Top 5 Albums of 2010

5. Contra - Vampire Weekend



This is great second album by New York City's Vampire Weekend. What I love about it is that they didn't really change what they had going on in their self-titled debut. The band still experiments with weird melodies and rhythm and it all works out fantastic. Ezra's voice continues to be my favorite piece of this band. It just seems to fit really well with the music they're doing. NME said it best when they described Vampire Weekend as "one of the most unique bands on the planet."

Score: 4/5
Key Songs: "Holiday" "Run" "Cousins" and "Horchata"

4. Plastic Beach - Gorillaz

Damon Albarn keeps putting out great music with each album he releases. Yet have I heard a Gorillaz song that is horrible. As a huge Gorillaz fan, I was really excited for the release of Plastic Beach, and when it finally came out, I was not disappointed. All of the songs are great and there are some surprise cameos that left me shocked (Snoop Dogg in "Welcome to the World of the Plastic Beach" and Mos Def "Stylo" and"Sweepstakes") when I first heard them, since they are really good and well done. I have yet to hear The Fallby Gorillaz, but I doubt it'll surpass the awesome-ness that is Plastic Beach.

Score: 4/5
Key Songs: "Welcome to the World of the Plastic Beach" "Rhinestone Eyes" "Sweepstakes" and "Some Kind of Nature"

3. Teenage Dream - Katy Perry

Yes, I wrote Katy Perry. I love Katy Perry and I'm a huge fan. I was anxiously awaiting this album for a while and after I heard "California Gurls" and "Teenage Dream" I was just left wanting to hear more and more. Once the album came out, I was not disappointed. It's a lovable album. A lot of dance songs too, which make it fun. I keep listening to this album over and over, it just never gets old. Not to mention that it really relates to me at present time with certain situations that I'm going through.

Score: 4/5
Key Songs: "Teenage Dream" "Firework" "The One that Got Away" and "Hummingbird Heartbeat"

2. The Suburbs - Arcade Fire

This is truly a fantastic third album. Of course it does not surpass the greatness that is Funeral, but I believe it is on par with Neon Bible. Win Butler's voice continues to be my favorite piece of the band. His lyrics are amazing and the delivery is just so strong, that it is almost too scary. I highly recommend everyone go out and buy this album right now.

Score: 4.5/5
Key Songs: "Ready to Start" "We Used to Wait" and "Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)"

1. My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy - Kanye West

Whether you hate the guy or not, you have to admit: he's a freaking genius. This is the best album I've heard all year and probably his best work yet. The lyrics of fame-obsession ("Monster"), love ("Blame Game"), loneliness ("Lost in the World") and self-awareness ("Runaway") are what makes this album great. Not to mention that this album had one of the best cameos I've heard all year: Nicki Minaj in "Monster."

Score: 5/5
Key Songs: "Monster" "Blame Game" "Runaway" and "Lost in the World"