10. Veckatimest – Grizzly Bear

For my first real introduction to Grizzly Bear (2007′s Friend EP doesn’t really count as it’s full of covers by other bands), Veckatimest proved that the hype surrounding this band was completely justified. “Southern Point”, the album’s opener, poses as the album’s manifesto, embodying all of the elements that make this album as good as it is, most notably Grizzly Bear’s mastery of subtlety. The most straightforward parts of the album, like the plunky key line in “Two Weeks”, pose as a tasteful foreground to the underlying complexities that make each track on this record infinitely interesting. By managing to retain a certain level of ‘hook’ to their songwriting, Grizzly Bear manage to create a successful balancing act with Veckatimest, without sacrificing depth or aesthetic.

Favourite Track: “While You Wait For The Others”

9. XX – The XX

All year I had been bombarded with this band, without actually hearing them until recently. XX is a record that screams simplicity, relying heavily on lush, flowing vocals, thickly reverberated guitar lines and a stable, consistent back line. Not to mention the adorable lyrics complete male/female vocal dynamic that make The XX an attractive band. Despite the vast amount of bands that engage a similar formula, XX doesn’t immerse itself too far into gimmicky indie-pop, which places it above the rest.

Favourite Track: “Islands”

8. The Pains of Being Pure of Heart – The Pains of Being Pure of Heart

For a band that has thickly distorted guitars on most of the songs on this record, The Pains of Being Pure of Heart are anything but heavy. All of the songs on their self-titled record are light-hearted,  noise-pop romps that get straight to the point and end before too much complication. The youthful lyrical themes melt perfectly with the barebones production style of this record. Each track is catchy, accessible, and relatable, as the narrow-scope of this album (which in this case shows fantastic stylistic focus) transports the listener back to the perils of being a teenager.

Favourite Track: “Young Adult Friction”

7. It’s Blitz! – Yeah Yeah Yeahs

I read a rumour once that when starting to write their third album, Karen O told Nick Zinner “no guitars”. Well, the end product contains a lot of guitar, but the synth-based intentions remain to produce a dance-rock classic. Opening with “Zero”, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs set the tone for the rest of the album, launching from one dance-rock anthem to another. However, that isn’t to say that the slower tracks aren’t important tracks on the record. Less pronounced in its bass-heavy beats is the flowing “Soft Shock”, while the beautiful “Hysteric” is the highlight for me. This album is much more calculated, demands a higher production cost, and is more fluent in hyper-pop than previous records, but It’s Blitz! doesn’t lose any of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs personality.

Favourite Track: “Hysteric”

6. Merriweather Post Pavilion – Animal Collective

Unlike Strawberry Jam, I found myself less inclined to fall in love with this record upon first listen. However, i would notice certain parts in each song that would keep drawing me back. Eventually, I grew to love it. I understand why Merriweather Post Pavilion received it’s massive critical acclaim: It’s artsy, yet hooky (see “Summertime Clothes”); it’s experimental, yet audibly interesting; it’s complex, but not too saturated (see “Lion in a Coma”). The vocal melodies on this album (which I believe is the strongest point of this band) are ridiculous and the dynamics amongst the vocalists in Animal Collective are fantastic (see “My Girls”). It is probably as glossy and “over-produced” as this band is ever going to get, and it’s still the coolest and most unique band you will hear in the world of popular music.

Favourite Track: “My Girls”

5. Years of Refusal – Morrissey

Now, believe it or not, Years of Refusal was my first introduction to Morrissey as solo artist. I am well versed in his Smiths back-catalogue, but I wasn’t naive to expect Smiths rip-offs, especially so late in his career. It is a pretty straightforward rock record, filled with glorious production quality (I’m a sucker for lo-fi, if you sent me a recording of you singing “Smells Like Teen Spirit” a cappella into a computer mic, I’d probably like it more than you’d think) and snap-perfect song-writing structure. But you don’t listen to Morrissey to listen to Boz and the boys, you listen to a Morrissey record to hear the mopey crooner’s luscious voice and listen to his amazing (AH-MAH-ZING) lyrics.

