Yeah, I listened to Obsidian Wreath a few times in the early part of this year. I enjoyed it but felt the heavy parts fell a bit flat when compared to either Frail Body or Civerous. Ragana are another amazing band in this style.
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First top 5 I’ve seen that includes 2 of my top 5s. Haven’t finalized my list though.
Only a brief glance but looks like Lenderman has come in from 12/1 pre tournament to be 11/4 favourite now. It’s his to lose.
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Should be no surprise that a bloke called “Lenderman” is getting his odds slashed…it’s a fix!
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Have been getting into lots of more maximalist/pop stuff recently and I really wanted to get behind Brat but the record itself did fairly little for me. Interestingly both my kids were super into the concept of things being “brat” and “brat summer” but they only actually asked to play it once as I recall whereas that Caroline Polachek LP got played to death last year.
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But it slaps 
Second to this:
Whilst I am weeks away from my list being final I can say now brat is nailed on for number 1.
Unlike the the scagden juniors, my two kids wanted that album played in the car for about four months solid, including the whole car-driven summer holiday. As a result, it’s probably the first album of the 21st century where I know the lyrics word for word for every song, and I’m not sick of it yet.
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It’s not my fav of hers still, but it does encapsulate so much about what makes her good, it was such a moment that it’s hard for me to ignore that side and imho it’s a slightly weaker year for albums so it’s not had a serious contender since it came out
Not final final but right now Pissed Jeans is my 1. But yeah don’t think it will be bothering the top of the list.
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Pissed Jeans should win. An instant punk rock all-timer.
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I too will be throwing some points to Pissed Jeans
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Now I feel bad for not voting Pissed Jeans although it shows what a strong year its been
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A few notes as I slowly make progress through my list to settle on the final order:
Drahla - Angeltape
Their brand of post-punk with saxophone is so good. Likely ranking: top 20
B Dolan - The Wound Is Not The Body
The funny and world-weary rapping with the quite minimal beats work so well in my (uninformed, not being a big hip-hop guy) opinion. Top 20, maybe top 10.
Nubya Garcia - Odyssey
Her Source album really pulled me in and kept me engaged in a way that this album doesn’t. I quite enjoyed it, liked the neo-soul on Set It Free, but it won’t trouble the upper echelons of my list. Top 100
Outer Spaceways Incorporated - Kronos Quartet & Friends Meet Sun Ra
Whereas this jazz album has rocketed up my list. Red Hot with this fourth album paying tribute to the legacy of Sun Ra, this one with the Kronos Quartet at the helm with a bunch of collaborators including Laurie Anderson. Love it. Top 10
Za! + Perrate - Jolifanto
When it leans into the chugging psych grooves (like on Tomaseando) I like it, the rest I can take or leave. Za!'s collaboration with Tarta Relena was my favourite album of last year and while Tarta Relena’s album this year will be top 10 or 20, this one from Za! will be down in the 80s or 90s.
Pregoblin - II
Art pop which I enjoyed when it was out but not so much now. Top 100
D.J. VLK - Passion
A real, ahem, passion project in which DJ VLK uses only sounds from the 2000+ episodes of NBC daytime show Passions in this weird electro collage. I liked it a lot but maybe feel like the novelty wears off a bit towards the end. A good one but won’t reach the top 5 of my main list but could be up there in my experimental best of list (if I do one). Top 50
St. Lenox - Ten Modern American Work Songs
Really like this country-influenced indie singer-songwriter album from Andrew Choi - particularly his lyrics. Top 50
Daisy Rickman - Howl
Seems to be a lot of female folk-edged singer-songwriter stuff around. This is a fine exponent of the genre but didn’t grab me enough to move up the list. Top 100.
Laura J Martin - Prepared
Was really looking forward to this first solo album from Laura in a few years, but it bounced off me a little when it came out. Going back to it, I like it much more - there’s a mood to it that I really enjoy even though it doesn’t have much in the way of the flute-driven bangers I was initially hoping for. Top 50
Loma – How Will I Live WIthout A Body
The track Pink Sky was in a music league round and I loved it, especially that sax sound- so went back to give the album another go. Also really liked the track Affinity but not so grabbed by the rest of the album. Top 100
Suldusk - Antithesis
Atmospheric black metal and dark folk from Emily Highfield and band - very good indeed, moves up in the standings. Top 50, maybe top 20.
Lilacs & Champagne - Fantasy World
Sound collaging somewhere between ambient breakbeat and instrumental hip-hop, I guess. Hard to pin down, but it’s a whole world of its own and I love it. Top 20, maybe getting amongst the top 10.
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Pregoblin is a great name
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I respect Brat more than I enjoy it, it doesn’t help that it starts with 360 which is one of the more annoying songs
not bumpin’ that
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I love love Brat but it doesn’t have a lengthy prog breakdown on one of the tracks so it had to come second for me
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The rest of my top 10 would read:
- MJ Lenderman - Manning Fireworks
- Chat Pile - Cold World
- Nala Sinephro - Endlessness
- State Faults - Children Of The Moon
- SeeYouSpaceCowboy - Coupe de Grace
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