William has a wonderful soft spoken voice that sits beautifully atop an electronic bed of warm currents produced by Pink Ganter. This remix can be found on his 2010 release, ” Derivatives”.
William Fitzsimmons – So This Is Goodbye (Pink Ganter Remix)
Well, 2010 marks another great year for music in the books. I’ll spare you the windy analysis that seems to come with these lists, but I want to preface this post by saying that these are just what we loved in 2010, by no means are we advocating that these are “the best of the best.” But then again, who really can, right? No one. Enjoy and let us know what you think!
Bizzies “By The Numbers” for full mid-level blog transparency…
Most viewed posts (not including homepage):
Best of 2009 (13,807)
Super Bowl Picks (7,032)
Imma Quit This (6,411)
Most clicked links:
Wale – Good Girls (Andrew Clark + Quix Remix) (6,338)
B.o.B + Asher Roth - Fuck The Money (4,675)
Rihanna – Rude Boy (Chew Fu’s Bumbaclot Fix) (2,088)
Most incoming search terms:
Lykke Li (1,739)
San Francisco (1,240)
Sweet 16 (1,144)
Back Catalogue:
The Best of 2010: Sparkletone Edition
The Best of 2009
The Best of 2008
In case you don’t make it to the bottom of this post, we just wanted to throw out a big “thank you” to all of the 1.9 million people who have visited over the years. You’ve made a couple of things pretty clear:
1. Leaving a comment is really hard for you
2. You like a wide spectrum of music
We’ll continue to delivery quality tunes, but don’t hesitate to leave some love or at least use the share buttons to pass along what you like (Stumble Upon, Twitter, Facebook.) Again, thanks for all the support, now be on the look out for our brand new site and Discobelle sub-label in 2011.
The Beats report:
Top Albums:
1. LCD Soundsystem – This Is Happening
2. Mount Kimbie – Crooks & Lovers
3. Shit Robot – From The Cradle To The Rave
4. Kanye West – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
5. Atticus Ross & Trent Reznor - The Social Network
Top Tracks (like Sparkletone’s list, my picks fluctuate by day):
(Editor: if applicable, audio links to 128s or YouTube and buy links to various marketplaces. If you happen to be a disgruntled copyright holder, please leave a comment and I will honor your takedown request.)
♫ $ | 1. Flight Facilities & Giselle – Crave You
♫ $ | 2. Ramadanman – Don’t Change For Me
♫ $ | 3. Mount Kimbie – Maybes (James Blake Remix)
♫ $ | 4. Midland – Head Down
♫ $ | 5. Mosca – Nike
♫ $ | 6. Wildlife – Nocturnal World (French Fries Remix)
♫ $ | 7. MIA – Steppin’ Up
♫ $ | 8. Axel Boman – Purple Drank
♫ $ | 9. Braiden – The Alps
♫ $ | 10. Lawrence & Seth Troxler – Miles In Aphrika (YouANDme Edit)
♫ $ | 11. Camel – Speak Easy
♫ $ | 12. DJ Koze – Der Wallach
♫ $ | 13. Doc Daneeka & Gatto Viola – Backstabbin’ Angie (For a Ten Bag)
♫ $ | 14. Dubbel Dutch – Throwback
♫ $ | 15. Jack Sparrow – Way Out West
♫ $ | 16. Jamie Lidell – Telephone (Tiga Remix)
♫ $ | 17. Robag Wruhme – Bierholer
♫ $ | 18. Rusko & Caspa – One of The Same
♫ $ | 19. Chilly Gonzales – Never Stop (Erol Alkan Remix)
♫ $ | 20. Green Velvet – La La Land (Santiago & Bushido Remix)
Honorable Bros (in no order/ in 320):
♫ | CZR – Southside Of Chicago (Adulture Remix)
♫ | The Glamour – Love Burn (Kid Color Dub)
♫ | Sparkletone – For Another
♫ | Richard Richard – Futurity (Rework)
♫ | The Dirty Diamonds – Strikeouts
♫ | VDRK & OCD Automatic – Tell My Love
♫ | Escort – Cocaine Blues (MaddJazz Bootleg)
♫ | LOL Boys – Counting (123 Reprise)
♫ | Kim Brown – Almost Happy (Hidden Cat Remix)
♫ | Canblaster – Thunderdome (Chaos In The CBD Crunk Edit)
