Where does the time go? I thought I just finished writing the 2013 list, and here I am again. POOP and taxes – the only 2 things I can count on to start the New Year off right. And the similarities don’t end there – they are both painful to get out but once I receive something back in the mail, all the pain becomes worth it. Thankfully, the % of money Mark requires is substantially less than my accountant. Anyway, here’s last year’s notables, as I see it:
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1. Wilco Box – Alpha Mike Foxtrot: Rare Tracks 1994-2014 A POOP first – a box set worthy of a Top 10. My unabashed love for this band did not wane with this mammoth collection of unreleased material that will keep me busy for months. Very few new songs, but getting to hear the evolution of some of my favorites is so rewarding.
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2. Beck – Morning Phase His best record in years kicked off 2014 right. Some call it a companion piece to Sea Change; rather I see it as a more mature, developed record that picks up where the last one left off. A true classic I believe we will be talking about for years to come.
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3. The Both – The Both You know, I’ve read some mediocre press on this record. How can it go wrong? Aimee Mann sounds as good as ever and Ted Leo still rocks. When I need a dash of high energy pop, this is my go-to.
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4. Perfect Pussy – Say Yes to Love Quick bursts of energy. If I actually worked out at a gym, this is what I would be listening to.
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5. Various Artists – I Saved Latin! A Tribute to Wes Anderson Such a great gem I stumbled upon. A collection of songs from various Wes Anderson movies flows so naturally, one would think he assembled this collection years ago and just inserted into his movies as needed.
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6. Beck – Song Reader Another POOP first – 2 albums by the same artist in the Top 10, although this one comes with a caveat. I thought it was cute when he released an album on sheet music only, until I heard how they were interpreted by some of my favorite artists. Highlights include Jeff Tweedy, Bob Forrest, Juanes, & Laura Marling.
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7. Tweedy – Sukierae Started off with low expectations. I mean, how many times have the lead singer of our favorite band gone solo and came back with a dud. Thankfully, there are no concerns here. Inevitably many of these songs will be woven into Wilco’s set list for years to come.
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8. TV on The Radio – Seeds A rousing comeback after a critical loss. A bop-your-head, art-rock classic that smacked me in the head from the first listen.
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9. Angel Olsen – Burn Your Fire For No Witness Poetic, fuzzy and delicate, all of these songs feel like they could fall apart at any time – but they don’t. Song of the year: Unf*Cktheworld – totally haunting.
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10. Alt-J – This Is All Yours Alt-J’s attempt to create soundscapes, not songs through vocal tricks and heavy percussion remains strong on their sophomore release. Very British, in all the right ways. Borderline pretentious, but I don’t really have a problem with that.
11. Luluc – Tangled Heart Haunting and ethereal. Feels like an invitation to a private house show.
12. Hiss Golden Messenger – Lateness Of Dancers Southern California strong, you can hear Buffalo Springfield bleeding through. A claim I don’t take lightly.
13. Mac DeMarco – Salad Days Jangly pop, hallucinogenic rock, a lo-fi spacey feast. Collection of hypnotic songs with a real twisted slant.
14. Hospitality – Trouble Never sleep on Merge. They continue to produce excellent records. Emotions running high throughout this collection that flows seamlessly from song to song.
15. Nels Cline – Marcoscope Plenty of options to choose from, with 3 releases this year. Nels certainly kept busy while Tweedy was born, which is great for the rest of us.
16. Jenny Lewis – The Voyager Her best album to date features smart, indie-pop classics. Just One of the Guys is an instant masterpiece.
17. Bob Dylan & The Band – The Bootleg Series, Vol. 11: The Basement Tapes – Complete I’d like to believe the name says it all.
18. Spoon – They Want My Soul Spoon has not only stood the test of time, but are one of the few with a truly original voice. Although their records all have a similar sound, it’s ok since each one picks up where the previous one leaves off.
19. The Bad Plus – Inevitable Western First, I don’t listen to enough Jazz, especially new artists. Second, I always thought The Bad Plus were a bit of a joke group. Although their jazz covers of indie rock classics were tight, until this release I didn’t realize how great original composers they are as well.
20. The War on Drugs – Lost In The Dream The new sound of classic rock.
Other notables:
The New Pornographers – Brill Bruisers Can’t you just listen to Neko all day, especially when she croons a pop tune? Real Estate – Atlas Another solid release; Sun Moon Kil – Benji Wasn’t sold on this originally but the sounds of sorrow ring in my head long after listening; The Afghan Whigs – Do The Beast First new album in 16 years sounds like they never left; J Mascis – Tied To A Star My favorite guitarist continues to pump out great records; St. Vincent – St. Vincent Love the sass; Big Star – Live In Memphis If I could put them on the list every year I would; Robert Wyatt – Different Every Time A definitive collection – a truly must have.
Now I decree 2015 to be the year of the Family. Spend time together, enjoy each other’s company, laugh together, share together and grow old together. Peace
Eric Fine
New York City