PLATINUM LEVEL (Top 15 followed by the remaining top albums in no particular order)
On Spotify
On MOG
2. (1) New History Warfare Vol. 2, and (2) Those Who Didn't Run by Colin Stetson
On Spotify On Spotify
On MOG
3. Making Mirrors by Gotye
On Spotify
4. Burst Apart by Antlers
On Spotify
On MOG
5. We Must Become the Pitiless Censors of Ourselves by John Maus
On Spotify
On MOG
6. Undun by The Roots
On Spotify
7. Ritual Union by Little Dragon
On Spotify
On MOG
8. Peanut Butter Blues and Melancholy Jam by Ghostpoet
On Spotify
On MOG
9. The King Of Limbs by Radiohead
On Spotify
On MOG
10. Seven Rainbows by Alice Gold
On Spotify
OnRdio
11. James Blake by James Blake
On Spotify
On MOG
12. Tell Me by Jessica Lea Mayfield
On Spotify
On MOG
13. Wounded Rhymes by Lykke Li
On Spotify
On MOG
14. Feel It Break by Austra
On Spotify
On MOG
15. MILES DAVIS QUINTET - Live In Europe 1967 - The Bootleg Series Vol. 1 by Miles Davis
On Tunes
Tied for 16th: (no particular order):
Monkeytown by Modeselektor
On iTunes
Hurry Up, We're Dreaming by M83
On MOG
On Spotify
Space Is Only Noise by Nicolas Jaar
On Spotify
On MOG
Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will by Mogwai
On Spotify
On MOG
On Spotify
On MOG
On Spotify
On MOG
On Spotify
On MOG
On Spotify
On iTunes
On Spotify
On MOG
On Spotify
On MOG
On Spotify
Singularity
1 by
Various Artists
GOLD LEVEL -- (no particular order)Kaputt by Destroyer
On Spotify
On MOG
On Spotify
On MOG
Anna Calvi by Anna Calvi
On Spotify
On MOG
On Spotify
On Rdio
On Spotify
On MOG
On Spotify
On MOG
On Spotify
On MOG
On iTunes
On Spotify
On Spotify
On MOG
On Spotify
On MOG
On Spotify
On Rdio
On Spotify
On iTunes
On Spotify
On MOG
Dive by Tycho
On Spotify
On MOG
On Spotify
On MOG
On Spotify
On Rdio
On Spotify
On MOG
On Spotify
On Spotify
Replica by Oneohtrix Point Never
On Spotify
On MOG
On Bandcamp
On MOG
From Love to Dust by Sina
OnBandcamp
Alela Diane & Wild Divine by Alela Diane
On Spotify
On MOG
On Spotify
On MOG
On Spotify
On MOG
On Spotify
On MOG
On iTunes
On Spotify
On Spotify
On MOG
On Spotify
On MOG
Soy Dios by Dead Sea Apes
On Bandcamp
On Spotify
On MOG
On Spotify
On Spotify
On MOG
On Spotify
On MOG
On Spotify
On MOG
Here Before by The Feelies
On Spotify
On MOG
On Bandcamp
On MOG
On Spotify
On MOG
On Spotify
On MOG
On Spotify
On MOG
On Spotify
On MOG
On Spotify
On MOG
On Spotify
Here We Rest by Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit
On Spotify
On MOG
On Spotify (n/a)
On MOG (n/a)
- The long list started with almost 200 albums for consideration.
- The selection process was generally this: [blog trade secrets redacted].
- All platinum albums are considered exceptional and must-have, gold-level are should-have, and silver level are still highly recommended. To be on the list at all is tantamount to a Michelin star: it's not listed unless it's an album of distinction.
- The link on the album and artist's name is to the previous post on this blog. The links to Spotify, MOG, and sometimes other sources should be self-explanatory.
- Some entries show two albums or EPs for the artist. In such cases the year's output was considered collectively.
- Release years vary so the criteria for 2011 consideration is that Miles of Trane blogged about it this year or I just felt like it belonged.
- O'Barr, post rebuttals in the comments.