The Year in Lists

IT’S THAT TIME of the year again. At the end of yet another December we ask hundreds of individuals involved in Portland’s robust music scene—from bands, to labels, to bookers, to record labels, and plenty more—to name their top five albums of the year. Some approach this task with an infinite level of precision and dedication, weighing the attributes of a year’s worth of recordings, while others just send us an ironic list with Crash Test Dummies’ God Shuffled His Feet on it.

It’s not a surprise that My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy—Kanye West’s overly ambitious ode to ego, pussy, and Bon Iver samples—found itself atop the list, but that album was surpassed (barely) by Beach House’s dreamy masterwork Teen Dream. Rounding out the top three was Laura Veirs’ gorgeous July Flame, the finest recording you will ever hear named for a variety of peach. That album in particular is noteworthy since it still resonated with listeners 11 months after its January release.

As always, we don’t have nearly enough space to publish every respective list here, but you can view them online at portlandmercury.com. It’s there that you can also find the most important list of all—your own. Feel free to add your very own top five list and weigh in on the year in music.

Ryan Sollee (The Builders and the Butchers)
1. Nick Jaina—A Bird in the Opera House
2. Lovers—Dark Light
3. Run on Sentence—You, the Darkness, and Me
4. Peter Wolf Crier—Inter-Be
5. Pancake Breakfast—Drawn from the Latest Surveys

Cool Nutz
1. Kanye West—My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
2. E-40—Revenue Retrievin’: Day Shift & Night Shift
3. Wiz Khalifa—Kush & Orange Juice
4. Raheem DeVaughn—The Love & War MasterPeace
5. Drake—Thank Me Later

Colin Meloy (The Decemberists)
1. Laura Veirs—July Flame
2. Beach House—Teen Dream
3. Joanna Newsom—Have One on Me
4. Wye Oak—My Neighbor/My Creator EP
5. Sea of Bees—Songs for the Ravens

Trevor Solomon (Musicfest NW)
1. Kanye West—My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
2. Deerhunter—Halcyon Digest
3. The National—High Violet  4. Superchunk—Majesty Shredding
5. Tallest Man on Earth—The Wild Hunt

Andrew R Tonry (Mercury freelancer)
1. Sam Quinn—The Fake That Sunk a Thousand Ships
2. Sufjan Stevens—Age of Adz
3. Sharon Van Etten—Epic
4. The Tallest Man On Earth—The Wild Hunt
5. Cotton Jones—Tall Hours in the Glowstream

Tucker Martine (Mount Analog Studios)
1. Joanna Newsom—Have One on Me
2. Beach House—Teen Dream
3. Pastor T.L. Barrett and the Youth for Christ Choir—Like a Ship… (Without a Sail)
4. Damien Jurado—Saint Bartlett
5. Carl Broemel—All Birds Say

The Incredible Kid
1. Akala—DoubleThink
2. Panjabi MC—The Raj
3. South Rakkas Crew—The Stimulus Package
4. Don Omar—Don Omar Presents: Meet the Orphans
5. Popsy—Hyper

Matt Dabrowiak (Dat’r)
1. LCD Soundsystem—This Is Happening
2. The National—High Violet
3. Kanye West—My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
4. Total Noise—US American Rhythms
5. Sleigh Bells—Treats

Natasha Kmeto
1. Flying Lotus—Cosmogramma
2. Erykah Badu—New Amerykah, Part 2
3. Baths—Cerulean
4. Toro Y Moi—Causers of This
5. The Roots—How I Got Over

Ezra Ace Caraeff (Mercury music editor)
1. Gil Scott-Heron—I’m New Here
2. White Hinterland—Kairos
3. Allo Darlin’—self-titled
4. Menomena—Mines
5. Laura Veirs—July Flame

Joan Hiller (Riot Act Media)
1. Beach House—Teen Dream
2. Superchunk—Majesty Shredding
3. Laura Veirs—July Flame
4. Spoon—Transference
5. New Pornographers—Together

Patrick Foss (Pure Country Gold)
1. Ty Segall—Melted
2. Eddy Current Suppression Ring—Rush to Relax
3. The Goodnight Loving—The Goodnight Loving Supper Club
4. Pierced Arrows—Descending Shadows
5. Davila 666—12-inch EP

Erik Abel (Gen.Erik, Animal Farm)
1. Reflection Eternal—Revolutions per Minute
2. Shad—TSOL
3. Luck-One—True Theory Outtakes
4. Cool Nutz—The Incredible
5. Jay Electronica—Victory mixtape

Leif Anders (Orca Team)
1. Yellow Fever—Bermuda Triangle EP
2. Iji—Cool Dream
3. Hornet Leg—Still Life
4. Coasting—Hots for Teacher 7-inch
5. The Intelligence—Males

