My list is finally more than halfway done, and the good news is that the last two parts are fast on their way! But first, we've got part three, and this is probably the part that caused me the most trouble, as the list is starting to get to a point where they're all albums I genuinely think are top 25 or even top 10 material, but I can still only have 25 albums in my top 25. Anyway, without any more blabbering, here's part three of the list, click the title of this post to see it after the break, and as always, please let me know thoughts, surprises, opinions, and give me a shout if a link is broken that you need, as you know, links get taken down swiftly these days. Thanks!
50. Kitty Pryde - 'Haha, I'm Sorry'
Genre: Cloud Rap/Indie Hip-Hop
Country of Origin: USA
I see Kitty Pryde get a lot of hate online, and on some level I understand it--she's a young, cute redheaded white girl making her own weird variation on hip-hop music, largely gaining fame through her friendship with Danny Brown. But then I listen to her music, and her cheeky attitude, silly lyrics, relaxed delivery, and gorgeous chopped&screwed beats win me over every time. Her expressions are clever without being verbose, and her music is syrupy and atmospheric to a point of near-perfection. Even though Kitty Pryde is clearly an artist in her infancy, her 5-song EP of 2012 introduces her to the world at large in the best way, showing off the strength of her lax delivery and incredible backing beats, and solidly tossing Kitty at the top of the ones-to-watch list of 2013.
Top tracks: smiledog.jpg; Ay Shawty: THE SHREKONING
Listen.
Top tracks: smiledog.jpg; Ay Shawty: THE SHREKONING
Listen.
49. Dweller On The Threshold - 'Dweller On The Threshold'
Genre: DIY Post-Rock/Lo-Fi Folk/Indie Post-Hardcore
Country of Origin: USA
It's been quite awhile since Dweller On The Threshold's self-titled debut record was released on the fantastic Enemies List record label, and I'm still not totally sure what to make of it. This record has some songs which seem straight out of the ELHR textbook, using lo-fi guitars, reverb-drenched vocals, and a general sense of melancholic apathy, while there are others which are literally bordering hardcore, complete with winding, overdistorted guitar lines and throaty shouts. It's all done extremely artistically, however, with this overarching sense of wonder at the world and the beauty in sorrow. As the record winds in and out of styles, it's continually expressive in a way that is rarely seen, and manages to be completely enthralling and intriguing throughout many multiple listens to the album. The way that some songs build atmosphere, whereas others build huge climaxes, and still others simply go for the throat is impressive. More impressive however, is that it all works so well together, and makes Dweller On The Threshold one of the most surprising debuts of the year, and a record which full lives up to the Enemies List name.
Top tracks: The Drone; Bell
Listen.
It's been quite awhile since Dweller On The Threshold's self-titled debut record was released on the fantastic Enemies List record label, and I'm still not totally sure what to make of it. This record has some songs which seem straight out of the ELHR textbook, using lo-fi guitars, reverb-drenched vocals, and a general sense of melancholic apathy, while there are others which are literally bordering hardcore, complete with winding, overdistorted guitar lines and throaty shouts. It's all done extremely artistically, however, with this overarching sense of wonder at the world and the beauty in sorrow. As the record winds in and out of styles, it's continually expressive in a way that is rarely seen, and manages to be completely enthralling and intriguing throughout many multiple listens to the album. The way that some songs build atmosphere, whereas others build huge climaxes, and still others simply go for the throat is impressive. More impressive however, is that it all works so well together, and makes Dweller On The Threshold one of the most surprising debuts of the year, and a record which full lives up to the Enemies List name.
Top tracks: The Drone; Bell
Listen.
48. Kayo Dot - 'Gamma Knife'
Genre: Avant-Garde Metal
Country of Origin: USA
Ever since Toby Driver switched from metal-based maudlin of the Well to the (even more) experimental Kayo Dot, he's pushed the record format to its limits, creating five-song masterpieces of insanely complex and impressive lengthy tracks. That said, however, the band's last few records have really stuck to the slow and meandering side of things, kind of depriving us of the true magic that Kayo Dot have shown they're capable of. Enter Gamma Knife, a remarkable collection of some of the most interesting tracks that a Toby Driver project has produced in years. The record is bookended by two relaxed and interesting songs that speak to Kayo Dot's more wandering nature as of late, presenting two truly beautiful pieces of atmospheric music to open and close the album. Between those two, however, are three live recordings of some of the band's heaviest songs to date, working more in an experimental black metal realm than anything else, with thick guitars, fast drums, and guttural howls all backed up by beautiful saxophone and the like. Don't let the 'live' label turn you away though, these tracks feel like studio tracks, and they are mastered and edited so perfectly that they simply belong in an album context. Long story short, if you're like me and have been waiting for another Choirs of the Eye, this probably isn't quite what you want, but it's damn near being as emotive and creative. If you haven't heard Kayo Dot yet, this is an absolutely fantastic jumping-off point, and a wonderful album for all to enjoy.
Top tracks: Rite of Goetic Evocation; Gamma Knife
Listen.
