In order of preference…
Questions – David Bronson – Already a strong contender for the album of the year, this is soft rock meets prog rock meets sweet soul and questions raised and answered over and over again. Back up harmonies an added plus and a great guitarist (and carlos Alomar) doesn’t hurt.
Vulnicara – Bjork – Her most accessible work in years renders a torn asunder romance as steady strings beatified and then distressed.
Title – Meghan Trainor – Her third album is even better than her second which is better than her first. She could well be a 21 st century Bette Midler
Tetsuo And Youth – Lupe Fiasco – His best album is also his most easy going, the seasons pass and the songs, beautiful, r&b and chilled hip hop songs accrue, in mutual degrees. “Blur My Hands” is better than any r&b you’ve heard this year and it isn’t even the best
American Beauty/American Psycho – Fall Out Boy – Their best album eve, which means two masterpieces, and a coula killer tracks. Look, I loathed em when I saw em last year so I couldn’t be more surprised myself.
Artistic Visions – Shinobi Ninja – Improvised live in the studio, produced and mastered over weeks, and as great as hard rock can get. Maniac Dave’s guitar steals whole chunks.
The White Man Made Me Do It – Swamp Dogg – This is as good as I’m Not Selling Out – I’m Buying In… from 1981 and just as funny (and as sad and angry). We call that consistency of vision.
Absent Fathers – Justin Townes Earle – Masterful but we assume that, no bad songs, but we assume that as well.
Worthy – Bettye Lavette – She covers other people’s material like Dylan sometimes covers his own,; she re-arranges them to an inch of their lives and then she sings the hell out of them.
No Cities To Love – Sleater Kinney – Quirked out angular post-rock, post-riot grrl, post childhood anthems sung as one.
Natalie Prass – Natalie Prass – her voice is gorgeous but back up so she lives and dies by her arrangements and songs … and those are great.
All Hands – Doomtree – This Twin Cities collective makes rap for grown ups with five rappers, two of whom are big time and all of whom are good.
Forever Charlie – Charlie Wilson – Pure hearted, full voiced soul music.
B4.DA.$$ – Joey Bada$$ – Debut album by the Pro Active co-boss, its lyrical smart but bland but musically he goes from jaz to hip hop to r&b and back and the beat are triumphant.
Meets the Grim Reaper – Panda Bear – easily his most accessible work to date except when it isn’t; “Crossword” should rule the alt charts.
Nights In The Dark – California X – Classic rock goes punk on a terrific sophomore effort. The guitars are the best sound in the world right now.
The Pale Emperor – Marilyn Manson – Sure, it isn’t the shock of the new “Beautiful People” was, why would it be? It is still excellent goth rock unlike any one else at all
Comment: 17 albums isn pretty damn good for January, last year there where only 13 albums on my best of list at this point. Also, the rate of excellence is through the roof. Especially hip hop where from Lupe Fiasco to Joey BadA$$ and beyond it is on. Top of the heap is a huge album by David Bronson. A deal changer.