♫ | Florrie – Left Too Late (Body Language Remix)
Top Live Shows (in no order):
Cut Copy (Metro)
LCD Soundsystem & Holy Ghost! (Metro)
Frankie Knuckles & Tensnake (Smartbar)
Paul Johnson Benefit (Smartbar)
Perry’s Stage (Lollapalooza)
Green Velvet (North Coast Fest)
Here’s how Markus ranked 2010:
Top Albums:
1. The-Dream – Love King
2. Waka Flocka Flame – Flockavelli
3. Actress – Splazsh
4. Soulja Boy – DeAndre Way
5. Mount Kimbie - Crooks & Lovers
6. Scuba – Triangulation
7. Four Tet – There Is Love In You
8. Ceremony – Rohnert Park
9. Jeremih – All About You
10. Deftones – Diamond Eyes
Top Tracks:
(Editor: if applicable, audio links to 128s or YouTube and buy links to various marketplaces. If you happen to be a disgruntled copyright holder, please leave a comment and I will honor your takedown request.)
♫ $ | 1. Dipset – Salute
♫ $ | 2. Soulja Boy – Pretty Boy Swag
♫ $ | 3. Dubbel Dutch - Throwback
♫ $ | 4. Mosca – Gold Bricks, I See You
♫ $ | 5. Jacques Greene – (Baby I don’t Know) What You Want
♫ $ | 6. Waka Flocka Flame – Hard In The Paint
♫ $ | 7. Ramadanman – Work Them
♫ $ | 8. Drake & The-Dream – Shut It Down
♫ $ | 9. Velour – Booty Slammer
♫ $ | 10. LOL Boys – 123
Top Live Shows (in no order):
Dubbel Dutch (Tempo, Montreal)
Nacho Lovers (Fools Gold Party, Vancouver)
Camo Ufos (Scion Party, NYC)
Thanks again, everyone. Now, have a great 2011!
Beats™
Markus G
To add an extra level of panache to this year’s “Best of” lists, I’ve asked my buddy Sparkletone to weigh in. Him and I seem to disagree on many things revolving around music, so I figured it would be fun to see what he thought of this past year. Like the past several years, all albums will link to iTunes and mixes to wherever they’re already hosted (as opposed to direct download.)
Sparkletone’s year in reflection:
I hate the implication of judgement that comes with numerical ordering. As if there’s a huge difference between #1 and #2 or #3 and #5. So my lists contain no numbers! And are in fact not in any kind of ordering at all…
Top Albums:
The only thing I really have to say about this list is that especially compared to my mental list of 2k9 albums… This is the year where I ended up pretty estranged from anything resembling (indie) rock music. Even the Arcade Fire album, which I love, didn’t make enough of an impact on me to warrant being listed here. This is the stuff that felt “next” “level.”
LCD Soundsystem – This Is Happening
Kanye West – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
Darkstar – North
Robyn – Body Talk
Night Slugs – Allstars Vol. 1
Shed – The Traveller
Actress – Splazsh
Four Tet – There Is Love In You
Caribou – Swim
Flying Lotus – Cosmogramma
Motorcity Drum Ensemble – Raw Cuts Vol 1
Shit Robot – From The Cradle To The Rave
Marcel Dettmann – Dettmann
Top Mixes:
These are the mixes that stuck with me this year. If I were doing numerical lists, Optimogeddon would be number 1 by a mile. It’s a marathon; the complete 7-hour recording of the final night of one of the most famous parties in the world. JD Twitch and JG Wilkes also turned in one of the year’s best Fabric mixes, which I didn’t list below in favor of Optimogeddon. It’s got everything for everyone, mixed with heart, balls, a couple fluffed transitions and a casual disregard for anything resembling genre. I’ve listened to it beginning to end as much as I have anything else this year. The parts at the end where you can hear hints of the crowd in the room losing their shit a little bit are just the icing on the cake. If your long-running party is finally ending, this is how you go out.
