The Top Tunes of Twenty-10

2010-12-19T05:52:00.010-05:00

The Top Tunes of Twenty-10

2010 may well go down as the best year in music ever. With all that's brewing for 2011, however, it's clear that the future's going to put up a fight. We wouldn't have it any other way. With the dubstep invasion leaving the fringe to attack mainstream, the Best of 2010 is heavily weighted towards bass-lovers. There's also a good serving of funk, retro & rock 'n roll... with a sprinkling of gypsy crunk for garnish. Here's what all the lingo means:

• A 0 means it's up for free download. A $ means it'll cost ya something.
• The ratings are out of five stars. Nothing below 4 stars is listed.
• SN = A single song
• EP = An extended promo (think "half an album")
• LP = Full-length album
• DB = Double-album
• The months are in Gregorian and in chronological order... ish.
• The syntax for accreditation is: Artist - Name of Rated Work [where to get it]

0 4.5 DB [Jan] The Kleptones - Uptime / Downtime [Free from Main Site]

0 4.5 SN [Jan] Tori Amos - Me and a Gun (Defective Moniker Remix) [Click to Download] [?]

$ 4.0 LP [Feb] Koan - When the Silence Is Speaking [iTunes Store]

$ 4.5 SN [Feb] The Knife - Annie's Box (Alternate Vocal) [iTunes Store]

0 4.5 SN [Feb] Benny Benassi - Love is gonna save us (Stephan Jacobs Remix) [Click to Download]

$ 4.0 DB [Feb] bt - These Hopeful Machines [iTunes Store]

0 5.0 SN [Mar] Helios - In Heaven (Shem Remix) [SoundCloud]

0 4.5 SN [Mar] Fever Ray - I'm Not Done (R/D's Just Beginning REMIX) [Click to Download]

0 4.0 EP [Mar] Pretty Lights - Making up a Changing Mind [Pretty Lights Download Page]

$ 5.0 SN [Mar] Phylum Sinter + Tamara Finlay - Before the Sun Blinds Us [iTunes Store]

0 4.5 SN [Mar] Gui Boratto - No Turning Back (Stephan Jacobs Remix) [Click to Download]

0 4.5 SN [Mar] Billie Ray Martin - The Crackdown (Phil RetroSpector Dub) [Click to Download]

0 4.5 SN [Apr] Massive Attack - Paradise Circus (iSkream Social Remix) [Click to Download] [?]

0 4.5 SN [May] The Infesticons - Bombs Anthem [Kraddy Remix] [Click to Download]

0 4.0 EP [May] R/D - Love Up's [BandCamp]

0 4.5 SN [May] How to Destroy Angels - A Drowning (Dive Remix) [remix.nin.com]

0 4.5 SN [May] How to Destroy Angels - A Drowning (Drowned by Jaya Prime) [Click to Download]

$ 4.5 LP [May] The Glitch Mob - Drink the Sea [$9.90 from iTunes Store] [$7.99 from Main Site]

$ 4.5 LP [May] 65daysofstatic - We Were Exploding Anyway [iTunes Store]

0 4.5 LP [May] The Tailor - The Salt [BandCamp]

0 4.0 EP [May] Downliners Sekt - Hello lonely, hold the nation [Free from Main Site]

$ 4.5 SN [May] Pendulum - Set Me on Fire [Listen on YouTube]

0 4.5 SN [May] James Yuill - On Your Own (XI Juicebox Remix) [Free from RCRD.LBL]

0 4.0 EP [Jun] How to Destroy Angels - How to Destroy Angels [Free from Main Site]

0 4.0 SN [Jun] Stephan Jacobs + ChrisB. - Flux Capacitor (w Luniz Accapella) [Click to Download]

0 4.0 LP [Jun] Michal Menert - Dreaming of a Bigger Life [Free from Pretty Lights Record Label]

$ 4.0 LP [Jun] Lorn - Nothing Else [Amazon]

$ 4.5 EP [Jun] Late - Phantom Papers EP [iTunes Store]

0 4.5 SN [Jun] Salem - King Night [Free from XLR8R]