Ned Lannamann (Mercury writer)
1. Sharon Van Etten—Epic
2. Brazos—Phosphorescent Blues
3. Wolf People—Steeple
4. Sea of Bees—Songs for the Ravens
5. A Weather—Everyday Balloons

Dylan Magierek (Bad Man Recording Co.)
1. The National—High Violet
2. Lovers—Dark Light
3. Laura Veirs—July Flame
4. Sharon Van Etten—Epic
5. Fake Drugs—Drake Fugs

Vursatyl (Lifesavas)
1. Freeway & Jake One—The Stimulus Package
2. Slum Village—Villa Manifesto
3. Miguel Atwood-Ferguson—Timeless: Suite for Ma Dukes
4. Kanye West—My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
5. Jason Mitchell—Life Wisdom

Daniel Abell (Eolian Records)
1. Rabbits—Hide
2. Pollution—®SMUT
3. Hammerhead—Pasquale
4. Same Sex Dictator—Frombeneathyouitdevours
5. Twin Stumps—Seedbed

Rob Simonsen (CD Forge/Cravedog)
1. Allo Darlin’—self-titled
2. Wild Nothing—Gemini
3. A Sunny Day in Glasgow—Autumn, Again
4. Weekend—Sports
5. Best Coast—Crazy for You

Eriq G. Nelson (Crappy Indie Music)
1. Delta Spirit—History from Below
2. Phosphorescent—Here’s to Taking it Easy
3. The Walkmen—Lisbon
4. Carolina Chocolate Drops—Genuine Negro Jig
5. Tartufi—Goodwill of the Scar

Ava Hegedus (Mercury freelancer)
1. The Black Dog—Music for Real Airports
2. Bonobo—Black Sands
3. Pantha du Prince—Black Noise
4. Scuba—Triangulation
5. Lali Puna—Our Inventions

Billy Jeans (Mean Jeans)
1. Personal and the Pizzas—Raw Pie
2. Juicy J & Project Pat—Dinner Thieves
3. Happy Birthday—self-titled
4. White Wires—WWII
5. The Rantouls—In the Village of Rantoul

Gavin Castleton
1. Laura Marling—I Speak Because I Can
2. Janelle Monáe—The ArchAndroid
3. Happy Body Slow Brain—Dreams of Water
4. Blue Cranes—Observatories
5. Kelli Schaefer—Gone in Love/Sister K EP

Christopher Michael (Boom!/Guantanamo Baywatch)
1. Unkle Funkle—Rub Rub Relief
2. Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti—Before Today
3. The Whines—Hell to Play
4. White Fang—Grateful to Shred
5. Mean Jeans—Keystone Light and Other Hits (From da Bong)

Luke Wyland (Au)
1. Sam Amidon—I See the Sign
2. Ólöf Arnalds—Innundir Skinni
3. Group Doueh—Beatte Harab
4. The Books—The Way Out
5. Clogs—The Creatures in the Garden of Lady Walton

Sapient
1. Broken Bells—self-titled
2. Ratatat—LP4
3. Javelin—No Más
4. Fredrik—Origami EP
5. Sleigh Bells—Treats

Andrew Stout (Mercury freelancer)
1. Laura Gibson & Ethan Rose—Bridge Carols
2. Janelle Monáe—The ArchAndroid  3. Kanye West—My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
4. The Books—The Way Out  5. How to Dress Well—Love Remains

Matthew McLean (Doug Fir)
1. Here We Go Magic—Pigeons
2. Phosphorescent—Here’s to Taking it Easy
3. Sleigh Bells—Treats
4. LCD Soundsystem—This Is Happening
5. Sharon Van Etten—Epic

Matt Foley (Dirtnap Records)
1. Marnie Stern—self-titled
2. Grinderman—Grinderman 2
3. Mark Lanegan and Isobel Campbell—Hawk  4. Soundgarden—Telephantasm
5. Swans—My Father Will Guide Me up to a Rope to the Sky

Erik Carlson (DoublePlusGood)
1. Guidance Counselor—self-titled
2. Chrome Wings—self-titled
3. Typhoon—Hunger and Thirst
4. Hosannas—Together
5. Y La Bamba—Lupon

Mark Hamilton (94.7 FM)
1. Foals—Total Life Forever
2. Portugal. The Man—Satanic Satanist
3. Broken Bells—self-titled
4. Mumford & Sons—Sigh No More
5. Gorillaz—Plastic Beach

Zac Jacobson (Wax Fingers)
1. The National—High Violet
2. Deerhunter—Halcyon Digest
3. Run on Sentence—You, the Darkness, and Me
4. Beach House—Teen Dream
5. Matmos and So Percussion—Treasure State

Matt Caldwell (Mercury freelancer)
1. Laura Veirs—July Flame
2. Beach House—Teen Dream
3. Black Keys—Brothers
4. The Tallest Man on Earth—The Wild Hunt
5. Gorillaz—Plastic Beach

