Thursday, January 21, 2016
Friday, January 8, 2016
Top Ten?
Jumping on the album review bandwagon like a 12 from Marysville...
10. Drake and Future - What a Time to be Alive
I love Drake. And I love Future because he hates Russell Wilson and seems to be legit insane. This was my favorite album for the gym.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiM5ARaexPE
9. Beach House - (tie) Depression Cherry and Thank your Lucky Stars
Pretty awesome that Beach House just decided to release all the songs they didn't use on Depression Cherry as a full album just a month later. And all those songs sound great too.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQyiZiwklgw
8. Sleater Kinney - No Cities to Love
I don't seem to listen to legit Rock and Roll very much anymore. So when an awesome pure rock record comes out I have to kind of train my ears to appreciate it. It's worth it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cj2k3QsHmyM
7. Hot Chip - Why Make Sense
Hot Chip is currently my favorite band to boogie down to. And by boogie down, I mean slide around the house in my socks while doing chores.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PyN_d28-sfw
6. Tame Impala - Currents
This album gives me Grizzly Bear vibes, but it's more upbeat even though the lyrics are dark as hell. It's kind of the quintessential indie album for 2015. It captures this moment in music pretty perfectly.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFptt7Cargc
5. Grimes - Art Angels
I got excited for this album listening to Grimes, Chairlift's Caroline, and Sleigh Bells' Alexis take over XM radio for a day. They were incredibly engaging. Canadian female pop stars are so much better than American ones.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tv9YoYCKNoE
4. Action Bronson - Mr. Wonderful
Unanimous top ten! I love how uncomfortable he got when Ghostface Killah got pissed off at him for jacking his style. Poor guy.
3. The Weeknd - The Beauty Behind the Madness
It's kind of weird that The Weeknd blew up so big this year. He hasn't really changed his music much, but I think he's (slightly) more sober now and therefore working well with the label and promotion, which would explain why he's now in the mainstream. He's an incredible talent and makes the best sex music of anyone alive.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPIhUaONiLU
2. Jason Isbell - Something more than Free
I'm so happy that Isbell is sober, married, has a new baby, and has lost like 50 pounds. It makes his music WAY less depressing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtgPeNKpnyw
1. Kendrick Lamar - To Pimp a Butterfly
UNANIMOUS NUMBER ONE AHHHHHHHH!
Real Quick top five singles not on any of these albums:
5. Snakehips feat Tinashe and Chance the Rapper - All my Friends
4. Big Grams - Fell in the Sun
3. Blood Orange - Sandra's Smile
2. El Vy - Return to the Moon
1. Post Malone - White Iverson
10. Drake and Future - What a Time to be Alive
I love Drake. And I love Future because he hates Russell Wilson and seems to be legit insane. This was my favorite album for the gym.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiM5ARaexPE
9. Beach House - (tie) Depression Cherry and Thank your Lucky Stars
Pretty awesome that Beach House just decided to release all the songs they didn't use on Depression Cherry as a full album just a month later. And all those songs sound great too.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQyiZiwklgw
8. Sleater Kinney - No Cities to Love
I don't seem to listen to legit Rock and Roll very much anymore. So when an awesome pure rock record comes out I have to kind of train my ears to appreciate it. It's worth it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cj2k3QsHmyM
7. Hot Chip - Why Make Sense
Hot Chip is currently my favorite band to boogie down to. And by boogie down, I mean slide around the house in my socks while doing chores.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PyN_d28-sfw
6. Tame Impala - Currents
This album gives me Grizzly Bear vibes, but it's more upbeat even though the lyrics are dark as hell. It's kind of the quintessential indie album for 2015. It captures this moment in music pretty perfectly.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFptt7Cargc
5. Grimes - Art Angels
I got excited for this album listening to Grimes, Chairlift's Caroline, and Sleigh Bells' Alexis take over XM radio for a day. They were incredibly engaging. Canadian female pop stars are so much better than American ones.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tv9YoYCKNoE
4. Action Bronson - Mr. Wonderful
Unanimous top ten! I love how uncomfortable he got when Ghostface Killah got pissed off at him for jacking his style. Poor guy.
