Top 20 Dubstep 2010

The year of 2010 was quite big for dubstep, which exploded onto the scene like nothing else. Reminiscent of the rise of electro, dubstep is this years #1 underground music genre, and it has proved itself to be quite elastic and worthy of praise.

This list is something that I started doing in January, 2010, and have continued until now. I'll probably do the same thing for 2011.

Things I have intentionally left out: Artists like Digital Mystics, Mount Kimbie, Ramadanman, and others that make a sort of easy listening, deeper vibes dubstep. I am not saying that I dislike or disrespect these artists in any way shape or form, they have set the stage for incredible rhythmic complexity and mood in the dubstep world, but I feel like they belong in a league of their own. I also feel that comparing them to the artists and songs listed in this post would be unfair and pointless. This list is geared towards the heavier side of dubstep. I apologize in advance to anyone who is offended by my neglect of the missing artists/dubs listed above, as I have nothing but respect for those artists and what they are doing. Undoubtedly,dubstep is going through an identity crisis (and you can read what NPR has to say about it here).

Here is the criterion by which I have decided this years (and every years) best.

1. What does it bring to the genre as a whole? Does it utilize sounds that we've never heard before? How innovative is the song, does it spawn copy cats, or is it copying something already? (Admittedly, everything is copying everything else in electronic music, but there are new ideas that effectively get pushed and I'm looking for those).

2. Dancehall playability. How well does it stand up on a big system, and does it make people want to dance?

3. Bedroom playability. Is this a song that you would play in your house at a lower volume, and is it good for listening casually? Admittedly, dubstep is meant to be played loud with proper sub woofers to cover the low end, and not every dubstep artist sells out to the masses. Some of them are uncompromising in their production to the point where if you don't have proper listening equipment, you will not be getting more than 10-20% of the effect of the song. No Joke. But I still feel this should be weighed when measuring the overall worth of a song. I will let you guys know when a song in this list requires proper bass for listening.

Note: I weigh bedroom playability higher in the dubstep list than I do in the electro list.

If you think I missed something please let me know by commenting below. It's becoming harder and harder to stay up on everything with all the new talent that is constantly surfacing. However, I recommend you comment on this list only after you listen to each song with proper bass.

The Top 20 Dubstep Tracks for 2010:

20. Hadouken! - Oxygen (Gemini Remix) BUY IT!


Edging in at the back is probably my favorite of all the bleeps from the UKF Dubstep 2010 compilation. It's a remix of Hadouken's 'Oxygen' from Gemini. The original is a futuristic, cyberpunk-esque, indie, electronic little bleep that has quite a bit of attitude, and reminds me of The Prodigy, but the remix is otherworldly. Gemini will surely be one of the top breakthrough artists of 2011, with his Blue EP set for release in February. You can treat yourself to a little preview of it here. His style is next level, boasting a sound that has never quite been done before. I am quite excited to see what he has in store for us.

19. Skream - Where You Should Be feat. Sam Frank (Original Mix) BUY IT!


Skream is someone of note in the dubstep scene. Famous for his breakthrough remix of La Roux's 'In For The Kill,' and for being one third of the amazing Magnetic Man trio, 2010 has been a big year for Skream. He released his artist album, 'Outside The Box,' and gets massive respect in the electronic community in general, not just in dubstep. Probably my favorite song from the album is 'Where You Should Be' featuring Sam Frank, it is stunning in its beauty and complexity. He makes fantastic use of both the ethereal pads and the deep resonant bass prevalent in every one of his productions, not to mention the oscillating synth that reminds me of pixie dust glittering in the air. This one takes you on a journey to a fantasy land and still blows me away every time I hear it.

18. Bassnectar - Here We Go (Original Mix) BUY IT!


Although Bassnectar may not have finished the year as strong as he started it, he is still amongst the best producers of 2010 in my opinion. No one quite does bass like he does, and 'Here We Go' is a great example. When it drops at 1:27, you are treated to a feast for your ears! The layering he does of several different basses, along with a sizzle synth to fill in the upper frequencies, is unbelievable. If you ever get to see this man play live on a proper system you'll see just how amazing it really is. Unless you have a great home studio you will not be able to get the full effect of this one, and I highly recommend getting tickets to one of his shows. It will be worth every penny. "...champion song..."

17. Katy B, Benga - Katy On A Mission (Original Mix) BUY IT!


One person to emerge as a superstar of pop music is Katy B. What is her signature sound? Electronic, and specifically dubstep. Her lyrics are incredibly catchy and the beat underneath 'Katy On A Mission' is amazing too. Probably because it was done by Benga; one third of Magnetic Man, and one hell of a badman producer! Massive respect to this song for its rise in popularity. If I heard songs like this on the radio more often, I might actually listen to the radio on a regular basis.

