I listened to a lot of music this year, although not all of it was new. Truth is, 2010 was the first year I went full ’90s nostalgia, digging out as many lost college rock-gems and clunkers as I could. Some of it was for pure sentimentality, but I’d be lying if I didn’t say I really dig a lot of that stuff.

With that, here’s the best new stuff I listened to. Sometime soon, I’m gonna dig up previous lists and compare.

YES! (albums)
The National – High Violet
LCD Soundsystem – This Is Happening
Titus Andronicus – The Monitor
Sleigh Bells – Treats
Spoon – Transference
Gaslight Anthem – American Slang
Manic Street Preachers – Postcards from a Young Man
The Dead Weather – Sea of Cowards
Sweet Apple – Love & Desperation
The Social Network (original score)
Neil Young – LeNoise
Imperial State Electric – s/t

YES! (singles)
Arcade Fire – Month of May
Superchunk – Digging for Something
Paul Weller – Wake Up The Nation
Cee-Lo Green – F*ck You
Free Energy – Dream City
Ted Leo and the Pharmacists – The Mighty Sparrow
Stone Temple Pilots – Between The Lines
Interpol – Barricade
Against Me! – I Was A Teenage Anarchist
Yeasayer – Ambling Alp

MEH…
Tim Kasher – The Game of Monogamy
Helmet – Seeing Eye Dog
The Hold Steady – Heaven Is Whenever
Weezer – Hurley/Death to False Metal
Kings of Leon – Come Around Sundown
Kanye West – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club – Beat the Devil’s Tattoo
Stereophonics – Keep Calm and Carry On
Editors – In This Light & On This Evening
Slash – Slash
Minus The Bear – Omni
The Hot Rats – Turn Ons
Nada Surf – If I Had A Hi-Fi
Chromeo – Business Casual
Idlewild – Post Electric Blues
Massive Attack – Heligoland
Gorillaz – Plastic Beach
Early Man – Death Potion
The Whigs – In The Dark

YEEEE-UCK.
MGMT – Congratulations
Hole – Nobody’s Daughter
Jimmy Eat World – Invented
Liz Phair – Funstyle
M.I.A. – Maya
Futureheads – The Chaos
Ozzy Osbourne – Scream