Will's Picks...

The bright lights of 2010 are extinguishing.

In a year when a faux-bronze human pickle is picking up the reigns of the political right, and BP spilled its uncensored guts all over the Gulf, the musical community celebrated releases from veteran masterpieces to agitated and exploratory youth.

There were three albums that soared most, and consequently, really seared into my soul. Some claim the musical calendar of twenty ten more of a dud than a golden platter (the absence of folksy, NPR-lauded coffee shop music), but to those naysayers, I have to say fuck you! and check out these three strokes of genius (in no order).

3. Titus Andronicus- The Monitor

I actually thought Deerhunter's Halcyon Digest a better album through and through, but for God's sake, have you heard "A More Perfect Union"? A hard-driven, quasi-patriotically infused punk anthem with apocalyptic homages to the Boss and Abe Lincoln, this track catapulted the album to an unprecedented start. And the best part is that The Monitor didn't lag, drag or sag after that explosion at the beginning. These rowdy fuckers hailing from the industrial ass hat called New Jersey implement to me what music is all about. They seem to be talking about a lot of things in their music but I sense what they really enjoy doing is drinking beer and plugging in that distortion.

2. Kanye West- My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

Kanye West is not a hip hop artist. Like his idol Michael Jackson, he is now a pop artist through and through. And like MJ, he might be the king. Apart from the angelic arrangements of My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, his lyrics again startle me with how simultaneously arrogant and self-conscience they are, and thats what makes this manic depressive pop star one of the most interesting artists of the 21st century.

"The plan was to drink until the pain over/ But what's worse, the pain or the hangover?"

1. LCD Soundsystem- This Is Happening

Talk about a 21st century pop mastermind. James Murphy, through three excellent albums as LCD Soundsystem, is a special man to me. Nothing has made me want to zip up a pair of acid wash jeans and shake my hips, really shake 'em, like "I Can Change" or "Someone Great". The boings and pbbsts of most electronic dance music usually makes me feel uncomfortable, like I dont really "get" the music. I now realize its just bad music most of the time. Well I get This Is Happening. And its really fucking good.