What, in your opinion is the best Indie Rock/Pop album of the year so far?

Will I get best answer if I say Contra? ^_^

Nah I'm just kidding :) but I am actually really obsessed with that album. Like, it's been almost 8 months and I STILL listen to it all the time.

My runner-up is Teen Dream, by Beach House. Or Congratulations, by MGMT, but pffft that's not indie...

I'm going to assume you mean "indie" as in the sound, not a financial/legal term. Since, for example, the Drums are signed to Island, owned by Universal Music Group.

So, I'll say:

Charlotte Gainsbourg - IRM (released in the States in 2010 and still the best album I've heard this year...)

Gorillaz - Plastic Beach is a close runner-up, as are Broken Bells' album and MGMT's Congratulations.

I feel like giving a top 5.

1. Broken Bells - Broken Bells

2. Josh Ritter - So Runs The World Away

3. The National - High Violet

4. Spoon - Transference

5. Massive Attack - Heligoland

Two side notes: 1. After hearing the single from Ray LaMontagne's new album I just can't wait for it to be released. 2. I was really disappointed in Joe Pug's first full length album but I guess it would be really hard to follow up an amazing EP like Nation Of Heat.

Broken Bells - Broken Bells

Teen Dream - Beach House

Both very solid albums, I was impressed. Also I agree "Indie" has come to define a "genre" of sorts (perhaps more of a "musical ideology" such as "Progressive" but we can call both "genres" I guess).

It is useless to bring up the financial term because for example you wouldn't call independent jazz "indie".

Indie =/= Independent, anymore.

Free Energy - Stuck on Nothing

A Great Big Pile of Leaves - Have You Seen My Prefrontal Cortex?

Surfer Blood - Astro Coast

If you're willing to consider The Black Keys indie than they win hands down.

I haven't got to listen to the new Arcade Fire album yet. Hopefully I'll get to buy in the next day or two.

Anyway, I'm not sure if it would be considered indie rock but I'd say Becoming A Jackel by Villagers. Here's the title track if you haven't heard any of their music yet.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hg0UsO5SFb8&feature...

The National - High Violet

The Tallest Man on the Earth - The Wild Hunt

Broken Bells - s/t

Delorean - Subiza

Not in order

I'm not an indie fan, so I can't pretend to have listened to a lot of that this year. But if this fits, then my answer is 'Disconnect From Desire' by School of Seven Bells.

Have One on Me by Joanna Newsom is basically the best "indie rock/pop" album ever, even if it's not exactly any of that.

I do have great hopes for Arcade Fire, but I adored Contra. I think my favorite album so far, though, may be Congratulations (MGMT).

Congratulations or Contra.

Expo 86 (Wolf Parade) was great, too. I'd like to buy it.