Top 25 Albums of 2010: 25-19

It has been an incredible year in music and the quality music found on the following 25 albums is a testament to that.

No.25
Sleigh Bells - Treats



Now this is what I call a take-no-prisoners approach to music. A collaboration between a former hardcore punk guitarist and teen girl pop band singer, the unlikely marriage has created this brilliant debut effort. If you have any regard whatsoever for your hearing, I recommend you don't turn this up too loud with your headphones.

No.24
Gaslight Anthem - American Slang



This album is simple and straight to the point. So I will do the same. This is an excellent raw and honest album from the American punk rockers and worth listening to if you like Rise Against or even Bruce Springsteen.

No.23
Two Door Cinema Club - Tourist History



Boy don't these lads know how to write a riff and not sound too rock n roll. Possibly some of catchiest music made this year, these English boys really did make their mark on a scene saturated with very very similar acts. But in the coming years the big question will be, what will they do when this era dies out?? Despite being a very very enjoyable listen the album does lack any sense of variety and that really hurts its longevity.

No.22
Caribou - Swim



If an album was ever a journey this would be it. Travelling through multiple dimensions and then out of this world all together. Calling this album eclectic would be a gross understatement but attempting to adequately describe it would be an herculean task. But basically this is a record that requires a bit of patient and in the end is a very rewarding listen.

No.21
The Chemical Brothers - Further



A great bulk of the music community described The Chem.Bros latest offering as a return to form. Personally I don't think they've ever really done much wrong. Their previous 3 albums were simply more single driven than work from the 90s but on Further they've returned very successfully to a more 'album' album style. After almost two decades in the game the super duo from Manchester are showing no signs of slowly down.

No.20
Dead Letter Circus - This Is The Warning



There are very few feelings a music fan can experience than a band living up to expectations. 2010 was a year when I had that feeling many times over and this was one such occasion. Following this band since the release of their debut EP in 2007 has been a great pleasure and in 2010 the band rewarded the fans they have accrued in the last few years with 53 minutes of epic hard rock. The ARIA album chart the week after its release was one of the funniest things I have ever seen, with the hard rocking DLC debuting at a very impressive No.2 held off the top spot by none other than teen pop sensation Justin Bieber.

No.19
Hot Chip - One Life Stand



Possibly the coolest nerds on the planet, Hot Chip finally arrived on the scene with their 4th album One Life Stand. Unashamedly cheesy at times but all in all oh so wholesome, the album truly does deliver on all front. Not only is it very easy on the ears but it is intelligent music, carefully crafted and thoughtfully presented. The fact that Hot Chip 'present' these wholesome tunes in the form of dancing floor filling techno anthems creates an intriguing contrast making the band and its record all the more appealing. Expecting plenty more from this lot in the coming years.