Music and internet, what else? Now with OpenData!: Oh right, a blog

Happy new year, blog.

Time for a review of 2010? Well, I dislike top lists, especially when I'm the one making them. I always feel its hard to draw a line of what goes in and what doesn't. Some stuff is 'just good'. Some stuff is old ratings, things I thought I'd listen to more than I did, things I have to hear again before I put them on the list and before I know it's the end of the next year.

So instead, I give you here a non-exhaustive list (last updated: 12 January 2011, last new addition: 12 January 2011). Of noteworthy albums(/EPs) from 2010. ~~This is in the order of this list~~ nevermind that. I left out a lot of albums that are either not noteworthy or that I need to hear again. You should hear all these albums, or at least some portion of them. For your (my) convenience, I've partitioned the list in roughly 3 broad sections;
Metal and punk, aka loud; Hip Hop, soul, R&B and jazz pop (it just happened to be convenient); Folk, indie, alternative, rock, aka (usually) hyped stuff.

note: I will probably add reviews and/or sample songs later

Metal, punk

Aeternam - Disciples of the Unseen

This album is currently the highest rated 2010 album I have on RYM. Does that make it my album of the year? Yeah, I guess so. It's pretty awesome. Oh, some sources have this album as being from '09. But fuck those sources.

Melechesh - The Epigenesis

More "middle-eastern" metal. Pretty awesome, though maybe a little over-the-top in terms of length. Like melodic black metal? This might just be your "album of the year".

Winterhorde - Underwatermoon
Some pretty amazing melodic black metal with a healthy dose of prog metal right here. You think melodic black is kinda boring and repetitive? Listen to this, think again.

Stam1na - Viimeinen Atlantis

Despite the l33t name, these guys make an interesting mixture of fast, technical thrash metal backed with ideas from progressive metal. Also, note the awesome clean Finnish vocals.

Taperedmind - Breathe Again

Kick-ass Alternative Metal.

Fear Factory - Mechanize

First 2010 album I bought; Fear Factory is back!

Heidevolk - Uit Oude Grond

Heidevolk kicks the shit out of your favorite folk metal band.

Kvelertak - Kvelertak

Hipster scene kids from Norway playing a fusion of black metal and sludgy punk. Points for uniqueness.

Magrudergrind - Crusher

Magrudergrind on a big label. Controversy, the grind scene shits itself. Music fans cheer for the win of good free music.

Mael Mórdha - Manannán

First 'Celtic' Metal album I've heard. Doomy, too. Try it.

Star One - Victims of the Modern Age

I like Ayreon. I like this side project. You like Ayreon? You'll like this. subject to change

Electric Wizard - Black Masses
Electric Wizard progresses their sound after witchcult today. Heavy Psych sounds remain. Sounded better live.

Årabrot - Revenge
Sludgy metallic Norwegian noise rock.

Karma to Burn - Appalachian Incantation

More stuff I heard live. Wohoo, new Karma to Burn! ... Except Almost Heathen is quite a bit better. Sure, this has some nice production touches, and it's still one hell of a stoner album, but one can't help but expect more.

Trap Them - Filth Rations

Seizures in Barren Praise was good; so is this. Slightly different sound. Also, WTF, what is Southern Lord doing here.

Hip Hop, R&B, jazz pop

Zwart Licht - No JuJu

Dutch hip-hop/grime release. First I've heard. Picked it up last week. subject to change

Janelle Monáe - The ArchAndroid

Wow, an Contemporary R&B album I actually really like. Granted, it is hardly your average R&B tune, but still. Plus, at the moment of writing, RYM has this genre as the main genre for this album (with 73 positive votes and 7 negative votes, along with art pop at 61+/20-). Anyway, try some.

Cee Lo Green - The Lady Killer

Surprisingly not shit. subject to change

Caro Emerald - Deleted Scenes From the Cutting Room Floor

Great Dutch jazz pop.

Folk, indie, hyped stuff

Ólöf Arnalds - Innundir Skinni

Contemporary Folk music from Iceland. Hyped somewhat for Björk being on this track. Care. But anyway, Vinkonur is a pretty great song.