Optimo – OPTIMOGEDDON
Kode9 – DJ Kicks (iTunes)
Martyn – Fabric 50 (Amazon)
Cio D’or – RA219 Extended
Crazy P – Beats In Space 513
KZA – Beats in Space 538
Four Tet – Essential Mix
LV – Fact Mix 196
Deadboy – Bouncer’s Dream
Jackmaster – Numbers 2010 Mix For URB
Ghetto Division – XLR8R Chicago Mix
Top Singles/EPs:
There are tons of omissions here. You could split singles and EPs (defined by number of tracks, of course) into separate lists and still end up with overflow. This is just a semi-random selection of stuff that stuck in my brain and/or showed up in my DJ sets.
(Editor: if applicable, audio links to 128s or YouTube and buy links to various marketplaces. If you happen to be a disgruntled copyright holder, please leave a comment and I will honor your takedown request.)
♫ $ | Girl Unit - Wut
♫ $ | Dubbel Dutch - Throwback
♫ $ | Kingdom - That Mystic
♫ $ | Addison Groove – Footcrab
♫ $ | Ramadanman – Work Them
♫ $ | LV f/ Okmalumkoolkat – Boomslang
♫ $ | Ramadanman – Glut / Tempest
♫ $ | James Blake – CMYK
♫ $ | Joy Orbison – BB/Ladywell
♫ $ | Deadboy – If U Want Me
♫ $ | Shit Robot – I Got A Feeling
♫ $ | Holy Ghost – Static On The Wire
♫ $ | Joe – Claptrap
♫ $ | Floating Point – People’s Potential
♫ $ | Soul Clap – R&B Edits
♫ $ | Adulture & OCD Automatic – Paper Cat
♫ $ | Roska – Squark
♫ $ | Jacques Renault – Marilyn’s Gold
Top Shows:
I don’t mention the dates here because I don’t remember them, and I can’t be bothered with Googling them. I list the venue because I think it’s a comment on the sorry state of Chicago’s club scene this year (when it comes to dance music). This year saw some notable closures and basically no one moving to fill in the gaps. The end result will probably be that loft parties get big in 2k11.
LCD Soundsystem & Holy Ghost! (Metro)
Kode 9 (Double Door)
Four Tet (Metro)
Paul Johnson and DJ Sneak (Smartbar) (get well soon, PJ)
Marcel Dettmann (Smartbar)
Cosmin TRG / Appleblim (Smartbar)
Martyn (Millennium Park)
Justin Miller + Woolfy (Smartbar)
LCD Soundsystem/Holy Ghost/DFA family + Ellen Allien (Smartbar)
Frankie Knuckles (Smartbar)
Azari and III (Smartbar)
2k10 in TwitPics (as presented above) :
lolololololol #fatcat
http://twitpic.com/w69ju, http://twitpic.com/1d3rwt, http://twitpic.com/zfchq, http://twitpic.com/2peg38, http://twitpic.com/3egn61, http://twitpic.com/2j2luh, http://twitpic.com/2wsbzp, http://twitpic.com/2nyphc, http://twitpic.com/2uyq8f, http://twitpic.com/2qs0x6, http://twitpic.com/2o8dfx, http://twitpic.com/2m7wgo, http://twitpic.com/3i9dyg, http://twitpic.com/1rc9u7, http://twitpic.com/2sd2fo, http://twitpic.com/3f5hst, http://twitpic.com/32iewy, http://twitpic.com/30ob2b, http://twitpic.com/2n90ir, http://twitpic.com/1dyqy0, http://twitpic.com/22k4je, http://twitpic.com/1y27ki, http://twitpic.com/1imuai, http://twitpic.com/1hc7f0, http://twitpic.com/14gngz
Sparkletone
Drumroll please, we are now at the top 10 of 2010!
Yes, I have a love affair with Miike Snow. For those that remember my 2009 list, I had Miike Snows’ track Cult Logic as my top pick for 2009. So once again Miike Snow is in top 10 list for 2010, however this time joining forces with Crookers. Crookers released their Tons Of Friends LP which saw them joining forces with the likes of Roisin Murphy, Kid Cudi, Soulwax, will.i.am, and others on a massive 22 track album. However, the standout for me was this track.
