tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15097340715630171242024-03-13T14:30:11.946-07:00Other People's Musicdavidlevithanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00762768300871943772noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1509734071563017124.post-18943370640698260332024-02-04T12:35:00.000-08:002024-02-04T12:36:07.199-08:00The David Music Poll Results, 2023<b>The David Music Poll Results, 2023</b> <div><br /></div><div> 1. Olivia Rodrigo, Guts (20 votes) </div><div> boygenius, The Record (20) </div><div> 3. Sufjan Stevens, Javelin (19) </div><div> 4. Caroline Polachek, Desire, I Want to Turn Into You (15) </div><div> 5. Troye Sivan, Something to Give Each Other (13) </div><div> 6. Lana Del Rey, Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd (12) </div><div> 7. Chappell Roan, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess (11) </div><div> 8. Carly Rae Jepsen, The Loveliest Time (9) </div><div> 9. The Mountain Goats, Jenny From Thebes (8) </div><div>10. The National, First Two Pages of Frankenstein (7) </div><div> Mitski, The Land is Inhospitable and So Are We (7) </div><div> Jesse Ware, That! Feels Good! (7) </div><div> Slowdive, Everything is Alive (7) </div><div> Janelle Monáe, The Age of Pleasure (7) </div><div><br /></div><div>Runners up: Taylor Swift, 1989 (Taylor’s Version); Paramore, This is Why; Victoria Monet, Jaguar II </div><div> </div><div><b>Notes:</b> This might be the closest Music Poll ever. With 70 respondents, it was down to the wire between Olivia Rodrigo, boygenius, and Sufjan Stevens, with the first two narrowly winning in our first-in-25-years tie. Rodrigo and boygenius are each making their second appearance on the poll, with their first wins. It is Stevens’ third appearance, Troye Sivan’s second, Lana Del Rey’s fourth, Carly Rae Jepsen’s fifth, Janelle Monáe’s fourth, and Jessie Ware’s second. The National makes their sixth appearance, tying Taylor Swift for the most top tens in the past 25 years. Mitski and The Mountain Goats, who have long been on the list below the top ten, finally crack it, with the Mountain Goats doing it by being the first choice of four voters. Chappell Roan and Slowdive also debut on the list. Also worth noting is that while the Barbie soundtrack didn’t make the list, if you look at the singles choices, many singles lists have at least one song from it. </div><div><br /></div><div>Now, to the individual lists… </div><div><br /></div><div><b>For my list, Desire wins a close race </b></div><div><br /></div><div>This year’s list is a very, very close call for me, with no obvious winner. When forced to choose, I’ve put Caroline Polachek on top, because it feels like such a singular album and also doesn’t have any songs that I feel drag the high points down. Chappell Roan is a second, with some of my favorite songs of the year – but also a few that are nothing-special. Same goes for Lana Del Rey, who gets points taken off for spoken-word, though songs like “A&W” are among the best she’s ever done. Romy’s album is very consistent, and is the one I suspect I will keep listening to in order to discover new things within it. Olivia Rodrigo didn’t just do the Billie Eilish soft-loud thing, but also proved to be a pretty solid 90s alt-rocker. The triumph of boygenius was undeniable this year, and I found myself in many “I swear, I’ve liked all of them from the start!” conversations. (Yes, it’s come to that.) I know I could be accused of bias, but the Ballad soundtrack was superb – although, alas, interspersing dialogue from the movie within otherwise wonderful songs was a stupid move. The National, a perennial on my annual lists, released not one but two albums this year; clearly, I preferred one, though both are worth a listen. Near misses are Sufjan’s album, which was just too sad for me to listen to, at first; the fantastic return of Everything But the Girl; and CMAT’s Crazymad, For Me, which is excellent oddball, twangy pop. </div><div><br /></div><div> My favorite album list: </div><div>1. Caroline Polachek, Desire, I Want to Turn Into You </div><div>2. Chappell Roan, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess </div><div>3. Romy, Mid Air </div><div>4. Olivia Rodrigo, Guts </div><div>5. Lana Del Rey, Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd </div><div>6. Boygenius, The Album </div><div>7. Soundtrack, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes </div><div>8. The National, First Two Pages of Frankenstein </div><div><br /></div><div>My favorite songs: </div><div><br /></div><div>1. Chappell Roan, “HOT TO GO” </div><div>2. Florence & the Machine, “Mermaids” </div><div>3. Olivia Rodrigo, “Vampire” and “Get Him Back” </div><div>4. boygenius, “Not Strong Enough” </div><div>5. Lana Del Rey, “A&W” </div><div>6. Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, “Death Wish” </div><div>7. Belle & Sebastian, “I Don’t Know What You See in Me” </div><div>8. Holly Humberstone, “Antichrist” </div><div>9. Everything But the Girl, “Nothing Left to Lose” </div><div>10. Rhiannon Giddens, “You’re the One” </div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Emily S starts the javelin’s arc </b></div><div><br /></div><div>Best album of the year: </div><div><br /></div><div>1. Sufjan Stevens, Javelin </div><div>2. Lana Del Rey, Did You Know… </div><div><br /></div><div> Best single, more upbeat than my best albums!: </div><div>1. Dua Lipa, Dance the Night </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Justine L offers a throwback </b></div><div><br /></div><div>I just obsessively listened to [Streisand’s] Live at the Bon Soir. And thus have no opinions about albums released in 2023. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Laura H, on the record </div><div><br /></div><div>Boygenius, The Record/The Rest </div><div> Mitski, The Land is Inhospitable and So are We </div><div>Lana del Rey, Did You That There's aTunnel Under Ocean Boulevard? </div><div>Romy, Mid Air </div><div>Janelle Monae, The Age of Pleasure </div><div>Troye Sivan- Something to Give Each Other </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Dylan M, even Stevens </b></div><div><br /></div><div>1. Sufjan Stevens, Javelin
!! </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>For Anna Q, Guts is glory </b></div><div><br /></div><div>Olivia Rodrigo, Guts.
Nothing else even comes close. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>David A pumps up the ‘jan </b></div><div><br /></div><div>Most essential album:
Sufjan Stevens, Javelin </div><div><br /></div><div>Other essential albums: </div><div>Eluvium, Whirling Marvels in Consensus Reality </div><div>Gregory Alan Isakov, Appaloosa Bones </div><div>Olivia Rodrigo, Guts </div><div>Boygenius, The Record </div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Kevin K’s Ray of light </b></div><div><br /></div><div>Girl Ray, Prestige
• Palehound, Eye on the Bat
• Geese, 3D Country
• Bully, Lucky For You
• McKinley Dixon, Beloved! Paradise! Jazz?
• Chris Farren, Doom Singer
• Wednesday, Rat Saw God
• Carly Rae Jepsen, The Loveliest Time
• 100, gecs, 10,000 gecs
• Kara Jackson, Why Does the Earth Give Us People to Love?
• Cut Worms, Cut Worms
• Be Your Own Pet, Mommy
• Indigo De Souza, All of This Will End
• Who Is She?, Goddess Energy
• Belle and Sebastian, Late Developers
• Blondshell, Blondshell
• Sufjan Stevens, Javelin
• Ratboys, The Window
• The Front Bottoms, You Are Who You Hang Out With
• Lydia Loveless, Nothing’s Gonna Stand in My Way Again
• Kate Davis, Fish Bowl
• Caroline Polachek, Desire, I Want To Turn Into You </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Sarah L takes it back to 1989, accompanied by those who weren’t born then </b></div><div>I have listened to exclusively Taylor Swift (and songs like “Chicken Nugget Dreamland” and “It’s Raining Tacos” -- the boys’ favorite tunes at the moment. Someday? I hope to reclaim my ability to listen to music I love (although I loved the 1989 Taylor’s Version release tremendously). </div><div><br /></div><div><b> Mike R lets us know Why </b></div><div><br /></div><div> MY (PERSONAL, SUBJECTIVE) TOP 20 ALBUMS OF 2023: </div><div>1. Paramore, This Is Why </div><div>2. Chappell Roan, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess </div><div>3. Caroline Polachek, Desire, I Want To Turn Into You </div><div>4. Meshell Ndegeocello, The Omnichord Real Book </div><div>5. Maisie Peters, The Good Witch </div><div>6. Jessie Ware, That! Feels Good! </div><div>7. Cinco Paul, Schmigadoon!: Season 2 </div><div>8. The Menzingers, Some Of It Was True </div><div>9. Vagabon, Sorry I Haven’t Called </div><div>10. Candidate, Point Clear </div><div> 11. Raye, My 21st Century Blues </div><div>12. Mark Ronson et al, Barbie the Album </div><div>13. Jeanine Tesori & David Lindsay-Abaire, Kimberly Akimbo </div><div>14. Daniel Donato, Reflector </div><div>15. Corinne Bailey Rae, Black Rainbows </div><div>16. Janelle Monáe, The Age of Pleasure </div><div>17. Olivia Rodrigo, GUTS </div><div>18. Bethany Cosentino, Natural Disaster </div><div>19. SG Lewis, AudioLust & HigherLove </div><div>20. Jake Shears, Last Man Dancing </div><div><br /></div><div> PADAM: </div><div>1. Padam </div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Brandon H’s tunnel vision </b></div><div><br /></div><div> Here are my favorites of 2023! </div><div> 1. Lana Del Rey -- Did you know that there's a tunnel under Ocean Blvd </div><div>2. Jessie Ware--That! feels good! </div><div> 3. Blur -- The Ballad of Darren </div><div>4. Yo La Tengo -- The Stupid world </div><div>5. Boygenius -- The record </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Chris K thinks Heaven can’t wait </b></div><div><br /></div><div>Album of the Year: Outer Heaven, Infinite Psychic Depths </div><div>2. Jesus Piece, ...So Unknown</div><div>3. Mutoid Man, Mutants </div><div>4. Moonlight Sorcery, Horned Lord of the Thorned Castle </div><div>5. Master's Call, A Journey for the Damned </div><div>6. Hellripper, Warlocks Grim & Withered Hags </div><div>7. Aodon, Portraits </div><div>8. Bandit, Siege of Self </div><div>9. Horrendous, Ontological Mysterium </div><div>10. Portrayal of Guilt, Devil Music
1</div><div>1. Squid Pisser, My Tadpole Legion </div><div>12. Alucard, Pale Fallen Angel - Demo MMXXIII </div><div>13. The Gauntlet, Dark Fire and Steel </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Paul G’s got Guts </b></div><div><br /></div><div>New stuff (2023): </div><div> Olivia Rodrigo, Guts </div><div>Lana Del Rey, Did You Know That There's a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd </div><div>Boygenius, The Record </div><div>Sufjan Stevens, Javelin </div><div>Julie Byrne, The Greater Wings </div><div>Yo La Tengo, Stupid World </div><div>U2, Songs of Surrender </div><div>Yeule, Softscars </div><div><br /></div><div>Old stuff: </div><div>Linda Ronstadt, Canciones De Mi Padre, Jardín Azul, Duets, The Best of LR (The Capitol Years)
Wynton Marsalis, All Rise
Alexandre Desplat, soundtracks for The Grand Budapest Hotel and Isle of Dogs </div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Dan P cheers on the USA</b> </div><div><br /></div><div>1. Petey, USA </div><div>2. Iron & Wine, Who Can See Forever </div><div>3. Pink, Trustfall </div><div>4. boygenius, the record </div><div>5. Miley Cyrus, Endless Summer Vacation </div><div>6. Sufjan Stevens, Javelin </div><div>7. Indigo Desouza, All of This Will End
(ESPECIALLY THE SONG: Younger and Dumber) </div><div>8. Japanese House, In the End It Always Does </div><div>9. Runner, like dying stars, we're reaching out </div><div>10. Caroline Polachek, Desire, I Want to Turn Into You
So</div><div><br /></div><div>albums I just found out about that I hope are great: </div><div>Carly Rae Jepsen, The Loveliest Time </div><div>Ben Folds, What Matters Most </div><div>Jesse Ware, That! Feels Good! </div><div> Mitski, The Land is Inhospitable and So Are We </div><div><br /></div><div><b> For Jeramey K . . . ‘Chek, Please! </b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div> Essential 2023 Album: </div><div>Caroline Polachek, Desire, I Want To Turn Into You </div><div><br /></div><div> Runners Up: </div><div>Fever Ray, Radical Romantics </div><div>Jessie Ware, That! Feels Good! </div><div>Janelle Monáe, Age of Pleasure </div><div>Lana Del Rey, Did You Know That There's a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd </div><div><br /></div><div> Essential Album New To Me in 2023:
Willie Nelson, Red Headed Stranger </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b> Amy K consults the Sundial </b></div><div><br /></div><div> Noname, Sundial
That's it. That's my list. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b> Zach F’s sweet Caroline </b></div><div><br /></div><div> Top album wasn't even close this year. I'm usually tired of an album after a quarter as many plays as I've given this one, and I'm still obsessed:
Caroline Polachek, Desire, I Want To Turn Into You </div><div><br /></div><div> Other standouts: </div><div>Dudu Tassa and Jonny Greenwood, Jarak Qaribak </div><div>James Holden, Imagine This is a High Dimensional Space of All Possibilities </div><div>Lorena Álvarez and Alejandro Palacios, Paisajes Para Torcer al Reloj
J</div><div>ake Shears, Last Man Dancing </div><div>El Búho, Strata
Ki Oni, A Leisurely Swim to Everlasting Life </div><div>Olof Dreijer, Rosa Rugosa EP </div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b> Andy P horses with Troy(e) </b></div><div><br /></div><div> I’m going to continue my tradition of being terrible at this and include only one album - Troye Sivan Something to Give Each Other. Why? Because I’m that person who goes to Apple Music and hits the play button on some random station and lets someone else curate everything. And then I’ll wait until you send the email with the tabulated results and will enjoy the sense of discovery that everyone else has had over the previous year. :) </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b> Heather D follows the Lede-r </b></div><div><br /></div><div> Here are my picks: </div><div> Dessa, Bury the Lede </div><div> Andrew Bird, Outside Problems </div><div> Dudu Tassa & Jonny Greenwood, Jarak Qaribak </div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b> Samantha M dives in </b></div><div> 1) Slowdive, Everything is Alive </div><div>2) PJ Harvey, I Inside the Old Year Dying </div><div>3) The Kills, God Games </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b> Ryan Y’s past and present list </b></div><div><br /></div><div> Looking back at my Spotify wrapped, it is clear to me that most of my most essential albums of the year were not released in 2023. But, staying true to the prompt, here are my top five from 2023 alone: </div><div> 1. Taylor Swift, 1989 (Taylor's Version) -- it's my fav Taylor album of all time, and she delivered on the rerecord !! </div><div> 2. Hozier, Unreal Unearth </div><div> 3. Carly Rae Jepsen, The Loveliest Time </div><div>4. KAROL G, MAÑANA SERÁ BONITO </div><div>5. Taylor Swift, Speak Now (Taylor's Version) </div><div><br /></div><div> That said, here is my list of the five albums that were ACTUALLY essential to my 2023, even though most did not come out last year. This is also the first time that I was absolutely #blessed enough to see all FIVE of my top five artists of the year in concert IN THE SAME YEAR, so that had a heavy impact on my listening. </div><div> 1. Beyoncé, RENAISSANCE --- this album was that girl, still is that girl, and will always BE that girl </div><div>2. Maggie Rogers, Surrender </div><div> 3. David Byrne & Fatboy Slim, Here Lies Love: Original Cast Recording </div><div> 4. Taylor Swift, 1989 (Taylor's Version) </div><div>5. Hozier, Unreal Unearth </div><div><br /></div><div> Top three songs I danced alone in my room to: </div><div> 1. Beyoncé, Baby Boy - Homecoming Live </div><div> 2. Beyoncé, CUFF IT </div><div>3. Arcángel con Bad Bunny, La Jumpa </div><div><br /></div><div> Top three songs I screamed in the shower and/or car to: </div><div>1. Maggie Rogers, Shatter </div><div>2. Noah Kahan, Stick Season </div><div>3. Taylor Swift, Cruel Summer </div><div><br /></div><div> Lyric of the year (from I, Carrion by Hozier), best enjoyed while looking pensively out an airplane window:
I do not have wings, love, I never will / Soarin' over a world you are carryin' / If these heights should bring my fall / Let me be your own / Icarian carrion </div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b> Crissa C’s list bursts through </b></div><div><br /></div><div> essential album: </div><div>Bibio, Sunbursting </div><div><br /></div><div> favorite singles: </div><div>Four Tet, Three Drums </div><div>Tycho, Small Sanctuary </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b> Matthew B, inhospitable </b></div><div><br /></div><div> These are my three favorites and if none of them are the #1 I would like a list of your "friends" so I can confront them all. </div><div><br /></div><div> Mitski, The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We </div><div> Sufjan Stevens, Javelin </div><div> Chappell Roan, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b> Matthue R tries on some NewJeans </b></div><div><br /></div><div> Most essential: NewJeans, Get Up </div><div><br /></div><div> I love listening to music in a language I don't know. I love the light touch of their precise, calculated rhymes over this music that feels like it's being piped in from the coolest elevator in the world, a hidden party that ends the moment you reach your floor. I have so many thoughts about their songs and, if I understood Korean, they'd probably all be wrong. I wrote a zine based on these songs a few months ago (bit.ly/newjeans-zine) and I wish I could be back in that moment, of having their music wash through me and make poems, forever. </div><div><br /></div><div> Also essential: </div><div> Nick Shoulders, All Bad: Making sad, gay yodeling country music is why Nick Shoulders was put on this Earth. I might have been put here to listen to it. </div><div><br /></div><div> Olivia Rodrigo, Guts: I was like, this guitar solo is exactly like the one in "Take the Power Back" and I thought I was the only person who's jumped on my bed listening to that song in about 20 years, and wouldn't you know it, a few days later Katie was reading an Olivia interview where she says her biggest influence is Rage Against the Machine. Olivia gets a bad rap for plagiarism, not always unwarranted, but I think her music is way more pastiche, like what the Avalanches did but more so, and I think this is the way we listen to music these days, and kind of the way we think: Tiktoked away a second after it enters our heads, but irrevocably imprinted nonetheless. </div><div><br /></div><div> Twice, Ready to Be: One of my all-time faves, I cringed when I heard their first all-English song (see above), but, honestly, it's so weird and random that maybe Twice's Korean lyrics are everything I've always hoped they would be. </div><div><br /></div><div> Milliseconds, So This Is How It Happens: Eric Aexelson spent a long time playing bass in the Dismemberment Plan and not singing anything. Now he does, and it's as awkward and sweet and nice as you could ever hope it would be. </div><div><br /></div><div> Boygenius, The Rest: I loved The Record but I think this is even sadder, which means better. </div><div><br /></div><div> Andre 3000, New Blue Sun: Did you see the meme that said, Andre 3000 is a wandering flautist and Big Boi is a Master of Owls and that OutKast has become real life Zelda characters? I think that's all I can say.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b> Lizette S welcomes us to the Jungle </b></div><div><br /></div><div>Jungle, Volcano </div><div>Kaytramine, Anime </div><div>Berlioz, Jazz is for Ordinary People </div><div>Bad Bunny, nadie sabe lo que va a pasar manana </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b> Phil B says viva Olivia </b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div> Best Albums of 2023: </div><div>Olivia Rodrigo, GUTS </div><div>SZA, SOS (even though released in December 2022) </div><div><br /></div><div> Best Songs of 2023 </div><div>Kylie Minogue, Padam Padam </div><div> Miley Cyrus, Flowers </div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b> Carrie N unearths some gems </b></div><div><i> UNREAL, UNEARTH by Hozier </i></div><div><i>THE RECORD by Boygenius </i></div><div>THIS LAND IS INHOSPITABLE AND SO ARE WE by Mitski </div><div>THIS IS WHY by Paramore </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b> Deborah H plays the circle game (over and over) </b></div><div> Joni Mitchell, Joni Mitchell at Newport. </div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b> Jennifer T’s Utopian choices </b></div><div> My essential album(s) of the year: </div><div>Travis Scott, Utopia & Victoria Monét Jaguar II </div><div><br /></div><div> My honorable mentions/other essentials: </div><div>Daniel Caesar, Never Enough </div><div>Kaytranada & Aminé, Kaytraminé </div><div>Janelle Monáe, The Age of Pleasure </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b> Jessica S goes with her Guts </b></div><div> 1. Olivia Rodrigo, Guts </div><div>2. Chappell Roan, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess </div><div> 3. Taylor Swift, 1989 (Taylor’s Version) (is this cheating? I really loved the tracks from the vault on this one!) </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b> Justin W sets the Record </b></div><div><br /></div><div> This year it was boygenius, the record for me.
I also discovered a 2022 release The Beths, Expert in a Dying Field that I really enjoyed.
For deeply idiosyncratic reasons, 2023 featured a lot of The Zombies, This Will Be Our Year . . . and a lot of A Moth Goes to the Podiatrist’s Office by Chingada (and Norm McDonald). </div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b> Maggie S plays it Safia </b></div><div><br /></div><div> EASY </div><div><br /></div><div> 1) SAFIA - A Lover's Guide to a Lucid Dream
The first time I heard SAFIA, it was a balmy Miami night and I was in a fast red car; SAFIA's sound became inextricably linked to that feeling, which . . . if you've heard SAFIA, is good and correct. This new album came out just at the end of the year, when I was in a place quite the opposite of balmy Miami, but these seductive bangers took me right back to those sizzling streets anyway. </div><div><br /></div><div> 2) Kishi Bashi - Music from the Song Film: Omoiyari
Every year, Kishi Bashi steps further away from his singer-songwriter-violinist roots and closer to some sort of orchestral Japanese-American demigod, and I'm here for it. </div><div><br /></div><div> 3) Death Cab for Cutie - An Arrow in the Wall
This single took me right back to the beginning of Death Cab, allowing me to mercifully forget everything DC put out in later years. </div><div><br /></div><div> 4) Metric - Formentara II
Infinitely listenable synth pop in a minor key, just how I like it. </div><div><br /></div><div> 5) Will Butler + Sister Squares - Will Butler + Sister Squares
There are a few bands who make songs I think get better and better (or make more and more sense) with every listen. The Shins, Animal Collective. Add Will Butler + Sister Squares to that. "Stop Talking" and "Me & My Friends" are my favorites here. </div><div><br /></div><div> 6) Tom Rosenthal - "This Little Life"
Tom puts out 41,023 songs each year, but that's ok, I've sorted them for you this year, "This Little Life" is the nicest one he did in '23. </div><div><br /></div><div> 7) Baaba Maal - Being
This is an album to just listen to. Throw open the windows, start making dinner, and listen. </div><div><br /></div><div> 8) Polish Ambassador - Diamond Hands
This is a single to just listen to. Throw open the windows, start burning dinner, and listen. </div><div><br /></div><div> 9) Manchester Orchestra - The Valley of Vision
I would love to tell you why to listen to this one, but I own three Manchester Orchestra t-shirts, which makes me the worst possible person for that job. </div><div><br /></div><div> 10) MisterWives - Nosebleeds
Enjoyably rageful girl synth-pop. </div><div><br /></div><div> 11) Christine the Queens - Stayin' Alive! (Chris Version)
Special mention for this cover of Stayin' Alive, which makes you feel like you're having a dream about losing consciousness in the corner of a French club. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b> Joel P: Calico Him Maybe </b></div><div> 1) Ryan Beatty, Calico </div><div> 2) Jungle, Volcano </div><div> 3) Jessie Ware, That! Feels! Good! </div><div> 4) Chappell Roan, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess </div><div> 5) Ben Howard, Is It? </div><div> 6) The Beaches, Blame My Ex </div><div>7) Japanese House, In the End It Always Does </div><div> 8) The Aces, I've Loved You For So Long </div><div>9) Ashnikko, Weedkiller </div><div>10) Victoria Monet, Jaguar II </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b> Lucas K sufs no fools </b></div><div><br /></div><div> I'm rooting for a three-peat:
Sufjan Stevens, Javelin </div><div><br /></div><div> May all your sufs be jan in 2024! </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b> Kathleen P, Valley girl </b></div><div><br /></div><div> Ilsey, From the Valley </div><div>Noah Kahan, Stick Season </div><div>Romy, Mid Air </div><div>Cannons, Heartbeat Highway </div><div>Olivia Rodrigo, Guts </div><div>Noname, Sundial </div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b> Aimee F, seeing pink </b></div><div><br /></div><div> Here are my top singles for 2023 (the Barbie soundtrack is heavily represented) 😊 </div><div><br /></div><div> Lizzy McAlpine, Ceilings </div><div>Sza, Kill Bill </div><div>Lizzo, Pink </div><div>Ryan Gosling, I’m Just Ken </div><div>Billie Eilish, What Was I Made For? </div><div>Nicki Minaj and Ice Spice, Barbie World </div><div>Taylor Swift, I Can See You </div><div>Olivia Rodrigo, Vampire </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b> Emma L Gets her Goats </b></div><div><br /></div><div> The Mountain Goats, Jenny From Thebes all the way! Thanks! </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b> Gianfranco L bops from the gut
2023 </b></div><div><br /></div><div>albums I bopped to: </div><div> Olivia Rodrigo, GUTS </div><div>Chappell Roan, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess </div><div>Reneé Rapp, Snow Angel </div><div>Troye Sivan, Something to Give Each Other </div><div>Taylor Swift, Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) </div><div>Kim Petras, Feed the Beast </div><div><br /></div><div> 2023 singles I bopped to: </div><div> Beyoncé, My House </div><div>Beyoncé, Grown Woman (FINALLY released in 2023) </div><div>Beyoncé & Madonna, Break My Soul - The Queens Remix </div><div>Dicks: The Musical, Out </div><div>Alpha The Alpha
Loreen, Is It Love </div><div>Conan Gray, Never Ending Song </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b> Alex K-N shows shows some real Chemistry </b></div><div><br /></div><div> Favorite Albums </div><div>1) Kelly Clarkson, chemistry (Deluxe) </div><div>2) Reneé Rapp, Snow Angel (Deluxe) </div><div>3) Alex Vaughn, The Hurtbook (Homegirl Pack) </div><div>4) Maeta, When I Hear Your Name </div><div>5) Sufjan Stevens, Javelin </div><div>6) Jessie Ware, That! Feels! Good! </div><div> 7) Aly & AJ, With Love From </div><div>8) Kylie Minogue, Tension (Deluxe) </div><div>9) Caroline Polachek, Desire, I Want to Turn Into You </div><div>10) The National, First Two Pages of Frankenstein </div><div><br /></div><div> Favorite Songs </div><div>1) Kelly Clarkson, "lighthouse" </div><div>2) Ingrid Michaelson, "If This Is Love" </div><div>3) Reneé Rapp, "I Hate Boston" </div><div>4) FLO, "Control Freak" </div><div>5) Alex Vaughn & Ari Lennox, "Demon Time (Remix)" </div><div>6) Nemahsis, "i wanna be your right hand" </div><div>7) Jon Batiste & Leigh-Anne, "Running Away" </div><div>8) Lucius, "Stranger Danger" </div><div>9) Omar Apollo, "3 Boys" </div><div>10) Coco Jones, "ICU" </div><div>11) METTE, "MAMA'S EYES" </div><div>12) Freya Ridings, "Face in the Crowd" </div><div>13) Black Pumas, "More Than A Love Song" </div><div>14) Annie Tracy, "Clothes Are So Obnoxious" </div><div>15) Sufjan Stevens, "So You Are Tired" </div><div>16) Maeta, "Cool Cat" </div><div>17) Aly & AJ, "Open to Something and That Something is You" </div><div>18) The Veronicas, "Perfect"</div><div>19) boygenius, "Emily, I'm Sorry" </div><div>20) Holly Humberstone & MUNA, "In My Room" </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b> Scott T’s Abstrakte take </b></div><div><br /></div><div> I've continued to ride the Dark Wave in 2023 </div><div><br /></div><div> Essential Album of 2023 (full album and EP released weeks apart)
VOITH, Abstrakte Emotionen/A Dreamer's Kiss </div><div><br /></div><div> Other 2023 Essentials </div><div>Night Music, Position II </div><div>Leathers, Fascination </div><div>slowdive, everything is alive </div><div>Motorama, Sleep, and I Will Sing </div><div>Gert Emmens, Mysteries of Dawn </div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b> Matthew U was thinking ‘bout boy(geninuse)s </b></div><div><br /></div><div> Here are my pics for this year. I realized that during the pandemic years, I wasn’t listening to nearly as much music as usual, but now that I’ve finally gotten back to the gym and am driving more, my prime listening venues are back. And for most of the year, my choices were decidedly more upbeat than typical, probably for the same reasons. And then boygenius and The National released albums and I was back in my usual groove. I ranked their albums in the first and second spots and it was almost a coin toss between them but ultimately I decided on boygenius because I keep returning to a few of their songs more often. So, here we go: </div><div><br /></div><div> Most essential album: </div><div> 1. boygenius, The Record </div><div><br /></div><div> Other essential albums: </div><div> 2. The National, First Two Pages of Frankenstein & Laughtrack (the second feels like B-sides to the first, so I’m counting them together, maybe it is…?) </div><div>3. The Revivalists, Pour It out into the Night </div><div>4. CMAT, Crazymad, for Me </div><div>5. The Beaches, Blame My Ex </div><div>6. Romy, Midair </div><div>7. Miley Cyrus, Endless Summer Vacation </div><div>8. Portugal the Man, Chris Black Saved My Life </div><div>9. Troye Sivan, Something to Give Each Other </div><div> 10. Everything but the Girl, Fuse </div><div>11. MGMT, Little Dark Age </div><div>12. Cub Sport, Jesus at the Gay Bar </div><div>13. Nation of Language, Strange Disciple </div><div><br /></div><div> Two from 2022 that I didn’t know about until 2023, otherwise they would have made the list too: </div><div> Noah Kahan, Stick Season </div><div>Rina Sawayama, Hold the Girl </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b> Jonas R brings some Joy to the list </b></div><div><br /></div><div> 1. Jenny Lewis, Joy’All </div><div>2. Yo La Tengo, This Stupid World </div><div>3. The Watson Twins, Holler </div><div>4. Andrew Bird, Outside Problems </div><div>5. Youth Lagoon, Heaven is a Junkyard </div><div>6. Margo Price, Strays </div><div>7. Laufey, Bewitched </div><div>8. The Rolling Stones, Hackney Diamonds </div><div>9. Feist, Multitudes </div><div>10. boygenius, the record </div><div><br /></div><div> And one that was issued in 2012 and re-released (and discovered by me) last year:
Charlie Hunter, Not Getting Behind is the New Getting Ahead </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b> Danielle P loves the Stones, particularly Diamonds </b></div><div><br /></div><div> Rolling Stones, Hackney Diamonds! </div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b> Tis the Season for Elana M </b></div><div><br /></div><div> Noah Kahan, Stick Season </div><div><br /></div><div> Also, The Revivalists, Pour It Out into the Night </div><div><br /></div><div> Favorite rediscovered song -- Tracy Chapman, Telling Stories. Wow. Beautiful melody, fantastic lyrics.</div><div><br /></div><div> And, because it's a great pick-me-up, Pink Martini, The Lemonade Song </div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b> Daniel H Re-Fuses </b></div><div><br /></div><div> albums: </div><div>Everything But The Girl, Fuse </div><div>Caroline Polachek, Desire, I Want To Turn Into You </div><div><br /></div><div> song: </div><div>The National, “Eucalyptus” </div><div><br /></div><div> newly (re)discovered: </div><div>Mighty Lemon Drops, World Without End </div><div>MGMT, “Time To Pretend” (thanks, Saltburn, for reminding me how much this song makes me cry) </div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b> Jinny W rings a Bell </b></div><div><br /></div><div> Most essential album of 2023:</div><div><br /></div><div> Joshua Bell, "BUTTERFLY LOVERS" with the Singapore Chinese Orchestra, conducted by Tsung Yeh. Growing out of an ancient Chinese legend, the "Butterfly Lovers' Concerto" was composed in 1959 by Chen Gang and He Zhahao, who were students at the Shanghai Conservatory. It's been loved across the world ever since. Bell's alluring version includes traditional Chinese instruments. Recognizable hits by Sarasate, Saint-Saëns, and Massenet fill out the album. SONY Classical. </div><div><br /></div><div> Another essential album:
Eric Whitacre, composer and conductor, "HOME" sung by VOCES8. Settings of poetry originating in Walt Whitman and in poet Charles Anthony Silvestri's elegy for his late wife. Mellifluous and meditative vocal power, with cello and piano. Generous supply of comfort in a fraught world. DECCA Classics. </div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b> Collin R finds God on a Wednesday </b></div><div><br /></div><div> TOP ALBUM </div><div>Wednesday, Rat Saw God </div><div><br /></div><div> Honorable Mentions </div><div>boygenius, the record </div><div>Carly Rae Jepsen, The Loveliest Time </div><div>Mitski, The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We </div><div>Miya Folick, ROACH </div><div>Caroline Polachek, Desire, I Want To Turn Into You </div><div>Yves Tumor, Praise A Lord Who Chews But Which Does Not Consume; (Or Simply, Hot Between Worlds) </div><div>Samia, Honey </div><div>Paramore, This Is Why </div><div>Andy Shauf, Norm </div><div><br /></div><div> TOP SONGS </div><div>Wednesday, Bull Believer </div><div>Yaeji, For Granted </div><div>Clairo, Bags - Recorded at Electric Lady </div><div>Carly Rae Jepsen, Psychedelic Switch </div><div>Baths, Projecting a Life </div><div>Sampha, Only </div><div>ANOHNI, It Must Change </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b> Kyle R has the Loveliest Time </b></div><div><br /></div><div> 1. Carly Rae Jepsen, The Loveliest Time </div><div>2. Miley Cyrus, Endless Summer Vacation </div><div>3. Various Artists, Barbie the Album </div><div>4. Ellie Goulding, Higher Than Heaven </div><div>5. Olivia Rodrigo, Guts </div><div>6. Manchester Orchestra, The Valley of Vision </div><div>7. Jessie Ware, That! Feels! Good! </div><div>8. Ava Max, Diamonds and Dancefloors </div><div>9. Kelly Clarkson, Chemistry </div><div>10. Taylor Swift, 1989 (Taylor’s Version) </div><div><br /></div><div> It is with immense pleasure that I place CRJ’s The Loveliest Time in the top spot. This album knocked it out of the park. I mean absolutely KICKED. ASS. It took everything I could have expected from her and turned it up to 11. Highlights from the album include Kamikaze, which takes typical Carly pop and infuses a slightly darker sound into it, and Psychedelic Switch, which quite frankly was entirely ignored of the proper promotion as a homerun single that Carly so desperately deserved. To be completely honest, I could probably replace either of those songs with any other track on the album and still gush about it. Come Over, Shy Boy, Kollage, So Right, even the funky borderline-hyperpop After Last Night (which almost didn't even make the cut!), they are all pinnacle Carly. The more I listen, the more it feels like she made this album specifically for me. It resonated so powerfully in me, from the adventurous sounds to the lyrics. If I was a fan before, I’m a stan now. I seriously play all songs from this album constantly. </div><div><br /></div><div> Miley Cyrus had a similar renaissance in my rotation this year, thanks to Endless Summer Vacation. Tracks like “Island” and “Violet Chemistry” get weekly play. Not to mention, her live performances of the album tracks during her Backyard Sessions live specials really set the tone for an excellent summertime album. Until CRJ’s The Loveliest Time released, Miley’s latest effort was my top-played of the year. </div><div><br /></div><div> With a lack of ten albums of significant quality this year to create a top ten list for myself, I decided on including Taylor Swift’s reproduction of 1989 in the final spot, if only for the sheer effort of recreating one of her most well-known albums and the drama saga that tags along with it. On first listen, I had noticed several issues with the quality of the production (namely, strange hissing and audio glitches on specific tracks, most egregiously in Style and Out of the Woods). I thought I was alone until the internet agreed with me. Thankfully, the tracks seemed to be reuploaded on Spotify and the issue no longer exists. </div><div><br /></div><div> The only album that seems truly out of place in this list is Manchester Orchestra. I had only recently discovered their music at the end of 2022, and after discovering a cute little tidbit of info that I share the same birthday as the lead singer, I tried to absorb all the scorpio energy he could sing at me. And boy, did it work! Although my favorites include I Know How to Speak and The Gold from previous albums, Andy once again combines an ethereal sound with a voice that sends you into deep thought in order to create a body of work that induces an almost meditative state. </div><div><br /></div><div> Out of all the albums on my list this year, there is one album I wouldn’t even qualify for the Top Ten if it weren’t for the lead single. I might be one of the few feeling this way, but I absolutely cannot find myself enjoying Olivia Rodrigo’s sound for most of her work. It is only because of the absolutely gargantuan anthem that is Vampire that the album even made its way onto my list. It was my most played song of the year and it wasn’t even close. In my opinion, no other song from either her first album nor this one even comes remotely close to the quality of Vampire. And with the way she has spoken about her meticulous process of writing and the collaboration on the production of it, I have doubts she will be able to catch that lightning in a bottle for me again. I understand her pop-punk sound, for sure, but compared to the rest of her work, Vampire is in a league of its own. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b> Shelly R’s Token choice </b></div><div><br /></div><div> Most Essential Album:
Sleep Token, Take Me Back to Eden </div><div><br /></div><div> Gotta love a metal band that incorporates and mixes different genres and styles into their sound. And I did, indeed, find them thanks to TikTok. </div><div><br /></div><div> Honorable Mentions:
• Daisy Jones & The Six, Aurora
• Nuovo Testamento, Love Lines </div><div><br /></div><div> Top 10 Essential Songs Released in 2023:
• “You Wish” — Flyana Boss
• “Love From The Other Side” — Fall Out Boy
• “The River” — Daisy Jones & The Six
• “Heat” — Nuovo Testamento
• “El Jefe” — Shakira & Fuerza Regida
• “Lilith (Diablo IV Anthem)” — Halsey & SUGA
• “Gasoline” — Måneskin
• “You First” - Paramore
• “Dance the Night” — Dua Lipa
• “Let’s Have a Satanic Orgy” — Twin Temple</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b> Michael T declares a tie </b></div><div><br /></div><div> For me it’s a tie between SZA and Andre 3000. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b> Hillary B, staying Alive </b></div><div><br /></div><div> Favorite album of the year: Slowdive, everything is alive </div><div>Second place: Danny Brown, Quaranta </div><div>Third place: Kevin Drew, Aging </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b> For Melissa W, the Butler did it </b></div><div><br /></div><div> Ok my new fave is:
Will Butler + Sister Squares, Will Butler + Sister Squares
(Album name is band name as far as I can parse! Went to the show, loved the energy, can recreate it with a dance party at home when I'm feeling low) 🧡 </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b> Eugene K, energized by the Bunny</b> </div><div><br /></div><div> 1. Bad Bunny, nadie sabe lo que va pasar mañana </div><div>2. Akriila, 001 </div><div>3. TINI, Cupido </div><div>4. Cristina Vidoni, Ludovico Minasi, Teodoro Bau, Del Cinque: Sonatas for Three Cells (2022, but I think I forgot to list it last year) </div><div>5. Matthew Halsall, Triangles in the Sky </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b> Benjamin W – all Lahais, no Lalows </b></div><div><br /></div><div> Most Essential: </div><div> Sampha, Lahai </div><div><br /></div><div> Also: </div><div>Feist, Multitudes </div><div>Troye Sivan, Something To Give Each Other </div><div>Blue Lake, Sun Arcs </div><div>boygenius, the record </div><div><br /></div><div> Big Discovery From Previous Years (and a truly ridiculous and wonderful song):
Born a Worm (a song by Dan Reeder) </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b> Brent G’s hunger for Games </b></div><div><br /></div><div> Gotta say this year was a little harder than others, nothing totally creamed me this year and I think I listened to older records.
So here goes nothing
the weird year of
2023: </div><div><br /></div><div> DAUGHTER, Stereo Mind Games </div><div>JUNGLE, Volcano </div><div>KILLER MIKE, Michael </div><div>100 GECS, 10,000 gecs </div><div>VAGABON, Sorry I Haven't Called </div><div><br /></div><div> EXTRA:
MINI TREES, Always In Motion
(2021, discovered in 2023 and listened to it more than anything else this year) </div><div><br /></div><div> Also I'm not counting Taylor Swift TV albums....she's my favorite but it doesn't feel fair or new. haha :)</div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b> Nico M loves the Tension </b></div><div><br /></div><div> What else can I say but, "Padam!" </div><div><br /></div><div> Kylie Minogue, Tension </div><div><br /></div><div> My kween was back and better than ever in 2023! </div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b> Cecil C, live from Ocean Blvd </b></div><div><br /></div><div> Lana del Rey, Did You Know there’s a tunnel under ocean blvd </div><div> Boygenius, The Record / The Rest </div><div>Feist, Multitudes </div><div> Rufus Wainwright, Folkocracy </div><div> Jenny Lewis, Joy’All </div><div> PJ Harvey, I Inside the Old Year Dying </div><div> Explosions in the Sky, End </div><div> Jolie Holland, Haunted Mountain </div><div> Billie Ellish, (Single) What was I made for </div><div> Taylor Swift - Taylor’s Version (all of them) </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b> Who can Brant R turn to? Jenny, Jenny </b></div><div><br /></div><div> My Essential Albums of 2023: </div><div>The Mountain Goats, Jenny from Thebes </div><div>The Reds, Pinks & Purples, The Town That Cursed Your Name </div><div>Avalon Emerson, & the Charm </div><div>Janelle Monae, The Age of Pleasure </div><div>Nourished by Time, Erotic Probiotic </div><div>2
