Acclaimed Music Forums

TheLastEnemy wrote: ↑Thu Apr 01, 2021 7:33 pm 9 Edre: P2

Wow thank you! I honestly forgot I released that album this year!

Jirin wrote: ↑Fri Apr 02, 2021 2:56 pm I'm treating it as one album, but I'm wondering when it comes EOY voting time what we're going to do.

Maybe in the case of a vote for Made's & Femi's albums separately, only the points for the highest placed LP should go towards the compilation's tally?

Sufjan Stevens announced a five volume album that will all be released by May 6th. Part 1 comes out on April 8th.

Tindersticks - Distraction is very different from the slow emotive lofi I come to expect from them. Interesting album.

It’s still emotive lofi but has some haunting piano grooves.

Current albums over 75 for me so far

1. Julien Baker - Little Oblivions (88)
2. Arlo Parks - Collapsed In Sunbeams (87)
3. Martin Gore - The Third Chimpanzee (82)
4. Jazmine Sullivan - Heaux Tales (82)
5. Brockhampton - Roadrunner: New Light, New Machine (80)
6. Quadeca - From Me To You (79)
7. Jpegmafia - EP2! (78)
8. Death From Above 1979 - Is 4 Lovers (77)
9. Shame - Drunk Tank Pink (77)
10. Thermionic - Neural Node (77)
11. Do Nothing - Glueland (76)

(Bubbling)

- Rhye - Home (74)
- Benny The Butcher - The Plugs I Met 2 (73)
- The Weather Station - Ignorance (73)
- Black Country, New Road - For The First Time (73)
- Claud - Super Monster (72)
- Nothing, Nowhere - Trauma Factory (70)

New ratings in red
9/10
Here Lies Man - Ritual Divination
Black Country, New Road - For the First Time
Arab Strap - As Days Get Dark
Genghis Tron - Dream Weapon

8/10 :
Viagra Boys - Welfare Jazz
Sleaford Mods - Spare Ribs
Shame - Drunk Tank Pink
Arlo Parks - Collapsed in Sunbeams
LICE - WASTELAND : What Ails Our People Is Clear
Crowded House - Live 92-94, Pt. 2
Black Country, New Road - Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre
Godspeed You! Black Emperor - G_d's Pee AT STATE'S END!

7/10
Aaron Lee Tasjan - Tasjan! Tasjan! Tasjan!
Daniel Knox - Won't You Take Me With You
Steve Earle - J.T.
Muslimgauze vs Celtarabia - Muslimgauze vs Celtarabia
Daniel Avery B2B HAAi - Junction 2: Connections, Millennium Mills, London
Buckethead - Pike 288 - Liminal Monorail
Pauline Anna Strom - Angel Tears in Sunlight
Nick Cave & Warren Ellis - Carnage

6/10
Funki Porcini - Drift to This
Jim O'Rourke - Steamroom 53
Ennio Morricone - I Due Evasi di Sing Sing
Katy Kirby - Cool Dry Place
Julien Baker - Little Oblivions
Muslimgauze - Live
serpentwithfeet - Deacon
Ghetts - Conflict of Interest
Xiu Xiu - OH NO

5/10
Jim O'Rourke - Steamroom 52
Howard Shore - Pieces of a Woman
Osees - Improv at Zebulon 2​/​6​/​21
Architects - For Those That Wish to Exist
Tom Holkenborg - Zack Snyder's Justice League
Lana Del Rey - Chemtrails Over the Country Club

4/10
Virginia Wing - Private Life

3/10
Anna B Savage - A Common Turn
Thinking Fellers Union Local 282 - Live at Midway Cafe, Boston MA on 2011-05-10

And what I would like to hear soon :

