Before my list I wanted to mention a few albums I liked this year that didn't make the list for me.
-Toro Y Moi - What For?
-Langhorne Slim - The Spirit Moves
-Wilco - Star Wars
-Albert Hammond Jr. - Momentary Masters
-JD McPherson - Let The Good Times Roll
-Beach House - Thank Your Lucky Stars
PS: Fuck you, Father John Misty. You don't even make my honorable mentions as you are not only not honorable but your music is mediocre and you're a gigantic douche (I did like a few songs from that album when it first came out, though). (IronFish editor's note: Good thing this isn't my number one choice....wait a minute....)
10. Beach House - Depression Cherry
They put out two albums this year within like 2 months of each other. They're both good but this one is better. This is more of the same. They don't change their style much from album to album but when you have a style as unique and awesome as this, I see no reason to mess with it. If you're curious about these guys, I'd recommend either Teen Dream or Bloom to dip your toes in as this album is more of a grower.
They put out two albums this year within like 2 months of each other. They're both good but this one is better. This is more of the same. They don't change their style much from album to album but when you have a style as unique and awesome as this, I see no reason to mess with it. If you're curious about these guys, I'd recommend either Teen Dream or Bloom to dip your toes in as this album is more of a grower.
9. Beach Slang - The Things We Do To Find People Who Feel Like Us
I almost flat out refused to give these guys a chance because I can't handle another band with the word "Beach" in their name. Also the fact that several indie music publications I cannot stand were hyping them a bit made me hesitant. Ultimately I caved and was really surprised. Sounds like The Replacements most times, a little like 90's alternative less times, with an overall abrasive punk edge. Good, solid stuff. It's less than 30 minutes long, which I like. If You're curious about them I'd advise checking out the song "Bad Art and Weirdo Ideas". Worth noting is that the singer constantly sings about being young, wild and alive...in fact, one of the songs is called "Young and Alive". The issue here is that he's like 40. So, I mean, he's two of those three. Minor gripe. Rest of the band is young. Interesting backstory, if you get a chance check it out.
8. Blitzen Trapper - All Across This LandThese guys remind me of Dr. Dog in the sense that they are remarkably consistent in releasing decent to good albums. The albums are not usually great but they aren't bad either. You know what you're gonna get from these guys, and that's a good Americana flavored rock album. That's what this is. Bonus points for the Belle & Sebastian-esque string arrangements on "Let The Cards Fall".
7. Built To Spill - Untethered MoonThis is one of those bands where if you're a fan you know what you're going to get. The singer sounds like Wayne Coyne (Flaming Lips), there are a ton of guitars and solos and the songwriting is usually meh. A few of the songs on this one go one a bit too long but overall it's enjoyable. "Living Zoo" has been in my head most of the year and may be my most played song of the year.
6. Bruce Springsteen - The Ties That Bind: The River Box Set
5. Ryan Adams - 1989
I'm not just throwing this on my list because I'm a Ryan Adams fanboy. This is legitimately good. In case you're unaware, he decided to cover Taylor Swift's album track by track, in "the style of The Smiths" as he said. Well it sounds more like Bruce Springsteen than The Smiths but I definitely get The Smiths vibe in a few places. It's funny because Ryan Adams is known for being a sad bastard, who writes sad bastard music. He is also known for being incredibly prolific. What's funny about this is that his wife left him at the end of 2014 (that's not the funny part). Now he has a legitimate reason to be sad and write sad bastard music. So what does he do? He covers a Taylor Swift album instead of writing his own breakup songs. I am not that familiar with her album but from the lyrics (he made a few changes but they were mainly pronouns like he to she) it sounds like a breakup album. He somehow manages to turn her happy pop music into a rather emotionally affecting affair. He essentially turns "Shake It Off" into "I'm On Fire" (the Bruce Springsteen song). I guess initially he did the entire album acoustic and just for himself, but apparently Taylor Swift heard about that, and then heard some of his acoustic takes and urged him to do full band versions and release it. Personally, I kinda think he's trying to get into Taylor Swift's pants after getting ditched by Mandy Moore but what do I know?
