I’m happy to present my favorite albums of the year. This year, I did away with trying to rank these selections. These albums are individually too special for me to rank any above or below the rest. I wholeheartedly love each of these 20 records and couldn’t recommend each of them more. There were a lot of great releases and new discoveries this year. I felt overwhelmed and excited at the same time. I missed a lot of stuff, but I’ll get to those eventually. Please check out the selections from our contributors at the end of this post. Their ears are as trusted as any I know and their recommendations have always served me well. I hope our favorites provide you with some new musical discoveries. Please drop a comment with your favorites if you’re so inclined. Thanks for reading.

The Tallest Man On Earth | The Wild Hunt (buy)
A beautiful record that was in constant rotation all year long. Between this record, his captivating live shows, and the equally beautiful Sometimes The Blues Is Just A Passing Bird, 2010 was a landmark year for the Tallest Man On Earth.
MP3: The Tallest Man On Earth – “Burden of Tomorrow”
MP3: The Tallest Man On Earth – “King of Spain”

Strand of Oaks | Pope Killdragon (buy)
I thought it would be hard to top last year’s gorgeous debut, Leave Ruin, but Strand of Oaks knocked it out of the park on this release. It’s a dark narrative full of imagination and triumph.
MP3: Strand of Oaks – “Bonfire”

Breathe Owl Breathe | Magic Central (buy)
One of my favorite discoveries of the year. I saw them live three times this year and each show was an absolute treasure. If you like what you hear on this record make sure to catch up on their back catalog too.
MP3: Breathe Owl Breathe – “Across The Loch”
MP3: Breathe Owl Breathe – “Own Stunts”
MP3: Breathe Owl Breathe – “Swimming”

The National | High Violet (buy)
It’s not surprising to see the National delivering one of my favorite albums of the year. They’ve taken the top spot in previous years with Alligator and Boxer and continue to be one of my absolute favorite bands.
MP3: The National – “Bloodbuzz Ohio”

Yellow Ostrich | The Mistress (buy)
A free release that instantly blew me away. The benefit of a location change, this former Wisconsin artist finds the outlet he needed in New York. Recommended for fans of Sufjan Stevens and Grizzly Bear.
MP3: Yellow Ostrich – “WHALE”
MP3: Yellow Ostrich – “Libraries”

Deerhunter | Halcyon Digest (buy)
This album dominated the second half of the year for me. It’s been getting daily listens for a long time. I’ve started a lot of days with this record. If you’re looking for an introduction to this band make it this record.
Video: Deerhunter – “Desire Lines”
Video: Deerhunter – “Helicopter”

Eric & Magill | All Those I Know (download)
Amazing output from Milwaukee. One listen is all it takes. It travels many genres from folk to electronic under a warm blanket of guitar fuzz. Pick it up now as a free download.
MP3: Eric & Magill – “All Those I Know”
MP3: Eric & Magill – “You Make It So Good”

Megafaun | Heretofore (buy)
A six-song release that contains some of their best penned material to date. I had the good pleasure of seeing the band play this material several times over the year and it was the material on this release that got me the most excited.
MP3: Megafaun – “Volunteers”

Sharon Van Etten | Epic (buy)
Heartbreaking and beautiful. Sharon leaves no emotion untouched on this album. These songs are absolutely stunning live. I expect that 2011 will be a big year as these songs begin to spread their wings.
MP3: Sharon Van Etten – “Don’t Do It”

Sat. Nite Duets | All Nite Long (download)
If you’ve got Pavement and Silver Jews records in your collection, you’ll want to find a place for these guys alongside them. Take the time to listen to the tracks below for a great introduction, then grab the entire EP for free on their website.
MP3: Sat. Nite Duets – “All Nite Long”
MP3: Sat. Nite Duets – “Peel Away”

