Sneak peek of the 2011 ALBUM AWARDS!

They're still a couple weeks away, as far as I know, but here is my current Top 10 list:

10. Tune Yards, W H O K I L L - Not only is the title fun to type, but this album has some of the most bizarre melodies since Animal Collective's Strawberry Jam. Plus, Tune Yards has that insanely fun tribal sound, but this time it takes place in Oakland, CA, not the jungle. Download it now.

9. My Morning Jacket, Circuital - Not their strongest album, but this one has the same power, insight, and beauty as the rest of their catalog. 'Victory Dance' and 'The Day is Coming' are noms for Song of the Year.

8. The Antlers, Burst Apart - OMG this is a good album. It sets itself apart from other existential, heartwrenching records by its brilliant flow - incidentally, the interlude-esque 'Rolled Together' is a SOTY nominee, and it doesn't even have verses. 'Every Night My Teeth Are Falling Out' is also a contender.

7. Atlas Sound, Parallax - If you want to sound like you are underwater, in space, snowed in, reading Romantic poetry and listening to lost Beatles tracks all at once, buy this record.

6. Bright Eyes, The People's Key - This album made me like Bright Eyes, and all of Bright Eyes' back catalogue. 'Approximated Sunlight' for Song of the Year.

5. Iron & Wine, Kiss Each Other Clean - More fable-like, timeless songs from the great Sam Beam, who rocked at Bonnaroo but is better in studio, in my opinion, with this record. His Chicago jazz band is put to good use on tracks like 'Your Fake Name is Good Enough for Me' - a cool urban twist on his traditionally rural music.

4. Youth Lagoon, The Year of Hibernation - The sound of the subconscious, created by a college student in his garage in Boise, Idaho. To listen to this album is to feel safe, warm, understood, and okay.

3. Radiohead, The King of Limbs - AHHHHHH SEPARATOR

2. Destroyer, Kaputt - This record changes the template for albums, much like last year's Sufjan gem The Age of Adz. Dan Bejar is a wizard-ringleader who opens curtain after curtain, all while sounding like a smooth jazz singer and looking like Aldous Snow. Beautiful, quirky, and this is the first time I've used the word 'insouciant' in an album award.

1. To be announced at this year's ALBUM AWARDS!

Until then, honorary mention goes to another album that came out this year, which might have made the top 10 if it weren't for Royce da 5'9's mediocre rhymes...sorry Royce fans....