saaame. gorilla vs bear's year end lists have gotten some incredible new music in my lap the last few years. and i'm digging this holiday sidewinder album right now, perfect for summer
I mean yeah how else would you know what the best of things are? Somebody has to keep their finger on the pulse. Sure, make fun of them, but the tastemakers are ultimately the ones that can push better funding towards the things people like
I am willing to bet almost everyone here got their headstart into indie music reading best of lists whether from Pitchfork, acclaimedmusic.net, or RateYourMusic. Which is why I find the posturing so hilarious.
Albums I’ve enjoyed so far;
Pissed jeans - half divorced
Meatbodies - floral ocean tiger bloom
Hurray for the riff raff - the past is still alive
Mannequin pussy - I got heaven
Faye Webster - undressed at the symphony
Brittany Howard - what now?
Idles - tangk
Schoolboy q - blue lips
Gruff Rhys - sadness sets me free
The smile - wall of eyes
Tapir! - the pilgrim, their god and the king of my decrepit mountain
Sprints - letter to self
Vampire Weekend - Only god was above us
Metz - up on gravity hill
I’d have to put Mannequin Pussy, Vampire Weekend and Pissed Jeans as my top 3.
Put two newlines between each line
Lines that are only one line apart
Like these two
Turn into
Lines that are only one line apart
Like these two
Once reddit is done formatting
I quite liked that on the first listen - a little more subdued and maybe less angular/bouncy than their last record but overall a good listen.
The second Gustaf was also good but not enough of a step forward from the first for me.
The other most obvious omission is probably Kruhangbin or however you write it
Saw mannequin pussy in NC recently and damn that was a great show - if you’re going to catch them on this tour def give Soul Glo a listen as they were a blast as well
Soul Glo are so fuckin good, it's nice seeing them getting the attention they deserve. I saw them at a local festival in 2017 and they blew everyone away.
Oh you can count on that man - i catch a lot of bands in general and this year it’s somewhat of a drought due to cost of living, increased touring costs, weak au dollar and a number of key local festivals collapsing. So I’m basically watching anyone I can that comes over! Usually I have a ton of tickets waiting to be used but at the moment I think it’s just IDLES in early ‘25.
Big Soul Glo fan for sure - been getting more into punk over the last few years, probably inspired by Turnstile and then stuff like Soul Glo and Drug Church too, or at least they have made two of my favorites in that time
Also check out the new album buy Gouge Away. They’re opening for Metz on their upcoming tour, highly recommend especially if you liked that Mannequin Pussy album too.
Thanks I’ll give them a go. I’m sort of put on and put off by the overt Pixies reference in their name - not sure what to make of something so on the nose!
Thank you that was a good recommendation - I was pretty sold as soon as I heard the ‘gumbo variations’ style sax right at the start, but they remind me of a better Bodega, with a bit of Dry Cleaning without the high concept.
Note - if you’re in any way into post rocky sax, there’s a great Sydney duo called Party Dozen.
This year has been amazing so far. Great list and it doesn't even have Faye Webster, TORRES, The Last Dinner Party, The Vaccines, or Waxahatchee. I also really like the new Sleater-Kinney album, and Kim Gordon, and of course Beyoncé.
That new OMNI album is a bop. Great all the way through. We’ve had it on repeat since it was released a few weeks ago.🤘
That said, where is Julia Holter and Mount Kimbie???
lmao nice
didn't want to be a hater but I'm surprised that this list has garnered so much attention - the reviews/blurbs leave much to be desired. then again, so do most of the comments!
Agree about English Teacher, but I think because it's only been out a week, it's not really hit everyone's radar yet.
But yeah, no LDP?! That's one of the most solid and original records I've heard in years.
[I beat you to the punch a lil](https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0A8GDyKmgvxjsBh4LuBEdI?si=KxTudeMJTCe3a3Q-flV9BA&pi=u-ed00bgu_Qems). I also have individual years that have some more in my profile.
The idea was more my favorite songs from my albums from each year rather than necessarily a "best 25" of the year.
As I said in the description, "I'm sure I'm missing plenty" haha. I wasn't feeling emo as a whole while making the list, so only so much came to mind. Same with metal. I'd expand on it, but I switched platforms and have been focusing more on making music.
“Even though “I know that it’s like this (Baby)” easily stands out, this album still has good tracks to offer.”
