5. Deerhunter - Halcyon Digest - 4AD
6. Twin Shadow - Forget - Terrible/4AD
Before this year I never really spent much time with Deerhunter. I had listened to Microcastle once or twice and thought it was alright. But there’s something about this new album, something that excites me to no end. “Revival” is the key point of this album; it’s this amazing pop song that sounds like it was recorded in the late ’60s, has been trapped somewhere, and has finally been unleashed unto the world. Bradford Cox’s declaration that he’s been saved, every enunciation of syllables striking a chord (I’ve been wondering if that was a tip they learned from their touring pals, Spoon.) That piano, the easy beat, everything about it sets up the whole record. Stark, calming waters (“Earthquake”, “Sailing”) combat for space with driving rockers (“Desire Lines”) and the near Animal Collective closer (“He Would Have Laughed”) to make one of the easiest listens of 2010, a record that must be heard from front to back only.
Twin Shadow is the project of George Lewis, Jr. I wish he would record under his given name, not to say it’s not just fine to work under a moniker. Either way, Forget is a lost product of the 1980s, full of synths, drum beats, and Lewis’ strong vocals. Singles “Slow” and “Castles In The Snow” emit scents used in their day by a band like Haircut 100, trickling key lines and drum machines aloof. Why “At My Heels” isn’t the biggest one hit wonder of the 80s is beyond me; that soaking wet guitar just all up in that mix, as Lewis competes with it for top tier in the mix. Even the artwork is very 80s, with the mug of Lewis faintly hiding behind crisp gold flakes. Chris Taylor of the Griz produced this one, showing that he’s very well rounding in his role as a producer.