Parannoul, After the Magic
Elder </div><div><br /></div><div>Albums I Found Essential in 2023: </div><div>Dorothy Ashby, The Fantastic Jazz Harp of Dorothy Ashby </div><div>Miles Davis, Filles de Kilimanjaro
Ivy, Long Distance </div><div>Ahmad Jamal, Ahmad Jamal Trio at The Pershing: But Not for Me </div><div>Albert King, Blues for Elvis: King Does the King's Things </div><div>Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr., I Hope We Get to Love in Time </div><div>Janelle Monáe, Dirty Computer </div><div>P.M. Dawn, Jesus Wept </div><div>The Primitives, Lovely </div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b> Jonathan V’s Language skills </b></div><div><br /></div><div> These were the new-to-2023 albums that I really dug this year, with my favorite at the top: </div><div><br /></div><div> 1. Nation of Language, Strange Disciple </div><div> This was the best year for electronica since...well, I guess we can argue about the "since" year? But it likely starts with the digits 1, 9, and 9. And that's why it's pretty amazing that my #1 album from this year...wasn't technically electronica! That's how good the (new) synth-pop classic "Strange Disciple" from Nation of Language is. This album is so compelling that I've heard about it multiple times through actual word-of-mouth...and people don’t use MOUTHS anymore! I even heard about this album once from the Substacker John Halpin. (I was expecting a post on democratic party reform, and I got him saying, "Hey folks, in other news, if you like synth-pop, there's a band in Brooklyn you should know about...") </div><div><br /></div><div> 2. ODESZA & Yellow House, Flaws in Our Design </div><div> This is technically an EP, but it's still my runner-up for album of the year--what it lacks in playtime, it makes up for in distinctiveness. I love ODESZA's collaborations, they never sound quite like ODESZA, but they always have this cohesive feeling, a "nothing else quite sounds like this"-ness. </div><div><br /></div><div> 3. ford., Guiding Hand </div><div> I am always thrilled when there's an electronica artist whose sound is specific to them. This is such a difficult genre to do anything original with! It's as challenging as folk in that regard. A decidedly "chill" electronica artist, ford. manages to do that bougieass Washed Out trick, where he writes relaxing music that’s so good, it makes calming the f*ck down seem profound. Get the track "Tell Me (Anew)" for your gateway drug. </div><div><br /></div><div> 4. The Chemical Brothers, For That Beautiful Feeling </div><div> Speaking of drugs! What a gift this damn band is. Back in 2019, they released "No Geography," which was, at the time, their best album since "Further." Now we get "For That Beautiful Feeling," which is just as good as "No Geography," but also a kind of spiritual sequel to "Further”—embracing similar shifts in tone, and that album’s cohesive, experiential structure. It even ends so that the closing moments of the last track lead directly into the beginning of the first track--so, if you keep it on repeat, you are treated to the feeling of a neverending Chemical Brothers album. Talk about a beautiful feeling! </div><div><br /></div><div> 5. Lusine, Long Light </div><div> I had been wondering when Lusine would do a follow-up to the endlessly rewarding "Sensorimotor." "Long Light" picks up right where it left off in the continuum. </div><div><br /></div><div> 6. Fever Ray, Radical Romantics </div><div> I feel a little guilty about including this? It's like Karin Dreijer's having a midlife crisis, and we're the ones who get to drive the muscle car. But here we are. </div><div><br /></div><div> 7. The National, First Two Pages of Frankenstein
I confess, whether it's having lived in their zip code, or being in their sad dad age category, I'm zoned for them. </div><div><br /></div><div>I didn't even *get* to hear the new OTR album because I wanted to save it for my winter visit to Vegas. I did that same thing last year with Moderat's "More Data," and it paid off. Speaking of which...
BEST ALBUM FROM 2022 THAT I HEARD IN 2023
Moderat, More Data - The first time I heard this album, on a walk through Peoria in February of last year, I thought, "Wow, why so many instrumentals?" But now? I can't even tell you which tracks are instrumental and which ones have vocals, because my brain has filed them all under "Moderat tracks I love from an album I can't stop listening to." If you've never treated yourself to this band, and you like foreboding electronica that makes you not mind living in the dystopian hellscape they are soundtracking, which happens to be your actual dystopian hellscape, you are in for a treat. </div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b> Alex K’s Pleasure principle</b> </div><div><br /></div><div> Janelle Monae : Age of Pleasure </div><div>Gorillaz : Cracker Island </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b> Tim D just Kant </b></div><div><br /></div><div> Here is my music list from last year: </div><div>Descartes a Kant, After Destruction </div><div>Fletcher, Girl of My Dreams </div><div>Tove Lo, Dirt Femme </div><div>Jukebox the Ghost, Cheers </div><div>Duran Duran, Danse Macabre </div><div><br /></div><div> ... and the singles: </div><div>Tim Minchin, Play It Safe </div><div>The Last Dinner Party, Nothing Matters
I</div><div><br /></div><div> honestly gave Taylor Swift a good, college try and couldn't get into her music. Such is life. </div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b> Austin R Enters the Dragon </b></div><div><br /></div><div> Little Dragon, Slugs of Love </div><div><br /></div><div> Jungle, Volcano </div><div>Troye Sivan, Something To Give Each Other </div><div>Omar Apollo, Live For Me EP </div><div>Larger Than Life, Brent Faiyaz </div><div>Victoria Monét, Jaguar II </div><div>Stephen Sanchez, Angel Face </div><div>Maeta, When I Hear Your Name </div><div>Olivia Rodrigo, GUTS </div><div>Juliette Armanet, Brûler le Feu 2 </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b> Maya M, all about the Goats </b></div><div><br /></div><div> Most essential: </div><div> The Mountain Goats, Jenny from Thebes </div><div><br /></div><div> On repeat:
Olivia Rodrigo, GUTS </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b> Teri Y’s got Something to Give </b></div><div><br /></div><div> Troye Sivan, Something To Give Each Other </div><div>Taylor Swift, 1989 (Taylor's Version) </div><div>Carly Rae Jepsen, The Loveliest Time </div><div>Kylie Minogue, Tension </div><div>Miley Cyrus, Summer Vacation </div><div>Chappell Roan, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess </div><div><br /></div><div> Conan Gray didn't put out a new album in 2023, but he did release some singles from a forthcoming one and I had "Never Ending Song" on repeat for a long time--it's still one of my top songs of the year.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b> Elizabeth K’s oldies but goodies </b></div><div><br /></div><div> Bille Eilish, Happier Than Ever </div><div>Matthew E White, Gentlewoman </div><div>Paul Simon, Here comes rhymin Simon </div><div><br /></div><div> single: Self-Esteem, I do this all the time & Lisa LeBlanc, Dans l'jus </div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b> Josh L, alongside goats, climbs ev’ry Mountain </b></div><div><br /></div><div> The Mountain Goats, Jenny From Thebes </div><div><br /></div><div> Honorable mentions: </div><div> Boygenius, The record </div><div>The National, First Two Pages of Frankenstein </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b> David G, continuing the Javelin’s arc </b></div><div><br /></div><div> Albums:
Sufjan Stevens, Javelin </div><div>Mitski, The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We </div><div>Lana Del Rey, Did You Know That There's a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd </div><div>Flyte, Flyte </div><div>Troye Sivan, Something to Give Each Other </div><div>Boygenius, The Record </div><div>Caroline Polachek, Desire, I Want To Turn Into You </div><div>Rufus Wainwright, Folkocracy </div><div>Olivia Rodrigo, Guts </div><div>Glume, Main Character </div><div>Barbie The Album </div><div><br /></div><div> Songs </div><div> "Grandfather Please Stand on the Shoulders of My Father While He's Deep-Sea Fishing" by Lana Del Rey </div><div>"One of Your Girls" by Troye Sivan </div><div>"Even on Bad Days" by Flyte </div><div>"Bug Like an Angel" by Mitski </div><div>"What Was I Made for?" by Billie Eilish </div><div>"Harvest" by Rufus Wainwright featuring Andrew Bird and Chris Stills </div><div>"Are You Awake" by Lauren Mayberry. </div><div><br /></div><div> And, of course, I am enjoying the return of "Murder on the Dance Floor" just like everyone else. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b> Jake S defends his Property </b></div><div><br /></div><div> ESSENTIAL ALBUM: </div><div>Waterparks, Intellectual Property </div><div><br /></div><div> EVERYTHING ELSE: </div><div>Chappell Roan, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess </div><div>Reneé Rapp, Snow Angel </div><div>Carly Rae Jepsen, The Loveliest Time </div><div>LE SSERAFIM, UNFORGIVEN </div><div>Nickel Creek, Celebrants </div><div>Victoria Monet, Jaguar II </div><div>Baby Queen, Quarter Life Crisis </div><div>Tinashe, BB/ANG3L </div><div>FIZZ, The Secret to Life </div><div>Olivia Rodrigo, GUTS </div><div>Janelle Monáe, The Age of Pleasure </div><div>Sufjan Stevens, Javelin </div><div>Troye Sivan, Something To Give Each Other </div><div>Raye Zaragoza, Hold That Spirit </div><div>Mitski, The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We </div><div>Dolly Parton, Rockstar </div><div>Caroline Polachek, Desire, I Want to Turn Into You </div><div>Paramore, This Is Why </div><div>PinkPantheress, Heaven knows </div><div>Shania Twain, Queen of Me </div><div>Bayonne, Temporary Time </div><div><br /></div><div> SPECIAL MENTIONS FOR SOUNDTRACKS & MUSICAL THEATER </div><div>Original Broadway Cast Recording, KPOP </div><div>Original Broadway Cast Recording , Days of Wine and Roses </div><div>Everything Heather Christian wrote & released in 2023. </div><div>METRO BOOMIN PRESENTS SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE </div><div>Jacinta Clusellas, AZUL </div><div>The Barbie Soundtrack </div><div><br /></div><div> SPECIAL MENTION FOR PLAYLIST EXCELLENCE </div><div>The Heartstopper Season 2 playlist is absolutely unmatched (except, perhaps, by the Heartstopper Season 1 playlist).</div><div><br /></div><div> SPECIAL MENTION FOR GENERIC DANCEFLOOR EXCELLENCE </div><div>Jessie Ware, That! Feels! Good! </div><div>SG Lewis – AudioLust & HigherLove </div><div>Ava Max – Diamonds & Dancefloors </div><div>Kylie Minogue – Tension </div><div><br /></div><div> JAKE’S OBSESSIONS FROM PREVIOUS YEARS UNEARTHED IN 2023 </div><div>The entire back catalogs of Shania Twain, Beyoncé, Dolly Parton, and Jazmine Sullivan. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b> Let us underscore Wilson R’s choice </b></div><div><br /></div><div> I’ll keep it simple. </div><div> 1) underscores, Wallsocket </div><div><br /></div><div> This album is absolutely stellar for so many more reasons than I possibly hope to cover in an email. </div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b> Ben L, now and Later </b></div><div><br /></div><div> My list below in no particular order: </div><div> Tate McRae, Think Later </div><div>Troye Sivan, Something to Give Each Other </div><div>Omar Apollo, Live for Me </div><div>Model/Actriz, Dogsbody </div><div>Chappell Roan, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess </div><div>Tinahse, BB/ANG3L </div><div>Melanie Martinez, Portals </div><div>Renee Rapp, Snow Angel </div><div>Rate, My 21st Century Blues </div><div>Carly Rae Jepson, The Loveliest Time </div><div>Kelly Clarkson, Chemistry </div><div>Maisie Peters, The Good Witch </div><div>Ryan Beatty, Calico </div><div>Jessie Ware, That Feels Good </div><div>Caroline Polachek, Desire I Want to Turn Into You </div><div>Boygenius, The Record </div><div>Lana Del Rey, Did You Know That There’s… </div><div> Kelsea Ballerini, Rolling Up the Welcome Mat </div><div>Kelela, Raven </div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b> Nick E, rides fast with the Slowdive </b></div><div><br /></div><div> 1) Slowdive, Everything Is Alive </div><div>2) Sufjan Stevens, Javelin </div><div>3) William Fitzsimmons, Covers, Vol. 2 </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b> Kristin E also throws the Javelin </b></div><div><br /></div><div> 1) Sufjan Stevens, Javelin </div><div>2) Avalon Emerson, & the Charm </div><div>3) Anything Wilson Rumble shares with me when he’s unloading the dishwasher, because multitasking …</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b> Gabriel D crowns his Princess </b></div><div><br /></div><div> 1.) Chappell Roan, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess </div><div>2.) Carly Rae Jepsen, The Loveliest Time </div><div>3.) Lana Del Rey, Did You Know That There's a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd </div><div>4.) Aly & AJ, With Love From </div><div>5.) Mariah the Scientist, To Be Eaten Alive </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b> Bryant P, a National treasure </b></div><div><br /></div><div> Most Essential Albums of 2023: </div><div>The National, First Two Pages of Frankenstein </div><div>Youth Lagoon, Heaven Is a Junkyard </div><div>Troye Sivan, Something to Give Each Other</div>davidlevithanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00762768300871943772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1509734071563017124.post-29378341949986564402023-02-04T13:45:00.001-08:002023-02-04T13:47:35.665-08:00The 2022 David Music Poll Results<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The 2022 David Music Poll Results<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">1)<span> </span>Beyoncé, Renaissance (35 votes)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">2)<span> </span>Taylor Swift, Midnights (32)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">3)<span> </span>Florence + the Machine, Dance Fever (18)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">4)<span> </span>Harry Styles, Harry’s House (15)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">5)<span> </span>Lizzo, Special (13)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">6)<span> </span>SZA, SOS (11)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span> </span>Carly Rae Jepsen, The Loneliest Time (11)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">8)<span> </span>Beach House, Once Twice Melody (10)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span> </span></span><span lang="NL" style="font-size: 12pt;">MUNA, MUNA (10)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span lang="NL" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span> </span>Wet Leg, Wet Leg (10)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span lang="NL" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Runners Up:<span> </span>Maggie Rogers, Surrender (9),<span> </span>Ethel Cain, Preacher’s Daughter (7), Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Cool it Down (6), Orville Peck,<span> </span>(6), Big Thief, </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You (6)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Notes:<span> </span>This was always going to be a two-way race . . . and it ended up being a surprisingly close one.<span> </span>That said, it wasn’t that much of a race – many people put both </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Beyoncé and Taylor on their lists.<span> </span>This is Beyoncé’s third time on the list, and the second on top. Taylor now has the record for the most appearances in the top ten, at six. Surprisingly (to me), Beach House now ties Radiohead and The National with its fifth appearance in the top ten.<span> </span>Carly Rae Jepsen has now been on four times, Lizzo and SZA twice.<span> </span>Wet Leg is the only debut act to hit the top ten this year, though keep your eye on Ethel Cain in the honorable mention category; I suspect we’ll see her again.<span> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span>This year we had 74 respondents to the poll!</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">My list, Rising to a Fever Pitch<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Essential Albums:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Florence + the Machine, Dance Fever<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Maggie Rogers, Surrender<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Carly Rae Jepsen,The Loneliest Time<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Julia Jacklin, Pre Pleasure<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Tegan and Sara, Crybaby<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Taylor Swift, Midnights<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">MUNA, Muna<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Honorable Mention<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Bartees Strange, Farm to Table<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The Beths, Experts in a Dying Field<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Beth Orton, Weather Alive<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Death Cab for Cutie, Asphalt Meadows<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Cool it Down<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Essential Songs<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Florence + the Machine – Free<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Taylor Swift – Anti Hero<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Maggie Rogers – Want Want, Shatter, and That’s Where I Am<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Maisie Peters – Cate’s Brother<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Carly Rae Jepsen – Surrender My Heart<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Some thoughts:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">My album of the year, song of the year, and concert of the year all go to Florence + the Machine – the whole album is a post-lockdown rush, especially the song “Free”.<span> </span>And in concert, Florence leaned into that, as a high priestess of reflective revelry.<span> </span>After that my list is . . . a lot of old favorites (and, it must be said, a lot of white women of a certain age).<span> </span>The highs of Maggie Rogers’ album – I can’t figure out my favorite single, so I listed three – are much higher than the lows of the more mediocre songs.<span> </span>The Carly Rae Jepsen managed to be a surprise since the best single wasn’t released as an early single (in an alternate universe, “Surrender My Heart” would have been as big as “Anti Hero”).<span> </span>Julia Jacklin took me by surprise with the most singular album on my list.<span> </span>Tegan and Sara made me realize I can’t take their music for granted, and I appreciate how they found a midway point between their indie voice and their pop voice. Taylor Swift, as usual, left me torn – there are songs on Midnights that I love (see: “Anti Hero” and “Mastermind”) but there are a lot that I’m completely indifferent toward.<span> </span>That said, no other album demanded I listen to it nonstop this year like this one did, which has to count for something.<span> </span>And Muna gave me queer anthems and pop earworms – can’t argue with that.<span> </span>In the honorable mention category are two old favorites doing solid work, and two not-debuts-but-still-new-to-me artists who remain in steady rotation months after their albums came out.<span> </span>All in all, not a bad year for music. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Bryant P’s Order of the Phoenix<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Phoenix, Alpha Zulu<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Carly Rae Jepsen, The Loneliest Time<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Beyoncé, Renaissance<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Taylor Swift, Midnights<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Florence + The Machine, Dance Fever<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">James Vincent McMorrow, The Less I Knew<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Len, Airborne to Run<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I love seeing your poll every year, and this year I made a point of paying closer attention to the music I've been listening to so I would have something to add. Unfortunately, while some of it was new to me, none of it is new. These are the albums that formed the soundtrack for my 2022:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><u><span style="font-size: 12pt;">My Album of the Year (it's older)</span></u><span style="font-size: 12pt;">:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The Airborne Toxic Event, The Airborne Toxic Event<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><u><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Most Listened to Albums</span></u><span style="font-size: 12pt;">:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The Airborne Toxic Event, The Airborne Toxic Event<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Thirsty Merc, Thirsty Merc<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Bob Dylan, Highway 61 Revisited<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">David Bowie, Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Us3, Hand on the Torch<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Miles Davis, Some Kind of Blue<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Flogging Molly, Swagger<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><u><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Best Discoveries from Previous Years</span></u><span style="font-size: 12pt;">:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The Airborne Toxic Event, The Airborne Toxic Event<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Thirsty Merc, Thirsty Merc<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Us3, Hand on the Torch<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Various Artists, Band Slam (Original Soundtrack)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><span lang="FR" style="font-size: 12pt;">Michael T lets it Bey<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span lang="FR" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span lang="FR" style="font-size: 12pt;">1) Beyoncé, RENAISSANCE <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span lang="FR" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">(A distant second)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">2) Taylor Swift, MIDNIGHTS<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Mike R, Renaissance Man<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">MY (PERSONAL, SUBJECTIVE) TOP 20 ALBUMS OF 2022:<o:p></o:p></span></p><ol start="1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12pt; mso-list: l8 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .5in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Beyoncé, <i>Renaissance</i><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l8 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .5in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">MUNA, <i>MUNA</i><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l8 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .5in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Florence + the Machine, <i>Dance Fever</i><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l8 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .5in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Zach Bryan, <i>American Heartbreak</i><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l8 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .5in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Maggie Rogers, <i>Surrender</i><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l8 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .5in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Rina Sawayama, <i>Hold the Girl</i><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l8 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .5in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Carly Rae Jepsen, <i>The Loneliest Time</i><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l8 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .5in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Taylor Swift, <i>Midnights</i><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l8 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .5in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Phoenix, <i>Alpha Zulu</i><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; mso-list: l8 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .5in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Orville Peck, <i>Bronco</i><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l8 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .5in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Tove Lo, <i>Dirt Femme</i><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l8 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .5in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Dazy, <i>OUTOFBODY</i><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l8 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .5in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Kendrick Lamar, <i>Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers</i><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l8 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .5in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Ghost, <i>Impera</i><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l8 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .5in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Don McCloskey, <i>The Chaos and the Beauty</i><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l8 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .5in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Confidence Man, <i>Tilt</i><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l8 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .5in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Titus Andronicus, <i>The Will to Live</i><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l8 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .5in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Wet Leg, <i>Wet Leg</i><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l8 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .5in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Congrat, <i>The Crane Game</i><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; mso-list: l8 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .5in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Gang of Youths, <i>angel in realtime.</i><o:p></o:p></span></li></ol><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 12pt 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">BONUS 21ST ALBUM THAT ISN’T AN ALBUM:<o:p></o:p></span></p><ol start="1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; mso-list: l12 level1 lfo4; tab-stops: list .5in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Literally just the song “Cate’s Brother” by Maisie Peters<o:p></o:p></span></li></ol><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Everything’s Coming Up Rosalia for Fiona S<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">No particular order: <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Beyoncé, Renaissance <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Taylor Swift, Midnights <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Rosalia, Motomami<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Tears for Fears, The Tipping Point<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 12pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The Weeknd, Dawn FM<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Christopher K’s Batty Choices<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Bing bang boom:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Album of the Year: Spiter, <i>Bathe the Babe In Bats' Blood</i><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">2. Leather Lung, <i>Dive Bar Devil </i>EP<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">3. Funeral Chic, <i>Roman Candle</i><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">4. Vital Spirit, <i>Still As The Night, Cold As The Wind</i><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">5. Acid Witch, <i>Rot Among Us</i><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">6.Grand Harvest, <i>Consummatum Est</i><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">7. Undeath, <i>It's Time...to Rise From The Grave</i><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">8. Clutch, <i>Sunrise on Slaughter Beach</i><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">9. Witchery, <i>Nightside</i><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">10. Alucard, <i>Nocturne in the Moonlight</i><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">11. Tormentor Tyrant, <i>s/t</i><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">12. The Bobby Lees, <i>BELLEVUE</i><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">13. Dance With The Dead, <i>Driven to Madness</i><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Elizabeth E’s Very Special Episode<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Most essential:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Lizzo, Special<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Essential:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Taylor Swift, Midnights<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Maggie Rogers, Surrender<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Harry Styles, Harry's House<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Beach House, Once Twice Melody<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The 1975, Being Funny in a Foreign Language<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Dylan M’s Bey Watch<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Casual listener here. But what an honor.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">1. Beyoncé, RENAISSANCE<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">(2. Omar Apollo, Ivory)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Paul G Discovered the Hours…<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">My most essential album for the DMP this past year did not come out this past year. (It came out in 2003!) But this is the one I listened to more than any other. In fact, way more. Like, it was on permaloop. The Hours soundtrack. Philip Glass Philip Glass Philip Glass Philip Glass Philip Glass Philip Glass Philip Glass Philip Glass Philip Glass Philip Glass Philip Glass got me through the year. The repetitions just soothe, me, what can I say? As for how to listen to this beautiful album, I recommend this thing called a CD. The CD has a slight, pleasant hiss to it—or mine does. Or maybe my CD player is just really crappy.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">My #2 album was another oldie: The Grand Budapest Hotel soundtrack, Alexandre Desplat. Also repetitive, also soothing, even magical.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">There was also a lot of incidental listening to Lewis Capaldi while I was chauffeuring around my daughter. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Happy 2023, Radioheads!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Hell is for Children, and Zach F<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I'm reaching the age now where I've got friends who say (explicitly or implicitly) that there's really no good music being made anymore. I couldn't disagree more. There's <i>always </i>good music being made; as long as there are people left in any corner of the world, there always will be. This is a source of great comfort. I found this year particularly strong.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Most Essential:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Mitski, Laurel Hell<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Also Essential:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Taylor Swift, Midnights<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Santigold, Spirituals<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Bomba Estereo, Deja (technically released end of 2021 but slipped by me)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The Smile, A Light for Attracting Attention<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Beach House, Once Twice Melody<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Arooj Aftab, Vulture Prince<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Spoon, Lucifer on the Sofa<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Carmen Villain, Only Love From Now On<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">David G’s Got the Fever<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Florence + the Machine, Dance Fever<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Boychik, Boychik<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Cool It Down<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Lo Moon, A Modern Life<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Big Thief, Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span lang="FR" style="font-size: 12pt;">Wet Leg, Wet Leg <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span lang="FR" style="font-size: 12pt;">Beyonce, Renaissance <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Julie Odell, Autumn Eve<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Ezra Furman, All of Us Flames<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Los Bitchos, Let the Festivities Begin! <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I also liked the new Regina Spektor, Anna Mieke, Ethel Cain, the Sky Ferreira single and the Caroline Polachek EP!!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Phil B, Wild About Harry<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Essential Album: Harry Styles, Harry's House<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Other Essentials Album: Beyoncé: Renaissance<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Essential Single: About Damn Time, Lizzo <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Other Essential Single: As It Was, Harry Styles<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Best Track on Any Album -- Harry's House, Harry Styles, Track 7, Matilda<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Roberto R, Still in the Groove<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I'm officially out of touch this year and my only vote goes for Madonna, 50 Number Ones LOLOLOLOL<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Hope this gives you something to laugh at!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Alex K-N’s Full Muna<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">1. Muna, MUNA<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">2. Beyonce, RENAISSANCE<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">3. Kelly Clarkson, KELLYOKE<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">4. Lucius, SECOND NATURE<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">5. Rina Sawayama, HOLD THE GIRL<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">6. Maggie Rogers, SURRENDER<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">7. SZA, SOS<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">8. Ethel Cain, PREACHER'S DAUGHTER<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span lang="IT" style="font-size: 12pt;">9. Omar Apollo, IVORY<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span lang="IT" style="font-size: 12pt;">10. Tove Lo, DIRT FEMME<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span lang="IT" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span lang="IT" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Kelley S, Weyes Child<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><ul style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Weyes Blood, <i>And In The Darkness, Hearts Aglow</i><o:p></o:p></span></li></ul><ul style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Skullcrusher, <i>Quiet the Room</i><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Julien Baker, <i>B-Sides</i><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Porridge Radio, <i>Waterslide, Diving Board, Ladder To The Sky</i><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Wet Leg, <i>Wet Leg</i><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Big Thief, <i>Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You</i><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Woods of Desolation, <i>The Falling Tide</i><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Brutus, <i>Unison Life</i><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Maria BC, <i>Hyaline</i><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Sadness, <i>tortuga</i><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Hatis Noit, <i>Aura</i><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Raum, <i>Daughter</i><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Olhava, <i>Reborn</i><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Tapani Rinne, <i>Open</i><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Yuki Murata, <i>Sunny Spot Story</i><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Ekin Fil, <i>Dora Agora</i><o:p></o:p></span></li></ul><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Daniel H Swears on the Bible<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Lambchop, The Bible<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Stars, On Capleton Hill<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Junior Boys, Waiting Game<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Horsegirl, Versions of Modern Performance<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Chime School, s/t<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">beloved songs:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Pedro The Lion, “First Drum Set”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Metric, “Doomscroller"<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">albums I thought were mediocre back in the day whose glories revealed themselves to me this year:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Portishead, Dummy<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Black Box Recorder, England Made Me<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Deb H has a point worth sharing here<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Can I just nominate Joni Mitchell's appearance at the Newport folk festival and call it a day? <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Carrie N Hits the Dance Floor<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">TOP (two-way tie): Florence + the Machine, DANCE FEVER <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0.5in; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Beyonce, RENAISSANCE<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0.5in; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Other essential albums:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0.5in; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Rosalia, MOTOMAMI<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0.5in; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Yeah Yeah Yeahs, COOL IT DOWN<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0.5in; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Taylor Swift, MIDNIGHTS <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0.5in; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Harry Styles, HARRY’S HOUSE<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0.5in; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Lizzo, SPECIAL<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0.5in; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I’d give Best Song to either “King” by Florence, “Bizcochito” by Rosalia, or “Anti-Hero” by Taylor Swift.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">And best lyric/line: “it’s me, hi, I’m the problem, it’s me.” ICONIC.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Aimee’s Queen Lizzo<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">My top two picks for album of the year:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Lizzo, Special<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Taylor Swift, Midnights<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Singles that will always remind me of 2022, for a variety of reasons (mostly thanks to TikTok:)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Kate Bush, Running Up that Hill<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">SZA, Kill Bill<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Steve Lacy, Bad Habit<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">ABBA, Angeleyes<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Latto, Big Energy<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Paramore, Hard Times<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Steve M’s Music Spree<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l6 level1 lfo7; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1)<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Kids on a Crime Spree, Fall in Love Not in Line<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l6 level1 lfo7; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2)<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Anna Erhard – Campsite<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l6 level1 lfo7; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3)<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Starter Jackets, Dead Malls<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l6 level1 lfo7; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4)<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Big Joanie, Back Home<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l6 level1 lfo7; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5)<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Peaness, World Full of Worry<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l6 level1 lfo7; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6)<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The Orielles, Tableau<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l6 level1 lfo7; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7)<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Reginald Omas Mamode IV – Stand Strong<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l6 level1 lfo7; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">8)<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Yard Act – The Overload<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Maya M’s Special Announcement<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Favorite albums:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo8; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Lizzo, Special<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo8; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Taylor Swift, Midnights<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo8; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Beyoncé, Renaissance<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo8; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Jukebox the Ghost, Cheers<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Favorite song: <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The Dolly Parton/Kelly Clarkson 9 to 5 duet<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Favorite song about how stupid NFTs are: <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Million Dollar Bills by Jukebox the Ghost<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Kevin K Ran Off with the Spoon<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Kevin’s Top Ten Albums of 2022<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="li1" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l13 level1 lfo9; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Spoon - Lucifer on the Sofa<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="li1" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l13 level1 lfo9; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">The Mountain Goats - Bleed Out<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="li1" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l13 level1 lfo9; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Christian Lee Hutson - Quitters<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="li1" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l13 level1 lfo9; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">BODEGA - Broken Equipment<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="li1" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l13 level1 lfo9; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Wet Leg - Wet Leg<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="li1" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l13 level1 lfo9; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Belle and Sebastian - A Bit of Previous<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="li1" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l13 level1 lfo9; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Sloan - Scratch the Surface<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="li1" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l13 level1 lfo9; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">8.