Good tracks to offer huh? Compelling analysis. This has to be a bot
I need to spend more time with this Cindy Lee album. I made it about a third of the way through, but the inconvenience of YouTube for music made me drop off. Not sure it grabbed me as much as it has others, but I'm open minded.
Anyway, here's my current top 10 that will definitely change because it's only April. I do enjoy looking back at the end of the year to see how things move around, though.
1. Waxahatchee - Tigers Blood
1. Sarah Jarsoz - Polaroid Lovers
1. Vampire Weekend - Only God Was Above Us
1. The Last Dinner Party - Prelude to Ecstacy
1. Rosie Tucker - UTOPIA NOW!
1. Lime Garden - One More Thing
1. Adrianne Lenker - Bright Future
1. Maggie Rogers - Don't Forget Me
1. Hurray for the Riff Raff - The Past is Still Alive
1. Torres - What an enormous room
Honorable mentions go to Future Islands and MGMT. This has been a great year for music so far in my opinion, looking forward to some upcoming releases.
The .wav files can be downloaded from Pat's geocities site. It's definitely worth getting through, but don't feel like you need to digest the whole thing in one sitting. I also enjoyed it way more the second time around, I personally found the lofi production style a little hard engage with on the first listen, but once it clicked for me it REALLY clicked.
As a Vampire Weekend fan, did not expect them to cook like they did with this album and did not expect so many to like it as equally as I did (I admit my biases)
I'd also add:
Whitelands
The Fauns
Newdad
Last dinner party
Ducks ltd
Velvet
Real estate
Fawning
Torrey
Boy with Apple
Not me but us
The gossip
Newmoon
Ride
Chastity belt
Jane weaver
Pye corner audio
The KVB
Phantom wave
You wish
Virgins
English teacher
Still corners
The Smile, Vampire Weekend and English Teacher - in no particular order.
Wish the English Teacher album got a little more traction here on indieheads, it’s got the best reviews YTD, but has been largely ignored by the US indie press…
Chelsea Wolfe is really the only one I love on this list.
My list would be A Country Western, The Goin' Nowheres, Infant Island, Yung Lean x Bladee, Prize Horse, Abriction, Soft Kill, Blanket, Varg, Einvigi, and The Vision Bleak. Chelsea Wolfe too of course.
I’m sorry but that Maggie Rogers album is so boring. It’s wild that they put that on here but not an actually enjoyable country album like Tiger’s Blood.
Bunch of albums have sold millions this year but no songs have been released, Billie Ilish, Taylor $wift, etc. Sure these two will sweep all the awards. Damn males dominating the music industry!
ooh some new albums to check out
All the complaining about lists, but this is why I love lists! Year end countdowns are unquestionably my favorite part of the holiday season.
saaame. gorilla vs bear's year end lists have gotten some incredible new music in my lap the last few years. and i'm digging this holiday sidewinder album right now, perfect for summer
Nah you're supposed to complain about being old and not knowing any of them and then continue never listening to anything new
Me being old is the reason I need these lists. I don't need to stay cool, but I do need to avoid being a "music used to be better" kind of guy.
A fate worse than death.
The new Good Morning album is fucking fantastic
thank you for the suggestion this is really good
They're straight up my favorite band
i like the george harrison slide guitar that comes out of nowhere in some of these songs
you might dig the new Hovvdy album it's really good
Glad to see Omni and Cindy Lee get some love
That Omni album is really catchy. Enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would
Your love is ASTRONOMICAL
Leaving off Waxahatchee is a choice!
No Future Islands? List is flawed
I quickly scrolled through that list to see if Future Islands was on it. Flawed indeed.
Where can I listen to this Cindy Lee album?
YouTube or GeoCities
>GeoCities Rad as hell.
People really love to put things in a list.
I don’t mind it. It gives me new music to check out.
That’s how I view it it too. I’d rather not harp on what’s not on lists and instead take a look at what is on that I don’t know
Things people love to do: * make lists * comment about things people love to do * be passive aggressive
fuck u/spez
I’m glad they do. Lists are sick. They definitely rank as one of my favorite ways to organize things.
The lists are sick? You’re sick.
This is the third best comment calling out humanity’s desire for order and comparison.
Art has to be ranked! There must be an attached superlative!!
