This Rockin’ Ramrods cover by Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti is a bit of pop justice.  The original should have been a hit, so consider this a second chance for a first-rate song.

 Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti – Bright Lit Blue Skies by Concrete Opinions

More Ariel Pink here.

Purchase on iTunes.

The Black Keys are an American blues-rock music duo consisting of vocalist/guitarist Dan Auerbach and drummer/producer Patrick Carney.  The duo’s sixth album, Brothers, was released this year and is all over year end lists.

 The Black Keys – Tighten Up by musicmule

More Black Keys here.

What started as an impromptu get-together with friends —Jack White, Alison Mosshart, Dean Fertita, and Jack Lawrence — has blossomed into a full-blown alt-rock supergroup for their generation.  Sea of Cowards continues the momentum captured on Horehound, plunging deeper into its electric blue and sleazy rock foundations and exploding in different, surpising directions. (courtesy of iTunes)

 The Dead Weather – Hustle And Cuss by amelbret

More Dead Weather here.

Crystal Castles is an experimental electronic music band from Toronto, consisting of producer Ethan Kath and vocalist Alice Glass. Known for their chaotic live shows and their melancholic lo-fi home productions, they have been a favorite of mine since the release of their first full-length, Crystal Castles, back in 2008.

The band’s second album, also titled Crystal Castles but known as Crystal Castles II, was released this year and was one of my favorites of 2010. This is another one where it’s hard for me to pick just one. I really love Violent Dreams and Celestica, but I can’t resist the single version of Not in Love, for which Robert Smith lends his one-of-kind vocals.

Crystal Castles – Not In Love (ft. Robert Smith)

More Crystal Castles here.

Purchase on iTunes.

I stumbled upon this next pick very recently, thanks to the oh so great Hype Machine.

Amos the Transparent is a Canadien rock band from Ottawa and the brainchild of songwriter Jonathan Chandler. The band just released the Children’s EP, A is For Amos, which includes a fantastic, Fisher-Price meets Playskool instrumentation, version one of my favorites, Lemons (aka BigFishLittlePond).

Amos the Transparent – Lemons (aka BigFishLittlePond)

More Amos the Transparent here.

Purchase on iTunes.

The album features guest appearances by Feist, Emily Haines (Metric), Spiral Stairs (Pavement), and Sebastien Grainger (Death from Above 1979), and also marks the first time Amy Shaw, Haines, and Feist have been recorded on the same song (Sentimental X’s). My favorite track from the record (right now) is All to All, which iTunes describes as a weightless female vocal and synth dancetrip.

Broken Social Scene – All to All

More Broken Social Scene here.

2010 saw the latest release from 2D, Murdoc, Noodle, and Russel…better known collectively as Gorillaz. I’ll be the first to admit that I didn’t think Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett’s animated-musical project would last this long…and i’ll be the first to admit I was dead wrong. As far as i’m concerned, Gorillaz keep getting better.