I listened to a lot less new music this year than any in the past decade. Here are my favorites:

1. The War on Drugs - Lost In the Dream
2. Joe Henry - Invisible Hour
3. Matthew Ryan - Boxers
4. Spoon - They Want My Soul
5. Withered Hand - New Gods
6. Strand of Oaks - HEAL
7. Owl John - Owl John
8. Perfume Genius - Too Bright
9. A Sunny Day in Glasgow - Sea When Absent
10. Foxygen - And Star Power
11. Stephen Malkmus - Wig Out at Jagbags
12. Ought - More Than Any Other Day
13. The New Pornographers - Brill Bruisers
14. Fink - Hard Believer
15. Bahamas - Bahamas is Afie
16. Hiss Golden Messenger - Lateness of Dancers
17. Phil Ajjarapu - Sing Along Until You Feel Better
18. Adam Faucett - Blind Water Finds Blind Water
19. Ariel Pink - pom pom
20. Wake Owl - The Private World of Paradise

Ought is great.

I eventually gave that Foxygen album a chance, but man, what a mess. And not in a good way. I mean I guess I'd like it OK it wasn't for that "Journey Through Hell" section on side 3, but even "How Can You Really" isn't that good of a song.

Yeah, Foxygen is what I think of as rococo rock and roll - weighted with ornamentalism. Also, first listen impresses, but a little goes a long, long way pookie.

I like your list a lot. I was listening to the War on Drugs yesterday and I was struck how satisfying it is - for some reason I don't want to like it but it's irresistible and is good choice for year's best.

I finally listened to that A Sunny Day in Glasgow album, and I liked it a lot more than I thought I would. I had written it off earlier in the year because I guess I thought it was just another run of the mill dream pop knock-off, but it's not. They do some weird stuff, and there are a lot melodies reminiscent of mainstream pop from the past several years that work surprisingly well.

Agree that Foxygen is a bit of mess, at least for me.

A Sunny Day in Glasgow is one of those I should listen to more. I've liked what I've heard but just haven't gone back to it very often. Maybe it would have helped if I had caught them live in town back in July. My buddy can't say enough about them.

good list. need to check out that Withered Hand and A Sunny Day in Glasgow

I keep thinking A Sunny Day is Cocteau Twins, not a good association.

That Perfume Genius was one of my biggest surprises of the year. I liked the previous records, but this one was borderline great.