We have spent the last eleven months by listening to a stack of music albums. To close the year, we’ve listed our ten best albums which definitely have put us to the cloud nine while listening to their musics.

10. Arcade Fire – Reflektor :

If only the albums was as good as ‘The Suburb’, we would put them sitting on the peak of the chart. But we didn’t say the album is bad. Reflektor still kicks it with some of the Suburbs’ rhythm, which we really love, and the album still has a strong rock roots with an intertwined of dark tunes. The lack of emotion from the album might take you a couple of times to really get the sense of Arcade Fire.

Recommended Track : Reflektor

9.Disclosure – Settle :

The band have been hailed for their dance music and given an outstanding call-out. ‘Settle’ is 100% a sugar land for a fan of Groove Armada or Artful Dodger. Knowing that ‘Settle’ is the duo’s debut album, we are blown with its content. What not to love! The album itself will give you the finest house music, 90’s electro and some modern dance music. Somehow, it also gives us a chill that their music is reflecting the era when Basement Jaxx were dominating the dance music industry.

Recommended Track : Disclosure ft. James Woon – January

8.Phoenix – Bankrupt! :

They have catapulted into the big leagues with “Wolfgang Amadeus…” The hardest task is to maintain their album quality and their popularity. Instead of making Wolfgang Amadeus part II, they’ve decided to make something different with their own touch. Layered thick synth flavored with heart-thumping drums and the way their vocalist Thomas Mars pronounce exotic words such as “Drakkar Noir” and “Oblique City”, that’s just the Phoenix way of maintaining their lovely status among their fans.

Recommended Track : Tryin’ to be cool

7. QOTSA – Like Clockwork :

Like Clockwork is the long awaited album from Queens of The Stone Age after their hiatus in 2009. In August 2012, Homme with his band mate began to record their sixth album. Like Clockwork is the first independent album from this California based band. However, it doesn’t shrink the musical quality, they still creates fantastic album from astounding songwriting, badass guitar riff in full effect, and not to mention the great musicians who collaborated with them such as Alex Turner, Jake Shears, Trent Reznor, James Lavelle, and Sir Elton John.

Recommended Track: If I Had a Tail

6. James Blake – Overgrown :

The second album of James Blake is unequivocally an amazing job. The album is being written beautifully with a nice touch of dub step, we really think James Blake is one of the most genuine artist who can describe dub step in a very classy way. The album also takes some hip/hop and soul music to make it classier. As a result, Overgrown has earned him a Mercury Prize and got him nominated for Grammy Awards 2014.

Recommended Track : Retrograded

5. Justin Timberlake – 20/20 :

The new king of pop, Justin Timberlake is bringing the sexy back again with 20/20 experience. His third solo album takes over the number one spot both in the UK and US charts, it has reached nearly a million in its first week sales. The former leader of the famous boyband *NSYNC is probably the only singer who can make a seven-minute track without making the listeners feel bored with his falsetto voice, groovy beats, and skillfully written lyrics. Nonetheless, 20/20 Experience cannot beat the massive success from Timberlake second album Future Sex/Love Sounds that helped him get four Grammys. It’s hard to keep the 21 years of experience in the right track, but we must say that Timberlake has successfully nailed it.

Recommended Track: Let The Groove Get In

4. Foals – Holy Fire :

Foals’ third album, “Holy Fire”, is a solid proof of their hardworking career. They could’ve easily followed their signature sound that they have created in “Antidotes” and “Total Life Forever”. But now, they were trying to capture the energy and improvement outside their comfort zone. Most new bands have copied Foals’ signature guitar sound but they’ve failed to reach the stage where the Oxford guys have reached. There’s a simple explanation, it is mainly because most of the bands don’t have the character and maturity that Foals gained in the past few years.

Recommended Track : My Number

3. VW – Modern Vampires of the City:

When the guys from Vampire Weekend said that their third album would be ‘darker’ from the first two that preceded it, they didn’t mention that it would sound better too. Vampire Weekend entered the music industry with the image of a group of preppy, young college graduates singing about (mostly) their days at the campus, but this year they had shown people that it’s not the only thing they’re good at. Modern Vampire Of The City is full of well-crafted, beautifully threaded tracks.

