OUR TOP BANDS TELL US THEIR 2K10 FAVORITES

—> Check out our BUZZsessions with ARMS and GIVERS <—

We love Stereogum and we love lists so naturally, we’re big fans of their recent ’40 Best New Bands Of 2010′ list.  Seems that we share a lot of the same tastes in music, so we figured it could be repetitive and sort of lame to make a list of our own.  Instead, we’ve gotten in touch with some of our favorite bands of 2010, some of which were on Stereogum’s list, and asked them who their favorite bands of 2K10 are.

Unlike Stereogum’s list, the following bands may not be linked in our memory as being from 2K10, but have come into the national spotlight this year.  Below are the top bands of 2010 as decided by some of our favorite bands, Sleigh Bells, Pearl and the Beard, GIVERS, and ARMS.

1. Caddywhompus – Amazing duo from noLA.  Keep your eyes on this band. They’re amazing.

Let The Water Hit The Floor – Caddywhompus Let The Water Hit The Floor – Caddywhompus (Free Download)

—–> Caddywhompus on Facebook, Twitter, MySpace <—–

2.  The Middle East — Not a new band, but new to me! Their song “Blood” is in my top 5 songs of the year for sure. Great video too.

Blood – The Middle East Blood – The Middle East (Buy)

—–> The Middle East on Facebook, Twitter, MySpace <—–

3.  Volcano Choir – Justin Vernon of Bon Iver and Collections of Colonies of Bees… album Unmap… so good.

Island, IS – Volcano Choir Island, IS – Volcano Choir (Buy)

—–> Volcano Choir on Facebook, Twitter, MySpace <—–

4.  Local Natives — Another band thats not “new” — but new to me. Saw them at SXSW — was blown away.

—–> Local Natives on Facebook, Twitter, MySpace <—–

5.  Sleigh Bells – The world could always use more crunkness.

Rill Rill – Sleigh Bells Rill Rill – Sleigh Bells (Buy)

—–> Sleigh Bells on Facebook, Twitter, MySpace <—–

6. Local Natives —  Good, new talent from Los Angeles. Harmonies out the wazoo and great, catchy songs that aren’t too obviously poppy.

—–> Local Natives on Facebook, Twitter, MySpace <—–

7.  Lady Lamb and Beekeeper —  Soon to be a star for sure, the likes of Laura Marling, but with more soul and grit. A lot of great things come out of this little package.

A Dinosaur Song – Lady Lamb and Beekeeper A Dinosaur Song – Lady Lamb and Beekeeper (Free Download)

—–> Lady Lamb and Beekeeper on Facebook, MySpace <—–

8.  Mumford & Sons — Rollicking good time of Brits, who give great hugs and know how to write a song that will swell your heart to a dangerous point.

Cousins (Vampire Weekend Cover) – Mumford & Sons Cousins (Vampire Weekend Cover) – Mumford & Sons (Free Download) — via BBC’s Live Lounge

—–> Mumford & Sons on Facebook, MySpace <—–

9.  Sharon Van Etten — Her voice is as smooth as butter.  Watching her live you would think a strong breeze might blow her away, or even just a harsh word might dispatch her to a dark room forever. But hearing the songs makes you realize she’s seen some shit, and has the beautifully weathered voice and stories to prove it.

Love More – Sharon Van Etten Love More – Sharon Van Etten (Free Download)

—–> Sharon Van Etten on Facebook, Twitter, MySpace <—–

10.  Dinosaur Feathers — Great friends of ours with great harmonies, and melodies that would fit in the dingiest cool, new indie venue, Broadway musical, or beach BBQ.  And I mean that as a compliment.

History Lessons – Dinosaur Feathers History Lessons – Dinosaur Feathers (Buy)

—–> Dinosaur Feathers on Facebook, Twitter, MySpace <—–

11. Wakey!Wakey! — I was really glad to see the US caught onto Wakey’s musical talent thanks to the magic o’television.  Great and heartbreaking songcraft.  It takes me back to when I was 16 and just enjoying listening to music without the weight of needing to be cool or whatever to like it.  It was what it was and I loved it.

22 – Wakey! Wakey! 22 – Wakey! Wakey! (Buy)

—–> Wakey!Wakey! on Facebook, Videos, Twitter, MySpace <—–

12. the XX — guess it’s not 2010 but the XX record is weird and very, very good +++++++++ (via Twitter)

13.  Baths — LA bedroom producer who makes stuttery, side-chained beats like Dilla, but with a super, super-sad tone.  Also he sings, and it sounds like Michael from Passion Pit.  Hard to describe, awesome to listen to.

Hall – Baths Hall – Baths

—–> Baths on Facebook, Twitter, MySpace <—–

14.  Caveman — Former members of The Subjects, who my old band used to play with all the time and are wonderful guys. Hazy, creepy-sounding pop with top-shelf hooks and fun, poundy drums. No album yet, but i think they’re working with the guy from the French Kicks so it should sound pretty fantastic.

—–> Caveman on MySpace <—–

15.  North Highlands — “Chamber pop” is kind of a shitty tag to slap on any band, but let’s say that North Highlands write effortlessly good, vaguely proggy pop songs with tasteful-yet-complicated instrumentation and Brenda Malvini’s voice is like warm, buttered Pixie Sticks. Actually, forget I ever mentioned chamber pop. Great Brooklyn band, period.

Hiking – North Highlands Hiking – North Highlands

—–> North Highlands on Facebook, Twitter, MySpace <—–

16.  Mountain Man — A bunch of girls from Vermont with perfect voices, lots of reverb, harmonies, and tantalizingly sparse acoustic guitar playing Appalachian-sounding folk songs full of mystery and secrets.

Sewee Sewee – Mountain Man Sewee Sewee – Mountain Man

—–> Mountain Man on MySpace <—–

17.  Bear in Heaven — Not a new band, but we share a practice space with them and I’ve watched them go from a bunch of affable, down-to-earth dudes whose music I’d never heard to a bunch of affable, down-to-earth dudes whose absolutely mind-blowing prog-pop I hear everywhere and loved every second of it.

Slowdance (Bear in Heaven Remix) – Matthew Dear Slowdance (Bear in Heaven Remix) – Matthew Dear

—–> Bear in Heaven on Facebook, Twitter, MySpace <—–