AllMusic Loves 2010
Dec. 15, 2010
Looking back at 2010 from one vantage point, the year can seem like a collection of musical miniatures, songs and albums designed for nothing more than satisfying a specific niche. But taken from another angle, 2010 was filled with big ideas so compelling they could not be confined to a small audience. Late in the year, Kanye West delivered the heavyweight My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, an album so singular in its madness that it could not help but dominate year-end retrospectives. But he was hardly the only artist to attempt a masterwork. Arcade Fire created a grand song-cycle about the suburbs, Janelle Monáe overloaded The ArchAndroid with ideas, Eminem found a credible path toward middle age on Recovery, LCD Soundsystem precisely honed their artful post-punk on This Is Happening, and Robert Plant reached deep into the past so he could tackle the present on Band of Joy. These were records so large, so compelling they couldn't be ignored -- and, when coupled with the abundance of albums that either were created within their own tight aesthetic or reveled in their messiness, it meant that 2010 generated plenty of music to love.
Stephen Thomas Erlewine
The Black Keys – Brothers
Robert Plant - Band of Joy
Vampire Weekend - Contra
Spoon - Transference
Paul Weller – Wake Up the Nation
Arcade Fire - The Suburbs
LCD Soundsystem – This Is Happening
The Hotrats – Turn Ons
Charlotte Gainsbourg - IRM
Ke$ha – Animal
Jazmine Sullivan - Love Me Back
Eminem – Recovery
Erykah Badu - New Amerykah, Pt. 2: Return of the Ankh
Shakira – Sale el Sol
Beach House - Teen Dream
Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
Deerhunter - Halcyon Digest
Cee Lo Green - The Lady Killer
Goldfrapp – Head First
Sleigh Bells - Treats
The Soft Pack - The Soft Pack
Liars - Sisterworld
My Chemical Romance – Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys
Janelle Monáe - The ArchAndroid
Sara Bareilles - Kaleidoscope Heart
LCD Soundsystem – "Drunk Girls"
Katy Perry – "Teenage Dream"
Ke$ha – "Tik Tok"
Ke$ha – "Take It Off"
Cee Lo Green – "Fuck You"
Lady Gaga – "Alejandro"
Jerrod Niemann – "Lover, Lover"
Toby Keith – "Bullets in the Gun"
Billy Currington – "Pretty Good at Drinkin' Beer"
M.I.A. – "Born Free"
Taylor Swift – "Speak Now"
Brad Paisley - "Water"
John Bush
The Soft Pack - The Soft Pack
Deerhunter - Halcyon Digest
Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti - Before Today
Vampire Weekend - Contra
Kele - The Boxer
Glasser - Ring
The Living Sisters - Love to Live
Spoon - Transference
Best Coast - Crazy for You
The Dead Weather - Sea of Cowards
Flying Lotus - Cosmogramma
Avi Buffalo - Avi Buffalo
Surfer Blood - Astro Coast
M.I.A. - MAYA
Tame Impala - Innerspeaker
Everything Everything - Man Alive
The Budos Band - The Budos Band III
The Bird and the Bee - Interpreting the Masters, Vol. 1: A Tribute to Daryl Hall and John Oates
Gorillaz - Plastic Beach
Wavves - King of the Beach
Beach House - "Norway"
Happy Birthday - "Subliminal Message"
Sleigh Bells - "Ring Ring"
Best Coast - "Boyfriend"
Vampire Weekend - "Holiday"
Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti - "L'estat (Acc. to the Widow's Maid)"
The Bird and the Bee - "I Can't Go for That"
The Black Keys - "Everlasting Light"
José James - "Blackmagic"
Theophilus London - "I Want You"
The Dead Weather - "The Difference Between Us"
Tame Impala - "Desire Be Desire Go"
Javelin - "On It On It"
Belle and Sebastian - "I Didn't See It Coming"
Veronica Falls - "Found Love in a Graveyard"
Cults - "Go Outside"
Thieves Like Us - "Shyness"
Deerhunter - "Earthquake"
Toro y Moi - "Blessa"
James Blake - "Limit to Your Love" (YouTube)
Heather Phares
Beach House - Teen Dream
Boduf Songs - This Alone All Else in Spite of Everything
Charlotte Gainsbourg - IRM
Crystal Castles - Crystal Castles (II)
Deerhunter - Halcyon Digest
Glasser - Ring
How to Dress Well - Love Remains
Janelle Monáe - The ArchAndroid
Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
LCD Soundsystem - This Is Happening
Liars - Sisterworld
LoneLady - Nerve Up
Perfume Genius - Learning
Robyn - Body Talk
Salem - King Night
Sleigh Bells - Treats
Spoon - Transference
Teengirl Fantasy - 7AM
Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross - The Social Network
Zola Jesus - Stridulum II
Basement Jaxx - "Dracula"
Best Coast - "When I'm with You"
Big Boi - "Shutterbugg"
Cee Lo Green - "Fuck You"
Crystal Castles w/ Robert Smith - "We Are Not in Love"
Field Music - "Measure"
Goldfrapp - "Rocket"
Janelle Monae - "Tightrope"
Kanye West - "Power"
Katy Perry - "Teenage Dream"
Kelis - "Acapella"
Lady Gaga - "Telephone"
LCD Soundsystem - "Drunk Girls"
LoneLady - "Nerve Up"
Maximum Balloon - "Tiger"
MGMT - "Flash Delirium"
M.I.A. - "Born Free"
Reporter - "Total Fascination"
Rihanna - "Only Girl in the World"
Robyn - "Dancing on My Own"
Tim Sendra
The School – Loveless Unbeliever
Mighty Clouds – Mighty Clouds
Best Coast - Crazy for You
Magic Kids - Memphis
Gigi - Maintenant
Le Futur Pompiste - Le Futur Pompiste
The Limiñanas - The Limiñanas
Betty and the Werewolves - Teatime Favourites
Dum Dum Girls – I Will Be
The Secret History - The World That Never Was
Kisses - The Heart of the Nightlife
Grass Widow - Past Time
Big Boi - Sir Lucious Left Foot...The Son of Chico Dusty
Title Tracks - It Was Easy
Frankie Rose and the Outs - Frankie Rose and the Outs
Standard Fare - The Noyelle Beat
Cinema Red and Blue - Cinema Red and Blue
Love Is All - Two Thousand and Ten Injuries
Hellogoodbye - Would It Kill You?
