RUNDOWN: Best Albums of 2010 Roundup!

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RUNDOWN: Best Albums of 2010 Roundup!

POSTED: Monday, December 20, 2010, 6:00 PM

Filed Under: Music

(Instead of a SHOWDOWN this week, enjoy this little diversion!) Ah, the year-end list. It's a fabled favorite that brings out the best in the past year's music, and the worst in the commenting users on music media sites. Since there are so many websites out there running down their favorite discs of 2010, I did you a favor and gathered up all the important parts: What album is at the top, what albums make unexpected appearances, and what each list can teach us. You're welcome. Pitchfork What's #1: Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy Surprising inclusion: Oneohtrix Point Never - Returnal What we can learn from this list: If you didn't listen to these albums this year, you either (1) spent your days in total darkness or (2) exhibit free will. Either way, we have much to learn from you. Stereogum What's #1: Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy Surprising inclusion: Field Music - Field Music (Measure) What we can learn from this list: Stereogum thinks they're the hippest thing ever, and that's kind of cute. Like a kid who writes certain letters backwards. SPIN What's #1: Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy Surprising inclusion: M.I.A. â Maya What we can learn from this list: Somebody made it all the way through M.I.A.'s album. Magnet What's #1: Beach House - Teen Dream Surprising inclusion: Boston Spaceships - Our Cubehouse Still Rocks What we can learn from this list: When Bob Pollard makes a new record, at least one person is still listening. Rolling Stone What's #1: Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy Surprising inclusion: Anything from any artist under the age of 30. Err, make that 40. What we can learn from this list: John Mellencamp, Elton John and Robert Plant aren't dead. NME What's #1: These New Puritans â Hidden Surprising inclusion: These New Puritans â Hidden What we can learn from this list: The NME still thrives on being frustratingly contrary. No wonder every British band makes fun of them. NPR Music's All Songs Considered (Listener Picks) What's #1: Arcade Fire - The Suburbs Surprising inclusion: Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross - The Social Network Soundtrack What we can learn from this list: NPR listeners are adorable people who you probably shouldn't trust with making a mixtape. Rawkblog What's #1: The Radio Dept. - Clinging To A Scheme Surprising inclusion: Kisses - The Heart Of The Nightlife What we can learn from this list: Bloggers are way cooler than you are. AV Club What's #1: Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy Surprising inclusion: Dessa - A Badly Broken Code What we can learn from this list: Thank your lucky stars that our political system hasn't yet reached the level of fuckeduptitude that is the AV Club's year end list voting process. We here at Critical Mass will be posting a list of our own later this week, and let us know if you come across any other notable lists (and before you ask, we've already seen this one).

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