We all love lists, and we all love sarcasm. Though, I think its important to reflect upon the last year of music, I’m going to do so through the use of a list. It was a fantastic year full of awesome albums, and I’m going to count down a bunch of my favorites, and give you something to listen to while reading.
40. Floating Action – Desert Etiquette
Floating Action – Rincon
The dusty, jangly Desert Etiquette is Floating Action’s second release. The album has a great old feeling, its style is rather distinguishably indistinguishable, with elements of many styles, its a little bit surf, a little bit folk, but entirely lo-fi; an almost timeless sound that is lush and full of idiosyncrasies. It pops and hisses, its full of wonderful layers of sound, guitars, guiro, claves, keys, sitar, that all fill in the sound and give this recording a real sense of originality. Favorites include: Eye of a Needle, Modern Gunslinger, and Rincon.
Buy > Desert Etiquette
39. Akron/Family – S/T II: The Cosmic Birth and Journey of Shinju TNT
Akron Family – Silly Bears
Recorded in an abandoned train station, Akron / Family sourced influences from Japanese Noise Cassettes to Cagean Field Recordings (yea I looked it up too) S/T II is actually a lot of fun to listen to. What’s great is every song has it’s own identity, completely separate from each of its album-mates. Each song can be listened to in a vacuum and listened to on it’s own. Favorites include: Silly Bears, , and So It Goes.
Buy > S/T II: The Cosmic Birth And Journey Of Shinju TNT
38. Telekinesis – 12 Desperate Straight Lines
Telekinesis – Car Crash
Michael Benjamin Lerner has about 500 ways to write breakup, heartbreak, & lovelorn songs. What Lerner does so well, is he takes this similarity in theme and puts them into relatively fun, poppy, hooky songs that are a complete façade for these more unpleasant themes. It’s that façade, and Lerner’s whispy, crooning yet poppy voice that make these songs so endearing. I think it’s something that everyone can relate to, sort of covering over loneliness, despair, and heartbreak. The theme is common, but like I said, the songs are so damn catchy. Favorites include: Car Crash, Dirty Thing , and You Turn Clear in the Sun.
Buy > 12 Desperate Straight Lines
37. Mayer Hawthorne – How Do You Do?
Mayer Hawthorne – No Strings
Timeless music that transcends trends, Mayer Hawthorne does it again with his version of 21st century motown and soul. An album full of grooves, sunshine, and catchy songs. This album is a total win, and a great follow up to A Strange Arrangement. Favorites include: No Strings,, and Dreaming.
Buy > How Do You Do?
36. Alexander – Alexander
Alexander – Truth
This album is based in folk music, but what makes it special and Alex Ebert for that matter is its pop sensibility. This album is a collection of catchy, hooky folk songs. Songs that you want to listen to multiple times. Songs you’ll find more and more to like each time. Its just one of those albums, you will like more and more every time. Favorites include: Truth, A Million Years, and Lets Win!.
Buy > Alexander
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