Eric’s Favorite Albums from 2016

1.  Frightened Rabbit - Painting of a Panic Attack    

Love me some Frightened Rabbit. The National's Aaron Dessner's fingerprints are all over this album, and the partnership is a hauntingly beautiful one. Somehow, this album is both deeply sad and uplifting at the same time. Seeing this album performed live flawlessly was also an amazing experience.      

2. Paul Cauthen - My Gospel     

Great throwback country album; cut from the same cloth as Merle and Waylon. This album probably benefitted the most from being released late in the year, because its been front of mind for the last few weeks, and I can't stop listening.   

          

3. Augustines - This is Your Life

Of course, by now I'm super predictable with my Augustines love, but even after nearly a decade of Augustines/Pela fandom, I still find the passion and emotion in their songs to be nothing short of addicting. If they are truly calling it quits for good, I will forever miss putting their albums in my top ten lists.              

4. Sturgill Simpson - A Sailor’s Guide to Earth    

 

Another country throwback who can channel the great ones with his own creativity. Clearly, the album is revered in and out of the country music scene and its really not surprising why. 

      

5. Photo Ops - Vacation

I think most people needed a good feel-good album during this rather dark 2016, and Vacation was that album for me. Echoing the harmonies and patience of Pet Sounds, this album washes over you like a warm summer day and lifts the spirits like an ice cold High Life.

6. Michael Kiwanuka - Love & Hate        

One of the more thought-provoking and emotional albums of the year for me. Kiwanuka gives his powerful tracks time to develop, which may turn some people off, but damn does he do a good job of capturing the mood. This is a brilliant album. 

7. Lake Jons - Explore EP              

I don't usually put EPs on my top ten albums list, but this one did an exception job of winning me over with just six stellar tracks. Watch out world, Finland's coming!     

        

8. The Record Company - Give It Back To You    

Rock and roll, people, doesn't lie. The Record Company gets down to business with some bluesy, rockin' tracks that come straight at you like some of the best bands from the 70s.  

9. Kings of Leon - WALLS             

KoL bounces back from the mailed-in Mechanical Bull album with WALLS. Do I love WALLS beginning to end? No. However, the 7 or 8 tracks that I do like are good enough to carry this album into the Top 10 for me. What can I say, I just like Kings of Leon.  

10. The Bones of J.R. Jones - Spirit’s Furnace      

Folksy, bluesy, and catchy... you put this on, and people will want to know who it is, how you found him, and when he's coming to town.     

11. Pete Yorn - ArrangingTime  

"She Was Weird" was my favorite track, but there are a lot of memorable songs packed into this album. A very pleasant collection of organized, multifaceted tracks.     

12. The Cave Signers - Banchee

One of favorite "acquired taste" bands. I kept forgetting about and then remembering this album, and listened to it a ton at work. The Cave Signers are certainly not for everyone, but this album works for me.           

13. Daniel Ellsworth & The Great Lakes - Bemidji     

        

Another EP! "Always/Never" is the track that drew me end, but the rest of the album makes you want to stay. I definitely over-listened to this album.    

14. Kishi Bashi - Sonderlust        

I am a huge Kishi Bashi fan and love his live show. This album dropped off a little bit for me from his prior releases, but his talent and songwriting are still astounding.   

15. Kaleo - A/B 

The best tracks off this album have been out as singles for quite some time, so I didn't feel as excited by the full album when it dropped. With a little more polish, this band should be able to do amazing things in the upcoming years.

2010 Music Survey Results - Top 50 Albums (21-30)

# 21

MGMT - Congratulations (April 13, 2010)

"When I was a kid, I heard the Supertramp song "Breakfast in America" and I was, somehow, deeply affected by it. This bubblegum pop song made me feel like I was, in a way, rushing towards a future that contained things my 10 year old consciousness couldn't fathom. Well, 30 years later, this album makes me feel that way too. Or, I may be having a stroke..." - Rain

"A classic sophomore curveball. Congratulations finds MGMT abandoning their synth-pop utopia for much darker territory.This is the comedown, the freak-out... the claustrophobic nightmare after the dream. Transfigurations this violent can be frightening for the world at large but make no mistake- this is a work of courageous quality and you get the feeling that this may just be the beginning of a brilliant career." - Luc

