QC10 - Jesse's Top 15 Albums from 2008-2017

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.

QuickCrit's Top 40 from 2012: 21 - 30

21. The Tallest Man On Earth - There's No Leaving Now

I still can't believe he's Swedish but my heart swells with pride every time I remember he is... - Ancient Indian Wizard

If you like one of Kristian Matsson's songs you will probably like them all. With his sandpaper vocals, toy guitar and sharp folk melodies his appeal seems to grow with every passing release. - Lucas 

22. Lower Dens - Nootropics

The songs in this album ostensibly create their own immediate space... they do not merely fill space. - JC Hackett

Atmosphere so thick, you feel like you've been floating in a pool of clouds.  Hazy, dark, and beautiful. - Max D

I was lucky enough to sneak into the band's intimate record release show. I won't miss them whenever they're in town ever again. - MikeIsTall 

23. Martin Rossiter - The Defenestration of St. Martin

Martin could be singing about making a grilled cheese sandwich and it would still give me the chills and fill me up with nostalgia. - ve1cro

Former lead singer from Gene is still a musical powerhouse. This album was made possible by a Kickstarter-esque thingy and is worth every penny. - Ancient Indian Wizard 

24. Lucero - Women & Work

Women & Work finds a soulful groove somewhere between a strut and stagger, like the guys are drinking better whiskey now. - awmercy

It's Memphis and Muscle Shoals mixed with some light roadhouse. I know it's not close to being the best album of the year artistically, but it's the one I simply wouldn't stop listening to. - JT 

25. Justin Townes Earle - Nothing's Gonna Change The Way I
      Feel About You Now

At this point, I would buy a copy of JTE singing about a dishwasher. Because it would be one heartfelt and soulful kiss-off to a dishwasher that inevitably disappointed him in some way. Between his addiction struggles, his daddy issues, and his inability to have a relationship, he is one tortured artist who just keeps writing *really* incredible songs. - JT

This is a strong album (and it's great to see him making music and touring again). - Ann

JTE was another of my discoveries this year, though I actually prefer his last album, Harlem River Blues. I really enjoy him in general, though, and this album is also solid. - Anne  

26. Bat For Lashes - The Haunted Man

My wife went out one evening and I ended up watching a Bat For Lashes festival set and I heard "Laura" for the first time.  I've since heard it like infinity more times. - Ancient Indian Wizard

Like the title suggests, this album is haunting. Beautiful and mopey and moody. Very English. - TheCraneWife 

27. Mac Demarco - 2

Incredible album from start to finish. Gets better with every listen, and the lyrics, which seem playful at first come into to focus as having a lot of heart and passion in them. - Joey P

This guy comes off like hipster trash in interviews, but he makes really great and earnest pop music. If there were more songs like "My Kind of Woman" and "Ode to Viceroy", this would have been higher on the list.  - Ben

28. Sun Kil Moon - Among The Leaves

The aging, indy darling still has so much good stuff to say and his potty mouth is in full bloom. - Rain

Self-deprecating folk songs from the godfather of sadcore. - thebrownshaun 

29. Andrew Bird - Break It Yourself

Not my favorite Bird yet, but still full of enjoyable pop melodies. - Chris

If you are a fan and 'Break Yourself' didn't blow you away upon first listen, give it another shot- it will eventually seep into your heart & soul. If you are not a fan of Mr. Bird- become one. Because he simply does not make bad records. - Lucas

I found this album more in alignment with my tastes than his last couple. I think he lets more of these songs hang on his fiddle work, which I love. - Tex 

30. Cloud Nothings - Attack On Memory 

A darker and bleaker counterpart to Celebration Rock, Attack on Memory recalls the flip side to those nights with friends and lovers. Lack of understanding, toxic relationships and apathy are commonplace on this record. - MikeIsTall 

Droney and catchy, they are a fine addition to Ohio's legacy of lo-fi/noise/garage rock even if they still have some room to grow. - Dr. Shithead

Top 5 Lucero Songs

I loved the hell out of Lucero's 2009 release, 1372 Overton Park, and recently was reminded at Hardly Strictly Bluegrass how amazing they can be live. I've always enjoy the gritty, imperfect vocals, occasionally roarin' southern rock guitars, and Ben Nichols' willingness to be both tender and rancorous in his lyrics, but it was the addition of increased production and horns that took them to the next stratosphere and made me appreciate their older tracks even more. With over 10 years on the road and 80 songs to choose from, it can be difficult to narrow the list down to a top 5... but here we go, a nice tight list of favorites...

