The Best of 2010 – Part 2: Best Albums Of The Year

15. Hot Chip – One Life Stand: The fourth album by British band Hot Chip really stood out as one of the best dance/electronic albums of 2010. The brilliant opener ‘Thieves In The Night’ sets the tone for the rest of the album. It is quickly followed by the sweeping, jittery piano-led ‘Hand Me Down Your Love’ and the euphoric synths of ‘I Feel Better’, which almost steals the album before it has really begun. The first single, ‘One Life Stand’, initially makes for fairly difficult listening through the electro distortation, that is, until the throbbing beat breaks into Alexis Taylor’s subtly anthemic chorus. One Life Stand is full of the consistently brilliant hooks which Hot Chip are known for, but vocally the album is much more mellower, as captured in the heartfelt ‘Brothers’ and softly, softly ‘Alley Cats’.

Album Review: The Dead Weather - Sea Of Cowards

Can Jack White do no wrong? Whilst many of us dream of setting up one decent band, White is making more awesome music in yet another completely different creation. The Dead Weather is White’s third side project, alongside the brilliant The White Stripes, and excellent, The Raconteurs. The Nashville foursome joined forces last year after an impromptu jam at one of White’s studios, and very quickly released the impressive debut album Horehound.

Now, less than a year after the first album was released, comes The Dead Weather’s second album, Sea of Cowards. The title alone sets the tone for the rest of the album, it is gritty, disturbing and raw. The mayhem begins with the snarling ‘Blue Blood Blues’, with Jack taking lead vocals. It is a strong opening song which is reminiscent of ‘I Cut Like a Buffalo’ from Horehound. ‘Hustle and Cuss’ continues in a similar vein, with a very simple, but repetitive guitar simmering over White’s drumming.