Bridie Monds-Watson is a 19 year old wonder from Northern Ireland. On this debut album, she exhibits the deeply personal and insightful lyrics of a person twice her age. One of the break-out albums of the year, her acoustic/electronically blended music is stunning. It will be interesting to watch her musical career develop if she's already at this level at 19.
If you remember, this band made the #1 spot in the Top 50 back in 2012, here. More good stuff from this London based band. Electronic, grooving, quirky, electro-pop. Like a much more listenable version of Animal Collective. I'm happy to see these guys keep the quality high on their Sophomore release. Hopefully they come through OKC at some point.
21. The Tallest Man On Earth - Dark Bird Is Our Home
Kristian Mattson is a native Swede. His voice is instantly recognizable with its lilting waver. Deep, dark, soulful folk is what this band carries with it. They played Cain's Ballroom earlier this year. One of several amazing shows I could not attend. It will be nice to have a wider selection of shows in OKC. First time this band has made the Top 50, which is a surprise, but this is and exceptional album.
Natalie Lafourcade is a Mexican singer songwriter. I don't remember how I happened on this. I think I was just trying to see what was new out there and listened to it. I fell in love immediately. Equal parts pop, chill wave, bossa nova and latin. This is the perfect Sunday night album. Her voice is incredible and she sings in Italian, Spanish, and English. This album just got released in the US last month, but has been out since March in Mexico, hence it making the list.
Steve Earle is real country. Not the BS coming out of Nashville, but the real deal. He has written songs for Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Vince Gill, and Emmylou Harris. He's the father of Justin Townes Earle, who also came out with a new album this year. He's a poet, writer, and playwright and has received three Grammy's. He played at the Wormy Dog earlier this year to a sold out crowd and put on an amazing show. His nerdiness knows no bounds. This is one bluesy country record reminiscent of some old Lyle Lovett.
Inara George is going on strong post baby. If you remember, she was still on stage, rocking out with Hall and Oates 8 months pregnant, because she's awesome. That album made the Top 50 back in 2010, here. With her counterpart, Greg Kurstin, she's the bird and he's the bee. Beautiful, electronic, synth driven, disco pop. I have loved every single song that has come out of this Los Angeles based group.
Jim James would have to put out a total piece of crap to not make my top 50 end of year list. His songwriting is always on point. He always manages to make an album different than the last one. He always manages to write songs that hit you right where you need them too. MMJ made the chart back in 2011, here. It's probably because he waits three to four years before releasing an album. The every two years push can cause a lot of stale music sometimes and for me to lose interest in a band. Based out of Louisville, Kentucky, these guys have earned a top spot in indie stardom. Let me know if you recognize the venue in the video.
You remember the old days, before internet music, where you'd browse a record/cd store and pick up something on a whim. Maybe it was the art, or the name of the band, or you read something about them somewhere. You took it home and listened to it and felt like you discovered gold. The album was one of the best things you've ever heard and you listened to it over and over. The modern version of this is exactly how I found these guys. Something popped up on one of my feeds, I barely listened to a song, felt impulsive and bought the LP pre-release on a whim. It arrived several months later unannounced and I put it on the record player and couldn't stop listening to it. That's the best I can write about these Brooklyn kids with their rock and roll, punk, beach rock sound. The videos below are two of the strangest videos ever and they even tell a story...I think.
This band made the Top 50 for the first time back in 2012, here. They are fantastic songwriters and I hope they continue on in their career. For fans of Fruit Bats or Ivan and Alyosha, these guys hail from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and produce some damn fine indie folk. Definitely one of the better videos of the year.
Childhood friends, Jack Staffen and Eliza Callahan, are both only 20 years old and are both double majors. In their spare time, they have crafted wispy, 60's style psychedelic folk. This is their first album produced by Chris Zane, who helped Passion Pit and Mumford and Sons get their start. It's been on heavy rotation since it came out in August and is the perfect prescription for any sunny day.
I love when local artists make this list. Samantha Crain returns to us this year an album chock full of finely crafted folk tunes. The kind that make you want to sit by a roaring fire and sip on something through the night. The kind that cover you like a warm blanket. This woman has not put out a bad album yet. This particular album showcases her songwriting prowess. Outside The Pale has become one of my favorite songs of the year and is where the title of the album is drawn from. If you haven't listened to Samantha Crain before...change that now. She made the blog in 2013 here. Kurt Vile, who just got a spot, was featured here. Don't miss the incredible video below.