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Phoenix - Alpha Zulu<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="li1" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l13 level1 lfo9; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">9.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Kevin Morby - This Is A Photograph<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="li1" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l13 level1 lfo9; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">10.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Nova Twins – Supernova<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="li1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="li1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">I also want to provide a link my </span><a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/open.spotify.com/playlist/3pwnTU2KBfgTXwayOI1BtM?si=b2c1fe28174a426c__;!!JQLRTQIztKY!lZdhUWEns19DIuR4XPTaeBN1a7klVp-DmF4NnPQ-CPio37MArGpaLOU1vb5Hc13Pyb9swNiSIUlPfuBQ4po$" style="color: #954f72; text-decoration: underline;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">2022 Mixtape (90 minutes) on Spotify</span></a><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">! Give it a listen and let me know what you think.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Kathleen P Gives this band a Leg up<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span lang="NL" style="font-size: 12pt;">Wet Leg, Wet Leg<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span lang="NL" style="font-size: 12pt;">Steve Lacy, Gemini Rights<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Beyonce, Renaissance<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Plains, I walked with you a ways<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Andy P’s Got Styles<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">1) Harry Styles, Harry’s House<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">2) Taylor Swift, Midnights<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">3) Omar Apollo, Ivory<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">4) Lizzo, Special<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">5) Maggie Rogers, Surrender<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Goldy M Goes with the Flo<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Best Albums:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">1. Florence and the Machine, Dance Fever<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">2. Taylor Swift, Midnights<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">3. Duncan Sheik, Claptrap<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">4. Conan Gray, Superache<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Best Songs:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">1. Steve Lacy, "Bad Habit"<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">2. Taylor Swift, "Karma"<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">3. Florence and the Machine, "Girls Against G-d"<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">4. Conan Gray, "Disaster"<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">5. Lizzo, "2 Be Loved"<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Terribeth S’s Mighty Surrender<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l9 level1 lfo10; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1)<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Maggie Rogers- Surrender<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l9 level1 lfo10; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2)<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Taylor Swift-Midnights<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l9 level1 lfo10; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3)<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt;">1975- Being Funny in a Foreign Language<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l9 level1 lfo10; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4)<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Harry Styles-Harry’s House<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Emma L Goes South<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Best single: Phoebe Bridgers, Sidelines<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Best album: Amy Ray, If It All Goes South<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Runner ups are as follows:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">-Tegan and Sara, Crybaby<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">-Plains, I Walked With You a Ways<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">-Dry Cleaning, Stumpwork<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">-Big Thief, Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Scott T’s a Son of a Beach<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Essential Album from 2022<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Beach House, Once Twice Melody<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Essential Albums discovered in 2022<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Vogue.Noir, Strange Days (2018)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Motorama, Dialogues (2016)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Johan Tronestam, Arthur Went Above the Clouds (2016)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Mr. Kitty, Ephemeral (2019)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Clan of Xymox, Spider on the Wall (2020)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Wave Walkers, Kronos21 (2021)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Justine Thee L<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span lang="FR" style="font-size: 12pt;">Megan Thee Stallion Traumagazine<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 12pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span lang="FR" style="font-size: 12pt;">Beyonce Renaissance<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span lang="FR" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Gianfranco L, Sitting on the Dock of the Bey<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">2022 Albums:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">1. Beyoncé, Renaissance<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">2. Taylor Swift, Midnights<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">3. Charli XCX, Crash<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">4. Rina Sawayama, Hold The Girl<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">5. SZA, SOS<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">2022 Soundtracks:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">1. Labrinth, Euphoria: Season 2 (Original Series Soundtrack)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">2. Adiescar Chase, Heartstopper: Season 1 (Original Series Soundtrack)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">3. Jay Wadley, Fire Island (Original Soundtrack)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">4. Danny Elfman, Wednesday: Season 1 (Original Series Soundtrack)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">5. David Buckley, The Sandman: Season 1 (Original Soundtrack)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">6. John Debney, Hocus Pocus 2 (Original Soundtrack)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Best theme song of the year:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">1. Cristobal Tapia De Veer, Renaissance (White Lotus Theme Song)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Made me cry:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">1. Rihanna, Lift Me Up<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Hope no one ever stops dancing to:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">1. Donna Summer, Last Dance<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Still sticking with me:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">1. Olivia Rodrigo, Sour<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">2. Beyoncé, Homecoming (Live)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Collin R, Raising Cain<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">TOP ALBUM<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Ethel Cain, <i>Preacher's Daughter</i><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Honorable Mentions</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Pinegrove, <i>11:11</i><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Perfume Genius, <i>Ugly Season</i><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Björk, <i>Fossora</i><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Beyoncé, <i>Renaissance</i><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Rosalía, <i>MOTOMAMI</i><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">FKA Twigs, <i>CAPRISONGS</i><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">SZA, <i>SOS</i><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Carly Rae Jepsen, <i>The Lonliest Time</i><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">TOP SONGS<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">1. Ethel Cain, "Sun Bleached Flies"<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">2. Pinegrove, "Respirate"<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">3. Rosalía, "SAOKO:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">4. Shygirl, "Coochie (a bedtime story)"<br />5. Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Perfume Genius, "Spitting Off the Edge of the World"<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Matthew U, Salve to the Machine<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Before, my most essential picks, I guess there’s no way around what is at the top of most lists. I won’t call it my number 1, but maybe it’s a kind of prelude to the list to admit it is pretty great:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">0. Beyonce, Renaissance<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">And on with my picks, in sort of an order:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">1. Florence + the Machine, Dance Fever<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">2. Orville Peck, Bronco Chapters 1 & 2<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">3. Metric, Formentera <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">4. Omar Apollo, Ivory<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">5. Ethel Cain, Preacher’s Daughter<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">6. Ingrid Andress, Good Person<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">And bonus, favorite corny country music line: “I tell myself that I should quit but I don’t listen to drunks” - Parker McCollum, Handle on You<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Josh L Goes Big<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Allow me to begin with another protest vote for Phoebe Bridgers, <i>Punisher</i>, on the grounds that "did 2020 ever really <i>end</i>?" Also, I am confident that the Boygenius will be the album of the year for 2023, so a whole four years taken care of right here!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">But, to follow the rules for 2022:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Big Thief, <i>Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You. </i><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Honorable mentions: Dry Cleaning, <i>Stumpwork</i> and Grace Ives, <i>Janky Star</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Unnecessary gloss: Yes, I was late to Big Thief, and so this long-awaited album is getting some lifetime-achievement bump. And yes, it's also a weird, sprawling, flawed album, but I think that honesty and freedom is part of its greatness. Or its extreme worthiness, at least. Adrienne Lenker is her generation's Neil Young; a brilliant songwriter who is powerfully original, genre-switchy, and unafraid to throw a bad song about a dog on a beautiful album or, you know, a cheesy flute part or a Jew's Harp solo.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Songs of the year:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Big Thief, "Simulation Swarm,"<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Phoebe Bridgers, "Sidelines,"<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Dry Cleaning, "Gary Ashby,"<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Amy Ray, "Chuck Will's Widow."<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Long live the music poll!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Eugene K, Energized by the Bunny<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">In no particular order (even tho they’re numbered)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">1. Bad Bunny - Un Verano Sin Ti<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">2. Pusha T - It’s Almost Dry<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span lang="ES-US" style="font-size: 12pt;">3. Jay Wheeler - De Mi Para Tii<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span lang="ES-US" style="font-size: 12pt;">4. FKA Twigs - Caprisongs<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span lang="ES-US" style="font-size: 12pt;">5. Rauw Alejandro - Trap Cake, Vol 2<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span lang="ES-US" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Favorite singles (some from 2021 or 2020, but I first heard them in 2022):<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">1. 2:50 Remix - MYA, TINI & Duki<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">2. Miénteme - TINI & Maria Becerra<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">3. Dando Vuelta - Akriila<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span lang="PT-BR" style="font-size: 12pt;">4. Marte - Sofía Reyes & Maria Becerra<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span lang="PT-BR" style="font-size: 12pt;">5. AYNEA REMIX - FMK, Maria Becerra & Beret<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span lang="PT-BR" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span lang="IT" style="font-size: 12pt;">Favorite concert<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span lang="IT" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span lang="IT" style="font-size: 12pt;">TINI - The Tini Tour 2022 (in Bogotá)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span lang="IT" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span lang="IT" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span lang="IT" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Aaron H’s BIG shoutout<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">1. Betty Who, BIG!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">2. Carly Rae Jepsen, The Loneliest Time<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">3. Lizzo, Special<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">4. Harry Styles, Harry's House<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Sarah D’s Listening to Experts<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">My number 1 essential album is: The Beths - Experts in a Dying Field<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Runners Up: <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Taylor Swift - Midnight<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Harry Styles - Harry’s House<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Discoveries from previous years:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">My binge watching of <i>Peaky Blinders</i> led me to Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds and both Blinders and the fantastic series <i>Bad Sisters</i> led me to PJ Harvey (who actually grew up near where I lived in Dorset in the 90’s).<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Also belatedly discovered the awesome ska band Dance Hall Crashers. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Preach, Shelly R!<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Top album of 2022:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Ethel Cain, Preacher’s Daughter<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">You give me a concept album with religious iconography, murder and cannibalism, all with a southern gothic vibe and don’t expect me to love it?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">4 Other Essential Albums of the Year:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">• Ghost, [Message From The Clergy]<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">• Beyoncé, Renaissance<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">• Urban Heat, Wellness<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">• Stromae, Multitude<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">5 Top Songs of the Year:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">• “El Apagón” - Bad Bunny<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">• “I Am” - Jamie Bower<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">• “The Good Old Call” - Carpenter Brut<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">• “Bloodletting (The Vampire Song)” - Concrete Blonde<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">• “Sands of Time” - The Veer Union<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Brant R’s Big Pink<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">My Essential Albums of 2022:<br />Wild Pink, ILYSM<br />Wet Leg, Wet Leg<br />The Beths, Expert in a Dying Field<br />Charli XCX, Crash<br />Nilüfer Yanya, Painless<br />Alvvays, Blue Rev<br />Dehd, Blue Skies<br />Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Cool It Down<br />Superchunk, Wild Loneliness<br />Metric, Formentera<br />Rival Consoles, Now Is<br />Natural Brown Prom Queen, Sudan Archives<br />Beth Orton, Weather Alive<br />Beach House, Once Twice Melody<br /><br />Some of My Essential Tracks of 2022:<br />Yeah Yeah Yeahs, “Different Today”<br />Metric, “All Comes Crashing”<br />The Beths, “Expert in a Dying Field”<br />Gift, “Lost for You”<br />Wet Leg, “Being in Love”<br />Andrew Garden, “Sore Loser”<br />My Idea, “Baby I'm the Man”<br />Dehd, “Hold”<br />Caroline, “Patience Etc…”<br />Nilüfer Yanya, “Stabilise”<br />Charli XCX, “Crash”<br />Phoenix, “Season 2”<br />Lizzo, “About Damn Time”<br />Bret McKenzie, “Tomorrow Today”<br />Smut, “Janeway”<br />Alvvays, “Tom Verlaine”<br />Superchunk, “Wild Loneliness”<br />Beach House, “Hurts to Love”<br />Braxe + Falcon with Panda Bear, “Step by Step”<br />Wild Pink “ILYSM“<br />Yo La Tengo, “There’s No Goodbye Between Us”<br />Belle and Sebastian, “Working Boy in New York City”<br /><br />Elder Albums I Found Essential in 2022:<br />Archie James Cavanaugh, Black and White Raven [1980]<br />Cinerama, Va Va Voom [1998]<br />Concrete Blonde, Bloodletting [1990]<br />Julee Cruise, Floating into the Night [1989]<br />Tyrone Davis, Turn Back the Hands of Time [1970]<br />William DeVaughn, Be Thankful for What You Got [1974]<br />Erasure, The Innocents [1988]<br />Hoops, Halo [2020]<br />DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, Homebase [1991]<br />Bill LaBounty, Bill LaBounty [1982]<br />Loggins & Messina, Kenny Loggins with JIm Messina Sittin' In [1972]<br />John Cougar Mellencamp, Nothin' Matters and What If It Did [1980]<br />Steve Miller Band, Fly Like an Eagle [1976]<br />The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Uncle Charlie & His Dog Teddy [1970]<br />The Radio Dept., Clinging to a Scheme [2010]<br />Teenage Fanclub, Shadows [2010]<br />T. Rex, Tanx [1973]<br />Ween, Chocolate and Cheese [1994]<br />Nilüfer Yanya, Miss Universe [2019]<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Melissa W’s House Party<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I am still basic as hell but let's do this:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Harry Styles, Harry's House<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Taylor Swift, Midnights<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Discovery/memory from previous year:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">David Gray, White Ladder (the 20th reunion tour, postponed by the pandemic, was nostalgia-epic this summer at Pier 17)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">It Doesn’t Break Nico M’s Soul<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">8 of my top 10 plays on my Apple Replay Playlist don't lie...<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Beyonce, Renaissance<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">John A’s Radiant Way<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">TOP 10:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="s1"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Warpaint, Radiate Like This</span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="s1"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Fontaines D.C., Skinty Fia </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="s1"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Sault, Untitled (God) </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="s1"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The Smile, A Light for Attracting Attention</span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="s1"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Angel Olsen, Big Time</span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="s1"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Sharon Van Etten, We’ve Been Going About This All Wrong </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="s1"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">DIIV, Live at the Murmrr Theater </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="s1"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Momma, Household Name </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="s1"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Panda Bear/Sonic Boom, Reset</span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="s1"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Beach House, Once Twice Melody </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="s1"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Honorable Mentions (in no particular order): </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="s1"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Alvvays, Blue Rev</span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="s1"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Band of Horses, Things Are Great </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="s1"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Spoon, Lucifer on the Sofa </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="s1"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Bjork, Fossora</span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="s1"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Midlake, For the Sake of Bethel Woods </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="s1"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Little Simz, NO THANK YOU </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="s1"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Jockstrap, I Love Jennifer B</span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="s1"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">SZA, SOS</span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="s1"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Just Mustard, Heart Under</span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="s1"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Yard Act, The Overload</span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="s1"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Animal Collective, Time Skiffs </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="s1"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Daniel Rosssen, You Belong There </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="s1"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Best Discovery from a previous year:</span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="s1"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The Verve, A Northern Soul (1995)</span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="s1"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Doves, Lost Souls (2000)</span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Andrew F from A to Bey<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Beyonce, Renaissance</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Miranda Lambert, Palomino</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Ashley McBryde, Ashley McBryde Presents: Lindeville</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Jinny W, Still Broadening My Horizons<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">1. Columbia Broadcasting Symphony and other orchestras, <u>Lenox Avenue: The Music of William Grant Still</u>. Bay Cities CD released in 1991, and apparently re-released in 2018. William Grant Still (1895-1978) composed more than 200 works and was the first African American composer to be recognized in classical music rankings. Until 1950, his Afro-American Symphony was the most performed symphony by any American composer. I played his "Wood Notes" in a community orchestra in the 1980s. Musicians and recording companies are now trying to catch up. Lenox Avenue is a good starting point.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">2. Johnny Gandelsman, <u>This is America: An Anthology 2020-2021</u>. Limited Edition Triple CD with 40-page booklet. The Bandcamp app includes unlimited streaming of the Anthology, plus download in MP3, FLAC and more. Gandelsman, a violinist with the Brooklyn Rider Quartet, commissioned 22 young American-based composers to rise to the challenges of the Covid pandemic, George Floyd's murder, millions of acres burned, election embroilment, increasing unemployment, civic exhaustion. The results are many-voiced, producing more questions and vibrant insights about who we are. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">3. Randall Goosby, <u>Roots</u>. Decca 2021. Goosby, violin, and Zhu Wang, piano, both young and dazzling, made the album during the pandemic. The African American composers they've chosen have more than paid their dues. Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson's history moved from Princeton to Alvin Ailey to Max Roach to the Symphony of the New World; Goosby plays his 1979 Blues/Forms for Solo Violin. Florence Price's three pieces stir the heart and raise the voice: Why was much of her work allowed to lie abandoned in a storeroom after her 1953 death until its discovery in 2009? William Grant Still's sculpture-inspired Suite for Violin and Piano may be our new Gershwin, although Gershwin is here, too, as well as bassist-composer Xavier Dubois Foley. Fact: The piano's lower range has 34 notes that the violin can't play. Collaborating pianist Zhu Wang utilizes them to virtuosic and poignant advantage.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Gabriel D, Emotional Creature<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">In no real order, some albums I've loved this year. OK I guess the Beach Bunny is probably my overall number one album because I have vivid memories of listening to it on the ferry to and from Cape Cod and feeling very alive and engaged with it:</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><ol start="1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Beach Bunny - Emotional Creature</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Taylor Swift - Midnights</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Tegan & Sara - Crybaby</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Ethel Cain - Preacher's Daughter</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Florence - Dance Fever</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Maggie Rogers - Surrender</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Hatchie - Giving the World Away</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Sugababes- The Lost Tapes</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">RY X - Blood Moon</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li></ol><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Albums which deeply disappointed me this year:</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><ol start="1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">The Mallrat album (load of crap)</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">The Shygirl album (meh)</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">The Regina album (snooze)</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li></ol><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Some of my fave songs of the year:</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><ol start="1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Mariah the Scientist - Spread Thin</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Chappell Roan - Casual</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Azealia Banks - I Rule the World</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Beach Bunny - Love Song</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Florence - Free/My Love/Choreomania (I sort of think of them as one long song)</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li></ol><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">I think empirically the song of 2022 is clearly <b>Ethel Cain American Teenager </b>though.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Dan P’s Swiftly Tilting Planet<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Here’s my list:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="li1" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo14; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span class="s1"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Taylor Swift, Midnights</span></span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="li1" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo14; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span class="s1"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">The Weeknd, Dawn FM </span></span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="li1" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo14; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span class="s1"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Orville Peck, Bronco</span></span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="li1" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo14; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span class="s1"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Maggie Rogers, Surrender</span></span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="li1" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo14; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span class="s1"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">First Aid Kit, Palomino</span></span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="li1" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo14; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span class="s1"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Muna, Muna</span></span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="li1" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo14; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span class="s1"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Léon, Circles</span></span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="li1" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo14; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">8.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span class="s1"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Röyksopp, Profound Mysteries III</span></span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="li1" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo14; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">9.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span class="s1"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Harry Styles, Harry’s House</span></span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="li1" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo14; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">10.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span class="s1"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Tove Lo, Dirt Femme</span></span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Teri Y Has the Time of His Life<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Carly Rae Jepsen, The Loneliest Time<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Year & Years, Night Call<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">MUNA, MUNA<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I don't feel like I gave Florence + The Machine, Dance Fever a fair shot... off to go correct that now.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Coe B Burns for Burna<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">2022 was all about Burna Boy for me! <em><span face="Calibri, sans-serif">LOVE, DAMINI</span></em> was my jam! <br /><br />Seriously, nothing even came close. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Jaci M Gets Inspired<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">this year I’ve swiftly chosen ten singles that I’ve liked a lot. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">There are probably ten I liked better but if I stop to consider I won’t end up sending anything. Here they are:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Genesis Owusu - Get Inspired<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Telenova - Why Do I Keep You?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Tones and I - Eyes Don’t Lie<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Hilltop Hoods - Show Business (Ft. Eamon)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Julia Jacklin - I Was Neon<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Julia Jacklin -Love, Try Not To Let Go<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span lang="IT" style="font-size: 12pt;">Lime Cordiale - Colin<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span lang="IT" style="font-size: 12pt;">Skeggs - Stranger Days<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">King Princess - Little Brother [Ft. Foushee]<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">King Stingray - Lupa <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Andrea R’s Taylor-made list<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Taylor Swift, Midnights<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Beyonce, Renaissance<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Blue Rev, Alvvays<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Beach House, Once Twice Melody<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span lang="IT" style="font-size: 12pt;">Muna, Muna<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span lang="IT" style="font-size: 12pt;">Un Verano Sin Ti, Bad Bunny<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span lang="FR" style="font-size: 12pt;">SOS, SZA<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span lang="FR" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span lang="FR" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><span lang="FR" style="font-size: 12pt;">Cassandra P continues the Renaissance fervor<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span lang="FR" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Most Essential Album<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Beyoncé, Renaissance<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Other Essential Albums, in no particular order<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span lang="IT" style="font-size: 12pt;">Bad Bunny, Un Verano Sin Ti<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span lang="IT" style="font-size: 12pt;">Sza, SOS<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Michael R. Jackson, A Strange Loop (Original Broadway Cast Recording)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Cool It Down<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Nas, King’s Disease III<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Megan Thee Stallion, Traumazine<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span lang="IT" style="font-size: 12pt;">Lizzo, Special<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span lang="IT" style="font-size: 12pt;">Rosalía, Motomami<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span lang="IT" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span lang="IT" style="font-size: 12pt;">Essential Singles<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Paramore, This Is Why<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">My Chemical Romance, The Foundations of Decay<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">This is not Goodbye, Jonathan V<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">For me, 2022 was about revisiting some favorite artists from the past, and exploring ones I'd missed the chance to hear before. I listened to a lot of "new to me" music, but not a lot that was actually new.<br /><br />Favorite albums of 2022 that were actually from 2022, ranked:<br /><br />Odesza, THE LAST GOODBYE<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 12pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Various Artists, AFTER DARK 4<br />Sasami, SQUEEZE<br />Beach House, ONCE TWICE MELODY<br /><br />And Sasami's CALL ME HOME was the song of the year for me, hands-down. But most of what I listened to this year was from before 2022, and in some cases *way before*. Below (still ranked) are my favorite music works that I *heard* for the first time in 2022:<br /><br />Robert Ashley, PERFECT LIVES (1983) - Check this out on Youtube, it's a TV "opera," a classic of experimental musical theater and video art. I got into it because I was re-listening to Robert Ashley's espionage opera EL AFICIONADO and thinking, "Man, I just love Robert Ashley's voice, I wonder if he ever made something where you get to hear more of it..." Well, you hear more of it in PERFECT LIVES, alright: he narrates the whole thing, with that ASMR drawl of his, while "Blue" Gene Tyranny near-constantly tickles the ivories. You will only need to watch five minutes of this thing to know if (a) you hate it or (b) you will not be able to stop watching it over and over again all year. (You can probably guess which column I fell into...)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 12pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Genesis, NURSERY CRYME (1971) - Genesis underwent a gradual transformation over the years--turning its back on prog snobs, and embracing the crowd. This album is squarely from the prog snob era, when the band was still fronted by Peter Gabriel, but not overburdened by his vision. (<cough> LAMB LIES DOWN ON BROADWAY! <cough>) NURSERY is extravagant without being overwrought, and it's a LOT of fun, eminently blastable.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The Alan Parsons Project, TURN OF A FRIENDLY CARD (1980) - More ponytail rock. This is a theme album about how life is like gambling--and also,why people *like* to gamble, at roulette tables or otherwise. Like most Alan Parsons Project albums, it's darker than it sounds, with a broad range of styles. I got it on used vinyl that I had to clean with Glass Plus every time I wanted to play it, to prevent it from skipping. I must have gone through half the bottle.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Groove Armada, BLACK LIGHT (2010) - Speaking of a broad range of styles, I rediscovered Groove Armada this year, and eventually realized, hey wait a minute, I literally *never heard* this album somehow. Definitely a new favorite of mine from their catalog, featuring the bracing SaintSaviour collaboration I WON'T KNEEL.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The Books, THE WAY OUT (2010)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Girl Talk, UNSTOPPABLE (2004)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 12pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Chvrches, SCREEN VIOLENCE (2021)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Idles, CRAWLER (2021)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">And this got a *lot* of play on the train, although I technically heard it back in the 1990s:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Michael Nyman, MICHAEL NYMAN AND "THE TEMPEST" (2016...kinda) - This was a re-release of two recordings Nyman did in the '90s, both of them inspired by Shakespeare's THE TEMPEST. The first was NOISES, SOUNDS, AND SWEET AIRS, a sung-through version of the play that was written to accompany a ballet interpretation. The second was the soundtrack to Peter Greenaway's fairly nutty PROSPERO'S BOOKS, a movie that needs to be seen to be believed. It was fun to revisit these, and Nyman in general--he's one of the few minimalist composers who has a distinct style of his own. I used to occasionally feel, when listening to him in the '90s, that I was being smothered with flowers--but the world has gotten much more overwhelming than his music, now it just relaxes me.