Ok so May really spoiled us with a surplus of really good, memorable albums. I couldn’t choose just ten so here are 23. I’ll be brief I swear. Sort of. I hope you enjoy and maybe discover something new or revisit something you missed. Thanks for reading!
ANOHNI – Hopelessness – Secretly Canadian
ANOHNI, FKA Antony (& The Johnsons) has made her most direct, unflinching statement yet with Hopelessness. Overflowingly relevant and political, sometimes the lyrics get too literal for me, taking me outside of the musical enjoyment zone and into one of serious commentary – a place I am not known to inhabit. Thankfully, there aren’t many moments on here that make me want to stop listening. With assisted production from Hudson Mohawke and Oneohtrix Point Never, Hopelessness is gorgeous, heartbreaking, invigorating and empowering.
Big Thief – Masterpiece – Saddle Creek
A balanced, straightforward folk rock album with all the right elements to poise them to be the next huge indie rock stars. Nice amounts of slower, more acoustic songs and louder, electric-fronted jams. Great songwriting, appropriate energy flow throughout the album. The title track is also one of the best from this year. So yeah, get into this, before they ~~blowup~~.
Braids – Companion EP – Arbutus
Canadian synth pop group Braids made one of my favorite records of last year with Deep In The Iris, and now they’ve followed that up with a quick EP that fits well stylistically with their last one and whets my appetite for some pop music of the electronic-leaning, expertly arranged variety.
Car Seat Headrest – Teens Of Denial – Matador
As of May 2016, the indie rock posterboy savior. Car Seat Headrest has arrived to save indie rock, everyone. Personally I don’t get the massive amounts of hype flooding in, but I definitely like this album quite a bit. It has some highlights across its giant length and I can see it only growing in my mind from here. Also an interpolation of Dido. Let’s go.
Chance The Rapper – Coloring Book – Apple Music/self-released
Although I’m not totally sold on Acid Rap, Chance has really hooked me in with Coloring Book, which is currently my go-to good vibes summer record. It’s lighthearted with a heavy message, puts listeners light on their feet while allowing some people to go hard. Also, 2 Chainz & Lil Yachty’s verses. That’s it.
Chris Cohen – As If Apart – Captured Tracks
My favorite type of singer songwriters are those that are able to take an ordinary sound and make it into an extraordinary one. Chris Cohen does this spectacularly on As If Apart, choosing timbres and aesthetics to transform familiar territory into that of fantasy and mysticism. I’m not sure on the specifics on how he does it, but the proof is in the pudding. Damn why did I say that?
Death Grips – Bottomless Pit – Harvest/Third Worlds
I honestly thought I was off the Death Grips train after The Powers That B. I had grown, matured, gotten past all the gore of the group. Nothing from the band could surprise and shock me anymore. But holy hell, I fell down this figurative bottomless pit of the Death Grips fandom once again. This is undoubtedly my most beloved album of theirs since The Money Store, which it most resembles as well. The hooks are memorable, the songs are… gripping… and damn – it’s just really, really good.
Gold Panda – Good Luck And Do Your Best – City Slang
Albums like these are why I will never be a professional music writer. All I can muster about this album is how it makes me feel, yknow? It’s a very feely album. Tons of great textures and moving beats. Stuff like this is made for being on the go: walking to the store, taking the train to work, driving to the beach. It’s meant for going. Something to enhance the world around you as you experience it, which I think is pretty cool.
Holy Fuck – Congrats – Innovative Leisure
One of the best albums of the year, hands down. It’s ripe with bombast and nuance – it’s not just all “holy fuck!” It’s definitely a bit of that, but there are some more sensitive and groovy moments as well. But boy, I’ve been listening to this since January and I’m real glad more people can appreciate it now.
Jessy Lanza – Oh No – Hyperdub
If you wanna talk about grooves, this album has plenty of all shapes and sizes. Lots of 80s pop tropes, footwork twitches, general house tomfoolery, YMO-style synth noodling; but most of all, there are some ~~good vibes~~ on here. Parts of it remind me of what I wanted Grimes’ new album to sound like. Some of the vocals aren’t super on point, but the spirit is there in full, so that makes up for all of it.
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