Recommended Track: Hannah Hunt

2.Daftpunk – Random Access Memory:

Random Access Memories was probably the most waited album of 2013. The excitement that was following its release was tremendous. Featuring collaborations with renowned musicians such as Giorgio Moroder, Julian Casablancas, and Pharell Williams, the album is filled with musical twists and turns. It’s also probably Daft Punk’s most personal work, what with them trying to maximize the use of natural sounds. Random Access Memories is a mix of disco, soft rock, and progressive rock, with some Broadway-style pop on the sides. With twenty years up their sleeves, it seems that the helmet-wearing duo have been getting better and better at what they do.

Recommended Track: Give Life Back to Music

1.Arctic Monkeys – AM :

Who The Fuck Are Arctic Monkeys is now an invalid question because, really, who doesn’t know Arctic Monkeys? Especially after their fifth album release which raised much raving reviews. The twelve tracks in AM have been threaded so perfectly that every aspect, from the guitar riffs to the glam-rock stomps, is simply irresistible. A wordsmith that Alex Turner is, the well-written imagery becomes highly seductive at no matter what pace. Slick slow-burning groove, infectious riff-rockers, a dash of R&B and hip-hop; genre no longer defines Arctic Monkeys as now they can make anykind of music and make it their sound.

Recommended Track: No.1 Party Anthem

We know we aren’t a lifestyle webzine, but as long as it comes to good music, we really have an urge to share the good music with you all. We received (and saw) a quite hype of the fashionista’s must-attend event, the Spring-Summer 2014 fashion week. The most prominent shows are held in New York, London, Milan, and Paris. It’s obvious that we have a zero skill in understanding fashion, we can’t even name the current trend or what-so-ever that are being talked in the fashion’s Bible ; Vogue. However, we also want to take and boost the hype of the big four! In this article, we aren’t going to talk about the models, the cuts, the designers, or the front row seaters, We are going to give you the fashion week’s best playlist! Compiled from the best shows that have the best soundtrack. Keep in mind the post below won’t have any relation with fashion (so, if you’re here to check out the fashion week’s updates, you should close the window right away), but if you would like to borrow some of the tunes that are heard in the shows, you’ve clicked the right page. From New York to Paris, from Arcade Fire to Nine Inch Nails.

1. Heard At : Chanel

Janelle Monae feat. Erykah Badu – Q.U.E.E.N (Fashion remix by Prince)

2. Heard At : Gucci

Arcade Fire – Reflektor

3. Heard At : Fendi

Kraftwerk – We Are The Robots

4. Heard At : Ralph Lauren

John Lennon – Nobody Told Me

5. Heard At : Burberry Prorsum

George Ezra – Benjamin Twine

6. Heard At : Lanvin

Plastic Bertrand – Ca Plane Pour Moi

7. Heard At : Mulberry

Rye Rye ft. M.I.A – Sunshine

8. Heard At : Tommy Hilfiger

The Beach Boys – Surf’s Up

9. Heard At : Vanessa Bruno
PJ Harvey – Yuri G

10. Heard At : Versace

Nine Inch Nails – All Time Low

What do you think of these soundtracks? Thought fashion week was just about fur, skinny bones, and some stuffs that we’re not interested to know. Kudos to the men behind these soundtracks, they definitely have a good taste in picking songs!

The band have been making music for about two years and the name ‘Half Moon Run’ was inspired by the name that represent the three of them, “The name means different things to us all the time, and we hope that our fans feel the same way. On the most basic level, ‘half moon run’ is of three words that we like hearing next to each other.”said Devon on the band’s name. Half Moon Run have released their debut album, titled ‘Dark Eyes’. The debut received great critics from magazines like NME and Spin. And the same thing also went to their debut single, ‘Full Circle’. Eventhough the band are mostly inspired by folk and electronic music, the band themselves describe them more into indie pop as well. In creating the album, the songwriting process is a collective way, where the bands bounce off some ideas and try to harmonize each other. One of the most interesting critics to Half Moon Run is, their music is compared to Radiohead, on this matter, Dylan responded “We feel that for sure that our influences come through in our sound, but we have many influences and I think we are all conscious that our sound is something unique. That has always kind of been the requirement for ourselves, we never write to imitate something”. And another interesting fact about the band is eventhough they don’t sound like they’ll clash off your speaker, they are a huge fan of Sepultura!

