'All Songs' Listeners Pick The Best Albums Of 2010
Back in June, when we asked All Songs Considered listeners to pick the year's best music (so far), the Gorillaz album Plastic Beach was the overwhelming favorite. But that was still a couple of months before Arcade Fire released its third full-length, The Suburbs. With it in the year-end mix, no other album or artist could compete. All Songs Considered listeners cast tens of thousands of votes, and The Suburbs was light years ahead of everything else to become the year's top vote-getter.
Explore Past Years
This is our favorite time of year at NPR Music. We love to look back at all the great music that came out and debate which albums and songs are better than others. But more than the debate, all of this year-end coverage gives us a chance to rediscover albums we'd forgotten about, or find new songs and artists we may have missed altogether.
On this edition of the program, host Bob Boilen and producer Robin Hilton count down the Top 25 listener picks for 2010 and share some thoughts on the year in music. You can find a downloadable list of the Top 100 listener picks on the All Songs Considered blog.
As always, let us know what you think in the comments section below. And be sure to check out all the other extensive coverage of the best albums, songs and artists of 2010 on NPR Music.
Listener Picks For Best Music Of 2010
1. The Suburbs
- Artist: Arcade Fire
- Song: Ready To Start
Purchase Featured Music
- "Ready To Start"
- Album: The Suburbs
- Artist: Arcade Fire
- Label: Merge
- Released: 2010
3. High Violet
- Artist: National
- Song: Bloodbuzz Ohio
Purchase Featured Music
- "Bloodbuzz Ohio"
- Album: High Violet
- Artist: National
- Label: 4AD
- Released: 2010
4. Sigh No More
- Artist: Mumford & Sons
- Song: The Cave
Purchase Featured Music
- "The Cave"
- Album: Sigh No More
- Artist: Mumford & Sons
- Label: Cooperative
- Released: 2009
5. Broken Bells
- Artist: Broken Bells
- Song: The High Road
Purchase Featured Music
- "The High Road"
- Album: Broken Bells
- Artist: Broken Bells
- Label: Sony
- Released: 2010
9. Teen Dream
- Artist: Beach House
- Song: Zebra
Purchase Featured Music
- "Zebra"
- Album: Teen Dream
- Artist: Beach House
- Label: Sub Pop Records
- Released: 2010
10. My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
- Artist: Kanye West
- Song: Monster [Explicit]
12. Treats
- Artist: Sleigh Bells
- Song: Rill Rill
Purchase Featured Music
- "Rill Rill"
- Album: Treats
- Artist: Sleigh Bells
- Label: Mom & Pop Music
- Released: 2010
14. Gorilla Manor
- Artist: Local Natives
- Song: World News
Purchase Featured Music
- "World News"
- Album: Gorilla Manor
- Artist: Local Natives
- Label: Frenchkiss Records
- Released: 2010
15. Infinite Arms
- Artist: Band of Horses
- Song: Laredo
Purchase Featured Music
- "Laredo"
- Album: Infinite Arms
- Artist: Band of Horses
- Label: Sony Music
- Released: 2010
16. Wild Hunt
- Artist: The Tallest Man on Earth
- Song: The Wild Hunt
Purchase Featured Music
- "The Wild Hunt"
- Album: Wild Hunt
- Artist: The Tallest Man on Earth
- Label: Dead Oceans Records
- Released: 2010
18. Transference
- Artist: Spoon
- Song: Written In Reverse
Purchase Featured Music
- "Written In Reverse"
- Album: Transference
- Artist: Spoon
- Label: Merge Records
- Released: 2010
19. The ArchAndroid
- Artist: Janelle Monáe
- Song: Tightrope
Purchase Featured Music
- "Tightrope"
- Album: The ArchAndroid
- Artist: Janelle Monáe
- Label: Bad Boy
- Released: 2010
20. Odd Blood
- Artist: Yeasayer
- Song: Ambling Alp
Purchase Featured Music
- "Ambling Alp"
- Album: Odd Blood
- Artist: Yeasayer
- Label: Secretly Canadian
- Released: 2010
21. God Willin' & The Creek Don't Rise
- Artist: Ray Lamontagne & The Pariah Dogs
- Song: Beg Steal Or Borrow
Purchase Featured Music
- "Beg Steal Or Borrow"
- Album: God Willin' & The Creek Don't Rise
- Artist: Ray Lamontagne & The Pariah Dogs
- Label: Red Ink
- Released: 2010
22. Together
- Artist: The New Pornographers
- Song: Crash Years
Purchase Featured Music
- "Crash Years"
- Album: Together
- Artist: The New Pornographers
- Label: Matador
- Released: 2010
24. Have One on Me
- Artist: Joanna Newsom
- Song: Does Not Suffice
Purchase Featured Music
- "Does Not Suffice"
- Album: Have One on Me
- Artist: Joanna Newsom
- Label: Drag City
- Released: 2010
25. The Lady Killer
- Artist: Cee Lo Green
- Song: F--- You [Explicit]
Purchase Featured Music
- "F--- You [Explicit]"
- Album: The Lady Killer
- Artist: Cee Lo Green
- Label: Elektra/Asylum
- Released: 2010
More All Songs Considered
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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.
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