Tyler Keene (And And And)
1. Liars—Sisterworld
2. Various Artists—Diplo Presents: Free Gucci mixtape
3. Joanna Newsom—Have One on Me
4. Parenthetical Girls—Privilege, Pt. 1: On Death & Endearments
5. Archers—self-titled 7-inch

Theo Craig (Smoke Signals, Potlatch Presents)
1. Jeff the Brotherhood—Heavy Days
2. Kanye West—My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
3. The Woods—At Echo Lake
4. Avi Buffalo—self-titled
5. The Black Angels—Phosphene Dream

Terry Currier (Music Millennium)
1. Blue Rodeo—The Things We Left Behind
2. Rolling Stones—Exile on Main St. re-release
3. Tom Petty—Mojo
4. Brian Ray—This Way Up
5. Cindy Bullens—Howling Trains & Barking Dogs

Gabe Vodicka (Mercury freelancer)
1. The National—High Violet
2. Harvey Milk—A Small Turn of Human Kindness
3. Kanye West—My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
4. Caribou—Swim
5. Swans—My Father Will Guide Me up a Rope to the Sky

Anthony Stassi (Haunt!)
1. Bear Hands—Burning Bush Supper Club
2. Beach House—Teen Dream
3. Gil Scott-Heron—I’m New Here
4. Grinderman—Grinderman 2
5. Arcade Fire—The Suburbs

Darren Bridenbeck (Potlach Presents)
1. Fake Drugs—Drake Fugs  2. Typhoon—Hunger and Thirst
3. The Red River—Little Songs About the Big Picture
4. Guidance Counselor—self-titled
5. And And And— A Fresh Summer with And And And

Jon Barron (SMMR BMMR)
1. Personal and the Pizzas—Raw Pie
2. Happy Birthday—self-titled
3. Sex Church—6 Songs by Sex Church
4. Limes—Rhinestone River
5. Eddy Current Suppression Ring—Rush to Relax
Ryan Hayes (Hurtbird)
1. Deerhunter—Halcyon Digest
2. Antony and the Johnsons—Swanlights
3. Arcade Fire—The Suburbs
4. Tu Fawning—Hearts on Hold
5. Themselves—Crowns Down and Company

Emily Wilder (Aladdin Theater)
1. Tame Impala—Innerspeaker
2. Beach House—Teen Dream
3. Angus & Julia Stone—Down the Way
4. Caribou—Swim   5. Delta Spirit—History from Below

Matt King (Mississippi Studios)
1. Deerhunter—Halcyon Digest  2. Beach House—Teen Dream
3. And And And—We’ll Be Better off with the Plants
4. MGMT—Congratulations
5. Crocodiles—Sleep Forever

Kevin O’Connor (Talkdemonic)
1. Beach House—Teen Dream
2. Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffitti—Before Today
3. Blonde Redhead—Penny Sparkle
4. Deerhunter—Halcyon Digest
5. Women—Public Strain

Auggie Rebelo (Everyday Music)
1. Salem—King Night
2. Highlife—Best Bless
3. The Drums—self-titled
4. Wild Nothing—Gemini
5. The Notes—Wishing Well

Evan Way (The Parson Red Heads)
1. Blitzen Trapper—Destroyer of the Void
2. Deerhunter—Halcyon Digest
3. Dungen—Skit I Allt
4. Memoryhouse—The Years EP
5. The Idaho Falls—The Spark

Krist Krueger (Southerly)
1. The National—High Violet
2. Menomena—Mines
3. Belle and Sebastian—Write About Love
4. Broken Social Scene—Forgiveness Rock Record
5. Women—Public Strain

Sara Hernandez (The Angry Orts)
1. The Hold Steady—Heaven Is Whenever
2. Menomena—Mines
3. Janelle Monáe—The ArchAndroid
4. The Walkmen—Lisbon
5. Delta Spirit—History from Below

Ryan Prado (Just Out)
1. John Grant—Queen of Denmark
2. Field Music—Measure
3. Lou Barlow and the Missingmen—= Sentridoh III
4. Y La Bamba—Lupon
5. Sea of Bees—Song for the Ravens

Dave Depper (Loch Lomond, The Ram Project, etc.)
1. Sally Seltmann—Harmony to My Heartbeat
2. Caribou—Swim
3. Laura Veirs—July Flame
4. Beach House—Teen Dream
5. White Hinterland—Kairos

Anthony Bayles (Monqui Presents)
1. Arcade Fire—The Suburbs
2. LCD Soundsystem—This Is Happening
3. Gorillaz—Plastic Beach
4. Ryan Bingham—Junky Star
5. Stornoway—Beachcomber’s Windowsill

Sam Coomes (Quasi)
1. Thee Oh Sees—Warm Slime
2. Liars—Sisterworld
3. The Psychedelic Aliens—Psycho African Beat  4. Marnie Stern—self-titled
5. Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings—I Learned the Hard Way

