My favourite ten records from the past twelve months.
Albums 10-1
10.
Dead Anyway — Tough, Listen
I wrote about (and with) Dead Anyway a lot lately, so their inclusion on this list is a n0-brainer. I had two to choose from (or three, depending on what you think of compilation albums), but this one is the most adventurous and well-developed. It’s weird and terrific spoken-word, trip-hop, genre-bending stuff.
9.
Vitesse X — This Infinite
The second album from Vitesse X is soothing and endlessly replayable. She blends personal themes with warm and cathartic guitar/electronic combinations for a record I’ve been playing weekly since its release
8.
NEW YORK — Rapstar*
The London duo’s second record is full of risky and wild creative choices that all pay off. This record couldn’t be more of-the-moment. I couldn’t help but recall the first time I heard DJ Shadow’s …Endtroducing.
7.
Kid Tigrrr — Stoned + Animald
Jenna Fournier’s debut album is assured and confident. The gentle and dreamy sound is offset by lyrics about addiction, fear and being overwhelmed. Once it got its claws into me it hasn’t let me go.
6.
Aluminum — Fully Beat
Aluminum’s first full-length record is stylistically all over the map, touching on all kinds of 90s alt-rock moments. A couple of songs are instant classics, and even a couple months in, it still reminds me of Mass Romantic.
5.
moondoggy — Changing Seasons, Breaking Even
This Toronto band is a perennial favourite. Changing Seasons, Breaking Even is full of midtempo indie rock meant for long nights after the pub closes. It’s the retroactive soundtrack to my 20s.
4.
Sham Family — A Deaf Portrait of Peace
Sham Family’s fierce and hard post-punk is dark, aggressive, and addictive stuff. The album’s themes of media manipulation and political nihilism are especially on-the-nose in light of this week’s election.
3.
En-vitro — En-vitro
En-Vitro is a wildly talented punk-ish band from LA. Toronto heads will hear a musical similarity to local heroes Good Kid. I don’t think I’ve gone 48 hours without playing at least one song from this album since I heard it.
2.
Been Stellar — Scream from New York, NY
“Manhattan Youth” from their debut EP is what hooked me on this band, and their sound is perfect NYC indie rock. Their new record is a classic in line with Turn On the Bright Lights.
1.
SPRINTS — Letter to Self
The Irish punk band’s debut has been played more than any other album in the last year. It came out before I was writing dedicated artist posts, so there’s not much to link to. It’s flawless.