The Mottram Program

Floating in space.

[jamiemottram]

The 15 Best Books of 2025 for Real

The 15 best books I read this year, old and new alike:

The God of the Woods, by Liz Moore

The Women, by Kristin Hannah

Shutter Island, by Dennis Lehane

Whalefall, by Daniel Kraus

King of Ashes, by S.A. Cosby

The Lincoln Highway, by Amor Towles

The Four Winds, by Kristin Hannah

The Line That Held Us, by David Joy

The Last Manager: How Earl Weaver Tricked, Tormented, and Reinvented Baseball, by John W. Miller

Hidden Pictures, by Jason Rekulak

Broken Country, by Clare Leslie Hall

The Situation Room: The Inside Story of Presidents in Crisis, by George Stephanopoulos

The Last King of California, by Jordan Harper

Wild Dark Shore, by Charlotte McConaghy

Nickel Boys, by Colson Whitehead

[jamiemottram]

The 50 Best Albums of 2025 for Real

New albums I liked and listened to the most this year, loosely ranked with an eye toward how much I'll listen in years ahead ...

Spotify playlist: The 50 Best Albums of 2025 for Real

Bonus playlist: The 20 Best Songs of '25 for Real

Wednesday :: Bleeds

Ryan Davis & the Roadhouse Band :: New Threats From The Soul

Fust :: Big Ugly

Tobacco City :: Horses

Big Thief :: Double Infinity

Florry :: Sounds Like...

Snocaps :: Snocaps

Dutch Interior :: Moneyball

Neu Blume :: Let It Win

Craig Finn :: Always Been

Bon Iver :: SABLE, fABLE

Sharp Pins :: Balloon Balloon Balloon

Alex G :: Headlights

Cory Hanson :: I Love People

Greg Freeman :: Burnover

Friendship :: Caveman Wakes Up

Kurt Vile :: Classic Love (ep)

Rose City Band :: Sol Y Sombra

S.G. Goodman :: Planting by the Signs

Geese :: Getting Killed

This Is Lorelai :: Holo Boy

Bruce Springsteen :: Tracks II: The Lost Albums

Neil Young :: Oceanside Countryside

Real Estate :: The Wee Small Hours: B-Sides and Other Detritus 2011-2025

Colin Miller :: Losin'

Brian Dunne :: Clams Casino

Cass McCombs :: Interior Live Oak

Silver Synthetic :: Rosalie

Tyler Childers :: Snipe Hunter

Momma :: Welcome to My Blue Sky

Yo La Tengo :: Old Joy

Steve Gunn :: Daylight Daylight

Panda Bear :: Sinister Grift

Glass-Beagle :: Early Riser

Cash Langdon :: Dogs

Chico States :: I Saw A Galloping Horse Cover No Ground

Jeff Tweedy :: Twilight Override

Radiohead :: Hail to the Thief (Live Recordings 2003-2009)

Iron & Wine and Ben Bridwell :: Making Good Time

Liquid Mike :: Hell Is An Airport

Tame Impala :: Deadbeat

Jerry David DeCicca :: Cardiac Country

Brown Horse :: All The Right Weaknesses

Sean Thompson's Weird Ears :: Head In The Sand

Water From Your Eyes :: It's a Beautiful Place

Beauty Saloon :: BS

Wilco :: Wilco Blue (Live)

Neil Young Archives :: Vol. III (1976-1987)

Bob Dylan :: Through The Open Window: The Bootleg Series Vol. 18

Bruce Springsteen :: Nebraska '82: Expanded Edition

*Many of these I didn't listen to nearly enough to pass judgement, especially the last few, which are included here moreso as a reminder to come back

Concerts (top to bottom): The Futurebirds, Billie Eilish (w/ Charlie), Drive-By Truckers, Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, Goose, and me at the Big Pink house (not a concert, but still)

Past: The Best of 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 |

[jamiemottram]

The 50 Best Albums of 2024 for Real

I'm pleased to report it was a very good year.

