some input from NPR: 1st article "5 artists you should have known in 2010". you can listen to the songs thru the link.. in a nutshell: Breathe Owl Breathe Tame Impala Macklemore x Ryan Lewis The Captain Shafts The Head and the Heart http://www.npr.org/2010/12/03/131708934/5-artists-you-should-have-known-in-2010?sc=nl&cc=mn-20101203 and 2nd "NPR Music's 50 Favourite Albums of 2010". if i get around to it maybe i'll type those out too! just for fun. aha! look at them with their handy printable list... 'NPR Music's 50 Favorite Albums Of 2010' Recommended by NPR Music Staff Thomas Ades, Tevot Agalloch, Marrow Of The Spirit Aloe Blacc, Good Things Khaira Arby, Timbuktu Tarab Arcade Fire, The Suburbs Erykah Badu, New Amerykah, Pt. 2: Return Of The Ankh Big Boi, Sir Lucious Leftfoot...The Son Of Chico Dusty The Black Keys, Brothers Brooklyn Rider, Dominant Curve Buke & Gass, Riposte Carolina Chocolate Drops, Genuine Negro Jig Regina Carter, Reverse Thread Chancha Via Circuito, Rio Arriba Deerhunter, Halcyon Digest Issac Delgado, Love Joyce DiDonato, Rossini: Colbran, The Muse Flying Lotus, Cosmogramma Four Tet, There Is Love In You Vittorio Grigolo, The Italian Tenor Gyptian, Hold You Hilary Hahn, Higdon & Tchaikovsky: Violin Concertos Mary Halvorson Quintet, Saturn Sings Rita Indiana, El Juidero Jamey Johnson, The Guitar Song Jonsi, Go Seu Jorge And Almaz, Seu Jorge And Almaz King Sunny Ade, Baba Mo Tunde Ray LaMontagne And The Pariah Dogs, God Willin' And The Creek Don't Rise LCD Soundsystem, This Is Happening Lower Dens, Twin Hand Movement Alexander Melnikov, Shostakovich Janelle Monae, The ArchAndroid Jason Moran, Ten Carla Morrison, Mientras Tu Dormias The National, High Violet Owen Pallett, Heartland Sondra Radvanovsky, Verdi Arias Josh Ritter, So Runs The World Away Robyn, Body Talk Kermit Ruffins, Happy Talk Christian Scott, Yesterday You Said Tomorrow Gil Scott-Heron, I'm New Here Sleigh Bells, Treats Esperanza Spalding, Chamber Music Society Mavis Staples, You Are Not Alone Sufjan Stevens, The Age Of Adz The Tallest Man On Earth, The Wild Hunt Titus Andronicus, The Monitor Sharon Van Etten, Epic Kanye West, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy http://www.npr.org/series/131413130/npr-music-s-50-favorite-albums-of-2010?sc=nl&cc=asc-20101201