#16

Honestly though A Crow Looked At Me would absloutly dominate. Doesnt look that way. Not sure if its out of a respect of not including it as it feels almost crass to rate it or genuine disinterest.

Im still questioning whether to include it in my list. But if I do it will be top. Im not even a Mount Eerie fan but its one of the most extraordinary albums i’ve ever heard. Never heard trauma and death be talked about so candidly and bluntly. Actually made me feel sick with grief after listning to it.

Its hard to rate but I think as a piece of art its fantastic and important. Its quite surprising how little work we have which accurately covers grief in such a direct and visceral way. But I think my next listen will be my last. Its just that raw.

1 Like
#17

if you enjoyed this post and would like to read more of my thoughts, I now have it in longer blog form:

1 Like
#18

Feel like this is going to be won by either The National, Slowdive (decent albums) or LCD Soundsystem (not good) because they pick up 1 or two points from more people.

Might be different if no.1 albums had stronger weighting…but I’m not going to suggest changing a well established system.

Need to narrow down my favourites to 5 now. Probably picking from:

Fleet Foxes - Crack Up
Arca - Arca
Julie Byrne - Not Even Happiness
Moses Sumney - Aromanticism
Protomartyr - Relatives in Descent
Susanne Sundfor - Music for People in Trouble
Blanck Mass - World Eater
James Holden - The Animal Spirits
Big Thief - Capacity
Forest Swords - Compassion

Still got a queue of records to explore properly

Oxbow - Thin Black Duke
(Sandy) Alex G - Rocket
Fever Ray - Plunge
Open Mike Eagle - Brick Body Kids Still Daydream
Thundercat - Drunk

#19

4 Likes
#20

Yeah I know…but it’s the first record of theirs that I’ve not really liked. Also feel like many others share that view…so there’s an impression that time won’t be kind to it.

2 Likes
#21

Would round off my top 10 with:

Arto Lindsay - Ciudado Madame
Kendrick Lamar - Damn
Big Thief - Capacity
Mind Over Mirrors - Undying Color

#22

You did.

#23

Still can’t figure this out, my list has completely changed in the past week with Priests jumping up from #8 to pretty much a lock at #2 and Phoebe Bridgers soaring from outside my top ten to a possible top 5 spot. To include her, one of the National, Mogwai, or Meat Wave would have to go. I guess it’s a good problem to have.

#24

I’ve needed the end of year lists to reach five albums I’ve loved this year. There’s been plenty I have thought were decent, but the overwhelming theme for me has been artists whose work I usually enjoy releasing work that is amongst my least favourite of their output: Arcade Fire, Actress, Run the Jewels, St. Vincent, Fever Ray, LCD Soundsystem, Mogwai, Four Tet, Björk and Elbow are ten of my favourite artists, would consider that an instant buy festival line-up, but each of their albums this year just made me wish I was listening to something else they’ve recorded.

King Gizzard and Mario Batkovic currently looking like making my top 5 even though only listened to first this week, but trying to listen to a few more I might have missed along the way before I vote.

#25

thought the Four Tet album was his best since There Is Love In You; really love the new LCD having tempered my expectations beforehand; currently think RTJ3 might be their strongest but that’s probably because it was my proper intro to them.

agree on Mogwai though, i’m glad to see it’s gone down well but personally didn’t grab me in the same way as an album like Hardcore (aside from a couple of particularly great highlights). and obviously Arcade Fire, even though i don’t really hate it as much as everyone else.

#26

have just stuck this album on for the first time (saw the band name in HMV a few times and made me squeamishly wince). this is proper great.

(replied in here to try and keep the other thread nice and clean)

#27

I think I heard them first on Vic Galloway’s radio show around April or so and have been enjoying them ever since. Yeah, the name could be better.

The Leaf Label comes up good again.

#28

It’s not a bad name really but I feel a bit unwell thinking about broken bones!

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#29

@woweezowee Your top 2 is pretty much the ultimate advert for the Jane Weaver album. It sounds lovely - those harmonies on Did You See Butterflies :heart_eyes:

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#30

I must admit I quite like your top 2 as well! :sunglasses:

I don’t know your other three nominations, so sounds like it would be a good idea for me to check them out.

Yeah, the Jane Weaver album is lovely - the steady pulse and synthy flourishes on The Architect are another highlight from it. It’s tighter and more krautrocky than Silver Globe and Amber Light. Probably a good half way point between the etherealness of Julie Byrne & the full bombast of EE thinking about it.

Are you a fan of the Future Islands LP at all? It’s been a bit of a lazy sunday morning record in our house this year. It initially has all these catchy pop melodies and synth/bass lines bouncing off each other and feels like a fun album - but then on closer listen it’s a pretty haunting take on love/loss/restlessness/growing old. Really gives the record some depth and longevity imo.

#31

Not listened to Future Islands, but will check it out.

Of my other 3…
Deafcult sit at the heavier end of shoegaze. Judy is one of my favourite songs of the year.
Hotel Neon - ambient loveliness
Bola - Ambient techno

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#32

Musically I’m feeling this, but his voice is grating on me. He sounds like the love child of James Blunt and Billy Idol. Might be one of those which takes a while to get used to?

#33

stuck together a bunch of my favourite stuff from 2017

not really a ‘best of’ though—struggling to compare things even more than usual this year.

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#34

Yes, his vocals are definitely an acquired taste. They may take time, but I could also see that they’re just not for some people. For me they’re part of the charm - it could all get a bit smooth and MOR if they had a proper singer!

There’s a nice parallel between a song on there called Beauty of the Road and _I Live Now As a Singer_on Julie Byrne’s record with both considering the personal cost of their chosen career/lifestyle.

Thanks for the extra info on your other three. I heard a bit of Deafcult this morning, which I enjoyed - nice big wall of sound. I see Amazon are currently selling their CD at a very reasonable £42.59…

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#35

Struggling a bit with my top 10 at the moment. Got a few kicking about, but feels a bit…ehhh. Found that there’s loads of stuff I’ve bought but only listened to once or so, which is a bit…shit.