10) Youth Lagoon - Year of Hibernation
I might be a little biased since this dude is from Boise, but it is the perfect soundtrack to a lazy weekend afternoon. As with most good music with staying power, it takes a few listens to get into the subtleties of the album, but once you get into them, you get lost in the layers. Space out music to the extreme.
9) Neon Indian - Era Extrana
This album makes the list basically because of 'Polish Girl', which is probably one of the best songs of the year.
8) Junior Boys - It's All True
Two words: Banana Ripple.
7) The Naked and Famous - Passive Me, Aggressive You
Quite possibly one of the best album titles ever.
6) Washed Out - Within and Without
This was made for long, introspective sessions of staring out your front door, watching the weather pass by. Or laying in your bed, staring at the ceiling, trying to not fall asleep. Basically, it's great music to be lazy to.
5) Real Estate - Days
Real Estate has put out a catchier, more focused and accessible version of their debut album. Loosely put together with jangely guitars and shy drums, the album is in no rush, and you shouldn't be either while listening to it.
4) Bon Iver - Bon Iver
Something about Justin Vernon's voice just makes you want to rip your heart out and throw it into the ocean. There is more emotion packed into one Bon Iver song than most albums can fit into their tracklist. Just knowing that he holes himself up in epic places to write songs with simple instrumentation overshadowed by intense emotion makes everything that emerges from his fingertips and mouth that much more haunting.
3) Radiohead - The King of Limbs
A continuation of their last album, meaning awesome. The final song, Separator, is one of their best. It is easily listenable on repeat.
2) Starfucker - Reptilians
This album is almost indescribable. It's weird, danceable, headbangable, catchy indie rock littered with electronica, disco, pop, new wave and an assortment of other influences which are all mashed together in a way that draws you in and doesn't let you halfway pay attention. Reptilians requires your full attention and doesn't let you down. I never want this album to end when I listen to it. Dropkick to the face!
1) M83 - Hurry Up, We're Dreaming
A double album masterpiece. There is no question that this needed to be an album that is twice as long as normal, because not once while listening do you think, 'Is Anthony Gonzalez finished being self-indulgent?'. Great albums make you feel like you are a part of something larger than yourself when you hear them; they create a feeling of awe and wonder, sucking you into their world. They also make you bob your head and want to cry, maybe at the same time. Hurry Up, We're Dreaming accomplishes this.
And I am done spouting bullshit.
