So yeah, it’s pretty much that time isn’t it? Rough Trade has been out since mid September or something so it’s time for us to think about who our AOTY might be!
I’m sure there will be a voting thread along fairly soon but this thread is for discussing your choices individually or your whole decision making process.
Are you a ‘I’ve known who my AOTY is from the first time I heard it’ person or a ‘still undecided’ person. Do you massively overthink your rankings with spreadsheets and stuff or do you mercilessly mock those who do so?
I’m going to use this thread to dump my 64 record eliminator playoff results so strap in for that.
Think I had a pretty good idea from maybe the 3rd or 4th time of listening to The Japanese House. Hit that sweet spot of alt-pop where it makes me want to dance and smile and cry all at once.
He’s my 6x6 of the albums I’ve listened to most over the last 12 months. Some surprised me. I know who my top AOTY will be the other places will take some thinking.
Close run thing between Proto and Ghosteen. I suspect I will listen to Proto more for pleasure… the grandeur of Ghosteen sets it apart from most other music though and I suspect that in 10 years time it will be the one I’m still thinking about.
3rd place will be the new Andy Stott record - it simply bangs.
Tyler, the Creator - Igor
Nimmo - The Power
Vampire Weekend - Father of the Bride
BTS - Map of the Soul: Persona
Self Esteem - Compliments Please
Loyle Carner - Not Waving, But Drowning
Ariana Grande - Thank U, Next
AJ Tracey - AJ Tracey (expanded)
Dermot Kennedy - Without Fear
Lord Apex - High Stakes, Low Ryder
Young Nudy & Pi’erre Bourne - Slimerre
Young Thug - So Much Fun
J Balvin & Bad Bunny - Oasis
Maxo Kream - Brandon Banks
Charli XCX - Charli
DaBaby - Baby on Baby
Earl Sweatshirt - Feet of Clay
For me Ghosteen and Richard Dawson’s 2020 are streets ahead - they are very different from each other but both so emotionally shattering, powerful and ultimately uplifting. I haven’t quite got that from anything else this year.
After that there are probably 10-20 other wonderful records that could be in almost any order.
It’s been a notably amazing year for female singer songwriters- wonderful records from Lana Del Rey, Jenny Hval, Sharon Van Etten, Solange, FKA Twigs, Weyes Blood, Dawn and others. My favourite two American hip hop albums of the year are both by women too (Rapsody and Young MA).
I agree with you about American hip hop this year - not many great albums. I’m still waiting for Tierra Whack to release a ‘proper’ album - her singles this year have been amazing.
The Young MA album is patchy but brilliant in parts - listen to Smoove Kriminal or My Hitta for the best bits. I loved the Rapsody album.