This will be the first time I have ever rated albums making a best of list. It feels difficult to rate albums when you have been listening to some for 12 months and others for one. With that said, I really wanted to highlight my favs at the top.
Tim Hecker - Virgins
Virgins was my introduction to Tim Hecker. Well kind of.. I briefly listened to Instrumental Tourist last year, but I had no idea how much I would fall in love with his unique approach to music. Every track on this album is a favorite.
I almost passed this one up, once again not being in the loop. I was originally drawn in by the cover art. The Redeemer definitely has a conceptual vibe, but this is what draws me in. This album's foundation feels experimental in a sort of layback way that I haven't heard before.
The first time I listened to this album, I just knew I would be playing it for months to come. Daniel Lopatin just doesn't create bad music, he combines beautiful soundscapes shaping them, cuts a little off this and a little of that and produces a sound all on its own.
I have been following Benoît Pioulard for many, many years and everything he puts out I soak up. Just recently I learned of his collab album Orcas (him and The Sight Below) which was released in 2012. His music sounds so pure to me, it feels timeless.
This album is mind opening. I absolutely loved the Blues Control collaboration, FRKWYS Vol. 8, he did last year and this collection really shows off his versatility alone. It displays how he stacks on layers upon layers of instrumentation ahead of his time. It is one of those albums that I have a hard time rating some songs over others, but I am a sucker for loooong tracks.
Released early in the year, On Track Mind is a jammer that I still come back to. I had not been a big follower of Psychic Ills or really a big fan of their previous albums, but this album has changed my mind. It is full of sweet riffs and extremely catchy lyrics.
Robedoor - Primal Sphere
Killer long track almost all clocking in at 10 minutes each, count me in. I have become pretty dedicated Robedoor fan over the past couple of years and I can't get enough. These keep my head banging and my foot stomping nonstop.
It surprised the hell out of me how good this album is. I mean, I was very much a fan of David Lynch films, but I had my doubts, because when someone jumps into a different art form I don't always follow them. I don't play it as much anymore, but he has definitely caught my attention to anything else he puts out.
His albums keep getting better and better. Kurt Vile doesn't usually create super long tracks, but the album is bookended with some and they feel like fleshed out jams for sure. I sadly completely missed seeing him in concert, with a good reason that my daughter was born less than a week earlier.
I was looking forward to this album before it even came out. For awhile I felt like I was over catchy music and I had become more intrigued with drone and noise, but the combo of these tunes and his voice make it hard not to love it.
Without even hearing of Lou Breed before, I once again was drawn in by the album cover. It gives me a Jeans Wilder vibe, bonus that both of their monikers are plays off of other famous people.
This was my jam for weeks. I completely played this album out to the point where I stopped myself from listening to it just to not get burned out. I feel like this was a more complete album than their last one.
On my first listen I was turned off. I would call myself a Spencer fan, although I didn't care for the Siinai album or Expo 86. One night I played the album for my wife, both of us being long term Wolf Parade fans, and suddenly my mind changed. The track November 2011 really hits me and now when it comes on I turn up the volume every time.
Crank it up and spit it out. Ty just doesn't quit. These jams are solid and make me want to drive fast.
I don't remember their first album Pleasure as well as most, because I didn't notice the hard shift in sound for Pure X. What I did notice is that this album is good. These tracks blend together for me, but not in a bad way, it feels like a real cohesive album.
Now who couldn't love this cover, makes me hungry for Halloween candy. I can't think when I listen to their music, it trips me up so much because it is so energetic. Just means I didn't really play it at my desk, more of a dancing around the house with the kids, get them all riled up type thing.
This came as a recommendation from my buddy Thom (LLiTY blog master). Time is short and sweet, not wasting any time being anything other than that. I will be on the look out for more of this when it hits.
Once I saw them in concert I was hooked for life. This album was long overdue, but fits right in with the rest of their catalog. It has super jazzed up jams as well as some sweet slow tracks.
This album takes me back to 2010. Their line-up has changed quiet a bit but the sound is still there. It is hard for me not to not tap my desk or the floor listening to these guys.
UPDATE:
DL ZIP (comprised of fav singles off each album)
UPDATE:
DL ZIP (comprised of fav singles off each album)
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