Half Moon Run’s work in harmonizing their music should be given an ‘A’. The balance that they produce is such a great satisfy to the music listeners, especially if you’re a fan of Fleet Foxes or Local Natives. The trio’s music displays a great virtue of how an indie rock-folk almost done amazingly. They have opened for Metric and Mumford and Sons, soon or later, they’ll get their own spotlight and blow up the catchiness harmony.

Chairlift, Something 

Its been a while since we listen to their Bruises hits song, but wait no more cause this New York Band will released their 2nd album this january 23(UK) and 24(US) by Columbia/Young Turks. The track also includes Sidewalk Safari, Met Before, Guilty as Charge, Cool as Fire and many cool tunes that we also cant hardly wait.

Of Montreal, Paralytic Stalks 

Maybe beside their Cirque du Soleil, what’s best Canada can offer is this rock band Of Montreal. Still with their psychedelic marauders theme and numerous amount of members, Paralytic Stalks will be released on Feb 7th. Recorded at Kevin Barnes’s home studio and collaborating with woodwind/brass player Zac Cowell.

The album will includes a seven minute orchestral pop epic song “Wintered Debts” which you can see below, “Gelid Ascent,” “Spiteful Intervention,” “Dour Percentages,” “We Will Commit Wolf Murder,” “Malefic Dowery,” “Ye, Renew the Plaintiff,” “Exorcismic Breeding Knife,” and “Authentic Pyrrhic Remission.”

Sleigh Bells, Reign of Terror

Reign of Terror is expected to drop in February, so does all hipsters over the world are going to give craps over this new release – no offence. Listen to the their first single, “Born to Lose”

Blondes, Blondes

After last year’s EP album ‘Touched’, this duo Sam Haar and Zach Steinman will release their two disc debut album RVNG Intl, on Feb 7th. The album will including their previous vinyl songs such as Lover, Pleasure and Wine, Water, and remixes by JD Twitch, Laurel Halo, and also Teengirl Fantasy.

Heartless Bastards, Arrow

This will be the band’s first album to be released under their new Brooklyn ‘indie’ label, Partisan Records on Valentine’s day. The band will be appear at SXSW to support their new album.

School Of Seven Bells, Ghoststory

The amped-up vibe of Ghoststory, due February 28th, is partly due to when it was recorded — between gigs on the band’s tour with Interpol earlier this year. “We brought the energy from our shows straight back home,” says Curtis, who sketched out tunes in the Brooklyn apartment he shares with singer Alejandra Deheza. “The idea was to write really quickly and not second guess anything.” -spin

The Magnetic Fields, Love at the Bottom of the Sea

Still with some of their previous albums theme, the 90s synth and adding some pop melodic like their 69 Love Songs, this new album Love at the Bottom of the Sea will be released on March 6. Same as Heartless Bastards the band will also be appear at SXSW to support the album.

Santigold, Master of My Make Believe

Santi White aka Santigold aka Santogold had released her first debut album three years ago and collaborate with many musician since such as Kanye West, Christina Aguilera, M.I.A, Lykke Li, Beastie Boys till Karen O of Yeah Yeah Yeahs. With her performance at Clockenflap which we had review on our tweets was a big hell a show, we definitely can expect something big for her second album on this Spring.

The Shins, Port of Morrow

We love them since their first album in 2007 Wincing the Night, this American indie rock band will be release on James Mercer’s own label, Aural Apothecary on March 2012.