Ryan Feigh (Mercury Freelancer)
1. TxE—Rain in Cali tour EP
2. Tony D. and the Flippers—self-titled
3. Method Man, Ghostface Killah, Raekwon—Wu-Massacre
4. Best Coast—Crazy for You
5. Freeway & Jake-One—The Stimulus Package

Sean Spellman (Quiet Life)
1. Ryan Doyle—Motor Works
2. Caleb Klauder—Western Country
3. Titles—Dirt Bell
4. Dave Rawlings Machine—A Friend of a Friend
5. Bruce Springsteen—The Promise

Jeremy Peterson (OPB Music)
1. Arcade Fire—The Suburbs
2. Deerhunter—Halcyon Digest
3. The Black Keys—Brothers
4. Menomena—Mines
5. Sam Amidon—I See the Sign

Sallie Ford (Sallie Ford & The Sound Outside)
1. The Black Keys—Brothers
2. Sea of Bees—Songs for the Raven
3. Mountain Man—Made the Harbor  4. Mavis Staples—You Are Not Alone
5. Frazey Ford—Obadiah

Anthony Sanchez (POH-Hop)
1. Tope—Soul Music
2. Cool Nutz—The Miracle
3. Eligh of Living Legends—Grey Crow
4. Cloudy October—The Aviator Is Dead EP
5. TxE—Rain in Cali tour EP

Sara Lund (Hungry Ghost, Corin Tucker Band)
1. Quasi—American Gong
2. Versus—On the Ones and Threes
3. Sun City Girls—Funeral Mariachi
4. Thee Oh Sees—Warm Slime
5. Hornet Leg—Still Life

Aaron Shepherd (The Artistery)
1. Rob Walmart—Everybody Hertz
2. Boom!—self-titled
3. Umberto—Prophecy of the Black Widow
4. Zola Jesus/LA Vampires—LA Vampires Meets Zola Jesus EP
5. Guantanamo Baywatch—Postcard from the Tar Pitz

Benoît Pioulard
1. Rafael Anton Irisarri—The North Bend
2. Balmorhea—Constellations
3. Brian McBride—The Effective Disconnect
4. Emeralds—Does it Look Like I’m Here?  5. Hildur Guðnadóttir—Without Sinking

Anna Jensen (Doug Fir)
1. Cotton Jones—Tall Hours in The Glowstream
2. The Moondoggies—Tidelands
3. Peter Wolf Crier—Inter Be
4. Jeff the Brotherhood—Heavy Days
5. Active Child—Curtis Lane EP

Laura Veirs
1. Junip—Fields
2. Joanna Newsom—Have One on Me
3. Beach House—Teen Dream
4. Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings—I Learned the Hard Way  5. Broken Bells—self-titled

Chris Hnant (2:30 Publicity)
1. Screaming Females—Castle Talk
2. Best Coast—Crazy for You
3. Method Man, Ghostface Killah, Raekwon—Wu-Massacre
4. Kylesa—Spiral Shadow
5. Gaslight Anthem—American Slang

Michael Cantino (Archers)
1. Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti—Before Today
2. The Soft Boys—Underwater Moonlight
3. Support Force—self-titled
4. And And And—A Fresh Summer with And And And
5. Francisco the Man—With Friends Like You

Hannah Carlen (Spectre)
1. Janelle Monáe—The ArchAndroid
2. Typhoon—Hunger and Thirst
3. Gayngs—Relayted
4. Sharon Van Etten—Epic
5. Black Mountain—Wilderness Heart

Lisa Schonberg (STLS)
1. Grass Widow—Past Time
2. Quasi—American Gong
3. Lovers—Dark Light
4. White Hinterland—Kairos
5. Beach House—Teen Dream

Fogatron
1. Rusko—O.M.G.!
2. Underworld—Barking  3. Bobby McFerrin—VOCAbuLarieS
4. Emancipator—Safe in the Steep Cliffs
5. Hot Chip—One Life Stand

Ellie Fiore (MoreCowbelle.net)
1. The Gaslight Anthem—American Slang
2. The Roadside Graves—You Won’t Be Happy with Me EP
3. The Sadies—Darker Circles
4. Sharon Van Etten—Epic
5. Two Cow Garage—Sweet Saint Me

Connie Wohn (Stylus 503)
1. The Black Keys—Brothers
2. Kanye West—My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
3. Beach House—Team Dream
4. Best Coast—Crazy for You
5. Glasser—Ring

Greg Glover (Arena Rock Recording Co., 94.7 FM)
1. Foals—Total Life Forever
2. Surfer Blood—Astro Coast
3. Superchunk—Majesty Shredding
4. Archie Bronson Outfit—Coconut
5. No Age—Everything in Between