1. "Smoke" (1372 Overton Park)
2. "Tears Don't Matter Much" (That Much Further West)
3. "Nights Like These" (Tennessee)
4. "I Can't Feel A Thing" (1372 Overton Park)
5. "San Francisco"(Rebels, Rogues & Sworn Brothers)

"north to santa rosa and south to santa cruz / the humboldt house, the boardwalk, and the homemade tattoos"

I Can Lick Any Sonofabitch In The House - Sounds Of Dying (2010)

Hey Lucero fans, you probably should go check out Sounds Of Dying. After taking a break for a couple years and putting out three solo albums, Michael Dean Damron has reformed his harder rocking I Can Lick Any Sonofabitch In The House. I love when he sounds a couple rounds deep and a little pissed off. On "Swear To God" Damron wails, straining his gravely voice to the limit, over a crying and crashing guitar. On "Bad Days Ahead", and pretty much the rest of the the album, the moan and squall of a harmonica plays foil to charging guitar riffs. Combined with Damron's shredded vocals and a pounding drum, it all whips up into a wild batch of rock n' roll. But it's not all spit and piss; "Hotter Hell" is a country anthem that briefly looks up from the gutter to see what lies ahead. There is plenty of laments, regrets, and emotional pleas. These are songs for late nights in the bar and in my experience are best consumed with a boiler maker or three.

If you think your liver can handle it, they'll be at the Doug Fir with Two Cow Garage on Sunday, November 14th.

FNBP: Spaten Oktoberfest & Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival

I know what you're thinking, because I'm thinking the same thing — It is not Friday and the events I'm about to pair have already passed. How inept can I get? Nevertheless, I move forward. 

Nearly everything I know about the history of bluegrass I learned from a Robert Earl Keen song. I think there was a time in college when I alienated myself from nearly everyone on my dorm room floor by listening to country and bluegrass, but honestly, I couldn’t have cared less. The DMXes of the world come and go, but there is an enduring factor to those old-timey sounds that trumps the need to conform musically with your peers. Although the particular beverage I enjoyed at the time of alienation was probably something on the lower end of the cost spectrum, for this Hardly Strictly pairing I'd like to bring out the gourmet (ironically, I sipped Modelo Especial for the bulk of the weekend). Meet Spaten Oktoberfest. 

Out of Munich, the origin of the fall festival, the Oktoberfest edition is subtly sweet and reminds me of a slightly cloudy Belgian. It is crisp and refreshing, but has a slightly strange aftertaste. The pairing goes well not only because of the timing, but also due to the strong associations I have with Oktoberfest, bluegrass and being outdoors. For live bluegrass I enjoyed the Bright Eyes front-man Conor Oberst, Bonnie Prince Billy and Robert Earl Keen Jr. on Saturday followed by Lucero, James McMurtry, Randy Newman, a fleeting moment of Elvis Costello, Yonder Mountain String Band and, finally, The Avett Brothers. I must admit, I was most impressed going in and coming out of the weekend with a longstanding QuickCrit favorite, Lucero. Absolutely worth the "early" start-time arrival.  In totality, certainly hardly, strictly bluegrass, but quite entertaining and especially so considering the event is free to all. 

Bluegrass, and derivatives thereof, to me is front-porch-music that seems to resonate with old souls and young ruffians alike. Oktoberfest was originally conceptualized around a horse race and agricultural show, so the event, and therefore the beer that bares the name, has rustic and outdoorsy undertones that parallel the stripped down appeal of bluegrass music. A great combo... any time of year.

QuickCrit Music Survey Results - Top 40 Albums (1-10)

1. Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
“Another one on the top of various lists. I kept hearing it piecemeal and I kept liking what I was hearing. Too bad about their being French.” - WarMachine

“A month and a half plus of starting out my workday with this album spells out album of the year to me.” - ancient indian wizard

“Always had a soft spot for these guys. Really polished pop songwriting. So tuneful!” - Jeremy B.

“One of the best live shows i saw all year as well.” - Max D.

