FUCK YEAH SECOND ANNUAL SEASONAL WRAP UP SHIT.
I didn’t stress too hard about order, and everything below is well, just my opinion.
As per my last article about the incoming baby I’m foregoing album’s of the year this year, so sorry folks, this is all you get.
25. “On The Northline” – Frontier Ruckus
I was damn excited when I heard Frontier Ruckus was doing another single (so excited I did a single review when it came out), and am absolutely excited for their album of the same name due out next year. The Michigan legends don’t disappoint with the winding and darkly catchy “On The Northline.”
24. “Evicted” – Wilco
I’m a bit of a late-comer to Wilco overall, and this years “Cousin” is the first release I’ve got to enjoy at the time it arrived. It’s lovely , and so is what I’d call the catchiest off the album, “Evicted.” I love the way the song subtly builds near the end, with some growing tension finally released from the last strum.
23. “The Last Rockabilly” – North Americans
North Americans create such lovely, gentle ambient folk. Even listening right now, I’m having a hard time writing, because I’m getting lost in the soft guitar and lazy melodies. I’m pretty sure “The Last Rockabilly” is what you hear when you’re in the woods and you’ve stumbled upon a magical kingdom.
22. “Haunted Mountain” – Jolie Holland
This is the year I re-discovered Jolie Holland, and it took me too long. There’s such a tremendous amount of soul in her vocals for this song, which are perfectly elevated by the constant boomy drums and dynamic weeping guitar.
21. “Haunted Mountain” – Buck Meek
Buck Meek is fucking unique. His perfect twang showing as much character as his oblique and explosive guitar solos. The quality of Buck Meek’s solo work shows that in certain ways, Big Thief is a supergroup.
20. “I’m Going To Let You Break My Heart” -Hollow Hand
Hollow Hand’s dreamy Americana feels like someone found some raw files from the 60’s or 70s and mixed them up to sound good to a modern audience. There’s a laid-back vibe to the whole song that borders on ethereal, while never sounding muddy or unclear.
19. “boyfriend” – Hannah Sandoz
I reviewed this fascinating and excellent bedroom eclectic album back in May. There’s quite a varied set of songs on there, but “boyfriend” might the most interesting with art-rock vibes (I mean like the instrument or a keyboard version of such, not the vague feeling) and chaotic construction. I feel like I’m constantly noticing new details on re-listens.
18. “Guitar Zero” – Chris Oliver
I don’t really do artist of the year, but Chris Oliver is my pick. “Guitar Zero” is a fascinating bedroom rock ride that balances the experimental with the catchy, and feels quirky and joyous, all tied together with Chris’s fantastic percussion work.
17. “Fate” – Blast Vegas
I reviewed these gentlemen’s album way back at the beginning of the year and truly loved it. Their track “Girls At The Pool” absolutely blew my socks off last year, and “Fate” doesn’t disappoint, while adding a riffy, almost Black Sabbath feel.
16. “Running In A Circle” – MiLES.
MiLES.’s novel and progressive approach to RnB makes for catchy and elevated songs like “Running In A Circle” that stick in your ears, and out from the pack. Really dig the saturated production and small changeups throughout the song.
15. “Cold Showers” – Tia Gordon
Fuck I love this bass, giving me some “Killing Me Softly” vibes, and the depth, just, fantastic. This song is perfect, simple, and addictive.
14. “Good Sex” – Palehound
If you look up cool in the dictionary you’ll find Palehound there. There is something so deeply satisfying about hearing someone having a good time through the mic. Also, this song makes me want to headbang.
13. “Ready Or Not” – Shakey Graves, Sierra Ferrell
I’ll never not be mad that I missed a chance to see Shakey Graves right around when he was getting popular. Dude is a crazy talent, and I loved his early era of raucous one man guitar-slinging. So I say with some weight, Shakey’s new stuff might be better? “Ready Or Not” is bedroom Americana from the studio, and both Graves and Ferrell are top notch in a duet.