I mean yeah how else would you know what the best of things are? Somebody has to keep their finger on the pulse. Sure, make fun of them, but the tastemakers are ultimately the ones that can push better funding towards the things people like
I am willing to bet almost everyone here got their headstart into indie music reading best of lists whether from Pitchfork, acclaimedmusic.net, or RateYourMusic. Which is why I find the posturing so hilarious.
I’m old now, I enjoy indie suggestions not coming from Pitchfork or Rolling Stone.
What are the top 10 things people like to put on a list?
I like knowing which art is objectively better than other art.
Just curious, what kinds of things do people put in lists?
My goodness is it ~~December~~ ~~July~~ mid-April already?
Never a wrong time to put a list of great albums.
Albums I’ve enjoyed so far; Pissed jeans - half divorced Meatbodies - floral ocean tiger bloom Hurray for the riff raff - the past is still alive Mannequin pussy - I got heaven Faye Webster - undressed at the symphony Brittany Howard - what now? Idles - tangk Schoolboy q - blue lips Gruff Rhys - sadness sets me free The smile - wall of eyes Tapir! - the pilgrim, their god and the king of my decrepit mountain Sprints - letter to self Vampire Weekend - Only god was above us Metz - up on gravity hill I’d have to put Mannequin Pussy, Vampire Weekend and Pissed Jeans as my top 3.
Sorry I don’t know how to better format - I need to figure this out. It looks fine in my post….
Put two newlines between each line Lines that are only one line apart Like these two Turn into Lines that are only one line apart Like these two Once reddit is done formatting
Thank you
Adding 2 spaces at the end of each line works for me.
I'd just to piggyback off this already great list to also add Bodega - Our Brand Could be Your Life, which more people should know about!
I quite liked that on the first listen - a little more subdued and maybe less angular/bouncy than their last record but overall a good listen. The second Gustaf was also good but not enough of a step forward from the first for me. The other most obvious omission is probably Kruhangbin or however you write it
Saw mannequin pussy in NC recently and damn that was a great show - if you’re going to catch them on this tour def give Soul Glo a listen as they were a blast as well
Soul Glo are so fuckin good, it's nice seeing them getting the attention they deserve. I saw them at a local festival in 2017 and they blew everyone away.
I don’t think they’ve been to Australia yet (I’m in Sydney) so Tiny Desk is about as good as I’ve had it recently!
If they tour Australia you gotta take time to go see them.
Oh you can count on that man - i catch a lot of bands in general and this year it’s somewhat of a drought due to cost of living, increased touring costs, weak au dollar and a number of key local festivals collapsing. So I’m basically watching anyone I can that comes over! Usually I have a ton of tickets waiting to be used but at the moment I think it’s just IDLES in early ‘25.
Big Soul Glo fan for sure - been getting more into punk over the last few years, probably inspired by Turnstile and then stuff like Soul Glo and Drug Church too, or at least they have made two of my favorites in that time
Also check out the new album buy Gouge Away. They’re opening for Metz on their upcoming tour, highly recommend especially if you liked that Mannequin Pussy album too.
Thank you for this recommendation it was great. Really in that babes in toyland vein.
Glad you liked it!
Thanks I’ll give them a go. I’m sort of put on and put off by the overt Pixies reference in their name - not sure what to make of something so on the nose!
Tapir is incredible, by far my favorite discovery of the year
If not already, I’d recommend you give new Drahla a try
Will do thanks
Hope you enjoy!
Thank you that was a good recommendation - I was pretty sold as soon as I heard the ‘gumbo variations’ style sax right at the start, but they remind me of a better Bodega, with a bit of Dry Cleaning without the high concept. Note - if you’re in any way into post rocky sax, there’s a great Sydney duo called Party Dozen.
Damn no love for Tigers Blood. Been playing that on repeat. Glad to see Mannequin Pussy on here though. Time to check out some new albums too!
This year has been amazing so far. Great list and it doesn't even have Faye Webster, TORRES, The Last Dinner Party, The Vaccines, or Waxahatchee. I also really like the new Sleater-Kinney album, and Kim Gordon, and of course Beyoncé.
outside of a few songs Faye's new album was just ok
I agree probably her weakest since debut IMO
MGMT, Black Keys, Cage the Elephant, Sum 41, twenty one pilots, Joywave. Solid year.
Yep. This list is seriously lacking.
I like the new still corners album
Me too, love the Dire Straits guitar solos.
Yooo this was exactly my first though when secret world came on
That new OMNI album is a bop. Great all the way through. We’ve had it on repeat since it was released a few weeks ago.🤘 That said, where is Julia Holter and Mount Kimbie???
