A tradition continues. Another great year of music. Here are my picks...
19. Drab Majesty - “Modern Mirror”
With each new wave of 80’s Revisitism, there’s at least one act that transcends the lazy/boring minimalist synth trappings of their Gen Z hipster brethren and delivers something I can engage with. Yes, it’s icy and consciously dark (in a way I appreciate), but there’s a direct earnestness that sweeps it back onto shore and allows it to thrive among living, breathing humankind (which I appreciate even more).
18. Hammock - “Silencia”
Some quasi music-journo shitwipe went and labeled a bunch of music I like as “crescendo-core”. To that I say, A) “Hardcore” was an actual sub-sect of punk rock and that was it’s actual name. No other “core”s are necessary or valid. 2) Boxes are for marketers, not fans. D) Kill yourself. Rant complete, let’s just say when Hammock puts out an album it ends up on my list. “Silencia” is yet another meditative, heart-swelling collection of modern opuses that are equally game to either soothe or inspire.
17. Erika Wennerstrom - “Sweet Unknown”
The Heartless Bastards frontwoman steps out on her own and makes a strong case for staying there. A big fan of that band’s first two records, I’ve found their subsequent squirts to be less than Less-Than. Following Wennerstrom into “Sweet Unknown” is a worthy leap of faith.
16. Robbie Robertson - “Sinematic”
I’ve long had a soft spot for Robbie Robertson’s late-night, talk-sung tales and their accompanying textures, but “Sinematic” was a true surprise. At 76, he owns the gravity of his years but remains playful in expression, both lyrically and sonically. Purpley soul, gritty grooves and grainy tube licks permeate this remarkable collection of musical poems.
15. Rina Mushonga - “In A Galaxy”
Hats off to the Spotify Machine for putting this under my nose when no one else did. A truly fresh voice that politely declines classification.
14. Elbow - “Giants Of All Sizes”
While Elbow have yet to outdo the eternal brilliance of “The Seldom Seen Kid”, “Giants” comes closer than any of their intervening releases. The band is working with a full set of paints again and Guy Garvey’s buttered-gravel rasp is as dismantling as ever.
13. & 12. Foals - “Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost (Parts 1 & 2)
If you release two companion albums in the same year and they’re BOTH great…? You get to take up two full spots on my countdown. This is a truly dynamic, skilled, inventive and accomplished band that should be bigger than they are. If you’re not a Foals fan by now, it’s because you haven’t listened to Foals.
11. Tool - “Fear Inoculum”
You want to hate on it. But you can’t. Because it fucking rocks.
10. HAELOS - “Any Random Kindness”
Another casual-pass listen that became a playcount pimp. What I assumed would be innocuous indie pop wallpaper got its hooks in quick and never let go. Layered, heartfelt and unexpectedly groovy.
9. Finn Andrews - “One Piece At A Time”
I’ve been an unwavering Veils fan from Day 1. So a Finn solo turn had big shoes to fill. This does so handily and wears them with aplomb. Gorgeous and achey without being dour. A solid homer.
8. Thom Yorke - “Anima”
Not only is this Thom’s best solo album with a bullet, it’s leaps and bounds better than the last Radiohead outing. If my home A/V setup got to vote, this would probably be it’s #1.
7. Angelo de Augustine - “Tomb”
Generally speaking, I hate surprises. Unless it comes to stumbling across an artist like Angelo de Augustine. I don’t even know how he ended up on my radar, but his honeydrip falsetto crawled straight through my eardrums and into my heart. If you’ve been in the market for a Sufjan/Bon Iver hybrid that squarely occupies its own ground, Angelo’s your guy.
6. Angel Olsen - “All Mirrors”
When an album is released via a firehose of hype, it often gets moved to the back burner of my Investigation queue. It’s a knee jerk contrarianism that I’m not proud of, but it happens. I enjoyed 2014’s “Burn Your Fire For No Witness”, but wasn’t in a rush to check this one out. My loss. It's a remarkable piece of work. If you put mid-80’s Kate Bush into a mid-90’s trip-hop blender and sprinkle in some mid-century reverb…
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you’ll realize that comparisons are lazy and reductive and you should just go listen to this wonderful album.
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you’ll realize that comparisons are lazy and reductive and you should just go listen to this wonderful album.
5. Jack Peñate - “After You”
Waiting 10 years for an album almost guarantees disappointment. Jack Peñate not only beats those high expectations but somehow manages to overdeliver. Equally bruised and danceable, it’s the most soulful bunch of brooders you’ll ever shake your ass to.
4. Strand of Oaks - “Eraserland”
My love for Timothy Showalter’s enduring (and endearing) music geekery can be summed up in an unlikely tweet exchange I had with him a couple years ago. A wide range of influences cohere perfectly to showcase a truly unique musical point of view. Solidly his best and worth your full attention.
3. Steve Gunn - “The Unseen In Between”
This record brings Steve Gunn from mere indie road trip shuffle-fodder to full complex musical greatness. My 2019 spincount king. An easy and rewarding repeater.
2. Andrew Bird - “My Finest Work Yet”
The title of Bird’s latest renders capsules unnecessary. It is. And how.
1. Joe Henry - "The Gospel According To Water"
A terminal cancer diagnosis inspires the most life-affirming album of the year. And Henry’s best musical achievement since “Blood From Stars”. Hopefully not his final statement, but worthy-as-fuck if it is.
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