Graduated High School
Graduated high school on Saturday night. My high school life was pretty uneventful and that left plenty of time to listen to music. Here's a list of my 100 favorite/most influential/most important musical discoveries of my high school life, starting with the summer before freshman year and ending about one week ago. List is chronological. Favorite tracks included, but obviously some of them were tough to pick. Thank you, people of Sputnik for introducing me to a considerable amount of these artists and albums. I can only assume the same will continue in the future. |
| 1 |  | dredg
The Pariah, The Parrot, The Delusion
JUNE 2011 – I was on a huge dredg kick towards the end of middle school. PPD was my first (and my most important) new discovery of the summer leading up to high school. The lyricism is easily the album’s weak point, but the deliveries, melodies, instrumentation, and production on this thing are so strong that it stands next to El Cielo and Leitmotif as a prime example of what dredg can do at their best. Favorite track: Quotes |
| 2 |  | Bruce Springsteen
The Rising
SEPTEMBER 2011 – This was the first album I remember listening to, as my dad is a huge fan of The Boss and he was actively involved with politics around the time 9/11 happened. I knew I had liked this album, but I hadn’t listened to it in years until a bunch of media coverage for that tragic event’s 10th anniversary was everywhere. Glad I revisited this. Whether it’s nostalgia for some of my earliest memories or just cause I like Springsteen in general, I still regard The Rising as an underrated classic. Favorite track: Worlds Apart |
| 3 |  | Thrice
Major/Minor
SEPTEMBER 2011 – I was also a huge Thrice fan in middle school and slowly worked my way through their discography. The announcement soon after the release of this record that they’d be going on hiatus totally bummed me out. Loved this album at the time, though I don’t find it as strong as Beggars or The Alchemy Index (my faves) now. Still a good listen. Favorite track: Anthology |
| 4 |  | Deftones
White Pony
OCTOBER 2011 – Not a huge Deftones fan, but I like the awkwardly seductive and creepy vibes of this thing. Happened to first listen to it around Halloween, and that’s usually when I re-listen. It just fits. Favorite track: Digital Bath |
| 5 |  | Modest Mouse
Good News for People Who Love Bad News
OCTOBER 2011 – Another album I revisit a lot in the fall. Obviously not Modest Mouse’s best, but I think it’s still more solid than a lot of people make it out to be. There are same fantastic songs on this. Favorite track: Ocean Breathes Salty |
| 6 |  | Thrice
The Illusion of Safety
DECEMBER 2011 – Rounded out my Thrice discography venture with this and Identity Crisis, both of which I had listened to long before then but didn’t give a fair chance to. I was in love with IoS for a couple months that winter and while I’ve since then realized I dig experimental and jammy Thrice more, this is still a good gateway record for potential fans who dig metal and punk. Favorite track: Deadbolt |
| 7 |  | Bloc Party
Silent Alarm
DECEMBER 2011 – I’d heard a song or two by Bloc Party before and liked them, so I got this. It’s certainly nothing groundbreaking, but it’s still plenty enjoyable. Good wintery record. Favorite track: Like Eating Glass |
| 8 |  | Wilco
Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
JANUARY 2012 – Started the year off with a staple from the dad rock collection. Took me a while to get into this, but it fortunately eventually clicked and became a rainy-day favorite of mine. Favorite track: Radio Cure |
| 9 |  | La Dispute
Somewhere at the Bottom of the River...
