Tony's Picks...

The year of twenty ten is officially coming to a close, and with it comes my top ten albums picks, in no particular order. The oldCrippledmen have had quite a time in this first year, and we hope ya'll will keep chugging on forward with us in the new year. Thanks for reading.
~Tony

	Grinderman - Grinderman 2 (2010) It is as evil and engaging as anything Nick Cave has ever released. Nick Cave never tries to hit it lucky. He knew what he wanted this album to sound like, and he produced it. You want rock n roll, you got it!
	Breathe Owl Breathe - Magic Central (2010) My most-listened to album of the year. It came to me in early fall, just before I saw their live show, and became my autumn soundtrack for the next several months. It is innocent and quaint like a children's book, which makes it capable of revealing the sweet truths of life that only a naive child is able to share. Absolutely gorgeous arrangements, as simple as they actually are.
	The Roots - How I Got Over (2010) I was never able to believe the hype on The Roots until the release of this most coherent and soulful of hip-hop albums. Never shy of social commentary, The Roots combine the attitude of my favorite 90s hip-hop groups with the best production value this decade has to offer. Listen to it through a couple of times and you'll feel the urge to spin it again and again. It just works.
	The Black Keys - Brothers (2010) Straightforward, no-nonsense, back to the basics, dirty, garage blues. A real rock record for the 21st century if I've ever heard one. These guys are always consistent and they deserve all of the critical acclaim and huge shows they've received this year. Never overrated.
	The National - High Violet (2010) Mournful and honest as always, The National produce dark melancholy as music like no other group is capable of. All of their albums can cut into me as I listen through, but with an increase in production and unbelievably meticulous attention to lyrics, this album might just be perfect.
	Joanna Newsom - Have One on Me (2010) It is 3 discs of pretentious 7 min on average songs. It is Joanna's attempt to build an epic collection of music to live up to the critics' acclaim after Ys. It is too much to ever attempt to listen to at once. But these are also the same reasons for my love of it. The most epic lullaby ever released. Each disc is an album of beauty and ambition in itself. Whether the length was an honest decision or just pretentious, this album was the most ambitious of the year other than maybe Kanye.
	The Tallest Man On Earth - The Wild Hunt (2010) The constant comparison to Dylan he receives must get so damn annoying, but after seeing him in Chicago, it really holds. He has girls screaming at his croons the entire show and his music is able to captivate the audience while he sings about matters of real gravity and concern. He is one of the most important songwriters of our generation, and The Wild Hunt is his most melodic, tender album to date.
	Titus Andronicus - The Monitor (2010) A perfect union of aggressive, old-school punk and weighty, genuine Springsteen. This album is a punch of energy from start to finish and I guarantee you'll love it.
	Deerhunter - Halcyon Digest (2010) Cox has really gone to work this year with both his Atlas Sound and Deerhunter projects. He is a man constantly at work, and his work is constantly changing the game. This album is surely his best work yet, and it is an album that grew on me with each listen. Hot damn, this is special stuff.
	The Budos Band - The Budos Band III (2010) Full of African good-vibes, this is the smoothest talking album of the year. It creates a driven, danceable atmosphere at each listen, and it never really gets old. When I consider music as a universal joy in the human condition, this is one of the albums I think everyone can agree to enjoying. It never stops moving.