2013 Album of the Year Voting Thread - Voting ends Sunday 1/19
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chris121580
Member
Only going to comment on top 10 as I'm lazy.
01 | Blue Hawaii | Untogether
This was the only album in 2013 to come out of nowhere and make my jaw drop. It's sort of hard to describe; a macabre dream-pop? It doesn't sound happy but it's not depressing either. Soothing vocals and floating melodies make this really relaxing but also a rewarding listen. The bass on some tracks puts a grin on my face. Quite easily my album of the year.
02 | Washed Out | Paracosm
CHILLWAVE IS ALIVE. Even if it's not strictly chillwave anymore (closer to balearic pop with 80s overtones), this album still made my summer. I think I listened to it about 150 times. Enough to rack up about ~1500 scrobbles, either way. It's hazy, it's relaxing, and the improved production gives this album legs.
03 | Aosoth | Arrow In Heart
Last year was pretty good for metal releases but this year has it beat, hands down. Aosoth leads the pack for me - there's something about France and producing top quality metal, lately. It's fast, it's brutal, and the mastering won't give you a headache (if you like metal, that is). The instruments stand out and pack extreme power, and the layering of guitars creates a really great atmosphere. Superb album.
04 | Oneohtrix Point Never | R Plus Seven
I thought this album was set in stone to be #1 when I listened to it, but it seems not. It's still stellar though. It's also not really music. As per usual for 0PN, there's no real song structure by any classical definition. It's a cacophony of synths and out of place instruments that meld together to make something really special. Listening to this album on a good pair of headphones is quite an experience. It's experimental to hell and back but I would highly recommend it if you like anything vaguely electronic.
05 | きゃりーぱみゅぱみゅ [Kyary Pamyu Pamyu] | Nanda Collection
FUN. Fun fun fun. It's J-Pop, and I typically find 99.99% of J-Pop samey and tiresome; this album managed to stay fun, refreshing and interesting for a long time. Quirky and catchy, it'll probably get stuck in your head for a long while. Not a whole lot of depth to it, but I doubt anyone is in the mood for rich and complex music 24/7. Listen to it.
06 | Nails | Abandon All Life
This is, hands down, the most intense metal album I've heard that still manages to sound cohesive and have good production quality. Raw anger and hatred in music form. The average track length is probably less than a minute, and it's one neck-breaking journey for the whole ~20 minutes of the album. If you like to get angry with your music occasionally, listen to this. You'll be hard pressed to find anything better this year.
07 | Russian Circles | Memorial
After two weak-ish albums from Russian Circles, they come out with this. It's easily just as good (if not better, depending on my mood), as their first two albums. Stellar post-rock/metal that has a great soundscape and atmosphere. Some really great song-writing and a nice collaboration with Chelsea Wolfe make this album incredibly enjoyable.
08 | Bill Callahan | Dream River
I don't typically enjoy country music of any kind, but this album blew me away. Bill is an artist with his lyrics and the instrumentals really flesh out the album. Some real emotion behind this, and it's great to experience it. Goes really well with rainy afternoons.
09 | oOoOO | Without Your Love
\/\/1cH H0US3. I don't really know what else to say apart from that. Listen to the above link and if you enjoy it, get the album. Really great debut LP from oOoOoOooooOooO.
10 | Kvelertak | Meir
This jams hard. High energy, rock solid production and catchy riffs that will be stuck in your head for days. A really tasty blend of black metal, hardcore punk and rock'n'roll.
11 | Regarde Les Hommes Tomber | Regarde Les Hommes Tomber
12 | Nils Frahm | Spaces
13 | Julianna Barwick | Nepenthe
14 | Le Matos | Join Us
15 | Juana Molina | Wed 21
16 | Kylesa | Ultraviolet
17 | Chelsea Wolfe | Pain is Beauty
18 | Savages | Silence Yourself
19 | Rhye | Woman
20 | Saint Pepsi | Hit Vibes
21 | Small Black | Limits of Desire
22 | Daughter | If You Leave
23 | Deafheaven | Sunbather
24 | Nero Di Marte | Nero Di Marte
25 | Death Grips | Government Plates
Finally someone else gives Small Black some love. That is one outstanding debut album and they are stellar live
you mean you don't like seeing shitty "groundbreaking" dj mixes posted over and over?
Every time I go in that thread, I see a whole bunch of the "other" kind of electronic music I don't like and see how deep some of those people are talking about it and I run away screaming. Makes me feel like I'm in high school again and I'm talking to some guy who's telling me about his "super fast Civic hatchback" and the "awesome trance mix" he made last night.
you mean you don't like seeing shitty "groundbreaking" dj mixes posted over and over?
yeah it's nice to see unreleased stuff being dropped from your favorite labels and stuff, but in general it doesn't usually reveal much of anything new in a way that is easy explore if your unfamiliar scene around the mix.
Hopefully it isn't as scary as the EDM thread (shudders)
I think most of us just post whatever new release piques our interest, and we don't really display our breadth of tastes very much. So don't just take the posts at face value in there. I know a fair amount of us in there mostly explore older stuff, and I know I don't tout yester-decades gems all that much. What's really nice is that people don't really hate on each others tastes in that thread, and nobody really rides any one artists dick.
I guess you just need to ask for recommendations in that thread. Trust me when I say the posters there have a goldmine of suggestions to make.
I'm just waiting on someone to make a James Murphy thread that talks about his music and his influences. You could probably make a single thread alone dedicated to all the bands he lists in "Losing My Edge"
[/SPOILER](10) Clipping - Midcity
Harsh Harsh Harsh
experimental rap music out of Los Angeles.
Employs the use of audio artifacts and static in most songs, great narratives, and sometimes effortless swagger. Brilliant in many ways, but might physically hurt to listen to.
Favorite Songs: Story, Intro, Real.
(9). King Krule - 6 Feet Beneath the Moon
Most convincing blues I've ever heard from a white person. Album may be a bit inconsistent thematically, may feel a bit like odds and ends (which it is), but the songs are individually very good. Great hooks.
Favorite Songs: Border Line, A Lizard State, Bathed in Grey.
(8) Comadre - Comadre (self-titled)
Very very catchy hardcore/punk. Guitars on this are very post-hardcore, super enticing and drive many of the songs. Reminds me of my Pile's album "Dripping" which was my 2nd favorite album of last year. Short, sweet, but feels complete.
Favorite Songs: Must Be Nice, Date Night, Binge.
(7) Julia Holter - Loud City Song
Epic is a word that I hate to use these days, but it's probably the only way I could describe this album. This album has a bit of everything, but manages to reign it all in. Strongest opening tracks I've heard this year.
Favorite Songs: World, Maxim's I, Horns Surrounding Me
(6) Beach Fossils - Clash the Truth
Every. Single. Song. On. This. Album. Could. Be. A. Single.
Great, laid back, catchy catchy catchy indie rock.
Favorite Songs: Shallow, In Vertigo, Crashed Out
(5) These New Puritans - Field of Reeds
Probably the most thematically complicated album of the year. Instrumentation and recording quality is on another level here. The structures on these songs are super dense and amazing all the same.
You can feel the drama exuding from the music itself, but when lyrics are actually audible, they aren't slouching either.
Favorite Songs:
The Light In Your Name
V (Island Song)
Fragment Two
Nothing Else
(4)Tim Hecker - Virgins
Can we even call it electronic music anymore? He's turned Drone music into something I can't even really describe anymore. Beautiful, that's what it is. Stunning, grandiose.
So many understated things on this album, will take me years to fully develop it.
Favorite Songs:
Prism
Virginal I
Virginal II
Stab Variation
(3)Touche Amore - Is Survived By
Amazing melodic hardcore album, almost dips into pop-punk territory. Great lyrics, awesome narratives about legacy, our individual purpose, and letting go of the past. Strongest melodies I've hard from the genre in a long LONG time.
