2010 Song Project - Countdown - #10-#1

#10 Broken Bells - "The High Road" from "Broken Bells" - DJ Danger Mouse and James Mercer of The Shins teamed up on the Broken Bells side project, which produced a fantastic album which was headed up by this classic single.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWBG1j_flrg&ob=av2e


#9 The National - "Bloodbuzz Ohio" from "High Violet" - 2010 was a breakthrough year for The National, as they finally started to gain some of the sub-mainstream appreciation that they've deserved for the better part of the last decade. "Bloodbuzz Ohio" was a modest hit on the indie charts, but widely appreciated as the best song off their latest album, "High Violet".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfySK7CLEEg&ob=av2e


#8 Kanye West - "Monster" from "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy" - Guest stars Rick Ross, Jay-Z and particularly Nicki Minaj team up with Kanye for yet another classic song from the best rap album of 2010.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLnS-2h_nog


#7 Vampire Weekend - "Cousins" from "Contra" - Vampire Weekend managed to duck the sophomore slump that usually clobbers indie sensations with the release of "Contra", a classic almost as good as their debut album. "Cousins" is the highest-charting song from that album on my list.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1e0u11rgd9Q&ob=av2e


#6 The Arcade Fire - "Ready To Start" from "The Suburbs" - A more traditional Arcade Fire song, with the long build-up leading up to a spectacular climax. This song was performed at the end of the Grammys, but the best part of the song got cut off to thank the hotel where the performers were staying. Seriously.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9oI27uSzxNQ


#5 Cee Lo Green - "Fuck You" from "The Lady Killer" - Yes, I'm using the original song title rather than the bastardized title that was popular on the radio. Cee Lo turns in the best pop / R&B song of the year with this hooky classic.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pc0mxOXbWIU&ob=av2e


#4 LCD Soundsystem - "I Can Change" from "This Is Happening" - James Murphy has decided to stop making music as LCD Soundsystem and he couldn't have quit at a higher point in his career. "I Can Change" is a brilliant indie pop love song in the tradition of Morrissey and the Cure.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tW8FKkVnqng


#3 Kanye West - "Runaway" from "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy" - From the arrogant boasting of "Power" to the semi-apologetic ballad "Runaway", Kanye's best album features a variety of different styles that all seem to display a different aspect of his psyche.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bm5iA4Zupek


#2 The Arcade Fire - "Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)" from "The Suburbs" - The Arcade Fire have always been a great band and "The Suburbs" is the best of their many great albums. "Sprawl II" is the best song off of the album and is characterized by deep lyrics, great vocals and a style that veers far from what had previously been the Arcade Fire's sound.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ab2DDmwYVQw


#1 Kanye West - "Power" from "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy" - As I've suspected for awhile, the #1 song of 2010 is "Power" by Kanye West. Kanye's always had a gift for creating great beats, but it wasn't until "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy" that he combined his genius beats with lyrical skills on par with the true greats of the rap world.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouwCWDbBskU