Top 25 Lists of 13 New Times Contributors

NEW TIMES' OVERALL TOP 25

Based on rankings of the top 25 albums of 2010 as picked by 13 New Times staffers and contributors.

1. Kanye West — My Dark Twisted Beautiful Fantasy (10 ballots) 158 points

2. Deerhunter — Halcyon Digest (6 ballots) 122 points

3. Arcade Fire — The Suburbs (7 ballots) 109 points

4. LCD Soundsystem — This Is Happening (5 ballots)

80 points

5. The National — High Violet (5 ballots) 79 points

6. Sufjan Stevens — The Age of Adz (5 ballots) 77 points

7. The Roots — How I Got Over (5 ballots) 72 points

8. The Tallest Man on Earth — The Wild Hunt (3 ballots)

71 points

9. Black Keys — Brothers (4 ballots) 69 points

10. Gorillaz — Plastic Beach (3 ballots) 69 points

11. Grinderman — Grinderman II (4 ballots) 66 points

12. Band of Horses — Infinite Arms (3 ballots) 62 points

13. Girl Talk — All Day (3 ballots) 58 points

14. Sleigh Bells — Treats (4 ballots) 57 points

15. Best Coast — Crazy for You (4 ballots) 54 points

16. Big Boi — Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Ballad of Chico Dusty (3 ballots) 53 points

17. Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti — Before Today (3 ballots) 48 points

18. Dead Weather — Sea of Cowards (2 ballots) 48 points

19. Flying Lotus — Cosmogramma (3 ballots) 45 points

20. Spoon — Transference (3 ballots) 40 points

21. Local Natives — Gorilla Manor (3 ballots) 40 points

22. Surfer Blood — Astro Coast (3 ballots) 40 points

23. Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings — I Learned the Hard Way (3 ballots) 40 points

25. Janelle Monae — The ArchAndroid (2 ballots) 37 points

Martin Cizmar

1. Band of Horses — Infinite Arms

2. Arcade Fire — The Suburbs

3. Sufjan Stevens — The Age of Adz

4. LCD Soundsystem — This Is Happening

5. Kanye West — My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

6. Toubab Krewe — TK2

7. Ted Leo and the Pharmacists — Brutalist Bricks

8. Girl Talk — All Day

9. Weezer — Pinkerton (Deluxe Reissue)

10. Best Coast — Crazy For You

11. Titus Andronicus — The Monitor

12. T.I. — No Mercy

13. Surfer Blood — Surfer Blood

14. Wavves — King of the Beach

15. Foxy Shazam — Foxy Shazam

16. The Black Keys — Brothers

17. Against Me! — White Crosses

18. Matt and Kim — Sidewalks

19. The National — High Violet

20. Lissie — Catching a Tiger

21. Beach House — Teen Dream

22. No Age — Everything In Between

23. Devo — Something For Everybody

24. Crystal Castles — Crystal Castles

25. Hot Chip — One Life Stand

Jay Bennett

1. Deerhunter — Halcyon Digest

2. The Soft Pack — The Soft Pack

3. Dead Weather — Sea of Cowards

4. OFF! — First Four EPs

5. Screaming Females — Castle Talk

6. Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan — Hawk

7. Grinderman — II

8. Call Me Lightning — When I Am Gone My Blood Will Be Free

9. Sharon Jones & the Dap—Kings — I Learned the Hard Way

10. Surfer Blood — Astro Coast

11. MGMT — Congratulations

12. Charlotte Gainsbourg — IRM

13. Titus Andronicus — The Monitor

14. No Age — Everything in Between

15. Ted Leo & the Pharmacists — Brutalist Bricks

16. The Hold Steady — Heaven Is Whenever

17. Harlan T. Bobo — Sucker

18. Kelley Stoltz — To Dreamers

19. Tindersticks — Falling Down a Mountain

20. Spoon — Transference

21. Dum Dum Girls — I Will Be

22. Wavves — King of the Beach

23. Unnatural Helpers — Cracked Love & Other Drugs

24. The Brian Jonestown Massacre — Who Killed Sgt. Pepper?

25. Broken Social Scene — Forgiveness Rock Record

Mike Escoto

1. Arcade Fire — The Suburbs

2. The Tallest Man on Earth — Wild Hunt

3. Avi Buffalo — Avi Buffalo

4. Gorillaz — Plastic Beach

5. Miniature Tigers — Fortress

6. Flying Lotus — Cosmogramma

7. Local Natives — Gorilla Manor

8. The Morning Benders — Big Echo

9. Janelle Monae — The ArchAndroid

10. Kanye West — My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

11. The Roots — How I Got Over

12. The National — High Violet

13. Band of Horses — Infinite Arms

14. Twin Sister — Color Your Life

15. MGMT — Congratulations

16. Ariel Pink's Haunted Gaffiti — Before Today

17. Deerhunter — Halcyon Digest

18. Gayngs — Relayted

19. Broken Social Scene — Forgiveness Rock Record

20. Let's Wrestle — In the Court of the Wrestling Let's

21. Hot Chip — One Life Stand

22. Sufjan Stevens — The Age of Adz

23. Ra Ra Riot — The Orchard

24. LCD Soundsystem — This Is Happening

25. Twin Shadow — Forget

Dan Gibson

Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (Roc-a-fella)

The National - High Violet (4AD)

The Black Keys - Brothers (Nonesuch)

Mystery Jets - Serotonin (Rough Trade)

LCD Soundsystem - This is Happening (DFA)

Big Boi - Sir Lucious Left Foot... The Son of Chico Dusty (Def Jam)

Menomena - Mines (Barsuk)

Sufjan Stevens - The Age of Adz (Asthmatic Kitty)

Robyn - Body Talk (Island)

Gaslight Anthem - American Slang (SideOneDummy)

Radio Dept - Clinging to a Scheme (Labrador)

Jamey Johnson - The Guitar Song (Mercury Nashville)

Sleigh Bells - Treats (NEET)

Marvin Sapp - Here I Am (Verity)

Monarchy - Monarchy (Mercury)

Torche - Songs for Singles (Hydra Head)

Budos Band - III (Daptone)

Tracey Thorn - Love and Its Opposite (Merge)

Superchunk - Majesty Shredding (Merge)

Yeasayer - Odd Blood (Secretly Canadian)

Hot Chip - One Life Stand (Astralwerks)

R. Kelly - Love Letter (Jive)

Vampire Weekend - Contra (XL)

The Books - The Way Out (Temporary Residence)

Christopher Hassiotis

1. Big Boi – Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty (Def Jam)

2. The Tallest Man on Earth: The Wild Hunt (Dead Oceans)

3. Gorillaz – Plastic Beach (Virgin)

4. Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings – I Learned the Hard Way (Daptone)