Another short album that just feels perfect.
Favorite Songs:
Kerosene
Just Exist
DNA
Social Caterpillar.
(2) Deafheaven - Sunbather
Masterful post rockish/ black metally/ shoegaze music. Songs are lengthy but instantly gripping.
Not much I can really say, but if you like any of the above genres, this is worth the time.
Favorite Songs:
Vertigo
Dream House
Sunbather
The Pecan Tree
(1) The Drones - I See Seaweed
Absolutely devastating. Most emotionally evocative album I've heard for as long as I can remember. Just thinking about it get's me worked up.
One of the strongest closing tracks I've ever heard. It's hard to go back to because it ruins my day in the best way possible. The best album they've ever done hands down.
The lyrics are absolutely insane across the entire album, never been a lyrics guy, but I think I've been converted.
Favorite Songs:
Why Write A Letter That You'll Never Send
I See Seaweed
The Grey Leader
Laika
How To See Through Fog
Honorable mentions go out to:
This Routine is Hell - Howl
Jon Hopkins - Immunity
Deerhunter - Monomania
James Blake - Overgrown
Harsh Harsh Harsh
Swag
Employs the use of audio artifacts and static in most songs, great narratives, and sometimes effortless swagger. Brilliant in many ways, but might physically hurt to listen to.
Favorite Songs: Story, Intro, Real.
(9). King Krule - 6 Feet Beneath the Moon
Most convincing blues I've ever heard from a white person. Album may be a bit inconsistent thematically, may feel a bit like odds and ends (which it is), but the songs are individually very good. Great hooks.
Favorite Songs: Border Line, A Lizard State, Bathed in Grey.
(8) Comadre - Comadre (self-titled)
Very very catchy hardcore/punk. Guitars on this are very post-hardcore, super enticing and drive many of the songs. Reminds me of my Pile's album "Dripping" which was my 2nd favorite album of last year. Short, sweet, but feels complete.
Favorite Songs: Must Be Nice, Date Night, Binge.
(7) Julia Holter - Loud City Song
Epic is a word that I hate to use these days, but it's probably the only way I could describe this album. This album has a bit of everything, but manages to reign it all in. Strongest opening tracks I've heard this year.
Favorite Songs: World, Maxim's I, Horns Surrounding Me
(6) Beach Fossils - Clash the Truth
Every. Single. Song. On. This. Album. Could. Be. A. Single.
Great, laid back, catchy catchy catchy indie rock.
Favorite Songs: Shallow, In Vertigo, Crashed Out
(5) These New Puritans - Field of Reeds
Probably the most thematically complicated album of the year. Instrumentation and recording quality is on another level here. The structures on these songs are super dense and amazing all the same.
You can feel the drama exuding from the music itself, but when lyrics are actually audible, they aren't slouching either.
Favorite Songs:
The Light In Your Name
V (Island Song)
Fragment Two
Nothing Else
(4)Tim Hecker - Virgins
Can we even call it electronic music anymore? He's turned Drone music into something I can't even really describe anymore. Beautiful, that's what it is. Stunning, grandiose.
So many understated things on this album, will take me years to fully develop it.
Favorite Songs:
Prism
Virginal I
Virginal II
Stab Variation
(3)Touche Amore - Is Survived By
Amazing melodic hardcore album, almost dips into pop-punk territory. Great lyrics, awesome narratives about legacy, our individual purpose, and letting go of the past. Strongest melodies I've hard from the genre in a long LONG time.
Another short album that just feels perfect.
Favorite Songs:
Kerosene
Just Exist
DNA
Social Caterpillar.
(2) Deafheaven - Sunbather
Masterful post rockish/ black metally/ shoegaze music. Songs are lengthy but instantly gripping.
Not much I can really say, but if you like any of the above genres, this is worth the time.
Favorite Songs:
Vertigo
Dream House
Sunbather
The Pecan Tree
(1) The Drones - I See Seaweed
Absolutely devastating. Most emotionally evocative album I've heard for as long as I can remember. Just thinking about it get's me worked up.
One of the strongest closing tracks I've ever heard. It's hard to go back to because it ruins my day in the best way possible. The best album they've ever done hands down.
The lyrics are absolutely insane across the entire album, never been a lyrics guy, but I think I've been converted.
Favorite Songs:
Why Write A Letter That You'll Never Send
I See Seaweed
The Grey Leader
Laika
How To See Through Fog
Honorable mentions go out to:
This Routine is Hell - Howl
Jon Hopkins - Immunity
Deerhunter - Monomania
James Blake - Overgrown
Train of Midnight
Banned
My man
Pickles the Firecat
Banned
For some reason album art has gotten away with nudity around here for a long time. Not a big deal.
Johnlenham
Member
you mean you don't like seeing shitty "groundbreaking" dj mixes posted over and over?
Hey man, did you even interact with the guy that actually made the thread title? guy was shot away. We just havent been bothered to come up with something better. I mean "Everything but EDM" is a better one off the top of my head!
A lot of good stuff in 2013.
I'm not going to comment or explain why or what because no one will read it. If you do want to, I'd say check out the blog I write for (stonerobixxx).
In no particular order:
01 | Ghost B.C. | Infestissumam
02 | FIDLAR | FIDLAR
03 | Nails | Abandon All Life
04 | Skeletonwitch | Serpents Unleashed
05 | Windhand | Soma
06 | Clutch | Earth Rocker
07 | FUZZ | FUZZ
08 | Kylesa | Ultraviolet
09 | The Dillinger Escape Plan | One of us is the Killer
10 | Red Fang | Whales and Leeches
11 | Revocation | Revocation
12 | Toxic Holocaust | Chemistry of Consciousness
13 | Hessian | Manégarmr
14 | Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats | Mind Control
15 | The Bronx | The Bronx IV
16 | Black Sabbath | 13
17 | Deafheaven | Sunbather
18 | Doomriders | Grand Blood
19 | Kvelertak | Meir
20 | Vista Chino | Peace
21 | Oathbreaker | Eros/Anteros
22 | Kadavar | Abra Kadavar
23 | Orchid | Mouths of Madness
24 | Queens of the Stone Age | ...Like Clockwork
25 | Celeste | Animale(s)
And there are still so many records I haven't even listened to (Watain, Russian Circles, ...) because there is not enough time.
I'm not going to comment or explain why or what because no one will read it. If you do want to, I'd say check out the blog I write for (stonerobixxx).
In no particular order:
01 | Ghost B.C. | Infestissumam
02 | FIDLAR | FIDLAR
03 | Nails | Abandon All Life
04 | Skeletonwitch | Serpents Unleashed
05 | Windhand | Soma
06 | Clutch | Earth Rocker
07 | FUZZ | FUZZ
08 | Kylesa | Ultraviolet
09 | The Dillinger Escape Plan | One of us is the Killer
10 | Red Fang | Whales and Leeches
11 | Revocation | Revocation
12 | Toxic Holocaust | Chemistry of Consciousness
13 | Hessian | Manégarmr
14 | Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats | Mind Control
15 | The Bronx | The Bronx IV
16 | Black Sabbath | 13
17 | Deafheaven | Sunbather
18 | Doomriders | Grand Blood
19 | Kvelertak | Meir
20 | Vista Chino | Peace
21 | Oathbreaker | Eros/Anteros
22 | Kadavar | Abra Kadavar
23 | Orchid | Mouths of Madness
24 | Queens of the Stone Age | ...Like Clockwork
25 | Celeste | Animale(s)
And there are still so many records I haven't even listened to (Watain, Russian Circles, ...) because there is not enough time.
