Top 15 LP's of '15....so far so good
Not a bad year for music so far....bourbon for all |
| 1 |  | Mamaleek
Via Dolorosa
A captivating success by this ever-evolving duo of marvelous weirdness. This jaw-dropping latest LP defies all instinctive categorization, and falls somewhere in-between 4:00 AM blackened jazz, 80’s-industrial post-punk, shadows of avant-garde goth, small snippets of twisted black metal and skirring noise. |
| 2 |  | Common Eider, King Eider
Taalag Uksar
It’s like an unnerving ghost story eerily murmured across a moonless expanse of never-ending night. |
| 3 |  | Sleater-Kinney
No Cities to Love
They’ve never released a bad LP in their storied career and the newest LP is razor-sharp vim-and-venom with huge hooks, colossal songwriting and nary a step lost during their hiatus! |
| 4 |  | Bill Seaman
f (noir)
I actually bought this based on a Sputnik review and it’s been the headphone album of the year. It’s a bit like BBC background music set to warm wandering drones, furtive keys and whispering musings. |
| 5 |  | Bedhead
Live in Chicago
Kinda hard to find this Record Store Day LP, but worth seeking out. The kings of spindly slowcore guitar webs were best absorbed in a live setting, and this document nails the bands remarkable guitar chemistry. |
| 6 |  | Leviathan
Scar Sighted
Possibly Wrest’s most accomplished LP, which says a lot. The discomforting Lurker of Chalice atmospherics are strikingly evident here, buttressing the maddening black metal and bleak sepulchral tones with a feeling of drowning in blackened sound. |
| 7 |  | Ethereal Shroud
They Became the Falling Ash
What’s so unique about this moving, gloomy funeral doom LP, is that it’s very nearly catchy…I mean, for a funeral doom LP of course…it’s not like you’ll be singing this in the shower anytime soon |
| 8 |  | Sufjan Stevens
Carrie and Lowell
Surprise of the year for me! I loved Seven Swans, and thought everything else was just ok. This LP is a stirring testament to his songwriting prowess and a magnificent triumph. |
| 9 |  | Il'Ithil
Ia'Winde
Blake Green from Wolvserpent and Aelter comes forth with an astounding black metal LP of icy, whirring guitars and layers of remote, buzzing atmospherics. |
| 10 |  | Institute (USA-TX)
Catharsis
Post Punk is always in rotation on my turntable, and this LP combines the best of the genre with touches of garage rock and some nice doses of the Van Pelt’s spidery guitar work. |
| 11 |  | Aelter
IV: Love Eternal
Twilight ghost-town drones and blackened Spaghetti Westerns make for the 4th incredible LP by the uncannily brilliant Aelter. |
| 12 |  | Ghost Bath
Moonlover
This LP took a few listens, but it’s a tremendous symphony of saturated blackgaze and claustrophobic and sullied post-rock |
| 13 |  | Sannhet
Revisionist
Another kickass Flenser release with this aural gem. Post Rock, yet alone post-metal is rarely this rocking…may this be the harbinger of the future to come! |
| 14 |  | Alphaxone
Altered Dimensions
From the detached cool of the Cryo Chamber label, this is a murky and beautiful drone LP that drifts effortlessly through mystical expanses and alien landscapes. |
| 15 |  | Clouds Collide
All Things Shining
A departure from the straight-forward blackgaze of previous LP’s, this is more of a deranged 80’s pop-gaze LP than anything resembling the blackened din of earlier work, but still a strong LP that is quickly getting better with every listen. |
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