The time has come for me to regurgitate an entire years worth of music on to the digital table so you can pick through the mess and see what I liked and possibly find something you missed or something you agree with or something you’ve never heard of and suddenly like.  As usual there are probably a hundred songs that I listened to and exclaimed “this is the best song ever” and then totally forgot to post anything about and also, as always, a lot of the songs tend be picked from the latter part of the year because my drug-addled brain is unable to source anything from the front half.  It’s a good mix this year and I’m proud that for almost 5 years now I’ve had the opportunity to share my thoughts on music on this amazing website with you, our amazing readers.

Happy Holidays!  I can only hope you enjoy:

High Pop - Drip From The Sea
Eddy Current Suppression Ring - Walking In Unison
Burnt Ones - Bury Me In Smoke
Kendrick Lamar - A.D.H.D.
Manatee - Mr. Super
Ty Segall - Fame/Sufferage City
Jacuzzi Boys - Cool Vapours
Niilo Smeds - Summer Air
King Blood - End of a Primitive
Bachelorette - Blanket
Koko and The Sweetmeats - Will I Ever Make It To The Ocean
Rangers - Xochimilco
War On Drugs - Baby Missiles
Behavior - Laughing
Disappears - Halo
The Caretaker - Tiny Gradations of Loss
Led Er Est - Lonesome XOXO
Ducktails - Killin’ The Vibe

The top 14 songs after the jump.

14. Dirty Beaches - Lord Knows Best

If “Lord Knows Best” had come out anytime after the middle of the year, it would’ve been the best song of the year and even now as I’m placing it at a meager 14, I’m shaking my head.  Dirty Beaches are a perennial Top 1o in TDC’s mind and “Lord Knows Best” a clear indicator as to why.

13. Family Portrait - The Other Side

There’s a certain cruisy, East Coast, beach vibe floating about these days in the higher echelons of indie rock and Family Portrait (finally releasing a much-anticipated LP) capture this long, slow days on the beach with a cig and a case of beer vibe perfectly.

12. Bill Callahan - Baby’s Breath/Drover

I’m that schlubby music writer who doesn’t know anything about Bill Callahan and then is totally blown away by the new album that all of his devoted fans think weak.  That’s me.  And “Baby’s Breath” and “Drover” are two perfect bits of somber narrative.  I’ve taken to calling anything somber and imbued with story as Callahan-esque.  Fine, fine, I’ll listen to Smog, Jesus.

11. Lil Dagger - Slave Exchange

The first EOY list I’ve ever put together that features two songs from Miami.  The first, Lil Daggers “Slave Exchange” is pulsing and organ-heavy and entirely unlike anything I’d ever imagine Miami to represent. And that’s a good thing.  I don’t know if I did more posts on any other band than Lil Dagger this year.  Though I’m a little surprised at my own unabashed fawning, the pile of love is totally deserved.

10. Twin Steps - Junkie Song/Pinky Promise

“Junkie Song” melted my face in a smokey basement and then to come home and realize that a 6-minute jammer like “Pinky Promise” was still to be had was like a double Christmas.  One of the more interesting acts kicking up dust in the Bay Area currently - one I’m certainly keeping my eye on.

9. Deptford Goth - No Man

A song that lingered in the recesses of my memory for months after it stunned me one sunny morning.  In quiet moments in cars or while walking I still find myself humming the droning vocals and contrastingly up-beat melody.  Don’t let anybody ever tell you I’m not bowled over by electronica once in a while.

8. Blasted Canyons - Ice Cream Man

I saw Blasted Canyons on Thursday night and was totally underwhelmed especially by a lackluster performance of this totally crushing scream fest.  Some would argue sound problems, I argue ego, but nonetheless the song and the entire album are eardrum killers and one must always show respect to eardrum killers.

7. Morning Clouds - The Wrong Things

The closest possible sonic equivalent to the emotional post-break-up walk down a rainy suburban street in a southeast Washington wine town.  Moody, gorgeous, the hint of hope just over the next hill.  A fantastic EP through and through.

6. Monster Treasure - I Don’t Give A Shit

I got called out for a half-assed blurb (a tendency of mine) about “I Don’t Give A Shit” and though I balked at the time, I acknowledge my half-ass blurb and counterspell it by placing this insidiously good song in the top 10 of everything I’ve listened to.  I do not back away from my assertion that it feels like my drunk friend was probably curled up in the fetal position while the song was being recorded on a tape deck next to an X-Box 360.

5. Gauntlet Hair - Keep Time

Gauntlet Hair got big this year and their avant-pop sound grew right along with them.  ”Keep Time” the opener on their LP, grabs you with the fuzzed out scream and then slaps you around with a wall of fuzz and some good-natured hand claps. It’s like a kitchen sink but full of goodness.

4. The Sandwitches - In The Garden

It took me a good few listens to really grasp the new album by The Sandwitches, but when I did it was a long step off a short cliff.  The album is one part Neko Case, one part San Francisco strangeness, and one part pure talent wrapped in velvet lined barbed wire.  ”In The Garden”, the album opener, is yips and fuzz and a car window open on a long stretch of dried out wheatfields.  Curious as to what might be next for these ones.

3. Wooden Shjips - Lazy Bones

The best Wooden Shjip song of all time.

2. Case Studies - My Silver Hand/You Folded Up My Blanket Like We Were Already Lovers

I was in tears when Dutchess and The Duke broke apart but if that’s what it took for Jesse Lortz’s to make this album and these two songs and completely melt my heart in to a puddle every time the opening line for either song runs through my mind, then it’s all worth it.

1.  Thee Oh Sees - Dead Energy

My girlfriend referred to “Dead Energy” as “goblin music” and I think after seeing Thee Oh Sees 5 times this year that it’s entirely that - a little cadre of goblins who are somehow the most talented garage grandfathers of all time.  ”Dead Energy” (the cut from the Total Control split) is all fiery attack and unrelenting energy and it starts each and every one of my days, cutting through the fog of life to open up my eyes and get things rolling.  Thee Oh Sees have had a banner year and this song seems the most telling of that year and whatever might be coming next.