“The kind of music that can instantly change your mood... for the better.” - NightraiN

“This album just makes me happy every time I listen to it.” - ve1cro

“A band that's even better live, Phoenix makes danceable indie that leaves you feeling happy and relaxed. If you're looking for reasons to hate this band, good luck.” - Mona

“Thought they might be ridding on the coat tails of the MGMT scene and was skeptical at all the hype but this band won me over.” - Layne

“OMG, who knew the French made awesome music?!?! Seriously.” - The Crane Wife

2. Passion Pit - Manners
“Holy dancefest. I introduced this to a coworker who hated it at first and then blasted it on the regular. You kinda want to not like it but you totally love it. If it was a Facebook relationship it would be complicated.” - ancient indian wizard

“Manners has been the #1 release of '09 for months now. Nothing can top danceable indie like this that is creative, inventive, flawless and addictive as hell. In the movie of my life, "Moth's Wings" would hopefully play in the trailer.” - Mona

“It's almost come to the point where I have to be embarrassed by this, but when I'm honest with myself, I listened to this album more than any other this year.” - WarMachine

“For all the ‘Chunk of Change’ lovers who turned into haters: WAKE THE F*** UP!” - Lucas C.

“This is just an all around great album.” - The Crane Wife


3. Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavillion
“It's a hit!” - HotCatato

“A beautiful album by an aptly named band.” - Jeremiah H.

“Took me a while to actually get into this album but it's really unlike anything I’ve ever listened to (and liked). One of those albums that reveals itself more and more with each listen.” - Max D.

“Probably the most accessible Animal Collective album to date, but then again that's not really saying all that much.” - Mona

“5 years ago I hated Animal Collective. This fact illustrates the beauty & joy of music.” - Lucas C.

“What can I add? This will probably end up being tops on the survey, and rightfully so. I'm just glad they finally dumbed down their music enough so that I could get into it.” - WarMachine


4. Metric - Fantasies
“Put this on and watch me dance the pop spaztastic.” - awmercy

“Their songs pass the campfire test. I appreciate that.” - Jeremy B.

“When I first heard this, I asked myself, why would I listen to Metric when I could just pop in the Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs? The answer, of course, is because the Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs are awesome and this album has earned the comparison.” - WarMachine

“With lyrics like "higher than high, lower than deep" and "hard to be soft , tough to be tender" the female front woman proves she’s one hell of a song writer too. - Layne




5. Dirty Projectors - Bitte Orca
“You can find me stuck in LA traffic singing this song at the top of my lungs.” - HotCatato

“An amazing melodic, at times discordant, audio soundscape. The three ladies singing backup show some mindblowingly innovative acapella chops. Stick with it....it grows on you.” - Tex

“Phew — took me some time to get the hang of this one. Can't say as though I love it, but it's a force, nonetheless, to be reckoned with.” - Jeremiah H.

“While I don't love this entire album as much as some, Stillness is the Move, Cannibal Resource and No Intention are amazing songs.” – WarMachine


6. Neko Case - Middle Cyclone
“Playing this album will get you laid. 60% of the time, it works every time.” - Rain

“She calls them ‘Killer Whales’ but I call them ‘Panda Whales.’” - ancient indian wizard

“Perhaps this is my sentimental best album of the year (certainly, the most heavily played, for me). Neko is a beautiful force to be recokened with.” - Jeremiah H.

"I love the way she says 'killer whales'.” - HotCatato

"’People Gotta A Lot Of Nerve’ is a perfect song. One of America’s great unsung heroes does it again. “ - Lucas C.



7. The Builders & The Butchers - Salvation Is A Deep Dark Well
“Urgent and macabre celebrations of our oncoming destruction.” - awmercy

“Kind of creepy, but kind of good.” - Jeremy

“They took a good thing and made it better. Dark, rollicking and unique. Tell your friends.” – NightraiN









8. Camera Obscura - My Maudlin Career
“I really feel they hit their stride with this album. French Navy is bonkers good! I want to get all kissy face like they do in the video for the song. You should too!” - ancient indian wizard

“Love this band, can they ever do any wrong? This album proves they can still inspire ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’ when they sing ‘ooh’ and ‘aah.’” - Mona

“This album is great. It was in the CD player in my car for a long time until I almost burnt out on it and had to take a break. Now Fiest's first album is in the CD player. Although both are good, I like My Maudlin Career better.” - The Crane Wife

“Just popped this in recently and I still love it. Holds together so well as an album.” - WarMachine

“Great updated girl group sound.” - Brasilliant


9. Lucero - 1372 Overton Park
“It's the perfect mix of Memphis horns, country grit, and rock n' roll.” - awmercy

“An album with that rare combination of.. well... everything. Oh the horns!” - NightraiN

“Solid outing from one of my favorites -- the horns grew on me.” – Jeremy








10. Julian Casablancas - Phrazes For The Young
“Can't really explain why this album pulls at my heart strings, it just does.” - ve1cro

“It's amazing how great the Strokes solo efforts have been.” - Lucas C.

