Our On The Download writers have worked hard all year sharing their reviews of the best music and concerts that 2010 has had to offer.
Indulge us a bit as we count down our Top 10 lists for the year, below:
From Jeremy Blacklow
Top 10 Songs:
10. “California Gurls,” Katy Perry
Every year there’s a song that perfectly captures the feeling of summer, and it’s been about a decade since there’s been a more perfect irreverent summer track than this one.
9. “Waka Waka (This Is Africa),” Shakira
Cheesy? Yeah, a little bit, but in the same aforementioned spirit of summer, this 2010 World Cup anthem was just plain fun. Latin America meets South Africa – heck, it’s the first “world music” song that I’ve liked in years. Break out the vuvuzelas!
8. “Tightrope,” Janelle Monáe
The breakout single from one of the most important new artists of this past year, it blends so many genres, it almost transcends labels.
7. “Acapella,” Kelis
Emerging from a painful divorce and embracing motherhood, Kelis took her sound in a completely new David Guetta-influenced direction and the results were a major win. Also, it’s perhaps my favorite music video of the year.
6. “Fire With Fire,” Scissor Sisters
The masterpiece on the Sisters’ comeback third album – it’s their love song to NYC – and it gets under my skin upon every listen.
5. “Beautiful,” Vivian Green
Very few of you will have ever heard of this track, but this highly underrated album by one of my favorite neo-soulstresses, is absolutely haunting. The story of an ex-girlfriend bestowing advice upon the new girlfriend of the man that she still very much loves lives up to its namesake.
4. “Dog Days Are Over,” Florence + The Machine
The song that I think will (at least, “should”) win Florence the Best New Artist trophy at the 2011 Grammys, her performance of this song stole the show at this year’s MTV VMAs. And what better honor than to later be covered by “Glee”? It had all of us running for our mother… and our sisters and our brothers.
3. “Soldier of Love,” Sade
Can you say, “comeback”?! It’s been nine long years since we last heard from Sade, and then, here she comes along with arguably her sexiest and sultriest song of all time. It felt like 1986 all over again.
2. “F—k You,” Cee Lo Green
My pick for Song and Record of the Year winner at this year’s Grammys, it’s the song that’s finally bringing Cee Lo the recognition he’s long deserved as a solo artist. There isn’t a person who can’t connect with the lonely protagonist’s lovelorn doo-wop message. And yes, it got the “Glee” treatment too (thanks Gwyneth!).
1. “Dancing On My Own,” Robyn
The Swedish siren has never made better music than her triple-album magnum opus “Body Talk” series this past year, and this was the Grammy-nominated song that kicked off all the hype. I’d argue that subsequent singles “Hang With Me” and “Indestructible” are just as strong, but this is the one that most folks know. Every time it comes on at a club, the crowd starts dancing, and it simply… never… gets… old. Like the aforementioned #2 and #4 tracks, it’s yet another haunting lonely protagonist self-empowerment song… except, this time, accompanied by a killer beat. For me, 2010 was the year of Robyn — hands down.
HONORABLE MENTIONS: “Whaddya Want From Me,” Adam Lambert… “Happiness,” Alexis Jordan… “DJ Got Us Fallin’ In Love Again,” Usher… “Phazin,” Dirty South ft. Rudy… “Just The Way You Are,” Bruno Mars… “I’m The Best,” Nicki Minaj
Top 10 Albums:
10. “Aphrodite,” Kylie Minogue
9. ” Kaleidoscope Heart,” Sara Bareilles
8. “Come Around Sundown,” Kings Of Leon
7. “Loud,” Rihanna
6. “Pink Friday,” Nicki Minaj
5. “Night Work,” Scissor Sisters
4. “The ArchAndroid,” Janelle Monáe
3. “The Suburbs,” Arcade Fire
2. “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy,” Kanye West
1. “Body Talk,” Robyn
From Alex Bandy
Top 10 Songs:
10. “Infinity Guitars,” Sleigh Bells
9. “Too Young To Burn,” Sonny and the Sunsets
8. “20 Miles,” Deer Tick
7. “Sprawl II,” Arcade Fire
6. “F–k You,” Cee Lo
5. “Monster,” Kanye West
4. “Shutterbug,” Big Boi
3. “Not Afraid,” Eminem
2. “Thieves,” She & Him
1. “Tighten Up,” The Black Keys
Top 10 Albums:
10. “Infinite Arms,” Band of Horses
9. “The Lady Killer,” Cee Lo Green
8. “History From Below,” Delta Spirit
7. “Recovery,” Eminem
6. “This Is Happening,” LCD Soundsystem
5. “The Suburbs,” Arcade Fire
4. “Black Dirt Sessions,” Deer Tick
3. “Come Around Sundown,” Kings Of Leon
2. “Brothers,” The Black Keys
1. “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy,” Kanye West
From Eugene Monzon
Top 10 Songs:
10. “Not Afraid,” Eminem
9. “Airplanes,” B.o.B.
