Our No. 1 songs: 2010

Summary

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All Songs Considered – "Our No. 1 songs: 2010"

Date: September 22, 2025
Host: Robin Hilton
Guest: Stephen Thompson

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Episode Overview

In celebration of All Songs Considered's 25th anniversary, hosts Robin Hilton and Stephen Thompson revisit 2010, reflecting on the year’s most meaningful songs for the team and the show. Emphasizing tunes that resonated deeply rather than mainstream chart-toppers, they explore tracks that evoke personal memories and cultural moments that defined their lives and NPR Music in 2010. This episode features a wide-ranging, heartfelt discussion of standout albums and artists, with plenty of nostalgic anecdotes and music-lover banter.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

The Meaning of "No. 1 Songs"

• Clarification:
  The hosts clarify that their "No. 1 songs" aren’t Billboard hits, but tracks that mattered to them and captured the 2010 spirit at NPR Music.
  [00:25] Robin Hilton:
  "These are songs that, you know, matter to us, matter to the show, that take us back to that time when we were working on All Songs Considered."

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Stephen Thompson’s Pick: Jónsi – "Go Do"

• A Year of Euphoria and Transformation:
  Stephen reflects on 2010 as a time of "massive title shifts" in his own life, and how Jónsi’s solo album Go brought him much-needed optimism and energy.
  [02:58] Stephen Thompson:
  "That whole record is so glorious ... this record that just bloomed like a sunflower and was full of optimism and possibility. I cannot tell you how much this was the record I exactly needed in the exact moment that I found it."
• Contrast with Sigur Rós:
  Noting that Jónsi’s previous work with Sigur Rós was "lugubrious," but Go was unexpectedly "blooming" and "full of optimism."
• Personal Disclosure:
  Stephen candidly reveals that he was coming out of hardship, specifically a divorce, making the album’s hopeful energy all the more resonant.

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Robin Hilton’s Pick: Lower Dens – "I Get Nervous"

• A Different Vibe:
  Robin contrasts his choice with Stephen's, highlighting the somber, emotional pull of Lower Dens' debut album Twin Hand Movement.
  [06:16] Robin Hilton:
  "This is one of those bands ... they come up, they just devastate you in all the best ways. They have this huge impact ... and their imprint on you is forever."
• On Impermanence:
  Expresses nostalgia for bands like Lower Dens, who left a lasting mark but did not continue making music.
  [06:54] Robin Hilton:
  "Just for the two of us." (laughingly suggesting they'd reunite just to please himself and Stephen)

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Memorable Moment: The "Now That's What I Call Divorce" Mixtape

• Levity Amid Emotion:
  Stephen jokes about his personal mixtape tradition and a friend’s reaction to his music selection.
  [04:19] Stephen Thompson:
  "Oh, thank you for sending me 'Now That's What I Call Divorce,' volumes one and two."

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Other Notable 2010 Songs & Albums

Sleigh Bells – "Rill Rill"

• [11:17] Robin Hilton:
  "Probably the catchiest cut on the album ... another debut record from a band that we ended up following and loving these past 15 years."
• Sleigh Bells' Treats came out in May 2010; they headlined NPR's SXSW day party that year before their album was even released.

Cloud Cult – "You'll Be Bright (Invitation Pt. 1)"

• Emotional Resonance:
  Stephen highlights the mix of euphoria and melancholy in the 2010 landscape. [14:21] Stephen Thompson:
  "This song builds and part of it is it's like just this emotional bloodletting. All my feelings are happening on top of one another when I listen to this song."

The National – "Bloodbuzz Ohio"

• Described by both as one of The National’s greatest songs from the 2010 album High Violet.
• [16:22] Stephen Thompson:
  "Really one of their greatest songs."

Sharon Van Etten – "Love More"

• Robin notes it's from her 2010 album Epic.

Sufjan Stevens – "Impossible Soul"

• From The Age of Adz, a record Robin calls his favorite by Sufjan, noting its wild experimentation and the epic, 25-minute closing track.
• [17:16] Robin Hilton:
  "You can't play a short snippet of it and really get a complete picture of just how epic it is and really just in all the directions it goes in. And the whole album is like this."