16. Freestylers - Cracks feat. Belle Humble (Flux Pavilion Remix) BUY IT!


The Freestylers have had a big year with a lot of great remixes. Foremost among them is Flux Pavilion's remix of 'Cracks.' It features his signature deep resonant basslines under high synth leads that drop amazingly well in the club. Belle Humbe's lyrics fit like a glove with the instruments. It's quite a classical, symphony-like influenced song this one. I thought it was amazing the first time I heard it. The replay value on this one is not as great as some of the other songs in this list, but at the end of the day you have to hand it to Flux, he is a badman.

15. Breakage - Speechless feat. Donae’o (Original Mix) BUY IT!


Known around the world as a man who creates a subsonic,"talking to sealife" sound in his dubstep, Breakage is something else. Amazing replay value to almost every single one of his songs, and his album 'Foundation' is amongst the best of the year. These days I get very excited when I see a new Breakage tune hit the scene. His remix of Clare Maguire (downloadable in the honorable mention section below) was and still is amazing. The melody and richness of his bass combined with the excellent vocals from Donae'o make 'Speechless' one of this years best.

14. Von D, DJ Madd - U (Original Mix) BUY IT!


DJ Madd is counted among the more underrated producers of music that I can think of. His tracks don't usually get much a buzz on the blogs, and he is not known in every circle, but nevertheless, he is an amazing producer. 'U' he did with Von D, and it is reminiscent of the early days of dubstep, when not everything was not all about glitchy, hardcore bass. This one rolls off the ears beautifully, and is among the more critically acclaimed by people with a sharp palette for dubstep (present company included). Great vocal samples, pads and resonant bass to warm the soul with this one. An atmosphere track first, but still very playable in the club especially for opening acts.

13. Jupiter One - Find Me A Place (Rx Remix)


I have had the great pleasure of being in contact with the guys from Subdivision Bass this year. Among them are Flufftronix (responsible for the incredible Luvstep mixes), Naddi Boh Peep, and .rar Kelly. However, the artist I am blogging about today is Rx. Rx hails out of the great city of Pittsburgh, PA and has made one of the best remixes I may have ever heard with 'Find Me A Place' by Jupiter One. Another mellow track here, with great replay value, Rx puts great melody, onto a song that takes you to a place where water flows and 'the wind never blows.' One of those songs that grips you and takes you on a journey if you'll let it. Fantastic.

12. Nero - Innocence (Original Mix) BUY IT!


Nero shows us once again why they are among the best in the world when it comes to melodic progressions. 'Innocence' features the midrange heaviness that has become signature in their productions. Some people hate on it, saying it is formulaic, but I say that is tastefully done boasting a great drop at 1:22 that grips you like few other songs this year have. Something about the way all the elements of a Nero song come together to both drop hard AND create an excellent ambiance is just too much for words. Great song here, go buy it peeps!

11. Distance - Beyond (Original Mix) BUY IT!


Distance has long wowed me, being one of 3 dubstep artists that I liked back in 2007 (along with Riskotheque, and Chase & Status). Their new hit, 'Beyond' is next level. It's one of those songs that sends you through a journey of desolation and awe in a world ravaged by...nuclear holocaust? The rapture? ...Something... That's what I thought the first time I heard it, and apparently I was not alone. There is a little cult video flying around the dubstep forum called 'Beyond Terminator' taking the opening scene from the new Terminator movie and putting this song in over the footage to great effect (viewable here). Sporting a deep, subtle and heavy flavor, 'Beyond' is a great dub, and will go down as one of the best dubs from Distance ever, methinks.

10. Passion Pit - Sleepyhead (Dry Lunch Remix)


Many of you probably did not see this one coming, I know I asked, "Who the heck is Dry Lunch?" But whatever you have to say about it, this is one hell of a remix. Featured on Rubadubdubbb as one of their own remixes, I have no idea if this one will ever get an official release. In any case you can expect to hear excellent, melodic flavors lead to a drop of great mouth basses that I can't get enough of. We'll see what happens to Dry Lunch in the future, but in the mean time have yourselves a listen.

