2023 Annual Readers Poll: The Results

After over two and a half decades, we're miraculously still here and still conducting the longest running online interactive music poll where readers both nominate and vote. The lists aren't perfect, we'll probably be constantly adding more comments, possibly correcting errors, but until then, here we are.

This year we had a record number of entries (over 1500) and the following are what made the top lists.

Thanks again to everyone for their support, participation, and patience.

No Highs

Album of the Year

  1. Tim Hecker, "No Highs" (Kranky)
    "Each new Tim Hecker album these days is a bold and compelling reinvention of his aesthetic and the execution is always flawless. I genuinely did not expect to like Morse code-inspired minimalism this much." —Anthony D'Amico

  2. loscil // lawrence english, "Colours Of Air" (Kranky)
    "Usually mashing together two things that I like does not yield a new third thing that I like, but this album is a rare exception. Gorgeous pieces like 'Cyan' easily stand with either artist's strongest solo work." —Anthony D'Amico

  3. Mary Lattimore, "Goodbye, Hotel Arkada" (Ghostly International)
    "Mary continues to expand her sound and evolve as a composer and arranger, allowing more guests but never distracting from her core sound." —Jon Whitney
    "'Horses, Glossy on the Hill' is one of the most movingly beautiful pieces that Lattimore has ever recorded." —Anthony D'Amico

  4. Caterina Barbieri, "Myuthafoo" (Light-Years)
    "A compelling sister release to Ecstatic Computation devoted to pieces that evolved and transformed as Barbieri tried out new ideas on tour." —Anthony D'Amico

  5. Swans, "The Beggar" (Young God)
    "Demanding the attention of a listener for over two hours is bold, and Swans continue to do this and continue to have success with it."—Jon Whitney

  6. Radian, "Distorted Rooms" (Thrill Jockey)
    "Probably the most inventive and forward-thinking project in the post-rock milieu right now. I truly do not understand why Radian is not as revered and universally beloved as Tortoise." —Anthony D'Amico

  7. Slowdive, "Everything Is Alive" (Dead Oceans)
    "Shoegaze is having a moment this decade, isn't it? This is a worthy winner, and one of the tightest records of their career." — Eve McGivern
  8. KMRU, "Dissolution Grip" (OFNOT)
  9. Colleen, "Le jour et la nuit du réel" (Thrill Jockey)
  10. Colin Stetson, "When we were that what wept for the sea" (52Hz)
    "This album made it abundantly clear that I have not been listening to nearly enough Colin Stetson. 'Infliction' is absolutely sublime." —Anthony D'Amico

  11. Vanishing Twin, "Afternoon X" (Fire)
    "Every Vanishing Twin album boasts at least one perfect weird pop song and this one has the title track. Also "Marbles" has a wonderfully wonky groove." —Anthony D'Amico

  12. O Yuki Conjugate, "A Tension Of Opposites Vols 3 & 4" (OYC Limited)
    "I'm always glad to see OYC get some love! Always carefully crafted, and a fine entry into their catalog." — Eve McGivern

  13. Lea Bertucci, "Of Shadow and Substance" (Cibachrome Editions)
    "Two commissioned compositions that nudged Bertucci out of her comfort zone and into some of the finest work that she's ever recorded." —Anthony D'Amico

  14. Black To Comm, "At Zeenath Parallel Heavens" (Thrill Jockey)
    "I always find Marc Richter's work interesting and unique, but his run of Thrill Jockey albums has been especially strong. Yet another wonderful and hallucinatory headphone album, but now with added antiquarian erotic innuendo." —Anthony D'Amico

  15. Forest Swords, "Bolted" (Ninja Tune)
  16. Yo la Tengo, "This Stupid World" (Matador)
    "I've gone through so many musical phases in my life and Yo La Tengo has continued to release cool albums throughout all of them. 'Miles Away' is pure slow-motion bliss." —Anthony D'Amico

  17. PJ Harvey, "I Inside the Old Year Dying" (Partisan)
  18. William Ryan Fritch, "Cohesion" (Lost Tribe Sound)
  19. Oval, "Romantiq" (Thrill Jockey)
  20. Klara Lewis & Nik Colk Void, "Full-On" (Alter)
    "Playful and spontaneous-sounding miniatures from two artists who are very much on the same wavelength. I especially enjoyed the duo's more 'fun' side characterized by pieces like 'Junk Funk.'" —Anthony D'Amico

  21. FACS, "Still Life In Decay" (Trouble In Mind)
  22. The Necks, "Travel" (Northen Spy)
  23. Godflesh, "Purge" (Avalanche)
    "With the heavy use of loops and samples, Purge sits nicely between Songs of Love and Hate and Us and Them without sounding as dated." - Creaig Dunton

  24. Nonconnah, "Unicorn Family" (Was Ist Das?)
    "Nonconnah has been steadily releasing one shoegaze-damaged collage masterpiece after another lately and this is the latest one. One of my absolute favorite projects around. Characteristically transcendent." —Anthony D'Amico

  25. CV & JAB, "Κλίμα (Klima)" (Editions Basilic)
    "For a second I thought this was CV Vision's monumental 2023 release. Then I woke up."—Duncan Edwards

  26. Liturgy, "93696" (Thrill Jockey)
    "I don't know why they keep tagging the term black metal to Haela Hunt-Hendrix's Liturgy project when listening feels like a blast of blinding brightness not unlike footage of the atom bomb being detonated."—Jon Whitney
  27. Blonde Redhead, "Sit Down for Dinner" (Section1)
  28. emptyset, "ash" (Subtext)
    "James Ginzburg and Paul Purgas bring Bristol sound system culture right to your living room to appropriately seismic effect." —Anthony D'Amico

  29. Midwife & Vyva Melinkolya, "Orbweaving" (The Flenser)
    "An excellent matching of the minds. NMP could possibly be my favorite song of the year."—Jon Whitney

  30. Craven Faults, "Standers" (The Leaf Label)
    "A(nother) wonderful release from Craven Faults, showcasing what it means to be some the best kosmische available in the 21st Century." — Eve McGivern

  31. Film School, "Field" (Felte)
    "This entry should have been much higher; what an incredible blend of dream pop, shoegaze, psychedelia and pop bliss. Still, I'll take it." — Eve McGivern

  32. Loraine James, "Gentle Confrontation" (Hyperdub)
    "Lush, kaleidoscopically multifaceted, and emotionally resonant. Yet another gem from Loraine James." —Anthony D'Amico

  33. Big Blood, "First Aid Kit" (Ba Da Bing!/Feeding Tube/dontrustheruin)
    "The hooks. This is what makes even the most gritty home recordings become some of the most loved music in our collections. They may never make it to pop radio but they bring the hooks like so few are able to do."—Jon Whitney

  34. Mandy, Indiana, "i've seen a way" (Fire Talk)
    "A Manchester-based post-punk band with clattering industrial percussion, plenty of gnarled noise, and a French woman who occasionally raps? Check! And the album was partially recorded in a cave and a crypt? Check! Count me in." —Anthony D'Amico