Sambassadeur - European
Orange Juice - ...Coals to Newcastle
Dolly Mixture – Everything and More
Black Tambourine - Black Tambourine
Various Artists - Disco Discharge: Disco Boogie
Various Artists - Disco Discharge: Diggin' Deeper
Various Artists - Peoples' Potential Unlimited Family Album
Chin Chin – Sound of the Westway
Various Artists - Horse Meat Disco II
Various Artists - Lagos Disco Inferno
Madlib - Medicine Show No. 10: Black Soul
Matt Collar
For me, this year brought a lot of great albums from unexpected artists. Whether it was Asia's Omega, which sounded as pop-meets-prog as ever, or the old-school '50s vibes of J.D. McPherson and Nick Curran, or Nada Surf’s revelatory covers album If I Had a Hi-Fi, I was never quite sure what would keep me coming back throughout the year. Singles were a bit more of a guilty pleasure, with big-name pop artists like Ke$ha and B.o.B worming their way into my head, and actually, a song off last year's Brand New Eyes, Paramore's brilliant "Playing God," is probably my favorite on the list.
Asia - Omega
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Beat the Devil's Tattoo
Matt Costa - Mobile Chateau
Nick Curran & the Lowlifes - Reform School Girl
Delphic - Acolyte
The Drums - The Drums
Field Music - Field Music (Measure)
Francis and the Lights - It'll Be Better
The Futureheads - The Chaos
Ed Harcourt - Lustre
Interpol - Interpol
Ke$ha - Animal
Lightspeed Champion - Life Is Sweet! Nice to Meet You
J.D. McPherson - Signs & Signifiers
Janelle Monáe - The ArchAndroid
Nada Surf - If I Had a Hi-Fi
The Naked and Famous - Passive Me, Aggressive You
The Posies - Blood/Candy
Robyn - Body Talk
Teenage Fanclub - Shadows
B.o.B. f/ Bruno Mars - "Nothin' on You"
The Black Keys - "Next Girl"
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - "Bad Blood"
Boys Like Girls - "Love Drunk"
Matt Costa - "Witchcraft"
Nick Curran & the Lowlifes - "Reform School Girl"
Delphic - "Counterpoint"
Field Music - "Them That Do Nothing"
Brandon Flowers - "Crossfire"
The Futureheads - "Heartbeat Song"
Ke$ha - "Your Love Is My Drug"
LCD Soundsystem - "Drunk Girls"
J.D. McPherson - "North Side Gal" (YouTube)
Janelle Monáe - "Tightrope"
The Naked and Famous - "Young Blood" (YouTube)
Paramore - "Playing God" (YouTube)
Paramore - "The Only Exception"
Robyn - "Hang with Me"
Thirty Seconds to Mars - "Kings and Queens"
3OH!3 f/ Katy Perry - "Starstruckk"
Greg Heaney
Guilty Simpson - OJ Simpson
Tame Impala - Innerspeaker
MGMT - Congratulations
Bars of Gold - Of Gold
Die Antwoord - $O$
Torche - Songs for Singles
Titus Andronicus - The Monitor
The Hold Steady - Heaven Is Whenever
No Age - Everything in Between
Tyvek - Nothing Fits
Thee Oh Sees - Warm Slime
Gayngs - Relayted
Black Milk - Album of the Year
Black Tusk - Taste the Sin
Deftones - Diamond Eyes
Envy - Recitation
Girl Talk - All Day
Harvey Milk - A Small Turn of Human Kindness
Les Savy Fav - Root for Ruin
The Gaslight Anthem - American Slang
David Jeffries
Aloe Blacc - Good Things
Aziz Ansari - Intimate Moments for a Sensual Evening
Big Boi - Sir Lucious Left Foot...The Son of Chico Dusty
Bo Burnham - Words Words Words
Daft Punk - Tron: Legacy
Diddy Dirty Money - Last Train to Paris
Die Antwoord - $O$
DJ Roc - The Crack Capone
Drake - Thank Me Later
Freeway & Jake One - The Stimulus Package
Girl Talk - All Day
Gyptian - Hold You
Ice Cube - I Am the West
Tom Jones - Praise & Blame
Lil Wayne - I Am Not a Human Being
Mount Kimbie - Crooks & Lovers
Nas & Damian Marley - Distant Relatives
Roots Manuva & Wrongtom - Duppy Writer
Rick Ross - Teflon Don
Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
Thom Jurek
Ray Wylie Hubbard - A. Enlightenment, B. Endarkenment (Hint: There Is No C)
Gil Scott-Heron - I'm New Here
Janelle Monáe - The ArchAndroid
Peter Wolf - Midnight Souvenirs
Jamey Johnson - The Guitar Song
Bilal - Airtight's Revenge
Electric Wire Hustle - Electric Wire Hustle
Anaïs Mitchell - Hadestown
Elizabeth Cook - Welder
José James - Blackmagic
Erykah Badu - New Amerykah, Pt. 2: Return of the Ankh
Dr. John and the Lower 911 - Tribal
Bruce Springsteen - The Promise
YahZarah - The Ballad of Purple St. James
Raheem DeVaughn - The Love & War MasterPeace
Flying Lotus - Cosmogramma
The Budos Band - The Budos Band III
Cee Lo Green - The Lady Killer
Big Boi - Sir Lucious Left Foot...The Son of Chico Dusty
Faun Fables - Light of a Vaster Dark
Aloe Blacc - Good Things
Trombone Shorty - Backatown
Horseback - Invisible Mountain
Syl Johnson - Complete Mythology
P.E. Hewitt Jazz Ensemble - Winter Winds: The Complete Works 1968-70
Sun Ra and His Intergalactic Myth Science Solar Arkestra - Antique Blacks
Chic - The Chic Organization Box Set, Vol. 1: Savoir Faire
Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth - Mecca and the Soul Brother [Deluxe Edition]
Robert Wyatt - Rock Bottom [Domino]
Jane Birkin - Di Doo Dah
Lloyd Miller - A Lifetime in Oriental Jazz
Miles Davis - Bitches Brew [40th Anniversary]
Walter Gibbons - Jungle Music
Andy Kellman
The-Dream - Love King
Quadron - Quadron
Bilal - Airtight's Revenge
Actress - Splazsh
Erykah Badu - New Amerykah, Pt. 2: Return of the Ankh
Deadbeat - Radio Rothko
Jazmine Sullivan - Love Me Back
Flying Lotus - Cosmogramma
Scuba - Sub:Stance
YahZarah - The Ballad of Purple Saint James
Electric Wire Hustle - Electric Wire Hustle
Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
Kode9 - DJ-Kicks
School of Seven Bells - Disconnect from Desire
Roc Marciano - Marcberg
Big Boi - Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty
Diego Bernal - Besides...