12. “Girlia” – VELLOWS
Someday, some glorious day I’ll make the relatively reasonable drive to Detroit and see VELLOWS, (while maybe not soon since I got a kid on the way) but until then I will settle for their fantastic recorded work. “Girlia” has really great build and dynamics and feels exciting in a way that a lot of recent rock music falls flat on. As I get older I really feel like I’m drawn more and more to well constructed songs, and “Girlia” is immaculate.
11. “Like, Ya Know, Whatever” – the Antibuddies
the Antibuddies are my favorite punk band, and there’s a lot of good punk bands around here. “Like, Ya Know, Whatever” succeeds in what I always enjoy about the Antibuddies; it keeps if fun, and I’ve always thought that gets the point across better anyways. Did I mention the great riffs?
10. “taste of u” – King Isis
Bum bum da dum, bum bum da dum, ba da da dum, ba da da dum. I don’t know how to phonetically describe the riff from taste of u, but if you listen to it it will be stuck in your head too and you’ll probably get it. If you look up catchy in the dictionary you’ll find this song (you’ve got to have a new edition, take my word for it).
9. “Headlight” – Red Scarves
If you look up epic in the dictionary you find this song. There’s a pulsing drive to the bassline that pushes the song, and with the slanted and noisy guitars gives it this distorted western feel that is, surprisingly and satisfyingly heavy. Red Scarves are someone you really ought to be listening to.
8. “Bisque” – The Quirk
If you look up passionate in the dictionary you find this song. Speaking of dark westerns, I love the opening to this song. Well we’re doing similarities this song is also heavy, but less surprisingly. Anywhatsit I loved this song back in March, and still do now with its early emo energy and mathy riffing.
7. “Bare Bones” – Spencer Kilpatrick
Spencer Kilpatrick has released a lot of great music this year, and since I have to pick, this is my favorite. Kilpatrick’s brand of roots Americana feels down, dirty, and rock and roll and the horns in this track blow right into your soul.
6. “Here It Comes, There It Goes” – Howevever
“Phenakistoscope” is one of my favorite bedroom pop albums of all time, and once again since I have to pick; “Here It Comes, There It Goes” is my favorite off it. Its vibe is casual, but lyrically weighs on some far too relatable existential dread. I love the subtle bounciness to the song.
5. “Best Dad” – Mickey Sunshine
Grunge isn’t dead, “Best Dad” is proof. Also, fuck yeah drums, fuck yeah lyrics.
4. “My Truck” Talking Kind
Lowercase p punk in all of the best ways. I love everything about this song, and of all of the subtly funny songs I listened to this year, this is the funniest. You don’t have to be comedy music to use humor effectively. Short enough to listen to over, and over, and over, and over again.
3. “jim watson you’ve had it too good for too long” – Dart Trees
If you look up sophomorically charming in the dictionary you’ll find this song. This song gets really high merits for getting my wife to sing “guess I’ll take some comfort in Alexis Texas.”
2. “Vampire Empire” – Big Thief
I guess I share this pick with Barack Obama which I’m pretty ambivalent about; On one hand he’s a bit of a war criminal who enabled lots of drone murder, on the other hand he is pretty cool. Big Thief is way cooler though. “Vampire Empire” is kind of oblique and wacky and god damn does that make it great. The cowbell is great, Lenker’s vocals and lyrics are great, Meek’s guitar work is great. It’s just so fucking odd and catchy and excellent.
1. “Fresh Tattoo” – The Mountain Goats
If you look up my favorite band in the dictionary you’ll find The Mountain Goats. “Jenny From Thebes” is my favorite album from this year, and “All Hail West Texas” (which it’s a sequel to) is probably my favorite album of all time. I, may be biased. I love the way this song is built, and I especially love the rat-a-tat-tat of the early drums, and how they switch to a victorious groove in the last section. The whole song is just, triumphant, and life affirming, and it kind of makes me cry a little and sing in the shower. The Mountain Goats music makes me feel powerful and capable in a way few other bands ever achieve.
I recently released the biggest album I’ve ever done with Blood & Dirt and I sure would be happy if you checked it out. It’s noisy, big, surfy gothic country.
Dirt Witch Records 
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