1) The Shins : Wincing the Night Away

This album represents a change of direction for the James Mercer and his little outfit from Portland. At first I didn’t like it. There’s still a pair of traditional catchy indie-pop songs that caught my attention, (“Australia” and “Phantom Limb“) and great pop songs they are. The rest of the album felt uneven but after a few listens, it occurred to me this unevenness is really bold experimentation: “Sea Legs” a Pink Floyd-ish funk song with a great instrumental break at the end, “Split Needle” displays something darker and “Red Rabbits” and “The Comet Appears” the sweet but oddly textured acoustic numbers. All around great music.

2) Pinback : Autumn of the Seraphs

San Diego based Pinback is one my favorite bands of the past decade. Even when they aren’t writing good songs (see “Devil You Know” and “I’m A Pretty Lady”), they sound awesome. The first 6 songs of this album blend together like Sgt. Pepper. While this isn’t the classic that Summer in Abaddon was, it’s proof that Pinback will continue to make great music.

3) José González : In Our Nature

It’s hard to create a unique sound with just an accoustic guitar but this guy has done it. His playing and singing are so very distinct, almost mesmerizing. “How Low”, “Down the Line”, “Cycling Trivialities” and the cover version of Massive Attack’s “Teardrop” are the stand out tracks here.

4) French Kicks: Two Thousand

This New York band adds more focus to their new wavish, retro-80s sound. This album is significant progression from “Trial of the Century” mainly because the songwriting and arrangements are better. Only “Hey I Wait” disappoints, the rest of the album is full of some great indie-pop (“So Far We Are”, “No Mean Time”). My favorite song on the album is “Knee High” which builds from drums and a synth to a wall of the classic Kicks sound.

5) Spoon: Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga

IMHO, there’s a room for Spoon in everyone’s catalog. Their music has so many hooks it’s almost ridiculous. With this 2007 release, they seem to be repeating themselves adding horns here and there but why change a formula that works so well.

6) Blonde Redhead: 23

From the opening chords of the title track to the soft intro of “Silently” this records seems to blend together. My only complaint is that it would have been a perfect record if they would have left off the last two songs. “Top Ranking” sounds more like something from an earlier period of the band and “My Impure Hair” just plain drags. Other than that, BR is at top form: “Spring And By Summer Fall” rocks, “Herione” is absolutely lovely and the sound of “Dr. Strangeluv” could only come from this band.

7) Thurston Moore: Trees Outside the Academy

To most people a Thurston Moore solo album will just sound like a Sonic Youth album without Kim and Renaldo singing. To some extents this is true. The basic SY elements of dark, subculture music are here but the songs have more accoustic guitar than you will ever encounter on an SY cut. “Honest James” shines as the best track: a lovely guitar dual. Of course there’s a few token noise songs here to blow your eardrums out but the rest is solid from a solid veteran indie-rocker.

8.) Panda Bear: Trees Outside the Academy

A solo album from one of the Animal Colletive guys and like that group, this album tries to one up Pet Sounds but it does a damn good job. The reverby effects and repetiveness make this album seem almost like an orchestral achievement. The melodies are very catchy and I found myself humming them quite regularly. Play “Bro” or “Take Pills” regularly and you will see what I mean.