01 | The National | Trouble Will Find Me
02 | Darkside | Psychic
03 | Atoms for Peace | AMOK
04 | Arcade Fire | Reflektor
05 | Nick Cave and the bad seeds | Push the sky away
06 | Queens of the Stone Age | …Like Clockwork
07 | Unknown Mortal Orchestra | II
08 | White Denim | Corsicana Lemonade
09 | The Strokes | Comedown Machine
10 | Eels | Wonderful, Glorious
11 | Jon Hopkins | Immunity
12 | Jonathan Wilson | Fanfare
13 | Vampire Weekend | Modern Vampires Of The City
14 | James Blake | Overgrown
15 | Suuns | Images du Futur
16 | Moderat | II
17 | Foxygen | We Are the 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace & Magic
18 | Arctic Monkeys | AM
19 | Blood Orange | Cupid Deluxe
20 | Mutual Benefit | Love's Crushing Diamond
21 | Phoenix | Bankrupt!
22 | MGMT | MGMT
23 | Disclosure | Settle
24 | Woodkid | The Golden Age
25 | Grizzly Bear | Shields: B-Sides
02 | Darkside | Psychic
03 | Atoms for Peace | AMOK
04 | Arcade Fire | Reflektor
05 | Nick Cave and the bad seeds | Push the sky away
06 | Queens of the Stone Age | …Like Clockwork
07 | Unknown Mortal Orchestra | II
08 | White Denim | Corsicana Lemonade
09 | The Strokes | Comedown Machine
10 | Eels | Wonderful, Glorious
11 | Jon Hopkins | Immunity
12 | Jonathan Wilson | Fanfare
13 | Vampire Weekend | Modern Vampires Of The City
14 | James Blake | Overgrown
15 | Suuns | Images du Futur
16 | Moderat | II
17 | Foxygen | We Are the 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace & Magic
18 | Arctic Monkeys | AM
19 | Blood Orange | Cupid Deluxe
20 | Mutual Benefit | Love's Crushing Diamond
21 | Phoenix | Bankrupt!
22 | MGMT | MGMT
23 | Disclosure | Settle
24 | Woodkid | The Golden Age
25 | Grizzly Bear | Shields: B-Sides
Train of Midnight
Banned
I'm going to come back and order/revise these selections, but here's what I've got so far.
CHVRCHES | The Bones of What You Believe (Big surprise, right? So good)
Blue Hawaii | Untogether (Saw these guys live opening for Purity Ring. So goooooood)
The National | Trouble Will Find Me (While I was fairly unimpressed with this when looking back on albums like Boxer & Alligator, it was still solid. Still one of my favorite bands of all time, but this is going to be low on my list this year)
Washed Out | Paracosm (This is probably top 5 for me)
Tennis | Small Sound
Forest Swords | Engravings (Didn't listen to this until I found this thread, but it's pretty fantastic!)
Arcade Fire | Reflektor (Not my top 5, but definitely makes the list)
To-do list:
Pure Bathing Culture | Moon Tides (Pendulum was one of my favorite singles this year, need to listen to the rest)
Savages | Silence Youself (I've heard like 2 tracks so far, loved both, need to finish)
Kanye | Yeezus
J. Roddy Walston & the Business (Heavy Bells might be my favorite single all year. Can't find the album anywhere, though.)
MGMT: Your Life is a Lie really rubbed me the wrong way, but I want to give the rest a shot.
Atoms for Peace: pretty sure I'm gonna love this, just have to sit down and go through it.
The Knife: Looooved Tooth for an Eye, gave the rest a quick once over, but I need to sit down and listen to it all
Biggest Disappointments / "I don't get it"
Vampire Weekend: I've been a long time VW fan, since the beginning, but every song from this album just annoys me. 'Step' is the worst of the worst.
Disclosure: I loved Fire Starts to Burn for about a minute then I realized it was like a 20 second clip on loop for the whole track. Tried some other tracks and it gives me the same feel. I don't get it.
Arctic Monkeys: I don't know what to say about this aside from that it just bored the hell out of me. And not that I need my Arctic Monkeys to always be hitting that high energy, 505 is probably my favorite Monkeys track, it just felt... bland.
Deafheaven: It kills me that I love everything except the vocals
HAIM: It's not bad, but I swear to god it's the most overrated shit I've ever heard.
CHVRCHES | The Bones of What You Believe (Big surprise, right? So good)
Blue Hawaii | Untogether (Saw these guys live opening for Purity Ring. So goooooood)
The National | Trouble Will Find Me (While I was fairly unimpressed with this when looking back on albums like Boxer & Alligator, it was still solid. Still one of my favorite bands of all time, but this is going to be low on my list this year)
Washed Out | Paracosm (This is probably top 5 for me)
Tennis | Small Sound
Forest Swords | Engravings (Didn't listen to this until I found this thread, but it's pretty fantastic!)
Arcade Fire | Reflektor (Not my top 5, but definitely makes the list)
To-do list:
Pure Bathing Culture | Moon Tides (Pendulum was one of my favorite singles this year, need to listen to the rest)
Savages | Silence Youself (I've heard like 2 tracks so far, loved both, need to finish)
Kanye | Yeezus
J. Roddy Walston & the Business (Heavy Bells might be my favorite single all year. Can't find the album anywhere, though.)
MGMT: Your Life is a Lie really rubbed me the wrong way, but I want to give the rest a shot.
Atoms for Peace: pretty sure I'm gonna love this, just have to sit down and go through it.
The Knife: Looooved Tooth for an Eye, gave the rest a quick once over, but I need to sit down and listen to it all
Biggest Disappointments / "I don't get it"
Vampire Weekend: I've been a long time VW fan, since the beginning, but every song from this album just annoys me. 'Step' is the worst of the worst.
Disclosure: I loved Fire Starts to Burn for about a minute then I realized it was like a 20 second clip on loop for the whole track. Tried some other tracks and it gives me the same feel. I don't get it.
Arctic Monkeys: I don't know what to say about this aside from that it just bored the hell out of me. And not that I need my Arctic Monkeys to always be hitting that high energy, 505 is probably my favorite Monkeys track, it just felt... bland.
Deafheaven: It kills me that I love everything except the vocals
HAIM: It's not bad, but I swear to god it's the most overrated shit I've ever heard.
Switch Back 9
a lot of my threads involve me fucking up somehow. Perhaps I'm a moron?
edit: I'm stupid. Awesome list, you have very awesome taste in music.
yeah, same here - top 5 disappointments for me this year
beato_angelico
Member
windhand is the most boring stuff i've listened this year
it's a weird list for sure but those kacey and colleen albums are great.
1 | Kanye West | Yeezus
2 | Julia Brown | to be close to you
3 | Run The Jewels | Run The Jewels
4 | Nails | Abandon All Life
5 | Danny Brown | Old
6 | I Kill Giants | I Kill Giants
7 | My Bloody Valentine | mbv
8 | Coma Cinema | Posthumous Release
9 | Sky Ferreria | Night Time, My Time
10 | Drake | Nothing Was The Same
Honarable Mentions:
Denzel Curry - Nostalgic 64
Deafheaven - Sunbather
Touche Amore - Is Survived By
Wavves - Afraid of Heights
Chvrches - The Bones of What You Believe
Childish Gambino - Because The Internet
Death Grips - Government Plates
Sadsic - Sadsic (he is actually a NeoGAF member!)
2 | Julia Brown | to be close to you
3 | Run The Jewels | Run The Jewels
4 | Nails | Abandon All Life
5 | Danny Brown | Old
6 | I Kill Giants | I Kill Giants
7 | My Bloody Valentine | mbv
8 | Coma Cinema | Posthumous Release
9 | Sky Ferreria | Night Time, My Time
10 | Drake | Nothing Was The Same
Honarable Mentions:
Denzel Curry - Nostalgic 64
Deafheaven - Sunbather
Touche Amore - Is Survived By
Wavves - Afraid of Heights
Chvrches - The Bones of What You Believe
Childish Gambino - Because The Internet
Death Grips - Government Plates
Sadsic - Sadsic (he is actually a NeoGAF member!)