Crookers – Remedy (ft. Miike Snow)
This was the first single from CEOs’ full length album, “White Magic”. I was so hyped on “White Magic” based on this single. However I was disappointed that the rest of the album didn’t come near the magic of, “Come With Me”. ”Come With Me”, is a really well crafted track that makes creative use of a string sample. It’s just the right amount of twist on the sample that makes this track stand out. Ceo is the solo project of Eric Berglund of The Tough Alliance.
From Hot Chip’s 2010 full length release, “One Night Stand”, is a beautiful melancholy piece of music. This track also produced one of my favorite music videos of 2010:
Has that cool deep house flavor but is propelled with Giselle’s sweet vocals. This track is soooo smooth and chilled, it was guaranteed to be in my top 10 this year. This track also sits nicely next to Phonique’s track, “You, That I’m With (Ft. Ian James Whitelaw)”
Flight Facilities – Crave You (ft. Giselle)
Great mix of pop and progressive house that makes for a perfect blend. I like the way Adrian uses the guitar samples in a rather odd fashion but gels so nicely in the arrangement with the vocals.
Yes, this is the track I was tipped off to by Dan Black via his tweet. This is track sounds so fresh, made for the next decade. Jai Paul sets his delicate vocals against a dark throbbing bass, and a diplo-esque beat. Think Burial meets Prince and you’ll be about 90% there.
He signed to XL records at the end of 2010 and his debut album is expected to drop next year.
WARNING: This track starts off really quiet, so hang-in there for about 15 seconds.
The lovely synth drenched “I Can Change” is an ode to all 80′s synth music lovers. If there was one sound that was revisited in last few years in music, it was the sound of all things 80′s. So are we to expect more 90′s type genres making a revisit for the next decade? For example Grunge or better yet, Trip Hop? Mhhh… only time will tell. But one this is for sure, LCD Soundsystem’s album “This is Happening” was a solid release for 2010. By “solid”, I mean you should really go out and get this album.
LCD Soundsystem – I Can Change
In effort to make music sound like water, Caribou produced one hell of a track in Odessa. Something so unique and beautiful it took me on a journey the first time I heard it. Somewhat psychedelic in approach, but electronically reverent for 2010.
The Location: A Dark Cabaret
The Story: A vampire who is morning her lost love
The song: Trentemøller’s, “Even Though You’re With Another Girl”
If ever there was a track that conjured up a movie in one’s mind, this is it. So atmospheric, brooding and dark lined with the ting of lost love. This track can be found on Trentemøller’s second full length album entitled, “Into the Great Wide Yonder”. Did I mentioned I love, love, love this track?
Trentemøller – Even Though You’re With Another Girl (ft. Josephine Philip)
Mister Mark Ronson, thank you sir for providing not only my favorite track of 2010 but also producing my favorite video of 2010. MNDR’s vocals on this track took me back to the days of listening to Missing Person’s ”Walking in LA“, but the use of the synth stabs and the vocal stylings of Q-Tip just took it up a couple more notches. Really love how Mark produced the drums on this track by giving it an unconventional drum line in the verses, something you don’t hear everyday.
Mark Ronson Ft Q-Tip / MNDR – Bang Bang Bang
Mark Ronson – Bang Bang Bang (ft. MNDR & Q-Tip)
We now continue with the countdown at 17:
Hard edits and a funky house beat go a long way with a brilliant vocalist. For some reason this track has a early Micheal Jackson feel to it. Perhaps it’s that driving kick and snare ala Billie Jean. Whatever the case, I get lost in the groove of this track.
Its funny how a finding a track can change my whole day. It’s like falling in love at first sight. You feel a glow radiate from the center-out and can’t contain the excitement of it all. Such was the case of finding the beautiful heart wrenching track from Bloodgroup. Now technically, this was released in late 2009, but your’s truly didn’t stumble upon it till late 2010, hence the inclusion on this list.
If you like melancholy vocals, minimal electronic elements, and a heartbeat beat, then you are in luck.
