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5 classic

DJ Shadow Endtroducing

Godspeed You! Black Emperor Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas To

Japandroids Post-Nothing

Why a 5? It's simple. Like any classic, it brings out something in you which no other album can. What does Post-Nothing bring out of me? Well, besides the uncontainable energy, ridiculous dance moves and decibel-raping chants? Post-Nothing brings out in me an awesome, gut-punching realization. That being young fucking owns. And with time moving faster than ever, there a few better revelations than that.

Kidcrash Jokes

Mogwai Young Team

My Kappa Roots The House of St Colme Burnt Down

Say Anything ...Is A Real Boy

Talk Talk Laughing Stock

The Fun Years Baby, It's Cold Inside

4.5 superb

65daysofstatic The Fall of Math

Aesop Rock Float

At the Drive-In Relationship of Command

BATS Red In Tooth & Claw

Blackalicious Blazing Arrow

Blue Sky Black Death Late Night Cinema

There were two records this year which competed for the nightwalk spot in my iPod, and more often than not BSBD would come out trumps and Flying Lotus would have to wait another day. Late Night Cinema excels because of how natural it sounds. The beats sound like they were planted and grown straight from the earth, especially when juxtaposed with the dreamlike vocals and ethereal ambience of the rest of the record. Late Night Cinema brings a whole new dimension to walking the backstreets at 3am. Los Angeles was great, but, for me, this knocked it out of the year's top ten.

Bon Iver For Emma, Forever Ago

Bright Eyes Lifted or the Story is in the Soil...

Buddy Peace Wolf Diesel Mountain

Stop feeding the egos at the Greer Talk party and start appreciating your buddies again. Wolf Diesel Mountain may not be as loud or boisterous as the year's most popular mix, but my god does it wipe the floor with Gillis' face in terms of sincerity, longeivity and genuine personality. Thanks to Buddy's meticulous attention to detail and seamless construction, he is able to pay homage to his indie and hip hop heroes in such a way that the listener can appreciate how perfect MF Doom sounds rapping atop Jose Gonzalez' gently strummed Heartbeats, while still being struck by how much emotion the two artists can deliver when pitched with one another. The respect is blatant, and the record succeeds because of it. Don't miss out, you'll have to explain away the bruises from kicking yourself if you do.

Burial Untrue

Circle Takes The Square As The Roots Undo

DJ Shadow The Private Press

Explosions In The Sky Those Who Tell the Truth...

Explosions In The Sky How Strange, Innocence

Kashiwa Daisuke Program Music I

Massive Attack Mezzanine

Meanwhile, Back in Communist Russia Indian Ink

mewithoutYou A to B: Life

Minus The Bear They Make Beer Commercials Like This

Minus The Bear Highly Refined Pirates

Minus The Bear Planet Of Ice

Modern Life Is War Witness

Modest Mouse This Is A Long Drive For Someone With Nothing To..

Modest Mouse The Lonesome Crowded West

Mogwai Come On Die Young

Nas Illmatic

Neutral Milk Hotel In the Aeroplane Over the Sea

Nujabes Metaphorical Music

RJD2 Deadringer

Saltillo Ganglion

sgt. Perception of Casualty

Sigur Ros �gætis Byrjun

Stars Of The Lid And Their Refinement Of The Decline

The Red Paintings Walls [EP]

The Samuel Jackson Five Goodbye Melody Mountain

Although the album title may indicate otherwise, SJ5's third effort sees the band experimenting with some unorthodox melodies while still maintaining the jazzy, proggy post rock sound they've become known for, and ending up with dazzling results. This is the best post rock album of the year because it dares to venture several steps forward while still having the strength and discipline to not leave its original brilliance behind and instead carry it on its shoulders for all to see. Oh, and How To Evade Your Obsessive Shadow is like insanely good.

The Six Parts Seven Casually Smashed to Pieces

Up-C Down-C Left-C Right-C ABC + Start And The Battle Is Won

Weezer The Blue Album

4 excellent

Adebisi Shank This Is The Album Of A Band Called Adebisi Shank

Aesop Rock Labor Days

Aesop Rock Daylight

Against Me! Reinventing Axl Rose

Against Me! New Wave

Bersarin Quartett Bersarin Quartett

Beware Of Safety It Is Curtains

Beware Of Safety dogs

Phwwoooar. My first impression after hearing 'Nu Metal', the first track from BoS' first full length 'dogs'. Stop playing in the sandbox with pg.lost and start accepting sweets from the bearded strangers in blacked out cars blaring out their heavy rock music. Trust me, you'll have a lot more fun. dogs manages to succeed where It's Not Me, It's You! failed because 1. the heavy sections contain addictive, varied, and downright sledge-hammer-to-the-balls riffs and inventive instrumentation instead of wall-of-sound guitar smooshing and 2. the melodic sections actually do something, and don't make you want to tear your ears out with boredom. Beware of Safety made a warning mark on the post rock scene last year with debut EP Is It Curtains but this ten track beauty stakes a serious claim for the position of post rock's new top dog. I'd start taking them seriously.