Ever since Toby Driver switched from metal-based maudlin of the Well to the (even more) experimental Kayo Dot, he's pushed the record format to its limits, creating five-song masterpieces of insanely complex and impressive lengthy tracks. That said, however, the band's last few records have really stuck to the slow and meandering side of things, kind of depriving us of the true magic that Kayo Dot have shown they're capable of. Enter Gamma Knife, a remarkable collection of some of the most interesting tracks that a Toby Driver project has produced in years. The record is bookended by two relaxed and interesting songs that speak to Kayo Dot's more wandering nature as of late, presenting two truly beautiful pieces of atmospheric music to open and close the album. Between those two, however, are three live recordings of some of the band's heaviest songs to date, working more in an experimental black metal realm than anything else, with thick guitars, fast drums, and guttural howls all backed up by beautiful saxophone and the like. Don't let the 'live' label turn you away though, these tracks feel like studio tracks, and they are mastered and edited so perfectly that they simply belong in an album context. Long story short, if you're like me and have been waiting for another Choirs of the Eye, this probably isn't quite what you want, but it's damn near being as emotive and creative. If you haven't heard Kayo Dot yet, this is an absolutely fantastic jumping-off point, and a wonderful album for all to enjoy.
Top tracks: Rite of Goetic Evocation; Gamma Knife
Listen.
47. The Gaslight Anthem - 'Handwritten'
Genre: Blue Collar Rock
Country of Origin: USA
Back in 2008, The Gaslight Anthem's sophomore effort The '59 Sound pretty much blew me out of the water and is still one of my top albums ever to this day. When they followed it up with the slightly more experimental and laid-back American Slang, I couldn't help but be disappointed--it was a great album, but it lacked the American Graffiti storytelling and nostalgia and excitement of their second record. It seems like Fallon and company realized this as well, because The Gaslight Anthem's fourth record is awesome. From the first second of Handwritten, it's exciting and relevant. The band have toned down their Springsteen worship a tad, but they still maintain that trademark rough-around-the-edges, nostalgic rock and roll sound that the band hit so perfectly four years ago, and for that, Handwritten is a fantastic album full of catchy choruses, memorable guitar licks, and perfect lyrics and melodies.
Top tracks: "45"; Too Much Blood
Listen.
Back in 2008, The Gaslight Anthem's sophomore effort The '59 Sound pretty much blew me out of the water and is still one of my top albums ever to this day. When they followed it up with the slightly more experimental and laid-back American Slang, I couldn't help but be disappointed--it was a great album, but it lacked the American Graffiti storytelling and nostalgia and excitement of their second record. It seems like Fallon and company realized this as well, because The Gaslight Anthem's fourth record is awesome. From the first second of Handwritten, it's exciting and relevant. The band have toned down their Springsteen worship a tad, but they still maintain that trademark rough-around-the-edges, nostalgic rock and roll sound that the band hit so perfectly four years ago, and for that, Handwritten is a fantastic album full of catchy choruses, memorable guitar licks, and perfect lyrics and melodies.
Top tracks: "45"; Too Much Blood
Listen.
46. How to Dress Well - 'Total Loss'
Genre: Lo-Fi Pop/Ambient R&B
Country of Origin: USA
How to Dress Well's debut full-length (although almost more of a compilation of previously released tracks) Love Remains is probably one of the most beautiful albums of the modern era, and the thick beats and instrumentals combined with the super lo-fi production and beautiful falsetto vocals made it absolutely stunning to behold. With Tom Krell's second record, Total Loss, he's honed his sound, going for a more robust, less lo-fi, downtempo electronic sound. Without the intense reverb and distortion to hide his work, Krell is forced to rely on the strength of his songwriting, beats, and beautiful voice to make Total Loss succeed, and oh man, does this guy go the distance. The fact that all the songs were recorded for an album specifically means that the record is more focused than his first, and it also has a more unified emotional impact, allowing its sorrowful beauty to permeate every inch of the simple beats and lush instrumentation to create an absolutely incredible, moving experience of an album.
Top tracks: Cold Nites; Ocean Floor For Everything
Listen.
How to Dress Well's debut full-length (although almost more of a compilation of previously released tracks) Love Remains is probably one of the most beautiful albums of the modern era, and the thick beats and instrumentals combined with the super lo-fi production and beautiful falsetto vocals made it absolutely stunning to behold. With Tom Krell's second record, Total Loss, he's honed his sound, going for a more robust, less lo-fi, downtempo electronic sound. Without the intense reverb and distortion to hide his work, Krell is forced to rely on the strength of his songwriting, beats, and beautiful voice to make Total Loss succeed, and oh man, does this guy go the distance. The fact that all the songs were recorded for an album specifically means that the record is more focused than his first, and it also has a more unified emotional impact, allowing its sorrowful beauty to permeate every inch of the simple beats and lush instrumentation to create an absolutely incredible, moving experience of an album.
Top tracks: Cold Nites; Ocean Floor For Everything
Listen.
45. Tyme. x Tujiko - 'GYU'
Genre: Downtempo Indie Pop
Country of Origin: Japan
The first collaborative album between Tyme. and Tujiko is a strange beast indeed. GYU is a combination of soft, odd female vocals and beautiful, relaxed piano-oriented trip-hop styled beats. The record's long-form songs keep a fairly steady pace, but manage to stay interesting thanks to memorable melodies and impressive textures sprinkled throughout the music. The beats plod forth, the vocals sink to just another instrument providing melody, strings swell in and outside, slow piano lines build and flow, and GYU continues to be one of the most unique records to come out of Japan this year, offering a relaxed and inspiring musical experience completely separate from anything else on the scene right now. Here's hoping these two keep collaborating for years to come.