For Those I Love - For Those I Love
Floating Points, Pharoah Sanders & The London Symphony Orchestra - Promises
Rhiannon Giddens With Francesco Turrisi - They're Calling Me Home
Gazelle Twin & NYX - Deep England
Tribulation - Where The Gloom Becomes Sound
The Weather Station - Ignorance
Genesis Owusu - Smiling With No Teeth
The Anchoress - The Art Of Losing
Dry Cleaning - New Long Leg
Taylor Swift - Fearless (Taylor's Version)
Cassandra Jenkins - An Overview On Phenomenal Nature
Armand Hammer & The Alchemist - HARAM
Lost Girls - Menneskekollektivet
Altın Gün - Yol
Jane Weaver - Flock
William Doyle - Great Spans of Muddy Time
Tomahawk - Tonic Immobility
Still Corners - The Last Exit
The Staves - Good Woman
Peggy Seeger - First Farewell
POSTDATA - Twin Flames
SPIRIT OF THE BEEHIVE - ENTERTAINMENT, DEATH
Claud - Super Monster
Valerie June - The Moon And Stars: Prescriptions For Dreamers
Mouse on Mars - AAI
Du Blonde - Homecoming

Anyone else feel like there has been a lack of high profile releases so far this year? I was expecting this would be a banner year for music given that every artist was sidelined from touring due to COVID last year. What else did they have to do but write new music? Hopefully things start to pick up, but I've been disappointed so far.

Dan wrote: ↑Sat Mar 27, 2021 1:09 pm 7 | For Those I Love | For Those I Love | Favourite track: I Have a Love

Such a blinding, emotionally charged album- thanks for the rec!

My current top 10:

1. Arlo Parks - Collapsed in Sunbeams
2. Demi Lovato - Dancing with the Devil
3. Zara Larsson - Poster Girl
4. Godspeed You! Black Emperor - G_d's Pee AT STATE'S END!
5. The Weather Station - Ignorance
6. The Anchoress - The Art of Losing
7. Kings of Leon - When You See Yourself
8. Julien Baker - Little Oblivions
9. Pauline Anna Strom - Angel Tears in Sunlight
10. Mogwai - As the Love Continues

List on RYM

Jackson wrote: ↑Wed Apr 14, 2021 10:26 pm Anyone else feel like there has been a lack of high profile releases so far this year? I was expecting this would be a banner year for music given that every artist was sidelined from touring due to COVID last year. What else did they have to do but write new music? Hopefully things start to pick up, but I've been disappointed so far.

Agreed 100%. But I'm usually the guy saying this refrain. Anyway, we really haven't had much in the way of an "event" album yet, like Fetch the Bolt Cutters or Norman Fucking Rockwell! or any album that the internet music community can rally around and proclaim "now THIS is great!". Maybe the closest is the new Black Country, New Road album.

My pet theory is that artists are saving their releases for the second half of the year, when they're able to tour (at least in the US).

I'll tell you right now, I'm not objective, but the last album of La Femme - Paradigmes is for me the wonder of the year and even of the last few years.

I am addicted!

New Sharon Van Etten album Epic Ten.

This one has a lot of guest singers. Why is it every time Lucinda Williams has a guest appearance on an album she steals the show?

mileswide wrote: ↑Wed Apr 14, 2021 11:54 pm

Dan wrote: ↑Sat Mar 27, 2021 1:09 pm 7 | For Those I Love | For Those I Love | Favourite track: I Have a Love

Such a blinding, emotionally charged album- thanks for the rec!

It’s gaining critical acclaim and will probably end up doing quite well on year-end lists. Personally, I like it more with each listen. I didn’t expect a spoken word album rooted in house music to be so poignant and pull such a punch. An emotional, powerful ode to his best mate who sadly chose to take his own life.

bonnielaurel wrote: ↑Thu Apr 15, 2021 9:37 am My current top 10:

1. Arlo Parks - Collapsed in Sunbeams
2. Demi Lovato - Dancing with the Devil
3. Zara Larsson - Poster Girl
4. Godspeed You! Black Emperor - G_d's Pee AT STATE'S END!
5. The Weather Station - Ignorance
6. The Anchoress - The Art of Losing
7. Kings of Leon - When You See Yourself
8. Julien Baker - Little Oblivions
9. Pauline Anna Strom - Angel Tears in Sunlight
10. Mogwai - As the Love Continues

List on RYM

Nice to see another girl on here for a change Regarding Godspeed You! Black Emperor, my husband (Spiritualized) is desperate to see them (so I guess that’s me off to another gig as soon as Covid allows )... I need to start listening to them !!

