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This list is mostly sound for sound's sake.

1: The Mountain Goats - Attention All Pickpockets
2: Active Child - She Was A Vision
3: The Fragrance - Awake My Soul!
4: The Books - Chain Of Missing Links
5: M83 - Moon Child
6: Sufjan Stevens - Enchanting Ghost
7: Manchester Orchestra - I Can Feel A Hot One
8: Mates Of State - Sleep the Clock Around [Belle & Sebastian]
9: The Shangri-Las - (Remember) Walking In The Sand
10: Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band - You Done My Brain In
11: M.I.A. - Tell Me Why
12: Mates Of State - True Love Will Find You in the End [Daniel Johnston]
13: Sufjan Stevens - I Want To Be Well
14: jj - Masterplan
15: Wildbirds & Peacedrums - Today/Tomorrow
16: Sufjan Stevens - Impossible Soul

Commentary, anyone?

1: The Mountain Goats - Attention All Pickpockets
This is a song taken from a live recording of one of the potentially millions of shows John Darnielle has played, in proportion to his several thousand songs. He's the epitome of prolific. While some of his lyrics may lack illusion, (not many, but it can make it hard to wade through his immense catalog) this song just grabbed me when it shuffled up. It clamped me in it's simple, yet unyielding chorus of simplicity.

2: Active Child - She Was A Vision
I put an Active Child song on my last list, too. Active Child is the moniker of Pat Grossi, who uses vintage synth sounds, big electronic drums, and a voice very similar to Justin Vernon, to make huge, soaring sonic creations. They're more than songs. A song is too small for this. They're veritable works of art.

3: The Fragrance - Awake My Soul!
This is a track from a live show, and it just seems really nice! I was indirectly introduced to this band via the ol' FB, when I saw a friend had "like"d it, so I checked 'em out. Really good indie pop, with a bit of traditional instrumentation in the form of some well-placed accordion.

4: The Books - Chain Of Missing Links
I was subtly mocked for only knowing about this band recently. Hey, give me a break, alright? I was into ska and Death Cab in high school, for goodness-sake. The music is really good sample-based glitch pop, and I love the spoken samples they used. I especially like "realize that your eyes are made up of atoms that are microscopic and are mostly space," and "realize for a moment that the average human brain only uses 5% of their brain. The other 95% is available. For food." Zombie attack? I think not. Maybe food for thought, or knowledge?

5: M83 - Moon Child
Well, at least it sounds big. That's mostly what I'm going for these days.

6: Sufjan Stevens - Enchanting Ghost
I had thought this would be the most important release of the year, but, as we all know, Ol' Suf threw us for two loops right in a row. A loop-de-loop, if you will. Anyway, this song happens to be off the All Delighted People Ep, which has some departure from his recent musical ways, mostly in his singing style. At times, his voice is so full of emotion and expression, something we haven't really heard before from this master of the cool, whispery vocal. This song happens to be pretty similar, musically, to Seven Swans or especially the song John Wayne Gacy, Jr., but lyrically is pretty dark.

7: Manchester Orchestra - I Can Feel A Hot One
Here is a heavy song, both in content and sonic frequency.

8: Mates Of State - Sleep the Clock Around [Belle & Sebastian]
The Mates Of State recently released the album Crushes, a compilation of cover songs. I became apprised of it's existence because of their cover of Tom Waits' Long Way Home. 98% of the Waits fans were absolutely hating on it, but I think it's a nice little pop version of the song. Anyway, this Belle & Sebastian cover is a lot like the original, but not in a bad way. Quite enjoyable.

9: The Shangri-Las - (Remember) Walking In The Sand
Classic '60's girl group pop. According to what I've read, The Shangri-Las were a bad-ass group, who could take care of themselves on the road due to their gun-toting habits.

10: Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band - You Done My Brain In
I don't know if I can make a playlist without including something awesomely weird. Bonzo is always a good choice for that. You can look up their sweet history on wikipœdia.

11: M.I.A. - Tell Me Why
I had really low hopes for MAYA when I heard XXXO, which isn't really as bad as my first impression made it, but this album was a pleasant surprise. I feel like it's more groove-hop than her previous efforts. And since she signed Sleigh Bells to her label, she used a sample from their song Treats, so, you know, bonus.