  35. ANOHNI and the Johnsons, "My Back Was A Bridge For You To Cross" (Secretly Canadian)
  36. bdrmm, "I Don't Know" (Rock Action)
  37. Nation of Language, "Strange Disciple" (Play It Again Sam)
    "This one instantly hooked me! I think they just get better and better. Again, would have loved to see this a lot higher on the list, but I'm glad readers liked it enough to get it within the Top 50." — Eve McGivern

  38. Lea Bertucci & Lawrence English, "Chthonic" (American Dreams)
  39. Laurel Halo, "Atlas" (Awe)
    "I enjoyed this understated album just fine, but I'm still perplexed by how many people were instantly hailing it as The Album of The Year when it was released." —Anthony D'Amico

  40. Tristan Allen, "Tin Iso and the Dawn" (RVNG Intl.)
    "All of the beauty, melancholy, and wonder of an epic puppet romance, minus the puppets (for now). One of the year's most pleasant surprises for me." —Anthony D'Amico

  41. thisquietarmy, "Hiatus" ([self-released])
  42. Aidan Baker, Jana Sotzko, Melissa Guion, "Trio Not Trio - Letzte" (Gizeh)
  43. Death and Vanilla, "Flicker" (Fire)
  44. Zaumne, "Parfum" (sferic)
  45. Kassel Jaeger, "Shifted in Dreams" (Shelter Press)
    "My first exposure to Jaeger's work stunned me." —Duncan Edwards

  46. Paul St. Hilaire, "Tikiman Vol. 1" (Kynant)
    "I greatly appreciate that Paul St. Hilaire is out there valiantly trying to fill the Rhythm & Sound-sized hole in my heart single-handedly." —Anthony D'Amico

  47. African Head Charge, "A Trip To Bolgatanga" (On-U Sound)
    "My vote for most addictive release this year."—Jon Whitney
  48. Elodie, "Clarté Déserte" (La Scie Dorée)
  49. Edward Ka-Spel, "A Carrington Event" ([self-released])
    "It is so easy to get overwhelmed with EKS and LPD releases but there's always a track that stands out as a future classic and my pick is "Taming the Tiger," which has been on heavy rotation since this release."—Jon Whitney
  50. Rrose, "Please Touch" (Eaux)
  51. Divide and Dissolve, "Systemic" (Invada)
  52. The American Analog Set, "For Forever" ([self-released])
    "A surprise and warmly welcomed comeback, looking forward to the archive box coming soon."—Jon Whitney
  53. Kali Malone, "Does Spring Hide Its Joy" (Ideologic Organ)
    "A two- or three-hour magnum opus of heady deep listening recorded in empty concert halls by three like-minded friends in the early days of the pandemic." —Anthony D'Amico

  54. Anthony Naples, "orbs" (ANS)
  55. Edward Ka-Spel, "Tease Seize....Apply" ([self-released])
  56. Jonnine, "Maritz" (Idle Press)
  57. 58918012, "Blue" (Syntes)
  58. Bill Orcutt, "Jump On It" (Palilalia)
    "Bite-sized, reverb-marinated, chunks of high-quality, guitar lyriicism. Memorable."—Duncan Edwards

  59. Water From Your Eyes, "Everyone's Crushed" (Matador)
  60. Joseph Allred, "What Strange Flowers in the Shade" (Feeding Tube)
  61. Cloudland Canyon, "Cloudland Canyon" (Medical)
  62. Saloli, "Canyon" (Kranky)
  63. Wanderwelle, "All Hands Bury The Cliffs At Sea Release" (Important)
    "A deeply upsetting subject renderred into a great lamentation. Sad as hell, though."—Duncan Edwards

  64. The Drin, "Today My Friend You Drunk the Venom" (Feel It)
    "An impressively unhinged and ill-intentioned rock n' roll vision. These guys would have been a solid opening act for The Cramps' legendary mental hospital gig." —Anthony D'Amico

  65. Guided By Voices, "Nowhere to Go But Up" (GBV Inc.)
  66. Eluvium, "(Whirring Marvels In) Consensus Reality" (Temporary Residence)
  67. Kammerflimmer Kollektief, "Schemen" (Karl)
    "This album immediately sent me down a Kammerflimmer Kollektief rabbit hole and I was quite pleased with my findings. I feel like I owe this band a heartfelt apology for sleeping on the previous two decades of their oft-killer discography." —Anthony D'Amico

  68. Angel Bat Dawid, "Requiem for Jazz" (International Anthem)
    "Diamada Galás fans should be taking notice of Angel Bat Dawid. No, she doesn't sound like her one bit. However, as a composer, performer, and sound artist she has the ability to create longform epics such as this one, incorporating her incredible talents, knowledge, and ability, her experiences with spirituality, religion, and oppression, and constructing something beyond the ability to classify and conform into a single genre."—Jon Whitney

  69. Niecy Blues, "Exit Simulation" (Kranky)
    "it's like everything and nothing you would expect from Kranky. The context of a deep, compelling, atmospheric otherworldly listen is nothing new to the label, but the strong roots in southern gospel, soul, and R&B is nearly uncharted territory and it comes together beautifully for my favorite debut album of the year."—Jon Whitney 

  70. La Sécurité, "Stay Safe!" (Mothland)
    "Late 2023 release may have been lost in some of the shuffle, but a very engaging rock album from this Montreal quintet, full of earworms."—Jon Whitney

  71. Mint Field, "Aprender a Ser" (Felte)
  72. Troller, "Drain" (Relapse)
    "A lot has happened in seven years but Troller have returned with an album that didn't grab me like Grapic but has been a slow burn that has grown on me quite a bit."—Jon Whitney
  73. Benoît Pioulard, "Eidetic" (Morr)
  74. Surgeon, "Crash Recoil" (Tresor)
  75. Lorelle Meets The Obsolete, "Remezcla" (Sonic Cathedral)
  76. Alva noto, "HYbr:ID II" (Noton)
  77. Earth House Hold, "How Deep Is Your Devotion" (A Strangely Isolated Place)
    "Not just a new album, but a remastered overview of the entire lifespan of Brock Van Wey's long-running house-inspired side project. Admittedly a bit overwhelming and relentlessly soft-focus, but I absolutely loved some of these pieces." —Anthony D'Amico

  78. Nicol Eltzroth Rosendorf, "Internal Return" (Negative Capability Editions)
  79. Tirzah, "trip9love...???" (Domino)
  80. Grand River, "All Above" (Editions Mego)
  81. Merzbow, "CATalysis" (Elevator Bath)
  82. BIG|BRAVE, "nature morte" (Thrill Jockey)
  83. TALsounds, "Shift" (NNA Tapes)
  84. A Certain Ratio, "1982" (Mute)
  85. V/Z, "Suono Assente" (AD93)
  86. Drop Nineteens, "Hard Light" (Wharf Cat)
    "Probably wins this year's award for Most Time Between Albums. I am very happy for their return."—Jon Whitney

