#1 Ekstasis - Julia Holter

Album: Ekstasis
Artist: Julia Holter

One line synopsis: Orchestral alt-pop passed through a warped drone filter.

Best Track: Goddess Eyes II

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So there we have it Julia sits where Josh T sat last year, which artist beginning with J will reach the top next year?

This years list seems to be far more obscure than last year, but indier-than-thou snobbery wasn't the intention. The mainstream just seems to be filled with dross at the moment and no artists even look likely to bridge that gap. I'd love to see the next Nirvana/The Strokes/Arctic Monkeys but haven't spotted any likely candidates.

The obscurity of the list doesn't mean that the albums included are lacking in any talent and in my opinion the bulk of them deserve wider attention, but having said that I think the 2011 list is far stronger than 2012's offerings.

If lists are your things then check out these:
Rough Trade (also going down the alt-pop route)
Drowned in Sound (with a cop-out 5 equal at the top)
Quietus (I'm positively mainstream in comparison)
Norman Records
Piccadilly Records

In other news Arlo went from a Frog to a Duckling at his swimming today, he was very excited to receive the certificate and badge.

Had our Scottish family christmas meal in the afternoon, which was great fun. The kids really enjoyed it and were on best behaviour, sharing food and feeding each other - until the ice cream course was wolfed down. The adults just about behaved themselves as well.

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Notes on the top 10:
* Yes I am sad enough to do a top 10 every year
* All albums must have been released this year
* I must own the physical copy of each of them
* I'm fairly sure there are other albums out there that would make this list had I got round to buying them - Grizzly Bear, Andy Stott and Scott Walker spring to mind
* full countdown tagged nstop102012
* click through to see last year's top 10