Best of 2010, What were your highlights? Options

[Pokey]

So 2010 is almost over, what were your highlights of the year in regards to music, whether it be particular songs or albums? I assume for some of us that TGF or Ed or both would feature highly so maybe we can skip over those and share some other gems we found during the year.

For me I loved the new Grinderman album, I much prefer it over the first Grinderman album which I found a little rough around the edges and didn't quite know what it wanted to be. This one I enjoyed much more and found it very different to stuff that Cave did with The Bad Seeds because of the way he wrote most of the album ... he usually writes songs in the way of a story, for this album the lyrics were much more abstract and different to what he normally does. Some highlights were the lead single Heathen Child as well as the Palaces of Montezuma, Worm Tamer and a non album track called Star Charmer which is absolutely beautiful.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16GQDM4Siok

I absolutely am in love with Marina and the Diamonds too ... she released her debut album earlier in the year. It's a mix of somewhere between Lily Allen, Florence + The Machine and Kate Miller-Heidke. Songs are as catchy as hell and wonderfully written, female pop singer with a brain in her head and a spectacular voice. I'm seeing her between Christmas and New Year, absolutely can't wait.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwfCjYv7gVQ

Another is probably my favorite unsigned band, how they are still unsigned after touring as opening for Morrissey and getting nice press coverage in mags like the NME and stuff I am not sure, hopefully it comes soon for them as they're awesome. The released their first album last year with a new one early next year but they just released this single, they're called Doll and the Kicks:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qmm80NlEY98

The new Black Keys album was a ripper and their lead single "Tighten Up" is an absolute gem:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ojcl9dRRDs