Albums of the Year (so far)
Another year of decay in the world of rock and pop (and not a lot of good new jazz either). I thought I would put up a post to remind myself of what new music I have been listening to so far this year. What is striking is that most of my listening has been to old favorites rather than new artists – for example Lucinda Williams & Charles Lloyd, Weezer, The Waterboys. It is not for want of looking for new sounds – I am just tired of urban music and smooth R&B. I seem to be the only person who liked “Lets Rock” by the Black Keys. The best thing to happen so far this year is the emergence of a genuine punk movement in Ireland – characterized by Fontaines DC and the Murder Capital.
What is strange is the lack of angry young men and women in the UK – reacting to the political craziness there – if ever there should be a repeat of 1976, you would think that now is the time…
Here is the list (click for diverse range of reviews):
Weyes Blood – Titanic Rising
Jesca Hoop – Stonechild
Steve Mason – About the Light
Tool – Inoculum*
The Raconteurs – Help Us Stranger
The Murder Capital – When I Have Fears
Fontaines DC – Dogrel
Sharon Van Etten – Remind Me Tomorrow
Iron and Wine & Calexico – Years to Burn
The Waterboys – Where the Action Is
Charles LLoyd & Lucinda Williams – Vanished Gardens
Foals – Everything not Saved will be Lost – Part 1
Jenny Lewis – On the Line
Biffy Clyro – Balance Not Symmetry
These New Puritans – Inside the Rose
Lana Del Rey – Norman Fucking Rockwell
Cass McCombs – Tip of the Sphere
Weezer – Black and Teal Albums
*I don’t own a physical copy of the Tool album, as it was only released in a gimmicky superdeluxe CD version for €80. I presume a vinyl version will come out at some stage.
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