Here are our favorites from the year.
01. Band of Horses – Everything All The Time
[freed: #1, topo: #2, zoviet: #2] sample
Band of Horses’ debut is a delectable piece of Americana. A strangely familiar, finely honed pop delight delivered with startling sincerity. – freed
02. TV on the Radio – Return to Cookie Mountain
[topo: #1, zoviet: #5, freed: #8]
If TV on the Radio gets credit for one thing in Return to Cookie Mountain, it should be for giving this generation a desperately needed kick in the pants. Either that or for saving the world.
- topomodesto
03. French Kicks – Two Thousand
[topo: #4, zoviet: #4, freed: #6] sample
In light of the lukecold response this record received, I take some small satisfaction in CMG reviewer Conrad Amenta admitting to be “completely wrong about everything.” Picture me as Steve Buscemi crossing his name off a ‘people to kill’ list with red lipstick and then touching up my own lips ever so gently. Sigh.
- topomodesto
04. Cold War Kids – Robbers and Cowards
[freed: #3, zoviet: #9] sample
I think a lot of people were disappointed this record was more a collection of their brilliant EP’s than a proper full length. All you have to do is see the live show to realize they are deserving of the hype. – zoviet
05. Wilderness – Vessel States
[zoviet: #1] sample
This was my #1. I know it wasn’t anyone else’s. I don’t care and neither do they. – zoviet
06. Beirut – Gulag Orkestar
[freed: #5, zoviet: #8] sample
D.I.Y. genius Zach Condon defines a new genre with this whimsical yet sincere debut. – freed
07. Destroyer – Destroyer’s Rubies
[freed: #2] sample
Effortless wordplay and charming pop craft makes this Destroyer’s best release yet. – freed
08. Neko Case – Fox Confessor Brings The Flood
[topo: #3] sample
If Iron & Wine + Calexico’s In The Reins was 2005’s Blonde on Blonde, then this is like 2012’s Freewheelin’. Neko Case straddles time like a De Lorean doing 88. – topomodesto
09. Sunset Rubdown – Shut Up I am Dreaming
[zoviet: #3] sample
Yes, it’s quirky and eclectic, but when Krug gets it right, he really gets it right. The dismal production of his earlier EP’s was vastly improved, and he released something that transcends the words ’side project.’ – zoviet
10. Film School – Film School
[freed: #4, zoviet: #10] sample
Film school wear their post-punk influences proudly on their sleeves, and do so very well.
- zoviet
no grizzly bear=lame list
topomodesto:
01. TV on the Radio – Return to Cookie Mountain
02. Band of Horses – Everything All The Time
03. Neko Case – Fox Confessor Brings The Flood
04. French Kicks – Two Thousand
05. The Foundry Field Recordings – Prompts/Miscues
06. Ghostface Killah – Fishscale
07. Foreign Born – On The Wing Now
08. Human Television – Look At Who You’re Talking To
09. Califone – Roots & Crowns
10. Frightened Rabbit – Sings The Greys
zoviet:
01. Wilderness – Vessel States
02. Band of Horses – Everything All The Time
03. Sunset Rubdown – Shut Up I Am Dreaming
04. French Kicks – Two Thousand
05. TV on the Radio – Return to Cookie Mountain
06. Tokyo Police Club – A Lesson in Crime
07. I Love You But I’ve Chosen Darkness – Fear Is On Our Side
08. Beirut – Gulag Orkestar
09. Cold War Kids – Robbers and Cowards
10. Film School – Film School
freed:
01. Band of Horses – Everything All The Time
02. Destroyer – Destroyer’s Rubies
03. Cold War Kids – Robbers and Cowards
04. Film School – Film School
05. Beirut – Gulag Orkestar
06. The French Kicks – Two Thousand
07. Califone – Roots and Crowns
08. TV on the Radio – Return to Cookie Mountain
09. Yo La Tengo – I’m Not Afraid Of You And I Will Beat Your Ass
10. Nobody & the Mystic Chords of Memory – Tree Colored See
you make an interesting point. please allow me a moment to disregard it.
nice list, after all, it is YOUR list. my list is similar but has The Black Angels and Silversun Pickups