It will be hard for Emily Haines to come out with an album and not make the Top 50. She puts out incredible electronic pop and has for years. A former member of a Broken Social Scene. There is always one or two songs that function as earworms on each album they produce. This particular album had Other Side, which has guitarist Jimmy Shaw taking lead vocals. They were held up 12 hours in an airport in Mexico, which made them a couple hours late to an amazing show at Cain's Ballroom last month.
By sheer odds, Beach House had to make the list. They broke all the rules this year and released two albums much to the chagrin of critics, but to the delight of all the fans. I have to say....I think Depression Cherry is the better album of the two, but only by a minute amount, but this one makes the list because it came out first and got much more listening time. So, my advice. Listen to them both. A lot. They played Cain's this year and if you've never seen these guys live, it is truly an amazing experience. Beach House is no stranger to this blog.
Very excited to say that this is one of three Oklahoma based artist albums that made the top 50 this year. Originally from Stillwater, I believe their homebase is in Portland right now. They got the opportunity to open for Radiohead a few years back and haven't looked back. An insanely talented band formed from the remnants of another band called Kunek. This is their third album and it's everything and more.
This is not some new young kid on the music scene. Mike Pace was the main driving force behind Oxford Collapse, a band now defunct for over six years. In the early naughts, Oxford Collapse was the nerd out experimental band you listened to on college radio. Much like American Analog Set, of Montreal or even Deerhunter, which were also on the fringes back then. Several bands in that vein moved onto some limited commercial success, Mike Pace took a break. A long break. You can hear remnants of Oxford in the guitar and keyboard work in this album, but at the same time, it brings a much more straightforward vibe that shows an album that fits right into the teens.
Natalie Prass made big waves with her new album this year. Relatively new on the scene, she is from Richmond, Virginia, but calls Nashville home for the moment. Her sultry voice and heart felt lyrics caused her to catapult the charts this year as one of the most exciting new artists. She played main stage at Norman Music Festival earlier this year and if you got to see that show, you got quite a treat. It was a lot of fun.
This album barely made the list because it came out so late in the year, but this band has grown to be one of my favorite bands and I readily devour anything they put out. They made number four in 2011 here, and made 31 in 2013, here. So, yeah, my favorite. Catherine McCandless' voice is other worldly and the experimental electronic, synth wave back drop makes me want to listen for hours on end. Needless to say, had this album arrived any sooner in the year, it would be up there on the charts.
Alabama based singer/songwriter Katie Crutchfield formerly of the band, P.S. Eliot, a band she formed with her twin sister, is, for all intents and purposes, Waxahatchee. Crutchfield writes and sings all the music and has a touring band. The band is named after a creek in Alabama. This is her third album and still raw and hollowed out as the first one, even though she recently signed to Merge records. Her music pierces through you and forces you to listen. It sounds like her sister has helped out some on this album. She played at Bad Granny's a few years ago, now that would've been a show.
These guys from Lititz, Pennsylvania formed in high school in 2009. Now they are on their second album and what an accomplishment. This is straight-forward rock and roll with a little punk and blues sensibility to it. It's raucous and fun, but has enough grittiness to add a fuzzed out shoe gaze moniker to it.
Like I said, penchant for electronic music. Started listening to these guys in '05 or '06 and happened to catch one of their live shows and made me a forever convert. I think every album has gotten better. This album kicks of with a mean groove with Huarache Lights and just keeps it rolling all the way through the album. They've been around since 2000 and are based out of London.
I am so glad I found this album. The Arc's started as a solo project of the Black Keys' Dan Auerbach, who has had his hand in just about everything. It turned into a full on collaborative effort with the inclusion of this rock star lineup of Leon Michels, Richard Swift, Menahan Street Band member Homer Steinweiss, Nick Movshon, and guitarist Kenny Vaughan. Everyone shares songwriting credit and there's a panoply of style references to old psych rock, soul and hip-hop heavily driven by electric organs. And another awesome animated video to boot.
I have wanted to see this group since its inception. Every chance I've had has resulted in another concert booked at the same time they're playing anywhere close to me. It was like chasing a ghost. However, I had a similar instance this last show in Dallas, Texas when I went to see Clap Your Hands Say Yeah. As the Clap Your Hands concert ended, walked outside and the club right next door had their garage door open and there was Ivan & Alyosha playing. Got to stand there and watch them for free for a good five or six songs. It was an incredible night. These guys are based out of Seattle, Washington and are named after two of the main characters in one of my favorite books, The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky. This is only their second album and they've certainly gone from a very raw sound to a much more produced sound, but that doesn't make them any less awesome. Great lyrics, great drive, great song writing. Just a great album. They made the top 50 with their first album, here.'