# 22

Kings Of Leon - Come Around Sundown (October 19, 2010)

"Kings of Leon could write songs about unicorns and fairy dust and it would still sound sexy. The gut wrenching, sexified vocals of Anthony Followell are still there and could make any girl swoon (or make out with the closest guy)" - Layne

"The music was a little slower than what I anticipated." - Julia

# 23

Twin Shadow - Forget (September 28, 2010)

"Soaked in the '80s. Love those thumpy bass lines and Talking Heads-esque vocals. Rising on the significant other scale as the year ends." - Jeremy

"'At My Heels' creates an instant dance party in our house...  even for the member of our family who can't walk yet." - Ancient Indian Wizard

# 24

Broken Bells - Broken Bells (March 9, 2010)

"We used 'The Ghost Inside' in a skate clip at work this year.  I got to hear the song like 100 times and I still love it." - Ancient Indian Wizard

"I was sad when the Shins stopped making interesting music. This album combines James Mercer's unique voice with an updated sound. Solid album" - Brasilliant

# 25

The Gaslight Anthem - American Slang (June 15, 2010)

"Fresh and refreshing, but with an old-style influence and character. So awesome on album & in person." - NightraiN

"Fuck those Jersey Shore kids, Gaslight's killer tunes make me proud to be a Jersey native." - Mona

# 26

Wolf Parade - Expo 86 (June 29, 2010)

"A solid third release from a band that always puts out flawless and exciting indie rock albums.  I fucking love Wolf Parade, there's really not much else I can say." - Mona

"Perhaps the greatest triumph of our modern independent rock is it's acknowledgment & mastery of every era of rock music. Wolf Parade's Spencer Krug & Dan Broeckner seamlessly merge the hiccup of post punk & 90's indie with the guitar crunch & epic scope of classic rock. Expo thinks hard and rocks harder... and it's damn good driving music." - Luc

"Another artist whom I'd come close to finding kinship with in recordings past, Wolf Parade nailed it for me this year with Expo '86.  Another band I should have seen live this year but had to miss, sadly. Dreamy, ominous, and rockin'." - Tex

"This has been a grower on me... Jerky, jumpy and energetic." - NightraiN

"Love everything they do, but needs a little more time to marinate." - Ernesto

# 27

Hillstomp - Darker The Night (July 20, 2010)

"A two-man wrecking crew that pounds and sweats out the blues with hypnotic guitar riffs, 5-gallon buckets and a country-mile of duct tape." - awmercy

"My favorite new band this year. More banjo please." - Sandenuts

# 28

Gorillaz - Plastic Beach (March 9, 2010)

"Very different kind of sound (as always) and pretty awesome, though I wouldn't say I loved all the songs." - Julia

# 29

Sharon Van Etten - Epic (September 21, 2010)

"Great songs, outstanding voice. I'm a sucker for a little slide guitar too. One song sounds like The Cranberries and I don't even mind." - Jeremy

# 30

Free Energy - Stuck On Nothing (May 4, 2010)

"Feel good classic rock. Every song feels like a celebration of youth, friends and just having fun." - awmercy

"Like awesome 70s FM radio never went away. And, for my own list, something other than Americana/roots." - JasonT

U.S. Royalty - "Equestrian"

I know we aren't done with 2010 yet — we are all still finishing up our top 10 lists for 2010 — but I from what I can tell, 2011 is going to be another great year for music. A few local Portland favorites, The Builders And The Butchers, Dolorean and Loch Lomond, are releasing albums early next year. While I am really excited about all three albums, I am also looking forward to all the potential new discoveries. One of which will likely be DC's U.S. Royalty, especially if the rest of the album lives up to the single "Equestrian" (mp3). They've been compared to Local Natives, The Black Keys, Fleet Foxes, Band of Horses, and early Kings of Leon, basically a list of some of my favorite bands. I definitely hear the Fleet Foxes influence on this song, which makes me curious to hear their other ones.

