You may not be aware, but there are a lot of albums that come out in a year’s time. To top it off, there is a lot of really good music that gets released every year. This is my third year making such a list. This list is sure to cause quite a stir. No Kanye. No Arcade Fire. No The National. No Eminem. I did not leave those off to be a contrarian. After spending the last few months listening to album after album, they just did not hold up like the albums on this list did. The movers and shakers were Janelle Monae, who moved up significantly the more I listened to that album. Sufjan Stevens moved down a few slots.

Another good place to look is this list of Top 10 albums compiled by KCRW DJ’s.

So here they are, The Top 25 Albums of 2010. Enjoy. And, as always, feel free to argue and call me a no talent hack.

25)  Yelawolf – Trunk Muzik 0-60 (Interscope) - While there are a couple forgettable songs(namely the single “I just wanna party”), Yeller’s debut mostly lives up to the hype his mixtape started. His delivery, lyricism and voice remain one of the most unique in hip hop. He was mentioned earlier as one of the 5 Rappers You Need to Know. He remains so. Stand out track: “Daddy’s Lambo”

24)  Laura Veirs – July Flame (Bella Union) - Veirs’ seventh album is full of whimsy and beautifully subtle acoustic guitar. With accompaniment from My Morning Jacket’s Jim James, Veirs weaves together a record that lingers on the ear drums.  Stand out track: “Life is Good Blues”

23)  Frightened Rabbit – The Winter of Mixed Drinks (Fat Cat) - Scotland’s very own, Frightened Rabbit was on the fringes of my list back in 2008. With Mixed Drinks, these Scotsmen burrow their way into our dreams and display a discipline lacking previous efforts. Stand out track: “The Wrestle”

22)  The Morning Benders – Big Echo (Rough Trade) - These kids from Berkeley show incredible growth from their debut Talking Through Tin Cans. Maybe it was the move from the Bay to Brooklyn, but Chris Chu has developed into a capable songwriter. Stand out track: “Promises”

21)  Murder by Death – Good Morning, Magpie (Vagrant) - Murder by Death have perfected the barroom brawl chamber sound. On Magpie, they give you the perfect reason to waste a day drinking whiskey in an abandoned warehouse. Stand out track: “You Don’t Miss Twice (When You’re Shavin’ With a Knife)”

20)  B. Dolan – Fallen House, Sunken City (Strange Famous) - Featured in the same list that touted Yelawolf, Dolan has put out one of the most devastating and true hip hop records of recent years. This is no frills, socially conscious rap. Stand out track: “Economy of Words (Bail it Out)”

19) Dr. Dog – Shame, Shame (Anti-) - I’ve had a tough time coming up with the right words to describe this album. Basically it’s just a solid indie rock record, ie. it’s a Dr. Dog record. If that doesn’t sell it, I don’t know what will. Stand out track: “Where’d All The Time Go?”

18) The Black Keys – Brothers (Nonesuch) - Keeping Ohio on the map since Lebron James left, this Akron duo have completed a tight record full of fuzzy vocals and guitar riffs. Sure their stuff might be on every car commercial you see, but it’s still good music. Stand out track: “Tighten Up”

17) Sufjan Stevens – The Age of Adz (Asthmatic Kitty) - Sufjan Stevens bucked tradition and went in an almost completely different way from previous records. Adz finds the traveling songsmith embracing his inner electronica to complement whispy vocals and multi-instrumental flair. Stand out track: “Vesuvius”

16) Ana Tijoux – 1977 (Nacional) - From all accounts, Tijoux is a talented lyricist, however her rhyming skills are lost on me, seeing as how I don’t speak Spanish or the occasional French she drops in. Yet, you don’t need to speak the language to appreciate the talent involved here. Stand out track: “Obstáculo”

15) Janelle Monáe – The ArchAndroid (Bad Boy) - Big Boi’s protege has blossomed into a dynamic artist. Big props go to Diddy for letting Monae be her own woman and not try to mold her into another lackluster R&B singer. One of the great surprises of 2010. Stand out track: “Come Alive (The War of the Roses)”