9. Ajapai, Last Japan - I Feel For You (Original Mix) BUY IT!


Last Japan and Ajapai are both among my favorite artists of 2010, when I first heard a snippet of this collaboration, I was instantly hooked. The snare is worthy of note, with a reverse kick going into the the hit that makes it quite massive. This is one of those songs that has so many different basslines that it boggles the mind. But instead of being overwhelming, like a lot of recent dubstep, it is tastefully done, maintaining its dignity as a banger that you want to hear over and over. When the bass drops at 0:55 you are treated to a feast of assorted basslines, some of which are quite unique, while others I've heard in Excision tracks and songs from Bassnectar. It makes you wonder if there's not a master preset pack that is shared amongst elitist dubstep producers around the world. Regardless, there is considerable original thought in this one, and it has to be included in this list.

8. Mensah - Big Up The Goons (Original Mix) BUY IT!


Mensah has exploded onto the scene with a Joker influenced sound to satisfy all your purple cravings. 'Big Up The Goons' is a new song off of his latest EP and is worth having a listen to. Great dark ambiance is prevalent in this one, even once the bass drops. Although it's short, it is very sweet. Mensah is proving himself as an artist to watch for in 2011. I can't get enough of his sound.

7. Miike Snow - Silvia (Emalkay Remix)


Emalkay is one of those producers that I kind of place on a pedestal. Although he is influenced by older versions of his genre (who isn't?), he is not afraid to take a new direction. Combine that with next level production skills, and what you get is a recipe for one of the most notorious artists in the scene. His song 'When I Look At You' was arguably the best dubstep song of 2009, and I always want more. However, he doesn't release very many tunes in a year (around 5-10). It seems he is much more concerned with quality over quantity, another reason to admire the man. His remix of 'Silvia' is amongst the most haunting and beautiful of the year. It's one of those that, once you start it, you have to quit everything else you're doing and just listen. A truly stunning remix, and one for the record books.

6. Joker, TC - It Ain't Got A Name (Original Mix)


Joker shows us once again why he's one of the best in the game with 'It Ain't Got A Name' (with TC). If you didn't know already, Joker is famous for a sound that totally revolutionized how people thought about dubstep in general. This sound is something that he called 'Purple,' the color that it evokes in your imagination while listening to his music. It is a soft synth, hardware stylized sound that is amongst the fullest and deepest of any I've ever heard in music. Period. 'It Ain't Got A Name' stays quite true to the purple sound with a fantastic little DJ intro that gets switched up into a great bassline at 0:27 and never lets go. Amazing to just listen to in your bedroom or to play in the club.

5. Doctor P - Badman Sound (Original Mix) BUY IT!


This year has been big for Doctor P, as he is arguably the most popular dubstep artist of the first half of this year. Released last January, the way in which this one drops is unbelievable. I don't know how he made the bass sound like a giant talking troll, but he does, and it is quite breakthrough, with no one even coming close to the amount of mouth noise in their bass to date.

4. Bassnectar - Magical World feat. Nelly Furtado (Original Mix)


One of the most beautiful songs of the year in any genre, not just dubstep this song has massive appeal for bassheads and pop music lovers alike. Nelly Furtado comes at us with a great vocal on top of the man who is undoubtedly one of the greatest forces in the bass universe. His name is Lorin Ashton and is more commonly known as Bassnectar. The first half of this year was so incredibly huge for him (with releases like 'Timestretch' and bootlegs like this) that this could be his year. He is selling out mid sized venues around the world now (1000-10,000) and brings it every time. His fan base (present company included) has become quite fanatical in their following of him, buying up tickets within minutes of their posting online for sale. Although, he came down in terms of quality a bit with the 'Wildstyle EP,' his greatness in the studio and charisma on stage has made a loyal fan out of me.

3. Lung - Afterlife (Kryptic Minds Remix) BUY IT!


Ten years since they formed, 2010 marks a turning point in the disturbed mental explorations of Kryptic Minds. Having built an enviable back catalogue of dark, deadly drum & bass, the production duo of Si & Leon aka Kryptic Minds have quickly established a foothold in the exploding global dubstep scene. They are highly respected for their deep sound that grips you somewhere deep in your soul and doesn't let go. Their remix of 'Afterlife' is a great example of this. The way in which the sub bass comes in with the other elements, including the haunting vocals gets me every time. This isn't the most enormous bassline put together this year, but it is still one of the best.

2. The Living Graham Bond - Winter Hunter feat. Fiona Bevan (Bare Noize Remix) BUY IT!


Bare Noize, known for his hard hitting style, mellows out a tad with what feels like a rock-gone-dubstep remix of The Living Graham Bond's 'Winter Hunter.' Even though it feels like the original might be a hard rock song, it is actually a bouncey, house track that reminds me of Calvin Harris. This puts into perspective the remix power that Bare Noize brings to bare here (no pun intended :P). The drum fills in this song in particular, are mind boggling, with a live drumming feel that has enormous complexity. The lyrics sound better sped up with this bassline, and this track sports a great interchangeability between the various elements. Why is this #2? Listen for yourself.

