The Top 10 Songs You Haven't Heard of in the First Half of 2010

If you are like me, chances are when Tuesday rolls around you jump on iTunes, or your preferred source for digital content, and check out the newest music releases for the week. A lot of times, doing this will lead you to the top singles, which are most often the songs an artist has already chosen as a lead single for their album.

If you don't take a listen to the other songs on that new album, there's a good chance you are missing out on some gems. With 2010 halfway in the books, now is a good time to check out what songs you may have missed so far this year since they weren't released as singles. Some of these songs are even better than the tracks the artists' chose to promote their album.

In order to be included in this list, these songs had to be part of an album that was, or is going to be, released in 2010.

So check them out here, then give them a listen and download and enjoy if you agree.

#10.

Song: The Sea

Artist: Corinne Bailey Rae

Album: The Sea

Corinne Bailey Rae's sophomore album is a work of art, and definitely one of the three greatest albums of 2010 so far. It is funky at times, introspective at others, and emotional throughout.
The title track embodies this feeling. Her voice is hauntingly beautiful throughout the song, and once it is over and you give it a second listen, you can either view it as someone who has lost a loved one singing about their loss, or someone who has died telling their loved one to continue on with their life without them. Either way, it is an amazing son.
I never knew you were standing on this shore/It says everything/Explains everything/And then from then on it couldn't be just like before/It says everything/Changes everything/So don't just stand there wishing life would fade away/Don't you go around with anyone that makes you feel ashamed

#9.

Song: Unforgettable

Artist: Drake feat. Young Jeezy

Album: Thank Me Later

There are a couple of other good, but not great, tracks on Drake's debut full-length album. This one stands out for several reasons, it has a nice relaxed vibe and beat to it, a great sample from the late Aaliyah and a killer guest spot from Young Jeezy. In the end, the song is metaphorically trying to compare being the best ex-boyfriend with being the best rapper.

Thinking about what we had and missing you/But I ain't Santa, I got something for these bad bitches too/I mean paparazzi on me trying not to get caught out/They always seem to catch me with the woman that I brought out/Baby don't hold on too long 'cause that's how them stories start out/And all the girls that played me eat your muthaf***ing hearts out

The only problem with the song is that it's a song by Drake, but sampling Aaliyah's "At Your Best (You Are Love)" at the opening immediately will make people realize how much they've missed her for the last decade, and then Young Jeezy's verse completely blows Drake's verse out of the water, causing the lead performer to be upstaged twice on the same track.

#8.

Song: Wrecking Ball

Artist: Lifehouse

Album: Smoke & Mirrors

For their 2010 album, Lifehouse tried a more rock sound than they've had in the past, which works on some tracks like this one. Even though the song is about a bad relationship that should be avoided but can't, the music and chorus are catchy enough to make it a good song to sing along with while you're driving in your car. And the music sounds like an enjoyable summer tune.

I'm a fool/A mechanical tool for you/Because you've got all the switches and levers to blow my cool/And when you know I'm broken/That's when you come shining through/You set me up to knock me down/And leave my shattered pieces on the ground

The only downside to this song is the cheesy ending, where Lifehouse tries to make it come off as a live version of the song with people clapping along and cheering as it fades into acoustic guitars. Leave that part out, and this song goes higher on this list.

#7.

Song: 5th Dimension

Artist: B.o.B. feat. Ricco Barrino

Album: B.o.B presents: The Adventures of Bobby Ray

The funkiest track of the year so far, coming off of one of the three best complete albums of the year so far, this song's bass is heavy enough to damage your speakers and your ears, so be warned if you decide to play it at high levels.

Besides the funkiness of the music, the lyrics that B.o.B. came up with are beyond stellar.

I'm eons and eons beyond the peons/Another human like me there will never be one/The planet that I'm from I can't even speak on/The stars is what I sleep on/The moon I put my feet on/The way my aura glows you'd swear I'm made of neon, cooler than the Freon that's in your Dodge Neon

It also helps show B.o.B.'s range as a rapper, to be able to come out with a radio-friendly song like Nothin' On You, then go into a more self-conscious song like Airplanes, and also be able to perform a funky, braggadocios song like this one.

#6.

Song: Space Bound

Artist: Eminem

Album: Recovery

Along with albums by Corinne Bailey Rae and B.o.B., Eminem's 2010 offering is also the best complete album so far this year. And, there were also a lot of unreleased tracks to choose from for this list. This song is unlike anything Eminem has done so far. It is emotionally raw, but his delivery is also still full of that usual Eminem fire.

It is somewhat of a ballad, somewhat of a love song and somewhat of a breakup song. With Eminem, it's never really clear where love begins and pain and anger end. But it is balanced nicely in this song, which also has a powerful chorus that sets the mood right and makes for a memorable track that is probably not radio friendly enough to get massive play or downloads.

