Hey all,
So this year was really good for releases. It made me want to make a list of albums that stood out.
If you haven't listened to any of these yet, I highly recommend you do!
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10.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Push The Sky Away
I've loved The Dirty Three and Warren Ellis for many years now and because of this, have always had a soft spot for Nick Cave.
Warren's influence in Nick Cave's later albums is immediately recognisable, and this album is definitely one of his more mellow in recent years. A brilliant choice!
So this year was really good for releases. It made me want to make a list of albums that stood out.
If you haven't listened to any of these yet, I highly recommend you do!
_________________________________________________________________
10.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Push The Sky Away
I've loved The Dirty Three and Warren Ellis for many years now and because of this, have always had a soft spot for Nick Cave.
Warren's influence in Nick Cave's later albums is immediately recognisable, and this album is definitely one of his more mellow in recent years. A brilliant choice!
9.
White Denim - Corsicana Lemonade
I saw White Denim live for the first time in November this year and they blew my mind. Incredibly technical, varied and interesting. I've had a lot of respect for them since I heard their first album at Zavvi in 2007. Despite it not being their strongest album, I still really like the sound they are adopting.
8.
Melt Yourself Down - Melt Yourself Down
When I first heard the first track from this album I immediately thought Seb Rochford was part of the lineup. Turns out the bassist from Acoustic Ladyland is part of this and not Seb, can't win them all.
7.
Akron/Family - Sub Verses
Love the stuff these guys do with Do Make Say Think and their own stuff is great too. They also seem like the nicest hippies! This album would've been higher up the list if it weren't for track 6, which is admittedly, incredibly difficult to listen to.
6.
Unknown Mortal Orchestra - II
These guys have the best song of the year but as a whole, the album isn't enough to make it my favourite... close though.
5.
Phosphorescent - Muchacho
Phosphorescent has been very consistent with his "bad album, good album" releases. This year is good album time, when he strays away from ultra country and goes more into his depressing tones.
4.
Braids - Flourish//Perish
Braids were such a new experience for me when I first heard them. Their debut album is one of my favourites of all time and this album wins the "most anticipated" award.
When I saw them at End of The Road they only played the song below from this album. Everything else was brand new, which means I'm going to have to wait for two years until I can listen to them. Already a contender for "most anticipated 2015".
3.
Julianna Barwick - Nepenthe
Here's another act I saw at End of the Road, although surprisingly I wasn't that swayed by her. On record though, it's a different story. Though not ideal as live music, this album is incredibly beautiful, and just for the amount of times I have played it this year, deserves a spot in this list.
2.
Bill Callahan - Dream River
The way Bill Callahan can weave stories into his music astounds me. I never thought I'd be so involved in a song about someone's part-time job painting boats. Outstanding work.
1.
Parquet Courts - Light Up Gold
The band I want to be in. Such a mature sound for guys at such a young age. The most well rounded album of the year and new material can't come soon enough.