1. Ohm-Yo La Tengo (a meditative masterpiece. Ira Katz shredding “Ohm” @The Lyric this summer = major highlight)
2. Song For Zulu- Phosphorescent (the Johnny Cash quote and Matthew Houck’s world-weary voice make it special)
3. Menagerie- Caitlin Rose (one of Nashville’s most talented songwriters delivers another gem)
4. Dianne Young- Vampire Weekend (the sped up/slowed down “baby, baby, baby” and the clever wordplay rule)
5. Minute By Minute- James Hunter Six (the joyful screams come out of left field and make me smile and laugh)
6. Open- Rhye (like Barry White and Portishead, sure to pay dividends in nine months)
7, Retrograde- James Blake (the foghorn-from-hell-like keyboards bring added eeriness to an already creepy tune)
8. Reflektor-Arcade Fire (An arena-ready anthem w. a James Murphy-helped groove, Haitian percussion and Franco-English lyrics)
9. Harper Lee- Little Green Cars (I picture of chorus of mice singing the “ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh” parts)
10. We the Common- Thao and the Get Down Stay Down (excellent show @The Ottobar. Love the minor key banjo riff!)
Big honorable mentions’s to:
Workin’ Woman Blues- Valerie June
Green Garden- Laura Mvula
Heavy Bells- J.Roddy Walston & the Business
Kill the Lights- June Star
The Truth- Dr. Dog
Rising Tide- Letitia VanSant
Master Hunter- Laura Marling
Latch- Disclosure (featuring Sam Smith)
