traveling back, the last year before the end of the world
AMENDED (to the beginning): Things I have learned and loved in late November and December: Lambchop "Mr. M" + Daughn Gibson "All Hell" (really something special) + some Mac Demarco and Hiss Golden Messenger tracks (thx Nathan + John)
Three un-new albums for December: Destroyer's "Your Blues" and John Cale's "Paris 1919" and "Fear"
A new staple this year. Depeche Mode! Who knew they could be so frequently pleasing?
Ditto FM's "Tusk"
Love "Mary" and a couple others from the latest Spiritualized
"Centipede Hz" now is my favorite AC record
Matthew Dear "Beams" is the frontrunner for my AOY
Ot is it Purity Ring?
Grizzly Bear and Dirty Pros share the award of 'this is frequently amazing, but it was supposed to be -- so OK'
Cocteau Twins, your song titles alone give me a feeling of accomplishment
I dont read enough to know this is true, but I have a feeling that Yeasayer's may be the most under-rated album this year
Deftones was kind of disappointing, but still kinda sick
I guess The xx album is awesome. I listen to the song "Tides" often
Every year it's good to pick a Nick Cave focus album. this year I did "Let Love In," which was maybe his transitory point between raw and refined communications of pure emotion
Neil Young focal points --> "Hawks and Doves," "American Stars N Bars," "Come a Time." It had to happen with those eventually. They are worth a dig and a plucking of gems
damn. how am i just now thinking about Mr. Cohen? it was an old guy album, to be sure. it's useless to ask how good it was. i'd listen to a recording of his night farts
(on another LC note. Anyone who says they don't like "Death of a Ladies' Man" -- then or now -- is stupider than words)
All I can really say about rap this year is that the Kendrick Lamar and Curren$y (which I actually purchased like a damn fool) albums are fucking boring.
Had a feeling about Miguel's album after listening to that song last year 500 times. As expected, it was pretty much my shit
You guys. I really love Springsteen's "Tunnel of Love" from '87. really. a lot
Maybe Antibalas is my favorite record this. I remember hearing them for the first time, a song on the radio this summer. i was praying it was something new. just really hoping it was a new release. i dont know. you don't want a situation of 'all the jazz and international music I enjoy is from past eras.' It's disconnected, and that's no fun. Fun is getting to see Antibalas on Dec 14!
as a final note: if you never listen to any other jazz record, listen to Duke Ellington's "Money Jungle." It's three people. The best jazz composer, the best jazz bassist, and the best best jazz drummer in the history of the world. No orchestra. A trio, right, jazz at its purist. It's this classic thing, but there is an almost avant garde quality to it as well. I just keep going back to it. It really is fucking amazing, believe me.