Sonic Outpost

I saw them about 2 years ago opening for Metric. I thought they had something quite interesting if they took a slight bit of the edge off. This album does more than that. They move slightly more to the pop spectrum bringing in some disco and shoegaze influences. Strong album overall. Looking forward to what they do next.

Highlights:

• Baptism
• Empathy
• Vietnam
• Pap Smear

LCD Soundsystem led by the ultimate hipster, James Murphy who embraces the "I'm so uncool, it's cool" estethic, returns with their signature electro-funk-soul sound. I love this band because their sound always gets you swaying to their music. Album doesn't feel as strong as their last "Sounds of Silver" (one of the best albums of the 00's), but I find their songs always get better with more listens.

Highlights:

• Dance Yrself Clean
• One Touch
• Drunk Girls

Returning after a great self-titled debut, Vampire Weekend could have gone either more mainstream or more experimental. Contra is interesting because it seems to accomplish both at once. The songs, with the Carribean/African influenced pop-rock, take many unexpected twists and turns, while maintaining a sound that most people would enjoy. Overall, a pretty solid album.

For those unfamiliar with the sound, think a slightly more "rock"-ier Paul Simon's Graceland.

Highlights:

• Horchata
• White Sky
• Cousins

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This is one of the critics darling albums for 2009. I give them credit for taking indie rock in a new direction and they have something potentially great, but I am not sure it will make my top 5 because it doesn't tie the newness into a complete album (IMHO). When they tie it all together, the potential is fantastic (see the song Stillness is the Move). They remind me of Animal Collective in the Sung Tongs/Feels era.

That said if you like seeing what is on the leading edge of new music, check this album out.

Highlights:

• Stillness is the Move
• No Intention
• Cannibal Resource

I'm going back and posting my favorites of this year. Japandroids' Post-Nothing is one of my favorite albums of the year. A great summer album, it just has that excitement of youth "Summer of '69" feel to all their songs. Great Indie Rock!

A kind of fun, album for the summer that follows the sound of label-mates LCD Soundsystem.

Favorites:

• It's Boring / You Can Live Anywhere You Want
• I'm In Love With a Ripper

Another great new band, The Big Pink. The best way I can describe their sound? Sonic, Big.

Since I track down so much new music, I thought I would keep a record of the good stuff I find. First one is XX by The XX. Contrary to the name they aren't X-rated.