Listeners Pick 2010's Best Music (So Far)
NPR listeners cast thousands of votes for the year's best music to date and kept the race tight. In the end, Gorillaz edged out every other artist with the sprawling and inspired album Plastic Beach to take the No. 1 spot. The National, The Black Keys, Broken Bells and LCD Soundsystem rounded out the Top 5.
Regardless of how the votes fell, it was an exciting chance to pause and look back on what an incredible year it's been for music so far, to rediscover a few of our favorites, and to spend time with some of the albums and artists we may have missed.
NPR Listener's Pick 2010's Best Music (So Far)
1. Plastic Beach
- Artist: Gorillaz
- Album: Plastic Beach [Deluxe Edition] [CD/DVD]
- Song: On Melancholy Hill
2. High Violet
- Artist: The National
- Album: High Violet
- Song: Bloodbuzz Ohio
Purchase Featured Music
- "Bloodbuzz Ohio"
- Album: High Violet
- Artist: The National
- Label: 4AD
- Released: 2010
3. Brothers
- Artist: The Black Keys
- Album: Brothers
- Song: Everlasting Light
Purchase Featured Music
- "Everlasting Light"
- Album: Brothers
- Artist: The Black Keys
- Label: Nonesuch Records
- Released: 2010
4. Broken Bells
- Artist: Broken Bells
- Album: Broken Bells
- Song: The High Road
Purchase Featured Music
- "The High Road"
- Album: Broken Bells
- Artist: Broken Bells
- Label: Sony
- Released: 2010
6. Contra
- Artist: Vampire Weekend
- Album: Contra
- Song: Taxi Cab
Purchase Featured Music
- "Taxi Cab"
- Album: Contra
- Artist: Vampire Weekend
- Label: XL
- Released: 2010
7. Teen Dream
- Artist: Beach House
- Album: Teen Dream
- Song: Zebra
Purchase Featured Music
- "Zebra"
- Album: Teen Dream
- Artist: Beach House
- Label: Sub Pop Records
- Released: 2010
9. Transference
- Artist: Spoon
- Album: Transference
- Song: I Saw the Light
Purchase Featured Music
- "I Saw the Light"
- Album: Transference
- Artist: Spoon
- Label: Merge Records
- Released: 2010
10. Treats
- Artist: Sleigh Bells
- Album: Treats
- Song: Rill Rill
Purchase Featured Music
- "Rill Rill"
- Album: Treats
- Artist: Sleigh Bells
- Label: Mom & Pop Music
- Released: 2010
11. Gorilla Manor
- Artist: Local Natives
- Album: Gorilla Manor
- Song: Camera Talk
Purchase Featured Music
- "Camera Talk"
- Album: Gorilla Manor
- Artist: Local Natives
- Label: Frenchkiss Records
- Released: 2010
12. Odd Blood
- Artist: Yeasayer
- Album: Odd Blood
- Song: Ambling Alp
Purchase Featured Music
- "Ambling Alp"
- Album: Odd Blood
- Artist: Yeasayer
- Label: Secretly Canadian
- Released: 2010
13. Together
- Artist: The New Pornographers
- Album: Together
- Song: Moves
Purchase Featured Music
- "Moves"
- Album: Together
- Artist: The New Pornographers
- Label: Matador
- Released: 2010
14. Cosmogramma
- Artist: Flying Lotus
- Album: Cosmogramma
- Song: Do the Astral Plane
Purchase Featured Music
- "Do the Astral Plane"
- Album: Cosmogramma
- Artist: Flying Lotus
- Label: Warp
- Released: 2010
15. Volume Two
- Artist: She & Him
- Album: Volume Two
- Song: Ridin' In My Car
Purchase Featured Music
- "Ridin' In My Car"
- Album: Volume Two
- Artist: She & Him
- Label: Merge Records
- Released: 2010
16. Infinite Arms
- Artist: Band of Horses
- Album: Infinite Arms
- Song: Older
Purchase Featured Music
- "Older"
- Album: Infinite Arms
- Artist: Band of Horses
- Label: Sony Music
- Released: 2010
18. Tomorrow, In A Year
- Artist: The Knife
- Album: Tomorrow, In A Year
- Song: Annie's Box (Alt. Vocal)
Purchase Featured Music
- "Annie's Box (Alt. Vocal)"
- Album: Tomorrow, In A Year
- Artist: The Knife
- Label: Mute
- Released: 2010
19. Forgiveness Rock Record
- Artist: Broken Social Scene
- Album: Forgiveness Rock Record
- Song: World Sick
20. I Learned the Hard Way
- Artist: Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings
- Album: I Learned the Hard Way
- Song: Money
Purchase Featured Music
- "Money"
- Album: I Learned the Hard Way
- Artist: Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings
- Label: Daptone Records
- Released: 2010
Download this show in the All Songs Considered podcast.
Sign up for the All Songs Considered newsletter and we'll tell you when new music features are available on the site.
Register with the NPR.org community to join in our discussions.
Contact us with your questions and comments.
Below are the Top 20 albums of 2010 (so far), as selected by NPR listeners.
You can see and download a full list of the top 50 albums at the All Songs Considered blog.
More All Songs Considered
All Songs Considered
Can't We All Just Get Along? Our Search For The Albums Everyone Loves
Hosts Bob Boilen and Robin Hilton begin their quest to pin down the most universally loved albums.
All Songs Considered
Patti Smith, Best Coast, Debo Band And More
On this week's show, hear some of our favorite new tracks, plus a few musical surprises.
All Songs Considered
The Ting Tings, Yann Tiersen, Squarepusher And More
Hear the latest recommended listening from hosts Bob Boilen and Robin Hilton, plus a few surprises.
Comments
Please keep your community civil. All comments must follow the NPR.org Community rules and terms of use. See also the Community FAQ.
NPR reserves the right to read on the air and/or publish on its website or in any medium now known or unknown the e-mails and letters that we receive. We may edit them for clarity or brevity and identify authors by name and location. For additional information, please consult our Terms of Use.