This year the overabundance and subsequent disposability of current “indie” music affected my top 20 choices. Overall I’m relatively happy with the albums, but I spent adequate time with only around 10 albums that I liked -> loved from this year so a lot of the choices below reflect a thrown-together list of albums I liked and need to spend more time with (albums by Baroness, Fuck Buttons, Nosaj Thing and a few others were slept-on and probably belong on the final list along with albums I never bothered to listen to). A glaring omission is The Flaming Lips – Embryonic. It just never caught on with me and they’re one of my top 5 favorite bands.



Top 20 albums (out of 85 listened to/downloaded/purchased)

1. Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavilion
2. Neko Case – Middle Cyclose
3. Vetiver – Tight Knit
4. The Big Pink – A Brief History of Love
5. Kurt Vile – Childish Prodigy
6. Mastodon – Crack The Skye
7. Wilco – The Album
8. John Doe & the Sadies – Country Club
9. Richard Hawley – True Love’s Gutter
10. The Warlocks – Mirror Explodes
11. Bear in Heaven – Beast Rest Forth Mouth
12. M. Ward – Hold Time
13. Built to Spill – There Is No Enemy
14. worriedaboutsatan – Arrivals
15. The Drive By Truckers – Fine Print
16. Oneida – Rated O
17. Atlas Sound – Logos
18. Ola Podrida – Belly of the Lion
19. Bibio – Ambivalence Avenue
20. Willie Nelson & Asleep at the Wheel – Willie and the Wheel

Here's a link to my compilation of songs from my Top 20 +3 songs from EPs that I liked:


Top 16 concerts (out of a 6-year low of 56 accounted for)

1. Jan 31 - Silver Jews/Arnett Hollow @ Cumberland Caverns - McMinnville, TN
2. Apr 4 - Neko Case/Crooked Fingers @ Workplay Theater - Birmingham, AL
3. Jul 14 - Pine Hill Haints/Jesus Lizard @ Exit/In – Nashville, TN
4. Apr 18 - Wilco/A Hawk and A Hacksaw @ Tennessee Theatre - Knoxville, TN
5. Apr 28 - Aziz Ansari & Friends @ Largo at the Coronet - Los Angeles, CA
6. May 15 - Mastodon @ Center Stage - Atlanta, GA
7. Jun 10 - Bachelorette/Bonnie "Prince" Billy @ Belcourt Theatre – Nashville, TN
8. Jun 14 - Phish @ Bonnaroo - Manchester, TN
9. Jul 25 - Jason Lytle/Neko Case @ Ryman Auditorium – Nashville, TN
10. Jun 26 - Noot D' Noot @ Farm 255 - Athens, GA
11. Jun 11 - Janelle Monae @ Bonnaroo - Manchester, TN
12. Sep 16 - The Band of Heathens/John Fogerty @ Mercy Lounge – Nashville, TN
13. Oct 6 - Alberta Cross @ the Basement – Nashville, TN
14. Jan.10 - The Ettes @ Mercy Lounge – Nashville, TN
15. Feb.27 - Lambchop/Courtney Tidwell/The Features @ 205 Morton Ave – Nashville, TN
EDIT: 16. Jan 23 - Les Savy Fav/Twin Tigers @ The EARL - Atlanta, GA

Great list. I gotta check out that Hawley. His last grew on me big time a year later. I dug that Kurt Vile, but only about 4 songs. That guy has potential.

right down the middle with some strength

BTW, that Jon Hassell *just* missed the Top 20. It took a certain mood for me to really get into it and that mood didn't strike quite enough. Excellent album though.

what, you didnt enjoy the FAV with me and derris?

Fuck, that was this year?? I forgot it from the list for some reason (edited above)