I started out aiming to give you my top 25 songs thus far, but it has been such a fantastic year for music thus far that I couldn’t limit it to just 25.  This list is only about the songs and says nothing about my opinion of the rest of their album. Also I chose to include only one song from any particular artist, so as to share the love.

35.  Jamaica – Jericho

34. Noah and the Whale – L.I.F.E.G.O.E.S.O.N.

33. Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit – Codeine

32. Smith Westerns – All Die Young

31. Middle Brother – Me, Me, Me

30. Cold War Kids – Skip the Charades
Cold War Kids – Skip The Charades by Interscope Records

29. White Lies – Bigger Than Us

28. Wye Oak – Civilian

27. Empress Hotel – Bells Ring

26. Those Darlins – Be Your Bro

Be looking for the rest of the list later on in the week.  As always, I hope your ears bleed.

I loved everything about last year’s debut album.  It was so catchy and Fink’s voice and lyrics were filled with so much emotion.   It’s exciting to hear the new direction that they are going in with the new album.  I love the bigger sound it has with the electric guitar and soaring  string arrangements.  And I am excited to see what the film will be like that’s accompanying the record.   It’s not going to be an extended music video, but a full-length film with a complimentary narrative of its own.  The film will be available for purchase in a deluxe box set with the album.  But that isn’t until the end of next month, so until then, just put this song on repeat and let the music take you away.

Noah and the Whale – The First Days Of Spring

10 KaiserCartel – March Forth

One of the first bands I discovered via I Hope Your Ears Bleed mailbox that didn’t suck. In fact they didn’t suck so much that they made this list.  They are a cheery pop duo that kept me whistling all year with this fantastic debut. If you are a Mates of State fan check out this album for a double dose of pop candy goodness.  But don’t misunderstand that phrase and think that this album lacks substance or doesn’t leave you satisfied. Unlike most “pop candy” these guys have created something that will last. I will be enjoying this album for a long time to come.

KaiserCartel – Oh No

09 She & Him – Volume One

She & Him is made up of the gorgeous and very likeable actress, Zooey Deschanel and the him part is indie folk artist M. Ward. With her voice and song-writing combined with his gorgeous arrangements you get one of the most enjoyable and accessible records of the year.  I don’t know how anyone could not like this album at least a little bit.  Which might be why it ended up as Paste’s favorite album of the year.  It has a little something for everyone.

She & Him – Sentimental Heart

08 Anathallo – Canopy Glow

These guys are one of the most dynamic groups around. The orchestration on each song is very complex and they utilizes a wide variety of instruments, including horns, guitars, drums, piano, bells, strings, and the list could go on.  But what makes them so unique, and why love them so much is they also love to use tons of unconventional objects like chains, velcro strips, stomp boxes, pipes and even their own hands.  Plus they have incredible voices that they utilize as yet another instrument with great harmonies throughout the album.  Even with its late November release it has become one of the most played records of the year for me. Who knows how high it might have climbed the list had it been released earlier.

Anathallo – The River

07 The Silent Years – The Globe
This album provided for me not just the best song of the year, but just an all-around great rock album.  If that’s what you want to call it. I have a hard time describing this album since it seems jump genres from song to song. But it does so gracefully.  It isn’t disjointed at all.  It seems like their drummer somehow seems to carry you safely from song to song.  Not to mention the song-writing and vocals of Josh Epstein are impeccable.  This is another album that utilizes a plethora of instruments. But I think my favorite thing about the album is the way they use silence as an instrument in this stand-out track from their great sophomore effort.

The Silent Years – Black Hole

06 Vampire Weekend – Vampire Weekend

While I think that this band is one of the more overrated bands out there, I couldn’t help but include it in this list.  I probably listened to this album more than any other this past year.  It is incredibly fun and very different than anything else that’s being played these days.  Not to mention their song writing is very clever.  There are many standout tracks on this album, and if somehow you made it through 2008 without hearing these guys you have to give this album a listen.  I absolutely love the way the strings open this stellar track.  It takes me back a couple centuries to a time when you still had to squeeze oranges to get fresh orange juice, yet you were still somehow more sophisticated than today.

Vampire Weekend – M79

05 MGMT – Oracular Spectacular

This album started with just two freshmen art students  playing pretend that they were indie pop stars.  They started off just playing around with some synthesizers and pre-recorded vocals playing shows and just having some fun.  Before they new it they had a long-term deal with Columbia Records and were the opening act for Of Montreal. Still not able to believe their good fortune, when asked who they’d like to have produce their record, they responded with Prince, Nigel Godrich, Barack Obama, and “not Sheryl Crow.” Fortunately for us, they were hooked up with Flaming Lips collaborator, Dave Fridmann, who helped them create one of the best psychadelic indie-pop albums around.

MGMT – Kids

04 Mates of State – Re-Arrange Us

So if you haven’t noticed, I’m a big fan of catchy sing-a-long pop.  That is so long as it doesn’t completely suck.  Like this fantastically addictive, emotionally charged, hook-laden pop masterpiece.  While they have injected a little more piano than in the past, they haven’t strayed too far from their roots.  Hammel’s slick and drumbeats still drive the entire album, and Gardner’s vocals are better than ever. It’s soft and loud, sweet and sour, cheerful and melancholy. It’s a fully realized album that will appeal to indie snobs and ignorant radio listeners alike.  So whichever you are, go out and buy this album today.

Mates of State – The Re-Arranger

03 Noah and the Whale – Peaceful, The World Lays Me Down

Here is the fifth debut album to grace my top ten list (it’s not the last).  Yes I am a sucker for folk-rock bands that use lots of strings and horns throughout their songs.  But it is Charlie Fink’s songwriting that boosted this mediocre debut into the top of my list.  It’s hopeful songs like “Give a Little Love” and its more melancholy successor “Second Lover” that make this album so great.  And who isn’t put in a better mood when they hear “5 Years Time” pouring through the tv set?

Noah and the Whale – Second Lover

02 Conor Oberst – Conor Oberst

This is one of the last album’s I expected to make my list this year.  But I have not been able to stop listening ever since I saw him live back in September. Just think of a happy and country version of Bright Eyes.  I am blown away at how well Conor is able to do southern rock.  Make no mistake though, this is not a solo album in the least.  This record would be nothing without the Mystic Valley Band.  Let’s hope that he doesn’t just kick them to the curb and that these guys have only just begun their musical journey together.

Conor Oberst – Get Well Cards

01 Bon Iver – For Emma, Forever Ago

While this list was difficult for me make, choosing who belonged on top was not.  Justin Vernon isolated himself in a remote cabin in Wisconsin just looking to get away and take a break.  And he walked out with the best album of the year. There was a tiny bit added upon his return in the studio (horns, backing vocals, drums), but the majority of the album is just Vernon and his hauntingly enchanting voice.

Bon Iver – Lump Sum

Well I hope you enjoyed the list and found at least one new album to out and purchase.  And stay tuned for the albums we’re most excited about for 2009.  Here’s to another great year of music. Huzzah!