Albums of the Year

Whew, lots of great music this year... like every year, I guess. Here's a feeble attempt to quantify it all. A little imprint of what's making me smile right now, changed a lot over the course of the year and won't stand the test of time. I'm pretty sure I listened to some of this too much and some not nearly enough.

Def. the best album of the year for me was "Prog" by the Bad Plus, probably their best yet, which is saying something. My favorite live album was undoubtedly Marco's "Live at Tonic," although there were several good ones..

Anyway, grouping these in blocks of ten and then listing each block in a particular order, that being alphabetical by artist. I can wholeheartedly recommend up to about 75-80ish and beyond depending on my mood and what itch you need scratched.

Without further ado, I give you the Ned100 (links to previous reviews where applicable):

Top Ten:
The Bad Plus -- Prog
Marco Benevento -- Live at Tonic
Blonde Redhead -- 23
Bob Brozman Orchestra -- Lumiere
Do Make Say Think -- You, You're a History in Rust
The Earlies -- Enemy Chorus
Iron & Wine -- The Shepherd's Dog
LCD Soundsystem -- Sound of Silver
Of Montreal -- Hissing Fauna...
St. Vincent -- Marry Me

11-20:
Apostle of Hustle -- National Anthem of Nowhere
Arcade Fire -- Neon Bible
Federico Aubele -- Panamericana
A Band of Bees -- Octopus
Andrew Bird -- Armchair Apocrypha
Dr Dog -- We All Belong
Erik Friedlander -- Block Ice & Propane
Wayne Krantz -- Your Basic Live 06
Menomena -- Friend and Foe
The Sea and Cake -- Everybody

21-30:
Battles -- Mirrored
Uri Caine Ensemble -- Plays Mozart
Explosions in the Sky -- All of a Sudden I Miss Everyone
Feist -- The Reminder
The Go! Team -- Proof of Youth
Modest Mouse -- We Were Dead Before..
Elvis Perkins -- Ash Wednesday
Radiohead -- In Rainbows
Rilo Kiley -- Under the Blacklight
Spoon -- Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga

31-40:
Ryan Adams -- Easy Tiger
The Clientele -- God Bless the Clientele
Oliver Future -- Pax Futura
Billy Martin/John Medeski -- Mago
Charles Mingus -- Live at Cornell
The Most Serene Republic -- Population
Okkervil River -- The Stage Names
Tony Trischka -- Double Banjo Bluegrass Spectacular
Various Artists -- I'm Not There Soundtrack
Neil Young -- Live at Massey Hall

41-50:
!!! -- Myth Takes
Avett Brothers -- Emotionalism
Kevin Drew -- Spirit If...
The Fiery Furnaces -- Widow City
Bill Frisell/Matt Chamberlain -- Floratone
Groundtruther -- Altitude
Metric - Grow Up and Blow Away
Josh Ritter -- The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter
John Vanderslice -- Emerald City
Wilco -- Sky Blue Sky

51-60:
Air -- Pocket Symphony
Arthur & Yu -- In Camera
The Budos Band -- The Budos Band II
Mike Dillon's Go Go Jungle -- Milk Battery
Erik Friedlander -- Volac (Masada Book 2)
Jose Gonzalez -- In Our Nature
Jorma Kaukonen -- Stars In My Crown
Jens Lekman -- Night Falls Over Kortedala
Super Furry Animals -- Hey Venus!
Tin Hat -- The Sad Machinery of Spring

61-70
Assembly of Dust -- Recollection
Beastie Boys -- The Mix Up
Caribou -- Andorra
Dave Douglas -- Live at the Jazz Standard
Frank Smith -- Heavy Handed Peave & Love
Robert Glasper -- In My Element
Mofro -- Country Ghetto
The National -- Boxer
Jesse Sykes and the Sweet Hereafter -- Love, Lust...
White Stripes -- Icky Thump

71-80
Baby Elephants -- Turn My Teeth Up!
Band of Horses -- Cease to Begin
Benzos -- Branches
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah -- Some Loud Thunder
Fujiya & Miyagi -- Transparent Things
Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings -- 100 Days, 100 Nights
Polyphonic Spree -- Fragile Army
Stephen Stills -- Just Roll Tape
Tegan and Sara -- The Con
Kanye West -- Graduation

81-90:
Akron/Family -- Love Is Simple
Architecture in Helsinki -- Places Like This
Bon Iver -- For Emma, Forever Ago
Kings of Leon -- Because of the Times
The Mooney Suzuki -- Alive and Amplified
Erin McKeown -- Sing You Sinners
Marc Ribot -- Azmodeus
The Shins -- Wincing the Night Away
Various Artists -- Endless Highway (The Band)
Amy Winehouse -- Back to Black

Etc... (need more headphone time)
Art Brut -- It's A Bit Complicated
Beirut -- The Flying Cup Club
Bjork -- Volta
Cafe Tabuca -- Si No
Deerhoof -- Friend Opportunity
Loney, Dear -- Loney, Noir
Sophe Lux -- Waking the Mystics
Stars -- In Our Bedroom After the War
Winterpills -- The Light Divides
Neil Young -- Chrome Dreams II