Strand of Oaks is Timothy Showalter, a singer/songwriter from Indiana. His music comes from some horrible experiences. He married young and his wife cheated on him, two months later his house burned down. That left him homeless for awhile while working at a Jewish Orthodox school. That's a ton of material in and of itself. However, he recently remarried and was involved in a serious accident involving ice and two semi trucks. This was the impetus for this album. Great, great stuff. Let's hope he's used up all his bad luck.
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This album was released too late to make the Top 50, but it most assuredly would have. These guys have been here before back in 2010, here. The band consists of Tunde Adebimpe (vocals/loops), David Andrew Sitek (guitars/keyboards/loops), Kyp Malone (vocals/guitars/bass/loops), Jaleel Bunton (drums/vocals/loops/guitars) and Gerard Smith (bass/keyboards). Just when I didn't think these guys could get any better, they release this album. They are out of Brooklyn, New York.
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Hamilton Leithouser is the former frontman of The Walkmen. With their sad breakup in 2013, this album puts a nice lounge singer, electronic, orchestrated pop spin on his songwriting capabilities.
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These guys made the Top 50 back in 2012 here. They are no slouches when it comes to music. They are an amazing English rock band that continues to write heavy, guitar-driven rock. The band consists of Russell Marsden (guitar, vocals), Emma Richardson (bass, vocals), and Matt Hayward (drums).
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For as many years as this guy has been making music, this is is first solo album. You may know his work from Galaxie 500 or maybe the band he formed from that breakup, Luna, or perhaps Dean and Britta, the fallout from that band breaking up. Either way, he's an incredible singer (think Lou Reed) and an incredible musician and songwriter. It's nice to hear him just do his own thing.
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This is the debut album from English psych rockers, Temples and it's a great one. They received a lot of great press this year and it is the exact style of 60's psychedelic English rock that I enjoy. Think old Pink Floyd, 13th Floor Elevators kind of stuff. Look forward to what these guys do in the future.
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Another album that came out too late in the year to make the cut. Andrew and Brad Barr were previous members of The Slip out of Boston. During a fire breaking out in a venue, Andrew met harpist Sarah Page by offering her his coat. She lived in Montreal, Quebec and that chance romantic encounter led to a relationship which led to the brothers moving to Montreal and forming this band. This is their second album.
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This is the debut album for Dan Croll, a British singer/songwriter and what an album it is. Beautiful melodies, sweet love songs all backed by his delightful crooning. There is not a bad song on this entire album, so give it a couple whirls. I keep finding new favorites every time I listen to it.
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Sam Amidon is a fiddle/banjo player who grew up in a folk family in Vermont. He is currently married to Beth Orton and his whole family is full of famous folk musicians. This is his freaking seventh album and it is so good. Traditional blue grass, but a nod to some old Doors and Neil Young in there as well.
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EMA is Erika M. Anderson from South Dakota and this is her second album. She's been a guitarist for Amps for Christ in the past and was the singer for Gowns as well. I really liked her first album a lot, but this album really showcases her voice and songwriting abilities.
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