Editor's Note: After 10 years of submitting top 10 lists, frequent contributors are going back and picking out the albums that they still love.
Kelli Schaefer – No Identity (2017)
As if Led Zeppelin was led by art school feminists studying
how to absolutely shred. Or something. Silliness aside, touchstones are more
like Nick Cave and PJ Harvey. They are transcendent live.
Japandroids – Celebration Rock (2012)
I can practically smell the sour beer, cigarettes &
pepperoni as I crank it up again and again.
Divers - Hello Hello (2015)
It’s embarrassing, but this was just the first of three
Party Damage Records on my list that year. No label ever dominated my record player like
this since I first discovered STAX. Rough and passionate, Divers mix heartland punk and slow burning indie rock.
Battleme - Future Runs Magnetic (2013/2014)
It wasn’t even a contest this year. After being blown away
live, these songs kept those moments fresh on my stereo, again and again.
Radiation City – Synesthetica (2016)
Fully realizing their breathtaking potential as they imploded personally. So many layers
of art pop awesomeness.
Frightened Rabbit – The Winter Of Mixed Drinks (2010)
Their mastery of celebratory self-loathing is peerless. Scott Hutchison’s death this year cut deep
for so many reasons.
Portugal. The Man - Evil Friends (2013)
Long-time favorite keeps the streak alive. With each
stylistic shift I love them even more. One of four albums that made my annual
top 10.
Deathlist – Deathlist EP (2016)
A personal & potent EP from Portland’s busy renaissance
bassist. Listened to this EP a ton. She is consistently creating and
collaborating on many of my favorite songs each year.
Waves of Fury – Thirst (2012)
Does it get better than blaring horns over blasted vocals?
No. Some of wildest, best, careening off-the-brink garage soul-punk you can
imagine.
Lucero - 1372 Overton Park (2009)
It's the perfect mix of Memphis horns, country grit, and
rock n' roll.
Benjamin Booker - Benjamin Booker (2014)
Although not written about this year’s civil rights
struggles, they could be. I hear the same anger, frustration, and confusion
resonate in his soulful garage rock.
Hockey - Mind Chaos (2008/2009)
They perfectly combine my love of gritty soulful vocals,
funky baselines, and indie rock. In small way, we may have even contributed to
breaking this band.
Sheer Mag – I, II, III EPs (2015/2016)
The blownout lo-fi might deter some, but to me it sounds
like that hidden gem on a friend’s overdubbed radio mixtape. Cranking up this
album makes any day feel like Friday night and every beer taste like a High
Life. Thanks Larson!
The Autonomics - Debt Sounds (2017)
Ignore the Saturday morning Snapchat cover, this is
road-honed, pogoinducing, virile rock n roll.
Jay Reatard – Watch Me Fall (2009)
Paranoid, dark, and gleeful. This may be more melodic, but it's far from mellow. Loved all his albums. Always shifting, I wonder what he would have come up with next. Another painful loss.