0 4.5 EP [Jul] Pretty Lights - Spilling Over Every Side [Pretty Lights Download Page]

0 4.5 -- [Jul] Peppermill Records - 2999 [Main Project Page]

$ 4.5 SN [Jul] R/D + Nadine Risha - Face of God [BandCamp]

0 4.0 SN [Jul] Kraddy - Luniz vs. Joker [Kraddy Next Level Mashup] [Free from Main Site]

0 4.0 EP [Jul] Sefiros - 12032007 [Free from Main Site]

0 4.5 SN [Aug] Nine Inch Nails - Hurt (Insight Mix by Dont) [Click to Download]

- 4.5 SN [Aug] Frou Frou - Let Go (Timeline + Daytona Dubstep Remix) [No More Free Downloads]

$ 5.0 SN [Aug] Freestylers + Belle Humble - Cracks (Flux Pavilion Rmx) [Amazon]

$ 4.5 SN [Aug] Eskmo - My Gears Are Starting to Tremble [iTunes Store]

0 4.5 SN [Aug] Eskmo - Cloudlight [Free from Main Site] [Watch on YouTube]

0 4.0 LP [Aug] The Kleptones - Shits and Giggles [Free from Main Site]

0 4.5 SN [Aug] IndustrialDeath - Food of the Gods [Free on Sendspace]

$ 4.5 SN [Aug] The Love Theme - Indian Girl (Cottonmouth Remix) [iTunes Store]

0 4.5 SN [Aug] NastyNasty - Junkie [BandCamp]

0 4.5 SN [Aug] The Glitch Mob vs. La Roux - "Bad Wings" vs. "In for the Kill" [Free from Impose]

0 4.5 SN [Sep] Deftones - Prince (Bassnectar Remix) [Free from Bassnectar]

$ 4.5 SN [Sep] Eastern Sun + Oscure - Third Eye High (R/D Remix) [iTunes Store]

0 4.5 SN [Sep] CocoRosie - Werewolf (Omega Remix) [Free from Family Moons]

$ 4.5 SN [Sep] Phaeleh + Soundmouse - Afterglow (Akira Kiteshi Remix) [Amazon]

0 5.0 SN [Sep] Beats Antique - Miss Levine [BandCamp] [Watch on YouTube]

0 5.0 SN [Sep] Trifonic - Parks on Fire (Shem Remix) [BandCamp]

0 4.5 SN [Sep] Massive Attack vs. Portishead - Teardrop on Roads (Mashed by Jaya Prime) [Click to Download]

0 4.0 EP [Oct] Pretty Lights - Glowing in the Darkest Night [Pretty Lights Download Page]

$ 4.5 SN [Oct] Bassnectar + Tina Malia - Underwater [Amazon]

0 4.5 SN [Oct] The Kleptones - Vicarious Devil [Click to Download]

0 4.0 SN [Oct] Natalie Storm + Redlight - Bang Bang [Free from AudioPorn Central]

0 4.5 SN [Oct] Empire of the Sun - We Are The People (Stephan Jacobs Remix) [Free from Stephan Jacobs]

0 4.0 SN [Oct] Ellie Goulding - Under the Sheets (Stephan Jacobs Remix) [Free from Stephan Jacobs]

$ 4.5 SN [Oct] Diplo - Summer's Gonna Hurt You (Diplo 2010 Remix) [iTunes Store]

0 4.0 SN [Oct] Goldfrapp - Rocket (ZitanB Remix) [Click to Download]

0 4.5 SN [Oct] ZitanB - Sidestreet (Mary J Blige) [Click to Download]

0 5.0 SN [Oct] Telefon Tel Aviv - Lengthening Shadows [Free from XLR8R]

$ 4.5 EP [Nov] Kraddy - Labyrinth EP [iTunes Store]

0 4.0 SN [Nov] Samples - Tear It Up [BandCamp]

$ 4.5 LP [Nov] Nine Inch Nails - Pretty Hate Machine [Main Site]

0 4.5 SN [Nov] Led Zeppelin - Babe I'm Gonna Leave You (Elfkowitz Remix) [SoundCloud]

