 | The Trials of Van Occupanther by Midlake
Buy new: £8.19 / Used from: £6.48 The band named after where most of my tee-offs end up released an excellent sophomore album full of spooked melody and 70s louche charm. Well above par (9)
|
 | Film School by Film School
Buy new: £8.98 / Used from: £5.49 There aren't enough bands who post-rock the Interpol Division sound afterall! The quality and energy is irrestible and though derivative to an extent the guitars swoon like Kitchens of Distinction (9)
|
 | I Am Not Afraid of You and I Will Beat Your Ass by Yo La Tengo
Buy new: £8.48 / Used from: £4.00 ...if you disagree with me on this one. How often is an album by scene veterans hailed as their best yet? For once the critics are right - sprawling krautrock workouts contrasted by heartbreakers 8.75
|
 | The Eraser by Thom Yorke
Buy new: £6.98 / Used from: £4.60 Fans of latter day Radiohead like myself will love these introspective thoughtful songs garnished with electronic precision. Nice one A Kid (8.75)
|
 | American V: A Hundred Highways by Johnny Cash
Buy new: £4.92 / Used from: £3.71 For once a posthumous release that enhances a discography. Dead good. (8.75)
|
 | Dreamt for Light Years in the Belly of a Mountain by Sparklehorse
Buy new: £7.58 / Used from: £2.84 Linkous links up with Dangermouse but the template is unchanged - gut-wrenching, tear-jerking (insert other body part and verb combo) loveliness (8.75)
|
 | Let's Kill the Summer by Singleman Affair
Buy new: £9.99 / Used from: £1.74 Autumnal hazy acoustic charm from highly under-rated songwriter. Fans of The Clientele need apply (8.75)
|
 | Writer's Block by Peter Bjorn & John
Buy new: £4.97 / Used from: £3.50 ....definitely not in evidence here. Tunes so good everyone from the old plumber to the young folk could whistle them (8.5)
|
 | Everything All the Time by Band Of Horses
Buy new: £6.41 / Used from: £6.47 From the same aural stable as My Morning Jacket - this is a fine collection of neil young-influenced indie rock (8.5)
|
 | Departure by Spotlight Kid
Buy new: £9.99 / Used from: £3.05 Ex Six by Seven men in Shoegaze (that wonderful genre)'s finest release of the year. MBV by way of Broken Social Scene by ex Six by Seven man (8.5)
|
 | Trompe-l'Oeil by Malajube
Buy new: £18.49 / Used from: £4.37 Oh Canada...how many good independent bands can hail from your bosom. Great sounding jerky rock sung in Canadian french for extra pretentious points! (8.5)
|
 | Violence and Birdsong by Union Of Knives
Buy new: £9.98 / Used from: £3.59 Like the album title richly evokes an album of contrast - The abrasive but deep rolling rhythmic elements of Underworld contrasts with Radiohead esque melodies. Works very well actually. (8.25)
|
 | Howling Bells by Howling Bells
Buy new: £5.48 / Used from: £5.00 Keep yer ears pealed if you like well-produced femme-rock reminiscent of Pj Harvey at her better form (8.25)
|
 | Yellow House by Grizzly Bear
Buy new: £9.98 / Used from: £7.76 Grizzly Bear from the Animal Collective has plenty of Warp-ed hazy honey on offer here (8.25)
|
 | Avalanche by Sufjan Stevens
Buy new: £6.60 / Used from: £5.98 ....of B-sides and out-takes from the Illinois sessions. This guy is such a "name your kid after him" provoking legend. Can't believe these were left on the chopping floor (8.25)
|
 | The Year of the Leopard by James Yorkston
Buy new: £4.98 / Used from: £3.50 No spot-changing here. More rural, rustic acoustic delights - perfect for those long walks followed by cider by the log-fire...oh that's just me (8.25)
|
 | Puzzles Like You by Mojave 3
Buy new: £7.98 / Used from: £3.99 More Byrds-ian and Fanclub esque than anything Halstead has put his name to. This is no slow dive in form though. Reliably good. (8.25)
|
 | The Crane Wife by Decemberists
Buy new: £9.98 / Used from: £7.30 Even Lillith would approve.....(8.25)
|
 | Ideal Lives by Rahim
Buy new: £10.03 / Used from: £2.77 Mature and melodic offerign from Fugazi influenced threepiece (8.25)
|
 | Citrus by Asobi Seksu
Buy new: £14.99 / Used from: £5.76 Not the best year for shoegazers but this MBV/Lush/Slowdive influenced affair is fruity enough for sure (8.25)
|
 | Seawards by Sickoakes
Buy new: £10.48 / Used from: £6.50 They sound like a Death Metal band on paper but on digital file they resemble EITS, State River Widening and instrumental rock's elite. Insert cover/book analogy (8)
|
 | Halos and Lassos by Half Handed Cloud
Buy new: £7.71 / Used from: £5.80 ...just below Sufjan but pipping Danielson in the "unusual left-field Christian folkies" award..For angels and cowboys (8)
|
 | Gang of Losers by Dears
Buy new: £8.50 / Used from: £5.00 Instead of some weak title-related pun I should do a link to the photo of the Sobell Squad...erm only kidding my dears..more good Canadian indie-pop (8)
|
 | Black Sheep Boy Appendix by Okkervil River
Buy new: £5.98 / Used from: £4.33 Superb companion piece to last year's masterpiece (8)
|
 | Nine Times That Same Song by Love Is All
Buy new: £9.98 / Used from: £1.50 ....which is a good thing for other fans of Scandi-girl-pop with a punky edge (8)
|
Listmania!
