For the last Fingertips post of the year (cue drum roll), here are my top 10 favorite free and legal MP3s of 2010. This follows up last week’s post, which contained my “second” top 10 (numbers 11 through 20).
All songs are still available as free and legal MP3s, so you can download them the usual way, or listen via the play button if you happen to be reading this directly on the Fingertips site. You can read the original reviews by clicking on the date next to each band name, which is the date of the original Fingertips post.
As with last week, I will run them down in reverse order. If you want them from 1 to 10, stand on your head:
10. “The Mermaid Parade” – Phosphorescent (May 12)
Laid-back, expansive, affecting tale of love gone awry.
9. “Down By The Water” – The Drums (August 3)
’50s melody set to a hymn-like march. Accrues gravity and pathos as it develops.
8. “Zebra” – Beach House (May 12)
A lovely, elusive dream of a song.
7. “Let The Record Go” – The Mynabirds (May 4)
Short fiery piece of retro pop (see also song #1).
6. “Zorbing” – Stornoway (July 28)
Bursting with melody and innocence.
5. “If You Wanna” – The Vaccines (August 24)
Catchy lo-fi greatness; Ramones meet Joy Division.
4. “I Walked” – Sufjan Stevens (September 15)
As poignant as an electronics-driven song is likely to get. Beautiful and majestic and heartbroken.
3. “My Heart is a Drummer” – Allo Darlin’ (October 7)
Bright smart pop with movement and charm.
2. “Hotel Lights” – Amy Cook (January 6)
Exquisite singer/songwriter fare, and a quiet argument against most other singer/songwriter fare.
1. “Numbers Don’t Lie” – The Mynabirds (January 26)
Neo-retro-gospel-pop at its finest, from one of 2010’s greatest unsung albums (see also song #7).
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