1. Breakage - Higher (Original Mix) BUY IT!


Now I know that this song is probably not everyone's first choice for dubstep song of the year. Furthermore, I AM aware that 'Higher' was released in limited vinyl at the end of 2009, but regardless you have to give it up to Breakage. This is one of those songs that grows on you the more you listen to it. It's a little bit of an acquired taste, more for those dubstep listeners that already have an advanced palette, but why should you admire this song? Great drum fills that overlay an amazing amount of heavy feeling ambiance that side-chain's with the kick and snare. Something that has not really been done before, at least not in the way Breakage has done it. I will say that it is pointless to listen to this song without a proper sub woofer or headphones. The subsonic frequencies is a lot of what makes this song stand out. You don't hear the bass so much as feel it, and I promise you that I am not alone in thinking that this is the best song of the year. Breakage is a true genius of bass.

Honorable Mentions - In no particular order:

- Rob Sparx - Arcade (Original Mix) BUY IT!
- James Blake - CMYK (Original Mix) BUY IT!
- Yael Naim - Toxic (Britney Spears Cover) (16 Bit Dubstep Remix)
- Crystal Fighters - Swallow (Funtcase Remix) BUY IT!
- Noah D, Mensah - Kashmir (Original Mix) BUY IT!
- Joker - Tron (VIP Mix) BUY IT!
- Ill & Natti - Get It On (Original Mix)
- Matt-U, DJ Madd - Running Man (Original Mix) BUY IT!
- Dux - Pure Woman (Remix)
- Dansette Junior - Paranoid (Original Mix) BUY IT!
- Bassnectar - Timestretch (Original Mix) BUY IT!
- Melanie Fiona - It Kills Me (Breakage Remix)
- Reso, Vent - Rumble (Original Mix) BUY IT!
- DJ Fresh - Lastitude (Dillon Francis Remix)
- Subscape - Screw Up (Original Mix) BUY IT!
- Rusko - Woo Boost (Original Mix) BUY IT!
- Zeds Dead - Out For Blood feat. Omar Linx (Original Mix)
- Flux Pavilion - Got 2 Know (Original Mix) BUY IT!
- Magnetic Man - Karma Crazy (Original Mix) BUY IT!
- Vaski - Hurricane (Original Mix) BUY IT!
- Setspeed - Two Blocks Down (Original Mix)
- Sidney Samson - Riverside (Let's Go!) feat. Wizard Sleeve (Breakage Remix)
- Bassnectar - Underwater feat. Tina Malia (Original Mix) BUY IT!
- Zeds Dead - Rudeboy (Original Mix) BUY IT!
- The Widdler- Origin (Original Mix) BUY IT!
- DJ Madd - Someone (Breakage Unspecified Remix) BUY IT!
- Motorcycle - As The Rush Comes (High Rankin Remix)
- Callan Maart - Liquid Shards (Original Mix) BUY IT!
- Graphics - I Need You VIP (Original Mix) BUY IT!
- Lisa Gerrard - Now We Are Free (Enigma Remix)
- Jakes - Time Ends (Original Mix) BUY IT!
- Addison Grooves - Footcrab (VIP Mix)
- Marco Del Horno, Swerve - Ho! Riddim (Swerve Remix) BUY IT!
- Clare Maguire - Ain't Nobody (Breakage Remix)
- Plan B - The Recluse (Nero Remix)
- Trolley Snatcha - SlowDown (Original Mix) BUY IT!
- Portishead - Over (HABSTRAKT Dubstep Refix)
- Emalkay - Crusader (Original Mix) BUY IT!
- Martyn - Hear Me (Zomby Mix) BUY IT!
- DJ Fresh - Gold Dust (Flux Pavilion Remix) BUY IT!
- Breakage - Justified feat. Erin (Original Mix) BUY IT!
- Blame - Star feat. Fuda Guy & Camilla Marie (Doctor P Remix) BUY IT!
- The Others - Gravity (Original Mix) BUY IT!
- DJ Sneak - Southern Boy (12th Planet & Flinch Remix) BUY IT!
- Bassnectar - Wildstyle Method (Radio Edit)
- Chuck Fenda - Gwaan Plant (Brown and Gammon Refix)
- Polizei - Turn the Lights Down (Original Mix)
- Bassnectar - Massive Attack (Original Mix)
- Jeuce - Flavour (Bare Noize Remix) BUY IT!