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.

* * * * *

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.

* * * * *

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”.

* * * * *

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

Creating a music video, in my opinion, should be about creating art. There are so many intricate elements that should go into a video that are so often left forgotten or, at least, unattended. First and foremost is the song itself — a video must compliment the art to which it is expanding from audio to video. Connecting the two is extremely important. Second is theme. The best videos have some storyline, vague or distinct. Or at least something visually interesting.

What started below as a few of my favorites from the past year ultimately turned into a much bigger list of simply great videos both current and dated. Most are visually stunning, as noted in the title of this post. However, a few are impressive instead through the conceptual elements of plot and story (the first one is testament to that). That being said, if you know of some masterful videos from the past few years, feel free to drop a link into a comment — and don’t forget to let us know why you feel it is a “must see” video.

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The Apples In Stereo

The song is great, but what really makes this a good music video is the storyline before and after the song. Featuring Elijah Wood as a teacher, he is whisked away into an alternate universe where Robert Schneider is not a scientist but a musician. This music video is quite nontraditional — it comes with a completely separate introductory video.

“Dance Floor” Part One

“Dance Floor” Part Two

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The Black Keys

The story this video tells is quite entertaining and more than worthy of several repeat viewings. “Tighten Up” comes from their eighth release (counting both EPs), Brothers, and is the highlight track. Featuring Auerbach and Carney at the local park with two boys, both pairs spot the girl of their dreams and friendship loyalties stray in the most hilarious of manners. See for yourself:

“Tighten Up”

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Casiokids

I really, really dig “Finn Bikkjen” by Casiokids. It’s a wonder I haven’t really spent time to seek out more by the band. What I did stumble upon, however, is their video for this song. 2010 appears to be the year everyone dresses up in animal outfits. (Chris Ewing, who’s featured soon below, also did a video featuring them for the band Seasons.) Here they’re playful, and they are creatures we have never seen. Very unique and fun.

“Finn Bikkjen”

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Club 8

This video is a bit odd in that Johan Angergård tends to favor his other project, The Legends, for videos that feature dancing. He did it both in “Lucky Star” and “Seconds Away”, the latter of which you’ll see a bit lower. Yet “Western Hospitality” does just that.

“Western Hospitality”

Club 8 “Western hospitality” from Labrador Records on Vimeo.

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El Perro Del Mar

First off, this video is flat-out strange. But it fits the music and it’s definitely unique. Makes me think of Rocky Horror Picture Show, though. And despite my predilection toward women and their scantily-clad-ness, it’s both an impressive physical feat and quite entertaining.

“Change Of Heart”

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Fredrik

Fredrik’s music has always blended the ethereal with pop and folk, creating a surreal universe and their videos for “Viskra”, “Milo” and “11 Years” give us a glimpse into these so-called places. “Milo” is colorful and blurry, while “Viskra” (primarily in black-and-white) shows a snowy world with human like creatures. “11 Years” uses stop-motion photography to create a trippy world within a train car. All three work well with Fredrik’s dreamy folk-pop.

“11 Years”

Fredrik – ’11 Years’ from Iris Piers on Vimeo.

“Milo”

Fredrik – Milo from The Kora Records on Vimeo.

“Viskra”

Fredrik – Viskra from The Kora Records on Vimeo.

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Tobias Froberg (NSFW)

Tobias Froberg’s “When We Go To War” is a play on good versus evil, documented theatrically via two professional dancers. And the video fits perfectly with Froberg’s masterpiece. The two individuals within appear normal enough, but when both enter onto the roof of a building, they turn into creatures ready for battle. There’s a hint of nudity in this one, so it may not be safe for work.

“When We Go To War”

Tobias Froberg – When We Go to War from Petter Ringbom on Vimeo.

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[ingenting]

This song is so touching to begin with, it’s hard not to get emotional when watching this video. [ingenting] of Sweden is a rarity in that they sing in their native tongue — most Swedish bands we hear on this side of the ocean have adopted English as a standard for performing. Still, the emotion comes through easily in this tale about love and loss.

