(File under: The hard Nineties)

Godflesh - Cold World

Fucking Godflesh, man.

(File under: 2011)

Best song: Patrick Wolf - The City

Best album that was actually a mixtape: Big K.R.I.T. - Return of 4Eva

Best album from Vancouver: No Gold - No Gold

Best hard-to-find-a-physical-copy-of album: Art Department - The Drawing Board

Best album that I expected to like more than I did: The Men - Leave Home

Best album that I expected to like less than I did: The Drums - Portamento

Best album to see performed live: James Blake - James Blake

Best hardcore album, for real: Weekend Nachos - Worthless

Best rock and roll album, for real: Black Lips - Arabia Mountain

Best unclassifiable saxophone noise album: Colin Stetson - New History Warfare Vol. 2: Judges

Best R&B album in a year that was pretty much defined by R&B albums: The Weeknd - House of Balloons

Best mysterious guy rap album: Shabazz Palaces - Black Up

Best album from Washington: Witch Gardens - Alice, Agatha, Branch & Christ

Best album that probably didn’t need to be a double album: M83 - Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming