I've been putting off doing these year end wrap-ups simply because I knew it was going to be tough. I've probably listened to more new artists this year than any other year in my life. In hopes of keeping the lists concise, I've opted to shorten the length as to just reflect the best of each category. Unfortunately, with such short lists, there will be debate as to why things didn't make certain lists...but that's what discussion is for! I'll roll out a new list each day this week with applicable mp3s, so check back often!
Top 5 EPs:
05. Cold War Kids - Up In Rags EP
Jangly guitars and dissonant piano paired with Nathan Willett's expressive voice make for a great breakthough EP.
Cold War Kids - Hospital Beds
Cold War Kids - Hang Me Up To Dry
04. Professor Murder - Professor Murder Rides The Subway
Thank you, Professor Murder, for bringing the fun back to indie rock. More cowbell!
Professor Murder - Free Stress Test
Professor Murder - Champion
03. Colour Revolt - Colour Revolt EP
Smart, tortured songwriting and lush instrumentation make this one of the year's best! Trail of Dead, this could be you.
Colour Revolt - Our Homes And Graves
Colour Revolt - A New Family
02. Tokyo Police Club - A Lesson In Crime
These short 2 minute songs kick the crap out of any other high energy songs out there. I'm excited for the full length!
Tokyo Police Club - Nature Of The Experiment
Tokyo Police Club - If It Works
01. Klaxons - Xan Valleys EP
Klaxons win #1 cause it's fresh and it rocks. Bring on more of the indie rock/electro/rave!
Klaxons - Gravity's Rainbow
Klaxons - Atlantis To Interzone
Honorable mention:
The Twilight Sad - EP
The Twilight Sad - And She Would Darken The Memory
The Twilight Sad - 3 Seconds Of Dead Air
The Morning Benders - Loose Change EP
The Morning Benders- Grain Of Salt
The Morning Benders - Heavy Hearts
Port O'Brien - Nowhere To Run
Port O'Brien - I Woke Up Today
Port O'Brien - Tree Bones
Labels: COLD WAR KIDS, COLOUR REVOLT, KLAXONS, PORT O'BRIEN, PROFESSOR MURDER, THE MORNING BENDERS, THE TWILIGHT SAD, TOKYO POLICE CLUB, YEAR IN REVIEW
Been having a rough time recently...feel like I'm hitting that ol' quarter-life crisis...let me tell you my story in a musical consisting of indie rock songs...
01. Ted Leo and the Pharmacists - Building Skyscrapers in the Basement
02. McLusky - Without MSG I Am Nothing
03. The Cribs - Hey Scenesters!
04. Xiu Xiu - I Luv the Valley OH!
05. Emily Haines & The Soft Skeleton - The Lottery
06. Cold War Kids - Hospital Beds
07. The Wrens - Happy
08. The Futureheads - Danger Of The Water
09. The Clash - London Calling
10. TV On The Radio - Young Liars
11. Interpol - Leif Erikson
Now, what do you guys think the plot is?
Labels: COLD WAR KIDS, EMILY HAINES, INDIE POP, INDIE ROCK, INTERPOL, MCLUSKY, MIX, TED LEO AND THE PHARMACISTS, THE CLASH, THE CRIBS, THE FUTUREHEADS, THE WRENS, TV ON THE RADIO
