Special Consideration:
Pusha T - Daytona
For context’s sake I’d like to mention that from 1993 until 2003 I listened to rap music exclusively. This period of hip-hop history is probably the only thing on this earth I consider myself an expert on. I’d like to think the product changed around 2004 but more likely I just grew out of it. Who really knows. In any event, THIS album absolutely blew my mind.
Now to the REAL list....
Honorable Mentions:
The Sheepdogs - Changing Colours
Albert Hammond Jr - Francis Trouble
Sam Evian - You, Forever
Villagers - The Art of Pretending to Swim
Charles Watson - Now That I'm a River
Cold Fronts - Fantasy du Jour
AND ON TO THE GOOD STUFF
15. Restorations - LP5000
These guys have been around for quite some time but this is my first exposure. Guitar driven and mid/uptempo straight forward rock with Springsteen-esque vocals and poignant, powerful lyrics. I bet they put on a hell of a live show. This album is sort of like if you took
14. The Voidz - Virtue
I know, I know. But hear me out. He’s self indulgent and ridiculous. I know. And the first Voidz album was horrible. This one is completely scatterbrained, without direction, and
Best enjoyed with - a Bud heavy, a shot of cheap whiskey, and a Marlboro
13. Terry - I’m Terry
This an incredible indie pop album from a bunch of Australians (I think two girls too including the main vocalist). The vocals can periodically be a bit tough to get into but musically it’s so catchy I can’t stay away. It’s almost what you would expect if you heard a group of teenagers in your neighborhood had a really good band. That’s not exactly the most
enticing endorsement. Ah fuck it, just give a try. It’s super good. Oh also, if you remove the lyrics and play the song Jane Roe, it could easily be a Velvet Underground tune.
Best enjoyed with - can of Dr. Pepper
12. Jim James - Uniform Distortion
If you told me Jim James would make a return-to-roots straight up rock album where he shreds his guitar with head-nod-inducing riffs and killer ass solos that would make Mascis smile, I’d tell you it’d be my album of the year before I even listened to it. To be sure, that description is exactly what this is. For some reason something is missing and the more I listen to it the more I really want to blame it on the intentionally dirty way he mixed it. It almost sounds like a live recording sans crowd. With that said, a left turn from his previous
(excellent) solo records and the last MMJ album is certainly refreshing and I did really enjoy the hell out of this one. Considering those 3 albums are all-timers for me makes it impossible for him to make anything even close to living up to the hype in my own brain. Rock on, Jim.
Best enjoyed with: Jack Daniels, neat. A few of them.
11. Sloan - 12
I discovered these dudes in a weird way. They’re the true identity of the all-muppet band Feltworth (yes, for real), who released two new songs under that moniker earlier this year. Those offerings are excellent and sent me on a 15 minute internet excursion trying to uncover their masks, so to speak. Finally coming across Sloan I also found out that low-and-behold they’ve released 12(!) albums including this one. The older stuff didn’t hit me in
the same way but THIS album is superb, with beautifully crafted power pop accompanied by otherworldly vocal harmonies and the requisite arpeggio guitars. Listen a few times and you’ll catch yourself humming the choruses all day.
Best enjoyed with - Labatt Blue bottle
10. Bahamas - Earthtones
Afie Jurvanen, known by his stage name Bahamas, makes some of the hardest to describe music that I enjoy. This one is very 70’s r&b influenced in nature with female backing vocals throughout but with his trademark guitar playing (which although perfect for the songs, should be showcased as he can absolutely rip it). With all of this said, are you surprised that Pino Palladino is all over it? I certainly wasn’t after finding that out. It’s just a cool ass
album to play in the presence of a chick you’re into. The single biggest misstep is the completely unnecessary and bloated 8 minute track “So Free” that comes up rightttt when you’re ready for the album to wind down. With that said, do press play.
9. Arctic Monkeys - Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino
Arctic Monkeys blew me away (and most everyone I know) with their debut and then over the course of the next 3 albums proceeded to slowly decline into mediocrity. Their 5th album, AM, brought me allllll the way back as a fanboy due to its ability to blend several genres (even hip hop). That album was just plain dark/cool and I loved every song. To say this album was a surprise is an understatement. Recorded as a concept album, written entirely by Turner and originally urged by the rest of the boys to just be a solo project, this thing is strange AF. And I absolutely loved it. As the story goes, the Arctic Monkeys are the house band for the Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino, which is located on the moon, after a mass exodus of human life from Earth takes place. The songs all relate to, or mention in some way, this moon colony and some of things on it. The guitars have been traded in for pianos and synths and Turners sexy croon has been ditched at times for a killer falsetto.
