Downtempo

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Top 5 Albums of the Year

Alright I know the year is not over yet and some albums have yet to be released, but right now these are my favorite albums of 2010.  Without further ado I will channel my inner John Cusack to present my first top 5 list:

Arcade Fire- The Suburbs:  You can find this album in my last post, which is what actually inspired me to create this list because The Suburbs is such an amazing album.  If you didn't read the last post, go back and download this album immediately.

The Chemical Brothers- Further:  Ed and Tim are back with this one.  I would compare Further to Robot Rock in terms that it is repetitive and not necessarily as good as the classic albums such as Exit Planet Dust and Dig Your Own Hole, but it still quality. Check out Snow, Escape Velocity, and Dissolve.

LCD Soundsystem- This is Happening: Supposedly the last LCD Soundsystem album as James Murphy has stated that he wishes to no longer create music under the LCD Soundsystem moniker.  If this is true, then what a shame for music.  Like Arcade Fire, LCD Soundsystem has  only released 3 albums, but each has been a significant contribution to music.  While my personal favorite All My Friends is not on this album, this is the best LCD Soundsystem album from top to bottom.  Way to go out with a bang James.

The Black Keys- Brothers:  The Black Keys are blowing up this year and I have heard them on about 3 different commercials (which I have mixed feelings about).  While in my opinion Brothers is not as good as Chulahoma, Thickfreakness, of Rubber Factory, it is still a great album and probably one of their more accessible albums.  Case in point Everlasting Light (Brothers) vs. Thickfreakness (Thickfreakness).

Fang Island- Fang Island:  I posted this album a few months ago and I still find myself enjoying this album

Honorable Mention:

Daft Punk-Tron Legacy Soundtrack:  I'll be honest, I have only listened to it once and I wasn't blown away,  but  I am just excited that they have put out some new music.  Plus, it's not even available yet, I'll throw it up here tomorrow, but I have to get back to this paper.

Vanilla Sky Soundtrack

Some people think Vanilla Sky is a fantastic movie, I on the other hand think that it's just ok and the fact that Cameron Diaz and Penelope Cruz are in it make it tolerable to watch. Either way most agree that it has an absolutely fantastic soundtrack, and it's no surprise being a Cameron Crowe (Fast Times at Ridgemont High and Almost Famous) film.  The movie is definitely worth a watch just to see how Crowe expertly uses this great soundtrack in his film.

Here are some of the songs included  on the soundtrack.

R.E.M.- Sweetness Follows

Radiohead- Everything In Its Right Place

Peter Gabriel- Solsbury Hill

The Chemical Brothers- Dig Your Own Hole

Since this is primarily an electronic music blog (hence the name), I thought that I would put up an duo that has been hugely influential and popular in the electronic music scene.  The Chemical Brothers are Tom Rowlands and Ed Simmons and they hail from England.  They started working together in the early 90's and went by The Dust Brothers.  They eventually changed their name to The Chemical Brothers due to a lawsuit from the other Dust Brothers (the guys who produced Paul's Boutique).  Anyways, they released their first album, Exit Planet Dust, in '95 and followed up with a masterpiece in Dig Your Own Hole.  Not much to say about this album really than in some places its smooth and funky like in Lost in The K-Hole, others songs on the album they can be high energy and in your face like their Big Beat counterparts The Prodigy, such as Block Rockin Beats, and with some songs their can showcase their melodic and tender mixing skills like in Where Do I Begin? (if you have seen Vanilla Sky, you'll recognize it).  All in all, this album is classic for anyone who loves the music of the 90's or electronic music in general.