Top Albums of 2010

Sadly, with the passing of LaLa.com, I can no longer offer you one free (legal) listen to each of my favorite new music of 2010 (but Rhapsody still gives you 20 free listens each month if you create an account; for my part, I'm a MOG subscriber). But here's my list:

1. Girl Talk, All Day: I knew this was my favorite album of the year the first time I listened to it. Awesome mash-up genius, melding 80s, 90s, and today's hits into an irresistible dance party. And available as a free download.
2. Beach House, Teen Dream
3. Laurie Anderson, Homeland: still going strong after all these years, and among the best live shows of my year.
4. Local Natives, Gorilla Manor: perfectly distilled indie pop, with a dash of Franz Ferdinand, a bit of Arcade Fire, a dollop of ... well, you get the idea.
5. Four Tet, There is Love in You: the rare electronic music that has soul, demonstrates intricacy, and comes from a place of joy.
6. wait what, The Notorious XX: that makes two mash-up albums that made my top 10 on pure musical qualities. 
7. Joanna Newsom, Have One on Me: the Kate Bush of her generation.
8. Warpaint, The Fool
9. Peter Wolf Crier, Inter-Be: if  you like M. Ward and Beirut, you should like this.
10. Caribou, Swim