12: Mates Of State - True Love Will Find You in the End [Daniel Johnston]
Daniel Johnston has to be one of the most covered artists around. In the indie world, for sure. Maybe it's because he writes great, honest little songs, but he's the dumpiest man in all music. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxQPeC_yr-M Anyway, Kori and Jason did a good job with this song, as with most of Crushes.

13: Sufjan Stevens - I Want To Be Well
Now THIS song is off the most important release of the year, and quite possibly this era. I Want To Be Well has the orchestral flourishes that anyone familiar with Sufjan will recognize, but it's layered with the electronic beats and glitches of The Year Of The Rabbit, which is probably his least known album, along with A Sun Came. This song is one of the reasons and an example of why people think Suf's losing it. Lyrics like this:
"Apparitions gone awry
They surround me, all sides
But from within I see an unholy change
I'm not f*****g around
I'm not, I'm not, I'm not f*****g around,"
I don't think he's going crazy in the least, but he said some months ago that he didn't see the point of making music anymore, and that the album was an obsolete medium. I think he's fed up with the industry, which is not a new sentiment, and I think he probably hates his fame. He seems to be doing a good job staying out of the spotlight, since no one knew about the Ep until it was up for streaming and purchase. I bet that's part of the problem, though, the staying out of the spotlight. He would have to become something of a hermit, and that would make most people a little nuts. He clearly has been busy in his isolation, as The Age Of Adz is the most complex of his creations to date.

14: jj - Masterplan
I love me some far-North-Western European music. Iceland is the King, and Sweden is the Prince. In this case, here is a fine, fine product of Sweden. Better than Volvo or Saab, jj create an ethereal, bright sound that is nicer than nice. It's just indie-electro-pop, but it's done so incredibly well, it's hard to think of enough light, airy descriptives to do it justice. I read a review that said the lyrics are sung in lower case, which is about as abstractly accurate as anyone will come.

15: Wildbirds & Peacedrums - Today/Tomorrow
Wildbirds & Peacedrums had to be brought to my attention by my sister, because they were opening for my beloved St. Vincent, but I couldn't go to the 21+ show at the time, so I never investigated on my own. Wb&Pd are a duo from, where else, Sweden. It's real drum-heavy; just sic beats, Friends, if you know what I mean. The guy plays a kit, and the girl plays other percussion stuff, and it's GREAT!

16: Sufjan Stevens - Impossible Soul
The opus of The Age Of Adz, Impossible Soul is 25 1/2 minutes long, with 5 parts, noise-pop parts, BQE-meets-The Year Of The Rabbit, and auto-tune (not throughout, but in part 3). I think this backs up my earlier-stated Sufjan theory:
"Don't be distracted, don't be distracted
Have you failed to feel delight? (NO, I DON'T WANT TO FEEL PAIN)
Have you failed to feel delight? (NO, I DON'T WANT TO FEEL PAIN)
Instead of the life, lived tired and lost, have you left it at last
Where it floundered its death with the language of ghosts,
Part 3 sounds like the song is panting, trying to catch its breath, while he sings about how "it wasn't safe to breathe at all"
Part 4 is probably the most up-beat of the whole album, as well as encouraging...but it almost seems false, like he doesn't believe it. It is an essential part of a truly great piece of musical creation. Anthony said that he alienated a lot of his fans, which is true, but if you ask me, anyone he loses because of this wasn't worth having anyway. He's giving a big screw-you to any and all convention, and purely creating. It's not so much that he's pushing boundaries as he's working without boundaries.
Part 5 is nice and quiet after everything on this album. It sounds a lot like the opening track; quick-fingered acoustic guitar, but it's pretty intense lyrically:
"I'm nothing but a selfish man
I'm nothing but a privileged brother
And did you think I'd stay the night?
And did you think I'd love you forever?
And then you tell me, boy, we can do much more
I gotta tell you, girl, I want nothing less
Girl, I want nothing less
Girl, I want nothing less than pleasure
Girl, I want nothing less than pleasure"
I love, LOVE it.