First of all, I got on the ball late and didn’t get to finish listening to all the albums I meant to, so my list isn’t as accurate as I wanted it to be, but this is the best I could do being a slacker. I know The Antlers’ Hospice should be in this list, so definitely check that out. I only listened to it twice, though, so because of a lack of time, I wasn’t familiar with it. No Merriweather Post Pavilion here, though. Sorry, hipsters. Anyway, I hope you enjoy the list. I sure did.

Honorable Mentions:

Manners - Passion Pit

No One’s First and You’re Next - Modest Mouse

Exploding Head - A Place to Bury Strangers

It’s All Crazy! It’s All False! It’s All a Dream! It’s Alright - mewithoutYou

Mean Everything to Nothing - Manchester Orchestra

15. Dinosaur Bones and Mechanical Hands - Israel Darling

Hailing from Greensboro, North Carolina, Israel Darling released their debut back in August and it’s been an album I’ve kept coming back to since. Full of sincerity, this record touches on living in small towns, drug abuse, and pondering God without being pretentious. The songs hold a certain poppy charm, being so catchy, but the lyrics are honest and dark. Just the way I like them. It’s obscure, but they stream the entire album for free on their MySpace page.

http://www.myspace.com/israeldarling

http://music.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=music.artistalbums&artistid=22879418&ap=0&albumid=13121358

14. Can’t Maintain - Andrew Jackson Jihad

This album is pure folk punk. Right down to the jangling banjo and pissed off at the world lyrics. They’re angry without being adolescent and offensive to almost anybody. Which is why I like this album. Aside from the banjo. Anyway, if you’ve never listened to folk punk, I definitely recommend starting with this album.

13. 3 Rounds and a Sound - Blind Pilot

Simple. Sincere. Pretty. “Paint or Pollen,” “Go On, Say It,” and “I Buried a Bone” are all key tracks. While the first two have a lighter feel, the latter song has a darker tone that almost makes me shiver. With the charming sound of a glockenspiel in such sincere indie folk, how can you go wrong? Also this album reminds me of that period of time when spring fades into summer. A must listen for anyone who likes acoustic done right.

12. What We All Come to Need - Pelican

Typical progressive, heavy Pelican sound, but goddamn if it doesn’t impress me. Goddamn if it’s not so intense it blows me away. And there are actually vocals on this record!

11. Logos - Atlas Sound

This album received a lot of acclaim this year, and with good reason. Each song is perfectly arranged with a psychedelic feel. This album. I don’t even know. It made me feel like I was on something. It was brilliant and delicate and mind-blowing all at once.

10. March of the Zapotec/Realpeople Holland - Beirut

The first part of this album, March of the Zapotec doesn’t stray far from Condon’s signature Balkan/Gypsy orchestra sound. And it works. But the second part, Realpeople Holland adds delicate synth to the calming fray - a refreshing touch for a familiar sound. Zach Condon is just a brilliant musician and his warbling croon, identifiable immediately, is so charming that I don’t think this man could write anything I didn’t fall in love with eventually.

9. In the Unlikely Event - The Fall of Troy

A post-hardcore pop album. It happened and I was impressed. “Webs” and “Nature versus Nurture” had me hooked. Not much more to say.

8. Psychic Chasms - Neon Indian

What a title. What a sound. I listen to this album and go on some acid trip in the ’80s. With faint electronic sounds and hazy vocals, this album introduces old sounds to a newer time. But the best part about it all is the low fidelity and the sincerity in the low fidelity. The man behind Neon Indian got offered a spot on a major label and was so offended. He turned it down because he believed the charm in his music was that it wasn’t studio quality. And he was right.

7. Daisy - Brand New

When “At the Bottom” was released, I wasn’t impressed. I think I even resented it a little for not being The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Me like a lot of people. But I couldn’t tear myself away. I kept coming back for more. And then I anxiously anticipated the release date of the album. I don’t know if it was worth the wait, but this album was fucking brutal from the opening track to the end, almost bordering on a post-hardcore sound. It was edgy, visceral, and angry. Honed anger like never heard from Brand New. This album will drag you out into the woods in the middle of winter and leave you there with the wind howling like a madman. And then you will understand the anger. Or not. Either way, it’s a completely different sound with the same sincerity and intensity. It’s an album I’m going to keep coming back to for a while, regardless of all the negative reviews and complaints I’ve read about it.

6. The Love Language - The Love Language

Holy shit, this album is catchy and sincere and totally lo-fi all in one. What a fantastic debut. And both (!) of their sessions over at Daytrotter are a must listen. Possibly even better than the album. The music speaks for itself, so head over to Daytrotter and grab both sessions. You have to sign up, but that’s completely free, only takes a few seconds, and is well worth it.

http://www.daytrotter.com/dt/the-love-language-concert/20030625-3737888.html

http://www.daytrotter.com/dt/the-love-language-concert/20030873-3737888.html

5. Dark Was the Night Compilation

I thought I was being original the first time I thought to myself that this album was a hipster’s wet dream. And then I read it somewhere else, but I can’t remember where. Anyway, in spite of this being a compilation, it really is a great album with a lot of indie folk favorites. It’s incredibly relaxing. Great music to fall asleep to.

4. Veckatimest - Grizzly Bear

So this album breaks the top 10 on almost every list this year I’ve seen. With good reason, too. I was so moved the first time I heard it. I was just floored. It was so gorgeous and sincere. The two opening tracks, “Southern Point” and “Two Weeks” are two of the best tracks to be released this year. But enough about this album, because it’s everywhere. It is stellar to see Grizzly Bear get the acclaim they deserve, though.

3. Monsters of Folk - Monsters of Folk

This could have been a catastrophe. But it wasn’t. It turned out to be wonderful. I hope it was everything everyone hoped for from Jim James (My Morning Jacket), Conor Oberst (Bright Eyes), M. Ward, and Mike Mogis. Because it just blew my mind. I listened to the opening track, “Dear God (Sincerely, M.O.F.)” for hours. It was so gorgeous, it made me feel alive. It was so gorgeous I couldn’t stop. And the rest of the album is every bit as good.

2. I and Love and You - The Avett Brothers

I haven’t seen this on enough lists. The Avett Brothers were signed off on a major label for this album and it didn’t disappoint. Perfect, beautiful arrangements. Sincere, personal lyrics. Great instrumentation. Quite simply, there was nothing about this album I didn’t like. Everything about it is beautiful and I’m glad to see the Avett Brothers doing well for themselves.

1. Mama, I’m Swollen - Cursive

I don’t know if this was the best album of the year, but it was certainly my favorite, and I couldn’t think of a better album to have this spot. Cursive always does a spectacular job and this was no exception What a great follow-up to Happy Hollow and The Ugly Organ. This album is so dark and personal. Everything about it is fucking perfect, right down to the lyrics sheet. It looks like something ripped from someone’s notebook. Hell, it looks like my notebook, only much more eloquent and interesting. And maybe why this is why this album has the top place on this list: because I can relate to it so much.