Accessibility links
Listeners Pick 2010's Best Music (So Far) : All Songs Considered NPR listeners cast thousands of votes for the year's best music and 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.

All Songs Considered

Upgrade Your Playlist

All Songs Considered

Listeners Pick 2010's Best Music (So Far)

Listeners Pick 2010's Best Music (So Far)

Listen · 45:02
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/128167998/128169823" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

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)

gorillaz cover

On Melancholy Hill

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/128167998/128169543" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

1. Plastic Beach

  • Song: On Melancholy Hill
  • from Plastic Beach [Deluxe Edition] [CD/DVD]
  • by Gorillaz
national cover

Bloodbuzz Ohio

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/128167998/128169575" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

2. High Violet

  • Song: Bloodbuzz Ohio
  • from High Violet
  • by The National
black keys cover

Everlasting Light

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/128167998/128169740" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

3. Brothers

  • Song: Everlasting Light
  • from Brothers
  • by The Black Keys
broken bells cover

The High Road

Audio is no longer available

4. Broken Bells

  • Song: The High Road
  • from Broken Bells
  • by Broken Bells
lcd soundsystem cover

All I Want

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/128167998/128169781" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

5. This Is Happening

  • Song: All I Want
  • from
  • by
vampire weekend cover

Taxi Cab

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/128167998/128169791" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

6. Contra

  • Song: Taxi Cab
  • from
  • by
beach house cover

Zebra

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/128167998/128169807" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

7. Teen Dream

  • Song: Zebra
  • from Teen Dream
  • by Beach House
spoon cover

I Saw the Light

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/128167998/128169813" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

9. Transference

  • Song: I Saw the Light
  • from Transference
  • by Spoon
sleigh bells cover

Rill Rill

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/128167998/128169820" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

10. Treats

  • Song: Rill Rill
  • from Treats
  • by Sleigh Bells
local natives cover

Camera Talk

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/128167998/128169819" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

11. Gorilla Manor

  • Song: Camera Talk
  • from Gorilla Manor
  • by Local Natives
yeasayer cover

Ambling Alp

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/128167998/128169811" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

12. Odd Blood

  • Song: Ambling Alp
  • from Odd Blood
  • by Yeasayer
new pornographers cover

Moves

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/128167998/128169814" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

13. Together

  • Song: Moves
  • from Together
  • by The New Pornographers
flying lotus cover

Do The Astral Plane

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/128167998/128170104" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

14. Cosmogramma

  • Song: Do the Astral Plane
  • from Cosmogramma
  • by Flying Lotus
she and him cover

Ridin' In My Car

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/128167998/128170188" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

15. Volume Two

  • Song: Ridin' In My Car
  • from Volume Two
  • by She & Him
band of horses cover

Older

Audio is no longer available

16. Infinite Arms

  • Song: Older
  • from Infinite Arms
  • by Band of Horses
jonsi cover

Animal Arithmetic

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/128167998/128170425" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

17. Go

  • Song: Animal Arithmetic
  • from Go
  • by Jónsi
the knife cover

Annie's Box (Alt. Vocal)

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/128167998/128170457" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

18. Tomorrow, In A Year

  • Song: Annie's Box (Alt. Vocal)
  • from Tomorrow, In A Year
  • by The Knife
broken social scene

World Sick

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/128167998/128170584" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

19. Forgiveness Rock Record

  • Song: World Sick
  • from Forgiveness Rock Record
  • by Broken Social Scene
sharon jones and the dap kings cover

Money

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/128167998/128170586" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

20. I Learned the Hard Way

  • Song: Money
  • from I Learned the Hard Way
  • by Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings

About All Songs Considered

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.

All Songs Considered

Upgrade Your Playlist