1) The Lumineers
This is the album's I've listened to most so far this year, and was the soundtrack to a memorable trip to California in April. The trio from Denver never fail to make me happy with their rootsy sound. The instrumentalist Neyla Pekarek is classically trained and plays mandolin, piano and cello. The folk melodies are beautifully sung by Wesley Schultz, and the overall feeling is nostalgic. It will appeal to lovers of Mumford & Sons, yet has a gentler feel. Ho Hey is the stand out track and there's a stream here.
2) Alt-J An Awesome Wave
This debut from the Leeds, UK quartet takes risks, and is startlingly imaginative. There’s much variety, from catchy pop tunes, folk harmonies and electronic experimentation. Their live show lives up to this album's promise, and whilst some will find the quirkiness in the vocals in particular difficult to accept, I enjoy being challenged. My favourite track is Tessellate. Check out their Soundcloud page here.
3) Sigur Ros Valtari
Valtari is music to dream to, best appreciated when you're relaxed. If there's a heaven, this might accompany your journey there. It's calm and introspective, with similarities to classical music, often without a clearly defined rhythm. I adore the deep serenity and lush electronics, but if you dislike the other output from this Icelandic source, you're unlikely to be converted by Valtari. It's devoid of catchy melodies or intelligible lyrics, yet I consider it to be deeply spiritual. As of mid June, The Guardian is still streaming the album.
4) Delta Spirit
This San Diego five piece has produced a glorious combination of new and traditional Americana in this album. It's a fuller sound than previously, including synthesiser, yet still with a nod to Southern revival and the 1960's. Tribal like calls at the opening of Tellin' The Mind show that they're not afraid to take risks, and they have a real swagger, especially on tracks like the haunting Time Bomb. I've yet to see Delta Spirit live, but this has given much joy. There's a recent Daytrotter session and Rolling Stone has streamed the album.
5) First Aid Kit The Lion's Roar
This album is undeniably charming. The two Swedish sisters have been influenced more by country music than on their first album, and the gorgeous vocal harmonies delight. The highlight is Emmylou, but many of the choruses are beautiful, and this might even win over those not usually appreciative of folk music. First Aid Kit is even better live though. Check out their music here.
6) Lost in The Trees A Church That Fits Our Needs
There's no questioning the gentle sincerity here: it's a memorial to Ari Picker's mother, who committed suicide. She's featured on the album cover and it expresses Picker's sentiments 'I feel like if God had some sort of way of speaking, it would be through music'. He has a beautiful tenor voice and an active imagination. Clearly it's a difficult emotional journey, yet the overall impression is one of hope, and peace, not despair. You can find some media on their Tumblr page.
7) Beach House Bloom
The follow up to the gorgeous Teen Dream doesn't disappoint and, of its type, is as close to perfection as I can imagine. It's beautifully structured, so it works as a whole not just as a series of individual songs; and has a hypnotic effect which I haven't tired of after multiple listens. I can't wait to see them live for the first time in October. Here's their video page.
8) Alabama Shakes Boys and Girls
Alabama Shakes' début album from Alabama is a blend of soul, blues and garage rock, and sounds as if it's been around for years. The outstanding feature is Brittany Howard's idiomatic vocals, which have been compared to Janis Joplin. When I rank the live performances I've seen this year, The Shakes will be near the top, but the album doesn't quite match that experience, and I find the sound quality thin compared to real life. Find some audio and video on their home page.
9) Carina Round Tigermending
This album from a British member of Maynard James Keenan's Puscifer has real depth and passion. She's sombre and powerful, conjuring up real drama, and the intricacy rewards repeated listening. That voice is outstanding, and speaks directly to your emotions. It's not always a comfortable experience, but its drama makes it decisively one of the albums of the year. There's a stream on her website.
10) Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros Here
As I predicted, critical response to this album has been
mixed, and despite being a huge fan of Edward Sharpe it hasn't quite made the top of my list, . It's the first half of two instalments this year, the second promising to be more extrovert. There isn't a hit here to rival Home, but its heart warming collective spirit is beautiful. I'm pleased Alex Ebert has the confidence to take the Zeros in a distinctive direction. A couple of the songs from Here and some earlier material can be found on their inventive web site.
