Originally, my plan was to treat this holiday
weekend like any other, but after some thought I
decided that I wouldn't mind take a little
mini-break. You should do the same, but not
before you check out my five favorite albums so far
this year.
Posting will probably resume Sunday.
Enjoy.
#5) Shearwater - Rook
This slot was a hard one to make a decision for (hence the runner up list
below), but after I thought about it I realized that I really love what
Jonathan Meiburg did with this album. It's a beautiful, sweeping
effort that you can't help but find enthralling, and I find honestly catch
myself wanting to revisit it quite often just to hear how good it
sounds.
:Shearwater
- Rooks:
#4) Black Mountain - In The Future
I slap this album on my record player a lot, but I can't deny how well these
songs really work live. I think I've seen the band three or four times
so far this year, and after every show I like this disc more and more.
It's very highly recommended, but just know that before you start to adore
it you might need to catch one of their stellar performances first.
:Black
Mountain - Stormy High:
#3) Frightened Rabbit - The Midnight Organ Fight
This album really came out of nowhere and punched me in the stomach with its
lush folk pop sound and charming songwriting. I literally haven't been
able to stop listening to it for a few months, and I'm pretty certain that
I'll keep it on repeat for the rest of the year. You should definitely
seek this gem out if you haven't already done so.
:Frightened
Rabbit - Good Arms Vs Bad Arms:
#2) Why? - Alopecia
I think a lot of people believe that the reason anyone likes Why? is because
they're "different." Maybe that's true for some, but for me I simply
can't get over how brilliant of a lyricist that Yoni Wolf is. I mean,
the music is good as well, but when I hear that guy's voice I immediately
zone out and focus in on him to make sure that I miss nothing.
Incredible would be an understatement.
:Why?
- The Vowels Part 2:
#1) Thao Nguyen And The Get Down Stay Down - We Brave Bee Stings
And All
This shouldn't come as a surprise to any of you who have visited SOTO
regularly or talked to me in person over the last six months. What can
I say? Thao's voice melds together everything there is to like about
songbirds and she is an excellent songwriter. I'll be lucky if I can
stop listening to the album before this time next year, as there just isn't
a bad song on it.
:Thao
Nguyen And The Get Down Stay Down - Travel:
15 Albums That Are Great And Worth Mentioning
- In No Particular Order -
The Lovely Sparrows - Bury The Cynics
Cassettes Won't Listen - Small-Time Machine EP
Santogold - Self Titled
The Black Angels - Directions To See A Ghost
Mates Of State - Re-Arrange Us
Bodies Of Water - A Certain Feeling
Ponytail - Ice Cream Spiritual
Cloud Cult - Feel Good Ghosts Times New Viking - Rip It Off
King Kahn And The Shrines - The Supreme Genius Of King
Kahn And The Shrines
Dead Meadow - Old Growth
Be Your Own Pet - Get Awkward
Portishead - Third
Quiet Village - Silent Movie
Los Campesinos! - Hold On Now, Youngster
- John Laird -
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