“Dina händer är fulla av blommor”

[ingenting] “Dina händer är fulla av blommor” from Labrador Records on Vimeo.

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Jonsi

Jonsi of Sigur Ros is now creating music under the moniker Jonsi, and it’s pretty sweet. Honestly, I don’t much care for the vast majority of videos that just show a band performing their song, but Jonsi’s video for “Animal Arithmetic” is done at odd angles, which means it’s not your standard performance video. That makes it a rarity: totally worthwhile.

“Animal Arithmetic”

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The Knife

Easily one of the creepiest music videos around is The Knife’s “Silent Shout”. Once the flashing lights fade, we begin to see odd, misshapen humans and hear The Knife’s equally mind-bending vocals. The result is nightmarish.

“Silent Shout”

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The Legends

With each new album, Johan Angergård takes The Legends in an exciting new direction. Here you can hear and see three distinct sounds from three separate albums Still, I have a hard time discounting their first one — it has been a mainstay in my regular playlist since discovering shortly after its release (“There And Back Again” is from that release). Both “Lucky Star” and “Always The Same” find The Legends featuring a quirky, awkward dancer and it couldn’t be more fitting thanks to the dancey electro-pop of the former and the lovable pop vocals and crazy distorted pop guitars of the latter.

“Always The Same”

“Lucky Star”

“There And Back Again”

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Letting Up Despite Great Faults

Letting Up Despite Great Faults is the band I referred to before, the one with a video by Chris Ewing. Like his work for Seasons, this one features a beautiful girl. Unlike that one, in which she’s plagued by animals, this one is a love story. And true to Ewing’s creations, there’s plenty of mixed media and surreal surrounds.

“Our Younger Noise”

LETTING UP DESPITE GREAT FAULTS: Our Younger Noise from Christopher j Ewing on Vimeo.

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Radiohead

It’s hard to write about great music videos without at least mentioning “Rabbit In Your Headlights” by Radiohead. Technically, it’s a split between Thom Yorke and UNKLE. Aesthetically, thematically, and visually, this is one of my favorite music videos of all time… right up through the explosive ending.

“Rabbit In Your Headlights”

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Seabear

As you’ll soon learn, Iceland’s Sindri Már Sigfússon like multimedia videos. Off Seabear’s latest release, We Built A Fire, of which I’ve been listening to a lot lately, “I’ll Build You A Fire” does just that. The good news is that Sigfússon does multimedia videos very well.

“I’ll Build You A Fire”

Seabear – I’ll Build You A Fire from seabear on Vimeo.

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Edward Sharpe And The Magnetic Zeroes

The concept behind this video is “Desert Song” itself, and in fact it is the first of many from Sharpe-and-entourage. Actually, they’re making an entire movie based on their hit album Up From Below.

“Desert Song”

Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros “Desert Song” from benjamin kutsko on Vimeo.

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Sin Fang Bous

Sin Fang Bous created an epic masterpiece in 2009. The solo project of Seabear’s Sindri Már Sigfússon. This video was directed by Ingibjörg Birgisdóttir of, I’m assuming, Iceland (that’s where Sin Fang Bous and Seabear are from). Mixing media is a difficult thing to do, but Birgisdóttir does it quite successfully here. Odd and filled with a unique style of electro-pop, Sin Fang Bous has a worthy and comfortable home on Morr Music.

“Clangour And Flutes”

Sin Fang Bous: clangour and flutes from morr music on Vimeo.

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Small Black

Small Black created a bit of a masterpiece with their video for “Despicable Dogs” and they do it again with “Bad Lover”. It’s been a while since a video has seriously creeped me out; probably since “Silent Shout” by The Knife. “Bad Lover” does a good job thanks to people with odd masks on.

“Bad Lover”

Small Black: Bad Lover from Nick Bentgen on Vimeo.

“Despicable Dogs”

Small Black: Despicable Dogs from Yoonha Park on Vimeo.