The Tallest Man on Earth – "The Wild Hunt"

• Title track from the 2010 album; Robin initially thought it was the debut but realized there was an earlier record (Shallow Grave, 2008).

Anaïs Mitchell – "Hadestown"

• 2010 release, featuring the "Wedding Song" with Justin Vernon (Bon Iver).
• Stephen notes this record was the first version of the now Tony award-winning musical and a morning fixture in his house.
• [20:43] Stephen Thompson:
  "So that to me has kind of over time, just through repetition, and become probably one of the albums I've heard most in the world."

Broken Bells – "The High Road"

• A collaboration between James Mercer (The Shins) and Danger Mouse, self-titled album, played live at NPR’s SXSW showcase.
• [22:57] Robin Hilton:
  "Came out of nowhere for me and just absolutely knocked me out ... I'm so addicted. Instantly addicted to."
• Stephen contextualizes both artists’ backgrounds and how the project perfectly melded their talents.

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Notable Quotes & Moments with Timestamps

• On remembering 2010 (00:49, Stephen Thompson):
  "2010 is such a fascinating year. Just for me, in my life, it was a year of massive, massive title shifts..."

• Jónsi’s "Go" as Emotional Lifeline (02:58, Stephen Thompson):
  "This was the record I exactly needed in the exact moment that I found it."

• Mixtape Humor (04:19, Stephen Thompson):
  "Now, that's what I call Divorce, volumes one and two."

• Lower Dens’ Lasting Impact (06:16, Robin Hilton):
  "They come up, they just devastate you in all the best ways. They have this huge impact in your life, and their imprint on you is forever."

• Cloud Cult's Cumulative Emotion (14:21, Stephen Thompson):
  "All my feelings are happening on top of one another when I listen to this song."

• On Sufjan Stevens’ Wild Experimentation (17:16, Robin Hilton):
  "You can't play a short snippet of it and really get a complete picture of just how epic it is..."

• Hadestown’s Burn-in Effect (20:43, Stephen Thompson):
  "Over time, just through repetition, and become probably one of the albums I've heard most in the world."

• Broken Bells’ Instant Addiction (22:57, Robin Hilton):
  "Hearing it again, just even now, I'm so addicted. Instantly addicted to."

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Flow of the Episode (with Timestamps)

• Intro and 2010 Music Landscape [00:17–01:12]
• Jónsi’s "Go Do" as No.1 Song [01:12–03:55]
• Lower Dens’ "I Get Nervous" [05:12–07:47]
• Discussion & Quick Break (ads skipped) [07:47–09:58]
• Honorable Mention: Sleigh Bells – "Rill Rill" [09:58–11:26]
• Euphoric & Melancholic Mixtape: Cloud Cult, The National, Sufjan, etc. [12:10–18:50]
• The Tallest Man on Earth – "The Wild Hunt" [17:36–19:07]
• Anaïs Mitchell – "Hadestown" [19:07–21:04]
• Final Pick: Broken Bells – "The High Road" [21:05–23:46]
• Wrap-up and Goodbye [23:46–24:01]

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Tone and Style

• Conversational: Robin and Stephen keep things light and wry, even when discussing heavier personal stories or musical heartbreak.
• Passionate & Knowledgeable: Deep dives on each artist and song illustrate both hosts’ longstanding immersion in and love for music.
• Playful Bickering: Running jokes about "Now That's What I Call Divorce," quick-fire band guessing, and fond nostalgia for NPR showcase events.

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Summary

This episode is a heartfelt, eclectic journey through the music landscape of 2010 as told by All Songs Considered's own. Robin and Stephen recall not just songs that soundtracked that year, but how music holds memories—of big life shifts, music discoveries, and beloved bands that faded away too soon. It’s an episode that will resonate if you love music nostalgia, deep connections to song, and the camaraderie of fellow music obsessives.

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Next up: 2011’s best, as the All Songs Considered time-travel continues!

Transcript

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[Robin Hilton]

It's All Songs Considered, and We're celebrating our 25th anniversary. Stephen Thompson back now. Hey, Stephen.

[Stephen Thompson]

It's good to be here, Robin.