Jirin wrote: ↑Fri Apr 16, 2021 2:20 pm New Sharon Van Etten album Epic Ten.

This one has a lot of guest singers. Why is it every time Lucinda Williams has a guest appearance on an album she steals the show?

If I'm not mistaken it's just her album 'Epic' covered by other musicians, so not really a new album by her.

Gillingham wrote: ↑Mon Apr 19, 2021 2:46 pm

Jirin wrote: ↑Fri Apr 16, 2021 2:20 pm New Sharon Van Etten album Epic Ten.

This one has a lot of guest singers. Why is it every time Lucinda Williams has a guest appearance on an album she steals the show?

If I'm not mistaken it's just her album 'Epic' covered by other musicians, so not really a new album by her.

I usually treat cover albums as new albums if they add something new to the songs, but yes, not new songs.

I also think Mercury Rev’s Bobbie Gentry cover album is amazing, and Lucinda Williams also had the most memorable song on that one.

The new Kero Kero Bonito EP out today is absolutely sick. "The Princess and the Clock" is probably my SOTY so far. If they put out a whole album like this, it'd be an easy AOTY contender.

Jessie Ware announced a deluxe version of What's Your Pleasure, which will come out on June 11. I loved Please, the first single from the project, which is in line with the quality and style of the WYP singles. I hope she keeps it coming in this sound!

The year is 1/3rd of the way over. Here's what I've heard:

Great Tier:

1. Godspeed You! Black Emperor- G_d's Pee AT STATE'S END!
2. Black Country, New Road- For the First Time

Very Good Tier:

3. The Weather Station- Ignorance
4. Weezer- OK Human
5. Kero Kero Bonito- Civilisation II (EP)

Good Tier:

6. Parannoul- To See the Next Part of the Dream
7. Lana Del Rey- Chemtrails Over the Country Club
8. L'Impératrice- Tako Tsubo
9. Viagra Boys- Welfare Jazz
10. The Armed- ULTRAPOP
11. Genesis Owusu- Smiling with No Teeth
12. Nick Cave and Warren Ellis- Carnage
13. Floating Points/ Pharoah Sanders/ The London Symphony Orchestra- Promises
14. Arlo Parks- Collapsed in Sunbeams
15. Madlib- Sound Ancestors
16. Shame- Drunk Tank Pink

Decent Tier:

17. Jazmine Sullivan- Heaux Tales (EP)
18. serpentwithfeet- DEACON

My highlights from April (in red the 9/10):
Piers Faccini | Shapes of the Fall
Binker Golding / John Edwards / Steve Noble | Moon Day
Godspeed You! Black Emperor | G_d's Pee AT STATE'S END!
Vijay Iyer / Linda May Han Oh / Tyshawn Sorey | Uneasy
Ja, Panik | Die Gruppe
Jazzrausch Bigband | téchne
Damon Locks & Black Monument Ensemble | NOW
Myele Manzanza | Crisis & Opportunity, Vol. 1 - London
Masaa / Bernd Ruf / Jenaer Philharmonie | East West Symphony: Hiwar
Otay:onii | Míng Míng
Mario Rom's Interzone | Eternal Fiction
Sigmun | Hopeful Tears

Ja, Panik was released today, so it may totally grow. It's definitely great and might be their best? The only misfire is the second part of "The Cure".
Last year's theme was jazz guitar which was simply all over my list, this year it seems to be trios in different configurations.