5. Grinderman – Grinderman 2 (Mute/Anti-)

6. Janelle Monáe – The ArchAndroid (Atlantic)

7. Drive-By Truckers – The Big To-Do (ATO)

8. Best Coast – Crazy For You (Mexican Summer)

9. Phosphorescent – Here's to Taking it Easy (Dead Oceans)

10. Various Artists – The Roots of Chica 2: Psychedelic Cumbias from Peru (Barbes)

11. Charanjit Singh – Synthesizing: Ten Ragas to a Disco Beat (Bombay Connection)

12. Dara Puspita – Dara Puspita 1966-1968 (Sublime Frequencies)

13. Kanye West – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (Roc-a-fella)

14. M.I.A. – Maya (N.E.E.T. / XL / Interscope)

15. Erykah Badu – New Amerykah, Part II: Return of the Ankh (Motown)

16. Laura Marling – I Speak Because I Can (Astralwerks)

17. Cee-Lo Green – The Lady Killer (Elektra/Asylum)

18. The Living Sisters – Love to Live (Vanguard)

19. Arcade Fire – The Suburbs (Merge)

20. Mavis Staples – You Are Not Alone (Anti-)

21. Various Artists – To Scratch Your Heart: Early Recordings From Istanbul (Honest Jon's)

22. Frightened Rabbit – The Winter of Mixed Drinks (Fat Cat)

23. Charlotte Gainsbourg – IRM (Elektra/Asylum)

24. Of Montreal – False Priest (Polyvinyl)

25. Various Artists – Pomegranates: Persian Pop, Funk, Folk and Psych of the '60s and '70s (B-Music)

Steve Jansen

1. Various Artists — Afro-Beat Airways: West African Shock Waves (Ghana & Togo 1972-1979)

2. French Quarter — It's Not Just Kissing

3. Little Women — Throat

4. Sleetmute Nightmute — Night of Long Knives

5. Erykah Badu — New Amerykah Part Two (Return of the Ankh)

6. MAP — Fever Dreams

7. The Roots — How I Got Over

8. Ali Farka Touré and Toumani Diabaté — Ali & Toumani

9. Colin Stinson/Gog — Heavy Fierce Brightness

10. Burton Greene — Live at the Woodstock Playhouse 1965

11. Kanye West — My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

12. Vijay Iyer Trio — Historicity

13. AIDS Wolf — March to the Sea

14. Rafael Toral — Space Elements Vol. II

15. The Prevailing Nothing — Self-Titled

16. Fat Worm of Error— Broods

17. Metal Rogue — Live

18. H.O.A. — Fighting the Lost War of the Anonymous

19. Michelle Blades — Oh, Nostalgia!

20. Bilal — Airtight's Revenge

21. The Eastern Seaboard — The Sound Power

22. Hedzoleh Soundz — Hedzoleh

23. James Fella/Timeload Fowl — Self-Titled

24. Etran Finatawa — Tarkat Tajje/Let's Go

25. Shearing Pinx — Void White

Benjamin Leatherman

1. Gorillaz, Plastic Beach

2. Arcade Fire, The Suburbs

3. Deerhunter, Halcyon Digest

4. Elvis Costello, National Ransom

5. Grinderman, Grinderman 2

6. The National, High Violet

7. No Age, Everything In Between

8. Devo, Something For Everybody

9. Girl Talk, All Day

10. Bad Religion, The Dissent of Man

11. Gospel Claws, C-L-A-W-S

12. Wavves, King of the Beach

13. Johnny Cash, American VI

14. LCD Soundsystem, This Is Happening

15. Surfer Blood, Astro Coast

16. Slim Cessna's Auto Club, Buried Behind The Barn

17. OFF!, First Four EP's

18. Dillinger Escape Plan, Option Paralysis

19. Massive Attack, Heligoland

20. Gogol Bordello, Trans-Continental Hustle

21. Best Coast, Crazy For You

22. Various Artists, The Chronicles of Sheriff Joe Arpaio

23. Ceremony, Rohnert Park

24. GBH, Perfume and Piss

25. The Vaselines, Sex With An X

Michael Lopez

1. Caribou – Swim

2. Deerhunter – Halcyon Digest

3. LCD Soundsystem – This Is Happening

4. Kanye West – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

5. Beach House – Teen Dream

6. Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti – Before Today

7. Sufjan Stevens – The Age of Adz

8. Flying Lotus – Cosmogramma

9. Sleigh Bells – Treats

10. Menomena – Mines

11. Spoon – Transference

12. The Roots – How I Got Over

13. Arcade Fire – The Suburbs

14. Miami Horror – Illumination

15. Hot Chip – One Life Stand

16. Lemonade – Pure Moods EP

17. Baths – Cerulean

18. Broken Social Scene – Forgiveness Rock Record

19. Two Door Cinema Club – Tourist History

20. Local Natives – Gorilla Manor

21. Twin Sister – Color Your Life EP

22. !!! – Strange Weather, Isn't It?