This was such a nice surprise to the year. The band is comprised of Corin Tucker (vocals and guitar), Carrie Brownstein (guitar and vocals), and Janet Weiss (drums), yes, that Carrie Brownstein from Portlandia, if you didn't already know. This was one of the seminal bands of the 2000's and there is even a road named after them as you drive into Seattle from Portland. This is their eighth album after a ten year hiatus. I usually don't expect a lot from this sort of reunion release, but these girls knocked this album out of the park. It's nice to know they still got it. The Bob's Burgers video below is just the best.
Kurt Vile is a 35 year old singer/songwriter who helped start the band The War on Drugs, but is most known for his solo work. He helped produce our very own Samantha Crain's last two albums, so he's well liked in these parts. This album is one of his best to date and has a great lilting electric piano vibe all the way throughout. He's from Philadelphia, but recorded this album all over the United States.
I have loved following this band and watching them grow. I think their songwriting has gotten better after each album. They garnered a spot in the 2012 Top 50 here, and had their album not passed my radar for so long, they would have garnered a higher spot this year. However, making the blog for two consecutive albums is impressive. This album is impressive. As the band has grown, their sound has gotten both bigger and the songwriting a lot tighter.
Couldn't have a top 50 without some amazing soul, and Leon Bridges brings that and more. Mr. Bridges comes to us from right down the road in Fort Worth, Texas. He was born Todd Michael Bridges in Atlanta, Georgia. He was working as a dishwasher before being signed to Columbia Records last year. His sweet, sultry sounds take you back to a different time and really warm up a room. This is a must have for your collection.
This is the Icelandic band's first time in the Top 50, but they did make their debut here back in 2011, here. The band consists of lead singer/guitarist Nanna BryndÃs Hilmarsdóttir, co-singer-guitarist Ragnar "Raggi" Þórhallsson, guitarist Brynjar Leifsson, drummer Arnar Rósenkranz Hilmarsson and bassist Kristján Páll Kristjánsson. This is their second album and it is everything I hoped it would be. They will be at Brady Theatre in Tulsa next Wednesday, the 16th, so don't miss them, like I will.
In addition to being a horror movie based in Maine, Darkness Falls is also the Danish duo, Josephine Philip, vocals and keyboard, and Ina Lindgreen on guitar. This is their second album and the electronic, rock, lounge, pop performance along with the songwriting skills catapult this album to front of the line for listening. If you know me, you know I have a penchant for electronic music and this album nestles perfectly in my listening roundup. And check out that album cover, it's so Danish.
This just came out and barely made the list. I love everything about this album, including the title. These guys have been so insanely busy, with a new album out each year since inception, I believe. This particular venture for the New York based band sees them diving into experimental rock territory. Much more than their previous albums, but, given the title of the album, it makes sense. This particular album is a meditation to be sure and I recommend meditating on its awesomeness as soon as possible.
Received this album via my record club, Vinyl Me, Please, which I love, because I don't read the emails and get a surprise vinyl once a month. Torres is Georgia native, Nashville resident Mackenzie Scott. This is her second album and her songwriting on this album is spectacular. My favorite song on the album ended up being 'New Skin'. I love the contrast between this and the opening track. This tug of war happens all throughout the album. Check out the awesome video for the title track below.
I have gone on and on about how great this album is. Just electronic bliss. This is a musical duo consisting of Andrew Armstrong and Ra Black based out of London. Formerly known as Milke, this is their second album. Fun fact....the duo broke up earlier this year, then promptly got back together after reconciling their differences and finished touring and promised new music. All of that happened in less than 50 days. Wish that happened with a lot of bands. "It's All I Know" is one of the best songs of the year.
Kicking off this series right with Houndmouth. These guys are from New Albany, Indiana. The four piece has garnered much critical acclaim since their debut album in 2013.They hit 22 on my chart then, which you can see here. For this album, they utilized the talents of Dave Cobb (think Sturgill Simpson). Their Sophomore album brings much of the same folk chicanery as on their previous album, but with a more refined flair. An excellent live act, well worth making the effort to catch. Just because this guy landed at #50, does not mean I like it any less than any others.
Thanks for stopping by. I listen to entirely too much music and love sharing music almost as much as I love listening to it. The purpose of this blog is to do just that and bring you along the journey with me.
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