Best Albums of '08 (Part 1)!

First, you'll notice that my list is probably a bizarre mix of small, local Toronto stuff, Canadian stuff, and then some big swingers. This is, as you may have noticed based on my post on Saturday, probably of the idea that I should recognize some of the big "blog" bands this year (who I actually like), while still giving attention to local artists who I think are really good/interesting/deserve to be heard.

Second, some records that didn't make the cut (that I think are worth listening to because, ya know, we probably don't have exactly the same taste in music)...

Too energetic: Woodhands Heart Attack, Winter Gloves About A Girl, Cut Copy In Ghost Colours, D'Urbervilles We Are The Hunters
A couple of great singles, but generally too uneven: Elliot Brood Mountain Meadows, Forest Fire Survival (but, it was free, so, that's good...)
I'm not a hippie: Dr. Dog Fate, Plants and Animals Parc Avenue
Disappointments: Ben Folds Way to Normal, TV on the Radio Dear Science

Albums that would've got much more consideration if I had started listening to them before this week:
Lightspeed Champion Falling Off the Lavender Bridge - maybe its just because they're British, but they kind of sound like a stripped down version of Bloc Party (whom I don't care for). I like them better... I'm just not sure how much better, but I suppose better enough to mention them.

Dodos Visiter - I like a bunch of the songs, could do without some of the extended jams, but some kool folk stuff that reminds me a little bit of the Acorn... but on waaaaaaay more drugs. I guess that kind of thing happens in San Fran... maybe that's why my Niners suck so hard...


M83 Saturdays = Youth - I think that I thought M83 was a lot like Prefuse73, RJD2 (maybe it was the combination of numbers and letters that confused me), but, turns out it isn't. Or, it is, but there's singing and stuff ... and that makes it much more interesting to me. Given more time, and a few more spins I suspect this record would've made it somewhere on the list... let's call it 27b.

With that - and I'm not saying that everyone is wrong, so much as they're just not right - the definitive 27 best records of 2008.... unless I've missed something... which is, as always, entirely probable.

Oh, and PS my list is ranked, but, not in order... just to spice things up...


27a. Provincial Parks (Toronto, On) Iron Ponies EP
Maybe a little on the overproduced side, but some beautiful harmonies and they certainly are taking a step toward making teen and tween-aged girls swoon in a city near you.
Song: "Young Bride"
Winner of: The John Mayer in Group form Award.



23. Flight of the Conchords (Wellington, NZ) Flight of the Conchords
I can't say that I ever listened to the *air-quotes* album, but they are really, really funny.The TV show... also funny.
Rob crosses his fingers that the "Formerly New Zealand's fourth most popular guitar-based digi-bongo acapella-rap-funk-comedy folk duo" doesn't stink it up in Season 2 of their show...
Song: It was hard to pick against the most beautiful girl in the room song, but"Bowie"
Winner of: most popular guitar-based digi-bongo acapella-rap-funk-comedy folk duo


9. Fleet Foxes (Philadelphia, PA) Fleet Foxes
This will be on everyone - or almost everyone's year end list - and that's because, well, its very good.
Song: They're all kind of the same, but "Your Protector"
Winner of: Most Homeless looking Band to Sing Harmonies Something Like the Beach Boys.
14. The Acorn (Ottawa, On) Heron Act
No, its not new material, but the Ottawa band is just outstanding - both live and recorded - and this is both (live, and recorded on CD, or, MP3 I guess)! Also, I'm a sucker for a good cover, and their cover of Cyndi Lauper's "Good Enough" was awesome - although I've never heard the original.
Song: "Crooked Legs"
Winner of: Best Response to Someone Shouting At Them On Stage (click on the link and scroll down to the bottom of the post).


1b. Chad VanGaalen (Calgary, USA) Soft Airplane
He's a weird dude... I've often described him to friends as the Tim Burton of singer-songwriter music, dark, weird, but this album is pretty accessible. If it doesn't win the Polaris next year... well, I don't know, I'll be upset. Just an outstanding album and this video that B passed along of him playing in a French laudromat was awesome.
Song(s): At various times "Willow Tree" "Molten Light" "City of Electric Light"
Winner of: The Let's Hope He Leaves His Basement to Tour in Canada in 2009 Award.


17. Lykke Li (Stockholm, SWE) Youth Novels
There are a lot of very catchy singles on this album "Dance Dance Dance" "I'm Good I'm Gone" "Little Bit", but it also has some neat, more artistic moments. Plus, all the cool live stuff she's done... the cover of ATCQ "Can I Kick It?", Black Cab Sessions, and doing "Dance Dance Dance" with Bon Iver...
Song: uhhh... maybe "Breaking It Up"
Winner of: Coolest Indie Rock Chick of the Year


4. Bon Iver (Somewhere in Northern Wisconsin) For Emma, Forever Ago
... is the new Sufjan Stevens... not so much in a musical sense, but more in a no one I know actually knows how to pronounce the name. Oh, and it is a really haunting kind of album that I've listened to approximately a thousand times this year. Along with Fleet Foxes this is the album that just about everyone can get behind... it'll be interesting to see how the new one (due out sometime in January) will play out now that he's had some success and doesn't have a break-up to fuel his creative juices...
Song: All of them. Every one.
Winner of: I Bet This Girl Really Regrets Breaking Up With This Guy Award


6. Bowerbirds (Raleigh, NC) Hymns for a Dark Horse
I described them before as a more American version of the Acorn, which may not be helpful if you don't know the Acorn, but, you should, so - not really my problem. A lot of great songs to sit under a tree (possibly a Bur Oak tree?) in the summer and have a picnic to.
Song: "In Our Talons"
Winner of: Best Blogotheque Video of the Year


19. Hayden (Toronto, On) In Field & Town
Remember back in January when I said I wouldn't forget about Hayden... no... no one was reading this... huh... anyways... Its certainly more upbeat and jaunty (yes, I just used the word jaunty - but I think its appropriate) and, as an added bonus there are no songs - as best as I can remember - about being mauled by a bear, or driving a car into a lake.
Song: "The Van Song"
Winner of: Probably the Best Show of the Year Award - Hayden and Basia Bulat at Aoelian Hall, London ON (complete with videos - thanks Liz!)


5. Black Hat Brigade (Brampton, On) Black Hat Brigade EP
There was a little reaction back in... the Spring?... when I not only compared the Black Hat Brigade to Wolf Parade I said that they were like Wolf Parade, but way better. Well, I stand by that, and will suggest to anyone who likes Rock Music that this is a band to watch. I think they're recording a new album now, which I expect will be pretty awesome ... I hope...
Song: ... really difficult to choose, but "Swords"
Winner of: Band Rob is Acting as an Unofficial Cheerleader For


15. Why? (Oakland, CA) Alopecia
This album I think is a lot like Entourage (or it was at first) I didn't think it was very good, but still, I kept going back to it. Then, unlike Entourage, it got better (not worse) and better to the point where its been a go-to album for me this fall.
Song: "Good Friday" for the opening line "If you grew up with White Boys who only look at black and Puerto Rican porno 'cause they want something that their Dad don't got..."
Winner of: Most Bizarre Looking (Rap) Group and Inexplicably Weird Album Cover


18. The Rural Alberta Advantage (Toronto, On) Hometowns
I've seen this band more than anyone else this year (twice! - yes, I'm THAT adventurous) and they've been terrific both times. They are starting to pick up a little steam and hopefully that will roll over into a new album, more shows, etc. in 2009.
Song: "Sleep All Day"
Winner of: Band Most Likely to Become a "Blog Band" Next Year


To summarize, what we have so far:
27b. M83 Saturdays = Youth
27a. Provincial Parks Iron Ponies EP
23. Flight of the Conchords Flight of the Conchords
19. Hayden In Field & Town
18. The Rural Alberta Advantage Hometowns
17. Lykke Li Youth Novels
15. Why? Alopecia
14. The Acorn Heron Act
9. Fleet Foxes Fleet Foxes
6. Bowerbirds Hymns for a Dark Horse
5. Black Hat Bridage Black Hat Brigade EP
4. Bon Iver For Emma, Forever Ago
1b. Chad VanGaalen Soft Airplane

Everyone Else's Best _____ of '08: Bloggers.

Kyle (Toronto, On) - You and Your Deranged Protege
A Playlist for 2008

I won't go so far to say these are the 12 best tracks of 2008, but they're a dozen tracks that (for better or for worse), I keep coming back to. Playlist here (if adding to iTunes, sorting by track # should give you the proper order).

1. "Just Dance" by Lady GaGa: I know, I know, but goddamn if this isn't the catchiest song of the year.
2. "Love is Noise" by The Verve: note: this single is considerably better than anything else on the album, so let's not jump to conclusions and say the Verve is all the way back. Still, it's a welcome return.
3. "Electric Feel" by MGMT: possibly my favorite tune of '08, as, unlike some of MGMT's other good tunes ("Kids" and "Time to Pretend") it has yet (yet) to appear in every movie, television show, commercial, and video game aimed at 18-34s.
4. "Lost" by Coldplay: another year, another extremely disappointing album (this one more so than the technically-good-but-just-kinda-dull X&Y) for the band that was--seemingly--once poised to be the biggest in the world, but this, their third single, gets the nod for the pleasing hook running throughout.
5. "Constructive Summer" by The Hold Steady: ...which makes me nostalgic for a time in my life that, strictly speaking, never actually existed.
6. "White Winter Hymnal" by Fleet Foxes: kudos to you, Robbie, for introducing me to these guys (whom I liken to Whiskeytown if they really, really liked the O Brother Where Are Thou? soundtrack)...and at my wedding of all places! This song is, simply put, gorgeous.
7. "Hang Them All" by Tapes n' Tapes: I'm still sort of baffled as to why these guys aren't much bigger.
8. "Go Easy" by Ryan Adams: ...shocking absolutely no one, least of all you. This is the best thing he's done since Cold Roses three years ago. [Insert joke here about how: (a) that's roughly nine albums ago, and/or (b) that's not saying much.]
9. "Halfway Home" by TV on the Radio: the album you can't seem to get behind is starting to thaw my cold, cold heart. It's no Return to Cookie Mountain, but Dear Science just goes...and never more than here.
10. "In Step" by Girl Talk: really any track from this infectious (in a good way!) album (best described as Jive Bunny meets The Go! Team) is deserving, but I'm going with this one, if only for the inclusion of Roy Orbison in the mash-up mix.
11. "Feel the Love" by Cut Copy: again, lots of songs to choose from on this album, but the lead track may well be the strongest. If you like Melbourne dance punk (and, really, who doesn't?) this album--In Ghost Colours--will be in heavy rotation.
12. "Jizzed in My Pants" by The Lonely Island: Andy Samberg's tribute to the Pet Shop Boys does something that I previously thought impossible: it (just this one time) beats Flight of the Conchords at their own game.

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Bob Battams, (Toronto, On) It's Not the Band I Hate It's Their Fans

1. 'Woof & Warp of the Quiet Giant's Hem' featuring Blitzen Trapper with members of Fleet Foxes and Fox Jaws at the El Mocambo on April 2nd, 2008. This was the last song of the evening and it was controlled chaos at its most chaotic as at least 15 tambourine and percussion wielding band members and fanatics took to the tiny El Mo stage and banged the snot out of their respective instruments while screaming "Yah! Yah! Yah!" at the top of their lungs, resulting in bloody hands and at least one very badly demolished cymbal!

2. 'Against The Wind' featuring Cuff The Duke and members of Bruce Peninsula, Basia Bulat and The Stables at The Horseshoe on August 22nd, 2008. Whatever possessed Wayne Petti to choose this particular Bob Seger cover is beyond me, bit it was a perfect blend of warmth and hillarity as each rotating vocalist strove to muddle through the lyrics in the best way that they could, causing all kinds of warm and fuzzy to waft through the dark Horseshoe air.

3. 'I Need A Life' featuring Born Ruffians and about a dozen or so dancing tweens at The Opera House on November 1st, 2008. There simply was not enough room on the dance floor for the overpacked all ages audience to get their groove thing on so, much to the security's chagrin, the kids made the stage their personal dance floor as Luke, Mitch and Steve reminded us that the kids are alright.

4. ' Marching Backwards' featuring Black Diamond Bay and a wicked awesome Fender strat at The Drake Underground on September 10th, 2008. As Patrick Krief came down off the stage and displayed his Hendrixian chops to the small but enthusiastic crowd, it was contagious to watch everybody try not to air guitar as their faces contorted into several different shades of Jack Black-ness.

5. 'Swimmers' featuring Emily Haines and the 354 members of Broken Social Scene at The Sound Academy on November 28th, 2008. I don't think anyone was expecting Ms. Haines to make an appearance on that night, and although it was great hearing her do 'Anthems,' this song was the real event, seeing as it had been several years since the band played it last. I was close enough to see her mouth the words, "I love this song Kevin," to Mr. Drew, which led me to believe that she was wallowing in the nostalgia of her full time BSS days as much as I was.

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(History) Jen (Toronto, On) – Narratives

Best (favourite) Toronto albums of 2008 (of the one's I've heard):

Born Ruffians: Red Yellow & Blue
One Hundred Dollars: Forest of Tears
The Rural Alberta Advantage: Hometowns
Laura Barrett: Victory Garden
The D'Urbervilles: We Are The Hunters

Bonus entry...
Woodhands's Heart Attack. It's not really a listening to at home record (for me), but if you want a dance party...

All this is highly selective, but I listen to these records a lot.

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Ack (Halifax, NS) Herohill

Lesser Known Bands that People Should hear ‘08

Agnostic Mountain Gospel Choir
Christina Martin
The Speaking Tongues
Azeda Booth
Olivier Jarda
Mt. Eerie ft. Julie Doiron & Fred Squires
Old Man Luedecke

See also, Ack's 10 Best EPs of '08.

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Sean (London, On) Everything is Pop

Best Re-Issues of '08

5. The Replacements | Sorry Ma Forget to Take Out the Trash, Stink, Hootenanny, Let It Be, Tim, Pleased To Meet Me, Don't Tell a Soul, All Shook Down

The Replacements have always been near and dear to my heart and I have been waiting for someone to do this right for many years now. Rhino Records have though with this bevy of lavish reissues. It's not necessarily the remastering though that is the big draw this time though. In fact much to my chagrin, some even sound a little worse. (I'm looking at you Pleased to Meet Me). It is however the inclusion of a number of rare and unreleased bonus tracks that make these discs so very essential. Paul Westerberg's early solo home demo for 'You're Getting Married' from the Stink EP and the Alex Chilton produced bonus tracks on Tim really illuminate the greatness and true potential this band truly possessed. So it's with a certain sense of pride that extensive versions of these albums are available for new fans to discover and old fans to love again.

4. Dennis Wilson | Pacific Ocean Blue + Bambu (Caribou Sessions)
This record was one of my most highly anticipated releases this year and it did not fail to disappoint. Long out of print since its original release in 1980 this record finally got its due with this year's double cd package. True, in the thirty years since, Pacific Ocean Blue's reputation has risen with the Wilsonian superlatives lavished up on it by fans such as The Verve and The Charlatans. Similarly,unavailability has also played its part in ballooning the myth – Be assured though Pacific Ocean Blue meets and surpasses even the loftiest of sonic expectations.

Nearly twenty five years after Dennis' untimely death, we'll never know if this version of Bambu matched the creative vision of its creator but it does offer a rare glimpse into a profoundly creative mind. Bearing in mind the fact that this was the same album that had been left abandoned by Dennis himself a full four years before he died in 1983. For the ardent musicologist in all of us, this collection is a treasure.

3. Pavement | Brighten the Corners (Nicene Creedence Edition)

Matador Record's two-disc Nicene Creedence Edition of Pavement's seminal Brighten the Corners goes way beyond the original 12-song release, adding a whopping 31 additional cuts: outtakes, B-sides, compilation tracks, and live radio sessions, all of them top-notch. (When I do my top five song title list "Neil Hagerty Meets Jon Spencer in a Non-Alcoholic Bar" will surely be first and foremost.)

I recall very well when the original release of this album graced our ears. By then Pavement had perfected their slacker ideology with their clever mélange of idiosyncrasy and competence. These guys were such a huge influence on indie music for years since. I've always considered them to be this continent's version of the Fall. High praise, trust me, Mark E. Smith is a demigod in my books.

So get out the air guitar and go Guitar Hero over the seven-minute "And Then (The Hexx)". Pure postmetallicfunkjammingslacker goodness!

2. R.E.M. | Murmur (Deluxe Edition)

You know how sometimes you get that little burst of adrenalin when you get some good news about something you really love. Well I got that burst when I heard about this records impending reissue. When I actually heard it though, it was a whole new ballgame. Hearing this reissue was like hearing it for the first time over twenty five years ago. But the real bonus here is the oft bootlegged live cd from Larry's Hideaway in Toronto. This generation's functional equivalent to Live at Leeds. (IT IS JUST THAT GOOD)

I could write an essay on the importance of this CD in my music pedigree but this time I defer to you the listener to discover its riches. It rarely gets better than this.

