Late again, I know; Let's go!
Some past favorites released excellent rerecords this year. Björk with Vulnicura and Sufjan Stevens with Carrie & Lowell were both revealing, soul barring records, mining the depths of human emotion over broken relationships and dead loved ones. Both use mostly non-rock style instrumentation, with Carrie & Lowell avoiding drums almost completely. Haunting to listen to, but not for sunny afternoons.
TV on Radio with Seeds and Interpol on El Pintor were both in rotation. TVOR has moved farther from there clattering post-punk sound and funk-style deviations to crystal clear synth-rock. Although I am often left wanting the sounds of Return to Cookie Mountain, I am glad the band continues to evolve it sound. Interpol released the record everyone wanted with El Pintor harking back to Turn On the Bright Lights. A good choice and a solid non-reinvention.
2014 material I caught up with this year included Aphex Twin's excellent Syro (listenable glitch IDM; always different but recognizable all these years later), The War on Drugs' Lost in the Dream (hazy guitar rock of yore), and Caribou's Our Love (dreamy dance music done right).
My Favorites Records of 2015:
Wilco :: Star Wars
An excellent surprise record. Hints of Television and A Ghost is Born. Kraut-y jams abound with a in studio/live feel to the entire record. Makes me smile.
Alabama Shakes :: Sound & Color
Surprising if you expected retreat of roots-soul-rock. The Shakes decide instead to expand their sound to be electric, modern, and unexpected in the best ways possible.
Joanna Newsom :: Divers
On her most accessible record yet, Joanna still manages to make you ant to follow her down the rabbit hole. Beautiful avant-folk for the modern age.
Blur :: The Magic Whip
Hard to believe they finally released this after a supposed failed recording session in Hong Kong in 2014. Although Albarn has many side projects to keep him busy, the boys from London remind us of why we feel in love with them in the first place with a record that does not disappoint.
Beach House :: Depression Cherry // Thank Your Lucky Stars
In the age of fast attention spans, Beach House releases two record in a year. A further trip along the fuzzy, dream pop trail.
