August 17, 2013 CHIRP Radio Playlist

9:01 AM XTC • This World Over • The Big Express • Virgin

9:06 AM JC Brooks & The Uptown Sound • Ordinary • Howl • Bloodshot

9:09 AM Merle Haggard • I'd Trade All of My Tomorrows • Strangers • Capitol

9:14 AM Washed Out • Don't Give Up • Paracosm • Sub Pop

9:17 AM Philip Cohran and the Artistic Heritage Ensemble • Malcolm X • The Malcolm X Memorial: A Tribute in Music • Zulu

9:22 AM Linus Of Hollywood • Sunday Morning • Your Favorite Record • Pop Squad

9:27 AM The Hives • Find Another Girl • Veni Vidi Vicious • Sire

9:30 AM Rose Royce • Ooh Boy • Rose Royce II: In Full Bloom • Whitfield

9:33 AM The Polyphonic Spree • Let Them Be • Yes, It's True • Kirtland

9:39 AM Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan • Black Mountain • Ballad Of The Broken Seas • V2

9:41 AM Chris Schlarb • Steppin' Out • Psychic Temple II • Asthmatic Kitty

9:46 AM The Pillbugs • Larry In The Sea With Daffodils • The 3-Dimensional In-Popcycle Dream • Proverus

9:51 AM Diana • That Feeling • Perpetual Surrender • Jagjaguwar

9:54 AM Thao with the Get Down Stay Down • Swimming Pools • We Brave Bee Stings And All • Kill Rock Stars

9:56 AM Danger Mouse & Sparklehorse • Daddy's Gone • Dark Night Of The Soul • EMI

10:01 AM Kevin Tihista • Happy People, Shut Your Mouths • Modern Standard • Broken Horse

10:05 AM Factor • Give Up • Woke Up Alone • Fake Four Inc.

10:07 AM Radiohead • Subterranean Homesick Alien • OK Computer • Capitol

10:14 AM John Bellows • LaLaLaLaLa • Fast Hits • Special Needs

10:17 AM The Velvelettes • He Was Really Sayin' Somethin' • Beg, Scream & Shout! • Rhino

10:20 AM The Wedding Present • Don't Be So Hard • George Best Plus • Cooking Vinyl

10:25 AM Sparks • Hospitality On Parade • Two Hands One Mouth • Lil' Beethoven

10:29 AM David Lynch • Star Dream Girl • The Big Dream • Captured Tracks

10:32 AM Bear Hands • Crime Pays • Burning Bush Supper Club • Cantora

10:38 AM J. Geils Band • Cry One More Time • The Morning After • Atlantic

10:41 AM Ikonika • Beach Mode (Keep It Simple) [feat. Jessy Lanza] • Aerotropolis • Hyperdub

10:45 AM The Gun Club • Bill Bailey • Mother Juno • Red Rhino

10:50 AM Express Rising • Leland Sprinkle • Express Rising • Numero Group

10:53 AM Tall Dwarfs • Small Talk • Fork Songs • Cloud Recordings

10:57 AM Wiley • Up There • 100% Publishing • Big Dada

11:01 AM Blue Oyster Cult • Career of Evil • Secret Treaties • Columbia

11:05 AM Kirin J. Callahan • Victoria M. • Embracism • XL

11:08 AM Maurice • This Is Acid • Can You Jack? Chicago Acid And Experimental House 1985-95 • Soul Jazz

11:14 AM Islands • Wave Forms • Ski Mask • Manqué

11:17 AM The Temptations • Message From a Black Man • Puzzle People • Gordy

11:25 AM Catherine Wheel • Bill and Ben • Ferment • Fontana

11:29 AM Dreamers Dose • She is Good • Dreamers Dose • Vector Management

11:32 AM Acquaintances • Say All the Right Things • Acquaintances • Epitonic

11:36 AM Gus Gus • Bambi • (This is Normal) • 4AD

11:40 AM Matias Aguayo • Aonde • The Visitor • Cómeme

11:44 AM These New Puritans • Elvis • Beat Pyramid • Domino

11:48 AM Superchunk • Me & You & Jackie Mitoo • I Hate Music • Merge

11:50 AM The Godfathers • Those Days Are Over • More Songs About Love & Hate • Epic

11:54 AM Volcano! • Sweet Tooth • Paperwork • Leaf

August 10, 2013 CHIRP Radio Playlist

9:02 AM Saint Etienne • Avenue • Smash The System: Singles And More • Heavenly

9:05 AM Daniel Wohl • 323 • Corps Exquis • New Amsterdam

9:09 AM The Flaming Lips • Buggin' • The Soft Bulletin • Warner Bros.