Releasing a rather well produce album is Chew Lips at the 15 spot on the list. Up front vocals and fx treated synths lay in store on this track. Semi-rock, semi-pop, but very much melodic electronic pop.
The sweet sound of northern soul married with rock pop sensibility is a win-win in my book. Graffiti6 is a collaboration of music producer Tommy D and singer songwriter Jamie Scott.
Graffiti6 – Stare Into The Sun
After gushing over Discovery last year (Discovery is the side project of Vampire Weekend’s keyboardist/arranger/producer, Rostam Batmanglij, and Ra Ra Riot frontman Wes Miles) it should come as no surprise that I would have a soft spot of this track. On this track Vampire Weekend expands their palette to include more synths and electronic textures, and I just adore Ezra’s vocals. So this is a slam dunk in my book.
What a beautiful and striking voice and well crafted song to boot. The melody on the chorus is just so damn good. If you like Marina & The Diamonds, then is something you don’t want to sleep on. This is just one of three demo’s that make my best of list this year!
Yes, I know I label this list as “Top 25 Electronic Pop Singles of 2010″ but this indie pop track couldn’t be denied. Every element is placed in perfect concert in the track. Love the bass and tambourines with the organ stabs, just so delightful. Telekinesis is a Seattle based band and this track was taken from their latest ep on Morr Music called, “Dirty Thing”.
Lets start with the obvious, two tracks on this list would hardly be considered electronic but they won my heart this year and have been included on this list (Telekinesis – Dirty Thing & Graffiti6 – Stare Into The Sun). Also note that one track, Bloodgroup – My Arms, was released in 2009 but I somehow missed this hidden gem, so it’s included in this list as well. Without further delay, let’s get onto the music.
This track just has that 80′s Culture Club vibe on it that I dug all year.
The Count & Sinden – After Dark (ft. Mystery Jets)
Self indulgent, yes. DO I CARE? No. So let me illuminate the situation. I am one half of Drop and Solo — me being the “Solo” part and was quite proud of this demo, so it makes the list. It features Will Curry on vocals and has a chilled house vibe to it. So please enjoy and share!
Drop and Solo – Never Saw It Coming
Drop and Solo – Never Saw it Coming by oddyear
Ahh, it’s been said one too many times, but yes i’ll say it again, FM Belfast is a modern day Human League, but from Iceland. This track is taken from 2010 full length release, ” How To Make Friends”.
Rocking as only the Teddybears can is a loud and ruckus track with a fun hook. Did I mention it has one of those Disneyland electrical parade type sounds in the chorus? Yeah, one of those and it rocks.
Teddybears – Chrystal Meth Christian (ft. Flaming Lips)
Smooth and cool with warm vocals is the sound of Monarchy. Their entire 2010 release is solid from start to finish and shouldn’t be missed if you are a fan of Maroon 5 type vocals married with electronic elements.
One of the best presents I received in my inbox for 2010. The majority of tracks I receive never make it on my blog because of one simple rule: Would I listen to this on my iPod? If the answer is “No”, then I delete-delete the email and carry on. This one however was one of the rare exceptions that actually got me to say hell “Yeah” I would listen to this and I want to tell the whole world they should check this one out.
Conner blends electronic pop with a banjo and a driving dubstep bassline with such ease it’s hard to believe it hasn’t been done before.
Yes, it’s my dear Whitey at 19. I hope 2011 gets Whitey more exposure and airplay. This guy just has “it”. You can hear the love and devotion he puts into his music. This isn’t by means a “slap it together” and see what happens production. Whitey delivers sharp, cunning lyrics and marries them to something fresh and unique. He is not one to stand around and wait for the world to catch up. So be forward thinking and give this track it’s proper due.
Oh my, I just love the hell out of this track. I have a soft spot for vocal house that leans on the more minimal deeper side of things and Storm Queen delivers on this track. “Storm Queen” is the moniker of one Morgan Geist. Damon’s voice just sets off the track and word has it that he meet Morgan while he was busking in a NYC subway.
Storm Queen – Look Right Through (ft. Damon C. Scott)
Look Right Through (Vocal) by TimeOutNewYork