Now that we’ve entered the last quarter of the year, I couldn’t think of a better time then now to finally post my picks for the “50 Best Albums” released thus far in 2010. Fortunately and unfortunately, a lot of great albums failed to make my list; that’s a good thing because there’s a ton of artists out there working their asses off, although my list is just one man’s opinion, and you know what they say about opinions. So without further adieu, here are my selections:
1. Arcade Fire – The Suburbs
2. The National – High Violet
3. She and Him – Volume Two
4. The Black Keys – Brothers
5. Band of Horses – Infinite Arms
6. Spoon – Transference
7. Ray LaMontagne and the Pariah Dogs – God Willin’ and the Creek Don’t Rise
8. Vampire Weekend – Contra
9. Broken Bells – Broken Bells
10. Surfer Blood – Astro Coast
11. Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings – I Learned the Hard Way
12. Best Coast – Crazy For You
13. Sleigh Bells – Treats
14. Beach House – Teen Dream
15. Jonsi – Go
16. Gorillaz – Plastic Beach
17. Josh Ritter – So Runs The World Away
18. The Gaslight Anthem – American Slang
19. The Flaming Lips with Stardeath and White Dwarfs cover Pink Floyd’s Darkside of the Moon
20. The Dead Weather – Sea of Cowards
21. Joanna Newsom – Have One On Me
22. Ben Sollee and Daniel Martin Moore – Dear Companion
23. Wolf Parade – Expo 86
24. Ra Ra Riot – Orchard
25. Stars – The Five Ghosts
26. Broken Social Scene – Forgiveness Rock Record
27. The New Pornographers – Together
28. The Hold Steady – Heaven Is Whenever
29. David Byrne and Fatboy Slim – Here Lies Love
30. LCD Soundsystem – This Is Happening
31. MGMT – Congratulations
32. Minus the Bear – Omni
33. The Books – The Way Out
34. The Drums – The Drums
35. Wavves – King of the Beach
36. Portugal. the Man – American Ghetto
37. Frightened Rabbit – Winter of Mixed Drinks
38. We Are Scientists – Barbara
39. Maps & Atlases – Perch Patchwork
40. Blitzen Trapper – Destroyer of the Void
41. Fang Island – Fang Island
42. Villagers – Becoming a Jackal
43. eels – End Times
44. Jeff Beck – Emotion and Commotion
45. The Tillers – By The Signs
46. State Song – Dear Hearts and Gentle People
47. 500 Miles to Memphis – We’ve Built Up To Nothing
48. mallory – Before It Grows
49. Pop Empire – Rainy Child EP
50. Foxy Shazam – Foxy Shazam