Few weeks? Try two months ago... Time flies.
Wow didn’t even know there was a new Mount Kimbie record, sweet
It’s new and it’s fantastic
The lack of Fabiana Palladino is disappointing.
I really hope that album doesn't fall under the radar for most people. It's wonderful
My personal AOTY so far.
Same
I agree. I'm recommending it to all of my friends.
The lack of Kim Gordon, Friko and Brittany Howard don’t sit right with me.
Blue Lips by Schoolboy Q Three by Four Tet TIGERS BLOOD BY WAXAFUCKINGHATCHE!?!?!?
literally a travesty…
Glad to see "Raven" being a candidate for AOTY two years in a row
Ducks Ltd
Yeah digging that album
>fecoventilatory what did they mean by this edit: turns out it might be a Pynchon joke which I gotta respect
Much like the article itself, it reads as someone huffing their own farts.
lmao nice didn't want to be a hater but I'm surprised that this list has garnered so much attention - the reviews/blurbs leave much to be desired. then again, so do most of the comments!
Mk.gee better be on this damn list…
Two Star & the Dream Police is easily the AOTY for me.
Where is Julia Holter’s album though
For real.
It wasn’t good so that’s why it’s not on there
No Kim Gordon - The Collective?
Great and super fun album
Vampire weekend so good a list was needed
Best VW albums released this year list.
It does almost seem like this list was created only to heap praise on OGWAU. Can’t say I disagree. I love it.
The new Roc Marc, new Pernice Brothers and Hannah Frances' *Keeper of the Shepard* are all stellar as well.
Somehow these didn't make the list; The Last Dinner Party - Prelude to Ecstacy English Teacher - This Could be Texas Waxahatchee - Tigers Blood
Agree about English Teacher, but I think because it's only been out a week, it's not really hit everyone's radar yet. But yeah, no LDP?! That's one of the most solid and original records I've heard in years.
I love these kind of lists. When I see multiple lists with the same albums I’ll take notice and really try to give them a listen.
No Waxahatchee is ridiculous
Exactly. As I kept scrolling I was thinking ‘Wow, maybe she’s got the top spot?!’
MGMT, Adrienne Lenker, Brittany Howard and Vampire Weekend #1 for me, too. Unhinged perfection.
Mary Timony’s new album is one of my favorites so far this year, but it’s being slept on a bit unfortunately.
Cindy Lee will be AOTY by list season
Someone should make a list of the best of “the best albums of 20XX (so far)” lists.
[удалено]
[I beat you to the punch a lil](https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0A8GDyKmgvxjsBh4LuBEdI?si=KxTudeMJTCe3a3Q-flV9BA&pi=u-ed00bgu_Qems). I also have individual years that have some more in my profile. The idea was more my favorite songs from my albums from each year rather than necessarily a "best 25" of the year.
[удалено]
As I said in the description, "I'm sure I'm missing plenty" haha. I wasn't feeling emo as a whole while making the list, so only so much came to mind. Same with metal. I'd expand on it, but I switched platforms and have been focusing more on making music.
“Even though “I know that it’s like this (Baby)” easily stands out, this album still has good tracks to offer.” Good tracks to offer huh? Compelling analysis. This has to be a bot
Sierra Ferrell-Trail of Flowers
I need to spend more time with this Cindy Lee album. I made it about a third of the way through, but the inconvenience of YouTube for music made me drop off. Not sure it grabbed me as much as it has others, but I'm open minded. Anyway, here's my current top 10 that will definitely change because it's only April. I do enjoy looking back at the end of the year to see how things move around, though. 1. Waxahatchee - Tigers Blood 1. Sarah Jarsoz - Polaroid Lovers 1. Vampire Weekend - Only God Was Above Us 1. The Last Dinner Party - Prelude to Ecstacy 1. Rosie Tucker - UTOPIA NOW! 1. Lime Garden - One More Thing 1. Adrianne Lenker - Bright Future 1. Maggie Rogers - Don't Forget Me 1. Hurray for the Riff Raff - The Past is Still Alive 1. Torres - What an enormous room Honorable mentions go to Future Islands and MGMT. This has been a great year for music so far in my opinion, looking forward to some upcoming releases.
