When it comes to my Top Played of any year, I’m more of a straight list kind of guy.  I like looking at the numbers and noting things like the difference in plays between my 1st and 2nd songs (27 plays), and seeing how much total time I spent listening to just those 25 songs.  I don’t need to knock things off the list just because they weren’t released in the specific year.  I said this before, but this list tends to be what really makes or continues to make a personal impression.  Maybe a song hit just at the right part of June, or I heard something in a new way.  So, here is the list of what I took in most in 2010.  It’s not always cool, but it’s always comfortable for me to come back to. (The number to the right of each song is the number of times I listened to that specific song, in case you were wondering.)

25. James Vincent McMorrow – We Don’t Eat (25)
24. Brett Dennen – Make You Crazy (25)
23. hellogoodbye – When We First Met [mp3] (26)
22. The Young Friends – Makeout Point (27)
21. Theophilus London – Hey Wonderful (27)
20. Mos Def – History [mp3] (27)
19. The Dads – Haunted (27)
18. Young Empires – Rain of Gold (28)
17. Black Elk Speaks – Sympaco Nom (28)
16. Delorean – Stay Close (29)
15. Best Coast – Boyfriend (29)
14. The Black Keys – Tighten Up (30)
13. Animal Collective – What Would I Want? Sky (30)
12. Tame Impala – Alter Ego (34)
11. Gauntlet Hair – Out, Don’t (34)
10. Sufjan Stevens – Djohariah (35)
09. Donovan Woods – Lawren Harris (39)
08. Cults – Go Outside (39)
07. Ra Ra Riot – Boy (RAC Mix) (41)
06. Kanye West – Good Friday (51)
05. Mayer Hawthorne – Thin Moon [mp3] (52)
04. Tokyo Police Club – Breakneck Speed (61)
03. Aloe Blacc – I Need a Dollar [mp3] (78)
02. Drake – Find Your Love [mp3] (79)
01. Gauntlet Hair – I Was Thinking… (106)

In total, I listened to these 25 songs for 4344 minutes and 44 seconds.  Or, 72 hours, 24 minutes and 44 seconds.  Or, just slightly over 3 entire days just listening to these 25 songs.  Nearly 10 of those hours were spent listening exclusively to the fantastic “Djohariah” from Sufjan Stevens’ All Delighted People EP, which was the song I sent the most time listening in the past year.

This is all slightly obsessive, really, but I like having the ability to quantify and qualify my obsession/addiction/love.  It’s not useful data for anyone except me, unless you study my music listening habits for a living.  (And if you do, how come we haven’t met?)

Bottom line: I love that there are two local bands on here, that the only band to appear twice on the list doesn’t even have a full album released yet, and that there are so many different styles and feelings represented.  This is me drinking, this is me dancing, this is me driving, this is me living.  It’s been a great year.  Here’s to the 2011′s Top 25 – the majority of which are undoubtedly not even in my collection yet.

Dave and I are both heading to Portland, OR on Wednesday for a friend’s wedding; I’m staying through the following Thursday and heading up to Seattle with my girlfriend, while Dave is flying home on Sunday (I think.)  So, if we aren’t as responsive for a bit, you now know why.  Anyway, let’s get back to the music, which is why you’re all here anyway.  It’s been a couple of weeks since I’ve done one of these, so if you’re new around here, catch yourself up on my first 118 picks over here.

119. White Denim – Radio Milk How Can You Stand It (mp3) from Fits (3:53) [Time Remaining: 455:59]

I’ve done my share of heaping praise on White Denim’s 2009 album; it was Number 3 on my personal Best of 2009 list, and I talked about it over at my lone post at Virgin Music.  (That will undoubtedly remain that way; I don’t have the time to write more than I already do.)  Regardless of how much I talk about it, it doesn’t detract from the fact that the album is incredible.

“Radio Milk How Can You Stand It” is the nonsensical sounding opener, and it builds into everything that the rest of the album is.  It works through stops and starts, incorporating widespread influences before devolving into an emphatic sing-along close.  It’s frantic and frenetic and everything that a talented band should be – unafraid to experiment with various sounds and textures.  This one is a scorching example of how good that type of experimentation can be.

120. Mark Kozelek – Metropol 47 (mp3) from Rock ‘N’ Roll Singer (3:13) [Time Remaining: 452:46]

On the opposite end of the spectrum from White Denim is the easygoing folk of the former lead singer of Red House Painters, and current lead singer of Sun Kil Moon – Mark Kozelek.

I talked about this track back in October when I was reminded of it, and in that post I remarked that it felt like “weekends around the house.”  In addition to that particular sentiment, it feels like blue skies, wide highways and time to kill.  With my impending trip west, I’m feeling more like that.  There’s something uniquely American about Kozelek’s songs – and I’ll be flying over a vast portion of it to parts I haven’t been to before.  I’m excited.

I’m in a summery mood, which is apropos since Memorial Day is the unofficial start to the season.  My girlfriend and I forged our way south into the Finger Lakes yesterday to Watkins Glen State Park and made our way through the gorge, then stopped at a couple of wineries on the way back through.  I hope everyone’s long weekend is progressing nicely.

Today’s installment of this project features a couple of songs that are reminiscent of warmer weather for me.  They came up during our drive yesterday, and both find themselves on my list today.  Unfamiliar with what’s going on here?  Get yourself up to speed over here.

115. Josh Rouse – Nothing Gives Me Pleasure (mp3) from Under Cold Blue Stars (3:16) [Time Remaining: 472:34]

There was a point, right around 22, when I was big into the whole singer/songwriter thing; guys with nine letters in their first and last names are generally most accessible (John Mayer, Jason Mraz, Elton John, Billy Joel…), and Josh Rouse was one of my favorites.  I’ve since grown weary of the sensitivity – or perhaps more jaded – but Mr. Rouse’s easy soul still comes around to calm me down every so often.  Take this song out for a drive; it can’t miss.

116. Girls – Lust For Life (mp3) from Album (2:25) [Time Remaining: 470:09]

I think this is, to this point, the most recent song to make this list.  Despite the downer subject matter, it’s a perfect pop song; quick and longing, it sounds like how the wind blowing through your hair feels.  It’s sunburned and weary from drinking outside.  After this, I no longer need a summer jam each year. I have a song for every summer.