  87. Martyna Basta, "Slowly Forgetting, Barely Remembering" (Warm Winters)
    "I am very much a Martyna Basta fan. I preferred the more spare Diaries Beneath Fragile Glass EP to this full-length, but her hot streak remains unbroken." —Anthony D'Amico

  88. Matmos, "Return to Archive" (Smithsonian Folkways)
  89. Raphael Rogiń​ski, "Tal​à​n" (Instant Classic)
  90. Frédéric D. Oberland, "Solstices" (Zamzamrec)
  91. Shit And Shine, "2222 And Airport" (The state51 Conspiracy)
  92. Ale Hop & Laura Robles, "Agua Dulce" (Buh)
    "I am always eager to hear whatever idiosyncratic mindfuckery Alejandra Cárdenas records, but teaming up with a talented Peruvian percussionist was a welcome and inspired evolution." —Anthony D'Amico

  93. Piotr Kurek, "Peach Blossom" (Mondoj)
  94. Nonconnah, "Shadows From The Walls Of Death" (Cruel Nature)
  95. Tengger, "Tengger" (Beyond is Beyond is Beyond)
  96. Ben Chasny & Rick Tomlinson, "Waves" (Voix)
  97. Helen Money / Will Thomas, "Trace" (Thrill Jockey)
  98. Justin Walter, "Destroyer" (Kranky)
  99. JK Flesh, "π11" (Pi Electronics)
  100. A Place To Bury Strangers, "See Through You Rerealized" (Dedstrange)

Single of the Year

Legendary Pink Dots Halloween 2023

  1. The Legendary Pink Dots, "The Legendary Pink Dots' Hallowe'en Special 2023" ([self-released])
    "The Legendary Pink Dots' Christmas and Halloween singles invariably delight me every single year. A beloved underground institution that almost always captures Ka-Spel at the height of his powers." —Anthony D'Amico

  2. Caterina Barbieri, "Perennial Fantas" (Light-Years)
    "I definitely did not expect 'Fantas' to keep expanding and evolving for four more years after Ecstatic Computation was released. It's the gift that keeps giving! Possibly forever!" —Anthony D'Amico

  3. The Legendary Pink Dots, "The Legendary Pink Dots' Christmas Special 2023" ([self-released])
    "It is very amusing that my LPD fandom has gradually and imperceptibly evolved from 'these guys collaborated with Skinny Puppy-I should check them out!' to "Edward Ka-Spel is basically my Santa Claus now.'" —Anthony D'Amico

  4. Mary Lattimore, "A Lock of His Hair Under Glass" ([self-released])
  5. The Bug, "Machine I" (Pressure)
  6. Bark Psychosis, "Scum" (Rolling Heads)
  7. Edward Ka-Spel, "All Flags Are False" (Witch Cat)
  8. Aphex twin, "Blackbox Life Recorder 21f In A Room7 F760" (Warp)
    "Enjoyable, but not nearly audacious enough to make a memorable impression." —Anthony D'Amico

  9. Four Tet, "Three Drums" ([self-released])
  10. Sam Prekop and John McEntire / The Soft Pink Truth, "A Yellow Robe Remixes" (Thrill Jockey)
  11. A Winged Victory for the Sullen, "All Our Friends Are Vampires" (Ninja Tune)
  12. The Bug, "Machine II" (Pressure)
  13. Meat Beat Manifesto & DHS, "Man From Mantis" (Love Love)
  14. Om, "Gebel Barkal" (Drag City)
  15. James Blackshaw, "Why Keep Still?" ([self-released])
    "It is wonderful to see Blackshaw releasing new music again, even if it is only one song (for now)." —Anthony D'Amico

  16. Godflesh, "Nero" (Avalanche)
  17. Sun's Signature, "Sun's Signature Extended" (Partisan)
  18. Eric Random & Stephen Mallinder, "Deadeye Remixed" (Emergency Hearts)
  19. Strategy, "Graffiti In Space" (Community Library)
  20. Letting Up Despite Great Faults, "Crumble EP" ([self-released])
  21. Death and Vanilla, "Reimagined by Civilistjävel!" (Fire)
  22. Drab Majesty, "An Object in Motion" (Dais)
  23. Kieran Hebden & William Tyler, "Darkness, Darkness / No Services" (Psychic Hotline)
  24. Mouse on Mars, "3D-LS" (Sonig)
  25. Loraine James, "5 a Day" ([self-released])

Compilation of the Year

Gespensterland

  1. "Gespensterland" (Bureau B)
    "I am 100% the target demographic for a collection of supernaturally inspired German artists 'operating in the margins and intersections of folklore, experimental electronics, dreams and nightmares.' A murderers' row of fringe-dwelling visionaries like Brannten Schn​ü​re." —Anthony D'Amico

  2. "When the Frog from the Well Sees the Ocean (Reports from English UFOlklore)" (Folklore Tapes)
    "Folklore Tapes steps a bit outside of their comfort zone with an eclectic and freewheeling celebration of UFO sightings, alien visitations, and their forever-altered witnesses. A characteristically wonderful and singular collection." —Anthony D'Amico

  3. "Cease & Resist - Sonic Subversion & Anarcho Punk In The UK 1979-1986" (Optimo Music)
    "I really wish this had come out during my lengthy Crass phase." —Anthony D'Amico

  4. "Searchlight Moonbeam" (Efficient Space)
    "Astonishing to hear 'Never Anyone Around To Hear It' by Bo Harwood and John Cassavetes."—Duncan Edwards
    "Both Time is Away and Efficient Space have proven themselves to be pretty damn infallible at digging up cool and eclectic obscurities." —Anthony D'Amico


  5. "Subliminal Skull Palace II" (Utech)
    "Utech is really doing god's work with this series celebrating tripped-out Japanese guitar music. The Tatsuya Goto and Kawabata Makoto pieces on this one were especially revelatory." —Anthony D'Amico

  6. "Imaginational Anthem vol. XII : I Thought I Told You - A Yorkshire Tribute to Michael Chapman" (Tompkins Square)
  7. "Future Sounds of Kraut Vol. 1" (Compost)
  8. "Space Funk: Afro Futurist Electro Funk in Space 1976-84 2" (Soul Jazz)
  9. "XKatedral Anthology Series II" (XKatedral)
    "Sweden's XKatedral consistently releases some of the most compelling drone/'slowly evolving harmonic and timbral music' around. If you're a connoisseur, this is the vanguard." —Anthony D'Amico

  10. "Kotti Island Disc – An Auditive Snapshot" (Tresor)
  11. "7A19" (Sähkö Recordings)
    "I am reliably drawn to '80s cassette underground compilations like a moth to a flame. I think that probably counts more as a neurosis than a recommendation though." —Anthony D'Amico

  12. "Antipodean Anomalies 2" (Left Ear)
  13. "Ariwa Sounds: The Early Sessions" (Melodies International)
  14. "Channel One Soundsystem: Down in the Dub Vaults" (VP)
    "Unusually quiet year for Jamaican dub compilations (presumably because Soul Jazz is busy being funky in space), but I really enjoyed this one." —Anthony D'Amico

