| 30 |
The Midnight Juggernauts
The Crystal Axis
High energy follows up their impressive electro-rock debut by reaching outward and upward.
Read review |
 |
| |
|
|
| 29 |
The Divine Comedy
Bang Goes the Knighthood
On a tighter budget, the band evolves orchestration into a more streamlined composition, which is naturally still led by Hannon's signature heady lyrics and distinguished ballads.
|
 |
| |
|
|
| 28 |
Male Bonding
Nothing Hurts
Feisty lo-fi garage punk with a surfer twist represents a lot of fellow acts that sprung up this year.
Read review
|
 |
| |
|
|
| 27 |
Goldfrapp
Head First
The duo's incarnation this time is as a new wave diva, and they perform an electronic disco masterpiece.
|
 |
| |
|
|
| 26 |
Danger Mouse & Sparklehorse
Dark Night of the Soul
The late Mark Linkous teamed up with Danger Mouse, David Lynch, and an all-star list of indie rock collaborators to produce a dark, cool, and multi-faceted album.
|
 |
| |
|
|
| 25 |
Foals
Total Life Forever
‘Internet
buzz band’ delivers electronic beauties & intricacies with getting
self-important.
Read review
|
 |
| |
|
|
| 24 |
The Books
The Way Out
The inventive duo gives us a highly artistic and highly technical lesson in acoustic rock patterns.
|
 |
| |
|
|
| 23 |
of Montreal
False Priest
With ambitious instrumentation, Prince-like melodies and Barnes' strong lyrical content, the wild bunch delivers another fun, yet complex album.
Read review
|
 |
| |
|
|
| 22 |
Tame Impala
Innerspeaker
Beatles-esque vocals meet 90's psychedelia at its finest; the definitive breakout album of 2010.
Read review |
 |
| |
|
|
| 21 |
Autolux
Transit Transit
Ear candy for your headphones; every time you play you will hear things that you missed the time before.
Read review
|
 |
| |
|
|
| 20 |
Blonde Redhead
Penny Sparkle
Ultra-stylish rock with a sense of real art and passion - an unlikely combination.
Read review
|
 |
| |
|
|
| 19 |
Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti
Before Today
Sounds like a warped copy of rock 'n' roll vinyl, covered in Vaseline, then played backwards.
Read review
|
 |
| |
|
|
| 18 |
The Radio Dept.
Clinging To a Scheme
Airy synth-pop tinged with the sound of a rainy day - and their best yet.
Read review
|
 |
| |
|
|
| 17 |
Sleigh Bells
Treats
There's no lack of energy on this electro-rock noise explosion.
|
 |
| |
|
|
| 16 |
Beach House
Teen Dream
Morphine dream pop with otherwordly beauty.
Read review
|
 |
| |
|
|
| 15 |
Hot Chip
One Life Stand
Synth-rock dancemasters deliver another excellent set of clever pop tracks.
Read review
|
 |
| |
|
|
| 14 |
Interpol
Interpol
Bringing
back the neo-New Wave sound that made you fall in love with them.
Read review
|
 |
| |
|
|
| 13 |
MGMT
Congratulations
They made a quick, heavy name for themselves and somehow manage to hold it up.
Read review
|
 |
| |
|
|
| 12 |
Vampire Weekend
Contra
With their affluence and
privilege on their sleeve, Contra is
sonically beautiful and is a step and a half ahead of its younger brother,
easily avoiding what could have been the greatest sophomore slump of 2010.
Read review
|
 |
| |
|
|
| 11 |
School of Seven Bells
Disconnect From Desire
The trio expands their haunting harmonies and high-reaching electronic rhythms from their debut.
Read review
|
 |
Fueled with Voodoo Doughnuts, Alcoholic Faith Mission
delivered to a rockin' crowd in Portland.
Those lucky enough to
enter the House of Blues Boston took a spacey journey
that felt like one long dream starting with opening act I Break Horses.
The student-filled O2 Academy in Manchester started heaving
forward the instant the visual art showed "The Cribs" on the backdrop.