9:14 AM Judson Claiborne • Seeing Eye Ponies • We Have Not Doors You Need Not Keys • La Societe Expeditionnaire

9:17 AM Steve Miller Band • The Window • Fly Like An Eagle • Capitol

9:21 AM Cee Lo Green • No One's Gonna Love You • The Lady Killer • Elektra

9:27 AM Bebel Gilberto • Every Day You've Been Away • Bebel Gilberto • Ziriguiboom

9:31 AM The Monkees • I Won't Be The Same Without Her • Instant Replay • Rhino

9:34 AM Scud Mountain Boys • Crown of Thorns • Do You Love the Sun • Ashmont

9:38 AM Lambchop • N.O. • What Another Man Spills • Merge

9:43 AM Head for the Hills • Take Me Back • Blue Ruin • self-released

9:45 AM Let's Active • Make Up With Me • Afoot • I.R.S.

9:50 AM The Love Language • Knots • Ruby Red • Merge

9:53 AM Chicago Underground Duo • Exponent Red • Axis And Alignment • Thrill Jockey

9:57 AM The Mountain Goats • This Year • The Sunset Tree • 4AD

10:01 AM Swamp Dogg • Gotta Get A Message To You • Rat On! • Alive Naturalsound

10:05 AM The-Drum • SimStem A • Contact • Audraglint

10:09 AM The White Stripes • Prickly Thorn, But Sweetly Worn • Icky Thump • Third Man

10:14 AM Austra • Fire • Olympia • Domino

10:19 AM Melanie Fiona • I Been That Girl • The MF Life • SRC

10:22 AM Isotope 217 • Audio Champion • Utonian Automatic • Thrill Jockey

10:27 AM Chuck Berry • Too Pooped To Pop • Gold • Geffen

10:30 AM Gunnelpumpers • Buffalo Jump • Montana Fix • Spiritlake

10:33 AM Violent Femmes • Out The Window • Why Do Birds Sing? • Slash/Reprise

10:37 AM The Comsat Angels • Now I Know • Fiction • Polydor

10:41 AM Surf City • No Place to Go • We Knew It Was Not Going To Be Like This • Fire

10:45 AM J. Rocc • Don't Sell Your Dream (Tonight) • Some Cold Rock Stuf • Stones Throw

10:50 AM Steve Arrington + Dâm Funk • Tap That • Higher • Stones Throw

10:53 AM Splitsville • Sasha • Incorporated • Houston Party

10:57 AM Sleigh Bells • Run The Heart • Treats • Mom+Pop

11:00 AM Sugar • Needle Hits E • Besides • Rykodisc

11:04 AM Hunx and his Punx • Mud In Your Eyes • Street Punk • Hardly Art

11:06 AM Cheer-Accident • Sun Dies • Fear Draws Misfortune • Cuneiform

11:13 AM The Impressions • Rhythm! • Rhythm! • Daptone

11:15 AM Parquet Courts • N Dakota • Light Up Gold • What's Your Rupture?

