All We Grow, the gorgeous debut album from S. Carey, doesn’t make much of an initial impression. Meticulously arranged, the album meanders quietly from note to note, thought to thought, song to song. It never feels forced or hurried, instead choosing to reveal its beauty slowly with time, which, coincidentally, is my favorite kind of music.

Highlights: Broken, In the Dirt, In the Stream

I normally avoid putting “best of” compilations on year-end lists, but the Carissa’s Wierd retrospective deserves an exception. It made me fall in love with the band all over again. For those of you unfamiliar with their distinctive brand of melancholy, They’ll Only Miss You When You Leave is a fantastic introduction.

Highlights: Die, Phantom Fireworks, Sympathy Bush, Drunk With the Only Saints I Know

Oh Frightened Rabbit, you dug yourself quite a hole. Following up a record like The Midnight Organ Fight was never going to be easy. So instead of trying to climb out, the band decides to dig even deeper on The Winter of Mixed Drinks. The result: another stunning album brimming with heartache and despair.

Highlights: FootShooter, Yes I Would, The Loneliness and the Scream, Swim Until You Can’t See Land

On his sophomore album Pope Killdragon, Strand of Oaks creates an oddly enchanting little world, full of bowling accidents, lost teeth, the plague, and Dan Aykroyd. Despite the absurdity of it all, the album remains relatable and sincere, blending in just enough sentiment to keep everything in balance. It’s quite the accomplishment.

Highlights: Kill Dragon, Sterling, Daniel’s Blues

Dark, melodic, and haunting, Warpaint’s The Fool is a perfect companion for rainy days and sleepless nights. The album has it all: entrancing guitar rhythms, heavy bass lines, frenzied drum beats, and reverb-drenched vocals. After dozens of listens, I’m still unraveling its many layers, captivated by each one as it slowly peels away.

Highlights: Baby, Bees, Shadows, Set Your Arms Down

After what felt like an eternity, Menomena finally released their follow-up to Friend and Foe, one of my all-time favorite albums. It was definitely worth the wait. On Mines, the band sounds a little less defiant and a little more defeated. The album still contains plenty of fiery moments, but I find the quieter ones more compelling. It’s a gorgeous new direction for a band that continues to amaze.

Highlights: Queen Black Acid, INTIL, Tithe, Killemall

Say what you want about Kanye West and his many idiosyncrasies, there’s no denying he’s an incredible musician. My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy is proof. No other rapper could tackle the range of emotions he does and make it sound so effortless. Buckle up, it’s a wild ride.

Highlights: Runaway, Blame Game, All of the Lights, Power

It may take a few listens, but when the hooks finally dig in (and they will), they dig in deep. On Libraries, The Love Language perfect their infectious, bombastic blend of indie rock and pop. Let this serve as a formal warning: if you want your subconscious free of easily hummable melodies, avoid this album at all costs.

Highlights: Summer Dust, Wilmont, Brittany’s Back

Comprising only seven tracks, Sharon Van Etten’s sophomore album Epic eschews quantity for quality. From the frenetic guitar chords of the opening track “A Crime” to the lulling harmonium notes of the closer “Love More,” the album packs an impressive range of sounds and styles into a mere half hour. However, it is Van Etten’s extraordinary voice that ultimately makes Epic so memorable.

Highlights: Love More, One Day, A Crime

Prior to Teen Dream, I was a casual admirer of Beach House. Their previous albums were intriguing, but I found them to be a little monotonous at times. Teen Dream isn’t a radical change of direction for the band; instead it’s a natural progression to a fuller, more engaging sound. And I’m 100% on board, no longer just a casual admirer but a true fan.

Highlights: Walk In the Park, 10 Mile Stereo, Zebra, Silver Soul

A Silver Mt. Zion makes music that defies categorization. It is simultaneously inspiring and devastating, beautiful and frightening, engrossing and disconcerting. On Kollaps Tradixionales, the band pushes these contradictions to the breaking point. It’s an epic journey, definitely not for the faint of heart.

Highlights: There Is a Light, ‘Piphany Rambler, Kollapz Tradixional (Thee Olde Dirty Flag)

Apparently The National can do no wrong. Each successive album brings the band fresh accolades and hordes of adoring fans. Yet through it all they haven’t lost focus on what matters most: the music. Each new album has improved upon what made previous ones so great. High Violet is no exception, expanding the band’s signature gloomy sound to fill both bedrooms and arenas.

Highlights: Sorrow, Conversation 16, Terrible Love, Anyone’s Ghost

Listening to Meursault’s All Creatures Will Make Merry is like trying to look out through a frosted window. Initially the outside world appears cold, uninviting, and slightly out of focus. But if you get a little closer and stare long enough, the frost begins to melt, slowly revealing a pristine, snowy winter scape. To borrow a line from the album: “Some things will take time, some things time will take.”

Highlights: A Fair Exchange, Another, Song For Martin Kippenberger, Weather

Surfer Blood’s debut album Astro Coast, with its amazing lyrics, awesome hooks, and endless supply of energy, is the complete package. After listening to it continuously for the past year, I’ve found it makes a great soundtrack to pretty much anything: beach bonfires, hipster parties, regular parties, long drives, sunny days, and quiet nights. Like I said, pretty much anything.

Highlights: Anchorage, Slow Jabroni, Harmonix, Floating Vibes, Catholic Pagans

An unrelenting and chaotic celebration of self-loathing, regret, and perseverance, Titus Andronicus’ The Monitor is without a doubt my favorite record of 2010. The first few listens can be a little intimidating, but if given proper time and attention, the album’s brilliance will eventually knock you on your ass.

Highlights: Theme From Cheers, To Old Friends and New, The Battle of Hampton Roads, A More Perfect Union, A Pot In Which to Piss