Member Since: 9/15/2012
Posts: 22,487
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Quote:
Originally posted by Tymps.
Surprise, bitches! I decided to really quickly also do my top 10 albums! Here was the criteria:
- The album could be released any year as long as I started listening to it in 2016.
- Only one album per artist.
and yeah lol I think that's it so here's my list!
| 10. Queen of Denmark
John Grant
Sorry lovesong! This whole album is definitely a little crude, lacking subtlety and sometimes over the top. But, I don't know, I enjoy listening to it! It's good music for walks through the suburbs filled with ennui. There's a lot of humour here, whether intentional or not, on tracks like Sigourney Weaver or Jesus Hates F*ggots (yes that's the song title). And sometimes, on tracks like It's Easier or Outer Space, it can be really really beautiful and give you those lumberjack gay in the wintery woods feels. I think John Grant does a lot with a little here. | . | . | | 9. Skiptracing
Mild High Club
This album is one of those albums that creates its own world and it's so cool. It's very indie-chic but there's a little bit of jazz in there too on songs like Head Out. The whole album is kind of dream-like. To be honest I didn't listen to this album that much because there wasn't a song that on its own really stood out to me but this is an outstanding body of work. It doesn't need to reinvent the wheel. It will make you feel sort of nostalgic by using familiar-sounding melodies and such but also experiments a little and establishes its own identity too. | . | . | | 8. Troubadour
The Stepkids
There are some really cool tracks on this album. After all, four(!) tracks from the ten-song record made my list of the top songs! Unfortunately there are also a couple big duds (Insecure Troubadour, Bitter Bug). But the rest of the album is really cool! I sort of feel like it's music made more for musicians; there's a lot of subtle touches that an ear trained in theory might pick out more, like the poly-rhythms in Art of Forgetting. The production is great; there are so many layers and lots of nuance. Overall, though, it's just some super fun, meaningless white-boy soul that doesn't need to be deep and heartfelt most of the time. | . | . | | 7. Corpo-Mente
Corpo-Mente
This album kind of blew my mind. It's this crazy fusion of opera with prog rock, and normally I hate both of those things, but now that they're together it's so cool and interesting. The album is dark and intense. At the very least, you have never heard anything like it before. This album didn't have any huge standout tracks for me but Scylla is the most hooky. I think this album is proof positive that the point of music isn't always to be pretty. There's something engaging about the ugliness of the sound at times. | . | . | | 6. ESKA
ESKA
ESKA has this amazing musical maturity. Listening to her album, you get the feeling she's worked in every genre and has now decided she wants to transcend it. Of course, the power and uniqueness of her voice are a big plus, but it's the unique atmosphere of the songs that will stick the most. ESKA crafts her songs in an incredibly creative way, and takes new and innovative approaches to how her songs operate. Every song is full of pure, unironic emotion. This one's a grower, mostly because it's so different from other music out there. | . | . | | 5. GARY
MANGELWURZEL
Okay, so the sound quality of this album makes it pretty clear it's straight off of Bandcamp. But god, it's so fun! It's totally off the walls and it knows just when to pull its punches. The album is so weird and idiosyncratic; it's the perfect album to dance like a spaz to. The vocalist is such a talent. She sounds pretty when it's appropriate but also knows when to howl and scream. The band's style is so explosive and engaging. I hear this band is amazing live so if they're ever near you you should go to see them | . | . | | 4. Heatwarmer
Heatwarmer
I have a hard time explaining why I love this album so much. I think a good way to articulate it is that its childlike innocence will remind you of the childlike innocence within yourself. The music, while not sacrificing high levels of musicality, is so purely happy that it reminds you of the parts of yourself that are purely happy as well. The album is uncool and perfectly so. It makes me feel like an immature, happy dork and I love it. The huge arrangements are so pleasing to the ear. | . | . | | 3. The Ashen Tang
Royce Wood Junior
I feel like this album is a breath of fresh air. So many artist don't try to do anything new, and many of the ones that do totally disregard the other side of things (i.e. making a good song still). The Ashen Tang is so cool because it keeps the listener in mind but also experiments with electronic effects and song form. There are those songs that are instantly accessible like Midnight, but even those have something more complex going on. It's all very tactful. Few artists are both experimental and fun, and Royce has a voice of gold too. Listen with headphones. | . | . | | 2. Emily's D+Evolution
Esperanza Spalding
Man, is this album cool! Esperanza Spalding is always switching it up album to album and this was totally different from everything she's done before. I'll admit I didn't like it at first, and you probably won't too, but something about this clicked for me. The level of musicianship on this album is intense and it's pretty breathtaking just to listen to the sheer amount of skill and creativity present. It's so crazy to me Esperanza even came up with the concept for this album and its sound because I could never. | . | . | | 1. Spirit Phone
Lemon Demon
People who know me know that if I really, really love a song or an album, I can honestly talk about it for hours straight. This, for me, is one of those albums. I think I read or heard or something that this album took ten years and you can really hear it in the music. Every single sound, every single minute detail is polished and intentional. This album really creates a whole entire digital 80's sounding video game fantasy. It's explosive and in your face and it always lifts up my mood. (I have to stop myself here dd) |
This is really the end of my Best Of! Thanks to everyone for listening! I hope you found something you enjoy!
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bump for the new page!
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