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Tame Impala

Reality and sanity are both focal points in Tame Impala’s video for “Solitude Is Bliss”. Whether or not there’s a deeper meaning behind the images displayed is up for debate; I’d argue for. It fits with the title — the “solitude” our protagonist sees. He is thwarted by the masses but seems aloof in his own world of destruction. Tame Impala is one of this year’s promising finds, for sure.

“Solitude Is Bliss”

tame impala – solitude is bliss from EL NINO on Vimeo.

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Thieves Like Us

I love videos like the one for “Shyness” by Thieves Like Us. It shows the fleeting awkwardness of teenage love — the lust, the love, the heartbreak and the all too quickly forgotten memories. You almost feel naughty and guilty watching it.

“Shyness”

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Chad VanGaalen (NSFW)

What makes “Molten Light” so special is that VanGaalen did the video himself. His art, just like his music, is highly original. This video too is disturbing, and probably not safe for work.

“Molten Light” (NSFW)

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Warpaint

There is no other way to put it: What Adam Harding does in creating Warpaint’s video for “Stars” is absolutely stunning. Visually, it’s quite impressive; he perfectly captures the dreamy nature of their subtle shoegaze soundscapes, and the nuances of Warpaint’s playful darkness. Furthermore, he creates momentum that moves with the song — particularly in its final moments — a momentum that increases to a powerful climax as the song fades away.

“Stars”

Warpaint – Stars from Adam Harding on Vimeo.

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Vitalic

All this video contains is flying dogs and laser beams. Brilliant! And that’s all I need to say about Vitalic’s “Birds”.

“Birds”

* * * * *

Washed Out

It’s amazing to think that Washed Out’s Ernest Greene planned to settle down after making his epic EP, 2009′s Life Of Leisure. After years of creating music under various bands and monikers, Greene was suddenly thrust into the spotlight with this project. And we finally get a music video to accompany the music.

“Hold Out”

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Wolf Parade

They really should make more science fiction movies like this; “Yulia” by Wolf Parade is filled with interesting footage and great cinematography.

“Yulia”

Wolf Parade – Yulia from Sub Pop Records on Vimeo.

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Yeasayer (NSFW)

This video is definitely not safe for work. That being said, it’s also quite interesting — it follows the path Yeasayer took with their sophomore album, one that heightens to a whole new level the experimental glam they started with their debut.

“Ambling Alp”

Yeasayer “Ambling Alp” from Team G on Vimeo.

Let me tell you a story. In 2007 some notable things happened. I attended the annual music festival SXSW (the image above is of myself and The Lovely Sparrows’ Shawn Jones, taken by Abandoned Love Records/Virgin Of The Birds’ Jon Rooney), I grew a mustache, and I met a beautiful girl named Andi at the Capitol Hill Block Party. We hit it off and ditched the after-party to get a sprite (her) and coffee (me) at Denny’s in Ballard (sadly no longer there) at 1:30am. I still have the mustache and I’m still dating Andi. A lot of pretty notable things happened that year, and a lot of great releases came out…

* * * * *

Ooops: Pulling Up Floors, Pouring On New Paint by The Lovely Sparrows

We begin tonight with an error, an accidental and tragic omission from 2006 as it was ultimately one of my favorites from the year; that being The Lovely Sparrows’ phenomenal EP Pulling Up Floors, Pouring On New Paint. 2007 was the first time I heard it live and it absolutely blew me away, just as the EP had many times over. Here it is, a track from my favorite show from 2007 (well, from their EP that is):

The Lovely Sparrows: Chemicals Change [mp3]

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1/3. Wizards Of Ahhhs by Black Kids

Black Kids were my #1 hype band of 2007. Shunning label and any released material, with exception to this here digital EP, the group took off with astounding force. Their debut LP didn’t quite live up to the hype, but was still pretty good. This year (2009) the album finally got a physical release, and it happened during the famed Record Store Day. The 10″ EP is sitting in my collection right now.