Cosmic Bus
pristine morning snow
icarus, have you heard Lydia Loveless' Boy Crazy EP? This is totally up your alley, fantastically great, and she's got a new album out in February.
Extra Sauce
Member
you mean you don't like seeing shitty "groundbreaking" dj mixes posted over and over?
The 80s style synth-pop/electro synth/cyberpunk thread is where it's at.
Train of Midnight
Banned
This year's best album was obviously The Avalanches' new one
in my dreams
FO-totality
Poet Centuriate
Finishing mine up. Will get in soon. It's full of stuff I don't think has even been talked about in this thread, though.
SecretMoblin
Member
^^
those are my favorite kind
those are my favorite kind
FO-totality
Poet Centuriate
01 | Cloudkicker | Subsume
Man, if you're not listen to Cloudkicker by now, you're seriously doing something wrong. For the sadly uninitiated, Cloudkicker is the reclusive one-man project of Columbus, Ohio-based mastermind Ben Sharp. Ben doesn't tour and hell, he puts all his music up for free, building rave reviews and a huge fanbase simply by word of mouth. And my god, what music it is. Merging post-metal and progressive metal in an purely instrumental way, his albums are a treat and Subsume is no exception. He builds layers upon distorted and sundrenched layers is such a manner that its hard to tell if I should go nuts, chill out, or just stand in awe. Either reaction works. Working in bizarre time signatures and with extended range instruments, this album is such a piece of precision engineering, like a multi-million dollar warplane, yet in not devoid of that lonely soul. Sun drenched, raindrenched, and aggressive. It's like the mind of an engineer trying to cope with his inner struggles, and it all spills out in such a complex atmosphere. This is the album of the year for me. End of story. So good. If you've never heard of Cloudkicker, you've got no reason not go check this album and the rest of Mr. Sharp's cataloge out: It's pay-what-you-want and absolutely fascinating.
"You Could Laugh Forever But Never End Up Happy."
02 | Deafheaven | Sunbather
Many thanks to Kwixotik for sending this to me as part of GAF's Secret Santa thread. Equal parts black metal, post-metal, and shoegaze, it was seriously one of the biggest things that I would consider up my alley that was actually well-received outside of the regular metal community. It was on my list of things to listen to before the year was out and man is it good. Harsh yet so very melodic, smart but lonely, but overall just simply inspired. An utter, unabashed work of art that rises above and beyond the confines of metal while never losing its roots. It was right up my alley man is it good. This will probably me my one pick that shows up on other lists but its still so good.
"Dream House"
03 | Tesseract | Altered State
Amazing sophomore album from one of the up-and-coming stars in progressive metal. Textually diverse, incredibly dense and complex, and incredibly skillful. Vocals from the new man in the band, Ashe O'Hara, are absolutely top-notch and can stand side-by-side both technically and lyrically with with the ever intelligent instrumentalists at the heart of Tesseract. While still very much prog metal, it's probably more accessible to non-metal listeners than their debut album due to the omission of harsh vocals. So non-metal GAFfers, fear not, go and listen to this ASAP.
"Of Mind: Exile"
04 | Nails | Abandon All Life
This incredibly short LP (17 min) is almost begging to be called an EP, but damn is it good. It's from last January and is still holding its own. An amazing blend of sludge metal, grindcore, and hardcore punk, this is one of the violent and yet intelligent albums I've ever heard. If Cannibal Corpse is a sledgehammer, and Tesseract is a scalpel, Nails is razor sharp axe. Every single riff has it's place and it's purpose. There
is no fat on this album. It is sleak, short, and absolutely brutal. Get wrecked.
"God's Cold Hands"
05 | City in the Sea | Below the Noise
Incredibly solid debut release from Arizona progressive metalcore group, City in the Sea. Nearly every track is incredibly catchy and heavy. It's amazing how they play within the established framework of modern metalcore but put enough of their own spin on it to keep it from being a simple retread. Harsh vocals are decent and the clean vocals are incredibly heartfelt with just the right dose of grit from become just another pretty boy singing. Songs are structured well and contain such an interesting SciFi atmosphere. Again, for the non-metal GAFfers looking for something heavier but more digestible than Tesseract, I'd suggest this.
"The Purge"
06 | Jesu | Everyday I Get Closer To The Light From Which I Came
Multi-genred mastermind Justin K. Broadrick is back for another Jesu release, and with a looming Godflesh reunion release on the horizon, Broadrick is able to focus back on more ethereal post-metal with Everyday. While potentially listless at moments, this album is less a journey and more a snapshot. It's utterly lonely, a fact exemplified by Broadrick's lyrics and vocals, often processed but always so very lonely and droning, like a ghost calling from some electronic beyond through the storm of noise that builds and dies before you.
"Homesick"
07 | Crossfaith | Apocalyze
Hailing from the land of the rising sun, Crossfaith is finally hitting the world by storm and hard with an amazingly fresh sound. They run a very hybrid sound consisting of equal parts metalcore, trance, and dubstep. On paper, this sounds like a clusterfuck, but go with it: it blends amazingly. Songs are fast and smart, vocalist Kenta Koie is always on top with an amazing roar, and the electronics are given a very prominent role and don't ride the bench. A very surprising release with a very surprising sound.
"We Are The Future"
08 | August Burns Red | Rescue & Restore
ABR continue to be one of the most interesting groups in modern metal for me. The Pennsylvania-based progressive metalcore group is back for their sixth full length and off their sub-par Leveler. While elements of Leveler remain, chief among them the clean almost jazz, mariachi, and orchestral interludes, this is a great go. It took a while to grow on me but I can say it's really well done. I can seriously do without their absolute atrocious spoken word sections, but overall, it's a solid effort.
"Provision"
09 | Touché Amoré | Is Survived By
Touché Amoré is a 5-piece post-hardcore group out of LA that has been making a lot of waves recently. After a long string of split EPs and the absolutely stunning previous album, Parting the Sea Between Brightness and Me, their back with third LP. Just like Parting, this album is short and sweet with bite-size song-ettes in the clothing of songs. It's filled smart and cleaver, but sometimes rather cliché lyrics, but delivered with such a sincere voice that only vocalist Jeremy Bolm can provide. He's high pitched and raspy but the emotion never leaves. His voice is the sonic equivalent of his lyrics: an honest, impassioned cry and perhaps a look into a panicked breakdown; Bolm's voice sounds like he could constantly fall apart at any second. All this set to the background of a chaotic and noisy but melodic band that knows how to highlight the tones. It's too short for my tastes but it's still really good.
"Just Exist"
10 | No Tide | Meridian
Reppin' the hometown boys. No Tide came out of nowhere it seem for me but if there was every a shinning star to come out of Lincoln, Nebraska and embrace that origin with unabashed attitude, it's No Tide. Out with their their newest EP Meridian and blending pop punk with just a dash of hardcore punk, No Tide is almost a modern throwback to Blink128 in a way. The songs are incredibly catchy; the entire EP has been stuck in my head for the longest time. The band is tight, they write strong songs with smart lyrics and chances are good you'll be singing right along with them.
"Wasting Space"
11 | Shai Hulud | Reach Beyond the Sun
Shai Hulud are the one of kings of old metalcore. Keeping with their traditional style of old-school metalcore/hardcore punk with a heavy dash of progressive metal, Matt Fox and company have put out an incredibly poetic and solid release. Incredibly catchy without sacrificing a hint of aggression or sincerity. Great progression from their previous works. If their last album was Misanthropy Pure, this could've been re-titled Misanthopy Refined.