23. Holy Fuck – Latin

24. Glasser – Ring

25. Yeasayer – Odd Blood

Mike R. Meyer

1. The Ocean – Heliocentric/Anthropocentric (Metal Blade Records)

2. Band of Horses – Infinite Arms (Brown Records/Fat Possum/Columbia)

3. Fen – Trails Out of Gloom (Ripple Music)

4. Zoroaster – Matador (E1 Music)

5. Kylesa – Spiral Shadow (Prosthetic Records)

6. Atmosphere – To All My Friends, Blood Makes the Blade Holy (Rhymesayers Entertainment)

7. The Sword – Warp Riders (Kemado Records)

8. Torche – Songs for Singles (Hydra Head Records)

9. Kanye West – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (Roc-A-Fella Records)

10. The Flaming Lips – The Flaming Lips and Stardeath and White Dwarfs with Henry Rollins and Peaches Doing The Dark Side of the Moon (Warner Bros. Records)

11. Kongh – Shadows of the Shapeless (Seventh Rule Recordings)

12. The National – High Violet (4AD)

13. Arcade Fire – The Suburbs (Merge Records)

14. Gifts From Enola – Gifts From Enola (The Mylene Sheath)

15. Portugal. The Man – American Ghetto (Approaching AIRballoons/Equal Vision Records)

16. Sweet Cobra – Mercy (Black Market Activities)

17. The Dillinger Escape Plan – Option Paralysis (Party Smasher Inc.)

18. Envy – Recitation (Temporary Residence Limited)

19. Justin Townes Earle – Harlem River Blues (Bloodshot Records)

20. Mini Mansions – Mini Mansions (Rekords Rekords)

21. Landmine Marathon – Sovereign Descent (Prosthetic Records)

22. Rocky Votolato – True Devotion (Barsuk Records)

23. High on Fire – Snakes for the Divine (E1 Music)

24. Anal Cunt – Fuckin' A (Patac Records)

25. Coheed & Cambria – Year of the Black Rainbow (Columbia Records)

Chris Piel

1. Yelawolf - Trunk Muzik (Interscope)

2. Freddie Gibbs - Str8 Killa (Decon Records/Gibbs Family)

3. Earl Sweatshirt - Earl (Independent, Odd Future)

4. Major Lazer & La Roux - Lazer Proof (Mad Decent)

5. DaVinci - The Day The Turf Stood Still (Sweetbreads Creative Collective)

6. Mike G - Ali (Independent, Odd Future)

7. Chancha Via Circuito - Río Arriba (ZZK)

8. Bassnectar - Timestretch (Amorphous Music)

9. Z-Ro - Heroin (Rap-A-Lot)

10. The Roots - How I Got Over (Def Jam)

11. Nas And Damian Marley - Distant Relatives (Def Jam)

12. Sade - Soldier of Love (RCA, Epic)

13. Curren$y - Pilot Talk II (DD172)

14. Tyler The Creator - Bastard (Independent, Odd Future)

15. Cee Lo Green - The Lady Killer (Elektra)

16. Deadmau5 - 4x4=12 (Mau5trap)

17. Big Boi - Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty (Def Jam)

18. Yeasayer - Odd Blood (Secretly Canadian)

19. Pretty Lights - Glowing In The Darkest Night (Pretty Lights Music)

20. Flying Lotus - Cosmogramma (Warp)

21. Devin The Dude - Suite #420 (E1 Music)

22. Domo Genesis - Rolling Papers (Independent, Odd Future)

23. Bassnectar - Wildstyle (Amorphous Music)

24. Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (Def Jam)

