[Music] 6 Month Album Review

[deletebeepbeepbeep]

As NPR and Resident appear to be doing it, what are your favourite albums for the first 6 months of this year?

Here is my top 20.

1. Angel Olsen - Burn Your Fire for No Witness

2. Swans - To Be Kind

3. Sun Kil Moon - Benji

4. The War on Drugs - Lost in the Dream

5. Real Estate - Atlas

6. Cloud Nothings - Here and Nowhere Else

7. White Lung - Deep Fantasy

8. Posse - Soft Opening

9. Perfect Pussy - Say Yes to Love

10. Ought - More Than any Other Day

11. Marc DeMarco - Salad Days

12. Todd Terje - It's Album Time

13. Parquet Courts - Sunbathing Animal

14. tUnE-yArDs - Nikki Nack

15. Marisse Naddler - July

16. Eternal Summers - The Drop Beneath

17. Hospitality - Trouble

18. Ben Frosy - AURORA

19. Thee Silver Mt Zion Memorial Orchestra - ***** Off Get Free we Shine Light on Everything

20. Mutual Benefit - Loves Crushing Diamond

 

[Machiavelli]

As NPR and Resident appear to be doing it, what are your favourite albums for the first 6 months of this year?

Here is my top 20.

1. Angel Olsen - Burn Your Fire for No Witness

2. Swans - To Be Kind

3. Sun Kil Moon - Benji

4. The War on Drugs - Lost in the Dream

5. Real Estate - Atlas

6. Cloud Nothings - Here and Nowhere Else

7. White Lung - Deep Fantasy

8. Posse - Soft Opening

9. Perfect Pussy - Say Yes to Love

10. Ought - More Than any Other Day

11. Marc DeMarco - Salad Days

12. Todd Terje - It's Album Time

13. Parquet Courts - Sunbathing Animal

14. tUnE-yArDs - Nikki Nack

15. Marisse Naddler - July

16. Eternal Summers - The Drop Beneath

17. Hospitality - Trouble

18. Ben Frosy - AURORA

19. Thee Silver Mt Zion Memorial Orchestra - ***** Off Get Free we Shine Light on Everything

20. Mutual Benefit - Loves Crushing Diamond

1 Swans
2 Neneh Cherry
for me, which is a sign that I don't buy/listen to much, but also that this hasn't been a stellar half-year.
I'm not that keen on that War on Drugs album, but can you describe Angel Olsen and Real Estate?

 

[Mellotron]

I lose track of what album is released when. Is there an easy website to keep track of release dates?

 

[spring hall convert]

Two utter masterpieces this year for me. Swans - To Be Kind and Actress-Ghettoville.

Otherwise still really digging the following;

Skull Defekts
Ought
Phantom Band
Nope
Angel Olsen
EMA
Christiana Vrantzou
Fire Orchestra!
Ben Frost
Thee Oh Sees
Sun Kil Moon
Torn Hawk
Merlin Tonto
East India Youth
Deadbeat & Paul St. Hilaire
Chad Van Gaalen
Copeland
Tune-Yards
Brian Jonestwon Massacre
Blank Realm
patten
Mac DeMarco
St. Vincent
Nenah Cherry
Mark McGuire
Eagulls

 

[big nuts]

2014 hadn't matched 2013 thus far for quality albums out of the twelve I've bought this year the following stand out

Chromeo - White women
War on Drugs - Lost in a Dream
Gruff Rhys - American interior
Wild Beasts - Present tense

 

[deletebeepbeepbeep]

1 Swans
2 Neneh Cherry
for me, which is a sign that I don't buy/listen to much, but also that this hasn't been a stellar half-year.
I'm not that keen on that War on Drugs album, but can you describe Angel Olsen and Real Estate?

Angel Olsen is americana tinged indie rock, jangly guitars and piano - intense, great lyrics - draws comparisons to Neko Case and Lindi Ortega.

Real Estate indie pop/folk lots of jangly guitars reminiscent to Girls or Fleet Foxes.

 

[BBassic]

Because I don't keep up with music at all, at least not new stuff, I'll likely hear all these in 2024.

I'll come back with an answer then!

 

[Buzzer]

For me it's all about The Eels, JJ, Neneh Cherry and The Strands Of Oak. Probably in that order.

