10.Does It Offend You, Yeah! – You Have No Idea What Your Getting Yourself Into = Electronica for the whole family. This album has a little electronica for everyone, wether you like the pure synths, the robotic vocals, or just something that sounds like it was pulled from the eighties.
9.Edison Glass – Time Is Fiction = I’m a sucker for a good album cover, I can’t tell you how many albums I’ve tried that were awful but did because of the album art, obviously not the case here. Probably my favorite part of this album is dueling male falsetto vocals. The songs are heavily layered each like its own Jenga tower ready to fall if you breath wrong but you marvel in its intricate beauty.
8.Charlie Hall – The Bright Sadness = I’m not normally one for “praise” music, but Charlie Hall slakes my thirst. Every Worship band or album sounds the same to me. The Worship land scape seems so devoid of change.
7.Foxy Shazam – Introducing = Slap on your dancing shoes and throw away your inhibition. This album is a blast to listen to you never know what is going to happen next. This album is like listening to a great Jazz band on meth only with way better facial hair.
6.Jon Foreman – Summer, Spring, Winter and Fall = Jon Foreman, lead singer for switchfoot, for those of you living in holes, releases a great box set. The set is a definite departure from switchfoot, the music is far more experimental and the lyrics far more pointed.
5.Seabird – Till We See The Shore = A guilty pleasure really, I mean they have been featured on Grey’s Anatomy and hold the theme song for Pushing daisies, not something you should lead with if you wanting to gain indie cred or maintain a heterosexual persona, But that is how good they are. Even with all that knowledge they still swing their way into the top 10.
4.The Cool Kids – Bake Sale = If you’ve become fed up with the misogynistic lyrics and overly produced beats of rap, then welcome the sweet licks of The Cool Kids. With tracks about starting your day with a bowl of fruity pebbles and talking about the mag rims on your bicycle, you can bet this isn’t your local gang bangers rap. If you appreciate what hip-hop write a thank you letter to The Cool Kids and make the sealant on your cones rattle.
3.Santogold – Santogold = Who said pop was dead? Santogold is a brisk wind of change for the pop world. I say thank you Santogold for not relying on looks and ridiculous gimmicks, but constructing delicious beats and slinging interesting and fresh lyrics.
2.Thrice – The Alchemy Index Volume III & IV = Thrice has always been one of my favorites, this album is no exception. Thrice have never been ones to repeat themselves constantly trying new things while staying uniquely Thrice. This is the second half of a four disc element themed series. Earth and Air are the grittier style than Fire and Water, borrowing from some of Dustin’s tricks from his solo album.
1.House of Heros – The End Is Not the End = Stunning, simply Stunning. As soon as the first track starts you feel like you in for another pop punk anthem album, but much to your own chagrin you’d be wrong. This album is a hearty breakfast and more. With salty bacon, fluffy pancakes, and sweet sweet syrup drizzled from Tim Skipper lips. Sure every breakfast is going to have its grapefruit moments but you do them anyway because it makes your breakfast balanced instead of a heart stopping grease pit.
