M.I.A - Paper Planes (Single) XL
This was originally on the album Kala, which came out in 2007. But it saw new life as a single, and its impact was profound. Catchy as hell (ask my 2 year old), and just when you are lulled into the warm and fuzzy rhythms, those gunshots break out and totally fuck with your mind. This had more impact than everything else combined, and turned M.I.A. into an unexpected crossover star. Too bad she is still "retired".
The Dodos - Visiter Frenchkiss
Fantastic record. A bit of a sleeper on most of THE lists. Not sure why. They combine some of the Animal Collective style polyrhythms, with a more folk oriented sound. They also do a fantastic live set
The Terrordactyls - The Terrordactyls Pankof
I keep thinking music for coffee shops. Lots of quirk on this album. They are playful and fun and slightly heartbroken (yes - Kimya Dawson shows up as a guest on here). Very cute lyrics, including an ode to a zombie girl.
TV on the Radio - Dear Science DGC
It isn't quite their first EP, but I like the sum of the parts - the atmospherics, the urgency, the transistions from cacophony to melody, the harmonizing. The one song where they try to "rap" is pretty awful though. Still, quite the epic offering - blistering, mesmerizing and intelligent. All over the place, and yet pretty tight. Rinse. Repeat.
The Cool Kids - Bake Sale Chocolate Industries
The "Hipster Rap" (cringe) record of the year IMO. Lots of shoutouts to the 80s, while reinventing the early hiphop sound. Bringin' 88 back indeed.
Flying Lotus - Los Angeles Warp
Think Massive Attack meets Muslimgauze. Yes, this is dense. Even the record cover reminds me of Mezzanine. Lots of static over layers and layers of abstract beats.
She & Him - Volume One Merge
Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward team up on this pop gem, blending 60s bubblegum with alt-country. A lovely little record that puts a smile on your noggin.
MGMT - Oracular Spectacular Red Ink
This kept making me think of old Flaming Lips records. And then it kept making me think of Of Montreal. Psych-pop on red-bull or something. And then I noticed that Dave Fridmann produced it, and it all made sense.
Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend XL
Solid orchestral pop record that sounds like a Wes Anderson movie (OK - I stole that thought from allmusic.com). Wistful and dancey all at once, in that too cool to dance, arms folded across your cardigan sort of way.
The Bug - London Zoo Ninja Tune
It makes me happy to give *both* Warp and Ninja Tune some love on this list. This is the record that broke dubstep stateside. Or maybe it didn't. Still, this is both dark and danceable all at the same type. Inna London Stylee.