Scott B. Bomar's Annual Favorite Albums List

Almost every year I select a handful of albums that were my personal favorites from the previous year. I don't claim these are objectively the "best," they're just the ones I liked. My tastes run toward roots rock, Americana, neo-soul, alt country, singer-songwriters, folky stuff, etc. I'm kind of a sucker for retro sounds. I undertake this exercise primarily to help me remember music I heard and enjoyed, but a few of my friends have gotten hooked, so I keep sharing it. Thanks for having a look!

Friday, December 31, 2010

Scott B. Bomar's 40 Favorite Albums of 2010

In the past, my annual favorite albums list was distributed via email. Though I've created a list every year since 2002 (unfortunately, 2002 and 2003 are lost to history thanks to a hard drive crash over a decade ago), there were a handful of years when I didn't get around to coming up with any reviews. In those cases I didn't send it out, because it felt incomplete. Instead of trying to formulate retroactive reviews (which seems a little disingenuous), I'm simply presenting the 2010 list here - for the first time - without comments.

1. Mavis Staples – You Are Not Alone (Anti)

2. Elvis Costello – National Ransom (Hear Music)

3. The Secret Sisters – The Secret Sisters (Republic)

4. Vampire Weekend – Contra (XL Recordings)

5. Just Townes Earle – Harlem River Blues (Bloodshot)

6. Mumford & Sons – Sigh No More (Glassnote)

7. Arcade Fire – The Suburbs (Merge)

8. Aloe Blacc – Good Things (Stones Throw)

9. The Gaslight Anthem – American Slang (InGrooves)

10. Janelle Monae – The ArchAndroid (Atlantic)

11. The Marsalis Family – Music Redeems (Marsalis Music)

12. Deer Tick – The Black Dirt Sessions (Partisan)

13. The Black Keys – Brothers (Nonesuch)

14. Merle Haggard – I Am What I Am (Vanguard)

15. The Morning Benders – Big Echo (Rough Trade)

16. Hans Zimmer - Inception (WaterTower)

17. Bruno Mars – Doo-Wops & Hooligans (Elektra/Asylum)

18. Regina Carter – Reverse Thread (E1)

19. LCD Soundsystem – This Is Happening (Parlophone)

20. Elton John and Leon Russell – The Union (Verve)

21. Nellie McKay - Home Sweet Mobile Home (Verve Forecast)

22. Band of Horses – Infinite Arms (Columbia)

23. Grace Potter and the Nocturnals (Hollywood)

24. Brandon Flowers – Flamingo (Island)

25. Nada Surf – If I Had a Hi Fi (Mardev)

26. Ryan Bingham & The Dead Horses – Junky Star (Lost Highway)

27. Michael Franti – The Sound of Sunshine (Capitol)

28. Jenny and Johnny – I’m Having Fun Now (Warner Bros.)

29. Paul Weller - Wake Up The Nation (Yep Roc)

30. Esperanza Spalding – Chamber Music Society (Heads Up)

31. Robert Plant – Band of Joy (Rounder)

32. The Hold Steady – Heaven is Whenever (Vagrant)

33. Solomon Burke – Nothing’s Impossible (E1)

34. The Tallest Man on Earth – The Wild Hunt (Dead Oceans)

35. Sade – Soldier of Love (Sony)

36. John Legend and the Roots – Wake Up! (Sony)

37. Lynda Kay – Dream My Darling (Dreamphonic Records)

38. Kermit Ruffins – Happy Talk – New Orleans jazz (Basin Street)

39. Josh Ritter – So Runs the World Away (Pytheas)

40. Sharon Van Etten – Epic (Ba Da Bing)

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