Top 10 Albums of 2010 - #1 Sigh No More by Mumford and Sons

Oops.

I'm a little bit late on this post, and I apologize. Turns out having a real-life job can be just as consuming as grad school (or more). However, without further ado, I'm happy to announce our number one pick on the list of very awesome albums of 2010: Mumford & Sons' Sigh No More.

Those who know their stuff may question the legitimacy of our choice—yes, the album did technically debut in 2009. However, it wasn't released in the U.S. until 2010, and, unless you have the time and funds to keep up with British music charts, you likely didn't hear about this fantastic band until this year.

I still remember the day last spring that my roommate Desiree called me into her room, excitedly voicing her belief that she had just found a band that I just had to listen to. She was right. I was instantly struck by both the sound and the poetic lyrics of the title track, and I continued to be impressed and, even, moved by each track on the album.

Since purchasing Sigh No More last spring, I've seen the band live twice and purchased anything else they've released, so this review is by no means unbiased. However, I can honestly say I would recommend this album to just about anyone. There is an earnestness in Marcus Mumford and co's music that seems to reach across genres. Despite their heavy dose of banjo and upright bass, the band enjoys a heavy rotation on alternative rock radio. And though they can certainly rock, the group has an old-tyme, spiritual feel on tracks like "Timshel."

Lyrically and musically, the four members of Mumford & Sons seem to be wise beyond their twenty-something years. In a very short period of time, they've developed a massive following in their home country and abroad, and it's for good reason. If all you've ever heard of Mumford & Sons is "Little Lion Man," check out the rest of the album. It's the most uplifting, rollicking, and—in my personal opinion—the best album of 2010.

This is the is the first Mumford & Sons video I ever saw, and "Winter Winds" is still one of my favorite songs on the album: