For the Record

Author: Emily Temple

A new year has arrived and along with the confetti, champagne and plastic noisemakers inevitably must come the "best of" list of every self-proclaimed music connoisseur, online news source and music magazine. It's tiring, I know. But get prepared for yet another, because what would a columnist be without stalwart opinions on things that matter little? I claim no ultimate judgment power, but I do get to tell you what I like, so here's what's been spinning my dial just right this past year.

1. The Hold Steady - Boys and Girls in America: The new album is superb, a beer-frosted creation of unabashed rock in a sea of indie crooners and electro-poppers. Craig Finn's inner teenager is bored, socially irresponsible, addicted and angsty - a combination that somehow hits home to even the nicest of daddy's girls. The men of The Hold Steady have clearly succeeded in their much-professed goal to sound like a bunch of guys playing music together, and despite how that sounds, it works for them. I still like Separation Sunday better, but hey, what's a girl to do?

2. TV on the Radio - Return to Cookie Mountain: These guys basically never fail. A rock spectacular classic that somehow doubles as a background album, it's a little bit of everything you love all in one swirling breath.

3. Man Man - Six Demon Bag: A crazy, growling ride through the personal playground of a bunch of circus freaks. I love this album because even though it brings to mind a host of reputable psychotics (Zappa, Waits, Captain Beefheart), it really sounds like nothing else you've ever heard. The raw passion of Honus Honus's guttural lyrics and the flat out fun of this album mix to create a cognitively interesting and completely satisfying listen. Plus, how can you not like music made with toys?

4. The Blow - Paper Television: This album is undeniably sexy: breathy but forceful female vocals, the requisite squeaks and bips and party proper beats. This is one of the few electro-pop albums where almost every song is memorable (and I can tell them apart).

5. Liars - Drum's Not Dead: A turbulent mess of tightly woven rock creeps into your head through what kind of feels like your bellybutton. This cult avant-garde rock band has finally achieved almost uncontested praise for its newest release that is a tense, creepy masterpiece.

6. Danielson - Ships: This family outfit brought in an almost unprecedented number of indie rock A-listers to bolster its weird, playful sound, but they hardly needed them. Danielson is Christian rock so good I forget it's Christian rock, and Ships is their most altogether enjoyable album to date.

7. Beirut - Gulag Orkestar: Gypsy choirs at their very finest and accordions to great effect. There is something so unknowingly charming about this album; it's as if Johnny Depp had stepped right out of Chocolat to hand you a tambourine before turning to sail off into the distance.

8. Lily Allen - Alright, Still: This is the ultimate kiss off album, a hilarious and fiery debut from UK pop princess Lily Allen. It might not make the top ten list for many boys, but on a Saturday night, Lily mixes the perfect brew of spunky self-assertion and (surprisingly non-hokey) female empowerment.

9. Midlake - The Trials of Van Occupanther: This makes the list based almost exclusively on the opening track, "Roscoe"- a winding, lush fairy tale that I simply can't stop listening to. The rest of the album isn't bad either.

10. Jehro - Jehro: Not the most innovative thing out there, but this album is so pleasant that you can't help playing it over and over. The most intoxicating, sleepy summer songs surprise with lyrics about dying preteen soldiers and broken dreams - leaving you feeling almost guilty about the Caribbean decadence of the melodies.