Top Ten O’Ten: Nine

A simple thing: did you guys know I’ve embraced more of the digital age? Well, I have, and you can do that whole “like” thing on that one site with the “Liking” if you want.

And, more importantly (i’d say, though i luv you all), I have a set-up at Bandcamp, an absolutely wonderful site that I encourage all you musicians to embrace (I think some of you have anyways). You can listen (for free) and buy (for an inexpensive amount), most of my albums on there.

Anyways, on to Number Nine.

Duh, Arcade Fire. Well, maybe not Duh, but it was more of a no-brainer that it was going to be pretty good than other albums this year. I wasn’t too much of a fan of Neon Bible, I mean, I was at first, but sort of de-got-into-it over the years. It was too bombastic, and Win really was saying “I don’t want this, or I don’t want that,” and it sort of came down to a “Well, what DO you want?” But he wasn’t talking.

It doesn’t really have to be a secret that I’m making an album that’s called Burque Spirit and is about growing up in a smaller town that can’t really keep you happy. And as anyone who was 14-18 in Albuquerque can tell you, it’s basically one giant suburb of itself.

So when it was found out that They were making an album called The Suburbs about growing up in a smaller town that can’t really keep you happy, I was a little like “oh maaaan!” But I think the Arcade Fire really has a great album here (besides, my album’s themes of Youth are more ethererally spiritual than Win & Co’s more direct take).

The standout (in an album of many standouts, really), was certainly for me “Sprawl II,” the moment when the album’s been winding down for awhile, and almost would be a huge drag if it wasn’t for the explosion of happy-sound that is “Sprawl II.” See? More joy from songs in 2010!!! Of course, the song’s a little deeper than “O, Joy!” And the question of “will we ever get away from the sprawl?” seems like it’s never really answered (in the good, that’s life sort of way).

Anyways, it’s great. Bam.