Brand New The Devil And God Are Raging Inside Me

Broken Social Scene You Forgot It In People

Built To Spill Perfect From Now On

Burial Burial

Cursive The Ugly Organ

Cursive Domestica

Do Make Say Think Goodbye Enemy Airship the Landlord Is De

Explosions In The Sky The Earth is Not a Cold Dead Place

Fall Out Boy Folie a Deux

Fight Like Apes ...And The Mystery Of The Golden Medallion

Florence and the Machine Lungs

Frightened Rabbit The Midnight Organ Fight

Gatsbys American Dream Volcano

Gatsbys American Dream Ribbons and Sugar

Giraffes? Giraffes! More Skin With Milk-Mouth

Godspeed You! Black Emperor F# A# ∞

Grizzly Bear Veckatimest

Guillemots Through The Windowpane

Gym Class Heroes The Papercut Chronicles

Hammock Kenotic

Hammock Raising Your Voice... Trying to Stop an Echo

husband&wife Dark Dark Woods

Japancakes Loveless

Just the idea of covering My Bloody Valentine's 1991 classic would have probably caused many elitists to drop their shoegazing monacles in scorn. So for this gutsy Georgia six-piece to go ahead and cover each and every track must have had the entire elitosphere running around like headless chickens. But no fear, Japancakes have done the impossible. They have created a tribute album which not only compliments and accentuates the original but also sounds damn good all on its own. Clinging solely onto the original melodies of MBV's Loveless, Japancakes incorporate a wholly different sound, consisting of cellos, pianos and pedal stell guitars, to unravel a piece of work which looks more than beautiful when laid out flat against its forebearer. For those who still haven't heard the original, a slap on the wrist for you, but I say get this first. It will make you appreciate the first more, while still not detracting from the tribute. Get involved, son.

Jon Hopkins Insides

Joshua Fit For Battle To Bring Our Own End

Kings of Leon Only By The Night

Lights Out Asia Eyes Like Brontide

Lights Out Asia Garmonia

Manchester Orchestra Mean Everything To Nothing

Max Richter The Blue Notebooks

Maybeshewill Not For Want Of Trying

mewithoutYou Brother, Sister

Millimetrik Northwest Passage's New Era

Minus The Bear Menos El Oso

Minus The Bear This is What I Know About Being Gigantic

Modest Mouse We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank

Mogwai Mogwai EP+2

Mogwai Mr. Beast

Mono Hymn To The Immortal Wind

Murder by Death In Bocca Al Lupo

Natsumen Never Wear Out Your Summer xxx !!!

An eight-piece jazz/noise rock band from Japan that likes X’s, !’s, and a whole lotta summer. Recipe for disaster? You’d think so, but no. One listen through Never Wear Out Your Summer, a six track, 45 minute live recording, and you’ll be begging for more. From the breakneck, frantic drumming that consumes ‘Newsummerboy’ to the epic, improvisational jazzy wonders of ‘Pills to Kill Ma August’ to the ridiculously infectious, anthemic rockings of ‘Natsu No Mujina’, it is clear that Natsumen have got the heat, fun and insanity of summer down to a tee. Powerful but entertaining, schizophrenic but cohesive, capricious but focused, this is truly original music to change your opinion about how much fun you can have with an instrumental band.

Nuggies EP

Nurses Hangin' Nothin' But Our Hands Down

Off Minor Some Blood

Off Minor The Heat Death of the Universe

Olafur Arnalds Eulogy For Evolution

Piglet lava land

Portishead Third

Radiohead OK Computer

Rocky Votolato Makers

Rx Bandits Mandala

Scraps Of Tape This Is A Copy Is This A Copy

Set Fire to Flames Telegraphs in Negative/Mouths Trapped in

sgt. Stylus Fantasticus

Sigur Ros Von

Sigur Ros ( )

