–unfortunately I can’t possibly hear every album released. I don’t hear about things. I don’t get access to many until the public does. publicists don’t send me as many albums in advance as I wish.

–here are the the albums this year that moved me, inspired me, made me think.

–they’re in alpha order

The Avett Brothers–The Magpie and the Dandelion [American]

Arctic Monkeys—AM [Domino]

Bleeding Rainbow–Yeah Right [Kanine]

Camera Obscura–Desire Lines [4AD]

Chvrches–Bones of What You Believe [Virgin]

Cults–Static [Columbia]

Foals–Holy Fire [Warner Music]

Gliss–Langsom Dans [Modern Outsider]

Grace & Tony–November [Rock Ridge Music]

Haim–Days are Gone [Columbia/Sony]

How to Destroy Angels–Welcome Oblivion [Columbia]

The Joy Formidable–Wolf’s Law [Atlantic]

The Julie Ruin– Run Fast EP [TJR]

Lorde–Pure Heroine [Lava/Republic]

Lovers–A Friend in the World [Badman Recording Co.]

Luray–The Wilder

Laura Marling–Once I Was an Eagle [Ribbon Music]

MGMT– MGMT [Columbia]

M.I.A.–Matangi [N.E.E.T./Interscope]

Mirror Travel–Mexico [Outsider Records]

My Gold Mask–Leave Me Midnight [Highwheel]

The National–Trouble Will Find Me [4AD]

Orbe Orbe–Invisible Kingdoms

Super Water Sympathy–Hydrogen Child [In Music We Trust]

Perhapst– Revise Your Maps [Jack Viking Music]

Throwing Muses–Purgatory/ Paradise

Frank Turner–Tape Deck Heart [Interscope]

Violeta Vil–Lapidas y Cocoteros [Young Cubs]

Waxahatchee–Cerulean Salt [Don Giovanni]

Chelsea Wolfe–Pain is Beauty [Sargent House]

[all selections by Amy Steele 12/1/2013]