11:18 AM Wire • Ambitious • The Ideal Copy • Mute

11:23 AM Iron Virgin • Rebels Rule • Velvet Tinmine • RPM

11:26 AM Bare Mutants • Treason #2 • The Affliction • In the Red

11:30 AM Dance Disaster Movement • Quarkscrews • We Are From Nowhere • Dim Mak

11:35 AM Girls Against Boys • TheKindaMzkYouLike • House of GVSB • Touch and Go

11:38 AM The Octopus Project • Deep Spice • Fever Forms • Peek-a-Boo

11:41 AM Oingo Boingo • You Really Got Me • Only A Lad • A & M

11:48 AM Scott & Charlene's Wedding • Lesbian Wife • Any Port in a Storm • Fire

11:51 AM The Rakes • Open Book • Capture/Release • V2

11:53 AM Art Blakey • No Problem • Les Liaisons Dangereuses 1960 • Fontana

August 3, 2013 CHIRP Radio Playlist

9:02 AM Helen Love • Spin Those Records • Day-Glo Dreams • Elefant

9:05 AM Maya Jane Coles • Burning Bright • Comfort • I/AM/ME

9:09 AM A House • Days Like These • Without Dreams • Setanta

9:15 AM Matt Ulery's Loom • My Favorite Stranger • Wake an Echo • Greenleaf Music

9:21 AM Jerry Lee Lewis • She Still Comes Around (To Love What's Left Of Me) • A Whole Lotta...Jerry Lee Lewis • Salvo

9:24 AM La Sera • Devils Hearts Grow Gold • La Sera • Hardly Art

9:27 AM Office • Dr. Drako • Mecca • self-released

9:32 AM Matias Aguayo • Rrrrr • The Visitor • Comeme

9:36 AM Grandaddy • Skateboarding Saves Me Twice • Just Like the Fambly Cat • IndieBlue Music

9:40 AM For Against • Profile • Shelf Life • World Domination Recordings

9:43 AM Van Halen • Could This Be Magic? • Women and Children First • Warner Bros.

9:46 AM Y La Bamba • Oh February • PDX Pop Now! 2013 • PDX Pop Now!

9:50 AM Grant Hart • So Far From Heaven • The Argument • Domino

9:54 AM Tara Jane O'Neil & Daniel Littleton • Ooh-La-La... • Music for a Meteor Shower • Tigerstyle

9:57 AM T Bone Burnett • Every Little Thing • The Criminal Under My Own Hat • Columbia

10:00 AM Maxïmo Park • Roller Disco Dreams • Quicken The Heart • Warp

10:04 AM Mike Simonetti • The Magician • After Dark 2 • Italians Do It Better

10:08 AM Jim O'Rourke • Something Big • Eureka • Drag City

10:12 AM Jason Moody • The Nanny State • Nowhere Near Here • self-released

10:15 AM The Who • Run Run Run • BBC Sessions • MCA

10:19 AM They Shoot Horses Don't They • That's a Good Question • Pick Up Sticks • Kill Rock Stars

10:25 AM Bootsy Collins • Bootzilla • Bootsy? Player Of The Year • Warner Bros.

10:30 AM Chris Schlarb • Seventh House • Psychic Temple II • Asthmatic Kitty

10:33 AM Pixies • Dig For Fire • Bossanova • 4AD

10:38 AM Judson Claiborne • Neo-Pagan Lovesong • We Have Not Doors You Need Not Keys • La Societe Expeditionnaire

10:44 AM The Lyres • She Pays The Rent • On Fyre • Matador

10:46 AM Cloudeater • Shelter • Purge • Niburu

10:50 AM Daughn Gibson • Kissin on the Blacktop • Me Moan • Sub Pop

10:54 AM Dengue Fever • Laugh Track • Venus On Earth • M80

10:57 AM The Bar-Kays • Sang & Dance • Nicky Siano's Legendary The Gallery: The Original New York Disco 1973-77 • Soul Jazz

11:00 AM Hey! Hello! • Swimwear • Hey! Hello! • The End

11:03 AM Trouble • Glass of Lies • The Distortion Field • FRW

11:07 AM The Cure • Mint Car • Wild Mood Swings • Elektra

11:13 AM Deer Tick • The Dream's In The Ditch • Negativity • Partisan

11:16 AM The Ex • Huriyet • Turn • Touch and Go

11:21 AM M • Join The Party • The Official Secrets Act • Sire

11:26 AM The Jimi Hendrix Experience • Wait Until Tomorrow • Radio One • Rykodisc

11:29 AM Ken Camden • Spectacle • Space Mirror • kranky

11:35 AM Love Is All • Big Bangs, Black Holes, Meteorites • A Hundred Things Keep Me Up At Night • What's Your Rupture