Black Kids: I’m Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance With You [mp3]

* * * * *

33. The Bird Of Music by Au Revoir Simone

You can view this band in two ways. At first glance, Au Revoir Simone’s make up is of three attractive nerdy women with Casio keyboards and an affection toward Pee Wee Herman’s Big Adventure. But the deeper you look into their music, the more you find that these three women are sirens and muses ready to swallow your soul in the most delightful of ways. You’ll practically beg for them to take it.

* * * * *

32. The Stage Names by Okkervil River

I really love how The Stage Names concludes with “John Allyn Smith Sails”, a song that channels The Beach Boys’ classic “Sloop John B”. The Stage Names was part one of a conceptual pair of albums, the second of which, The Stand Ins was released in 2008.

Okkervil River: Our Life Is Not A Movie Or Maybe [mp3]

* * * * *

31. In Stormy Nights by Ghost

The experimental Japanese classical group Ghost is an interesting collective of artists. In Stormy Nights is, without question, among their more accessible releases. With sole exception to the 28 minute “Hemicyclic Anthelion”, the album was pretty cohesive in its piecing together of full songs. It wasn’t a musical rant of avant garde as found in that lone lengthy track. “Motherly Bluster” and “Gareki No Toshi” and “Caledonia” were actually catchy, a term not likely included in any prior mention of the band.

You can stream the entire album over at Drag City.

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30. For Emma, Forever Ago by Bon Iver

Bon Iver’s For Emma, Forever Ago is an album of insurmountable beauty. Soft acoustics fronted by Justin Vernon’s pleasant falsetto made tunes like “For Emma” and “Flume” stand out. While not necessarily bedroom pop, the album included many of that subgenre’s sensibilities yet defied its true nature. Bon Iver is much too folky to be that.

Bon Iver: Skinny Love [mp3]

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29. Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga by Spoon

Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga is my favorite Spoon album since Kill The Moonlight. “Don’t Make Me A Target” and “You Got Yr. Cherry Bomb” hinted at that earlier album’s greatness yet took the band’s progression of the years between into account. Absolutely wonderful!

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28. Cold City by Eux Autres

Their sophomore release, Eux Autres continued to pump out quality lo-fi, French-influenced pop music. Raw and at times minimal, the brother-sister duo began to expand into a trio and add keys to the guitar/drums/vocals mix. “Molly”, “When I’m Up” and “Anne Boleyn” were early favorites, but “The City All To Himself” topped them all.

Eux Autres: When I’m Up [mp3]

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27. In Camera by Arthur & Yu

Hardly Art’s first release as a label, In Camera is an album that references Summer of Love and a decade’s old style of San Francisco folk-pop. There’s plenty here to love.

Arthur & Yu: Come To View (Song For Neil Young) [mp3]

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26. Red Bloom Of The Boom by Bear In Heaven

With Red Bloom Of The Boom, Bear In Heaven followed in the footsteps of freak-folk and pop artists such as Animal Collective, but their music is also likely to find itself in the crowd with AC spinoff Panda Bear. For fans of more avant-garde indie, Red Bloom Of The Boom is a must have for your collection.

Bear In Heaven: Bag Of Bags [mp3]

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25. The Throne of the Third Heaven of the Nations’ Millennium General Assembly by Le Loup

When I saw Le Loup live at CMJ in 2007, I knew I needed their debut album from Hardly Art. Somewhat of a concept album, The Throne delves into the psyche and psychosis of Sam Simkoff. Spirits are at work here—light versus dark—and the result is a miraculous journey into a brilliant mind.

Le Loup: We Are Gods! We Are Wolves! [mp3]

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24. Autumn Of The Seraphs by Pinback

Slightly more rock-centric with a bit higher production value and a little less orchestration is how Autumn Of The Seraphs came to us. Pinback continued their pointed and oft angular sounds that has always made them a wholly unique band. I’ve been kicking myself for not picking up their albums before this one, as Seraphs was ultimately my introduction to the band.

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23. No Shouts No Calls by Electrelane

The last Electrelane album before their (hopefully not) eternal hiatus is without a doubt my favorite. From the singles “The Greater Times” and “To The East” to the epic post-rock “Saturday” and “Cut And Run”, No Shouts No Calls is truly a remarkable album.