Top tracks: Akete, Akete; Ten To Sen
Listen.
The first collaborative album between Tyme. and Tujiko is a strange beast indeed. GYU is a combination of soft, odd female vocals and beautiful, relaxed piano-oriented trip-hop styled beats. The record's long-form songs keep a fairly steady pace, but manage to stay interesting thanks to memorable melodies and impressive textures sprinkled throughout the music. The beats plod forth, the vocals sink to just another instrument providing melody, strings swell in and outside, slow piano lines build and flow, and GYU continues to be one of the most unique records to come out of Japan this year, offering a relaxed and inspiring musical experience completely separate from anything else on the scene right now. Here's hoping these two keep collaborating for years to come.
Top tracks: Akete, Akete; Ten To Sen
Listen.
44. Pinback - 'Information Retrieved'
Genre: Indie Rock
Country of Origin: USA
Pinback are pretty much the most consistent band in the world. On their fifth album now, there is still almost no discernible change to their core sound. That's not a bad thing though, because their core sound is fantastic, and across their long career they've been slowly perfecting it. Information Retrieved is another Pinback record of simple drum parts, catchy, clean guitar licks, the surprising addition of some dramatic strings, wonderful layered vocals, and relaxed indie rock songs that fit somewhere between fun and melancholic. As always though, the tracks on here change it up more than enough to keep the album interesting through its runtime, the excellent production and songwriting get their points across with remarkable grace and style, and the undeniable groove, brilliant texturing and subtle emotionalism across Information Retrieved really show off why Pinback are simply the masters of what they do.
Top tracks: Glide; Drawstring
Listen.
Pinback are pretty much the most consistent band in the world. On their fifth album now, there is still almost no discernible change to their core sound. That's not a bad thing though, because their core sound is fantastic, and across their long career they've been slowly perfecting it. Information Retrieved is another Pinback record of simple drum parts, catchy, clean guitar licks, the surprising addition of some dramatic strings, wonderful layered vocals, and relaxed indie rock songs that fit somewhere between fun and melancholic. As always though, the tracks on here change it up more than enough to keep the album interesting through its runtime, the excellent production and songwriting get their points across with remarkable grace and style, and the undeniable groove, brilliant texturing and subtle emotionalism across Information Retrieved really show off why Pinback are simply the masters of what they do.
Top tracks: Glide; Drawstring
Listen.
43. BIGBANG - 'STILL ALIVE'
Genre: K-Pop
Country of Origin: South Korea
While technically a rerelease of their ALIVE EP that was released earlier in 2012, STILL ALIVE is hardly the same record, replacing over half the songs, adding some more, and completely changing the order. And for my money, it's also pretty much a collection of nine of the catchiest, funnest songs to come out of anyone this year. The male quintet cover enough different styles on STILL ALIVE to keep it interesting and varied, from pleasant and pretty ballads to more traditional kpop songs to some of the best straight-up club bangers of the year (I still can't comprehend how FANTASTIC BABY hasn't caught on stateside). The combination of fantastic production with the vocal variety here--Taeyang, Daesung, and Seungri's fantastic melodic voices, G-Dragon's nasal but still somehow so fucking cool style, and T.O.P's deep, husky voice round out one of the best pop groups around. Given all that though, the songs here still manage to be absolutely incredible, with ridiculously infectious melodies and some simply epic moments. STILL ALIVE is both an impressively creative and incredibly invigorating piece of Korean pop music, and is proof that BIGBANG are pretty much one of the best acts in the entire pop world, period.
Top tracks: FANTASTIC BABY; FEELING
Listen.
While technically a rerelease of their ALIVE EP that was released earlier in 2012, STILL ALIVE is hardly the same record, replacing over half the songs, adding some more, and completely changing the order. And for my money, it's also pretty much a collection of nine of the catchiest, funnest songs to come out of anyone this year. The male quintet cover enough different styles on STILL ALIVE to keep it interesting and varied, from pleasant and pretty ballads to more traditional kpop songs to some of the best straight-up club bangers of the year (I still can't comprehend how FANTASTIC BABY hasn't caught on stateside). The combination of fantastic production with the vocal variety here--Taeyang, Daesung, and Seungri's fantastic melodic voices, G-Dragon's nasal but still somehow so fucking cool style, and T.O.P's deep, husky voice round out one of the best pop groups around. Given all that though, the songs here still manage to be absolutely incredible, with ridiculously infectious melodies and some simply epic moments. STILL ALIVE is both an impressively creative and incredibly invigorating piece of Korean pop music, and is proof that BIGBANG are pretty much one of the best acts in the entire pop world, period.
Top tracks: FANTASTIC BABY; FEELING
Listen.
42. Purity Ring - 'Shrines'
Genre: Witch House/Dark Electronic/Future Pop
Country of Origin: Canada
Purity Ring's debut album was one I'd been looking forward to for a long time, and I can't say it disappointed in any way. Shrines is a record brimming with thick, dark, futuristic beats and pleasant, catchy female vocals. The pulsating bass and layered voices back up ridiculously strong dark pop songs that sound like they were made a million miles away, in some icey wasteland decades in the future. The dark, vivid imagery present in both the lyrics and musical textures is something truly masterful, and while the album may get a bit samey, it is also proof as to why Purity Ring deserve to be hailed as one of the most intriguing and sublime acts in modern electronic music. It would be easy to call them a poppier, witchy version of The Knife, but Purity Ring really do go above and beyond and make a work which is completely unique and all their own in Shrines, and show that through brilliant choruses and intensely textured instrumentation, they can not only come out on top of the intensely cold witch house genre, but also crossover and appeal to just about anyone out there.
Top tracks: Belispeak; Grandloves
Listen.
Purity Ring's debut album was one I'd been looking forward to for a long time, and I can't say it disappointed in any way. Shrines is a record brimming with thick, dark, futuristic beats and pleasant, catchy female vocals. The pulsating bass and layered voices back up ridiculously strong dark pop songs that sound like they were made a million miles away, in some icey wasteland decades in the future. The dark, vivid imagery present in both the lyrics and musical textures is something truly masterful, and while the album may get a bit samey, it is also proof as to why Purity Ring deserve to be hailed as one of the most intriguing and sublime acts in modern electronic music. It would be easy to call them a poppier, witchy version of The Knife, but Purity Ring really do go above and beyond and make a work which is completely unique and all their own in Shrines, and show that through brilliant choruses and intensely textured instrumentation, they can not only come out on top of the intensely cold witch house genre, but also crossover and appeal to just about anyone out there.
Top tracks: Belispeak; Grandloves
Listen.
41. The Early November - 'In Currents'
Genre: Indie Rock
Country of Origin: USA
When The Early November announced they were going on indefinite hiatus, it broke my heart. Despite only having released two albums (and a handful of EPs), The Early November were, and still are, one of my favourite bands ever. When I heard they were releasing the follow up to their 2006 triple-album, I was beyond excited. It may not be as ambitious as their last release, but In Currents met absolutely every expectation I had from this wonderful band. Ace Enders has always had a knack for excellently crafted emotive melodies and catchy choruses, and that's still absolutely in tact here, backed by some of the best guitar rock out there. It's notably more aggressive and intense than their past material, but it's also more honed and exciting. Simply put, the kings of indie rock are back, and that's nothing but good news.
Top tracks: Frayed In Doubt; Tell Me Why
40. Japandroids - 'Celebration Rock'
Genre: Garage Rock
Country of Origin: Canada
Post-Nothing is pretty much one of my favourite debut albums ever made. The fuck-it anthems and emotional power behind each of the eight awesome rock songs made it everything I ever wanted from the genre, so naturally I was pretty excited for Japandroids' second full-length. Does it live up to the mastery of their first album? No, of course not. That doesn't mean it isn't awesome though. Japandroids have always been a band that work off the fact that they're a simple duo of two best friends playing the music they love, and I doubt that will ever change. Although it's less summery and life-affirming, Celebration Rock makes up for that with a marked sense of excitement and bombast. The songs are big and exciting, the guitars shimmering and the vocals loud and powerful, and everything is just so energetic, youthful, and honest that it's pretty much perfect. These are rock anthems to sing at the top of your lungs from the roof of your house at midnight in the dead of winter, and that's all I've ever wanted from Japandroids.
Top tracks: Fire's Highway; The House That Heaven Built
39. Circle Takes the Square - 'Decompositions: Volume Number One'
Genre: Experimental Skramz/Post-Hardcore
Country of Origin: USA
Circle Takes the Square are pretty much undeniably the most important band in modern screamo music. As the Roots Undo is one of the best albums in the genre, combining fantastic male-female tradeoff vocals with chaotic, experimental, and climactic music which is pretty much unmatched to this day. Now, almost nine years later, the band has finally released their follow-up, and it's wonderful. It might not be as iconic or impressive as their first album (hence the reason it isn't number one on this list), but Decompositions: Volume Number One is still an incredible album in its own right, working off the formula set by its predecessor and expanding on it in quite a few ways. It may not have quite the fragility or determined, epic composition of As the Roots Undo, and it might not be as rawly exciting, but Decompositions is something all its own, winding in and out of melodies and passages, moving from calm interludes into post-hardcore styled builds into giant skramz climaxes, and back again. For those who have been waiting for years to hear a new Circle Takes the Square album, here it is. For anyone looking for a way to get into the skramz genre or simply a new record to discover and love, this is the one for you. Just make sure you check out As the Roots Undo first.
Top tracks: Way Of Ever-Branching Paths; A Closing Chapter (Scarlet Rising)
38. Death Grips - 'NO LOVE DEEP WEB'
Genre: Avant-Garde Rap
Country of Origin: USA
There are endless reasons why NO LOVE DEEP WEB is a big deal of an album. Besides the fact that it's the second record that experimental noise-rap group Death Grips have released this year, it was also absolutely surrounded by controversy. When their new record label wanted to put off the release date of the record, Death Grips instead leaked it themselves online for free (before the label had even heard the album), and made the cover a picture of a penis with the album title written on it, and were promptly dropped from the label. But past the controversy, there's the fact that this album is simply awesome. Much more minimal and harsh than their previous releases, NO LOVE DEEP WEB completely removes Death Grips' previous catchy hooks and dense instrumentation in exchange for glitchy beats, simple synth basslines, and MC Ride's insane, shouted rapping over it all. This is a vicious, terrifying, paranoid album which stands all on its own and is pretty much like nothing else out there. While the songs on here stand on their own, they really should be taken as a whole package, as the way that the albums shifts from fury to fear and circles around its center of anxiety is remarkable and intense, and proof that Death Grips are not only one of the most interesting and unique bands out there today, but also that they have no intention of compromising a single thing about themselves anytime soon.