JANUARY 2012 – Of all the post-hardcore bands that became popular around the late 2000’s, I feel safe saying these guys definitely deserve the praise. Yeah, yeah, the Somewhere drinking game is silly, but this album does rule, particularly the instrumentation, which the band tones down on later albums. Favorite track: Said The King to the River |
| 10 |  | Noir Desir
des Visages des Figures
JANUARY 2012 – Had to research French music in French class one day and found this. Love the eerie atmosphere and somberness on here and ended up doing a stupid lipsync music video of “A L’envers, A L’endroit” for a project later on. Favorite track: Le Grand Incendie |
| 11 |  | The Republic of Wolves
Varuna
FEBRUARY 2012 – Discovered TRoW while looking for Brand New-related bands, like I assume most people did. Varuna was so reverberated, cold, dreary, and intimidating that it took weeks to click, but I’m glad I kept giving it the chance. The lyricism here is among the best I’ve heard. Favorite track: Greek Fire |
| 12 |  | Godspeed You! Black Emperor
Slow Riot For New Zero Kanada
FEBRUARY 2012 – First experience with GY!BE and one of my earliest experiences with post-rock in general, behind Sigur Ros’ ( ) and some EITS. The stark contrast of those records and this one despite their placement under the same genre tag confused the hell out of me at first. 5/5 stuff, and still easily my favorite GY!BE release. Favorite track: Moya and BBF3 cannot be separated. |
| 13 |  | U2
The Joshua Tree
MARCH 2012 – Another dad rock staple in my household. I’d been a U2 singles fan for years and only occasionally delved into their full albums. The Joshua Tree was one of the last I listened to in full (silly me, right?) and man…great stuff. Wish I hadn’t waited so long to do that. Favorite track: Bullet The Blue Sky |
| 14 |  | Glassjaw
Worship and Tribute
APRIL 2012 – I find this half-silly now but I adored it at the time. Guess that freshman angst had built up and released itself through this record by the end of the school year. The nostalgia hits me hard with this even though I rarely listen to it anymore. Favorite track: Trailer Park Jesus |
| 15 |  | Biffy Clyro
Only Revolutions
MAY 2012 – I honestly don’t know why I loved this so much at the time. Probably the silly band name and the accents. Otherwise it’s just slightly above-average if not sorta derivative alternative rock. I hardly listen to it now, but I still dig it a bit. Favorite track: That Golden Rule |
| 16 |  | TTNG
This Town Needs Guns
MAY 2012 – Forget American Football. They honestly do nothing for me. [cue gasps] This, on the other hand, has to be one of my favorite math rock records of all time and easily TTNG’s best. Seeing them live a few years later sealed the deal. Favorite track: And I’ll Tell You For Why… |
| 17 |  | Burning Airlines
Mission: Control!
JUNE 2012 – Don’t remember how I came across this, but it’s full of fun late 90’s noisy indie/post-hardcore jams. Favorite track: Pacific 231 |
| 18 |  | sgt.
Stylus Fantasticus
JUNE 2012 – After discovering this, sgt. became one of my favorite bands ever. Their blend of post-rock, classical, and jazz is just absolutely sublime. While I now prefer Birthday (later on this list) over this record, this at least has “Destroy The Galaxy, Create The Power Plant” which is without a doubt my favorite song of all time. Favorite track: Destroy The Galaxy, Create The Power Plant (duh) |
| 19 |  | Periphery
Periphery II: This Time It's Personal
JULY 2012 – KILL’s review of this will live forever. My love of this will also probably live forever. I dunno, I just really dig Spencer’s vox for some reason. The instrumentation on this is playful and free and the whole album impressively breezes by considering its length. Nothing else this group has done has come close to this for me though. Favorite track: Have a Blast |
| 20 |  | LITE
Filmlets
JULY 2012 – The guys in LITE are incredibly talented but none of their albums have enough consistency and flow to feel like incredible pieces of work. To me, They’re a pick-and-choose songs band, and though I think Phantasia and Installation are both more interesting records and have a larger selection of standout tracks, my love for the band all started here. Favorite track: Contemporary Disease |
| 21 |  | Cyclamen
Senjyu
JULY 2012 – Proof that eclectic mood whiplash can be wholeheartedly awesome by chance. This album is all over the place, but I love it because of that, not in spite of it. Ashura’s cool in its own way, but this one takes the cake. Favorite track: Senjyu |
| 22 |  | Cloudkicker
Beacons