Kings Of Leon - Come Around Sundown (2010)

If you are reading this blog, then there probably isn't much that I can tell you about this band that you haven't already read online. Thus, I'll spare you the pointless biographical ramblings. I will tell you, however, that this is a very good album, albeit quite similar to Only by the Night in expression and production. Thankfully, Come Around Sundown is not simply a reincarnation of "Sex on Fire" in album form, as it is less likely to get you dancing, and more likely to help you get intimate. A number of the jams channel the slowed-down, sensuous sing-along tracks that your lady-friends insisted on butchering the lyrics to from previous albums. Nevertheless, tracks like the first single "Radioactive" and the growling "No Money" brings the sound around full circle to the days of hard-charging southern rock. Moreover, the made-for-karaoke "Birthday" will surely be annoying bartenders nationwide as an overplayed jukebox staple.

I think that those who may find this album disappointing are the folks who got to the KOL party early and long for the stripped-down presentation off of their early efforts. Unfortunately for that crowd, the days of Youth and Young Manhood are gone forever and you have to let the band grow up and develop their big-venue, glossy image and sound. They can't all be "indie" forever. I personally like the casual saunter and amusing lyrics of "Mi Amigo" (shouldn't it be Amiga?), the thunderous bass leading into the "Closer"esque "The End" and the back-porch twang of "Back Down South." It is all bueno from my perspective.

Kings Of Leon now have, what I consider to be, five great albums. Criticism may end up being dolled out describing this album as "safe" or "mainstream" (negative words in the music reviewing lexicon), but in truth, all bands eventually fall into that trap. What we have here may not be ground-breaking, but it is very, very enjoyable, so I'll indulge... feel free to join me.

Outside Lands 2010 - Sunday Preview

Day two of a music festival always has its challenges: Fatigue, due to standing for six sets in tight quarters; hangover, due to one to many trips to the microbrew stand; motivation (or lack-there-of), due to the daunting spectacle of dealing with the massive crowds, clingy dirt, nauseous bathrooms and general festival madness for another 10 or so hours. Nevertheless, there are still bands to be seen and fun to be had, so here is QuickCrit's ideal Sunday schedule for this weekend's Outside Lands Festival.

Sunday (Time - Stage):

The Soft Pack (12:45 - Twin Peaks) Originally from San Diego, The Soft Pack combines the influences of surf rock, power pop, punk and garage rock to create a truly Californian blend of indie rock. I have never seen them live, but they have a fun, catchy sound with plenty of hooks, so whether you have heard them or not, they should be good for an early day starter-upper.

The Devil Makes Three (2:10 - Twin Peaks) The Devil Makes Three, out of Santa Cruz, may be good on their albums, but they are even better live. The punked-up old-timey blugrass translates well to the outdoor, up-close-and-personal atmosphere. Additionally, they’re sure to draw plenty of local DM3 loyalists, ensuring an authentically enthusiastic hoedown.

Al Green (4:00 - Lands End) He’s the supreme Al Green and his voice is still silky and smooth. Sure, Edward Sharpe may lead his minions in a new age revival, but Green is an actual preacher and a soul legend. Are you really going to pass that up for a communal sing along?

Chromeo (5:15 - Twin Peaks) Awmercy says: Decisions, decisions. I loved Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix and I’m sure they are great live, but when it comes down to it I’d rather get down, and the discerning dancers will be headed over to Chromeo’s stage. No doubt they will bring their funky electronic grind, so grab your shades and let’s get spastic.

Phoenix (5:55 - Lands End) Nightrain says: The Frenchmen have some of biggest and most recognizable hits in the rock arena today and have ascended to a level of star-dome that places them almost exclusively in large, fancy venues with ticket prices to match. This will be an opportunity to see Phoenix without what feels like ridiculous overhead costs and the show should be one to behold as the speedway will be packed for a high-energy, full hour set followed by Kings of Leon. In contrast, Chromeo, although excellent, is not at Phoenix’s level of popularity or demand, and their electro-dance party can be better enjoyed inside... like at The Independent later in the evening.

