Top 10 of 2010

10. Girl Talk - All Day

If there was ever an album to take into the new year to help keep those resolutions, it’s this one. Put it on and you’ll breeze through your workout. Girl Talk jumped back into the mashup scene with a pretty seamless 71 minute track combining a healthy variety of genres that make for one fun listen. “Get out the way, boom” cause it’s power hour!

9. Gayngs - Relayted

Gayngs’ 23 person lineup culminated in one sweaty, sexy, sick record. This album slinks through hazy nights and reaks of uber coolness. It will make you feel dirty but in an oh so damn cool way. “Who knows why the heart goes on when it keeps beating to the wrong song.”

8. Stars - The Five Ghosts

Stars has always put out great music for late nights. The album feels much more dead and post-apocalyptic than their previous efforts, but I think that’s the point. It takes a few listens to grow on you, but in the end, it makes for a solid record that fits Stars’ repertoire. “This is the last song ever written. Melody is over and done.”

7. Laura Marling - I Speak Because I Can

It’s hard to believe that a 20 year old put out such a mature sounding record, but it speaks volumes to Laura Marling’s talent. This album sounds like the ancient, dusty folk record that you pull out in a winter cabin. Mumford and Sons bring their genius to the album with backing vocals. “Creatures veiled by night following things that aren’t right.”

6. Josh Ritter - So Runs the World Away

After three years, Josh Ritter released a fantastic followup to his previous album, Historical Conquests. His sound is much more varied on this album, but it still embodies the folksy wonderfulness that is Josh Ritter. This album attests to his talent and is his best to date. “He speaks of her fondly, their nights in the museum, but she’s just one more rag now he’s dragging behind him.”

5. Greg Laswell - Take a Bow

Earlier this year, I got to hear a sneak peak of Greg’s new album. I knew right away that I would fall in love with it. The funny thing is that this is a breakup album, but it’s the “best friend” of breakup albums. It says everything you could want to hear in a heartbreaking but perfect way. “Play the song without the rhyme scheme. Play the song without the hook in the third line, so I can forget it easily like I wish I could forget you.”

4. Andrew Belle - The Ladder

If you watch prime time tv at all, chances are you’ve heard bits and pieces of this wonderful album. Andrew draws comparisons to Greg Laswell, which isn’t surprising given that they’ve shared the stage. This album is the epitome of college pop, but that’s what makes it so fantastic. “You know I’ll never let this go to waste. I’ll keep this memory on the map I trace back to home.”

3. The National - High Violet

This album sold me on The National. It’s full of dark, powerful energy and a must have for mellow indie rock lovers. Sufjan contributed haunting backing vocals for the record, and anything he puts his name on must be good, right? “All the very best of us string ourselves up for love.”

2. Mumford & Sons - Sigh No More

This album is phenomenal. The instrumentation and group vocals drive this brilliant album. It’s catchy and difficult to turn off. It embodies the folk sound with absolute perfection. Britain is overflowing with talent, and these guys are at the head of the pack. “Cold is the water. It freezes your already cold mind.”

1. Sufjan Stevens - The Age of Adz

The man- he surprised the world with not one but two releases this fall. All Delighted People EP stuck with his old sound while pushing the boundaries of time. Initially, The Age of Adz seemed to be everything that the EP was not, but it was, in fact, a culmination of everything Sufjan did until this point. This mind-warping album transcends so many elements of traditional song and defies a specific genre. It’s complex but fluid, and one of the greatest albums ever to hear live. “It’s not so impossible.”