Limiting the list to 10 albums was impossible this year. Even at 15, I am still forced to leave off a couple favorites. At least the EPs will be posted separately.
1. Radiation City - Animals In The Median
An outstanding and beautiful album. If this is the soundtrack a past-future lounge, I'll take a Vesper.
2. Portugal. The Man - Evil Friends
Long-time favorite keeps the streak alive. With each stylistic shift I love them even more.
3. Typhoon - White Lighter
Orchestral, intricate, and emotional indie rock. For all the moving parts and tempo changes, it's strikingly intimate.
4. The Memories - Love Is The Law
Maybe if Guided by Voices preferred weed to cheap beer they’d make lazy, amazingly catchy, lo-fi pop like this.
5. Sallie Ford & The Sound Outside - Untamed Beast
Updating rockabilly, by avoiding stylistic cliches, and delivering propulsive, simple, vintage pop songs.
6. The Thermals - Desperate Ground
Portland punk rock veterans strip back down to just pointed anger and giant hooks. Always good, always seem to be getting better.
7. Summer Cannibals - No Make Up
They won me over live. Just the right mix of attitude and chops, aggression and charisma.
8. Wild Ones - Keep It Safe
Many a sunny late afternoon was spent lounging to this upbeat and occasionally dreamy midsummer indie pop.
9. The No Tomorrow Boys - Bad Luck Baby Put The Jinx On Me
Exceedingly fun vintage rock n' roll bashed out with energy and abandon.
10. WL - Hold
Easy to get swept up in their sweet and hazy shoegaze.
11. Genders - Get Lost
Great all around indie rock album, but I especially love the guitars.
12. The Woolen Men - The Woolen Men
Very satisfying lo-fi, elemental rock n’ roll.
13. The Pynnacles - The Pynnacles
May not be original artyfacts, but these songs sound like solid gold nuggets to me.
14. Fanno Creek - Monuments
Energetic indie folk with beautiful yet powerful harmonies.
15. The We Shared Milk - Lame Sunset
Laid back, soulful, experimental indie rock. Really hits stride on the second side.