[Robin Hilton]

So we're up to 2010, and we're looking at the number one songs from across the past 25 years of all Songs Considered. And maybe it's worth reminding people that these are not the number one Billboard songs or the Hot 100 or. Or whatever. These are songs that, you know, matter to us, matter to the show, that take us back to that time when we were working on All Songs Considered. What do you think of when you think of 2010?

[Stephen Thompson]

I mean, 2010 is such a. Is such a fascinating year. Just for me, in my life, it was a year of massive, massive title shifts in my life. And when I think of the music that stood out, it only makes sense that what. What has bubbled to the top is songs that reflect a state of pure euphoria.

[Robin Hilton]

Kishi Bashi.

[Stephen Thompson]

No.

[Robin Hilton]

Oh, no, no. Yonzi. Yonzi Yanzi. I was thinking 150. Is it 150?

[Stephen Thompson]

You were thinking of Like Bright Whites by Kishi Bashi. That's not what y.

[Guest Singer or Musician]

Go sing to make your eyes break Sing it out Go script Make an earthquake Evil is fire Put dian color over we see Always know that we can do anything Go drown through proud make your hand take Play it out Go march through crowd make your day break.

[Robin Hilton]

So I remember it's called Go do, but I can't remember the album. It's.

[Stephen Thompson]

The album is just called Go.

[Robin Hilton]

Okay, go, right?

[Stephen Thompson]

Not okay, Go. That's a whole different band.

[Robin Hilton]

Right, Right. Oh, if. If you want the sonic equivalent of Euphoria, it's hard to do better than this song.

[Stephen Thompson]

That whole record is so glorious, and I remember being so endlessly surprised by it because Yonsi had made, you know, by that point, a very long string of these languid, beautiful, kind of lugubrious records. With Segur Rose, you know, that were. That had a sweep to them, had beauty and grandeur to them, but they moved much more slowly. And so, like, oh, he's gone solo. He's gonna move inward like he's gonna find some. Some inner spot that he hasn't found found working with Segar Ross. And instead this record that just bloomed like A sunflower and was full of optimism and possibility. I cannot tell you how much this was the record I exactly needed in the exact moment that I found it. Where, you know, I was, you know, coming out of hardship, I got divorced.

[Sponsor/Advertisement Voice]

Okay?

[Robin Hilton]

And I don't want to talk about it.

[Stephen Thompson]

I don't want to talk about it.

[Robin Hilton]

But listen, the ears, every intimate detail of what I did wrong. And I will say that this is not the direction I thought you were going when you set this up, because I thought you were gonna say so. Of course, the songs I picked for 2010 were, you know, very melancholy and sad and.

[Stephen Thompson]

Yeah, I mean, I remember sending a mix because I used to make mix CDs of my favorite songs of a given year. And I sent it to my friend Margaret, and her response was, oh, thank you for sending me. Now that's what I call Divorce, volumes one and two.

[Robin Hilton]

Why hasn't anybody made that mixtape professionally? Now that's what I call divorce. Well, that's brilliant.

[Stephen Thompson]

It's full of songs by Don Henley.

[Robin Hilton]

Well, this is a great pick. And this is going to be the second week in a row, which means the second year in a row where I pick something completely, completely opposite of that. Because last time when we talked about 2009, I picked Kettering the Antler song, which was from the album Hospice. And this one isn't that sad, but.

[Stephen Thompson]

It is not as sad as the song from Hospice.

[Robin Hilton]

From Hospice, but it is a decidedly different vibe than what you picked.

[Stephen Thompson]

Great.

[Robin Hilton]

I know you like this band when they were putting out music, but maybe this is too.

[Stephen Thompson]

Well, are there vocals?

[Robin Hilton]

There are here. Let's scooch ahead here.

[Stephen Thompson]

This isn't. Is this. Is this Lower Dens?

[Robin Hilton]

Oh, Stephen Thompson, a.

[Guest Singer or Musician]

Yes.

[Robin Hilton]

This song is called I Get Nervous, from their debut album, Twin Hand Movement. This is one of those bands sort of like the Antlers, who, you know, they come up, they just devastate you in all the best ways. They have this huge impact in your life, and their imprint on you is forever. But then they kind of go on and they don't continue to make music anymore. And Lower Den's not together. It was a band fronted by Jayna Hunter.

