It finally happened. Winter arrived. Snow fell and we woke up this past Sunday with about three inches of the stuff. I’m glad it didn’t arrive earlier, as Friday saw me at KSVR for a four hour stint of music.

The first two hours flirted with folk music and the latter half was full-on garage rock, garage pop and psychedelic pop. Much of the 10 to midnight show came courtesy Finest Kiss, who posted some great 2011 lists.

Taking a week off from radio this Friday, as in appreciated for covering Stuarto’s show on the 13th he’ll be covering mine on the 20th. Here’s the list. Get ready, it’s a long one!

“Sunset Tulips” by Night Genes off Like The Blood
“What Never Comes” by Crooked Fingers off Forfeit/Fortune
“Cavern In A Square” by Ham 1 off Let’s Go On And On And On With Ham 1

“Valhalla” by Jack Wilson off S/T
“End of Days” by Brown Bird off Salt For Salt
“Can’t You Tell” by Vetiver off The Errant Charm

“My Pillow Is The Threshold” by Silver Jews off Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea
“The Stations” by The Gutter Twins off Saturnalia
“Be Invited” by The Twilight Singers off Dynamite Steps

“Sixteen, Maybe Less” by Iron & Wine with Calexico off In The Reins
“Changing” by The Moondoggies off Don’t Be A Stranger

“The Wrong Light” by Kasey Anderson and The Honkeys off Heart of a Dog

“Close My Eyes” by Ólöf Arnalds off Ólöf Sings
“Smoke Will Rise” by The Lower 48 off Where All Maps End

“Wings Won’t Behave” by Whistle Peak off Half Asleep Upon Echo Falls

“Alphabet” by The Twilight Sad off No One Can Ever Know
“The Jessica Numbers” by The New Pornographers off Twin Cinema
“Yoshi Battles The Pink Robots Pt. 1″ by The Flaming Lips off Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots

“Here Comes Success” by Royal City off 1999-2004
“No Reply” by Giant Sand off Chore of Enchantment
“October Boy” by Mick Harvey off Sketches from the Book of the Dead

“Dance” by Astrid Williamson off Pulse

“Moon See, Day See” by The Heligoats off Live Free & Let Loose
“Golden Friends” by Leopold And His Fiction

“Don’t Wait” by Bears off Greater Lakes
“Summer Gang” by Afternoon Naps off Summer Gang 7″

“If You Choose To Stay” by The Webelos off Shadow Seasons
“(I’ve Got) Trouble In Mind” by The Limiñanas off (I’ve Got) Trouble In Mind 7″
“Israeli Blues” by Index off Black Album + Red Album + Yesterday & Today [Disc-1]

“As Times Change” by Sea Lions off Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Sea Lions But Were Afraid To Ask
“Can You Feel The Backwash” by A Classic Education off Call It Blazing
“Pretty When You Smile” by Sweater Girls off Pretty When You Smile 7″

“Pretty Ballerina” by Left Banke off There’s Gonna Be A Storm – The Complete Recordings 1966-1969
“Like Dylan in the Movies” by Belle & Sebastian off If You’re Feeling Sinister
“Conventional Lullabies” by Young And Sexy off Panic When You Find It

“Roosevelt Island” by Eleanor Friedberger off Last Summer
“Dour Percentage” by Of Montreal off Paralytics Stalks
“The Golden Age” by The Resonars off Bright And Dark

“Catamaran” by Allah-Las off Catamaran b/w Long Journey
“Malkaus” by The Panthers off Pakistan: Folk and Pop Instrumentals 1966-1976
“Where You Gonna Go” by People’s Temple off Sons Of Stone

“Invitations” by Puberty off Invitations 7″
“Shari Vari” by The Dirtbombs” off Party Store

“Tuscaloosa Bar” by Indian Wars off Walk Around The Park

“Sycamore Tree” by Crystal Stilts off In Love With Oblivion
“Raspberry Thighs” by The Mantles off Raspberry Thighs 7″
“Bad Feeling” by Veronica Falls off Veronica Falls

“Give Me Back My Man” by Boyracer off Little Darla Has A Treat For You [Vol. 24 Disc 1]
“Blowing Kisses” by Exlovers off Blowing Kisses 7″
“So High” by Ringo DeathStarr off Colour Trip

“Plastic Disaster” by Little Cuts off Plastic Disaster 7″
“I Wanna Join The Army” by Dan Sartain off Too Tough To Live

“The Start of Something” by Voxtrot off The Start Of Something

Stuarto Glasser, host of the All Around the World Music Show, called me up a little after 5pm Friday and asked if I could fill in for him. Thinking it would be a great way to attract a few more listeners I agreed. I headed home and put together a playlist of some of my favorite indie artists from around the world.

The first half of the list below aired as the split show: The Indie Music Show from All Around the World. I began with some lovable indie pop and transitioned into something a bit more energetic and beat-heavy. This was good, as 4 hours by myself in the booth is a bit exhausting, especially for someone with a fairly early bedtime (around 10:30pm).

“Orienteering” by Little Name off How to Swim & Live
“The Ground Falls Away” by The Zebras off New Ways of Risking Our Lives
“Smokers In Love” by The Lucksmiths off Staring At The Sky

“When Sun Falls On My Feet” by Starlet off When Sun Falls On My Feet
“Mad World” by The Snowdrops off Mad World
“A Lighthearted Lovesong” by The Pets off Love & War

“Boat Behind” by Kings of Convenience off Declaration of Dependence “Piazza New York Catcher” by Belle & Sebastian off Dear Catastrophe Waitress
“My Maudlin Career” by Camera Obscura off My Maudlin Career

“Where Have We Been?” by Acid House Kings off Music Sounds Better With You
“Slapp Inb Solen” by [ingenting] off Labrador 100 “Soviet.se” by The Lovekevins off Max Leon

“Velveteen” by Still Corners off Creatures of an Hour
“Waving Surface” by Anois off Foreign Tragedies

“Shed Like An Hour” by Snails off Shed Like An Hour b/w Daylight Ends
“Drover” by Bill Callahan off Apocalypse

“Western Hospitality” by Club 8 off The People’s Record
“Your Cover’s Blown” by Belle & Sebastian off Books
“1517″ by The Whitest Boy Alive off Rules

“Only Love Can Break Your Heart” by Saint Etienne off Foxbase Alpha
“Verdens største land” by Casiokids off Topp stemning på lokal bar
“Unessa” by Regina off Soita Mulle

“Bad Street” by Twin Sister off In Heaven
“What Became of You and I?” by Treefight for Sunlight off A Collection of Vibrations for your Skull
“Olio” by The Rapture off Echoes

“Another Heaven” by Pallers off The Sea of Memories
“Raise Me Up” by Hercules And Love Affair off Hercules And Love Affair
“Eyes Be Closed” by Washed Out off Within And Without

“Our Own Dream” by Keep Shelly In Athens
“Honey Mine (feat. Victoria Bergsman)” by Korallreven off Honey Mine 7″ Single
“Good Evening” by The Concretes off WYWH
“Who Do You Love” by Museum of Bellas Artes off Force Majeure

“New Violence” by White Williams off Smoke
“Courtship Dating” by Crystal Castles off Crystal Castles
“In Heat (Javelin Remix)” by Health off Disco2

“Guys Eyes” by Animal Collective off Merriweather Post Pavillion
“Photojournalist” by Small Black off New Chain
“Walkabout (with Noah Lennox)” by Atlas Sound off Logos

“17″ by Youth Lagoon off The Year Of Hibernation
“Natural” by Okay off Huggable Dust
“While We’re Young” by Inspired And The Sleep off Teenager

“Run Through My Hair” by Oneida off The Wedding
“The Wayward Granddaughter” by The Fiery Furnaces off Rehearsing My Choir
“I Was Never Young” by Of Montreal off The Sunlandic Twins

“The Messiah Is Falling” by Ulrich Schnauss & Mark Peters off Underrated Silence

Friday evening was a mad house. Getting into the station wasn’t the issue, as I expect it will be in the coming weeks now that winter is upon us; it was the transition. Transitioning from one on-air personality to another is a bit nerve-wracking. The quarters are cramped, the mic is hot, and you have to do your best not to step on their toes as they wrap their show and you begin yours. And when it’s time to fly, you have to remember which buttons should be lit and which ones shouldn’t.