Spotify playlist: The Best Albums of 2024 for Real

Bonus: The 20 Best Songs of '24 for Real

(Scene from the Tom Petty film "Heartbreakers Beach Party," directed by Cameron Crowe and originally released on MTV in 1983 -- shown in theaters nationwide in October 2024.)

MJ Lenderman :: Manning Fireworks

The War On Drugs :: Live Drugs Again

Johnny Blue Skies :: Passage Du Desir

Waxahatchee :: Tigers Blood

Rosali :: Bite Down

Lee Baggett :: Waves For A Begull

Vampire Weekend :: Only God Was Above Us

Father John Misty :: Mahashmashana

Good Looks :: Lived Here For A While

David Nance :: David Nance & Mowed Sound

This Is Lorelei :: Box For Buddy, Box For Star

The Hard Quartet :: The Hard Quartet

Ben Seretan :: Allora

Tim Heidecker :: Slipping Away

Wild Pink :: Dulling The Horns

Real Estate :: Daniel

Ducks Ltd. :: Harm's Way

Liquid Mike :: Paul Bunyan's Slingshot

Hovvdy :: Hovvdy

Futurebirds :: Easy Company

Trace Mountains :: Into The Burning Blue

The Clearwater Swimmers :: The Clearwater Swimmers

DIIV :: Frog In Boiling Water

Wildflower :: Green World

Neil Young & Crazy Horse :: Fu##in' Up

Billy Strings :: Live Vol. 1

Khruangbin :: A La Sala

Pearl Jam :: Dark Matter

Jessica Pratt :: Here In The Pitch

Trummors :: 5

Jeffrey Silverstein :: Roseway

Fruit Bats :: Starry-Eyed, In Stereo

Phosphorescent :: Revelator

Vince Staples :: Dark Times

Iron & Wine :: Light Verse

Strand Of Oaks :: Miracle Focus

Scott Ballew :: Rio Bravo

Chris Cohen :: Paint A Room

The Smile :: Wall Of Eyes

Billy Strings :: Highway Prayers

Nap Eyes :: The Neon Gate

Camera Obscura :: Look To The East, Look To The West

Blitzen Trapper :: 100's Of 1,000's, Millions Of Billions

Deer Tick :: Contractual Obligations

Friko :: Where We've Been, Where We Go From Here

King Hannah :: Big Swimmer

Hannah Francis :: Keeper Of The Shepherd

Color Green :: Fool's Parade

Mdou Moctar :: Funeral For Justice

Michael Nau :: Montrose Tape

Concerts (top to bottom): Vampire Weekend, The War On Drugs, Charley Crockett, My Morning Jacket, Band Of Horses, Olivia Rodrigo, The Wallflowers

Past: The Best of 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013

[jamiemottram]

Waxahatchee (feat. MJ Lenderman) :: "Right Back to It" on Colbert

[jamiemottram]

The 30 Best Albums of 2023 For Real

My favorite new records of the year, in no particular order, though the MJ Lenderman live one is on top.

Spotify playlist: Best Albums of 2023 for Real | Bonus playlist: Best Songs of 2023 for Real 

MJ Lenderman :: And The Wind (Live And Loose!)

boygenius :: the record

100 Gecs :: 10,000 Gecs

Rose City Band :: Garden Party

Bonny Doon :: Let There Be Music

Israel Nash :: Ozarker

Wednesday :: Rat Saw God

William Tyler & The Impossible Truth :: Secret Stratosphere

The Replacements :: Tim (Let It Bleed Edition)

Cat Power :: Cat Power Sings Dylan: The 1966 Royal Albert Hall Concert

Kurt Vile :: Back To Moon Beach

Yo La Tengo :: This Stupid World

Cory Hansen :: Western Cum

Wilco :: Cousin

Slaughter Beach, Dog :: Crying, Laughing, Waving, Smiling

Florry :: The Holey Bible

Sluice :: Radial Gate

The Feelies :: Some Kinda Love: Performing The Music Of The Velvet Underground

Buck Meek :: Haunted Mountain

Ratboys :: The Window

Michael Nau :: Accompany

Slow Pulp :: Broadview

Hiss Golden Messenger :: Jump For Joy

Daniel Donato :: Reflector

Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit :: Weather Vanes

Colter Wall :: Little Songs

Parannoul :: After The Magic

JPW :: Something Happening / Always Happening

Cut Worms :: Cut Worms

Jeffrey Silverstein :: Western Sky Music

Past years: The Best Albums of 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013

[jamiemottram]

The 39 Best Albums of 2022 For Real

Can’t believe I’ve been doing this for a decade now, loving it. (See previous lists down low.)

