Festive Fifty 2010

In honour of the late, great John Peel, I've compiled my very own Festive Fifty, a look back at the musical year that was MMX. Putting together an end-year playlist in November may be jumping the gun slightly, but all I foresee for the next 30 days is X Factor fluff. Two trends really stuck out for me in 2010: more 80s revival (see Wild Nothing, School of Seven Bells and even the Depeche Mode flavour of the new Arcade Fire album) and comebacks (all in search of the live music dollar, and some more successful than others - see Massive Attack, Gil Scott-Heron). For the full Top 50 Spotify playlist, click here. 

1. Arcade Fire – Half Light II (No Celebration)

Back to their best after Neon Bible, channeling some New Order energy. Looking forward to seeing them at the O2 this week

2. LCD Soundsystem – I Can Change

We all say that, don't we? Well James Murphy has changed and given up LCD Soundsystem. Tis a loss

3. Beach House – Zebra

Baltimore duo still giving shoegaze a good name. Legrand's vocals are immense

4. The National – Bloodbuzz Ohio

Stand-out track on an impressive album, great Glastonbury performance

5. Frightened Rabbit – Swim Until You Can't See Land

Selkirk's finest provide some simple, uplifting fare

6. Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti – Menopause Man

No, I'm not having a mid-life crisis, but this track gives me hot flushes

7. Mark Lanegan, Isobel Campbell – Lately

Sounding like Dylan in his Desire heyday, this collaboration gets better and better

8. Midlake – Core Of Nature

Midlake's Courage of Others was one of my favourite 2010 albums, just got a soft spot for mystical folk

9. Massive Attack – Pray For Rain (Tim Goldsworthy Remix)

Liked the original but the remix gives the track added drive and focus, great vocal performance from TVOTR's Tunde

10. Local Natives – Airplanes

Killer chorus, this song just grew and grew on me

11. Cee Lo Green – Satisfied

12. Gotan Project – Desilusión

13. Josh Ritter – Change Of Time

14. Radio Dept., The – David

15. Stornoway – Fuel Up
16. Tame Impala – Solitude Is Bliss - Canyons "Dow Jones" Mix
17. The Black Keys – Sinister Kid
18. The Crayon Fields – All The Pleasures Of The World

19. Zola Jesus – Night

20. El Guincho – FM Tan Sexy

21. Holly Miranda – Waves
22. Hot Chip – Alley Cats

23. Darwin Deez – Constellations

24. Ed Harcourt – Lustre

25. Villagers – Becoming A Jackal
26. Wild Nothing – Summer Holiday

27. Kylie Minogue – All The Lovers
28. Tindersticks – Factory Girls

29. Phosphorescent – The Mermaid Parade

30. Jamie Woon – Night Air

31. Alasdair Roberts & Friends – The Daemon Lover

32. Gil Scott-Heron – New York Is Killing Me

33. Das Racist – Rainbow In The Dark

34. Janelle Monae – Cold War

35. Robert Plant – Silver Rider
36. Robyn – Dancing On My Own - Radio Version

37. Mia – IT TAKES A MUSCLE

38. Tracey Thorn – Oh! The Divorces

39. Samamidon – Relief
40. School Of Seven Bells – Bye Bye Bye

41. Aloe Blacc – I Need A Dollar
42.  Blonde Redhead – Not Getting There
43.  Deerhunter – Helicopter
44.  Grinderman – Heathen Child
45.  James Blake – CMYK
46.  Kendal Johansson – Blue Moon
47.  The Divine Comedy – The Complete Banker
48.  The New Pornographers – Crash Years
49.  The Soft Pack – C'mon
50.  Turin Brakes – Sea Change