This is not an album you can casually throw on at a party, but rather one that needs to be digested all in one sitting. What’s most impressive and also the final point I’ll make, is that Alex Turner is officially into, IMO of course, that musician headspace where he doesn’t particularly give a shit about reviews or selling records or making music that translates well to live shows. He’s a brilliant artist and he’s going to create whatever it is that he wants to create and that’s it. G move.
Best enjoyed with - a 20 OZ Guinness
8. Richard Swift - The Hex
Richard died recently at the age of 41 from complications due to alcoholism. Unfortunately his death is what propelled this album into my atmosphere and though that’s of course sad I’m very thankful on a personal level that I was able to discover him. He was brilliant. His body of work includes collaborations with Dan Auerbach (both touring and recording), Guster, Nathaniel Rateliff, Marco Benevento, The Shins, and Foxygen. I’ve seen and read so many videos and articles regarding who he was as a person and he’s just gushed over relentlessly. Marco Benevento even named his 2014 Richard-produced album “Swift”. As far as THIS album is concerned, it’s incredibly diverse, as you would expect from a multi-
instrumentalist with varying tastes and skills. Add in the addiction and you should expect some weird… “adventures”, but overall it’s a very impressive and catchy piano/keyboard driven album that I listened to relentlessly all year.
Best enjoyed with - warm Crystal Palace
7. T. Hardy Morris - Dude, The Obscure
This gentleman is probably most known for his work as the frontman of Dead Confederates, with whom he made a handful of albums and a few EPs of which I’m mostly luke warm on. That blend of post grunge and southern rock hasn’t carried over to his solo career, as best as I can see, and that is not in any way, shape, or form, a bad thing. This album is much
more melodic and self reflective. There’s no yelling or ripping guitar solos. There’s no anger. It’s just a dude with some guitar skills and self reflective lyrics and it’s so insanely good and addictive I can’t stop listening.
Best enjoyed with - a few chugs from a bottle of Jim Beam and a rainy day in July.
Arctic Monkeys blew me away (and most everyone I know) with their debut and then over the course of the next 3 albums proceeded to slowly decline into mediocrity. Their 5th album, AM, brought me allllll the way back as a fanboy due to its ability to blend several genres (even hip hop). That album was just plain dark/cool and I loved every song. To say this album was a surprise is an understatement. Recorded as a concept album, written entirely by Turner and originally urged by the rest of the boys to just be a solo project, this thing is strange AF. And I absolutely loved it. As the story goes, the Arctic Monkeys are the house band for the Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino, which is located on the moon, after a mass exodus of human life from Earth takes place. The songs all relate to, or mention in some way, this moon colony and some of things on it. The guitars have been traded in for pianos and synths and Turners sexy croon has been ditched at times for a killer falsetto.
This is not an album you can casually throw on at a party, but rather one that needs to be digested all in one sitting. What’s most impressive and also the final point I’ll make, is that Alex Turner is officially into, IMO of course, that musician headspace where he doesn’t particularly give a shit about reviews or selling records or making music that translates well to live shows. He’s a brilliant artist and he’s going to create whatever it is that he wants to create and that’s it. G move.
Best enjoyed with - a 20 OZ Guinness
8. Richard Swift - The Hex
Richard died recently at the age of 41 from complications due to alcoholism. Unfortunately his death is what propelled this album into my atmosphere and though that’s of course sad I’m very thankful on a personal level that I was able to discover him. He was brilliant. His body of work includes collaborations with Dan Auerbach (both touring and recording), Guster, Nathaniel Rateliff, Marco Benevento, The Shins, and Foxygen. I’ve seen and read so many videos and articles regarding who he was as a person and he’s just gushed over relentlessly. Marco Benevento even named his 2014 Richard-produced album “Swift”. As far as THIS album is concerned, it’s incredibly diverse, as you would expect from a multi-
instrumentalist with varying tastes and skills. Add in the addiction and you should expect some weird… “adventures”, but overall it’s a very impressive and catchy piano/keyboard driven album that I listened to relentlessly all year.