After the first song, things are fine. It’s just that initial track that likes to pose issue. It did it in late October, and it did it again on Friday. The song eventually hit the airwaves, and we were rolling.

November 4 was all about pop music. Some loud, some soft, some orchestral, some experimental. All good. No surprise, many songs came from overseas — Sweden (an obvious favorite) and Denmark being the most prevalent.

Here’s something a little new for these features. At bottom, I’ll make note of a few tracks, bands and albums from the playlist and include an mp3 for your enjoyment, when available. Typically these will be ones not yet covered on the site.

On to last Friday’s playlist:

“Do What You Wanna Do” by Acid House Kings off Sing Along With The Acid House Kings

“Reaching Through To The Other Side” by My Brightest Diamond off All Things Will Unwind
“The Strangers” by St. Vincent off Actor
“Adelai” by Lohio off Family Tree

“New Colors” by Figurines off Figurines
“Time Stretcher” by Treefight For Sunlight off A Collection of Vibrations for Your Skull
“We Were Wild” by Today The Moon, Tomorrow The Sun off W I L D F I R E

“Wake Up” by Arcade Fire off Funeral
“Echoes” by I Was A King off Old Friends
“Ran Into A Coroner” by Built Like Alaska off Autumnland

“By The Sea” by Summer Fiction off By The Sea (Digital Single)
“Worry A Lot” by The Zebras off Worry A Lot

“Where Have We Been?” by Acid House Kings off Music Sounds Better With You
“Slippery Slope” by The Dø off Both Ways Open Jaws

“To Depart” by Suturee off Among Friends EP
“Welcome Here” by Jeff Hanson off Jeff Hanson

“All This World” by Arco off Driving At Night (7-inch Single)
“The Images We Get” by Sugarplum Fairies off The Images We Get
“Lazy Line Painter Jane” by Belle & Sebastian off Lazy Line Painter Jain (Single)

“A Good Thing” by Saint Etienne off Boxette (Disc 4: Eric Random)
“Western Hospitality” by Club 8 off The People’s Record

“How Come” by Avi Buffalo off How Come (7-inch Single)

End playlist. On to a few feature tracks. The first is from Suturee, a male-female bedroom pop duo out of New York. “To Depart” is off their recent five-song EP Among Friends and it features a little more volume than I remember from their earlier work. It still fits the bedroom pop mold; though, if you have a chance, check out the final track on the EP, “Name Remains”, as it employs a volume more in tune with shoegaze than bedroom pop. Listen to “To Depart” below…

Listen: “To Depart” by Suturee

The second and last song I’ll feature this week is a brand new one by up-and-coming French band The Dø. “Slippery Slope” is off the band’s second release to hit the states, Both Ways Open Jaws. While not all songs are as punchy and, well, almost indicative of the over-blasted pop side of mainstream music as that of “Slippery Slope”, they’re all very good. This song reminds me of the realm MGMT fit into upon their release of Oracular Spectacular (or maybe The Ting Tings’ 2008 track “That’s Not My Name”). This song could make The Dø blow up. It’s that good, and it’s that accessible to the greater population.

Download: “Slippery Slope” by The Dø

The problem with so-called best-of lists, is that they are really just a collection of items organized based on experience and time, in that there will be plenty of albums heard the following year and beyond that will hold just as much weight as these we dub as “Best.” So, as of right now, at this particular time in the tail end of 2010 and the first moments of 2011, these albums are the best. There’s no question about it; it will change. My next list (which I’ve started, but may take a while to publish) is dubbed, paraphrase: the best albums I didn’t check out in 2011 for some reason or another.

Ultimately that will include greats as notable as Deerhunter, LCD Soundsystem, The National, and Surfer Blood. Why didn’t I check these bands out? Their albums, in their entirety, were not sent to me. With limited funds due to a mortgage, bills and a super sweet European coupe (pictured above) that will be an endless pit of money for me over the course of the next few years, I didn’t have enough free cash to afford them.

Despite not checking out many of the albums topping other bloggers’ top album lists, I have to say that 2010 was a pretty amazing year for music. Locally, there were some really legit bands, and that trend seemed to extend across the states and over the ponds. My list is populated, as usual, with several from Sub Pop. You’ll also find a self-released LP here or there, and albums from label favorites such as Labrador, Hometapes, Hardly Art and Abandoned Love.

I digress. Enough banter — let’s begin.

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1/3. Dream Talking 7″ by Family Trees

First, the one-third. An honorable mention. The only 7″ single to make the list. With a mere single — this one — under their belt, Family Trees has captured my heart. This band’s old-time lo-fi pop sound is borderline perfect throughout all three songs on the Dream Talking single.

Download: “Dream Talkin” by Family Trees

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33. Tidelands by The Moondoggies

I was going to slip in the Carissa’s Wierd compilation of songs from all their albums, which was released by Hardly Art this year at the same time they reissued all three of the band’s LPs, but then my friend Pete Voss reminded me of how great The Moondoggies’ Tidelands was. As all the music on Tidelands was put out this year as opposed to previous years, I figured I’d bump CW in favor of this one, and I’m glad I did. Revisiting Tidelands, we’re quickly and easily reminded of just how great this band has become. A definite do not miss that was almost left off.

Download: “It’s A Shame, It’s A Pity” by The Moondoggies

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32. I Will Be by Dum Dum Girls

2010 continued the obsession with lo-fi fuzzy pop, and that’s what Dum Dum Girls create best. A lot of people hung on to “Jail La La” from the get go as a favorite, but I latched onto title track “I Will Be” almost instantly. Word is that Dum Dum Girls will have a follow up in the very near future. If it’s anything like I Will Be, we’ll be in for a treat.

Download: “Jail La La” by Dum Dum Girls

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31. Expo 86 by Wolf Parade

Much like the albums of Canada’s Stars, Wolf Parade’s records have always been sleepers for me. There are a lot of great songs on Expo 86 and it picks up, in many ways, where At Mount Zoomer left off. It doesn’t have that epic style of track like Zoomer‘s “Kissing The Beehive” though; still, I’ll probably regret putting it so low on the list in six months.

Download: “What Did My Lover Say? (It Always Had To Go This Way)” by Wolf Parade

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30. Unrecognize by Cock And Swan

Johnny Goss and Ola Hungerford are the two main forces behind Cock And Swan, an experimental electronic group based in the northern outskirts of Seattle. They’ve been a FensePost favorite since the beginning, having released Noon Hum around the time of this blog’s launch in 2006. I ran into the duo at the final Dept. of Safety show in Anacortes and they slipped me this record. It finds them expanding their experimental nature while growing in confidence and ability.

Download: “Stash” by Cock And Swan

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29. Frolics In The Pink EP by Son Of Rams

The project of Joseph Pruitt whose band Family Trees began this list, Son Of Rams is his garage-based solo project that blends extreme fuzz with crazy good vocals and the sound of three decades ago.

