Lots of good stuff this year - Kanye West’s best album (IMO); in fact the top 4 are all great, as are Big Boi, Beach House and Deerhunter, but my vote’s going to Robyn, because it’s the album I listen to most for pure pleasure.
This one was easy for me: Janelle Monae. A unique creative talent, pointing the way forward. (Beautiful, too!) I liked how the Sound Opinions guys likened her series of albums to a “rock opera” in the broadest sense, albeit one informed by the strain of African American futurism of Sun Ra and George Clinton.
I had Kanye in 2008 (“808s and Heartbreak”) , so I went for Arcade Fire here–and I probably would have anyway.
Titus Andronicus - I love The Monitor, and actually listened to it today.
Grinderman - Nick Cave has still got it.