11:38 AM Generation X • King Rocker • Perfect Hits 1975-1981 • Chrysalis

11:40 AM Run the Jewels • Twin Hype Back (feat. Prince Paul) • Run the Jewels • Fool's Gold

11:43 AM Deerhoof • Scream Team • The Runners Four • Kill Rock Stars & ATP

11:49 AM Speedy Ortiz • Hitch • Major Arcana • Carpark

11:51 AM Nikka Costa • Keep Pushin' • Pebble to a Pearl • Stax

11:55 AM Fugazi • The Kill • The Argument • Dischord

July 27, 2013 CHIRP Radio Playlist

8:59 AM Big Star • My Life Is Right • #1 Record • Ardent

9:02 AM Andrea Perry • Another Bad Idea • Four • self released

9:05 AM Marisa Anderson • Furnace Creek • Mercury • Mississippi

9:10 AM Booker T • Your Love Is No Love • Sound the Alarm • Stax

9:15 AM The Suburbs • Eyesight • In Combo • Twin/Tone

9:18 AM Mar Caribe • Django Tango • Songs From Under the Flight Path • self-released

9:22 AM Persephone's Bees • City Of Love • Notes From The Underworld • Columbia

9:26 AM Anna von Hausswolff • Harmonica • Ceremony • City Slang

9:31 AM Sun Ra • Narrative • The Night Of The Purple Moon • Atavistic

9:35 AM The Hollies • I'm Alive • Clarke, Hicks & Nash Years • EMI

9:37 AM Midlake • Acts Of Man • The Courage of Others • Bella Union

9:40 AM T. Hardy Morris • Share The Needle • Audition Tapes • Dangerbird

9:45 AM David Lynch • Quit Diggin' • The Big Dream • Captured Tracks

9:49 AM Lewis Taylor • Say I Love You • The Lost Album • HackTone

9:53 AM Joanna Newsom • Flying A Kite • Walnut Whales • self-released

10:00 AM Justin Roberts • Otis • Recess • Carpet Square

10:04 AM Part Time • I Want To Go • PDA • Mexican Summer

10:07 AM Flying Lotus • Parisian Goldfish • Los Angeles • Warp

10:12 AM Owen • Where Do I Begin? • L'Ami Du Peuple • Polyvinyl

10:15 AM Adem • Tears are in Your Eyes • Takes • Domino

10:19 AM Rockfour • Honey • Nationwide • Rainbow Quartz

10:25 AM Adam & The Ants • Prince Charming • Prince Charming • Columbia

10:28 AM Zomby • Overdose • With Love • 4AD

10:31 AM Tapioca and the Flea • Mellotron • Mellotron single • self-released

10:36 AM Billy Swan • I Can Help • Billy Swan At His Best • Monument

10:40 AM Alela Diane • I Thought I Knew • About Farewell • Rusted Blue

10:42 AM Crystal Stilts • Crystal Stilts • Crystal Stilts • Feathery Tongue

10:46 AM JC Brooks & The Uptown Sound • Not Alone • Howl • Bloodshot

10:50 AM Paul Weller • Trees • Wake Up The Nation • Yep Roc

10:54 AM Cut Copy • Unforgettable Season • In Ghost Colours • Modular

10:57 AM The Music Machine • Come On In • The Very Best of The Music Machine • Collectables

11:01 AM London Posse • Livin' Pancoot • Gangster Chronicle • Tru Thoughts

11:07 AM Palms • Tropics • Palms • Ipecac

11:14 AM Deafheaven • Dream House • Sunbather • Death Wish Inc.