Isaac Slusarenko (Jackpot Records)
1. Boston Spaceships—Our Cubehouse Still Rocks
2. Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti—Before Today
3. Ted Lucas—self-titled
4. Jim Sullivan—U.F.O.
5. Brute Force—I, Brute Force: Confections of Love

Will West
1. Professor Gall—The Psychology of Booze and Guilt
2. Nice Nice—Extra Wow
3. Groovy Wallpaper—self-titled
4. Pancake Breakfast—self-titled
5. Esperanza Spalding—Chamber Music Society

Aris Wales (Mercury freelancer)
1. The Devil’s Blood—The Time of No Time Evermore
2. Wolvserpent—Blood Seed
3. Scorpions—Sting in the Tail
4. Watain—Lawless Darkness
5. Excruciator—By the Gates of Flesh EP

Devin Gallagher (High Scores and Records, Typhoon)
1. Reporter—Time Incredible
2. Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti—Before Today
3. Teen Daze—Beach Dreams  4. The Thermals—Personal Life
5. Wavves—King of the Beach

Scott Magee (Loch Lomond, DJ Cooky Parker)
1. Typhoon—Hunger and Thirst
2. The Walkmen—Lisbon
3. Brothers Young—Good People EP
4. Beach House—Teen Dream
5. Kanye West—My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

Nilina Mason-Campbell (Lost Gospel)
1. Typhoon—Hunger and Thirst
2. Ke$ha—Cannibal
3. Guidance Counselor—self-titled
4. Kanye West—My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
5. Fake Drugs—Drake Fugs

DJ Anjali
1. Panjabi MC—The Raj
2. Nucleya—Horn OK Please
3. Nas & Damian Marley—Distant Relatives
4. Amar—Show it Off
5. Amit Tridevi—Aisha

Howie Doodat (Mean Jeans)
1. The Black Angels—Phosphene Dream  2. The Limiñanas—self-titled
3. Ty Segall—Melted  4. White Wires—WWII
5. Pure Country Gold—Tough Tuesday  Sam Soule (Slabtown)
1. Limes—Rhinestone River
2. Royal Baths—Litanies
3. Clinic—Bubblegum
4. The Fall—Your Future Our Clutter
5. James Arthur’s Manhunt—self-titled

Gustav (94.7)
1. Delphic—Acolyte
2. Exit Calm—Exit Calm
3. Gorillaz—Plastic Beach
4. Neon Trees—Habits
5. Recoil—Selected

Matt Brown (Bladen County Records)
1. Old Light—The Dirty Future
2. Phosphorescent—Here’s to Taking it Easy
3. Jeff the Brotherhood—Heavy Days
4. Lovers—Dark Light
5. The Heligoats—Goodness Gracious

Mary Brabec (Billions)
1. Arcade Fire—The Suburbs
2. Kanye West—My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
3. Ana Tijoux—1977
4. Grinderman—Grinderman 2
5. Cheyenne Marie Mize—Before Lately

Ed Thanhouser (PDX Pop Now!)
1. The Tallest Man on Earth—The Wild Hunt
2. Arcade Fire—The Suburbs
3. Nick Jaina—A Bird in the Opera House
4. LCD Soundsystem—This Is Happening  5. Spoon—Transference

Scott Flaster (Seventh Rule Recordings)
1. Sweet Cobra—Mercy
2. Killing Joke—Absolute Dissent
3. Rabbits—Hide
4. Electric Wizard—Black Masses  5. Grinderman—Grinderman 2

Saxon Baird (Pet Marmoset)
1. Curren$y—Pilot Talk
2. Rick Ross—Teflon Don
3. Caribou—Swim
4. Earl Sweatshirt—Earl
5. Dum Dum Girls—I Will Be

Aaron Gerber (A Weather)
1. Roofwalkers—self-titled
2. Bonnie “Prince” Billy & the Cairo Gang—The Wonder Show of the World
3. Laura Veirs—July Flame
4. The National—High Violet
5. Katy Perry—Teenage Dream

Chris Bigalke (Ella St. Social Club)
1. Oneohtrix Point Never—Returnal
2. Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti—Before Today
3. Rangers—Suburban Tours
4. Rob Walmart—Everybody Hurts
5. Salem—King Night

Ross Beach (Ross Beach and the Hellpets)
1. Of Montreal—False Priest
The collage approach to dance/pop music at its finest with a healthy supply of Prince-esque interludes. It’s second only to their live show.
2. His Name Shall Breathe—There Is an Earthquake Inside of Me
Sparse and haunting songs from a guy I stumbled across playing an opening set at Ella Street. Available only as a free download, I think.
3. The Preservation Hall Jazz Band—Preservation: An Album To Benefit Preservation Hall and The Preservation Hall Music Outreach Program
Great collaboration between the venerable jazz combo and other New Orleans musicians. It’s part of the ongoing effort to keep it going down there.
4. Spoon—Transference
Wherein they prove that DIY recording approaches have no effect on their energy and songwriting.
5. Beach House—Teen Dream  Gorgeous. The unofficial makeout record of 2010, or so I presume.