No particular order this year, other than the top ones being my most played new releases.

For me this’ll be the year that I finally saw The War on Drugs ... twice! Double the live Drugs! 

They didn’t put out a new record in ‘22; that’ll have to wait until like ‘25, at their pace. They did put out some killer B-sides, though.

And we still have all of this to enjoy. Give me a shout if I missed something you think I’d like ... 

Spotify playlist: Best Albums of 2022 for Real | Bonus playlist: Best Songs of 2022 for Real

Kurt Vile :: (watch my moves) 

Wilco :: Cruel Country 

Vince Staples :: RAMONA PARK BROKE MY HEART

MJ Lenderman :: Boat Songs 

Kevin Morby :: This Is A Photograph

Band Of Horses :: Things Are Great 

Spoon :: Lucifer On The Sofa 

Plains :: I Walked With You A Ways

Eccentric Soul :: The Shiptown Label 

Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever :: Endless Rooms 

Danger Mouse & Black Thought :: Cheat Codes

Color Green :: Color Green

Freddie Gibbs :: $oul $old $eparately 

Tim Heidecker :: High School

Goose :: Dripfield 

Pusha T :: It’s Almost Dry

Big Thief :: Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You

The Smile :: A Light For Attracting Attention

Built To Spill :: When The Wind Forgets Your Name

Kendrick Lamar :: Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers

Wild Pink :: ILYSM

Angel Olsen :: Big Time

Alvvays :: Blue Rev

Bill Callahan :: REALITY

Futurebirds :: Bloomin’ Too

Martin Courtney :: Magic Sound

Florist :: Florist

The Reds, Pinks and Purples :: Summer At Land’s End

Tyler Childers :: Can I Take My Hounds To Heaven?

Toro y Moi :: Mahal

Damien Jurado :: Reggae Film Star

Spiritualized :: Everything Was Beautiful

Revelators :: Revelators Sound System

S.G. Goodman :: Teeth Marks

Nas :: King’s Disease III

Erin Rae :: Lighten Up

Jake Xerxes Fussell :: Good And Green Again

Beach House :: Once Twice Melody

Past years: The Best Albums of 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013

[jamiemottram]

The 34 Best Albums of 2021 for Real

Another year spent listening to lots of new music! And also the Grateful Dead. But relevant to this list, lots of new music.

See below for my 34 favorite albums from the year that was ...

1) The War On Drugs :: I Don’t Live Here Anymore -- Easily my favorite band of the past 5-10 years, as evidenced by their last album placing No. 1 on this list in 2017, the one before that placing No. 2 in 2014 and their live album placing No. 2 last year. Seeing them for the very first time this winter. [fingers crossed]

Nos. 2-34:

George Harrison :: All Things Must Pass (50th Anniversary)

Israel Nash :: Topaz

Fruit Bats :: The Pet Parade

Wild Pink :: A Billion Little Lights

Sturgill Simpson :: The Ballad of Dood & Juanita

The Killers :: Pressure Machine

Neil Young & Crazy Horse :: Way Down In The Rust Bucket (Live)

