1.) Arcade Fire The Suburbs

Credited by many as the album that brought indie rock to the mainstream, The Suburbs won a Grammy for Album of the Year. The award resulted in the album jumping forty spots on the Billboard 200 from no. 52 all the way up to no. 12.

2.) Mumford and Sons Sigh No More

The debut album from the UK outfit had its name taken from a line in Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing. A digital success, the album sold over 750,000 digital downloads.

3.) Black Keys Brothers

The commercial breakthrough album for the Akron duo saw the band attain their highest Billboard ranking by coming in at number three. The band recorded sixteen songs in ten days.

4.) Kings Of Leon Come Around Sundown

The fifth studio album from the Tennessee outfit received a nomination at the 2011 Grammy Awards for Best Rock Album. The album broke the UK record for biggest first week digital album sales with over 49,000 digital downloads.

5.) Vampire Weekend Contra

The album that had everyone guessing who the girl is on the cover. The album reached number one on the Billboard 200 and became the 12th ever independently distributed album to reach number one on the rankings.

6.) Ray LaMontagne and the Pariah Dogs God Willin & The Creek Don't Rise

The first album completely produced by LaMontagne features the song “Beg Steal Or Borrow” that was nominated for the Song og the Year Grammy Award.

7.) LCD Soundsystem This Is Happening

The third and final album from LCD Soundsystem has been cited by critics as potentially their best. The first single off the album “Drunk Girls” featured a music video directed by Spike Jonze.

8.) The National High Violet

The album debuted at number three on the Billboard 200 and has sold over 600,000 copies worldwide to date.

9.) Buddy Guy Living Proof

After countless tours and albums, Living Proof has been Buddy Guy’s most successful album to date on the Billboard charts. The album acts as an autobiography for Guy’s life and experiences in the music industry.

10.) Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers Mojo

The first album released in nearly eight years with the Heartbreakers. Petty stated that he intended for the album to be recorded like a live show with only one take and no overdubs.