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To celebrate the half-way point of 2010, this week Paste staffers are counting down their favorite albums of the year (so far). Check out all of our lists here, and share your own favorites in the comments.
As editor of an entertainment magazine that spends as much time on music as Paste, I often get asked what I’m listening to. Lately, I’ve been pointing a lot of people to Frightened Rabbit and Mumford & Sons. But that just scratches the surface of stuff that has me excited this year. Here are 10 that don’t even include great releases from LCD Soundsystem, Phosphorescent, Josh Ritter and plenty of others I’m sure I’m forgetting. Listen to a track from each in the playlist below.
10. Beach House – Teen Dream
I didn’t know I needed a new dreamy pop album on my iPod until I heard this.
9. Free Energy – Stuck on Nothing
The aptly named boys from Philly are the best bar band since The Hold Steady.
8. Janelle Monáe – The Archandroid
She’s amazing live, and now she’s got a full album to tide me over between shows.
7. Sleigh Bells – Treats
This album absolutely sounds like the future of music.
6. The National – High Violet
Apparently I’m release-date challenged. I originally thought The XX was 2010 and The National wasn’t out yet. Mea culpa. I’m fixing my list.
5. Band of Horses – Infinite Arms
This album has the office divided, but I fall squarely in the camp that loves its ’70s So-Cal vibe.
4. Frightened Rabbit – The Winter of Mixed Drinks
I can’t get enough of either of this Scottish band’s first two albums—or the live album that came out in between.
3. Mumford & Sons – Sigh No More
We may have matched them on the soccer pitch in South Africa this year, but England has out-Americana’d America this year.
2. Jonsi – Go
The Sigur Rós frontman sounds like he’s having more fun than ever.
1. Preservation Hall Jazz Band – An Album to Benefit Preservation Hall
Guests Tom Waits, Yim Yames, Steve Earle, Buddy Miller and Ani Difranco sound even better with some legendary New Orleans brass.
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my god, you guys are so freakin' trendy it's ridiculous. No Gaslight Anthem? No Josh Ritter? No National?
Such a disappointing list.
1. No Titus Andronicus is a joke.
2. XX came out last year! That's why it was on so many lists last year. In fact... I think it even came out in September, so almost a year ago.
This is absolutely ridiculous. I'm guessing you can make the rules up since you're EIC, but still, have some integrity. By the way, I'm going to put 'Boys and Girls in America' on my 2010 list, because I've listened to it a lot this year, even though it came out 4 years ago. That's all that matters, right? You just have to like it this year.
the severe lack of the national kills me.
notably from a magazine that named the boxer best of its year.
replace The XX with The National.
My mistake. Got release dates mixed up. I do love that National record.
Any list of the "best so far" has to include the self-title new album from Grace Potter and the Nocturnals.
I would encourage you to spend an extended amount of time with Titus Andronicus before the end of 2010. It may enter your list and start the upward climb.
The new Frightened Rabbits album is probably my favorite of the year. More people should know about them. And they put on an absolutely amazing live show.
I think Dr. Dog's new album deserves to be on the list. I've been playing it at least twice a week since it was released.
No Spoon? "Transference" is great.
Titus Andronicus
I put Mumford & Sons on my list last year (since the album had a UK release in October) and will probably be putting it on my list this year...that's how good I think it is.
Shame Shame on you for not including Dr. Dog.
Yes, I did.
No, transference isn't that great.
Dr. Dog definitely makes my list of top albums of 2010. sam quinn(formerly of the everybodyfields) & spoon are also up there.
It's absolutely silly to not have The Gaslight Anthem on this list!
Hey Josh, what were your thoughts on The Black Keys album? I noticed no one listed it as a "favorite" yet it has been one of the best reviewed albums of the year. Anyway, just curious - thanks for the "mid-year" lists!
Totally agree with Album Benefitting Preservation Hall and the Preservation Hall Music Outreach Program is #1 with Paste Magazine! Way to go!