2010’s Best Music: ‘Spin’ Picks The 40 Best Albums Of The Year

Robbie Daw | December 7, 2010 11:40 am

For Spin’s 40 Best Albums Of 2010 list, Robyn is finally shown some love for Body Talk (well, Pt. 1, at least—we’re still bitter at the three-part series’ virtual Grammy snub, save for “Dancing On My Own”), Janelle Monae and M.I.A.’s commercially-overlooked, critically-lauded LPs were also given props, and Kanye West’s dark, twisted fantasies reign supreme. Meanwhile, 10-time 2011 Grammy nominee Eminem comes in humbly at #38? Now that’s alternative to the mainstream. Check out the upper portion of the list below.

10. Robyn — Body Talk Pt. 1 9. Kid Cudi — Man On The Moon II: The Legend Of Mr. Rager 8. M.I.A. — Maya 7. Grinderman — Grinderman 2 6. Janelle Monae — The ArchAndroid 5. Jamey Johnson — The Guitar Song 4. LCD Soundsystem — This Is Happening 3. Arcade Fire — The Suburbs 2. Deerhunter — Halcyon Digest 1. Kanye West — My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

Naturally Spin’s list veers toward alt rock, though ultimately it’s West’s My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy that clinched the top spot. (On MySpace’s list of the year’s Top 50 albums ‘Ye is at #2.) The publication calls the album “a ballsy, self-aware admonition that luxuriates in its grandiose reveal as an Assholes Anonymous orgy that gets nowhere close to serenity.”

Robyn rounds out the Top 10 with Body Talk Pt. 1. We’d argue that perhaps the slot could have been filled by the Swedish dance-pop queen’s stunning full Body Talk LP—a combo of all three mini albums released over the course of 2010 (with “Call Your Girlfriend”, “Stars 4-ever” and “Time Machine” it really does seems as if the best was saved for last)—but overall we’re just happy to see she made it so high after being left off MySpace’s tally altogether.

Other notable albums included on the list: Eminem’s Recovery (#38), Gorillaz’ Plastic Beach (#23), Cee Lo Green’s The Lady Killer (#22), Drake’s Thank Me Later (#16) and Big Boi’s Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Legend Of Chico Dusty (#13).