 

[Godstar]

Only 2/3 for me:
Sleaford Mods - Divide & Exit
Fat White Family - Champagne Holocaust (although it may actually be a 2013 release)
EMA - The Futures Void

 

[spring hall convert]

Fat White Family - Champagne Holocaust (although it may actually be a 2013 release)

I'm afraid, it was.

Forgot Sleaford Mods on my list - I'm still stewing a bit after Jason's no-show at the Prince Albert gig. It's not quite as good as Austerity Dogs IMO but still very good.

 

[tinycowboy]

I'll have a think - can't name 20 though, or I'll be including things I'd give 6/10.

 

[Mr Icicle Boots]

Another shout for Eels. Also Ben Watt and The Both. When was The Augustines album released? If it's in it's in and if it's not it's..er...not.

 

[Machiavelli]

Two utter masterpieces this year for me. Swans - To Be Kind and Actress-Ghettoville.

Otherwise still really digging the following;

Skull Defekts
Ought
Phantom Band
Nope
Angel Olsen
EMA
Christiana Vrantzou
Fire Orchestra!
Ben Frost
Thee Oh Sees
Sun Kil Moon
Torn Hawk
Merlin Tonto
East India Youth
Deadbeat & Paul St. Hilaire
Chad Van Gaalen
Copeland
Tune-Yards
Brian Jonestwon Massacre
Blank Realm
patten
Mac DeMarco
St. Vincent
Nenah Cherry
Mark McGuire
Eagulls

RE Fire Orchestra!, is it Exit! (released 2013) that's on your list, or Enter! (released July 14th 2014) that you're referring to?
I shall have to get both, especially as Fire!'s Without Noticing (released 2013, but first heard by me in 2014) is one of the best albums I've heard in years.

 

[spring hall convert]

RE Fire Orchestra!, is it Exit! (released 2013) that's on your list, or Enter! (released July 14th 2014) that you're referring to?
I shall have to get both, especially as Fire!'s Without Noticing (released 2013, but first heard by me in 2014) is one of the best albums I've heard in years.

I reckon I've got Exit in the wrong year. I think I'm yet to hear Enter!.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Neneh Cherry is the standout so far this year. Damon Albarn's solo album has really really grown on me. Prob have this as my 2nd. War on Drugs is fantastic and I am currently listening to Wildest Dreams (aka DJ Harvey) which is a nice West Coast USA sunny sounding album which is growing on me.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Two utter masterpieces this year for me. Swans - To Be Kind and Actress-Ghettoville.

Otherwise still really digging the following;

Skull Defekts
Ought
Phantom Band
Nope
Angel Olsen
EMA
Christiana Vrantzou
Fire Orchestra!
Ben Frost
Thee Oh Sees
Sun Kil Moon
Torn Hawk
Merlin Tonto
East India Youth
Deadbeat & Paul St. Hilaire
Chad Van Gaalen
Copeland
Tune-Yards
Brian Jonestwon Massacre
Blank Realm
patten
Mac DeMarco
St. Vincent
Nenah Cherry
Mark McGuire
Eagulls

An yes, East India Youth. Forgot about him.

I missed Thee Oh Sees new album. Must look into buying it.

 

[narly101]

In no particular order for me (although the list is in alphabetical order);

Arthur Beatrice - Working Out
Client - Authority
Dum Dum Girls - Too True
East India Youth - Total Strife Forever
EMA - The Future's Void
The Horrors - Luminous
Howling Bells - Heartstrings
Kasabian - 48:13
Lana Del Rey - Ultraviolence
Phantogram - Voices
September Girls - Cursing The Sea
Throwing Snow - Mosaic
Uh Huh Her - Future Souls

 

[spring hall convert]

Howling Bells - Heartstrings

Keep meaning to give this a go. I've seen "return to form" bandied about. I loved their first record, there's about half a good album's worth in their next two.

 

[The Modfather]

Parquet Courts, Sunbathing Animal is my favourite so far. Not as immediate as light up gold but a cracking album.

 

[deletebeepbeepbeep]

Parquet Courts, Sunbathing Animal is my favourite so far. Not as immediate as light up gold but a cracking album.

I almost prefer it, very reminiscent to early Pavement.

I bought the new Thee Oh Sees album and it doesn't stand up to last year's effort. I'd definitely give it a listen online somewhere before buying.