Hiss Golden Messenger :: Quietly Blowing It

Tobacco City :: Tobacco City, USA

Tyler, The Creator :: Call Me If You Get Lost

Strand of Oaks :: In Heaven

Tonstartssbandht :: Petunia

Olivia Rodrigo :: SOUR

Vince Staples :: Vince Staples

J. Cole :: The Off-Season

John Andrews & The Yawns :: Cookbook

Steve Gunn :: Other You

Courtney Barnett :: Things Take Time, Take Time

Bob Dylan :: Springtime In New York: The Bootleg Series, Vol. 16

Yasmin Williams :: Urban Driftwood

Kanye West :: Donda

Drake :: Certified Lover Boy

Mdou Moctar :: Afrique Victime

My Morning Jacket: My Morning Jacket

New Bums :: Last Time I Saw Grace

Real Estate :: Half A Human

Hiss Golden Messenger :: O Come All Ye Faithful

Rosali :: No Medium

Lord Huron :: Long Lost

Helado Negro :: Far In

Ryley Walker :: Course In Fable

The Antlers :: Green To Gold

Parquet Courts:: Sympathy For Life

Damien Jurado :: The Monster Who Hated Pennsylvania

Playlist on Spotify

Past years: The Best Albums of 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013

[jamiemottram]

The 50 Best Albums of 2020 for Real

My favorite records that came out this year, when I apparently listened to Spotify for roughly 35% of waking hours, for real:

1. Waxahatchee :: Saint Cloud -- Forty years from now there will be a viral video of a man coasting on a longboard with an interesting head tattoo and a large bottle of cranberry juice. He’ll be singing along to this Waxahatchee album, and the song will probably be “Fire.”

2. The War on Drugs :: LIVE DRUGS -- A live compilation of my favorite band of the past several years doing the best versions of their finest songs.

3. Neil Young :: Homegrown -- The lost Neil Young record that was recorded between On the Beach and Zuma. Classic sounds.

4. Run the Jewels :: RTJ4 -- The soundtrack of June 2020. Listen to their episode of Song Exploder.

5. Fleet Foxes :: Shore -- The sound of quarantine, working from home and walking around with nowhere to go. 

6. My Morning Jacket :: The Waterfall II -- Somehow better than the Waterfall I. My second favorite Jacket record since Z (2005).

7. Tom Petty :: Wildflowers & All the Rest -- Two words: more Wildflowers.

8. Sturgill Simpson :: Cuttin’ Grass - Vol. 1 and 2 -- Basically Sturgill’s Greatest Hits, bluegrass-style. A welcome turn.

9. Rose City Band :: Summerlong -- My favorite new band of the past year or two. (Check out their 2019 s/t debut, too.)

10. Hiss Golden Messenger :: Forward, Children -- HGM was the last concert I saw before COVID, and this show was within a month of that, when we could be in a room together. 

Nos. 11-50, in no particular order:

Kevin Morby :: Sundowner

Kurt Vile :: Speed, Sound, Lonely KV 

Taylor Swift :: folklore and evermore

Khruangbin :: Mordecai 

Israel Nash :: Across the Water

Israel Nash :: Topaz

Michael Nau :: Demo Versions, 2014 to 2017

Dehd :: Flower of Devotion

Tame Impala :: The Slow Rush 

Hamilton Leithauser :: The Lights of Your Life

Futurebirds :: Teamwork

Mac Miller :: Circles

Jeff Parker :: Suite for Max Brown

Bonnie “Prince” Billy :: I Made A Place

John Moreland :: LP5

Donovan Quinn :: Absolom

Real Estate :: The Main Thing

Soccer Mommy :: color theory

Stephen Malkmus :: Traditional Techniques

Jay Electronica :: A Written Testimony

Strokes :: The New Abnormal

Nap Eyes :: Snapshot of a Beginner

Damien Jurado :: What’s New, Tomboy?

Shabazz Palaces :: The Don of Diamond Dreams

Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit :: Reunions

Future :: High Off Life

Woods :: Strange to Explain

Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever :: Sideways to New Italy

Muzz :: Muzz

Freddie Gibbs :: Alfredo

HAIM :: Women in Music Pt. III

Trummors :: Dropout City

Chris Stapleton :: Starting Over

Cut Worms :: Nobody Lives Here Anymore

Jeff Tweedy :: Love Is King

Matt Berninger :: Serpentine Prison

Future Islands :: As Long As You Are

Bill Callahan :: Gold Record

The Flaming Lips :: American Head

The Avett Brothers :: The Third Gleam

Playlist on Spotify

Past years: The Best Albums of 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013

[jamiemottram]

The 20 Best Songs of 2019 for Real

Mixtapes will never die.