  15. "Denshi Ongaku No Bigaku (The Aesthetics of Japanese Electronic Music Vol 1 & 2)" (Cosmocities)
  16. "American Dreams Diner Open 24 Hours" (American Dreams)
  17. "Radigue: Dedalus / Akama" (Montagne Noire)
  18. "Eccentric Boogie" (Numero Group)
  19. "Pacific Breeze 3: Japanese City Pop, AOR and Boogie 1975–1987" (Light in the Attic)
  20. "Ballads Of Seduction, Fertility And Ritual Slaughter" (Was Ist Das?)
  21. "Contaminazioni No Wave Italiane (1980-1985)" (Spittle)
  22. "The NID Tapes: Electronic Music From India 1969-1972" (The State51 Conspiracy)
  23. "If You Want to Make a Lover: Palm Wine, Akan Blues & Early Guitar Highlife, Pt. I" (Death Is Not The End)
    "The singing and playing here transcends locale or genre and ends up as a mystical bottling of the square-root of charm."—Duncan Edwards

  24. "Mondo Industrial: A Selection Of Rare Tape Music From The '80s & '90s" (Mafarka)
  25. "ElectroDub Vol. 3 & 4" [tie] (Emergency Hearts)

Vault/Reissue of the Year

Commercial Album

  1. The Residents, "Commercial Album" (Cherry Red)
  2. Bowery Electric, "Bowery Electric" (Kranky)
    "An absolutely flawless release, restored to the full tracklist plus given a bonus side of the first EP, sounding just as massive as ever."—Jon Whitney

  3. Drew McDowell, "Lamina" (Dais)
  4. Techno Animal, "Re-Entry (2023 Remaster)" (Relapse)
    "I was really expecting this to take first place, but I may just be biased. Beautiful job reissuing the duo's absolute masterpiece."—Creaig Dunton

  5. Emeralds, "Does It Look Like I'm Here? expanded remaster" (Ghostly)
    "It was cool to get an expanded reissue of this album, but it was already pretty damn canonical." —Anthony D'Amico

  6. Earth, "Earth 2 Special Low Frequency Mix" (Sub Pop)
  7. Andrew Chalk, "Dreams: Scenes I - XV" (Faraway Press)
  8. Moonshake, "Eva Luna" (Beggars Arkive)
    "Some aspects of Moonshake's audacious and influential debut album have not aged particularly well, but 'Little Thing' and 'Sweetheart' are still perennial favorites for me." —Anthony D'Amico

  9. The Legendary Pink Dots, "Only Dreaming" ([self-released])
  10. Sonic Youth, "Live in Brooklyn 2011" (Silver Current)
  11. In The Nursery, "L'Esprit" (ITN Corp)
  12. The Chameleons, "Script of the Bridge" (Blue Apple)
  13. Arthur Russell, "Picture of Bunny Rabbit" (Audika)
    "I hope the vault of Arthur Russell continues to produce more fantastic collections like this. It's okay to vary between styles and maintain a bit of a theme for time and location of recordings. My addiction grows stronger."—Jon Whitney

  14. The Legendary Pink Dots, "Come Out From The Shadows Volume 3: The 80s" ([self-released])
  15. Bardo Pond, "Peel Sessions" (Fire)
  16. Air Miami, "Me. Me. Me." (4AD)
  17. Pan American, "In Daylight Dub" (Foam On A Wave)
  18. Nurse With Wound, "The Sylvie and Babs Hi-Fi Companion" (United Dirter)
  19. Fridge, "Happiness" (Temporary Residence)
  20. Edward Ka-Spel, "Caste O' Graye Skreeëns" ([self-released])
  21. Edward Ka-Spel, "Ghost Logik 2" ([self-released])
  22. Mouse on Mars, "Bilk" (Sonig)
  23. Nurse With Wound, "Brained By Falling Masonry/Cooloorta Moon" (United Dirter)
  24. Nurse With Wound, "Alice The Goon (Funeral Music For Perez Prado)" (B.F.I.)
  25. Big Blood & The Bleedin' Hearts, "Big Blood & The Bleedin' Hearts" (Feeding Tube)
    "One of the finest albums in Big Blood's entire discography finally got a non-CDr physical release! Pretty exciting day at the mailbox." —Anthony D'Amico

Boxed Set of the Year

Collected Works of NMH

  1. Neutral Milk Hotel, "The Collected Works of..." (Merge)
    "Essentially just a vinyl reissue of 2011's career retrospective with some additional live material added, which is probably somewhat revelatory for more obsessive NMH fans than me. Everyone else can safely just keep listening to In The Aeroplane Over The Sea forever, as there is nothing in the vaults that rivals it." —Anthony D'Amico
    "I'm probably the only person in the world who prefers On Avery Island more, Anthony, but what do I know?"—Jon Whitney

  2. The Residents, "Eskimo" (Psychofon)
  3. Hawkwind, "Space Ritual: 50th Anniversary Edition" (Atomhenge)
  4. Pharoah Sanders, "Pharoah" (Luaka Bop)
  5. Magnolia Electric Co., "Sojourner" (Secretly Canadian)
  6. A.R.Kane, "A.R.Kive" (Rocket Girl)
  7. Pere Ubu, "Elitism for the People 1975 - 1978" (Fire)
  8. Laraaji, "Segue To Infinity" (Numero Group)
  9. [V/A], "Remix Anthology Vol. 1​-​4 2002​-​2022" (Smalltown Supersound)
    "This was my personal favorite boxed set of the year, as it was quite a treasure trove of killer songs that I had never heard before." —Anthony D'Amico

  10. Acid Mothers Temple & the Melting Paraiso UFO, "Acid Motherly Love" (Riot Season)
  11. Jack Dangers, "Lucky Bag" (Flexidisc)
  12. [V/A], "Steven Wilson Presents: Intrigue - Progressive Sounds In UK Alternative Music 1979–89" (Burning Shed)
  13. King Crimson, "Larks' Tongues in Aspic (The Complete Recording Sessions)" (Panegyric)
    "Surprisingly very little overlap between this and the 15 disc set from a decade ago, and I appreciate that it doesn't take up too much shelf space." -- Creaig Dunton

  14. Laibach, "Nova Akropola / Live In Europe 1997-2020 / Live in London 1985-1987" (Cherry Red)
  15. Pere Ubu, "Architecture of Language 1979 - 1982" (Fire)
  16. Killing Joke, "Honor the Fire Live" (Live Here Now, Live Here Now)
  17. Acid Mothers Temple & the Melting Paraiso UFO, "Vinyl Archives Volume 1" (Riot Season)
  18. Duster, "Moods, Modes" (Numero Group)
  19. Einstürzende Neubauten, "Phase IV - The Singles" (Potomak)
  20. Celer, "Selected Self-Releases 2006-2007" (Two Acorns)
  21. [V/A], "The Complete Obscure Records" (Dialogo)
    "I did not expect a retrospective of Brian Eno's hugely influential imprint to be this low in the rankings. It has admittedly been a long time since I was personally excited about anything Eno-related, but Gavin Bryars' The Sinking of the Titanic is an all-timer for me.'" —Anthony D'Amico
    "Mine didn't arrive until the new year, Anthony."—Jon Whitney


