The indie rock band whose 2010 album The Suburbs won the Grammy for Album of the Year was Arcade Fire.
The Suburbs was Arcade Fire’s third studio album, released on August 3, 2010. Produced with Markus Dravs, it blended indie rock, art rock, and baroque pop while exploring suburban childhood, memory, distance, and modern alienation. The title reflects the band’s interest in how ordinary neighborhoods can shape identity and imagination.
At the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards in February 2011, The Suburbs won Album of the Year, defeating prominent nominees including Eminem’s Recovery, Lady Gaga’s The Fame Monster, Katy Perry’s Teenage Dream, and Lady Antebellum’s Need You Now. The victory surprised many viewers because Arcade Fire was an alternative act rather than a mainstream pop favorite.
The album also won Album of the Year at the Juno Awards and the Polaris Music Prize. A common mix-up is confusing the Grammy year with the album’s release year: The Suburbs came out in 2010, but received the Grammy at the 2011 ceremony.