Best of 2019 for Real on Spotify | Best of 2019 (extended edition)

1. Sturgill Simpson, “Mercury In Retrograde”

One of three or four songs from this record that could make the list.

2. Helado Negro, “Running”

Never heard of this guy before this year, and more importantly this song.

3. Strand of Oaks, “Keys”

Strand of Oaks bro fronting My Morning Jacket, and it sounds like it.

4. Purple Mountains, “All My Happiness Is Gone”

RIP.

5. Sharon Van Etten, “Seventeen”

An immediate classic, and I love the Americana version embedded above.

6. Bon Iver, “Hey Ma”

Was being used in LeBron commercials by year’s end.

7. Daniel Norgren, “The Power”

Feels like we’ll hear a lot more from this guy.

8. Allah-Las, “Raspberry Jam”

I could ride out to this all day.

9. Bill Callahan, “If You Could Touch Her At All”

An absolutely magical cover.

10. Michael Nau, “Rides Through The Morning”

This is they year I fell in love with Michael Nau/Cotton Jones.

11. Frank Ocean, “In My Room”

Addicted to it on first listen.

12. Chance the Rapper, “Hot Shower”

My 9-year-old goes around quoting lines from this song.

13. Vampire Weekend, “Harmony Hall”

Really enjoyed this song, and also the Song Exploder episode about it.

14. Broken Social Scene, “1972″

Took me back to the 2000s every so often.

15. J. Cole, “Middle Child”

J. Cole almost dunking at the Dunk Contest was one of my sports highlights of 2019.

16. Tame Impala, “Patience

It doesn’t really go anywhere, and that’s all right.

17. Lizzo, “Truth Hurts”

Undeniable.

18. Toro y Moi, “drip bounce_7_24_18″

It’s hardly even a song; it’s perfect.

19. Freddie Gibbs, “Giannis”

MVP.

20. Kevin Morby, “No Halo”

The 2010s, the decade Kevin Morby earwormed his way deep down inside.

Past years: 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007

Top 50 albums: 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013

[jamiemottram]

The 20 Best Albums of 2019 for Real

I’m gonna stop the list at 20 this year -- 20 records that took me to new places.

They’re the new ones I heard and enjoyed the most in 2019. I hope you do, too.

1. Sturgill Simpson :: SOUND & FURY

2. Purple Mountains :: Purple Mountains

3. Chance the Rapper :: The Big Day

4. Kevin Morby :: Oh My God

5. Strand of Oaks :: Eraserland

6. Jenny Lewis :: On The Line

7. Bon Iver :: i, i

8. Bill Callahan :: Shepherd in a Sheepskin Vest

9. Steve Gunn :: The Unseen In Between

10. Vampire Weekend :: Father of the Bride

11. Hiss Golden Messenger :: Terms of Surrender

12. LCD Soundsystem :: Electric Lady Sessions

13. Wilco :: Ode to Joy

14. William Tyler :: Goes West

15. Sharon Van Etten :: Remind Me Tomorrow

16. Brittany Howard :: Jaime

17. Daniel Norgren :: Wooh Dang

18. Calexico, Iron & Wine :: Years to Burn

19. Susto :: Ever Since I Lost My Mind

20. Jeremy Ivey :: The Dream And The Dreamer

Past years: The Top 50 Albums of 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013

[jamiemottram]

The 50 Best Albums of 2018 for Real

Not the greatest year for music. Or maybe it was. I fell off the beat a bit and mostly leaned into pretty mellow modern dad rock.

Alas, these are the records I listened to and enjoyed the most in 2018. I hope you enjoy(ed) them, too.

