1.R.E.M.
Accelerate
Quick, fast, aggressive and enthralling from start to finish. Whenever I listen to it I automatically play it all the way through twice. Everyone seems to say that this is a return to form, though I never thought they were out of form. A perfect album that made me realize why I fell in love with them almost 20 years ago.
2.M83
Saturdays = Youth
In all actuality, this may be a tie with Accelerate, based on the number listens alone. The songs are beautiful, moody, uplifting, and above all, intricate. Listening to the song "Couleurs" on my bike ride home from work at night last summer made me realize how beautiful it is to be alive.
3.Vampire Weekend
Vampire Weekend
This was by far the best debut album that came out this year. They have received a lot of hype, but in this case it is totally founded. The songs are spectacular and, as a unit, they make this a classic pop album. I have received a lot of shit for liking it... but I don't care. I will still be listening to it in two years time.
4.Autechre
Quaristice
Simply the best pure electronic album released this year. It fulfilled my glitchy IDM needs and more. The ambiance and texture make this a complete delight to listen to, though I've received weirded looks from customers when I've listened to it. Also the design is absolutely beautiful.
5.Mogwai
The Hawk Is Howling
Great music to clean the house to. The cover is so bad that its good. Also, the first song "I'm Jim Morrisson, I'm Dead" rates as one of the best song titles this year.
6.TV On The Radio
Dear Science
A dense, subtle, and rewarding listening experience that grows with every listen. Well produced, but I feel that the mix favors the vocals way too much. Oh well, everything shines through though.
7.Squarepusher
Just A Souvenir
As always, Tom Jenkinson delivers another trippy and out there album. This time a lot of distortion appears. Worth it for the vocoder vocals on the song "The Coathanger" alone.
8.School Of Seven Bells
Alpinisms
I bought this album because I heard that they were opening for M83 on their recent tour and because it is on the Ghostly International label. I love the production.
9.Portishead
Third
A very good comeback after over 10 years of silence. I'm glade that it was not a trip-hop flashback. More krautrock than anything else. It has taken me a while to fully get into it but that's a good thing. "Machine Gun" is a very great track and my choice for weirdest single of the year.
10.Nine Inch Nails
The Slip
While the last two NIN albums have had their great moments neither are as perfect as this one. Perhaps the best since The Fragile in my mind. Equal parts experimental and equal parts in your face. All of this and it was totally free.
11.Ratatat
LP3
I can't quite pinpoint what I like about this album. I just do.
12.Sigur Rós
Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust
Par the course, Sigur Rós constructed another album that is epic and grandiose. I only wish that the rest of the album had delivered on the bright and bouncy promise of the first single, "Gobbldigook". Still, this album is far from a total disappointment. Their simply good albums are still better than most other bands great albums.
13.Death Cab For Cutie
Narrow Stairs
This made the list based purely on the power of the full 8+ minute version of "I Will Possess Your Heart" alone.
14.Moby
Last Night
Perhaps my guilty pleasure of the year. It is the sound of sunny early spring days this past year. It was a good fun album to put on while doing dishes or working in the basement.
15.Coldplay
Viva La Vida
Yes, I still dislike Chris Martin and his crappy dancing. Yes, I hated the uniforms that they wore on tour. Yes, seeing them perform annoys the shit out of me. Yes, the title song is a piece of crap. Despite all of this, I like the album. I like the structures of the songs. I like the production that Brian Eno helped out on and I like the mood of the songs. I also like the cover.
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