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Nick E Heads to the Arcade<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="gmail-p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Some real gems this year! Which is lucky, considering how much time I spent driving.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="gmail-p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="gmail-p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Arcade Fire, We<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="gmail-p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Carly Rae Jepsen, The Loneliest Time<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="gmail-p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Beirut, Artifacts<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="gmail-p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Loney Dear, Atlantis<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="gmail-p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Cool It Down<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="gmail-p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Royksopp, Profound Mysteries II<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="gmail-p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Florence and the Machine, Dance Fever<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="gmail-p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Royksopp, Profound Mysteries III<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="gmail-p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Beach House, Once Twice Melody<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="gmail-p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Royksopp, Profound Mysteries<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Brent G sends out an SOS<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">1. SZA - SOS<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">2. SYD - Broken Hearts Club<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">3. Czarface - Czarmageddon!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">4. Beyonce - Renaissance<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">5. Taylor Swift - Midnights<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">6. Drake - Honestly, Nevermind<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">7. Lizzo - Special<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">8. Momma - Household Name<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">9. Conway the Machine - God Don't Make Mistakes<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">10. The Smile - A Light for Attracting Attention<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Best Runner Ups: <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Pusha T - It's Almost Dry<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Wet Leg - Wet Leg<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Cora R strikes Midnights<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">1. Taylor Swift, Midnights<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">2.<span> </span>Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Cool it Down<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">3. Fontaines CD, Skinty Fig<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Number 1 is the effect of having my kids in the car and Taylor being their favourite. Although they are both shocked how often she says ’the F word’. Harry on the other hand, no swearing, but just not as catchy. HA. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Lucy C also contributes to the Renaissance<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I feel a bit discombobulated and out of the loop this year, but I'm going to go all female with my album selections for you<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">1). Beyonce - Renaissance<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">2). Beth Orton - Weather Alive<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span lang="FR" style="font-size: 12pt;">3). Cate Le Bon – PompeiI<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span lang="FR" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span lang="FR" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><span lang="FR" style="font-size: 12pt;">Lawrence U’s Styles Council<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span lang="FR" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="gmail-p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Here are my top albums of 2022!<span class="gmail-apple-converted-space"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="gmail-p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="gmail-li1" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo15; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Harry Styles, Harry's House<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="gmail-li1" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo15; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Taylor Swift, Midnights<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="gmail-li1" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo15; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Benson Boone, Walk Me Home...<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="gmail-li1" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo15; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Meghan Trainor, Takin' It Back<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="gmail-li1" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo15; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Lizzo, Special<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="gmail-li1" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo15; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt;">JVKE, this is what _____ feels like (Vol. 1-4)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="gmail-li1" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo15; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Stephen Sanchez, Easy On My Eyes<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="gmail-li1" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo15; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">8.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Years & Years, Night Call<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="gmail-li1" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo15; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">9.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Glass Animals, Dreamland (+ Bonus Levels)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="gmail-li1" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo15; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">10.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The Weekend, Dawn FM<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="gmail-p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="gmail-p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">BONUS Top Singles:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="gmail-p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="gmail-li1" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo16; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Kalush Orchestra, Stefania<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="gmail-li1" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo16; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Lewis Capaldi, Forget Me<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="gmail-li1" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo16; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Dean Lewis, How Do I Say Goodbye<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="gmail-li1" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo16; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Sam Smith, Kim Petras, Unholy<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="gmail-li1" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo16; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Rex Orange County, Keep It Up<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Danger is Giles G’s Middle Name<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">1. Danger Mouse + Black Thought, Cheat Codes<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span lang="NL" style="font-size: 12pt;">2. SZA, SOS<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span lang="NL" style="font-size: 12pt;">2. Wet Leg, Wet Leg<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">3. The Smile, A Light for Attracting Attention<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">4. Nilüfer Yanya, PAINLESS<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">5. Angel Olsen, Big Time<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">6. MUNA, MUNA<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">7. FKA Twigs, CAPRISONGS<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">8. Little Simz, NO THANK YOU<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">9. Yard Act, The Overload<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">10. OHYUNG, imagine naked!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Dash G, Duke of Earl<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="li1" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l7 level1 lfo17; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span class="s1"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Earl Sweatshirt, Sick!</span></span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="li1" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l7 level1 lfo17; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span class="s1"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Sudan Archives, Natural Brown Prom Queen</span></span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="li1" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l7 level1 lfo17; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span class="s1"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Charlotte Adigéry / Bolis Pupul, </span></span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Topical Dancer<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="li1" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l7 level1 lfo17; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span class="s1"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Kendrick Lamar, Mr. Morale and The Big Steppers</span></span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="li1" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l7 level1 lfo17; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span class="s1"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Black Thought / Danger Mouse, Cheat Codes</span></span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="li1" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l7 level1 lfo17; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span class="s1"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Pusha T, It’s Almost Dry</span></span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="li1" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l7 level1 lfo17; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span class="s1"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Soul Glo, Diaspora Problems</span></span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="li1" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l7 level1 lfo17; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">8.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span class="s1"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Black Country, New Road; Ants from Up There</span></span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="li1" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l7 level1 lfo17; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">9.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span class="s1"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Alex G, God Save the Animals</span></span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="li1" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l7 level1 lfo17; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">10.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span class="s1"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Future, I NEVER LIKED YOU</span></span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Matthue R, Im-peck-able<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Most essential:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Orville Peck, Bronco<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">This came along and swept me away in veils of fringe. I liked his sparse, moody first album, but everything about every song on here perfectly glistens. It stirs you. Rarely have I felt so happy as I do listening to these gay country anthems, and that is not a sentence I ever thought I would write.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Otherwise essential:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Big Thief, Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Campfire songs with a severe undercurrent of menace.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Taylor Swift, Midnights<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Apologies to Miss Tay that this is no higher on my list. Zoinks, it's hard being a serious artist, especially as one is, forced to live up to one's legacy, and none the greater for it. If I were ranking just the song "Antihero," it may have placed higher, the mightiness of cramming several individually great images and motifs into 4 paltry minutes. It's not great. It's merely good. The best songs are the singles (although I love "Mastermind" [although the single cribbed line "When you fail to plan, you plan to fail" nearly ruins the spell for me]). The whole damn spiel could use an editor. Even, perhaps especially, "Antihero." It is a lesser novel by a writer I will nonetheless read everything by. But I am still here to read everything.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br />Twice, Between 1 and 2<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">My partner and I were having an argument about why I can't get into <i>Reputation</i>, Taylor's collection of techno (sorry, electronic dance music) thumpers, but I love Twice. Partly, I think, because these songs are both simple and constantly reinventing themselves: there's no moment of a song that is either hard to digest or understand (there's a <i>perfectly simple hook</i>, but there's a new one about every 5 seconds throughout each song), but also there's such a complete surrender when listening. Twice songs have 3 languages going on at once: Korean, most of which I don't understand (but I probably agree with whatever they're saying); English, most of which I do (likewise: on "Scientist," my insufficient brain hears "[Korean] [Korean] Einstein, [Korean] [Korean] Frankenstein" and, like, <i>I get it</i>), and the immortal and universal "fa la la la la." It's not the language of love. It's not even the language of happiness. It's the language of, I've got a song stuck in my head and you're gonna get it stuck too, and in that regard, as all others, Twice delivers.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Lizette S, Big Stepper<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Top album<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Kendrick Lamar, Mr. Morale and the Big Steppers <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Others<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Sza, SOS<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Taylor Swift, Midnights<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Beyonce, Renaissance<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Bad Bunny, Un Verano Sin Ti<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Best Discovery<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Shake, You Can’t Kill Me <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Will T’s Killer B<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">1) Beyonce, Renaissance<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">2) Carly Rae Jepsen, The Loneliest Time<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Cecil C has gone the Fever<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I’ll say Dance Fever by Florence and the Machine!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Midnights by Taylor Swift <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Lia C’s Dawning of the Day<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span lang="ES-US" style="font-size: 12pt;">Yebba, Dawn<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span lang="ES-US" style="font-size: 12pt;">Lana Del Rey, Honeymoon<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Florence and The Machine, Dance Fever<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Nina Simone, I Put A Spell On You<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The Weather Girls, Success<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Caleb H, featured Actor<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Ryokuoushoku Shakai, ACTOR<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Night Palace, Diving Rings<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Charli XCX, Crash<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Tove Lo, Dirt Femme<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Carly Rae Jepsen, The Loneliest Time<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Florence & the Machine, Dance Fever<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Alvvays, Blue Rev<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Years & Years, Night Call<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Various Artists, Chainsaw Man OST<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Jeffrey L Reaches the Tipping Point<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">These are the 2022 albums I have quite loved and keep listening to a lot.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">1. Tears for Fears -- The Tipping Point<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">2. Lizzo -- Special<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">3. Orville Peck -- Bronco<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">4. Bonnie Raitt -- Just Like That...<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Ben A, Bey Here Now<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Most essential:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Beyoncé, Renaissance<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Also essential:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Taylor Swift, Midnights<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Rina Sawayama, Hold the Girl<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Insane singles from 2022:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Kelly Clarkson, Happier than Ever<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Dove Cameron, Girl Like Me<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Tove Lo, No One Dies from Love<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Carly Rae Jepsen, Beach House<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Lea Michele, Finale Act 2 (from Funny Girl)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Ashe, Angry Woman<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Demi Lovato, 29<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Tara A Gets a Leg Uo on the Competition<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Here's my top ten albums of the year. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span lang="NL" style="font-size: 12pt;">Wet Leg, Wet Leg<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span lang="NL" style="font-size: 12pt;">Arcade Fire, WE<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Alvvays, Blue Rev<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Taylor Swift, Midnights<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Julia Jacklin, Pre-Pleasure<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Harry Styles, Harry's House<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Soccer Mommy, Sometimes Forever<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The Beths, Expert in a Dying Field<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Spoon, Lucifer on the Sofa <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Wilco, Cruel Country <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Brian M’s Land of the Braves<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Mystic Braves, Pacific Afterglow</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Mars Volta, Mars Volta</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Nell Smith & The Flaming Lips, Where the Viaduct Looms</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Madrugada, Chimes at Midnight</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Brian Jonestown Massacre, Fire Doesn't Grow on Trees</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Liam Gallagher, C'mon You Know</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Midlake, For the Sake of Bethel Woods</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Belle & Sebastian, A Bit of the Previous</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Jack White, Entering Heaven Alone</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Spencer Krug, Twenty Twenty Twenty Twenty One</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Justin W Takes it Live<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><pre style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">In 2022, my most essential music — by a mile — was the music that I heard live. <o:p></o:p></span></pre><pre style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></pre><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Courtney Barnett and The Avett Brothers tops. :)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Billy M, Hungry like the Wolf<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Remi Wolf, Juno<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">SZA, SOS<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Ben L, By the Light of the Muna<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">No. 1: <o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Muna, Muna<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The Rest:<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Charli XCX, Crash<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Years & Years, Night Call<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Banks, Serpentina <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Miranda Lambert, Palomino<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The Range, Mercury<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Rina Sawayama, Hold the Girl<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span lang="FR" style="font-size: 12pt;">Beyonce, Renaissance <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span lang="FR" style="font-size: 12pt;">Maren Morris, Humble Quest<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Taylor Swift, Midnights<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Carly Rae Jepsen, The Loneliest Time<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Omar Apollo, Ivory<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">SZA, SOS<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Kelsea Ballerini, Subject to Change<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Kehlani, Blue Water Road<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Kristin E’s Friendly Weather<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Belated, but I need to post my allegiance to the Killer Bs: Beth Orton and Beach House. If I had to choose, it will always be Beth, but you of all people know that. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Beth Orton, Weather Alive<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Beach House, Once Twice Melody<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p><style class="WebKit-mso-list-quirks-style">
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</style></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>davidlevithanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00762768300871943772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1509734071563017124.post-63866439476936122892022-01-30T13:25:00.001-08:002022-01-30T13:25:11.319-08:00The 2021 David Music Poll Results<p><b> 2021 David Music Poll Results</b></p><p><br /></p><p>Hello, everyone. I’m very happy to share with you this year’s music poll results.</p><p><br /></p><p>1)<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Lil Nas X, MONTERO (22 votes)</p><p>2)<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Olivia Rodrigo, SOUR (17)</p><p>3)<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Adele, 30 (10)</p><p>4)<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Lucy Dacus, Home Videos (9)</p><p>Taylor Swift, Red (Taylor’s Version) (9)</p><p> 6) Japanese Breakfast, Jubilee (8)</p><p> Billie Eilish, Happier Than Ever (8)</p><p> 8) Brandi Carlile, In These Silent Days (7)</p><p> 9) Julien Baker, Little Oblivions (6)</p><p> Bleachers, Take the Sadness Out of Saturday Night (6)</p><p> The War on Drugs, I don’t live here anymore (6)</p><p><br /></p><p>Runners up: Lana Del Rey, Chemtrails Over the Country Club; Little Simz, Sometimes I Might Be Introvert; Halsey, If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power (5 votes)</p><p><br /></p><p>Notes: There’s some new blood on the top of the list this year, with impressive showings from Lil Nas X and Olivia Rodrigo riding a pop wave to the top. (Technically, these are both debut albums, but Lil Nas X is hardly a debut artist.) Adele makes her third appearance in the top ten, and Billie Eilish, Brandi Carlile, Julien Baker, and The War on Drugs each make their second. Taylor Swift now joins (her friends) The National and (not to my knowledge her friends) Radiohead in the lead with five top-tens over the poll’s 23 years. 57 people participated in this year’s poll.</p><p><br /></p><p>For everyone’s individual lists, please go here: http://davidmusicpoll.blogspot.com/</p><p><br /></p><p><b>My List, Featuring a Blockbuster Video</b></p><p><br /></p><p>My essential albums (in rough order):</p><p><br /></p><p>Lucy Dacus, Home Videos</p><p>girl in red, if I could make it go quiet</p><p>Taylor Swift, Red (Taylor’s Version) (Vault songs)</p><p>Julien Baker, Little Oblivions</p><p>Bleachers, Take the Sadness Out of Saturday Night</p><p>CHVRCHES, Screen Violence</p><p>Rostam, Changeophobia</p><p>Brandi Carlile, In These Silent Days</p><p><br /></p><p>Honorable mention to the new albums by Big Red Machine, Billie Eilish, Courtney Barnett, London Grammar, Lorde, Mickey Guyton, Sam Fender, and The Staves</p><p><br /></p><p>Thoughts: There’s actually a strange continuum to many of my choices. My top album is a singer-songwriter looking back at her high school journals and telling their stories from a remove. My second-place album is full of fresh adolescent confusion. My third-place album is a revisiting of older songs in a more knowing way. And the fouth and sixth place albums are what happens when you get to womanhood. </p><p><br /></p><p>Favorite songs:</p><p>Fanny Anderson, “Wake Up” (my pandemic anthem)</p><p>Anais Mitchell, “Brooklyn Bridge” and Rostam, “From the Back of a Cab” (who knew I loved driving-across-a-NYC-bridge songs so much?)</p><p>Billie Eilish, “Happier Than Ever” (most brilliant switcheroo of the year)</p><p>Taylor Swift, “All Too Well (Taylor’s 10-minute Version) (I never, ever thought I needed a ten-minute Taylor Swift songs; ends up, I did)</p><p>Brandi Carlile, “Right on Time” (epic)</p><p>Sharon Van Etten and Angel Olsen, “Like I Used To”</p><p>Lucy Dacus, “Brando”</p><p>MUNA and Phoebe Bridgers, “Silk Chiffon” (Phoebe Bridgers took over my musical life this year, basically – how can she be on so many albums?)</p><p>And basically all the Olivia Rodrigo and Lil Nas X singles</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Anna Q, Optimistically</b></p><p><br /></p><p>Olivia rodrigo, sour</p><p>Kacey musgraves, star crossed </p><p>Finneas, optimist</p><p> </p><p><br /></p><p><b>Chris K’s Celestial Seasonings</b></p><p><br /></p><p>Album of the Year: King Woman, Celestial Blues</p><p><br /></p><p>Demiser, Through the Gate Eternal</p><p>Domkraft, Seeds</p><p>Hooded Menace, The Tritonus Bell</p><p>Steel-Bearing Hand, Slay In Hell</p><p>Rob Zombie, The Lunar Injection Kool Aid Eclipse Conspiracy</p><p>VHS, I Heard They Suck...Blood</p><p>Darkthrone, Eternal Hails........</p><p>Silk Sonic feat. Bruno Mars and Anderson Paak, An Evening With Silk Sonic</p><p>Cannibal Corpse, Violence Unimagined</p><p>Wolves In The Throne Room, Primordial Arcana</p><p>Khemmis, Deceiver</p><p>Andrew WK, God Is Partying</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Fiona S’s Silky Sounds</p><p><br /></p><p>Adele, 30</p><p>Silk Sonic, An Evening with Silk Sonic</p><p>ABBA, Voyage</p><p>Lake Street Drive, Obviously</p><p>Kacey Musgraves, Star Crossed</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><b>Bryant P’s Sour Season</b></p><p><br /></p><p>Here are my most essential albums of 2021, a year I found myself listening to older music more than new music:</p><p><br /></p><p>James Vincent McMorrow, Grapefruit Season</p><p>Olivia Rodrigo, Sour</p><p>Lana del Rey, Chemtrails Over the Country Club</p><p>Ekkstacy, Negative</p><p>Lil Nas X, Montero</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><b>Alex K Takes it to CHVRCH</b></p><p><br /></p><p>1) CHVRCHES, Screen Violence</p><p>2) London Grammar, Californian Soil</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><b>Eugene K, Cultured Vulture</b></p><p><br /></p><p>Arooj Aftab - Vulture Prince</p><p>Floating Points, Pharoah Sanders & The London Symphony Orchestra - Promises</p><p>Mach-Hommy - Pray for Haiti</p><p>Dry Cleaning - New Long Leg</p><p>Pink Pantheress - to hell with it</p><p>Vijay Iyer / Linda May Han Oh / Tyshawn Sorey: Uneasy</p><p>Olivia Rodrigo - Sour</p><p>Arya Starr - 19 & Dangerous</p><p>Favorite remix: Adele, Easy on me by High Contrast</p><p>Favorite DJ sets: Ben Bohmer above Cappadocia, The Blaze at Aiguille du Midi</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><b>Jaclyn D Finds Lost</b></p><p><br /></p><p>Favorite album of 2021: Lord Huron, Long Lost</p><p>Favorite late 2020 album I bought in 2021: Miley Cyrus, Plastic Hearts</p><p>Favorite albums I discovered because I’m a classic rock girl:</p><p>Trees, On the Shore</p><p>The Kinks, The Village Green Preservation Society</p><p>Waylon Jennings, Waylon Live</p><p>Jethro Tull, Heavy Horses</p><p>Neil Young (in general)</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><b>For David G, Queens is King</b></p><p><br /></p><p>Number one:</p><p>Aimee Mann, Queens of the Summer Hotel</p><p><br /></p><p>The rest of the top ten:</p><p>Sufjan Stevens and Angelo de Augustine, A Beginner’s Mind</p><p>LUMP, Animal</p><p>Michael Hurley, The Time of the Foxgloves</p><p>Little Simz, Sometimes I Might Be Introvert</p><p>Lana Del Rey, Chemtrails over the Country Club </p><p>Billie Eilish, Happier Than Ever</p><p>Julien Baker, Little Oblivions </p><p>Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, This is a Mindfulness Drill</p><p>Oberhofer, Smothered </p><p><br /></p><p>Special Mention: </p><p>Sharon Van Etten, epic Ten re-release </p><p><br /></p><p>Honorable Mentions:</p><p>Martha Wainwright, Love Will Be Reborn</p><p>Brandi Carlile, In These Silent Days</p><p>Japanese Breakfast, Jubilee</p><p>Floating Points and Pharaoh Sanders, Promises</p><p>Mdou Moctar, Afrique Victime</p><p>The Weather Station, Ignorance </p><p>Arooj Aftab, Vulture Prince</p><p>Indigo de Souza, Any Shape You Take</p><p>Arlo Parks, Collapsed in Sunbeams</p><p>Hard Feelings, Hard Feelings </p><p>St Vincent, Daddy’s Home</p><p>London Grammar, Californian Soil</p><p>Wolf Alice, Blue Weekend</p><p>Lil Nas X, Montero</p><p>Nite Jewel, No Sun</p><p>Natalie Bergman, Mercy</p><p>PinkPantheress, To Hell With It</p><p>Lucy Dacus, Home Video</p><p><br /></p><p>And then here are my favorite songs from the year:</p><p><br /></p><p>Trans Mantra by Ezra Furman</p><p>Love More by Fiona Apple (Sharon Van Etten cover)</p><p>NDA by Billie Eilish</p><p>Chaise Longue by Wet Leg</p><p>Soon It Will Be Fire by Hypnotic Brass Ensemble feat Moses Sumney</p><p>Dance Till We Die by Lana Del Rey</p><p>When The World Wakes Up by Tachys</p><p>Stay High by Brittany Howard (Childish Gambino version)</p><p>Dream Never Dies by Lo Moon</p><p>I See You by Aimee Mann</p><p>Right On Time (Orchestral Version) by Brandi Carlile</p><p>SIERRA NIGHTS by Kevin Abstract feat Ryan Beatty</p><p>Back to Oz by Sufjan and Angelo de Augustine</p><p>Ani Kuni by Polo & Pan</p><p>Good Morning by Indya Love</p><p>Free from Gravity by Django Django</p><p>Only Love by Tycho and Benjamin Gibbard</p><p>Asking for a Friend by CHVRCHES</p><p>Nineveh by Kele</p><p>Save Your Tears (with Ariana Grande) (Remix) by The Weeknd</p><p><br /></p><p>GOOD YEAR FOR MUSIC!</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><b>Call Phil B By Your Name</b></p><p><br /></p><p>1. Lil Nas X, Montero</p><p>2. Rauw Alejandro, Vice Versa</p><p>3. Olivia Rodrigo, Sour</p><p><br /></p><p>Tode de Ti by Rauw Alejandro and That's What I Want by Lil Nas X are my songs of the year.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><b>Justin W’s Inside Job</b></p><p><br /></p><p>Most Essential Album of 2021: Bo Burnham, Inside (The Songs of Inside)</p><p><br /></p><p>Other Essential Albums:</p><p>Middle Kids, Today We’re the Greatest</p><p>Courtney Barnett, Things Take Time, Take Time Julian Baker, Little Oblivions</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><b>Mike R, Everything After Ever</b></p><p><br /></p><p>MY (PERSONAL, SUBJECTIVE) TOP 15 ALBUMS:</p><p>1. Billie Eilish, Happier Than Ever</p><p>2. Jonathan Larson, tick, tick... BOOM!</p><p>3. Lucy Dacus, Home Video</p><p>4. Autoheart, Hellbent</p><p>5. Bo Burnham, Inside</p><p>6. Maisie Peters, You Signed Up For This</p><p>7. Bleachers, Take The Sadness Out Of Saturday Night</p><p>8. The Killers, Pressure Machine</p><p>9. Twin Shadow, Twin Shadow</p><p>10. Magdalena Bay, Mercurial World</p><p>11. Torres, Thirstier</p><p>12. Self Esteem, Prioritise Pleasure</p><p>13. Sam Fender, Seventeen Going Under</p><p>14. AJR, OK Orchestra</p><p>15. Aly & AJ, a touch of the beat gets you up on your feet gets you out and then in to the sun</p><p><br /></p><p>MY (PERSONAL, SUBJECTIVE) TOP 5 SINGLES OF THE YEAR:</p><p>1) MUNA ft. Phoebe Bridgers, "Silk Chiffon"</p><p>2) Olivia Rodrigo, "good 4 u"</p><p>3) Metteson, "Under Your Shirt"</p><p>4) Lil Nas X, "MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)" </p><p>5) Taylor Swift, "All Too Well (10 Minute Version) (Taylor's Version) (From The Vault)"</p><p><br /></p><p>NOTES:</p><p>1) I am not normally a "slow song" or "quiet song" kind of guy, which makes it all the more impressive that I found Billie Eilish's second album to be so undeniably towering in its quality, replayability, and mature, personally-grounded, but still melodic songwriting, that it simply had to be my number one choice.</p><p>2) I disqualified Fearless (Taylor's Version) and Red (Taylor's Version) from being considered as "new" albums, but rest assured, had I not done that, one or both of them would be my album of the year.</p><p>3) If I could recommend some albums on this list y'all may not have heard already, they would be Hellbent by Autoheart (for fans of Erasure, Depeche Mode, and Pet Shop Boys), You Signed Up For This by Maisie Peters (for fans of Lily Allen and Kate Nash at her poppiest), and Twin Shadow by Twin Shadow (for fans of The Clash's Caribbean-influenced period, but this time by an actual Dominican-American pop wunderkind).</p><p>4) Long live the music poll!</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><b>Samantha M’s Superior War</b></p><p><br /></p><p>Here's my list! </p><p><br /></p><p>1) War on Drugs, I Don't Live Here Anymore</p><p>2) St. Vincent, Daddy's Home</p><p>3) Leon Bridges, Gold-Diggers Sound</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><b>Cassandra P Heeds the Call</b></p><p><br /></p><p>Most essential album:</p><p>Tyler, the Creator, CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST</p><p><br /></p><p>Other essential albums:</p><p>Doja Cat, Planet Her</p><p>Lil Nas X, Montero</p><p>Adele, 30</p><p>Bruno Mars & Anderson .Paak, An Evening with Silk Sonic</p><p>Kacey Musgraves, star-crossed</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><b>Roberto R, Merrily Down the Stream</b></p><p><br /></p><p>MY FAVORITE OF THE YEAR:</p><p>Damon Albarn, The Nearer the Fountain, More Pure the Stream Flows </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><b>Collin Q is Funny haha</b></p><p><br /></p><p>One of my favorite new year traditions! Here's what I got for 2021...</p><p><br /></p><p>TOP ALBUM</p><p>Faye Webster, I Know I'm Funny haha</p><p><br /></p><p>Honorable Mentions</p><p>Lucy Dacus, Home Video</p><p>Snail Mail, Valentine</p><p>Arca, KICK ii, KicK iii, kick iiii, and kiCK iiiii</p><p>Japanese Breakfast, Jubilee</p><p>Hayley Williams, FLOWERS for VASES / descansos</p><p><br /></p><p>TOP SINGLES</p><p>1. Snail Mail, "Valentine"</p><p>2. Arca, "Señorita"</p><p>3. SZA, "Good Days"</p><p>4. serpentwithfeet, "Fellowship"</p><p>5. Rebecca Black, "Personal"</p><p>6. Muna, "Silk Chiffon (feat. Phoebe Bridgers)"</p><p>7. Tinashe, "Bouncin"</p><p>8. Lucy Dacus, "Triple Dog Dare"</p><p>9. Tobe Nwigwe & Fat Nwigwe, "FYE FYE"</p><p>10. Adam Melchior, "i'm not okay"</p><p>11. Doss, "Look"</p><p>12. Hayley Williams, "Teardrop"</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><b>Brent G Loves an Ex</b></p><p><br /></p><p>I'm in!..I love this and sad I missed last year so here I go.</p><p><br /></p><p>1. Ex:Re & Josephine Stephnson with 12 Esemble</p><p>2. Czarface & MF DOOM - Super What?</p><p>3. SAULT - NINE</p><p>4. Taylor Swift - Evermore</p><p>5. Conway the Machine - La Maquina</p><p>6. Silk Sonic - An Evening With</p><p>7. BADBADNOTGOOD - Talk Memory</p><p>8. Lil Nas X - Montero</p><p>9. Aimee Mann - Queens of the Summer Hotel</p><p>10. NAS - King's Disease II</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><b>Theo M, Lover of Star Crossed</b></p><p><br /></p><p>star-crossed - Kacey Musgraves</p><p>SOUR - Olivia Rodrigo</p><p>30 - Adele</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><b>Daniel L’s Lil Winner</b></p><p><br /></p><p>Most Essential Album, 2021: Lil Nas X, MONTERO</p><p><br /></p><p>Other Essentials: </p><p>HAIM, Women In Music, Pt. III</p><p>Adele, 30</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><b>Kelley S, in a Mood Valiant</b></p><p><br /></p><p>Here’s my list. I may have several this year that actually end up on the final list! Look at me getting mainstream…sorta…</p><p><br /></p><p>In no particular order, my top ten lists of 2021 are:</p><p><br /></p><p>Vocal:</p><p><br /></p><p>1. Parannoul, To See the Next Part of the Dream</p><p>2. Wednesday, Twin Plagues</p><p>3. Nervous Dater, Call in the Mess</p><p>4. Japanese Breakfast, Jubilee</p><p>5. Julien Baker, Little Oblivions</p><p>6. Flock of Dimes, Head of Roses</p><p>7. Arlo Parks, Collapsed in Sunbeams</p><p>8. Black Country, New Road, For the First Time</p><p>9. Hiatus Kaiyote, Mood Valiant</p><p>10. Kælan Mikla, Undir Köldum Norðurljósum</p><p><br /></p><p>Instrumental:</p><p><br /></p><p>1. Anoice, Hidden Forest</p><p>2. Ghost Bath, Self Loather</p><p>3. Sadness, April Sunset</p><p>4. Theon Cross, Intra-I</p><p>5. Trna, Istok</p><p>6. Unreqvited, Beautiful Ghosts</p><p>7. A Winged Victory for the Sullen, Invisible Cities</p><p>8. Ólafur Arnalds, The Invisible EP</p><p>9. Grouper, Shade</p><p>10. The Ember, The Ash, Fixation</p><p><br /></p><p>And David, you’re probably already familiar with one (or both???) of these artists, but just in case, since there are a couple lines with multiple commas, the artist names are “Black Country, New Road”, and “The Ember, The Ash”.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><b>Kevin K Starts with Genesis</b></p><p><br /></p><p>When I look back on 2021, I will think of it as the year of the single. There were very few albums I would consider “essential.” Instead, I found myself listening to singles more than anything. </p><p><br /></p><p>Favorite Singles of 2021</p><p>Rose Pink Cadillac – DOPE LEMON</p><p>Like A Lady – Pom Poko</p><p>Head Cheerleader – Pom Pom Squad</p><p>Introvert – Little Simz</p><p>This Sound – Greentea Peng</p><p>The Other Black Dog – Genesis Owusu</p><p>Lover Boy – The Front Bottoms</p><p>Pay Your Way In Pain – St. Vincent</p><p>Valentine – Snail Mail</p><p>Be Sweet – Japanese Breakfast</p><p>Follow – Gary Louris</p><p>Stop Making This Hurt – Bleachers</p><p>MMMOOOAAAAAYA… - illuminati hotties</p><p>Racist, Sexist Boy – The Linda Linds</p><p>Nervous – Madi Diaz</p><p>Turnaround (Cocaine Song) – Toth</p><p>Tell Me What You Want – Weezer </p><p>I NEED YOU – Jon Batiste</p><p>Orion From The Street – Field Music</p><p>Narrator – Squid</p><p>BLACKOUT – Turnstile</p><p>Track X – Black Country, New Road</p><p>ALL FUTURES – The Armed</p><p>Snakes – Amyl and The Sniffers</p><p>777 – Bruno Mars, Anderson Paak, Silk Sonic</p><p>I Wanna Be a Dog – Colleen Green</p><p>Scratchcard Lanyard – Dry Cleaning</p><p>Really Great – The Connells</p><p>Da Vinci – Demira</p><p>HEAVY METAL – Paris Texas</p><p><br /></p><p>Essential Albums of 2021</p><p>Smiling with No Teeth – Genesis Owusu</p><p>Major Prince vibes, so I was all over this entire album in 2021.</p><p>Flat White Moon – Field Music</p><p>IMHO, they have yet to make a bad record. One of the best bands making music today without major accolades.</p><p>Death of a Cheerleader – Pom Pom Squad</p><p>I saw them in concert this year and the lead singer tossed a rose to me. That would be enough to make the list, but it helps that the debut rocks.</p><p>Sometimes I Might Be Introvert – Little Simz</p><p>The first track “Introvert” is huge and majestic. Reminds me of early Fugees.</p><p>First Flight To Tokyo: The Lost 1961 Recordings – Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers</p><p>This is the album I listened to the most in 2021 and it was only released in December! My favorite incarnation of the Jazz Messengers, playing my favorite songs. Lee Morgan’s flourishes on the trumpet are amazing. Bobby Timmons cements himself as one of the all-time great pianists. Art Blakey simply destroys the Japanese audience with his drums. This list does not often feature jazz records but do yourself a favor and give this one a listen.