We’ve taken our time, but finally it’s time for the culmination on this week’s ALL SCANDINAVIAN year-end retrospect, which began with the Most Popular SpaceScans on Tuesday. They were followed by the Most Popular From the Inbox and the 12 Danish MAP tracks from last year, and today we’re happy to give you the 20 Best Albums of 2010 as we heard it.

As usual it’s been hard, very hard indeed, to decide on who got to make the list. First because 2010 was another pretty dang amazing year in Scandinavian music with an impressive number of high quality releases. Second because we only write about music we like, so all albums should basically qualify. In spirit at least, because there are of course good albums, and then there are really, really good albums…

Anyway, here they are: The 20 Best Albums of 2010, sporting a Top 3 of album debutants. Thanks for following ALL SCANDINAVIAN – it’s truly appreciated and we hope you’ve discovered some new musical favorites and will continue to do so in 2011.

20: The Burning (DK) – Hail The Horde – READ REVIEW

19: Tommy Tokyo & Starving For My Gravy (NO) – Go Time, Showtime & Absolute War – READ REVIEW

18: For A Minor Reflection (ISL) – Höldum Í Átt Að Óreiðu – READ REVIEW

17: Social Suicide (NO) – Broken Pilgrims – READ REVIEW

16: The Kissaway Trail (DK) – Sleep Mountain – READ REVIEW

15: The Megaphonic Thrift (NO) – Decay Decoy – READ REVIEW

14: Treefight For Sunlight (DK) – A Collection Of Vibrations For Your Skull – READ REVIEW

13: Boeoes Kaelstigen (SE) – Tanum Teleport – READ REVIEW

12: Teitur (FO) – Let The Dog Drive Home – READ REVIEW

11: Magenta Skycode (SF) – Relief – READ REVIEW

Agent Fresco (ISL)
A Long Time Listening
A superiorly performed polyrhythmic, complex and immensely powerful mind-bender of a full length debut by the Icelandic quartet. (READ REVIEW)

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Familjen (SE)
Mänskligheten
A great second effort by the very intelligent pop-smith, rich on hooks and beats sure to set dance floors alight, while being slightly darker than his debut. (READ REVIEW)

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Them Bird Things (SF)
Wildlike Wonder
A leaner, acoustically based americana expression combined with excellent songs made Them Bird Things’ sophomore effort stand out in 2010. (READ REVIEW)

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Robyn (SE)
Body Talk Pt. 1 and Pt. 2.
With a strong lineup of collaborators, not least the amazing Klas Åhlund, Robyn went from pop princess to pop queen last year with Pt. 1 and 2 of her ‘Body Talk’ trilogy. (READ REVIEW OF PT. 1) and (READ REVIEW OF PT. 2)

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Hjaltalín (ISL)
Terminal
On ‘Terminal’ our Icelandic favorites Hjaltalín continue their enticingly playful blend of rock, pop and classical music, creating an excellent sophomore effort in the process. (READ REVIEW)

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Efterklang (DK)
Magic Chairs
Pure awesomeness is lurking around every corner on Efterklang’s third full length. Pop leads the way, but underneath icy Scandinavian melancholy rule with an impressive array of playful details and flaring orchestral sparks, that keep the songs constantly evolving. (READ REVIEW)

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Susanne Sundfør (NO)
The Brothel
A remarkable alternative pop experience, effortlessly blending classical virtues with cold electronics in songs both delicate and sweeping, angelic and devastating, carried by and given soul throughout by Sundfør’s stunning, expressive vocal. (READ REVIEW)

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This Is Head (SE)
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It’s machinelike and repetitive with an electronic feel, yet organic and emotional in a rather bleak and melancholic big city/great plains way. The debut by This Is Head is an album to dance, or at least groove, to, think to, get lost in, and we just love the sound and feel of the whole thing. (READ REVIEW)

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Malrun (DK)
Beauty In Chaos
Danish metal outfit Malrun’s debut album is an almost nonstop collection of epic rock songs with massive guitars, great vocals and instantly catchy choruses. The tracks are aggressive yet melancholic, brutal yet beautiful. In short: Pretty f***ing ace. (READ REVIEW)

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Delay Trees (SF)
Delay Trees
Every once in a while you come across a band or an artist that you instantly connect with, be it on a musical or emotional level – or both. The latter is the case with Finnish quartet Delay Trees, who hit us in every way with their sound and songs on their simply amazing, eponymous debut album. Majestic yet mellow, insanely pleasant yet chillingly melancholic with a dreamy disposition – and the Best Album of 2010. (READ REVIEW)

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HONORABLE MENTIONS:
As said above it was incredibly hard to decide on the 20 albums making the list, so we’ve decided to include a few honorable mentions in no particular order. Because we can, but also because they really deserve it.

MF/MB/ (SE) – Folded – READ REVIEW

Izakaya Heartbeat (NO) – Ancient Asobi/In Arcadia – READ REVIEW

Vomit Supreme (DK) – Taste – READ REVIEW

Reckless Love (SF) – Reckless Love – READ REVIEW

Vinnie Who (DK) – Then I Met You – READ REVIEW