Top tracks: No Love; Come up and get me
Listen.
There are endless reasons why NO LOVE DEEP WEB is a big deal of an album. Besides the fact that it's the second record that experimental noise-rap group Death Grips have released this year, it was also absolutely surrounded by controversy. When their new record label wanted to put off the release date of the record, Death Grips instead leaked it themselves online for free (before the label had even heard the album), and made the cover a picture of a penis with the album title written on it, and were promptly dropped from the label. But past the controversy, there's the fact that this album is simply awesome. Much more minimal and harsh than their previous releases, NO LOVE DEEP WEB completely removes Death Grips' previous catchy hooks and dense instrumentation in exchange for glitchy beats, simple synth basslines, and MC Ride's insane, shouted rapping over it all. This is a vicious, terrifying, paranoid album which stands all on its own and is pretty much like nothing else out there. While the songs on here stand on their own, they really should be taken as a whole package, as the way that the albums shifts from fury to fear and circles around its center of anxiety is remarkable and intense, and proof that Death Grips are not only one of the most interesting and unique bands out there today, but also that they have no intention of compromising a single thing about themselves anytime soon.
Top tracks: No Love; Come up and get me
Listen.
37. AlunaGeorge - 'You Know You Like It'
Genre: Future Pop/R&B
Country of Origin: England
Whenever Tri Angle Records announce a new release, I'm always excited, and AlunaGeorge's three-song EP was no exception. When I finally heard it, I was even more excited--although a totally different direction from the lo-fi beauty of How to Dress Well or the dark witch house of oOoOO and Holy Other, You Know You Like It was instantly impressive and fit in perfectly with Tri Angle's style. The dark, futuristic R&B style of the duo's music is sleek and smooth on all fronts, and the songs are incredibly catchy without sacrificing an ounce of artistic integrity. George's twitchy, deep electronic production backs up Aluna's pitch-perfect sensual vocals flawlessly, and the three songs on this EP pretty much get me stoked on every level, to break formality a bit. It's easy to get hooked on the brilliant melodies and awesome production, and if this is a hint of what AlunaGeorge have in store for 2013, consider me thoroughly on the edge of my seat.
Top tracks: You Know You Like It; Just A Touch
Listen.
Whenever Tri Angle Records announce a new release, I'm always excited, and AlunaGeorge's three-song EP was no exception. When I finally heard it, I was even more excited--although a totally different direction from the lo-fi beauty of How to Dress Well or the dark witch house of oOoOO and Holy Other, You Know You Like It was instantly impressive and fit in perfectly with Tri Angle's style. The dark, futuristic R&B style of the duo's music is sleek and smooth on all fronts, and the songs are incredibly catchy without sacrificing an ounce of artistic integrity. George's twitchy, deep electronic production backs up Aluna's pitch-perfect sensual vocals flawlessly, and the three songs on this EP pretty much get me stoked on every level, to break formality a bit. It's easy to get hooked on the brilliant melodies and awesome production, and if this is a hint of what AlunaGeorge have in store for 2013, consider me thoroughly on the edge of my seat.
Top tracks: You Know You Like It; Just A Touch
Listen.
36. Sufjan Stevens - 'Silver & Gold'
Genre: Indie Folk/Psychedelic Pop/Experimental Christmas Music
Country of Origin: USA
Sometimes, I wonder if Sufjan Stevens is secretly omnipotent, because I have yet to see proof that he is able to do something wrong. Silver & Gold is Sufjan's second massive 5-"EP" collection of Christmas-themed music, and it is absolutely sublime. While 2006's Songs For Christmas focused primarily on beautiful, folksy interpretations of traditional holiday songs and a handful of originals in a similar style, Silver & Gold has more of a balance between traditional and original songs, and a simply ridiculous variety of style, going across just about all the niches Sufjan has tried to fill across his vast career. From heartfelt, gorgeous folk music to glitchy electronica to avant-pop, volumes 6-10 (and especially 6 and 10) of Sufjan's Christmas set are impressive on every level. The immense size and concept of this collection will probably turn away many potential listeners, but I ask you to trust in the talent that we all know Sufjan Stevens has and trust that despite the mass, just about every song here is wonderful and unique in its own way, and this is so, so much more than just holiday music. Silver & Gold is the last bit of proof needed that Sufjan Stevens can do anything he wants, and it will almost without exception turn out incredible.
Top tracks:
Vol. 6: Carol of St. Benjamin the Bearded One
Vol. 7: Idumea (Sacred Harp)
Vol. 8: The Child With the Star Otn His Head
Vol. 9: X-Mas Spirit Catcher
Vol. 10: Christmas Unicorn
35. Sun Kil Moon - 'Among The Leaves'
Genre: Folk
Country of Origin: USA
Mark Kozelek has been a fairly noteworthy presence in the indie music scene for over 23 years now, first rising to fame with his band Red House Painters before splitting off to work on Sun Kil Moon. For an artist so dedicated to keeping things simple and consistent, the subtle changes on his fifth album under that moniker, Among the Leaves, are quite surprising in the best way. Giving up his normal formula of nine-minute meandering slowcore tunes for a work consisting instead of several shorter, simple folk tunes has worked beautifully, allowing for an album which feels like a series of snapshots of Kozelek's life. The incredibly intimate record of nylon-string guitar and comforting singing speaks to the sorrow, worries, joys and anxieties that the now-middle-aged singer faces through his daily routine, the things that go through his head as he lives out his life. With Among the Leaves, Sun Kil Moon has crafted the rare, intimate record which communicates completely honest humanity and emotion that everyone in the world experiences, and allows us all to connect and share something completely real thanks to Kozelek's flawless, human, and beautiful acoustic songs.
