[Shaun]

bye...

#50 - "Mosquito" - Yeah Yeah Yeahs
OK, so, brace yourselves because this first list of ten has some positively appalling artworks on display. The first is the 4th YYYs LP, and although far from the best it made enough of a pleasant listen to creep onto this list right here.


#49 - "Apocalypse" - Thundercat
Not nearly as ugly is Stephen Bruner's face, which adorns the front of his Thundercat project's second effort. It's been a pretty big year for him - worming his way onto the GTA 5 soundtrack and continued great work with Flying Lotus - and whilst this wasn't quite as wonderful as his debut it's a pretty groovy album nonetheless.


#48 - "Spreading Rumours" - Grouplove
There is a sneaking suspicion that this band are secretly a bit terrible but I'm quite happy to ignore that if they keep putting out lovely, enjoyable pop. (Fugly album cover #2, by the way).


#47 - "Heartthrob" - Tegan and Sara
I may have waxed lyrical over 'Closer' on more than one occasion, but the rest of the album was equally solid and boasts a host of fantastic pop tunes. Were 2013 a worse year, this would have charted higher.


#46 - "Wolf's Law" - The Joy Formidable
Another quiet year for the Welsh band, but a fine album off the back of it.


#45 - "MBV" - My Bloody Valentine
Not quite the miracle that everyone over on the Guardian comments section would have you believe, but still an interesting comeback after 22 years away. And I thought being a Bowie fan was trying until this year.


#44 - "Glow and Behold" - Yuck
Losing their frontman after the fantastic self-titled 2011 debut definitely hindered the band's progress a little bit, but thankfully they managed to cling onto enough remnants of their first album to construct a wonderful second.


#43 - "Melophobia" - Cage the Elephant
The album title might be a bit silly (ooh it means fear of music but they're a band!?!?!?!? XD) but at least the band are reliable enough to deliver pumping-up music.


#42 - "Free Your Mind" - Cut Copy
Look, there were a lot of bands who took a step down from their fine 2011 moments this year alright? But they weren't all that bad. Free Your Mind singlehandedly made everyone a Primal Scream fan all over again.


#41 - "Hummingbird" - Local Natives
This will tide me over quite nicely until the next Fleet Foxes record.