ONE

Plants And Animals Parc Avenue



Solid throughout, elemental blend, classic rock sound (I agree Bill!), jamming, funk, horns, guitar licks, harmonies, all strongly tied together.

TWO

Bon Iver For Emma, Forever Ago



Soulful, quiet yet powerful, meaningful, inspiring, a very very close first place.

THREE

Animal Collective Water Curses EP



Full of sound, subtle background layers, aural explosion.

FOUR

Marnie Stern This Is It And I Am It And You Are It And So Is That And He Is It And She Is It And It Is It And That Is That



Shrill female vocals that work, eclectic, music for my brain (like Battles), insane drumming, only found out about this a week ago.

FIVE

“Soil” & Pimp Sessions Planet Pimp



When Japan and jazz collide, crazy sextet of musicians (one calls himself the “agitator” of the band)

SIX

Vampire Weekend self-titled



Fun, lighthearted, pop, enjoyable, sing-along.

The three following albums were solid additions to already established favorites of mine. Just enough familiar parts with just enough new developments. No use describing them. Seeing Okkervil River and Death Cab For Cutie live really helped.

SEVEN

Okkervil River The Stand Ins

EIGHT

Death Cab For Cutie Narrow Stairs

NINE

The Mountain Goats Heretic Pride

TEN

The Music Tapes For Clouds And Tornadoes



Weird, banjo, singing saw, odd vocals, lo-fi, makes me feel cool and interesting listening to them.

IF COMPILATIONS COUNT

Nigeria Special Modern Highlife, Afro-Sounds and Nigerian Blues



Hutch told me about this and I listen to it all the time. Jazz, blues, rock with a strong tribal influence. A lot of fun and hard not to like.