Erin Van Ness writesErin Van Ness’ Best of 2010

Throughout December CHIRP Radio presents its members' top albums of 2010. The next list is from CHIRP Radio's Development Director, Erin Van Ness.

(Click here to get the complete list of CHIRP Radio members' picks.)

1. The Tallest Man on Earth – Wild Hunt (Dead Oceans)
   BUY: Amazon / Insound / iTunes
   What more do you need than a man and his guitar? Judging from this album, not one thing.
2. Hey Marsailles – To Travels and Trunks (Onto Entertainment)
   BUY: Amazon / Insound / iTunes
   Songs about love, breakups, and traveling to get over it, coupled with lots of instrumentation like piano, violins, trumpet, and accordion—it’s like this album was made for me.
3. Dinosaur Feathers – Fantasy Memorial (Dinosaur Feathers)
   BUY: Amazon / Insound / iTunes
   I don’t even know how to describe the sound of this album, but it’s fun, with funky beats, a good vibe, and a just a pinch of eccentricity that makes me want to listen to it over and over again.
4. Jenny and Johnny – I'm Having Fun Now (Warner Bros.)
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   And so am I! This is the Jenny Lewis album I have been waiting for since Rilo Kiley’s More Adventurous.
5. Owen Pallett – Heartland (Domino)
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   Heavy orchestration. Stunning textural layers and complexity. Sounds like drinking a fine wine.
6. LCD Soundsystem – This is Happening (DFA)
   BUY: Amazon / Insound / iTunes
   The fun and humor are still here, but there’s also a lot more emotion and honesty in this album that was lacking in previous efforts.
7. Janelle Monáe – The Archandroid (Atlantic)
   BUY: Amazon / Insound / iTunes
   Genre-bending songs combined with ridiculously catchy hooks make this album an all-around standout.
8. Junip – Fields (Mute)
   BUY: Amazon / Insound / iTunes
   Jose Gonzalez’s voice is hypnotic, and each song on this album has this mysterious feel to it that just kind of puts me under a trance-like spell that isn’t over until the music stops. Absolutely beautiful.
9. Breathe Owl Breathe – Magic Central (Hometapes)
   BUY: Amazon / Insound / iTunes
   Songs about a pen pal relationship between a princess and a dragon and a love of swimming are just kooky enough to be endearing instead of outright odd.
10. Joanna Newsom – Have One on Me (Drag City)
    BUY: Amazon / Insound / iTunes
    Weird and whimsical, but also smart and stunning and magical.

Runner Up:

• Girl Talk – All Day (Illegal Art)
  BUY: Amazon / Insound / iTunes
  I can put this album on at a party and absolutely everyone will find something they like about it. Bonus points for including a sample of “Hocus Pocus” by Focus, which was one of my favorite songs as a kid.