1. Bonny Doon :: Longwave

2. Father John Misty :: God’s Favorite Customer 

3. Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever :: Hope Downs

4. Israel Nash :: Lifted

5. Michael Nau :: Michael Nau & The Mighty Thread

6. Phosphorescent :: C’est La Vie

7. Jeff Tweedy :: WARM

8. Pusha T :: DAYTONA

9. Kurt Vile :: Bottle It In

10. Wild Pink :: Yolk in the Fur

11. Lord Huron :: Vide Noir

12. Vince Staples :: FM!

13. Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks :: Sparkle Hard

14. Spiritualized :: And Nothing Hurt

15. Damien Jurado :: The Horizon Just Laughed

16. Hiss Golden Messenger :: Virgo Fool

17. Beach House :: 7

18. Yo La Tengo :: There’s A Riot Going On

19. Nap Eyes :: I’m Bad Now

20. Amen Dunes :: Freedom

21. Wooden Shjips :: V.

22. Ryley Walker :: Deafman Glance

23. Richard Swift :: The Hex

24. Tracyeanne & Danny :: s/t

25. Lucy Dacus :: Historian

26. Black Panther soundtrack

27 Big Red Machine :: s/t

28. Floating Action :: Is It Exquisite?

29. Courtney Barnett :: Tell Me How You Really Feel

30. Arctic Monkeys :: Tranquility Base Hotel

31. Soccer Mommy :: Clean

32. Kamasi Washington :: Heaven and Earth

33. Jim James :: Uniform Clarity

34. Colter Wall :: Songs of the Plains

35. Car Seat Headrest :: Twin Fantasy

36. Parquet Courts :: Wide Awake!

37. Tony Molina :: Kill The Lights

38. Courtney Marie Andrews :: May Your Kindness Remain

39. Jennifer Castle :: Angels Of Death

40. Yuzo Iwata :: Daylight Moon

41. First Aid Kit :: Ruins

42. KIDS SEE GHOSTS :: s/t

43. Cat Power :: Wanderer

44. Okkervil River :: In The Rainbow Rain

45. Albert Hammond, Jr. :: Francis Trouble

46. Anderson .Paak :: Oxnard

47. The Love Language :: Baby Grand

48. Strand of Oaks :: Harder Love

49. M. Ward :: What A Wonderful Industry

50. Kanye West :: ye

Past years: The Top 50 Albums of 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013

[jamiemottram]

The 50 Best Albums of 2017 for Real

(Note: I forgot to publish this last December, so I’m publishing it now. Carry on.)

This was a good-for-nothing year in general, but it was a great year for new music. Since I’ve been doing these “50 best” lists, it’s up there with 2014. These are the releases I liked and listened to the most, in rough order and culled from a massive playlist that includes more like 100-plus records. Between us, stick to the cream of the crop.

1. The War On Drugs :: A Deeper Understanding

2. Kendrick Lamar :: DAMN.

3. Kevin Morby :: City Music

4. Michael Nau :: Some Twist

5. Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever :: French Press

6. LCD Soundsystem :: american dream

7. Ryan Adams :: Prisoner

8. Fleet Foxes :: Crack-Up

9. Trummors :: Headlands

10. Grizzly Bear :: Painted Ruins

11. Courtney Barnett, Kurt Vile :: Lotta Sea Lice

12. Iron & Wine :: Beast Epic

13. Neil Young :: Hitchhiker

14. Real Estate :: In Mind

15. Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit :: The Nashville Sound

