2010: Hear in Review.

In a year of phenomenal album releases such as --

High Violet (The National)
The Suburbs (Arcade Fire)
Teen Dream (Beach House)
Astro Coast (Surfer Blood)
Gorilla Manor (Local Natives)
Sigh No More (Mumford & Sons)
The Winter of Mixed Drinks (Frightened Rabbit)
The Violent Blue (Electric President)
I Learned the Hard Way (Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings)
Disconnect from Desire (School of Seven Bells)
The Orchard (Ra Ra Riot)
and so many more...

-- it's an incredibly difficult feat trying to narrow down the best album of the year. I don't envy editors having to publish their pick by this weekend's deadline. That being said, the past few years, I've challenged myself into compiling a mixtape of my top song picks for the entire year, which has ended up being a much bigger pain in my butt than I care to unload in this space. But, I've finally narrowed down my top 16, with one slot to spare, in preparation for distributing the mixtape amongst my dearest pals (and any others who've requested their own cherished copy.)

It was beyond hard to make the final selections, but alas, it has arrived.

Track Listing (in no particular order-though the order will be finalized before the mixtapes are signed, sealed and delivered):

1. Norway - Beach House
2. Heat & Hot Water - Arms
3. Old Man - Harry's Gym
4. Numbers Don't Lie - The Mynabirds
5. Rococo - Arcade Fire
6. Bloodbuzz Ohio - The National
7. Mouthful of Diamonds - Phantogram
8. Wide Eyes - Local Natives
9. Bullfighter Jacket - Miniature Tigers
10. Promises - Morning Benders
11. Little Lion Man - Mumford & Sons
12. Windstorm - School of Seven Bells
13. World Sick - Broken Social Scene
14. Majik Marker - Mini Mansions
15. Twenty Two - Wakey! Wakey!
16. Blue Blood - Foals
17. **TBD**

Honorable Mentions go to:

- Little Golden Age (Wolf Parade)
- Barlights (Fun.)
- Pittsburgh (We Are Scientists)
- The Ghost Inside (Broken Bells)
- On the Line (In Grenada)
- Willis (Sea of Bees)
- Ambling Alp (Yeasayer)
- Safe and Sound (Electric President)
- On Trees and Birds and Fire (I am Oak)
- Phenomenons (Twin Sister)
- Walking Through That Door (Future Islands)
- Kids (Sleigh Bells)
- Mr. Peterson (Perfume Genius)
- Black Crow (Angus & Julia Stone)
- Curves of The Needle (Field Music)
- Journal of Ardency (Class Actress)
- The Curse (Josh Ritter)

Of course, there was an immeasurable amount of incredible music released this year, and I can only skim the tip of the iceberg here.

Can't wait to see what 2011 has in store. My ears eagerly await.

C.