11:23 AM Spectrum • Quiabo's • The Shadoks Music Compilation • Normal

11:26 AM Mission Of Burma • Nancy Reagan's Head • The Obliterati • Matador

11:31 AM Beans On Toast • Microwave Popcorn • Fishing for a Thank You • Xtra Mile

11:34 AM Too Much Joy • Worse • Son Of Sam I Am • Giant

11:37 AM Jimmy Johnson • I Stand Alone • Johnson's Whacks • Delmark

11:40 AM Woods • Be All Be Easy • Be All Be Easy 7" • Woodsist

11:42 AM David Byrne • Tiny Apocalypse • Grown Backwards • Nonesuch

11:48 AM Bare Mutants • The Fire In Your Hands • The Affliction • In the Red

11:51 AM The Fall-Outs • Never Be The Same • The Fall-Outs • Super

11:53 AM New Fast Automatic Daffodils • Partial • Pigeonhole • Play It Again Sam

July 20, 2013 CHIRP Radio Playlist

9:02 AM Lou Rawls • A Natural Man • The Very Best Of Lou Rawls: You'll Never Find Another • Capitol

9:06 AM Darcy James Argue's Secret Society • Coney Island • Brooklyn Babylon • New Amsterdam

9:09 AM Carolyn Mark • Rocket Piano Man • Just Married: An Album Of Duets • Mint

9:14 AM Scud Mountain Boys • The Mendicant • Do You Love the Sun • Ashmont

9:18 AM The Zombies • Hung Up On A Dream • Odessey & Oracle • Date

9:21 AM Prince Fatty • Big Man Cry • Survival of the Fattest • raSa

9:26 AM R.E.M. • I Walked With A Zombie • Where The Pyramid Meets The Eye: A Tribute To Roky Erickson • Sire

9:28 AM Matt Ulery's Loom • All the Riven • Wake an Echo • Greenleaf Music

9:32 AM The Dodos • Winter • Visiter • Frenchkiss

9:38 AM Beach House • Used to Be • Teen Dream • Sub Pop

9:41 AM Rose Elinor Dougall • Find Me Out • Without Why • Scarlett

9:45 AM Martha Johnson • Bye Bye Love • Solo One • Muffin Music

9:51 AM Serengeti • Punks • Kenny Dennis LP • Anticon

9:54 AM China Crisis • Hanna Hanna • Working With Fire And Steel • Virgin

9:57 AM The Matthew Herbert Big Band • Pontificate • There's Me and There's You • Accidental

10:01 AM The Duckworth Lewis Method • It's Not Cricket • Sticky Wickets • DCR

10:04 AM The Syn • Grounded • Grounded single • Deram

10:06 AM Wise Blood • Rat • Id • Dovecote

10:12 AM The Blisters • Finally Bored • Finally Bored • self-released

10:16 AM Chris Stamey with Yo La Tengo • The Summer Sun • V.O.T.E. • Yep Roc

10:19 AM Nice Nice • Big Bounce • Extra Wow • Warp

10:25 AM Adam Marsland • When I Lied To Everyone • Go West • Karma Frog

10:29 AM PJ Harvey • Joy • Is This Desire? • Island

10:33 AM Jason & The Scorchers • Broken Whiskey Glass • Lost & Found • EMI

10:39 AM Cheap Trick • Southern Girls • In Color • Epic

10:43 AM Elusive Parallelograms • Helium • Fragments EP • self-released

10:45 AM Netherfriends • New Haven, CT • 50 Songs 50 States • self-released

10:50 AM Robert Pollard • It Disappears in the Least Likely Hands (We May Never Not Know) • Honey Locust Honky Tonk • GBV Inc.

10:53 AM Erasure • Drama! • Wild! • Sire

10:57 AM Roots Manuva • Watch Me Dance • 4everevolution • Big Dada

11:02 AM Pet Shop Boys • The Last To Die • Electric • x2

11:05 AM Nymph • Raag Mon • New Millenium Prayer • Northern Spy

11:14 AM Speedy Ortiz • Tiger Tank • Major Arcana • Carpark

11:16 AM Mega City Four • Toys • Magic Bullets • Big Life

11:20 AM Andre Williams & the New Orleans Hellhouds • Never Had a Problem • Can You Deal With It? • Bloodshot

11:24 AM The Pretty Things • Rosalyn • Get A Buzz • Fontana

11:26 AM M.I.A. • Bring The Noize • Matangi • Interscope

11:29 AM Telenovela • Better Days • The Broken Heart Is New • Vinahyde

11:32 AM Frank Zappa • Dancin' Fool • Strictly Commercial (The Best of Frank Zappa) • Rykodisc