"A Human Failing"
12 | Distances | Ages
Found by surprise, this is a very solid small Post-metal/sludge metal group from New Mexico. A very dense, atmospheric and well made release. Harkening as a calmer and more straight forward ISIS, this a surefire record for those who are craving their sludge metal fix.
"Threadbare"
13 | Five Iron Frenzy | The Engine of a Million Plots
They're back from the dead, baby! After over decade gone, the ska heavy weights Five Iron Frenzy are back with a vengeance. After a monstrously successfully kickstarter campaign, on of the most successful on record, and spending he past couple of years in the studio getting everything just right, we have it: The Engine of a Million Plots. A beautiful and dark reunion album. Vocalist Reese Roper is still as sharp as ever, both with his amazingly skilled vocals and his witty, often humorous yet poignant, lyricism. The band is tight. Every song is written to a T and the whole album simply sounds amazing. This is a must check out.
"Zen and the Art of Xenophobia"
14 | Lighthouses | Black Letter Day
Equal parts post-hardcore and post-rock, an amazing little indie record from an up and coming group out of sleepy little Kearney, Nebraska. A little rough around the edges, I'll admit. The guitars are often not as powerful as I would like and the vocals can be kinda dodgy, man, is there some potential here.
"Worst Part"
15 | Hollow Tongue | Godsnakes
A numbered copy of this album got slipped to me for free and by surprise by the guy running Crossfaith's merch booth at the Mayhem Festival. Not knowing who they were, I dove in. Crawling their way out Albuquerque, New Mexico, Hollow Tongue are an amalgamation of hardcore, grindcore and black metal. At times, they almost remind me of nails. This album is just as short, just as nuts, and even more nasty. Not quite as refined but there's this DIY-edge to it and I fucking love it.
"American Scheme"
16 | Plini | Other Things
17 | Plini | Sweet Nothings
The first two EPs in a planned set of 3 from the incredibly reclusive soloist out of Sydney, Australia. Some amazing instrumental guitar work here that straddles the vertex of prog rock, prog metal, jazz, electronic, and blues. AMAZING solos all around. Fucking genius work. I can't wait for the next EP. Span the cosmos, baby.
"Selenium Forest"
"Tarred & Feathered"
18 | Sithu Aye | 26
A good friend of Plini's from Scotland and for good reason: Sithu Aye shares a very similar style to him, riding that same stylistic vertex, but in a decidedly faster and more aggressive manner. Where Plini is content to chill, mellow, and monkey with textures, Aye takes a much more cerebral approach on 26, winding up a glitch-y electric guitar haymaker aimed right at your head. Some really good solo and rhythm work here.
"Mandalay"
19 | Sworn In | The Death Card
The first full release from the Chicago-based deathcore group, this album is at times incredibly poetic and other times incredibly juvenile, but this concept album about a man's lost of himself and his descent into hell is incredibly dark and the personification of insanity. Vocalist Tyler Dennen screams and cackles and rips apart everything vocally, the sonic equivalent of a madman let out of his straight jacket and on a rampage to a soundtrack of guitars pulling off some the craziest harmonic tricks on top of wall of face melting sound. If you stomach some serious rage and a heavy dose of angst, this is hell of a ride.
"Snake Eyes"
20 | Lowercase Noises | Blake
New Mexico's Andy Othling continues his tradition of releasing a free EP on the birth of one of his children. This is his third. A boy. Try to guess his name won't you? Anyways, this EP is just what I expect from Andy: sun-drenched, heartbreaking, loving ambient music made from the guitar and enough guitar effects racks to make Tyga and YC envious, this some well-crafted ambient and well worth your time.
"Will You Catch Me If I Blow Away? (Pt. 1)"
21 | Living Sacrifice | Ghost Thief
Long standing metal vets from Arkansas, Living Sacrifice are back with their second post-reunion record. Nothing too amazingly stellar, but still rock solid and there are still some good listens here.
"The Reaping"
22 | Kekal | Autonomy
Kekal can be hit or miss, especially with their recent stuff. But that comes with the territory for the now-completely-memberless Indonesian avant-garde metal band. Just as bizarre and electronic as ever, but it's a decidedly darker and more thought-out release then their previous couple of albums.
"Futuride"
23 | Impending Doom | Death Will Reign
Doom is back with a bit of retooling this time around. No longer the new kids on the metal block, they've dropped their old guitars and have gone the way of the extended range guitar. This album is dark, this album is dense, and this album is LOW. Much like LS, nothing too amazing here but still very solid.
"Doomsday"
24 | Lost in Kiev/Zero Absolu | Lost in Kiev/Zero Absolu
Some really amazing, story-driving post-metal/post-rock songs crammed into this incredibly collaborative split between the two French groups. I was a big fan of Lost in Kiev's debut Motions and if they keep this up, they've got a bright crescendo filled future in front of them.
"Fragments"
25 | Winters | ...And Bear Witness to the Colossus...
It's noisy and messy but so very bleak and unforgiving. Mixing hardcore, post-metal, and metalcore together in a rather interesting way, Scotland's Winters retells the story of NASA's Apollo program. They need a lot of clean up, but there is a gem to be made here.
"I Claw Through the Sky"
Man, if you're not listen to Cloudkicker by now, you're seriously doing something wrong. For the sadly uninitiated, Cloudkicker is the reclusive one-man project of Columbus, Ohio-based mastermind Ben Sharp. Ben doesn't tour and hell, he puts all his music up for free, building rave reviews and a huge fanbase simply by word of mouth. And my god, what music it is. Merging post-metal and progressive metal in an purely instrumental way, his albums are a treat and Subsume is no exception. He builds layers upon distorted and sundrenched layers is such a manner that its hard to tell if I should go nuts, chill out, or just stand in awe. Either reaction works. Working in bizarre time signatures and with extended range instruments, this album is such a piece of precision engineering, like a multi-million dollar warplane, yet in not devoid of that lonely soul. Sun drenched, raindrenched, and aggressive. It's like the mind of an engineer trying to cope with his inner struggles, and it all spills out in such a complex atmosphere. This is the album of the year for me. End of story. So good. If you've never heard of Cloudkicker, you've got no reason not go check this album and the rest of Mr. Sharp's cataloge out: It's pay-what-you-want and absolutely fascinating.
"You Could Laugh Forever But Never End Up Happy."
02 | Deafheaven | Sunbather
Many thanks to Kwixotik for sending this to me as part of GAF's Secret Santa thread. Equal parts black metal, post-metal, and shoegaze, it was seriously one of the biggest things that I would consider up my alley that was actually well-received outside of the regular metal community. It was on my list of things to listen to before the year was out and man is it good. Harsh yet so very melodic, smart but lonely, but overall just simply inspired. An utter, unabashed work of art that rises above and beyond the confines of metal while never losing its roots. It was right up my alley man is it good. This will probably me my one pick that shows up on other lists but its still so good.
"Dream House"
03 | Tesseract | Altered State
Amazing sophomore album from one of the up-and-coming stars in progressive metal. Textually diverse, incredibly dense and complex, and incredibly skillful. Vocals from the new man in the band, Ashe O'Hara, are absolutely top-notch and can stand side-by-side both technically and lyrically with with the ever intelligent instrumentalists at the heart of Tesseract. While still very much prog metal, it's probably more accessible to non-metal listeners than their debut album due to the omission of harsh vocals. So non-metal GAFfers, fear not, go and listen to this ASAP.
"Of Mind: Exile"
04 | Nails | Abandon All Life
This incredibly short LP (17 min) is almost begging to be called an EP, but damn is it good. It's from last January and is still holding its own. An amazing blend of sludge metal, grindcore, and hardcore punk, this is one of the violent and yet intelligent albums I've ever heard. If Cannibal Corpse is a sledgehammer, and Tesseract is a scalpel, Nails is razor sharp axe. Every single riff has it's place and it's purpose. There
is no fat on this album. It is sleak, short, and absolutely brutal. Get wrecked.