Top tracks: Sunshine In Chicago; Elaine
Listen.Mark Kozelek has been a fairly noteworthy presence in the indie music scene for over 23 years now, first rising to fame with his band Red House Painters before splitting off to work on Sun Kil Moon. For an artist so dedicated to keeping things simple and consistent, the subtle changes on his fifth album under that moniker, Among the Leaves, are quite surprising in the best way. Giving up his normal formula of nine-minute meandering slowcore tunes for a work consisting instead of several shorter, simple folk tunes has worked beautifully, allowing for an album which feels like a series of snapshots of Kozelek's life. The incredibly intimate record of nylon-string guitar and comforting singing speaks to the sorrow, worries, joys and anxieties that the now-middle-aged singer faces through his daily routine, the things that go through his head as he lives out his life. With Among the Leaves, Sun Kil Moon has crafted the rare, intimate record which communicates completely honest humanity and emotion that everyone in the world experiences, and allows us all to connect and share something completely real thanks to Kozelek's flawless, human, and beautiful acoustic songs.
Top tracks: Sunshine In Chicago; Elaine
34. Zhaoze - '1911'
Genre: Post-Rock
Country of Origin: China
I'm fudging the rules a little and considering this a 2012 album, even though it was technically released on December 31 2011, because fuck you it's incredible and needs to be on this list. On 1911, Zhaoze have made one of the most intensely emotive post-rock albums of the year, and that's a remarkable thing for such an unknown group to do in a genre that is stagnating as thoroughly as post-rock is. The Chinese group combine tremolo-picked guitars, thick bass, slow drums, beautiful twinkling keys, and the traditional guqin to make powerful, otherworldly music which delves deep into human emotion. Zhaoze's ability to work immense climaxes, breathtaking melodies, and ferocious emotional depth into their long-form combination of traditional Chinese instrumentation and all of the post-rock mainstays is both extremely impressive and even more effective. 1911 is one of the most viscerally unique and moving pure post-rock albums to come out in a long time, and it's near impossible to not be in awe of what it accomplishes within the first minutes--the album is simply a masterpiece of beauty and emotion.
Top tracks: 1911第二回 2nd mov.; 1911第四回 4th mov.
Listen.
I'm fudging the rules a little and considering this a 2012 album, even though it was technically released on December 31 2011, because fuck you it's incredible and needs to be on this list. On 1911, Zhaoze have made one of the most intensely emotive post-rock albums of the year, and that's a remarkable thing for such an unknown group to do in a genre that is stagnating as thoroughly as post-rock is. The Chinese group combine tremolo-picked guitars, thick bass, slow drums, beautiful twinkling keys, and the traditional guqin to make powerful, otherworldly music which delves deep into human emotion. Zhaoze's ability to work immense climaxes, breathtaking melodies, and ferocious emotional depth into their long-form combination of traditional Chinese instrumentation and all of the post-rock mainstays is both extremely impressive and even more effective. 1911 is one of the most viscerally unique and moving pure post-rock albums to come out in a long time, and it's near impossible to not be in awe of what it accomplishes within the first minutes--the album is simply a masterpiece of beauty and emotion.
Top tracks: 1911第二回 2nd mov.; 1911第四回 4th mov.
Listen.
33. Amenra - 'Mass V'
Genre: Post-Metal
Country of Origin: Belgium
Amenra are one of those bands who somehow slipped through the cracks and I only just recently discovered, but man do they rule. On their latest full-length, the Belgian post-metal group deliver pretty much exactly what you'd expect from the title and cover art--drawn-out, long, beautiful, heavy and huge slabs of thick guitars, shrieked vocals, slow drums, and monstrous bass. They do a lot of things differently, focusing more on epic crescendos and bleak atmosphere than on melodic ambience and guitar tone, and their vocals are more akin to a skramz band than to the gruff howls of genre mainstays like Neurosis and Isis, but these things just help Amenra to stand out from the crowd. The fact is, this is a band with an utter mastery of post-metal, and their ability to create atmosphere and build up to huge climaxes is incredible. If you like slow, emotive raw music that can give you chills with how massive its crescendos are, then let me tell you, Mass V is simply the album for you. A masterpiece through and through, not one second of time is wasted in building a thoroughly awe-inspiring work of enormous proportions.
Top tracks: A Mon Ame; Nowena
32. Laurel Halo - 'Quarantine'
Genre: Avant-Garde Electronic/Witch House/Experimental Dreampop
Country of Origin: USA
Quarantine is one of the strangest albums I've heard all year. At first glance, it almost feels like it's just a quirky underground pop album, but it quickly spirals out of control beyond that, with Laurel's strange vocals looping and intoning over swirling synths and largely beatless soundscapes. Without the vocals to throw you off, this would practically be an ambient electronic album, with soft, minimal synths slowly moving across the record, but Laurel Halo's warm voice always inevitably comes in to guide things down her specific, determined path, reminding us that this album is both intentional in every aspect and unlike anything else out there. Quarantine is one of my most-listened records of 2012 simply because I've spent so much time trying to understand it, figure out what it was trying to do and how on earth it sounded so damn cool, but in the end I realized that beneath all the impossible-to-decipher layers of meaning and effects, this is simply a damn good album that anyone with an ear for the bizarre should check out immediately.
