Aaaaand now, the moment you all have been waiting for! My 1st annual Big Ass List of All the Albums I've Liked for the First Half of the Year (working title). Seriously though, what a year so far! I would consider my top 20 to all still be AOTY contenders. Some of these I've only listened to once, so perhaps a second listen will change my view? Only time will tell. Anyways, here's the list as of right now.
1. Kishi Bashi - Omoiyari - Since the announcement I have been over the moon. Summer of 42 sent the hype train off the rails, and the album did not disappoint. The concept alone is worth checking out.
2. The Japanese House - Good At Falling. Easily my favorite new artist. Some days this is my #1, and it will be heavily considered at the end of the year.
3. Otoboke Beaver - ITEKOMA HITS. Punk album of the year for sure. Instrumentals that are downright punishing, mixed with the saccarine screams of lead singer accorinrin. I may not understand most of the lyrics, but the fury shines brightly. Plus, they're named after a love hotel!
4. Fulusu - The Voice Between Us - Does this one actually count as an album? It's only 7 songs and 21 minutes long. Either way I love it and that cover art is easily my favorite this year.
5. Weyes Blood - Titanic Rising. My only issue with this one is that it doens't play well on low volume in the car. This is one you have to devote some time specifically to. Fantastic album though.
6. Silversun Pickups - Widows's Weeds. This one grows on me with each listen. Also, don't listen to Pitchfork (for any SSPU review), as they have a huge hard on for comparing them to Smashing Pumpkins, even though this album is the least Pumpkins-esque.
7. Black Pumas - S/T
8. Lena Raine - Tsukuyomi - I've really fallen for Lena's music. I just got the Celeste B-Sides album in the mail today, can't wait to spin that!
9. Pile - Green and Gray - Did anyone know this one came out? I feel like it sadly got little attention, but I though it was great.
10. Billie Eilish - When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? If you asked me last year if I thought a pop album would be AOTY contender next year, I would have laughed in your face - or more likely just said no, I'm trying to be dramatic here. I tend to shy away from this genre as a whole, but there was a lot of buzz, both positive and negative, around this one. I decided to check it out and was captivated. It's weird. It's unconventional. It's catchy as hell. It's probably the album that caught me the most by surprise, and I don't get all the hate.
11. Fever 333 - Strength in Numb333rs - Glad to see this rise from the Letlive ashes.
12. Malibu Ken/Aesop Rock/Tobacco - Malibu Ken - Anything Aesop's an instant win
13. Millencolin - SOS. The most consistent punk band out there.
14. Sundara Karma - Ulfilas' Alphabet
15. Titus Andronicus - An Obelisk
16. black midi - Schlagenheim. So weird. So good.
17. Pup - Morbid Stuff
18. Bad Religion - Age of Unreason. Best work from the band since The Empire Strikes First.
19. Bob Mould - Sunshine Rock. Dad rock approved
20. Andrew Bird - My Finest Work Yet
21. Methyl Ethyl - Triage
22. Tyler, The Creator - Igor. Another polarizing album. I am on the side that likes it.
23. Baroness - Gold & Grey. I described this one to my wife as "their widest album yet" To me, they seem to delve into the widest range of styles on this album.
24. Moon Tooth - Crux
25. Sebadoh - Act Surprised - See #19
26. He Is Legend - White Bat
27. Stef Chura - Midnight
28. Jade Bird - S/T
29. Maggie Rogers - Heard It in A Past Life
30. Nilufer Yanya - Miss Universe
31. Vampire Weekend - Father of the Bride. I agreed a lot with Fantano on this one. Some really high highs, yet some stuff in the middle that just felt like it didn't need to be there.
32. Better Oblivion Community Center - S/T - I need to give this one more time, it will likely be higher on my year end list.
33. Fontaines D.C - Dogrel
34. The National - I Am Easy to Find - See #31.
35. Bruce Springsteen - Western Stars
36. Two Door Cinema Club - False Alarm. This one started as a disappointment, but it's starting to grow on me.
37. Bars of Gold - Shelters
38. These New Puritans - Inside the Rose
39. Hot Chip - A Bath Full of Ecstasy
40. SWMRS - Berkeley's on Fire
Not intentional, but somehow I got exactly 40 albums in this list! I'm sure I missed some stuff, and I'm still listening to stuff I haven't had time for yet. Also, I'm more than open for recommendations for anything that slipped by me.
Bonus:
Hot Water Music - Shake Up the Shadows EP
Bouncing Souls - Crucial Moments EP
