50. Dizzy! – Grounded
49. Daphni – Cherry
48. Angel Olsen – Big Time
47. Björk – Fossora
46. Viben – Intro to Scuba, Pt. 1
45. Duster – Together
44. Hatchie – Giving the World Away
43. Ancient Spaceships – Another Dimension
42. Marci – Marci
41. Bladee & Ecco2k – Crest
40. David Jacobson and the Space Wizards – ‘II’
39. Tomorrow’s Child – Beach Ghosts
38. Earl Sweatshirt – SICK!
37. Owen Duff – bed
36. Elvis Costello – The Boy Named If
35. Wilco – Cruel Country
34. Candy Cigarettes – Horse Lungs
33. Katmaz – Tell Me How Great You Are
32. River Westin – The Honeymoon Suite
31. Animal Collective – Time Skiffs
30. Tetra Collective – Something Real
29. Perfume Genius – Ugly Season
28. Bubble Tea and Cigarettes – There’s Nothing But Pleasure
27. Little Simz – NO THANK YOU
26. Burs – Holding Patterns
25. Nas – King’s Disease III
24. Michelles – The Empty Promises of Rock and Roll
23. Junior Boys – Waiting Game
22. Homesickness – Blood Rush, Tempest Oceans
21. Vince Staples – RAMONA PARK BROKE MY HEART
20. Lizzy Dutton – Amnesia
19. The Bergamot – Far Out
18. Welcome Strawberry – Welcome Strawberry
17. Danger Mouse & Black Thought – Cheat Codes
16. Arctic Monkeys – The Car
15. Destroyer – LABYRINTHITIS
14. SZA – SOS
13. Sondre Lerche – Avatars of Love
12. full catholic – every dream at once
11. Black Country, New Road – Ants From Up There
10. Sudan Archives – Natural Brown Prom Queen
09. billy woods – Aethiopes
08. Alvvays – Blue Rev
07. ruru – Glorious Miscellanea
06. The Smile – A Light for Attracting Attention
05. Big Thief – Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You
04. Beach House – Once Twice Melody
03. Weyes Blood – And in the Darkness, Hearts Aglow
02. Kendrick Lamar – Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers
01. black midi – Hellfire
That number one is a joke. Goddamn awful.
Some of the others aren’t bad. Subjective of course but come on man.
The Bergamot was a nice surprise. Hadn’t heard of that one. Beach House is very good. The Smile isn’t bad but it’s not Radiohead quality. Mind you, they’re not Radiohead quality anymore either. If people didnt know who The Smile were I doubt it would get much attention.
Anyway, enjoying the new artists here. Cheers for supporting them.
Not all who come across your lists are connoisseurs clearly haha. Incredible cohort of new and old bands as usual, Mike. Those Black Midi savants ABSOLUTELY deserved number one. Saw them live this year and was wrapping my head around it for weeks. I was happy to see Weyes Blood’s gorgeous album in the top 5. There are several new finds here that I’m certain I’ll be listening to for years to come. Thank you for your tireless work in putting so many new artists on the radar before pretty much any other pub. Was ecstatic to see your end-of-year reviews were back. Can’t wait to see what this year brings!!!!