Jim Brunberg (Mississippi Studios)
1. Mimicking Birds—self-titled
Because weird harmonies are still being sung, thank God. Good with mushroom tea, follow with the Harry Nilsson documentary.
2. Ramona Falls—Intuit
This is a pop snapshot of the future of where Portland pop could/should/would go.  3. Mumford & Sons—Sigh No More
Because it breaks my heart. Good sandwiched between Avett Brothers’ latest and two bottles of red wine.
4. Black Prairie—Feast of the Hunters’ Moon
Ain’t nothing like it.
5. Bruce Springsteen—The Promise
You have to count this because of all the unreleased tracks and awesome footage.

John A.D. (Anthem Records)
1. Clubroot—II: MMX
2010 is the year everyone waited for the Burial record that never came. Instead, they got a bunch of average remixes, a phoned-in “DJ” selection on the final MAH BBC1 show, and the truly terrible track “Prophecy.” Those who weren’t so blinded by their limited musical vocab to realize that he is simply the sum parts of his influences found the level of beauty and emotional complexity promised by Burial in Clubroot. Ultimately, this will be seen as one of the most important records in the history of UK garage.
2. Deathspell Omega—Paracletus
The fashionable really killed black metal for many people. However, I think they will avoid making Deathspell an abomination like they have with the fashion party following that wolves band [Wolves in the Throne Room], as they are just far too intricate musically and unusual generally. They likely will never make shirts that look as “cult” as other bands, so that puts the kibosh on their scenester cred right there. This is a record to be listened to by Magma fans as much as metal heads.
3. Terror Danjah—Power Grid
The king of the grime instrumental makes another record with what seems like the same eight samples he has used on every other release, but again with astoundingly visceral effect. Makes you wonder what he would do if his hard drive crashed and took his sample arsenal with it.
4. Daniel Savio—Nekropolis
Many believe Skweee is the logical counterpoint to the whole Flying Lotus/Low End Theory thing. I just think it is far more creative, and not just a safe way of repackaging your standard cocktail party downbeat style that has been floating around as long as there has been DJ Food comps. Daniel Savio, and his mixture of electro, boogie, and synth leads is a prime example, and this, his Armageddon-themed masterpiece, will long be a singular statement in this sound. Look up “Monkey Pee Monkey Poo” on YouTube for a peek into this whole hidden side of Sweden.
5. Daniel Menche—Terre Paroxysm
There are a lot of people out there who create “noise,” and no, I am not talking about the droves of crap indie rock bands that collect food stamps in Portland—I mean in the actual noise community. Very few have an atmosphere that is instantly recognizable, and of these, even fewer have a signature that is so stacked with so many layers of sound, yet still is somehow able to maintain a sense of layering in this cacophony. In that way, it is hardly noise at all. Menche is creating these types of records. The more you listen to them, the more they are like a stereogram one stares at to reveal the hidden image. With each listen another layer of miasma subsides to the background, revealing a hidden beauty.

Nathan Jr. (Duover)
1. Mike Coykendall—The Unbearable Being of Likeness  His leftovers are tastier than most folks’ fresh baked! (While I occasionally play with Mike, I had nothing to do with this record, nor his forthcoming double album. Just a fan in this case.)
2. Blitzen Trapper—Destroyer of the Void
This band will never put out a less than stellar record. They have honed their craft to a consistent level that most musicians never even sniff.
3. Run on Sentence—You, the Darkness, and Me
Old sounding and a bloodletting rejuvenation. A win-win in my book.
4. Nick Jaina—A Bird in the Opera House
I could go on and on about Nick. I’ll just say that he is one of the best writers and hardest workers I’ve ever met. It is rare that one’s creativity and work ethic are equally formidable. Stop making the rest of us look bad Nick. I’m getting you a bong and an Xbox for Christmas.
5. Y La Bamba—Lupon
What a great band. Awesome to see them going so strong out of the gate.

