These lists are not always easy, especially in a year rich with quality albums.
I am, and always have been a music junkie. Some people fall asleep to the television. I drift off with my iPod and a pair of comfortable headphones (usually ones that allow me to sleep on my side). And so it these lists I must make. Click on the album title and you’ll be taken to a track from the album.
20. Foxygen – We are the 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace and Magic
19. Eluvium – Nightmare Ending
18. Mountains – Centralia
17. Son Volt – Honky Tonk
16. The Deep Dark Woods – Jubilee
15. Lindi Ortega – Tin Star
14. Atoms for Peace – Amok
13. Jon Hopkins – Immunity
12. Neko Case – The Worse Things Get, The Harder I Fight, The Harder I Fight, The More I Love You
11. Hammock – Oblivion Hymns
10. Kanye West – Yeezus
09. Tim Hecker – Virgins
08. M83 – You and the Night
07. Bill Callahan – Dream River
06. Boards of Canada – Tomorrow’s Harvest
Time-lapse dystopia.
05. Alela Diane – About Farewell
For her last few records, Alela Diane seems to be purposely avoiding another “Oh My Mama”. Whether that’s gained her new fans or lost them, I cannot tell. But I can tell you that About Farewell is a cohesive and melancholic piece of work suited for grey Sunday mornings. “Hazel Street” is the haunting standout.
04. Steven Wilson – The Raven Who Refused to Sing
A throwback to the progressive masterpieces of the 1970’s, containing flawless execution and production. Despite the occasional awkward moments (the slap bass on “Luminol”), The Raven is a well-conceived piece that is sure to please anyone who still has a respectable attention span. I had to check my CD player a couple times to make sure I wasn’t hearing Wall-era Roger Waters. It’s just a singer singing like he cares. Something of a lost art in the smartphone/Twitter era. Yes, practicing is cool.
03. Midlake – Antiphon
Raise your hand if you thought Midlake would be neutered without Tim Smith. I see all of you raising your hands. No surprise. You can rest them now.
Antiphon is in actually a fine piece of work. After the loss of Smith, the band regrouped and wrote all new material in six months, with a heavy emphasis on band cooperation. The result is Fleet Foxes meets Meddle-era Pink Floyd. The harmonies and melodies float along on eiderdown, propped up by a tight rhythmic section and the tasteful singing of Eric Pulido. Fans of Midlake from the beginning may notice that the songs might lack the depth of the Tim Smith era. There’s no “Van Occupanther” here or “Acts of Man”. But that’s the only negative.
02. Jason Isbell – Southeastern
Jason’s best work since The Drive By Truckers. He seems suited to sobriety, which is the inspiration for most of these tracks. This is a singer/songwriter album, in the style of Townes Van Zandt. Southeastern is simple and direct, with enough imagery to add a layer of shine. Anyone who is tired of the horrid music coming from country radio stations and television will find Southeastern the remedy.
01. The Flaming Lips – The Terror
I’ve tried to be objective, to perhaps use less hyperbole when describing the work of the Flaming Lips. But chances are anytime they offer a major release (IE, not their quirky EP’s or gummy skull confections), it’s going to be in contention for Album of The Year or somewhere close. They’re just that good, constantly re-inventing themselves, but not in a gimmicky, pretentious way. We buy into it every time because the Flaming Lips believe it themselves.
The Terror is no different. There’s no doubt the coldness of this record pissed a lot of people off. Much of this aesthetic has to do with the use of a EDP Wasp mono synth, which is uneven and brittle-sounding. The closest thing The Terror has to “Do You Realize” is “Try to Explain”, which may even surpass that classic in its grandeur.
Be prepared to be taken places after hitting play on The Terror. Some of these places you may not care for. This is not nu-country or mainstream rock. The Flaming Lips have drugged you, blindfolded you, and set you loose on a cold, alien landscape.