3. The Weeknd - The Beauty Behind the Madness
It's kind of weird that The Weeknd blew up so big this year. He hasn't really changed his music much, but I think he's (slightly) more sober now and therefore working well with the label and promotion, which would explain why he's now in the mainstream. He's an incredible talent and makes the best sex music of anyone alive.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPIhUaONiLU
2. Jason Isbell - Something more than Free
I'm so happy that Isbell is sober, married, has a new baby, and has lost like 50 pounds. It makes his music WAY less depressing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtgPeNKpnyw
1. Kendrick Lamar - To Pimp a Butterfly
UNANIMOUS NUMBER ONE AHHHHHHHH!
Real Quick top five singles not on any of these albums:
5. Snakehips feat Tinashe and Chance the Rapper - All my Friends
4. Big Grams - Fell in the Sun
3. Blood Orange - Sandra's Smile
2. El Vy - Return to the Moon
1. Post Malone - White Iverson
Top 10!
Congratulations Danny, I didn't think you had it in you.
Yesterday I posted my top EPs of 2015. Now it is time for my top albums. My top10 12!
Yesterday I posted my top EPs of 2015. Now it is time for my top albums. My top
12. Mumford and Sons - Wilder Mind: When this album first came out my reaction was, great, Mumford and Sons is trying to become U2/Coldplay. Well dang, I like this album. Have they become a bit more generic? Yes, but this is my list, go away, leave me alone.
11. Leon Bridges - Coming Home: Music from a different era, Leon makes music that you just don’t hear anymore. Great stuff. He reminds me of Josh Rouse in a way. Music that takes me to a different place and less complicated time.
10. Josh Rouse - The Embers of Time: Josh Rouse continues to make safe and easy to listen to albums. His songs aren’t exceptionally deep but they make me think of sunny skies and a simple life. Good escape music.
9. Alabama Shakes - Sound and Color: I was pretty late to listen to this album because I expected it to just sound like their old album but I was mistaken. They expanded their boundaries and experimented with different sounds and influences. It makes for a really good album.
8. Guy Harvey - Courting the Squall: The Elbow lead singer goes out on his own and makes a very Elbow sounding album. Guy likes to add screeches and random drum sounds but it works and he has a killer voice.
7. Donnie Trumpet and the Social Experiment - Surf: I like how this album goes in a lot of different directions and doesn’t pigeonhole itself. It is a fun album that reminds you hip-hop isn’t all the stereotypes of drugs and women etc.
6. City and Colour - If I Should Go Before You: While some of his lyrics are a bit simplistic he has a great voice and makes great songs. Good from beginning to end.
5. Jamie XX - In Colour: I enjoy the creativity of this album with different guest vocalists and sounds. Jamie shows his chops by not being tied to the typical XX sound.
4. Action Bronson - Wonderland: I find Action Bronson hilarious, he continuously calls himself gorgeous and raps about food, a lot. Like the Donnie Trumpet (Chance the Rapper) album he goes in a lot of different directions and makes a unique album. His videos are also great, like, the best.
3. Lord Huron - Strange Trails: I am a huge fan of this band and their sound. Lots of songs about love, loss and death. It is easy to picture a Western movie to go with each song. Makes me want to ride a horse or something.
2. Jason Isbell - Something More Than Free: The greatest singer songwriter alive right now. Every song is heartfelt and powerful. It is amazing that he is only 36 years old. He writes songs like he has had a lifetime of experiences and makes you believe he has been everyone one of his song’s characters.
1. Kendrick Lamar - To Pimp a Butterfly: My number one! Pretty much everyone has this as the top album of the year but there is a reason for that. Kendrick writes extremely powerful lyrics that make you think and open your eyes to a part of the country that I have no experience with. Lines from hiis song Alright has also been a chant during recent Police protests...powerful.
Thursday, January 7, 2016
Surprise Top Ten List!
Stefan thinks he's the only one blogging. Stefan is wrong. I wrote a top ten list! But because I'm lazy, I didn't really write anything, just posted some videos. So I guess Stefan isn't totally wrong.
10. Action Bronson - Mr. Wonderful
9. Adele - 25
8. Hot Chip - Why Make Sense
7. Sufjan Stevens - Carrie & Lowell
6. Leon Bridges - Coming Home
5. Purity Ring - Another Eternity
4. Tuxedo - Tuxedo
3. Donnie Trumpet and the Social Experiment - Surf
2. D'Angelo and the Vanguard - Black Messiah*
* Yes, I know this album came out in 2014. December 15, 2014 to be exact. So basically 2015. Deal with it.