Download: “Triple Eyed” by Son Of Rams

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28. Zeroes QC by Suuns

A descriptive word comes to mind while listening to Suuns, and that elusive word evaded me for quite some time. Then I saw it tucked into the words from Sean Moeller of Daytrotter: paranoia. Their music is filled with hints of it, and while the experience of paranoia is not always a pleasant thing, you’ll like their take on it. It’s wild-eyed and frenzied, anxious and nervous. And it will blow your mind.

Download: “Arena” by Suuns

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27. Lupon by Y La Bamba

The best folk music, in my opinion, isn’t just folk music. It always includes something a little more, something orchestral or experimental, something that sets it apart from traditional folk. Y La Bamba crafts their unique folk elements out of highly original vocal harmonies, occasional pop-worthy guitar riffs, and orchestral hooks.

Download: “Juniper” by Y La Bamba

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26. Cracked Love & Other Drugs by Unnatural Helpers

Thick guitar riffs and rough drums fronted by gritty vocals. Everything about Unnatural Helpers is loud, and that’s what makes it so freakin’ sweet. It’s raw and harsh, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Download: “Sunshine / Pretty Girls” by Unnatural Helpers

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25. Travellers In Space & Time by The Apples In Stereo

Of all their records, The Apples In Stereo have impressed greatly, but I don’t think any have, as a whole, struck me as ‘great’ as much as Travellers In Space & Time. The futuristic pop melodies and lovable pop hooks had me from the opening moments of “Dream About The Future”. Plus, who couldn’t love that music video with Elijah Wood!?

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24. Again & Again by Thieves Like Us

I’ve been obsessed with Again & Again since first hearing “Shyness”. Hinting of an 80s style electronica, filled with heavy synths, dreamy beats, and emotive vocals, Thieves Like Us continues to impress.

Download: “Shyness” by Thieves Like Us

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23. Each Other All The Time by Cowboy Indian Bear

From the hometown of The Anniversary (Lawrence) comes Cowboy Indian Bear, whose music is similarly sonic and equally excellent. It’s dreamy yet lucid. Each Other All The Time meshes pop and rock brilliance with epic, swirling guitars.

Download: “Saline” by Cowboy Indian Bear

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22. Crazy For You by Best Coast

My 2009 love for garage pop continues, albeit not nearly as strong. Best Coast fits that sound and Crazy For You mixes a sound similar to Dum Dum Girls, Vivian Girls, and other girl-fronted garage groups. This one takes the cake, though, thanks to brilliant songs like “Boyfriend”, “Crazy For You” and “When I’m With You”.

Download: “Boyfriend” by Best Coast

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21. Transference by Spoon

A lot of people dropped that Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga album on their best of lists back when it was released, but that album didn’t hit me as hard as Kill The Moonlight or Gimme Fiction. Transference, on the other hand, does. It’s warrants a place on year’s end lists.

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20. Play It Strange by The Fresh & Onlys

The Fresh & Onlys’ style of garage rock/pop has been hyped up a lot over the past few years, and it’s easy to hear why. Their songs are extremely good. “Waterfall” dominates as a favorite, but in truth, much of Play It Strange is just as great as their hit single.

Download: “Waterfall” by The Fresh And Onlys

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19. Beach Fossils by Beach Fossils

God I love Beach Fossils’ style of beach pop. Ringing lo-fi guitars, totally beachy, and lovable reverb-filled vocals are their signature and it’s all super dreamy and overwhelmingly catchy.

Download: “Youth” by Beach Fossils

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18. The Goodnight Loving Supper Club by The Goodnight Loving

I’ve been hooked on this band since first hearing their LP The Goodnight Loving Supper Club. Their sound is one that is unexpected, yet amazingly original. They blend a southern style of folk and rock and (yes, even a bit of) country with a clever sounding garage pop.

Download: “The Pan” by The Goodnight Loving

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17. Elf Power by Elf Power

Not since Back To The Web has Elf Power made such a strong impact. Focusing on creating excellent music rather than crafting a clever album name, Elf Power’s self titled release is perhaps their best yet.

Download: “Stranger In The Window” by Elf Power

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16. Piecemeal by Like Pioneers

Like Pioneers was a hidden gem, released by a local favorite, Abandoned Love Records. It was unexpected — this album is just as good as anything released by my two favorite ALR bands, The Lonely Sparrows and Virgin Of The Birds.

Download: “Gift From A Holiday” by Like Pioneers

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15. Hippies by Harlem

I’ve been a bit obsessed with Hippies by Harlem since first hearing it. This album accompanied me on many trips to Seattle and Bellingham. I’d have songs like “Prairie My Heart” and “Someday Soon” and “Tila And I” on constant repeat. This is rough, sloppy garage pop at its absolute best.

Download: “Gay Human Bones” by Harlem

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14. Beach Dreams by Teen Daze

Technically, this is an EP, but I felt compelled to include it in the list because it is just that good. Beach Dreams has become a complete obsession in the last few weeks of the year with well over 30 total spins. With this EP, Teen Daze has created a perfect balance between beachy pop and lo-fi fuzz. You’ll be hard pressed to find a better song to fit these two pop sub-genres this year than “Let’s Fall Asleep Together”.

Download: “Let’s Fall Asleep Together” by Teen Daze

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13. Odd Blood by Yeasayer

Odd Blood took a while to catch on for me, but when it did it became as much a mainstay on my playlist as All Hour Cymbals ever was. Yet it took a slightly different direction from that album; this one has some of the experimental elements, yet adds electronic ones. It vibes differently, lacks some of the instrumentation, but it’s just as good.

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12. Write About Love by Belle & Sebastian

Just outside the top ten, Write About Love is perhaps my least favorite Belle & Sebastian album, which says a lot about my feelings toward this band. Write About Love strayed a bit from the band’s previous work, a bit too much. Still, it was a solid album for the most part thanks to super standout songs like “I Didn’t See It Coming”, “Come On Sister” and “I Want The World To Stop”.

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11. Home Away From Home by The Blank Tapes

In a recent issue of Seattle Weekly, The Long Winters’ John Roderick listed his top ten reasons why he’s not doing a top ten list this year. It was brilliant. The ninth item on the list states that it’s all depends on who has the best publicists. In many cases of top ten lists, I’d have to agree with him. In the case of The Blank Tapes, this is about as far from the truth as possible. I received a nondescript little CD sleeve picturing that there cover above and a little note from one Matt Adams, the band’s front man. I popped it in my laptop and have been hooked ever since, from the upbeat pop of “We Can Do What We Want” to the wild solo concluding “Flashing Before Your Eyes” to the experimental elements of opener “Black Hair”. It’s all excellent.

Download: “We Can Do What We Want To” by The Blank Tapes

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10. Magic Central by Breathe Owl Breathe

I noticed a bit of a change in my listening habits throughout 2010, and it can be reflected in the top ten. Dreamy folk and pop albums, hints of orchestration, and an overall predilection toward pleasant harmonies and melodies. Magic Central by Breathe Owl Breathe sits on the folk side, but they blend in dreamy, poignant melodies ripe with originality.

Download: “Own Stunts” by Breathe Owl Breathe

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9. Trilogi by Fredrik

Fredrik returns with Trilogi, which is actually three EPs molded together as a single album. Trilogi picks up almost exactly where Na Na Ni left off; the band continues to create haunting experimental dream pop that is insanely good.

Download: “Vinterbarn” by Fredrik

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8. The People’s Record by Club 8

The transformation Club 8 took between The Boy Who Couldn’t Stop Dreaming and The People’s Record is almost shocking. The Swedish duo held onto what matters most — their super infectious pop hooks, their superb songwriting ability, and those indescribable elements that makes you fall in love with the band. Then they added hints of psychedelic pop dominated by a warp-speed West African style of drums.

