The National, High Violet
An utterly compelling, comforting, and deceptively simple album; a bit too mournful for regular play, it nonetheless did not leave my stereo for weeks. Maybe it doesn’t reach the anthemic heights of Alligator, but it’s more consistent, and better than Boxer. And lord, the lyrics: “I don’t want to get over you.” That’s all you need to say, ever.
Arcade Fire, The Suburbs
An album I wished had been around in college. Critics of the length are correct—it often drags—and sometimes it’s just too precious (“Rococo”). But when they’re on, there’s nobody better. The lyrics to the title track have brought me to tears, for God’s sake, and “Sprawl II” should be immediately remade by every punk band in the nation: if you are a teenager in Birmingham or Houston or Atlanta you should get the lyrics tattooed up and down both arms, so as to explain why you are the way you are.
Broken Social Scene, Forgiveness Rock Record
The terrific sprawl and scope of the band had never locked onto me until I saw them play live in Chicago this summer. This record is like a really good action movie; it goes all over the place, and does tons of crazy different things, and even if it might be shallow in places, it feels great.
The Sweetest Kill is such a good song. If you havent already, check out their second album, You Forgot It In People. Fantastic.
Hilarious. I have these 3 albums, and only these 3, on the USB drive in my car right now. I’ve been revolving through them continuously the last 2 weeks.
Replace Arcade Fire with the new Superchunk and this is about right for my 2010 listening, too. I guess it’s time to give The Suburbs another try—seems like a good winter album, and we’re finally getting some winter.