By Scott T. Sterling

In 2010, electronic dance music became the new hip-hop. Lawless, controversial, inspired — electronic music has blazed its own relentless path to sonic ubiquity. From underground electro beats permeating much of the pop and even rap charts this year, to pioneers Daft Punk producing the soundtrack for holiday movie blockbuster TRON: Legacy, dance music was literally everywhere in 2010. With artists like Deadmau5 rapidly becoming the new face of popular American dance culture, the more subversive scene dug even deeper, as a plethora of artists both new and seasoned continued to push the electronic music paradigm into the future.

1. LCD Soundsystem — This Is Happening

Sleek, refined, introspective — James Murphy’s third album found him honing his chaotic, punk-funk style into a lean and mean rhythm machine. Loaded with tributes to heroes like Talking Heads (“Dance Yrself Clean”), Kraftwerk (“One Touch”), and Berlin-era David Bowie hanging out with Iggy Pop (“Somebody’s Calling Me”), Murphy even does a fine LCD Soundsystem impression with the hilarious “Drunk Girls.” This Is Happening gets its groove through a warm (and wry) familiarity.

2. Flying Lotus — Cosmogramma

The pride of Los Angeles hit 2010 with a dazzlingly diverse collection that flaunted his jazz pedigree (he’s the nephew of Alice Coltrane) next to an appearance by none other than recent tour mate Thom Yorke. Veering effortlessly from the euphoric breakbeat orgy of “Galaxy in Janaki” to the rainy day bliss of “Mmmhmm,” Cosmogramma rockets through a universe of rhythms and sounds with the inscrutable grace of a Jedi Master.  

3. Pretty Lights — Making Up a Changing Mind

This rapidly emerging Colorado sensation graced his fans with no less than three new EP releases over the course of 2010. Amassing a huge following via free downloads and a nonstop touring schedule, the guy born Derek Smith has becoming one of the biggest new acts on the circuit, seemingly overnight. Most of the tracks on Making Up a Changing Mind have already become live show staples and fan favorites. From the hip-hop swagger of “I Can See It In Your Face” to the swirling breakbeat atmospheres of “Understand Me Now,” the EP is an essential piece of the Pretty Lights puzzle.

4. Hot Chip — One Life Stand

The little dance band that could continues to dance precariously close to breaking through on a major scale. In the meantime, they kick out clever, poppy tracks as rich with melody as rhythm. One Life Stand, their beat-crazy fourth full-length, boasts the glossy dance floor strut of the title cut and the symphonic sweep of single “I Feel Better,” playing like the missing link between Erasure and Miike Snow.  

5. Deadmau5 — 4X4=12

The shadow of the ubiquitous Mau5head loomed larger than ever over 2010. Showing up everywhere from the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver to seemingly every other t-shirt at most American raves, there is no more recognizable (or popular) electronic music artist in the country right now. Deadmau5’s 2010 release found him delving even deeper into his own trademark electro-trance sound with signature songs like “Some Chords.” He also featured female vocalist Sofi, who provided plenty of attitude on hardcore rave-hop tracks like “Sofi Needs a Ladder” and “One Trick Pony.” Even the Jersey Shore kids love Deadmau5, but we won’t hold that against him.

6. Daft Punk — TRON: Legacy

The ultimate sci-fi geek/techno nerds’ wet dream finally materialized, and not a moment too soon, given the glut of fake tracks the hit the Internet earlier this year. When the legendary French robots did emerge with the music to one of the year’s most anticipated movies, it was shockingly well-realized. Working with a 90-piece orchestra in a specially designed studio in London, their TRON: Legacy soundtrack plays like android love child of Giorgio Moroder and John Williams. Robots still rule.

7. Gold Panda — Lucky Shiner

Emerging UK producer Derwin Panda garnered attention for his early singles, then made a big splash with the release of this debut album. A collection of thoughtful and meticulous post-techno, Lucky Shiner plays somewhere between Animal Collective and Four Tet. Heavy with chopped samples and whimsical melodies, the album is an engaging and hypnotic entry into the world of digital minimalism gone maximum-overdrive.

8. Crystal Castles — Crystal Castles (II)

This Canadian death-disco duo carved out their infamy via confrontational live shows and attitude-laden noise bursts. On their second self-titled release in a row, Crystal Castles surprised both fans and critics alike with music light years beyond anything they’d recorded to date. Ranging from cathartic digital freaks outs (“Doe Deer”) to blissful synth-pop that beat Ladytron at their own game (“Celestica”), the Crystal kids showed the early signs of growing up. Bonus points for covering ‘80s Canadian glam-wavers Platinum Blonde on “Not in Love,” a song they later rerecorded with Robert Smith of the Cure on vocals.

9. Four Tet — There is Love in You

Unassuming British musician Kieran Hebden has been quietly releasing albums under the Four Tet moniker since 1999. His pastoral blend of electronics was once dubbed “folktronica,” but Hebden’s sound has continued to evolve, which is most evident on this sonically stunning 2010 release. Combining a minimal techno aesthetic to his dreamy, ambient atmospheres, There Is Love In You boasts both thick, 5 a.m. comedown beats (“Plastic People”) and deceptively organic drum circle jams (“She Just Likes to Fight”). Don’t be surprised if you catch your mom ripping a copy of this one.  

10. David Guetta — Just A Little More Love

This man is one of the main reasons Top 40 radio sounds more like an Ibiza nightclub these days. Deftly blending superstar guests and pop hooks into his Euro-dance mix, Guetta’s 2009 release Just A Little More Love exploded worldwide with smash hits like “When Love Takes Over” featuring Kelly Rowland of Destiny’s Child. It was such a big hit that he returned in 2010 with Just A Little More Love, a pumped-up version of the album with a slew of new remixes and a massive new hit, “Who’s That Chick?” featuring Rihanna. Signs point to Guetta getting even bigger in 2011.