11) Fiona Apple The Idler Wheel
I haven't yet had time to take stock of this album, but it's already made an impact on me. It's raw and stripped back with piano to the fore, and a far from comfortable listen. Fiona's voice is remarkably malleable, and here is deployed to the service of the lyrics rather than for prettiness. I found similarities with contemporary classical song in its emotional effect, and there's no doubt this is a powerful statement. The entire album is currently streaming on NPR.
12) Sharon Van Etten Tramp
My opinion of Tramp has been enhanced after experiencing it live. It can be bleak and vulnerable, but with an understated, confessional air. It's one of those albums which gradually gets under your skin, and The National's Aaron Dessner production beautifully complements Sharon's wonderful voice. Relive her SXSW performance here.
13) Trampled by Turtles Stars and Satellites
This bluegrass group are known for their high octane energy, yet their new album is incredibly tender and heartfelt. I rate this acoustic album so highly because of that intangible quality: its feel. Like The Lumineers it's heartwarming, and I love its melancholy aspects. Needless to say, the fiddle, banjo, and bass playing is virtuoso, and the vocal harmonies lovely. A less frenetic feel means that when a song such as Alone does eventually reach a thunderous climax, the impact is all the greater. You can listen to the entire album here.
14) Exitmusic Passage
This dark, brooding album is all about atmosphere, and Aleska Palladino's seductive vocals are set in a sea of reverb and noise. This isn't the album for a summer drive to the beach: it's more likely to make you cry with its feeling of loneliness. Yet it has a cinematic feel, and the soundscape the four piece creates can't help but draw you in with their layers and effects. Palladino's vocal and instrumental skills are never in doubt here. The title track can be found on Bandcamp.
15) Mesita The Coyote
Colorado's James Cooley clearly has a fertile imagination: this really does sound original, despite being indebted to artists as varied as Brian Eno, Bon Iver and Radiohead. It's complex, carefully constructed music which demands your undivided attention, the layers remarkably generated by the 24 year old Cooley alone. I find it transporting and inspiring. There's now a free 5 track sampler available for download on Bandcamp.
16) Alcoholic Faith Mission Ask Me This
Ask Me This starts with glorious close harmony part singing, and takes you on a voyage of discovery. The Danish group may have folk roots, but they are not afraid to use synths alongside acoustic strings (most notably in Alaska). I find it beautifully imaginative and the vocals are outstandingly well deployed. Listen in full on their website.
17) Deep Sea Diver History Speaks
Deep Sea Diver is the side project of The Shins' guitarist Jessica Dobson. The album is dominated by her vocals, has punch, and her husband's drumming is tight. The melodies are intricate, and I love hearing the frisson between the four band members. If you enjoy the Shins, you should try Bandcamp's stream.
18) Grimes Visions
Young Montreal electronic artist Claire Boucher evidently has an amazingly free ranging imagination in this dream pop. It's sophisticated music, dominated by ethereal vocals, loops and crisp beats, yet eminently listenable. Her voice is light, but the range is astonishing, and this an album which flows coherently, amazing considering it's her first full length. I'm looking forward to seeing Grimes live in the autumn and I'm not surprised this album has just been nominated for the Polaris Prize. You can listen to the song Oblivion here.
19) Jack White Blunderbuss
Blunderbuss' is gritty and challenging, as he sings of suffering for love. The bluesy garage rock takes risks, and is delivered with utter passion and commitment. The widespread critical acclaim is justified, and whilst it's not for the faint hearted, you can't argue with its energy. Here's his YouTube channel.
20) Electric Guest Mondo
Broken Bells is one of my favourite albums, and this has some of the same Danger Mouse magic. It's been criticised for its backward looking, 70's soul sound, but I love the uplifting, breezy Californian pop. Asa Taccone's falsetto voice has a jazzy feel, and I find it infectiously catchy. The highlight for me is the extended Troubleman, and in fact the second half in general works better than the first. Three songs can be found on Soundcloud.
10 Honourable Mentions:
- Michael Kiwanuka Home Again
- Dry The River Shallow Bed
- Mount Eerie Clear Moon
- The Brothers Comatose Respect The Van
- Foreign Fields Anywhere but Where I Am
- Fanfarlo Rooms Filled With Light
- The Parlotones Journey Through The Shadows
- Liars WIXIW
- Bronze Radio Return Shake! Shake! Shake!
- She Makes War Little Battles
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