Download: “Western Hospitality” by Club 8

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7. To Dreamers by Kelley Stoltz

I dug Stoltz before To Dreamers, but it was really just select songs that I pinpointed off his albums. As a whole, they were good but not great. To Dreamers, however, is great. This album is solid throughout.

Download: “I Don’t Get That” by Kelley Stoltz

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6. The Head And The Heart by The Head And The Heart

I think The Head And The Heart took everyone by surprise this year. Their self-titled debut was praised to no end on Sound On The Sound, and after checking them out I’d have to say it all was warranted. There’s good reason the band signed to local label Sub Pop, and I know I’m not the only one looking forward to what this crew has in store for us next.

Download: “Coeur D’Alene” by The Head And The Heart

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5. To Travelers & Trunks by Hey Marseilles

It was the year for orchestral pop and Hey Marseilles, who takes the cake as best show of the year (albeit I only went to a handful of shows in 2010), excels at creating this style of music. To Travelers & Trunks is a solid debut with near perfect instrumentation, from keys and horns to strings and percussion.

Download: “Rio” by Hey Marseilles!

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4. Maintenant by Gigi

Gigi, the project of Nick Krgovich (No Kids, P:Ano) and producer Colin Stewart, hints of a different era — the pop music of the 1950s and 60s and of early Phil Spector. Maintenant finds the two debuting under the moniker and sound with help from such notables as Rose Melberg, Owen Pallett, Mirah, Joey Cook (Pomegranates) and Karl Blau.

Download: “Strolling Past The Old Graveyard” by Gigi

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3. We Built A Fire by Seabear

After Sindri Mar Sigfusson’s solo project Sin Fan (formerly Sin Fang Bous) released Clangour last year, I didn’t think We Built A Fire would come close to topping it. It took a while, but the album has become a mainstay thanks to highly orchestral pop movements paired with Sindri’s unique vocals.

Download: “Lion Face Boy” by Seabear

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2. Teen Dream by Beach House

2010 found a few surprise albums reaching epic heights after either being dormant for a while, or being flat-out absent from my top albums as far as the past was concerned. Beach House was one of these bands, and Teen Dream proved all preconceived thoughts of this band wrong. Their first album I found a hint boring, and the second — well, I just didn’t take the time to get to know it. But from the moments I heard songs like “Zebra” and “Norway”, I knew this album would be in the top 3.

Download: “Norway” by Beach House

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1. Avi Buffalo by Avi Buffalo

Upon first hearing “What’s In It For”, I had no thoughts of Avi Buffalo reaching this cherished Best Of spot. But it grew on me. A lot. And as I replayed it over and over on my walks to work and on my drives around town, I fell in love with the technical genius of this band. They can play, and they do it with immense skill and great emotion.

Download: “Remember Last Time” by Avi Buffalo

It is quite dreary outside, which is why I am inside. The sky is overcast and threatening rain. It has come down in mists and light drops occasionally throughout the day. In other words, it is a perfect day to sit in a bedroom with the door closed, singles strewn all over the bed, listening to music. Right now it’s The White Collar Boy by Belle & Sebastian.

“The White Collar Boy” is not my favorite song off The Life Pursuit (2006). That place I reserved long ago for “Act Of The Apostle” (both I and II) and “Dress Up In You”, but it is far from my least favorite. Some friends didn’t like The Life Pursuit at all, being the first one the group did not produce and mix themselves. It was cleaner, not nearly as raw as their previous albums—and that is a characteristic quite apparent in “The White Collar Boy”.

“Baby Jane”, on the other hand, seems to follow the group’s historically traditional, less produced sound. The horns return and, overall, the song is less electric than many of the songs you’ll find on The Life Pursuit. It was recorded exclusively for Sirius Radio, states the back cover. The song itself is a beautiful track, filled with emotion. The backing instruments look to the groups of the 60s and 70s for influence much more than the A-Side and other songs off The Life Pursuit.

Whether you like the new album or not, this is a great single to have in your collection. On sound, it draws from both the new and the old. On influence, the same. Truly a brilliant single, two phenomenal songs.

This review was originally published October 23, 2006 on the old version of FensePost. In the years since picking up this single, The Life Pursuit has become one of my all-time favorite releases. This single, and even more so that album, is well worth your money and your time.

Rough Trade [7” Single, 2006]

1. White Collar Boy
2. Baby Jane

On June 6, 2006, FensePost went live. Since its inception, I’ve written more than 1,000 album reviews and countless features, track reviews, live reviews, and video reviews. My collection has grown exponentially. I have a room in my house devoted entirely to records. CDs go in the living room and I’m out of shelving space. To say FensePost has become a big part of my life would be an understatement. It’s as much a second job as it is a hobby.

Above photo of me taken by an unknown individual at a KZUU party in 2006.

We’re now at the top 33 and 1/3, which is fitting being that ’06 was the first year for a FensePost best of the year list. From now on these Retrospectives will be a reshuffling of past lists, accounting for albums that now hold more power than they did back then, or adding in albums that weren’t on my radar at the time. We begin with a standout single (hence the 1/3, as singles often account for approximately a third of an album).

Here are my favorites from 2006…

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1/3. Crazy by Gnarls Barkley
The song that took this band, sarcastically referencing the crazy NBA star Charles Barkley with the moniker Gnarls Barkley, to the stars. “Crazy” was a pretty impressive song; listen to it today and the chance is you’ll still find it pretty cool.

* * * * *

33. The Way The Wind Blows by A Hawk & A Hacksaw
A Hawk & A Hacksaw creates a form of classical Balkan-influenced music that focuses on percussion, accordion and fiddle. The duo live is a sight to see, with Jeremy Barnes (Neutral Milk Hotel) playing accordion with his hands and percussion with his feet and head, and Heather Trost on violin/fiddle. The band includes others, but Barnes and Trost are the primaries. The Way The Wind Blows is an absolute must-hear album for 2006.

* * * * *

32. We Are The Pipettes by The Pipettes
Some bands never live past their initial hype. The Pipettes came very close to succumbing to that fate. After several excellent singles, their album dropped and we enjoyed it for a few months. Then they disappeared into the indie ether. Their anti-Beatles 50s girl group style was fun while it lasted. In other words, We Are The Pipettes would have had a much higher spot on this list back in 2006. Sure, I’ll pick up this album every so often and I’ll genuinely enjoy some of the old tunes, and I’ll wonder what these three quite lovely ladies are up to (I heard a few of them left the band), and when they’ll be giving us a follow up. Will it live up to the band’s former hype? We’ll see.

* * * * *

31. Bring Me The Workhorse by My Brightest Diamond
My Brightest Diamond is an interesting group. At one moment, creating soft, almost folk-like music, the Shara Worden fronted group swoons listeners in with the soft cooing and sweeps them away with siren-esque monumental emotive bellows. “Something To An End” and “Golden Star” open Bright Me The Workhorse with easy high points that the rest of the album does a fair job attempting to beat. Bring Me The Workhorse and Shara Worden prove that the mythical sirens do exist.

My Brightest Diamond: Something Of An End [mp3]

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30. Fab Four Suture by Stereolab
It’s odd to think of Fab Four Suture as one of my favorite so-called albums by Stereolab. After all, it is a collection of singles and their b-sides released by the band in 2005 and 2006.

* * * * *

29. Ringleader Of The Tormentors by Morrissey
In my eyes, Morrissey’s solo work will never live up to that he released with The Smiths. It’s a simple fact. Still, Ringleader Of The Tormentors wasn’t half bad. “You Have Killed Me” and “The Youngest Was The Most Loved” both were excellent portrayals of the artist, who (also in my eyes) is one of the greatest around today.