Black Milk - Album of the Year
The Sight Below - It All Falls Apart
Janelle Monáe - The ArchAndroid
Pariah - "Prism"
Storm Queen - "Look Right Through"
Kassem Mosse - "Untitled"
Erykah Badu - "Window Seat"
Kanye West - "All of the Lights"
Girl Unit - "Wut"
Oni Ayhun - "OAR004-A"
The Bug - "Skeng [Autechre Remix]"
Kangding Ray - "Pruitt Igoe [Ben Frost Demolition]"
Floating Points - "Peoples Potential"
Ciara - "Speechless"
Lone - "Once in a While"
YahZarah - "Why Dontcha Call Me No More"
Andrea - "You Still Got Me"
Sepalcure - "Love Pressure"
Alicia Keys - "Un-Thinkable (I'm Ready)"
Ninca Leece - "Feed Me Rainbows"
The Crystal Ark - "The City Never Sleeps"
Full Crate & Mar - "I Said"
Mexicans with Guns - "Dame Lo"
Andrew Leahey
Band of Horses - Infinite Arms
Jenny and Johnny - I'm Having Fun Now
Laura Veirs - July Flame
Arcade Fire - The Suburbs
The Head and the Heart - The Head and the Heart
She & Him - Volume Two
Lissie - Catching a Tiger
The Ruby Suns - Fight Softly
Dylan LeBlanc - Paupers Field
Courtney Jaye - The Exotic Sounds of Courtney Jaye
Gemma Ray - It's a Shame About Gemma Ray
The Living Sisters - Love to Live
Keith Urban - Get Closer
Ryan Adams & the Cardinals - III/IV
Taylor Swift - Speak Now
Ray Lamontagne and the Pariah Dogs - God Willin' & the Creek Don't Rise
Elizabeth Cook - Welder
Cee Lo Green - "Fuck You"
She & Him - "Thieves"
Jenny and Johnny - "Switchblade"
Katy Perry - "Teenage Dream"
Courtney Jaye - “Don't Tell a Girl”
Ray Lamontagne - "New York City's Killing Me"
The Head and the Heart - "Lost in My Mind"
Ryan Adams - "Ultraviolet Light"
Taylor Swift - "Mine"
Dylan LeBlanc w/ Emmylou Harris - "If the Creek Don't Rise"
Arcade Fire - "Ready to Start"
Best Coast - "Boyfriend"
Keith Urban - "Georgia Woods"
Living Sisters - "Don't Let the Sun Go Down"
Drive-By Truckers - "Birthday Boy"
Lady Antebellum - "Need You Now"
Band of Horses - "Laredo"
The Gregory Brothers f/ Antoine Dodson - "The Bed Intruder Song"
Jason Lymangrover
Ariel Pink's Haunted Grafitti - Before Today
Deerhunter - Halcyon Digest
Dum Dum Girls - I Will Be
Flying Lotus - Cosmogramma
Gonjasufi - A Sufi and a Killer
Holy Fuck - Latin
Adam Green - Minor Love
Girl Talk - All Day
Growing - Pumps!
Harlem - Hippies
No Age - Everything in Between
Mike Patton - Mondo Cane
Salem - King Night
Small Black - New Chain
Tame Impala - Innerspeaker
Titus Andronicus - The Monitor
Toro y Moi - Causers of This
Wavves - King of the Beach
Women - Public Strain
Zach Hill - Face Tat
Abe Vigoda - "November"
Archie Bronson Outfit - "Hunt You Down"
John Wesley Coleman - "Come on Cops"
Crocodiles - "Hearts of Love"
Crystal Castles - "Doe Deer"
Das Racist - "You Oughta Know"
Deer Tick - "Hand in my Hand"
Dinowalrus - "Haze on the Sunset Strip"
Dreamend - "Magnesium Light"
Future Islands - "Tin Man"
Gorillaz - "Sweepstakes"
Gil Scott-Heron - "I'm New Here"
Medications - "We Could Be Others"
MGMT - "Someone's Missing"
Nas & Damien Marley - "As We Enter"
Sleigh Bells - "Treats"
Suckers - "Before Your Birthday Ends"
Summer Camp - "Round the Moon"
Surfer Blood - "Swim"
Tyvek - "4312"
James Christopher Monger
Smoke Fairies - Through Low Light and Trees
Field Music - Field Music (Measure)
The National - High Violet
Arcade Fire - The Suburbs
Janelle Monáe - The ArchAndroid
Phantogram - Eyelid Movies
The New Pornographers - Together
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Beat the Devil's Tattoo
Surfer Blood - Astro Coast
Clogs - The Creatures in the Garden of Lady Walton
Frightened Rabbit - The Winter of Mixed Drinks
Baby Dee - A Book of Songs for Anne Marie
The Futureheads - The Chaos
Hanz Zimmer - Inception
Oh No Ono - Eggs
Maps & Atlases - Perch Patchwork
Sun Kil Moon - Admiral Fell Promises
Robyn Hitchcock & the Venus 3 - Propellor Time
Faun Fables - Light of a Vaster Dark
Sufjan Stevens - The Age of Adz
David Dondero - "# Zero with a Bullet"
Delta Spirit - "Salt in the Wound"
Against Me! - "White Crosses"
Laura Marling - "Rambling Man"
Jónsi - "Boy Lilikoi"
Magnetic Fields - "You Must Be Out of Your Mind"
Broken Bells - "The High Road"
Sharon Van Etten - "Peace Sign"
Grasscut - "The Door in the Wall"
Paul Weller - "Wake Up the Nation"
Teddybears - "Crystal Meth Christian"
Danny Elfman - "Alice's Theme"
Stornoway - "Zorbing"
Fang Island - "Daisy"
Fyfe Dangerfield - "She Needs Me"
Mumford & Sons - "The Cave"
Cherry Ghost - "We Sleep On Stones"
Twin Shadow - "Tyrant Destroyed"
Paolo Conte - "Clown"
LoneLady - "If Not Now"
Sean Westergaard
Algernon - Ghost Surveillance
Matt Bauder - Day in Pictures
The Books - The Way Out
Bushman's Revenge - Jitterbug
Jim Campilongo - Orange
The Claudia Quintet - Royal Toast
The Nels Cline Singers - Initiate
Miles Davis - Bitches Brew: Legacy Edition [2CD/DVD]
Dither - Dither
High Tide - Sea Shanties
Mike Keneally & Marco Minnemann - Evidence of Humanity
King Crimson - In the Court of the Crimson King [Box Set]
Chris Lightcap's Bigmouth - Deluxe
Mostly Other People Do the Killing - Forty Fort
Salo - Sundial Lotus
Sun Ra and His Intergalactic Myth Science Solar Arkestra - The Antique Blacks
Various Artists - I Never Metaguitar
Junior Wells & the Aces - Live in Boston 1966
Dustin Wong - Infinite Love
John Zorn - Interzone
John Buchanan
Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross - The Social Network
Ling Tosite Sigure - Still a Sigure Virgin?