[Stephen Thompson]

Yeah.

[Robin Hilton]

And they put out their last album in 2019, the competition, and then that was it.

[Stephen Thompson]

Well, I'd like to put a request out into the universe that they make more music just for the two of us.

[Robin Hilton]

Just for the two of us.

[Guest Singer or Musician]

Ram.

[Robin Hilton]

Okay, so let's just take a quick break here, and when we come back, we can run through some of the other stuff that takes us back to 2010.

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[Robin Hilton]

So Stephen, as we run through some of the other stuff that takes us back to 2010, I want to start with what was going to be my backup pick for this week. If I didn't pick the lower dense cut, this is what I was going to go with.

[Stephen Thompson]

Oh sure.

[Guest Singer or Musician]

Have a heart, have a heart, have a heart 1616 on another part you are the river flow and we can never know we just don't let them know you make the women blow Keep thinking about every strange place yes wonder what you play it's about your praises what about them? I'm all about them six.

[Robin Hilton]

So the song Real Real that's R I L L Real Real from Sleigh Bells and their album Treats, probably the catchiest Cut on the album.

[Stephen Thompson]

Oh, absolutely.

[Robin Hilton]

And another debut record from a band that we ended up following and loving these past 15 years. They just had another really, I think, pretty adventurous record out this year called Bunky Becky, Birthday Boy. And another band that played our south by Southwest showcase in 2010. In fact, they were our headliner that year at our day party. I went back and I and I looked at the write up for it and it said this band is so new they don't even have a record. But they wound up headlining NPR's day party. That was in March when we, when we had them do the day party at south by Southwest. The album that Real Real is from Treats. It didn't come out until May, but what else for you, Steven? What else for 2010?

[Stephen Thompson]

Looking over the track list for no, that's what I call Divorce Volume one. It's such a mixture of euphoria and miserableism. Not only did you have Yonsi, but Cloud Cult put out that song, you'll Be Bright Invitation, Part one that year, which I know I've talked about on this show.

[Guest Singer or Musician]

All the things you love, all the things that may hurt you all the things you shouldn't do all the things you want to they're calling you Travel safely Travel safely Every first kiss, Every crisis Every heart breaking Every act of kindness Travel safely, travel safely Every empire, every monument, every masterpiece Every invention Travel safely they're calling Travel safety safely all the things you love all the things that may hurt you all the things you shouldn't do all the things you want to they're calling you Travel safely They're calling you Travel safely I found stars on the tip of your tongue you speak.

[Stephen Thompson]

Yeah.

[Robin Hilton]

This is a song that you could camp out, it could stay just that sweet little lovely song in the beginning and it'd be totally effective.

[Guest Singer or Musician]

But.

[Stephen Thompson]

But this song builds and part of it is it's like just this emotional bloodletting. All my feelings are happening on top of one another when I listen to this song. And if you are a parent and you're having big feelings about your kids and what you want for your kids.

[Sponsor/Advertisement Voice]

This is the song for.

[Robin Hilton]

Yeah, this is a great song from Cloud Cult. You'll Be Bright from their album, what was that album, Light Chasers that came out in 2010. What else you got?

[Stephen Thompson]

Blood Buzz, Ohio by the National.

[Robin Hilton]

Oh, yeah.

[Guest Singer or Musician]

Yeah. Stand up straight at the foot of your love I lift my shirt up Stand up straight with your love I lift my shirt up. I was carried to Ohio in a swarm of be. I Never married but Ohio, Don't Remember Me.

[Stephen Thompson]

It really one of their greatest songs. Sharon Van Etten put out love more in 2010.

[Robin Hilton]

Yeah, was that from Epic?

[Stephen Thompson]

Yeah, that's from Epic.

[Robin Hilton]

Well, that was also the year that Sufjan Stevens put out the Age of Odds, which was a huge record, my.

[Stephen Thompson]

Favorite of his records.

[Robin Hilton]

Oh, but it was so wild, though. Like, it closed with that song Impossible Soul.

[Guest Singer or Musician]

In the way I speak in the presence.