* * * * *

28. Avatar by Comets On Fire
Listening again to “Dogwood Rust” off Avatar, I cannot help thinking how similar Crystal Antlers sound to Comets On Fire. They fit a similar mold, these two epic bands. Their experimental rock is colorful and larger than life. Avatar is chaotic and hints of a greater 70s influence. In my opinion, this band not only influenced modern experimental rock artists like Crystal Antlers, they also influenced the imaginative collective known as Dark Meat.

Comets On Fire: Dogwood Rust [mp3]

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27. Etiquette by Casiotone For The Painfully Alone
The melodramatic mopey songs of Casiotone For The Painfully Alone are countered so perfectly with lo-fi, twee-ish casio pop. That being the case, the band’s moniker is almost perfect. Songs like “New Year’s Kiss” and “Bobby Malone Moves Home” made you want to cower in sadness, all while putting a smile on your face thanks to oft bouncy little melodies.

Casiotone For The Painfully Alone: Young Shields [mp3]

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26. The Unsung Colony by Norfolk & Western
When folk-pop lapses into loud distorted guitar breakdowns, as Norfolk & Western does throughout The Unsung Colony, something special happens. The songs transcend both genres to a whole new plane of significance. This album is easily my favorite from the band thanks to songs like “The Longest Stare” and “Barrels On Fire”.

Norfolk & Western: The Longest Stare [mp3]

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25. Cansei De Ser Sexy by CSS
There’s an innate sexual pull to virtually every song on Cansei De Ser Sexy, and the same in practically everything CSS does. This Brazilian band knows how to shake things up, rumps and all. And they’re not afraid to turn a few heads as well, a fact proven by their awesome video for “Alala”.

CSS: Alala [mp3]

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24. Six Demon Bag by Man Man
Man Man is a band of maniacs, filled with eccentric individuals clad in all white. Six Demon Bag was pretty groundbreaking upon its release. More tribal than Animal Collective, wilder than Feral Children, it seemed insanity was an inherent part of every man in Man Man.

Man Man: Van Helsing Boombox [mp3]

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23. Math And Physics Club by Math And Physics Club
You could call it lounge-pop, this twee-ish basement and bedroom style of pop. Math And Physics Club fits the description, adding in a nerdy hopeless romantic schoolboy element. Despite the soft melodies, this band puts on one hell of a live performance, and can write one hell of a great song.

Math And Physics Club: Darling, Please Come Home [mp3]

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22. Pet Grief by The Radio Dept.
Following Lesser Matters, The Radio Dept. created a pop album ethereal and dreamy. It lacks much of its predecessor’s fuzzy greatness, but has plenty of excellence on its own. Filled instead with reverb and electronic elements, Pet Grief was the beginning of a new and exciting direction for one of Sweden’s many outstanding bands.

The Radio Dept: The Worst Taste In Music [mp3]

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21. Floating World by Anathallo
Floating World was one of the first album reviews on FensePost and I likened it to Arcade Fire and Sufjan Stevens for the power it held, and the potential the band had as we neared the end of the year. The group was more a marching band gone wild, with immense drums, found sounds, and non-traditional instruments when it comes to modern pop song-craft. And that’s what made Floating World such a strong album.

* * * * *

20. Cannibal Sea by The Essex Green
Cannibal Sea is filled with undeniably fun pop melodies and rhythms, many of which are easily The Essex Green’s best work to date. Earlier albums, like Everything Is Green hold their weight, but this one is special in that it is entirely upbeat.

Essex Green: Don’t Know Why [mp3]

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19. The Eraser by Thom Yorke
I recall The Eraser receiving quite a few mixed reviews upon its release in 2006, which is odd because the album is quite brilliant. It’s merely a progression of the more current work from Radiohead, stripped down slightly yet no less significant. Tracks like “The Eraser” and “Cymbal Rush” demonstrate that Yorke stands just as strong alone as he does with his full group.

* * * * *

18. Yellow House by Grizzly Bear
“Knife” was easily one of the best music videos of 2007, bizarre and almost creepy. As a whole Yellow House was an entrancing collection of dreamy songs on the dangerous cusp between pleasure and nightmare. The album lived up to its predecessor and then some.

Grizzly Bear: On A Neck, On A Spit [mp3]

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17. Kill Them With Kindness by Headlights
Damn. I forgot to include Enemies, Headlights debut EP, in my 2005 list. That should have been in there, pretty high too. Kill Them With Kindness was the band’s follow-up to that EP and it found them straying from those echoing heights that made that EP so good. Instead, they gave us some excellent tracks in “TV” and “Songy Darko”. A favorite was the soft opening track, “Your Old Street”. Headlights have since maintained a balance between orchestration and indie pop, shoegaze and dream pop.

Headlights: TV [mp3]

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16. Return To Sea by Islands
In their first post-Unicorns release, Islands succeeded in creating an album that was just as quirky yet championed a higher production value. Return To Sea featured such excellence as “Where There’s a Will There’s a Whalebone”, “Humans” and “Rough Gem”.

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15. Let’s Get Out Of The Country by Camera Obscura
Camera Obscura has done an excellent job creating a name for themselves despite sharing quite a few traits with fellow hometown group Belle & Sebastian. Similarly orchestrated and influenced by 60s pop, with each new album Camera Obscura does more and more to set themselves apart and Let’s Get Out Of The Country is no exception. “Lloyd, I’m Ready To Be Heartbroken” to this day remains of their top songs.

Camera Obscura: Lloyd, I’m Ready To Be Heartbroken [mp3]

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14. Writer’s Block by Peter Bjorn & John
“Young Folks” and “Objects Of My Affection” found Peter Bjorn & John writing their most creative songs yet. PBJ maintained their folk sensibilities while fully integrating a modern pop sound that simply couldn’t be ignored. This album was an instant classic, and demonstrated aptly that the band definitely didn’t have writer’s block.

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13. Electric President by Electric President

Distinct memories surround this album. It was the soundtrack to my 2006 summer, post graduate school. I’d listen to it as I walked home from work, when I drove to the store, when I rode my bike to Moscow from Pullman (about an 8 mile trek through rolling fields of wheat). The summer was hot and the weather was beautiful. It was one of the best summers of my life.

* * * * *

12. Let Me Introduce You To My Friends by I’m From Barcelona
What a great concept for a band! Emanuel Lundgren, the leader of this collective, decided to record an album. He invited his friends. And they came. More than two dozen of them. And I’m From Barcelona was born. The band is enormous, but what sets them apart is the indie pop choir that became an inherent part of the band.

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11. Panic When You Find It by Young And Sexy
This is an album I’ve been obsessed with since first listen. It’s all to easy to get swept up in the excellence of “The Curious Organ” and “Conventional Lullabies”. Part cheerful, upbeat indie-pop and part slow, emotive pop, this album has perfect ballance.

Young And Sexy: Conventional Lullabies [mp3]

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10. Silent Shout by The Knife
Rounding out the top ten is Silent Shout by The Knife. Never showing their faces, this duo crafts eerie electronic songs dark and mysterious. The title track was one of the best videos of 2006, as was “We Share Our Mother’s Health”. The entire album is packed with epic beats and creepy vocals. Silent Shout is truly a one of a kind album.

* * * * *

9. Dreams by The Whitest Boy Alive
I honestly cannot decide if I like Dreams or Rules better, the latter being this year’s follow-up to the band’s 2006 LP. After releasing one album under his parent-given name, Erlend Øye, half of the duo that is Kings Of Convenience put together The Whitest Boy Alive to continue his super danceable funky electronic pop.