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><b>Maggie S Strikes Up the Orchestra</b></p><p><br /></p><p>I realized I didn't need that long to tell you my favorites from 2021, because I'm still humming them.</p><p><br /></p><p>BEST ALBUMS</p><p>1) Manchester Orchestra, Million Masks of God</p><p>when this came out, I was on a retreat, but I left everyone in the house and walked around the cabin for three hours, in the rain, just listening to it over and over and over in my headphones.</p><p>2) Grasscut, Overwinter</p><p>This is a little on the green man gray sky clannad side of things, but it works.</p><p>3) MISSIO, Skeletons, Pt 3</p><p>These are ever so much better when stripped down.</p><p><br /></p><p>BEST SINGLES</p><p>mostly minor key, often psychedelic, mostly sad even if they are hiding it deep down inside</p><p><br /></p><p>1) Animal Collective, "Prester John"</p><p>2) Mother Mother, "Weep"</p><p>3) Kawala, "Back of My Hand"</p><p>4) UPSAHL, "STOP!"</p><p>5) BANNERS, "They All Are"</p><p>6) Keane, "Dirt"</p><p>7) CHVRCHES & Robert Smith, "How Not to Drown"</p><p>8) Milky Chance, "Colorado"</p><p>9) The Head and the Heart, "Our House"</p><p>10) Joywave, "The Inversion</p><p>11) Of Monsters and Men, "Destroyer"</p><p>12) HEALTH, "COLORS (Thomaas Banks Rmx)"</p><p>13) Low, "White Horses"</p><p>14) Everything Everything, "Mercury and Me"</p><p>15) Dotter, "Little Tot"</p><p>16) Lucy Daydream, "Keep it Low"</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><b>Gianfranco L Feels Pretty, Oh So Pretty</b></p><p><br /></p><p>Now you know what lives inside my head… </p><p><br /></p><p>2021:</p><p>Leonard Bernstein & Stephen Sondheim, West Side Story (2021)</p><p>Jonathan Larson/Netflix, tick, tick… BOOM! (2021)</p><p>Dan Romer/Disney, Luca</p><p>Natalie Holt/Disney, Loki (Vol. 1 & 2)</p><p>Olivia Rodrigo, Sour</p><p>Lin-Manuel Miranda, Encanto</p><p><br /></p><p>Past Albums:</p><p>Netflix, Eurovision (2020)</p><p>Marina & the Diamonds, The Family Jewels (2010)</p><p>Toby Marlow & Lucy Moss, SIX the Musical (2018)</p><p>Beyoncé, Homecoming: The Live Album (2019)</p><p>Various, Mean Girls the Musical (2017)</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><b>Shelly R Wants Halsey, and Power</b></p><p><br /></p><p>2021 Most Essential Album:</p><p>Halsey, If I Can't Have Love, I Want Power</p><p>This album got me through the rest of the year when it was released. I truly wish I could listen to it again for the first time because every song, even the softer ballads that aren't quite my taste, are incredible. The short film Halsey created for it is so visually stunning. It now means a lot to me...so much that I got the title tattooed on my arm this January.</p><p><br /></p><p>Honorable Mentions:</p><p>Måneskin, Teatro d'ira: Vol. 1</p><p>Bo Burnham, Inside (The Songs)</p><p>Olivia Rodrigo, Sour</p><p>Lil Nas X, Montero</p><p>Doja Cat, Planet Her</p><p><br /></p><p>5 Favorite Songs of 2021:</p><p>"SHUM" by Go_A</p><p>"La Paura Del Buio" by Måneskin</p><p>"Can You Feel My Heart (Remix)" by Bring Me The Horizon & Jeris Johnson</p><p>"The Lighthouse" by Halsey</p><p>"Good 4 U" by Olivia Rodrigo</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><b>Andy P Goes Easy on Us</b></p><p><br /></p><p>Lil Nas X, Montero</p><p>Adele, 30</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><b>Melissa W Knows Her Favorite All Too Well</b></p><p><br /></p><p>Essential album: </p><p>Taylor Swift, Red (Taylor's Version)</p><p><br /></p><p>Essential song from that album:</p><p>Taylor Swift, “All Too Well (10 Minute Version)" from Red (Taylor's Version)</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Matt U Doesn’t Live Here Anymore</p><p><br /></p><p>Thanks for keeping the music poll going. It’s always a great way to discover new music from people who care about the real thing. </p><p><br /></p><p>So, this year was a bit off for me. Nothing really quite rose to essential, maybe I just haven’t heard it yet. Or maybe I can’t figure out what mood I’m in… In the past, artists have either spoken directly to me like Patty Griffin or The Avett Brothers or have spoken to the times succinctly like Lana Del Ray’s Norman Fucking Rockwell. This year, I felt like there were a lot of good records but I was in search of the great. So, here’s my short list in as close to an order as I could land on:</p><p><br /></p><p>Essential albums:</p><p>1. The War on Drugs, I don’t live here anymore</p><p>2. Bleachers, Take the sadness out of Saturday night</p><p>3. Lord Huron, Long lost</p><p>4. Passenger, Songs for the drunk and broken-hearted</p><p><br /></p><p>My most essential album, or most listened to album anyway, wasn’t from this year or even that recent:</p><p>Phosphorescent, Muchacho </p><p><br /></p><p>And album from last year that I didn’t really listen to until this year but it’s lovely enough to deserve mention:</p><p>Ray LaMontagne, Monovision</p><p><br /></p><p>Here’s to finding an essential album at last from the poll!</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><b>Ben L Can Drink a Kacey of You</b></p><p><br /></p><p>Kacey Musgraves, star-crossed</p><p>H.E.R., Back of My Mind</p><p>girl in red, if i could make it go quiet</p><p>Miranda Lambert (etc.), The Marfa Tapes</p><p>Ashley Monroe, Rosegold</p><p>Adele, 30</p><p>Taylor Swift, Red (Taylor's Version)</p><p>Tinashe, 333</p><p>Lucy Dacus, Home Video</p><p>Lil Nas X, MONTERO</p><p>WILLOW, lately I feel EVERYTHING</p><p>Olivia Rodrigo, SOUR</p><p>Lorde, Solar Power</p><p>Billie Eilish, Happier Than Ever</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><b>Daniel H’s Light at the End of the</b></p><p><br /></p><p>Colleen, The Tunnel and the Clearing</p><p><br /></p><p>Helado Negro, Far In</p><p>Low, HEY WHAT</p><p>Lonelady, Former Things</p><p>Lambchop, Showtunes</p><p>St. Etienne, I’ve Been Trying To Tell You</p><p><br /></p><p>Stars, “Build A Fire”</p><p>Lonelady, “Threats"</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><b>Matthue R Hits the Jubilee</b></p><p><br /></p><p>Most essential:</p><p>Jubilee, Japanese Breakfast</p><p><br /></p><p>After beginning the album with a literal gong, which leads into this mellow groove that eventually is supported by a Love Boat-style horn section on "Paprika," the opening track, Jubilee darts in and out of dreamy pop, '80s synth ballads, '70s Linda Ronstadt soft rock, and (deep breath) her own take on the Yeah Yeah Yeahs take on early Cure songs. Michelle Zautner's lyrics straddle this perfect nubile territory between tongue-in-cheek rock lyrics and unchanging truth. Even if one single didn't have an X-Files-inspired video, even if another wasn't about Sopranos-style billionaire preppers, you'd still get a skewed, dangerous, comforting worldview from this short, gorgeous album.</p><p><br /></p><p>With supporting acts:</p><p>Taylor Swift, Red (Taylor's Version)</p><p>If we're being completely closet-confessions here, which of course we're not, R(TV) would be my most essential. The sheer amount of salt tears I've shed during the listening of "All Too Well (Taylor's Version) (10 Minute Version)" alone is probably a significant percentage of my body mass. But: is it really fair to stamp "this year's most essential" on a 10-year-old group of songs? (Maybe.) And on the most commercially successful artist of our time? (Maybe.) And on someone who occupied 2 of my most essential slots from last year's poll? Well, any of these factors is not a deciding factor, but if it was Taylor's pick, she'd probably say the name of some obscure album deserving of a wider audience, and you should really listen to Japanese Breakfast. </p><p><br /></p><p>MUNA, Silk Chiffon</p><p>A single, not an album (or a really short album), but I take so many forms of joy in this, from watching my 5-year-old jump around on the bed singing this in pure ecstasy to me jumping on my bed singing this in pure I-wish-I-were-a-teenage-gay nostalgia. The video is great. Phoebe Bridgers is great. But the core of this song is a throwback to the Bratmobile/Team Dresch/early Le Tigre '90s, and a time when every song was a revelation of discovery, and I am so glad that I can still find things that make me this happy. This song is one of them.</p><p><br /></p><p>Sufjan Stevens & Angelo De Augustine, A Beginner's Mind </p><p>A+.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><b>Josh L, Into Oblivion</b></p><p><br /></p><p>Julien Baker, Little Oblivions.</p><p><br /></p><p>Caveat: I experienced 2021 as, essentially, "long 2020." Therefore the album of the year, really, should still be Phoebe Bridgers, Punisher. But I'll abide by the terms of the poll.</p><p><br /></p><p>Honorable Mentions: Lucy Dacus, Home Video and The Hold Steady, Open Door Policy. I cannot not mention such excellent lyricist/songwriters dwelling intensely on adolescent love. I'm even pretty sure that "Unpleasant Breakfast" and "Christine" are, due to some mysterious fold in the space-time continuum, actually about the same girl!!!</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><b>Brian M’s Outsider Picks</b></p><p><br /></p><p>1. Philippe Cohen & Mike Lindsay, Outsider</p><p>2. Lana Del Rey, Chemtrails Over the Country Club</p><p>3. St. Vincent, Daddy's Home</p><p>4. Billie Eilish, Happier Than Ever</p><p>5. New Bums, Last Time I Saw Grace</p><p>6. Sivert Hoyem, Roses of Neurosis</p><p>7. Langhorne Slim, Strawberry Mansion</p><p>8. Black Pistol Fire, Look Alive</p><p>9. Richard Ashcroft, Acoustic Hyms Vol. 1</p><p>10. Emma Ruth Rundle, Engine of Hell</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><b>Sarah D’s Saturday Night Fever</b></p><p><br /></p><p>my most essential album of the year was Bleachers Take the Sadness out of Saturday Night. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><b>Nick E, Malkin His Move</b></p><p><br /></p><p>This might be my longest list ever — and there are still a few 2021 albums I haven’t really gotten around to yet (including Liz Phair & GBV). But here’s the new stuff in my rotation!</p><p><br /></p><p>1) Zach Holbrook, Malkin</p><p>2) Sufjan Stevens & Angelo De Augustine, A Beginner’s Mind</p><p>3) Sufjan Stevens, Convocations</p><p>4) Small Black, Cheap Dreams</p><p>5) Arab Strap, As Days Get Dark</p><p>6) Moby, Reprise</p><p>7) Chvrches, Screen Violence</p><p>8) Big Red Machine, How Long Do You Think It’s Gonna Last?</p><p>9) Air, More Hertz</p><p>10) Max Richter, Exiles</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><b>Maya M’s Sweetly Sour</b></p><p><br /></p><p>Happy music poll season! </p><p>My favorite album of the year: SOUR by Olivia Rodrigo. </p><p>My favorite song of the year: I’m Trying (Not Friends) by Maisie Peters</p><p>My favorite EP of the year: bound by expectations by jenny nuo</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><b>Nico M’s Got the Power</b></p><p><br /></p><p>All I can say is... </p><p><br /></p><p>Halsey, If I Can't Have Love, I Want Power</p><p>A pop singer teaming up with Nine Inch Nails to give Nico everything he's ever wanted or needed in an album, and demoting Garbage's "No Gods No Masters" to the #2 slot? Yes, please, and thank you.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><b>Joy P, Right on Time</b></p><p><br /></p><p>There is only one album that matters to me this year: Brandi Carlile's IN THESE SILENT DAYS. Best song on the album: RIGHT ON TIME.</p><p><br /></p><p>I hope this pushes Brandi over the edge. What other album even comes close???</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><b>Teri Y Walks the Moon</b></p><p><br /></p><p>Lil Nas X, Montero</p><p>Walk the Moon, Heights</p><p>VINCINT, There Will Be Tears</p><p>Todrick Hall, Femuline</p><p><br /></p><p>Plus singles from Troye Sivan, Years & Years and Kim Petras--very much looking forward to their 2022 albums! A very queer year for music!</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><b>Anna C’s Breakfast is Champion</b></p><p><br /></p><p>1. Jubilee - Japanese Breakfast</p><p>2. Death of a Cheerleader - Pom Pom Squad</p><p>3. Glow On - Turnstile</p><p>4. Hey What - Low</p><p>5. The Sound of Yourself - Mac McCaughan</p><p>6. Thirstier - Torres</p><p>7. Blood Lemon - Blood Lemon </p><p>8. Year of the Spider - Shannon & the Clams</p><p>9. A Southern Gothic - Adia Victoria</p><p>10. Between the Richness - Fiddlehead </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><b>Jordan H’s Cat Power</b></p><p><br /></p><p>Fav albums of the year:</p><p>Doja Cat, Planet Her</p><p>Adele, 30</p><p>Marina, Ancient Dreams in A Modern Land</p><p>Positions, Ariana Grande</p><p><br /></p><p>Best songs:</p><p>Ariana Grande, Off The Table (feat the weekend)</p><p>Doja Cat, Get into it ( Yuh)</p><p>Cardi B, UP</p><p>Marina, Venus Fly Trap </p><p>Megan THEE stallion, Thot Shit</p><p>Adele, I Drink Wine </p><p>CHLOE, Have Mercy </p><p>Rumors, Lizzo</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><b>Dan P: Video is a Radio Star</b></p><p><br /></p><p>It was not a good new music year for me. I listened a lot of stuff from years just prior, as I expect I’ll find last year’s new music this year… ugh. </p><p><br /></p><p>The ones I did remember liking are:</p><p><br /></p><p>*Lucy Dacus, Home Video*</p><p>Bleachers, Take the Sadness Out of Saturday Night</p><p>Julien Baker, Little Oblivions</p><p>Olivia Rodrigo, Sour</p><p>Lil Nas X, Montero </p><p>Brandi Carlile, In These Silent Days (though I mostly just loved “Right on Time”)</p><p>Joy Oladokun, in defense of my own happiness - (“look up” is sooooo good)</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><b>Zach F Says WHAT</b></p><p><br /></p><p>Most Essential:</p><p><br /></p><p>Low, HEY WHAT</p><p><br /></p><p>Runner-up:</p><p><br /></p><p>Jon Batiste, WE ARE</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><b>Bill K’s Talking About Jamie</b></p><p><br /></p><p>Not a banner year for new music for me, but here's what I have:</p><p><br /></p><p>Essential: </p><p>Everybody's Talking About Jamie, Motion Picture Soundtrack</p><p><br /></p><p>Also:</p><p>Brandi Carlile, In These Silent Days</p><p>Lil Nas X, MONTERO</p><p>Aimee Mann, Queens of the Summer Hotel</p><p>ABBA, Voyage</p><p>Crowded House, Dreamers Are Waiting</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><b>Billy M’s Machine Dreams</b></p><p><br /></p><p>Here are my top albums of 2021!</p><p><br /></p><p>Big Red Machine, Big Red Machine</p><p>30, Adele</p><p>If I can't Have Love, I Want Power, Halsey</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><b>Gabriel B’s Eternal Rey</b></p><p><br /></p><p>I am nothing if not predictable…..</p><p><br /></p><p>1. Lana Del Rey, Chemtrails Over the Country Club</p><p>2. Lana Del Rey, Blue Bannisters</p><p>3. Lil Nas X, Montero</p><p><br /></p><p>Best discovery from years past: Amy Winehouse’s cover of “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?”</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><b>Jinny W Takes to the Strings</b></p><p><br /></p><p>1. BRUCE LIU / CHOPIN. Deutsche Grammophon November 2021.</p><p><br /></p><p>A live recording made in October in the Warsaw Philharmonic Concert Hall, with audience masked and orchestra not. Parisian-born Canadian pianist Bruce (Xiaoyu) Liu, age 24, won the 18th International Chopin Piano Competition. And we get to hear it happen. Chopin’s glorious range is in full bloom in Liu’s hands: the grit, the satin, the oceanic, the rippling brook. The CD begins with his final round performance of Chopin’s Concerto No. 1, with the Warsaw National Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Andrzej Boreyko. And then come Mazurkas, Nocturnes, and other short pieces. Out of 178 contestants, Liu was named winner by the 17 judges from eleven countries. </p><p><br /></p><p>The CD was to be released on November 19. Supply chain tangles have delayed shipping. But we can watch sections of this young pianist's winning performance and “inexhaustible imagination” (in the words of one of the judges), on YouTube, a way to recoup our optimism after hearing an abundance of news of the world. </p><p><br /></p><p>The Chopin Competition, begun in 1927, is held every five years; the 18th rounds were delayed from 2020 until 2021 because of COVID-19.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>2. Juilliard String Quartet: Beethoven, Bartok, Dvorak. Sony Classical April 2021.</p><p><br /></p><p>The classical music world is in mourning for the recent loss of Roger Tapping, the Juilliard Quartet’s violist, who died of cancer on January 18. Hard to name a chamber musician more humane, patient, dedicated to the generous art of sharing and clarifying the exquisite mysteries of music. This Sony Classical recording is maybe his last. Beethoven’s Opus 59 No. 2 (turbulent and rich, composed in 1806), Bartok’s Quartet No. 3 (from 1927, partly Hungarian folk-derived), and Dvorak’s “American” (his most popular quartet, composed in Spillville, Iowa in 1893). </p><p><br /></p><p>Mr. Tapping was also the violist in the Takács String Quartet for a decade, beginning in 1995. Their recordings of Schubert and late Beethoven are gorgeous. </p><p><br /></p><p>YouTube has some excellent visits with Tapping, including one from 2015, with his wife, cellist Natasha Brofsky, with pianist Qing Jiang and violinist Lucy Chapman, playing the exuberant, at times frenetic finale of Brahms’ piano quartet in G minor. Also on YouTube, Roger with the Juilliard and the first four sections of Bach’s Art of the Fugue from 2013. Some newcomers might want to stay through this one, others won’t.</p><p><br /></p><p>And an interview with Roger and Natasha about listening, learning, practicing, teaching music, including stage-fright:</p><p><br /></p><p>https://bulletproofmusician.com/natasha-brofsky-roger-tapping-on-learning-new-repertoire-and-getting-to-know-a-composers-unique-language/</p><p><br /></p><p>3. Janine Jansen: 12 Stradivari. Decca Classics and J & A Beare. September 2021.</p><p><br /></p><p>Performed with pianist Antonio Pappano, who’s also the Royal Opera House’s music director. Twelve of the very best Stradivari violins were—against severe pandemic and logistical odds—brought to London for two weeks. Dutch violinist Jansen recorded music by different composers on each one, from Tchaikovsky to Clara Schumann to Jerome Kern. Some of these Italian violins from the 1700s are in private collections, and you and I are surely never going to find out whose. But a documentary film will get us closer: It’s called Falling for Stradivari.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><b>Andrew E’s Licence to Listen</b></p><p><br /></p><p>Coming in under the wire with these under-the-radar hits:</p><p><br /></p><p>1. Olivia Rodrigo, Sour</p><p>2. Lis Nas X, Montero</p><p><br /></p><p>(I blame my inability to think of *any* other favorite albums from last year on the fact that 2021 was, in general, a blur.)</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><b>Jeffrey L’s Name Brandi</b></p><p><br /></p><p>I look forward to this ritual every year, especially the part when the results come out and I know what I missed and need to learn about! I definitely get more from it than I think I'm contributing</p><p><br /></p><p>Not too much from me this past year musically speaking but of course it's all a bit scattershot.</p><p><br /></p><p>1. Brandi Carlile: In These Silent Days</p><p>2. Yola: Stand For Myself</p><p>3. Olivia Rodrigo: SOUR</p><p><br /></p><p>Also got and enjoy but I don't think I would put on a top anything list:</p><p><br /></p><p>Kacey Musgraves: star-crossed</p><p>ABBA: Voyage</p><p><br /></p><p>I am aware that I should have bought and listened to and love the Adele 30 album by now. I'll get around to it. I will.</p><p><br /></p><p>2021 discoveries for me which weren't 2021 releases</p><p><br /></p><p>Years & Years -- I'm way too old to listen to queer brit electropunk led by someone young enough to be my kid but hey.</p><p><br /></p><p>Maren Morris (I knew her through Highwomen but none of her solo stuff) -- can I vote in retro for your 2016 list?</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><b>For Giles G, Little is Large</b></p><p><br /></p><p>1) Little Simz - Sometimes I Might Be Introvert</p><p>2) Arlo Parks - Collapsed In Sunbeams</p><p>3) Billie Eilish - Happy Than Ever</p><p>4) Wolf Alice - Blue Weekend</p><p>5) Japanese Breakfast - Jubilee</p><p>6) Mustafa - When The Smoke Rises</p><p>7) St Vincent - Daddy's Home</p><p>8) Navy Blue - Navy's Reprise</p><p>9) Lucy Dacus - Home Video</p><p>10) Yard Act - Dark Days</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><b>Scott T, It’s Easy Here for the Pimps</b></p><p><br /></p><p>I feel these days I only discover the essential albums for a year about 3 years later. But this year two favorites:</p><p><br /></p><p>Most essential</p><p><br /></p><p>Sneaker Pimps, Squaring the Circle</p><p><br /></p><p>Other Essential</p><p><br /></p><p>Still Corners, The Last Exit</p><p>The Record Summer, Lay It Bare</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><b>Holly B’s Luck of the Eilish</b></p><p><br /></p><p>Most significant albums? Probably Billie Eilish’s Happier Than Ever and Lil Nas X’s Montero.</p><p><br /></p><p>Certainly last January, Nathan Evan’s cover of Wellerman was a weird, joyful thing, but not an album.</p><p><br /></p><p>And the song I have been listening to over and over was Cosmo Sheldrake’s Come Along from 2017.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><b>Crissa C’s Convocations</b></p><p><br /></p><p>Essential album: Sufjan Stevens, Convocations</p><p><br /></p><p>Music I liked in 2021:</p><p><br /></p><p>--The War on Drugs, I Don't Live Here Anymore</p><p><br /></p><p>--Bibio, "Vidiconia"</p><p><br /></p><p>--Geographer, "Garden"</p><p><br /></p><p>--Beach House, "Over and Over"</p><p><br /></p><p>--Bonobo, Jamila Woods, "Tides"</p><p><br /></p><p>--Robert Glasper, "Shine"</p><p><br /></p><p>--Sufjan Stevens, Angelo De Augustine, "Olympus"</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><b>Brant R’s Reasonable Doubt</b></p><p><br /></p><p>My Essential Albums of 2021:</p><p>Quivers, Golden Doubt</p><p>Deafheaven, Infinite Granite</p><p>Benny Sings, Benny Sings Music</p><p>Japanese Breakfast, Jubilee</p><p>The War on Drugs, I Don't Live Here Anymore</p><p>Rostam, Changephobia</p><p>The Go! Team, Get Up Sequences Part One</p><p>Tex Crick, Live in... New York City</p><p>Lily Konigsberg, Lily We Need to Talk Now</p><p>Indigo de Souza, Any Shape You Take</p><p>The Weather Station, Ignorance</p><p><br /></p><p>Some of My Essential Tracks of 2021:</p><p>beabadoobee, “Last Day on Earth”</p><p>CHAI, “Donuts Mind if I Do”</p><p>Indigo de Souza, “Hold U”</p><p>Japanese Breakfast, “Be Sweet”</p><p>Quivers, “Gutters of Love”</p><p>Suave Punk, “Heaven Is a Night Drive”</p><p>The Weather Station, “Robber”</p><p><br /></p><p>Elder Albums I Found Essential in 2021:</p><p>Cannonball Adderley, Mercy, Mercy, Mercy! Live at "The Club"</p><p>Herb Alpert, Fandango</p><p>Chet Baker, (Chet Baker Sings) It Could Happen to You</p><p>Chic, Risqué</p><p>Booker T. & The MG's, Melting Pot</p><p>Iris DeMent, Infamous Angel</p><p>The Dream Syndicate, The Days of Wine and Roses</p><p>Georgie Fame, Fame at Last</p><p>The Flirtations, Sounds Like the Flirtations</p><p>Grant Hart, Hot Wax</p><p>Johnny Hodges, Johnny Hodges with Billy Strayhorn and the Orchestra</p><p>Keith Jarrett, The Melody at Night, with You</p><p>Stanley Jordan, Magic Touch</p><p>Khruangbin, Con Todo El Mundo</p><p>Hugh Masekela, Home Is Where the Music Is</p><p>Eddie Rabbitt, Horizon</p><p>Erik Satie, Gymnopédies</p><p>Luther Vandross, Never Too Much</p><p>White Town, Women in Technology</p><p>Steve Wonder, Eivets Rednow</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><b>X marks Lawrence U’s spot</b></p><p><br /></p><p>Looking past many aspects of 2021, I do have to say last year did not disappoint when it came to new music. Picking my top 10 from the year's catalog was no small feat (except for #1,that was easy). </p><p><br /></p><p>So with that being said, here are my top ten albums of 2021: </p><p> </p><p>1. Lil Nas X, Montero</p><p>2. Finneas, Optimist</p><p>3. Honne, Let's Just Say the World Ended a Week From Now, What Would You Do?</p><p>4. Quinn XCII, Change of Scenery II</p><p>5. Olivia Rodrigo, Sour</p><p>6. Lany, gg bb xx</p><p>7. Tones and I, Welcome to the Madhouse</p><p>8. Valley, Last Birthday</p><p>9. Alessia Cara, In The Meantime</p><p>10. Adele, 30</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><b>Bob B Strolls down the BLVD</b></p><p><br /></p><p>Always wonderful to see your email for the David Music Poll come in. And fun as hell to participate. </p><p><br /></p><p>For album of the year, once again I nominate Travis Thompson for his release of BLVD BOY. The album really shows his growth and is a fabulous example of Seattle hip-hop. A contemporary of Macklemore, his work here shows that he’s no longer a sidekick, but has the talent and skills to hold his own. </p><p><br /></p><p>As for treasures found in unusual places, I discovered a great song published in 2014. And I found it in the boarding music on our Delta aircraft. The song is “Little Giant” by Roo Panes. It was a great introduction to a folk artist out of England. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><b>Lucy C Feels the Power</b></p><p><br /></p><p>I've had a whirlwind of a year, one where mostly I have reached for old favourites or classical music in an effort of calming down the buzz! But I have found a little time to listen to some new music (though not enough, I know, I know).</p><p><br /></p><p>Anyway, I really enjoyed these albums:</p><p><br /></p><p>Lorde - Solar Power (Again, reaching for the calmer songs to cope with the past hectic year, but I like how Lorde has developed and, at least in my opinion, matured. Plus, I've always enjoyed her voice.)</p><p><br /></p><p>Sam Fender - Seventeen Going Under (I love a bit of guitar-y Springsteen-y rocking, and even better it's from a Geordie!)</p><p><br /></p><p>Little Simz - Sometimes I Might be an Introvert (I found this fun, interesting, and I have to wiggle when I hear it. )</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><b>Benjy A, Seeing Red</b></p><p><br /></p><p>Taylor Swift, Red (Taylor's Version)</p><p>Lil Nas X, Montero</p><p>Olivia Rodrigo, Sour</p><p><br /></p><p>Best single: Billie Eilish, Happier than Ever [and I have a feeling you agree!] (DL Note: I do.) </p><div><br /></div>davidlevithanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00762768300871943772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1509734071563017124.post-18020612767670667732021-01-31T07:36:00.004-08:002021-02-01T06:31:49.218-08:00The 2020 David Music Poll Results<p> <span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><style class="WebKit-mso-list-quirks-style">
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</style><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"><b> </b></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"><b>The 2020 David Music Poll Results</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">1) Fiona Apple, Fetch the Bolt Cutters (39 votes)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">2) Taylor Swift, Folklore (36)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">3) Dua Lipa, Future Nostalgia (23)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">4) Taylor Swift, Evermore (17)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">5) The Chicks, Gaslighter (16)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">6) HAIM, Women in Music Part III (13)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> Phoebe Bridgers, Punisher (13)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">8) Lady Gaga, Chromatica (11)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">9) Jessie Ware, What’s Your Pleasure? (9)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">10) Run the Jewels, RTJ4 (8)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> Carly Rae Jepsen, Dedicated Side B (8)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Honorable mention: Waxahatchee, Saint Cloud (7); Kylie Minogue, Disco (6); Sufjan Stevens, The Ascension (6); Chloe x Halle, The Ungodly Hour (5); Perfume Genius, Set Me Heart on Fire Immediately (5)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Notes: This was one of the tightest races we’ve had in years, with Fiona Apple narrowly pulling past Taylor Swift. But Taylor Swift is still the first artist to have two albums in the top 10 in one year. And Dua Lipa placed strong, as well. In total, 71 people participated in this year’s poll. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">If you’re curious, this year’s list also had a larger number of acts that had hit the top ten before. The all time roster of acts that have hit the top ten more than two times:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">5 times: The National, Radiohead<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">4 times: Fiona Apple, Taylor Swift, Vampire Weekend, Beach House, Arcade Fire<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">3 times: The Chicks, Carly Rae Jepsen, Lana Del Rey, Janelle Monae, Bon Iver, Ryan Adams, Beck, TV on the Radio, Kanye West, Death Cab for Cutie, Jack White/The White Stripes, Lady Gaga<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">My List, In Which I Think Fiona is So Good It’s Criminal<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Even though I tend to listen to a lot of female artists, this is, I think, my first all-female list. The Fiona Apple transfixed me from the first listen. The Chicks were exactly what I needed in 2020. Phoebe Bridgers became a force – a bootleg of all the covers she’s performed during her pandemic shows would easily make this list, too. The HAIM album took a few spins for me to get into its groove, but once I was there, I was there (with the fascinating-to-me footnote that the bonus tracks might be my favorites on the album). If I could take my favorite five songs from Folklore and my favorite five songs from Evermore and put them on one album, it would have made this list. Carly Rae Jepsen gave more of the same – which pretty much means pop perfection. And Sufjan’s new album was the one I was sure would be on this list (based on the first two songs released)…but I didn’t really jibe with it. Honorable mention to Miley Cyrus (if her album had come out earlier in the year, it would probably be on the list, but I’m still getting into it), Jessie Ware, Alicia Keys, Declan McKenna, and Laura Marling. Also honorable mention to Harry Styles, whose album came out too late in 2019 for me to appreciate it enough to put on my list –it, too, probably has five songs I love and the rest I could live without. (Those five songs, though, are pure gold.)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Now, what I just said in list form:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">1. Fiona Apple, Fetch the Bolt Cutters<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">2. The Chicks, Gaslighter<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">3. Phoebe Bridgers, Punisher<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">4. HAIM, Women in Music Part III<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">5. Carly Rae Jepsen, Dedicated Side B<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">And ten songs I love:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">1. The Chicks, Gaslighter<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">2. Fiona Apple, Shameika<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">3. Jonsi with Robyn, Salt Licorice<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">4. Annie, The Streets Where I Belong<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">5. Alanis Morissette, Reasons I Drink<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">6. Alicia Keys, Good Job<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">7. Overcoats, Fire and Fury<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">8. Sufjan Stevens, America<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">9. Jack Garratt, Time<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">10. The Staves, Home Alone Too (from 2018, but so be it)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Anna Q Makes Fetch Happen<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Fiona Apple, fetch the bolt cutters<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Taylor Swift, folklore. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Chris K, As Nasties As He Wants To Be<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Let's do this!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Album of the Year: Video Nasties, <i>Dominion</i></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">2. Carnation, <i>Where Death Lies</i><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">3. Malokarpatan, <i>Krupinské ohne</i><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">4. The Black Dahlia Murder, <i>Verminous</i><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">5. Tombs, <i>Under Sullen Skies</i><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">6. Temple of Void, <i>The World That Was</i><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">7. Wayfarer, <i>A Romance With Violence</i><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">8. Revolting, <i>The Shadow at the End of the World</i><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">9. Laser Dracul, <i>Hagridden</i><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">10. Vampire, <i>Rex</i><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Singles of 2020:</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Ozzy Osbourne, "Under the Graveyard"<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Carpenter Brut feat. Yann Ligner, "Maniac"<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Avatar, "Colossus"<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Big discoveries that didn't come out this year</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">That Handsome Devil, <i>The Heart Goes to Heaven, The Head Goes to Hell</i><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Terrortron, <i>Orgy of the Vampires</i><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Sarah L’s Maines Event<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">One answer:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">The Chicks, Gaslighter <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Michael T, Taylor-Made<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Taylor Swift, Folklore <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">End of list<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Jessica S Finds Ore in These Hills<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">1. Taylor Swift, Folklore <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">2. Taylor Swift, Evermore <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">3. The Chicks, Gaslighter <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Bryant P, In the Swift Boat<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Here's my most essential album of 2020:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Taylor Swift, folklore<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">And here are the rest:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Waxahatchee, Saint Cloud<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Lady Gaga, Chromatica<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">The Chicks, Gaslighter<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Taylor Swift, evermore<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Dua Lipa, Future Nostalgia<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Fleet Foxes, Shore<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">HAIM, Women in Music Part III<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Dedicated to Jack M<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Albums</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Carly Rae Jepsen, Dedicated Side B<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Dua Lipa, Future Nostalgia<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Boy Meets Girl, New Dream<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Delta Rae, The Light<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Kylie Minogue, Disco<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">The Chicks, Gaslighter<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Singles / EPs</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Erasure, Hey Now (I Think I've Got A Feeling)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Jonas Brothers, What A Man Gotta Do<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Doja Cat, Boss Bitch<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Griff, The Mirror Talk EP<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Genesis, Invisible Touch<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Fountains Of Wayne, '92 Subaru<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">La Roux, Sexotheque<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Swing Out Sister, Breakout<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Debbie Harry/Blondie, Rush, Rush<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">David A’s Big Apple<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><u><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Most Essential Album of 2020:</span></u><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">FIONA APPLE, Fetch the Bold Cutters<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><u><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Runner-up:</span></u><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">ANDY SHAUF, The Neon Skyline<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><u><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Other Great 2020 records:</span></u><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">NOVO AMOR, Cannot Be, Whatsoever<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">SUFJAN STEVENS, The Ascension<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">BLEACHERS, 45 (single)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Roberto R Has a Ball with Disco<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">I'm going to live my truth and go for:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Kylie Minogue, DISCO<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">But those PJ Harvey re-issues and Demo album releases, DRY-THE DEMOS, TO BRING YOU MY LOVE- THE DEMOS were the highlight of 2020.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Dan E Runs the Jewels<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Run The Jewels, RTJ 4<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">The Avalanches, We Will Always Love You<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Mike R Cried Lore More Lore<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">I've had this ready to go for WEEKS:<br /><br />MY (PERSONAL, SUBJECTIVE) TOP 15 ALBUMS<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">1. Taylor Swift, <i>folklore</i> / <i>evermore </i><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">3. Dua Lipa, <i>Future Nostalgia</i><br />4. Fiona Apple, <i>Fetch The Bolt Cutters</i><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">5. Carly Rae Jepsen, <i>Dedicated Side B</i><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">6. Delta Rae, <i>The Light</i><br />7. Kylie Minogue, <i>DISCO</i> / HAIM, <i>Women In Music, Pt. III</i><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">9. The Killers, <i>Imploding The Mirage</i> / The Chicks, <i>Gaslighter</i><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">11. Eerie Gaits, <i>Holopaw</i><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">12. Jack Garratt, <i>Love, Death & Dancing</i><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">13. Charli XCX, <i>how i'm feeling now</i><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">14. Softee, <i>Keep On</i> / Shamir,<i> Shamir</i><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">NOTES<b>: </b>This was an incredible year for new music, so I couldn't keep it to a top 10. There's a lot of obvious, massively popular albums on this list, but guess what? Massively popular artists really stepped up this year, and I am grateful that they did! If I could encourage people to check out an album they might not know about, I would say that "The Light" by Delta Rae is truly an all-killer, no-filler, Fleetwood-Mac-meets-CCR album full of jumping jams and beautiful harmonies, and I wish more people were giving them their money and attention.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">MY (PERSONAL, SUBJECTIVE) TOP 15 SINGLES:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">1. Beyonce, "Black Parade"<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">2. OK Go, "All Together Now"<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">3. Orville Peck, "Fancy"<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">4. Kiesza, "Crave"<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">5. Tove Lo, "Bikini Porn"<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">6. Phoenix, "Identical"<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">7. BLACKPINK & Selena Gomez, "Ice Cream"<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">8. Bartees Strange, "Boomer"<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">9. 5 Seconds of Summer, "Wildflower"<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">10. Jake Speikers, "in case i never see you again"<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">11. Jonas Brothers, "What A Man Gotta Do"<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">12. Brandy Clark ft. Brandi Carlile, "Same Devil"<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">13. Goodnight, Texas, "Hypothermic"<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">14. Miley Cyrus, "Midnight Sky"<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">15. AJR, "Bang!"<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">NOTES: Just a damn good year for new music. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Jordan H, Grande Dame<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">This year was truly a year of MUSIC. One of the only positives of 2020.<br /><br /><u>Fav Albums in no particular order bc they are ALL so great:</u><br />Ariana Grande, Positions (I think she has been my #1 3 years in a row)<br />Harry Styles, Fine Line (came out at the end of 2019, but listened in 2020)<br />Lady Gaga, Chromatica<br />Dua Lipa, Future Nostalgia<br />Jojo, Good To Know<br />Miley Cyrus, Plastic Hearts (Came out recently but I think I love every song)<br />Jessie Ware, What's your pleasure?