Thanks for the link to www.acclaimedmusic.net

That's an awesome site!

WOW!!! the list is up and... well, uhhhhhhhh, it looks like a turd-nugget if you ask me.

Here are my random notes in response to the newly-posted list, because no one asked for them:

1. Steinski - I hate when retrospectives / compilations top these charts, but that's really just a pet peeve. Could be excellent, but I haven't heard it yet.
2. Bon Iver - Excellent, in my opinion. One of those rare singer / songwriter albums that transcends the genre's limitations.
3. Fleet Foxes - A fine choice. A very enjoyable album that has justifiably ridden a wave of praise.
4. Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds - A good album, not great, certainly worth hearing for Cave's patented brand of dirty-minded dad rock.
5. Robyn - Um, no. No no no.
6. Hercules And Love Affair - Has no place near the top, but it is fun.
7. Protest The Hero - NO NO NO!!!
8. Shearwater - Great! I hadn't realized it had received such a positive response. Passionate, beautiful: well deserved.
9. Portishead - One of my very favorites of the year. An early pick to top the forum's year-end list.
10. The Hold Steady - I hate them, but a lot of people whose taste I admire like them, so I suppose it is deserved.

Save for the inclusions of Robyn and Protest the Hero (virtually an advertisement for requiring a certain number of reviews for inclusion), I'd say this list is fair and not that far off what the forum will generate. I mean, ours will be better, but give them a break. They're just professional critics.

Also, where's Vampire Weekend. I thought it was so "over hyped"?

This message has been edited. Last edited by: fearlessweaver,

Hype and praise don't always go hand in hand.

I don't really think the Steinski, Robyn, or Bon Iver belong on there because the material on those albums were all released prior to 2008 (Bon Iver just didn't yet have a distribution deal with Jagjaguwar, and it was self-released last year... and Robyn was released a good 3 years ago. And well, material that is 25 years old doesn't really belong on here, so i don't think Steinski should sit atop the list).

I think the problem might be an oversaturated market of utter crap. It seems my list of great albums from the year either had slightly above average reviews or aren't even on here. MEH!!