Why I Oughtta

1. why oh why a fucking pumpkin pie
2. wankers aristocracy
3. sauce weasels
4. photos of tube socks
5. kitty piggy banks
6. gay mormon men with tattoos (oh yeah… that’s what I’m talking about)
7. caribou playful behavior
8. danny pintauro shirt

So I’ve come up with my top ten albums of the year (see last year). And I’m realize how unhip I am. While most of the hipsters are all Battles-y and Arcade Fire-y and Panda Bear-y with their top ten lists, most of my selections aren’t even in the top 50. But, does that mean I’m so fiercely independent that I’m even hipper than that! Did I just blow your mind!?!?

Really, though, since I’m not being paid to listen to music all day, all I can do is base this on the stuff that I managed to track down and that stayed in my heavy rotation all year. My list is pretty true to what I listened to in 2007 — I opted to not try to listen to a bunch of albums in December so I could catch up with all I “should” have been listening to.

And, frankly, you can’t pay me enough to listen to half the crap Pitchfork loves. I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the idea of personal canons versus cultural canons. Going back to my big cultural literacy project (one down, 44 to go… seriously), no one lists Shakespeare as their favorite author, followed by Milton, etc. It makes the project a little ridiculous. But it also means I shouldn’t pay attention to other peoples’ lists and just make my own list based on what I encountered and consumed organically. Needless to say, I’ve devoted too much thought to this.

Side note: looking at last year’s list, it seems like this wasn’t as strong a year. Or maybe I just wasn’t paying as much attention. Then again, four of the ten albums are debuts (notated with *s).

Here’s the list:

10. M.I.A. – Kala

This is by far the most hipster and Top Ten List-y entry in my list. But it’s a truly worthy album and M.I.A. has a voice that’s unique to any of her peers. It’s all beat-driven, but with a strange third-world flair. My favorite track on the album, though, has to be $20 — a sludgy homage to the Pixies’ “Where is My Mind.” It’s sleazy and soulful and does sampling the way it should be done — by building on (not aping) the original. Best tracks: $20, Bird Flu.

9. Ladybirds – Regional Community Theater*

Over the past year, I seem to have cultivated a reputation for being a wee twee fairy. The cuter and more precious the better. That said, Ladybirds (remember them?) probably the twee-est of the bunch — with female vocals that are equal parts honey and helium and mostly electronic instrumentation. Extra points for incorporating a childrens’ choir that doesn’t make me queasy. Best tracks: Oh No! The Unicorns are Knife Fighting Again!, Lady of Travel and Leisure.

8. Seabear – The Ghost that Carried Us Away*

It’s like Sufjan, without all the Sufjan hoopla or pretense. Seabear (see the Unsolicited Recommendation here) are just some Icelandic folks with some guitars and violins who like playing music. Everything’s hushed, from the vocals to the drums, and the drama is effective but muted. I think that restraint is what attracts me to the record, which is odd, considering I don’t really tend to be attracted to restrained music (see above). Best tracks: Arms, Hospital Bed, Seashell

7. Kristin Hersh – Learn to Sing Like a Star

Oh Kristin. We’ve been in a long-term relationship for a while now, but this time she kind of outdid herself. Before, she was kind of balancing her ying and yang by releasing quiet, folky solo albums and then rocking out with 50 Foot Wave and Throwing Muses. Learn to Sing Like a Star finally finds her fusing the sensitivity of the singer-songwriter albums with the rock of the band albums. I just can’t get enough of her voice — and it blends well with both styles, clashing with the beauty of the acoustic guitar and propelling the ferocity of the electric. Best tracks: Winter, Nerve Endings