  22. King Crimson, "Absent Lovers (Live in Montreal 1984)" (Discipline Global Mobile)
  23. Karate, "Complete Studio Recordings" (Numero Group)
  24. Luc Ferrari, "L'Œuvre Électronique" (INA GRM)
  25. The New Blockaders, "Etudes de Rien" (Coherent States)

Artist of the Year

  1. The Legendary Pink Dots
  2. Caterina Barbieri
  3. Mary Lattimore
  4. Tim Hecker
  5. The Bug
  6. KMRU
  7. Loraine James
  8. Swans
  9. Godflesh
  10. Benoît Pioulard

Label of the Year

  1. Thrill Jockey
  2. Kranky
    "It comes as no surprise these two labels continue to dominate the Brainwashed Readers Poll. It is a testament to their tireless dedication to quality."—Jon Whitney
  3. Fire
  4. Drag City
  5. Psychofon
  6. International Anthem
  7. Important
  8. Room40
  9. Light-Years
  10. 4AD

New Artist of the Year

Derecho Rhythm Section

"It is important, for me at least, to hear Alan Sparhawk's voice on new music again, and he is not afraid to let us know exactly how he feels. Joined by his children with Mimi Parker, something special is definitely evolving. Hard to say what will become of this project in particular, but I hope to continue to hear all of them together."—Jon Whitney

Lifetime Achievement Recognition

Phill Niblock

Phill Niblock

"As a drone fan, Phill Niblock was always a bit of a living legend for me, as he and contemporaries like Éliane Radigue were instrumental in elevating the form into the realm of high art. Also, he was definitely a guy who understood and appreciated the elemental power of immersive, room-shaking vibrations. Beyond that, however, he played quite an outsized role in building and maintaining NYC's legendary avant-garde scene as the long-time director of Experimental Intermedia. I cannot think of many other people who were hip enough to book artists like Arthur Russell, Rhys Chatham, and Charlemagne Palestine as early as 1973/1974 and the list of other artists who played Niblock-curated shows in the 1970s is basically a who's who of nearly everyone who shaped the late 20th century avant-garde (Annea Lockwood, Suzanne Ciani, Catherine Christer Hennix, Laurie Spiegel, etc.). The musical landscape of 2024 would be a much bleaker place without Niblock's lifelong passion for championing groundbreaking and iconoclastic artists." —Anthony D'Amico

 

1981 Hits

2022 Annual Readers Poll: The Results

The Brainwashed Readers Poll aims to be set apart by other online music polls. The staff and contributors aren't here to dictate to readers what we think people should be enjoying, we welcome the community to voice their opinion, and then we add our bits and pieces after.

Thanks again to all who have taken part in this year's Readers Poll. And thanks to all for your patience as this was the first year voting began after the year ended. Lots of surprises this year but keep in mind we all have been voting on what we liked and the items that seem to overlap the most with people rise to the top. See something missing? Sorry, it's a readers poll, participate more next year!

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16878 Hits

2021 Readers Poll: The Results

Alas we are finally here to present the Annual Brainwashed Readers Poll. Once again, this is what the readers choose, as staff and contributors, we only make our comments here and there.

Sorry for the delays, these have been exceptionally stressful and demanding times for just about everybody. Production may be high, but morale remains low. This couldn't be more evident with this year's poll, which had the most entries in years, but had a remarkably low voter turnout. It is difficult to hold out until the very end of the year to be all-inclusive, where most places have made up their mind by November, and music of the year is being released constantly until the clock strikes midnight. So by the time we come around to soliciting votes, most people have checked out for the year.  We will do some re-evaluation to the process prior to future polls.

Thanks again to everybody who participated. This is your voice.

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7641 Hits

2020 Readers Poll: The Results

The staff nominates, the readers add to the nomination list, the readers vote, and we write some comments back. That's how it is. The Brainwashed Annual Readers Poll is a snapshot of what our readers and staff were listening to for the year. As always there are some rankings that are surprises along with others that come as no surprise.

This year we decided to get rid of the "worst album of the year" category (2020 was harsh enough). We also decided to add honorable mentions to the Lifetime Achievement Recognition category because it seems like there's so many people who we cherish that it's an injustice not to give a nod to musicians who have left a lasting impression on music as a whole.

Thanks again to all who participated and we wish you all a safe and healthy 2021.

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3035 Hits

2019 Readers Poll: The Results

Thanks again to everyone who participated in the nomination and voting rounds of this year's annual readers poll.

All the best wishes for 2020!

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3033 Hits

2018 Readers Poll - The Results

Thanks again to everyone who contributed to this year's readers poll and has over the last two decades. All the best wishes for 2019!

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2812 Hits

1999 Readers Poll Recount: The Results

Thanks again to everyone who participated in the Recount of the 1999 Annual Brainwashed Readers Poll.

The original vote which took place at the end of 1999 was clearly less expansive and inclusive, however the new top picks aren't drastically different than the original vote for the most part. Numerous releases which have now charted weren't even on the radar of most readers at the time while other releases have noticeably dropped in popularity due to changing times and changing opinions.

No more polls until the end of 2019.

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23291 Hits

1997 Readers Poll: The Results

In 1997, the independent music business was thriving worldwide, musical acts were reaching new audiences via the World Wide Web, and the economy was booming. Brainwashed.com was a year old, and we had not even begun to start conduction Annual Readers Polls. However, we began expanding the domain to host sites for independent labels and distributors like Kranky, Thrill Jockey, Happy Go Lucky, RRRecords, and World Serpent Distribution along with the multitude of sites we were hosting for musical acts.

It has been a pleasure to revisit the music of 1997 and we appreciate all the time and effort put in by the readers to make your opinions known.

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10504 Hits

1998 Readers Poll Re-Count - The Results

Two decades ago the Annual Readers Poll began. The old version of the first annual readers poll can still be viewed online here, but we wanted to re-examine 1998 in the new system and get a broader picture of the music of that year. Perhaps these are truly the releases that have withstood 20 years of listening or the readership demographics have changed in 20 years. Either way, thanks to all who participated. Look for a 1997 recount nomination round coming soon and the 2018 Annual Readers Poll to follow.

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11395 Hits

2017 Readers Poll - The Results

Once again it's time to thank everyone for their participation in the Brainwashed Annual Readers Poll. As always, the Readers Poll doesn't particularly represent what the staff and writers feel are the best and worst of the year, but we happily once again provide commentary. All the best for 2018!

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2583 Hits

2016 Readers Poll - The Results

Thanks again to everyone who participated in the Annual Brainwashed Readers Poll.

and now, the results:

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2457 Hits

2015 Readers Poll - The Results

Once again thanks to everybody who participated in the 18th Annual Brainwashed Readers Poll. It's an honor to be able to do this every year and we appreciate everyone who contributed to the nominations and voted.