Hans Zimmer - Inception
D'espairsRay - Monsters
Shackleton - Fabric 55
Brian Eno - Small Craft on a Milk Sea
LM.C - Wonderful Wonderholic
Four Tet - There Is Love in You
Oz - Rouge
Autechre - Move of Ten
NoGod - Kakera
To Rococo Rot - Speculation
D=Out - Carnival Ukiyo
Jónsi - Go
Sug - Tokyo Muzical Hotel
Deftones - Diamond Eyes
Max Richter - Infra
Korn - Korn III: Remember Who You Are
Hauschka - Foreign Landscapes
Helmet - Seeing Eye Dog
Daniel Clancy
Male Bonding - Nothing Hurts
Arcade Fire - The Suburbs
Connan Mockasin - Please Turn Me into the Snat
Steve Mason - Boys Outside
The Walkmen - Lisbon
Sky Larkin - Kaleide
Fang Island - Fang Island
The National - High Violet
Archie Bronson Outfit - Coconut
Best Coast - Crazy for You
Ten Kens - For Posterity
Field Music - Field Music (Measure)
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Beat the Devil's Tattoo
Laura Marling - I Speak Because I Can
Dum Dum Girls - I Will Be
Beach House - Teen Dream
Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
Wavves - King of the Beach
Superchunk - Majesty Shredding
Deerhunter - Halcyon Digest
Matthew Garbutt
Aloe Blacc – Good Things
Anika – Anika
Antony and the Johnsons – Swanlights
Belleruche – 270 Stories
Big Boi – Sir Lucious Left Foot...The Son of Chico Dusty
Dan Sartain – Dan Sartain Lives
Four Tet – There Is Love in You
Gonjasufi – A Sufi and a Killer
Grinderman – Grinderman II
Holly Golightly – Medicine County
Imelda May – Mayhem
Jamie Lidell – Compass
José James – Blackmagic
Karen Elson – The Ghost Who Walks
M.I.A. – MAYA
Moon Duo – Escape
Richard James – We Went Riding
Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings – I Learned the Hard Way
The Limiñanas – The Limiñanas
Various Artists – We Are Only Riders: The Jeffrey Lee Pierce Sessions Projects
Baby Dee – "Unheard of Hope"
Black Carrot – "The One That Got Away"
Broken Bells – "The Ghost Inside"
Cee Lo Green – "Fuck You"
Danny Byrd - "Changes"
Dum Dum Girls – "Jail La La"
Janelle Monáe – "Tightrope"
Kode9 – "You Don't Wash"
Magnetic Man – "Ping Pong"
Plan B – "She Said"
Polar Bear – "Happy for You"
Sade – "Soldier of Love"
Stereolab - "Laserblast"
The Bamboos – "Turn It Up"
The Budos Band – "Rite of the Ancients"
The Bug – "Tune In"
The Coral – "1000 Years"
The Human League – "Night People"
The Soft Pack – "C'mon"
Tindersticks – "Black Smoke"
Aneet Nijjar
Gil Scott-Heron – I'm New Here
Salem – King Night
Anika – Anika
Various Artists – The Minimal Wave Tapes, Vol. 1
Matthew Dear – Black City
LA Vampires – So Unreal
Charanjit Singh – Ten Ragas to a Disco Beat
Walter Gibbons – Jungle Music
Hype Williams – Hype Williams
Kanye West – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
Various Artists – Cold Waves & Minimal Electronics, Vol. 1
LoneLady – Nerve Up
LCD Soundsystem – This Is Happening
Shit Robot – From the Cradle to the Rave
Sam Spence – Sam Spence Sounds
Basil Kirchen – Primitive London
Mulatu Astatke – Steps Ahead
Frank (Just Frank) – The Brutal Wave
Seahawks – Ocean Trippin'
Oneohtrix Point Never – Returnal
Factory Floor – "Lying"/"A Wooden Box"
Pagan Future – "Ancient Ritual"
Zombie Zombie – Plays John Carpenter
Ruth – "Polaroid/Roman/Photo"
Broadcast and the Focus Group – Familiar Shapes and Noises
Teengirl Fantasy – "Cheaters"
Maxxi/Zeus – "American Dreamer"
M.I.A. – "XXXO"
Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti – "Round and Round"
Sade – "Soldier of Love"
Jack Semmence
The Black Keys – Brothers
These New Puritans – Hidden
Nas & Damien Marley – Distant Relatives
Smoke Fairies – Through Low Light and Trees
Kanye West – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
The Futureheads – The Chaos
Noisia – Split the Atom
Four Tet – There Is Love in You
The Tallest Man on Earth – The Wild Hunt
Akala – Doublethink
Karen Elson – The Ghost Who Walks
Eminem – Recovery
Arcade Fire – The Suburbs
Titus Andronicus – The Monitor
Skream – Outside the Box
Rufus Wainwright – All Days Are Nights: Songs for Lulu
James Wilkinson
Stereolab - Not Music
Dum Dum Girls - I Will Be
Beach Fossils - Beach Fossils
Beach House - Teen Dream
The Besnard Lakes - The Besnard Lakes Are the Roaring Night
Kenny Graham & His Satellites - Moondog and Suncat Suites
Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings - I Learned the Hard Way
The Strange Boys - Be Brave
Ali Farka Touré & Toumani Diabaté - Ali & Toumani
Band of Horses - Infinite Arms
Steve Mason - Boys Outside
Belle & Sebastian - Write About Love
Laura Marling - I Speak Because I Can
Damien Jurado - Saint Bartlett
Black Mountain - Wilderness Heart
A Broken Consort - Crow Autumn
Jane Weaver - The Fallen by Watchbird
Wild Nothing - Gemini
Women - Public Strain
Neil Young - Le Noise
The Advisory Circle - "New Dimensions in the Advisory Circle"
Best Coast - "Something in the Way"
Veronica Falls - "Found Love in a Graveyard"
Broadcast & the Focus Group - "Inside Out"
Belbury Poly - "Swingalong"
Django Django - "WOR"
Teenage Fanclub - "Baby Lee"
Crocodiles - "Sleep Forever"
Shimmering Stars - "East Van Girls"
Spectrals - "7th Date"
French Kissing - "Oh Suzanne"
Danger Mouse & Sparklehorse f/ Gruff Rhys - "Just War"
Dum Dum Girls - "Pay for Me"
Yair Yona - "Remember"
Garotas Suecas - "Codinome Dinamite"
Ancient Crux - "In Teen Dreams"
Laura Marling - "Blues Run the Game"
Factory Floor - "Lying"
Anika - "Yang Yang"
Spectrals - "Peppermint"
Richard Wilson
Admiral Radley - I Heart California
Arcade Fire - The Suburbs
Broken Social Scene - Forgiveness Rock Record
The Chemical Brothers - Further
Fang Island - Fang Island
Grinderman - Grinderman 2
Holy Fuck - Latin
Joanna Newsom - Have One on Me
Jónsi - Go
Male Bonding - Nothing Hurts