0 4.5 EP [Nov] Downliners Sekt - we make hits, not the public [Free from Main Site]

$ 4.5 LP [Dec] Daft Punk - TRON: Legacy [Amazon]

0 4.5 SN [Dec] Lykke Li - Get Some (Remix by Beck) [Free from RCRD.LBL]

$ 4.5 SN [Dec] David Lynch - I Know [iTunes Store]

2010 - Top Artist: My own pick for Artist of the Year goes to The Kleptones... with The Glitch Mob and Daft Punk tying for a close second. The Kleptones released more than three albums worth of insanely high quality mashes, including obsessive tracks such as "Seads of Idumae", "Destiny and Tenacity", "Vicarious Devil", "Heydrum" and "Exit". They entered 2010 gunning and didn't stop firing until the year had been riddled with bullets.

2010 - Top Show: The show that Kraddy put on at Root Society Underground bordered on "legendary" status. This, btw, was at Burning Man (Black Rock City, Nevada). Just a few hairs shy of catastrophe, they were forced to cut the volume so that they could pull people down off of the dome and to calm the crowd a little. It was almost too good of a show. Kraddy's bassheavy epic progressions, often with hip-hop overtones, truly shine when played live.

2010 - Top Moment in Music: Mary Anne Hobbs had been with BBC Radio 1 for fourteen years. For almost half that time, she'd helped spread dubstep and other independent forms of electronica. That ended on September 9th of 2010, when "The Voice of Dubstep" hosted her last broadcast. She wasn't alone. She had Kode9 and Burial, "The Shadow of Dubstep", with her as guests and as mixers. Musicians and listeners alike from around the world were tuned in and online, sending status messages back and forth throughout the broadcast. Word spread fast to those who hadn't heard about the last show. You could literally see the Internet light up as people came online to tune in. As Mary Anne bowed out of the BBC, love and gratitude poured her way from every corner of the world. It is a day that will mark a (now uncertain) turning point in the evolution of indie electronica. Update: Mary Anne has uploaded the Burial/Kode9 section from her last transmission here on Mixcloud.

2010 - Top Moment Outside of Music: It was a big year in news when it comes to Iran, and on one day in particular. We found out about the cluster bombs they'd been stockpiling in breach of The Geneva Convention, about how they'd threatened other governments to keep the victims that they'd tortured quiet, and about their extensive spying network that had targeted the U.N. in breach of the Vienna Convention (and much more)... all this, on November the 28th. Except that the country wasn't Iran; it was America... and, like most criminals, the USG (United States Government) began pointing fingers instead of taking any steps to reform. When the USG bypassed the justice system and began attacking the constitution, they made an enemy of many freedom fighters and with citizens from around the world. That includes me. I'm with Bassnectar on this: "!!viva informacion!!"

