all these artists are available for purchase, if you like them buy them.
i did and was justly rewarded.
10.Major Lazer – Guns Don’t Kill People…Lazers Do
Just because this album sounded the end of all the sounds that influenced it, doesn’t mean it wasn’t awesome. We all know the story of Diplo and Switch in Kingston any artist at their disposal (please someone make a documentary), the world was their vagina. Which brings me to the next point, this album is extremely x-rated.
What u like feat. Amanda Blank & Einsten
9. the Big Pink – a Brief History of Love 
It’s no secret I rocked out more than once to this pure blast of awesome. If it wasn’t so derivative it would be way higher on the list. I love how raw and manufactured it is at the same time. I love how the live drums match up to the synths. I love the Velvet Underground chic cool. I love the random guitar feedback that breaks into clear crisp drum machine breakdowns. And I love the vocals. Runners up include Cold Cave and the Crocodiles.
Frisk – the Big Pink
The Trees Grew Emotions and Died – Cold Cave
I Wanna Kill – Crocodiles
8. Dub Tractor – Sorry
Initially the name seems like a cheap trick (sic) then you just spend the rest of your listen wishing boards of canada had been more poppy. This is post-sex music at 3am.
That Won’t Heal By Itself
7. the Temper Trap – Conditions 
When I first heard the Temper I thought Antony Hegarty had turned his delicate falsetto to emo-rock, (and damn that should still happen). You can sing this shit in your head anywhere. And I do mean at Army and Navy off Hastings (but only if you’re shopping for a hibachi for your outdoor emo camping trip)
Fader
6. Falty DL – Love is a Liability/Bravery
Dubstep is undeniably a mighty fine genre, perhaps one of the best, and whether you agree that it has lost its way or not Falty are the artists that took it back to where I love it most – deep. melodic. off beat. and romantic. (and hands down the best cover art of the year)
Our Loss
5. Mavado – Mr. Brooks a Better Tomorrow
I clearly have no emotional connect to a Kingston gansta finding god (small caps), but damn if the middle sequence of this album doesn’t rule cinematographic heavy, absolute genius narrative beat dub.
Life Of A G
4. Fever Ray – Fever Ray
The high value attached to this album is how much it resonated with me sonically and emotionally. I first heard this album when I was doing a stint in Laos and living in a wicker hut. It was the soundtrack to my time there. It both tethered me and freaked the shit out of me. Listening to post-modern music in a pre-modern world will do that do you.
Keep the Streets Empty for Me
3. King Midas Sound – Waiting For You 
When the first deep soft drum kick hits over the breathless Bristol vocal your fucking hooked. The comparisons are endless. I’m just tickled priceless that this sound is back.
Darlin’
2. XX by XX
a 
band of and for their time. I listened and loved this album over all others this year. It speaks volumes to the power of music when some kids barely out of high school and a minimal grasp of their instruments or their own voices can make a record this affecting.
Basic Space (Pariah Remix)
1. Matias Aguayo – Ay Ay Ay 
a techno bobby mcferin this guy has more layers of groove vocal melody all synthed out (I really wish at this point in the review that I hadn’t used “this guy has more”.) I have no more adjectives. I was stunned.
Ritmo Tres
Menta Latte
almost didnt get this in before the years end. i was hoping, just a little bit, that there would be some technology involved here. sadly machines havent come that far this year. good luck to you next year machines.