The new Dinosaur Jr. is my new favorite rock album of the year. I’ve listened to so much sub-par post punk so far that this album was quite the breath of fresh air

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - New Fragility is a solid new album from an established indie name I haven’t heard much talk about.

Holden wrote: ↑Sun May 02, 2021 5:48 pm The new Dinosaur Jr. is my new favorite rock album of the year. I’ve listened to so much sub-par post punk so far that this album was quite the breath of fresh air

Whilst I always will favour J Mascis releases over a number of other rock acts, I wasn't much impressed by his new album. Not much road travelled far from his previous albums.

On the other hand, The Coral new album is very good. Unexpected release from the Scousers.

spiritualized wrote: ↑Mon May 03, 2021 5:23 pm

Holden wrote: ↑Sun May 02, 2021 5:48 pm The new Dinosaur Jr. is my new favorite rock album of the year. I’ve listened to so much sub-par post punk so far that this album was quite the breath of fresh air

Whilst I always will favour J Mascis releases over a number of other rock acts, I wasn't much impressed by his new album. Not much road travelled far from his previous albums.

On the other hand, The Coral new album is very good. Unexpected release from the Scousers.

To be fair I've only ever heard their two 80s albums (which are amazing, classic even) so I that's all I can compare Sweep It Into Space to.

Schüttelbirne wrote: ↑Fri Apr 30, 2021 9:28 pm Binker Golding / John Edwards / Steve Noble | Moon Day

Top choice, every bit as imaginative as Binker's former bandmate Moses Boyd's album last year albeit more traditional. I'd recommend Pino Palladino & Blake Mills' Notes with Attachments if jazz duos aren't off-limits?

New Sleater-Kinney album coming out June 11. They also dropped a single from the album:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34XX_fg-R_4

New St Vincent is excellent.

Holden wrote: ↑Tue May 04, 2021 1:02 pm

spiritualized wrote: ↑Mon May 03, 2021 5:23 pm

Holden wrote: ↑Sun May 02, 2021 5:48 pm The new Dinosaur Jr. is my new favorite rock album of the year. I’ve listened to so much sub-par post punk so far that this album was quite the breath of fresh air

Whilst I always will favour J Mascis releases over a number of other rock acts, I wasn't much impressed by his new album. Not much road travelled far from his previous albums.

On the other hand, The Coral new album is very good. Unexpected release from the Scousers.

To be fair I've only ever heard their two 80s albums (which are amazing, classic even) so I that's all I can compare Sweep It Into Space to.

I recommend you listen to Green Mind, my favorite Dinosaur Jr album by some margin !

Time for an update !!

New ratings in red
9/10
Here Lies Man - Ritual Divination
Black Country, New Road - For the First Time
Arab Strap - As Days Get Dark
Genghis Tron - Dream Weapon
Lord Huron - Long Lost - Really good album, his voice reminds me so much of Fleet Foxes' debut, it's uncanny. A bit more country influenced, but excellent nonetheless.
Floating Points, Pharoah Sanders & The London Symphony Orchestra - Promises


8/10 :
Viagra Boys - Welfare Jazz
Sleaford Mods - Spare Ribs
Shame - Drunk Tank Pink
Arlo Parks - Collapsed in Sunbeams
LICE - WASTELAND : What Ails Our People Is Clear
Crowded House - Live 92-94, Pt. 2
Black Country, New Road - Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre
Godspeed You! Black Emperor - G_d's Pee AT STATE'S END!
Weezer - Van Weezer Pure, unadulterated Rock'n'Roll fun. Cuomos knows how to pen a tune.
Iceage - Seek Shelter
The Coral - Coral Island

7/10
Aaron Lee Tasjan - Tasjan! Tasjan! Tasjan!
Daniel Knox - Won't You Take Me With You
Steve Earle - J.T.
Muslimgauze vs Celtarabia - Muslimgauze vs Celtarabia
Daniel Avery B2B HAAi - Junction 2: Connections, Millennium Mills, London
Buckethead - Pike 288 - Liminal Monorail
Pauline Anna Strom - Angel Tears in Sunlight
Nick Cave & Warren Ellis - Carnage
Leon Vynehall - Rare, Forever
Tune-Yards - Sketchy.
Dinosaur Jr. - Sweep It Into Space

