A quick note or two before this list begins. This is a ranked list of my favorite albums of the year, not necessarily the albums I thought were the best. Also, I am terrible with putting music to the correct genre.
Honorable Mentions: Courtney Barnett- Sometimes I Sit and
Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit / Youth Lagoon- Savage Hills Ballroom / FIDLAR-
Too / Alabama Shakes- Sound and Color / Anna Von Hausswolff- The Miraculous
10. Haiku Salut- Etch and Etch Deep
Starting off this list is a band self-described as
dream-pop-post-folk-neo-everything. While that may be a little tongue-in-cheek,
it does describe the ethereal and atmospheric nature of this album. Haiku Salut
to me sounds like early Múm mixed with some Dan Deacon. This is an extremely
pleasant instrumental album with distinct and lovely individual tracks. An
album to listen to when you need to be taken far away and enveloped in music.
Favorite Track: You Dance a Particular Algorithm
9. U.S. Girls- Half Free
For whatever reason, I thoroughly enjoy albums that can make
me feel uncomfortable. As an album focused on the spirit-breaking effects of
sexism, Half Free does just that. Everything about this album exudes an infectious darkness. With cavernous reverb and jarringly bright percussion
looping in the background of many songs, this album feels like it belongs in an 80’s throwback thriller similar to Nightcrawler. Some people might be turned
off of Meghan Remy’s haunting vocal style, but to me, they just add to this
album’s captivating aesthetic.
Favorite Track: Woman’s Work
8. Girlpool- Before the World was Big
I am constantly forgetting that this band is made up of just
two women on guitar and bass. The amazing harmonizing of both voice and
instrument make this band sound much bigger than they really are. Before the
World was Big is an improvement and maturation of the already great sound of
their self-titled first release. Beyond having endlessly catchy melodies and a
surprisingly consistent track list, this is an album that feels relatable to
anyone. As the title implies, this album is a reminiscing about being young and
without adult responsibilities. A theme that fits in perfectly with the
simplicity of the band itself.
Favorite Track: Cherry Picking
7. Kendrick Lamar- To Pimp a Butterfly
This is the most acclaimed release of the year, and for good
reason. Honestly, everything I like about this album has been talked about
somewhere else more eloquently. I will say that this album took a few listens
to click with me, but when it did it became instantly clear why this album has
become so important to so many people. This album is smart, relevant,
emotional, jazzy, experimental, and practically endorsed by the POTUS. It’s
your American duty to give it another shot.
Favorite Track: u
6. Sleater-Kinney- No Cities to Love
What an astounding reunion record. It keeps with the trend
of Sleater-Kinney albums feeling powerful as all hell while still being able to
tweak their sound in exciting ways. No Cities to Love is part of the continuing
evolution of the punk rock sound this band has been playing with since the
beginning. The guitars absolutely shred, and both Carrie and Corrin can explode
in their vocals. Yet, as aggressive as their sound is, the quality on this
album is fantastic. Drums, guitars, and banshees all right in your face ready
to blow you away.
Favorite Track: Bury Our Friends
5. Happyness- Weird Little Birthday
This album is like a comfy blanket to me. There are a few
things that stand out on this album. Firstly, there is something inherently
nostalgic about Happyness as they fuse elements of emo and early indie rock
with shoegazey vocals. Secondly, this album is so pleasantly quiet. It draws
the listener in and calms every emotion so very well. This isn’t to say that
the album can’t get loud, just that there is a restraint that holds this album
together. Maybe the most interesting flair on this album is its strangeness.
The lyrics border on the surreal, goofy, and even childish at times. Let this album
wash over you to rinse worries away.
Favorite Track: Lofts
4. Sufjan Stevens- Carrie & Lowell
Sufjan Stevens may be one of the most eloquent songwriters
of this generation. When he writes an album as exposed as this, it is
impossible not to get emotional. As the story of him coming to grips with the
death of his mother who had abandoned him as a child, one can feel the weight
of the years of restrained emotion that crashed down from this event being
worked through and lifted. Musically, this album has cut back on the electronic
and orchestral flair more recent Sufjan albums have contained. This choice fits
so perfectly with an album as driven by grief as this. This may not be Sufjan
Steven’s greatest record, but it feels like far and away his most heartfelt.
