For me, this has been one of the best years for music since at least 2009. An onslaught of nostalgic indie, Americana, and straight-up rippers kept coming all year long. Narrowing it down to just 15 (plus some honorable mentions) felt like the bare minimum, even though I really wanted the neatness of a top 10. The order could change depending on the day—and probably already has since I wrote this.
Kim Gordon – The Collective This record was an obvious number one. Seeing one of her recent live shows only cemented its spot at the top. Refreshing and powerful, it’s an art-rock album of the highest order.
Chime School – The Boy Who Ran the Paisley Hotel A fantastic record and probably the best representation of the current jangle-pop resurgence coming out of the Bay Area.
Christopher Owens – I Wanna Run Barefoot Through Your Hair Speaking of the Bay Area, this Christopher Owens record was a welcome throwback to his work in SF legends Girls and is an absolute must-listen.
Friko – Where We’ve Been, Where We Go from Here One of the best indie rock records I’ve heard in a long time. I hear echoes of all sorts of bands in it—Arcade Fire, Dinosaur Jr., Broken Social Scene, and more. But what strikes me most is how grounded it is in a contemporary, youthful perspective. It’s not just a throwback; it’s a truly unique work.
Elias Ronnenfelt – Heavy Glory Heavy Glory is one of those perfect “frontman-goes-solo” albums. It takes elements from Iceage’s previous band work and expands them to exciting new places. I hear a lot of Westerberg in this, which automatically makes me love it.
Jessica Pratt – Here in the Pitch She just keeps getting better with every release. Timeless baroque-folk songs, sung by one of my favorite voices in contemporary music. The arrangements are deep and made for headphones.
Real Estate – Daniel Real Estate continues to release great albums. Each one introduces a few subtle new colors to the palette, and it always hits right.
Wonder Women of Country – Willis, Carper, Leigh A perfect collection of songs from a trio of true masters. They’re all bringing a little something to the table in their writing and delivery, creating a wonderful tapestry of timeless American music.
Thurston Moore – Flow Critical Lucidity An intriguing and rewarding set of songs, replete with guitar explorations and nuanced arrangements. Everything you want from a Thurston record.
Nix & The Nothings – Utterly Useless A relentless slab of garage rock bangers from Norway. Nix has a truly sick voice that carries the album to a higher level than many of his peers.
The Intelligence – Now, Squirm! Now, Squirm! finds mastermind Lars Finberg pushing beyond the snarling world of his ripping discography. Here, he discovers a new one of kaleidoscopic art-pop. It’s heady, pleasing, and ultimately highly successful.
Andrew Victor – There Are Hummingbirds A standout collection of pastoral folk songs. It’s astonishing to me how Andrew manages to deftly balance so many whimsical moments with so many hard-earned truths without it ever feeling ham-fisted.
Gillian Welch & David Rawlings – Woodland Another modern classic from one of the most beloved duos of our time. This one introduces some smooth canyon soft-rock textures into the mix. There are moments that don’t sound far off from AM gold like The Carpenters, and it’s a beautiful backdrop for their exquisite talents.
Julian Taylor – Pathways Masterfully constructed songs paired with crystal-clear production from the Ontario songsmith. It’s not flashy, but it’s one of the most captivating releases of the year.
The Sheaves – A Salve for Institution This album does the post-punk thing with the filth, snarl, and menace that it deserves. There is an unhinged quality to this album that scares me. Rock ‘n’ roll is supposed to be scary. The Sheaves get it.
Honorable Mentions:
- Six Organs of Admittance – Time Is Glass
- Christy Costello – From the Dark
- Dale Crover – Glosolalia
- Beings – There Is a Garden
- J Mascis – What Do We Do Now
