1. Grizzly Bear: Yellow House (Warp)-Every nook and cranny on this masterpiece is focused to make you feel like you’re living as a member of the band. This album had the strongest affect on me and is remarkable from start to finish.2. TV on the Radio: Return to Cookie Mountain (4AD)-Powerful atmospheric rock with scorching vocal harmonies. The album is quite varied and front-loaded but the highlights are fucking amazing. 3. Boris: Pink (Southern Lord)-No band has so flawlessly blended waves of metal, oceanic distortion, and blissful space rock into one gigantic hammer. After you get hit over the head with songs like “Parting”, “Electric”, and “When We’re Gone” you’ll never be the same. This album is epic.4. Clark: Body Riddle (Warp)-Body Riddle is easily on par with some of the best music ever released on Warp. Chris Clark reconfigures the electronica blueprint by widening the boundaries.5. Band of Horses: Everything All the Time (Sub Pop)-Technically this album is simple yet it has such a rich, orchestral feel that most bands will never achieve. Their use of textures and the sweet Supertramp-esque vocal delivery lifts every song into the clouds. 6. Scott Walker: The Drift (4AD)-The Drift is sometimes difficult to swallow, but I always come back for more torture. Scott Walker forces the listener to deal with anxiety and fear in the darkest atmosphere possible. I think they should give this album to prospective PHD students in Psychology to weed out the freaks.7. Mahogany: Connectivity! (Darla)-There were several bands this year that took the old shoegaze laces and burned them by making more concrete and accessible music. Mahogany are at the top of this list. 8. Oneida: Happy New Year (Jagjaguwar)-Trippy, repetitive, experimental music with Krautrock leanings. 9. Asobi Seksu: Citrus (Friendly Fire)-Finally, a band that plays aggressive, ballsy noise-pop with plenty of sugar on top.10. Belong: October Language (Carpark)-This laptop/guitar band straddles the line between organic walls of sound and expansive digital melodies. The cinematic vision conveyed in each track makes M83 sound like Kenny Rogers.11. North Valley Subconscious Orchestra: The Right Kind of Nothing (Ghostly)-Brad Laner and Christopher Willits construct amazing noise collages over charging drums and razor sharp guitar melodies. This is how it’s done kids.12. Grandaddy: Just Like the Fambly Cat (V2)-The band’s break-up got more attention than their last, and best, album. 13. Belle and Sebastian: The Life Pursuit (Matador)-The Life Pursuit shows Stuart Murdoch putting the band back on track and renewed my excitement for them. I feel they’re at their best when they just rock out and have fun instead of the subdued If Your Feeling Sinister vibe. 14. Midlake: The Trials of Van Occupanther (Bella Union)-A beautiful, classic sounding rock album combining elements of Fleetwood Mac and Neil Young. When the chorus on “Young Bride” comes in I’m always floored.15. Land of Talk: Applause, Cheer, Boo, Hiss (Dependent)-These Candians are only a three-piece but sound larger than life on their debut EP.16. Aloha: Some Echoes (Polyvinyl)-I like that Aloha can sound jazzy, poppy and proggy and still retain their own identity, that’s not easy to do. Some Echoes sounds more original than anything they’ve released.17. Sonic Youth: Rather Ripped (Geffen)-Similar to Sonic Nurse in feel but more streamlined. They're on a roll.18. Mogwai: Mr. Beast (Matador)-There’s something refreshing about this album. They haven’t really changed their game plan, they just tweaked it a bit. Mr. Beast is right up there with Young Team.19. Beach House: Beach House (Carpark)-The dense, foggy world of Beach House gets warmer with each listen. This debut hints at Galaxie 500 and Hope Sandoval singing you a handful of love songs at your own private concert.20. Cat Power: The Greatest (Matador)-It turned out to be a great year for Chan Marshall. She released her best full-length yet and conquered alcoholism. Bringing in the Memphis Rhythm Band was also a factor to this album’s strength. But Chan’s passionate tone seals the deal. Honorable Mentions:Silversun Pickups: Carnavas (Dangerbird)Ester Drang: Rocinate (Jade Tree)Mew: And the Glass Handed Kites (Sony)
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