* * * * *

8. Worry A Lot by The Zebras
I was introduced to The Zebras at SXSW 2007 during the Three Imaginary Girls / Magic Marker Records showcase, dubbed the Indie-pop Hootenanny. Performing several songs off Worry A Lot, I became an instant fan and went so far as to label them one of my top two favorite indie pop bands from Australia, directly alongside The Lucksmiths. I think I said it best myself, in my review of this album back in 2007:

Some artists struggle with musicianship while excelling in songwriting. For others, the vice versa is true. However, after eight straight listens to Worry A Lot, it is clear that The Zebras have the uncanny ability to do no wrong.

The Zebras: You Look Ready [mp3]

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7. Destroyer’s Rubies by Destroyer
I was entirely disappointed when I heard Destroyer’s Rubies in January of 2007 and realized I was not able to put it on my best of 2006 list. The album is stunning; in my opinion Dan Bejar’s best work to date. Opening with the epic “Rubies” and continuing with greats like “European Oils” and “Priest’s Knees”, this album finds Destroyer at his most melodic.

* * * * *

6. Songs That You Might Not Like by BOAT
Self-deprecation is often a mask for insecurities and personal humor has always sided on self-deprecation for me. I guess that’s why I instantly fell in love with BOAT’s debut LP Songs That You Might Not Like. Throaty reptilian vocals lent themselves well to songs like “Elephant Ears” and “Clogged Castle”. When it comes down to it, BOAT is a band made up of some of the friendliest people you’ll ever meet.

BOAT: Last Cans Of Paint [mp3]

* * * * *

5. Parallel Plots by Patience Please
Patience Please was ultimately one of the first artists I discovered after starting FensePost, and I went on to befriend many of its members. These indie-pop songs lean toward rock and feature clever metaphors and brainy lyrics about longing and failed relationships.

Patience Please: Little Mouthfuls [mp3]

* * * * *

4. Mothers Sisters Daughters & Wives by Voxtrot
Their follow-up to one of my favorite releases of 2005, Voxtrot’s Mothers Sisters Daughters & Wives is again jam-packed with excellent tunes. From the title track and “Fast Asleep” to “Rise Up In The Dirt” and “Soft & Warm”, this EP is just as powerful and praise-worthy as Raised By Wolves.

* * * * *

3. Everything All The Time by Band Of Horses
I think I listened to “Funeral” about 20 times in a row when a note about Band Of Horses’ upcoming release of Everything All The Time arrived in my inbox. The album itself went on to be one of my favorites of the year at the time, and little has changed since. “The Great Salt Lake”, “The First Song”, “St. Augustine”; they all remain excellent tracks to this day.

Band Of Horses: The Funeral [mp3]

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2. The Life Pursuit by Belle & Sebastian
Initially, Belle & Sebastian’s The Life Pursuit was among my favorites from the band, but that only lasted about six months. I returned to previous albums and discredited this one’s greatness. However, as time passed I came to realize that it really was one of their better albums. As a whole, this album continues to grow on me, even four years after its initial release.

* * * * *

1. The Gulag Orkestar by Beirut
The Gulag Orkestar was so different from what I was used to, and I quickly became obsessed with its Balkan sounds. An impressive feat, one could hear the passion and emotion Zach Condon put into the album. It was obvious from the beginning that Beirut would be a band to keep an eye on.

Beirut: Mount Wroclai (Idle Days) [mp3]

The summer of 2003 was a hot one in eastern Washington, and my concrete bunker of an apartment contained the heat like no other. Granted, the above image wasn’t shot by yours truly until 2004, but it sure seemed hot enough to ignite even the least combustible of items. I wrapped up my undergraduate that December, which was cold as Antarctica, and upon that milestone I moved to Seattle. It was a good year for the Northwest; many of my favorite albums came from Seattle labels like Sub Pop and Barsuk. As for the list, I’ve expanded it to 20. Couldn’t help it.

Do you have an album from 2003 not included below that would have made your best of list? Feel free to add a comment and include what makes it special to you. As all of these Retrospectives go, we’re reminiscing on good times. Here is my list of favorite albums from 2003:

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20. Mouthfuls by Fruit Bats
Folk-pop tinged with a hint of back-country with highpoints “A Bit Of Wind” and “Seaweed”, and Mouthfuls by Fruit Bats gets the number 20 spot on my top albums of 2003. You just can’t lose with lyrics like It takes mouthfuls of Niagara Falls. It seems this album is a bit more centered around folk than their newer stuff, and these sensibilities keep the songs on the verge of subtlety; soft and subdued, they were perfect for unwinding after a long day. Grab a glass of wine, and let the good tunes flow.

Fruit Bats: A Bit Of Wind [mp3]

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19. Hate by The Delgados
As much as I liked Emma Pollock’s 2007 solo release, Watch The Fireworks, revisiting The Delgados‘ old albums it’s easy to hear that there’s no comparing them. Hands down, The Delgados win. “All You Need Is Hate” tops the group’s library as one of their best songs, playing off The Beatles “All You Need Is Love”, giving it a super catchy chorus and packing the instrumentation with beloved strings.

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18. Dusk In Cold Parlours by Norfolk & Western
Dusk In Cold Parlours may not be as hard-hitting as its dual 2006 successors, A Gilded Age and The Unsung Colony, but it is good melodic orchestral folk. Looking back, yes I do miss those freak-outs, those forays into loud instrumental breakdowns (“Barrels On Fire” and “A Porch Destruction”) that really defined the persona of Norfolk & Western. Dusk In Cold Parlours just didn’t have them, at least to the extent of those which came later. Instead, we got real orchestral folk pop, and that in itself is worth of lauding.

Norfolk & Western: Impossible [mp3]

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17. Dear Catastrophe Waitress by Belle & Sebastian
There’s a reason I consider Belle & Sebastian one of my all-time favorite bands. Dear Catastrophe Waitress is, as a whole, one of my least favorite albums by the group, yet it’s still in the top 20. This is in part due to the fact that few songs are mainstays on my playlist. Exceptions exist, like “Stay Loose” and “If She Wants Me” and “Piazza, New York Catcher”; it’s also in part due to the fact that I haven’t listened to it in its entirely with much frequency.

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16. No Culture Icons EP by The Thermals
Is it wrong to include EPs in lists of so-called Best Albums? I could put in More Parts Per Million but that album wasn’t quite as taking as No Culture Icons. The song, “No Culture Icons”, is my all-time favorite by The Thermals. The lyrics Hardly art, hardly starving may be what gave the Sub Pop spin-off label Hardly Art their name. True or not, it doesn’t discount the fact that the song, and album, are a stunning display of social and political commentary in the form of lyrical poetry. Backed by punk-pop noise, The Thermals’ fuzzy guitars and basement drums are the perfect accompaniment. Their more recent works seem to lose some of that crude early production, which fit so well with the topics at hand. What really set this EP apart from their debut LP was “Everything Thermals”, a self-anthem that fit their brand of wild but cohesive punk rock/pop.

The Thermals: No Culture Icons [mp3]

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15. Down With Wilco by The Minus 5
I never could tell whether this album was titled sarcastically or not, at least from the songs held within. Knowing that the album actually included contributions from Wilco (something not entirely unheard of from The Minus 5) made complete sense as Down With Wilco has a very Wilco-esque nature to it. It also includes collaborations with Ken Stringfellow (The Posies) and Peter Buck (R.E.M.).

