In one corner: Flagpole Music Editor Gabe Vodicka, itching to unleash his list of Top 10 non-local albums of the year onto a probably-suspecting public. In the other corner: News Editor Blake Aued, a new father whose awareness of 2014 music is limited to "Shake It Off" and Pharrell's giant hat. From Dec. 22–31, Gabe will count down his list, and Blake will review each album in response.

9. Chris Forsyth and the Solar Motel Band: Intensity Ghost

Gabe: Each year there is talk of the "Death of Rock" in bold, flashing letters, and each year a near-perfect guitar record arrives to vehemently disagree. Intensity Ghost was that record in 2014. Muscular and nuanced, faithful and iconoclastic, Forsyth and his band (who will be in Athens Jan. 8) paid homage to form while also spacing waaaay the fuck out.

Blake: All that time practicing scales really paid off for Chris Forsyth.

Gabe's Top 10, so far:

10. Aphex Twin: Syro
9. Chris Forsyth and the Solar Motel Band: Intensity Ghost