There is nothing that stirs up debate than end of year 'best of' music lists, so we've decided to do some of our own! GayNZ.com writers Andrew Grear and Jacqui Stanford both have vastly different taste in music – while Andrew likes to bop to pop Jacqui comes from the slightly more unconventional end of the spectrum. So to be fair and balanced for readers from each side, they've both put together their favourite 5 albums and songs of 2010 so you can agree, disagree – or even perhaps find something new to listen to! Andrew Grear's Fave 5 Songs of 2010 Kylie - All The Lovers: The best Kylie single in years (and one of her best all round), aural euphoria with a great video to accompany it Robyn - Dancing On My Own: Only Robyn can make heartache sound so damn appealing! Katy Perry - Teenage Dream: Showing a bit of vulnerability, Katy captured the feeling of young romance perfectly P!nk - Raise Your Glass: So much fun!! Cee-lo Green - Fuck You: Forget 'Forget You', the expletive filled original is the only real version of this song in my eyes. Bright, cheery and deliciously cutting! Andrew Grear's Fave 5 Albums of 2010 Kylie Minogue - Aphrodite: Kylie came back with a winner of an album and the perfect remedy for those on which X fell on stony ears Katy Perry - Teenage Dream: Katy Perry's second (third if we're being pedantic) album was not perfect, but the highs more than made up for the lows, her upcoming tour should be good Marina and the Diamonds - The Family Jewels: Without a doubt the best album I bought this year. Quirky, and amazing Glee: Several releases this year have ensured the Glee cast has remained continuously on my playlist throughout the year Ellie Goulding - Lights/Bright Lights: The only album of the year I bought twice. Damn good in its first incarnation but the recent re-issue was just too tempting and her cover of Your Song is enchanting Jacqui Stanford's Fave 5 Songs of 2010 Arcade Fire - Ready To Start: The urgency of this classic-style Arcade Fire track makes the blood pump, it's about being ready to settle down and really begin life, the perfect theme tune for a quarter-life crisis Crystal Castles (feat Robert Smith) – Not In Love: When you add Crystal Castles and Robert Smith, the equation equals music heaven – it's also the best break-up song of 2010, which narrowly usurped another Crystal Castles song, Celestica, to make this list Janelle Monae - Cold War: It's a fistful of bam from the incredibly talented all singing, all dancing Janelle Monae, I just can't sit still when I hear it ... it's a multiple-explosion of a track Robyn – Dancing On My Own: Andrew and I picked the same song!? Wow, now that shows the power of Robyn in this heartbreaking-dance-ballad oxymoron of a wonder of a song in which you can feel her pain at watching the person she wants kiss someone else on the dance floor ... ouch, that hurts. Robyn is everything pop should be. The National – Bloodbuzz Ohio: this song sends slow shivers right to the centre of my post-punk heart every single time I hear it Jacqui Stanford's Fave 5 Albums of 2010 Arcade Fire – The Suburbs: It's not quite Funeral (will anything ever be?!), but it's a smouldering slow-burner which compels you to replay it all over again once it ends Deerhunter – Halcyon Digest: It's difficult to sum this album up in a line, the way it bounces from intricate to intimate makes it a masterpiece that I simply can't do justice to attempting to describe! Janelle Monae – The ArchAndroid: The most genre-bending, sexy, mindblowing, innovative, addictive record that hit my speakers this year The man is an ass. But he is also a genius. And that's all there is to be said about it. The Naked and Famous – Passive Me, Aggressive You: Adorable, dark, sexy and edgy it's definitely the best thing out of New Zealand this year and the Aucklanders deserve all the acclaim they're gathering (Psst if you haven't heard their earlier EPs then BUTY THEM!) The National – High Violet: The National are like an old friend and listening to High Violet for the first time was as comforting as catching up over whiskeys with someone you adore, but haven't seen in a little while Honourable mentions: It hasn't been an amazing year for music in my books, but there are a few more stand outs: Beach House – Teen Dream, Big Boi - Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty, Delorean – Subiza, Gorillaz – Plastic Beach, Kanye West – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, LCD Soundsystem – This is Happening, Robyn – Body Talk, Vampire Weekend – Contra. Since Robyn's Dancing On My Own made both lists it get the honour of a YouTube video below: Andrew Grear and Jacqui Stanford - 22nd December 2010
Credit: Andrew Grear and Jacqui Stanford
First published: Wednesday, 22nd December 2010 - 5:54pm