Best Albums of 2025 – Dan Wilmer, Jersey City, NJ // Dummy // Horsegirl // Carseat Headrest // Sierra Ferrell // Dove Ellis // Andy Bell // Snocaps // Deep Sea Diver // Margo Price // Belair Lip Bombs // The Cords // Nation of Language // JD McPherson // Husker Du
The Nude Party /// Waxahatchee /// Jack White /// Mannequin Pussy /// Vampire Weekend /// Kim Deal /// Mdou Moctar /// Hermanos Gutierrez
23 Albums for 2023 – Dan Wilmer, Jersey City, NJ – The Replacements, Nation of Language, Ratboys, The Reds Pinks and Purples, The National, Blur, Noel Gallagher’s High-Flying Birds, Yo La Tengo, Beach Fossils, The Hold Steady
Best Albums for 2022 – Dan Wilmer, Jersey City, NJ – This List Goes to Eleven – — Wet Leg — Spoon — Spiritualized — Sierra Ferrell — Panda Bear & Sonic Boom — Afghan Whigs — Arcade Fire — UVTV — Better Oblivion Community Center — Elvis Costello — Wilco
Dan Wilmer 12 Albums for 2021: Langhorne Slim, Weezer, Japanese Breakfast, Hiss Golden Messenger, Lucy Dacus, Chvrches, Modest Mouse, Felice Brothers, James, The Flatlanders, Dinosaur Jr.,
16 Albums for 2020 – Lady GaGa, Waxahatchee, Bob Dylan, Hinds, Margo Price, Rose City Band, X, Songhoy Blues, The Chats, Christine & the Queens,
Deerhunter,
The Hold Steady,
Hiss Golden Messenger,
Raconteurs,
Van Morrison,
Ride,
Sharon Van Etten,
Ex Hex,
The Regrettes,
Andrew Bird,
Thirteen Albums for 2018 Buy New or Used via Amazon Rent via iTunes [?] 1. Car Seat Headrest – Twin Fantasy. With Twin Fantasy, Car Seat Headrest re-recorded an early-career opus. More than a re-release, it’s been totally transformed and really marks the first time this music is reaching ears beyond Bandcamp groupies. For me, it’s a revelation of soaring melodies, shout-along choruses and rocking guitar riffs. Classic rock influences are worn proudly throughout, such as the Kinks, The Who, ELO, and many others (the Lowry Organ on “Cute Thing” is a particularly nice touch). My favorite album of…
In the year we lost Tom Petty (opiods, again!) and Greg Allman, I enjoyed going back to some favorite classic rock albums — part for nostalgia, part for comfort in some very weird times. It’s probably no coincidence then that, by far, my favorite album of the year was Dan Auerbach’s Waiting on a Song, a perfect collection of 70’s inspired soul-rock-blues. Even though something is lost forever when these bright lights of Rock are extinguished, there’s some solace that there are hugely talented young musicians always rising up the ranks to carry on the musical tradition. The King is Dead, Long Live the King as they say.
16 Albums for 2016 Dan Wilmer, Alexandria, VA Egad, what a year. Good music helped…a bit. Buy New or Used via Amazon Rent via iTunes [?] 1. Car Seat Headrest – Teens of Denial. I like a lot of the other albums on this list, some a whole bunch. This is on a whole different level. “Fill in the Blanks” offers a punky rev-up to get things started, while mod-influenced songs like “Connect the Dots” seem destined to be featured in a future Wes Anderson movie. But the real highlights are tracks like “Drunk Drivers / Killer Whales,” and “Joe…
1. Old 97’s – Most Messed Up. 22 years into their career, Rhett Miller and the boys produce one of their most raucous albums. ‘Mats bassist Tommy Stinson sits in on “Intervention” which poses the question: “He’s mystified why we’re so lame, but if he wakes up dead will he feel the same?” Lots of stompy, Hank Williams inspired honky tonk fun.
“I hate music. What is it worth?Can’t bring anyone back to this earth.But fill in the space between all the notes,And I’ve got nothing else so I guess here we go.” – “Me and You and Jackie Mittoo,” Superchunk This list goes to eleven: Buy New or Used via Amazon Jason Isbell – Southeastern. Just a perfect alt country album. Buy New or Used via Amazon Kurt Vile – Wakin’ on a Pretty Daze. Love him and he’s just getting better and better. Buy New or Used via Amazon Steve Earle – The Low Highway. One of his very best….
Twelve for 2012 Dan Wilmer, Brooklyn, NY Buy New or Used via Amazon 1. Japandroids – Celebration Rock It’s been a long time since such a pure, primal guitar rock album connected with me on this level. The song titles tell the story here: “Adrenaline Nightshift,” “Continuous Thunder,” “The Nights of Wine and Roses,” and so on. In the park, in the gym, in the subway – these 8 songs followed me everywhere in 2012. Infectious single: “The House That Heaven Built.” Buy New or Used via Amazon 2. The Lumineers – The Lumineers The Lumineers are a twee band…
Buy New or Used via amazon 1. The Black Keys – El Camino Is there any working band in as much of a groove as the Black Keys? “Lonely Boy” and “Gold on the Ceiling” may be my two favorite songs they’ve ever written. The album is full of fast-paced fun that mixes it up from the more blues-y approach of the rest of their catalog. Buy New or Used via amazon 2. Wilco – The Whole Love I like this as much as anything they’ve done in the last five years. And “One Sunday Morning” is the first 12-minute…
Buy New or Used via amazon Black Keys – Brothers I really thought the last Black Keys record, “Attack and Release,” was pretty darn good. But the Black Keys guys take it to the next level on “Brothers.” You’ve got three killer songs to start things off: “Everlasting Light,” “Next Girl,” and “Tighten Up.” This is followed by the stomp of “Howlin’ For You” and “Now She’s Gone.” And then you also get soulful tracks like “Only One” and “Never Gonna Give You Up.” The album closes with a “Little Wing” influenced “These Days.” Sweet. Buy New or Used via amazon…
This Year’s Best Indie Rock and Alt Country Buy New or Used through amazon OR @ eMusic 1.Drummer – Feel Good Together “Four drummers, not drumming.” This side project of mostly Akron-based musicians is led by Patrick Carney, the drummer from the Black Keys. The triumphant anthems on this record were my favorites by far this year. Buy New or Used from amazon OR @ eMusic 2.Phoenix – Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix The 4th record from these guys finally proves that French Rock n Roll isn’t an oxymoron. Get it at eMusic 3.Surf City – Surf…