Top tracks: Thaw; MK Ultra
31. Crystal Castles - 'Crystal Castles'
Genre: Gothic Future Pop/Experimental Dark Electronic
Country of Origin: Canada
A new Crystal Castles album is pretty much always a big deal. The duo of Ethan Kath and Alice Glass have been on the forefront of intense, emotive electronic music for quite a good few years now, slowly morphing their style over the years while keeping a unified, dark aesthetic underpinning it all. For their third self-titled album, Crystal Castles have toned down the fast-paced energy, shouting and vicious intensity of their earlier works and have instead begun to work in a more subtle realm. The group's 2012 album may, in fact, be their darkest yet, thanks to the increased attention on an evil, slowed-down atmosphere which reeks of foreboding. Instead of going straight for the throat with shouts of exasperation and frantic beats, Crystal Castles are now calmly building atmosphere, painting an image for the listeners, letting us visualize the dark world that their music is set in rather than simply shoving it in our face, and although it may make their latest album less immediate, for my money, the group is all the more effective for it, and have shown that they have even more immense tricks up their sleeve than we give them credit for. Crystal Castles is a fantastic album, and an exciting new chapter in the duo's fantastic repertoire.
Top tracks: Plague; Kerosene
Listen.
30. Heccra - 'White Eagle'
Genre: Lo-Fi Experimental Post-Hardcore
Country of Origin: USA
Man, I have no idea where Heccra came from, but their debut album is awesome. Ridiculously short and to the point, White Eagle is one of the most interesting albums to come out of the screamo/post-hardcore genre in a long time. With overbearing drums machines, intensely warped and disorienting vocals, blisteringly-fast song structure and twinkly guitars, this is just a seriously cool album. Despite the unrelenting pace and extremely quick runtime, White Eagle doesn't feel too short or rushed, instead feeling like an intense burst of creativity, intensity, and genuine emotion. The record's vicious attitude and over-the-top production values may turn some listeners away, but this is the kind of unique art which I genuinely believe anyone in the market for something totally new and different should absolutely give a listen to. This is a fantastic album, and a fantastic start for one of the most original bands I've heard.Top tracks: VHS Porn; A.M.
Listen.
29. The xx - 'Coexist'
Genre: Downtempo/Dreampop
Country of Origin: England
I know I'm going to get a lot of flack for this, but I could never really get into The xx's debut album. I still don't know why, it just never really excited or engrossed me, and I found it difficult to truly enjoy. That said, I love Coexist. I mean, I really, really love it. That seems to be the opposite of everyone else's opinion of the two albums, but I don't really care, because man, Coexist is fucking amazing. The now-trio's sophomore record is everything I wanted them to make from the start, a mix of soft clean guitar lines, sleepy male and female vocals, and simple, downtempo beats come together to make an atmospheric and beautiful album of simple but memorable songs. Almost every song on this album stands on its own as a wonderful and moving piece of music, and the band's ability to take simple dreamlike songs and turn them into bedtime anthems of longing and lack of fulfillment is something to be praised and remembered. Coexist has a subtle ebb and flow to it, but the degrees of magnitude are relative, as this is a very minimal, stylized, and stripped-down album which accomplishes its point less through dramatic flourishes and more through the little things that make each song perfect. And that's what it comes down to, honestly, is that this is an album about perfection. It's an expression of desire and dreams, and the need to bring those two together and hope for perfection.
Top tracks: Angels; Missing
Listen.I know I'm going to get a lot of flack for this, but I could never really get into The xx's debut album. I still don't know why, it just never really excited or engrossed me, and I found it difficult to truly enjoy. That said, I love Coexist. I mean, I really, really love it. That seems to be the opposite of everyone else's opinion of the two albums, but I don't really care, because man, Coexist is fucking amazing. The now-trio's sophomore record is everything I wanted them to make from the start, a mix of soft clean guitar lines, sleepy male and female vocals, and simple, downtempo beats come together to make an atmospheric and beautiful album of simple but memorable songs. Almost every song on this album stands on its own as a wonderful and moving piece of music, and the band's ability to take simple dreamlike songs and turn them into bedtime anthems of longing and lack of fulfillment is something to be praised and remembered. Coexist has a subtle ebb and flow to it, but the degrees of magnitude are relative, as this is a very minimal, stylized, and stripped-down album which accomplishes its point less through dramatic flourishes and more through the little things that make each song perfect. And that's what it comes down to, honestly, is that this is an album about perfection. It's an expression of desire and dreams, and the need to bring those two together and hope for perfection.
