The Ruby Suns - Sea Lion (4.5/5)

Very well made album by a few talented people from New Zeland. My most listened to album and probably the most poppy and accessible. South American, Hawaiian, and African influences can be heard throughout and the echoing of the beautiful harmonies provides chilling yet uplifting music.

Parenthetical Girls - Entanglements (4.5/5)

Oh yes, back that shit up with an orchestra, make it extravagant because your amazing voice deserves it, lead singer of P girls (i forget your name). Classically driven & orchestrated sorrowful pop.

DJ Shadow & Cut Chemist - The Hard Sell (4.5/5)

-"If you were a domestic appliance what would you be?"
- "A plug, definitely a plug."

Dj Shadow & Cut Chemist showcase their skills by spinning 45's for over an hour... the result.. masterpieeeeece of a myriad of sounds! For lovers of dancing and happiness - also hip hop, 50s, 60s, soul, funk, space, EVERYTHING.

Reefer - Reefer (4/5).

Remember the Unicorns? Imagine them going underwater, smoking some pot, meeting a DJ and recording an album on a Hawaiian beach. Yes, that's kind of actually what happened- Nick Diamond (The Unicorns/Islands) and producer Daddy Kev collaborate to give you a surf-induced folk-trip hoppy fantasy that only existed in my dreams and today, in the form of this album. Also includes a cute hawaii-fied cover of "Blue Moon."

Jamie Lidell - Jim (4/5)

The most amazing voice in music today & one of the better and more talented producers, Jamie Lidell does it all. This album, almost as good as his last one, is dynamic and filled with soulful hits. Go see him live if you ever get the chance.

Dosh - Wolves and Wishes (4/5)

Dosh's music is complex and maximal. Bells, pianos, guitars, strings, distortion, percussion, and at times crazy space sounds illuminate this album and make every song unique. Reminds me of Four Tet on acid in space with Can. There's post-rock elements in here too, but subtle and not aggressive ones. Probably my favorite Anticon release this year. Very Original.

Ratatat - LP3 (3.5/5)

Although I can't listen to it anymore, this album was in my car for some time and it provided the occasional epic moment. There's probably 2 songs I can't stand and 2 songs I love to death (this includes that x-filesy track). They get props for doing something different, music is more spacey on this album, I was getting tired of their old sound.

Others / Great Job:
Animal Collective - Water Curses EP
Sigur Ros - the name of the album is really long & icelandic
Why? - Alopecia
Sian Alice Group  - 59.59
Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes
The Dodos - Visiter
Portishead - Third
Stereolab - Chemical Chords
The Notwist - The Devil, You + Me
Devotchka - A Mad & Faithful Telling
Atlas Sound - Let The Blind Lead Those Who Can See But Cannot Feel
Chairlift - Does You Inspire You
Vetiver - A Thing of the Past