Dave Allen says, “Another year, another list. It’s always an interesting time of year for me as I get the chance to peruse other blogs’ top album choices and on that note Large Hearted Boy has started to compile everyone’s year end lists—check them out here. And there’s a twist in the tale today. I’m actually going to make this a top 11 as I have 2 titles vying for the number 1 spot and they are there for different reasons.

I decided to give Burial and Radiohead a joint number 1, and here’s why. Burial dropped ‘Untrue’ late this year and in my mind (and others too it seems) it’s as close to an electronic masterpiece that we’ve had in some time. I came late to the dub step movement but I caught up fast following the blogger/blog Blackstep. Meanwhile, as a Pitchfork review put it—Burial says—“Underground music should have its back turned, it needs to be gone, untrackable, unreadable, just a distant light.” ‘Untrue’ is just that. It quivers like a hissing lightbulb, one that illuminates the tracks scattered around it—garage, dubstep, soul—and in doing so smears them into unique shapes. ‘Untrue’ is a remarkable piece of work.

Meanwhile, unless you’ve been living under a rock this year, you could not have missed the brouhaha that surrounded the Radiohead ‘In Rainbows’ album release. The publicity white noise and the resulting coverage focused on the delivery system the band used to get the music across to its fans, which was understandable, but the music itself was a strong return to form for a band that at times seemed to take their fans for granted as they dabbled in histrionic electronic squawks, scrobbles and beats on prior recordings. ‘In Rainbows’ lives up to all of the hyperbole surrounding its release, another solid piece of work from a band that continues to mature musically and strategically. In any other year, Modeselektor’s ‘Happy Birthday’ would have taken the pole position.”

1.a Burial Archangel from Untrue
1.b Radiohead Weird Fishes Arpeggi from In Rainbows
2. Modeselektor The Dark Side of the Sun from Happy Birthday
3. Booka Shade Numbers from Booka Shade DJ Kicks
4. Mojib Radiohead - Videotape (Mojib remix) (not) from Whimsical Lifestyle
5. Justice Justice vs Spank Rock - Thunderous Bumps (not) from †
6. Daft Punk Television Rules The Nation from Alive 2007
7. Betty Davis Anti-Love Song from Betty Davis (re-release 2007)
8. The Cinematic Orchestra Breathe from Ma Fleur
9. Okkervil River Our Life is Not a Movie… from The Stage Names
10. Kanye West Stronger (feat Daft Punk) from Graduation

I know I sound like a broken record, but - most of these artists have music for sale in the Amazon download store, iTunes or EMusic, so do your bit and support them by buying a tune or two.

Related Posts: Top Ten MP3s in August, Top Ten MP3s in September, Top Ten MP3s in October, Top Ten MP3s in November, Dave’s top 20 new musical discoveries

Welcome to the second episode of Your Radio Sucks. It’s that time of year when you are assaulted with year-end best-of lists, so your host Ned Lannamann thought he’d skip that and play music he’s looking forward to in 2008, with songs from upcoming releases by the Mae Shi, Sambassadeur, Jason Collett, Beach House, Dead Meadow, Ida Maria (pictured above), and Glasvegas. Wow! You lucky dogs.

THIS IS NOT A CHRISTMAS EPISODE! Matt and Magenta play a few songs and reflect on turning 1 year old in podcast years. Music by Teenage Fanclub, The Ones, World Party, the Rolling Stones and more. Welcome to episode 51 of PURE POD FOR NOW PEOPLE.