London, where I listened to a bunch of their music in preparation for a concert that I never attended. (I think the terms "60£, and "sold out" nixed that plan). They write grand music that lasts for a while. Right off the bat "World Sick" catches your attention: 'We got a minefield of crippled affection.' The album flows really well and lends itself to seamless listening rather than jumping around the tracks.

11. Arcade Fire-The Suburbs, 76

I've always been a fan of Arcade Fire, but most of their albums fell in the 60's for me. The Suburbs had an advanced and more sophisticated sound, one that I loved. "Ready To Start", "Modern Man", "City With No Children" and "Sprawl" are my go-tos.

Music Rankings Ongoing

Since compiling my best albums of 2009 list, I've begun two new, almost exactly similar projects. One is my best albums of 2010 list. Since I'm starting early, I'll end up ranking more albums than in 2009, and will take decidedly less time to finalize them. I'm also attempting to rank every album in my iTunes library. So far I've made it through 368, but alas my pace will slow down as I slog through my less listened to albums. A few notes:

• 2010 current #1-The Winter of Mixed Drinks by Frightened Rabbit
• 2010 current #2-Let The Hard Times Roll by David Ford
• 2010 current #3-Gorilla Manor by Local Natives
• 2010 current #4-One Life Stand by Hot Chip
• 2010 current #5-Plastic Beach by Gorillaz
• 2010 current last place #33-Feast of the Hunters' Moon by Black Prairie
• 9 by Damien Rice and The Midnight Organ by Frightened Rabbit are tied for my favorite album of all time
• I have a hard time seeing how any album can overtake Lady Antebellum's Self Titled 2009 release for my least favorite album of all time, especially since I don't seek out music I know I won't like. In Lady Antebellum's case, I simply saw iTunes charts littered with her songs, and gave it a listen without knowing the genre or anything else.

David Ford

I had the privilege of experiencing David Ford in concert last Friday Night at Schuba's Tavern in Chicago.

David began with "Nothing At All", using only percussion and his voice. It was a stirring beginning, full of passion and the wondrously raw and mystical lyrics I have come to love. The performance room at Schuba's only has a capacity of 100 at the most, giving an intimate sound and feeling. With only his voice and a little percussion, David filled the entire room and gave us all a taste of how special the night would be.

He followed that up with "Panic", the leading track of his newest release, "Let The Hard Times Roll." Panic is one of those epic Ford ballads that begin with humility and end in crashing overtones of in-your-face realism. "But all this progress that I've made, has left me bitter and afraid, I bolt the doors and let the trappings of my life surround me. And hope to God nobody calls, but trust the scratching in my walls, to be my comfort and my shelter, from the world around me." It's what makes him great.

Next was and old song called "I Don't Care What You Call Me." The song begins, "I never made time, you never made much sense, we never stood a chance, if we're honest." Simple words, no novelty here, but such depth and emotion behind every word. When he screams at the end of the song, "Scream me on down, I am so forgettable, yes I know" you wouldn't find a soul in the place who didn't feel like they were being let into something rare and meaningful.

"To Hell With The World" followed; a song about the modern age. He sings that, "Maybe the greatest of heroes inhabit the stories that nobody hears" but always comes back to the wrenching chorus, "so to hell with the world, I still love you my girl, you've been crazy to stand by my side. So let's stand and let's sing, and there are beautiful things, if you know the places they hide." I want to find those places.

"She's Not The One" came next. It's not what the titles makes it seem. It's a love song for Margaret Thatcher who in Ford's spoken words "seemed to keep getting elected, yet no one admitted voting for her." Any song that I still like after throwing in a jab about Ronald Regan, even a good natured one, can only come from someone I admire as much as Ford.

Next came "Stephen", the tender remembrance of a murdered Irish policeman. Ford talked about his responsibility as an artist to "document the age we live in" and this was one of his attempts. When he sang, "I've never seen any darkness so deep as the moment when I clicked off the light" I got chills.

"Waiting For The Storm" is another track from his new album, one I had only a limited time of a few weeks to get acquainted with. It's another of the intense ballads from Ford, that always seem the grow grander in concert than on the record. "And all this flesh and bone, still walk this weary path alone, still waiting for the storm."

The show ended with three of Ford's most grand, passionate, and soul-baring songs.

"Requiem" much like "Panic" started soft and grew and grew and grew, ending in the most beautiful cacophony of looped, eardrum crushing, lyrical mastery you've ever heard. Some lyrical highlights: "And you can never taste freedom boys if you run from a fight." "Every administration blames the one from last year."

"Song For The Road" is his homesick, road song that he sings for his wife and family. The reason I love this song so much is that he didn't write it for anyone else but the one he loved, he didn't commercialize it with cliches, and he was original. The verse, "So you can keep your belief in whatever, I'll wear my cynicism like a tattoo. While poets try to engineer definitions of love, well you know all I can think of is you" is my favorite verse in any song ever written. There have been millions of love songs written and I've heard hundreds, and none seem to capture emotion like that single verse. Near the end of the song, he hits us again with profound honesty, "Now I don't like using words like forever, but I will love you til the end of today. And in the morning when I remember everything that you are, I know I'll fall for you all over again." We should all be so lucky to feel that.

He finished with his traditional closing song, "State of the Union." This song makes "Panic" and "Requiem" seem like child's play. At the end, Ford collapsed from exhaustion most likely due to his pouring all of himself into yet another concert. You have been given a glimpse into his life. In an age where people rarely give even close friends and family a glimpse into their life, Ford gives glimpses to complete strangers. That is what makes his music so compelling to listen to.

Music

I've been playing Kanye West, The Decemberists, Ronnie Day, Ben Harper, and David Ford a lot lately. Kanye's "Graduation" album is phenomenal. The Decemberists new disc "The Hazards of Love" is their most polished work to date. Simply fantastic.