Noisia - Split the Atom
Siskiyou - Siskiyou
Sleigh Bells - Treats
Superchunk - Majesty Shredding
The Hold Steady - Heaven Is Whenever
The Tallest Man on Earth - The Wild Hunt
Titus Andronicus - The Monitor
Umek - Responding to Dynamic
Vex'd - Cloud Seed
Wavves - King of the Beach
Stephen Thomas Erlewine
The Black Keys – Brothers
Robert Plant - Band of Joy
Vampire Weekend - Contra
Spoon - Transference
Paul Weller – Wake Up the Nation
Arcade Fire - The Suburbs
LCD Soundsystem – This Is Happening
The Hotrats – Turn Ons
Charlotte Gainsbourg - IRM
Ke$ha – Animal
Jazmine Sullivan - Love Me Back
Eminem – Recovery
Erykah Badu - New Amerykah, Pt. 2: Return of the Ankh
Shakira – Sale el Sol
Beach House - Teen Dream
Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
Deerhunter - Halcyon Digest
Cee Lo Green - The Lady Killer
Goldfrapp – Head First
Sleigh Bells - Treats
The Soft Pack - The Soft Pack
Liars - Sisterworld
My Chemical Romance – Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys
Janelle Monáe - The ArchAndroid
Sara Bareilles - Kaleidoscope Heart
LCD Soundsystem – "Drunk Girls"
Katy Perry – "Teenage Dream"
Ke$ha – "Tik Tok"
Ke$ha – "Take It Off"
Cee Lo Green – "Fuck You"
Lady Gaga – "Alejandro"
Jerrod Niemann – "Lover, Lover"
Toby Keith – "Bullets in the Gun"
Billy Currington – "Pretty Good at Drinkin' Beer"
M.I.A. – "Born Free"
Taylor Swift – "Speak Now"
Brad Paisley - "Water"
John Bush
The Soft Pack - The Soft Pack
Deerhunter - Halcyon Digest
Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti - Before Today
Vampire Weekend - Contra
Kele - The Boxer
Glasser - Ring
The Living Sisters - Love to Live
Spoon - Transference
Best Coast - Crazy for You
The Dead Weather - Sea of Cowards
Flying Lotus - Cosmogramma
Avi Buffalo - Avi Buffalo
Surfer Blood - Astro Coast
M.I.A. - MAYA
Tame Impala - Innerspeaker
Everything Everything - Man Alive
The Budos Band - The Budos Band III
The Bird and the Bee - Interpreting the Masters, Vol. 1: A Tribute to Daryl Hall and John Oates
Gorillaz - Plastic Beach
Wavves - King of the Beach
Beach House - "Norway"
Happy Birthday - "Subliminal Message"
Sleigh Bells - "Ring Ring"
Best Coast - "Boyfriend"
Vampire Weekend - "Holiday"
Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti - "L'estat (Acc. to the Widow's Maid)"
The Bird and the Bee - "I Can't Go for That"
The Black Keys - "Everlasting Light"
José James - "Blackmagic"
Theophilus London - "I Want You"
The Dead Weather - "The Difference Between Us"
Tame Impala - "Desire Be Desire Go"
Javelin - "On It On It"
Belle and Sebastian - "I Didn't See It Coming"
Veronica Falls - "Found Love in a Graveyard"
Cults - "Go Outside"
Thieves Like Us - "Shyness"
Deerhunter - "Earthquake"
Toro y Moi - "Blessa"
James Blake - "Limit to Your Love" (YouTube)
Heather Phares
Beach House - Teen Dream
Boduf Songs - This Alone All Else in Spite of Everything
Charlotte Gainsbourg - IRM
Crystal Castles - Crystal Castles (II)
Deerhunter - Halcyon Digest
Glasser - Ring
How to Dress Well - Love Remains
Janelle Monáe - The ArchAndroid
Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
LCD Soundsystem - This Is Happening
Liars - Sisterworld
LoneLady - Nerve Up
Perfume Genius - Learning
Robyn - Body Talk
Salem - King Night
Sleigh Bells - Treats
Spoon - Transference
Teengirl Fantasy - 7AM
Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross - The Social Network
Zola Jesus - Stridulum II
Basement Jaxx - "Dracula"
Best Coast - "When I'm with You"
Big Boi - "Shutterbugg"
Cee Lo Green - "Fuck You"
Crystal Castles w/ Robert Smith - "We Are Not in Love"
Field Music - "Measure"
Goldfrapp - "Rocket"
Janelle Monae - "Tightrope"
Kanye West - "Power"
Katy Perry - "Teenage Dream"
Kelis - "Acapella"
Lady Gaga - "Telephone"
LCD Soundsystem - "Drunk Girls"
LoneLady - "Nerve Up"
Maximum Balloon - "Tiger"
MGMT - "Flash Delirium"
M.I.A. - "Born Free"
Reporter - "Total Fascination"
Rihanna - "Only Girl in the World"
Robyn - "Dancing on My Own"
Tim Sendra
The School – Loveless Unbeliever
Mighty Clouds – Mighty Clouds
Best Coast - Crazy for You
Magic Kids - Memphis
Gigi - Maintenant
Le Futur Pompiste - Le Futur Pompiste
The Limiñanas - The Limiñanas
Betty and the Werewolves - Teatime Favourites
Dum Dum Girls – I Will Be
The Secret History - The World That Never Was
Kisses - The Heart of the Nightlife
Grass Widow - Past Time
Big Boi - Sir Lucious Left Foot...The Son of Chico Dusty
Title Tracks - It Was Easy
Frankie Rose and the Outs - Frankie Rose and the Outs
Standard Fare - The Noyelle Beat
Cinema Red and Blue - Cinema Red and Blue
Love Is All - Two Thousand and Ten Injuries
Hellogoodbye - Would It Kill You?
Sambassadeur - European
Orange Juice - ...Coals to Newcastle
Dolly Mixture – Everything and More
Black Tambourine - Black Tambourine
Various Artists - Disco Discharge: Disco Boogie
Various Artists - Disco Discharge: Diggin' Deeper
Various Artists - Peoples' Potential Unlimited Family Album
Chin Chin – Sound of the Westway
Various Artists - Horse Meat Disco II
Various Artists - Lagos Disco Inferno
Madlib - Medicine Show No. 10: Black Soul
Matt Collar
For me, this year brought a lot of great albums from unexpected artists. Whether it was Asia's Omega, which sounded as pop-meets-prog as ever, or the old-school '50s vibes of J.D. McPherson and Nick Curran, or Nada Surf’s revelatory covers album If I Had a Hi-Fi, I was never quite sure what would keep me coming back throughout the year. Singles were a bit more of a guilty pleasure, with big-name pop artists like Ke$ha and B.o.B worming their way into my head, and actually, a song off last year's Brand New Eyes, Paramore's brilliant "Playing God," is probably my favorite on the list.