Billygoat
(As selected by the entire band)
1. Y La Bamba—Lupon  2. Breathe Owl Breathe—Magic Central
3. Shadow Shadow Shade—self-titled
4. Useless Keys—Is the Painting Changing
5. Arcade Fire—The Suburbs

David Hutchinson (fuckbadmusic.com)
1. Tame Impala—Innerspeaker
2. Arp—The Soft Wave
3. Pantha du Prince—Black Noise
4. Tjutjuna—self-titled
5. Kanye West—My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

Rabbits
(As selected by the entire band)
1. Black Mountain—Wilderness Heart
2. Grinderman—Grinderman 2
3. Electric Wizard—Black Masses
4. Burzum—Belus
5. Sade—Soldier of Love

Patrick Phillips (Brainstorm)
1. Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti—Before Today
2. Various Artists—Ecstatic Music of the Jemaa el Fna  3. Emeralds—Does It Look Like I’m Here?
4. Archers—self-titled 7-inch
5. Various Artists—Reggae Jeggae

Starfucker
(As selected by the entire band)
1. Gorillaz—Plastic Beach
2. Casiokids—Topp Stemning På Lokal Bar
3. Big Boi—Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty
4. Mint Chicks—Bad Buzz EP
5. Strength—Mind Reader

Brandon Freels (pc-pdx.com)
1. Big Black Cloud—Dark Age
2. Stag Bitten—III
3. Gone to Croatoan—Lost Rhetoric
4. The Cysts—The Cyst
5. Mattress—Low Blows

Mike Jones (CD Forge/Cravedog)
1. White Rainbow—ÆGIS  2. The Upsidedown—The Town with Bad Wiring
3. Y La Bamba—Lupon
4. 1776—self-titled
5. Various Artists—From the Land of Ice and Snow: The Songs of Led Zeppelin

Bryan Free
1. LCD Soundsystem—This Is Happening
2. The Bad Plus—Never Stop
3. Of Montreal—False Priest
4. Arcade Fire—The Suburbs
5. Maximum Balloon—self-titled

Jon Ragel (Boy Eats Drum Machine)
1. Various Artists—The Roots of Chicha 2
2. Typhoon—Hunger and Thirst
3. The Roots—How I Got Over
4. Erykah Badu—New Amerykah Part II: Return of the Ankh
5. Menomena—Mines

Josh Spacek (Monarques)
1. Morning Benders—Big Echo
Thoughtful songwriting and arrangements with amazing production. A beautifully crafted record. It’s been on rotation since it came out and we are still going strong.  2. Love Language—Libraries
Stu McLamb was part of the inspiration for starting Monarques. His songwriting is incredibly good. I wish this record had more of the feel of the debut, the production on Libraries makes it difficult to get to the heart of the songs, but impacting none the less.  3. Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti—Before Today
The weirdest slick pop album I’ve heard.
4. Y La Bamba—Lupon  I’m proud of this band and this record. I was around during the whole process of recording and getting this album out into the world. It’s a wonderful first effort and nods at the greatness they are capable of.
5. Tame Impala—Innerspeaker
One part Dungen one part Magical Mystery Tour. Awesome.

Brian Mumford (Dragging an Ox through Water)
(In no particular order)
The Cysts—The Cyst
Wikileaks—“Iraq & Afghan War Logs/Embassy Cables”  Pete Swanson and Rene Hell—Waiting for the Ladies
Gate—A Republic of Sadness
Big Black Cloud—Dark Age

John Askew (Scenic Burrows)
1. Grinderman—Grinderman2 
2. Laura Veirs—July Flame
3. Janelle Monáe—The ArchAndroid
4. Carcrashlander—You Were Born in a Hospital
5. Tame Impala—Innerspeaker  Adam Baz (Brainstorm)
1. Safe—self-titled EP  2. Dustin Wong—Infinite Love  3. Various Artists—Palenque Palenque! Champeta Criolla & Afro Roots in Colombia 1975-91
4. Various Artists—Music from Saharan Cellphones Vol. 1
5. Jeffrey Jerusalem—This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things 
Terry Groves (Pickathon)
(In no particular order)
Bonnie “Prince” Billy and the Cairo Gang—Wonder Show of the World
Breathe Owl Breathe—Magic Central
Dr. Dog—Shame, Shame
Cotton Jones—Tall Hours in the Glowstream
(tie) Phosphorescent—Here’s to Taking it Easy
(tie) Sam Quinn—The Fake That Sunk a Thousand Ships

Zachary King (SMMMR BMMR)
(In no particular order)
Peaking Lights—Space Primitive
Kurt Vile—Square Shells EP
The Whines—Go, Demos, Go
Fabulous Diamonds—II
Eddie Current Suppression Ring—Rush to Relax

Raquel Nasser (Mercury freelancer)
Beach House—Teen Dream
Blitzen Trapper—Destroyer of the Void
Cotton Jones—Tall Hours in the Glowstream
Laura Veirs—July Flame
Phosphorescent—Here’s to Taking it Easy

Jack Lewis (Jack Lewis & Twigs Lvov)
1. Dr Dog—Shame, Shame
2. Langhorne Slim—self-titled
3. Yeasayer—Odd Blood
4. The Fishermen Three—Rosina on Every Balcony
5. The Wave Pictures—Instant Coffee Baby and If You Leave it Alone

Dhani Rosa (Brave Records)
(In no particular order)
Kanye West—My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
Sade—Soldier of Love
The Dream—Love King
Brother Andy and His Big Damn Mouth—Mystic Indian Hitmakers
Taylor Swift—Speak Now

