Summer 2010 has been a great one for music, with a triumph from Big Boi, Eminem’s return to chart dominance, and Kelis’ rebirth as a straight-up disco diva. I’m feeling these and more.

1.  Sleigh Bells – Riot Rhythm [N.E.E.T.]
80s metal riffs, hyper-distorto hip-hop beats, girly vocals. What reads like a hot mess on paper becomes a raucous summer juggernaut in the hands of Sleigh Bells. Unique, utterly disposable and insanely loud, my favorite album of the summer!

2.  Jamie Lidell – I Wanna Be Your Telephone (Tiga’s Party Like It’s 19909 Remix) [Warp Records]
Tiga gives Jamie Lidell’s cranky funk single a beat-heavy rework. Nice.

3.  Big Boi – Tangerine [Def Jam Recordings]
On top of synth squelches, overdriven guitar and a drumline rhythm, Big Boi urges his girl to shake it like a tambourine.

4.  Duff Disco – Gimme Some Bucks [Duff Disco]
The JB’s classic You Can Have Watergate Just Gimme Some Bucks And I’ll Be Straight–with that catchy-as-hell guitar riff–gets a chugging disco rework. Perfect for a late night dancefloor when folks are feeling especially funky.

5.  Kelis – 4th of July (Fireworks) [Interscope]
A real departure from her previous left-field R&B hits like Milkshake, this is straight-up house, tastefully and expertly produced to hit all the pleasure buttons just right. In a perfect world, it’d bump Gaga off the charts.

6.  La Roux – Bulletproof (Hyper Crush Remix) [promo-only MP3]
LA day-glo party maniacs Hyper Crush crank up the electro to 11. Undeniable.

7.  Milkman – Mucho Fresco [promo-only MP3]
Latin hip-hop with those so-hot-right-now martial snares and a bit of digital cumbia. Dope!

8.  El Coco – Afrodesia / Coco Kane (Eddie Tour Edit) [Disco Deviance]
From the Disco Deviance collection, Eddie Tour re-edits El Coco into a 12+ minute tribal disco epic.

9.  Quantic Presenta Flowering Inferno – Dog With A Rope [Tru Thoughts]
Title track and lead single off the latest Quantic release. Dub Reggae meets Latin horns in a brilliant tropical soundclash. The soundtrack for your next BBQ.

10.  Minority Band – Live [Peoples Potential Unlimited]
Lead cut off the amazing Peoples’ Potential Unlimited Family Album, a jaw-dropping collection of unknown/unheard/under-appreciated disco, funk and boogie gems from the late 70s/early 80s. Lovingly and obessively compiled by DC’s own Andrew Morgan.

11.  Mynabirds – Numbers Don’t Lie [Saddle Creek Records]
Like what recording in Memphis did for Dusty Springfield, DC indie-pop songstress Laura Burhenn moved to Omaha and found her blue-eyed soul. The whole album–What We Lose in the Fire We Gain in the Flood–feels like a lived-in pop-soul classic.

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