Asia - Omega
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Beat the Devil's Tattoo
Matt Costa - Mobile Chateau
Nick Curran & the Lowlifes - Reform School Girl
Delphic - Acolyte
The Drums - The Drums
Field Music - Field Music (Measure)
Francis and the Lights - It'll Be Better
The Futureheads - The Chaos
Ed Harcourt - Lustre
Interpol - Interpol
Ke$ha - Animal
Lightspeed Champion - Life Is Sweet! Nice to Meet You
J.D. McPherson - Signs & Signifiers
Janelle Monáe - The ArchAndroid
Nada Surf - If I Had a Hi-Fi
The Naked and Famous - Passive Me, Aggressive You
The Posies - Blood/Candy
Robyn - Body Talk
Teenage Fanclub - Shadows
B.o.B. f/ Bruno Mars - "Nothin' on You"
The Black Keys - "Next Girl"
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - "Bad Blood"
Boys Like Girls - "Love Drunk"
Matt Costa - "Witchcraft"
Nick Curran & the Lowlifes - "Reform School Girl"
Delphic - "Counterpoint"
Field Music - "Them That Do Nothing"
Brandon Flowers - "Crossfire"
The Futureheads - "Heartbeat Song"
Ke$ha - "Your Love Is My Drug"
LCD Soundsystem - "Drunk Girls"
J.D. McPherson - "North Side Gal" (YouTube)
Janelle Monáe - "Tightrope"
The Naked and Famous - "Young Blood" (YouTube)
Paramore - "Playing God" (YouTube)
Paramore - "The Only Exception"
Robyn - "Hang with Me"
Thirty Seconds to Mars - "Kings and Queens"
3OH!3 f/ Katy Perry - "Starstruckk"
Greg Heaney
Guilty Simpson - OJ Simpson
Tame Impala - Innerspeaker
MGMT - Congratulations
Bars of Gold - Of Gold
Die Antwoord - $O$
Torche - Songs for Singles
Titus Andronicus - The Monitor
The Hold Steady - Heaven Is Whenever
No Age - Everything in Between
Tyvek - Nothing Fits
Thee Oh Sees - Warm Slime
Gayngs - Relayted
Black Milk - Album of the Year
Black Tusk - Taste the Sin
Deftones - Diamond Eyes
Envy - Recitation
Girl Talk - All Day
Harvey Milk - A Small Turn of Human Kindness
Les Savy Fav - Root for Ruin
The Gaslight Anthem - American Slang
David Jeffries
Aloe Blacc - Good Things
Aziz Ansari - Intimate Moments for a Sensual Evening
Big Boi - Sir Lucious Left Foot...The Son of Chico Dusty
Bo Burnham - Words Words Words
Daft Punk - Tron: Legacy
Diddy Dirty Money - Last Train to Paris
Die Antwoord - $O$
DJ Roc - The Crack Capone
Drake - Thank Me Later
Freeway & Jake One - The Stimulus Package
Girl Talk - All Day
Gyptian - Hold You
Ice Cube - I Am the West
Tom Jones - Praise & Blame
Lil Wayne - I Am Not a Human Being
Mount Kimbie - Crooks & Lovers
Nas & Damian Marley - Distant Relatives
Roots Manuva & Wrongtom - Duppy Writer
Rick Ross - Teflon Don
Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
Thom Jurek
Ray Wylie Hubbard - A. Enlightenment, B. Endarkenment (Hint: There Is No C)
Gil Scott-Heron - I'm New Here
Janelle Monáe - The ArchAndroid
Peter Wolf - Midnight Souvenirs
Jamey Johnson - The Guitar Song
Bilal - Airtight's Revenge
Electric Wire Hustle - Electric Wire Hustle
Anaïs Mitchell - Hadestown
Elizabeth Cook - Welder
José James - Blackmagic
Erykah Badu - New Amerykah, Pt. 2: Return of the Ankh
Dr. John and the Lower 911 - Tribal
Bruce Springsteen - The Promise
YahZarah - The Ballad of Purple St. James
Raheem DeVaughn - The Love & War MasterPeace
Flying Lotus - Cosmogramma
The Budos Band - The Budos Band III
Cee Lo Green - The Lady Killer
Big Boi - Sir Lucious Left Foot...The Son of Chico Dusty
Faun Fables - Light of a Vaster Dark
Aloe Blacc - Good Things
Trombone Shorty - Backatown
Horseback - Invisible Mountain
Syl Johnson - Complete Mythology
P.E. Hewitt Jazz Ensemble - Winter Winds: The Complete Works 1968-70
Sun Ra and His Intergalactic Myth Science Solar Arkestra - Antique Blacks
Chic - The Chic Organization Box Set, Vol. 1: Savoir Faire
Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth - Mecca and the Soul Brother [Deluxe Edition]
Robert Wyatt - Rock Bottom [Domino]
Jane Birkin - Di Doo Dah
Lloyd Miller - A Lifetime in Oriental Jazz
Miles Davis - Bitches Brew [40th Anniversary]
Walter Gibbons - Jungle Music
Andy Kellman
The-Dream - Love King
Quadron - Quadron
Bilal - Airtight's Revenge
Actress - Splazsh
Erykah Badu - New Amerykah, Pt. 2: Return of the Ankh
Deadbeat - Radio Rothko
Jazmine Sullivan - Love Me Back
Flying Lotus - Cosmogramma
Scuba - Sub:Stance
YahZarah - The Ballad of Purple Saint James
Electric Wire Hustle - Electric Wire Hustle
Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
Kode9 - DJ-Kicks
School of Seven Bells - Disconnect from Desire
Roc Marciano - Marcberg
Big Boi - Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty
Diego Bernal - Besides...