Lucero - 1372 Overton Park Videos

Oh man. Lucero are playing Portland's Hawthorne Theater Friday night and I could not be more excited. I hope they are touring with a horn section. To top it off Jack Oblivian is opening. This sweet player lets you see all the fan videos released so far. Cool.

Lucero - "Darken My Door" Video

Lucero's 1372 Overton Park is quickly becoming one of my favorite albums this year. Here's a video for one of their slow and soulful ballads. It's the first in a series of 12 fan-made videos, one for each song on the album. Since I love this album, you can expect to see a couple posted here as they are released.

I can't wait until they return to Portland at the end of October. And once again they have a killer opener. This time it's Jack Oblivian. Last time it was Black Joe Lewis.

Lucero - 1372 Overton Park (2009)

Back in April when I reviewed Ben Nichols' solo album, The Last Pale Light In The West, I knew this album, 1372 Overton Park, was in production and was curious what sort of effects, both negative and positive, a major label transition would have on Lucero's rough, road-warrior, southern indy rock sound. Any and all concerns were swept away with the opening notes of "Smoke," the opening track for both this album and their previously released six song EP. The simple, repetitious four-note piano opening builds with Nichols' vocal growl into the uplifting chorus of the year, in my opinion--"they bolted out into the streets / unknown and beautiful / UNKNOWN AND BEAUTIFUL!... into the streets" (very Springsteen)--and continues to mount into into an anthem of freedom and invincibility, until it all tapers back towards the sweet piano accents and the offer to, "run away with me tonight." How could I say "no."? I will refrain from breaking down each track, but know that Overton Park dodges the hiccups, and brings on a new and mature dynamic for the band. Perhaps my fear was that Lucero would loose some of their indy grit with this move up the corporate ladder to Universal, but by bringing in the right people to oversee the Memphis horns, which burn through tracks like "What Are You Willing To Lose" and "Sound Of The City," and due to the production and oversight, the Universal influence has simply sprinkled in a little glitter in with the southern grit.

Lucero has put together something pretty amazing here--the individual tracks are excellent, but the album as a whole is top-o-the charts. In my mind, Lucero has made great leaps forward with this album, and, thankfully, has done so without loosing their rock and punk rooted sound.

Michael Dean Damron - Father's Day (2009)

I'd be surprised if fans of the Drive-By Truckers' Patterson Hood and Lucero's Ben Nichols aren't immediately drawn to Portland's similarly scratchy-voiced Michael Dean Damron and his barroom folk songs of heartbreak and regret. I also hear a lot of Steve Earle's simultaneously world-weary and rebellious attitude. He seems to aspire (and fit) Earle's definition of a "Hard Core Troubadour", a song referenced on "I'm A Bastard". Damron's soulful vocals on "Dead Days" mix acceptance and reflection and allow the electric guitar to provide a touch of optimism. Like early Bottle Rocket's albums, black humor runs throughout Father's Day, evident in songs like "Boy With A Car" and "SOS", which could be country punk if he picked up the pace. As usual, I tend to favor the electric guitar and harmonica driven tracks like "Tornado Song", but he does justice to the slower acoustic numbers as well, like a couple of covers of Townes Van Zandt and King Harvest.

Black Joe Lewis @ Hawthorne Theater

How rad is it to see a band live just shortly after falling in love with their new album and having known upon hearing the album that as good as it was, it likely pales compared to the live show, and then finally to have that proven true? Well, I'll tell you. It's fucking awesome. Opening for Lucero, Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears pounded the audience with their soul assault that mixed soul, blues and funk with a healthy dose of garage rock and punk. Almost every song was an excuse to let loose with blaring horns, passionate vocals and wild keyboard. Everyone in the band seemed to be having fun, especially the keyboardist and Joe Lewis, who bounded around the stage, awkwardly jumping off an amp and later almost knocking his face in the mike stand. I can't to see them again when they headline and can play a slightly longer set. So good.

Ben Nichols - The Last Pale Light In The West (2009)

Lucero fans will most likely already be aware of this recent EP from the band's front man, Ben Nichols, but for those who are not tapped into the Lucero circle, this is definitely worth getting your hands on. The Last Pale Light In The West is a stripped-down, "Blood Meridian" themed, folk-country album that features Nichols' rasp and acoustic guitar, with subtle backing. The 7 track album moves quickly with minimalistic quality throughout, leaving me wanting more length to the existing tracks, and more tracks to the album; however, I'm happy with the likes of the title track, as well as "Chambers," "Tobin," & "The Kid."