Best enjoyed with - warm Crystal Palace
7. T. Hardy Morris - Dude, The Obscure
This gentleman is probably most known for his work as the frontman of Dead Confederates, with whom he made a handful of albums and a few EPs of which I’m mostly luke warm on. That blend of post grunge and southern rock hasn’t carried over to his solo career, as best as I can see, and that is not in any way, shape, or form, a bad thing. This album is much
more melodic and self reflective. There’s no yelling or ripping guitar solos. There’s no anger. It’s just a dude with some guitar skills and self reflective lyrics and it’s so insanely good and addictive I can’t stop listening.
6. Stephen Steinbrink - Utopia Teased
This dude made this inside a shipping container high on LSD. For real. Apparently some sort of local legend in the Bay Area, he creates some absolutely beautiful guitar & synth pop here, accompanied by a super majestic falsetto. Considering the writing and recording circumstances you should expect the occasional misstep/weird interlude, or the perfectly
timed and perfectly named instrumental “coming down”. Even still, this shit is delicious.
5. Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever - Hope Downs
This one comes in hot and heavy. 10 songs 35 minutes of uptempo dueling guitar riffs, killer solos, and drumming that doesn’t leave a single beat on the table. Nary a break in sight unless you count Cappucino City (track 7) which is barely a relaxation point. This is one of those albums that you turn up a little bit more with the beginning of each song. The downside for me is that I would’ve enjoyed a little change of pace in terms of tempo or instrumentation, or etc. With that said, this is right in my wheelhouse as it stands and any
Best enjoyed with - any beer, but you have to chug 3 of them while you listen to keep up
4. The Moondoggies - A Love Sleeps Deep
These dudes hail from the Pacific Northwest and sound like it, with amazing 70’s style vocal harmonies and guitar work. They’ve been around for over 10 years now but this is my first exposure (thanks to Murn). They’re a lot like The Sheepdogs, only perhaps a little more deliberate and less poppy. For some reason I’m coming up with very little to say about this album, though it’s firmly in the 4 spot for a reason. It’s just a pure 70’s style rock record
front to back with not a single weak spot.
Best enjoyed with - Miller High Life
These dudes hail from the Pacific Northwest and sound like it, with amazing 70’s style vocal harmonies and guitar work. They’ve been around for over 10 years now but this is my first exposure (thanks to Murn). They’re a lot like The Sheepdogs, only perhaps a little more deliberate and less poppy. For some reason I’m coming up with very little to say about this album, though it’s firmly in the 4 spot for a reason. It’s just a pure 70’s style rock record
front to back with not a single weak spot.
3. Clearance - At Your Leisure
The fast road to the top of my library: Dueling electric guitars, riffy AF, uptempo drums, keep it under 35 minutes, don’t fuck it with up the vocals. Check, check, check, etc. These guys have a few other albums but nothing hit me quite like this. I promise it’ll get you saying
“oh yeah” to yourself in the car as you turn it up a little louder.
2. People on People - Only Heaven
I’m breaking an unofficial rule here by including an EP on my list. Don’t care. This one is about 2 songs from being out of EP territory (it comes in at 5 songs and 23 minutes). People on People consists of Jon Safley and Darian Zahedi. These 2 dudes are members of CRX, which if you remember correctly is Nick Valensi’s side band (main band? Who even knows anymore?). This is their debut offering and let me tell you with 100% seriousness if it was a full length album it would be my album of the year and it wouldn’t be particularly close. 5 songs of synth-tinged pop with some absolutely pristine guitar work and a few of
the most perfect song-fitting solos this side of John Frusciante. Both dudes share vocal duties. Every time I go back to it after a month off it blows me away all over again.
1. White Denim - Performance
D is the finest record these guys have ever made, which was the first one that included the guitar virtuoso Austin Jenkins (as a full-time member). They followed that up with Corsicana Lemonade, which was also a fine ass album in its own right. Then Austin and the drummer left to pursue opportunities with Leon Bridges. The ensuing album was 2016’s Stiff, which was good enough, I guess. I assumed they had lost their mojo (Austin Jenkins) and wasn’t expecting much with this one. Hollyyyy shitttt was I wrong. For starters, the drummer and second guitar player from Stiff have been replaced, with the second guitar player being a multi-instrumentalist/keyboard
Best enjoyed with - shotgunned Miller Lite’s, 3 of them.
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