10. Tortoise – Touch
What stands out most is not the artwork which likely seems a nod to fellow Chicagoans Cave’s Threace but the songwriting that is stronger than The Catastrophist and production that is stronger than Beacons on Ancestorship. Tortoise with an orchestra!
9. Kendirck Lamar – GNX
The album and the man that was everywhere; universal. Music of the moment. Enthralling to hear Spanish sung. Here Lamar rekindles the brilliance of To Pimp a Butterfly. The SZA features are especially stand outs.
8. Opeth – The Last Will and Testament
One of the great technical bands (though likely not as great as Meshuggah) delivers this blistering concept album. Their best since Ghost Reveries and Blackwater Park. Somehow there are no original members left in Opeth.
7. FKA Twigs – Eusexua
It calls to mind the sensual electronica of Björk or Madonna. It’s great Twigs can celebrate life after her abusive relationship with Shia LaBeouf. Oh and it’s wild, this album features North West rapping in Japanese.
6. Japanese Breakfast – For Melancholy Brunettes (& Sad Women)
A subtle mood triumph. Zauner’s angelic vocals float over evocative and ethereal air. Congratulations are in order for the band for having delivered something this great after the brilliance of Jubilee.
5. Stereolab – Instant Holograms on Metal Film
It seemed Stereolab had long struggled to recapture the genius of Emperor Tomato Ketchup and Transient Random-Noise Bursts with Announcements until this their 11th album. Incidentally, Emperor Tomato Ketchup was produced by Tortoise’s John McEntire (McEntire was one of the very first people to use ProTools in production work). There had been underdog Stereolab fan favorites like Margerine Eclipse and Sound-Dust but nothing that achieved the ubiquitous acclaim of this release. If you ever want your mind blown google the connection between Daft Punk, Phoenix and Stereolab. Three of the biggest names in French music are far more connected than one would think.
4. Ty Segall – Possession
Here Californian Ty Segall is unapologetic in his reverence of 70’s icons: Possession is profoundly indebted to the glam rock of David Bowie and T. Rex. His expert distillation of those sounds proves him to be one of the biggest names in indie. It is strange to think an artist with this mass of appeal is on the label Drag City.
3. Mei Semones – Animaru
This Berklee College of Music alumni produces a thrilling mix of bossa nova, math rock and jazz on this her debut album. She balances virtuosity and poetry perfectly; never does the pure genius of her technique turn the songs into unlistenable musical workouts. One of the most thoroughly original styles in a very long time.
2. Good Flying Birds – Talulah’s Tape
Academics of musical undercurrents like C86 and jangle pop, these gifted youth craft an inception proving American rock and roll still has life in it. A rare strong showing for Carpark records. The album is packed with wry and sardonic Gen. Z humor as well. There are hooks galore from these Midwest marvels.
1. Father John Misty – Mahashmashana
It’s been beguiling to see where Josh Tillman has gone sans Fleet Foxes; from the breakthrough of I Love You, Honeybear to an appearance on SNL. FJM gets around. So it comes as no surprise when he offered this masterful record. It takes cues from the hallmarks of the 70’s: Dylan’s prose, Sanders’ uninhibited expression, Gainsbourg’s strings, Rodgers’ disco boogie and Harrison’s melancholy. A lot of the societal issues explored on this album are things we all need to hear and discuss. For these reasons consider giving this a spin an obligation.
