Arcade Fire - The Suburbs
The album that's been touted as Arcade Fire's "OK Computer" by certain publications delivers from start to finish and provides distinctly diverse sounds from track to track. Rather than provide the odd anthemic song, Win Butler and co. provide so many different sounds on their third album; from the musically dexterous such as The Suburbs to more rocky numbers such as Month of May to the poignantly beautiful in Sprawl (Flatland). This album has made Arcade Fire one of the biggest bands and certainly one of the best critically acclaimed artists in 2010.
Foals - Total Life Forever
Moving on from the initial success of their first album, the Oxford band have produced an album which shows maturity in sound and a departure from the young indie vibe of the first album. Mixing fast-paced tracks such as Blue Blood and This Orient with the more sombre, slow-paced After Glow, What Remains and Two Trees, Total Life Forever shows an array of high and low-tempo hits, all to bathe in the beauty of, and as such deservedly being nominated for the Mercury Prize this year. Of course, the album would be nothing without the 7-minute brilliance that is Spanish Sahara, building and building beautifully before anti-climaxing and finally hitting emotionally amazing guitar riffs and lyrics of "Forget the horror here, forget the horror here, leave it all down here, it's future rust and it's future dust..."
Beach House - Teen Dream
A musical masterpiece from the Baltimore-based band, a 10-track flowing majestic piece of beauty; Victoria Legrand's voice is so smooth and melts the heart upon listening. The album is utterly faultless and from start to finish, the beauty in each song is clear to hear and a joy to listen to. Just on the basis of the sheer enchantment and artistry of Teen Dream, it is easily one of the best albums of 2010.
Delphic - Acolyte
After each and every listen of the debut album from Delphic, you can always find something new in it which blows your mind away; something which can be very difficult for a band with more electronic-based sounds to do. The Mancunian band have provided an album that while using such electronic sounds, has produced songs with belting choruses, surging guitar riffs and brilliant pieces of music. From Clarion Call to Remain, every song grabs you straight away and makes you want more.
Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
The American rapper continues to push the boundaries of music and with a controversial album cover and an A-List cast including the likes of Jay-Z, Bon Iver and John Legend, West produces a stellar album that matches his loud personality. Actions certainly speak louder than words, and with a wide variety of genres and artists featured in the album, he certainly backs up his outspoken life. Mixing hip-hop tracks such as Power and All of the Lights with superb harmonies and beautiful piano pieces while keeping with his persona with brilliantly bizarre and self-centered lyrical genius has made West's album one of the best releases of 2010.