Top tracks: Angels; Missing
28. miss A - 'Touch'
Genre: K-Pop
Country of Origin: South Korea
There were so many absolutely fantastic kpop releases this year that I could probably fill more than half this list with them, but I have a feeling that wouldn't exactly help my credibility in the underground music scene. That said, miss A, a quartet who've stayed relatively on the down-low during their first two years, finally turned up the heart in 2012 and completely kicked ass with the release of their mini-album Touch. The five songs (and one remix) on display here really run the gamut of styles, from the creepy groove of the title track to the all-out bombast of Lips, the youthful excitement of Rock n Rule and the joyous anger of No Mercy to the dark pop intensity of Over U, the entirety of Touch's all-too-short runtime is exciting and interesting. The production is absolutely stunning and miss A's voices are in top form, however the melodies and grooves are where this record really stands out, and they're simply fantastic. Each song stands on its own as a perfectly crafted, memorable work of pop music, and it's not hard to see why the group are finally starting to blow up after releasing such a monster of an album.
Top tracks: Lips; No Mercy
Listen.There were so many absolutely fantastic kpop releases this year that I could probably fill more than half this list with them, but I have a feeling that wouldn't exactly help my credibility in the underground music scene. That said, miss A, a quartet who've stayed relatively on the down-low during their first two years, finally turned up the heart in 2012 and completely kicked ass with the release of their mini-album Touch. The five songs (and one remix) on display here really run the gamut of styles, from the creepy groove of the title track to the all-out bombast of Lips, the youthful excitement of Rock n Rule and the joyous anger of No Mercy to the dark pop intensity of Over U, the entirety of Touch's all-too-short runtime is exciting and interesting. The production is absolutely stunning and miss A's voices are in top form, however the melodies and grooves are where this record really stands out, and they're simply fantastic. Each song stands on its own as a perfectly crafted, memorable work of pop music, and it's not hard to see why the group are finally starting to blow up after releasing such a monster of an album.
Top tracks: Lips; No Mercy
27. Trust - 'TRST'
Genre: Dark Electronic/Gothic Future Pop
Country of Origin: Canada
There's a lot to be made of Trust's debut full-length, but honestly not a whole lot to say about it. This is an album which mixes the dark, gothic flair for the dramatic of Crystal Castles with more trance-oriented beat structure and bizarre, creepy vocals to create a long, eerie, and danceable record of fantastic dark-electro. TRST is the kind of record that sets a tone from the first second and pretty much simply builds off of that, pulsating new melodies and thick basslines in and out of life, slowly pulling new facets of itself out of the woodwork and showing what it's really there for. And this, honestly, is what makes TRST such a special album. It starts off with a mission, and it spends every moment working more and more towards that goal, creating mood, atmosphere, melody, beat, everything that you want out of dark electronic music, and swirling it together into one incredible, daring mass of thick, weighty power. If this is how Trust are introducing themselves to the world, I can't wait to see what comes next.
Top tracks: Shoom; The Last Dregs
Listen.
26. Mount Eerie - 'Clear Moon'
Genre: Experimental Lo-Fi Folk
Country of Origin: USA
I've been struggling to make sense of Clear Moon since it came out, and it's still so beyond me, it seems. After putting an end to indie champions The Microphones and moving on to his more experimental-minded project Mount Eerie, Phil Elverum has churned out a series of mindblowing twisted folk albums, taking cues from everything from doom and black metal to more straightforward ambient and acoustic music. Given all that, Clear Moon is probably the most direct and accessible album that Elverum has released under his Mount Eerie moniker, and while it's still strongly experimental, he keeps the experimentation more in the textures and form than in the genre and style, which is an interesting twist, given what this man tends to do with his music. However, just because it's easier to digest does not mean that Clear Moon is lacking in any way. In fact, this album is everything a Mount Eerie album should be and then some, with absolutely beautiful, heartbreaking ambient-folk songs filled with aching vocals, giant echoing caverns of sound, and tragic texturing. Given that though, this is still accessible in relation to Mount Eerie's normal work, as the record still pulls in huge swaths of powerful noise, breathtaking female vocals, straight drone-doom guitars, and dark folk everywhere you look. Yes, Phil Elverum may be a fan of dense and intense music, and has never been particularly easy to digest, but if there has ever been a time to get into his work as Mount Eerie, that time is now, because Clear Moon is immensely epic and moving beyond belief, and one of the most impressive albums of the year.
Top tracks: The Place I Live; Clear Moon
Posts
is there anyway we can get new links for The Gaslight Anthem and Purity Ring. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI just double-checked, and both of those links are working for me. The titles may look like gibberish, but that's because I uploaded myself and didn't want them to get deleted (Purity Ring in particular tends to get taken down very quickly). Give it another shot, and let me know if it's still messed up?
ReplyDeletewow such a great and distinct list. I'll check out a few soon. Glad to see more k-pop and rock/eletronic music lovers out there.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely, thanks for the compliment! Last part is on its way in the next couple days too. I had to hold myself back from absolutely filling the list with kpop cuz I knew that wouldn't really be fair hah
ReplyDeleteErm.. Kayo Dot's Gamma Knife is already available to stream for free, so there's not much point uploading it. http://kayodot.bandcamp.com/album/gamma-knife
ReplyDeleteI focus on downloads instead of streams here, so the only bandcamps I listed are those that offer a free download. But yeah, I'm aware of that, Toby Driver is awesome and anyone here who digs his work should seriously go to that link ^^^^^ and go support him, Gamma Knife was one of the few digital downloads that I donated a solid amount of money for (I tend to try to save my money for purchasing vinyl to support artists) because Kayo just deserve every cent, seriously.
ReplyDelete