6/10
Funki Porcini - Drift to This
Jim O'Rourke - Steamroom 53
Ennio Morricone - I Due Evasi di Sing Sing
Katy Kirby - Cool Dry Place
Julien Baker - Little Oblivions
Muslimgauze - Live
serpentwithfeet - Deacon
Ghetts - Conflict of Interest
Xiu Xiu - OH NO

5/10
Jim O'Rourke - Steamroom 52
Howard Shore - Pieces of a Woman
Osees - Improv at Zebulon 2​/​6​/​21
Architects - For Those That Wish to Exist
Tom Holkenborg - Zack Snyder's Justice League
Lana Del Rey - Chemtrails Over the Country Club
The Weather Station - Ignorance
Peggy Seeger - First Farewell


4/10
Virginia Wing - Private Life

3/10
Anna B Savage - A Common Turn
Thinking Fellers Union Local 282 - Live at Midway Cafe, Boston MA on 2011-05-10

And what I would like to hear soon :

For Those I Love - For Those I Love
Sons of Kemet - Black To The Future
Rhiannon Giddens With Francesco Turrisi - They're Calling Me Home
Tribulation - Where The Gloom Becomes Sound*
Alfie Templeman - Forever Isn't Long Enough
Gazelle Twin & NYX - Deep England*
Squid - Bright Green Field*
St Vincent - Daddy's Home
Genesis Owusu - Smiling With No Teeth
The Anchoress - The Art Of Losing
Mdou Moctar - Afrique Victime
Dry Cleaning - New Long Leg
Vijay Iyer, Linda May Han Oh & Tyshawn Sorey - Uneasy
The Armed - Ultrapop
Cassandra Jenkins - An Overview On Phenomenal Nature
Gruff Rhys - Seeking New Gods*
David Gray - Skellig
Armand Hammer & The Alchemist - HARAM
Chloe Moriondo - BLOOD BUNNY
Jane Weaver - Flock
Matt Berry - The Blue Elephant
Lost Girls - Menneskekollektivet
Dorothea Paas - Anything Can't Happen
Jack Ingram, Miranda Lambert & Jon Randall - The Marfa Tapes
Cory Hanson - Pale Horse Rider
black midi - Cavalcade
William Doyle - Great Spans of Muddy Time
Still Corners - The Last Exit
The Staves - Good Woman
POSTDATA - Twin Flames
Bell Orchestre - House Music
Claud - Super Monster
Valerie June - The Moon And Stars: Prescriptions For Dreamers
Taylor Swift - Fearless (Taylor's Version)
Mouse on Mars - AAI
Tom Jones - Surrounded By Time
Tony Allen - There Is No End
Art D'Ecco - In Standard Definition
Billie Marten - Flora Fauna

I think Britain’s ready to dominate come the year end polls although the most fickle of critics might get frustrated with all the post punk labeling. I’m hearing the Flechettes and the New Twenty are definitely the ones to watch. Not sure if it’s success wise or buzzworthy word of mouth and acclaim or all of the above. Just glad rock music is becoming more the standard again instead of robotic pop or the artsy snobby Brooklyn indie stuff on the other end of the spectrum.

Finally got to Weezer’s first 2021 album and these tunes are great! The production, instruments, vocals, it’s so creative and fun! This is probably the biggest contrast between quality of sound and lyrics though, as I’m cringing through like half of these songs. Like, I get it Rivers, you like to read. I also understand these references. It’s not interesting or original to hear you talk about how screens are bad either. We get it.

