This Week: South Africa’s intriguing weirdo rave / rap crew Die Antwoord bring TEN$ION; A darker, draftier Of Montreal; Blondes DIY electronica; Dr. Dog is on album number seven; Sharon Van Etton has guest spots for Beirut, The National and The Walkmen.

Around this time each year we have the ask, has the whole world gone list crazy? And yes, we have, and ours go to eleven. Here’s our favorites this year.

This Week: Kate Bush gives us 50 Words For Snow; Rihanna’s all sexed up – with guests!; Mary J.’s album title is impressive, thankfully the album is too. Yelawolf’s big debut on Eminem’s label; Neutral Milk Hotel’s history in a vinyl box set.

This Week: Drake is back with superstar guests; Swedish electronic outfit Korallreven’s debut; Pterodactyl is noisy and bright; 31 years of R.E.M.; A synth-phonic release from Tycho.

This Week: Coldplay’s neon spray-painted fifth album; Justice’s return is not completely triumphant; Surfer Blood continues their pop craft on a four-song EP; Deer Tick’s liveliest album yet; Denver foursome Woodsman get loud.

This Week: M83 impresses with a double-disc; Real Estate’s Days of sunny surf pop; Gauntlet Hair is intriguing, but…; Brooklyn folk singer Elizabeth Harper is reinvented as Class Actress; My Brightest Diamond’s greatest gem is her voice.

It’s really upsetting – that moment when you realize the two of you are just headed in different directions and there’s nothing to be done about it. Maybe you can wish them well and move forward, but it’s hard to get over the hurt. Breaking up with one of your favorite bands just sucks. Relive the pain with us, five times over.

This Week: James Blake brings Enough Thunder; Future Islands’ third album is solid; Bjork is weird and wonderful; Still Corners’ dark lullabies.

This Week: DJ Shadow pulls from endless sources; Brooklyn’s Exitmusic is dreamy but lacking substance; We Were Promised Jet Packs’ sophomore effort is fun; Zola Jesus just might cross over; Feist is back after four years with Metals.

This Week: Wilco fans will rejoice; Twin Sister trumps all the buzz; Gem Club’s beautiful tragedy; blog-star Youth Lagoon’s much-awaited debut; Mastodon brings heavy riffs and a sense of loss.