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Reagen
For my first round pick, I have to go with the album I've been going back to again and again more than any other this year, Departing by The Rural Alberta Advantage. Muscle Relaxants and Tornado '87 have both bored a hole into my brain and can't be ejected. It's maybe a little more obvious lyrically than Hometowns, but the musicianship has increased to a scary degree.

Noah
Typical Canadian choice.

Reagen
The odds of me picking an artist that have gotten zero American airplay is about 50/50.

Andrew
I've not heard this record. But if it's Canadian...

Noah
Muscle Relaxants is one of my favorite songs of the year and Departing was high on my list of potential picks. RAA is great. Mel Kiper Jr. loves this pick.

Kim
Todd McShay hates it, though.

Steve
Departing also has the distinction of being the best Neutral Milk Hotel album since In the Aeroplane Over the Sea.

Andrew
Dang. Strong praise. Now I have to hear it. Anyhow, my first pick of this inaugural music draft is the self-titled album from electronic minimalist James Blake. After showing a lot of growth over the course of three EPs last year, Blake has opened himself more on an album that relies more on his quivering, but still strong singing voice. It kind of put me off at first, being such a spare record, but songs like "The Wilhelm Scream" really worm their way into your head and into your heart. And who can say that when it comes to dubstep music?

Andrew
Did no one else hear this album?

Noah
It's an album I've heard a lot about, but the few samples I've heard turned me off. I'll give it another try.

Kim
I've heard selected songs, Andrew...but haven't listened enough to feel comfortable making a judgment call.

Reagen
I think this is what they call "going off the board".

Steve
I've heard good things about James Blake but I've also heard it wouldn't be for me, and I've trusted that endorsement so far.

Anyway, my first pick is luckily enough my favorite record of the year so far, Kiss Each Other Clean by Iron and Wine. I've already fawned over this album on the blog, but here I go again. Sam Beam's maturation as a songwriter and a bandleader is pretty amazing, and the full sound he achieves on this record astounds me.

Noah
I know you defended my Helplessness Blues pick, but...gross. Aside from the Iron & Wine/Calexico EP, I&W has just never done it for me.

Andrew
I can't trash it – I've not heard it. But my girlfriend hated it. And she loved The Shepard's Dog. And I should say, since this is being published on the internet, my girlfriend is rarely wrong...

Kim
I liked Kiss Each Other Clean more than I expected to. Also, my sister is friends with a member of the tour band, so I'll endorse the pick.

Reagen
This is one I haven't gotten to yet but I've never been steered wrong by Iron & Wine yet. However, while I've like Beam's work, they've never really stuck with me as albums.

Steve
Fair enough all. For the wraparound pick I have to go with Adele - 21. I didn't expect to love this album as much as I do, but there you have it. In a world where Amy Winehouse might never make another record, I think I'll cast my lot with her sober doppelganger instead. The ballads and the ravers alike are demonstrations of excellent songwriting.

Andrew
The fact that "Rolling in the Deep" is such a popular song this summer feels so very right.

Noah
My wife loves this album and I have it on my iPhone ready to listen but haven't gotten to it yet.

Steve
Get on it.

Reagen
This is one I'm sorry to see go. While I've found significant flaws in most of the neo blue-eyed soul singers from this recent revival, Adele feels like the real thing. Aside from the obvious vocal chops, there's a depth to the songwriting that is missing in your Joss Stones, your Duffys.





Noah
I do love that she was playing small rooms and mysteriously fell ill and had to cancel the tour, only to reschedule for the fall in arenas...seems legit.

Andrew
I mean really... do you know how long Ke$ha had a No. 1 song?! Thank you America. Every now and then, you get something right.

Andrew
My second pick for the draft goes the complete opposite direction as James Blake. Instead of minimal, how about really loud and epically ambitious? How about the concept album Canadian hardcore band Fucked Up, David Comes to Life? Few bands with such screaming/shouting vocals can rile up my blood quite like these guys. It's an adrenaline shot. But a really artfully made one too.

Kim
This was on my list, Andrew. It's an amazing album.

Reagen
This is another one I have to get to at some point, though I definitely liked what they were doing on The Chemistry of Common Life.

Noah
I have no idea what you're talking about.

Steve
You lost me at Canadian hardcore.

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