It’s that time of year again, where my obsession with ranking things forces me to produce a top 10 list for a year that’s only half over. As always, I reserve the right to change my mind on any of these by the time December rolls around.
General thoughts: it’s been a good year for music, even if I’ve been slightly disappointed in a number of new albums from some of my favorites (my #s 4-8, for example, are all surpassed by some of the artists’ earlier work), thanks to some others producing their finest work yet and some completely new faces.
1. Cloud Cult – The Meaning of 8
It’s not just the best record I’ve heard this year – it might be the best of the last three or four. Breathtaking in scope and intensely personal, it is as much a work of literature as a record. When I first reviewed it I compared them to Arcade Fire, but frankly The Meaning of 8 is simply better than Funeral ever was. My current favorite song is the “The Deaf Girl’s Song.” Just try to listen to Minowa whisper “she’ll make the world stand still” and not have your heart break. Best song: Chemicals Collide
2. Tegan and Sara – The Con
Alright, this one isn’t officially out for another two weeks, but it’s just too good to leave off the list. These ridiculously talented Canadian sisters haven’t made a bad record yet, but this one stands head and shoulders above the rest. It’ll appeal just fine to the Grey’s Anatomy folks but certainly does nothing to disappoint long-time fans (and in a year when I’ve been a little let down by good-but-not-great records from old favorites, it’s especially welcome). A full review is forthcoming but in the meantime go pre-order a copy and wait anxiously for July 24. Best song: The Con
3. Trembling Blue Stars – The Last Holy Writer
Intricately crafted and delicate beyond words, this is the record I’ve always been hoping for from Trembling Blue Stars. To listen to this record is to know how it feels to ride on the wind. Best song: Idyllwild
4. The National – Boxer
I’ve been putting off writing about this one because basically everyone in the world has already chimed in and I’m not sure I have anything to add. I still have some thoughts rumbling around and might post in detail later, but for now let me just say that this is a good record made spectacular by the interplay between Matt Berringer’s world-weary baritone and some of the finest percussion heard in years. It lacks a fiery climax like “Mr. November” but this is a feature rather than a mistake. Where Alligator was all about peaks and valleys, Boxer is a study in slowly building pressure. As the album concludes you can only wonder whether it is a dam on the verge of bursting or a series of knots being drawn ever tighter. Best song: Apartment Story or Start a War
5. Arcade Fire – Neon Bible
I’ve posted in extensive detail about my thoughts on this record already. The only thing I’ll add is that more time I spend with it the more ambiguous are my feelings. It’s still one of the best records of the year, though. Best song: Antichrist Television Blues or No Cars Go
6. Brandi Carlile – The Story
It lacks the spine-tingling moments which dotted her self-titled debut, but it’s still an incredibly solid batch of folk-rock tunes. Best song: My Song or The Story
7. Laura Veirs – Saltbreakers
Features all of the clever lyrics and silvery delivery we’ve come to expect from Laura Veirs, but combines them with an unexpected, but much appreciated, pop aesthetic. It’s certainly her most accessible record, which is not to say by any stretch that it is uncomplicated. Best song: Don’t Lose Yourself , which might very well be my favorite song of the year.
8. Modest Mouse – We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank
It’s a testament to just how much I love Modest Mouse that this record is one of my 10 favorite of the year and still feels like a tremendous disappointment. If you want my full thoughts, check out the full review. Best song: Missed the Boat or Spitting Venom
9. Kissaway Trail – The Kissaway Trail
The best thing to come from Denmark in a long time, with cascading guitars crashes that bleed into choruses strong enough to knock you to the ground. It’s a bit hit-or-miss with three or four barn-burners and a few tracks that are quite skip-able, but the highlights do more than enough to vault this into the top 10. Best song: Smother + Evil = Hurt, which is another strong contender for song of the year.
10. Six Parts Seven – Casually Smashed to Pieces
The best instrumental album I’ve heard in quite some time. As I suggested a few months back, “If I could date a song, it might very well be this one. Guitars that are warm and comforting with just a hint of mystery, horns that stand waiting for you in the baggage terminal after many months away from home, percussion that feels like a soft caress.” It’s the kind of record you can take out on the town or take home to meet the parents with equal ease. Best song: Stolen Moments