25. Girl Talk - All Day (Illegal Art)

Lenni Rosenblum

1. Local Natives, Gorilla Manor, French Kiss

2. Broken Bells, Broken Bells, Sony

3. Girl Talk, All Day, Illegal Art

4. Brandon Boyd, The Wild Trapeze, Epic

5. Sleigh Bells, Treats, Mom & Pop Music

6. Vampire Weekend, Contra, XL Recordings

7. The Black Keys, Brothers, Nonesuch

8. Drake, Thank Me Later, Cash Money/Universal Motown

9. The Flaming Lips/Stardeath & White Dwarfs With Henry Rollins and Peaches, Dark Side of the Moon, WEA/Reprise

10. Keeping Riley, Welcome Fire, Rock X Records

11. Jack Johnson, To the Sea, Brushfire

12. Weezer, Hurley, Epitaph

13. Kid Cudi, Man on the Moon 2: The Legend of Mr. Rager, Universal Motown

14. Sufjan Stevens, The Age of Adz, Asthmatic Kitty

15. The Morning Benders, Big Echo, Rough Trade Us

16. Garotas Suecas, Escaldante Banda, American Dust

17. The Roots, How I Got Over, Def Jam

18. Jay-Z, The Hits Collection, Vol. 1, Def Jam

19. B.o.B., May 25th, Grand Hustle

20. Ratatat, LP4, XL Recordings

21. Jonathan Tyler & the Northern Lights, Pardon Me, Atlantic

22. Belle & Sebastian, Write About Love, Matador Records

23. Deadmau5, 4x4=12, Ultra Records

24. Mumford & Sons, Sigh No More, Glass Note

25. The Budos Band, The Budos Band III, Daptone Records

Sarah Ventre

1. Dead Weather, Sea of Cowards

2. Blitzen Trapper, Destroyer of the Void

3. Tallest Man on Earth, The Wild Hunt

4. Neil Young, Le Noise

5. Buke and Gass, Riposte

6. Spoon, Transference

7. Sharon Van Etten, Epic

8. Ryan Bingham, Junky Star

9. Kanye West, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

10. Deerhunter, Halcyon Digest

11. Burnt Ones, Black Teeth & Golden Tongues

12. Jack Rose, Luck in the Valley

13.The Heligoats, Goodness Gracious

14. Moondoggies, Tidelands

15. Sun City Girls, Funeral Mariachi

16. Dominant Legs, Young at Love and Life (EP)

17. Dan Sartain, Lives

18. of Montreal, False Priest

19. White Stripes, Under Great White Northern Lights

20. Sleigh Bells, Treats

21. Various Artists, Ecstatic Music of the Jemaa El Fna

22. Jónsi, Go

23. Arcade Fire, The Suburbs

24. Vampire Weekend, Contra

25. Various Artists, This Is Flying Blanket, Vol. II

Jason P. Woodbury

1. Deerhunter — Halcyon Digest

2. Kelley Stotlz — For Dreamers

3. Strange Boys — Be Brave

4. Destruction Unit — Eclipse

5. Gil Scott-Heron— I'm New Here

6. Fresh & Onlys — Play It Strange

7. Moon Duo — Escape

8. Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti — Before Today

9. Black Keys — Brothers

10. Vigils — Full of Wild Energy & Endless Potential

11. Best Coast — Crazy for You

12. Neil Young — Le Noise

13. Gospel Claws — C-L-A-W-S

14. Jack Rose — Luck in the Valley

15. Kanye West — My Dark Beautiful Twisted Fantasy

16. French Quarter — It's Not Just Kissing

17. Grass Widow — Pass Time

18. Superchunk — Majesty Shredding

19. Man About a Dog — VIVA!

20. Emeralds — Does it Look Like I'm Here?

21. Grinderman — Grinderman 2

22. Justin Townes Earle — Harlem River Blues

23. Damien Jurado & Richard Swift — Other Peoples Songs, Vol. 1

24. Thee Oh Sees — Warm Slime

25. Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings — I Learned the Hard Way

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