Yeah, I know, year-end lists are whatever. As always, the numbering is largely arbitrary. And there are inevitably a handful of great records I discover right at the November deadline (which is too early, by the way) or after - namely, there are a whole bunch of hip-hop mixtapes I managed to miss and a few sweet drone records that I've been digging on lately. Regardless, these are all albums I thought were pretty damn great. They come heartily recommended.
25. Stalley - Lincoln Way Nights (Intelligent Trunk Music)
Backpack-throwback type stuff from Rick Ross's new signee. Smart and smooth.
24. Low - C'mon
Latest album from slowcore heroes was lean and mean.
23. Gillian Welch - The Harrow and the Harvest
Solid stuff from Ms. Welch and longtime compatriot Dave Rawlings.
22. Kate Bush - 50 Words for Snow
Glad I heard this one in time. Not an everyday listen, but remarkably poignant.
21. Hella - Tripper
Fast and furious, the best straight up rock album of the year.
20. Elzhi - Elmatic
Detroit dude tackles Illmatic 'cause his balls are apparently huge.
19. Cass McCombs - Wit's End
Slow and deliberate, canny and cold.
18. Anna Calvi - s/t
British babe plays a mean guitar, Lynchian production the cherry on top.
17. KWJAZ - s/t
Meandering Nyquil-psych (did I just coin that?) outta San Francisco. Deceptively captivating.
16. Fabio Orsi - Stand Before Me, Oh My Soul
Italy's finest guitar/drums drone.
15. The Field - Looping State of Mind
Newest record from Lionel Richie-sampling minimal techno group was their best yet.
14. Amen Dunes - Through Donkey Jaw
Some of the drowsiest and yet most elevating bedroom pop, hazy and hard to resist.
13. Curren$y - Weekend at Burnie's
This guy put out a billion tapes this year. This is one of the best.
12. Colin Stetson - New History Warfare Vol. 2: Judges
Insane sax workouts but less freakout than you'd expect. Sparse and frantic.
11. Wye Oak - Civilian
Beautiful songs, beautiful production. Gorgeous.
10. James Blake - s/t
You know.
09. Big K.R.I.T. - Return of 4eva
Best southern rap album in a long time. 'Kast-repping but future-focused.
08. Crooked Fingers - Breaks in the Armor
Terrific new album from Bachmann and Liz Durrett, the best sad-sack musical pairing since Molina and Johnson.
07. The War on Drugs - Slave Ambient
Kurt Vile's former band put out a far better album than he did this year.
06. Shabazz Palaces - Black Up
Forward-thinking hip-hop from ex-Digable Planets MC.
05. Thurston Moore - Demolished Thoughts
Sweeping chamber pop from the king of noise. Who knew?
04. Oneohtrix Point Never - Replica
Synth fella puts out a glitchy sample-based record that's totally catchy in spite of itself.
03. Tim Hecker - Ravedeath, 1972
Breathtaking organ/laptop drone about falling pianos and the demise of electronic music.
02. Bill Callahan - Apocalypse
Some of Callahan's simplest and most inspiring work yet. Seeing him live for the first time this year helped propel this one up to the two slot.
01. Grouper - A I A
Simply amazing. Portland's enigmatic Liz Harris put out two records (Dream Loss and Alien Observer) meant to be consumed as one; the set contains some of the most affecting, meditative music I've ever heard. Not only a grower; this one blossoms.
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