1. BEACH HOUSE | TEEN DREAM
Coming in at #1 is Teen Dream which expands on the band’s warm fuzzy atmospherics while reaching a new level of intimacy, resulting in a lush, wispy and stunning album filled with soft crescendos and rich vocals.
2. THE TALLEST MAN ON EARTH | WILD HUNT
We didn’t think it was possible but Swedish singer-songwriter Tallest Man on Earth improves upon his unique twist on Americana music. The Wild Hunt is definitely one of highlights of 2010.
3. DYLAN LEBLANC | PAUPERS FIELD
Leblanc’s debut album Paupers Field contains carefully sculpted songs and rich country soul, paying tribute to his father, an Alabama’s Muscle Shoals session player and songwriter.
4. DONOVAN WOODS | THE WIDOWMAKER
Toronto singer/songwriter Donovan Woods is great vocal talent and an accomplished storyteller, and his sophomore effort, The Widowmaker, is exceptional.
4.5. TRAVEL BY SEA | TWO STATES AND THE BLINDNESS THAT FOLLOWS
A late but important addition to the Top 25 is Travel by Sea’s October release, Two States and The Blindness That Follows – an incredibly cohesive album that shows the band evolving with a mature, expansive soundscape.
5. BAND OF HORSES | INFINITE ARMS
These Southern tinged indie rockers created their most focused and dynamic record to date, Infinite Arms, which is effortlessly authentic with an ageless sound.
6. MUMFORD & SONS | SIGH NO MORE
The British quartet’s debut is a polished folk album filled with gentle banjos and pining mandolins, gorgeous harmonies and dark undertones.
7. DR. DOG | SHAME SHAME
The Philadelphia band known for their DIY pop aesthetics that blend 60’s style pop with lo-fi recording techniques explore autobiographical content and dark themes through the seemingly contrary bright harmonies, taut guitar riffs, and soaring melodies.
8. THE BLACK KEYS | BROTHERS
Their sixth album, which was produced in the legendary Muscle Shoals Sound Studio in Alabama, marks the return of the raw blues of the Black Keys’ earlier records while maintaining hints of the psychedelic influences of their later releases.
9. THE NATIONAL | HIGH VIOLET
High Violet explores the baroque, melancholy side of indie rock while still managing to be The National’s most infectious and dynamic release to date.
10. WOLF PARADE | EXPO 86
Expo 86 finds Wolf Parade rediscovering the manic energy of their debut, full of driving drums, Spencer Krug’s quivering vocals, the angular guitars of Dan Boeckner, catchy 80’s inspired synths and grinding bass lines.
11. ARCADE FIRE | THE SUBURBS
This cautious tale about the downward spiral of modern society is full of excellent music that is surprisingly more upbeat Neon Bible; it is an exceptional expansion of Arcade Fire’s sound.
12. JOE PUG | MESSENGER
While the Nation of Heat EP made Joe Pug a talent to watch, on the Messenger, Pug explores new territory, adding pedal steel guitar and a powerhouse rhythm section to his solo acoustic singer/songwriter charm.
13. BONNIE “PRINCE” BILLY | WONDER SHOW OF THE WORLD
This collaborative effort with guitarist Emmett Kelly and his band The Cairo Gang, shows a new level of intimacy to Billy’s country/folk/blues driven guitar riffs and sparse percussion arrangements.
14. FRIGHTENED RABBIT | THE WINTER OF MIXED DRINKS
This collection of ambitious, poignant, and stunning songs expands upon the sound from their two previously acclaimed releases. Every track on this record is intense and hard-hitting, capturing the disintegration of someone going through a breakdown.
15. THE MORNING BENDERS | BIG ECHO
Big Echo is a ten track album of dazzling pop music produced by singer Chris Chu with the help of Grizzly Bear’s Chris Taylor; and it shows the band’s clever pop songs evolving into a unique sound of their own.
16. LOST IN THE TREES | ALL ALONE IN AN EMPTY HOUSE
This unique rerelease possesses the experimental sound of the classical music symphonic elements merged with folk and indie pop melodies over the course of nine lushly textured compositions.
17. HORSE FEATHERS | THISTLED SPRING
Thistled Spring is another incredibly consistent addition to Horse Feather’s already great catalog while managing to be both gentle and majestic.
18. FUTUREBIRDS | HAMPTON’S LULLABY
The Futurebirds showcase their psychedelic tinged hazy southern country-rock on this great album with reverb laden guitars and slightly yet deliberately skewed harmonized vocals.
19. TITUS ANDRONICUS | THE MONITOR
On their sophomore release The Monitor, Titus Andronicus leaves behind the literary lo-fi vibe of their debut in favor of a larger more polished, Civil War-themed concept album that continues to push the limits of their sound and defy expectations.
20. MEGAFAUN | HERETOFORE
Heretofore brings a distinct and welcome twist on Americana music, with interesting musical experimentations in new directions. Megafaun delivers another great set of folk rock.
21. BROKEN BELLS | BROKEN BELLS
Broken Bells is a dynamic indie pop fusion of James Mercer’s (The Shins) brooding pop melodies and hip hop producer Danger Mouse’s psych-rock beats.
23. LOCAL NATIVES | GORILLA MANOR
Gorilla Manor showcases well-crafted songs that use strings, piano, expressive percussion, and big harmonic vocals.
24. TYPHOON | HUNGER AND THIRST
11 member neo-indie-soul band Typhoon does not disappoint with their long awaited debut album – a beautiful, heartfelt and expertly composed album.
25. THE MOONDOGGIES | TIDELANDS
The Moondoggies’ signature three-part harmonies shine through this warm, cohesive roots-tinged album, in a variety of tracks ranging from gospel-influenced rockers to desolate acoustic ballads.