1
Pup - Pup
(Toronto)
I'm semi-ashamed to say that this album sat practically dormant on my computer from October of last year, when it was first self-released by the band, until their name started coming up again early this year. When I gave it another shot I quickly saw why this band was picking up speed. And then I saw them play... my goodness, these boys are the best thing shredding Toronto airspace (and now all over North America). Go to a gig, excited as you are you'll never jump as high as their pint-sized singer who packs a mean growl.
I'm semi-ashamed to say that this album sat practically dormant on my computer from October of last year, when it was first self-released by the band, until their name started coming up again early this year. When I gave it another shot I quickly saw why this band was picking up speed. And then I saw them play... my goodness, these boys are the best thing shredding Toronto airspace (and now all over North America). Go to a gig, excited as you are you'll never jump as high as their pint-sized singer who packs a mean growl.
2
Hey Rosetta! - Second Sight
(St.John's)
A band that I've loved since the first time I heard them it would seem natural that this new album would be a favourite. However I was skeptical to begin with and not sold on it with the first, second and even third listen. Then something started to click - perhaps it's a little more subtle than previous efforts but that just means there's even more beauty to be revealed. Each time it just grows that much closer to my heart. When Harriet storms in and blows away the melancholy of Alcatraz it's a warm spring breeze every time.
A band that I've loved since the first time I heard them it would seem natural that this new album would be a favourite. However I was skeptical to begin with and not sold on it with the first, second and even third listen. Then something started to click - perhaps it's a little more subtle than previous efforts but that just means there's even more beauty to be revealed. Each time it just grows that much closer to my heart. When Harriet storms in and blows away the melancholy of Alcatraz it's a warm spring breeze every time.
3
Owen Pallett - In Conflict
(Toronto/Montreal)
See what I wrote about Hey Rosetta? It was a very similar case with this record as again the artist has grown to insert just as much or more into their music but having it more nuanced such that it continues to reveal itself over a more sustained period of time. Once it clicked it was hard not to just keep spinning.
See what I wrote about Hey Rosetta? It was a very similar case with this record as again the artist has grown to insert just as much or more into their music but having it more nuanced such that it continues to reveal itself over a more sustained period of time. Once it clicked it was hard not to just keep spinning.
Against Me - Transgender Dysphoria Blues
(Florida)
One could be forgiven for thinking that all the hype around this album had to do with the primary subject matter of Transgender Dysphoria Blues - I did at first. Then I played this raw album and I played it again and again. Yes, the lyrics are striking and in many cases they bare it all but the music is aggressive and up to par.
5
Death From Above 1979 - The Physical World
One could be forgiven for thinking that all the hype around this album had to do with the primary subject matter of Transgender Dysphoria Blues - I did at first. Then I played this raw album and I played it again and again. Yes, the lyrics are striking and in many cases they bare it all but the music is aggressive and up to par.
5
Death From Above 1979 - The Physical World
(Toronto)
A long time coming! Now that can be a bad thing with anticipation and expectations and the like but not in this case. For the sake of transparency, I heard the whole thing all of twice before seeing it performed live in a badass free show in Toronto and that kickstarted my growing affection for this record. It's more polished than Woman/Machine and at times more dance/pop (whatever you want to call it) as many noted with lead single Trainwreck. Some use this as a criticism but not this amateur music blogger. I wish they could just come play it live every time instead of having to crank the record.
6
Beck - Morning Phase
A long time coming! Now that can be a bad thing with anticipation and expectations and the like but not in this case. For the sake of transparency, I heard the whole thing all of twice before seeing it performed live in a badass free show in Toronto and that kickstarted my growing affection for this record. It's more polished than Woman/Machine and at times more dance/pop (whatever you want to call it) as many noted with lead single Trainwreck. Some use this as a criticism but not this amateur music blogger. I wish they could just come play it live every time instead of having to crank the record.
6
Beck - Morning Phase
(USA)
Sea Change has long been a staple of mine - any time I need to shut out the world, relax and/or get some sleep it has been a beautiful salve to the chaos around. Now a dozen years later, a Beck-described sister record arrives and it's gorgeous along the same scale. Lush and lovely, Mr. Hansen shows his qualifications in a multitude of genres and styles. I wouldn't object to the term genius.
7
Lowell - We Loved Her Dearly
Sea Change has long been a staple of mine - any time I need to shut out the world, relax and/or get some sleep it has been a beautiful salve to the chaos around. Now a dozen years later, a Beck-described sister record arrives and it's gorgeous along the same scale. Lush and lovely, Mr. Hansen shows his qualifications in a multitude of genres and styles. I wouldn't object to the term genius.
7
Lowell - We Loved Her Dearly
(Toronto)
Seeing her play live before knowing she existed - the beauty of a good Basement Revue - I was immediately struck by the smart, electro-pop mixing with her dynamic voice. "I like this" I clearly thought, against the consensus of other friends. In fact, I saw her again at Field Trip and then Supercrawl before hearing more than the odd single on the radio (okay, by the time Supercrawl hit The Bells was an Indie 88 staple). When the album finally dropped I was familiar with a solid number of the tunes and the rest showed her musical background as she is able to craft a fully formed disc that encompasses many of her strengths, ranging from pure pop to earnest and quieter numbers. I'm just confused as to why she isn't getting the press that Grimes did. So much promise here!
Seeing her play live before knowing she existed - the beauty of a good Basement Revue - I was immediately struck by the smart, electro-pop mixing with her dynamic voice. "I like this" I clearly thought, against the consensus of other friends. In fact, I saw her again at Field Trip and then Supercrawl before hearing more than the odd single on the radio (okay, by the time Supercrawl hit The Bells was an Indie 88 staple). When the album finally dropped I was familiar with a solid number of the tunes and the rest showed her musical background as she is able to craft a fully formed disc that encompasses many of her strengths, ranging from pure pop to earnest and quieter numbers. I'm just confused as to why she isn't getting the press that Grimes did. So much promise here!
8
Reuben and the Dark - Funeral Sky
(Alberta)
The guitars and the voices are swell and do swell from this Albertan group. Like a fine stout, it is very mature and full-bodied which is even more impressive considering it is their debut album.
9
Cloud Nothings - Here and Nowhere Else
(Cleveland)
For the longest time I knew nothing about the Nothings which ordinarily pushes an album right out of my Recently Added playlist and into the nether-regions of my music catalog yet for some reason I kept returning to this one instinctively. It hits hard and reverberates for a long time to come.
10
How To Dress Well - What Is This Heart?
(USA)
"Too soon" I thought with the release of this album. Why? Because I was still digging Total Loss from 2012 without realizing enough time had passed to make another gorgeous full-length and therefore on the first few listens I unfairly discredited it, only to come back around a couple months later. Perhaps another reason for this is that some of the strongest songs are tucked nearer the end as deeper cuts, Precious Love and Childhood Faith in Love at track 8 and 9 respectively.
Honourable Mention
Damien Rice - My Favourite Faded Fantasy
(Ireland)
I bet that had this been released earlier in the year it would have earned an actual number. Years in the making, Damien has poured his heart and musical genius into this tender and unencumbered release. The emotion and beauty shine play after play.
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