I've said it a million times, and i'll say it once more, 2010 was an impressive year for music. But as much as enjoyed all the good music, trying to narrow down my favorite albums of the year to only 10 was quite the task. I went back and forth on some of these, but I eventually came to a decision and i'll stand by these picks. So without further ado, i'm very pleased to present my top 10 albums of 2010. Enjoy!
10. Yann Tiersen - Dust Lane
Grief channeled brilliance from one of the all-around most talented musicians out there.
9. Los Campesinos! - Romance is Boring
Noise-pop at its best!
8. Cee Lo Green - The Lady Killer
Contemporary, confident conception of soul music, with one of the best cover songs of the last 10 years (if not more).
7. Freelance Whales - Weathervanes
Odd collection of instruments + bandmates found on Craigslist + a quality rarely found on debut albums = one damn good record!
6. Beach House - Teen Dream
Dream pop gem from a duo that should be a household name among music fans.
5. Sonos - December Songs
Talent wise, this a cappella sextet is number one. It's absolutely amazing what they do with nothing but their voices. More at
sonosings.com.
4. Jónsi - Go
Sigur Rós frontman proves once again that his vocals and production quality are one-of-a-kind.
3. LCD Soundsystem - This is Happening
Synth-pop, new wave, punk-funk at it's best!
2. Arcade Fire - The Suburbs
Best live show I went to this year...and maybe ever. Not a bad song on this ambitious, and pretty much perfect, album.
1. Sleigh Bells - Treats
I've been in love with these noise rock newcomers since the first time I heard the demo for Crown on the Ground. Treats is the perfect combination of synth-rock, lo-fi, power chords, and visceral pop.
The rest of my 2010 favorites (11 — 100, but in alphabetical order):
Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti - Before Today
Avi Buffalo - Avi Buffalo
Band of Horses - Infinite Arms
Baths - Cerulean
Belle And Sebastian - Write About Love
Best Coast - Crazy For You
Big Boi - Sir Luscious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty
Blackbird Blackbird - Summer Heart
The Black Keys - Brothers
Broken Bells - Broken Bells
Broken Social Scene - Forgiveness Rock Record
Caribou - Swim
Carla Morrison - Mientras Tu Dormias
Charlotte Gainsbourg - IRM
Chiddy Bang - The Preview
Childish Gambino - I Am Not A Rapper (1 & 2)
Chromeo - Business Casual
Clint Mansell - Black Swan (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
CocoRosie - Grey Oceans
Crystal Castles - Crystal Castles (II)
Daft Punk - TRON: Legacy
Deerhunter - Halcyon Digest
Delorean - Subiza
The Drums - The Drums
Dum Dum Girls - I Will Be
The Fall - Your Future, Our Clutter
Field Music - Measure
Flying Lotus - Cosmogramma
Foals - Total Life Forever
Four Tet - There Is Love In You
Frankie Rose and the Outs - Frankie Rose & the Outs
Future Islands - In Evening Air
Frightened Rabbit - The Winter of Mixed Drinks
Games - That We Can Play
Girls - Broken Dreams Club
Girl Talk - All Day
Glasser - Ring
Gorillaz - Plastic Beach
Grinderman - Grinderman 2
Hans Zimmer - Inception (Music from the Motion Picture)
Hoodie Allen - Pep Rally
Hot Chip - One Life Stand
Hurts - Happiness
Janelle Monae - Archandroid
Jenny and Johnny - I'm Having Fun Now
Joanna Newsom - Have One On Me
Kate Nash - My Best Friend is You
Kele - Boxer
Kid Cudi - Man on the Moon Part 2
Klaxons - Surfing The Void
Laura Marling - I Speak Because I Can
Les Savy Fav - Root For Ruin
Liars - Sisterworld
Local Natives - Gorilla Manner
Magnetic Man - Magnetic Man
Marina & the Diamonds - The Family Jewels
Matt & Kim - Sidewalks
Magic Kids - Memphis
Manic Street Preachers - Postcards From A Young Man
Massive Attack - Heligoland
Maximum Balloon - Maximum Balloon
MGMT - Congratulations
Miami Horror - Illumination
Mumford & Sons - Sigh No More
The Mynabirds - What We Lose In the Fire We Gain In the Flood
Mystery Jets - Serotonin
The National - High Violet
The New Pornographers - Together
New Young Pony Club - The Optimist
The Radio Dept. - Clinging to a Scheme
Rapdragons - Featuring Baltimore
Ratatat - Lp4
Rjd2 - The Colossus
Robyn - Body Talk Pt 1
Royksopp - Senior
She & Him - Volume Two
Snow & Voices - Anything That Moves
Sufjan Stevens - The Age of Adz
Surfer Blood - Astro Coast
Swans - My Father Will Guide Me Up A Rope To The Sky
Teen Daze - Four More Years
Theophilus London - I Want You
These New Puritans - Hidden
Two Door Cinema Club - Tourist History
Underworld - Barking
Vampire Weekend - Contra
Warpaint - The Fool
Wavves - King of the Beach
Yeasayer - Odd Blood
You Say Party - XXXX