Highlights from May.
I was mostly focused on the non-english poll and the 1964 poll (more on that chaos in the respective thread later), so only a few albums, but these are really great:

Arooj Aftab | Vulture Prince [Pakistani musician, doing layered, quiet folk mostly from the Ghazal tradition]
Magdalena Gantner | Neo Noir [debut from German singer/songwriter with wonderful acoustic chamber pop, great variety of style and a beautiful voice]
Francesca Remigi & Archipélagos | Il Labirinto dei Topi [Modern jazz with a talented ensemble; includes lots of sampling, most of which is done quite well, only "The Shooting" is unfortunate]
Cymin Samawatie & Ketan Bhatti | Trickster Orchestra [combining different musical traditions from different cultures to create a unique new whole; could use a little more umph though, if you know what I mean]
San Salvador | La grande folie
Archie Shepp & Jason Moran | Let My People Go [just saxophone and piano, but incredibly impactful; if there is an heir to Coltrane, it's Shepp]

I highly recommend the San Salvador album. It's hard to describe what they're doing without it scaring of people. It's an ensemble of six people playing very energetic Latin American Folk with just percussion and polyphonic vocals. The entire album is a bit much to take in one go because it's not 'easy' music, but it's magnificently performed and intensely rewarding. Start with one or two songs and see if you like them; pretty much all of them are great.

Schüttelbirne wrote: ↑Mon May 31, 2021 9:22 pm Highlights from May.
I was mostly focused on the non-english poll and the 1964 poll (more on that chaos in the respective thread later), so only a few albums, but these are really great:

Arooj Aftab | Vulture Prince [Pakistani musician, doing layered, quiet folk mostly from the Ghazal tradition]
Magdalena Gantner | Neo Noir [debut from German singer/songwriter with wonderful acoustic chamber pop, great variety of style and a beautiful voice]
Francesca Remigi & Archipélagos | Il Labirinto dei Topi [Modern jazz with a talented ensemble; includes lots of sampling, most of which is done quite well, only "The Shooting" is unfortunate]
Cymin Samawatie & Ketan Bhatti | Trickster Orchestra [combining different musical traditions from different cultures to create a unique new whole; could use a little more umph though, if you know what I mean]
San Salvador | La grande folie
Archie Shepp & Jason Moran | Let My People Go [just saxophone and piano, but incredibly impactful; if there is an heir to Coltrane, it's Shepp]

I highly recommend the San Salvador album. It's hard to describe what they're doing without it scaring of people. It's an ensemble of six people playing very energetic Latin American Folk with just percussion and polyphonic vocals. The entire album is a bit much to take in one go because it's not 'easy' music, but it's magnificently performed and intensely rewarding. Start with one or two songs and see if you like them; pretty much all of them are great.

That description makes me want to listen to it immediately.

Schüttelbirne wrote: ↑Mon May 31, 2021 9:22 pm
San Salvador | La grande folie

I highly recommend the San Salvador album. It's hard to describe what they're doing without it scaring of people. It's an ensemble of six people playing very energetic Latin American Folk with just percussion and polyphonic vocals. The entire album is a bit much to take in one go because it's not 'easy' music, but it's magnificently performed and intensely rewarding. Start with one or two songs and see if you like them; pretty much all of them are great.

La grande folie means The great madness.
I have the impression that it corresponds well to the album, no?

1. Wardruna - Kvitravn
2. Anna B Savage - A Common Turn
3. Yasmin Williams - Urban Driftwood
4. Kizis - Turn
5. Nick Cave & Warren Ellis - CARNAGE
6. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - New Fragility
7. Tune Yards - Sketchy
8. The Anchoress - The Art Of Losign
9. Django Django - Glowing In The Dark
10. Godspeed You! Black Emperor - G_d's Pee At State's End
11. St Vincent - Daddy's Home
12. Sharon Van Etten - Epic Ten
13. Iceage - Seek Shelter
14. Femi Kuti & Made Kuti - Legacy+
15. Julien Baker - Little Oblivions
16. Lake Street Drive - Obviously
17. Arab Strap - As Days Get Dark
18. C Tangana - El Madrileno
19. Mass Bernd/Ruf Jenaer/Philharmonie - East West Symphony: Hiwar
20. The Weather Station - Ignorance

