Updated 12/16/2010: Download file changed

At this time of year it seems everyone’s suddenly a music critic. There’s no shortage of lists carefully ranking albums in order of cultural significance. And this year, the most interesting part of most of them is finding out where Kanye’s album fell. (Except, of course, Jim DeRogatis and Sound Opinions’ lists).

But how often does cultural significance line up with what people actually listen to? Sure, the Arcade Fire’s album makes a big statement, but can any of the tracks hold their own against Ke$ha’s “Tik Tok?” It’s an MP3 world after all.

In that spirit, we decided to put a little twist on the annual “critic’s list”.   We simply asked our colleagues here at Chicago Public Media to pick their favorite song they listened to in 2010. 

And together, they served up quite a range of responses. Some picks were heartfelt, others not so much.  Most of them simply had a good beat. 

Without further ado - for your listening pleasure - we present  the top songs playing on iPods at 848 E Grand Avenue this year.  Enjoy!

(Download an abridged version of this mix here)

(0:00) Robin Linn, Producer, Sound Opinions
F- You by Cee Lo Green

(4:27) Jason Marck, Director, Eight Forty Eight
Into the Wind by Bei Bei & Shawn Lee

(7:58) Jim DeRogatis, Co-Host, Sound Opinions
Garbage Truck by Beck

(12:03) JR Nelson, Co-Host, Hit It or Quit It
Yamaha by The-Dream

(16:58) Jason Saldanha, Producer, Sound Opinions
All I Want by LCD Soundsystem

(23:43) Molly Adams, Co-Host, Vocalo Morning Amp
Runway Love Remix by Kanye West featuring Justin Bieber

(29:01) Icoi Johnson, Pritzker Fellow
The Perpetual Self or “What Would Saul Alinsky Do?“by Sufjan Stevens

(31:41) Alison Cuddy, Host, Eight Forty Eight
MmmHmmm by Flying Lotus

(35:55) George Lara, Director of Internships and Mentorships
No Viniste by Carla Morrison

(39:52) Melanie Palmer, Master Control Engineer
The Best in Me by Marvin Sapp

(44:18) Susie An, News Producer
Exuses by the Morning Benders

(48:53) Brian Babylon, Co-Host, Vocalo Morning Amp
Stylo by Gorillaz featuring Bobby Womak and Mos Def

(53:44) Natalie Moore, Reporter
Miss Me by Drake

(58:07) Bill Healy, News Freelancer
Sinister Kid by The Black Keys

(62:11) Nick van der Kolk, Producer, Vocalo Mixtape
An Apology by Future Islands

(66:04) Tony Arnold, Reporter
Sick of You by Cake

(69:42) Alison Scholly, COO
Tightrope by Janelle Monae

(74:40) Samuel Vega, Pritzker Fellow
Battle Cry by Joell Ortiz

(80:24) Greg Kot, Co-Host, Sound Opinions
Albatross by Besnard Lakes

(85:04) Liz Bustamante, Master Control Engineer
Winterwind by the Bottomless Pit

(91:56) Richard Steele, Interviewer
Wonderful Savior by Mavis Staples

(94:15) Andrew Gill, Web Producer
Bottled in Cork by Ted Leo and The Pharmacists

(97:57) Nathan Biggs, Membership
Bushwick Blues by Delta Spirit

(101:32) Beth Maggard, Strategic Communications
Terrible Love by the National

(106:05) Tony Abraham, Web Development Intern
Shutterbug by Big Boi

(109:38) Janet Gould, Strategic Communications
Positive Dance by SMAP

(114:11) Alex Keefe, News Producer
Tootsie Roll by the 69 Boyz

Share the song that defined 2010 for you in the comments.