I agree. Post what you want! I think I'm the only mod that shows up every once in a while.
I loved everything about this. Thanks for sharing!
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Live performance from their 2024 album Up On Gravity Hill
Well that was delightful. Although I rarely listen to ska, I have often thought about how much fun it must be to be in a ska band
I saw this one the other day. To me it seems silly to make a ranking list for something this expansive. But I'm sure it gets more clicks than if they were to name the article "300 great albums in no particular order"
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Yard Act performing a song off of one of my favorite albums this year on Later... With Jools Holland
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New album Frog in Boiling Water is great by the way!
Listen to "Hovvdy" by Hovvdy on any music platform - Free smart music links by Songwhip
New album from Austin, Texas slowcore duo Hovvdy. I love these guys. They're like comfort food for me.
Love this band. The new album Romance is set to release on August 23rd!
It sounds like we had the exact same day! I listened to those 3 this morning
Everything she does is so much fun! And Mac as the ice cream man? Awesome
Listen to "Tigers Blood" by Waxahatchee on any music platform - Free smart music links by Songwhip
Waxahatchee is back with another great collection of songs similar to her 2020 album Saint Cloud. If you liked that one then you'll like this one.
Listen to "Where’s My Utopia?" by Yard Act on any music platform - Free smart music links by Songwhip
This album is a pleasant surprise for me! Their debut a few years ago was basic post-punk, which I liked, but it wasn't really special. This album takes that post-punk foundation and throws a bunch of other stuff at it and it works for me. Some really interesting stuff going on here. Check it out!
Listen to "Loss Of Life" by MGMT on any music platform - Free smart music links by Songwhip
I've liked everything MGMT has done in their career so far and I really appreciate that they do what they want despite the success of their first album.
But my initial impression of this album is that nothing really caught my ear and it's overall unexciting.
However I'll definitely give this a few more listens before completely writing it off since I have trust in these artists and perhaps it's more of a slow burn for me that I'll appreciate later.
Excellent choice. One of my favorites from them
Listen to "Peacemaker" by Vera Sola on any music platform - Free smart music links by Songwhip
I'm enjoying this new album from Vera Sola. It's something a little different for me. Kind of has a classic country western/folk feel. But with a lot of cool orchestration and intense moody vocal delivery.
Fun fact: Vera Sola is actor Dan Aykroyd's daughter.
Listen to "Wall Of Eyes" by The Smile, Wall Of Eyes on any music platform - Free smart music links by Songwhip
Listen to "Little Rope" by Sleater-Kinney on any music platform - Free smart music links by Songwhip
Listen to "Up and Comer" by SPRINTS on any music platform - Free smart music links by Songwhip
Up and Comer is from Irish band SPRINTS' debut album which just came out a week ago. Also the first 2024 song to get stuck in my head! Enjoy!
I'm guessing Meredith Festival based on some quick googling. That looks like a cool venue. Sounds like an awesome time
Very cool. I bet it will be worth it regardless of the weather
Listen to "Big Rig" by Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs on any music platform - Free smart music links by Songwhip
I love these guys when I'm in the mood for something heavier. This is from their album Land of Sleeper released way back at the beginning of the year.
Yeah I assumed that but I figured I'd provide information instead for anyone checking out this thread
Lol don't forget The Silver Cord! That one is actually my favorite thing they did this year. That's the beauty of King Gizz. They are so prolific that there's something for everyone to enjoy!
If you care about my opinion here are my thoughts on some of my favorites from this list. I'd love to hear some other opinions too!
- PJ Harvey: I Inside The Old Year Dying
I think most of us know PJ Harvey. This is some of her best work in my opinion.
- Titanic: Vidrio
This is a collaboration between cellist Mabe Fratti and guitarist Hector Tosta. I'm a fan of anything Fratti has been involved with. It falls somewhere in between experimental, ambient, jazz, and pop.
- Young Fathers: Heavy Heavy
Almost genreless energy? Excellent album. One of my favorite albums this year. Check out their recent KEXP session.
- Water From Your Eyes: Everyone’s Crushed
One of the more innovative groups doing stuff right now. Calling it indie pop/rock is an understatement.
- Reverend Kristin Michael Hayter: SAVED!
She changed her name and ditched the metal. But maintained the intensity. It's religious trauma: the album.
- billy woods & Kenny Segal: Maps
Likely my favorite hip hop record this year from underground rapper billy woods. It's dark and thoughtful and Kenny Segal's production is excellent.
- Kara Jackson: Why Does the Earth Give Us People to Love?
Really excellent folk album. Great songwriting and lyricism.
- Bully: Lucky For You
Nothing groundbreaking here. Just some good fuzzy indie pop/rock.
- Mitski: The Land is Inhospitable and So Are We
So good that it made it to the album club discussion!
