Best Songs & Albums 2010 - ROCKSPOSURE.....Be Heard

Chris Brach - Founder/Webmaster

Silversun Pickups - Swoon

Yes it came out in 2009, but there is no album that came remotely close to dominating my musical life in 2010 like Silversun Pickup’s sophomore effort “Swoon”.  From cover to cover, this album is more ingrained in my iPod than any other group of songs that have ever made the journey through the misery of iTunes to get to my headphones.  While the frantic paced single “Panic Switch” drew me into this album all the way back in January, I had heard Silversun Pickups previously on their first major single “Lazy Eye” courtesy of Rock Band.  But it wasn’t until hearing  the chaotic sounds of “Panic Switch” that I was intrigued enough to take them for a full test drive.

"Swoon" captures emotion better musically than any other album I’ve listened to in recent memory.  It’s angry, it’s melancholy, it’s erratic and it is so good musically that would clearly convey these elements even without Brian Aubert’s unique voice proclaiming the lyrics.  On my first listen, it probably took me 15 straight repeats to get past the opening track “There’s No Secrets This Year”.  I’ve always been mesmerized by drummers and the foundation they lay for a band’s music.  They’re often out of the limelight and an afterthought, but what struck me immediately in this song was just how good Christopher Guanlao is behind his basic drum kit.  You won’t find double bass pedals and 100 toms lining the set, but you will find some of the fastest and cleanest drumming around.  The unique rolls that Guanlao incorporates on this track are downright incredible and he only gets better as the album goes into the powerful sounds of the “The Royal We”.

From the tense mood at the beginning of “Growing Old is Getting Old” to Nikki Monninger’s dominating bass line on “Sort Of”, there isn’t a dull moment on this album.  How this slid past me the year prior I’ll never know.  But what I do know is that this album will remain one of my favorites well beyond it’s 2nd birthday.

2. Slash - Slash

3. Alter Bridge - AB III

4. Alice in Chains - Black Gives Way to Blue

5. Crash Kings - Crash Kings

Brian "BoyScout" Brach - Scout

Alter Bridge - AB III

Contrary to what some critics will tell you, this past year has been a great year for rock music.  We saw Slash release a solo album and return to the stage with an all-star lineup surrounding him, Alice and Chains hit the road again, and Stones all managed to stay alive for another year.  But in my world the best release of 2010 was Alter Bridge’s third album “AB III”.  Cover to cover this album is absolutely phenomenal.  If your like me, once it stakes a claim in your CD player, it will be moving in for a long time!  The album is packed with pure rock n roll and incredible guitar shredding, but there are a few tracks that I found myself making my way back to.  One of which is a bonus track on the US release called “Zero”, an awesome hardcore rock song that has to make the fans in Europe mad that they missed out on.  “Zero” is packed with all of the swagger and punch that Alter Bridge has come to be known for.  It’s such a solid tune that it’s hard to believe it didn’t make the cut on all versions of the album.

The track on the album that stood out the most for me was “I Know It Hurts”, a song that really showcases the amazing musical talents of Alter Bridge.  In the past lead guitarist Mark Tremonti has stolen the show with his fret burning licks, but all four members really shine on this song.  Brian Marshall drives this song with his amazing skills on bass. Scott Phillips tempo and pace is so fast and intricate that I am left wondering if he might be made out of elastic, he does things that just shouldn’t be possible.  Tremonti’s lead guitar contribution on this song might possibly be one of the best of his entire career.   With aggressive speed and a signature Tremonti solo, it further supports why he has been Guitar World Magazine’s Guitarist of the year three times.  

What really ties the whole package together are the vocals of Myles Kennedy.  I wasn’t the slightest bit surprised Jimmy Page wanted him for Led Zeppelin and Slash chose him as his front man for his solo tour.  Kennedy’s range is unmatched to anyone else in rock music today.  In a recent interview, Myles stated that this is his favorite Alter Bridge album yet as he gets to display his vocal talents and show off some of his guitar skills.  

If you are one of the many that are still stuck comparing these guys to Creed, it’s time to get over it and hear what you’ve been missing.  Alter Bridge is it’s own unique animal that is far more intricate musically than anything Scott Stapp could have put together.  With out the Stapp element, there isn’t an ounce of ego in this band, just four guys that love putting on an amazing rock show.

Kristy Kramer  - Photographer

Kristy’s Top 10 Albums of 2010

1. The Monitor - Titus Andronicus
2. My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy - Kanye West
3. Halcyon Digest - Deerhunter
4. This is Happening - LCD Soundsystem
5. The Suburbs - Arcade Fire
6. Great Vacation! - Sleeping In The Aviary
7. Have One On Me - Joanna Newsome
8. Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty - Big Boi
9. Lisbon - The Walkmen
10. Forgiveness Rock Record - Broken Social Scene

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Kristy's Top 5 Songs of 2010

"Dance Yrself Clean" - LCD Soundsystem
A song for the truly neurotic, it is an anthem for those who desperately strive to escape. Escape social norms. Escape petty, nonsensical interactions with others. Escape life. The beginning of the song contains minimal vocals with the ever so quiet tapping on the metal rim of a drum and a horn sounding synthesizer precariously mixed in.  Just when your senses give in to the monotonous continuity of the simplistic bantering, the muffled scream gives way to clarity.  The timid internal voices are projected loud and clear to an orchestra of electronic beats that are sure to get the most self conscious listener up and moving.  It is a song about letting go of everything and giving into pleasure, dancing your cares away.

Runaway - Kanye West

Modern Man - Arcade Fire

Like a Cigarette - The Wildbirds

Maria’s Ghost - Sleeping in the Aviary

Click here for more Best of 2010!