I'll do whatever it takes/When I'm with you, I get the shakes/My body aches when I ain't with you/I have zero strength/There's no limit on how far I would go/No boundaries, no lengths/Why do we say that until/We get that person we think's gonna be that one/And once we get 'em, it's never the same

#5.

Song: The Fire

Artist: The Roots feat. John Legend

Album: How I Got Over

A great chorus by John Legend, amazing lyrics by Black Thought and a great beat make this song catchy, but in a sneaky kind of way. The overall theme of the song is one everyone should get behind, never give up, never settle for the easy path, never get down on yourself, always reach for the top.

While The Roots have always been the best hip-hop band around, mainly because they are one of the few hip-hop bands, they haven't ever really been mainstream. But this song could be a breakthrough for them, and a good segue into their collaboration with Legend that is due out this fall.

And if I'm ever at the crossroads/And start feeling mixed signals like morse code/My soul start to grow colder than the North Pole/I try to focus on the hole on where the torch goes/In the tradition of these sports pros/As far as I can see I made it to the threshold/Lord knows I waited for this a lifetime/And I'm an icon when I let my light shine

#4.

Song: Yamaha

Artist: The-Dream

Album: Love King

Owing 100 percent of his influence to Prince, The-Dream has found his own version of Little Red Corvette and Raspberry Beret. He is actually talking about something else, but instead of using it's real name he comes up with a different word for it, comparing it to playing on his Yamaha keyboard.

The-Dream also uses the same type of drum machine that Prince used to make his classic songs. While Yamaha isn't comparable in terms of classic tracks as the songs Prince has recorded, it is a great song, with great lyrics, a catchy beat and an overall fun vibe.

I didn't get your name/Little mama/But I decided/Every time I mention you I'll say Yamaha/Yamaha/Oh Yamaha/That's my little Yamaha/Yamaha/Oh Yamaha

#3.

Song: Magic

Artist: B.o.B. feat. Rivers Cuomo

Album: B.o.B presents: The Adventures of Bobby Ray

A great summer song, this song just exudes fun from the start. Rivers Cuomo would seem to be an odd pairing with B.o.B., but they work well together, since B.o.B. is such a diverse rapper who can rap slow, rap fast, rap about important subjects or just rap about fun stuff, like how anytime he appears on a track is becomes an instant classic.

These tricks that I'll attempt will blow your mind/Pick a verse, any verse, I'll hypnotize you with every line/I'll need a volunteer, how about you, with the eyes/Comeon down to the front/Stand right here and don't be shy/I'll have you time-traveling/Have your mind babbling/People try to inherit the skills so they askin' me/Even David Blaine had to go and take some classes/I see Mindfreak/I'm like what's up man, what's happenin

There's no downside to this song, except that it has to end. Other than that, it's probably the most purely enjoyable song of 2010.

#2.

Song: Need You

Artist: Travie McCoy

Album: Lazerus

Supposedly inspired by the Gym Class Heroes' front man's former relationship with Katy Perry, this song taps into the minds of just about anyone who has suffered from an emotional breakup and tries to start a new one (with someone who isn't just a rebound).

While the lyrics are obviously very personal, the song itself is memorable because it is so easy to sing along with, and it is actually upbeat instead melancholy, which it easily could've been.

I know it's not your fault/But I'm a locked door/And I'm a mess by someone before/And I wish that I, I could find the key/To unlock all the things that you want us to be/Let me open up, and start again/But there's a safe around my heart/I don't know how to let you in/And that's what keeps us apart

McCoy does a great job balancing the heavy lyrics with a fun beat, making the song even more memorable than it would've been. He is not juvenile in any way, which might also be why this song is instantly likeable, and should definitely end the year on the best songs of 2010 list.

#1.

Song: Gotten

Artist: Slash feat. Adam Levine

Album: Slash

Think of Slash, still best-known for being the former guitarist for Guns N Roses, and you think it's all hardcore rock with him. It would be impossible to think that he came up with the best breakup ballad of the year.

But he has, along with Maroon 5 lead singer Adam Levin, whose vocal performance perfectly matches Slash's guitar.

While Slash's album didn't get much commercial success at all, it would still be nice to see this amazing song get the love it deserves. It is haunting, moving and beautiful, and should be a classic. Taking away Levin's vocal performance, Slash shows that he is one of the great guitarists ever, as he shows he can do more than just play fast.

It is highly doubtful there will be any other songs released in 2010 that will bump this from being the best song of the year.

I've been saving/These last words for/One last miracle/But now I'm not sure/I can't save you/If you don't let me/You just get me/Like I've never been gotten before