10. The National – High Violet [4AD]
Other than being my boyfriend’s favourite album this year, the other major reason it made it into my top ten is because Matt Berninger’s dark, baritone voice was the only thing that could get me to sleep during a violent bout of alcohol poisoning after the inthemix50 awards. I believe it (and a bottle of lucozade) saved my life.
9. Big Boi – Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty [Def Jam]
Originally one half of Outkast, Big Boi says this is like his “Luke Skywalker becoming a jedi persona, gettin’ out on the good foot.” He makes no sense, has a totally ‘90s sound and everyone can appreciate a little P-Funk recovery.
8. The Roots feat. John Legend – Wake Up! [Sony]
An album mostly of soul, funk and hip-hop covers of songs about social awareness, engagement and consciousness from the ‘60s and ‘70s, inspired by the election of Obama. Only The Roots can make politics this cool.
7. The Holidays – Post Paradise [Liberation]
What a great year for Aussie indie kids. Bands like The Holidays revived my love for cutesy rock. I’m a sucker for a bit of steel drum. It reminds me of Disney.
6. Yeasayer – Odd Blood [Secretly Canadian]
This kind of interesting pop is what the world needs to know about. Odd Blood was written when Yeasayer experimented with LSD in New Zealand. Take note, Justin Bieber.
5. Booka Shade – More! [Get Physical Records]
Donut was a problem, but so many wonderful tracks that you didn’t get to hear on the radio are hidden away on this album. It pains me that Booka fans may have been turned off by the first single.
4. Vampire Weekend – Contra [XL Recordings]
Contra takes you to a delightful, tropical place no matter where you play it or how annoyed you are at the time, like the musical equivalent of a Hawaiian shirt.
3. Mark Ronson – Record Collection [Sony]
Ronson brought back weird tracks of ‘80s synth, the Brit-rap, pop humour and Boy George. It has been on repeat in my car for three months now.
2. Itch-e & Scratch-e – Hooray for Everything [Ministry of Sound]
Dear Paul Mac and Andy Rantzen, I love you. I love that you’ll never let go of the rave cave and I love that you’ve hardly changed your sound or attitude in almost 20 years. Who needs sobriety, right? Love from Danika.
1. Trentemøller – Into the Great Wide Yonder [In My Room]
A genius, completely bizarre and experimental album. A return to his old self, really. The whole experience is lovely… in a ‘taking hallucinogens in a dark room with fluffy surroundings’ kind of way.
