I like to listen to as many new albums as I can during the year and then rate and rank them resulting in a year-end list. I don't shoot for a specific number (hence this year there are 32); the list is based on the records I rated high, typically 7.5/10 or above.

1. WHY? Alopecia
2. Bon Iver For Emma, Forever Ago
3. The Hold Steady Stay Positive
4. Frightened Rabbit Midnight Organ Fight
5. Department of Eagles In Ear Park
6. Cut Copy In Ghost Colours
7. Pattern is Movement All Together
8. Bound Stems The Family Afloat
9. Okkervil River The Stand Ins
10. Crystal Castles Crystal Castles
    
11. Beach House Devotion
12. Girl Talk Feed the Animals
13. The Tallest Man on Earth Shallow Grave
14. Bonnie "Prince" Billy Lay Down in the Light
15. Shearwater Rook
16. Fucked Up The Chemistry of Common Life
17. The Week That Was The Week That Was
18. Hanggai The Rough Guide to Hanggai
19. Fleet Foxes Fleet Foxes
20. Conor Oberst Conor Oberst
21. Santogold Santogold
22. Parts and Labor Receivers
23. Arthur Russell Love is Overtaking Me
24. Lambchop OH (Ohio)
25. M83 Saturdays = Youth
26. Crystal Stilts Alight of Night
27. TOBACCO Fucked Up Friends
28. Steinski What Does It All Mean: 1983-2006 Retrospective
29. The Mae Shi Hlllyh
30. Marnie Stern This is it…
31. Destroyer Trouble in Dreams
32. The Mountain Goats Heretic Pride