I stumbled across this one late in the year and am glad I did. Drawing inspiration from 80's new wave and especially 90's alt-rock, Ex Cops (comprised of Amalie Bruun and Brian Harding) churn out melodically rich, rhythmically taut pop songs with bold choruses. Bruun's crystalline vocals really stand out, as they float atop unfussy guitar-and-synth arrangements that deliver a surfeit of sleek hooks. Not every song is a home run. But Ex Cops eke out enough solid extra-base hits to ensure that Daggers is a winner.
Best of the Lot: "Black Soap," "Daggers," "White Noise"
9. THE DRUMS — ENCYCLOPEDIA
The Drums made quite a splash a few years ago with the release of their debut EP Summertime! ("Let's Go Surfing" was the breakout hit) and their equally stellar self-titled LP. Their stripped-down new wave approach (which suggested New Order doing beach music) was refreshingly straight forward, and the songwriting was excellent. The Drums' follow-up LP Portamento more or less stuck with the same musical template, but the results were more uneven, and thus less satisfying. On Encyclopedia, The Drums bolster their musical attack with guitars that snarl more angrily, bass lines that thump a little louder, snare hits that resonate a little deeper, and synths that swoosh and swirl a little more dramatically. And though the lyrical content is darker this time around, the song quality is solid throughout — certainly a step up from their previous effort. Encyclopedia shows that The Drums are not content to quietly fade away.
Best of the Lot: "Magic Mountain," "I Can't Pretend," "There is Nothing Left"
8. ST. VINCENT — ST. VINCENT
St. Vincent (a/k/a Annie Clark) is an eccentric visionary whose musical flights of fancy occasionally become a little too outré for my taste. However, when she hits the mark, as she consistently does on her eponymous fourth album, the results can be stunning. This collection features plenty of musical adventurism but never leaves the listener in the dust, as this is St. Vincent's most accessible effort yet. And it shouldn't go unnoticed that St. Vincent's also a ripping good guitarist. A strong effort from start to finish.
Best of the Lot: "Digital Witness," "Every Tear Disappears," "Birth in Reverse"
7. NEW PORNOGRAPHERS — BRILL BRUISERS
On Brill Bruisers, The New Pornographers dish up another delectable serving of their patented brand of indie pop. Carl Newman's sharp-as-a-tack songwriting and Neko Case's knock-your-socks-off vocals make this The NPs strongest album since 2003's Electric Version, which is really saying something. It's obvious the band had a blast making this record, which makes it all the more enjoyable to listen to. Brill Bruisers shows why this Canadian supergroup remains one of the most beloved in the biz.
Best of the Lot: "Dancehall Domine," "Backstairs," "Marching Orders"
6. PHANTOGRAM — VOICES
An ideal soundtrack for your hip late-night soirees, your explorations of urban landscapes, or even your solitary ruminations about life and romance. Phantogram takes the nocturnal stylings and trip-hoppy goodness of the band's 2009 release Eyelid Movie, tightens the songwriting focus, and adds a cinematic sheen to deliver a stunning set of remarkably catchy songs.
The album starts out strong with "Nothing But Trouble," which establishes the band's M.O.: propulsive, hypnotic beats; densely layered synths; Sarah Barthel's captivating vocals; undeniably bold hooks. The standard set by the opening track is largely met throughout the album's duration and ensures that Voices will remain a fixture in my late-night rotation for many moons to come.
Best of the Lot: "Bad Dreams," "Black Out Days," "Nothing But Trouble"
5. MAC DEMARCO — SALAD DAYS
Mac DeMarco is an odd duck with a prodigious talent for blending jangle pop, yacht rock, and jam band stylings into indelibly catchy tunes. His uncanny knack for crafting ridiculously tuneful chord progressions on his guitar reminds me of a young Roddy Frame from the 80's band Aztec Camera (anyone remember them?). And DeMarco gets bonus points for his songwriting economy. His songs never wear out their welcome: they get in, deliver the delicious musical goods, and then get out. Salad Days serves notice that this slightly off-kilter 23-year-old Canadian will be one to watch for many years to come.
Best of the Lot: "Salad Days," "Let Her Go," "Blue Boy"
4. BECK — MORNING PHASE
Two muses seemingly battle for control of Beck's musical soul. On the one hand is the multi-genre mashup maestro who throws indie rock, hip hop, R&B, and alternative pop into the mixer to create irresistibly brash musical concoctions. And on the other is the folksy, acoustic troubadour unafraid to bare his soul and wear his heart on his sleeve. The latter persona is on display on Morning Phase, and it's a delightful listen throughout. The sound is mellow but never bland, and the album's subtle hooks gently wend their way into your brain's pleasure centers and have a way of staying there. Another winner from one of the best artists of the last 20 years.
Best of the Lot: "Blue Moon," "Heart is a Drum," "Blackbird Chain"
3. LITTLE DRAGON — NABUMA RUBBERBAND
Like Little Dragon's prior release (2011's Ritual Union), Nabuma Rubberband is tailor-made for late-night listening. But whereas Ritual Union provided the soundtrack for a nocturnal dance party, Nabuma Rubberband is designed for the languorous aftermath. Outside of the pulse-racing "Klapp Klapp" and the driving "Paris," Little Dragon's latest teems with sultry, slow-burn numbers that evoke a three-in-the-morning atmosphere like few can. With its third straight outstanding album, Little Dragon has established themselves as a top-drawer band whose mastery of mood is in a class by itself.
Best of the Lot: "Mirror," "Klapp Klapp," "Pretty Girls"
2. REAL ESTATE — ATLAS
Real Estate's latest is certainly easy on the ears — a breezy, melodic, predominantly acoustic affair that simultaneously soothes and stimulates; the aural equivalent sunshine warming your face on a spring day. The band's musical approach is so unassuming that it's easy to overlook just how well-crafted their songs are. Yet even at its brightest, the songs retain a melancholy edge that reflects innocence lost and remembrance of simpler times. On Atlas, Real Estate once again demonstrates that "easy listening" need not have a negative connotation. This is first-rate stuff.
Best of the Lot: "The Bend," "Had to Hear," "Talking Backwards"
1. SPOON — THEY WANT MY SOUL
Spoon is the best band of the past 15 years, and their latest offering — They Want My Soul — only reinforces that. It's one more stunner in an unbroken line of musical excellence and tops my list of best albums of the year.
In many ways, Britt Daniel and Co. are the San Antonio Spurs of the rock world in that their reign of exceptionalism is now going on two decades; their greatness and consistency is easy to take for granted; and their style focuses less on overt flash than on dedication to fundamentals. Just when you think Spoon's due for a misfire, they — like the Spurs — raise another banner into the rafters.
Spoon know its strengths, and on They Want My Soul, they are on full display: Britt's swaggering vocals and potent guitar riffs, a rock-solid rhythm section led by drummer Jim Eno, and a less-is-more songwriting approach that allows each selection to generate its own internal momentum. However, Spoon also throws in a few new wrinkles, including a more expansive keyboard attack that beautifully fleshes out their sound. The cut that strays furthest from the band's traditional approach also happens to be the best: the gorgeously dreamy "Inside Out," where the band lowers its guard to reveal a soulful vulnerability and appealing empathy. It's genuinely sweet (not a word normally associated with Spoon) and shows definitively that Spoon still has plenty of game left.
Best of the Lot: "Inside Out," "Let Me Be Mine," "Do You," "Rent I Pay"
Love this description of Beck. It is spot on.
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