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Released in January, Vampire Weekend's sophomore album held on to a spot in the top 10 in a year that saw a slew of fantastic releases. In an era where a lot of up-and-coming bands fall flat before their second LP even leaks, Vampire Weekend knocked it out of the park and rose above the slew of buzz bands.

9. She & Him | Volume II

I can't deny the enjoyability factor of this album. Sure, it's been done, but it's still great. I spent most of my summer whistling along to Zooey Deschanel singing in my earbuds and M. Ward twangin' away on his guitar. This album played even better live.

8. The New Pornographers - Together

For a bunch of Canadians led by a guy with a lisp and a faux red head, these guys really rock. Together is a real treat of singles highlighting the all star cast. Week after week I would find a new favorite song on this album, and they were impressive all three times I saw them live.

7. Broken Bells | Broken Bells

James Mercer and Brian Burton (DJ Danger Mouse) produce music that sounds exactly as its supposed to. They both posess a type of musical prowess very few artists can match. It's not a coincidence two of the top albums this year were produced by Burton. His upcoming Rome project is an early favorite for next years album of the year 2011.

6. The Dead Weather | Sea of Cowards

Despite catching two phenomenal Dead Weather shows at an abandoned trucking company in Chicago, and in the rain at Bonnaroo, Sea of Cowards slipped down my list, as it didn't hold up over the months. The shear talent of Jack White, Allison Mosshart, Dean Fertita, and Jack Lawrence warrants their placement on the list but the Dead Weather still feels like a lesser version of all their respective pieces, the White Stripes, the Kills, Queens of the Stoneage and the Greenhornes. Look for everyone to return to the bands that made them famous in 2011.

5. Arcade Fire | The Suburbs

An Arcade Fire album takes several listens to properly take in -- when this one finally clicked after seeing them at Lollapalooza it was absolutely incredible. This album is ahead of its time to the point it could have easily been #1 of 2014.

4. Portugal. The Man | American Ghetto

If there was a subcategory this would win Album of the Spring. About a week after playing an overflowing tent at Coachella, I watched Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader? with these guys and caught them play to about 20 art students at Columbia College in Chicago. Although highly conceptual, this album is easily accessible and gives me high hopes for future major releases.

3. Beach House | Teen Dream

The only band on the list I haven't seen live yet, It was incredibly difficult to not place this album at #1. I think this is the highest quality release of the year and cemented Victoria Legrand and Alex Scally's Beach House as one of the biggest indie acts in the game. This album is huge and bombastic and ethereal at the same time, overwhelmingly beautiful and simple all at once.

2. Black Keys | Brothers

"Tighten Up" was one of the few non-Gorillaz tracks to slip into my top 25 played. Produced by Danger Mouse, the Black Keys took a creative turn towards a more nostalgic funkier sound that led them to be one of the most played bands of the year. Even if you don't own this album, you undoubtedly heard it nearly everytime you turned on a television, featured in ads, and television shows.

1. Gorillaz | Plastic Beach

This album dominated my 2010 in a way no other could match. All 16 songs are in my iTunes top 25 most played. Even as the Plastic Beach crumbles away, Damon Albarn & Jamie Hewlett's third phase Gorillaz will remain a masterpiece that will weather the generations. Along with half the Clash in Paul Simonon and Mick Jones, the band stepped out from behind the cartoons and dominated both Coachella and Glastonbury, and finally conquered North America on their first world tour.

Vampire Weekend by prettywar-stl

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