AUGUST 2012 – Cloudkicker has always been more steady than he’s been amazing, but Beacons is the closest he’s come to accomplishing both of those things at once. I don’t listen to Mr. Sharp often anymore, but I’ll always be glad to have discovered his music, and that all started with this. Favorite track: Push It Way Up! |
| 23 |  | The Dear Hunter
The Color Spectrum (Complete Collection)
AUGUST 2012 – 36 songs, 9 EPs, and 1 fanbase who just wants more Acts. I actually prefer The Color Spectrum. It’s wonderfully diverse, remarkably consistent, and Casey feels much more natural here than he does on his other Dear Hunter work. Indigo, Orange, Violet, and White are my favorite discs. The Color Spectrum Live DVD is also absolutely stunning, and if you can get your hands on it, do so. Favorite track: Lost But Not All Gone |
| 24 |  | The Cabs
Recur Breath
AUGUST 2012 – Almost 3 years later and none of this got old yet. The Cabs’ type of emo math rock is instrumentally perfect to me, not to mention how this EP flows beautifully and has fantastic lyricism. One of my favorite releases of all time, and without a doubt my favorite EP ever. Favorite track: Camm Aven |
| 25 |  | The Out Circuit
Pierce The Empire With A Sound
AUGUST 2012 – Somehow both cold and warm, calm and eerie, soothing and aggressive, and desolate and crowded, this album was a step out of my musical comfort zone and the rewards were certainly worth it. Love the album cover too. Great to listen to at night, either walking around or driving or whatever. Favorite track: Across The Light |
| 26 |  | Supercar
HIGHVISION
SEPTEMBER 2012 – The sonic equivalent but emotional opposite to Pierce The Empire, I coincidentally discovered Supercar’s Highvision shortly afterwards. A perfect blend of electronica, alternative rock, post-rock, and not too cheesy J-pop, this served as the soundtrack to many an optimistic early morning. Favorite track: Silent Yaritori |
| 27 |  | Yoko Kanno
Sakamichi no Apollon OST
SEPTEMBER 2012 – I distinctly remember being interrupted while listening to this to get the news broken to me that my parents were divorcing. No sympathy or pity necessary, it was a smooth process and my family’s fine. Honestly, it was probably harder for them than it was for me – best evidenced by my reply to said news which I think was something along the lines of “yeah, saw that coming, can I go back to this record now?”. Not my proudest moment, but I guess things all worked out in the end. Sakamichi no Apollon is awesome btw. Favorite track: that one medley near the end |
| 28 |  | Anoice
The Black Rain
OCTOBER 2012 – This is really depressing music, but damn, it’s so gooooood. Very underrated post-rock/classical/ambient release. Favorite track: Finale |
| 29 |  | Thrice
Anthology
OCTOBER 2012 – The aforementioned Thrice hiatus was made slightly less devastating by the release of this. Couldn’t ask for much more in a live Thrice album. Favorite track: Beggars |
| 30 |  | Mono
You Are There
NOVEMBER 2012 – A flawless post-rock record. Love the recording quality and songwriting. It’s so tasteful, delicate, and immense, somehow all at once. MONO in their prime is unbeatable. Favorite track: Moonlight |
| 31 |  | National Skyline
National Skyline
NOVEMBER 2012 – It’s kind of clunky and weird, but I love the empty cityscape atmosphere National Skyline’s early music and artwork contained. It eventually became a primary influence for one of my own tracks a couple years alter. Favorite track: Metropolis |
| 32 |  | Kashiwa Daisuke
Program Music I
NOVEMBER 2012 – Another easy 5/5. If you know any other artists who do this kind of classical/glitch stuff as well as Kashiwa Daisuke does here, let me know. Haven’t been impressed with WEG or the other obvious ones, leaving me with the assumption that this record is a piece of one-of-a-kind magic. Favorite track: Stella |
| 33 |  | Defeater
Travels
DECEMBER 2012 – Didn’t dig much that Defeater’s done after this, but that doesn’t invalidate Travels as a fantastic if not defining fairly-recent post-hardcore record. Great stuff. Favorite track: Cowardice |
| 34 |  | The Chariot
One Wing
DECEMBER 2012 – Not huge into metal in general and especially metalcore, but I can’t help but respect the absolutely unpredictable insanity that is One Wing. Favorite track: First |
| 35 |  | Devianz
À Corps Interrompus
DECEMBER 2012 – This was around the time I wore out des Visages, des Figures and was eager to check out something else in French. This certainly did the trick. Great alt rock/post-hardcore/grunge whatever. Genres aside, the record is remarkably consistent and emotive. Favorite track: Soleil D’Encre |
| 36 |  | Godspeed You! Black Emperor
