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

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...

By DC9 At Night

December 24, 2010

[
        {
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Inline Content - Mobile Display Size",
          "component": "18855504",
          "insertPoint": "2",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "2"
        },{
          "name": "Editor Picks",
          "component": "17105533",
          "insertPoint": "4",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "1"
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18349797",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17105532",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18349797",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - Leaderboard Tower - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17105535",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        }
      ]

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.

KEEP THE OBSERVER FREE... Since we started the Dallas Observer, it has been defined as the free, independent voice of Dallas, and we'd like to keep it that way. Your membership allows us to continue offering readers access to our incisive coverage of local news, food, and culture with no paywalls. You can support us by joining as a member for as little as $1.