IndyMatt

Arguably the most surprising #1 for me that I can remember. A legitimate country album at #1 on MY list? That is an upset on par with the Jets in Super Bowl III. Margo Price made the list earlier with a really good album also, so I'm not sure what's happening here. Jess Williamson's album is a perfect storm for me in several ways:
1. I already knew a little about her, as she made an album under the name Plains last year with Waxahatchee (a personal favorite). It was solid but I really felt like ... read more

I really love this album. It just sounds good, no matter what mood I'm in. A common theme I've noticed in many of these albums I like is the genre can be hard to pin down. What is Sunny War's music? Rock? Folk? Folk Rock? Americana? Blues? Probably all of the above and then some.
I basically had to flip a coin to determine if this would be #1 and it lost a toss-up. This album is patient without being slow, and what's clear is that Sunny War knows exactly what she wants to do. She's in full ... read more

Spiritual Cramp feels like a cousin to MSPAINT (who were featured earlier in this list). Anthemic, catchy-as-hell stomps that are best played loud. Not a whole lot to say, honestly, as these songs aren't meant to be dissected or analyzed. Spiritual Cramp should be blasted in a crowded, sweaty basement where everyone's spilling drinks on each other but no one cares.

The first time I heard "I Saw" it felt like a real discovery. It sounded so fresh and exciting, different than anything I had heard in a while. While that song reminded me somewhat of TV On The Radio, Young Fathers clearly have their own thing going.
I would not have guessed this band is from Edinburgh, Scotland, but it makes more sense once you learn the band members have spent time in Liberia, Nigeria, and the US. It's clear they've been exposed to and influenced by not only a large ... read more