I got a couple of best of lists published this year, but I thought I’d do a definitive one here, because why not? I tried to listen to more new music this year, for reasons which are unclear, except for the usual random neurotic obsession explanation. So here are my 25 best, from least best to most best. (If there seems inconsistency with other lists I’ve posted, I invoke hobgoblins and general wishy-washy indecision.) In many cases I’ve written about the albums elsewhere, so I’ve embedded links where that’s the case.
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25. Jason Isbell—Something More Than Free
24. False—Untitled
23. Novella—Land
22. Rhiannon Giddens—Tomorrow Is My Turn
21.Death Grips—The Powers That B
20.Eartheater—RIP Chrysalis
19.Insect Ark—Portal/Well
18. Nozinja —Nozinja Lodge
17. Elfmilk—Relocation
16. Nicki Bluhm—Loved Wild Lost
15. Ballake Sissoko & Vincent Segal—Musique de Nuit
14. Negro Leo—Niños Heroes
13. Jordannah Elizabeth—A Rush
12. Jonny Faith—Sundial
11.Mugen Hoso—North Carolina Shepherd Dog
10.Kelela—Hallucinogen
9.Mbongwana Star—From Kinshasha to the Moon
8. Father—Who’s Gonna Get Fucked First?
7. Suuns and Jerusalem in My Heart
6.Melt Banana— Return of 13 Hedgehogs
5. Mastery—V.A.L.I.S.
4. Brandi Carlile—The Firewatcher’s Daughter
3. Dawn Richard—Blackheart
2. Sewer Goddess—Painlust
1. RP Boo—Fingers, Bank Pads, and Shoe Prints
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I try not to get stuck in a rut on these lists, and I think this one is pretty varied. There’s metal, hip hop, indie rock, country, folk, electronica, R&B, rock, punk, funk, various kinds of world music, psychedlia, and at least one sort-of jazz thing. The lack of classical music is the big gaping genre hole, though I’m sure there are others.
It is quite US centric; I think 14 out of 25 are from the states; after that Japan is most represented with 2, and then you’ve got Brazil, South Africa, Mexico, UK, Nigeria, Canada, Australia, Mali and France. Nearly equal gender balance: 12 out of 25 are all women or female-led. Ten black performers/groups, and another four led by people of color. It still leans towards white folks, men, and the U.S., but it’s varied enough that there aren’t that many white guys from the U.S. on it. (I think the only two bands/acts entirely made up of white US guys are Mastery and Jason Isbell.)
The last few I put on here were Father and Eartheater, which I only listened to in the last week or so—and Kelela and Elfmilk I relistened to and got more into. The last one I took off the list was Lonesome Wyatt and Rachel Brooks’ album, which I decided I didn’t like quite as well as Jason Isbell’s.
I guess that’s enough nattering. If you’d like to do a music best of on HU, let me know and maybe we can do a little roundtable. And/or tell us what your favorite albums of the year are in comments.