"God's Cold Hands"
05 | City in the Sea | Below the Noise
Incredibly solid debut release from Arizona progressive metalcore group, City in the Sea. Nearly every track is incredibly catchy and heavy. It's amazing how they play within the established framework of modern metalcore but put enough of their own spin on it to keep it from being a simple retread. Harsh vocals are decent and the clean vocals are incredibly heartfelt with just the right dose of grit from become just another pretty boy singing. Songs are structured well and contain such an interesting SciFi atmosphere. Again, for the non-metal GAFfers looking for something heavier but more digestible than Tesseract, I'd suggest this.
"The Purge"
06 | Jesu | Everyday I Get Closer To The Light From Which I Came
Multi-genred mastermind Justin K. Broadrick is back for another Jesu release, and with a looming Godflesh reunion release on the horizon, Broadrick is able to focus back on more ethereal post-metal with Everyday. While potentially listless at moments, this album is less a journey and more a snapshot. It's utterly lonely, a fact exemplified by Broadrick's lyrics and vocals, often processed but always so very lonely and droning, like a ghost calling from some electronic beyond through the storm of noise that builds and dies before you.
"Homesick"
07 | Crossfaith | Apocalyze
Hailing from the land of the rising sun, Crossfaith is finally hitting the world by storm and hard with an amazingly fresh sound. They run a very hybrid sound consisting of equal parts metalcore, trance, and dubstep. On paper, this sounds like a clusterfuck, but go with it: it blends amazingly. Songs are fast and smart, vocalist Kenta Koie is always on top with an amazing roar, and the electronics are given a very prominent role and don't ride the bench. A very surprising release with a very surprising sound.
"We Are The Future"
08 | August Burns Red | Rescue & Restore
ABR continue to be one of the most interesting groups in modern metal for me. The Pennsylvania-based progressive metalcore group is back for their sixth full length and off their sub-par Leveler. While elements of Leveler remain, chief among them the clean almost jazz, mariachi, and orchestral interludes, this is a great go. It took a while to grow on me but I can say it's really well done. I can seriously do without their absolute atrocious spoken word sections, but overall, it's a solid effort.
"Provision"
09 | Touché Amoré | Is Survived By
Touché Amoré is a 5-piece post-hardcore group out of LA that has been making a lot of waves recently. After a long string of split EPs and the absolutely stunning previous album, Parting the Sea Between Brightness and Me, their back with third LP. Just like Parting, this album is short and sweet with bite-size song-ettes in the clothing of songs. It's filled smart and cleaver, but sometimes rather cliché lyrics, but delivered with such a sincere voice that only vocalist Jeremy Bolm can provide. He's high pitched and raspy but the emotion never leaves. His voice is the sonic equivalent of his lyrics: an honest, impassioned cry and perhaps a look into a panicked breakdown; Bolm's voice sounds like he could constantly fall apart at any second. All this set to the background of a chaotic and noisy but melodic band that knows how to highlight the tones. It's too short for my tastes but it's still really good.
"Just Exist"
10 | No Tide | Meridian
Reppin' the hometown boys. No Tide came out of nowhere it seem for me but if there was every a shinning star to come out of Lincoln, Nebraska and embrace that origin with unabashed attitude, it's No Tide. Out with their their newest EP Meridian and blending pop punk with just a dash of hardcore punk, No Tide is almost a modern throwback to Blink128 in a way. The songs are incredibly catchy; the entire EP has been stuck in my head for the longest time. The band is tight, they write strong songs with smart lyrics and chances are good you'll be singing right along with them.
"Wasting Space"
11 | Shai Hulud | Reach Beyond the Sun
Shai Hulud are the one of kings of old metalcore. Keeping with their traditional style of old-school metalcore/hardcore punk with a heavy dash of progressive metal, Matt Fox and company have put out an incredibly poetic and solid release. Incredibly catchy without sacrificing a hint of aggression or sincerity. Great progression from their previous works. If their last album was Misanthropy Pure, this could've been re-titled Misanthopy Refined.
"A Human Failing"
12 | Distances | Ages
Found by surprise, this is a very solid small Post-metal/sludge metal group from New Mexico. A very dense, atmospheric and well made release. Harkening as a calmer and more straight forward ISIS, this a surefire record for those who are craving their sludge metal fix.
"Threadbare"
13 | Five Iron Frenzy | The Engine of a Million Plots
They're back from the dead, baby! After over decade gone, the ska heavy weights Five Iron Frenzy are back with a vengeance. After a monstrously successfully kickstarter campaign, on of the most successful on record, and spending he past couple of years in the studio getting everything just right, we have it: The Engine of a Million Plots. A beautiful and dark reunion album. Vocalist Reese Roper is still as sharp as ever, both with his amazingly skilled vocals and his witty, often humorous yet poignant, lyricism. The band is tight. Every song is written to a T and the whole album simply sounds amazing. This is a must check out.
"Zen and the Art of Xenophobia"
14 | Lighthouses | Black Letter Day
Equal parts post-hardcore and post-rock, an amazing little indie record from an up and coming group out of sleepy little Kearney, Nebraska. A little rough around the edges, I'll admit. The guitars are often not as powerful as I would like and the vocals can be kinda dodgy, man, is there some potential here.
"Worst Part"
15 | Hollow Tongue | Godsnakes
A numbered copy of this album got slipped to me for free and by surprise by the guy running Crossfaith's merch booth at the Mayhem Festival. Not knowing who they were, I dove in. Crawling their way out Albuquerque, New Mexico, Hollow Tongue are an amalgamation of hardcore, grindcore and black metal. At times, they almost remind me of nails. This album is just as short, just as nuts, and even more nasty. Not quite as refined but there's this DIY-edge to it and I fucking love it.
"American Scheme"
16 | Plini | Other Things
17 | Plini | Sweet Nothings
The first two EPs in a planned set of 3 from the incredibly reclusive soloist out of Sydney, Australia. Some amazing instrumental guitar work here that straddles the vertex of prog rock, prog metal, jazz, electronic, and blues. AMAZING solos all around. Fucking genius work. I can't wait for the next EP. Span the cosmos, baby.
"Selenium Forest"
"Tarred & Feathered"
18 | Sithu Aye | 26
A good friend of Plini's from Scotland and for good reason: Sithu Aye shares a very similar style to him, riding that same stylistic vertex, but in a decidedly faster and more aggressive manner. Where Plini is content to chill, mellow, and monkey with textures, Aye takes a much more cerebral approach on 26, winding up a glitch-y electric guitar haymaker aimed right at your head. Some really good solo and rhythm work here.
"Mandalay"
19 | Sworn In | The Death Card
The first full release from the Chicago-based deathcore group, this album is at times incredibly poetic and other times incredibly juvenile, but this concept album about a man's lost of himself and his descent into hell is incredibly dark and the personification of insanity. Vocalist Tyler Dennen screams and cackles and rips apart everything vocally, the sonic equivalent of a madman let out of his straight jacket and on a rampage to a soundtrack of guitars pulling off some the craziest harmonic tricks on top of wall of face melting sound. If you stomach some serious rage and a heavy dose of angst, this is hell of a ride.
"Snake Eyes"
20 | Lowercase Noises | Blake
New Mexico's Andy Othling continues his tradition of releasing a free EP on the birth of one of his children. This is his third. A boy. Try to guess his name won't you? Anyways, this EP is just what I expect from Andy: sun-drenched, heartbreaking, loving ambient music made from the guitar and enough guitar effects racks to make Tyga and YC envious, this some well-crafted ambient and well worth your time.
