Top Tracks 2015 Part I 101–91
Undoubtedly, every year bears some musical gems for someone who listens to almost everything there is. Some genres might wield stronger releases and some might have fallen flat. This year however was strong an all sides and full of surprising releases, collaborations and great newcomers. I couldn´t be happier and my only gripe lies with me and my bad time management when it comes to writing reviews this year. One a thematic level, there is great variety, but drawing closer to the top, the albums that captured my experiences of this year were either pushing boundaries in their own musical right or mediating the vibes that hit me this year. Drawing a line, the non-musical year was full of interpersonal disappointments, getting to know the worst of people I cared about and as always learning the hard way how hard it is to truly connect with each other. But, enough whining because gladly, there is art to capture it all and I hope you´ll fine some gems for your own experiences and reflection this year.
101. Susumu Yokota – Kodomotachi (My Energy)
I´ll start this years list by remembering one great musician, who passed away earlier this year. Susumu Yokota´s music followed me since I was 14 years old and created the atmosphere of my deepest thinking to this day. Listen to Kodomotachi which was originally released on Sakura in 2000 and get the idea of an genius ambient musician. If anyone apart from Brian Eno, he created my definition of ambient piece and apart from that dabbled in a wide array of electronic music. Get Sakura and especially Symbol and drop a few bucks on the My Energy EP. I thank Yokota for his work and for being a source of inspiration for years to come.
100. The Decemberists – Make You Better (What A Terrible World, What A Beautiful World)
The first few bars set the tone of fading love and pierced hearts. It´s sad because it´s true and The Decemberists excel in transporting the pondering of lost love through their delicate vocal work and waving of realistic descriptions and metaphors. At some point, the production and many little details seem a bit too much and counteracting the mood of the song, but still, the tearjearker remains a tearjearker. One the happy note, Nick Offerman plays a German version of pretty much his usual stage persona in the video for the song.
99. Drenge – The Woods (Undertow)
Reading the lyrics one can think about the Divine Comedy, a TV sermon and flat out drinking and drugs. And that´s the magic Drenge deliver on this track, a dark groove reminiscent of grunge rock. It´s great to see such a band on the rise in times of electronic elements overarching many rock bands.
98. Lowland Hum – Under The Rub (Lowland Hum)
Not only does the couple that is Lowland Hum share a very deep immediacy in their vocal harmonies that you´ll catch on if you´re in any way interested in folk music, the musical arrangements for their songs never get to thick, cheesy and uninspired. Under The Rub especially draws me in through the somewhat odd chorous of "I keep looking at my cell phone". There is distance and the feeling of missing out because of connected disconnection and the duo capture this with well placed falling keys and even some heavy metal guitar allusions.
97. Beirut – No No No (No No No)
A funny beat, some “lala”-s and trumpets to finish
it off. At this point, Beirut´s music is pretty much predictable from beginning
to end. The sections remain, the lyrics are pretty (weird) but still almost
forgettable. Nonetheless, the title track of Beirut´s album this year just shows the perfection of this formula. Paired with the surreal and tongue in cheek
visuals, Beirut show us that they do know one thing: to keep it entertaining
time and time again.
96. Tory Lanez – Acting Like (Cruel Intentions)
I´m excited for Tory Lanez future projects. Admittedly, most r´n´b singers come of as carbon copies through their themes and even vocal delivery and I can´t tell what makes Lanez stand out in any way. But he has a capable voice and paired with the on point production by Shlohmo, Acting Like keeps me coming back. Hopefully Lanez will be able to get his point across when his next projects drops.
95. Algiers – Irony.Utility.Pretext (Algiers)
Shit is angry and intelligent, so beware. Algiers, with their name alone bring a ton of reference and a big political agenda into their music. Everyone studying, thinking about and living in a post-colonial world – in other words EVERYONE needs to sit down, listen to this project and read the lyrics front to back. Here Algiers critique systematic racism, political power-plays and injustice and the utilization of nativity as a means of keeping up established hierarchies without losing their breath. Shit is heavy and the gritty syth-moves are the affective choke-hold for the described choke-hold. "Embrace primitive man" / "Destroy primitive man" sandwiched between the "lalas" while not discernible at once, will stick to you through the sound alone and goes to show how the band is able to play with the devices they are up against. After this, go back to Leon Bridges and find your enjoyment tarnished. Listen to both, but engage and reflect!
94. Future Brown – Big Homie (Future Brown)
I was hyped out of my mind for this album. Fatima Al Qadiri and Nguzunguzu as two crafty and highly unique voices in electronic music collaborating, sounded like Instrumental Tourists from a different angle. And instrumentally the project did not disappoint in any way. But as there was a feature from an more or less known artists on every song did nothing for the instrumentals, just simply nothing. It is a very great sentiment to use their names and prowess and even ideological standpoint to make a "future sound" with "future artists" paired with their future sound. Give up-and-coming minds a platform and all, I support that, but don´t fall flat with the overall sound of the thing. Big Homie featuring the Sicko Mobb works the best as the crooning non-content takes the vibe from the instrumental and runs with it. The deep bass and the dancehall elements known in the music of Nguzunguzu carry a ghostly and polished coating by Al Qadiri and sound like the future I´d be happy with for Future Brown. That said, I hope for an instrumental version of the thing.
93. Two-9 – World Go Crazy (B4FRVR)
As Rae Sremmurd had a truly successful year, Two-9 who also hang with Mike Will Made It delivered an solid mixtape. The five mc´s do have a recognizable voice and style of rapping and in World Go Crazy it becomes apparent that rap collectives didn´t die with D12 and don´t have to be Black Hippy to shine.
92. Baroness – Iron & Wine (Purple)
The band has recovered from the tragedies that struck them in 2012 and teased Purple for almost half a year. As some considered Purple to be the combination of Blue and Red, there is definitely some Yellow in the mix, too. The group play their blend of metal as intricate as every cover drawn by John Baizley. Iron & Wine was the first reveal from the record and has everything one can search for in a Baroness song. The heavy guitars, strong but melodic vocals and a honeyed mid-section break down.
91. Best Coast – California Nights (California Nights)
Most tracks on California Nights are highly energetic. I´d like to think of them as offsprings of the kind of pop-rock Weezer have been doing with a surf-rock twist. But the title track is something different: There is a somber sense of melancholy paired in the shoegazy waves of guitars and the pathos of singer Bethany Cosentino burns right through it. If there is any way of describing the method of getting high to “get by”, to forget and push away the trouble of having troubles, this pretty much hits the spot.
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