Here are a couple of examples:

“I know by now you think I should have straightened myself out/ thank you, drop dead” – “Something is Squeezing My Skull”

(after describing how the narrator breaks his spine he sings:)

“so yes, there are things worse in life than never being someone’s sweetie”

- “That’s How People Grow Up”

“It’s not your birthday anymore/ there’s no need to be kind to you”

- “It’s Not Your Birthday Anymore”

Anyways, I’m sure you see my point. The album is filled with arrogance, self-deprecation, and above all else, unspeakable (and undeniable) truths. I certainly wouldn’t expect anything less.

Favourite Track: “Black Cloud”

4. Animals Are People Too – The Wind Whistles

The Wind Whistles are one of those local bands that you just kind of stumble upon. Before interviewing them, I figured I should brush up on their catalogue. Their first album, Window Sills, was good enough for me to authentically be interested in their other material, which leads me to this record. Animals Are People Too is stripped down, folk/pop, but the songs are incredibly well written. Most of the tracks are short and sweet, but still memorable. With a formula of acoustic based pop, the Wind Whistles run the risk of being boring, repetitive, and predictable. Fortunately, this is not the case and the WInd Whistles capitalize by making an overdone music style sound fresh.

Favorite Track: “Judo”

3. Small Vampires EP – Char2d2

Speaking of bands one just stumbles upon, Char2d2 was a local band I discovered entirely by mistake, having accidentally clicked on their artist profile on the Rifflandia website. Although it is an EP that clocks in at just over 16 minutes, the replay value is enormous. Also like the number 4 record, Small Vampires is full of short tracks, each one cuter than the last. Also, Tegan Quin’s influence as a producer is all over this record as it contains remnants of So Jealous-era Tegan and Sara. But that is by no means a bad thing. Regardless, the Small Vampires EP is a completely satisfying, near-perfect collection of pop music that’ll make you thirst for a full length.

Favourite Track: “Some Will Have to Go”

2. Two Suns – Bat For Lashes

Of all the records I’ve heard this past year, none have felt more painfully honest and  heartbreaking as Two Suns. I read that this album is a vague chronicle/analogy of the demise of her relationship of twenty years (umm… she’s thirty?). When I started to consider this in my listening of this record, I started to notice how frank she can be. However, despite being openly personal on this record, she embraces it in an almost ironic way at times (like singing to Daniel-san from Karate Kid in the lead single “Daniel”, which she cites as her favourite movie). However, the beauty of this record does not rely solely upon the lyrical content. Natasha Kahn has a gorgeous, full voice that seems to be without any limitations in range, which, when coated in  reverb, is haunting and vulnerable. Instrumentally, Two Suns is rich and complex, each song thick with layers of instrumentation not normally found on a pop record. Each song on this record sticks with you, with each one affecting you differently than the last.

Favourite Track: “Moon and Moon”

1. Post-Nothing – Japandroids

I hadn’t been more excited for any other release this year, and it didn’t disappoint. The local boys put together an eight track masterpiece that hits the ground running, and refuses to stop until someone dies of alcohol poisoning. Like other records on this list, this album has a distinctive theme of youthfulness, but unlike other albums that are similar, Post-Nothing takes the perspective of the invincibility of being youth. “Young Hearts Spark Fire” demonstrates this in it’s celebration of those nights where it’s balls to the wall (“you can keep tomorrow/ after tonight we’re not gonna need it”). It’s also full of Vancouver specific references that perhaps make this record more relatable from where I stand (a blunt example would have to be in “Sovereignty” when they sing “it’s raining in Vancouver/ but I don’t give a fuck/ ’cause I’m in love with you tonight”). As a the theme has been for this list, the songs are simple: dual vocals (in unison, not harmony), LOUD guitar, and LOUD drums. They’re straight to the point, and don’t deviate far from it, but still manage to have diverse and memorable moments (the never-ending snare roll into the most anti-climatic drum fill ever in “Wet Hair” is oddly satisfying). The album close, “I Quit Girls” is a perfect track to finish this record on. It signals exhaustion of all the themes discussed on the record (mainly love) to which the boys frankly (in a sweet falsetto) sing “after her/ I quit girls”. The album is intense, relatable, and exciting. Post-Nothing is the most pleasure I’ve ever gotten from being punched in the face.

Favourite Track: “Wet Hair”

Tell me what you think, if you agree or disagree, and feel free to post your own list!

Jamie