Yeah I assumed that but I figured I'd provide information instead for anyone checking out this thread
If you care about my opinion here are my thoughts on some of my favorites from this list. I'd love to hear some other opinions too!
- PJ Harvey: I Inside The Old Year Dying
I think most of us know PJ Harvey. This is some of her best work in my opinion.
- Titanic: Vidrio
This is a collaboration between cellist Mabe Fratti and guitarist Hector Tosta. I'm a fan of anything Fratti has been involved with. It falls somewhere in between experimental, ambient, jazz, and pop.
- Young Fathers: Heavy Heavy
Almost genreless energy? Excellent album. One of my favorite albums this year. Check out their recent KEXP session.
- Water From Your Eyes: Everyone’s Crushed
One of the more innovative groups doing stuff right now. Calling it indie pop/rock is an understatement.
- Reverend Kristin Michael Hayter: SAVED!
She changed her name and ditched the metal. But maintained the intensity. It's religious trauma: the album.
- billy woods & Kenny Segal: Maps
Likely my favorite hip hop record this year from underground rapper billy woods. It's dark and thoughtful and Kenny Segal's production is excellent.
- Kara Jackson: Why Does the Earth Give Us People to Love?
Really excellent folk album. Great songwriting and lyricism.
- Bully: Lucky For You
Nothing groundbreaking here. Just some good fuzzy indie pop/rock.
- Mitski: The Land is Inhospitable and So Are We
So good that it made it to the album club discussion!
- Sufjan Stevens: Javelin
For fans of Carrie & Lowell style Sufjan.
- Wednesday: Rat Saw God
I'm not surprised to see this one at number 1. It's excellent country tinged noisy alternative rock.
I forgot how good this album is. This was the album that introduced me to this band and ever since then I've been a fan. For me, Big Thief is one of the best indie/alternative acts of the last decade.
This whole album kept my attention when I gave it a listen recently. But I'll give a special mention to the first three tracks. I love the more atmospheric and moody sound of Contact and UFOF. They are both great songs that set the mood for the album and let you know what's to come. And then I love Cattails. I'm not sure it fits with the entire album since it is a bit catchier and more upbeat but it's a great song and I find myself humming that one to myself a lot.
I'm not going to give specific examples but one thing I love about this band which i have noticed on a handful of songs is that they often use unexpected rhythms and cadences to keep things sounding fresh and interesting. Like sometimes they sound like they're in a weird time signature but then I start counting and realized it's just a cool layering of different 4/4 rhythms.
Also special mention to Adrianne Lenker. I'm not sure how much credit she should get for Big Thief's success but her solo stuff is also excellent.
I just recently became a fan of this band when I got tickets to The National's homecoming festival a few months ago. They were the 2nd name on the billing but I had never really given them a listen. So I listened to all of their stuff before the show. This album stuck with me the most. Just great songwriting and a great vibe from front to back. And I love/hate the "oohooh ooh ooh ooh ooh" part of cut your hair lol.
Then when i saw them perform live they introduced themselves as the Pavement band and that stuck with me haha. They said it could be their last show ever. Their words, not mine. Sorry if that's news to you... So I got in on the fandom just in time! I swear half of the people at that show were bigger Pavement fans than The National fans. I learned that they have quite the cult following. And I can totally see why. It was an awesome show. Bob Nastanovich was a wild man running all over the place and a complete contrast to Stephen Malkmus. At one point Bob ran out into the crowd and Stephen remarked that it looked fun but he didn't want to catch MRSA lol. On top of the antics and banter their musicianship was really good too. I'm glad I got to see these guys and become a fan before they called it quits for good.
Very cool. I bet it will be worth it regardless of the weather