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20

William Fitzsimmons
The Sparrow and the Crow
(Independent)

The illegitimate love child of Sam Beam and Sufjan Stevens (ew), his craft ever improves, and his intimate, humble croon ever swoons.

19

Cloud Cult
Feel Good Ghosts
(Rebel Group)

Terrible cover art and typography aside, this Minnesotan experimental Baroque pop collective known for playing amazing live shows and polarizing music snobs everywhere has crafted a rambunctious, impossible-to-ignore record.

18

Denison Witmer
Carry the Weight
(The Militia Group)

For the first real time ever, he ties himself to the anchoring of a full backing band, instantly losing some of the intimacy he is adored for but making up for it with new moods, feelings, and lovely compositional colors.

17

Aaron Espe
Songs from A Small Town
(Independent)

Espe wears hats of Damien Rice, John Mayer, and James Taylor without any of the fanfare, arrogance, or preconception. The perfect collection of unknown folk songs. Instantly singable, effortlessly lovable, and incredibly well for the wear.

16

Pink & Blue
Waterdeep
(Independent)

Christian music’s most ambitious and shape-shifting husband and wife duo shed more of their worship-leading past for the big wide world of quirky folk-pop. Waterdeep gains fresh new ideas and lovely new melodies in the process.

15

Andy Shauf
Darker Days
(Shameless Records Canada)

The soon-to-be Canadian folk star’s label debut contains years worth of his brilliantly simple crowd favorites, and flexes his seemingly limitless songwriting potential, a la Sondre Lerche, Sufjan Stevens, and Paul Simon.

14
Anathallo
Canopy Glow
(Anticon)

Sure, part of our adoration for Anathallo (and, particularly, the resurrected Anathallo) has to do with a weakness for this kind of stuff: never-ending vocal harmonies, handclaps and group hugs. But there’s no denying Canopy Glow, from first to tenth listen, is intoxicating. [Review]

13

Brooke Fraser
Albertine
(Wood & Bone)

Ditching the oceanic worship supergroup responsible for carbon-copy Coldpraise around the world, Brooke Fraser gets as close to subtle, tasteful, and fresh as anything resembling worship music has maybe ever been.

12

Soporus
Atomove Elektrarne EP
(Burnt Toast Vinyl)

A very short collection of beautiful, meandering ambeince, floating without rhyme, reason, or regimen.

11

Bodies of Water
A Certain Feeling
(Secretly Canadian)

Gospel + Tropicalia + Danielson + Randomness – Consistency = A Certain Feeling.

10
Family Force 5
Dance or Die
(Tooth & Nail)

The Christian dancefloor, to the extent such a thing can exist, is littered with examples of colossally bad commercial judgment that led to even more embarrassing music. But that was all before Family Force 5, the band of (mostly) brothers that has shaken down everything anyone thought they knew about Christians and club jams. Irresistible for its enthusiasm, brazen production and wicked melodies, this will always be a Christian pop-culture moment to remember. [Review]

9

Rue Royale
Rue Royale
(Independent)

Instantly fascinating folk-pop wrapped in precious married-couple vocals wrapped in unexpected grooves wrapped in simply wonderful little songs.

8

Doug Burr
The Shawl
(Velvet Blue)

Doug Burr’s fierce sincerity, attention to detail, and timeless southern sound were the perfect fit for an album of word-for-word NASB Psalms.

7

Ben Shive
The Ill-Tempered Klavier
(Independent)

A seasoned studio musician for years, his solo debut is part jazzy Ben Folds, part accesible Richard Swift, and all endlessly underrated folky power pop. A brand new voice of timeless retro melody.

6
The Khrusty Brothers
The Khrusty Brothers
(Independent)

Don Chaffer (of Waterdeep) and his new band piece together the fictional story of an Appalachian family band carrying forth the legacy of their deceased, opium-addicted father, in all its lumbering rock glory. After some awkward lyrical heaviness, deep hurts, and some (almost) rapping, we’re confused, spent, and impressed.

5
Sandra McCracken
Red Balloon
(Independent)

Few albums have the potential to get past the defenses of the listener’s soul so quickly and so poignantly. McCracken sets up camp in the best light of Sheryl Crow’s shadow and begins to clean house, settling for nothing short of her trademark spontaneous perfectionism. Thanks to this record, people will now refer to Derek Webb as Sandra McCracken’s husband.

4
The Mae Shi
HLLLYH
(Phantom Sound & Vision)

Straight from LA’s “The Smell” to Pitchfork’s recommendation list to this very spot, its been a good ride so far for the bizarro mess The Mae Shi. From insane bursts of avant-garde pop to classic-rock power riffs, HLLLYH is a smorgasbord of musical A.D.D. delights.

3
Delta Spirit
Ode to Sunshine
(Rounder)

These “wandering souls” have something to say. Matthew Vasquez, and the rest of Delta Spirit, articulate philosophical and religious angst with an honest bitter passion that’s only accentuated by vicious live performances combining the soulful musicality of the folk rocking 60’s with the anger of the punkish 70’s. Modern music’s been waiting on this revival.

2
Son Lux
At War with Walls & Mazes
(Anticon)

A remix artist in the truest sense, Ryan Lott makes every sample, loop, and stolen idea his beautiful own. Not threatening Greg Gillis’ mixtape throne anytime soon, he lives in precise splice rather than frantic excess. It’s been said that his compositions have the ability to grab you by the collar, throw you the ground, and then apologize.

1
Brooke Waggoner
Heal for the Honey
(Indie Swoon)

There’s an immediate familiar beauty about Heal for the Honey, wrapped in stark originality and an innocent, timeless gift of melody. Equal parts conventional formula and irreverent bombast, it unfolds with song after song of new creative beauty. Out of nowhere, Brooke Waggoner has crafted an elaborate pop masterpiece and stolen the show.