We’ve just about reached the halfway point of the year, and with it comes the time for us to take a gander back at all the amazing new albums released this year. We had some great debut albums and myriad later releases, in a year that has so far released few of the albums I was excited about (Radiohead, The Strokes, Arcade Fire) but still has managed to keep me highly entertained.
So here it is: my list of the best, the most interesting, the quirkiest, and the stuff I just love to listen to; all combined into a no-order-necessary and no-nonsense list. Check out the tracks, buy the albums, and as always – enjoy the music.
Band Of Horses – Infinite Arms
Laredo
Ben Sollee & Daniel Martin Moore – Dear Companion
Dear Companion
The Black Keys – Brothers
Black Mud
Crystal Castles – Crystal Castles
Baptism
Gil Scott-Heron – I’m New Here
Me And The Devil
Joanna Newsom – Have One On Me
Occident
LCD Soundsystem – This Is Happening
Pow Pow
Local Natives – Gorilla Manor
Who Knows, Who Cares
The Morning Benders – Big Echo
Pleasure Sighs
Anyone’s Ghost
Owen Pallet – Heartland
Midnight Directives
Preservation Hall Jazz Band – Album To Benefit Preservation Hall & The Preservation Hall Music Outreach Program
There Is A Light
The Roots – How I Got Over
Dear God 2.0
Infinity Guitars
Surfer Blood – Astro Coast
Harmonix
The Tallest Man On Earth – The Wild Hunt
Burden Of Tomorrow
Troubled Souls Unite 
I love half these albums, hate the other half. boy am I polar.