2011 - What's Ahead?
• The "2999" project started in 2010, but it doesn't end there. The project still has artists lined up for release in 2011, including Robot Koch, +verb, Kraddy, The Widdler, Acre and more.
• Ugress kicked off his Ten Year Anniversary album in November of 2010, releasing a new track from "Planet U" about once a week. As he's one of the original DIY artists in the electronic music arena, we'll definitely be tuning in to what the mad scientist has in store for us.
• Then there's Downliners Sekt. After three years of silence, D.Sekt hit us with two incredible EPs in 2010. They're threatening to release the final part of this trilogy in 2011. Sources tell us that they're not bluffing.
• In January, both Paper Diamond and Break Science have releases coming out thru the Pretty Lights Record Label. Having heard a preview from Paper Diamond, we've definitely got our ears prepped 'n ready for some funky listening. The preview track from Break Science was much less inspiring, but that won't stop us from tuning in for the release. And Pretty Lights themselves? Who knows.
• Let us not forget about Liar. His debut on the "2999" project in 2010 will not go unpunished, as his track "Upghostery" was an immediate addiction. Anything that sounds that good can't be good for you. We're hoping that the preview for Liar's track "Vinyard" is a sign of what he's got planned for 2011.
• Glitch Mob's album "Drink the Sea" ruled 2010. In January, the remix album will be released. If R/D's remix of "Starve the Ego, Feed the Soul" is any indicator of the remix album, then it's going to be setting the beat for 2011. Mob's track "Drive It Like You Stole It" was the second-most downloaded track on XLR8R in 2010, with over a hundred remixes here on SoundCloud. Also, check out XLR8R's Top Downloads of 2010.
• Younger Brother, the psytrance spinoff of Shpongle, is working on a new album that may be up for release in 2011. They're crowdsourcing as I write this.
• The King Deluxe record label launched right at the tail-end of 2010. This audio-visual feast is just getting started. We'll definitely be tuning in as it develops thru 2011.
• Mochipet has already released some previews for his upcoming EP (or album) called "Rawr Means I Love U". Will the purple dinosaur have it prepped for launch in 2011? We think so... we think so. After his high-energy show at Burning Man, we're definitely looking forward to seeing him in concert more often.
• When composing the score for "Black Swan", Clint Mansell contacted Mary Anne Hobbs to find out what electronic artists she would suggest to help with a rather dark take on Tchaikovsky's original ballet. While the score itself has already been released, the OST with Sepalcure, Al Tourettes, Jakes and Kavsrave (and more) should be out in 2011. Info on the OST has been severely lacking.
• Grizzly's track "Beautiful" (with Casey Desmond) was picked up by Dubs Alive Records. Not only that, but it'll run tandem with the remix by 6Blocc and Knorsq. The more the better.
• The debut release from Westy is on the horizon for 2011, with tracks like "Lost" and "Highway" already making waves even before they've officially been released.
• The collaborative album from Jaime Ibarra may or may not see the light of 2011. I'm not sure how much I can say about the album at this point, but damn... if his debut with De Madera wasn't already beautifully soul-striking, then the sound he's moving towards is going to crack a few hearts open.
• Near the end of Summer in 2010, Brainiac uploaded his last prerelease version of "Devil May Care". We're under the suspicion that the completed single may see the light of release in 2011. Cross your tentacles.
• Any Maynard James Keenan fans will have already heard that A Perfect Circle is back together again. After doing a few live shows, they've now turned to the studio. It sounds like they're not planning on releasing an album... only singles. It's a move to be applauded, as it means it's a hit-only release schedule and that they can release singles as soon as they're ready.
• Love and Light's single "Know Us" (with Jillian Ann) is going to have a remix album in 2011. The remixes so far have been nothing less than pure filth. Seriously. Your speakers may never talk to you again if you play these. Our favorite so far is the NiT GriT Remix.
• Lastly, there is a light of hope for a project that was killed in the early days of 2009... a little project called "If You're A Pretender, Come Sit By My Fire". While I don't know too much, and can't say much about what I do know, it may not be as dead as many had once feared. One can hope. One can always hope.

What are the ratings based on? Who put this together? This list is completely unfair and as biased as it gets. The ratings are based on the opinions of a single person--me. I produce electronic music for The T.Rex DigiLab under the DJ name San Jaya Prime. I'm also a hitchhiker and a travel-writer, under the pen name Kantiki Jayamana Whateva. The list contains glaring omissions, as well as purposeful ones. I didn't include my two major releases this year, as I'm a harsh critic (even when it comes to myself). I also didn't include a lot of music made by friends if I didn't "feel it". I did include my remix of "A Drowning" and my mashup between Portishead and Massive Attack. The remix has one of the highest ratings on the Nine Inch Nails remix site. It also has a high number of people who've rated it. The mash has already seen radio play, has hit audio blogs and has been played almost 5,000 times on SoundCloud alone since its release at the end of September. Also, while I had a track released thru the "2999" project, the project would've have been included (and at the same rating) even if I hadn't been directly involved in it. Now, how were links chosen for purchasing music? I went with the cheapest source. Because of the boycott on Amazon, and as the iTunes Store has 90% of the market, that usually meant linking to the iTunes Store whenever the prices were equal. Dig?

Have your own favorites? Have any suggestions or corrections?
Leave 'em in the comments, or link to them if you've listed 'em online.

...until next year... stay tuned!

Audionomicron

The Top Tunes of Twenty-10