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I was browsing through my iTunes and I realized that 2010 has been one heck of a year for music. (In my humble opinion of course). I may have bought more albums in the last 12 months than I have any other year. It certainly helps when you pay $5 or less on Amazon or take advantage of deals on eMusic.

I decided it would be fun to rank my top albums in order. I’ll preface that I claim no authoritative voice. Take it or leave it… but if music was a gal that was out of my league I would simply state “I like you aaa lot.” (Lloyd Christmas– Dumb & Dumber)? Anyone?

I respect that everyone has different reasons for the music they like. Associations are big for me as well. I also know there is a lot of music I’ve left out. Suggestions are always welcomed.

Welp, here we go…

Honorable Mention. (Still totally worth checking out.)
American VI: Ain’t No Grave- Johnny Cash (Will always love Johnny, so awesome.)
Volume II- She & Him (Love the Zooey & M. Ward combo. Round 2. Just feels happy listening to them.)
I And Love And You- The Avett Brothers (Make me want to move south & learn the banjo.)
All Day- Girl Talk (Never heard a mashups album, this was impressive, thoroughly.)
God Willin & The Creek Don’t Rise- Ray LaMontagne & The Pariah Dogs (Easy listening when you’re making your coffee & thinking about the day ahead.)

9. The Suburbs- Arcade Fire
Before I got this album I kept hearing… “Have you heard the new Arcade Fire?” “The new Arcade Fire… it’s AMMMMMAAAAAZZZZING!!!.” etc. etc. I then became a little hesitant to pull the trigger. Can it be as good as everyone seems to say it is? I get a little skeptical when I start hearing excessive hype about nearly everything. Well, I saw the interactive video for “We Used To Wait.” And I couldn’t get it out of my head… which led to listening to the whole album through. Frankly, I feel it has a timeless sound, all the way through. I have a difficult time finding much that sounds similar to Arcade Fire. I can’t listen to this album again and again… I have to let myself chew on it for a while. Give it some space before swallowing another dose of The Suburbs.

8. So Runs The World Away- Josh Ritter
I was driving back from camping with a couple buddies and I decided to listen to this album start to finish on the drive back. I felt like I was being sung a story… or several really. I was a big fan of The Animal Years and I felt like Ritter dug deeper into his creativity and expanded his musical arrangements to follow it up. It feels a bit bigger and has some surprises along the way. Delightful surprises that is. Like the extra chocolate at the bottom of your mug of hot coco. Mmm… tasty. Drink it up.

7. Sigh No More: Mumford & Sons
A resident in my building last spring suggested I check these guys out, he thought I would like them. And… he was right. I listened to one song off this album and  was hooked. Before I knew it these guys blew up… not only around campus but all over the pop charts. It takes a certain brilliance to write incredibly catchy tunes… for a whole album. There’s something that has to be special about an album that so many people respond to so quickly. Whether they intended to or not, it seems they’ve made their folk genre incredibly trendy. For better or worse is up to you. Regardless… one of the surprise and best albums of the year.

6. Contra- Vampire Weekend
When I first saw these guys perform on Saturday Night Live, I was not that impressed to say the least. I remember looking forward to it, since I had heard good things but at that moment I didn’t quite get it. Maybe it felt too poppy, or maybe I was too much on a Mumford & Sons kick that I didn’t have an ear for anything else. Then I began to look up more of their stuff and like Edward Cullen to Bella, wanted to sink my teeth in. But like Jacob Black I didn’t have to hold my desire back. This album makes me look forward to more of what they have in store for future records. Catchy on several levels, as well as an album I would pop in for a pick-me up along my road trip travels of summer 2010.

5. Broken Bells- Broken Bells
March 2010 came around and the snow started melting. Spring Break was on the horizon as well. Some medical issues involving my father had just surfaced too. I had heard of this band through my following of Derek Webb on Twitter. He was all praise… so I checked them out. James Mercer of The Shins & Danger Mouse?? Should have recorded with Lil’ Wayne because this album is Cash Money. It was the perfect sound as I traveled back and forth to my hometown several times over that Spring Break. The pleasant mix of catchy melodies & beats that you can sing along to. The seasons we’re beginning to smile again as spring was around the corner and listening to this record again & again only broadened the grin.

4. My Beautiful Dark Fantasy- Kanye West
I’d been tracking Kanye for months as he released a single from his  G.O.O.D Fridays album weekly. I appreciated some of the tracks but wasn’t totally sold. Then I watched his 35 minute short film centered around this record. Say whatcha say about who the man is in the spotlight, but the dude knows what he’s doing in the studio. This is not a record for the easily offended, it’s crude, raw and honest. Not pretty. One night I noticed that the album was being released for a discounted price before it’s actual release date, I took the chance. I knew this was one of the best of the year when I started on Track 1 at approximately 1am and had to listen to it all the way through. I don’t remember the last time I sat listening to an album, waiting to hear what would be next. The creative sounds, transitions, and flow of the whole album is spot on. I can’t say there is one track that stands above the rest as as much as it’s a push play on Track 1 and listen to what happens.

3. The Medicine- John Mark McMillan
Now this album originally was released in 2008 independently, however it was picked up by Integrity music and released this year. I can’t say that I have been much of a listener of music from the Christian music industry in recent years. However, my buddy Matt put a few songs on a road trip mix for me and I was terribly engaged. I was pleasantly surprised by the authenticity of the writing. Also, I didn’t feel like I was listening to polished worship songs, ready for a Sunday service. I can listen to this album through and feel that there is language & longing expressed that I don’t always have the right words for. Not to mention the music fits the mood. Reconciliation from repression. Beauty can prevail through darkness.

2. Saint Bartlett- Damien Jurado
Here’s a guy that floats below the radar. I just started getting into his music this year and when I saw he had a new album coming out I jumped in feet first. He’s an artist that has defined the music of my 2010. He doesn’t have the most exceptional voice, nor are his songs so complex that you listen over & over to hear all the nuances. But, he writes and plays from the heart. Listening & watching him play you can feel that he has to do it as much for himself as he does for those that listen. It’s as though he opens himself up to all who choose to listen. Also, as I’ve continued to play and write some songs, it’s great to have someone give permission, of sorts, to keep it simple as long as you throw yourself into what you are creating.

1. High Violet- The National
No album has gotten more plays than this one. Hands down. When 7 of the top 25 most played tracks on my iTunes are from this album, it made it easy to decide on my top album of the year. I hesitated to even give these guys much of a chance at first. I listened to some samples and felt it was a bit snoozy BUT then I really gave it a chance. My favorite songs from the album may vary week to week. One thing I find so captivating about these guys and this album specifically is that I listen to it again & again and pick new and interesting elements I didn’t hear the first 10, 20 or 30 plays. I can listen to this album and feel intellectually stimulated. It’s smart. It’s catchy. It’s easily complex. It’s creative. It’s not much like anything else I’ve heard. It places other albums 2nd, 3rd or 4th of the year.

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