Blood Beach
(As selected by the entire band and in no particular order)
Grass Widow—Past Time
It’s dangerous to call an album perfect, but it would be too big of a disservice to understate how flawlessly beautiful this record is. These three wonderfully talented ladies are going to take over the world.
Eddy Current Suppression Ring—Rush to Relax
This record has such an incredible energy and urgency to it, which makes sense—legend has it that the Aussies recorded the entire full-length in six hours. Super catchy, gnashing guitar-driven garage-punk works up and sprawls out into rhythm-section-driven Kraut jammers.
Purple Rhinestone Eagle—The Great Return
This summer, PRE toured the US and Europe and it felt like they were gone for years. Luckily, Portland’s empressess of all things heavy, psychy, and magickal left us an amazing album to listen to while they were away.  Titan—Sweet Dreams
Titan is a stoner metal sci-fi nerd’s dream—heavy, proggy, and mesmerizing riffage with a hidden undertone of horror score legend Goblin. It makes you feel like you have discovered something that no one wants you to know about, and they are after you.
Dara Puspita—1966-1968
Just one reissue, okay? Sublime Frequencies compiled and released 26 tracks from Dara Puspita, the first all-female Indonesian pop group to play all their own instruments and sing. Raw, rocking flower-power garage with playful girl-group vocals, and every song a hit.

Chris Funk (Black Prairie, the Decemberists)
(In no particular order)
Deerhunter—Halcyon Digest
Grinderman—Grinderman 2
Punch Brothers—Antifogmatic
Old Light—The Dirty Future
Aloe Blacc—Good Things

Point Juncture, WA
(As selected by the entire band and in no particular order)
Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings—I Learned the Hard Way
Deerhunter—Halcyon Digest
Robyn—Body Talk
A Weather—Everyday Balloons
Spoon—Transference

Hosannas
(As selected by the entire band)
1. Caribou—Swim
2. The Dream—Love King
3. Candy Claws—Hidden Lands
4.. Emeralds—Does it Look Like I’m Here?
5. Sufjan Stevens—The Age of Adz

Rocky Tinder (Wampire)
(In no particular order)
Future Islands—In Evening Air
Jeffrey Jerusalem—This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things
Weezer—Blue Album
Misfits—Static Age
Fake Drugs—Drake Fugs

Jeans Wilder (Mean Jeans)
1. Riverdales—Tarantula
2. White Wires—WWII
3. Live—Throwing Copper
4. Crash Test Dummies—God Shuffled His Feet
5. Bush—Sixteen Stone

Tracie Davis (Rockshields)
(In no particular order)
Kanye West—My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
Spoon—Transference
LCD Soundsystem—This Is Happening
Caribou—Swim  Pink Martini—Joy to the World

Jeremiah Hayden (Amigo/Amiga Recordings)
1. The National—High Violet
I hated the National. I thought they were the most overrated band around and I never understood why people were so into Boxer and Alligator. On a tour last May, I played an in-store in Davis, California, and we got a $50 gift certificate as payment. Jay-Z and a few bargain bin albums later I decided I was going to get High Violet and hear what all the fuss was about for our 13-hour drive to Seattle after the show that night. Maybe the National is still boring and it was just the environment in which it was being played or my fear of waking up the passenger to find a new CD, but I fell in love with High Violet. I couldn’t change it for most of the drive and it cemented itself in my mind for months. I can’t seem to find an album anywhere to replace it when I get the itch—including Alligator or Boxer (although they sound better than they used to).  2. Pastor T.L. Barrett and the Youth for Christ Choir—Like a Ship… (Without a Sail)
Originally recorded in 1974, but never properly released until this year, this album sounds like what Spiritualized would do once finally having become spiritualized. I’ve heard my share of choirs and church music, but never has it effectively moved my soul the way this record does. The band itself is made up of some cats and some kids with amazing taste—the drums and bass back the choir in a way that kicks your ass even as a new record in 2010, and the choral arrangements seem to leave room for some “following the spirit” that I find to be pretty compelling.  3. Grinderman—Grinderman 2
Because seriously… what is this? Who does this?  4. Das Racist—Sit Down, Man
 If I hadn’t seen Das Racist at a little club in Seattle I would probably hate them. They say the stupidest shit and make references to, well, everything and I’m pretty sure they’re not that into scrawny-white-hipster-dudes like myself trying to pretend I can throw my hands in the air when I hear what I believe to be a sick rhyme or disrespectful anecdote, but this record is hilarious. And they’re pretty much right about most things.
5. Quasi—American Gong
I came kind of late to the Quasi train since I was only 12 when the band started. This album is smart. Tons of hits on this record like “Little White Horse,” “Bye Bye Blackbird” make for some great live jams. Here’s to a band doing whatever they want to do for this long and growing in the process.