"Will You Catch Me If I Blow Away? (Pt. 1)"
21 | Living Sacrifice | Ghost Thief
Long standing metal vets from Arkansas, Living Sacrifice are back with their second post-reunion record. Nothing too amazingly stellar, but still rock solid and there are still some good listens here.
"The Reaping"
22 | Kekal | Autonomy
Kekal can be hit or miss, especially with their recent stuff. But that comes with the territory for the now-completely-memberless Indonesian avant-garde metal band. Just as bizarre and electronic as ever, but it's a decidedly darker and more thought-out release then their previous couple of albums.
"Futuride"
23 | Impending Doom | Death Will Reign
Doom is back with a bit of retooling this time around. No longer the new kids on the metal block, they've dropped their old guitars and have gone the way of the extended range guitar. This album is dark, this album is dense, and this album is LOW. Much like LS, nothing too amazing here but still very solid.
"Doomsday"
24 | Lost in Kiev/Zero Absolu | Lost in Kiev/Zero Absolu
Some really amazing, story-driving post-metal/post-rock songs crammed into this incredibly collaborative split between the two French groups. I was a big fan of Lost in Kiev's debut Motions and if they keep this up, they've got a bright crescendo filled future in front of them.
"Fragments"
25 | Winters | ...And Bear Witness to the Colossus...
It's noisy and messy but so very bleak and unforgiving. Mixing hardcore, post-metal, and metalcore together in a rather interesting way, Scotland's Winters retells the story of NASA's Apollo program. They need a lot of clean up, but there is a gem to be made here.
"I Claw Through the Sky"
I would totally recommend checking out Serafina Steer's The Moths are Real and Laura Marlings' Once I was an Eagle.
Touche Amore is a really good with horrible vocals.
"Night Before Mutiny" is such a good song
Erm, thanks? Why are you studid?
So how many people's lists were ruined by the new Burial EP?
Welcome to hardcore music. You take what you can get, he's best on the songs where he's only screaming and not trying to do some sort of pseudo-scream singing.
Welcome to hardcore music. You take what you can get, he's best on the songs where he's only screaming and not trying to do some sort of pseudo-scream singing.
Master_Funk
Member
1|Chance the Rapper | Acid Rap
2|Daft Punk | Random Access Memories
3|Kanye West | Yeezus
4|Vampire Weekend | Modern Vampire of The City
5|Haim | Days Are Gone
6|Burial | River Dealer EP
7|Beyonce | Beyonce
8|Drake | Nothing Was The Same
9|Arcade Fire | Reflektor
10|Skin Town | The Room
2|Daft Punk | Random Access Memories
3|Kanye West | Yeezus
4|Vampire Weekend | Modern Vampire of The City
5|Haim | Days Are Gone
6|Burial | River Dealer EP
7|Beyonce | Beyonce
8|Drake | Nothing Was The Same
9|Arcade Fire | Reflektor
10|Skin Town | The Room
BulletTheory
Neo Member
Wow discovered lots of great music on this thread keep it up! My list:
1 | Tesseract - Altered State
Album of the year for me, probably makes it into my top 10 albums of all time. I used to think Tesseract were a metal band but Altered State transcends genres and manages to make heavy, complex music accessible and beautiful. I caught them live supporting Karnivool a month ago and were one of the best live bands I've ever seen. Check it out, even if you dont like metal.
Youtube link
2 | Sadistik - Flowers For My Father
One of my favourite hip hop artists returned this year with a beautiful, dark, sometimes heartbreaking album featuring beats from Blue Sky Black Death (see below) and Kno of Cunninlynguists. I can't think of any other artists quite like Sadistik in his lyrics and delivery, great stuff.
Youtube Link
3 | A Day To Remember - Common Courtesy
I used to write ADTR off as another shitty pop punk band but man, something about this album really hooked me in after the very first listen. Its catchy as hell, sing your heart out stuff infused with heavy breakdowns and great production. Its dumb, fun and I love it.
Youtube Link
4| Anamanaguchi - Endless Fantasy
Love video games? Love video game music? CHECK THIS OUT! This album takes me on a new journey with every listen.
Youtube Link
5| Killswitch Engage - Disarm The Descent
One of my favourite metal bands return with their old singer Jesse Leach. It wasnt quite the return to form I had hoped for, I actually think I enjoyed the Times of Grace side project more, but it is still chock full of anthems and easily beats their last release with Howard.
Youtube Link
6| Input and Broken - Never Heard Of Ya
My taste in hip hop seems different to other peoples lists but whatever. This is just feel good music with great beats, hooks and flow. Their previous album Left For Dead is probably better though.
Youtube Link
7| Blue Sky Black Death - Glaciers
If you like ethereal, heavily sample based music then this is for you. Glaciers doesnt quite hit the heights of Noir or my personal favourite Late Night Cinema, but it is a brilliant album nonetheless and worth checking out if you've never heard these guys before.
PLUS the whole album is up on their SoundCloud so check it out now!
8| Bring Me The Horizon - Sempiternal
Another band I totally wrote off before hearing this album. Its never gonna be a classic, but has some heavy hitting anthems and proves BMTH have more to offer than just screeching and breakdowns. Plus the first single is called Shadow Moses, so theres that.
Youtube Link
9| Deaf Havana - Old Souls
This album didnt quite meet my expectations after the exceptional Fools and Worthless Liars, seeing the band go towards a more accessible and perhaps watered down country rock sound, but it's still a solid album with some real bangers.
Live studio version of the best song on the album
10| Frank Turner - Tape Deck Heart
Again, this album didnt come close to matching Franks previous album England Keep My Bones, but theres still plenty of great songs and I just find something incredibly infectious about his style.
Youtube Link
1 | Tesseract - Altered State
Album of the year for me, probably makes it into my top 10 albums of all time. I used to think Tesseract were a metal band but Altered State transcends genres and manages to make heavy, complex music accessible and beautiful. I caught them live supporting Karnivool a month ago and were one of the best live bands I've ever seen. Check it out, even if you dont like metal.
Youtube link
2 | Sadistik - Flowers For My Father
One of my favourite hip hop artists returned this year with a beautiful, dark, sometimes heartbreaking album featuring beats from Blue Sky Black Death (see below) and Kno of Cunninlynguists. I can't think of any other artists quite like Sadistik in his lyrics and delivery, great stuff.
Youtube Link
3 | A Day To Remember - Common Courtesy
I used to write ADTR off as another shitty pop punk band but man, something about this album really hooked me in after the very first listen. Its catchy as hell, sing your heart out stuff infused with heavy breakdowns and great production. Its dumb, fun and I love it.
Youtube Link
4| Anamanaguchi - Endless Fantasy
Love video games? Love video game music? CHECK THIS OUT! This album takes me on a new journey with every listen.
Youtube Link
5| Killswitch Engage - Disarm The Descent
One of my favourite metal bands return with their old singer Jesse Leach. It wasnt quite the return to form I had hoped for, I actually think I enjoyed the Times of Grace side project more, but it is still chock full of anthems and easily beats their last release with Howard.
Youtube Link
6| Input and Broken - Never Heard Of Ya
My taste in hip hop seems different to other peoples lists but whatever. This is just feel good music with great beats, hooks and flow. Their previous album Left For Dead is probably better though.
Youtube Link
7| Blue Sky Black Death - Glaciers
If you like ethereal, heavily sample based music then this is for you. Glaciers doesnt quite hit the heights of Noir or my personal favourite Late Night Cinema, but it is a brilliant album nonetheless and worth checking out if you've never heard these guys before.
PLUS the whole album is up on their SoundCloud so check it out now!
8| Bring Me The Horizon - Sempiternal
Another band I totally wrote off before hearing this album. Its never gonna be a classic, but has some heavy hitting anthems and proves BMTH have more to offer than just screeching and breakdowns. Plus the first single is called Shadow Moses, so theres that.
