As the first year of this wonderful new decade draws to a close, it’s time to remember and reflect upon some of the albums that helped make this year so memorable. From Spike Jonze’s brilliant directed music video for “The Suburbs” to Bradford Cox’s phenomenal creative output, it’s been a year of indie brilliance. At the helm of the year’s finest is none other than Bradford Cox with Deerhunter’s release Halcyon Digest. Showcasing both his passion for music and his outstanding songwriting abilities, it emerges as Deerhunter’s best album yet and a new benchmark for indie rock records. Bradford’s homemade videos under his pseudonym Atlas Sound deserve an honourable mention as well. His incredible releases Bedroom Databank Vol. 1-4 were only recorded in a matter of days, but they have an absolutely timeless and inspirational sound, showcasing the depths of Bradford’s musical ingenuities. You can download his home recordings at: http://deerhuntertheband.blogspot.com/. Here are the top albums of the year:
1.Halcyon Digest by Deerhunter
2.Future Weather [EP] by The War on Drugs
3.High Violet by The National
4.Axioma Ethica Odini by Enslaved
5.Special Affections by Diamond Rings
6.Hawk by Mark Lanegan and Isobel Campbell
7.Swanlights by Antony and the Johnsons
8.Portal of Sorrow by Xasthur
9.April Uprising by John Butler Trio
10.Age of Adz by Sufjan Stevens
11.Epariestera Daimones by Triptykon
12.Valleys of Neptune by Jimi Hendrix
13.Crystal Castles (II) by Crystal Castles
14.Band of Joy by Robert Plant
15.The Lawless Darkness by Watain
16.Dusk by Las Cruces
17.Maya by MIA
18.Le Noise by Neil Young
19.Lights by Ellie Goulding
20.Koonyum Sun by Xavier Rudd
21.I Am the West by Ice Cube
22.Teargarden by Kaleidyscope Vol 2: The Solstice Bare by The Smashing Pumpkins
23.Heart of My Own by Basia Bulat
24.Contra by Vampire Weekend
25.The Family Jewels by Marina and the Diamonds
26.Intriguer by Crowded House
27.Un Enfant Du Siecle by Alizee
28.Heartland by Owen Pallett
29.The Suburbs by Arcade Fire
30.Grinderman 2 by Grinderman
31.Hurley by Weezer
32.Haunted Woman by Ladies of the Canyon
33.The House by Katie Melua
34.Safe Upon the Shore by Great Big Sea
35.I Speak Because I Can by Laura Marling
36.The Ghost Who Walks by Karen Elson
37.Been Listening by Johnny Flynn
38.Turn It On by Kevin Costner and the Modern West
39.Sigh No More by Mumford & Sons
40.Liebe Ist Fur Alle Da by Rammstein