The year is half way over. Yes, I know crazy right? You have less than 6 months now to buy my birthday gift (just a friendly reminder). What is almost as notable, is the fact that list making can once again commence! While the end of the year list is always more definitive, I think this list sums up my last 6 months.
The dub step numbness of James Blake (though to be honest I liked the CMYK EP better... hipster as hell... I digress) moves into the still vaguely sad folk of Fleet Foxes, and Okkervil River comes in with a familiar if not more powerful sound.
I realize that Cloud Nothings are pretty high on my list for sounding like they just figured out they were playing instruments, but the playground lyrics and overall childishness really gets me. I think Cut Copy owes most of their stature on this list due to summer (really find me a more summery album... can't be done.... not this year). Starfucker is awesome for their crisp synth lines, reminiscence of 2008 MGMT (what can I say that was a really fun summer).
Lykke Li halts her former preciousness. She maintains a kind of sexiness, however upon listening maintains a vulnerability I think most ladies can relate (juxtapose "Get Some" and "Jerome"). I really wanted to make Cults number one, for the last week they have been in my book. They make 60 pop revivalism just swell (sorry Tennis, Dum Dum Girls they perfected yo sound).
The top two spots were tough.
Yuck takes shoegaze with a grungier appeal (See: Sunday) combining two of my favorite things, being maudlin and flannel.
Finally, the number one spot. If only I was 16 again, I would have a giant poster of these boys (suprise it is actually Justin Beiber!... jk jk). Smith Westerns got production value and channeled their inner Bowie. Whats more is their lyrics. They literally sing what every girl wants to hear, "I wanna tell you, you're hard to resist." Swoon....
10. James Blake
9. Fleet Foxes
8. Okkervil River
7. Cloud Nothings
6. Cut Copy
5. Starfucker
4. Lykke Li
3. Cults
2. Yuck
1. Smith Westerns
HM. The Weeknd
Not bad, G-racer. I can't get on board with Cloud Nothings, Cut Copy, or Lykke Li, and Starfucker is way too teenage-angsty for me. But perhaps all that is about my age.
ReplyDeleteAlso, for my money, "Helplessness Blues" is the single of the year. Already. No contest.
I think it is less age and more just life situation. Those four albums would be weird for you to be down with, but make sense for my personality/ impoverished student status
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