- Sufjan Stevens: Javelin
For fans of Carrie & Lowell style Sufjan.
- Wednesday: Rat Saw God
I'm not surprised to see this one at number 1. It's excellent country tinged noisy alternative rock.
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I love keeping up with new music. So I love reading these lists this time of year to see other opinions about albums I loved and maybe discover a few more that I missed.
The thumbnail isn't the best representation of the band. My understanding is the main band is the 3 male vocalists. The 2 female vocalists, drummer, and guitarist are part of the touring band.
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Young Fathers released one of my favorite albums this year titled Heavy Heavy. They were recently on KEXP performing a few tracks from this album. Check it out! And below is the full performance including 3 more tracks and an interview if you want more. Enjoy!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yHfko6Kz6k
Hmm I also got Burlington, USA on mine!
Give the album A Crow Looked at Me by Mount Eerie a listen if you haven't heard it yet.
I forgot how good this album is. This was the album that introduced me to this band and ever since then I've been a fan. For me, Big Thief is one of the best indie/alternative acts of the last decade.
This whole album kept my attention when I gave it a listen recently. But I'll give a special mention to the first three tracks. I love the more atmospheric and moody sound of Contact and UFOF. They are both great songs that set the mood for the album and let you know what's to come. And then I love Cattails. I'm not sure it fits with the entire album since it is a bit catchier and more upbeat but it's a great song and I find myself humming that one to myself a lot.
I'm not going to give specific examples but one thing I love about this band which i have noticed on a handful of songs is that they often use unexpected rhythms and cadences to keep things sounding fresh and interesting. Like sometimes they sound like they're in a weird time signature but then I start counting and realized it's just a cool layering of different 4/4 rhythms.
Also special mention to Adrianne Lenker. I'm not sure how much credit she should get for Big Thief's success but her solo stuff is also excellent.
Listen to "U.F.O.F" by Big Thief on any music platform - Free smart music links by Songwhip
This week we have the 3rd album from Big Thief, U.F.O.F. The 1st of two albums that they released in 2019.
Give this album a fresh listen! Then tell us your favorite song or tell us what you like or don't like about the album. Or talk about the first time you heard it or about a memory it triggers for you. Or just anything you want about the album or band. This will stay pinned for a couple days.
And then please give some suggestions for what albums we should discuss in the future!
Upcoming
12/5 - Massive Attack - Mezzanine (1998)
12/12 - TBD
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Great energy on this performance. I especially like the drums on this song.
Listen to "Back to Moon Beach" by Kurt Vile on any music platform - Free smart music links by Songwhip
I just recently became a fan of this band when I got tickets to The National's homecoming festival a few months ago. They were the 2nd name on the billing but I had never really given them a listen. So I listened to all of their stuff before the show. This album stuck with me the most. Just great songwriting and a great vibe from front to back. And I love/hate the "oohooh ooh ooh ooh ooh" part of cut your hair lol.
Then when i saw them perform live they introduced themselves as the Pavement band and that stuck with me haha. They said it could be their last show ever. Their words, not mine. Sorry if that's news to you... So I got in on the fandom just in time! I swear half of the people at that show were bigger Pavement fans than The National fans. I learned that they have quite the cult following. And I can totally see why. It was an awesome show. Bob Nastanovich was a wild man running all over the place and a complete contrast to Stephen Malkmus. At one point Bob ran out into the crowd and Stephen remarked that it looked fun but he didn't want to catch MRSA lol. On top of the antics and banter their musicianship was really good too. I'm glad I got to see these guys and become a fan before they called it quits for good.
Listen to "Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain" by Pavement on any music platform - Free smart music links by Songwhip
Welcome to album club week 8!
This week we have the 2nd album from the Pavement band, Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain, released in 1994.
Tell us your favorite song or tell us what you like or don't like about the album. Tell us about the first time you heard it or about a memory it triggers for you. This will stay pinned for a couple days so feel free to take your time and give it a fresh listen!
And then please give some suggestions for what albums we should discuss in the future!
Upcoming
11/21 - Big Thief - U.F.O.F. (2019)
11/28 - TBD
Very nice. The album is coming on January 26th. I'm really looking forward to it now
Listen to "A time to love, a time to die" by Amor Muere on any music platform - Free smart music links by Songwhip
If I can't post Mexican experimental ambient electro-jazz art-pop in alternativenation then where else can I post it?
This is the debut album from a collective of musicians including Mabe Fratti and if this scratches any sort of itch for you I highly recommend checking out anything that Mabe Fratti has been involved with.
Listen to "Fronzoli" by Psychedelic Porn Crumpets on any music platform - Free smart music links by Songwhip
High energy Australian psych rock group Psychedelic Porn Crumpets are back with their 6th album. Enjoy!