Our Critics' Year-End Top Ten: Darryl Smyers Turns Things Down A Notch And Screams About The Walkmen's Lisbon

By DC9 At Night Fri., Dec. 24 2010 at 11:09 AM

In this week's paper, you may notice a piece including some of our DC9 writers' choices for best albums of the year. But, space being limited, we couldn't run all of our writers' lists. So, thanks to the power of the Internet, we're doing just that, right here.

Noted Widespread Panic hater Darryl Smyers usually likes his music fast and loud. But, this year, he champions a record that finds a band slowing itself down a bit.

10. Old 97's - The Grand Theatre, Vol. 1

9. Shinyribs - Well After Awhile

8. Raul Malo - Sinners & Saints

7. Peter Case - Wig!

6. Richard Thompson - Dream Attic

5. Seabear - We Build a Fire

4. Wolf Parade - Expo 86

3. Tommy Keene - You Hear Me, A Retrospective
Yeah, I know that it's kind of cheating to include a compilation album, but much of this double-disc set has been criminally out of print for decades. And it includes 41 power pop gems from a guy everyone should know.

2. The Tallest Man on Earth - The Wild Hunt
The new Dylan comes from Sweden? Damn right, he does. And his name is Kristian Matsson.

1. The Walkmen - Lisbon
My favorite band pulls back on the throttle and makes a quietly beautiful masterpiece. For better and worse, Lisbon is the most listenable record The Walkmen have ever made.