14) Big Boi – Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty (Purple Ribbon/Def Jam) - One half of Outkast has released the most infectious rap album of the year. While I may love Outkast, Big Boi is proving he can do it all on his own. Stand out track: “General Patton”

13) Mumford & Sons – Sigh No More (Island/Glassnote) - American folk music…wait…American folk music played by Brits. Well, if the British could play Folk music this well, we may not have declared independence. The key to Mumford & Sons sound is Marcus Mumford’s gravelly vocals. Stand out track: “Dustbowl Dance”

12) Joanna Newsom – Have One on Me (Drag City) - This Northern California native has crafted an epic, spanning three discs. Newsom’s Have One on Me is one of the most ambitious releases of the year. Not for everyone but those with patience are sure to be overwhelmed by it. Stand out track: “In California”

11) Minus the Bear – Omni (Dangerbird) - Minus the Bear have been steady for so long, it’s easy to take them for granted. Omni finds them at the height of their power. Stand out track: “Secret Country”

10) Efterklang – Magic Chairs (4AD) - The Danish indie rock outfit’s third release. Simply put, a spectacular record. Stand out track: “I Was Playing Drums”

9) M.I.A. – MAYA (XL/Interscope) - While I was never a fan of M.I.A.’s last album, Kala, her new album (Maya) took one listen to get hooked. Some of the most unique hip hop music. M.I.A. shows that women can not only thrive in the hip hop game but rule it. Stand out track: “Internet Connection”

8 ) Local Natives – Gorilla Manor (Frenchkiss) - An indie band from Silver Lake? Get in line, right? Well, these newcomers have released the best debut album of the year, not to mention an infectious blend of hyperactive drumming to match their three-part harmonies. Stand out track: “Camera Talk”

7) Deer Tick – The Black Dirt Sessions (Partisan) - The most devastating record of the year finds these kings of Americana a bit more raw and unpolished than prior efforts. Recorded at the same time as their album War Elephant, these songs are not mere throwaways, but treasures. Stand out track: “Christ Jesus”

6) The Tallest Man on Earth – The Wild Hunt (Dead Oceans) - Who’d have thought the second coming of Bob Dylan would be in a Swede? Sure, Kristian Matsson is far from the tallest man on earth, but with a voice like sandpaper that turns into a growl, he is all cock, balls and emotion. Stand out track: “The Drying of the Lawns”

5) Cee Lo Green – The Lady Killer (Elektra/Roadrunner) - What can I say about this record? Cee Lo restores R&B to its roots, while making it something new. The Lady Killer is that type of record you listen to and just start dancing, in the middle of a crowd. Stand out track: “Fuck You” (probably the song of the year)

4) Beach House – Teen Dream (Sub Pop) - This dream pop duo have continued to improve on each subsequent record. I don’t even want to think of how good their next record will be. Stand out track: “Silver Soul”

3) Anais Mitchell – Hadestown (Righteous Babe) - On Mitchell’s fourth record, Hadestown, she crafts an epic folk opera. Bringing in everyone from Justin Vernon (Bon Iver), Ani DiFranco, The Haden Triplets and Greg Brown, she weaves a variation on the Ancient Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice. Stand out track: “Why We Build the Wall”

2) Jónsi – Go (XL) - Solo project from the frontman of Sigur Ros, Go equally departs from Sigur Ros and builds on that same sound. It’s also nice to hear Jónsi sing in English. The album splits time from English to Icelandic. Stand out track “Animal Arithmetic”

1) Flying Lotus – Cosmogramma (Warp) - Sure, being the nephew of John Coltrane puts an added pressure on your shoulders when you decide to make music for a living. However, Flying Lotus has released an album of unbelievable depth, mixing electronica, hip hop and jazz to make the best album of the year. For an added bonus, put it on shuffle and discover a completely new record. Stand out track: “Zodiac Shit”