Hmm... seems like I haven't updated this thing in a long time. Well, all that ends today, as I will FINALLY be posting my best of 2010 lists. I was waiting a little while because there were some albums I still had to check out that I never got around to. To start off, I will be going over some of the random releases like EPs and live albums that I found to be worth checking out in 2010.

TOP 5 EPS/LIVE ALBUMS/SPLITS/ETC.

1. Sufjan Stevens - All Delighted People (EP)

After spending a few years in the throes of an existential crisis, Sufjan suddenly blasted out of nowhere in 2010 with the surprise release of the All Delighted People EP and eventually The Age of Adz. This EP (a laughable term considering its hour plus length) serves as a transitory work between his old and new material, placing quiet introspective pieces beside sprawling numbers rife with bombast and experimentation. I have not gotten around to hearing The Age of Adz yet, but I can confidently say that this EP by itself stands up with anything else in Sufjan's past discography.

Top Tracks: All Delighted People (Classic Rock Version), Heirloom

2. The Tallest Man on Earth - Sometimes the Blues is Just a Passing Bird

Another artist that had one hell of a 2010 was Kristian Matsson a.k.a. The Tallest Man on Earth. After releasing the incredible The Wild Hunt earlier in 2010, Matsson followed it up with the Sometimes the Blues is Just a Passing Bird EP. Quite frankly, the five songs on this EP aren't very different then the material found on The Wild Hunt, perhaps only exhibiting a more somber tone. What makes this more than just a simple continuation of that album is Matsson's unwavering dedication to his craft. Each one of these songs are just as beautiful and immediate as anything else in The Tallest Man's collection. It's plainly evident that this man loves what he does, and we the listeners are the ones who reap the rewards.

Top Tracks: The Dreamer, Little River

3. Touche Amore/La Dispute - Searching for a Pulse/The Worth of the World (Split)

This split album between two of screamo's most promising acts clocks in only at around 10 minutes, but it does in that time what it takes some bands a whole career to accomplish. This is fast, aggressive, no-nonsense music that is teeming with passion. I prefer Touche Amore's segment marginally, but the effort put forth by both bands here is commendable. Pick this up to hear what screamo should really sound like.

Top Tracks: I'll Get My Just Deserve, How I Feel

4. Thrice - Daytrotter Session (1/4/10) (Live)

This seems like a throwaway inclusion on first glance, but Thrice's Daytrotter session from early in 2010 houses some absolutely essential renditions of some of their best work off of the 2009 album Beggars. Thrice has always been known for their ability to successfully transfer their electric pieces into acoustic ones, but these tracks come off a presence that truly differentiates them from their respective album versions. "All the World is Mad" for example replaces an aggressive post-hardcore atmosphere with a hazy shuffle, shifting from anger to muddled despair. This collection of songs that includes a Tom Waits cover can be downloaded right from Daytrotter's site for free, so there is no reason why you shouldn't grab this modest offering.

Top Tracks: Circles, Beggars

5. We Are The Reasons - Live at The Farmhouse

Okay so this is definitely a throwaway choice, but it's my band and I'm happy with the way this sounds. The recording certainly captures a certain tension and aggression that was a staple of our older live shows mixed with a feeling of uncertainty about the direction of our band. You can listen to all of the tracks right here, so see for yourself!

Top Tracks: Jah Rastafari, The Story