1. Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix » Phoenix
Not even their best album, but this is certainly their year.
2. XX » The XX
If they could match this greatness with a live show, they'd be unstoppable.
3. Living Thing » Peter, Bjorn & John
(also: Re-Living Thing » Mick Boogie and Peter, Bjorn & John)
The former would have made it either way, but the latter just cements it for me.
4. Oh For The Getting And Not Letting Go » All Smiles
The best album you haven't heard. Former Grandaddy/current Modest Mouse-r Jim Fairchild.
5. Rain Machine » Rain Machine
Kyp Malone releases a solo album that's enough TV On The Radio to be slightly familiar and still different enough to be hugely refreshing.
6. Wilco The Album » Wilco
Honestly, Wilco has always been a bit hit-or-miss for me. Until this.
7. Humbug » Arctic Monkeys
Produced by Josh Homme, sounding a little darker, a little more grown up.
8. A New Tide » Gomez
Another instant classic; "Airstream Driver" on repeat.
9. My Old Familiar Friend » Brendan Benson
If live shows were taken into consideration, he'd shoot up past the Monkeys of the arctic.
10. Ignore The Ignorant » The Cribs
Sad to see Johnny Marr leave Modest Mouse; their loss surely is the Cribs' gain.
Honorable mention: Noah And The Whale, for the beautiful First Days Of Spring, which doubles as a 47-minute film.
Not even their best album, but this is certainly their year.
2. XX » The XX
If they could match this greatness with a live show, they'd be unstoppable.
3. Living Thing » Peter, Bjorn & John
(also: Re-Living Thing » Mick Boogie and Peter, Bjorn & John)
The former would have made it either way, but the latter just cements it for me.
4. Oh For The Getting And Not Letting Go » All Smiles
The best album you haven't heard. Former Grandaddy/current Modest Mouse-r Jim Fairchild.
5. Rain Machine » Rain Machine
Kyp Malone releases a solo album that's enough TV On The Radio to be slightly familiar and still different enough to be hugely refreshing.
6. Wilco The Album » Wilco
Honestly, Wilco has always been a bit hit-or-miss for me. Until this.
7. Humbug » Arctic Monkeys
Produced by Josh Homme, sounding a little darker, a little more grown up.
8. A New Tide » Gomez
Another instant classic; "Airstream Driver" on repeat.
9. My Old Familiar Friend » Brendan Benson
If live shows were taken into consideration, he'd shoot up past the Monkeys of the arctic.
10. Ignore The Ignorant » The Cribs
Sad to see Johnny Marr leave Modest Mouse; their loss surely is the Cribs' gain.
Honorable mention: Noah And The Whale, for the beautiful First Days Of Spring, which doubles as a 47-minute film.
A few notes:
1. I don't understand your obsession with Grizzly Bear, but more power to you.
2. Yes, there is no Animal Collective. I think "My Eyes" is one of the best songs of the year (maybe the best), but the rest was a little too meh.
3. Pumped for a full-album release by Free Energy in '10; the three-song EP alone nearly made it onto this list.
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