F#A# (Infinity)
DECEMBER 2012 – After checking out Slow Riot, I then went on to Skinny Fists, which I didn’t enjoy as much. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still good, but for me it was (and still is) a little too longwinded and front-loaded to fully hit me. Took a long break between checking out those records and the rest of the band’s discography, and I was pleased when I got to this one. Second favorite GY!BE and a perfectly respectable album all its own. Favorite track: The Dead Flag Blues |
| 37 |  | The Heist Revenge
ACBD EP
DECEMBER 2012 – My first EP. Four tracks, all instrumental. Three originals, one poor cover of an interlude. The originals were made up on the fly. It’s okay, but more of a stepping stone to getting used to Garageband than anything else. Favorite track: Departure |
| 38 |  | Boris
Flood
DECEMBER 2012 – Still the only Boris I’ve listened to in full. It’s great for torrential rainy days…or in this case, months. Favorite track: Flood III (but you have to listen to the whole record) |
| 39 |  | The Cabs
Regenerative Landscape
JANUARY 2013 – More The Cabs. Slightly worse than Recur Breath, but a perfectly respectable math rock album with some of their key tracks. Shame they broke up so soon afterward. Favorite track: Like a Flower |
| 40 |  | Barrow
Being Without
JANUARY 2013 – And speaking of bands that broke up too soon, Barrow! This and their second record are about equally as good for different reasons, though I discovered this first and still favor it over its successor. Fantastic post-hardcore record. Favorite track: An Absent Crown, My Diadem |
| 41 |  | Meet Me in St. Louis
Variations on Swing
FEBRUARY 2013 – And one last group that broke up too quickly, MMISL. More fantastic math rock. Love the fidgety and start-stoppy nature of the instrumentation. Neat vox and strong lyrics too. Favorite track: Come to New York, There Were Fewer Murders This Year |
| 42 |  | Steven Wilson
The Raven That Refused to Sing
FEBRUARY 2013 – A friend of mine got me into 2000’s Porcupine Tree, and though I’ll probably prefer them to any of Wilson’s solo work, this record gives them a run for their money. Even if it’s just prog worship, it’s damn good prog worship. Favorite track: The Raven That Refused to Sing |
| 43 |  | Portugal. The Man
The Satanic Satanist
MARCH 2013 – A different friend also got me into P.TM around this same time. This is a great psychedelic indie pop/rock album. Consistently catchy and wonderful. Favorite track: Mornings |
| 44 |  | Ling Tosite Sigure
i'mperfect
MARCH 2013 – I gotta get into some more Sigure. This is still the only album I’ve heard from them and that needs to change soon. Their schizophrenic bouncy stuff is so weird, but I love it. Favorite track: Abnormalize |
| 45 |  | Duster
Stratosphere
APRIL 2013 – When I first heard this, I thought it was like a 2.5/5 at best. Over the course of a year, that changed to a 4.5. As far as atmosphere goes, nobody does this sort of slow, moody, simple, and spacey music as well as Duster. Great airplane music too. Favorite track: Stratosphere |
| 46 |  | HRVRD
From the Bird's Cage
APRIL 2013 – Another grower. Still gotta hear this group’s debut, but hypnotic, airy, and filled with great vocal performances, it’s pretty hard to deny From the Bird’s Cage is also fantastic. Favorite track: Old Nature |
| 47 |  | Mouse On The Keys
An Anxious Object
MAY 2013 – One of my first ventures into jazz. While I enjoy it, a lot of it also feels pretty samey to me, so I enjoy it more in short bursts. As such, I really enjoy this. Favorite track: Spectres de Mouse |
| 48 |  | Portugal. The Man
Evil Friends
JUNE 2013 – Still in love with the sunniness of The Satanic Satanist, Evil Friends took everything I thought I knew about Portugal. The Man and flipped it inside out. The knack for uplifting melodies and consistency is still there, but paired with darker instrumentation and lyrics, it’s even better. Favorite track: Smile |
| 49 |  | Enemies
Embark Embrace
JUNE 2013 – My 2013 AOTY. Amazing instrumentation, mixing, and composition. The ultimate soundtrack to beach trips and humid summer nights. Perfect. Favorite track: Executive Cut |
| 50 |  | Local Natives
Hummingbird
JUNE 2013 – A charming, catchy, and wispy indie pop album, plus a step up in memorability from Gorilla Manor. Nice for cooler, breezier summer days. Favorite track: Colombia |
| 51 |  | Sigur Ros
Kveikur
JUNE 2013 – A return to greatness for Sigur Ros…just released at the most unfitting time of the year. Love the range of moods. Great for the dead of winter. Favorite track: Hrafntinna |
| 52 |  | The World is a Beautiful Place...
