fourteen.audio.fifteen.visual. — continuing the tradition of waiting until the very last possible moment to actually construct a list of all of the distracting media that i’ve consumed and adored over the course of the past year, i happily present said list for your eleventh-hour consideration. —
Kendrick Lamar, Chat Pile, Mindforce, End It, Tyler Childers, Danger Mouse & Black Thought, Oxbow & Peter Brötzmann, Keiji Haino & Sumac, Billy Strings …
Jay Stewart Best of 2022 (Sort of Pandemic Edition) — Well as I rapidly go downhill with myself heading into my mid 50’s. I guess I still love enough new music but I am the first to tell you I am not with it and I am alright with that. Though I am glad Stranger Things has introduced Kate Bush to a whole generation and I am here to enjoy it. — Wet Leg, Carolyn Marosy, Lizzo, Tears For Tears, Rammstein, Arctic Monkey, Angel Olson, Kendrick Lamar, Def Leppard, Classless Act,
I’d be embarrassed to truly show you, if such a thing were at all possible, the extent to which the idea of “Top Ten” organizes how I think about what I enjoy, consume, and love. This is a post-High Fidelity culture junkie thing that I’m sure is common to a lot of us contributing here, and I for one have gotten pretty self-conscious about it. Invariably, when I sit down each year to do this Poop List, there’s an odd push/pull between the sincere eagerness I take in constructing these lists, my awareness of the vanity of this sort of exercise, and the reflex of embarrassment that inevitably comes knocking. The whole thing is pretty weird.
What else can be said about a shitcake of a year. I am done ranting about pop music. My focus is more on the current situation that is going on in our country and what we must do to resist. Anyway there is no rhyme or reason to what I like. But I will not bow to social pressure to like something I don’t think is very good. But anyway I am not here to criticize what I don’t like. It seems we don’t value critical thinking much these days. Anyway most of the best albums came from classic rock artists but being pop radio is ageist, they won’t get traction. But I made an effort to balance the old with the new. So anyway here’s what made my best of this year
Run the Jewels – Whores – The Bodies – Danny Brown – Sturgill Simpson – Deftones – Kendrick Lamar – Nick Cave – A Tribe Called Quest – Childish Gambino – Solange
2015 just might become known as the year to beat when it comes to unbridled stupidity in America. But more alarming than that, I fear that with good ol’ American gumption, the coming election year will no doubt leave it behind in the dust. Recently I learned that the oft paraphrased H.L. Mencken quote, the one about how no one ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American people, actually had an even more apropos follow-up sentence: “Nor has anyone ever lost public office thereby.” But while the American political system as we know it is currently circling the drain, we the POmpous and OPinionated have responded in the best manner we know. While some of those who would be President prattle on in their assholier-than-thou vitriol, 25 POOPsters have found 10 or 25 or so causes for which to campaign, with civil discourse and free of all squirmishes (thanks, Sarah P!). Feel the POOP.
As with Sun Kil Moon last year, a single, sharp voice made the year for me—Father John Misty’s album is all at once great entertainment, giddy yet devastating satire, somber true-life folk. New friend Barnett and old friend Finn took me similar places, small stories, less-than-small stakes, real voices. The deservingly ubiquitous Lamar album totally mystified me at first but was impossible to shake off, blossoming the more I played it and talked about it.
Once again I struggle to find a Top 10 list for new albums. Because lets face it? I am not impressed by much. I really get tired of getting attacked for not being a poptimist. Yes I love rock music and rock music in my opinion is worth preserving. So if my top 10 list features old farts on it like Keith Richards, David Gilmour, Jeff Lynne and Lemmy? So be it…
Kendrick Lamar, Courtney Barnett, Beach Slang, Hop Along, Waxahatchee, Vince Staples, Wilco, Julien Baker, Jamie xx, Father John Misty
Faith No More – Father John Misty – Jeff Lynne’s ELO – Kacey Musgraves – Kamasi Washington – Keith Richards – Kendrick Lamar – New Order – Sir Richard Bishop – The Weeknd
Chaos In The CBD – Dj Koze – Floating Points – Harvey Sutherland – Hunee – Jamie – Kamasi Washington – Kendrick Lamar – Mbongwana Star – Psychemagik