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22. The Flying Club Cup by Beirut

Condon’s voice continues to mature, though one would think it impossible. Deep and rich, his vocals and trumpet alike fill the air with boisterous glee. The album also found Condon relinquishing some of his domination on the album (as Beirut’s entire debut was put together by Condon himself) to other artists, which was a welcome feature. The Flying Club Cup is a definite must-have from 2007.

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21. The Besnard Lakes Are The Dark Horse by The Besnard Lakes

…Are The Dark Horse eluded me in 2007; I listened to it for the first time within 24 hours of publishing my original Best of 2007 list and was devastated I wouldn’t be able to include it. There are infectious pop moments thanks to Beach Boys-like harmonies, but the instrumentation is thick and atmospheric. This band is one of a kind.

The Besnard Lakes: And You Lied To Me [mp3]

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20. Parades by Efterklang

Parades blends the orchestrated pop sensibilities of Sigur Ros with a massive experimental orchestral pop sound. With emphasis on multiple vocal parts, immense percussion, and an intense horn section, Efterklang’s Parades took a sound similar to that of Anathallo and expanded it to epic proportions.

Efterklang: Cutting Ice To Snow [mp3]

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19. Everything Is A Miracle Nothing Is A Miracle Everything Is by Kickball

This pristine 10″ LP found Kickball outdoing themselves. Previously, ABCDEFGHIJ saw them capitalizing on a math-y, in-your-face style of lo-fi gritty emotive puck rock. Everything Is A Miracle Nothing Is A Miracle Everything Is took this sound to the next level, from opener “Underground Husbands” to epics like “Hotelsmotels” and “Sometimes”. It’s a truly beautiful piece of work, this album.

Kickball: Pocketknife [mp3]

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18. Eulogy For Evolution by Ólafur Arnalds

One wouldn’t expect classical music to make a list like this, but here it is, Ólafur Arnalds’ outstanding Eulogy For Evolution. As the album builds from the pleasantries of “3055″ into “3326″, it goes from a calm hypnosis into tense strings. Then the album bows out with “3704/3837″ hitting hard with an anthemic electric guitar. Arnalds is truly the modern king of classical composition.

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17. In Our Bedroom After The War by Stars

Stars always lag a bit when it comes to me. There’s a progression here that’s a bit strange, yet it’s consistent with all of their recent releases. At first, I’ll dislike the album completely. It’ll sit on my shelf for some time, possibly as long as a year or more. Then I’ll pick it up and it’ll blow me away. In Our Bedroom After The War was nowhere to be found on my original 2007 list, and I mistakenly added it toward the end of my 2008 list (oops!) and was called on the error. Yet here it is, now within the top 20. It makes me wonder what one, maybe two more years will do to it.

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16. Let’s Drag Our Feet by BOAT

D. Crane will likely remain at the forefront of my list of friendliest musicians. There’s something about his demeanor, party enhanced by his continual slight smile, that makes you simply know he’s a fun guy. It’s like he finds the world and life in general flat out amusing. And he injects that outlook on life directly into the heart of his music. “Period. Colon. Backslash” from this album was once dedicated to my mustache at a show in Seattle. Totally awesome.

BOAT: (I’m A) Donkey For Your Love [mp3]

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15. Voxtrot by Voxtrot

I often say that nothing will top Voxtrot’s debut EP and so far nothing has, simply because of the power behind the two singles, “The Start Of Something” and “Raised By Wolves”. Their debut self-titled LP is a lovable album that includes many single-worthy tracks, bringing the band forward in indiepop with a broader, slightly more produced sound.

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14. Fleeting Frequencies by Patience Please

I love these guys; it’s no secret. Their songs fill me with joy, whether it’s the tribute to your parents’ sale of your childhood home in “Exclusively Windermere” or the choo-choo drums by Chris at the beginning and end of “Coal Enough For Steam”. Jordan and Ray’s lyrics are thoughtful and clever, and Keegan’s work on keys and backup vocals round out the quartet perfectly. It was sad they disbanded a few months after Fleeting Frequencies hit stores.

