Hate it on it all you want, but I know you're gonna check it out

Because everyone else is doing it. If a better album comes out between today and December 31st, I’ll make sure to include it.

1. Deerhunter – Halcyon Digest. I became incredibly fond of this band this year. It took me a while to really appreciate Microcastle, but this one I loved right away. Everything from the ghoulish opening drum track in “Earthquake” to the ambient guitar cutoff of “He Would Have Laughed.” Definitely a departure from the last one, leaning more towards the brighter pop of Atlas Sound, as opposed to the gritty rocker that is Micocastle; just as experimental and weird though. This my friends, is Ghost Rock at its finest. Best cuts – “Sailing,” “Memory Boy” and “He Would Have Laughed”

2. Vampire Weekend – Contra. It’s hard to compare it to their last one, as in my opinion, it is a modern masterpiece but they did a good job with their sophomore release. More experimentation with electronic sounds, and less with the stuff they did on the last one. It’s great when a band can progress into something different, but still be as good. Best cuts – “I Think Ur A Contra,” “Cousins,” and “Taxi Cab”

3. LCD Soundsystem – This Is Happening. From modern dance to electronic rock to retro disco, to David Bowie rock n’ roll, this is one of those records that has it all. The diverse influences are apparent throughout James Murphy’s latest release and it shows, not with copycat unoriginality but with its own inventive blend of the goliath that is LCD Soundsystem. Best cuts – “Home,” “All I Want” and “Dance Yrself Clean”

4. Foals – Total Life Forever. Did not expect this one to rock this hard. I wasn’t too impressed with Antidotes so I was a bit hesitant to give them another opportunity, I’m really glad I did. “Blue Blood” is a fantastic opening track, one of those that takes a while to actually get into the groove, but as soon as that bassline kicks in, you know you’re in for a nice treat. Production is prime on this one as well, very nice atmospheres are captured that provide an adventure on the headphones. Best tracks – “Blue Blood,” “Spanish Sahara,” and “This Orient”

5. Warpaint – The Fool. Easily one of my most anticipated albums of the year. When you’re a strong John Frusciante aficionado such as myself, you’re bound to run into this Los Angeles all female quartet. I was pretty impressed with their previous EP so it was some good news to hear about them releasing a full LP. While judging the album by the beginning bassline in “Set Your Arms Down,” I got the impression that these women didn’t want to repeat the spacey atmosphere that characterized the sound of Exquisite Corpse, instead leaning towards a darker groove. Overall an great album, one for the years to come. Best tracks – “Bees,” Set Your Arms Down” and “Undertow”

6. Arcade Fire – The Suburbs. I know they’re hailed as one of independent music’s heroes, but quite frankly I wasn’t to crazy about Funeral or Neon Bible. I thought they would be another Beatles to me; a band everyone loves but I just can’t seem to wrap my head around. With that being said, I didn’t have the highest expectations for this album. That notion quickly dissolved when I heard the “The Suburbs/Month of May” single. Definitely their rawest work to date. For those listening to this on CD or digital, you’re actually hearing a vinyl rip. More punk energy throughout, but not limited to just that. Great album overall. Best tracks – “Sprawl II,” Ready To Start” and “Empty Room”

7. Four Tet – There Is Love In You. Another headphone adventure. Instrumental music can get boring to me at times. Things need to be constantly progressing with a strong pulse in order for me to stay interested and on this album, Kieran Hebden, aka Four Tet, finds that rule and executes it precisely. Even when he does keep you driving on the same block for a few minutes, the beats are so fresh that you don’t mind going for another round. Great music, lovely melodies with intriguing rhythmic patterns kept me listening to the end. Lovely artwork also. Best tracks – “Circling,” “Sing” and “Love Cry”

8. No Age – Everything In Between. Last year’s Losing Feeling EP gave No Age fans an idea of what was to be of this experimental punk duo. As the opening lyric reads “One time is all I need to know my job’s complete,” I got the idea that these guys are definitely not the kind to look back on things, instead choose to look forward. The punkness of Everything In Between is subdued, while the experimental noise element is made more apparent. With the way these guys work, that’s not a bad thing either. Seeing these guys this Thursday, super stoked. Best tracks – “Life Prowler,” “Depletion” and “Chem Trails”

9. Wavves – King of the Beach. I thought Wavves was horrible. I still think their old stuff is. I can’t see how people enjoy such gritty shit. This album is cleaner, yet still maintains that raw feel. They don’t just limit themselves to punk rock on this one either, while touching upon styles of experimental and electronica, to me “Mickey Mouse” even sounds like an Animal Collective track. Two thumbs up for being able to progress and get better in the process. Best tracks “Super Soaker,” “Take On The World” and “Post Acid”

10. Beach House – Teen Dream. Initially I could only get into the firs three songs, after those, they lost me. If it weren’t for those I would have deleted this album from my itunes months ago and if it wasn’t for seeing them perform “10 Mile Stereo” at Coachella, I probably would have never bothered with the rest of the album again. For whatever reason, after seeing them live I started appreciating the album. The dreamy ambiance of the record is probably the coolest thing for me. These lullabies are something I could sleep to, not because it’s boring, but because of its soothing effect. That’s probably why they call it “Dream Pop.” best tracks – “10 Mile Stereo,” “Used to Be” and “Norway”

Other albums that fell short of the list that I feel I should include are as follows. Some are great, some are just okay

Wild Nothing – Gemini

Kanye West – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

Memoryhouse – The Years EP

Method Man, Ghostface and Raekwon – Wu Tang Massacre

The Soft Pack – The Soft Pack

Brian Eno – Small Craft On A Milk Sea

The Walkmen – Lisbon

Blonde Redhead – Penny Sparkle

MGMT – Congratulations

Atlas Sound – Bedroom Databanks Volumes I-IV

- OUTZ