I'm not just throwing this on my list because I'm a Ryan Adams fanboy. This is legitimately good. In case you're unaware, he decided to cover Taylor Swift's album track by track, in "the style of The Smiths" as he said. Well it sounds more like Bruce Springsteen than The Smiths but I definitely get The Smiths vibe in a few places. It's funny because Ryan Adams is known for being a sad bastard, who writes sad bastard music. He is also known for being incredibly prolific. What's funny about this is that his wife left him at the end of 2014 (that's not the funny part). Now he has a legitimate reason to be sad and write sad bastard music. So what does he do? He covers a Taylor Swift album instead of writing his own breakup songs. I am not that familiar with her album but from the lyrics (he made a few changes but they were mainly pronouns like he to she) it sounds like a breakup album. He somehow manages to turn her happy pop music into a rather emotionally affecting affair. He essentially turns "Shake It Off" into "I'm On Fire" (the Bruce Springsteen song). I guess initially he did the entire album acoustic and just for himself, but apparently Taylor Swift heard about that, and then heard some of his acoustic takes and urged him to do full band versions and release it. Personally, I kinda think he's trying to get into Taylor Swift's pants after getting ditched by Mandy Moore but what do I know?
4. Courtney Barnett - Sometimes I Sit and Think, And Sometimes I Just SitThis is another album I was hesitant to listen to due to hype from music publications I do not like or agree with typically. I feel slightly embarrassed to like this album as much as I do. I felt like she sounds like Sheryl Crow sometimes, which was confirmed when a song came on one day when I was playing music on shuffle and my brother immediately said "Are you listening to Sheryl Crow?". So, I've done a great job of selling this so far, to you Sheryl Crow fans. Really though, this album is damn good. The lyrics are ridiculously down to earth for the most part, and pretty funny. One song is about her laying in bed, staring off, and describing how thoughts jump from one thing to another and how you start out thinking about the crack in the ceiling and end up thinking about French Baguettes and realize you're hungry. Another is about how she's swimming at a public pool and sees a guy she wants to impress so she tries to swim fast but passes out because she's out of shape, wakes up and he's gone. I feel like I'm still not selling this well. Oh well, it's good. The backing band is stuck in the 90's so they have that going for them. If you're curious about this, I urge you NOT to listen to the single "Pedestrian At Best". It's not only not a very good song but is not representative of the music on the album. Instead go for "Debbie Downer" or "Elevator Operator".
3. Bob Dylan - The Cutting Edge
This is taking too long so I'm going to be more brief from here on out. This box set is totally unnecessary but really enjoyable. It gives me a bunch of alternate versions of songs from two of my favorite albums of all time (Bringing It All Back Home is good but nowhere near BoB and H61 to me). This got me back into that golden Dylan period and reminded me that "Sad Eyed Lady Of The Lowlands" is one of my favorite songs of all time.
This is taking too long so I'm going to be more brief from here on out. This box set is totally unnecessary but really enjoyable. It gives me a bunch of alternate versions of songs from two of my favorite albums of all time (Bringing It All Back Home is good but nowhere near BoB and H61 to me). This got me back into that golden Dylan period and reminded me that "Sad Eyed Lady Of The Lowlands" is one of my favorite songs of all time.
2. Wavves - V
(conversation taking place in my head as I listen to this album)
(conversation taking place in my head as I listen to this album)
"Dan, why the fuck are you listening to pop-punk?"
"I'm not, it's Wavves."
"Sounds like pop-punk with emo lyrics."
"No way dude, they got some 90's grit."
"Yea, if that grit comes from Blink 182's Dude Ranch."
"No. Stop. Don't ruin this for me. I know this guy's a whiny bitch and this album is gay as hell but it's so good."
"You're gay."
1. Blur - The Magic Whip
Not only did I not expect Blur to ever tour again, I didn't expect them to put out another album. I also didn't expect a new Blur album would be good. This is great. The album is fantastic and they played at MSG....and I got to go. This album fits right in their cannon and I can listen to it over and over without getting sick of it.
Not only did I not expect Blur to ever tour again, I didn't expect them to put out another album. I also didn't expect a new Blur album would be good. This is great. The album is fantastic and they played at MSG....and I got to go. This album fits right in their cannon and I can listen to it over and over without getting sick of it.
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