Conrad Plymouth | Conrad Plymouth EP (buy)
I enjoyed and believed so strongly in the songs on this release that I started a label just to put it out. I could go on for paragraphs, but I think that sums it up.
MP3: Conrad Plymouth – “Fergus Falls”

Damien Jurado | St. Bartlett (buy)
One of Jurado’s finest releases. I could argue it may very well be his best. It seemed that it got completely overlooked elsewhere this year. From start to finish it’s simply perfect. Hearing these songs live was a real treat too.
MP3: Damien Jurado – “Arkansas”

Roadside Graves | You Won’t Be Happy With Me (buy)
One of my favorite live band put out their best release with this EP. If you’re unfamiliar with the band, make this the first thing you dig into. I’m sure you’ll call yourself a fan after one time through.
MP3: Roadside Graves – “Liv Tyler”

Juniper Tar | The Howl Street EP (buy)
A favorite from the beginning of the year that still holds up in a big way here at year end. The bands finest work to date and provides a glimpse into the great things these guys have in store for everyone when their full-length record is released next year.
MP3: Juniper Tar – “Birds In Trees”

Ben Sollee & Daniel Martin Moore | Dear Companion (buy)
Another early year favorite that held up all year for me. Sollee and Moore play to their strengths and the presence of My Morning Jacket’s Jim James is all over too.
MP3: Ben Sollee & Daniel Martin Moore – “Something, Somewhere, Sometime”

Common Loon | The Long Dream Of Birds (buy)
A great record from this Champaign, IL two-piece that I’ve been listening too all year. The spoken word ending of “Mexico” is my absolute favorite part on the record.
MP3: Common Loon – “Dinosaur vs. Early Man”

Gayngs | Relayted (buy)
After seeing the band live this fall, I haven’t been able to get these songs out of my head. It’s a late night record around the house.
MP3: Gayngs – “The Gaudy Side of Town”
MP3: Gayngs – “Faded High”

Junip | Fields (buy)
This was the last minute addition to my list after it completely monopolized my ears since Thanksgiving. I’m not sure why it took so long, but right now there’s nothing I’d rather listen to than this on repeat.
Video: Junip – “Always”

Frontier Ruckus | Deadmalls and Nightfalls (buy)
Another new discovery for me this year. I played this record constantly. It’s never left my car. It immediately draws you in and holds you there all the way through.
MP3: Frontier Ruckus – “The Upper Room”

Phosphorescent | Here’s To Taking It Easy (buy)
Without a doubt the strongest release by Phosphorescent. My only complaint is that I never got to see the band perform any of these songs live this year. “Mermaid Parade” is one of my favorite songs of the year.
MP3: Phosphorescent – “The Mermaid Parade”
MP3: Phosphorescent – “It’s Hard To Be Humble (When You’re From Alabama)”

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MUZZLE OF BEES CONTRIBUTORS FAVORITES OF THE YEAR

Jon Stone

The National | High Violet
The Tallest Man On Earth | The Wild Hunt
Punch Brothers | Antifogmatic (buy)
Delta Spirit | History From Below (buy)
Justin Townes Earle | Harlem River Blues (buy)
Nathaniel Rateliff | In Memory of Loss (buy)
Ben Sollee & Daniel Martin Moore | Dear Companion
Laura Veirs | July Flame (buy)
Local Natives | Gorilla Manner (buy)
Arcade Fire | The Suburbs (buy)
Chatham County Line | Wildwood (buy)
Mumford & Sons | Sigh No More (buy)
Land of Talk | Cloak and Cipher (buy)
The Walkmen | Lisbon (Lisbon)
Mynabirds | What We Lose in the Fire, We Gain in the Flood (buy)

+++++++++++++

Alex Schaaf

1. Sufjan Stevens | Age of Adz (buy)
2. Kanye West | My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (buy)
3. Joanna Newsom | Have One On Me (buy)
4. The National | High Violet
5. Titus Andronicus | The Monitor (buy)
6. Sharon Van Etten | Epic
7. Dirty Projectors + Bjork | Mount Wittenberg Orca
8. Beach House | Teen Dream (buy)
9. The Morning Benders | Big Echo (buy)
10. LCD Soundsystem | This is Happening (buy)