11:37 AM Cannonball Adderley • Jive Samba • The Very Best of Cannonball Adderley • Fantasy

11:43 AM Austra • Forgive Me • Olympia • Domino

11:46 AM The Boo Radleys • Butterfly McQueen • Giant Steps • Columbia

11:51 AM Run the Jewels • Get It • Run the Jewels • Fool's Gold

11:54 AM Killing Joke • Empire Song • The Singles Collection 1979-2012 • Spinefarm

11:57 AM Spiritualized • Lord Let It Rain On Me • Amazing Grace • Sanctuary/BMG

July 6, 2013 CHIRP Radio Playlist

8:59 AM Kevin Tihista's Red Terror • Taking It To The Streets (Again) • On This Dark Street • Broken Horse

9:03 AM Pandelis Karayorgis Quartet • Evenfall • Circuitous • Driff

9:08 AM Tom Waits • Back in the Crowd • Bad as Me • ANTI-

9:13 AM Mavis Staples • Sow Good Seeds • One True Vine • ANTI-

9:15 AM Charlotte Gainsbourg • Everything I Cannot See • 5:55 • Because/Vice

9:21 AM Billy Nicholls • Portobello Road • Would You Believe • Sequel

9:24 AM Jon Brion • Ruin My Day • Meaningless • Straight to Cut-Out

9:28 AM Jay Farrar • Hanging On To You • Terroir Blues • Act/Resist

9:31 AM Jon Hopkins • Breathe This Air • Immunity • Domino

9:38 AM The Undertones • Conscious • The Sin Of Pride • Rykodisc

9:41 AM Young Souls • Puppet On A String • Quit Waiting For Tomorrow To Come • Numero Group

9:44 AM Pulseprogramming • Snowmaps on Paper • Charade is Gold • Audraglint

9:50 AM Camera Obscura • William's Heart • Desire Lines • 4AD

9:54 AM Elton John • Writing • Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy • Rocket

9:58 AM Red Allen • All The Good Times Are Past And Gone • The Folkways Years 1964 - 1983 • Smithsonian Folkways

10:00 AM The Orange Peels • Aether Tide • Sun Moon • Mystery Lawn

10:04 AM Daughn Gibson • Mad Ocean • Me Moan • Sub Pop

10:08 AM Aesop Rock • The Mayor And The Crook • Float • Mush

10:14 AM Baths • Ironworks • Obsidian • Anticon

10:18 AM Kaleidoscope • Egyptian Gardens • Side Trips • Epic

10:23 AM Justicia • Stone Flower • Cult Cargo: Salsa Boricua De Chicago • Numero Group

10:28 AM Sparks • I Predict • Angst In My Pants • Atlantic

10:31 AM Milano • A Day is Gonna Come • Chicago Mixtape 009: Immortal Kamikaze • chicagomixtape.com

10:34 AM King Tuff • King Of Guy • Was Dead • Burger

10:39 AM ABBA • Watch Out • Waterloo • Polar

10:43 AM David Bowie • Looking For Water • Reality • ISO

10:46 AM Classixx • I'll Get You (Featuring Jeppe) • Hanging Gardens • Innovative Leisure

10:52 AM Portugal. The Man • Modern Jesus • Evil Friends • Atlantic

10:55 AM Beat Happening • Cry for A Shadow • Dreamy • Sub Pop

10:59 AM The 88 • No Use Left For Me • Kind Of Light • EMK

11:02 AM UFO • Out In The Street • Strangers In The Night • Chrysalis

11:07 AM Honeyslide • Sugar Routine • Dripping/Deep Architecture EP • Critical Heights

11:09 AM The Mekons • Dan Dare • Punk Rock • Quarterstick

11:13 AM Zomby • Horrid • With Love • 4AD

11:16 AM Autoclave • Summer • Autoclave • Dischord

11:18 AM Tevo Howard • Spend Some Time (Pop Mix) • Pandora's Box • Rush Hour

11:25 AM The Boomtown Rats • Go Man Go! • Mondo Bongo • Mercury

11:29 AM Magic Bronson • Nor'easter • Nor'easter EP • Woodlake

11:33 AM Donna Summer • Could It Be Magic • A Love Trilogy • Casablanca

11:38 AM Los Fabulosos Cadillacs • Mas Bicho • Rey Azucar • Sony

11:42 AM Wire • Doubles & Trebles • Change Becomes Us • Pink Flag

11:44 AM The Good Life • Waiting on Wild Horses • Novena on a Nocturne • Better Looking

