One : Autolux : Future Perfect
Future Perfect has been a ridiculously long time in the making. The band put out a demo containing four of the songs found on the final full-length (and a seperate demo disc that they never sold that had 3 or 4 more but we won't get into that) several years ago and I've been ganking the occasional bootleg to check out new songs ever since. They've got a lot of hype around them which could be a detriment in the end, but the album is solid. The live show is solid. The sound is difficult to describe so I won't really even try... just get it.

Two : Arcade Fire : Funeral
If you listen to indie music, read any sort of online music publication, or have ANY sort of radar that isn't completely restricted to what MTV is feeding you then you have probably already heard of Funeral. What can I say? It's worth the hype, 110%. The somewhat dark sound is balanced by an subtle uplifting tones throughout the disc. I can recall being told about this band and writing them off because I was sure they'd be some sort of mildly alt-country-esque introspective slow jam. I am glad this was not the case, and this disc has received ridiculous amounts of repeated listenings.

Three : Menomena : I Am The Fun Blame Monster
While riding to lunch one day with a friend I flipped through some fairly extravagant packaging of a band that I'd never heard of. Based purely on this I walked over to the CD store and picked up the Menomena debut. It took some time but this record may very well be my favorite of the year. I'm not saying it's better than the rest but the fact that the packaging was above and beyond anything else I saw this year (you should see the vinyl) and the disc is a bizarre sound. Lots of looping, strange instrumentation, somewhat nonsensical lyrics at time.. but it works.

Four : Detachment Kit : Of This Blood
The power of internet downloads can be seen here. I downloaded "Skyscrapers" and found myself listening to it multiple times a day. Eventually I picked up the disc and listened to what else the band had to offer. Some songs were good, some songs were aggravating, but none topped "Skyscrapers." After sitting on the disc for awhile I noticed the band was playing in town soon, so I decided to give it another go. Somehow the disc had a new freshness to it. "Skyscrapers" is certainly the most accessible but that doesn't make it the best. And for anyone wondering, their live show is fantastic and should be witnessed by all.

Five : David Cross : It's Not Funny
Maybe it's a statement of the lack of truly phenomenal music this year but I'm adding a comedy CD into my top 10. David Cross is hilarious. His poltical and religious rantings can get tiresome after awhile but he's still got the goods. Hopefully this is the first in a trend of regularly released stand-up shows from him (I realize its his second release, but doing a double-CD regularly seems a bit over the top).

Six : Rogue Wave : Out Of The Shadow
I believe I have heard this described as "Shins lite." So what? I like the Shins. I wouldn't really even go as far as to say that the two are all that comparable except for the fact that they are both on SubPop and both play fun little indie pop rocks songs with a bit of bittersweetness to them. "Every Moment" and "Endless Shovel" are the high points on the album for me, "Postage Stamp World" being the low point, but it's a good listen all the way through.

Seven : Apollo Up : Light The End And Burn It Through
The fact that Apollo Up hails from Nashville, TN makes me proud. This album is a fantastic example of the existence of high-energy, somewhat frenzied, but still catchy rock. Anytime you can put a disc in at home and find yourself thrusting your fist in the air to show your uncontrollable enthusiasm for the music it is certainly a good thing. Oh, and the effective use of cowbell earns them extra bonus points.

Eight : Secret Machines : Now Here Is Nowhere
Am I prone to the hype machine? I remember reading about how Secret Machines had released their album online months before it hit stores and there was all kinds of buzz about the band. They sound like a modern day Pink Floyd, their live show is unbelievable, etc. etc. It actually wasn't so easy to get into this disc. Attempting to listen to one or two songs randomly kind of takes the rest of them out of context and makes them less enjoyable. This is an album done with the mindset that you listen to it start to finish. Strangely I remember someone telling me the stereotypical remark about a bands major release, "Their first disc was better." So I picked that up and you know what? It kind of is better, but much shorter and not as realized conceptually.

Nine : Death From Above : Romantic Rights EP
The VICE records debut is a good album but this EP is what caught my ear at first. The production isn't as clean and the energy seems more tense. Sure, it's only 4 songs and one of them is a disco remix but those first three songs are just that good. The kind of sound, and the amount of sound, created from these two guys continues to impress me.

Ten : The Faint : Wet From Birth
To be completely honest with you, the reader, I don't think this is the most badass Faint record ever released. Danse Macabre is obviously the stronger disc but here's the deal - "Birth" and "Southern Belles In London Sing" make the record worthy of the list. Or maybe I just can't think of anything else way better and this is good enough. I think it's a strong effort and I commend them for spanning out to a more raw sound but please bring back the keyboards and blips and bloops. Wow, this wasn't much of a raving review was it? I must really love those two songs. Yep, I do.



Honorable Mentions
Medications - New project from members of Faraquet. Sounds similar to Faraquet but not the same songs. Mmm.. Faraquet.

Modest Mouse - It's a good disc but I didn't think it was the strongest thing ever. "Bukowski" is fantastic and probably my favorite on the disc.. though I can't really say anything poor about "Float On", "Ocean Breathes Salty", "Bury Me With It", or "The World At Large."

Pinback - New Pinback! The Offcell EP should probably be listed higher up on the list of honorable mentions rather than the new full-length but new Pinback is new Pinback.. it's good stuff. "Syracuse" is the jam.

Soulwax - sometimes you wait forever for a band to release a follow-up to their debut. I was convinced I'd never hear anything else from Soulwax.. but here it is. It's like a European version of Self with a bit more of dance flavor.

Auf Der Maur - While not the strongest record I've heard I do have to give honor where honor is due. Her lyrics are a bit weird at times but the fact that she actually is able to write a rock song and not hire Linda Perry earns her the mention.

Madvillain - How often am I excited about hip-hop? Rarely. Typically if it's not Count Bass D or some remix of a band that I already know (see AIR's Mark Ronson vocal mix) I really don't ever get exposed to it. That says a lot about this record.

Killers - I saw these guys on the OC and fell in love! That Brandon Flowers frontman is so amazing! Wait.. no. Sorry, that didn't happen. It's a fun disc, it has some weak points but it is enjoyable.

Whole Fantastic World - Another TN band that deserves more fans than they currently have. I'm sure it's just a matter of time (their live show is better than the CD) that they'll get some more recognition but I'm just trying to do my part.




Not So Honorable Mentions
Rilo Kiley - what is the deal here? Why are people crapping themselves over this. It's not that great - "Portions of Foxes" was the only enjoyable song I was privy to.

TV On The Radio - I read the hype. I bought the EP. I bought the full-length. I saw them live. I had friends say how much they love them. And I still don't get it. Boring.

Mark Lanegan - Hey Mark, way to release a really upbeat song about a bunch of drugs, align yourself with some of the best musicians in rock at the moment, and then put out an album with the worst cover art and a bunch of your same old standard crap.