Best Albums of 2010

1. Titus Andronicus “The Monitor”

2. Janelle Monae “The ArchAndroid”

3. LCD Soundsystem “This is Happening”

4. The Arcade Fire “The Suburbs”

5. Kanye West “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy”

6. The National “High Violet”

7. Deer Hunter “Halcyon Digest”

8. Big Boi “Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty”

9. Liars “Sisterworld”

10. The Roots “How I Got Over”

Best Local Albums of 2010

1. Jeremy Messersmith “The Reluctant Graveyard”

2. Dessa “A Badly Broken Code”

3. Paper Tiger “Made Like Us”

4. A Paper Cup Band “Sitting Shotgun to Statue”

5. Sleeping in the Aviary “Great Vacation”

Best Live Shows of 2010

1. Titus Andronicus/Free Energy @ The Triple Rock 

2. The Black Keys @ First Avenue

3. The National @ First Avenue

4. Sleeping in the Aviary @ Kitty Cat Klub 

5. Black Lips @ The Varsity Theater

Biggest Disappointments of 2010

1. The Hold Steady “Heaven is Whenever”

2. Pavement’s set @ Pitchfork Music Festival

3. A new Queens of the Stone Age album still isn’t out.