<br /><br /><u>Fav Songs that got me through IT:</u><br />Katy Perry -Cry About It Later (My Aunt died due to COVID so I didn't want to cry all the time)<br />Melanie Martinez- The Bakery<br />Ariana Grande- 34+35 & POV<br />Miley Cyrus- Gimme What I Want & Bad Karma (very HOT songs) <br />Lady Gaga- Free Woman & Fun Tonight<br />Megan Thee Stallion and Cardi B, WAP (duh)<br />Marina- Man's World<br />Jojo- So Bad (also a hot song)<br />SZA- Good Days & Hot Different<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Zak G Shines Bright<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">1. Bright Eyes, Down in the Weeds Where the World Once Was<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">2. The Strokes, The New Abnormal<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">3. Phoebe Bridgers, Punisher<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">4. Boris, No<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">5. The Microphones, Microphones in 2020<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">6. Touche Amore, Lament<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">7. Animal Collective, Bridge to Quiet<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">8. La Dispute, Fifteen<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">9. Dirty Projectors, 5EPs<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">10. Sufjan Stevens, The Ascension<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Kristen K Back to the Future<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">1. Dua Lipa, Future Nostalgia<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">2. Lady Gaga, Chromatica<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">3. Taylor Swift, Folklore<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">4. Halsey, Manic<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Elizabeth W, RT place, RT time<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Most Essential Album<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Run The Jewels, RTJ4<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">(2020 required serious motivation)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Honorable Mention:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Let it Be, The Beatles<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">(also serious comfort)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Single:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Kygo & Chainsmokers, Family<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Zach F’s Frank Oceans<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Four Tet, Sixteen Oceans<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Tame Impala, The Slow Rush<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Taylor Swift, Folklore<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Haim, Women in Music Pt. III<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Run the Jewels, RTJ4<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">David G, Apple-Jacked<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">I'm so grateful for the abundance of good music this year!<br /><br />1. Fiona Apple, Fetch the Bolt Cutters<br />2. The Strokes, The New Abnormal<br />3. Jessie Ware, What's Your Pleasure?<br />4. Ryan Beatty, Dreaming of David<br />5. _BY.ALEXANDER, 000 Channel Black<br /><br />Despite a decade of disdain for Taylor Swift, I liked half of folklore and half of evermore. I wish I could piece together the parts I like as folkmore. <br /><br />Outside of the music from those albums, I valued these tracks:<br /><br />1. "Cut Me" by Moses Sumney<br />2. "Broken Sleep" by Agnes Obel<br />3. "Mountain Baby" by Austra<br />4. "I'm Not My Season" by Fleet Foxes<br />5. "Run Away With Me" by Sufjan Stevens<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">6. "Easy" (with Kacey Musgraves feat. Mark Ronsom) by Troye Sivan<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">7. "Love is Back" by Celeste<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">8. "Something More" by Roisin Murphy<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">9. "Smalltown Boy" by Orville Peck<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">10. "4 American Dollars" by U.S. Girls<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Phil B’s Halle of Fame<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Essential Album<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Chloe X Halle -- Ungodly Hour<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Other Excellent Ones<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Bad Bunny -- YHLQMDLG<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">BTS -- Map of the Soul: 7- The Journey<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Taylor Swift -- Folklore (which will win for the year)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Singles<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">The Weeknd -- Blinding Lights<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">BTS -- Dynamite<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Lil Nas X -- Holiday<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Alex L Gives a Folk<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">It's obvious at this point but <o:p></o:p></span></p><ul style="margin-bottom: 0in;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Taylor Swift, Folklore</span></b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li></ul><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">And, I'm probably gonna be the only to add a new children's album:<o:p></o:p></span></p><ul style="margin-bottom: 0in;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Pierce Freelon, D.A.D </span></b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li></ul><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">and for the Holidays and because she helped fund a world-saving vaccine:<o:p></o:p></span></p><ul style="margin-bottom: 0in;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Dolly Parton, A Holly Dolly Christmas</span></b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li></ul><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Charlie O Says King’s Queen Reigns<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">1. Cheap Queen (Deluxe), King Princess</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">2. Texas Sun, Leon Bridges</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">3. Pony, Orville Peck</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">4. After Hours, The Weeknd<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">5. Everybody Else Is Doing It So Why Can't We, The Cranberries<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Local Philly artist that I spent the latter part of 2020 vibing to: </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Hold Space For Me, Orion Sun</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">And the old James Bon record that I picked up for two good American dollars that spent a surprising amount of time on the turntable: <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">You Only Live Twice, John Barry i.e. the Bond movie that Roald Dahl wrote with the Nancy Sinatra title theme <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">And the album that found new meaning during the pandemic<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">What's Going On, Marvin Gaye <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Sam P Builds Bridgers<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Phoebe Bridgers – Punisher <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Fiona Apple – Fetch the Bolt Cutters<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Fleet Foxes – Shore<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Thundercat – It is what it is<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">And I’m including Death Cab for Cutie – The Georgia EP </span><span face=""Segoe UI Symbol", sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">😊</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Collin R, Glutton for Punisher<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><u><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">essential album of 2020</span></u><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Phoebe Bridgers, Punisher (yes, I'm sad! Yes, I'm gay!)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><u><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">other essential albums, in no particular order</span></u><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Fiona Apple, Fetch the Bolt Cutters (neck and neck with Phoebe)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Perfume Genius, Set My Heart on Fire Immediately<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Baths, Pop Music / False B-Sides II<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Sylvan Esso, Free Love<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Ungodly Hour, Chloe x Halle<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Andy Shauf, The Neon Skyline<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Waxahatchee, Saint Cloud<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Carly Rae Jepsen, Dedicated Side B<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Owen Pallett, Island<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Adrianne Lenker, songs<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Rina Sawayama, SAWAYAMA<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">(not a full album, but deserves mention) Christine and the Queens, La vita nuova<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><u><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">essential singles</span></u><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Charli XCX, claws<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Perfume Genius, describe<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Jensen McRae, Wolves<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Rico Nasty, IPHONE<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Christine and the Queens, People, I've been sad<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Jack Garratt, Mara<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Carly Rae Jepsen, It's Not Christmas Till Somebody Cries<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Kevin K Surfs the Year<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="emailstyle20"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Below are my Top Albums of 2020.</span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><ul style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Nada Surf – Never Not Together<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">The Jayhawks – Xoxo<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">The Front Bottoms – In Sickness & In Flames<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Old 97’s – Twelfth<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Clem Snide – Forever Just Beyond<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Brendan Benson – Dear Life<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Thao & The Get Down Stay Down – Temple<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Various Artists – Strum & Thrum: The American Jangle Underground 1983-1987<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">John Wesley Harding – The Man with No Shadow<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Thelonius Monk – Palo Alto<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Link to my Spotify Top 40 Favorite Tracks of 2020 -<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/open.spotify.com/playlist/0QDQeDMAfiNNOk3BDop8aa?si=YYkiTppeTRq5eUtxx_jtwQ__;!!JQLRTQIztKY!xhvZBJrg1o-1qiUDHCAoUI5TPN52Z8Xa-yb80syOoIVCQFtRvXvmNuPGg3Cq0vDlgUk$"><span color="windowtext" face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0QDQeDMAfiNNOk3BDop8aa?si=YYkiTppeTRq5eUtxx_jtwQ</span></a><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Lucy C is Marling’s Darling<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">1. Laura Marling, Songs for Our Daughter <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">2. Taylor Swift, Folklore<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">3. Mary Lattimore, Silver Ladders <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Shelly R’s Grand Horizon<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><u><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Best Album of 2020:<o:p></o:p></span></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Bring Me The Horizon, Post Human: Survival Horror<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Post Human: Survival Horror is the BMTH album of my dreams. Inspired by its namesake video game genre, this a no-skip album for me. Each song is just incredible, angsty, and everything I needed for the trashfire year that was 2020. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">More importantly, the album gifted me with “Parasite Eve.” My ultimate top 2020 song. With lyrics such as <i>“It's the Parasite Eve / Got a feeling in your stomach 'cause you know that it's coming for ya…When we forget the infection / Will we remember the lesson?”</i> that hauntingly echo the pandemic, despite being written in late 2019, I found the perfect song to get me through the year. So much so, that I’m definitely planning a themed tattoo inspired by the music video’s visuals.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Top 3 2020 Singles/Songs: <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Tonight is the Night I Die by Palaye Royale<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Paparazzi (cover) by Kim Dracula<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">no body, no crime by Taylor Swift feat. Haim<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Top 3 2020 Best Discoveries: <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Babooshka by Kate Bush (40 years late, I know)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Ruh by She Past Away (Amazing goth goodness)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">peachy by Saint Slumber (A whole bop)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Josh L Knows the End<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">1. Phoebe Bridgers, Punisher. Was the iconic image of the pandemic year a middle-aged white guy banging out "I Know the End" on an old piano while his children alternately rolled their eyes and sung along? Perhaps not. But in <i>my </i>house it was. Me and Emma wouldn't have made it through the summer without <i>Punisher</i>; best album by anyone in years... <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">2. Waxahatchee, Saint Cloud.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">3. Mountain Goats, Songs for Pierre Chuvin/Getting into Knives. Two good albums in six months is par for the course for Darnielle, but these are both <i>quite</i> good.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">4. If an EP counts, then Neil Young, The Times, which was a release of his home-shot lockdown concerts from the spring, and counts, with Homegrown, as a double re-release of classics. Old man still has it.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">5. I didn't like the Fiona Apple as much as everyone else, but it's powerful, so let's put Fetch the Bolt Cutters here, ahead of...<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">6. ...the other essential old man. Bob Dylan, Rough and Rowdy Ways.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">To Andrew F, Bolt is Lightning<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Most Essential:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">1) Fiona Apple, Fetch the Bolt Cutters<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Other:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">2) Chris Stapleton, Starting Over<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">3) The Chicks, Gaslighter <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Daniel H Searches for Destroyer<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Destroyer - <i>Have We Met<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">The Soft Pink Truth - <i>Shall We Go on Singing So That Grace Shall Increase?</i><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">songs:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">A Girl Called Eddy - “Big Mouth”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Sufjan Stevens - “Video Game”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Prince - “Blanche”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Avalon Emerson - “Long Forgotten Fairy Tale"<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">No Need to Counter Brian J’s Pick<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">What a strange year. One where nothing felt right, except for the music of course:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">1. Liar Flower, Geiger Counter<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">2. Jason Molina, Eight Gates<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">3. Fiona Apple, Fetch the Bolt Cutters<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">4. Big Blood, Do You Wanna Have a Skeleton Dream<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">5. Cut Worms, Nobody LIves Here Anymore<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">6. Flaming Lips, American Head<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">7. Man Man, Dream Hunting in the Valley of the In-Between<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">8. Elvis Perkins, Creation Myths<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">9. The Sonic Dawn, Enter the Mirage<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">10. Matt Berry, Phantom Birds<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">11. Three Queens in Mourning, Hello Sorrow<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Bands that I’ve fallen in love with during the pandemic, either for the first time or simply back in love:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Swans<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Big Blood<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Cut Worms<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Czarface <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Fugazi<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">RHCP<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">and “JAZZ”.... my jazz collection is getting quite extensive, but especially Art Pepper, Art Blakey, Sonny Criss.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Bill K's (very short) list, as he listened mostly to 70s and 80s stuff this year</span></b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"><br /><br />Most essential: <br />Taylor Swift, Folklore<br /><br />Others<br />HAIM, Women in Music Pt. III<br />The Chicks, Gaslighter<br />The Weeknd, After Hours<br />Brandy, B7<br />Bruce Springsteen, Letter to You<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Alanis Morissette, Such Pretty Forks in the Road<br />Rufus Wainwright, Unfollow the Rules<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Cecil C Cuts to the Feeling<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Fiona Apple, Fetch the Bolt Cutters<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Taylor Swift, Folklore<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Apple of Joel P’s Eye<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">1. Fiona Apple - Fetch the Bolt Cutters<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">2. Jessie Ware - What's Your Pleasure?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">3. Tame Impala - The Slow Rush<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">4. Lady Gaga - Chromatica<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">5. Haim - Women in Music Part III<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">6. Perfume Genius - Set My Heart on Fire Immediately<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">7. Dua Lipa - Future Nostalgia<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">8. Disclosure - Energy<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">9. James Blake - Not an album but everything from Before to Godspeed to Are You Even Real he released this year<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">10. Bombay Bicycle Club - Everything Else Has Gone Wrong <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Lucas K, Free to B<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Hi! My music consumption dropped significantly in 2020, due to being trapped inside with small children at all times. But I emerged with a list nevertheless. Special mention goes to Andrew Bird's Christmas album. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">1. Carly Rae Jepsen, Dedicated Side B<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">2. Soccer Mommy, color theory<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">3. Brandy Clark, Your Life is a Record<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">4. The Midnight, Monsters<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">5. LANY, Malibu Nights<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">6. Fiona Apple, Fetch the Bolt Cutters<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">7. Haim, Women in Music Pt. III<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">8. Real Estate, The Main Thing<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">9. Rufus Wainwright, Unfollow the Rules<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">10. Erlend Øye, et al, Quarantine at El Ganzo<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Josh W Brings Joy to the World<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoPlainText"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoPlainText"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Been going through my spotify and very disappointed to find that I really didn’t discover a whole lot of music that made me excited last year. Not that it’s not out there - - it surely is. It’s just hard to find new stuff, when there’s no organic discovery - live shows, listening to stuff in coffee shops, all the things that make this city a special place. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoPlainText"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoPlainText"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Boooooo!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoPlainText"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoPlainText"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">For all that, have you heard the album THIS JOY by the Resistance Revival Chorus? I’ll go with that as essential-esque. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoPlainText"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Keirsten G’s Days of Thunder(cat)<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Last year my only song was the Rachel Maddow Show podcast and it's mostly true of this year but there were a few exceptions. Hoping now that Joe and Kamala are in office, I’ll have less insane news and more music in my life again.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Essential Album 2020<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">It Is What It Is</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> by Thundercat (Dragonball Durag!!!)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Other music that got me through this crazy year:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">PeteStrumentasls</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> by Pete Rock<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Not an album but Pipe Dreams (radio show) Sunday evenings on WQXR Don’t laugh before you listen. It’s good.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Ben L’s 2020 was Good Until it Wasn’t<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Top 5 are locked in and ranked. Rest are just ones that I quite enjoyed.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">1. Kehlani, It Was Good Until it Wasn't<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">2. The Chicks, Gaslighter<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">3. Dua Lipa, Future Nostalgia<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">4. Troye Sivan, In a Dream<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">5. Jessie Ware, What's Your Pleasure?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Kylie Minogue, Disco<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Fletcher, The S(ex) Tapes<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Miley Cyrus, Plastic Hearts<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Carly Pearce, Carly Pearce<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Teyana Taylor, The Album<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Phoebe Bridgers, Punisher<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Lady Gaga, Chromatica<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Carly Rae Jepsen, Dedicated Side B<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Perfume Genius, Set My Heart on Fire Immediately<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Hayley Williams, Petals for Armor<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">JoJo, Good to Know<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Fiona Apple, Fetch the Bolt Cutters<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Purity Ring, Womb<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Conan Gray, Kid Krow<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">King Princess, Cheap Queen<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Kesha, High Road<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Selena Gomez, Rare<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Lizette S’s Golden Hour<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Chloe x Halle, Ungodly Hour<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Ariana Grande, Positions<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Tame Impala, The Slow Rush<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Bad Bunny, YHLQMDLG<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Beyonce, Black is King <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Jon S’s Big Bully<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><u><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Favorite Albums with Vocals</span></u><u><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></p><ul style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Bully, <i>Sugaregg</i><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Arianne Lenker, <i>songs</i><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Svalbard, <i>When I Die, Will I Get Better?</i><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Teenage Halloween, <i>Teenage Halloween</i><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Eyesore & the Jinx, <i>The Exile Parlour</i><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Glorious, <i>Unashamed</i><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Preservation, <i>Eastern Medicine, Western Illness</i><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Grimes, <i>Miss Anthropocene</i><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Fiona Apple, <i>Fetch the Bolt Cutters</i><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Porridge Radio, <i>Every Bad</i><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Ratboys, <i>Printer’s Devil</i><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Lomelda, <i>Hannah</i><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Amnesia Scanner, <i>Tearless</i><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Coriky, <i>Coriky</i><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Thao & The Get Down Stay Down, <i>Temple</i><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Khruangbin, <i>Mordechai</i><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Phoebe Bridgers, <i>Punisher</i><o:p></o:p></span></li></ul><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><u><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Favorite Instrumental Albums</span></u><u><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></p><ul style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">This Will Destroy You, <i>Vespertine</i><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Rebecca Foon, <i>Waxing Moon</i><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Adrianne Lenker, <i>instrumentals</i><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Ólafur Arnalds, <i>some kind of peace</i><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Robin Schlochtermeier, <i>Spectral</i><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Unreqvited, <i>Empathica</i><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Nils Frahm, <i>Empty</i><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Yoshimi & ninomiya tatsuki, </span><span style="font-family: "MS Gothic"; font-size: 10pt;">優しい時間</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Eli Tausen á Lava, <i>Impressions</i><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Julia Kent, <i>Green and Grey</i><o:p></o:p></span></li></ul><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><u><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Singles</span></u><u><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">These are songs I loved that were either released on their own or the album may not have grabbed me but these individual songs did:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><ul style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Yaeji, “WAKING UP DOWN”<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Dioganhdih, “Native New Yorker”<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Anton Belov, “Grandmother”<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Andy Shauf, “Try Again”<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Birthh, “WHOA”<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Bee Bee Sea, Daily Jobs<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Arca, KLK (feat. ROSALÍA)<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Laura Jane Grace, “The Swimming Pool Song”<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Hinds, “Riding Solo”<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">A Winged Victory for the Sullen, “Desires Are Already Memories”<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Teri Y’s Good Nostalgia<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">What is time?!? I found it way more difficult to remember what came out this year and what was just blending in.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Dua Lipa, Future Nostalgia<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Ava Max, Heaven & Hell<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Declan McKenna, Zeros<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Taylor Swift, Folklore/Evermore<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Lady Gaga, Chromatica<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">I've found myself listening to a lot of HAIM, Walk the Moon and Bleachers as well. That rounds out most of my playlists these days (other than random singles).<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Cassandra P Walks the Line<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">My most essential album, though it was released at the end of 2019:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Harry Styles, Fine Line<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Other essential albums actually released in 2020:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l4 level1 lfo8; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">1.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Fiona Apple, Fetch the Bolt Cutters<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l4 level1 lfo8; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">2.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">BTS, Be<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l4 level1 lfo8; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">3.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Bad Bunny, El Último Tour Del Mundo<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l4 level1 lfo8; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">4.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Beyonc</span><a href="https://www.beyonce.com/"><span color="windowtext" face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">é</span></a><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">, The Lion King: The Gift<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l4 level1 lfo8; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">5.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Chloe x Halle, Ungodly Hour<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Maggie S’s Heart of Glass<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">This actually IS winnowed down, even though it probably doesn't look like it. I swear this is 1/10th of what I found and loved this year.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">In no particular order, a bunch of minor key albums for a very minor key year.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">1. Glass Animals, Dreamland<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">2. Principleasure, I<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">3. Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds, Blue Moon Rising<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">4. The Sweet Serenades, City Lights<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">5. PLGRMS, Chapter I<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">6. Giant Rooks, ROOKERY<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">7. Declan McKenna, Zeroes<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">8. The Franklin Electric, In Your Heart<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">9. Cosmo Sheldrake, Nightingale Wake Up Calls<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">10. Half Moon Run, Look Me in the Eyes (this 2 song EP is the saddest, hugest thing)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">11. Mating Ritual, The Bungalow<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">And because I still mostly scavenge a la carte, some highlights:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">"Ferris Wheels" - Sylvan Esso (and basically every remix that came out after)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">"Stranger," Jacob Banks (this one hit hard after all the BLM marches)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">"The Great Divide," The Shins (thank you for saving 2020 for me, Shins)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">"My Rajneesh," Sufjan Stevens<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">"Catch Me Falling," Cold War Kids<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">"Arch Enemy," Everything Everything (at least someone's more bitter than I am)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">"Color Me," Active Child<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">"Take Some Time," Wilderado (I cannot BELIEVE how sad the transition is at 2'12 is, O M G)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">"Dopamine," Barns Courtney<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">"Guillotine," Mansionar & NoMBe<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">"Who's Gonna Stop Me (feat. Weird Al)," Portugal the Man<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">"Numb," Elderbrook (the video on this is so good)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">"A Good Song Never Dies," Saint Motel<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">"Chlorine," XYLO<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">"Low," Chet Faker (who remarkably decided to no longer go by Chet Faker but his real name after 10 years because he decided it was time to grow up, a thing that seemed nice in 2020)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">"Carry On," Martin Jensen & Molow (this song is ridiculous, why have I listened to it 86 times this year) <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">"Like This Like That," BEGINNERS & Night Panda (oh right probably the same reason I blew out a speaker on this one)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">"Radio Silence," Samsaruh<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">"Unity," Paul Mounsey & Czarina Russell<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">"I Can Hardly Speak," Bombay Bicycle Club<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">"Goliath," Woodkid (not loving the rest of this album was crushing)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">"Bulletproof," Dotter (this song is a Tardis, bigger on the inside than outside)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">"Hits Different," Astrid S <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">"Unchained Melody" Cold Weather Company<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">"Roses (Imanbek Remix)," SAINt JHN (I'm so unhappy to admit I got this song after watching this video: </span><a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/twitter.com/mstiefvater/status/1250817360535093254__;!!JQLRTQIztKY!wXJlZAY1eEILu0RUtF_TLWddVzqyQOzrGKpklybmFT9W7jv_Rl5UMo3fXnx9ekRYEgw$"><span color="windowtext" face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">https://twitter.com/mstiefvater/status/1250817360535093254</span></a><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">"Why," The Big Moon<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">"Hate the World," Gordi<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Bonus, not from 2020, but found in 2020:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">"Grizzly Man" by Rockettothesky (this song makes me feel like I'm dying and I want to keep on doing it)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">"Purple Hat" by Sofi Tukker (what the hell, what has happened to my impeccable music taste)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Sara F’s Fetching Choices<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">My favorite albums of 2020:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">1) Fetch the Bolt Cutters by Fiona Apple<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">2) Future Nostalgia by Dua Lipa<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">3) Neon Skyline by Andy Shauf<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">4) Good to Know by JoJo<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">To be honest, I mostly listened to a lot of 80's music and vintage tiki tunes. Here is a playlist if you have absolutely nothing else to listen to haha: </span><a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/open.spotify.com/playlist/6mNR83WZrmCMB5WfsqJ0Zl?si=gIx7aM0lS7a77ap78oBf5Q__;!!JQLRTQIztKY!wssemCFDntkUCyJKlhnMlHAOfc-2ucItO56bDeiEtY9aFLr1FZOwxRYbHXaoXau1mr0$"><span color="windowtext" face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6mNR83WZrmCMB5WfsqJ0Zl?si=gIx7aM0lS7a77ap78oBf5Q</span></a><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Théo M’s Dua Linga<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><u><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">From 2020:</span></u><u><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Dua Lipa - Future Nostalgia<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Lady Gaga - Chromatica<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Kylie Minogue - Disco<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Megan Thee Stallion - Suga<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Troye Sivan - In A Dream<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><u><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><u><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Best single:</span></u><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"><br />Lady Gaga & Ariana Grande - Rain on Me<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"><br /><u>Not from 2020 but I have gone back to a lot this year:<o:p></o:p></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Madonna - Confessions On A Dancefloor<br />Ariana Grande - thank u, next<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Charli XCX - Charli<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Kim Petras - Clarity<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Melissa W’s Spirits are Lighter<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Essential Album: <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">The Chicks, Gaslighter<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Joseph H’s Hymn to HAIM<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Here are my top albums of 2020:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Top – Haim, Women in Music Part III<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Other favourites:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Lianne la Havas - Lianne la Havas<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Grimes - Miss Anthropocene<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Taylor Swift - Evermore (interesting to see proportion of Folklore/Evermore) <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Roisin Murphy - Roisin Machine <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Jessie Ware - What’s Your Pleasure<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Dua Lipa - Future Nostalgia <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Disclosure - Energy<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Sufjan Stevens - Ascension <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Jeffrey L Loves the Lore<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">It must be 12 or 14 years since I've given you any titles for this. I made a lot of effort (well, for me) last year to buy new music. Much of it was "new for me" but not actually new in 2020 -- several albums from the National, pretty much the entire Jason Isbell back catalog, John Prine's 2019 album "The Tree of Foregiveness" (this got lots and lots of play after he died and the song Summer's End is really just beautiful).<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">The new Barry Gibb Greenfields album is an early candidate for a 2021 list but I'll get back to you about that in a year.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Here's what I (a) got last year that (b) actually came out last year and (c) I've loved.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">1. Taylor Swift -- Folklore<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">2. the Chicks -- Gaslighter<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">3. Thundercat -- It is what it is<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">4. RTJ4 -- Run the Jewels<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">I got the Indigo Girls album, which is really good in the context of what they've put out in the past 15 years but I don't think I would put it on a top list. Mary Chapin Carpenter's album is, I suppose, in that same vein.