hearsay

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

[Individual lists in the comments]