My latest update since it has been a while and some really good stuff has come out.
As of right now these are all my albums higher than a 75

1. Wolf Alice - Blue Weekend (88)
2. Julien Baker - Little Oblivions (87)
3. Japanese Breakfast - Jubilee (87)
4. Arlo Parks - Collapsed In Sunbeams (84)
5. The Armed - Ultrapop (83)
6. Martin Gore - The Third Chimpanzee (82)
7. Jazmine Sullivan - Heaux Tales (80)
8. Quadeca - From Me To You (79)
9. Brockhampton - Roadrunner: New Light, New Machine (78)
10. Kero Kero Bonito - Civilization II (78)
11. JPEGMAFIA - EP2 (78)
12. Death From Above 1979 - Is 4 Lovers (77)
13. Shame - Drunk Tank Pink (77)
14. Thermionic - Nerural Node (77)
15. St. Vincent - Daddy's Home (76)
16. Do Nothing - Glueland (76)

(Bubbling Under 70-74)

- Rhye - Home (74)
- Benny The Butcher - The Plugs I Met 2 (73)
- Black Country, New Road - For The First Time (73)
- The Weather Station - Ignorance (73)
- Claud - Super Monster (72)
- Sufjan Stevens - Meditations (70)
- Nothing Nowhere - Trauma Factory (70)

Edre Peraza wrote: ↑Fri Jun 04, 2021 8:17 pm 1. Wolf Alice - Blue Weekend (88)

I really want to like this but on first listen it didn't have the same variety and creative energy of their first two albums. Hopefully it improves on subsequent listens.

Jackson wrote: ↑Fri Jun 04, 2021 11:36 pm

Edre Peraza wrote: ↑Fri Jun 04, 2021 8:17 pm 1. Wolf Alice - Blue Weekend (88)

I really want to like this but on first listen it didn't have the same variety and creative energy of their first two albums. Hopefully it improves on subsequent listens.

I think it is far and away their best album or at least their best-written album.

My Top 10 so far:

1 Black Midi - Cavalcade
2 Julien Baker - Little Oblivions
3 Black Country, New Road - For the First Time
4 Shame - Drunk Tank Pink
5 Parannoul - To See the Next Part of the Dream
6 Squid - Bright Green Field
7 The Weather Station - Ignorance
8 Dry Cleaning - New Long Leg
9 Wolf Alice - Blue Weekend
10 Cassandra Jenkins - An Overview on Phenomenal Nature

Jessie Ware's deluxe version of What's Your Pleasure came out today. I'm curious how this one will be treated - if the new songs are nearly as good as the excellent pre release singles Please and Hot n Heavy, it'll be among the best pop releases of the year, but as the b-side to an album released last year, will it be eligible for EOY lists? This is also a good opportunity to discover her awesome 2018 single Overtime if you don't know it already.

Jackson wrote: ↑Fri Jun 11, 2021 11:03 pm Jessie Ware's deluxe version of What's Your Pleasure came out today. I'm curious how this one will be treated - if the new songs are nearly as good as the excellent pre release singles Please and Hot n Heavy, it'll be among the best pop releases of the year, but as the b-side to an album released last year, will it be eligible for EOY lists? This is also a good opportunity to discover her awesome 2018 single Overtime if you don't know it already.

Deluxe versions are released all of the time and I have never seen them being treated as new releases, so why would this be the exception?

New Sleater Kinney is good. Maybe not as good as their classic work but an improvement on their last one.

