While growing up, country music was on the list of genres that I really didn't listen to at all. Later on, with the help of such artists as Ryan Adams and Caitlin Rose, I've grown to really love even the most American sounding country music. Lillie Mae is a young and very talented violin player, who also makes amazing country music. What makes this album really interesting is that it is produced by Jack White. There are some fantastic faster country songs, but especially the ballads are so full of emotions, that it's difficult not to lose your heart to them. I only just found this album a couple of weeks ago, so I haven't listened to it enough to know how it stands time, but the prospects for that are really promising. I am going to have to go and buy this album today after work. Listen to the album on Spotify.
This album was selected as the album of the year by Rough Trade. I'm slightly surprised by their choice, but at the same time, I'm really glad they did that, because I only found this album myself after checking out their list. If the whole album was filled with songs like the first one, Blend, I would probably agree with them. This is not to say that it wasn't a brilliant album as a whole, because it is. This is just to say that promise is even greater than reality for this artist. This album is filled with melancholic and emotional and quiet songs with amazing echoes and sounds. New Zealander Hardin's voice is very agile and it sounds quite different in different songs. She calls her own music gothic folk and I think that's probably quite a good description of her music. Listen to the album on Spotify.
Knowing me, it's not really a surprise that Grandaddy's comeback album made it to this top 10 list. I wasn't really expecting much from this album, but I think my expectations were exceeded. Grandaddy's Last Place doesn't quite make it to the same league as their albums The Sophtware Slump or Sumday, but it comes pretty damn close. Usually I want to hear something completely new from bands on their new albums, but if the recipe is as good as Grandaddy has it, I'm just hoping they make more of the same thing. The electronica-spiced indie rock with overdriven electric guitars, topped up with Jason Lytle's bittersweet vocals and lyrics about eco-catastrophies is something I can't overlook in a list like this. Also, I got to see them live for the first time in my life this year! Listen to the album on Spotify.
I started really listening to Slowdive quite recently. Their legendary shoegaze albums from the 90's found their place in my heart, but I feel like this comeback album of theirs made it even further. The echoey guitars and dreamy soundscapes are otherworldly and amazingly beautiful. This music has a lot of air, but I still feel like it's best enjoyed lying on the sofa at home with eyes closed. Maybe I'm just imagining it, but I feel like there are more vocals on this new album than there were on the old ones. I like that, because, despite the fact that I can't usually even hear the lyrics, Slowdive is good at using vocals as another instrument. After properly getting acquainted with this album, I'm a bit disappointed in myself for not using the chances to see this band live in recent years. Listen to the album on Spotify.
I thought Aimee Mann had already shown everything she had to show with her brilliant late 90's and early 00's albums. Then my friend mentioned that Mann had really made a good album this year. I will have to agree with him. This album, Mental Illness, really comes close to the best Aimee Mann albums. She had kept making okay songs for years, but that something was missing from her songs for a long time. That emotion that made me cry on her gig when she played Save Me. That same emotion is back on this album and I couldn't be happier. I haven't had time to buy this album yet, but I have to correct that as soon as I can. Also, the album cover is quite an amazing piece of work. Now I still have to listen to this album properly taking in everything the lyrics have to offer. Listen to the album on Spotify.
This album is really difficult to describe if you haven't heard it. Also, it really helps if you've seen the theatre piece that this music was composed to. It's not really a play, but an evening in the theatre with Jarvis Cocker telling stories about an old hotel while Chilly Gonzales plays moody piano. I'm glad I got to see that live in the Barbican, but even the music videos for these songs give some clues about what it was like. The music itself is wonderfully sleepy and Cocker's deep voice is honey for your ears. The greatest piece of music on this album is the amazing song Tearjerker. This song is one of the best songs that Jarvis Cocker has ever sung and that's really saying a lot. When I bought this album, I used to listen to that tune over and over again in my stereo. Listen to the album on Spotify.
These two artists have been among my very favourite artists in the recent years. Especially Courtney Barnett has made amazing music that I just can't get enough of. Then again, when she's put on the same record with Kurt Vile, the guitar work improves even further. Both of these amazing musicians have great laconic and lazy styles of singing and they really work brilliantly together on this album. The starting song Over Everything is one of the best songs of this year. I bought this on a fantastic vinyl pressing that opens up from the front cover separating the two musicians. Now I just kind of think that I really want to see these guys perform together, because together they're almost better than separately. In the last couple of months, this has been one of my most listened to albums. Listen to the album on Spotify.
Father John Misty has been making some terrific albums already before this one, but his third album Pure Comedy raises his bar even higher. This album that draws lyrics from the political travesties of the latest years is like a theatrical soundtrack to all of the shit that has been going on lately. Father John Misty's amazingly confident voice works brilliantly on this album and on the title track, when it really breaks down in the highest part, it's pure bliss. The album was sold in alternative album covers. I personally went with this dark blue cover that seems to be the most popular one. I still haven't managed to see Father John Misty live. His tickets always come on sale way too early and sell out too fast. One of these days I really have to get a set of tickets and experience him live. Listen to the album on Spotify.
I got acquainted with Peter Oren by a pure coincidence. He played the first slot at the Mirrors festival here in London. I'm really glad I made the effort of getting there early, since that short gig was probably the best gig of the whole festival. Oren's deep bass voice speaks straight to your soul and his guitar-playing on an acoustic guitar is really good as well. It's difficult to get the full experience just from this album, because live he's even more haunting. His lyrics also derive from recent politics and having seen him live now two times, he's not really shy to talk bad about his native country the US of A. The third song on this album, Falling Water, has been one of my most listened to songs of this autumn. I've bought both of this man's records directly from him at the gigs. Listen to the album on Spotify.
I've been waiting for this album for almost all of this year and about two months ago I finally got it when it was finally released. I first saw Phoebe Bridgers live warming up for Conor Oberst. Her performance was amazingly beautiful and I even started crying when she played her song Smoke Signals that mentioned the death of David Bowie. Bridgers was "found" by Ryan Adams, who recorded the first songs with her at his studio. Later on, Conor Oberst took her on his tour. With the help of these two indie characters, Bridgers has grown as an artist to release one hell of a debut album. I've now seen her play live three times. Her performances are hauntingly beautiful with her heavenly voice ranging from quiet and smooth to high and loud. Listen to the album on Spotify.
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