(Abridged)
(The Bottom Six/Honourable Mentions)

No one asked, but I delivered anyway. In the spirit of Pitchfork or Gorilla vs. Bear, here are my personal favs of 2010. The numbers change whenever I think about it, depending on my music mood and what’s already playing, but here’s what I settled on most recently, in ascending order:

1. Causers of This - Toro Y Moi

I blogged about Toro already, but here’s my personal favourite from his first album.

Toro Y Moi - “Low Shoulder”

2. The Age of Adz - Sufjan Stevens

Something quite different (and probably not as accessible) for Sufjan, but solid gold nonetheless. At first I was disappointed over what appeared to be a standard length album, as opposed to something like the 22-track (more if you use iTunes) Illinois, but quickly found the 25+ minute “Impossible Soul,” a very ambitious feat. Anyway, here’s one that represents the album nicely.

Sufjan Stevens - “I Walked”

3. Nocturne of Exploded Crystal Chandelier - Sun Airway

A band that was foreign to me until very recently, but also one that I found myself hooked on immediately. Sun Airway has a peaceful lightness which I find refreshingly creative, with lyrics that mirror.

Waiting on You by Sun Airway

4. This Is Happening - LCD Soundsystem

This’ll probably be LCD’s last effort, but you didn’t hear it from me. This album would have probably been higher on the list if it weren’t for a few skippables on the album that hold it back. “Dance Yrself Clean,” however, is NOT one of those tracks. I died the first time I heard it. Be patient, my friends.

LCD Soundsystem - Dance Yrself Clean

5. LP4 - Ratatat

Without using lyrics, they’re still somehow hilarious. A very fun album. I especially recommend the vinyl (this is just something I say to be elitist and pretentious—and because I purchased it on vinyl, for some reason). Drugs, drugs, drugs… some are good and some are bad… drugs, drugs, drugs… ask your mom or ask your dad…

Ratatat - Drugs

6. Real Life Color - Magic Man

A neat album that I stumbled across basically by fluke because it was free and I thought Why not? and ended up loving it. It’s still free. Get it. Why not?

Magic Man - Darling

7. American Ghetto - Portugal. The Man

Although Portugal. The Man was in my music library for a long time, they recently grew to be one of my consistent favourites. They are a band worth checking out, with an eclectic mix of sounds, and impressively pulling off three full length albums in a year and a half.

“The Dead Dog” by Portugal. The Man

8. Long Live - The Chariot

Now for something a little different.

The Audience by The Chariot

9. Halcyon Digest - Deerhunter

Halcyon Digest and Deerhunter kept appearing on different blogs, so I felt inclined to check them out. It was the song “Helicopter” (below) that convinced me to buy the album, which is consistently good all the way through.

Helicopter - Deerhunter

10. The Suburbs - Arcade Fire

This album did take some time to grow on me, but it’s a hard album not to like. And number ten for the year isn’t bad. And Spike Jonze likes them. And they’re Canadian.

Arcade Fire - We Used to Wait