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Maya M’s Swift-ly Tilting Planet<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">I didn’t listen to that much new music this year but I was reminded that no one should ever waste a vote so here’s my pick: <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Taylor Swift, Folklore<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Ben A’s Future is Bright<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">The most essential:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Dua Lipa, Future Nostalgia<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">The other essentials:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Little Mix, Confetti<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Lady Gaga, Chromatica<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Taylor Swift, Folklore<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Taylor Swift, Evermore<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Miley Cyrus, Plastic Hearts<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Andrea R, Forever and Ever<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">My favorite album of 2020 was Evermore and favorite single Seven.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Emmauel H’s Taylor-made List<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">1. taylor swift, folklore<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">2. taylor swift, evermore<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">3. grimes, miss anthropocene<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">4. fiona apple, fetch the bolt cutters<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">5. dua lipa, future nostalgia<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Anna C’s Queen Fiona<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">1. Fetch the Bolt Cutters, Fiona Apple<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">2. Saint Cloud, Waxahatchee<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">3. Silver Tongue, Torres<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">4. Future Nostalgia - Dua Lipa<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">5. Country Westerns, Country Westerns<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">6. LP2, Lo Tom <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">7. Every Bad, Porridge Radio<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">8. Teenage Halloween, Teenage Halloween<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">9. Gold Record - Bill Callahan<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">10. Letter To You - Bruce Springsteen<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Matthue R’s Just Plain Folk<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"><br clear="all" style="break-before: page;" /></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Taylor Swift, Folklore [<i>sic</i>]<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Taylor Swift, Evermore [<i>sic</i>]<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Rami Wolf, I'm Allergic to Dogs<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Sun Ra Arkestra, Swirling<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Waxahatchee, Saint Cloud<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Sufjan Stevens, The Ascension<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Adrianne Lenker, songs<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Dan P’s Fresh Tay-ke<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">1. Taylor Swift, folklore<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">2. Taylor Swift, evermore<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">3. Phoebe Bridgers, Punisher<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">4. The Chicks, Gaslighter<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">5. Philip Glass & Paul Leonard- Morgan, Tales From the Loop (Original Soundtrack)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">6. Sara Bareilles, More Love<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">7. Lady Gaga, Chromatica<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">8. Sufjan Stevens, The Ascension <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">9. Haim, Women in Music Pt. III<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Future favorites (recent discoveries from 2020 I wish I’d heard earlier):<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Moses Sumney, grae <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">The Weeknd, After Hours<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Jonas R’s Lips Are Sealed<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Top Albums for 2020<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Deap Lips, Deap Lips<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Thao & the Get Down Stay Down, Temple<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Dirty Projectors, Super João<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Chuck Prophet, The Land that Time Forgot<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Rilo Kiley, Rilo Kiley<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Gillian Welch and Dave Rawlings, All the Good Times<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Charlie Hunter, Patton in Percussion<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Top Songs for 2020<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">US Girls, 4 American Dollars<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Deap Lips, Home Through Hell<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Thao & the Get Down Stay Down, Temple<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Chuck Prophet, Best Shirt On<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Deap Lips, Motherfuckers Got to Go<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Jeramey K Wares it Well<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><u><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Essential Album:</span></u><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Jessie Ware - What's Your Pleasure?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">There are no skips on this album but "Spotlight" was my most-played track of the year, the background to countless nights of cape/kaftan grooving around my home (martini in one hand optional but encouraged). <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><u><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Other Standouts:</span></u><u><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Orville Peck - Show Pony <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Best live performer I've seen in years/the man my loving partner understands I would leave him for (and that was before he covered "Fancy" on this EP).<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Fiona Apple - Fetch The Bolt Cutters<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">I mean, come on. Obviously. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">The Gaga-Kylie-Dua-Roisin neo-disco onslaught that helped give me the energy to get out of my house and say hi to the neighborhood cats.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Song I can't wait to pretend I can dance to in a club one day: Megan Thee Stallion - Body<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Anime song made solely of curse words that expressed a lot of 2020 feelings in the cheeriest barbershop quartet way possible: "Galactic Mermaid" from Carole and Tuesday.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Brant R, By George!<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><u><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">My Essential Albums of 2020:<o:p></o:p></span></u></p><p style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">George Clanton and Nick Hexum, George Clanton and Nick Hexum<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Dua Lipa, Future Nostalgia<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Cut Worms, Nobody Lives Here Anymore<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Dehd, Flower of Devotion<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">L.A. Takedown, Our Feeling of Natural High<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Destroyer, Have We Met<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Mike Polizze, Long Lost Solace Find<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Real Estate, The Main Thing<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">The Strokes, The New Abnormal<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Haim, Women In Music Pt. III<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Tame Impala, The Slow Rush<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Dave + Sam, No Shade<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Bob Dylan, Murder Most Foul<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Belle and Sebastian, What to Look for in Summer<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Some of My Essential Tracks of 2020:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Dua Lipa, “Future Nostalgia”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">George Clanton and Nick Hexum, “Out of the Blue”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Jayda G, “Both of Us”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Cut Worms, “Sold My Soul”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Destroyer, “Cue Synthesizer”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Yaeji, “Waking Up Down”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Georgia, “About Work the Dancefloor”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Haim, “Now I’m in It”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Dave + Sam, “Facts”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Hoops, “Don’t Panic” (Coldplay cover)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Death Cab for Cutie, “Waterfalls” (TLC cover)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Helado Negro with Flock of Dimes, “Lotta Love” (Neil Young cover)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Tame Impala, “One More Year”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Elder Albums I Found Essential in 2020:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Labi Siffre, Crying, Laughing, Loving, Lying<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Brockbeats, Easy Listening<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Panchiko, D>E>A>T>H>M>E>T>A>L<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">The Pointer Sisters, Break Out<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Benny Carter, Jazz Giant<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Horace Silver, Serenade to a Soul Sister<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Miles Davis, L'ascenseur pour l'échafaud<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Dave Brubeck, Jazz Impressions of Japan<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">The Crusaders, Southern Comfort<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Glen Campbell, Rhinestone Cowboy<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Cal Tjader, Soul Sauce<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Bob James, Touchdown<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Tom Lehrer, That Was The Year That Was<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Danielle P, Saved by Swift<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14.266666412353516px;"><br clear="all" style="break-before: page;" /></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 17.1200008392334px; margin-bottom: 8pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14.266666412353516px;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">I might not have made it but Folklore and Evermore! Taylor helped us through the #2020 trash fire!!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Giles G, Fetch As Fetch Can<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Here a few things that made 2020 slightly less of a turd. Slightly.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">1. Fiona Apple, Fetch The Bolt Cutters<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">2. Jay Electronica, A Written Testimony<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">3. Hayley Williams, Petals For Armor<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">4. Run The Jewels, RTJ4<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">5. HAIM, Women In Music, Pt.III<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">6. Nas, King's Disease<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">7. Phoebe Bridgers, Punisher<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">8. Waxahatchee, Saint Cloud<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">9. Jessie Ware, What's Your Pleasure?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">10. Chloe Lilac, DOUCHEBAG<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Scott T, Faithless . . .and Blessed<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Ok, I know I'm 10 hours late but I decided what the heck. Rather than use my normally high "essential" standard for albums that some years has left me unable to vote for any, this year I thought I'd just recognize a couple of albums I enjoyed, merely because they came out.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Faithless - All Blessed</span></b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">You know when a group says its done but then surprises you by coming back together and releasing a new album after 10 years? Such was the case here.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Freezepop - Fantasizer</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">A Boston band I gave money to years ago as part of a GoFundMe campaign. They sent adorable emails for years as they worked on this, apologizing for the delays. And then to my surprise it finally came out for real and all was good.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Brendan Perry - Songs of Disenchantment - Music from the Greek Underground</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Another fave artist (half of Dead Can Dance) who releases one album a decade. Again, had no idea this was in the works or coming out. This one you might even like yourself.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Assemblage 23 - Mourn</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Another artist (one guy actually, who makes industrial synth-pop) I contributed money to sometime in the past. Unlike Freezepop he delivered his autographed album right on time. And it was great.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Rodg - Evocations</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">The world of electronic dance music is now huge (yay!) and Spotify puts me onto so many artists I never would have found otherwise. Rodg is one of my favorites and unlike the other artists on this list, is in the midst of his youthful, prolific peak. And he's at his upbeat best here.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">So as usual I doubt a single one of my choices will get another vote but it was still fun to give them their due.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Andrew E’s Ever-lasting Love<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Top albums of 2020:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">1. Taylor Swift, Evermore (with an MVP nod to "Marjorie")<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">2. Alanis Morisette, Such Pretty Forks in the Road<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">3. Taylor Swift, Folklore<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">4. Perfume Genius, Set My Heart on Fire Immediately<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Pandemic single that deserves a shout-out:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Florence + the Machine, "Light of Love"<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Veronica, Dunking for Apple<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Most essential: Fiona Apple, Fetch the Bolt Cutters<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Additional albums on repeat as I sat alone at my desk refreshing the news or Twitter, pretending like I was working:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Run the Jewels, RT4<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Waxahatchee, Saint Cloud <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Haim, Women in Music Pt. III<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">rina sawayama, SAWAYAMA<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Phoebe Bridgers, Punisher<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Perfume Genuis, <span style="background-color: white;">Set My Heart on Fire Immediately</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 10pt;">The Chicks, Gaslighter</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Nick E Wears His Choice Like a Cardigan<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="s1"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">A short list for me this year, as I’ve mostly been listening to older stuff! (Lots of Air and Slowdive and Trembling Blue Stars, all of which I can have on while writing.) There are several 2020 releases that I’ve meant to make time for and just haven’t yet.</span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><ol start="1" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal"><span class="s1"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Taylor Swift, Folklore</span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span class="s1"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Alanis Morissette, Such Pretty Forks in the Road</span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span class="s1"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Taylor Swift, Evermore</span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span class="s1"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">The Magnetic Fields, Quickies</span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span class="s1"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Belle & Sebastian, What to Look for in Summer</span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li></ol><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Bill C’s Paris Match<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><ol start="1" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Paris Jackson, <i>Wilted<o:p></o:p></i></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Noa Cyrus, <i>The End of Everything<o:p></o:p></i></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Taylor Swift, <i>Folklore<o:p></o:p></i></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Taylor Swift, <i>Evermore<o:p></o:p></i></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Max Berninger<i>, Serpentine Prison</i><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Lady Gaga<i>, Chromatica<o:p></o:p></i></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Dua Lipa, <i>Future Nostalgia<o:p></o:p></i></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Megan Thee Stallion, <i>Suga<o:p></o:p></i></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Kathleen Edwards<i>, Total Freedom<o:p></o:p></i></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Rickie Lee Jones<i>, Kicks<o:p></o:p></i></span></li></ol><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Billy M Goes for a Taylor, But Not That Taylor<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoPlainText"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">My year has been more nostalgia-based than in the past. Goes with the theme of inner rather than outward exploration. But some new favorites took hold as well. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoPlainText"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoPlainText"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">1. The Album - Teyana Taylor<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoPlainText"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">2. Fetch the Boltcutters - Fiona Apple<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoPlainText"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">3. The Ascension - Sufjan Stevens<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoPlainText"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoPlainText"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Otherwise, I discovered Frank Ocean and had him and Soul Coughing on heavy rotation. :)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Jonathan V’s Killers Instinct<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">One thing that really made the awfulness of 2020 stand out was all the incongruously good music that came out in it! Here are some albums that matched the uniqueness of their infamous release year—but thankfully, not its quality.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">1. The Killers, Imploding the Mirage<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">It's inspiring in its own right for a nearly-two-decade-old band to release an album as good as "Imploding the Mirage"—but for them to have done so in 2020 calls for a toast. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.thekillersmusic.com/music/imploding-mirage__;!!JQLRTQIztKY!3gckwkV-vCOg4pP7dwFBO9IuKeLhNFglFIRiSgcnLjWbN07svszjFTcCieV8coSde2Y$"><span color="windowtext" face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">https://www.thekillersmusic.com/music/imploding-mirage</span></a><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">2. Lane 8, Brightest Lights<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">I first listened to Lane 8's masterful "Brightest Lights" back in February, and I never really stopped. He knows how to craft his music into an experience, and it's one that still surprises meat every turn.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/open.spotify.com/album/6EdbqQvOCialJuOjEEUlsL__;!!JQLRTQIztKY!3gckwkV-vCOg4pP7dwFBO9IuKeLhNFglFIRiSgcnLjWbN07svszjFTcCieV8Np3hEeI$"><span color="windowtext" face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">https://open.spotify.com/album/6EdbqQvOCialJuOjEEUlsL</span></a><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">3. Khruangbin, Mordechai<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">This was my official stand-in for being up too late at a dive bar. It's a modern classic, and we'll be talking about it for a long time…but we should really just be listening to it again.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/khruangbin.bandcamp.com/album/mordechai__;!!JQLRTQIztKY!3gckwkV-vCOg4pP7dwFBO9IuKeLhNFglFIRiSgcnLjWbN07svszjFTcCieV8Df_JG8Y$"><span color="windowtext" face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">https://khruangbin.bandcamp.com/album/mordechai</span></a><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">4. Various Artists, After Dark Volume 3<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Johnny Jewel scored another hit with "After Dark Volume 3"—and when he commandeered the album's entire synth rogue's gallery for an international livestream, it made my virtual year.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/open.spotify.com/album/2BDus8vAdWDkrq027uTks9__;!!JQLRTQIztKY!3gckwkV-vCOg4pP7dwFBO9IuKeLhNFglFIRiSgcnLjWbN07svszjFTcCieV8tbYEwAg$"><span color="windowtext" face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">https://open.spotify.com/album/2BDus8vAdWDkrq027uTks9</span></a><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">5. Future Islands, As Long as You Are<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Samuel Herring got personal with the new Future Islands album, and the result was unlike anything the band has done before. (Except for its being great, natch.)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/futureislands.bandcamp.com/album/as-long-as-you-are__;!!JQLRTQIztKY!3gckwkV-vCOg4pP7dwFBO9IuKeLhNFglFIRiSgcnLjWbN07svszjFTcCieV81Dd4ZdU$"><span color="windowtext" face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">https://futureislands.bandcamp.com/album/as-long-as-you-are</span></a><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">6. Tycho, Simulcast<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">This instrumental reinterpretation of 2019's "Weather" really is a whole new album—and a new album from Tycho is always cause for celebration.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/twitter.com/ISO50/status/1222546596618887169?s=20__;!!JQLRTQIztKY!3gckwkV-vCOg4pP7dwFBO9IuKeLhNFglFIRiSgcnLjWbN07svszjFTcCieV8exgLx_Q$"><span color="windowtext" face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">https://twitter.com/ISO50/status/1222546596618887169?s=20</span></a><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">7. Destroyer, Have We Met<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Dan Bejar's latest Destroyer album is so wicked, and so witty, and ugh, so well-timed. He truly is the Henny Youngman of existential dread. "Just look at the world around you—actually no, don't look."<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/destroyer.bandcamp.com/album/have-we-met__;!!JQLRTQIztKY!3gckwkV-vCOg4pP7dwFBO9IuKeLhNFglFIRiSgcnLjWbN07svszjFTcCieV8K7Lp5ag$"><span color="windowtext" face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">https://destroyer.bandcamp.com/album/have-we-met</span></a><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">8. OTR, Lost at Midnight<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">This debut came out of nowhere and swept me away.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/open.spotify.com/artist/0oeUdHJ3cy1oveb8WguJJt?si=4MFAniXFSu2ZBpGbet1A5g__;!!JQLRTQIztKY!3gckwkV-vCOg4pP7dwFBO9IuKeLhNFglFIRiSgcnLjWbN07svszjFTcCieV8SE--6MI$"><span color="windowtext" face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">https://open.spotify.com/artist/0oeUdHJ3cy1oveb8WguJJt?si=4MFAniXFSu2ZBpGbet1A5g</span></a><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">11. Bronson, Bronson<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">The debut album from Bronson was a dimensional, precision-crafted journey.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/bronson.lnk.to/bronson?utm_source=Microsite&utm_medium=Artist_Site&utm_campaign=Bronson__;!!JQLRTQIztKY!3gckwkV-vCOg4pP7dwFBO9IuKeLhNFglFIRiSgcnLjWbN07svszjFTcCieV8pQ53bvU$"><span color="windowtext" face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">https://bronson.lnk.to/bronson?utm_source=Microsite&utm_medium=Artist_Site&utm_campaign=Bronson</span></a><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">9. Doves, The Universal Want<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">After their long absence from the scene, I thought @dovesmusicblog's new album was just an iTunes store mirage—but this was the rare instance when that shimmering oasis in the distance is really there.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/open.spotify.com/album/6Te4QI3zfiqePHm4tViGzq__;!!JQLRTQIztKY!3gckwkV-vCOg4pP7dwFBO9IuKeLhNFglFIRiSgcnLjWbN07svszjFTcCieV8nRx3KWg$"><span color="windowtext" face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">https://open.spotify.com/album/6Te4QI3zfiqePHm4tViGzq</span></a><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">12. Caribou, Suddenly<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Dan Snaith's latest Caribou album added still new lands to the universe of his sound, and I will never stop revisiting them. Plus, fun fact: the track "New Jade" was my #1 source for writing-fuel self-hypnosis in 2020.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/caribouband.bandcamp.com/album/suddenly__;!!JQLRTQIztKY!3gckwkV-vCOg4pP7dwFBO9IuKeLhNFglFIRiSgcnLjWbN07svszjFTcCieV8HNJUtG4$"><span color="windowtext" face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">https://caribouband.bandcamp.com/album/suddenly</span></a><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">I also did my best to backtrack during 2020, and "re" visit bands I had never actually visited to begin with. This year's new-to-me albums of note were:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Devo - Q: ARE WE NOT MEN? A: WE ARE DEVO!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">A rite of passage for geeks of a certain age.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/open.spotify.com/album/1u2Qni8cVRptDTaA00fmBC__;!!JQLRTQIztKY!3gckwkV-vCOg4pP7dwFBO9IuKeLhNFglFIRiSgcnLjWbN07svszjFTcCieV8AzB8xaQ$"><span color="windowtext" face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">https://open.spotify.com/album/1u2Qni8cVRptDTaA00fmBC</span></a><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Pulp - HIS N HERS<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">This is one of those albums you could have told me was the band's greatest hits, it's that good.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/open.spotify.com/album/2HyDLO6tHAOx2QiQr9RLCf__;!!JQLRTQIztKY!3gckwkV-vCOg4pP7dwFBO9IuKeLhNFglFIRiSgcnLjWbN07svszjFTcCieV8b8Cyyno$"><span color="windowtext" face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">https://open.spotify.com/album/2HyDLO6tHAOx2QiQr9RLCf</span></a><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Talking Heads - FEAR OF MUSIC<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">I have long been a fan of the band, but I've only ever heard a selection of hits, and the "Stop Making Sense" soundtrack. Diving into their back catalog was like finding buried treasure, and I think this album is my favorite one of all.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/open.spotify.com/album/4OLsnJQPTX0S6lODXw1MqC__;!!JQLRTQIztKY!3gckwkV-vCOg4pP7dwFBO9IuKeLhNFglFIRiSgcnLjWbN07svszjFTcCieV8rAU4j3U$"><span color="windowtext" face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">https://open.spotify.com/album/4OLsnJQPTX0S6lODXw1MqC</span></a><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Goldy M’s Lore-y Days<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Essential: <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Taylor Swift, Folklore <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Others:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">The Chicks, Gaslighter<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Troye Sivan, In A Dream<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Nada Surf, Never Not Together <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Taylor Swift, Evermore <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Beabadoobee, Fake It Flowers <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">And finally, Louis Tomlinson had the best post 1D album with Walls and I am not ashamed (a little ashamed...) to admit that!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Nico M’s Lipa Suction<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Hands-down #1 and maybe my favorite pop album since Madonna’s “Confessions on a Dance Floor” (2005) ...<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Dua Lipa: Future Nostalgia<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">I will love this album forfuckingever, no joke, and when karaoke bars reopen, get out of my way, because I call dibs on “Love Again.” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">It really was a damn good year for music—and getting to listen to so much of it during work-at-home life was a true bright spot—so I have some honorable mentions to round out a Top 5:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Roísín Murphy: Roísín Machine<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Jessie Ware: What’s Your Pleasure?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Georgia: Seeking Thrills<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Caribou: Suddenly<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Top Track from non-Top 5 Album:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">- Lady Gaga: Babylon<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Surprises of the Year:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">- Kylie’s “Disco” not making my Top 5 list (Who am I? Maybe I just couldn’t take ALL that escapism? That was some aggro-disco)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">- Marilyn Manson’s “WE ARE CHAOS” was actually GOOD (my favorite in 20 years)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Favorite Newly Discovered Bands: <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">- Drab Majesty (a true and moody Depeche Mode-y throwback I couldn’t stop listening to in the early lockdown days)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">- Cabaret Nocturne (when I just needed a break from lyrics and to zone TF <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Would Have Been Top If 9 Songs Constituted an Album...<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">- Raye: Euphoric Sad Songs<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Kristin E Has Potential (According to Shameika)<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Not sure where the year went. I wonder. Here are some that are essential if only because I somehow remember hearing them amongst all the cacophony of life and what passed as such in 2020:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Fiona Apple, Fetch the Bolt Cutters<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Belle and Sebastian, What to Look for in Summer<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Haim, Women in Music Pt. III<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">All Lawrence U Needs is Lauv<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Here is a list of my top played tracks from 2020:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">1. Modern Loneliness by Lauv<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">2. i don't wanna know by GOLDHOUSE, Mokita<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">3. Healing by Arlissa<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">4. It's Alright by Motel 7<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">5. I'll Wait by Kygo, Sasha Sloan<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">6. Feel Alive by Red Red Lips<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">7. i don't want to watch the world end with someone else by Clinton Kane<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">8. About Love by Marina<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">9. All My Friends Are Falling In Love by Jack Newsome<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">10. fuck, i'm lonely by Lauv, Ann-Marie<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">11. Blinding Lights by The Weekend<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">12. I Got to Live by Sam Fischer<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">13. Mine by Felix Cartal, Sophie Simmons<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">14. Break My Heart by Dua Lipa<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">15. A Little Bit Yours by JP Saxe<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">16. lonliness for love by lovelytheband<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">17. To Die For by Sam Smith<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">18. The Road by Faouzia<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Bach Strikes for Jinny W<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Most essential album of 2020:</span></b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Shirley Hunt, J.S. Bach Suites & Sonatas, Volume 3.</span></b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> Letterbox Arts, October 2020. The radiant culmination of Shirley Hunt’s virtuosic exploration of Bach's low-voiced glories features her playing viola da gamba, as well as a rare 18th-century 5-string cello from the collection of Boston's Museum of Fine Arts. Harpsichordist Ian Pritchard joins her in the rich Sonata in D Major, BWV 1028. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">And on YouTube: Jennifer Koh, violinist, Alone Together</span></b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">. Early in the pandemic, Koh established a collaborative composing project. A group of composers each donated a 30-second solo violin piece, and each recommended a freelance composer to create a commissioned work of the same length. The non-profit ARCO Collaborative paid the commissions. Jennifer Koh recorded the results between April and June, 2020. YouTube /jenniferkohviolin has archived the Alone Together recordings, new music from beginning to end. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">About <b>Beethoven’s 250th birthday</b> and the memorial concerts we didn’t get to go to or play in: Deutsche Grammophon brought out a set: 123 CDs, 175 hours of music, weighing nearly 18 pounds. $421.02 at Amazon. Apparently DG took a casual approach to editing and labeling but gave out with a lot of Beethoven. Deaf to the clamor, he probably would have liked the good intentions. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Other essential albums: </span></b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Because 2020 was the kind of year it was, I sought the past. A few of the Found Treasures:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Yo-Yo Ma, Chris Thile, Edgar Meyer, Bach Trios.</span></b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> Nonesuch 2017. Inexhaustible Bach again. Playing cello, mandolin, and double bass, with bluegrass skills and crazy-good dexterity and joyful appetites for collaboration, these three find the sweet spots and the boisterousness that had been hiding in plain view all these centuries. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Bill Evans, You Must Believe in Spring.</span></b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> Warner Brothers Records, remastered 1981 and 2003. Evans’ piano, with drummer Eliot Zigmund and Eddie Gomez on bass. Sink into misery and find it a redemptive experience. A reminder that we’ll never know all the secrets but for whole moments at a time we can be fully alive. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">And on YouTube: Michel Petrucciani Trio at the Philharmonie Im Gasteig, Munich 1997.</span></b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> French pianist Michel Petrucciani (1962-1999); Miroslav Vitous on bass; Steve Gadd on drums. Petrucciani listened to Bill Evans, beginning at age 10, and wrought his own enchantments at the keyboard with captivating impatience and élan.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">And Happy New Year:</span></b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Annelle Gregory, YouTube, Antonio Vivaldi: Winter from The Four Seasons for violin/viola/piano. </span></b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">This YouTube performance appeared on January 19, 2021. But it deserves at least Very Honorable Mention (we’ve been missing Honor for so long). Believe your eyes as Annelle Gregory turns into quintuplets to blanket us in zesty Vivaldi. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p>davidlevithanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00762768300871943772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1509734071563017124.post-20573605395718516382020-02-04T14:21:00.003-08:002020-02-04T14:21:55.850-08:00The 2019 David Music Poll Results<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The 2019 David Music
Poll Results<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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1.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lizzo, Cuz I Love
You (29 votes)<o:p></o:p></div>
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2.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Billie Eilish,
When We Fall Asleep Where Do We Go? (18)<o:p></o:p></div>
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3.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Taylor Swift,
Lover (14)<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Vampire Weekend,
Father of the Bride (14)<o:p></o:p></div>
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5.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Carly Rae Jepsen,
Dedicated (10)<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lana Del Rey,
Norman Fucking Rockwell (10)<o:p></o:p></div>
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7.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maggie Rogers,
Heard it in a Past Life (9)<o:p></o:p></div>
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8.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sharon Van Etten,
Remind Me Tomorrow (8)<o:p></o:p></div>
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9.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Highwomen, The
Highwomen (7)<o:p></o:p></div>
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10.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The National, I
Am Easy to Find (6)<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Orville Peck,
Pony (6)<o:p></o:p></div>
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Honorable mention with five votes:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Brittany Howard, Jaime; Jenny Lewis, On the
Line; Angel Olsen, All Mirrors; Ariana Grande, thank U next <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">My list, Heard in a
Past Life circa 2019<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Most essential:<o:p></o:p></div>
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Maggie Rogers, Heard it in a Past Life<o:p></o:p></div>
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I was already inclined to love this album -- one of the
early singles, “Lights On”, was one of my top songs of 2018.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Miraculously, the album lived up to the
singles, a beautifully cohesive collection of songs that veer from emotional wanderlust
to a dawning and solidifying sense of home and self.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is one of those albums that came out in
January and ended up being the soundtrack to my whole year, with different
songs coming to the fore at different times (some when I needed them most).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Also essential:<o:p></o:p></div>
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Sam Fender, Hypersonic Missiles<o:p></o:p></div>
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In which a Springsteen-influenced lad from Newcastle somehow
manages to create something that sounds like The Killers’ Sam’s Town, only
better, and distinctly his own. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Sharon Van Etten, Remind Me Tomorrow<o:p></o:p></div>
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Worth it for “Seventeen” and “Comeback Kid” alone, but
overall a great thematic progression into couplehood and motherhood--showing
that settling down doesn’t mean taking the edge off.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The Highwomen, The Highwomen<o:p></o:p></div>
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After boygenius last year, I’m thinking there should be a
rule that every fall brings a new female-folk supergroup to our ears. This
one’s nearly perfect.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Lana Del Rey, Norman Fucking Rockwell<o:p></o:p></div>
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I wasn’t on Team LDR at the start . . . but she won me over,
and then some. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Billie Eilish, When We Fall Asleep Where Do We Go?<o:p></o:p></div>
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At first, I thought this album was mostly Lorde 2.0 . . .
