QuickCrit Music Survey Results - Top 40 Albums (11-20)

11. The Antlers - Hospice

“I listened to this a lot before my son was born. It kinda scared the shit out of me becuase it seems like it's more about the scary side of the hospital. To me though its about the good side of the hospital.” - ancient indian wizard
“I'm still mystified by this album. It's like a huge dark blanket that puts me in a trance.” - Max Diez

“A meditation on tragedy, grieving, anger, acceptance. This album moves me to tears damn near every time I hear it. Some friends of mine have experienced some pretty incredible tragedies this year, and listening to this album puts my heart somewhere near to what i can only imagine they were feeling. Please listen to this.” - Tex

“Catharsis is the best attribute of art. This album is devastating in its understatement.” - Jeremiah H.

12. Girls - Album

“Who doesn't want a pizza and a bottle of wine?” - HotCatato

“This one caught me off guard. Hated it at first but a few more close listens opened the door.” - Max D.





13. Pearl Jam - Backspacer

“Eddie Vedder still has it after all these years- the fixer reminds us all of why we still can't wait to listen to what Pearl Jam has to offer.” - Layne







14. Various Artists - Dark Was The Night

“I can't recall such a nearly flawless compilation . . . ever. This two disk set showcases how incredible the talent out there is right now. This album will remain a classic staple, mark my words.” – Tex

“Finally — a cause album that's as good as the cause. “ - Jeremiah H.





15. Grizzly Bear - Vecktimest

“Smart, complex, and beautiful...I'm in awe of these guys.” - Max D.

“The choral, large sound on this album contrasted with the heartbreaking lyrics makes for an experience.” - Jeremiah H.

16. Yeah Yeah Yeah's - It's Blitz!

“While I miss their more guitar driven stuff, It's Blitz! managed to keep me interested. Particularly "Soft Shock" which is quite possibly one of the cutest YYYs songs ever.” - Mona

“I have this only in vinyl, and I've spun the shit out of it. While I'd like to listen to it in my car or on the headphones sometimes, I won't let myself because listening to it still feels like an event.” - WarMachine

“Possibly the truest to the sense of the word Rock Stars of our time. Solid singles . . . the album could have been a little more cohesive, but my interest is renewed. A go to album for waking up, making coffee, and shaking one's naked-post-shower junk all over the place. No, it's cool . . . go ahead and picture it.” - Tex

“I'm a sucker for female singers, I do not hide this fact. I also did not buy a lot of music this year. That being said, this album really grew on me. Took a few listens to really start warming up to it, but now I really like it.” - Jeremiah O.

17. Harlem Shakes - Technicolor Health

“Anxious NYC indie rock after downing a handful of Zoloft.” - awmercy

“Harlem Shakes inspired many conversations with Awmercy about how much we love these tunes. Quirky indie rock at its most infectious, I love the optimism of this record and spent many hours blasting "Strictly Game." Best live show of the year, hands down.” - Mona

“I swear, nine out of ten times that a song would come up on a genius playlist that I liked but didn't know I'd ask AIW who it was and he'd guess, "the Harlem Shakes?" And he would be right! And so I eventually listened to the whole album.” - The Crane Wife

18. The xx - xx

“Simple, dry, and focused.” - Max Diez

“Dream pop at its finest, these Brits remind us that sexy and romantic are not mutually exclusive. This record is full of stunning, exciting, melodic, mellow and atmospheric mood music I just can't stop listening to.” - Mona

“I can't pick my favorite songs from this album. As an ALBUM, this flows seamlessly...truly rare in this day and age of cut and paste MP3 playlists. Exudes sensuality - prime make out music.” - Tex

“There's a shortage of male/female duet bands in the world. There is so much sincerity in this music.” - Jeremiah H.

19. Elvis Perkins In Dearland - Elvis Perkins In Dearland

“Elvis Perkins has an amazing voice and coupled with (what sounds like) an all-out brass band, Dearland is hands down the best album of the year.” - Brasilliant

“Kind of a kick back to another era but with a modern twist. Such a cool vocal delivery/style.” - Max D.

“Great songwriting and sound... one that clearly stands out when so many of the same genre sound the same.” – Nightrain

20. Hockey - Mind Chaos

"I must admit, Hockey had the potential to be way over my "screamiest" threshold. However, having seen them live three times now, I can't help but dance." - Brasilliant

Tex's late-ass summer short list...

1. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - It's Blitz (specifically the first 2 tracks)

So far this year, my cups of coffee (which have been more numerous and stronger) have been accompanied by motivational doses of "Zero" and "Heads will Roll". Nothing makes me garden harder.

2. Dark Was The Night Comp

So much F'n relevent talent, it makes me feel bloated with rainbows. My favorites right now are the tracks by Yeasayer, Dave Sitek, Antony +Bryce Dressner, Riceboy Sleeps (who the fuck are THEY? awesome.) and Spoon (I didn't think I cared for them.).

3. Mos Def - The Ecstatic

Best non-ironic/semi ironic hip hop to come out in the last 3 years, at least. "Quiet Dog Bite Hard" is another great cold cup of coffee, splashed in the face.

4. Dirty Projectors - Bitte Orca

Perhaps the best deserved hype in quite some time. I'd been reading about this album for about 3 months before NPR did their whole "Stream-it-for-the-week-before-it-comes-out" brilliant scheme they've been doing this year. The one and only review I've written for Quickcrit! I can ALMOST guarantee this will be #1 on my end of the year list.

5. Away We Go

Saw this movie last weekend. Enjoyable beyond anything I've seen in the last few years. Funny, touching, thought provoking. But what brings me to mention it here is the soundtrack, predominantly featuring (according to the wikis) "reclusive, scottish songwriter" Alexi Murdoch. His songs set the tone for the journey.....melencholy, hopeful, lonesome.

Dirty Projectors - Bitte Orca (2009)

Besides the Yeah Yeah Yeah's It's Blitz, I've been having a hard time finding any new music this year that was blowing my mind. Lots of kind of floppy follow-ups and disappointing debuts from promising artists.

I'd never heard of the Dirty Projectors before maybe February...but all of a sudden I was hearing a lot about them. This is apparently their fifth album and they were featured on the tremendous "Dark Is the Night".

Listening to Bitte Orca is a bit like licking a 9v battery. It's anticipation and a mild, but palpable surprise. It's confusing at first, but intriguing. And then you start hitting that shit, like, a couple of times a day.

I can see why they were paired with David Byrne on Dark Was the Night and Bjork (doing whatever thing they were doing that I didn't bother to read about), there are easily recognizable influences abound. I'm also hearing some Antony, and maybe a hint of Sufjan.

Hey Dirty Projectors. You're kind of blowing my mind right now.

Yeah Yeah Yeahs - It's Blitz! (2009)

Karen O makes me want to lock the door to my room and put on a dress with sequins, high heels, maybe a cape if I'm feeling extra saucy, grab my favorite hair brush... and lip synch while doing lots of little leg kicks and stomps for extra emphasis. Not that I've ever done anything of the sort. Uh huh. It's Blitz! is a pretty good YYY's album. But in my opinion, they've all only been pretty good since their first one, Fever to Tell, a real doozy of an album. It's Blitz! has some really good moments. And some really boring ones. AKA all the ballads, with the borderline exception of "Runaway". That one is ok. It builds and builds but never has the breakout moment that the whole song seems to be leading up to, but its the best of the bunch. The rest of the slow ones are skippers for me, I feel like she keeps going for another "Maps" moment. In "Hysteric" Karen O has the audacity to use her god given rocker talents to croon corny crappy lyrics like "Flow sweetly/Hang Heavy/You suddenly complete me". Really? Is she taking herself seriously singing a song that uses a phrase I'll now always associate with Austin Powers? Honestly. Karen O can't pull off corny. She's at her best when she just rocks out, like in "Heads Will Roll". Yes. It's a Lays kindof song, you can't just listen to it once. I spy an indie dance floor anthem! Fist pumps! The Yeah Yeah Yeah's have gone a little more electro, which isn't exactly original, but it works for them. "Zero" has a nice little fade and echo build, and when it peaks, it peaks hard and I can't help but dance. I'm doing one right now. You're welcome world! The good songs on It's Blitz! are really on point, the bad ones are cringe-worthy. But either way, its in steady rotation for now. Also, thumbs up for the use of an exclamation point in the album title.

Favorites: "Dragon Queen", "Dull Life", "Heads Will Roll", and "Zero".