Top Five Music Albums of 2010: The Azoulay Edition.

Welllll it’s that time of the year. The time where we change the little numbers on our calenders, and we call the year brand new. With a change of year, comes reminiscence of the past year…. and that is what I am here to bring you: Sara Azoulay’s Top Five Music Albums of 2010.  Feel free to disagree, as I hope you do. Sit back and enjoy the albums that I deem to be 

THE MOST PLEASING ALBUMS OF 2010!!  :   

5. Taylor Swift- Speak Now. 

Alright, I know what you’re thinking.. WHAT?! (or for fans like me you’re thinking YESS!!!) Miss Swift is a huge character in the well known game of the media. She’s popular and everyone has heard of her but not many people really understand what Swift is trying to say in her albums. In this album, her songs are catchy, moving, and have great lyrics (all done by Swift herself!!) but there is something more to the album than that. There is a message from Taylor in her songs and each are powerful in of itself.  Here are a few of the messages behind the songs : Never back down, appreciate your childhood and where you come from, love is possible and haunting, and most importantly always speak your mind.  Many teenage girls can relate to her music because of the boy stories but there is something far more outstanding in her music than stories about some (famous) boys. So, if you’ve never given her a chance because you think she’s a love crazed innocent freak, now is your chance to change your mind. Change your mind with speak now (or forever hold your peace :) ) 

4. She & Him - Volume Two 
You probably have not met (or read I should say) a bigger fan of Zooey Deschanel’s voice. I can listen to it all day and night, preferably right before I go to sleep and right when I wake up. She&Him is a collaboration between Zooey( that cute actress from Elf & (500) Days of Summer) and M. Ward (very awesome musician). Together they make a great pair, in fact if they were a pair of shoes, they’d be those shoes that you would definitely kill somebody over. Definitely. Although volume two is not as swell as the first volume, it still holds incredible tracks that will please your ears for ages. Please do take a listen and I promise it will not (I repeat - NOT) disappoint you. Well, unless you’re not into Zooey’s voice.. which to me, is completely unexplainable. So don’t even try. 
3. Kings of Leon - Come Around Sundown  
You know that one song Use Somebody? Yeah, well this is the band behind that song and I have news for all you music lovers- they have other great music! In fact, in October of 2010 they released “Come Around Sundown” and it show’s how talented they truly are. Caleb Followill, the lead singer, shows off his rough beautiful vocals in this album especially with the song “Pickup Truck”. The band has a ton of great tracks on this album including “Birthday”,” Mi Amigo”, “Beach Side”, “Pickup Truck”, and “The Immortals”. But really, just listen to the whole album :)
2. Jonsi - Go I wrote a really long review of this album on the site awhile back so if you want to see in detail why this album made it to the top five list, go here . Jonsi has a unique instrumental sound with a falsetto voice range to top it off. It is relaxing, freeing, and all together just pure bliss. I got the chance to see him live in concert this year too, and that is definitely under my top five favorite moments. Everything about this album is pure and outstanding. If my continuous praises of the album doesn’t move you to listen to it, I hope you listen to it when you are insanely bored and go out on a whim to discover music because when that day comes, it will be life changing. Jonsi will make you dance, provoke thought,and create an entirely different mysterious world in your head. Watch out for those dragons, they do in fact breath fire. 
1. (!!!)  Lydia - Assailants  
Ah, what is that? A tear in your eye? I know, I’m sad this incredibly great list is coming to an end as well! I commend you for actually reading this entire thing and provide you with a pat on the shoulder if you made it here. You are awesome. 

Lydia, an incredibly talented band, ended their career as musicians this year. This makes 2010 a very sad year for the music community. The seven track album is short but it makes up for length with quality. This farewell album is very pleasing (in fact the most pleasing of the year!) and I strongly suggest listening to the album. Leighton Antelman’s voice lures you in slowly and then the chilling instrumentals completely grabs hold of you. The lyrics are literally breath taking (they took my breath far, far, far away) with the tracks “Assailants”, “Empty Out Your Stomach”, “I’ve Never Seen A Witch”, and “We Clean Up So Well”. Actually, right at this second, I’m listening to the album and I’m smiling… a huge smile is sketched on my face. If anyone was to walk into my room, they’d see me grinning like a mad man and question my sanity. That’s how insane this album is - it makes you go crazy. The songs are also insanely emotional and often I feel like Leighton is singing directly into my soul. SO, Go listen NOW and your ears will thank me later. (well actually your brain will thank me, specifically the part that holds all your music taste). 

“Of course you’re all crazy Everyone believes

I watched the blood spill overseas,all from the T.Vs,

butI could give, I could give a shit if you’re scared

Everyone, everyone can taste your hatred”  

 We Clean Up So Well - Lydia

Thanks for tuning in! This has been a post brought to you by Sara Azoulay. My intentions were solely to entertain you and hopefully expose you to new music that will change your life. If you did not understand my sarcasm or humor, I apologize in advance because I’ve been told that I’m not actually funny. I fail to recognize that sometimes and some people become offended.  

ALBUMS TO LOOK FORWARD IN 2011: 

• Bon Iver’s Album. Uhm, honestly? I probably will shed several tears when this releases. 
• Radiohead!!
• Cage the elephant - Thank you, Happy Birthday 
• The Lonely Island 
• Death Cab for Cutie 
• Bright eyes - The People’s Key : February 15th! 

 Yay! Enjoy the new years followers! L-I-F-E Press will continue its greatness so continue to check back here! - Sara Azoulay