Andrew Bird, Break It Yourself

Since his last album Noble Beast in 2009, we haven’t heard something new from this Chicago-based multi-instrumentalist, lyricist and whistler, but on March 6 Bird will released his sixth studio album Break It Yourself. The album itself is produced by Bird and recorded in Western Illinois and will be released by Mom + Pop Music. You can check his tour dates and news of the album from his website (www.andrewbird.net/)

Sigur Rós, TBA

This Icelandic post-rock band has been on hiatus since 2008, and replaced by news and songs from Jónsi Birgisson. But this year around spring, the group will be back with their new album. Lets hope their new album will sound as airy as we used to loving it.

The XX, TBA

With Mercury Prize for their first release, we surely does have high expectation of their second album. Even though they had confirmed to released it in 2012 but the date hasn’t been set out yet. but we believed you all have already listen to the demo right? what do you think about it?

Gaslight Anthem, TBA

The badass New Jersey punk rock poets are expected to come together once again to release their next album – their first after signing with their new label Mercury Records – around July of 2012. Earlier this year, Gaslight members Brian Fallon and Ian Perkins dropped Elsie, the debut album from side project, The Horrible Crowes.

Arcade Fire, TBA

2011 maybe the best year for this Montreal-based band who had won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year for The Suburbs. Their fourth album is expected to release sometime in 2012. The date is not yet set, but you will be the first to know from us once the news coming out.

Dirty Projectors, TBA

Another NY experimental band that has been quite taking our attention since their first album Orca in 2009. David Longstreth and the gang will release their 11th studio album around Spring. Lets hope the album will take our attention also this year.

Grizzly Bear, TBA

No release date has been announced for their next album, though the band stated on their Facebook page that “with all my heart and soul, I promise a new album in 2012! Unless something crazy happens. But let’s not get crazy, let’s just get creative!”.

They might be the most phenomenal indie rock band today. Their previous album Veckatimest, was too much to be appeared as the “Best of” lists for 2009 such as on Pitchfork, Wall Street Journal, New York Times, etc. So lets hope their new album will be as creative as we hope to.

Animal Collective, TBA

Baltimore may have their famous broadway dancing choir or something like that, but we may know the town from this experimental psychedelic band, which sadly now they based in New York City. With members from -i don’t have any words to describe an indie band that consist many indie bands-  Avey Tare (David Portner), Panda Bear (Noah Lennox), Deakin (Josh Dibb), and Geologist (Brian Weitz).

Portner, in an interview for Madison, revealed that they have just finished writing sessions and that they intend to start full recording sessions in January 2012 for the next album.

“We just finished another two weeks of writing sessions and put together five new songs..We’re really excited about this record … and it’s been really fun jamming with those guys again.”

Best Coast, TBA

This California garage rock / surf pop / lo-fi / indie rock band which consist of Bethany Cosentino and Bobb Bruno, will released their 2nd album sometime in summer 2012, with Jon Brion as the producer. They already announce that their first appearance will be for Big Day Out.

The Walkmen, TBA

2012 might be the year for this band to shine. After their Lisbon album on 2010, the new album will also mark the band’s 10-year anniversary, with lots of shows and a first-ever vinyl release of their 2002 debut album, Everyone Who Pretended To Like Me Is Gone (1/10). Their new album itself will be produce by Phil Ek, the same guy who produce Fleet Foxes ‘s Helplessness Blues. You can see their tour and vinyl album on their web (thewalkmen.com)

Yeasayer, TBA

Yes they are going to release not one but two full-length albums in late spring or summer 2012. Maybe because its already been a while since their Odd Blood, so they trying to make it up? jk. The band have revealed that they have more than 22 songs ready.

To SPIN, Singer Chris Keating says that “one [is] the real album with three-and-a-half to four minute pop songs, and another that’s more like a soundtrack and released on the internet.” The “real” album is purportedly made up of 3 and 4 minute pop songs. Of the sound of these songs Keating admits “if it sounds too much like something we’ve done in the past, we don’t do it.” So how does it sound, well see what you make of this; Keating says “It’s like an Aaliyah album if you played it backwards and slowed it down. Or David Bowie’s Lodger. Those two are major influences.”