A massive thank you to @woweezowee for doing this huge count up. The monthly ones takes me some time and there always poorly formatted posting that messes up your Excel sheet when you’re pasting across. Anyway…
It’s been an ok year overall for me. Sharp Pins was my runaway winner of the year. Absolutely loved the album.
The Jeffrey Lewis album is my favourite of his and some of the lyrics are simply stunning.
Sudan Archives’ follow up is brilliant. A slightly different feel to her previous which was my AOTY in 2022. The new one still grows on me with each listen.
I’m a huge Suede fan and this one is probably their second best after Night Thoughts after their reformation.
Samia might be a lesser known artist on these boards but if you fancy some brilliant soft pop music, I’d recommend her new one as well her previous.
I’ve seen all of my top five artists live this year (or rather will with the Sudan Archives gig on Wednesday).
I saw Suede twice in three days; once at Signature Brew and again at The Royal Festival Hall on the Saturday when the nutters were walking around with union flags. Suede remain a stunning live band after all these years.
Jeffrey Lewis’ performance at Tufnell Park Dome was just sublime and warm. I love his shows.
My top 3 are pretty nailed-on: Lyra Pramuk, Anna von Hausswolff and Aya.
After those it’s a bit more up for grabs, especially with a few potential contenders from recent weeks that haven’t had a fair listen yet because I’ve been rinsing the AvH record.
Really hoping I’m not the only person out there who loved the Lyra Pramuk record. It’s a stunning piece of work, but hasn’t appeared in any of the published lists by magazines etc. so far. Imagine Homogenic-era Björk filtered through a Steve Reich sensibility and you’re sort of on the right lines.
Although it won’t grab my top spot, Barker’s Stochastic Drift is an absolute revelation. Underpinning the intricate, inventive beats, there’s a lovely jazzy ambient warmth to it that really sets it apart from this year’s other releases from fellow techno ambient producers.
Otomo Yoshihide - Old and New Dreams Chapter 2
the newest [ahmed], will have to look up what it was called
new OPN (need to listen to this again to be sure, otherwise Traces - Cosmic Ear)
I liked that Richard Dawson album, even if feels like a long time ago now
Natural Information Society - Perseverence Flow
toso toso - toso toso
Juana Aguirre - anónimo
The Weather Station - Humanhood
Thanya Iyer - TIDE/TIED
Lisa Knapp & Gerry Diver - Hinterland
1-3 maybe not in order, and 3&4 could honestly be about 15-20 other albums.
loopcinema
Jules Reidy
Lucrecia Dalt
lullahush
Jennifer Walton
Qur’an Shaheed
Liesa Van der Aa
Oklou
Nadah El Shazly
Marina Melo
Saya Gray
Amaia
Karman Line Collective
Domenique Dumont
Goon
Ciśnienie
Patrick Watson
Ragnhild og
Casey Dienel
Been a really, really strong hip-hop year but loved loads of UK rather than US stuff, and been a very very strong ‘tracks’ year, IMO. Think the ‘kids’ on both sides have had a really crazy good year.
Looking at my lastfm listened to albums I’m pleasantly surprised to see I’ve listened to so many female artists this year. This wasn’t some conscious act, but a happy coincidence.
No particular order, and album tracks I’ve streamed in the 100’s. Many more whose albums I’ve just listened to just the once.
Adwaith
Wet leg
The last dinner party
Wolf Alice
Lily Allen
Lorde
Sprints
That said. I’m a creature of habit, and Suede will still make my top 5.
So, since 2019, I’ve discovered my AOTY by choosing my 64 favourite records throughout the year and then organising a random draw, using Random Result - Tournament draw in which I listen to each pair back to back and the one that I enjoy the most goes through to the next round.
This is this year's first round draw; I'm hiding it for the convenience of people who don't want to scroll through all this nonsense can get to the next sensible post quickly and easily.