+++++++++++++

Ed Oliver

The Black Keys | Brothers
The Tallest Man on Earth | The Wild Hunt
She and Him | Vol 2 (buy)
Cee Lo Green | The Lady Killer (buy)
Arcade Fire | The Suburbs
The Walkmen | Lisbon
Hot Chip | One Life Stand (buy)
Sharon Van Etten | Epic
LCD Soundsystem | This is Happening
Dum Dum Girls | I Will Be

+++++++++++++

Erik Ljung

1. Beach House | Teen Dream
2. Twin Sister | Color Your Life (buy)
3. Arcade Fire | The Suburbs
4. Breathe Owl Breathe | Magic Central
5. Dum Dum Girls | I Will Be (buy)
6. The Black Keys | Brothers (buy)
7. Here We Go Magic | Pigeons (buy)
8. Jaill | That’s How We Burn (buy)
9. Tobacco | Maniac Meat (buy)
10. Strand of Oaks | Pope Killdragon

+++++++++++++

Daniel Brielmaier

The National | High Violet
Superchunk | Majesty Shredding (buy)
Kanye West | My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
Arcade Fire | The Suburbs
Menomena | Mines
Deerhunter | Halcyon Digest
Jonsi | Go
Spoon | Transference (buy)
Grinderman | Grinderman 2 (buy)
The Tallest Man on Earth | The Wild Hunt
Sufjan Stevens | The Age of Adz
Sharon Van Etten | Epic
Strand of Oaks | Pope Kildragon
Breathe Owl Breathe | Magic Central
Avi Buffalo | Avi Buffalo (buy)
Damien Jurado | St. Bartlett
Dum Dum Girls | I Will Be
Justin Townes Earle | Harlem River Blues
Beach House | Teen Dream
The Fall | Your Future Our Clutter (buy)

ep’s
Megafaun | Heretofore
Juniper Tar | The Howl Street EP
Conrad Plymouth | Conrad Plymouth
Girls | Broken Dreams Club (buy)
Sufjan Stevens | All Delighted People (buy)

+++++++++++++

Jeff Kollath

1. Ben Sollee & Daniel Martin Moore | Dear Companion
2. Jonsi | Go
3. Kort (Kurt Wagner and Courtney Tidwell) | Invariable Heartache (buy)
4. Titus Andronicus | The Monitor
5. Marty Stuart | Ghost Train: The Studio B Sessions (buy)
6. Mavis Staples | You Are Not Alone (buy)
7. The Black Keys | Brothers
8. Delta Spirit | History From Below
9. Sam Quinn | The Fake That Sunk A Thousand Ships (buy)
10. Mumford & Sons | Sigh No More

Top Reissues:

1. …Next Stop is Vietnam: The War on Record, 1961-2008 (13 disc Bear Family box on the music of the Vietnam War – it’s grad school in audio format) (buy)
2. Syl Johnson | The Complete Mythology (6 record, 4 disc Numero box on the great unsung Chicago R&B hero – amazing stuff) (buy)
3. Gov’t Mule | Mulennium (Complete 12/31/99 concert – the original trio’s finest hour with great covers and guests – play it LOUD) (buy)

+++++++++++++

Josh Miller

1. Delta Spirit | History From Below
2. Blitzen Trapper | Destroyer of the Void (buy)
3. Dr. Dog | Shame, Shame (buy)
4. Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers | Mojo (buy
5. Mark Olson (of Jayhawks) | Many Colored Kite (buy)
6. The Morning Benders | Echo
7. Samantha Crain | You (Understood) (buy)
8. AM | Future Sons and Daughters (buy)
9. Junip | Fields
10. Damien Jurado | Saint Bartlett