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Every year, I try to determine what exactly my criteria are for best album. Is there an exact formula that I should use and if so, what is it? I guess if I am still asking myself this question, then I haven’t clearly defined it yet.

There are so many variables - technical and musical ability, creativity, passion, lyrics, it just sounds damned good, etc. An album can be technically perfect yet sound uninspired. It can be the most passionate thing ever recorded yet sound like pure garbage. It can be extremely catchy yet has been done time and again by others - and usually better.

So much of music is organic. It is hard sometimes to define what it is that makes an album so good - or so bad. It is a work in progress. But, if I ever reach that perfect formula, I promise I will share it with the world. In the meantime, I will try my best to share why I think the following albums were the best from the past year.

20.
Fantasies - Metric
This is the most optimistic of Metric albums for sure. But, is that a good thing or a bad thing? I never really equated optimism with Metric in the past, but it works here. Is this as good as Old World Underground, Where Are You Now? Well, not in my opinion, but Fantasies is still a straight-up, enjoyable indie-rock album.

19.
Actor – St. Vincent
It is a difficult balance to create music that is filled with tension and unease, yet sounds absolutely gorgeous. However, Annie Clark has done exactly that with Actor.

18.
Embryonic - The Flaming Lips
It's abstract. It's dark. It's abrasive. It's weird. It's freakish. It’s The Flaming Lips at their best and the best thing they have put out since Soft Bulletin.

17.
Two Suns - Bat for Lashes
I don’t know how this is going to sound to others, but I kind of imagine Natasha Khan as being the female equivalent of Thom Yorke. But, you know, much better looking. I think that is a compliment, or at least I mean it as one. Regardless, Two Suns is wonderfully imaginative and gorgeous. And the voice! It may require a bit of patience, but it is totally worth it.

16.
It's Blitz! - Yeah Yeah Yeahs
A little less guitar-driven rock. A little more synth/keyboard-driven dance. A lot to be excited about. It's Blitz! is groovy dance-rock at its finest.

15.
Merriweather Post Pavilion - Animal Collective
Sort of feels like there is less experimentation on Merriweather Post Pavilion, resulting in a more accessible sound. So, for me, not the masterpiece of our generation that some have dubbed it and to some degree, I think it has been overrated. However, this is still distinctly Animal Collective and they are just a joy to listen to.

14.
Troubadour - K'naan
K’naan has to be one of the more underrated hip-hop artists around. While not as powerful as his debut, it is a fabulous follow-up. The constant parallels he finds between American and African life is wonderful, if not thought provoking. There is some added start power on Troubadour – but that includes the one major misstep of the album, the track that features Maroon 5’s Adam Levine. Sorry, really not a fan.

13.
Junior – Royksopp
Perhaps the most surprising album of the year for me. After a lacklustre follow-up to the amazing Melody AM, I wasn’t sure I was going to care for Junior. But, right from the get-go, I was hooked – starting with opener Happy Up Here. I challenge you to listen to that song and not immediately be in a great mood. Guest vocals include Robyn, Lykke Li and the amazing Karin Dreijer Andersson (aka Fever Ray) from The Knife.

12.
Further Complications - Jarvis Cocker
Probably another surprise on this list. But I should note that I have always had a soft spot for Jarvis – and always thought that Pulp was one of the more underrated Brit-pop bands. Simply put, Further Complications is a fun, clever album.

11.
Veckatimest - Grizzly Bear
Definitely—along with Animal Collective—indie rock’s darlings. “I totally get Grizzly Bear, so that makes me hip right”? Generally, I always want to not like these bands. You know, you only like them because it’s trendy. Initially, I did sort of think this album was being overrated. But with patience, oh how wrong I was. For sure, the most technically perfect album released – you can tell how much they laboured over the recording. These aren’t just songs, they are compositions. With each listen something new reveals itself.

Sometimes there are very good reasons why these bands are considered so cool … and that is because, well, they ARE cool. Or am I just trying to be trendy by pretending to not be trendy? … Whatever.

10.
Forget the Night Ahead - The Twilight Sad
The Twilight Sad treads the line between noise and melody so closely that it could easily – in lesser hands – sound like a huge mess. But once again they walk that line with incredible skill. If anything, they are getting ever better at creating wonderful melodies out of these massive walls of noise. Plus James Grahams Scottish brogue adds another layer to the music – you just know if any North American was singing these tunes, they just wouldn’t sound as good.

9.
xx - The xx
This is one of those albums where I can’t instinctively put my finger on why it is so good. It is simple and minimalistic – nothing really unique per se. But with each listen, I find myself being drawn more and more into it. I guess sometimes the simplest things can also be the most beautiful.

8.
Humbug - Arctic Monkeys
So, remember all that massive hype about these lads a few years back? Yeah, well, Humbug is showing us that that hype was completely warranted. It shows us that Arctic Monkeys are a serious band who is serious about music. They are exploring, experimenting and (sorry in advance for the cliché) maturing.

This is not the same sound as the previous efforts and, for that, some fans may initially turn off. But, it will only be to their detriment because this is a huge accomplishment for this band and I am dying in anticipation to see where they go next.

7.
Sometimes I Wish I Were An Eagle - Bill Callahan
So, I never really got into Smog, so to be honest, this is actually my first introduction to Bill Callahan – yeah, yeah, I can’t know everything! Now I can’t compare to the vast catalogue he already has, but the storytelling and delivery are brilliant. This is a strangely uplifting and utterly beautiful album.

6.
Vapours - Islands
The obvious 80’s pop influence probably has something to do with why I love this album. You know, at one point I would have been ashamed to admit that I loved a band such as Islands, but screw it. This is as close as a perfect pop record as you are going to hear. Unfortunately, there was one other pop record this year that actually was perfect.

5.
Fever Ray - Fever Ray
I absolutely love Karin Dreijer Andersson. Her debut as Fever Ray is nothing short of amazing. Don’t go into this album expecting anything similar to The Knife. Andersson’s direction with Fever Ray was something I didn’t fully expect. The Knife could more or less be classified as dance oriented but Fever Ray is less focused on rhythm and more so on creating a mood. This album was by far the most unique, mysterious and interesting thing I heard all year and, in this case, that is a very good thing.

4.
Dragonslayer - Sunset Rubdown
Is there a current songwriter more prolific than Spencer Krug? I would argue no. Not only is the quantity great, but so is the quality. Quite obviously the constant working on his craft is paying huge dividends. This is quite possible the greatest thing Krug has put out to date.

3.
Dark Was the Night - Various Artists
I normally find compilations very disappointing. Sure there are always great songs, but as a whole, compilation albums are inevitably a major letdown. But huge kudos to the Dessner brothers for compiling this astonishing mix of artists and songs. Apparently everything these siblings put there touch on turn to gold.

2.
Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix - Phoenix
This is the perfect pop-rock album. I can’t put it any more bluntly. Anyone who wants to put together a pop album needs to listen to this work of genius. Phoenix has been supplying us with solid work for close to a decade, but they have completely outdone themselves here. Love Like a Sunset is one of the best things I have heard in a long time.

1.
Hometowns - The Rural Alberta Advantage
Stunning. Majestic arrangements, strangely beautiful vocals (think Neutral Milk Hotel), astonishing drumming/percussion and affecting, heart-felt lyrics. By far and a way, THE album I can not stop listening to this year.