Contributing photographer Brian Vendiola shares his picks for the top 10 albums of 2010

10. Fang Island – Fang Island

9. Sleigh Bells – Treats

Catchy, distorted, and explosive. An amazing pop-rock album.

8. Local Natives – Gorilla Manor

7. Vampire Weekend – Contra

6. Broken Social Scene – Forgiveness Rock Record

It’s not their best work, and it feels like they’re maybe losing their punch, but Forgiveness Rock Record still has a place in my heart. This album is pretty much their “love letter” to their fans.

5. LCD Soundsystem – This Is Happening

Yo, you like to party? Put this album on and prepare for a good time. James Murphy, I don’t know how you do it, but you can sure make some simple electronic riffs and melodies into some of the greatest and catchiest pop songs.

4. Twin Shadow – Forget

If there’s an album this year that screams the 80s, it’s this one. Twin Shadow’s Forget has some of the most catchiest songs out there and he encompasses the 80s genre perfectly. George Lewis Jr. kind of sounds like Bowie too. Though if it’s not for its dark and eerie lyrics, all of this would all just be eye-candy.

3. Deerhunter - Halcyon Digest

2. Arcade Fire – The Suburbs

Arcade Fire’s The Suburbs definitely improves from 2007′s Neon Bible, being a more compelling and a more solid album than its predecessor. It’s hard-hitting, it’s emotional, it’s epic.

1. Beach House – Teen Dream

Beach House’s Teen Dream hit me the first time I listened to it. I instantly fell in love with the LP. So much so, I had to keep tweeting about how awesome this album is. This is ambient-pop at its finest, and this is an album I’ll be listening to for years to come. Beautiful, just beautiful.

Honourable Mentions:

Four Tet – There Is Love In You, The Morning Benders – Big Echo, Tallest Man On Earth – The Wild Hunt, Zeus – Say Us, Owen Pallett – Heartland