So its that time of year again. The time when snow falls to the ground. And we are about to turn over another year on the calendar. So I will be begin my forever long list of favorite releases from the year. Its been one hell of a year for music. I am going to have a few weeks of random top 5’s and then wind up sometime after the first of the year with my top 10.

1. The Blow- Paper Television

So this is a recent purchase. I can’t get over the catchy lyrics and the cuteness of it all.  For fans of synth pop goodness.

2. Califone- Roots & Crown

Earlier today it was grey and gross before it started snowing like crazy. It kind of reminds me of Joan of Arc with some more melodies.

3. Damien Jurado- And Now That I’m In Your Shadow

This reminds me of some my favorite Jurado’s records. He has gone back to the slower more melancholy songs.  For the first time he has chosen a few people to help him play and arrange the songs.  This could have easily been in my top 10 had it not been such a good year.

4. TV on the Radio- Return to Cookie Mountain

This is another record that was so close to being in my top 10. It contains a whole lot of jams that I am loving this year.  This record has more soul than anything on American Idol this year.

5. William Elliot Whitmore- Song Of The Blackbird

I wrote about my love of Whitmore earlier this year. His gruff voice reminds of me of Tom Waits but he is more like a John Prine or Ramblin Jack Elliot. He is folk artist that uses his voice to fill out the rest of beautiful and simplistic songs.