Rob wrote: ↑Sat Jun 12, 2021 1:16 pm

Jackson wrote: ↑Fri Jun 11, 2021 11:03 pm Jessie Ware's deluxe version of What's Your Pleasure came out today. I'm curious how this one will be treated - if the new songs are nearly as good as the excellent pre release singles Please and Hot n Heavy, it'll be among the best pop releases of the year, but as the b-side to an album released last year, will it be eligible for EOY lists? This is also a good opportunity to discover her awesome 2018 single Overtime if you don't know it already.

Deluxe versions are released all of the time and I have never seen them being treated as new releases, so why would this be the exception?

I don't think it will be, but the six new songs are among my favorite works released this year and are in line with the quality of the WYP album, so I wish there was a way for it to be recognized. I wish she had put this out as a mini-LP or EP (like Carly Rae Jepsen did with her previous two albums), but the deluxe edition is surely more financially lucrative.

I'd imagine re: Jessie Ware that the album itself won't get any love, but the standout track(s) of it will get love regardless.

Having listened to the new Wolf Alice, I’m confident it will make AMF’s EOY Top 10, even if I find it a little underwhelming.

Holden wrote: ↑Sun Jun 20, 2021 5:47 pm Having listened to the new Wolf Alice, I’m confident it will make AMF’s EOY Top 10, even if I find it a little underwhelming.

I like Blue Weekend a lot. It's one of those albums that makes me reevaluate an artist I hadn't fully appreciated before. I'd given cursory listens to the first two albums without them really sinking in, but after listening to (and thoroughly enjoying) the new one twice, I went back to My Love is Cool this weekend with fresh ears and thought, "Why didn't I hear how good this is?"

Harold wrote: ↑Mon Jun 21, 2021 1:58 pm

Holden wrote: ↑Sun Jun 20, 2021 5:47 pm Having listened to the new Wolf Alice, I’m confident it will make AMF’s EOY Top 10, even if I find it a little underwhelming.

I like Blue Weekend a lot. It's one of those albums that makes me reevaluate an artist I hadn't fully appreciated before. I'd given cursory listens to the first two albums without them really sinking in, but after listening to (and thoroughly enjoying) the new one twice, I went back to My Love is Cool this weekend with fresh ears and thought, "Why didn't I hear how good this is?"

I plan to listen to it more to cement an opinion myself, but I’m happy you were able to enjoy it! When I say underwhelmed, I don’t mean to imply it’s a bad album, just that I didn’t enjoy it as much as I thought I would, and to me it seemed overpraised. Not really third place on Metacritic quality to me. Then again, I don’t agree with the two beating it either (Ghetts and Carnage).

I'm really liking Tyler, the Creator's new album. His last couple albums were good but in a different style. This feels like he's finally fulfilling the promise made by "Yonkers" with a decade's worth of refinement.

St Vincent has taken over my #1 spot. On track for a two album AOTY streak.

Anyone else think this is a weaker year? Last year there were like 25 albums I liked enough to buy physically. This year 4 so far.

Jirin wrote: ↑Mon Jun 28, 2021 2:30 pm St Vincent has taken over my #1 spot. On track for a two album AOTY streak.

Anyone else think this is a weaker year? Last year there were like 25 albums I liked enough to buy physically. This year 4 so far.

I hesitated making this same comment because I’ve said the same thing about previous years and I didn’t want to be the “guy who always says this year is kinda underwhelming”, but yeah, I’m in 100% agreement, this year has been terrible. There are only two albums from the year that'd even have a shot at my top 10 of 2020, and nothing that’d crack the top 5. And I didn’t think 2020 was some incredible year for music or anything either, it was just an okay year.

So…what gives? Are bigger artists holding off on releasing music until touring season starts (from what I’ve seen the big tours and festivals are scheduled for late summer/autumn this year)? Did all these artists squander their newfound free time during the pandemic? Is it just a bad year, and bad years just happen from time to time?

I don’t think it’s because I’m getting older or whatever. By this point last year there were 4 albums out that made my top 500 of all time (Jessie Ware, Fiona Apple, Yves Tumor, and Dua Lipa). This year…nada. So what gives?