I love "Pool". It was songs between that and "Tell Me How" that did nothing for me. "No Friend" was fine, but (again, this is subjective) didn't add anything to the album of a band whose strength comes so much from lyrics, "Idle Worship" bothered me in the same sense that much of Self-Titled did (I know I'm in the minority on that one but it is what it is) and "Caught in the Middle" drives me up the wall because I can't figure out what it reminds me of, and "Grudges" is fine but I just maintain that it's the weaker section of the album. I'm always really tough on bands who I think really highly of, for whatever that's worth. And I'm still getting over the way "Tell Me How" specifically ruined my emotional life.
My love of Grudges has a lot to do with my love for Zac, and I absolutely hear you on the feelings toward Self-Titled.
Trust me, I get it. And hey - the album was still in my top 15. It's not like I'm saying it was awful (quite the contrary), I just thought those I ranked above it were stronger albums as wholes.
That (circa) was another album I didn't get to listen to before I submitted my list. Like I said, gonna try to be more proactive this year so it's not December and I a) can't remember anything I've listened to and b) haven't listened to like half of the new big releases.
Albums I liked a lot this year: Aaron Sprinkle - “Real Life” Anna Of The North - “Lovers” August Burns Red - “Phantom Anthem” Converge - “The Dusk In Us” Glassjaw- “Material Control” LCD Soundsystem - “American Dream” Lo Tom - “Lo Tom” Lorde - “Melodrama” Moses Sumney - “Aromanticism” The National - “Sleep Well Beast” Quicksand - “Interiors” Ride - “Weather Diaries” Robert Plant - “Carey Fire” Said Fantasy - “Chariots Of God” & “Carols Gloria” EPs Slowdive - “Slowdive” St. Vincent - “Masseduction” Sylvan Esso - “What Now” Taylor Swift - “Reputation” U2 - “Songs Of Experience” Waxahatchee - “Out In The Storm” ‘68 - “Two Parts Viper” Plus I listened to lots of old favorites like MXPX, Descendents, Less Than Jake, Ramones, Andrew WK, The Cars, Blink 182, As Cities Burn, Underoath, Beastie Boys, Five Iron Frenzy, New Order, Kraftwerk, NoFX, Operation Ivy, Robyn, Sum 41, The Chariot, and more! Soundtracks Baby Driver Guardians Of The Galaxy: Vol. 2 Halt And Catch Fire Master Of None: Season 2 Stranger Things: Season 2 Stranger Things: Music From The Series Comedy Chris Gethard - “Career Suicide” John Mulaney - “The Comeback Kid” Pete Holmes - “Faces And Sounds” Podcasts Comedy Bang Bang Labeled: The Stories, Rumors And Legend Of Tooth And Nail Raised By TV Spontaneanation You Made It Weird with Pete Holmes Whomp It Up And random episodes of others. Concerts Andrew WK St. Vincent Sylvan Esso I won’t even try to list TV and Movies...too much! And if there is anything that I remember I may edit this list. All things considered it was a great year. To an even better, happier 2018!
People are seriously mad that we didn’t put an abuser at number 1 on our list? And that we had a woman instead? For the first time in the history of AP.net/Chorus? Fuck off!
I’d argue that she wasn’t worth listening to with him and comes off as a much more talented artist with a distinct voice without him.
Here is miiiiine: 1. Kendrick Lamar - DAMN. 2. '68 - Two Parts Viper 3. Portugal. The Man - Woodstock 4. Brand New - Science Fiction 5. Vasudeva - No Clearance 6. Japandroids - Near to the Wild Heart of Life 7. Vince Staples - Big Fish Theory 8. Manchester Orchestra - A Black Mile to the Surface 9. Chris Stapleton - From a Room: Volumes 1 & 2 10. Circa Survive - The Amulet Honorable Mentions: Big K.R.I.T. - 4eva is A Mighty Long Time, Electric Guest - Plural, Julien Baker - Turn Out the Lights, ODESZA - A Moment Apart, SZA - Ctrl, Glassjaw - Material Control, Grizzly Bear - Painted Ruins, LCD Soundsystem - american dream, Big Boi - BOOMIVERSE, The National - Sleep Well Beast, Royal Blood - How Did We Get So Dark?, Father John Misty - Pure Comedy, Dispatch - America, Location 12.
Really great staff list. Julien Baker and Phoebe Bridgers killed it. A really stand out year for wonderful female artists and fronted bands who have been putting out some great stuff over the past few years. (Big Thief and Julie Byrne were also very high on my personal list).