I think it’s been a great year for music. I actually had a really hard time narrowing this list to 10, so this year I went a little bit heavier on stuff I listened to the most over stuff I think critically deserved to make the list. Therein lies the difference between a list like mine and an actual magazine’s list. Anyway, here it is…

10. M83 - Hurry Up We’re Dreaming

A long time ago I declared that 2012 would be the year of the Saxophone solo. I based this off the “sexy Sax man” youtube video, the Katy Perry “Last Friday Night” song, and the lead single off M83s newest release “Midnight City,” which has one of the most weirdly tasteful sax solos of all time. For the record, M83 does not actually sound like a band that would put a saxophone on a song, but nevertheless, they did and it’s awesome. Besides the sax, they’ve been putting out really awesome electro-indie-pop for years and this monster double album is the best thing they’ve ever done.

Favorite Song: Midnight City

9. Needtobreathe - The Reckoning

Huge year for Needtobreathe. They spent pretty much the whole year opening up for T-Sweazy’s massive stadium tour and accrued a bit of fans in the meanwhile. I loved their last album “The Outsiders” and was very happy to hear them put out another great album. We’ve gotten to share the stage with these guys a few times, and it’s always exciting to get to play with someone you really enjoy. Dudes got some pretty cool pipes.

Favorite Song: Drive All Night

8. Thrice - Major / Minor

Thrice not only put out this album this year, but announced that they were taking a break from touring/bandlife for the time being. Obviously, with the end of the DC*B, I understand there are tons of factors into this decision, but that doesn’t make me any happier about it.  Some of you guys know, but Thrice’s lead singer Dustin is now the worship leader at Mars Hill’s Orange County church plant. Thrice and Radiohead have been my two favorite bands for years and they just don’t know how to put out bad music. My guitar playing is hugely influenced by Teppei Teranishi, and this album has some killer riffs.

Favorite Song: Anthology

7. Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues

Oh those sweet, sweet harmonies. Fleet Foxes’s sophomore effort surpasses their debut with more well-crafted songs and lush textures. If there’s a better rainy day album, I’ve yet to hear it. Just listening to a few seconds of Fleet Foxes takes you away to a remote cabin. Just be careful not to listen to them too much, since studies show that too much listening grows beards and makes you wear too much flannel.  I love it.

Favorite Song: Montezuma

6. Lights - Siberia

The first time I heard lights was a few years ago, and it was this overly bubblegum pop thing ala Owl City that I wasn’t really into. She was doing the baby voice with electronic beats that was too tween for my tastes, but now it’s something entirely different and grown up. The production is dirtier with “dubstep” influences (huge year for Skrillex too, huh?), and the songs are super catchy without being overly dumbed down. I’ve probably listened to this album the most of anything this year.

Favorite Song: Flux and Flow

5. Radiohead - The King of Limbs

If Radiohead puts out an album and it doesn’t make my top 10 list. I’ll cry.

Favorite Song: Staircase (Not on the album, but a released b-side from those sessions)

4. August Burns Red - Leveler

I’m a huge fan of August Burns Red. I know this out of place on my list of indie/pop music, but no one in the metal game makes better music than these guys. Drums are insane, guitars are insane, vocals are insane, and I love the lyrics. The first song I heard off this was “Internal Cannon,” which features a weird calypso-esq breakdown section. I love it when a band does something completely unexpected, and it’s cool to see metal bands be random. Also, the deluxe edition featured the MIDI version of a song. You have to love that.

Favorite Song: Empire

3. Coldplay - Mylo Xyloto

What can really be said about Coldplay? They consistently put out amazing music and reinvent themselves with every album, while staying the same. That doesn’t make any sense saying that, but it does in my head. Mylo Xyloto took a few listens for me to really “get,” but once I did, I’m completely sold. Well done Coldplay; I’m glad you’re one of the biggest bands in the world.

Favorite Song: Charlie Brown

2. Ellie Goulding - Lights

I know this record has been out a while in the UK, but finally us Americans got it in 2011. I love everything about Ellie Goulding, and as cliche as it is to say this, I was introduced to her by SNL. (Dangit, the “machine” worked…) Anyway, I do love me some pop music, and the songwriting and production of this thing feels very fresh and european, as opposed to the usual US pop track. I can’t wait to see what direction she goes with her next album.

Favorite Song: The Writer

1. Bon Iver - Bon Iver

When this came out this summer, after the first listen I spoke out loud to myself in my car, “This is the album of the year.” I was a moderate fan of his first record, but I didn’t really “get” Bon Iver until I heard this masterpiece. I will say this, lyrically, this album makes absolutely NO sense at all. The fact that I can say that and it’s still number one on my list proves how good it is. I kind of consider it the same as Sigur Ros, where the sonic scape makes the music what it is.

Favorite Song: Beth/Rest

love,
Mark