Kings of Leon (7:20 - Lands End)  This is the band that many people will come specifically to see with the bulk of the other performers simply serving as an added bonus. Coming off a recently abandoned show due to a pigeon poo assault from above, a few months spent writing and recording their new album, and serving as the headliners for major festivals around the globe, these road-hardened southern rock "veterans" should mix some new material in with their sing-a-long classics. A perfect way to bring your festival experience to a close.

Notables you will miss should you adhere to this schedule: The Whigs, Freelance Whales, Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars, The Levon Helm Band, Tokyo Police Club, Cat Power, Wild Beasts, Amos Lee, The Temper Trap, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, Slightly Stoopid, Social Distortion, Empire of the Sun.

Jessie Baylin - "Mrs. Christmas"

Now that I am back home in the currently-arctic NW, I'm starting to get in the Christmas spirit, which generally means I crank up Robert Earl Keen's "Merry Christmas From The Family." It's my all time favorite Christmas song, but I'm always looking for new hits to add to the mix. Jessie Baylin's newly released "Mrs. Christmas" (mp3) offers a bit more tender approach. It's sweet and classy. Apparently, she wrote it for her Kings of Leon drumming husband. Cool.

The Shaky Hands - Let It Die (2009)

The Shaky Hands' Let It Die is full of meaty rockers, continuing the Portland band's progression from indie folk towards classic rock started on Lunglight. While Nicholas Delffs' strained nasal voice gives the songs urgency, the guitars propel them forward with a mix of comfortable strums and powerful riffs. This music is meant to be played and heard live, although the songs sound pretty good on the album too. I like how on "Slip Away" the beat stutters while the vocals swagger until finally the guitar is let loose. "Allison And The Ancient Eyes" (mp3) rolls along, riding cymbals and hand claps, while Delffs spills regrets. The chugging buzz on the title track should satisfy Kings of Leon fans. "Love Curse" starts slow, but builds up into a pounding finale. Overall, it's a solid album of barroom rock n' roll.

The Features - "Lions" Video

The Features' Some Kind of Salvation was one of my favorite albums last year and was just re-released this summer on the Kings of Leon's new label. They are definitely on my short list of bands I need to see live.

Alberta Cross - ATX [Single] (2009)

There are very few album releases that I have anxiously anticipated more than Alberta Cross' first full-length LP, Broken Side of Time... Chinese Democracy is certainly an example. At this point, I have used and abused both of AC's EP releases—Leave Us Or Forgive Us and The Thief & The Heartbreaker—nearly to the point of delirium. Accordingly, I was exponentially stoked when the new track, "ATX," was posted on Alberta Cross' MySpace page recently. The track cranks the AC sound and style up a few notches with reverberating guitar riffs and rumbling bass, that is somewhat similar to Kings of Leon when they lay down some hard rock. This is not the folky, country rooted Alberta Cross from the aforementioned 07/08 EPs, but the guitar driven, hard rocking Cross that (apparently) releases full-length albums. Perhaps a foreshadowing of what to expect, but I hope that this extremely talented quintet does a little bit of everything on the album to be... it has been too long my friends!

Check out this solid shot of AC's South by Southwest performance of "ATX." The album, Broken Side of Time, is slated to be released on September 22nd, but I won't hold my breath...

Kings of Leon – Only By The Night (2008)

The first thing I did upon getting Only By The Night was to skip through each track and make sure that nothing sounded like “Charmer” off of Because of the Times. And, thankfully, nothing did. Kings of Leon have returned to once again inoculate the world with their divergent and addicting southern influenced indie rock—and they sound extremely refined, thoughtful, and quite frankly, better than ever. Awesome from beginning to end, the vocals, lyrics, and music have reached a heightened level of maturity and development. I personally don’t hear any of the glitches that hampered portions of the three previous albums, although I’m often overly critical of bands I really like. I always, and increasingly, expect great things from Kings of Leon, and with Only By The Night they do not disappoint. If you do not own this album by the end of the month, you should be embarrassed.

Current favorites are the so called single, "Sex on Fire," "Closer," and "Be Somebody," but you can't go wrong with any of them.