Comments

O shit Moor Mother too.
My +1 would be Pinkwash. Gotta love Philly.
Second radio station I saved when I moved here a few months ago (the first being WXPN, naturally)
Lists are fun, mostly because I get to throw out some extra albums I Stan for that haven't been mentioned much: The Dodos - Individ: Best thing they've done since Visiter. Also not at all like Visiter (Suggested Song: "Retriever"). Adventures - Supersonic Home: Gotta rep the hometeam Pittsburgh natives for this album. A sugary emo snack (Suggested Song: "Heavenly"). Chastity Belt - Time To Go Home: Courtney Barnett wears their shirt on national late-night television. Sold (Suggested Song: "Why Try"). Dawn Richard - Blackheart: If you like SZA/Kelela/Miguel, this is a must listen (Suggested Song: "Billie Jean"). Jam City - Dream A Garden: Like being swallowed by a tie-dye microprocessor (Suggested Song: "Unhappy") Jlin - Dark Energy: Footwork did not die with Rashad, and this album shows that there is so much to be done within that sound (Suggested Song: "Guantanamo") Knxwledge - Hud Dreams: If feel like you've listened to Dilla's Donuts too many times (impossible), give this a shot (Suggested Song: just start at the beginning) Any other albums out there that need a little lovin'?
Shoutout to "Tonight I'm Getting Over You" by Carly Rae Jepsen as well
I know it's only been two weeks Tom, but I already like this column more than MOTW. It often felt like you were drowning the urge to talk about more than whatever was your favorite of that week, especially on weeks when it was just a "good enough" mixtape. Here you get to tell us about artists that might not be at the top of pile, but are definitely interesting, or some of the singles that might have gotten looked over throughout the week. I'm excited for all the weird, off-the-wall shit this column might bring along with your takes on whatever is "of the moment."
Nicholas Nissen is a prescient soothsayer and I will blindly join all cults he decides to start: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/50-best-albums-of-2014-20141201/u2-songs-of-innocence-20141201
You know what, looks like we're both right! It was released by Canadian label Royal Mountain Records in October 2013, then again by L.A. label SideOneDummy in April of this year. Under those circumstances though, I would say that disqualifies it for 2014 considerations. But hey! It gave me a chance to talk about that album again.
Also, just because nobody's said it yet: No Kix? P.S. - Don't ever change Tom <3
Anybody else pleasantly surprised by how many good albums came out this year? Nothing's been a lightning pole like the top albums albums from 2013 were, but it felt like a constant storm of "good album, good album, great album, great album" almost every week. Ya done good 2014. In that spirit, I'll highlight some of my favorite albums/EP's that didn't make the cut and aren't getting much love in the comments. "Gist Is" by Adult Jazz - Unique arrangements, heartbreaking lyrics, every song threw me for a loop , some did it several times "Eighteen Hours of Static" by Big-Ups - grim nihilism in both sound and lyrics, Slint in the verses and Minor Threat in the choruses "More Than Any Other Day" by Ought - Swirling and stabbing while lyrics just spit on the world, so addicting "Z" by SZA - Some of my favorite production this year, shit grooves, but her lyrics are so unsure about things in life, which is exactly where I'm at right now "Range of Light" by S. Carey - Justin Vernon's collaborator goes on to make an album more ethereal and traditionally beautiful than anything Bon Iver has done, the sonic equivalent of tears melting snow Self-titled by PUP - Japandroids-like massive, shoutable choruses, except catchier Self-titled by Eagulls - You might criticize them by calling them a shoutier Joy Division, but I love the idea of a shoutier Joy Division, so I loved this album Self-titled by Morgan Delt - I'm still not sure how much I truly like this album, but my curiosity about it's sound kept me coming back, and every time I was wondering how an album can sound like this in 2014 Self-titled by Slyvan Esso - I just can't get over how sultry Ameilia Meath's vocals are, I mean, half the time she's only singing over handclaps and tiny synth snaps, it's "small pop" at its best "Northtown" EP by Shamir - genre bending, gender bending, body rocking, can't wait for his full album "The Stars Fall" EP by River Tiber - I don't think I would've been as obsessed with his music without his videos, but I'm still dumbfounded that one guy can have this much control over his sound, the little production touches on this EP are what make it great
The Adult Jazz is actually titled "Gist Is," and it was absolutely one of my favorite listens this year
Props for the Saintseneca shout out Chris! I'm glad they're still quietly doing their thingm and got wayyyyy better at it, while all the other popular roots-rock bands seemingly dropped of the face of the world this year.
+1 for the reference. You'd think the words of Mr. B would be gospel around here.
This is some kind of madness. Some wild scientist made this in a lab. Between this and Syro, my ears are about to go into some kind of existential crisis about electronic music this week.
Very few things in this world are more Mac DeMarco-y than using a hairband and a sharpie as a capo. Also, I now have a replacement for that capo I lost. Thanks Mac!
The dreamiest of dream collabs sounds so... dreamy!
Yeah, I'm not enjoying this one as much as Michael seems to be. The lyrics and the music felt so straightforward, which just seems weird for these guys. I'm missing the scatterbrain production tics they usually throw in there. It's definitely not bad, so maybe I just have to adjust my mindset a bit.
Seriously. I felt like I heard a Guns N' Roses style guitar solo go right into a Built to Spill style interlude.