Patience Please: If You’re Sure [mp3]

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13. Challengers by The New Pornographers

Twin Cinema never caught on for me. Neither did Mass Romantic. There were several tracks off Electric Version that I fell in love with, but the album was never on constant repeat. Challengers changed all that. God this is a great album!

The New Pornographers: Myriad Harbour [mp3]

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12. Andorra by Caribou

“Melody Day” continues to be one of the top songs from 2007. Andorra was somewhat of a gracious tribute to 30th anniversary of The Summer Of Love, and it fits the 70s sound of psychedelic folk-pop beautifully. Fronted by Dan Snaith, who has a Ph.D. in mathematics, it’s obvious that this album is quite a trip!

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11. In Rainbows by Radiohead

The hottest of hot bands and most hype-driven and noteworthy artist of the past decade is Radiohead. Snubbing their record label and the following hurrah’s of a pay-what-you-want model, the band knowingly found themselves in the eye of a faltering industry. They shunned all ties to create a pave their own path with In Rainbows, favoring the aforementioned consumer friendly model with added promotional elements in various web-casts. In Rainbows was, obviously, like virtually the entire Radiohead library: an instant classic.

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10. Sound Of Silver by LCD Soundsystem

Sound of Silver is a more than viable follow-up to the self-titled release from a few years ago. This is obvious thanks to one of the best songs of the decade, “All My Friends”, as well as opening power trio “Get Innocuous”, “Time To Get Away” and “North American Scum”. Even the slower, more emotive tracks like closing tune “New York, I Love You But You’re Bringing Me Down” were awe-inspiring.

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9. Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer? by Of Montreal

I remember first hearing “The Past Is A Grotesque Animal” – at a hair under 12 minutes, it was hard to miss. The song is one of Kevin Barnes’s most introspective and personal tracks yet, and the rest of the album compliments it well. “Suffer For Fashion” and “Cato As Pun” and “She’s A Rejecter” remain among of my favorites by the band. This furthered Barnes along the path toward icon status.

Of Montreal: Heimdalsgate Like A Promethean Curse [mp3]

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8. Person Pitch by Panda Bear

Panda Bear’s relation to Animal Collective is obvious beyond the group’s makeup. Added to the bizarre nature of AC’s eclectic experimental folk sounds are Beach Boys-esque vocal patterns that make Person Pitch that much more unique. “Bros”, “Comfy In Nautica”: beautiful.

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7. Cryptograms by Deerhunter

It’s amazing to think how far Deerhunter has come since Flourescent Grey. Cryptograms found the experimental band solidifying their sound with some of the year’s best tracks, including the title track, “Lake Somerset”, and “Strange Lights”.

Deerhunter: Cryptograms [mp3]

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6. 23 by Blonde Redhead

23 is a tight-knit album, but it’s to be expected from a band as solid as Blonde Redhead. It works both as a cohesive unit and as individual songs. From “The Dress” to the title-track “23” to the album favorite “Publisher”, with 23, Blonde Redhead put yet another phenomenal album under their collective belts.

Blonde Redhead: 23 [mp3]

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5. Invitation Songs by The Cave Singers

Discovering great music is a wonderful feeling, but doing so by mistake is even better. I wanted to be in the front row for Grand Archives’ Capitol Hill Block Party performance so I showed up a performance early. And that’s when I was introduced to The Cave Singers. Invitation Songs is a glorious album of semi-religious folk tunes, dusty and gritty like a dust bowl-era wanderer.

The Cave Singers: Helen [mp3]

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4. All Hour Cymbals by Yeasayer

Likened to a barbershop quartet gone eclectic indie rock, Yeasayer’s All Hour Cymbals drew a lot of hype upon its release at the tail end of 2007. “Sunrise” and “2020″ were instant favorites. Word on the street is that they’ve got a new one slated for early 2010; it’ll be interesting to see how the two albums stack up. All Hour Cymbals will be a very difficult one to top.

