Top Albums of the Year

This year has been a good year for music. Here are my favorite albums of the year, in no particular order. Keep in mind, I am not a music critic. I don't know how to write a bout music at all.

Noisettes Wild Young Hearts
It is sort of funky. It is sort of soulful. It is a lot of fun. The lead singer, Shingai Shoniwa, has a fantastic voice that reminds me 1960s soul music. Great for working out, cleaning the house, or dancing to. I especially like this at work because it makes the day go faster.









The Decemberists Hazards of Love
I love The Decemberists. Have for years. So it was no surprise when this was near the top of my list. Another home run for the quirky rockers. This one tells a story, sort of a rock opera, through the whole album. While there is a single, it is better in the context for the whole thing. Good stuff.








Yeah Yeah Yeahs Blitz!
Another upbeat, fun album. Which I think is my theme for this year. Great vocals. Fun beats. I'm clearly not a music reviewer.











Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros Up From Below
This is some fantastic and trippy stuff. I think they are hippies, or hippie fakes or something. And they, all 12 or something of them, are out to change your mind about something, I think. I'm not exactly sure what this one is all about, but I like it a lot. There is sort of a retro feel, but all original.








Jeremy Messersmith The Silver City
A wonderful album from a local favorite. This album is just wonderful. Almost every song is about transportation in some way, which I love. His voice is beautiful. There is a nice mix of tempos and styles. Probably my most listened to album of the year.









Phoenix Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
I saw they are called "French Electro-Rockers." I like that. It is danceable pop music. There is electronics. There is rock. There is high men's voices. I like it.












Noah and the Whale The First Days of Spring
This thing is sort of beautiful. The music spoke to me somehow. It is a real clean sound. At one point a whole orchestra comes in and it is fantastic. A really wonderful listen.