Favorite Track: The Only Thing
3. Lady Lamb- After
I’ve already explained my love for Lady Lamb on this blog,
and I’m happy to announce that this album is also a joy to listen to. The songs
on this album are a journey taking you across a myriad rhythms and melodies all
while staying totally engaging. While listening to the elegant voice of Aly
Spaltro, you often feel a kind of soaring dreaminess. This album is also a more
personal album than her first release focusing on specific events in her life.
This compliments the borderline rambling style of songwriting that appears on
here. This is a fantastic folk record that stays exciting from start to finish.
Favorite Track: Milk
Duds
2. Eskimeaux- O.K.
This is a deceptively powerful record. On the surface it
seems to be an adorable indie pop record. One with a knack for melody and an
almost dream like atmosphere. And the album is these things. It is a heavenly
album to comfort when feeling blue. However, digging deeper into this album
reveals that it is an incredibly genuine look at friendship and relationships.
Much of this album is dedicated to common fears. Fears of being alone, fears of
losing touch, and fears of staying in situations that make us miserable. But,
the album is also filled with the joy that comes in facing these fears. It’s
hard for me to really describe the effect this album has had. It is an album
that holds your hand and listens through heartbreak while it reassures you that
things do get better.
Favorite Track: The Thunder Answered Back
1. Hop Along- Painted Shut
I think this album has almost everything I love music. A
vocal lead that never seems afraid to absolutely belt it out, backing that just
begs to be tapped along to, lyrics that make you want to shout along, and a
soundscape that can paint the picture of where it belongs (Appalachia to me).
Frances Quinlan is truly what makes this band special with a unique kind of strain
in her voice that serves to amplify the raw emotion felt in the songs. The
content of the songs themselves is also something to note. It can range from
the common, like seeing an ex and their friends at the place where you work, to
the serious, like trying to save a kid from abuse but not having enough detail to
bring to some kind of authority. No matter what the story, it’s the kind of
music that makes you want to know more. To deepen the connection that this band
has already made.
Favorite Tracks: Waitress, I Saw My Twin, Sister Cities
Your description of Weird Little Birthday made me really excited to listen again. For some reason I bought it on vinyl halfway through the year and then stopped listening.
ReplyDeleteIn response to how much you liked U.S. Girls- did you listen to Jenny Hval's album from 2015? It was that same sort of make you uncomfortable but with a really deep and arty statement about gender thing.
If you didn't get to see Hop Along or Eskimeaux live last year I hope you can see them soon because they're both sick live!
I actually edited out a part of my description where I said the US Girls album filled the void after Jenny Hval left me a little disappointed. Though, to be fair, Innocence Is Kinky set the bar rediculously high in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely been digging the U.S. Girls album a lot lately, but I don't think I've listened to it enough times for it to merit a spot on my list. Hopefully I'll be ahead of the game next year and actually listen to more albums when they come out, instead of putting them off until the end of the year!
ReplyDeleteI also really liked the Eskimeux album, but kind of blocked it out of my memory after listening to it, because I think I only came back to it once. They also released another album this year, but never got around to listening to that one.
7 of these albums were ones that were on my list as well, so I'm digging it.
ReplyDeleteHop Along put out an absolutely lovely album. Her voice just strains so perfectly under the weight of what she's saying. The guitar work being impressive is a nice bonus too.
O.K. is one I loved the first time I heard it. It kinda got lost in the shuffle for me in the weeks after its release, but it has staying power in my rotation. It is a gorgeous and layered record.
You know how I feel about Sleater-Kenney. I tried with that album many times. Just something about the vocals puts me off, even though I normally like that sort of thing. Oh well. The guitars are incredible though.
Nice list! Lots of albums on here I haven't checked out at all so I'm looking forward to delving into this much deeper. I listened to Milk Duds by Lady Lamb and The Thunder Answered Back by Eskimeux and I enjoyed both tracks so I'm definitely going to give both albums a good listen. Also really great writing.
ReplyDelete