Yeasayer: 2080 [mp3]

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3. Friend And Foe by Menomena

I didn’t understand what was so fascinating about Menomena until I saw them live at Bumbershoot in 2007. The group added a choir in their backline, and the songs that made up Friend And Foe became instantly recognizable as awe-inspiring anthems. After that, I was absolutely hooked and I have been ever since.

Menomena: Wet And Rusting [mp3]

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2. Night Falls Over Kortedala by Jens Lekman

Night Falls On Kortedala took me by surprise. Lekman’s prior albums were strong with tunes about getting arrested, naughty words that begin with F, a few spanning a movie featuring Cher and Eric Stoltz, and the cool taxis of London. But none are as powerful as a whole as that of Night Falls On Kortedala. “Postcard to Nina” and “And I Remember Every Kiss” and “Sipping On The Sweet Nectar” and “Friday Night At The Drive-In Bingo” are all vastly memorable tunes. Add to it plush orchestration and you have Fense’s top album of 2007.

Jens Lekman: The Opposite Of Hallelujah [mp3]

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1. Albatross by Fishboy

Theif! Fishboy stole best album of 2007 from Jens Lekman. It was close to begin with, but it’s really no contest. Concept albums can be brilliant and Albatross is a prime example, perhaps the optimum example. The album tells the story of how the protagonist “failed to save the lone star state with the power of rock and roll.” Touring the country, Fishboy plays their so-called Rock Opera in its entirety from start to finish in what I hail as one phenomenal phucking performance! The story is fodder for a low-budget indie film. The day that film is made will be the day my life is complete.

Fishboy: Half Time At The Proper Name Spelling Bee [mp3]

I enjoy cooking; like most creatives, however, I hate to stick by the recipe. There’s a chemistry to piecing together a recipe that is very much like crafting a new song. The cook must take into account various elements, such as location. Water boils at different paces whether your in the rainy town of Seattle or the mile high city of Denver. Similarly, northwesterners have a different palate than, say, those in the southwest. All these elements must be taken into account when approaching a new recipe, which is merely a base of what the dish should include.

Take a simple breakfast dish like making pancakes from scratch. The recipe calls for x amount of sugar and y amount of flour. It says to combine the dry ingredients and wet ones separately — and don’t forget to mix before combining. But one and a half cups of flour is a bit too much, making for an uber dry breakfast. And two eggs don’t quite give it the flavor of three. But the process of molding the perfect recipe, taken loosely from that provided by someone else, takes time.

Music follows suit. No artist is without a slew of influences. But each person’s historical set of influences varies greatly from the next. Plush it out with a group featuring multiple individuals and that set of influences can be multiplied vastly; each band member draws from their favorite artists in varying levels ranging from light to heavy. Yeasayer (MySpace) is no different. Like most artists throughout the ages, there is little new here with the exception of just how the band combines their influences to create something that gives the effect of being incomparably fresh and uncommonly unique. Yet the influences are there.

The good news is that I’m not going to point them out, as so many tend to do — including myself. Too often this results in false expectations or even the desire to simply move on without giving it a second though, and that would be a travesty. Tunes like “Sunrise” and “2080” simply must be heard.

While it’s difficult to not delve too far into this sounds like… or blending this timeperiod with that influence… and various rambles on the disposition of the sounds, All Hour Cymbals provides the listener with a refreshing take on song-craft that may not exactly be new but, when combined just so, gives the appearance of being an unparalleled exception to the common recipe.

This review was originally published March 5, 2008 on the old version of FensePost. As of June 4, 2009, per the group’s recording blog, Yeasayer has taken a break from recording their follow-up to All Hour Cymbals to rehearse for a string of summer dates. Check out the Yeasayer Recording Blog for more up-to-date information on their pending release as time passes.

Yeasayer: 2080 [mp3]

Yeasayer: Sunrise [mp3]

We Are Free [CD, 2007]

1. Sunrise
2. Wait For Summer
3. 2080
4. Germs
5. Ah, Weir
6. No Need To Worry
7. Forgiveness
8. Wait For The Wintertime
9. Worms
10. Waves
11. Red Cave