1. Colin Stetson – A History of Modern Warfare Vol – 2
2. St. Vincent – Strange Mercy
3. Ambrose Akinmusire – When the Heart Emerges Glistening
4. Julianna Barwick – The Magic Place
5. Anima Eterna Brugge & Jos van Immerseel - Poulenc: Concerto for Two Pianos/Concert Champêtre/Suite Française – (Classical)
6. Bill Callahan - Apocalypse
7. Matana Roberts – Coin Coin Chapter 1: Gen De Couleur Libres
8. Panda Bear – Tomboy
9. Kurt Elling – The Gate
10. PJ Harvey – Let England Shake
11. Steven Mackey – Dream House – (Classical)
12. Shabazz Palaces – Black Up
13. Wild Beasts – Smother
14. Trio Medieavel – A Warchester Ladymass – (Classicalish?)
15. Alexandre Desplat – Tree of Life (Motion Picture Soundtrack)
16. Radiohead – The King of Limbs
17. Colin Stetson – Those Who Didn’t Run EP
18. Muhal Richard Abrams – Sound Dance
19. Tom Waits – Bad As Me
20. Claudia quintet +1 – What Is the Beautiful?
21. Atlas Sound – Parallax
22. Cliff Martinez – Drive (Motion Picture Sound Track)
23. Verdi – Messa Da Requiem – (Classical)
24. Jenny Hval – Viscera
25. Destroyer - Kaputt
26. Mathew Shipp - The Art of the Improviser
27. Gillian Welch – The Harrow and the Harvest
28. Captain Black Big Band – Captain Black Big Band
29. Gang Gang Dance – Eye Contact
30. Wye Oak - Civilian
31. Stephen Drury, Scott Deal, Callithumpian Consort and John Luther Adams – Four Thousand Holes (Classical)
32. Bon Iver – Bon Iver
33. Mathew Herbert – Pig One
34. Laura Marling – A Creature I Do Not Know
35. Erik Friedlander – Bonebridge
36. Iceage – New Brigade
37. TuneYards – Whokill
38. John Adams -Son of Chamber Symphony/String Quartet – (Classical)
39. Tim Hecker – Ravedeath 1972
40. Vijay Iyer – Tirtha
41. The Antlers – Burst Apart
42. Joe Lovano Us Five – Bird Songs
43. Burial – Halo EP
44. Josh T. Pearson – The Last of The Country Gentlemen
45. Trent Reznor – Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (Motion Picture Soundtrack)
46. Chad Vangaalen – Diaper Island
47. Takacs Quartet, Joseph Haydn – Haydn: string Quatets Op.74 – (Classical)
48. The Weeknd – Thursday
49. The Weeknd – House of Balloons
50. Kate Bush – 50 Words For Snow

Is this a personal list or an EOY list from a critic?

Personal list. I'll compile 100 come list submission time. I do however contribute to the music column of my local newspaper. It lends itself more towards classical music.

Really nice list, Lethem.

Great album. This is an example of the kind of experimental music that I just love.

I enjoyed this whole list Lethem, it deserves to be published in a newspaper.