8. “Hello Good Morning,” Diddy Dirty Money
7. “Shutterbug,” Big Boi
6. “Tightrope,” Janelle Monae
5. “Bang Bang Bang,” Mark Ronson And The Business Intl
4. “The High Road,” Broken Bells
3. “Runaway,” Kanye West
2. “Radioactive,” Kings Of Leon
1. “F–k You,” Cee Lo Green
Top 10 Albums:
10. “Treats,” Sleigh Bells
9. “Brothers,” The Black Keys
8. “Mojo,” Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
7. “The Black Dirt Sessions,” Deer Tick
6. “Recovery,” Eminem
5. “The Suburbs,” Arcade Fire
4. “This Is Happening,” LCD Soundsystem
3. “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy,” Kanye West
2. “The Lady Killer,” Cee Lo Green
1. “Come Around Sundown,” Kings Of Leon
From Breanna Hughes
Top 10 Songs:
10. “Just The Way You Are,” Bruno Mars
9. “Felt Good On My Lips,” Tim McGraw
8. “Tighten Up,” The Black Keys
7. “The High Road,” Broken Bells
6. “Animal,” Neon Trees
5. “Little Lion Man,” Mumford and Sons
4. “Yeah Yeah,” New Politics
3. “Love the Way You Lie,” Eminem feat. Rihanna
2. “Jar Of Hearts,” Christina Perri
1. “Big Wave,” Jenny and Johnny
HONORABLE MENTIONS:
“Your Love is My Drug,” Ke$ha… “Dog Days Are Over,” Florence + The Machine
Top 10 Albums:
10. “Kaleidoscope Heart,” Sara Bareilles
9. “Downtown Church,” Patty Griffin
8. “Broken Bells,” Broken Bells
7. “Black Dirt Sessions,” Deer Tick
6. “Recovery,” Eminem
5. “Brothers,” The Black Keys
4. “Speak Now,” Taylor Swift
3. “Come Around Sundown,” Kings of Leon
2. “Songs for a Sinking Ship,” April Smith and the Great Picture Show
1. “I’m Having Fun Now,” Jenny and Johnny
HONORABLE MENTION:
“Soldier of Love,” Sade
From Anthony Ramos
Top 10 Songs:
10. “Kick Ass,” Mika and RedOne
9. “Country Strong,” Gwyneth Paltrow
8. “DJ Got Us Fallin’ in Love,” Usher
7. “Bottoms Up,” Trey Songz featuring Nicki Minaj
6. “Like a G6,” Far East Movement featuring The Cataracs and Dev
5. “Invisible Light,” Scissor Sisters
4. “Teenage Dream,” Katy Perry
3. “All the Lovers,” Kylie Minogue
2. “Firework,” Katy Perry
1. “We No Speak Americano,” Yolanda Be Cool featuring DCUP
Top 10 Albums:
10. “Need You Now,” Lady Antebellum
9. “Euphoria,” Enrique Iglesias
8. “Loud,” Rihanna
7. “Soldier of Love,” Sade
6. “Love & War,” Daniel Merriweather
5. “Pink Friday,” Nicki Minaj
4. “Hands All Over,” Maroon 5
3. “Night Work,” Scissor Sisters
2. “Aphrodite,” Kylie Minogue
1. “Teenage Dream,” Katy Perry
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