MGMT - Congratulations

8.8

whimsical, extraordinary, emporium, inter-dimensional, elusive

Standouts:

"Flash Delirium"

"Song for Dan Treacy"

"Someone's Missing"

Interpol - El Pintor

8.1

torrential, crushing, away, unsurprised, split in two

Standouts:

"Anywhere"

"Same Town, New Story"

"All the Rage Back Home"

Bjork - Homogenic

8.7

grandiose, left behind, tidal, re-polished, ice queen

Standouts:

"Hunter"

"Joga"

"All Neon Like"

Pixies - Surfer Rosa

8.0

zesty, wacko, broken, amazed, sadist

Standouts:

"Gigantic"

"Where is My Mind?"

"Bone Machine"

The Killers - Hot Fuss

8.5

going for greatness, with a girl, the weight, '80s children, Vegas

Standouts:

"Mr. Brightside"

"All These Things That I've Done"

"Somebody Told Me"

Belle & Sebastian - Tigermilk

9.3

school, buses, seize the day, bustling, past and present

Standouts:

"The State I Am In"

"We Rule the School"

"Mary Jo"

Julianna Barwick - The Magic Place

9.1

serenity, wash over, anew, higher level, sacred

Standouts:

"Envelop"

"The Magic Place"

"White Flag"

The Beatles - The White Album

9.8

eclectic, whimsical, chamber music, music hall, released

Standouts:

"I Will"

"Long, Long, Long"

"Blackbird"

Sleater-Kinney - Dig Me Out

8.0

turn on the feeling, not enough, aroused, not your typical girls, exhilarating

Standouts:

"Turn It On"

"Not What You Want"

"The Drama You've Been Craving"

The Prodigy - The Fat of the Land

8.7

ignition, cathartic, psycho, rising power, aggravated

Standouts:

"Smack My Bitch Up"

"Firestarter"

"Serial Thrilla"

Interpol - Turn on the Bright Lights

8.9

cover of darkness, lonely heart, underground, discomfort, public spaces

Standouts:

"PDA"

"Obstacle 2"

"The New"

Paul Simon - Graceland

9.6

discussions, world, pilgrimage, unsatisfied man, beatific

Standouts:

"I Know What I Know"

"Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes"

"You Can Call Me Al"

Wolfmother - Cosmic Egg

8.8

cast off, rising, seeing wonder, morning sun, wanted love 

Standouts:

"New Moon Rising"

"Cosmic Egg"

"Pilgrim"

Lorde - Pure Heroine

8.1

teammates, fantasies, recalcitrant, humble foundations, youthful boredom

Standouts:

"Tennis Court"

"400 Lux"

"Team"

Girls - Father, Son, Holy Ghost

8.1

found love, who cares, damned, the magic of love, forgive and forget

Standouts:

"Alex"

"Saying I Love You"

"Magic"

Daft Punk - Discovery

9.1

bangers, to the stars, EDM supermen, rewired, tonight's the night

Standouts:

"One More Time"

"Voyager"

"Face to Face"

Simon & Garfunkel - Sounds of Silence

9.5

lonesome, silent anguish, passing seasons, closed in, taken off

Standouts:

"I Am a Rock"

"Kathy's Song"

"April Come She Will"

Coldplay - Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends

8.7

lovers, Renaissance, above ground, dead and gone, fighter's spirit

Standouts:

"Lovers in Japan / Reign of Love"

"Violet Hill"

"Strawberry Swing"

Arctic Monkeys - Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not

8.8

pissed, stories to tell, vigor, on the town, horndog

Standouts:

"The View from the Afternoon"

"Mardy Bum"

"From the Ritz to the Rubble"

Radiohead - The Bends

8.0

disaffected, artificial, unwell, distant, fading away

Standouts:

"Fake Plastic Trees"

"High and Dry"

"Black Star"

She & Him - Volume 3

9.8

purist pop, ye-ye, confident desire, early to rise, back to business

Standouts:

"Sunday Girl"

"Never Wanted Your Love"

"Reprise (I Could've Been Your Girl)"