1. Otis Redding | Otis Blue: Otis Redding Sings Soul (Collector's Edition)

On July 10, 1965, Otis Redding took only 24 hours to record ten of the eleven songs that would make up Otis Blue: Otis Redding Sings Soul, arguably the 1960s' greatest studio-recorded soul LP. Allow me to amend that. It may be the last centuries greatest recorded LP.

This is unquestionably Redding's crowning achievement. The sprawling two CD Collector's Edition of Otis Blue really helps to illuminate that contention. This amazing package includes rarities, live versions of the album tracks, alternate mixes, and the original LP in both mono and stereo. It was pure bliss to discover anew the magic that lies within this record. Not unlike the more extensive Beach Boys - Pet Sounds boxed set this release goes a long way in explaining the back story of this legendary musician.

The music on this disc will affect the way you listen to and interpret music. "Change Gonna Come", Redding's cover of Cooke's civil rights anthem "A Change Is Gonna Come", is the real gem of this package. Emotional, raw and so extraordinarily passionate the hair on the back of your neck will stand on end.

For an album that took one day to create is still a stunning revelation to me- Testimony to the inimitable soul and sublime talent of Otis Redding. This record needs to be in everyone's collection. It deserves reverence, it deserves love. It is a blueprint for all of us to do just that.

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Allan (Toronto, On) AW Music

Frightened Rabbit - Midnight Organ Fight

Microcastle - Deerhunter

The Bug - London Zoo

M83 - Saturdays=Youth

Fleet Foxes s/t

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Christian (Toronto, On) AW Music

Best Albums '08/Best Songs

1. Deerhunter - Microcastle

2. Department of Eagles - In Ear Park

3. Chad Van Gaalen - Soft Airplane

4. Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes

5. Women - Women

"Recent Bedroom" Atlas Sound

"Black Rice" Women

"Seal Eyeing" Animal Collective

"Open Spaces" Johnny Greenwood (There Will Be Blood OST)

"No One Does it Like You" Department of Eagles

"The Rip" Portishead

"Gila" Beach House

"Mykonos" Fleet Foxes

Rabid Bits of Time - Chad Van Gaalen

Chemtrails- Beck

Everyone Else's Best _______ of '08, Part 1: Friends!

First, let me thank everyone for participating, I had a much better turn out than I thought that I might... you're all terrific.

Second, the way this "Best _____ of '08" is going to be posted in three parts: friends, bloggers, and bands. And, sometimes these labels (friends, bloggers, bands) aren't mutually exclusive; so, if you fit into more than one category I tended to put people where they'd get attention for their 'projects' (blogs or bands). The lists ranged from being very short lists of best albums, to lengthier (some might say diatribes) on the state of music, with some very creative lists which were, predictably, from the bands.

Third, I actually do have more than 6 friends... seriously... I have at least 50 facebook friends, and even more myspace friends.... *slowly hangs head*

Without further ado, the list:

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Cam (London, On)

Best Albums:

The (International) Noise Conspiracy – The Cross of My Calling
The Gaslight Anthem – The ’59 Sound
The Constantines – Kensington Heights
Bon Iver – For Emma, Forever Ago
Thrice – The Alchemy Index Vols 3+4: Air and Earth
Sam Roberts – Love at the End of the World
Verse – Aggression
Re-Up Gang – We Got it for Cheap Vol.3
Underoath – Lost in the Sound of Separation
Cut Copy – In Ghost Colours

Favourite Newcomer: Wale – The Mixtape About Nothing
Favourite Two Songs: The Gaslight Anthem – "The ’59 Sound"
Chuck Ragan – "Revival Road"

Favourite Show: Against Me! – Cowboys, London Ontario
Album of critical acclaim that I just didn’t “get”: Lil Wayne – Tha Carter Vol.3
Biggest Disappointment: Death Cab for Cutie – Narrow Stairs

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Jeff (Hamilton, On) - Best Albums of 2008

TV on the Radio - Dear Science

Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes
Wolf Parade - At Mount Zoomer
Crystal Castles - Crystal Castles
Why? - Alopecia

