It's just past the midway point of the year, so why not rank my favorite albums so far this year? Of course, there are plenty of things that I still need to check out and as the numbers get bigger, the rankings are looser/less precise.
1. My Bloody Valentine -- m b v: I'm not someone who grew up with Loveless...didn't even get my copy until years after the fact. But I love that sound, and hearing a bunch more great songs with that sound is great.
2. Rhye -- Woman: Two dudes make an awesome Sade inspired R & B/pop album.
3. Queens Of The Stone Age -- ...Like Clockwork: This was a bit of a grower, but now it hits hard. This band has always had a central sound, and Josh Homme finds subtle ways to play around with it.
4. Lady -- Lady: An awesome retro '70s soul album, for those who miss Honey Cone and others of that ilk.
5. Laura Marling -- Once I Was An Eagle: Massive talent is finally finding her own sound. Such a powerful folk-rock presence.
6. Pretty & Nice -- Golden Rules For Golden People: Quirky rock in the vein of early XTC, The Sugarplastic, etc.
7. Thao and The Get Down Stay Down -- We The Common: Her earlier work with Merrill Garbus of Tune-Yards has paid off, adding a percussive dimension to her blend of folk, blues and rock.
8. Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats -- Mind Control: The '70s metalisms touted are overstated. They are there, but with a stoner rock vibe and hooks that remind me of Supergrass.
9. James Blake -- Overgrown: If Thom Yorke made an electronic soul album, it might sound like this, but the vocals wouldn't be as good.
10. Georgia Anne Muldrow & Dudley Perkins -- The Lighthouse: Singer-wife and rapper-husband make '70s styled hip hop/soul album, with overtones of Erykah Badu, Marvin Gaye and Curtis Mayfield, among others.
11. Laura Mvula -- Sing To The Moon: Stunning new talent, Mvula teams with Rumer's old producer on modern pop numbers with strong soul and jazz vibes.
12. Savages -- Silence Yourself: Great post-punk rock sounds with a very compelling frontwoman. I think the best may be yet to come from this band.
13. Kanye West -- Yeezus: Audacious, exciting, in your face music that Kanye finds a way to bend into something catchier than its influences, with lyrics that are alternatively angry, acidic and asinine.
14. Suede -- Bloodsports: I've liked all of their albums but would not have expected such a strong comeback. Perhaps their best since Dog Man Star.
15. Milk Music -- Cruise Your Illusion: A throwback band that garners comparisons to Dinosaur Jr., but I hear a lot of Gun Club in some of their tunes.
16. Billy Bragg -- Tooth & Nail: A fine batch of Bragg tunes with Joe Henry recording them quickly, this is his best in a long time.
17. Nightlands -- Oak Island: Keyboard oriented indie pop with plenty of hooks.
18. Beach Fossils -- Clash The Truth: Some of the excitement has dissipated on this, but the mix of Cloud Nothings style poppiness with shoegaze sounds is still really nice.
19. Corin Ashley -- New Lion Terraces: A sublime '70s styled power pop record, with heavy Emmit Rhodes vibes.
20. The Features -- The Features: Plenty of great songs, but missing a certain something, so it's merely very good instead of great.
Honorable Mentions: The Besnard Lakes, Sparks, Mikal Cronin, British Sea Power, The Flaming Lips
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1 comment:
Great list as always. I like what I've heard off of Queens Of The Stone Age and need to dig in deeper. Same with Lady. Based on your descriptions, I need to jump on checking out Pretty & Nice and Corin Ashley.
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