You did it! You voted, and now we can share the list of the Top Ten Albums of 2010– according to YOU!

The National performs at Sasquatch! 2010

#10: HIGH VIOLET BY THE NATIONAL

When Kelly Montgomery reported on Sasquatch! in Washington this June, she confessed to an obsession with this top-ten album from The National. Said Kelly in her piece:

As if the Broken Social Scene set wasn’t enough, Sasquatch! veterans The National took to the stage only 30 minutes later. I’ve been slightly obsessed with their new album, High Violet, I must admit. It’s about as brooding and poetic as ever, but with a startling, dark edge. Matt Berninger looked convincingly distressed as he sang High Violet‘s (arguably) best song, “Afraid of Everyone,” holding the microphone with both hands and shouting “I don’t have the drugs to sort/ I don’t have the drugs to sort it out.” The band played other highlights from High Violet, including standout “Bloodbuzz Ohio,” which is classic, brilliant, The National fare. You can’t help but relate when Berninger nonchalantly sings “I still owe money/ To the money/ To the money I owe.”

To read the rest of Kelly’s Sasquatch! round-up, click HERE.

 

#9: HALCYON DIGEST BY DEERHUNTER

Todd Prodanovich reviewed Halcyon Digest in October, calling his first experiences with the album “ear melting.” He went on to say:

The beauty in their new music rises up through it’s skin, and without even examining their new album in depth it is by far the most pleasing to the ear of all of their work to date.

To read the rest of Todd’s review, click HERE.

#8: TEEN DREAM BY BEACH HOUSE

Todd was also in the crowd when Beach House played Soho in Santa Barbara this April. In his review of the show, he said:

They played some fan favorites from their previous albums, such as the haunting “Gila,” as well as many songs from their much-hailed third album, Teen Dream. The songs “Used to Be,” “Zebra” and “Silver Soul” stood out during their set, showing that they’ve brought a certain something to their newest album and put a fresh twist on their familiar sound.

To read the rest of Todd’s review, click HERE.

#7: THIS IS HAPPENING BY LCD SOUNDSYSTEM

Todd seems to have had his finger on the pulse of the best of 2010, as he’s also the man who reviewed This is Happening for us. Said Todd in the album review:

New York I love you, for bringing me LCD Soundsystem. People say that if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, but those people obviously haven’t been listening to the big apple’s prodigal son lately. James Murphy has shifted gears again, finding his true stride when he could have easily fooled everyone into thinking he found it on his first self-titled album. Its amazing to think that the man responsible for songs like “Tribulations” and “Daft Punk is Playing at My House” could now be the maestro behind LCD Soundsystem’s latest album This is Happening. And I’m sure I speak for most when I say that I’m very glad that it is happening.

To read the rest of this review, click HERE.

#6: FISSION BY FILM SCHOOL

Film School made their first appearance on the site with their nomination for Best Album of 2010, and they cracked the Top Ten. Expect to see more about them in the future!

#5: VISIONARIES BY PARALLELS & LA KIDS BY FIGHT FROM ABOVE– TIE

Laurel Kathleen reviewed Parallels’ album Visionaries, and she had high praise for it. She said:

I was first hooked by the fat, wavering bass line and hard-hitting drum sounds of ‘Find the Fire’. Holly’s crystalline vocals are filled with conviction and emotion, complimented by an echoing bell part that rings on into silence once the song is over. ‘Ultralight’ is pure disco (see music video below): full of syncopated synth sounds and the ever-present sixteenth notes tapped out on the cymbals. I couldn’t get the devilish chorus out of my head…

To read the rest of her review, click HERE.

After Lauren Novik brought Fight From Above to our attention, they became our Artists in Residence for the month of September. To check out the videos they shared with our audience during their residency, click HERE.

#4: CONNECTION BY CAS HALEY

Laurel Kathleen was in the crowd when Cas Haley played the Roxy in LA this September, and he made quite an impression. Said Laurel:

I’d heard Cas‘ debut album Connection and I’d seen several of his band mates play with other groups in Texas, but nothing could have prepared me for their performance. The atmosphere was relaxed and festive, and more patrons were casually dressed, dreaded, or plugged. It was the kind of crowd where you could have approached anyone and chatted comfortably about reggae and blues music. When the curtain came up and the song ‘Higher and Higher’ began, the first few rows were already dancing. And not just bobbing heads and shifting weight from foot to foot: actually dancing together or rocking out alone.

To read the rest of Laurel’s show review, click HERE.

#3: MINI MANSIONS BY MINI MANSIONS

Laurel also seems to have had her finger on the pulse, as she’s the one who reviewed Mini Mansions’ eponymous album for us in November. She said in her review:

Upon first listen, I believed Mini Mansions to be a delightful dream pop band lightly dipped in psychedelia. But after the third and fourth listen, I realized that the album was just as dark and brooding as it was bright and fanciful. In only twelve tracks, Mini Mansions manages to both illuminate our brightest wishes and coax forth our darkest demons for study. They whisper in our ears with their intoxicating blend of playful disdain and stubborn complacency, daring us to be as bold as they are. And they are quite bold: after all, the purpose of music is to both reflect and provoke all that makes us human, and this album is the epitome of humanistic.

To read the rest of Laurel’s review, click HERE.

#2: CHATEAU CRONE BY AGENT RIBBONS

Laurel was on the scene again, interviewing Natalie from Agent Ribbons recently. Here’s an excerpt from their conversation:

Laurel Kathleen: On your Myspace page, Agent Ribbons is described as “a tree house club of post-feminist dreamers trying to find their place in the scheme of things”. After listening to your sophomore album Chateau Crone, I couldn’t agree more. But what do you think? Have you come closer to ’finding your place’ through your music?

Natalie Gordon:  I suppose what is probably more true is that we are trying to make a place for ourselves–carve our own niche–rather than find one that already exists, since it doesn’t!  We don’t really belong to a genre or musical community or movement of any kind.  I think a lot of artists claim that they are unclassifiable or feel that no label or category applies to them, but they still often fit in to some kind of familiar idea and use it to their advantage when they can.  We don’t have any qualms with whatever you want to call us, but I know for a fact that we don’t fit into a specific community based on the countless strange lineups we are tacked onto for live shows. Sometimes bands don’t want to play shows with us because we’re not similar enough to them…I think that’s silly.  And the Agent Ribbons Pandora station is totally out of whack, so I guess we’re just an in-between band!

To read the rest of the interview, click HERE.

#1: GENUINE NEGRO JIG BY THE CAROLINA CHOCOLATE DROPS

Last, but not least, we come to The Carolina Chocolate Drops and their album Genuine Negro Jig. Making their debut on the site with their nomination, you can expect to see more from The Carolina Chocolate Drops VERY soon– like next week when we celebrate their selection for the Number One Album of 2010 with an interview. Check back next Wednesday for it!