Matthew Dear's Black City. Dirty, dirty synth pop that people seem to affiliate with James Murphy/LCD Soundsystem, but I think it's more in the vein of The Knife. Also, he's got a voice that would make the Marianas Trench jealous

Matthew Dear is awesome. Beams was one of my favorites from 2012:

Alexander Spit - A Breathtaking Trip to That Otherside

Odd, spacey, beats sometimes crunk-ish, other times escaping into weird, hallucinogenic interludes. His flow might not be everyone's cup of tea: Southern hip-hop-ish with affected vocals. I haven't really absorbed the lyrics fully yet, but this is just a great-- if not long, hip hop album (17 songs). It easily qualifies as the best hip hop album I've heard in a very long time.

http://www.vibe.com/sites/vibe.com/f...spit_e_40.jpeg

http://coolestsound.jp/mt/agenda/arc...2BL._SL500.jpg

Mayumi Kojima - Blue Rondo

Very nice Japanese Jazz-Pop. Look forward to listening to more of her work.

https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/i...gKRwMwe2LFAJla
My Bloody Valentine - m b v

It just wouldn't be right for me to not mention this album here because, well, this week I have been immensely digging it. It more than met my expectations, and that really doesn't happen often. I also think this and Loveless are different enough to the point where sometimes I may actually be in the mood for Loveless, sometimes for this. I can already tell you this will be in my top 10 of 2013 by the end of the year.

https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/i...iiKarBovsXXXhj
The History of Apple Pie - Out of View

If you like Lush, the Jesus and Mary Chain, or just shoegaze in general (or all of the above), you will probably enjoy this. Nothing earth-shattering, but highly addictive.

https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/i...p0Q3deaVO1odp1
Bleeding Rainbow - Yeah Right

Kind of along the same vein as the above mentioned album, but a bit more catchy and bit more alternative. Also highly addictive.

Autechre - Exai

I'm a casual Autechre fan, and this is already my favorite of theirs. I have previous experience with Amber, Tri Repetae and LP5. It's a tad more accessible than their other stuff, which is a plus for me. I would take this over something like Flying Lotus or ISAM any day of the week.

Nice! I was wondering if Beams was substantially different from Black City, because although I enjoy Black City, it's pretty samey throughout and I didn't know if I was ready for another album of sameyness. But Beams sounds a bit different, at least based on this song.

Yes, it's my favorite of his. Get it now (or PM).

http://cdn.stereogum.com/files/2012/...on-Memory2.jpg
Excellent guitar oriented indie rock. Sort of like And You Will Know Us By The Trail of Dead. I was late in getting this but I can't stop listening.

I haven't posted on the music side of this board in months and I miss the feedback I could have been receiving from MusicBanterers over that time.

The Rural Alberta Advantage - Hometowns (2009)

http://blog.muchmusic.com/wp-content...LAComplex5.jpg

This has been my favorite musical discovery of the past year or so. Beautifully lamentful love songs about a time and place, they blend acoustic singer-songwriter with pop synths and they've got one helluva drummer.

Kendrick Lamar - Good Kid M.A.A.D City (2012)

http://kendricklamar.org/wp-content/...-maad-city.jpg

Y'all know this one. Album of the Year.

The Karl Hendricks Trio - The Adult Section (2012)

http://www.lowtimespodcast.com/wp-co...lt-Section.jpg

I attempt to describe their sound as "Dinosaur Jr. meets Superchunk". True, they are from the 90s Chapel Hill indie rock scene, but Karl has guitar chops Superchunk never dreamed of.

Joyce Manor - Joyce Manor (2011)

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IGhxghrcRb...ce%2BManor.jpg

I've really gotten into these 90s emo revival bands, and I think Joyce does it better than anybody else. 'Constant Headache' is a goddamn brilliant song that should strike the appeal of anybody who enjoys abrasive indie rock.

Snowing - I Could Do Whatever I Wanted If I Wanted (2011)

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m2...1458_cover.jpg

This is my other favorite emo revival album I've discovered. I listened to 'Damp Feathers' for days and couldn't get the guitar riff out of my head.

Swearin' - Swearin' (2012)

http://images.plixid.com/imager/w_50...c7fbc41828.jpg
I dunno if I would go as far as to say they are part of this emo revival--I think they just love 90s indie rock. The album is littered with catchy indie tunes you'll want to sing along with.

We Were Promised Jet Packs - These Four Walls (2009)

http://www.cluas.com/indie-music/Por...edJetpacks.jpg

Full-bodied Scottish vocals and awesome post-punk riffs fill the album. 'Quiet Little Voices' is the best indie rock song you've never heard.

California X - California X (2012)

http://exclaim.ca/images/cali1.jpg

It got released too late in the year for end-of-the-year lists, but this one would have been up there for me. They keep J Mascis's dream of indie rock guitar alive--they're from AMHERST after all! 'Pond Rot' and 'Hot Hed' are killer songs.

The Men - Open Your Heart (2012)

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...500_SS500_.jpg

I think these guys are the next big thing in indie rock (even bigger than they are now). They display their tremendous range in distinctive tracks like 'Turn it Around' and 'Candy'. They're gonna be HUGE.

Hop Along - Get Disowned (2012)

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mb...35o1_cover.jpg

Dunno how to categorize their sound other than beautifully emotional. They seem to share qualities of folk punk's passion and post-punk's experimentation all the while having pop sensibilities.