1. Kendrick Lamar - To Pimp A Butterfly
Boom!
** Side note: nobody but Stefan posted on the blog last year.
10. Action Bronson - Mr. Wonderful
9. Adele - 25
8. Hot Chip - Why Make Sense
7. Sufjan Stevens - Carrie & Lowell
6. Leon Bridges - Coming Home
5. Purity Ring - Another Eternity
4. Tuxedo - Tuxedo
3. Donnie Trumpet and the Social Experiment - Surf
2. D'Angelo and the Vanguard - Black Messiah*
* Yes, I know this album came out in 2014. December 15, 2014 to be exact. So basically 2015. Deal with it.
1. Kendrick Lamar - To Pimp A Butterfly
Boom!
** Side note: nobody but Stefan posted on the blog last year.
Top EPs of 2015
I am still working on my Top 10 albums of the year list, and Danny and Tanner won't write one so this blog is basically only me now. Here is a different list until I get to mine...
My Top 7 EPs!
I was going narrow this down to Top 5 EPs but I saw that I had 7 so figured, whatever, I will do 7. Here we go...
7. Petit Noir - The King of Anxiety EP: This South African artists EP covers a number of musical genres with bits of electronica and different experimental sounds. It makes me think of Music on the Radio and old, when they were good, Bloc Party. I really like the song Chess.
6. Mt. Wolf - Red EP: This band reminds me a bit of Sigur Ros, lots of haunting melodies and vocals. This would be higher but the EP is only 4 songs and one of them is just someone talking for like 7 minutes.
5. River Whyless - River Whyless EP: A combo of Indie and Americana this group has very soft vocals with violins and quiet drums. Makes me think of what Hipsters would consider country music.
4. Alvarez Kings - Fear to Feel EP: This might be considered a bit of over emotional pop but I like it. Synths! Guitars! Drums with echoes! Skinny jeans! Goofy haircuts! I'm not going a good job of selling this.
3. Lanks - Banquet EP: More electronica style stuff. Reminds me a bit of Sohn. I would post his only official video but it is kind of weird so here is a different one...
2. Panama - Always EP: Another Australian electronica band...hmm I'm beginning to notice a theme here. These guys remind me a bit of St.Lucia. Fun stuff.
1. Jake McMullen - Always EP: I just realized my two favorite EPs of the year have the same title. WHOA! Super crazy. This one isn't electronica! I really can't wait for this guy to come out with a full album. A bit of an unusual voice but I love it with the echoey guitars in the background. Definitely some Ryan Adams influences. Great stuff.
Well there you go, my top EPs of 2015.
My Top 7 EPs!
I was going narrow this down to Top 5 EPs but I saw that I had 7 so figured, whatever, I will do 7. Here we go...
7. Petit Noir - The King of Anxiety EP: This South African artists EP covers a number of musical genres with bits of electronica and different experimental sounds. It makes me think of Music on the Radio and old, when they were good, Bloc Party. I really like the song Chess.
6. Mt. Wolf - Red EP: This band reminds me a bit of Sigur Ros, lots of haunting melodies and vocals. This would be higher but the EP is only 4 songs and one of them is just someone talking for like 7 minutes.
5. River Whyless - River Whyless EP: A combo of Indie and Americana this group has very soft vocals with violins and quiet drums. Makes me think of what Hipsters would consider country music.
4. Alvarez Kings - Fear to Feel EP: This might be considered a bit of over emotional pop but I like it. Synths! Guitars! Drums with echoes! Skinny jeans! Goofy haircuts! I'm not going a good job of selling this.
3. Lanks - Banquet EP: More electronica style stuff. Reminds me a bit of Sohn. I would post his only official video but it is kind of weird so here is a different one...
2. Panama - Always EP: Another Australian electronica band...hmm I'm beginning to notice a theme here. These guys remind me a bit of St.Lucia. Fun stuff.
1. Jake McMullen - Always EP: I just realized my two favorite EPs of the year have the same title. WHOA! Super crazy. This one isn't electronica! I really can't wait for this guy to come out with a full album. A bit of an unusual voice but I love it with the echoey guitars in the background. Definitely some Ryan Adams influences. Great stuff.
Well there you go, my top EPs of 2015.
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