16. John Moreland :: Big Bad Luv

17. Father John Misty :: Pure Comedy

18. Vince Staples :: Big Fish Theory

19. Mac Demarco :: This Old Dog

20. Dead Man Winter :: Furnace

21. Whitney :: Light Upon The Lake: Demo Recordings

22. The National :: Sleep Well Beast

23. Spoon :: Hot Thoughts

24. Bonny Doon :: Bonny Doon

25. Wooden Wand :: Clipper Ship

26. The Feelies :: In Between

27. Colter Wall :: Colter Wall

28. Strand of Oaks :: Hard Love

29. A. Savage :: Thawing Dawn

30. Susto :: & I’m Fine Today

31. Dr. Dog :: Abandoned Mansion

32. The xx :: I See You

33. The Infamous Stringdusters :: Undercover, Vol. 2

34. Destoyer :: ken

35. Nightlands :: I Can Feel the Night Around Me

36. Chris Frisina :: Fences

37. Beach Fossils :: Somersault

38. Angel Olsen :: Phases

39. Floating Action :: Is It Exquisite? 

40. Future Islands :: The Far Field

41. Japandroids :: Near to the Wild Heart of Life

42. Jeff Tweedy :: Together At Last

43. Broken Social Scene :: Hug of Thunder

44. Radiohead :: OK Computer OKNOTOK 1997 2017

45. The Shins :: Heartworms

46. Ryan Adams :: Prisoner B-Sides

47. Mapache :: Mapache

48. Elbow :: Little Fictions

49. Slowdive :: Slowdive

50. Grandaddy :: Last Place

Past years: The Top 50 Albums of 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013

[jamiemottram]

Donny Hathaway :: Voices Inside (Everything Is Everything)

[jamiemottram]

The War On Drugs, “Pain” (stripped-down rehearsal space version via Uproxx)

[jamiemottram]

The first track on LCD Soundsystem’s new album is as close to being a cover of Squeeze’s “Dream Baby Dream” as a song can be. Springsteen needs to play this one, too.

[jamiemottram]

Hamilton Leithauser :: "Road to Nowhere" (Talking Heads cover)

[jamiemottram]

50 Best Albums of 2017 (So Far) for Real

I typically publish this list at the end of each year, and I’ll do it again at the end of this year, but these are the best albums I’ve heard that have already come out in 2017.

None of this is set, as I’ve barely even heard some of these records, and there are plenty others I haven’t heard at all. But this is where things stand.

Enjoy on your own devices, via this Spotify playlist.

Note: The new War on Drugs will debut at No. 1 when it comes out next month.

1. Kendrick Lamar :: DAMN.

2. Trummors :: Headlands

3. Fleet Foxes :: Crack-Up

4. Father John Misty :: Pure Comedy

5. Kevin Morby :: City Music

6. Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit :: The Nashville Sound

7. Michael Nau :: Some Twist

8. Real Estate :: In Mind

9. Ryan Adams :: Prisoner

10. Colter Wall :: Colter Wall

11. Susto :: & I’m Fine Today

12. Dr. Dog :: Abandoned Mansion

13. John Moreland :: Big Bad Luv

14. Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever :: French Press

15. Bonny Doon :: Bonny Doon

16. Future Islands :: The Far Field

17. Spoon :: Hot Thoughts

18. Radiohead :: OK Computer OKNOTOK 1997 2017

19. Jeff Tweedy :: Together At Last

20. Chris Stapleton :: From A Room: Volume 1

21. Skyway Man :: Seen Comin’ From a Mighty Eye

22. Strand of Oaks :: Hard Love

23. The xx :: I See You

24. Nightlands :: I Can Feel the Night Around Me

25. Migos :: Culture

26. The Shins :: Heartworms

27. Wooden Wand :: Clipper Ship

28. (Sandy) Alex G :: Rocket

29. Vince Staples :: Big Fish Theory

30. Drake :: More Life

31. Tennis :: Yours Conditionally

32. Phoenix :: Ti Amo

33. Japandroids :: Near to the Wild Heart of Life

34. The Feelies :: In Between

35. Elbow :: Little Fictions

36. Beach House :: B-Sides and Rarities

37. Mac Demarco :: This Old Dog

38. Toro y Moi :: Boo Boo

39. Future :: HNDRXX and Future

40. Grandaddy :: Last Place

41. Broken Social Scene :: Hug of Thunder

42. Dan Auerbach :: Waiting on a Song

43. Ryan Adams :: Prisoner B-Sides

44. Big Thief :: Capacity

45. Woods :: Love Is Love

46. Beach Fossils :: Somersault

47. Washed Out :: Mister Mellow

48. Young Thug :: Beautiful Thugger Girls

49. Big Boi :: BOOMIVERSE

50. Gorillaz :: Humanz