Infinite Shuffle

Last year, I waited until mid-January to unleash my end-of-the-year and end-of-the-decade lists. But this year, I figured I’d do it at a more reasonable time — one minute into the new year.

So, without further ado, I give you my favorite music from the past 12 months. Enjoy.

By the way, rather than bogging down this post with a bunch of links and embedded videos, I just created a playlist with as many of the top songs as I could find. If, for some reason, the player doesn’t work on your computer, just open this link in a separate tab/window and listen to the goodness as you read about it.

THE ALBUMS I ENJOYED THE MOST

• Arcade Fire – The Suburbs … This band has yet to put out an average album. While I don’t yet consider it as strong as its predecessors, it’s still better than just about everything else that came out this year. It also includes one of my two most favorite songs of the year. … Favorite song: “Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)”
• Beach House – Teen Dream … I really didn’t think this album would live up to all the hype it was receiving before its release, but it actually may have surpassed it. … Favorite song: “Norway”
• Frightened Rabbit – The Winter of Mixed Drinks … While this band seems to fill every album with the same handful of songs, over and over again, I just can’t help loving them anyway. … Favorite song: “Swim Until You Can’t See Land”
• Mumford & Sons – Sigh No More … This was, hands down, my favorite album of the year. Go read last week’s post for more in-depth thoughts. … Favorite song: “Little Lion Man”
• The National – High Violet … These guys are slowly becoming one of all-time favorite bands. This album didn’t grab me right away, but after plenty of listens, it definitely stood out as one of the year’s best. … Favorite song: “Bloodbuzz Ohio”
• The Orbans – When We Were Wild … This is my hidden gem of the year. If you haven’t heard these alt-country boys from Austin — and I doubt you have — check them out immediately. … Favorite song: “Like a Liar”
• Shout Out Louds – Work … Three albums into their career, these guys from Sweden are on the verge of really breaking out in the States. … Favorite song: “Walls”
• Two Door Cinema Club – Tourist History … If it wasn’t for a couple-sentences-long review on the wall of a record store in Indianapolis, I may never have discovered this ’80s-infused, electro-pop group from Scotland. … Favorite song: “Undercover Martyn”
• Vampire Weekend – Contra … With easily the most-hyped album at the beginning of the year, the NYC crew managed to deliver and avoid a sophomore slump. … Favorite song: “Cousins”
• Wild Nothing – Bored Games … This is an album that totally caught me by surprise. A soft, dreamy, electro disc from some dudes in Roanoke? Sure, why not? … Favorite song: “Live In Dreams”

A FEW OTHER ALBUMS THAT WERE PRETTY GREAT

• Hey Marseilles – To Travels and Trunks (first dropped 2008, re-released this year) … Favorite song: “Rio”
• Jaill – That’s How We Burn … Favorite song: “Snake Shakes”
• Junip – Fields … Favorite song: “Always”
• Kings of Leon – Come Around Sundown … Favorite song: “Pyro”
• The Kissaway Trail – Sleep Mountain … Favorite song: “SDP”
• Kopecky Family Band – The Disaster (seven-song EP) … Favorite song: “Disaster”
• Let’s Wrestle – In the Court of the Wrestling Let’s … Favorite song: “We Are the Men You’ll Grow To Love Soon”
• Miniature Tigers – Fortress … Favorite song: “Rock & Roll Mountain Troll”

THE YEAR’S BEST TRACKS (that weren’t on any of the above listed albums)

• B.o.B. ft. Eminem and Hayley Williams – “Airplanes, Part II” … I seem to fall for one rap song per year. This one is it.
• The Band Perry – “If I Die Young” … A friend suggested I listen to this song a couple of months ago. Now I am forever in her debt.
• Cold War Kids – “Audience” … These guys snuck in an EP this year, and it included this gem.
• Diamond Rings – “Something Else” … I’m pretty sure this song was produced in 1985, put in a time capsule and finally released in 2010.
• The Drums – “I Felt Stupid” and “Let’s Go Surfing” … These are some fun songs from a band that’s developing a nice following.
• Local Natives – “Airplanes” … I’ve had this song stuck in my head on multiple occasions throughout the year.
• Loney, Dear – “Airport Surroundings” … Half of my brain doesn’t think this song belongs on this list. Unfortunately, the other half is bobbing along too much to pay it any heed.
• Neon Trees – “Animal” … I was hesitant to include this song after hearing it constantly in the Las Vegas commercials. Alas, it’s too good not to mention.
• School of Seven Bells – “Windstorm” … This song might be an acquired taste, but I can’t get enough of it.
• The Soft Pack – “Answer To Yourself” … Just a good, solid pop/rock song.
• Stornoway – “Zorbing” … This is my other most favorite track of the year. There’s nothing else to say — I just absolutely love it.
• Yeasayer – “Ambling Alp” and “O.N.E.” … These two songs are so good, I almost included the whole album on here — and I didn’t even like the album.
• Zola Jesus – “I Can’t Stand” and “Sea Talk” … I’m constantly trying to decide which song I like the most from this Siouxsie & The Banshees descendent, but I can never choose between the two.

ALBUMS I MISSED IN 2009

• The Boxer Rebellion – Union
• Fanfarlo – Reservoir
• Those Darlins – self-titled

EARLY CANDIDATES FOR THE “ALBUMS I MISSED IN 2010” LIST

• The Black Keys – Brothers
• John Grant – Queen of Denmark
• Menomena – Minds
• These New Puritans – Hidden
• Titus Andronicus – The Monitor

Check back tomorrow when I provide a massive compilation of all the end-of-the-year lists I could find.