16. Making Marks - A Thousand Half-Truths (Fika Recordings)
The best twee-pop album of the year. This is the debut from the band Making Marks (who has released albums as My Little Pony before). A brilliant album full of stunning songs. There's no secret that they are friends of mine, I even released the song 'Uten en tråd' as a seven-inch single on my own label Snertingdal Records.
Favourite songs: Uten en tråd and Like Spinning.
17. Tweedy - Sukarie (dBpm Records)
Everyone was talking about this album as it was Jeff Tweedy's solodebut, but it's not. Tweedy is a band with Jeff Tweedy and his son Spencer being the only members. Yes, it is Jeff Tweedy who is writing the songs, but in my ears his son is putting his stamp on the songs as well. Really musical and great drumming all around. The album is a tad bit too long and would've been higher on this list if there had been some editing. Still, there's no real fillers on the album either.
Favourite song: Summer Noon
18. Damien Jurado - Brothers and Sisters of the Eternal Son (Secretly Canadian)
Third album in a row from the team of Damien Jurado and producer Richard Swift. Together they have transformed Jurado from a classic indie-folk artist to a sonically playful voyager. There is still some of the hushed indie-folk, but there is also a great deal of very interesting psychedelia and psych-rock. It seems like Jurado's inner Grateful Dead-fan has surfaced for real. Though it may sound more like the swedes in Dungen than the Dead. Lyrically the album deals a lot with different aspects of religious faith, but not at all in the regular preaching sense. Here Jurado has given us a new way of looking at Christianity and faith. Do yourself a favour and read J. Tillman (Father John Misty) letter Secretly Canadian published as a press release for the album.
Favourite song: Jericho Road
19. The Men - Tomorrow's Hits (Sacred Bones Records)
The Brooklyn punks in The Men can't really be called punks in the traditional sense anymore. On Tomorrow's Hits they play the kind of rock that legends like Tom Petty and The Rolling Stones should envy. Or perhaps a band like Drive-By Truckers, who every now and again makes songs like these. Driving rock songs that just makes you want to have a good time. One of the feel good records of the year. Love the horns on this record as well.
Favourite song: Another Night
20. Ultimate Painting - Ultimate Painting (Trouble in Mind)
The pairing of Jake Cooper and James Hoare from Mazes and Veronica Falls respectively has made the best indie-pop inspired by The Velvet Underground of the year. Just put the album opening 'Ultimate Painting' on and you are right in a 'Sweet Jane' guitar-groove. I'm glad to add that the rest of the album holds up the promise from the opener, and this was one of the great surprises of the year for me.
Favourite songs: Ultimate Painting and Central Park Blues.
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