BEST OF 2010, or 9 (albums) Richard Skelton "Landings" (Type) Cloud Nothings (Bridgetown Records)

Before I get started on the long hike through 2010's albums, let me pause for a second and recognize two excellent albums that should have been on my Best of 2009 list. Part of the joy in reading these lists is discovering records you may have missed throughout the year, and even fanatics like myself let things slip through, so here are two records that came out in 2009, but deserve extra attention here.

The first is the hauntingly beautiful "Landings" by Richard Skelton. It's drone, it's neo-classical, it's ambient, it's shimmering, it's dark, it's light, it's one of the most perfect experimental records I have ever heard, and would have placed very high on any year end list, had I heard it in time. Full review here.

Richard Skelton - Landings by _type

The second, Cloud Nothing's "Turning On" came to my attention with this year's reissue on Carpark records, but was originally released last year on Bridgetown Records. "Turning On" was a slice of Perfect Sound Forever lo-fi indie rock, heavily indebted to some of the 90s brightest heroes of indie rock like Archers of Loaf and Seam. Once this album gets its hooks in you they remain in you. Full review here.

Cloud Nothings "Hey Cool Kid" from Project Fathom on Vimeo.