All the best wishes for 2016.

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2456 Hits

2014 Readers Poll - The Results

Thanks again to everyone who contributed, nominated, and voted.

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2515 Hits

2013 Readers Poll - The Results

Album of the Year

  1. Tim Hecker, ""Virgins"" (Kranky)
  2. Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, ""Push the Sky Away"" (Kobalt)
  3. Boards of Canada, ""Tomorrow's Harvest"" (Warp)
  4. My Bloody Valentine, ""m b v"" (self-released)
  5. The Haxan Cloak, ""Excavation"" (TriAngle)
  6. Autechre, ""Exai"" (Warp)
  7. Grouper, ""The Man Who Died in His Boat"" (Kranky)
  8. William Basinski, ""Nocturnes"" (2062)
  9. The Legendary Pink Dots, ""The Gethsemane Option"" (Metropolis)
  10. Wire, ""Change Becomes Us"" (Pink Flag)
  11. Matmos, ""The Marriage of True Minds"" (Thrill Jockey)
  12. Locrian, ""Return to Annihilation"" (Relapse)
  13. Barn Owl, ""V"" (Thrill Jockey)
  14. Julia Holter, ""Loud City Song"" (Domino)
  15. Broadcast, ""Berberian Sound Studio"" (Warp)
  16. The Legendary Pink Dots, ""Code Noir"" (Beta-Lactam Ring)
  17. Oren Ambarchi, Jim O'Rourke and Keiji Haino, ""Now While It's Still Warm Let Us Pour in All the Mystery"" (Black Truffle)
  18. Chelsea Wolfe, ""Pain is Beauty"" (Sargent House)
  19. Bill Callahan, ""Dream River"" (Drag City)
  20. Tropic of Cancer, ""Restless Idyll"" (Blackest Ever Black)
  21. Carter Tutti, ""Coolicon"" (Conspiracy International)
  22. Mika Vainio, ""Kilo"" (Blast First Petite)
  23. Pan American, ""Cloud Room, Glass Room"" (Kranky)
  24. Wolf Eyes, ""No Answer: Lower Floors"" (De Stijl)
  25. Low, ""The Invisible Way"" (Sub Pop)
  26. Teho Teardo & Blixa Bargeld, ""Still Smiling"" (Specula)
  27. Colin Stetson, ""New History Warfare Vol. 3: To See More Light"" (Constellation)
  28. The Knife, ""Shaking the Habitual"" (Mute)
  29. Lustmord, ""The Word As Power"" (Blackest Ever Black)
  30. Mazzy Star, ""Seasons of Your Day"" (Rhymes Of An Hour)
  31. The Legendary Pink Dots, ""The Curse of Marie Antoinette"" (Rustblade)
  32. Forest Swords, ""Engravings"" (TriAngle)
  33. Rashad Becker, ""Traditional Music of Notional Species, Vol. I"" (PAN)
  34. Cindytalk, ""A Life Is Everywhere"" (Editions Mego)
  35. The Necks, ""Open"" (Northern Spy)
  36. Prurient, ""Through the Window"" (Blackest Ever Black)
  37. Body/Head, ""Coming Apart"" (matador)
  38. Julia Kent, ""Character"" (Leaf)
  39. Mogwai , ""Les Revenants Soundtrack"" (Rock Action)
  40. Wrekmeister Harmonies, ""You've Always Meant So Much To Me"" (Thrill Jockey)
  41. Dirty Beaches, ""Drifters/Love Is the Devil"" (Zoo Music)
  42. Master Musicians of Bukkake, ""Far West"" (Important)
  43. Oneohtrix Point Never, ""R Plus Seven"" (Warp)
  44. The Dead C, ""Armed Courage"" (Ba Da Bing!)
  45. Daniel Menche, ""Marriage of Metals"" (Editions Mego)
  46. Main, ""Ablation"" (Editions Mego)
  47. These New Puritans, ""Field of Reeds"" (Infectious)
  48. Factory Floor, ""Factory Floor"" (DFA)
  49. Föllakzoid, ""II"" (Sacred Bones)
  50. Laurel Halo, ""Chance of Rain"" (Hyperdub)
  51. Boduf Songs, ""Burnt Up On Re-Entry"" (Southern)
  52. Phill Niblock, ""Touch Five"" (Touch)
  53. Implodes, ""Recurring Dream"" (Kranky)
  54. Ensemble Pearl, ""Ensemble Pearl"" (Drag City)
  55. Emptyset, ""Recur"" (Raster-Noton)
  56. Julianna Barwick, ""Nepenthe"" (Dead Oceans)
  57. Pere Ubu, ""lady From Shangai"" (Fire Records)
  58. Benoit Pioulard, ""Hymnal"" (Kranky)
  59. Vatican Shadow, ""Remember Your Black Day"" (Hospital)
  60. Chris Watson, ""In St. Cuthbert's Time"" (Touch)
  61. Mohammad, ""Son Sakrifis"" (PAN)
  62. Steve Gunn, ""Time Off"" (Paradise of Bachelors)
  63. Noveller, ""No Dreams"" (important)
  64. CoH, ""Retro 2038"" (Editions Mego)
  65. Jesu, ""Everyday I Get Closer To The Light From Which I Came"" (Avalanche)
  66. Bardo Pond, ""Peace on Venus"" (Fire)
  67. Jasper TX, ""An Index of Failure"" (Handmade Birds)
  68. Svarte Greiner, ""Black Tie"" (Miasmah)
  69. Fire! Orchestra , ""Exit!"" (Rune Grammofon)
  70. *AR, ""Succession"" (Corbel Stone Press)
  71. Mountains, ""Centralia"" (Thrill Jockey)
  72. Roly Porter, ""Life Cycle of a Massive Star"" (Subtext)
  73. Bill Orcutt, ""A History of Every One"" (Editions Mego)
  74. Ryoji Ikeda, ""Supercodex"" (Raster-Noton)
  75. Black Boned Angel, ""The End"" (Handmade Birds)
  76. Date Palms, ""The Dusted Sessions"" (Thrill Jockey)
  77. Jacob Kirkegaard, ""Conversions"" (Touch)
  78. Matana Roberts, ""Coin Coin Chapter Two: Mississippi Moonchile"" (Constellation)
  79. Zola Jesus and JG Thirlwell, ""Version"" (Sacred Bones)
  80. Pharmakon, ""Abandon"" (Sacred Bones)
  81. Pet Shop Boys, ""Electric"" (x2)
  82. Aidan Baker, ""Already Drowning"" (Gizeh)
  83. The Legendary Pink Dots, ""Taos Hum"" (Trademark of Quantity)
  84. Demdike Stare , ""The Weight of Culture"" (No Label )
  85. Hacker Farm , ""UHF"" (Exotic Pylon)
  86. The Stranger, ""Watching Dead Empires In Decay"" (Modern Love)
  87. William Tyler, ""Impossible Truth"" (Merge)
  88. Gabriel Saloman, ""Soldier's Requiem"" (Miasmah)
  89. Wooden Wand, ""Blood Oaths of the New Blues"" (Fire)
  90. Paul Jebanasam, ""Rites"" (Subtext)
  91. Colleen, ""The Weighing of the Heart"" (Second Language)
  92. Matt Elliott, ""Only Myocardial Infarction Can Break Your Heart"" (Ici d'ailleurs)
  93. Basic House, ""Oats"" (Alter)
  94. Jenny Hval, ""Innocence is Kinky"" (Rune Grammofon)
  95. Bruce Gilbert & BAW, ""Diluvial"" (Touch)
  96. Daniel Menche, ""Vilke"" (Sige)
  97. Duane Pitre, ""Bridges"" (Important)
  98. Glenn Jones, ""My Garden State"" (Thrill Jockey)
  99. Kaboom Karavan, ""Hokus Fokus"" (Miasmah)
  100. The Silverman, ""Finisterre"" (Trademark of Quantity)

