Deerhunter is preparing to release the single "Memory Boy" from last year's fantastic Halcyon Digest. Preview the b-side "Nosebleed" here; a jaunty tune with some fuzzy guitar, off kilter harmonies and an acoustic solo:
Hopefully you've enjoyed albums 30-21 and albums 20-11 of our year-end list. Look for the complete rundown of all 30 picks at the end of this post.
Now it's time for what we've all been waiting for... the unveiling of the top ten. Please forgive me if you're a huge fan of Kanye, Sufjan, Robyn, The National or Vampire Weekend. I wish them all the success in the world, I just don't wish them to be on my list.
That said, here's part three of Old Waver's Top 30 Albums of 2010:
10: Jonsi - Go
Sigor Ros on Mountain Dew and Mini Thins
2: Beach House - Teen Dream
This Baltimore twosome create some of the most enthralling, exhilarating dream pop
"Zebra"
1: LCD Soundsystem - This Is Happening
If James Murphy really is putting LCD on hiatus, he's going out with one of the most memorable albums of the last ten years
And as promised, here's the entire list for quick reference:
1.LCD Soundsystem – This Is Happening
2.Beach House – Teen Dream
3.Deerhunter – Halcyon Digest
4.Arcade Fire – The Suburbs
5.Caribou – Swim
6.Wild Nothing – Gemini
7.The Radio Dept. – Clinging To A Scheme
8.Crystal Castles – Crystal Castles II
9.Two Door Cinema Club – Tourist History
10.Jonsi – Go
11.Twin Shadow – Forget
12.Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti – Before Today
13.Foals – Total Life Forever
14.Tame Impala – Innerspeaker
15.Yeasayer – Odd Blood
16.Wolf Parade – Expo 86
17.Girl Talk – All Day
18.Local Natives – Gorilla Manor
19.Crocodiles – Sleep Forever
20.School of Seven Bells – Disconnect From Desire
21.Frank (Just Frank) – The Brutal Wave
22.Adam Franklin & Bolts Of Melody – I Could Sleep For A Thousand Years
Bradford Cox is a tortured soul. He was born with the genetic disorder Marfan syndrome that gave him a gangly, sickly appearance. His parents divorced in his teens and he dropped out of high school. Deerhunter's first bassist died tragically in 2004 and another close friend died of a heroin overdose the following year.
If great art comes from pain, it's no surprise Cox has captained Deerhunter — as well as his bedroom tapes released under Atlas Sound — into the indie rock canon of the aughts.
Deerhunter's widely anticipated fourth studio album, Halcyon Digest, is due for release September 28. It's the band's first release exclusive to 4AD and has been given plenty of viral promotion, including its own cryptic website.
From an old waver's point of view, this album is a tremendous step forward. While Deerhunter's previous efforts were certainly good, Halcyon Digest turns the corner and points the band further down the path of ambient and shoegaze. It's a curious combination of great songwriting and deep atmospherics that keeps even the most spacious songs interesting.
With the shimmering guitar work of Lockett Pundt and the heavily effected vocals of Cox, their sound is at once haunting and beautiful. The same can be said of the video for "Helicopter":
Halcyon Digest may not be as readily accessible as some of the friendlier tracks on Cryptograms or Microcastle, but it's a visionary album that will certainly be counted among the year's best.
, is due for release September 28. It's the band's first release exclusive to 
or 
, but it's a visionary album that will certainly be counted among the year's best.