The Minus 5: The Town That Lost Its Groove Supply [mp3]

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14. The Concretes by The Concretes
There’s something truly special about that Swedish accent, namely the accent sung in a female voice; it’s enough to make you wonder if the sirens from Greek Mythology hailed from Scandinavia. In my world, they do. Former lead singer Victoria Bergsman coos like no other on “You Can’t Hurry Love” and “Lonely As Can Be”. Revisiting this album, as well as others by The Concretes, it’s easy to hear why this band deserves inclusion in these lists; their music is romantic and sad and heartfelt, yet not overly sappy. It’s pop music at its finest.

* * * * *

13. Son by Jeff Hanson
I met Jeff Hanson a few years after this album was released, shortly after the release of his self-titled follow-up. And what I remember of him is contrast. His music was that of mystery; the pleasant falsetto vocals and acoustic guitar was surprising coming from a burly man with thick stubble. But this man was gentle and kind, and his songs were true to his nature. We lost a great musician this year (he passed a few months back), but he won’t be forgotten. Nor will his music.

Jeff Hanson: Hiding Behind The Moon [mp3]

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12. Lesser Matters by The Radio Dept.
“Where Damage Isn’t Already Done” by The Radio Dept. is one of my favorite songs of 2003. It contains a rapid percussion that doesn’t quite rival that of The Walkmen’s “The Rat” which would come soon hereafter, but the concept is similar. Backed by fuzzy, jangly guitar pop and an up-close-and-personal vocal style, Lesser Matters remains among The Radio Dept.’s best work yet. Many would side on the newer, more electronic side the band is taking on, but this early stuff totally takes the cake for me.

The Radio Dept: Why Won’t You Talk About It? [mp3]

* * * * *

11. Naturaliste by The Lucksmiths
The Lucksmiths have always written song lyrics as though they were poems with plots. Staring At The Sky neared perfection for the band and that trait lent much to the EP’s greatness. Still, one of their most admired songs, a cross-section of falling in love, is “Camera Shy”, the opening track off Naturaliste. The album doesn’t stop there, going on to give us greats like “Midweek Morning” and “There Is A Boy That Never Goes Out” (a play off The Smiths’ “There Is A Light That Never Goes Out”, which the band covers on the Romantic & Square Is Hip & Aware comp).

* * * * *

10. The Long Goodbye by The Essex Green
The Essex Green have always put out great pop records, from the Kindercore release Everything Is Green (on wonderful green vinyl nonetheless) to The Long Goodbye. Where other artists rely on sad stories and homeless romanticism, The Essex Green always seemed to contain more purity. Those other things may have been there, but songs like “The Late Great Cassanova” and “Our Lady In Havana” just don’t sound like it. They’re upbeat and joyful.

The Essex Green: Our Lady In Havana [mp3]

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9. Her Majesty The Decemberists by The Decemberists
For a very long time, “Shanty For The Arethusa” remained my favorite song by The Decemberists. Castaways & Cutouts was great, but this new theatrical element the group added in Her Majesty The Decemberists allowed their music to expand to new heights. As a whole, C&C may have been stronger, but Her Majesty had a few tracks that trumped their debut, like “The Bachelor & The Bride” and “The Soldering Life”.

The Decemberists: The Soldering Life [mp3]

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8. Who Will Cut Our Hair When We’re Gone by The Unicorns
Who Will Cut Our Hair When We’re Gone was an album ahead of its time. Case in point is the popularity of post-The Unicorns group Islands. The songwriting style is no more mature than found here, and only a hair more produced and refined. The Unicorns were truly unique when it came to wacko tracks like “I Don’t Want To Die” and “Jellybones”. Odd as they were, you couldn’t help falling in love with each and every one of them.

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7. The Earth Is Not A Cold Dead Place by Explosions In The Sky
The name Explosions In The Sky bears is so undoubtedly fitting; they always live up to the moniker and The Earth Is Not A Cold Dead Place is no exception. From the breathtaking gradual build in “First Breath After Coma”, continuing with “The Only Moment We Were Alone” and on through “Your Hand In Mine”, The Earth Is Not A Cold Dead Place remains EITS’ best album to date.

Explosions In The Sky: Your Hand In Mine [mp3]

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6. Chutes Too Narrow by The Shins
Oh, Inverted World was pretty damn great. No question about it. But boy Chutes Too Narrow came close to being just as powerful and noteworthy as its predecessor. I’d forgotten just how great an album it was until just now, revisiting songs like “Kissing The Lipless” and “Pink Bullets” and “So Says I”. This is an album that really should never be forgotten, and its a travesty I haven’t listened to it, or anything by The Shins for that matter, in well over a year. Seriously.

The Shins: Kissing The Lipless [mp3]

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5. When I Pretend To Fall by The Long Winters
Such a straightforward pop record, When I Pretend To Fall was The Long Winters‘ second album and it matched their debut stride for stride. The Long Winters have always succeeded in creating unambiguous pop-rock music entirely accessible yet just escaping the dreaded “contemporary” label. John Roderick is a rocker with a soft side, an educated songwriter with a sense of humor and whit. And it shows throughout When I Pretend To Fall.

The Long Winters: Stupid [mp3]

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4. Give Up by The Postal Service
I’d say 2007 was the last time I really gave Give Up by The Postal Service a good listen, maybe even 2006. In the time between its release and my last listen, I overplayed the album extensively. The hiatus in the time that followed is the curse of incessant repeat listens. Revisiting the album now, it’s easy to hear why it became such a regular for so long. Give Up really was a great album, and it is more than worthy of both praise and a high spot on any best of 2003 list.

The Postal Service: Such Great Heights [mp3]

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3. Electric Version by The New Pornographers
The New Pornographers really outdid themselves on Electric Version. The album is jam-packed with solid tracks, from the awkward-ish, title-track opener to the Dan Bejar-fronted “Testament To Youth In Verse”. Many would credit Mass Romantic, the group’s debut, as an all-time favorite; in my opinion Electric Version trumps them all. “Ballad Of A Comeback Kid” and “From Blown Speakers” round out some of my favorite tunes by the supergroup (yes, I called it that, despite knowing they frown on the association). Really, they are. Not because their members make up some of today’s most appreciated artists, but because they pack their albums with stellar tracks and because each member’s contribution refuses to go unseen.

* * * * *

2. Echoes by The Rapture
When greatness occurs early on, it’s tough to live up to it in that which follows. That’s the curse of having a stellar debut. Echoes may not have been The Rapture‘s debut, but it was definitely great. Songs like “Olio” and “Sister Savior” were instant favorites, easily followed by “House Of Jealous Lovers”, “Heaven” and “I Need Your Love”. The inclusion of DFA, in hindsight, demonstrates perfectly the intricacies and influence this album possesses; and, in a way, you could almost say that early LCD Soundsystem gives Echoes a few healthy nods.

* * * * *

1. Up Against The Legends by The Legends
Few records have had more impact on me as a person than that of Up Against The Legends by The Legends. Coincidentally, another such album is Sing Along With The Acid House Kings by Acid House Kings, also of Johan Angergård’s collection of groups. With Up Against The Legends, The Legends debuted with a gritty, raw album of distorted fuzzy garage pop well ahead of its time. To this day, this remains one of my all-time favorite albums, and one 2009′s garage-y fuzz-pop obsessives should get to know.

The Legends: Call It Ours [mp3]

I’ve decided to create an installment in which I do a recap of my favorite albums of the past ten years now that we’re coming up on the turn-of-decade – yes, 2010 is upon us. They key: I do them one at a time. I figure contemplating the weight of albums that have been instituted in my library for the better part (or even just half) of a decade would warrant a skewed opinion when comparing them to those released just this month. And, as these things are all truly opinion-based, well I just couldn’t have that.