Black Milk - Album of the Year
The Sight Below - It All Falls Apart
Janelle Monáe - The ArchAndroid
Pariah - "Prism"
Storm Queen - "Look Right Through"
Kassem Mosse - "Untitled"
Erykah Badu - "Window Seat"
Kanye West - "All of the Lights"
Girl Unit - "Wut"
Oni Ayhun - "OAR004-A"
The Bug - "Skeng [Autechre Remix]"
Kangding Ray - "Pruitt Igoe [Ben Frost Demolition]"
Floating Points - "Peoples Potential"
Ciara - "Speechless"
Lone - "Once in a While"
YahZarah - "Why Dontcha Call Me No More"
Andrea - "You Still Got Me"
Sepalcure - "Love Pressure"
Alicia Keys - "Un-Thinkable (I'm Ready)"
Ninca Leece - "Feed Me Rainbows"
The Crystal Ark - "The City Never Sleeps"
Full Crate & Mar - "I Said"
Mexicans with Guns - "Dame Lo"
Andrew Leahey
Band of Horses - Infinite Arms
Jenny and Johnny - I'm Having Fun Now
Laura Veirs - July Flame
Arcade Fire - The Suburbs
The Head and the Heart - The Head and the Heart
She & Him - Volume Two
Lissie - Catching a Tiger
The Ruby Suns - Fight Softly
Dylan LeBlanc - Paupers Field
Courtney Jaye - The Exotic Sounds of Courtney Jaye
Gemma Ray - It's a Shame About Gemma Ray
The Living Sisters - Love to Live
Keith Urban - Get Closer
Ryan Adams & the Cardinals - III/IV
Taylor Swift - Speak Now
Ray Lamontagne and the Pariah Dogs - God Willin' & the Creek Don't Rise
Elizabeth Cook - Welder
Cee Lo Green - "Fuck You"
She & Him - "Thieves"
Jenny and Johnny - "Switchblade"
Katy Perry - "Teenage Dream"
Courtney Jaye - “Don't Tell a Girl”
Ray Lamontagne - "New York City's Killing Me"
The Head and the Heart - "Lost in My Mind"
Ryan Adams - "Ultraviolet Light"
Taylor Swift - "Mine"
Dylan LeBlanc w/ Emmylou Harris - "If the Creek Don't Rise"
Arcade Fire - "Ready to Start"
Best Coast - "Boyfriend"
Keith Urban - "Georgia Woods"
Living Sisters - "Don't Let the Sun Go Down"
Drive-By Truckers - "Birthday Boy"
Lady Antebellum - "Need You Now"
Band of Horses - "Laredo"
The Gregory Brothers f/ Antoine Dodson - "The Bed Intruder Song"
Jason Lymangrover
Ariel Pink's Haunted Grafitti - Before Today
Deerhunter - Halcyon Digest
Dum Dum Girls - I Will Be
Flying Lotus - Cosmogramma
Gonjasufi - A Sufi and a Killer
Holy Fuck - Latin
Adam Green - Minor Love
Girl Talk - All Day
Growing - Pumps!
Harlem - Hippies
No Age - Everything in Between
Mike Patton - Mondo Cane
Salem - King Night
Small Black - New Chain
Tame Impala - Innerspeaker
Titus Andronicus - The Monitor
Toro y Moi - Causers of This
Wavves - King of the Beach
Women - Public Strain
Zach Hill - Face Tat
Abe Vigoda - "November"
Archie Bronson Outfit - "Hunt You Down"
John Wesley Coleman - "Come on Cops"
Crocodiles - "Hearts of Love"
Crystal Castles - "Doe Deer"
Das Racist - "You Oughta Know"
Deer Tick - "Hand in my Hand"
Dinowalrus - "Haze on the Sunset Strip"
Dreamend - "Magnesium Light"
Future Islands - "Tin Man"
Gorillaz - "Sweepstakes"
Gil Scott-Heron - "I'm New Here"
Medications - "We Could Be Others"
MGMT - "Someone's Missing"
Nas & Damien Marley - "As We Enter"
Sleigh Bells - "Treats"
Suckers - "Before Your Birthday Ends"
Summer Camp - "Round the Moon"
Surfer Blood - "Swim"
Tyvek - "4312"
James Christopher Monger
Smoke Fairies - Through Low Light and Trees
Field Music - Field Music (Measure)
The National - High Violet
Arcade Fire - The Suburbs
Janelle Monáe - The ArchAndroid
Phantogram - Eyelid Movies
The New Pornographers - Together
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Beat the Devil's Tattoo
Surfer Blood - Astro Coast
Clogs - The Creatures in the Garden of Lady Walton
Frightened Rabbit - The Winter of Mixed Drinks
Baby Dee - A Book of Songs for Anne Marie
The Futureheads - The Chaos
Hanz Zimmer - Inception
Oh No Ono - Eggs
Maps & Atlases - Perch Patchwork
Sun Kil Moon - Admiral Fell Promises
Robyn Hitchcock & the Venus 3 - Propellor Time
Faun Fables - Light of a Vaster Dark
Sufjan Stevens - The Age of Adz
David Dondero - "# Zero with a Bullet"
Delta Spirit - "Salt in the Wound"
Against Me! - "White Crosses"
Laura Marling - "Rambling Man"
Jónsi - "Boy Lilikoi"
Magnetic Fields - "You Must Be Out of Your Mind"
Broken Bells - "The High Road"
Sharon Van Etten - "Peace Sign"
Grasscut - "The Door in the Wall"
Paul Weller - "Wake Up the Nation"
Teddybears - "Crystal Meth Christian"
Danny Elfman - "Alice's Theme"
Stornoway - "Zorbing"
Fang Island - "Daisy"
Fyfe Dangerfield - "She Needs Me"
Mumford & Sons - "The Cave"
Cherry Ghost - "We Sleep On Stones"
Twin Shadow - "Tyrant Destroyed"
Paolo Conte - "Clown"
LoneLady - "If Not Now"
Sean Westergaard
Algernon - Ghost Surveillance
Matt Bauder - Day in Pictures
The Books - The Way Out
Bushman's Revenge - Jitterbug
Jim Campilongo - Orange
The Claudia Quintet - Royal Toast
The Nels Cline Singers - Initiate
Miles Davis - Bitches Brew: Legacy Edition [2CD/DVD]
Dither - Dither
High Tide - Sea Shanties
Mike Keneally & Marco Minnemann - Evidence of Humanity
King Crimson - In the Court of the Crimson King [Box Set]
Chris Lightcap's Bigmouth - Deluxe
Mostly Other People Do the Killing - Forty Fort
Salo - Sundial Lotus
Sun Ra and His Intergalactic Myth Science Solar Arkestra - The Antique Blacks
Various Artists - I Never Metaguitar
Junior Wells & the Aces - Live in Boston 1966
Dustin Wong - Infinite Love
John Zorn - Interzone
John Buchanan
Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross - The Social Network
Ling Tosite Sigure - Still a Sigure Virgin?