6. Idlewild – Make Another World

I’ve been with Idlewild for the long haul. I was with them for the scrappy electric post-punk of 100 Broken Windows (which I’m afraid might be their best album), I’ve been with them through their REM adolescence (The Remote Parts, Warnings/Promises), and now I kind of feel like they’ve wound up where they’ve always been destined to go. That is, with Make Another World, they’re settling into a niche as electric guitar philosophers. Combined with Roddy Woomble’s folky solo album from last year, Make Another World makes perfect sense — it’s got the same longing, pastoral feel but set to chugging guitar riffs. It’s a solid effort and a step up from the soft-rocky Warnings/Promises. Best tracks: No Emotion, Finished It Remains

5. The Noisettes – What’s the Time, Mr. Wolf?*

This album kind of marks the point where we approach “exciting and new” territory. The Noisettes finally released their first album this year after having only released singles and EPs before (note of foreshadowing: next year’s list will undoubtedly include Los Campesinos! with Hold On New Youngster, which is the same deal). What’s the Time, Mr. Wolf should probably just be called The Shingai Shoniwa Show. After all, it’s all eyes on her with her theatrical presence and blues-rock vocals. Her bandmates are no slouches, but they’d be nothing without her. I found the best tracks on Mr. Wolf to be the ones I already knew, but there were some solid new additions — Bridge to Canada is fueled by some awesome drumming and Sister Rosetta is a juicy pop nugget. Best tracks: Don’t Give Up, IWE

4. The Seedy Seeds – Change States*

The Seedy Seeds are the most exciting new kids on the scene this year, if you ask me. They’re twee, they’re from Ohio, they play the banjo and accordion and they’re here to knock your socks off. Just like The Noisettes’ album, my favorite songs off their debut are the ones I already knew, but it’s still a solid record. And exciting too. I just like the fact that they’re full of positive energy, but not in an stupid, Forever 21 kind of way. Best tracks: Eponym, Earned Average Dance America, Changes Less the Moon

3. Laura Veirs – Saltbreakers

Although she is a folkie at heart, the further Laura Veirs strays from her roots the more I like her. With some exceptions, I have never really gotten into much of her stuff pre-Year of Meteors. But Saltbreakers is continuing her detour into the rock genre. And her folk beginnings lend sensitivity and depth to her songs. I sometimes wonder how cover art determines the way you feel about an album, and I think that Saltbreakers’ dark blue, nautical cover makes me think of it as a dark album. But it’s not downbeat, just moody and, often, delicate. Best tracks: Pink Light, Don’t Lose Yourself, Wrecking

2. The Go! Team – Proof of Youth

I can’t say I wasn’t a teensy bit disappointed that The Go! Team didn’t try anything too different on their second record. At the same time, if it ain’t broke… What can I say about this record? It’s danceable, it’s high-energy, it’s endlessly creative. The Go! Team’s live show is unparalleled if you ask me. I just love this band so much that I can’t stop recommending them. Best tracks: Keys to the City, Flashlight Fight

1. Most Serene Republic – Population

And then there’s Most Serene Republic. Ever since I acquired this album, I have worn it the fuck out. I go through phases where I listen to one song more than the others, but for the past couple of months it’s like I just can’t bring myself to listen to anything else. Every element is amazing, from the drumming (which has some Jimmy Chamberlain-esque flourishes that work to enhance the melody) to the roaring/twinkling guitars. And Emma Ditchburn’s amazing vocal contributions, which began on last year’s Phages EP, have brought the band’s sound into its own. The back and forth between her and lead singer Adrian Jewett is just the kind of stuff I eat up (my affection for boy/girl harmonies is well-documented). If you haven’t listened to this album at my behest yet, you probably won’t.  Just know that you should. Best tracks: The Men Who Live Upstairs, The Present of Future End, Solipsism Millionaires, Sherry and Her Butterfly Net

1. Sport
2. Champ
3. Dollface
4. Chief
5. Gingersnap

1. Almost everything Alanis Morissette has ever done.
2. California Pizza Kitchen.
3. Cuteoverload.com.
4. Joshua Jackson.
5. Bacon/sausage.
6. Girly drinks.
7. Driving my car.
8. Sports, sometimes.