Schedule:
Dec . 18 . 2013 - Albums 50-41
Dec . 19 . 2013 - Albums 40-31
Dec . 23 . 2013 - Albums 30-21
Dec . 26 . 2013 - Albums 20-11
Dec . 27 . 2013 - Albums 10-6
Dec . 28 . 2013 - Albums 5-1 + Honorable Mentions

How I Did It:
Each album was rated using each song from the record to accumulate an average "content score." Then I rated each album with a "general score" and averaged the two to get an overall score. In other words, I averaged my objective opinions and subjective opinions. I'm not posting the actual scores but if you're curious as to what my score was for a specific album, just ask!

What You Will See:
This year you will be seeing a lot more indie rock acts and a lot less mainstream acts than my list from last year. This year in mainstream music was fairly disappointing. My taste in music varies from alternative/rock, folk, pop, EDM, country, rap and hip-hop to r&b/soul and others. Don't expect to see a list full of predictable albums that make every other list. I try to keep it fresh but still honest. Hopefully you all enjoy my picks and we can communicate our opinions respectfully and introduce each other to new music we didn't get the chance to check out this year.

50. Phoenix - BANKRUPT!

The follow up to Phoenix's wildly successful album Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix is less catchier but more diverse and creative. It's also a perfect example of how to apply 80's inspirations to contemporary music without sounding like a recreation of the 80's. Even though it's their most thematically cohesive set to date, the one thing the album could have benefited from was either more or less hooks. Some of it was spacey, some of it was super catchy but as a whole album, it would've flowed a lot better if there was more of one than the other.

Best Tracks: 1. Bourgeois, 2. Trying To Be Cool, 3. Entertainment

49. FEATHERS - If All Now Here

Feathers' debut album did the opposite of what BANKRUPT! did. It was inspired by the 80's and instead of creating something new, it only recreated the 80's. However, at least it recreated good 80's music. I hear a lot of Depeche Mode influence so if you like them you should check this album out. If All Now Here definitely sounds like a precursor to what could become an impeccable discography.

Best Tracks: 1. Night Seances, 2. Fire In The Night, 3. Believe, 4. Leaves Start Trembling

48. Depeche Mode - Delta Machine

Speaking of Depeche Mode... the group that's always been ahead of the game did not slow down with their latest offering. In fact, I believe they've outrun the future itself. Delta Machine is such a dreary, spacey record but still exciting. The vocals are intriguing as ever and the production is just slick enough to sound current but original enough to differentiate it from all the other pointless electronic music out there.

Best Tracks: 1. Angel, 2. My Little Universe, 3. Slow, 4. All That's Mine, 5. Soft Touch / Raw Nerve

47. Shout Out Louds - Optica

Such an enjoyable record. Full of pop greatness beginning with Sugar... the classic that never was or frankly, could be. There's so many seamless influences on this song and throughout the rest of the album you can't help but find something to enjoy. That's not to say it's diverse but it's definitely inspired enough to offer a lot of different songs to love.

Best Tracks: 1. Sugar, 2. Blue Ice, 3. Destroy, 4. Hermila

46. Ex Cops - True Hallucinations

Couldn't have said it better myself, to be honest.

Best Tracks: 1. Nico Beast, 2. Jazz & Information, 3. You Are A Lion, I Am A Lamb

45. Joe Gideon & The Shark - Freakish

A sung-spoken record full of stories from start to finish presented in a way most music can't accomplish. There's a comedic feel about it all that also serves to reassure its honesty.

Best Tracks: 1. I'm Ruined, 2. Friday 13, 3. Poor Born, 4. Snake Candy

44. V V Brown - Samson & Delilah

Probably the biggest surprise of the year, after Beyoncé of course, but certainly the best surprise of the year was the return of V V Brown. With a new slightly altered stage name but a totally new sound, she returns with one of the year's best efforts. Samson & Delilah is one of those albums you hear and whatever clicked with the artist clicks with you. It all makes sense, it's honest, it's heartfelt. It feels like she took your own personal thoughts and feelings and made intensely good music about it. It's an inspired and fresh spin on modern R&B. I think we've all been waiting for the "female Frank Ocean" or the "female Miguel" but really the one's who've offered that position have not delivered. V V offered something those two males couldn't even do (not to take away from what they do) and especially what these girls couldn't do. That's what happens when you don't try to force something to happen again... when it happens honestly, it will happen perfectly.

Best Tracks: 1. Substitute For Love, 2. Faith, 3. Nothing Really Matters, 4. Igneous, 5. Samson

43. Majical Cloudz - Impersonator

Basically, less is more with this album and the fact that the genre is kind of inventive but also kind of just inexplainable... it became a work above the understanding of the musicians themselves. In a good way, definitely.

Best Tracks: 1. Turns Turns Turns, 2. Childhood's End, 3. Mister, 4. Illusion

Originally posted by madonnas The Joe Gideon album is good but I only heard it that one time You already said we agreed on VV's, and I'll try to check out the other ones that seem interesting!

Originally posted by collin V V Amazing start to your list so far

42. Nine Inch Nails - Hesitation Marks

Sonically, it's as gritty, experimental, layered and interesting as ever but of course it's a lot less.... um... abrasive? than previous NIN material. I don't really know what to say about this album except that I love it. Check it out!

Best Tracks: 1. Satellite, 2. Came Back Haunted, 3. All Time Low, 4. Everything

41. Yolanda Be Cool - Ladies & Mentalmen

Well said, and kind of funny. Also, just so you know, they sample the ICONIC Honey Boo Boo child quote in "Change."

Best Tracks: 1. Before Midnight, 2. Drunk, 3. Sweat Naked, 4. Change, 5. Cool Like

Originally posted by madonnas I want to check out this and FEATHERS the most!