Whenever, If Ever
JUNE 2013 – My AOTY 2013 runner-up. Say what you want about this band and/or the emo “revival” scene in general, but this album is pure dynamic heart and another great go-to listen in the summer…especially this year, since I’ll be moving across the country soon. |
| 53 |  | A Great Big Pile of Leaves
You're Always on My Mind
JULY 2013 – More great summer jams. Some really fun guitar licks on this baby. Love the percussive bass vocals too. Favorite track: Locus of Control |
| 54 |  | Captain, We're Sinking
The Future Is Cancelled
JULY 2013 – I only realized recently how trite a lot of the lyrics on this album are. The deliveries are so strong it practically doesn’t matter. Great pop punk (is this pop punk? Feels like it) record. Favorite track: A Bitter Divorce |
| 55 |  | Scale the Summit
The Migration
JULY 2013 – Of all the instrumental prog metal acts out there, these guys are probably my favorite. Love the luscious tone and adventurous mood of the songs here. Favorite track: The Olive Tree |
| 56 |  | Withyouathome
Our Lives Are All Very Forgettable Events...
AUGUST 2013 – Another post-rock favorite of mine. Bafflingly unrecognized by most, loved by the few who’ve heard it. This group doesn’t stray much from the typical post-rock formula, but they use it to their advantage. I don’t write Sput reviews often, but I did write one for this record. Favorite track: Lunar |
| 57 |  | O' God the White Whale
Never Knows Best
AUGUST 2013 – Great short-lived female-fronted post-hardcore band. Good songwriting and lots of energy. Favorite track: Never Knows Best |
| 58 |  | Cinema Staff
Nostalgia
AUGUST 2013 – I only listen to about half of this now, but that half is really addicting. Some beautiful summery songs, and just like the title, I may not understand what these guys are saying, but a handful of these tracks feel like pure nostalgia. Favorite track: Discovery of the Century |
| 59 |  | National Skyline
Bliss & Death
AUGUST 2013 – Also wrote a review for this. The sound is crisper and clearer than National Skyline’s earlier stuff. This record is really good under-listened alternative rock/shoegaze. Favorite track: Kingdom |
| 60 |  | Foxing
The Albatross
NOVEMBER 2013 – All those summer discoveries lasted me well into the fall until it was undoubtedly winter and stopped feeling fitting. The Albatross came to the rescue at just the right time. Eagerly anticipating Foxing’s follow-up this year. Favorite track: Quietus |
| 61 |  | Puig Destroyer
Puig Destroyer EP
NOVEMBER 2013 – The source of many now long-running inside jokes and sports jabs with my friends. Favorite track: STOP FUCKING BUNTING |
| 62 |  | Neutral Milk Hotel
In the Aeroplane Over the Sea
DECEMBER 2013 – Can’t believe it took me so long to finally listen to this. 5/5. An indie classic. Favorite track: Two-Headed Boy Pt. 2 |
| 63 |  | The Republic of Wolves
No Matter How Narrow
DECEMBER 2013 – The sudden change in direction surprised me, but the lyricism’s just as good and the songs are still great, so whatever. Favorite track: Through Empty Vessels |
| 64 |  | Kevin Devine
Bubblegum
DECEMBER 2013 – Love the lyricism on this too. Smart stuff, catchy songs, great flow, overall pretty fantastic. Favorite track: Redbird |
| 65 |  | Mirror
On, Then, In
FEBRUARY 2014 – Beautiful smooth interlocking guitars and pleasant compositions. It’s not a particularly noteworthy or original math rock record, but it sure is a competent one. Favorite track: Pass the Town, and to the C |
| 66 |  | The Hotelier
Home, Like NoPlace Is There
FEBRUARY 2014 – My 2014 AOTY. Thanks, Sput. Favorite track: Dendron |
| 67 |  | Sun Kil Moon
Benji
MARCH 2014 – Why I’m Scared of Getting Older: The Album. Gotta check out the new one streaming now I guess. Favorite track: Carissa |
| 68 |  | sgt.
Birthday
MARCH 2014 – sgt. rules. This album is amazing and needs more Sput ratings. Listen to sgt. please. Favorite Track: You and I |
| 69 |  | La Dispute
Wildlife
MARCH 2014 – Hadn’t listened to anything by La Dispute besides Somewhere and the Here, Hear compilations two years prior, so I prepared myself for Rooms by getting familiar with Wildlife. This record is mostly great and the stretch of tracks 9 through 12 is downright heart-wrenching, but it ends on a less than stellar note and in general goes on a little too long. Still an important release with some key tracks for a band that I really like despite other people's polarized opinions. Favorite track: I See Everything |
| 70 |  | La Dispute
Rooms of the House
MARCH 2014 – Less immediate and less musically flashy, but just as touching and immersive. Favorite track: Scenes From Highways 1981-2009 |
| 71 |  | Trophy Scars
Holy Vacants
MAY 2014 – My 2014 AOTY runner-up. Thanks, Sput. Favorite track: Everything Disappearing |
| 72 |  | Saintseneca
Dark Arc
MAY 2014 – Fantastic indie folk. Lots of textures and timbres, great lyrics, perfect flow, just really unique all around. Favorite track: Blood Bath |
| 73 |  | Weatherbox
Flies In All Directions
MAY 2014 – yo this is like 10x better than American Art, what are you guys smoking? The lyricism and songwriting in this is so wacky but so headstrong and confident, it’s impossible not to enjoy. Favorite track: The Fresh Prints of Bill Ayers |
| 74 |  | At the Drive-In
Relationship of Command
JUNE 2014 - Can’t believe it took me so long to finally listen to this. 5/5. [2] A post-hardcore classic. Favorite track: Cosmonaut |
| 75 |  | Yoko Kanno
Zankyou no Terror Original Soundtrack
JULY 2014 – This is the best anime soundtrack ever and if you think otherwise, your favorite anime soundtrack must be really fucking good and you should let me know about it. Favorite track: von |
| 76 |  | Te
Therefore, the illusion of density...
AUGUST 2014 – I don’t actually listen to Te a whole lot but I can hear a lot of their style of instrumental rock in what I write. I haven’t heard all their releases, but of those I have heard, this is their most consistent and my favorite. Favorite track: Magic “Smoulders” In The Depths… |
| 77 |  | Mono
Hymn to the Immortal Wind
SEPTEMBER 2014 - Can’t believe it took me so long to finally listen to this. 5/5. [3] A post-rock classic. Favorite track: Silent Flight, Sleeping Dawn |
| 78 |  | Mass of the Fermenting Dregs
Zero Comma, Multi-Colored World
SEPTEMBER 2014 – Nice to hear some female-fronted J-rock that isn’t all kawaii desu trash. This band has a great sense of melody and in general make very well-constructed indie rock music. Favorite track: Sanzameku |
| 79 |  | Sigur Ros
Takk...
SEPTEMBER 2014 – I should have heard this long before I actually did. ( ) is Sigur Ros at their most pure and ethereal, but Takk…has a slightly more human touch that goes a long way. The two records are on par with each other as the band’s best. Favorite track: Hoppipolla |
| 80 |  | Spoon
They Want My Soul
SEPTEMBER 2014 – Picked this up on a whim and it paid big dividends. The mixing is glorious and the songwriting is strong in its own right. Favorite track: They Want My Soul |
| 81 |  | Astronauts
Hollow Ponds
OCTOBER 2014 – A mythical, misty, and somber indie record about physical recovery and the mental recovery that comes with it, Hollow Ponds got some hype on Sput but really needs more exposure elsewhere. It’s cripplingly emotional. Favorite track: Flame Exchange |
| 82 |  | Weezer
Pinkerton
NOVEMBER 2014 - Can’t believe it took me so long to finally listen to this. 5/5. [4] An emo classic. Favorite track: El Scorcho |
| 83 |  | The Smith Street Band
Throw Me in the River
NOVEMBER 2014 – A rally cry of the traveling musician and decent person, Throw Me in the River stumbles a bit in its middle for me, but the heart contained in this record is contagious and empathetic. I can’t deny I’ve shouted along to the closing duo of songs a number of times. Favorite track: I Love Life |
| 84 |  | Sleepmakeswaves
Love of Cartography
DECEMBER 2014 – I do happen to have a love of cartography, but that’s not the only reason I love this record. This is energetic post-rock at its best; demanding of your immediate attention and tactful enough to know when to back down and rise up. Favorite track: Perfect Detonator |
| 85 |  | tide/edit
Foreign Languages
DECEMBER 2014 – tide/edit play happy music. It’s really pleasant. Another album that doesn’t raise the bar or break any standards, but is joyous and consistent and competent. Favorite track: Nicholas |
| 86 |  | Cymbals Eat Guitars
LOSE
DECEMBER 2014 – It’s always hit or miss to me when an artist puts their life story on their sleeve for an album. This is one of those times where it works soooo well. The production is also awesome, full of psychedelic wailing and indie rock fury. LOSE is pretty sad, but it’s sad in an uplifting way…I think. Whatever the case, it rules. Favorite track: Jackson |
| 87 |  | Kishi Bashi
Lighght
DECEMBER 2014 – This is the most imaginative and fun record you will hear in a long time. 151a is…not great. Lighght on the other hand is grade A. Favorite track: Philosophize In It! Chemicalize With It! |
| 88 |  | Godspeed You! Black Emperor
Yanqui U.X.O.