And an honourable mention goes to Girl Talk - Feed the Animals

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Pete (London, On) - Best/Worst/etc. of '08

Top Albums:

1. TV on the Radio - Dear Science
2. Hayden - In Field and Town
3. Wolf Parade - At Mount Zoomer
4. She and Him - Volume 1
5. Fleet Foxes - Ragged Wood.
6. David Byrne and Brian Eno - Everything that happens will Happen Today

Honourables:
Crystal Castles, Goldfrapp - Seventh Tree, Islands - Arm's Way, Human Highway - Moody Motorcycle, Mother Mother - O My Heart, Plants and Animals - Parc Avenue (can't stand the disc, but I did like them live!)

Thumbs down:

Deerhunter - Microcastle

Best Bonus Track/Track period (great tune) - Yellow Jacket Avenger - Hiding Out

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B (Toronto, On) - Best Albums '08

#5 Black Hat Brigade - Black Hat Brigade EP
A great live performance (albeit crappy recording) of 'A Pictorial History' showing off their rock-ability.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58BqcM9BID4

#4 Elliott Brood - Mountain Meadows
A great live performance of one of the stronger songs on the album, 'Write It All Down For You'. They handed out baking sheets to the crowd to give the percussion a little extra flare.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0MV_AU_-Kg

#3 Born Ruffians - Red Yellow And Blue
A solid performance of two of the better tracks off the album: Kurt Vonnegut and Hummingbird
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAbDqCH52Sg

#2 Chad VanGaalen - Soft Airplane
An intimate performance of 'Molten Light' shot 3 weeks ago at a laundromat in Paris.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVSm_QsHwcU

#1 Wolf Parade - At Mount Zoomer
'Kissing the Beehive' - my song of 2008
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2shLapSNr0U

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Mr. Grosman (Toronto) - Best Albums '08

1. Fate – Dr. Dog

Harmony-laden pop rock with a psychedelic edge. This quintet from Philadelphia stirs up a delicious stew of catchy melodies with just enough weirdness to keep things interesting. Beautiful, beautiful music.

2. Evil Urges – My Morning Jacket

Sure, this album is not like the ones that came before it. But to those who expect Jimmy James and company to remain stagnant and fit into the notion of what MMJ is supposed to sound like, well, they suck. I applaud a band that is constantly evolving. It took some time to grow on me but this album has lasting appeal and boy do these cats bring it live.

3. The Felice Brothers – The Felice Brothers

Bar room sing-alongs never sounded so good. It’s tough to beat a band that features a 250-pound, whisky-swigging accordion player; a lead singer who sounds uncannily Dylan-esque; and the most eccentric drummer I’ve ever witnessed. Add some good old-fashioned washboard and bass player name Christmas, and ladies and gentlemen, I present to you, The Felice Brothers.

4. Ghost Notes - Everest

I’m not really sure how such relatively simple, straightforward, rock songs managed to affect me so deeply, but Everest must have some sort of secret formula. Plainly put, this album consists of incredibly infectious, well-written songs. They’re doing something right to be currently touring with Wilco and Neil Young.

5. Soft Airplane – Chad VanGaalen

Rob introduced me to this basement-dwelling Albertan, and let’s just say we’ve been pals ever since. Seriously, he hit the nail on the figurative head with this suggestion. Hauntingly weird yet strangely accessible, VanGaalen quivering falsetto has made a believer out of me.

Notable mentions: Magnificent Fiend – Howlin Rain; Temporary People – Joseph Arthur and The Lonely Astronauts; Consolers of the Lonely – The Raconteurs; Join the Band – Little Feat (MY FAVOURITE BAND); Ode to Sunshine – Delta Spirit; Fleet Foxes – Fleet Foxes; Parc Avenue – Plants and Animals; Loaded – The Wood Brothers; Brighter Than Creation’s Dark – Drive-By Truckers; Attack and Release – The Black Keys; Warpaint – The Black Crowes

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Eliot (London, On) - Best Albums '08

1) Chad VanGaalen - Soft Airplance
2) Black Kids - Partie Traumatic
3) Islands - Arm's Way
4) Wolf Parade - At Mount Zoomer (Almost entirely a result of the track California Dreamer which may be the best Wolf Parade Song of all time)
5) Eagles of Death Metal - Heart On