Te' It Be The Thinking As 'the Song' Of Realistic Sound From The World Which

The Appleseed Cast Sagarmatha

The Dodos Visiter

The Flashbulb Soundtrack to a Vacant Life

The Twilight Sad Killed My Parents and Hit the Road

Trophy Scars Bad Luck

Various Artists (Indie) Dark Was The Night

William Fitzsimmons Until When We Are Ghosts

Worriedaboutsatan EP02

"A breath of fresh air" is a phrase which is used all too cheaply nowadays. I swear the other day I actually saw the line being used to advertise weed killer. Don't ask me how. Worriedaboutsatan, however, are one of the few that are deserving of the increasingly undervalued tag. Despite succumbing to the mysterious modern allure of shunning spaces between the words in their title (what's with that?), everything about this band is refreshing, exciting and wonderfully original. Yes, this is a blend of electronica and post rock. No, it sounds nothing like 65daysofstatic. I'm tempted to say this is better, but the two styles are so different it would be meaningless to compare. While 65dos are more on the post-rock end, pitching powerful riffs against random glitches, WAS are at the opposite end of the spectrum, using the occasional shimmering post rock guitar to accentuate and compliment tranquil yet compelling ambience. Worriedaboutsatan load their cannon with skitzy glitches, bottomless reverb, and some minimal but powerful percussion, then throw in some immersive vocals for good measure. Once the fuse is lit, they clamber into this cannon, guitars in hand, and wait for the bang. Although most of the record is spent watching the fuse go down, that's the beauty. It's a serene, consumative, at times exhilirating thing to behold. When it does though... well, you'll have to hear for yourself. Listen to 'The Last Song (First Song Remix)', around 2:38, and you'll hear this explosion first hand. One of my favourite moments of the year for music. Awesome, highly recommended stuff.

Yndi Halda Enjoy Eternal Bliss

3.5 great

American Football American Football

Animal Collective Merriweather Post Pavilion

Arctic Monkeys Whatever People Say I Am....

Arctic Monkeys Favourite Worst Nightmare

Aussitot Mort Montuenga

Benn Jordan Louisiana Mourning

Bon Iver Blood Bank

Bright Eyes I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning

Broken Social Scene Broken Social Scene

Cursive Happy Hollow

Dark Captain Light Captain Miracle Kicker

Dillinger Four C I V I L W A R

El-P I'll Sleep When You're Dead

Envy Insomniac Doze

Fake Problems It's Great to Be Alive

Ever wondered what would happen if Against Me!, Modest Mouse and a Big Band quartet were trapped on a plane hurtling towards a fiery death and there was only one set of parachutes? Well, I can't say who'd be the ones left in freefall, but I'm sure the fight scene would sound a little like It's Great To Be Alive. And it sure is. Chris Farren's scratchy, hoarse vocals (perhaps at time a little too reminiscent of Tom Gabel), peirce holes in a frequently changing backdrop of stabbing guitar riffs, propulsive drumming and jubilant horns. Each track sees a new take on their unique (to an extent) sound of disco folk-punk, and for the first half of the album this is definitely a plus. Anthemic ska, catchy, chorus-heavy folk pop and gritty, guileless punk take turns to carry new sets of sarcastic, memorable lyrics (for the most part) and do so with an admirable spring in their step. But as the second half trudges on it seems like the band run out of ideas slightly and their nods towards Against Me! and The Hold Steady become perhaps a little too vehement. There are a few highlights in the second half though - check out 'Tabernacle Song' and 'Heart BPM', aswell as the first half's 'Level with the Devil' and 'The Dream Team'. Although the band seem to lack that killer edge right now, an 'X-Factor', so to speak, if they can muster the effort to be a little more inventive, dynamic and focused next time around they could have a really awesome record on their hands.

Fall Out Boy Take This To Your Grave

Fall Out Boy From Under The Cork Tree

Flies Are Spies From Hell Mountain Language

Heathers Here, Not There

Kashiwa Daisuke 5 Dec.

Daisuke has taken a few steps in a new direction with this record, searching for new sounds to add to his already impressive arsenal and, in many ways, he’s been successful. But on the other hand, 5 Dec. shows him making a sacrifice, venturing too far into the darkness in the pursuit of too many different noises and, without his original shining brilliance to light the path, getting lost along the way. There’s no denying that 5 Dec. is exhilarating, intriguing, interesting, at times even mesmerising. But the endless captivation, the rapturously hypnotizing consummation of Program Music I has all but vanished with 5 Dec., the strive for accessibility throwing it to the sky to be carried away by the wind like a choir’s chorus echoing across an empty chasm. Kashiwa Daisuke will have learned a lot from his latest exerts. Here’s hoping he can turn that experience into genuine electronic ingenuity with his next effort. Luckily for him, there’s no-one more suited to the task.

Kid Down And The Noble Art Of Irony

Kurt Vile God is Saying This to You...