JANUARY 2015 – Yanqui was my first (and is still the only) actual vinyl record I own. Thanks, friend mentioned in #43 who just assumed I owned a record player. Now I feel obligated to get one. Yanqui is also far from my favorite GY!BE record, but this gift completed my collection of non-All Lights Fucked main GY!BE releases, so yeah. Worth it. Favorite track: George Bush Cut Up While Talking |
| 89 |  | Kinoko Teikoku
Eureka
JANUARY 2015 – Another prime example of indie rock/alternative rock and shoegaze meeting and mixing well, supporting each other's key qualities. Some really catchy melodies on here as well. Favorite track: Kokudou Slope |
| 90 |  | The Heist Revenge
Perpetual Standstill
FEBRUARY 2015 – My second EP and most recent release. Six songs, all original. The influences are kind of all over the place on here, but the songs are held together by reoccurring lyrical themes. The production sucks; no way around that for a kid with only a computer mic and no free money at all, but I'm still proud of it. Favorite track: ye I have no favorite, it's all stuff |
| 91 |  | Envy
All the Footprints You've Ever Left...
MARCH 2015 – Took a while to get into this (and the Atheist’s Cornea thread is total cringe, nice job, Sput) but it’s nice. I’d never personally consider this album a classic, but it’s solid enough, and man…what a closer. Favorite track: Your Shoes and the World to Come |
| 92 |  | Bruce Springsteen
Born to Run
MARCH 2015 - Can’t believe it took me so long to finally listen to this. 5/5. [5] A rock n’ roll classic. Favorite track: Jungleland |
| 93 |  | Modest Mouse
The Moon & Antarctica
MARCH 2015 – Spacious and angry and contemplative and meandering, The Moon & Antarctica is just one those perfect records with diversity and cohesiveness. The production is spot-on and the lyrical themes are spectacular. Favorite track: The Stars are Projectors |
| 94 |  | Kendrick Lamar
To Pimp a Butterfly
MARCH 2015 – You’ve probably noticed a lack of hip-hop on this list by now. I never really cared for it. Just not my thing. This album is really good though, and apparently I’m not the only person it’s served as a gateway hip-hop album for either. I wouldn’t call it perfect, and at times I find its ambition and construction more impressive than its content, but it’s a great record regardless. Favorite track: Mortal Man |
| 95 |  | Frodus
And We Washed Our Weapons In The Sea
APRIL 2015 – A while ago, I checked out the original version of “The Earth Isn’t Humming” but had trouble finding other Frodus material. Thankfully the band put all their stuff up for free on bandcamp, so that changed this past spring. I love the diversity of this record with the overarching dreary and apocalyptic mood. Favorite track: The Awesome Machine |
| 96 |  | Radiohead
Kid A
MAY 2015 – The friend mentioned in #42 got me to listen to this as well. Always meant to, just never did it. Loses a bit of steam at the end and the closer hasn’t clicked with me yet, but a good chunk of this record is phenomenal. Favorite track: The National Anthem |
| 97 |  | Sufjan Stevens
Illinois
MAY 2015 – Another awesome album that took me way too long to get around to listening to. It’s still fresh enough in my mind that I haven’t dissected it all, but one thing’s for certain; this is really impressive. (Carrie & Lowell is nice too). Favorite track: Come On! Feel The Illinoise! |
| 98 |  | Hop Along
Painted Shut
MAY 2015 – A frontrunner AOTY for me this year. Beautifully consistent and goddamn, Frances Quinlan’s voice is...just...holy cow hnnnnnnggggggg. Favorite track: Texas Funeral |
| 99 |  | Kamasi Washington
The Epic
MAY 2015 – I’ve only listened to this all the way through once, but it blew me away. Board the hype train. Favorite track: The Magnificent 7 |
| 100 |  | The Dismemberment Plan
Emergency & I
MAY 2015 – My most recent important discovery. Listened to this on the way to graduation, in fact. The number of styles and influences throughout this thing is so ridiculous. Love Joe Easley’s drum work too. The keyboard parts can get pretty silly though. Favorite track: The City |
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