(Besides, an appreciator such as myself would have an even larger and more time consuming task ahead of them were they to go through the thousands of albums that have been released, listened to, loved, etc. over the past ten years. No, much easier to split it year by year. And yes, when available for public consumption, I’ll include an mp3 for your enjoyment.)

These are the albums that stick with you – or at least the ones that have stuck with me; they have longevity. They’re ones I’ll listen to for decades to come. We begin with my freshman year of college, 2000. Well, second half of my freshman year, that is. That being said, I would love for this to be a friendly dialog. So please feel free to chime in with some of your favorites as well…

Here we go: my top 15 albums of 2000…

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15. Fevers & Mirrors by Bright Eyes
Odd as it may seem here, Bright Eyes‘ Fevers & Mirrors was a favorite of mine around 2000 and 2001. Songs like “The Calendar Hung Itself” and “When the Curious Girl Realizes She Is Under Glass” just fit with my persona at the time. I was a sad bastard back then, but I’ve outgrown that phase. Still, every so often I revisit those albums of old and it still astonishes me that I can feel good while listening to them. Fevers & Mirrors is one such album.

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14. Crooked Fingers by Crooked Fingers
Like Fevers & Mirrors, Crooked Fingers‘ self-titled LP had me in its grip for a long time. “A New Drink For An Old Drunk” was a perfect song back then, and in various scenarios today it works just as well. And who could forget “She Spread Her Legs & Flew Away”, or “Juliette”, or even “The Man Who Died Of Nothing At All”? Crooked Fingers was a difficult one for Eric Bachman to top; he didn’t until last year’s Forfeit/Fortune.

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13. The Great Eastern by The Delgados
I don’t think I started listening to The Delgados until sometime around 2004, possibly even 2005. And while my initial love was Hate, eventually the power of The Great Eastern took hold. Sure, specific tracks on Hate may stand out more than some on this record (“All I Need Is Hate”, for example), but as a whole I think The Great Eastern is more consistently good.

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12. Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas To Heaven by Godspeed You! Black Emperor
Containing only four songs, only one of which was under 20 minutes (“Antennas To Heaven” came in at just under 19, far from brevity), Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas To Heaven is all about building up to those epic climaxes and throwing out spacey shoegaze-like drones while maintaining that almost classical music approach signature to Godspeed You! Black Emperor. To say this album is breathtaking would be an understatement. I’ll probably kick myself later for not putting it in the top 10.

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11. The Lioness by Songs: Ohia
The Lioness remains one of my all-time favorite releases by Jason Molina, no matter which moniker he may be using at the time of release. The only LP truly capable of exceeding its greatness is Trials & Errors (2004) by Magnolia Electric Co. Molina excels, especially under the guise of Songs: Ohia, at creating minimalistic country-folk tunes that on The Lioness dabbles lightly in a bit fuller sound.

‘The Lioness’ by Songs: Ohia

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10. Moon & Antarctica by Modest Mouse
Like many albums in this list, Moon & Antarctica remains a favorite of mine from the Modest Mouse catalog. It was around this time I really began expanding my music horizons and Modest Mouse was a band that helped push me down this path. Tunes like “I Came As A Rat”, “Gravity Rides Everything”, and “Dark Center Of The Universe” all carried me toward this true obsession with music, from which I doubt I’ll ever return.

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9. He Has Left Us Alone But Shafts Of Light Sometimes Grace The Corner Of Our Rooms by A Silver Mt. Zion
A Silver Mt. Zion snared me in its trap – looking for some great study music but not willing to seek out the limited classical music of my parents and their parents (and not knowing the immense modern artists who were more than worthy), I ended up landing on A Silver Mt. Zion. And while it wasn’t always instrumental, at the right volume it worked perfectly. Only later did I come to truly fall in love with this album, as well as their brethren, Godspeed You! Black Emperor.

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8. Ugly But Honest by Carissa’s Wierd
I discovered Carissa’s Wierd from a magazine. It was a fairly random encounter, actually, but it led to an obsession like no other. I ultimately downloaded everything I could find from the band. Eventually, I would collect every album of theirs I could find – all in physical form, of course. To this day, the only item that eludes me is a rare 7″ single containing a remix or two; I even snagged a copy of that rare Scrapbook disc. I still find songs like “Drunk With The Only Saints I Know” and “Fluorescent Lights” to be among the most moving and personal songs around.

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7. It Was Hot, We Stayed in the Water by Microphones
The great thing about A Retrospective is that it allows me to list all those albums that truly should have made my ‘best of’ list back in 2000. (Had I created one at the time, it is highly unlikely It Was Hot, We Stayed In The Water by The Microphones would have made it on the list. It was just a little beyond my temperament at the time.) But these days, I cannot get enough of practically everything Phil Elverum does, this album included. That being said, as soon as I can muster the cash, I’m gonna snag one of those “Books 6 & 7″ copies by Mount Eerie from Easy Street Records. Damn.

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6. Live by Built To Spill
A collection of some of Built To Spill‘s best tracks recorded prior to 2000, from the astonishing Perfect From Now On (1997) to selections from Keep It Like A Secret (1999). It also includes an epic 20-minute rendition of Neil Young’s “Cortez The Killer” and one of the best lyrical songs of the 90s: “Car”.

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5. Melody Of Certain Damaged Lemons by Blonde Redhead
This is really a no-brainer. Melody Of Certain Damaged Lemons has always been an album to look up to since its release in 2000. With songs so different – I mean, just listen to “In Particular” stacked up next to “This Is Not” and jump back to “Hated Because Of Great Qualities” – it’s amazing they go so well together. Then again, that’s something of which Blonde Redhead has always excelled: putting together exceptional tracklists.

‘This Is Not’ by Blonde Redhead

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4. Fold Your Hands Child, You Walk Like A Peasant by Belle & Sebastian
I could say that Tigermilk was my first true love when it comes to Belle & Sebastian, but I’d be lying. No, it was actually Fold Your Hands opening track “I Fought In A War” that sold me on this band. Afterwards, songs like “The Model” and “Don’t Leave The Light On Baby” dominated my playlist, even through the release of The Life Pursuit and beyond.

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3. Designing A Nervous Breakdown by The Anniversary
I can name few albums that have not only stuck with me through the years, but that also so heavily influenced my love for pop music. Designing A Nervous Breakdown by The Anniversary is absolutely such an album. The male/female vocals of Adrianne Verhoeven, Josh Berwanger, and Justin Roelofs were perfection back then. And songs like “The D In Detroit” and “The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter” continue to wow me today.

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2. We Have The Facts & We’re Voting Yes by Death Cab For Cutie
By far, We Have The Facts continues to dominate as my all-time favorite Death Cab For Cutie album. The lackluster way Gibbard sings about driving down the “405″ and the contemplations on friends and girlfriends reminds me of my college days and, later, grad school; it was the perfect accompaniment as I made my way out to Pullman from Portland, driving through the Palouse doing 75 in my Volvo wagon and watching the moon crest orange over hills at 1am. Yeah, even songs like “Scientist Studies” and “The Employment Pages” ring true today. Calm beauty seeps through every single moment of this album.

‘For What Reason’ by Death Cab For Cutie

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1. Kid A by Radiohead
I mean c’mon! How could you not place this as your favorite album of 2000? It was Radiohead‘s follow-up to the amazing OK Computer and was really their first foray into a sound much more experimental than they had previously tampered with. “Idioteque”; the song remains to this day one of my all-time favorites by Radiohead. The tracklist is flawless – a feat they hadn’t achieved before, and wouldn’t again until In Rainbows.