Hans Zimmer - Inception
D'espairsRay - Monsters
Shackleton - Fabric 55
Brian Eno - Small Craft on a Milk Sea
LM.C - Wonderful Wonderholic
Four Tet - There Is Love in You
Oz - Rouge
Autechre - Move of Ten
NoGod - Kakera
To Rococo Rot - Speculation
D=Out - Carnival Ukiyo
Jónsi - Go
Sug - Tokyo Muzical Hotel
Deftones - Diamond Eyes
Max Richter - Infra
Korn - Korn III: Remember Who You Are
Hauschka - Foreign Landscapes
Helmet - Seeing Eye Dog
Daniel Clancy
Male Bonding - Nothing Hurts
Arcade Fire - The Suburbs
Connan Mockasin - Please Turn Me into the Snat
Steve Mason - Boys Outside
The Walkmen - Lisbon
Sky Larkin - Kaleide
Fang Island - Fang Island
The National - High Violet
Archie Bronson Outfit - Coconut
Best Coast - Crazy for You
Ten Kens - For Posterity
Field Music - Field Music (Measure)
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Beat the Devil's Tattoo
Laura Marling - I Speak Because I Can
Dum Dum Girls - I Will Be
Beach House - Teen Dream
Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
Wavves - King of the Beach
Superchunk - Majesty Shredding
Deerhunter - Halcyon Digest
Matthew Garbutt
Aloe Blacc – Good Things
Anika – Anika
Antony and the Johnsons – Swanlights
Belleruche – 270 Stories
Big Boi – Sir Lucious Left Foot...The Son of Chico Dusty
Dan Sartain – Dan Sartain Lives
Four Tet – There Is Love in You
Gonjasufi – A Sufi and a Killer
Grinderman – Grinderman II
Holly Golightly – Medicine County
Imelda May – Mayhem
Jamie Lidell – Compass
José James – Blackmagic
Karen Elson – The Ghost Who Walks
M.I.A. – MAYA
Moon Duo – Escape
Richard James – We Went Riding
Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings – I Learned the Hard Way
The Limiñanas – The Limiñanas
Various Artists – We Are Only Riders: The Jeffrey Lee Pierce Sessions Projects
Baby Dee – "Unheard of Hope"
Black Carrot – "The One That Got Away"
Broken Bells – "The Ghost Inside"
Cee Lo Green – "Fuck You"
Danny Byrd - "Changes"
Dum Dum Girls – "Jail La La"
Janelle Monáe – "Tightrope"
Kode9 – "You Don't Wash"
Magnetic Man – "Ping Pong"
Plan B – "She Said"
Polar Bear – "Happy for You"
Sade – "Soldier of Love"
Stereolab - "Laserblast"
The Bamboos – "Turn It Up"
The Budos Band – "Rite of the Ancients"
The Bug – "Tune In"
The Coral – "1000 Years"
The Human League – "Night People"
The Soft Pack – "C'mon"
Tindersticks – "Black Smoke"
Aneet Nijjar
Gil Scott-Heron – I'm New Here
Salem – King Night
Anika – Anika
Various Artists – The Minimal Wave Tapes, Vol. 1
Matthew Dear – Black City
LA Vampires – So Unreal
Charanjit Singh – Ten Ragas to a Disco Beat
Walter Gibbons – Jungle Music
Hype Williams – Hype Williams
Kanye West – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
Various Artists – Cold Waves & Minimal Electronics, Vol. 1
LoneLady – Nerve Up
LCD Soundsystem – This Is Happening
Shit Robot – From the Cradle to the Rave
Sam Spence – Sam Spence Sounds
Basil Kirchen – Primitive London
Mulatu Astatke – Steps Ahead
Frank (Just Frank) – The Brutal Wave
Seahawks – Ocean Trippin'
Oneohtrix Point Never – Returnal
Factory Floor – "Lying"/"A Wooden Box"
Pagan Future – "Ancient Ritual"
Zombie Zombie – Plays John Carpenter
Ruth – "Polaroid/Roman/Photo"
Broadcast and the Focus Group – Familiar Shapes and Noises
Teengirl Fantasy – "Cheaters"
Maxxi/Zeus – "American Dreamer"
M.I.A. – "XXXO"
Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti – "Round and Round"
Sade – "Soldier of Love"
Jack Semmence
The Black Keys – Brothers
These New Puritans – Hidden
Nas & Damien Marley – Distant Relatives
Smoke Fairies – Through Low Light and Trees
Kanye West – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
The Futureheads – The Chaos
Noisia – Split the Atom
Four Tet – There Is Love in You
The Tallest Man on Earth – The Wild Hunt
Akala – Doublethink
Karen Elson – The Ghost Who Walks
Eminem – Recovery
Arcade Fire – The Suburbs
Titus Andronicus – The Monitor
Skream – Outside the Box
Rufus Wainwright – All Days Are Nights: Songs for Lulu
James Wilkinson
Stereolab - Not Music
Dum Dum Girls - I Will Be
Beach Fossils - Beach Fossils
Beach House - Teen Dream
The Besnard Lakes - The Besnard Lakes Are the Roaring Night
Kenny Graham & His Satellites - Moondog and Suncat Suites
Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings - I Learned the Hard Way
The Strange Boys - Be Brave
Ali Farka Touré & Toumani Diabaté - Ali & Toumani
Band of Horses - Infinite Arms
Steve Mason - Boys Outside
Belle & Sebastian - Write About Love
Laura Marling - I Speak Because I Can
Damien Jurado - Saint Bartlett
Black Mountain - Wilderness Heart
A Broken Consort - Crow Autumn
Jane Weaver - The Fallen by Watchbird
Wild Nothing - Gemini
Women - Public Strain
Neil Young - Le Noise
The Advisory Circle - "New Dimensions in the Advisory Circle"
Best Coast - "Something in the Way"
Veronica Falls - "Found Love in a Graveyard"
Broadcast & the Focus Group - "Inside Out"
Belbury Poly - "Swingalong"
Django Django - "WOR"
Teenage Fanclub - "Baby Lee"
Crocodiles - "Sleep Forever"
Shimmering Stars - "East Van Girls"
Spectrals - "7th Date"
French Kissing - "Oh Suzanne"
Danger Mouse & Sparklehorse f/ Gruff Rhys - "Just War"
Dum Dum Girls - "Pay for Me"
Yair Yona - "Remember"
Garotas Suecas - "Codinome Dinamite"
Ancient Crux - "In Teen Dreams"
Laura Marling - "Blues Run the Game"
Factory Floor - "Lying"
Anika - "Yang Yang"
Spectrals - "Peppermint"
Richard Wilson
Admiral Radley - I Heart California
Arcade Fire - The Suburbs
Broken Social Scene - Forgiveness Rock Record
The Chemical Brothers - Further
Fang Island - Fang Island
Grinderman - Grinderman 2
Holy Fuck - Latin
Joanna Newsom - Have One on Me
Jónsi - Go
Male Bonding - Nothing Hurts
Noisia - Split the Atom
Siskiyou - Siskiyou
Sleigh Bells - Treats
Superchunk - Majesty Shredding
The Hold Steady - Heaven Is Whenever
The Tallest Man on Earth - The Wild Hunt
Titus Andronicus - The Monitor
Umek - Responding to Dynamic
Vex'd - Cloud Seed
Wavves - King of the Beach