Youtube Link
9| Deaf Havana - Old Souls
This album didnt quite meet my expectations after the exceptional Fools and Worthless Liars, seeing the band go towards a more accessible and perhaps watered down country rock sound, but it's still a solid album with some real bangers.
Live studio version of the best song on the album
10| Frank Turner - Tape Deck Heart
Again, this album didnt come close to matching Franks previous album England Keep My Bones, but theres still plenty of great songs and I just find something incredibly infectious about his style.
Youtube Link
Patrick Bateman
Member
Foals - Holy Fire
- My Number
- Late Night (NSFW)
Phoenix - Bankrupt!
- Trying to be cool
- Entertainment
!!! - Thr!!!er
One Girl/One Boy
Californiyeah
- My Number
- Late Night (NSFW)
Phoenix - Bankrupt!
- Trying to be cool
- Entertainment
!!! - Thr!!!er
One Girl/One Boy
Californiyeah
*Raises Hand*
They can post, I just won't count it.
SecretMoblin
Member
If you haven't, make sure you catch her Lil Silva collab. It's still my favorite thing of hers.
edit: also, of course, her excellent Black Cab Sessions performance of Warm Water
Nice, thanks. And actually, your post in the R&B thread is what brought her EP to my attention, so thanks twice over!
Johnlenham
Member
01 | Chvrches | The Bones of What You Believe
02 | Tegan and Sara | Heartthrob
03 | Vampire Weekend | Modern Vampires of the City
04 | The Naked and Famous | In Rolling Waves
05 | Laura Marling | Once I Was an Eagle
06 | Paramore | Paramore
07 | Young Galaxy | Ultramarine
08 | Arcade Fire | Reflektor
09 | The National | Trouble Will Find Me
10 | Lorde | Pure Heroine
11 | Yeah Yeah Yeahs | Mosquito
12 | Iron & Wine | Ghost On Ghost
12 | The Joy Formidable | Wolf's Law
I don't know how to talk about music and what makes it good or not good. I just know that I had a lot of songs from these albums on repeat throughout the year. My music habit tends to be to listen to what I know and then get my discovery from TV or best of lists. It's rare that I actually go all the way and listen to an entire album for some reason. I'll be using this topic however to figure out what albums I should try out.
02 | Tegan and Sara | Heartthrob
03 | Vampire Weekend | Modern Vampires of the City
04 | The Naked and Famous | In Rolling Waves
05 | Laura Marling | Once I Was an Eagle
06 | Paramore | Paramore
07 | Young Galaxy | Ultramarine
08 | Arcade Fire | Reflektor
09 | The National | Trouble Will Find Me
10 | Lorde | Pure Heroine
11 | Yeah Yeah Yeahs | Mosquito
12 | Iron & Wine | Ghost On Ghost
12 | The Joy Formidable | Wolf's Law
I don't know how to talk about music and what makes it good or not good. I just know that I had a lot of songs from these albums on repeat throughout the year. My music habit tends to be to listen to what I know and then get my discovery from TV or best of lists. It's rare that I actually go all the way and listen to an entire album for some reason. I'll be using this topic however to figure out what albums I should try out.
killertofu
Member
Just heard the new Portugal. The Man album and it was surprisingly good
Unable to wrap my mind around making a top 10 that I actually agree with, so I just sort of threw it together with stuff I liked
01 | Darkside | Psychic
02 | Run the Jewels | Run the Jewels
03 | Justin Timberlake | 20/20 experience
04 | Rhye | Woman
05 | James Holden | The Inheritors
06 | Daft Punk | Random Access Memories
07 | Forest Swords | Engravings
08 | Autre Ne Veut | Anxiety
09 | Jon Hopkins | Immunity
10 | Black Milk - No Poison No Paradise
--
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Burial | Rival Dealer
Young Fathers | Tape Two
Kanye West | Yeezus
Haim | Days Are Gone
James Blake | Overgrown
Volcano Choir | Repave
Savages | Silence Yourself
Queens Of The Stone Age | Like Clockwork
Bonobo | The North Borders
Disclosure | Settle
Mount Kimbie | Cold Spring Fault Less Youth
The Knife | Shaking the Habitual
Arcade Fire | Reflektor
Four Tet | Beautiful Rewind
Ryan Hemsworth | Guilt Trips
A$AP Rocky | Long. Live. A$AP.
Atoms for Peace | AMOK
Lorde | Pure Heroine
CHVRCHES | The Bones of What You Believe
Chance The Rapper | Acid Rap
01 | Darkside | Psychic
02 | Run the Jewels | Run the Jewels
03 | Justin Timberlake | 20/20 experience
04 | Rhye | Woman
05 | James Holden | The Inheritors
06 | Daft Punk | Random Access Memories
07 | Forest Swords | Engravings
08 | Autre Ne Veut | Anxiety
09 | Jon Hopkins | Immunity
10 | Black Milk - No Poison No Paradise
--
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Burial | Rival Dealer
Young Fathers | Tape Two
Kanye West | Yeezus
Haim | Days Are Gone
James Blake | Overgrown
Volcano Choir | Repave
Savages | Silence Yourself
Queens Of The Stone Age | Like Clockwork
Bonobo | The North Borders
Disclosure | Settle
Mount Kimbie | Cold Spring Fault Less Youth
The Knife | Shaking the Habitual
Arcade Fire | Reflektor
Four Tet | Beautiful Rewind
Ryan Hemsworth | Guilt Trips
A$AP Rocky | Long. Live. A$AP.
Atoms for Peace | AMOK
Lorde | Pure Heroine
CHVRCHES | The Bones of What You Believe
Chance The Rapper | Acid Rap
Representing people with no taste in music...
01 | Avenged Sevenfold | Hail to the King
02 | Stone Sour | House of Gold and Bones Part 2
03 | Avicii | True
04 | Tonight Alive | The Other Side
05 | Five Finger Death Punch | The Wrong Side of Heaven and the Righteous Side of Hell Part 1 (Forgot how long that bloody title was)
06 | Eminem | The Marshall Mathers LP 2
07 | Daft Punk | Random Access Memories
08 | Hollywood Undead | Notes from the Underground
09 | Fall Out Boy | Save Rock and Roll
10 | Five Finger Death Punch | The Wrong Side of Heaven and the Righteous Side of Hell Part 2 (Revenge of the incredibly long title)
01 | Avenged Sevenfold | Hail to the King
02 | Stone Sour | House of Gold and Bones Part 2
03 | Avicii | True
04 | Tonight Alive | The Other Side
05 | Five Finger Death Punch | The Wrong Side of Heaven and the Righteous Side of Hell Part 1 (Forgot how long that bloody title was)
06 | Eminem | The Marshall Mathers LP 2
07 | Daft Punk | Random Access Memories
08 | Hollywood Undead | Notes from the Underground
09 | Fall Out Boy | Save Rock and Roll
10 | Five Finger Death Punch | The Wrong Side of Heaven and the Righteous Side of Hell Part 2 (Revenge of the incredibly long title)
You got number 1 right. That's all that matters.
Pitchfork posted their top 100 tracks. They put Drake's "Hold On, We're Going Home" at #1, and let's be honest here, that track is overrated as fuck. It's just not that great. Not only that, Holy Ghost's! cover of it is so much better.
I'd post the whole list, but I can't access the site at work. My favorite track of the year came in at a whopping 93rd. James Murphy's remix of David Bowie's "Love is Lost".
I'd post the whole list, but I can't access the site at work. My favorite track of the year came in at a whopping 93rd. James Murphy's remix of David Bowie's "Love is Lost".
Yeah, very odd choice for #1. Some great tracks on the list as a whole though.
- Status