Continuing the countdown to my Album Of The Year…
9 – Mavis Staples – You Are Not Alone
The former Staples Singers star has been a steady solo performer, rarely making a big splash, but usually delivering the goods, and this new release is one of her best, helped along by input from Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy, who brings out the best of her without imposing his kind of sound on it. Deeply soulful gospel music that is food for the ears and the soul, Mavis puts most of the young generation to shame.
10 – Gil Scott-Heron – I’m New Here
He’s hardly new here, but Gil Scott-Heron has certainly been a rejuvenated figure in 2010, bouncing back after so many dark years of drug addiction to release an album that is edgy, intelligent, emotional and sonically impressive for an old-timer. Comeback albums can often be overrated, but this is one that deserves the praise it received.
Editor of New Adventures In Hi-Fi, writer of content, digital communication type person and lover of all kinds of music, films and TV both high-brow and trashy.
Here's the Also-Rans of my Top 20 Albums Of The Year list, great records one and all, but not quite special enough to crack my Top 10. From great new albums by established bands like Killing Joke, the Manics and Weezer (the best albums they've all done in ages) to newer faces like Sleigh Bells and School Of Seven Bells, I've loved them all.