[Robin Hilton]

I mean, this song is 25 minutes long. You can't play a short snippet of it and really get a complete picture of just how epic it is and really just in all the directions it goes in. And the whole album is like this. Like, he was so clearly stretching his music in the most wild ways.

[Stephen Thompson]

Yeah, that's true.

[Robin Hilton]

Totally brilliant. And then also the tallest man on Earth in the song the Wild Hunt.

[Guest Singer or Musician]

There is a crew moon coming in where you keep looking now it is the hollow month of March now sweeping in let's watch phenomenons arise out of the darkness now within the light she is my storm and heroine and old machines abandoned by the ancient races stand I hear them humming down below In Hollow Earth oh, hell I guess I know in a while I will go under too but just for now I let the spring and storm return I left my heart to the wild hunter coming I live until the car hall.

[Robin Hilton]

This is the title cut to the album the Wild Hunt that came out in 2010. I was thinking, you know, we keep talking debut albums, and I was. I thought this was his debut album because it's the record that really broke for him for the tallest man on Earth. But he had another one before called Shallow Grave that came out in 2008.

[Stephen Thompson]

You know what else came out in 2010? Anais Mitchell put out her album Hadestown.

[Guest Singer or Musician]

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Stephen Thompson]

Which was the first iteration of what became the gigantic blockbuster Tony winning musical.

[Guest Singer or Musician]

Sam. Love it. Tell me if you can who's gonna buy the wedding bands? Times being what they are hard and getting harder all the time. Love it when I sing my song.

[Robin Hilton]

And this was the opening cut of the song Wedding Song. Justin Vernon Bon Iver appears on it, which we were just talking about him for that Bonaver album that came out in 2008.

[Stephen Thompson]

We have a CD, alarm clock at Home, and every morning it goes off. The CD that is in this alarm clock from probably 2010 is Anais Mitchell's Hadestown record. So that to me has kind of over time, just through repetition, and become probably one of the albums I've heard Most in the world.

[Robin Hilton]

Yeah. Great pick. I would not have thought to include this one on the list. I'm so glad you brought it up.

[Stephen Thompson]

Sure.

[Robin Hilton]

I've got one more, actually that I want to do and then we can wrap it up. As incomplete as this list is and always is. But there's one that I want to sneak in because this is a band that I fell really hard for in 2010. And very curious if you can get this one.

[Stephen Thompson]

Oh, this is.

[Guest Singer or Musician]

We're bound to wait all night. She's bound to run a Mile.

[Robin Hilton]

Okay, I'm gonna give you a couple hints. James Mercer.

[Stephen Thompson]

Oh, the Shins. But. But this is Broken Bells.

[Robin Hilton]

Broken Bells, you got it.

[Guest Singer or Musician]

So many hands to analyze? Come on and get you overdose? Collect it at the borderline? They want to get up in your head? Cause they know so decline? The high road is hard to find.

[Robin Hilton]

Broken bells. Him and Danger Mouse, Brian Burton got together, did this record, self titled Broken Bells. Came out of nowhere for me and just absolutely knocked me out. This is the song the High Road, which kicks it off. Hearing it again, just even now, I'm like, I'm so addicted. Instantly addicted to.

[Stephen Thompson]

Yeah. So we talked about the Shins in an earlier installment of this, of this conversation. They blew up in the early aughts. They were part of the Garden State soundtrack. They were very much part of kind of the indie pop ecosystem of the early aughts. And then Danger Mouse, you know, who blew up with the Gray album, you know, brought up with mashups, but also just as an extremely inventive producer. By the time this came out, he'd already been with Gnarls Barkley, which was another kind of component of that sound. So you just kind of have these two familiar approaches that are melded together perfectly.

[Robin Hilton]

Yeah. And this whole record, it's just, it's so infectious. They did this basically the whole album at our south by Southwest showcase, too, that year in 2010. Great show, but we'll go out on this. And until next time when we do 2011. Thanks, Stephen.

[Stephen Thompson]

Thank you, Robin.

[Robin Hilton]

And for NPR Music, I'm Robin Hilton. It's all songs considered.

[Guest Singer or Musician]

It's too late to change your mind. You let love be your guide.

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