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1. "The Sprawling, Glorious Newness" by Geotic from Mend (2011). An album of beautiful guitar mantras by Will Wiesenfeld from Baths, this expression suits him better. Each piece exudes a gentle, nostalgic wistfulness.












2. "The Great Pan Is Dead" by Cold Cave from Cherish The Light Years (2011). Whoa. This is the best straight up pop song I've heard in a while. A new direction from Cold Cave's previous recordings, Cherish is a tribute to the goth and glam tinged dance pop of the 80's, mainly Depeche Mode, Tears For Fears and Duran Duran. However, the first track is more along the lines of Sisters Of Mercy, and it's amazing. In fact, it's almost too good, because the rest of the album, while still quite enjoyable, doesn't live up to the power of its opener.










3. "Do It Every Time" Ringo DeathStarr from Colour Trip (2011). In this corner, decent MBV love songs with more discernible vocals and some pretty good pop hooks.











4. "Artists' Valley" by Bibio from Mind Bokeh (2011).
While more lush and varied than its predecessor Ambivalence Avenue, Bibio's new collection of songs is not as straight forward. Mostly it melds 80's dance floor beats with strange psychedelic excursions. Worth patient exploration for some of the most original compositions I've heard in some time.











5. "The False Cross" by Boy Friend from Boy Friend (2011).
Two of the hazy geniuses who brought you Sleep Over Forever form a softer duo for these minimal shoe-gaze love songs. The vocals coming from the across the foggy lake effect is incredibly hypnotic.











6. "Lost at Sea" by Puro Instinct from Headbangers In Ecstacy (2011).
Formerly Pearl Harbor, these brilliant young ladies now have a full band backing their excellent songs.










7. "Sexless Auto" by Lifeguards from Waving At The Astronauts (2011). Yet another great project from Robert Pollard, this time collaborating with old GBV member Doug Gillard.











8. "Hatred Of Music 1" by Tim Hecker from Ravedeath, 1972 (2011). Hecker's latest exploration of processed soundscapes is mostly based on organ.











9. "Gentleman Amateur" by Zs from New Slaves (2010).
Experimental noise improv awesomeness!











10. "True Blue" by Dirty Beaches from Badlands (2011).
This fantastic collection of lo-fi songs harkens back to pop songs of the 50s and 60s garage rock.











11. "Where Damage Isn't Already Done" by The Radio Dept. from Passive Aggressive: Singles 2002-2010 (2011). Passive Aggressive is a great introduction to this Swedish pop duo, cherry picking from their impressive body of work.











12. "N6" by The Psychic Paramount II (2011).
The Psychic Paramount specializes in heavy but thoughtful, often loud, psychedelic bliss-out jams. They can be pretty abrasive (in a face-melting-awesome kind of way), but this most recent album sees them stretching out their ideas and reaching in new directions. Highly recommended, as well as their debut Gamelan Into the Mink Supernatural.











13. "She's So High" by Blur from Leisure (1991).
I've been recently revisiting this, Blur's first album. It was sort of dismissed as a more saccharine version of the shoe-gaze Britpop that was popular at the time, but I think it stands up to most of it's contemporaries as a lasting and fantastic album.











14. "The White of Noon" by Starfucker from Reptilians (2011).
Portland, Oregon's Starfucker make pretty spacey, danceable electro pop gems.











15. "Styled by Dr. Roberts" by Frog Eyes from Paul's Tomb: A Triumph (2010). Last year's Frog Eyes release was something that was overlooked by many, including our little collective. Unfortunate, as it was one of the year's best. Frog Eyes is not a band for the faint of heart. Their music is a complicated puzzle that demands full attention. Definitely off-putting if you're not in the mood, but incredibly rewarding if you are patient. Carey Mercer's vocals are somewhere in between the passionate verbosity of Jeff Mangum and the drunken careening of Isaac Brock. The instrumentation is relentless and all parts vie for attention. If you enjoy this, definitely check out other related projects Swan Lake and Blackout Beach, as well as Sunset Rubdown byformer member and collaborator Spencer Krug.


16 . "My Awesome Drugs Propaganda" by Fabio Orsi from Stand Before Me, Oh My Soul (2011). Italian drone genius offers up a more traditional record of guitar work. Expansive and more along the lines of Sonic Youth's experimentation than his earlier more minimal work.










17. "Superstar" by Sonic Youth from If I Were A Carpenter (1994). Just revisiting this song, which is nothing short of a fucking brilliant cover. This is what covers should be, if you ever feel the need to make one. Total reinvention.










18. "Lazslo Lassú" by A Hawk and a Hacksaw from Cervantine (2011). More Baltic goodness from Jeremy Barnes and friends. Definitely see this band live if you ever have the opportunity and enjoy their rousing performance.











19. "Hussani Lal Qalander" by The Blue Birds from Pakistan: Folk and Pop Instrumentals 1966-1976 (2011). Amazing surf/psyche/garage gems from hippier times in Pakistan.











20. "My Four Reasons" by “Banjo” Ikey Robinson And His Bull Fiddle Band from Baby, How Can It Be? (Songs Of Love, Lust And Contempt From The 1920s And 1930s) (2010). This is a fantastic, 3 disk collection of music from a strange time in America's history. There are songs from all over the genre map that are sure to please the music history enthusiast.













 21. "Mako Mady" by Ballaké Sissoko & Vincent Segal from Chamber Music (2011). Fans of Ali Farka Touré will enjoy this mellow meeting of cello and kora.