I dig Surfer Blood, but I gotta agree. The Libertines were easily one of the top five bands of the last decade, Surfer Blood isn't on that level. They are good though.

the first Surfer Blood song you posted reminded me so much of why I love Butterglory, but I don't hear much of that on the other songs. I usually like whatever song of theirs I'm listening to, but rarely make it past two songs when I'm ready to move onto something else.

Dalen, did you used to listen to Butterglory?

Exactly.

I think Dalen should work for the record label promoters/marketing firms. His hyperbolic evaluations of every record are reminiscent of those loathing conversations I had to endure every day as music director.

dale you should settle down. we're only 13 days into 2010.

alright babe.

yup...

so far of the albums i've actually listened to i'd say...

vampire weekend - contra
these new puritans - hidden
xiu xiu - dear god, i hate myself

I ask this question honestly; you like that taxi cab song? I ask because it seems atypical of what I believe your tastes to be.

It's the only song I've heard off the new record, and it didn't give me much incentive to download the album for deeper listening.

i can easily say it's the worst song on the album. it's boring.

Assuming it's actually released, the new Slobberbone will be at the top of my list.

I like the Surfer Blood album but need more time with it.

New Josh Ritter stuff sounds very good, but I don't know of a release date.

my fav is vampire weekend.

the only others i've heard and liked are the new eels and yeasayer. i'm still debating if i like the new editors enough to keep.

spoon next week and i've found a scalding chippy leaky (if anyone wants it).

I'd say this album suffers for that fact. Enjoyable for a couple of listens but quickly breaks down like an over used paper towel. No legs, all style no substance etc.

Did you know that you don't really like music? I didn't either, but it turns out there's a simple test.

so far, it's beach house for me.

but if the wrens can actually get that new record out....

This is proof you really don't have a clue what Radcliffe is talking about?

I agreed with Radcliffe that Dalen doesn't know what he is talking about, not necessarily with Radcliffe's take on that though.

digging the spoon, charlotte gainsbourg, shearwater and tindersticks the most probably. but hoping none of those end up being the "best".

My favorite albums are:

1.Vampire Weekend - Contra
2.The Dillinger Escape Plan - Option Paralysis
3.NoCanDo - Jimmy the Lock
4.MGMT - Congratulations

my #1 is probably a toss up between
owen pallett heartland
or
titus andronicus the monitor
with
caribou swim
coming in close behind them.

As far as a top-10, once all is said and done..

Almost definitely The National, Four Tet, and LCD Soundsystem...

..Possibly Sleigh Bells, The Mynabirds, Black Keys, and Flying Lotus...

As far as expectations go, !!!, Superchunk, and Madvillian will be up there...

And, if you're counting reissues and the expanded "Exile" ain't up there, yr a maroon.

So far it's still

Unwelcome Guests - Don't Go Swimming

i've really enjoyed these albums too:

Clem Snide - The Meat of Life
Hamid Drake & Bindu - Reggaeology
Mixtapes - Maps
Chumbawamba - abcdefg
Dr. Dog - Shame, Shame
Dinosaur Feathers - Fantasy Memorial
Jonsi - Go
Kate Nash - My Best Friend Is You
Librarians - Present Passed
Tame Impala - Innerspeaker
Teenage Fanclub - Shadows

that being said, there's a lot of stuff being released this summer (Dead Mechanical, Full of Fancy, Dopamines, Off With Their Heads) that'll hopefully knock my socks off.

oh yeah and Surfer Blood too, which i mistakenly had on my '09 list.