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I didn't feel like I got a lot of stuff this year, but looking back, there was a huge pile of new albums that I listened to. A lot of that is because of a huge It's Alive order of random EPs that I got that had a few decent standouts. In the end, it was pretty easy to pick out a bunch of great albums and whittle it down to the top 10. Weirdly, a lot of them ended up as short EPs. Guess I'm into records that don't overstay their welcome.
The Death Set - King Babies
The Motherfucking Death Set came out with a four song EP that kicked you in the nuts and left. It feels a little more polished and a natural progression from Michel Poiccard, but still comes in hard and fast. I'm excited to hear what these guys cook up next.
Lydia Loveless - Boy Crazy
Lydia Loveless put out a pretty good album (Somewhere Else) this year, but I like this five track EP better. I think it has better focus (boys!) and no filler. There's a full band here, but the focus is definitely on Lydia with her singing and very personal (and fun!) songs.
deM atlaS - Charlie Brwn
deM atlaS was my most exciting find of the year and this is probably the album that I have listened to the most. The album is about facing the world from a place of defeat (it is called "Charlie Brown", after all). The lyrics and inventive and the most is bouncy, a little melodic and funky. It's just such a fresh sound. He released another full length late last year and it's pretty good, but doesn't quite have the same laser focus as this one.
Felt - Felt 3: A Tribute to Rosie Perez
This is an old one and one that surprised the hell out of me. The songs are the slice of life stuff that Slug and Murs like to do. Enjoyable, but not super excited on their own. What kicks this up to another level is Aesop Rock's production. It's dark are energetic and electric and so, so good. The album as a whole is a little over long at 68 minutes, but otherwise, it kept me a lot of company on long bike rides.
The Gateway District - Partial Traces
Every release from The Gateway District seems to be them coming more and more into their own. This one was a few melodic songs with a slight punk twinge. They're less aggressively "punk" than they were before and I'm still saddened by the loss of the country twang, but this album sounds like they have grown out of the awkward phase that was their last two albums. The songs are interesting and the music is varied between the songs to keep it all from getting too dull. More, please.
City Mouse - City Mouse
This is the very first City Mouse thing recorded over ten years ago. It's older than the (other) self titled that I really loved back in 2012. As such, a bit less raw, but all that energy and attitude is on this record. I love the songs, I love the band, and I really hope they put out a proper record one of these years.
Run the Jewels - Run the Jewels 2
My initial reception of this album was that it wasn't as good as the first, but after going back, I see that the first album was two guys fucking around and this one is two guys on a mission (mainly "fuck the man"). I really like the focus that gives the songs. There's a couple that miss a little for me, but the record as a whole is well made and relevant and just about what this year needs.
Future Islands - Singles
This is the one album on this list I'm worried about holding up over time. It's a synth-filled record with a crooning singer. The music is a little simple and the singer is smooth instead of aggressive, but for some reason, the combination makes for some hypnotic songs. I can't stop listening to this album right now, but I wonder if I will tire of it.
Ice Cube - The Predator
By far the oldest thing on this list, this album manages to also be the most relevant to this year. Coming out soon after the Rodney King Riots, it's full of songs about racial tension and fighting against corrupt police forces, which is an issue that came to a head in 2014. There's a few songs that I could leave (Dirty Mack and Don't Trust 'Em) because of some unfortunate sexist politics, but everything else still hits hard. Most surprising is the production surpasses the typical 90's production of very basic and repetitive beats with a more inventive use of samples. A 20+ year old album that (almost) sounds like it could have been recorded this year? Sounds like a classic to me.
White Lung - Deep Fantasy
A modern band that puts out 22 minutes of hardcore punk rock? And it's hella melodic on top of that? Fuck, yes, please. I don't know if I will tire of this album, either, but I don't think so. I think this will end up in the rotation with things like Death Set and Direct Hit!
The Death Set - King Babies
The Motherfucking Death Set came out with a four song EP that kicked you in the nuts and left. It feels a little more polished and a natural progression from Michel Poiccard, but still comes in hard and fast. I'm excited to hear what these guys cook up next.
Lydia Loveless - Boy Crazy
Lydia Loveless put out a pretty good album (Somewhere Else) this year, but I like this five track EP better. I think it has better focus (boys!) and no filler. There's a full band here, but the focus is definitely on Lydia with her singing and very personal (and fun!) songs.
deM atlaS - Charlie Brwn
deM atlaS was my most exciting find of the year and this is probably the album that I have listened to the most. The album is about facing the world from a place of defeat (it is called "Charlie Brown", after all). The lyrics and inventive and the most is bouncy, a little melodic and funky. It's just such a fresh sound. He released another full length late last year and it's pretty good, but doesn't quite have the same laser focus as this one.
Felt - Felt 3: A Tribute to Rosie Perez
This is an old one and one that surprised the hell out of me. The songs are the slice of life stuff that Slug and Murs like to do. Enjoyable, but not super excited on their own. What kicks this up to another level is Aesop Rock's production. It's dark are energetic and electric and so, so good. The album as a whole is a little over long at 68 minutes, but otherwise, it kept me a lot of company on long bike rides.
The Gateway District - Partial Traces
Every release from The Gateway District seems to be them coming more and more into their own. This one was a few melodic songs with a slight punk twinge. They're less aggressively "punk" than they were before and I'm still saddened by the loss of the country twang, but this album sounds like they have grown out of the awkward phase that was their last two albums. The songs are interesting and the music is varied between the songs to keep it all from getting too dull. More, please.
City Mouse - City Mouse
This is the very first City Mouse thing recorded over ten years ago. It's older than the (other) self titled that I really loved back in 2012. As such, a bit less raw, but all that energy and attitude is on this record. I love the songs, I love the band, and I really hope they put out a proper record one of these years.
Run the Jewels - Run the Jewels 2
My initial reception of this album was that it wasn't as good as the first, but after going back, I see that the first album was two guys fucking around and this one is two guys on a mission (mainly "fuck the man"). I really like the focus that gives the songs. There's a couple that miss a little for me, but the record as a whole is well made and relevant and just about what this year needs.
Future Islands - Singles
This is the one album on this list I'm worried about holding up over time. It's a synth-filled record with a crooning singer. The music is a little simple and the singer is smooth instead of aggressive, but for some reason, the combination makes for some hypnotic songs. I can't stop listening to this album right now, but I wonder if I will tire of it.
Ice Cube - The Predator
By far the oldest thing on this list, this album manages to also be the most relevant to this year. Coming out soon after the Rodney King Riots, it's full of songs about racial tension and fighting against corrupt police forces, which is an issue that came to a head in 2014. There's a few songs that I could leave (Dirty Mack and Don't Trust 'Em) because of some unfortunate sexist politics, but everything else still hits hard. Most surprising is the production surpasses the typical 90's production of very basic and repetitive beats with a more inventive use of samples. A 20+ year old album that (almost) sounds like it could have been recorded this year? Sounds like a classic to me.
White Lung - Deep Fantasy
A modern band that puts out 22 minutes of hardcore punk rock? And it's hella melodic on top of that? Fuck, yes, please. I don't know if I will tire of this album, either, but I don't think so. I think this will end up in the rotation with things like Death Set and Direct Hit!
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