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.
35. The Elected – Bury Me in My Rings
The Elected – Go For The Throat
Blake Sennett (Rilo Kiley), made his way back into music with his band The Elected. Its a wonderful indie pop album that shimmers with jangly guitars & subtle organs and grabs you with bob-your-head hooks. For fans of Rilo Kiley, I wouldn’t doubt you’ll enjoy this album; its a very similar sound and gives a good idea of how much of a creative force Sennett was / is. The album is well worth listening, and I’ve been loving it since I pressed play. Favorites include: Babyface, Look At Me Now, and Go For the Throat.
Buy > Bury Me In My Rings
34. The Donkeys – Born With Stripes
The Donkeys – I Like The Way You Walk
This album marries surf mysticism with slacker idealism, it begs to be played on sunny days. The Donkeys were completely new to me upon listening to this album, its filled with slow tempo head bobbers, a bit of folk-soul and a bit of experimental psychedelia. Its a fantastic album that didn’t get enough credit for chilling you out, while basking in the sun. Favorites include: I Like the Way You Walk, Don’t Know Who We Are, and Oxblood.
Buy > Born With Stripes
33. Chris Bathgate – Salt Year
Chris Bathgate – Eliza (hue)
Beautiful folk songs about love, time, and every day life in Michigan, Chris Bathgate released one fantastic album this year. Its chock full of beautiful instrumentation layered beneath Bathgate’s distinctive voice that create the essential singer-songwriter style. All Favorites include: Eliza (Hue), No Silver, and Salt Year.
Buy > Salt Year
32. Kurt Vile – Smoke Ring For My Halo
Kurt Vile – Jesus Fever
The once promising, now matured Kurt Vile released Smoke Ring for My Halo, a moody, textured, rhythmic album that fuses many influences in a total album. It doesn’t contain “the” song but should be treated as a full album, with space enough to hear something new on each listen. All Favorites include: Jesus Fever, Smoke Ring for My Halo, and Ghost Town.
Buy > Smoke Ring For My Halo
31. Nicole Atkins – Mondo Amore
Nicole Atkins – Vultures
Nicole Atkins’ voice is stunning. Period. Bold statements aside, Atkins’ album is just as fun and wide ranging as her voice. From the dark, brooding ‘Vultures,’ to the twang of ‘My Baby Don’t Lie,’ to the poppy, and super catchy ‘Cry Cry Cry.’ It’s a must listen, a haunting, emotionally hooking, melodramatic album that feels really intimate. The music reaches a huge climactic theme and finally matches Atkins’ amazing vocals on “The Tower”; a great exaltation that really wraps the album up perfectly. All Favorites include: Vultures, Cry Cry Cry, and The Tower.
Buy > Mondo Amore
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