Single of the Year

  1. Autechre, ""L-Event"" (Warp)
  2. Burial, ""Rival Dealer"" (Hyperdub)
  3. Demdike Stare, ""Testpressings 4"" (self-released)
  4. ( r ), ""The House Of The Rising Sun"" (self-released)
  5. Larsen, ""Uncruel Cool Mouth"" (Zos Kia Sounds Recordings)
  6. Helm, ""Silencer"" (PAN/Alter)
  7. Vatican Shadow, ""When You Are Crawling"" (Hospital)
  8. Cut Hands, ""Damballah 58"" (Blackest Ever Black)
  9. Pete Swanson, ""Punk Authority"" (Software)
  10. Miles, ""Unsecured"" (Modern Love)
  11. Nurse With Wound/Graham Bowers, ""Diploid"" (Red Wharf)
  12. Khan Of Finland, ""Thin White Sinner"" (I'm Single)
  13. Pye Corner Audio, ""Conical Space"" (Dekorder)
  14. Songs:Ohia, ""Hecla & Griper"" (Secretly Canadian)
  15. Lee Noble, ""Ruiner"" (Bathetic)
  16. Pye Corner Audio, ""Superstitious Century"" (Boomkat)
  17. The Fall, ""The Remainderer"" (Cherry Red)
  18. Boduf Songs/Jessica Bailiff, ""Decapitation Blues / Lakeside Blues"" (Morc)
  19. Edward Ka-Spel, ""The Patriot"" (Unlimited Drift)
  20. Moin, ""EP"" (Blackest Ever Black)
  21. The Bug, ""Filthy"" (Ninja Tune)
  22. Al Cisneros, ""Ark Procession"" (Drag City)
  23. John Foxx and the Belbury Circle, ""Empty Avenues"" (Ghost Box)
  24. Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, ""Needle Boy"" (Kobalt)
  25. Al Cisneros, ""Teresa Of Avila"" (Sinai)

Live album/vault recording/reissue (or otherwise not really a ""new full-length album"")

  1. Swans, ""Not Here/Not Now"" (Young God)
  2. Grouper, ""Dragging a Dead Deer Up a Hill"" (Kranky)
  3. Edward Artemiev, ""Solaris Original Soundtrack"" (Mirumir)
  4. Natural Snow Buildings / Isengrind / Twinsistermoon, ""The Snowbringer Cult"" (Ba Da Bing!)
  5. Songs:Ohia, ""The Magnolia Electric Co."" (Secretly Canadian)
  6. Bernard Parmegiani, ""De Natura Sonorum"" (Recollection GRM)
  7. Iannis Xenakis, ""GRM Works 1957-1962"" (Recollection GRM)
  8. Edward Artemiev, ""Stalker/The Mirror - Music From Andrey Tarkovsky's Motion Pictures"" (Mirumir)
  9. Four Tet, ""Rounds"" (Domino)
  10. Chrome, ""Half Machine from the Sun"" (self-released)
  11. Godflesh, ""Hymns"" (The End)
  12. Sandwell District, ""Fabric 69"" (Fabric)
  13. Edward Ka-Spel, ""A Pleasure Cruise Through 9 Dimensions"" (Trademark of Quantity)
  14. The Legendary Pink Dots, ""9 Lives to Wonder redux"" (Trademark of Quantity)
  15. Grails, ""Black Tar Prophecies Vol. 4, 5 & 6"" (Temporary Residence)
  16. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, ""Live from KCRW"" (Bad Seed Ltd.)
  17. Come, ""Eleven:Eleven"" (Matador)
  18. Peter Jeffries, ""The Last Great Challenge in a Dull World"" (De Stijl)
  19. The Legendary Pink Dots, ""Seconds Late for the Brighton Line redux"" (Trademark of Quantity)
  20. Alastair Galbraith, ""Cry"" (MIE)
  21. Roky Erickson, ""The Evil One"" (Light in the Attic)
  22. The Legendary Pink Dots, ""From Here You'll Watch the World Go By redux"" (Trademark of Quantity)
  23. Devo, ""Hardcore"" (Superior Viaduct)
  24. Drexciya, ""Journey Of The Deep Sea Dweller IV"" (Clone Classic Cuts )
  25. Horseback, ""A Plague of Knowing"" (Relapse)
  26. Robert Wyatt, ""68"" (Cuneiform)
  27. Dead Can Dance, ""In Concert"" (Play It Again Sam)
  28. Eliane Radigue, ""Opus 17"" (Alga Marghen)
  29. Ensemble Economique, ""The Vastness Is Bearable Only Through Love"" (Shelter Press)
  30. M. Geddes Gengras, ""Collected Works Vol. 1: The Moog Years"" (Umor Rex)
  31. Sun City Girls, ""Eye Mohini (Sun City Girls Singles Volume 3)"" (Abduction)
  32. Fluxion, ""Vibrant Forms"" (Type)
  33. Gnod, ""Chaudelande"" (Rocket)
  34. Loren Connors, ""The Departing of a Dream"" (Family Vineyard)
  35. The Legendary Pink Dots, ""Hallway of the Gods redux"" (Trademark of Quantity)
  36. Alberich, ""Machine Gun Nest: Cassette Works, Vol. 0"" (Hospital)
  37. Iancu Dumitrescu, ""Pierres Sacrees/Hazard and Tectonics"" (Ideologic Organ)
  38. Robbie Basho, ""Visions of the Country"" (Gnome Life)
  39. The Slaves, ""Ocean on Ocean"" (Helen Scarsdale)
  40. Codeine, ""What About the Lonely?"" (Numero Group)
  41. Robert Turman, ""Beyond Painting"" (Fabrica)
  42. Steve Hauschildt, ""S/H"" (Editions Mego)
  43. Craig Leon, ""Nommos"" (Superior Viaduct)
  44. Francois Bayle, ""Les couleurs de la nuit"" (Sub Rosa)
  45. Muslimgauze, ""Izlamic Songs"" (Staalplaat)
  46. Troum, ""Syzygie"" (Cold Spring)
  47. Fela Kuti, ""The Best of the Black President 2"" (Knitting Factory)
  48. Felicia Atkinson, ""Visions/Voices"" (Umor Rex)
  49. Loscil, ""Intervalo: Adaptations for Piano & Laptop"" (Frond)
  50. Piano Magic, ""Heart Machinery"" (Second Language)