11:50 AM Smith Westerns • Only Natural • Soft Will • Mom + Pop

11:53 AM Pernice Brothers • Clear Spot • Overcome By Happiness • Sub Pop

11:56 AM Thinking Fellers Union Local 282 • Everything's Impossible • Bob Dinners and Larry Noodles Present Tubby Turdner's Celebrity Avalanche • Communion

Top 20 albums of the first half of 2013

It's just past the midway point of the year, so why not rank my favorite albums so far this year? Of course, there are plenty of things that I still need to check out and as the numbers get bigger, the rankings are looser/less precise.

1. My Bloody Valentine -- m b v: I'm not someone who grew up with Loveless...didn't even get my copy until years after the fact. But I love that sound, and hearing a bunch more great songs with that sound is great.

2. Rhye -- Woman: Two dudes make an awesome Sade inspired R & B/pop album.

3. Queens Of The Stone Age -- ...Like Clockwork: This was a bit of a grower, but now it hits hard. This band has always had a central sound, and Josh Homme finds subtle ways to play around with it.

4. Lady -- Lady: An awesome retro '70s soul album, for those who miss Honey Cone and others of that ilk.

5. Laura Marling -- Once I Was An Eagle: Massive talent is finally finding her own sound. Such a powerful folk-rock presence.

6. Pretty & Nice -- Golden Rules For Golden People: Quirky rock in the vein of early XTC, The Sugarplastic, etc.

7. Thao and The Get Down Stay Down -- We The Common: Her earlier work with Merrill Garbus of Tune-Yards has paid off, adding a percussive dimension to her blend of folk, blues and rock.

8. Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats -- Mind Control: The '70s metalisms touted are overstated. They are there, but with a stoner rock vibe and hooks that remind me of Supergrass.

9. James Blake -- Overgrown: If Thom Yorke made an electronic soul album, it might sound like this, but the vocals wouldn't be as good.

10. Georgia Anne Muldrow & Dudley Perkins -- The Lighthouse: Singer-wife and rapper-husband make '70s styled hip hop/soul album, with overtones of Erykah Badu, Marvin Gaye and Curtis Mayfield, among others.

11. Laura Mvula -- Sing To The Moon: Stunning new talent, Mvula teams with Rumer's old producer on modern pop numbers with strong soul and jazz vibes.

12. Savages -- Silence Yourself: Great post-punk rock sounds with a very compelling frontwoman. I think the best may be yet to come from this band.

13. Kanye West -- Yeezus: Audacious, exciting, in your face music that Kanye finds a way to bend into something catchier than its influences, with lyrics that are alternatively angry, acidic and asinine.

14. Suede -- Bloodsports: I've liked all of their albums but would not have expected such a strong comeback. Perhaps their best since Dog Man Star.

15. Milk Music -- Cruise Your Illusion: A throwback band that garners comparisons to Dinosaur Jr., but I hear a lot of Gun Club in some of their tunes.

16. Billy Bragg -- Tooth & Nail: A fine batch of Bragg tunes with Joe Henry recording them quickly, this is his best in a long time.

17. Nightlands -- Oak Island: Keyboard oriented indie pop with plenty of hooks.

18. Beach Fossils -- Clash The Truth: Some of the excitement has dissipated on this, but the mix of Cloud Nothings style poppiness with shoegaze sounds is still really nice.

19. Corin Ashley -- New Lion Terraces: A sublime '70s styled power pop record, with heavy Emmit Rhodes vibes.

20. The Features -- The Features: Plenty of great songs, but missing a certain something, so it's merely very good instead of great.

Honorable Mentions: The Besnard Lakes, Sparks, Mikal Cronin, British Sea Power, The Flaming Lips