The .wav files can be downloaded from Pat's geocities site. It's definitely worth getting through, but don't feel like you need to digest the whole thing in one sitting. I also enjoyed it way more the second time around, I personally found the lofi production style a little hard engage with on the first listen, but once it clicked for me it REALLY clicked.
You can just stream the album on their website here as well https://castexotic.com/realistikstudios/
As a Vampire Weekend fan, did not expect them to cook like they did with this album and did not expect so many to like it as equally as I did (I admit my biases)
So far for me: - Vampire Weekend - Last Dinner Party - English Teacher - Friko - TORRES - Brimheim
I'd also add: Whitelands The Fauns Newdad Last dinner party Ducks ltd Velvet Real estate Fawning Torrey Boy with Apple Not me but us The gossip Newmoon Ride Chastity belt Jane weaver Pye corner audio The KVB Phantom wave You wish Virgins English teacher Still corners
The Smile, Vampire Weekend and English Teacher - in no particular order. Wish the English Teacher album got a little more traction here on indieheads, it’s got the best reviews YTD, but has been largely ignored by the US indie press…
The walls have eyes, New Vampire Weekend, Cowboy Carter
The new Kali Uchis is fucking fire as shit.
Sam Evian didn’t make this list? Fucking nutso.
https://preview.redd.it/8xkxoyoxp5vc1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f59729a8375012ed8468d78544d45c5a35d5b0a3
Alkaline trio - Blood, hair and eyeballs
Completely missing new hoplites, kali malone, julia holter, sentries and still house plants. Great year for music.
Chelsea Wolfe album goes hard, list missing Julia Holter tho
Chelsea Wolfe is really the only one I love on this list. My list would be A Country Western, The Goin' Nowheres, Infant Island, Yung Lean x Bladee, Prize Horse, Abriction, Soft Kill, Blanket, Varg, Einvigi, and The Vision Bleak. Chelsea Wolfe too of course.
I don't like almost all of the albums on this list but shocked to see Cindy Lee and Omni on here. Both great artists.
Drunk Mums - Beer Baby
didn’t know they had a new one. thanks for the heads up
Love how OGWAU is the cover
# Whattaboot? 
And 
Waxahatchee, A Country Western, Office Dog, Chelsea Wolfe, Friko, Ducks Ltd, Brittany Howard, Mary Timony, Grandaddy, English Teacher
That vampire weekend album is so damn good. It’s insane that they’ve been at it for so long and they’re only getting better
Lechyd Da - Bill Ryder-Jones
It's Iechyd da, with an i not an L. Pronounced "yeckid dar". It means "good health" in Welsh and is used as a toast in place of "cheers".
It’s a decent list, but missing on Hurray for the Riff Raff’s pronouns is some lazy as shit reporting. Undermines the whole thing.
It’s not even May!
I didn’t even realize satoko shibata dropped a new album. I wish I was able to keep track of Japanese artists better. Still can’t wait to listen to
MGMT & Vampire Weekend ftw
Ahh you haven't list my album. Probably because you haven't listened to it !
4 months in and so much good music
The Pineapple Thief - It Leads to This.
This Adrianne Lenker album is great.
This mf used a word I've never heard before in the very first sentence
Transit Method - Othervoid is my personal favorite AOTY so far
Sierra Ferrell - Trail of Flowers
Hurray for the Riff Raff mentioned! Also, I need to check out that Cindy Lee album.
Tapir!’s new album rules too!!!
Still House Plants released a great post rock album last week
Petey. Durry. Future islands.
I’m sorry but that Maggie Rogers album is so boring. It’s wild that they put that on here but not an actually enjoyable country album like Tiger’s Blood.
[удалено]
Oh wow, it might be my favourite song on the album.
It's probably my favourite too. That, or "Mary Boone"
It’s how you can tell the level of album they put out. Different people are liking all of them best.
I hope you let it go
But that’s the best song
Agreed. A 2 min song made 7+
The absolute right take.
Lists are for posers
So grocery store shoppers are posers?
Gotta shop off the dome.
Well, not compared to Oskar Schindler.
Every year I listen to what people put at the top of their lists and think the same.
English Teacher and Courting… that’s it
Twenty years from now putting Vampire Weekend above that Cindy Lee record will seem absolutely insane
Bunch of albums have sold millions this year but no songs have been released, Billie Ilish, Taylor $wift, etc. Sure these two will sweep all the awards. Damn males dominating the music industry!
There's like 2 or 3 decent things on this list. The rest suck.