Albums in My Life: 2010

2010 was a pretty dark time in my life, relatively speaking. My depression, which I've dealt with since adolescence, was probably the worst it's ever been, to the point where I was involving myself in extracurricular activities that I probably shouldn't have been. I was a sophomore and junior in college, and I really didn't know where I was going. It's good to know things never really change.




Drake- Thank Me Later
It's hard to think of a time where something Drake did could be considered refreshing, but at the time of his debut, rap was really stuck in that gangbanger machismo image. He really made being confessional and emotional on a track cool. As much as I dislike his current output, I connected with the sad sack vibe of some his earlier stuff. I feel like he's a little too successful and about his own brand to make music people can identify with any more. He really just makes chart topping pop with little substance now, which is fine I guess, it's just not for me.




Earl Sweatshirt- Earl
This was probably the first Odd Future release I ever heard, and it introduced me to the super dark (at the time) world of Tyler, the Creator and Earl Sweatshirt. The record is ridiculously dark, and I couldn't see an album with this subject matter being accepted today, outside cult horrorcore and death metal circles. It's amazing to think that Earl was rapping this well at 16, and that Tyler's production was so on point. They've definitely progressed since then; Earl getting a lot more depressive and introspective, and Tyler smoothing out a lot of rough edges, but this was the nihilistic embryonic stage that initially drew me in.



of Montreal- False Priest
False Priest is a little bit of a polarizing record in of montreal's catalog, as some fans think it's a little too gaudy or out there. Though Skeletal Lamping was my introduction to the band, I found that effort to be a lot more produced, and its sheer length made it an exhausting listen. I feel like the follow up was a lot more fun, without a lofty concept to bog it down, with a lot more humor and immediate hooks. It's a bit of a grower, but tracks like 'Our Riotous Defects', and 'Sex Karma' never get old to my ears.




Skrillex- My Name is Skrillex/ Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites
I couldn't pick which of brostep producer Skrillex's 2010 EPs was better, so I just had to go with both. One of my suite mates in college introduced me to him, and I loved the electronic dance sound blended with the aggression that one might normally only find in a punk or metal context. Big Beat music might be aggressive, but I always found that a little corny. These dubstep drops and wobbles just sounded so angry and alien. I had never heard anything like it. I'm not really sure why this genre died off while more generic EDM was allowed to survive.



Kanye West- My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
If in 2004, you would have told me that there would be a point in my life where I would regard Kanye West as an artist I actively enjoyed, I would have laughed in your face. I wasn't a huge hip hop head then, and his public persona was far too obnoxious. After 808s opened the door, Kanye stepped through it with his magnum opus, a blend of top tier production, clever braggadocious but introspective rapping, and a list of features that read like a list of music's elite. While recent years have again put me off Kanye to an extent, I'll always check in to see if he can reach those heights again.




So, that was my soundtrack to 2010. Stop in again soon for the most important albums in my life from 2011. I'll try to pump the last three volumes of this series out relatively soon. I've got some new ideas for The Run-Out Groove, or Dead Wax, or whatever I happen to be calling this extended cry for help at a future date, and I hope to roll those out sooner rather than later.




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