Assistant Copy Editor Ashton Dixon takes an in-depth stroll down memory lane as she shares her top 10 picks of 2010.

#10 Tiger Suit // KT Tunstall
Tiger Suit is a fantastic album from KT Tunstall that seamlessly mixes pop and folk sounds. Her lyrics are powerful and her voice is full of emotion.

 #9 Invented // Jimmy Eat WorldJimmy Eat World will more than likely always be one of my favoritebands, and their newest album Invented did nothing but make me love them more.

#8 Flamingo // Brandon Flowers
The Killers have been a favorite of mine since theirdebut album in 2004, so when I heard that lead singer Brandon Flowers was releasing his own album I was extremely excited. Flowers didn’t disappoint with his first full length album either. Flamingo has become widely popular with The Killers fans and with people who had never even heard of The Killers. Flowers has expanded his music horizon and has produced an all around good album.

#7 Science and Faith // The Script
Over the years The Script has gone from small indie band to radio marvels. With their newest album Science and Faith the band has gained a lot of media recognition as being the great band that they truly are.

#6 I Speak Because I Can // Laura Marling
I first began listening to English singer Laura Marling with her very first EP My Manic and I which was released in 2007. Being barely 17 at the time of its release she was still a little wary behind the microphone. Her newest album I Speak Because I Can was released by a 20 year old Marling who has grown strong with her music. This album is by far an improvement from her first EP. Marling has grown in her music and her lyrics and has produced a magnificent folk album that many people in America are unaware of.

#5 Habits // Neon Trees
The song “Animal” was by far the break out hit from Neon Trees’ newest album Habits. But this album was far better then the the song’s success could predict. Their songs all have wonderful lyrics that everyone can relate to.

#4 American Ghetto // Portugal. The Man
Amazing album, enough said.

#3 Romance is Boring // Los Campesinos!Romance is Boring was an album that took almost a whole year to create and release. With its creation came band members being replaced and members being kicked out, but somehow the band still found a way to release their album in early 2010. It’s a great album, that’s fun to listen to and has a few catchy songs on it.

 #2 Contra // Vampire Weekend
Vampire Weekend was never a band that I really cared for. I thought that they were a little overrated and pretty much did everything to stay away from them. When their album Contra came out I never dreamed that I would buy it, but one day I went to the tiny record store in my town and the owner handed me their album. He’s never steered me wrong before so I decided to just buy the album and give it a chance. It turns out I loved it, and ended up becoming one of those Vampire Weekend fangirls that are riddled all over the internet.

#1 Sigh No More // Mumford and Sons

Mumford and Sons was a band that shattered my expectations. I heard their first hit ”Little Lion Man” one day on the radio and I immediately fell in love with their indie folk sound. On a whim I bought their album and it turned out to be one of the best albums of 2010. Their indie folk sound is different from any other folk album that I’ve ever listened to. Their lyrics are heartfelt and their music is simply breathtaking. My only regret about this album is that I wasn’t introduced to it until the end of the year.