10. Emmy the Great – Trellick Tower 9. Ryan Adams - Lucky Now 8. Alex Turner - Piledriver Waltz 7. Daughter – Landfill 6. Beirut – The Rip Tide 5. Dry the River – Lion’s Den 4. TV on the Radio - Will Do 3. The National – Think You Can Wait 2. Bon Iver – Calgary 1. [...]

Matt Bernings, lead singer of The National, speaking about their YBP t-shirt.

BAKER’S DOZEN By Neil Strauss Some make “mix tapes” to fit certain moods: there’s the party mix, the breakup mix, the driving mix. The hand-picked compilations that I find most compelling and lasting are the ones that take me on a journey. Like a plane leaving the gate, it takes a little while to pick [...]

This was a tough one, but the number one slot in 2010 goes to LA rock band, Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti and their latest album, Before Today. Pink showed with this release that he’s not simply the guy that can put on a completely crazy live show, but he can also craft an incredible album, and at the end of the day, it’s Pink’s songwriting ability that is his bread and butter. An album that is just chock full of instant classics as this one is certainly deserving of top honors. Our number 1 album of the year is Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti’s Before Today.

Have you seen The National‘s charming new video for Terrible Love? Watch it here - it’s guaranteed to make you smile