10. Regine Chassagne of the Arcade Fire
The Suburbs – August 3, 2010
The adorable wife of Arcade Fire frontman, Win Butler, with infectious vocals and accordion riffs. Regine had a much more prominent presence on Arcade Fire’s release of “The Suburbs” than their releases in past years: She fronted vocals on “Sprawl II” and even performed them live on Saturday Night Live, ribbon-dancing and all.
9. CocoRosie
Grey Oceans – May 11, 2010
The sisters Bianca (“Coco”) and Sierra (“Rosie”) are so incredible freak folk that they can pull it off as something adorable. They released their fourth studio album and their Sub-Pop Records debut album Grey Oceans on May 11th. And despite their affinity for blue-grey facial hair on both old and young versions of themselves in their music video for “Lemonade,” I was STILL able to get passed my creeped out vibes and crush on CocoRosie this year.
8. Robyn
Body Talk Pt. 1 – November 22, 2010
Remember that 1993 house hit “Show Me Love?” This is that same Robyn Carlsson! Though she’s been rocking a hardly changed platinum, asymmetrical haircut since her first hit, Robyn’s musical influences have changed immensely. Her first strands of music were much more 90’s R&B influenced, but in the last year, Robyn has pumped out some fantastically driven synthpop dance anthems. She’ll make you want to dance while cutting and bleaching and coiffing all your hair.
7. Nicki Minaj
Pink Friday – November 22, 2010
Multiple personas, Cockney accents, Kool-Aid wigs: COME ON, OF COURSE SHE WOULD BE ON THIS LIST. Nicki is fiercely imaginative and I feel like female rappers of this caliber were on a long hiatus until she ripped through 2010. [I also feel like Nicki’s blonde wigs make her look like Dolly Parton sometimes.] I would say Nicki is a guilty fly-ass pleasure, but I honestly don’t feel any guilt for loving her. Pink Friday won me over completely and is solid proof that this girl is going to be around for a long time, starting a whole new generation of Liz Lemonesque aspiring female rappers.
6. Lykke Li
“Get Some” – November 10, 2010
Lykke Li first came onto the scene in 2008 with the release of her album Youth Novels. Recently she released the music video for her new single “Get Some.” It’s much darker and sexed up than she’s been in the past. AND IT IS REALLY GOOD. Girlcrushing from one music video is saying a lot and probably ridiculous. BUT IT’S REALLY GOOD.
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