Top Ten Albums 2010:

10. Ra Ra Riot - The Orchard

In many ways, The Orchard is a great example of what can happen when a band creates art in a totally insular environment. On one hand, songs done without a noticeable amount of outside perspective (usually) come out honest, realistic, and most importantly, engrossing to the everyday listener. Think about every album you’ve ever loved that is obviously produced by the band…

But on the other hand, songs written and recorded in the fashion that Ra Ra Riot employed on their 2010 release can oftentimes come out scattershot and incomplete. Yes, the bassist is wanking it most of the time. And yes, some of the arrangements seem collaged with mod podge instead of sown together with fine thread. It’s not perfect, but maybe I like The Orchard more for it.

Ra Ra Riot does baroque with a sexuality that their 2006 goldenboys of the year award co-recipients Vampire Weekend have never been able to capture (BTW, Contra fell right outside my top ten this year, but as someone smart once said, “Hey man, nice shot”)True, there are a handful of musical choices that I question on this release, but my constant return to songs like the gutturally inspiring “Keep it Quiet” and just plain fun “Too Dramatic” is a testament to the true success of an album that by no means falls under the label “Sophomore Slump.”