Hot Press Readers' Poll 2010

Florence got the love. The nation’s affair with Ms Welch and her Machine continues at a level commensurate with the Arcade Fire love-in a couple of years ago. Well deserved too. The winsome Ms W has the pipes, the charisma, the live chops and most importantly the songs. No surprise that Lungs, as assured and mature (but still original) a debut as has appeared in many a moon, and one that fuses soul, punk bluster, mystic witchery and a dollop of Alice In Wonderland bananas-rama, scooped the international ballot – although interestingly enough, readers plumped for ‘You’ve Got the Love’, her most orthodox single, over the epic ‘Rabbit Heart’. It kinda puts Ms GaGa’s hype machine (notwithstanding the fantastic ‘Poker Face’) in welcome perspective.

Elsewhere Arctic Monkeys consolidated their position with that not-so-difficult third album, which swapped England’s industrial grey for Mojave burnt orange dust, and a muscular show at The 02, all of which helped secure them the best international band bouquet. Other categories were rather more predictable: anyone who caught Bruce, Muse or Green Day over the last year would’ve had to doff hat off at the sheer sweat, soul and entertainment value.

Izzard and Tiernan got the biggest laughs. Up was a heartbreaking work of staggering genius about old age and bereavement disguised as a kid’s movie.

And at home it was a U2 year, so you didn’t need crystal balls to predict a sweep of the best live and album categories, although it must be said they had some serious competition from the Swell Season, Mick Flannery, The Script and Liberties belle Imelda May, whose combination of rockabilly grit and Peggy Lee chic has truly stolen the nation’s heart. But whither Jerry Fish and Julie Feeney?

And c’mon, Pete Doherty best songwriter in a year when Bob Dylan, Neko Case and Bruce Springsteen released albums? What are you people on?

For a complete list of the Readers' Poll winners, click here