10's 10

A representation of the albums that have had the largest impact on my year in no particular order. You probably shouldn't watch any of these videos at work due to their containing boobs or general weirdness.

Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti - Before Today (4AD)

People have been banging on about Ariel Pink to me for a couple of years but I couldn't get past the 'tape left in a pool for ten years before recording' aesthetic. Now he's signed to 4AD and his stuff has been polished up so folks like me can get into it. His exciting ideas are enhanced by the scrutiny given to them by high quality production. I've listened to this album more than anything else this year.

VIDEO: 'Bright Lit Blue Skies'


Dan Kelly - Dan Kelly’s Dream (Independent/Shock)

Australian - wait a minute, forget the country! This is guitar pop at its finest. Witty lyrics, excellent arrangements and great performances. When the drums kick in during the second verse of 'Bindi Irwin Apocalypse Jam', I see the face of God - which often looks like a smirking precocious 12 year old girl from Queensland.

VIDEO: 'Hold On, I'm Coming On'


The Books - The Way Out (Temporary Residence Limited)

Inventive sonic collages with a coherence despite extreme stylistic diversity across the record.

VIDEO: 'A Cold Freezin' Night'


Joanna Newsom - Have One On Me (Drag City)

Back in 2004 I laughed and impersonated 'Sprout and the Bean', screaming "Should we go outside?" whenever the opportunity arose. In 2006 I still dismissed J-New when Ys came out as elvish jibber jabber and I did not listen to it.

The change occurred when people put Ys so high up on their best of the 2000s lists at the end of last year, and I knew it was time for me to pull my head out of my arse. Instead of being able to puff myself up as a discerning music fan staying away from crap, I had an inkling I was, like, totally missing out.

Of course I was, and in the period of time between November 2009 until Have One On Me came out in February 2010 I listened to and began to appreciate Ys and got past the abrasive elements of The Milk-Eyed Mender to be able to hear her music for what it is: the work of one of the best singer-songwriters working at the moment.

Have One On Me runs at over two hours, but it never feels bloated. Every song has its own identity and is performing its part in the whole. Its length could be seen as a call to live a different, slower, kind of life - or to just make sure that at least weekly you sit for a couple of hours and be embraced by a wonderful record.

VIDEO: 'Soft as Chalk' live on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.


Belle & Sebastian - Belle & Sebastian Write About Love (Rough Trade)

A great band releasing another well-written album that includes a Stuart Murdoch-Norah Jones duet. Music, you so crazy sometimes.

VIDEO: 'I Want the World to Stop'


Tobacco - Maniac Meat (Anticon)

Analog synths, 1980s Betamax dread, excellent pop sensibility. When you first come across the work of Tobacco you can be smacked with complete sensory overload.

A good example is the song in the video below 'Fresh Hex', which features Beck Hansen. There is so much going on. Give it five or ten or twenty listens though, as I have during this year, and it emerges that it is not messy but intentional and structured excess and what is going on is exciting and very fun.

VIDEO: 'Fresh Hex' feat. Beck


Jonsi - Go (XL)

What a triumph of a record. Hopeful, fun and massive.

VIDEO: 'Go Do'


Grinderman - Grinderman 2 (Mute)

Sleazy, hilarious and rocking hard.

VIDEO: 'Heathen Child'


Deerhunter - Halcyon Digest (4AD)

Maturation of songwriting, yadda yadda. There's no way I can make those sorts of claims about Deerhunter because I jumped on the bandwagon this year. This is in my top ten because there is not a dud track on this record.

VIDEO: 'Helicopter'


Mount Kimbie - Crooks and Lovers (Hotflush)

Dubstep. What is it, and how can we stop our children falling victim to its grasp?

Perhaps on the home listening end of the spectrum, Crooks and Lovers is almost definitely the best debut long player this year and stands tall among all of the records released in 2010.

VIDEO: 'Would Know'


Best gigs

• Philippe Jaroussky, Melbourne Recital Centre, 1 March.
• Deerhoof, The Corner Hotel, 3 March.
• Wilco, The Forum, 6 May.
• Splendour in the Grass, Woodfordia, 30 July to 1 August.
• Boadrum 10, The Forum, 9 October.