It takes way too much effort to make a definitive best of the year list, so instead I’m giving you my listening trends. According to last.fm, here are the 10 albums I listened to most last year.
- M. Ward – Hold Time
Without a doubt, my favorite album of the year. M. Ward didn’t really change his game or do anything ground-breaking with this album. He simply has this ability to write and record songs that sound like you’ve already heard them a million times before even if it’s your first listen. Perhaps that’s why he can throw Buddy Holly’s “Rave On” in there and it fits right in as his own. - Grizzly Bear – Veckatimest
I didn’t like Yellow House. I thought it was boring and pretentious. Veckatamist is just as pretentious, but the songs are fantastic. - Neko Case – Middle Cyclone
I had zero faith that she’d be able to follow up Fox Confessor … with an album of equal worth. Pleasantly surprised was I. - Phoenix – Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
What can I say that hasn’t already been said? Perfect pop songs. The first time I listened to this album, I went for a run and accidentally ran my first 5K. It’s that good. Also, am I the only who didn’t remix a song off the record? - Andrew Bird – Noble Beast
Actually, despite its placement here, this album was a letdown. Perhaps I listened to it so much in an attempt to like it more. I seem to recall playing it on the headphones at work several times and then realizing it was over without ever noticing it. - Yeah Yeah Yeahs – It’s Blitz!
Is it wrong to be a little embarrassed by this one? It’s a great running album. Otherwise, maybe a little below average. - Wilco – Wilco (The Album)
This album is the best thing they’ve done since YHF; which is my way of saying it’s awful. See Andrew Bird above as a plausible explanation as to why I listened so much. - The Tallest Man on Earth – Shallow Graves
What’s amazing is I probably listened to this album more in 2008. I love it that much. - The Flaming Lips – Embryonic
Thankyoubabyjesus for letting the Flaming Lips kick my ass again. I thought we’d lost them inside Wayne’s head, but here they go pushing their own boundaries and gettin’ weird. This album belongs further up the list, but I didn’t get it till September, so it didn’t have as much chance. - Cymbals Eat Guitars – Why There are Mountains
What?! I have no idea how this got up there. I was enamored with this band for about 3 days until I sent a link to a friend who deflated me by sending a link to Chickenfoot in return.
A few of these were obvious to me, but I really regret a few not making it into the top 10. Quickly, here’s a short list of albums that deserved more listens than Andrew Bird, Wilco and Cymbals eat guitars.
- Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavillon
- Karen O and the Kids – Where The Wild Things Are
- Monsters of Folk – Monsters of Folk
- Jay Reatard – Watch Me Fall
- David Bazan – Curse Your Branches