Lights Out Asia Tanks And Recognizers

Loose Lips Sink Ships Puptent

Manchester Orchestra I'm Like A Virgin Losing A Child

Maroon 5 It Won't Be Soon Before Long

Marvins Revolt Killec

mewithoutYou Catch for Us the Foxes

Minus The Bear Acoustics

Modest Mouse Good News For People Who Love Bad News

Mogwai The Hawk Is Howling

Mogwai Bat Cat EP

Mogwai Happy Songs For Happy people

Mono You Are There

Nick Drake Pink Moon

Nujabes Modal Soul

Ola Podrida Belly of the Lion

Olafur Arnalds Variations of Static

pg.lost Yes I Am EP

Planets Planets

Say Anything Say Anything

shh... this is a library shh... this is a library

Sleepingdog Polar Life

Chantal Acda, female half and vocalist for ambient folk duo Sleepingdog, just has one of those voices. You know the ones, the type of voice you could listen to for hours on end, the type of voice that staples a permanent smile to your face. Being of Dutch origin there is a slight but cute tinge of accent which decorates her delivery, yet the sincerity she performs with never dwindles. Luckily, the music is very pretty too. Composed primarily of pianos and ambience by Adam Wiltzie (member of ambient gods Stars of the Lid (so you know you're in safe hands)), the melodies created are fragile and soft, perfectly complimenting Acda's special voice. Think if Laura Marling teamed up with Sleepingdog's labelmates Glissando. If you're feeling a little bummed out right now, or just simply want something to chill to, give this one a shot.

Sun Kil Moon April

Taking Back Sunday New Again

The Decemberists Picaresque

The Dismemberment Plan Emergency and I

The Matches E. Von Dahl Killed the Locals

The Matches Decomposer

The Tallest Man on Earth Shallow Grave

This Town Needs Guns Animals

Thrice The Alchemy Index: Vols. I and II...

Tokyo Police Club Elephant Shell

Weezer Pinkerton

Weezer The Red Album

Worriedaboutsatan Arrivals

3 good

65daysofstatic The Destruction of Small Ideas

Anathallo Floating World

Be Your Own Pet Get Awkward

Ben Lee Ben Lee Sings Against Me! - New Wave

Broken Social Scene Feel Good Lost

City And Colour Sometimes

Cursive Mama, I'm Swollen

Is it just me or is Kasher getting unbearably annoying? Sure, he may have always enjoyed swimming in his own cesspool of self-soothing self-pity, and his audience has always identified with his lyrics. They're depressingly relatable. That's his appeal; metaphysical self-loathing. Leech on him and he'll leech off you. But he needs to start spinning a new record. "I spent the best years of my life waiting on the best years of my life. So what's there to write about?" Good question, Tim. Maybe you should start by smiling every once in a while. The amount of sympathy Kasher is asking for here is just too much for this optimist to handle, which is a shame because the first half of this record is fantastic. It's just the second half which becomes suffocated under the weight of it's own misery, both lyrically and musically.

Cynic Traced In Air

Do Make Say Think You, You're a History in Rust

Envy A Dead Sinking Story

Envy All the Footprints You've Ever Left...

Explosions In The Sky All of a Sudden, I Miss Everyone

Fink Biscuits for Breakfast

Fleet Foxes Fleet Foxes

Gatsbys American Dream Gatsby's American Dream

Ghost [UK] Freedom of Thought

Gym Class Heroes As Cruel As School Children

Mogwai Rock Action

Okay Huggable Dust

Pivot O Soundtrack My Heart

Plus 44 When Your Heart Stops Beating

Portugal. The Man Waiter, \"You Vultures!\"

Rise Against The Sufferer and the Witness

Say Anything In Defense of the Genre

Sigur Ros Takk

The Ascent of Everest How Lonely Sits the City

The Graduate Anhedonia

The Pax Cecilia Blessed Are The Bonds

Up-C Down-C Left-C Right-C ABC + Start Embers

Yellow Ostrich Yellow Ostrich

Yo La Tengo I Am Not Afraid of You and I Will Beat Your Ass

ZOX The Wait

2.5 average

Aesop Rock None Shall Pass

Animal Collective Strawberry Jam

Arcade Fire Funeral

At the Drive-In Acrobatic Tenement

Bloc Party Silent Alarm

Boris Smile

Boys Like Girls Boys Like Girls

Daturah Reverie

Portugal. The Man Censored Colors

Riding Panico Lady Cobra

Sigur Ros Hvarf-Heim

The Decemberists The Crane Wife

The Format Dog Problems

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart The Pains of Being Pure at Heart

The Status So This Is Progress

Wolfmother Wolfmother

2 poor

Cobra Starship While the City Sleeps, We Rule the Stree

Funeral For A Friend Tales Don't Tell Themselves

Immortal Technique The 3rd World

Panda Bear Person Pitch

Sigur Ros með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust

The Matches A Band In Hope

1.5 very poor

Cobra Starship ¡Viva La Cobra!

Final Days Society Noise Passes Silence Remains

Hot Chip The Warning

Minus The Bear Interpretaciones Del Oso

The Killers Sam's Town

1 awful

Weezer Make Believe