Various Artist Collection of the Year

  1. ""Touch30"" (Touch)
  2. ""Metal Dance 2: Industrial, New Wave, and EBM Classics & Rarities 79-88"" (Strut)
  3. ""Mutazione: Italian Electronic & New Wave Underground 1980-1988"" (Strut)
  4. ""Deutsche Elektronische Musik 2"" (Soul Jazz)
  5. ""I Am The Center: Private Issue New Age Music in America 1950-1990"" (Light in the Attic)
  6. ""An Anthology of Noise and Electronic Music Vol. 7"" (Sub Rosa)
  7. ""After Dark 2"" (Italians Do It Better)
  8. ""Change the Beat: The Celluloid Records Story 1979-1987"" (Strut)
  9. ""L.I.E.S. Presents Music for Shut-Ins"" (L.I.E.S.)
  10. ""The Crying Princess: 78RPM Records from Burma"" (Sublime Frequencies)
  11. ""Afrobeat Airways 2: Return Flight to Ghana 1974-1983"" (Analog Africa)
  12. ""20 Jahre Kompakt/Kollektion 1"" (Kompakt)
  13. ""Choubi Choubi! Folk & Pop Songs from Iraq Vol. 2"" (Sublime Frequencies)
  14. ""Ethnic Minority Music of Southern China "" (Sublime Frequencies)
  15. ""Collision/Detection"" (Front & Follow)
  16. ""Kenya Special: Selected East African Recordings from the 1970s and '80s"" (Soundway)
  17. ""Purple Snow: Forecasting the Minneapolis Sound"" (Numero Group)
  18. ""Hassaniya Music from the Western Sahara and Mauritania"" (Sublime Frequencies)
  19. ""Livity Sound"" (Livity Sound)
  20. ""Halh: 20 Years of Downwards"" (Downwards)
  21. ""Down To The Silver Sea"" (Blank Workshop / Gecophonic Audio Systems)
  22. ""Feral Grind"" (Submit)
  23. ""20 Jahre Kompakt/Kollektion 2"" (Kompakt)
  24. ""Studio One Ska Fever!"" (Soul Jazz)
  25. ""Greek Rhapsody (Instrumental Music from Greece 1905-1956)"" (Dust-to-Digital)

 

Boxed Set

  1. Eliane Radigue, ""Adnos I-III"" (Important)
  2. Cabaret Voltaire, ""#8385 Collected Works (1983-1985)"" (Mute)
  3. Can, ""Can"" (Spoon)
  4. Natural Snow Buildings, ""Daughter of Darkness"" (Ba Da Bing!)
  5. Eleh, ""Homage"" (Taiga)
  6. Akos Rozmann, ""Images of the Dream and Death"" (Ideologic Organ)
  7. Skullflower, ""Kino I-IV"" (Dirter)
  8. The Hafler Trio, "" A Cure For Kenophobia-an Empowerment In 4 Easy Stages At Very Reasonable Rates; Recordings 87-99 "" (Vinyl On Demand)
  9. My Cat is an Alien, ""Psycho-System"" (Elliptical Noise)
  10. Red Temple Spirits, ""Dancing to Restore an Eclipsed Moon/If Tomorrow I Were Leaving for Lhasa, I Wouldn't Stay a Minute More... "" (Independent Project)
  11. Conny Plank, ""Who's That Man: A Tribute to Conny Plank"" (Grönland)
  12. Dennis Johnson, ""November"" (Penultimate Press)
  13. Greg Haines, ""2006-2012"" (Denovali)
  14. Half Japanese, ""1/2 Gentlemen/Not Beasts"" (Fire)
  15. Jandek, ""The Song of Morgan"" (Corwood)

 

Act of the Year




New Artist of the Year




Overlooked Staff Picks

 

Lifetime Achievement Recognition

 

Jason Molina

 

Worst Album of the Year

  1. Arcade Fire, ""Reflektor"" (Merge)
  2. Vampire Weekend, ""Modern Vampires of the City"" (XL)
  3. The Men, ""New Moon"" (Sacred Bones)
  4. !!!, ""THR!!!ER"" (Warp)
  5. Darkstar, ""News from Nowhere"" (4AD)
  6. Queens of the Stone Age, ""...Like Clockwork"" (Matador)
  7. Smith Westerns, ""Soft Will"" (Mom + Pop Music)
  8. Chvrches, ""The Bones of What You Believe"" (Glassnote)
  9. Cut Copy, ""Free Your Mind"" (Modular)
  10. Majical Cloudz, ""Impersonator"" (Matador)

 

2901 Hits

2012 Readers Poll - The Results

This is the 15th Annual Brainwashed Readers Poll: the longest running poll from a digital publication that allows the readers to both nominate and vote for the best and worst of the year. The writers don't all necessarily agree with the placement and rankings, but we have our last word in the comments we have provided.

Thanks to everyone who participated in both rounds and we wish you the best for 2013.

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2525 Hits

2011 Readers Poll - The Results

This is the Brainwashed Readers Poll. Once again the Brainwashed Readers participated in the nominations and the voting rounds, and here we are with what has resulted. The writers don't all necessarily agree with the placement and rankings, but we have our last word in the comments we have provided.

Thanks to everyone who participated in the rounds and we wish everyone the best for 2012.

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2454 Hits

2010 Readers Poll - The Results

Thanks again to all for the participation in the annual Brainwashed Readers Poll. Everyone helped nominate and everyone voted. Here are the results, with some comments from the staff.  All the Best for 2011!

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2261 Hits

2009 Readers Poll - The Results

For the 12th year Brainwashed Readers have voiced their opinion on the best and worst music of the year. While some of the results shouldn't come as a surprise, there are, as always, plenty of anomalies. Brainwashed Readers have once again, and probably moreso than any other previous year, distanced themselves from the mainstream. Thanks to all who took part.  As always, the Brainwashed Staff have added their comments.

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2352 Hits

2008 Readers Poll - The Results

Thanks to everyone who voted in this year's Readers Poll. Once again you, the Brainwashed readers, have voiced your opinion on the best and worst of the year and the Brainwashed staff and contributors have voiced our own—occasionally clashing—opinions. All the best wishes for 2009!

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2337 Hits

2007 Readers Poll - The Results

Here it is! The definitive list of lists. Why? Because it's the tenth year in a row that the readers nominated and voted!  This is what you—not self-important hipsters or jaded old critics—picked, unaffected by the corporate ads and silly trends. 2007 was an amazing year for music, our poll had a ton of excellent entries, and once again, the cream has risen to the top.

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22053 Hits