which isn’t a bad thing, per se. But after many more listens, I appreciate the
twisted sonic world it brings the listener into, and how it operates under its
own vocabulary and sense of humor.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Original Cast Album, Octet<o:p></o:p></div>
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Hadestown was my favorite musical of the year, but the cast
album is underwhelming. On the other hand, the cast album for Octet, one of my
other favorites of the year, conveys the musically brilliant and thematically
devastating show.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you want to listen
to a musical which will make you want to unplug from all your devices, this is
definitely for you.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Honorable mention goes to:<o:p></o:p></div>
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Carly Rae Jepsen, Dedicated<o:p></o:p></div>
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Michael Kiwanuka, Kiwanuka<o:p></o:p></div>
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The National, I Am Easy to Find<o:p></o:p></div>
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Mercury Rev, Bobbie Gentry’s Delta Sweete Revisited <o:p></o:p></div>
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Favorite songs from 2020:<o:p></o:p></div>
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Kishi Bashi, “Summer of ‘42”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Maggie Rogers, “Back in my Body”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Sam Fender, “Will We Talk?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Better Oblivion Community Center, “Dylan Thomas”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Sharon Van Etten, “Seventeen”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Bat for Lashes, “Mountains”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My three songs for the 2010s time capsule:<o:p></o:p></div>
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Robyn, “Dancing on My Own”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Carly Rae Jepsen, “Cut to the Feeling”<o:p></o:p></div>
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The Arcade Fire, “We Used to Wait”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Cuz Anna Q Loves It<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Lizzo,
Cuz I Love You<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Taylor
Swift, Lover <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Maggie
Rogers, Heard It in a Past Life<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Jason B Throws One on the Radar<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Sad to
think about how many albums i used to have in contention for my "favorites
of the year" whereas now it's basically whatever Tiny Desk Concerts impose
upon me. But I just discovered a band that MIGHT be under the radar enough that
even you haven't heard of them: Saintseneca.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">David A Has a Big Bashi<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Most essential album:</span><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">KISHI
BASHI, Omoiyari<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Other essential albums:</span><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">TOTH,
Practice Magic and Seek Professional Help When Necessary<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">BON
IVER, i,i<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">SLOW
MEADOW, Happy Occident<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">A WINGED
VICTORY FOR THE SULLEN, The Undivided Five<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Bryant P is Thrilled to Be Here<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Most
Essential Album of the Year:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">BAILEN,
Thrilled to Be Here<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Other
Essential Albums of the Year:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Local
Natives, Violet Street<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Taylor
Swift, Lover<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">The
National, I Am Easy to Find<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Lizzo,
Cuz I Love You<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Vampire
Weekend, Father of the Bride<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">My
Greatest Hits of the 2010s would include:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">The
National, "Don't Swallow the Cap"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Frank
Ocean, "Lost"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Taylor
Swift, "Blank Space"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Robyn,
"Dancing on My Own"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Katy
Perry, "Teenage Dream"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Beyoncé,
"Partition"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Sam
Smith, "I'm Not the Only One"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Pinegrove,
"Old Friends"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Fleet
Foxes, "Helplessness Blues"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Years
& Years, "Eyes Shut"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Youth
Lagoon, "17"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Vampire
Weekend, "Diplomat's Son"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Mike R has found a
light in the forest<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #262626; mso-fareast-language: JA;">MY
(PERSONAL, SUBJECTIVE) TOP 10 ALBUMS:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">1.
Dave Malloy & Original Cast of Octet, Octet (Original Cast Recording)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">2.
Taylor Swift, Lover<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">3.
Vampire Weekend, Father of the Bride<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">4.
Carly Rae Jepsen, Dedicated<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">5. Charly
Bliss, Young Enough<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">6. The
Highwomen, The Highwomen<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">7.
Mika, I Am Michael Holbrook<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">8.
Black Peaches, Fire In The Hole<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">9.
Caroline Polachek, Pang<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">10.
Bombadil, Beautiful Country<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">NOTES:
Not so much an endorsement of what was the "best" album as what
albums proved strong enough/addictive enough/meaningful enough to get replayed
over and over and over again. Also making me pick 3 songs out of a decade is
too mean and I won't do it! Other than to say that obviously 'Call Me Maybe'
oughta be on there. I feel confident about that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Roberto R Ponies Up<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">I have
to go with Orville Peck- Pony<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Chris K is Legend<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Here's
my best-of for the smoking ruin of 2019:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">1. He
Is Legend – White Bat<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">2.
Devil Master – Satan Spits On Children Of Light<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">3.
Gatecreeper – Deserted<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">4.
Bloody Hammers – The Summoning<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">5. The
Budos Band – V<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">6.
GRLwood – I Sold My Soul To The Devil When I Was 12<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">7.
blackQueen – The Destructive Cycle<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">8.
Oozing Wound – High Anxiety<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">9.
Vircolac – Masque<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">10.
Asthma Castle - Mount Crushmore<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Rediscovered
gems:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Garbage - s/t<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Calabrese - The Traveling Vampire Show<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Tyler The Creator - Goblin<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Greatest
hits of the 2010s:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">High On Fire - Madness Of An Architect<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">The Black Dahlia Murder - A Shrine To Madness<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Ghost - Square Hammer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Thank U, Jordan H<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">2019
Top Albums<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Ariana Grande, Thank U, Next<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Lana Del Rey, Norman Fucking Rockwell <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Carly Rae Jepsen, Dedicated<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Melanie Martinez, K-12 <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Doja Cat, Hot Pink<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Harry Styles, Fine Line<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Fav
Songs from the Albums Above:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">in my head by Ariana Grande<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Fuck It I Love You By Lana<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Everything He Needs By Carly Rae<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">High School Sweethearts by Melanie Martinez<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Rules by Doja Cat<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Watermelon Sugar by Harry Styles<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">2010
Greatest Hits<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Born This Way by Lady Gaga<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Hello by Adele<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Formation by Beyonce<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Bob B picks a
run-run-runaway<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Best
album of 2019?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Travis
Thompson “Runaways” . I’m purposely NOT going for Lana Del Rey’s “Norman
Fucking Rockwell” because it’s EVERYONE’S album of the year. I wanted to give
something showcasing something different that would not have had widespread
exposure. Thompson is a contemporary of Macklemore and comes from the South
Seattle area. An area under the squeeze of encroaching municipalities and
rising real estate prices. His music focuses on life here, an honest record of
a hard scrabble world that’s quickly fading from existence. Travis is a rising
star within the Hip-Hop ranks. He tells his story of life along Ambaum
Boulevard with rapid fire lyrics that convey the spirit of the neighborhoods
there. And with the flip of a switch, rapid fire turns into a peaceful ballad
of memory and sorrow. A moment of tenderness to be remembered that would have
been lost if it wasn’t for a song. I encourage everyone to not only give Travis
Thompson’s “Runaways” a listen, but to give his other work, “Ambaum” a go as
well. It is a love song to the power of small triumphs and unfair tragedies
that shape a family and a community. His songs can put his ghosts in the room
with you, and I do not say that lightly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">The
songs from the 2010’s that do something to you. There’s so many more, but these
are the ones that still have the power to echo in your soul:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">-The
Arcade Fire “Afterlife” (The video alone should win the Nobel Peace Prize.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">-Adonis
“Ulay, Oh” (Any song that compels you to delve into the lives of artists and
their moment in history has got to have something behind it.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">-Lord
Huron “Ends of the Earth” (A song where you can ‘hear’ a landscape. “Ventura
Highway” by America is the only other song that does this for me.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Honorable
mention:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">-“Gypsy”
by Lady Gaga (Best version of this is her a cappella performance that she did
on The Howard Stern Show. YouTube it. It’s with the five minutes of your life
listening to it. And for someone who doesn’t just live, but exists on the road,
this is the ballad of my career.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">-“Africa”
by Weezer (I needed to get something in here that was light hearted. And it
proves that beside a more than respectable career, Weezer has become the
ultimate cover band.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Andy P Takes a Chance<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Alright,
so I guess I just go to Spotify and see what they’ve curated based on my
repeated listening… because otherwise I’m terrible at this :)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Most
essential: Greyson Chance, portraits<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Other
essential: X Lovers, A bunch of singles (so, not an album, per se)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">The Truth Won’t Hurt Bill K<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Essential
Album: Lizzo, Cuz I Love You<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Other
essential albums:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Glen
Hansard, This Wild Willing<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Billie
Eilish, When We Fall Asleep...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Best
singles:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Lizzo,
Juice<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">You
Need to Calm Down, Taylor Swift<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Old
Town Road, Lil Nas X<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Party
of One, Brandi Carlile and Sam Smith<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Jumpstarted,
Jukebox the Ghost<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Bill's
three best songs of the decade:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Hold
Out Your Hand, Brandi Carlile<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Oh My,
Haley Reinhart<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Agape,
Bear's Den<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lia C Goes from Hopelessness
to Clarity<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">My top
three albums this year :<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">1.
HOPELESSNESS Anohni<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">2.
CLARITY Kim Petras<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">3. CUZ I
LOVE YOU Lizzo (obviously!!!!!) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Daniel H’s Not Unhappy with the
New Low<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Favorite
2019 album:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Low:
Double Negative<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">runners-up:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">The
National: I Am Easy To Find<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Angelique
Kidjo: Remain in Light<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Vampire
Weekend: Father of the Bride<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">songs:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">US
Girls - “Velvet for Sale”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Default
Genders - “Sophie (emphasis mine)”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Mouse
on Mars - “Foul Mouth”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">The
National - “So Far So Fast”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">2010
best of:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Sharon
Von Etten - Afraid of Nothing<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Kamasi
Washington - The Method<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Leonard
Cohen - It Seemed the Better Way<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Gabriel Fucking B<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Shocking
absolutely no one:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">1.
Lana del Rey, Norman Fucking Rockwell!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">2.
Josh Ritter, Fever Breaks<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">3.
Lizzo, Cuz I Love You<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Lucas K Throws a Bouqet to the
Bride<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">1.
Vampire Weekend, Father of the Bride <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">2. Taylor
Swift, Lover<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">3. The
Highwomen, The Highwomen<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">4. Kishi
Bashi, Omoiyari<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">5.
Carly Rae Jepsen, Dedicated<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">6.
Khalid, Free Spirit<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">7.
Coldplay, Everyday Life<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">8.
Betty Who, Betty<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">9. The
Mountain Goats, In League with Dragons<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">10. Ra
Ra Riot, Superbloom<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">BONUS
QUESTION: Obviously the universal choice, especially for this Poll, will be
"Dancing on My Own" and I completely support that. At least one
Taylor Swift song has to make the list and I insist that it be "Blank
Space." My third entry would be "Humble & Kind" by Lori
McKenna, which is the song that most gets what being a parent is like.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Aaron H Juices It<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Most essential album of the year: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Lizzo, Cuz I Love You</span><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: JA;">2nd Most Essential Album of the Year:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Betty Who, Betty</span><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Single I Can't Live Without:</span><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">"Say
it Again" - AJ Mitchell<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Best Concert Since Mika "Life in Cartoon
Motion" in 2007:</span><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Betty
Who at The Fonda, where a gay marriage proposal happened LIVE ON STAGE
MID-SONG.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Elizabeth E Gives it Her 100%<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Most
essential:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Lizzo,
Cuz I Love You--I KNOW I'M A QUEEN BUT I DON'T NEED NO CROWN!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Other
essentials:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Maggie
Rogers, Heard it in a Past Life<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Hozier,
Wasteland, Baby!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Six--The
Musical cast album<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Of
Monsters and Men, Fever Dream<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Maren
Morris, Girl<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">The
Highwomen, The Highwomen<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">2010s
top songs:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Uptown
Funk, Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Someone
Like You, Adele<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Love
on Top, Beyonce <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Tara A, Across the
Universe <o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Nilufer
Yanya Miss Universe<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Billie
Eilish, When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Ruby
Fields, Permanent Hermit<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Fontaines,
DC, Dogrel<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Taylor
Swift, Lover<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Thom
Yorke, Anima<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Nick
Cave, Ghosteen <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Big
Thief, Two Hands<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Hits
for the 2010s compilation:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Carly
Rae Jespen, Call Me Maybe<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Ed
Sheeran, Photograph<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Zedd,
Marin Morris, Grey, The Middle<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ben L Banks It<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">My 10!
In no particular order... <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">H.E.R.,
I Used to Know Her<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Miranda
Lambert, Wildcard<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Tinashe,
Songs For You<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Banks,
III<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Muna,
Muna Saves the World<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Carly
Rae Jepsen, Dedicated<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Billie
Eilish, When We All Fall Asleep Where Do We Go<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Kehlani,
While We Wait<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Ariana
Grande, Thank U Next<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Maggie
Rogers, Heard It in a Past Life<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Three
songs for the 2010s:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Brandi
Carlile, "The Joke"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Adele,
"Someone Like You"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Robyn,
"Dancing On My Own"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Kevin
K’s Dedicated . . . and it feels so good<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Top 10
albums:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Carly Rae Jepsen, Dedicated<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">The Raconteurs, Help Us Stranger<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Lizzo, Cuz I Love You<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">The New Pornographers, In The Morse Code Of Brake Lights<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Prince, Originals<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Vampire Weekend, Father of the Bride<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Bleached, Don’t You Think You’ve Had Enough?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Peter Mulvey, There Is Another World<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">JR JR, Invocations/Conversations<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Brittany Howard, Jamie<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Orville Peck, Pony<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Charly Bliss, Young Enough<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Purple Mountains, Purple Mountains<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">2010
Greatest Hits – Top 3<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Angel Olsen, Shut Up Kiss Me<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Janelle Monae, Make Me Feel<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Frightened Rabbit, Swim Until You Can’t See Land<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">BONUS –
The entire Scott Pilgrim vs. the World Soundtrack<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Molly B Finds Her Soulmate<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">2019
Top Albums: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">1.
Lizzo, Cuz I Love You<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">2.
Billie Eilish, When We Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">3.
Peter Mulvey, There Is Another World<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Runner-Up:
Halsey, Manic (album doesn't actually drop until 2020, but a bunch of singles
came out in 2019) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Top 3
Songs of 2010s: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">1.
Beyonce, Formation<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">2.
Janelle Monae, Tightrope<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">3.
Lizzo, Good as Hell <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Girl
power!! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Aimee F Falls for a London Boy<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Continuing my
tradition of my favorite singles:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<u style="text-underline: #18376A;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">2019</span></u><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Lizzo, Juice<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Tegan & Sara,
I’ll Be Back Someday<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Taylor Swift, London
Boy<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Lil Nas X, Old Town
Road<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Jonas Brothers,
Sucker<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<u style="text-underline: #18376A;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">3 songs for a 2010s Mix (this was so hard to narrow down!! Can we suggest
30 next time? )</span></u><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Frank Ocean, Thinkin
Bout You<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Beyonce, Flawless<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Arcade Fire, The
Suburbs<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Jennifer H-S Walks Vampires Down the Aisle<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Vampire
Weekend, Father of the Bride<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">David G Rocks Well<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">1.
Lana Del Rey, Norman F***ing Rockwell<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">2.
Slow Hollows, Actors<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">3.
Lizzo, Cuz I Love You<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">4.
Orville Peck, Pony<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">5.
Billie Eilish, When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">6.
Ezra Furman, Twelve Nudes<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">As for
a 2010s Greatest Hits Album, I'd have to say that you'd need:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">1.
Fiona Apple's Werewolf.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">2.
Flume's Never Be Like You<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">3.
Beyonce's Hold Up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jon S Spots a Comet<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">My
2019 Top Ten:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">The Comet Is Coming, Trust in The Lifeforce of The Deep Mystery<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Billie Eilish,WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Brutus, Nest<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Anoice, Ghost In the Clocks<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Sampa The Great, The Return<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Sudan Archives, Athena<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Blanck Mass, Animated Violence Mild<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">The Shivas, Dark Thoughts<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Big Thief, U.F.O.F<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Julia Kent, Temporal<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Past
releases that I somehow missed:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">A Tribe Called Red, Nation II Nation (released 2013)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Paperplain, Entering Pale Town (released 2010)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Luzmila Carpio Remixed by Luzmila Carpio (released 2015)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Favorite
Albums of the 2010’s (I’m probably missing some):<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">The Roots, How I Got Over<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Wye Oak, Civilian<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">tUnE yArDs, w h o k i l l<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">EMA, The Future's Void<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">8<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Sylvan Esso, Sylvan Esso<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">9<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Thao & the Get Down Stay Down, We the Common<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">10<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Swearin’, Surfing Strange<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">11<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Grimes, Art Angels<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">12<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Dilly Dally, Sore<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">13<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">A Tribe Called Quest, We Got it From Here...Thank You 4 Your Service<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">14<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Charlie Bliss, Guppy<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">15<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Bon Iver, 22, A Million<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">16<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Amnesia Scanner, Another Life <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">17<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Superorganism, Superorganism<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">18<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Julien Baker, Sprained Ankle<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Caleb H Throws a
Party for this One<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">My top
album is obvious:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Carly
Rae Jepsen, Dedicated<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">But
it's honestly VERY closely tied with:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Charly
Bliss, Young Enough (Especially the song "Chatroom.") If you haven't
heard Charly Bliss, I think you'll love them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">More:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Caravan
Palace, Chronologic<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Billie
Eilish, WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Anamanaguchi,
[USA]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">My
relationship to music has changed a lot. I don't listen to lots of full albums,
and the main way I find new music is through discover weekly, so I have a lot
of random songs that have been very important, but I haven't developed a real
relationship with new artists in the past few years. I want to change that!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">2010s
greatest hits, trio absoLUTELY random just based on what popped into my head
that I'm more likely to add than the others on your list:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">1.
Carly Rae Jepsen, Call Me Maybe<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">2.
Toby Fox, Megalovania<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">3.
Nicki Minaj, Superbass<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Shelly R Goes Back to
School<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Always
look forward to doing this poll! Lots of great music from 2019 </span><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"> <span style="color: #181817;">For 2019:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: JA;">My top 2019 album:</span><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"> <span style="color: #181817;">K-12 by Melanie Martinez<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">After
a 4-year hiatus, she returned with her sophomore album K-12. Which is a work of
art! Blending poppy lyrics, pastel colors, and school themes, K-12’s lyrics are
anything but. They touch on tough subjects from predatory teachers in
“Teacher’s Pet” to eating disorders in “Orange Juice.” Along with the album,
Martinez made a full-length movie to accompany it and it’s campy, weird, and
fantastic.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Other Essential 2019 Albums:</span><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Cuz I
love You – Lizzo<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Homecoming:
The Live Album – Beyoncé<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Wasteland,
Baby! – Hozier<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Only
Things We Love – Blaqk Audio<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: JA;">For the 2010s Greatest Hits<b> </b></span><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">(based off of how loudly I would
“woo!” and then start dancing)<b>:</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Old
Town Road – Lil Nas X</span><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"> <span style="color: #181817;">Formation – Beyoncé<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Bitch
Better Have My Money – Rihanna<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Amy C Brings the Brittany<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">My essential albums
of 2019<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">1)
Brittany Howard, Jaime (!!!!!!!!!!)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">2)
Tyler, the Creator, Igor<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">3)
Khalid, Free Spirit<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">4)
Harry Styles, Fine Line<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">5)
Lizzo, Cuz I Love You<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">My songs for 2010s
Greatest<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">1)
Beyonce, Sorry<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">2)
Miguel, Pineapple Skies (such a good song!!)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">3)
Post Malone & Swae Lee, Sunflower<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Matthew U Picks a Peck<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Thanks for keeping
me looped in. It’s always cool to see what makes the list and to discover new
music along the way. This was a tough choice this year—the album I think is the
best isn’t the one I return to again and again, so I’m opting for the return-to
album as my top pick.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Most
essential album:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Orville
Peck, Pony<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Runners
up:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Lana
Del Rey, Norman Fucking Rockwell<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Sharon
Van Etten, Remind Me Tomorrow<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">The
National, I Am Easy to Find<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">The
Highwomen, The Highwomen<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Lana
Del Rey’s album was the most cohesive and accomplished to my mind in many ways
but in a way that carried motifs in the lyrics and soundscapes throughout,
which made it almost more like a novel—art you take in as a whole rather than
return to bits again and again. Pony, on the other hand, I can’t quite decide
if it’s an authentic gay cowboy album or a bit of a put-on, but I love it
either way and find myself listening in the morning when I’m getting ready or
defaulting to it in the car when audiobooks or podcasts have run out. I’m eager
to see what he does next (and if he takes off the mask).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Michael T takes a
Billie holiday<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">For me
the best album of 2019 is a tie:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Billie
Eilish, When We All Fall Asleep Where Do We Go?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Bon
Iver, I, i<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Greatest
hits of the 2010s Playlist:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Kendrick
Lamar, “Love”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Bon
Iver, “Holocene”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">FKA
Twigs, “Two Weeks"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jinny W brings the
fire and ice<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Most Essential Album of 2019:</span><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Paavo
Järvi, and the Orchestre de Paris, Sibelius Symphonies 1-7. Epic fire and
ice from Finland’s most treasured national treasure, conducted here by Järvi,
one of Estonia’s national treasures. Sibelius took 26 years to compose the
seven, and Järvi and the Orchestre de Paris recorded them over five years.
Sibelius’ earthy and radiant couplings of strings and brasses taught the
twentieth century some of its most resonant lessons, ones we still need to
learn. SONY (Naxos Exclusive).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Other essential albums:</span><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Annelle
K. Gregory, Violin, and the Kyiv Virtuosi Symphony Orchestra, conducted by
Dimitry Yablonsky, Russian Music for Violin and Orchestra. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Featuring
the grand Taneyev Suite de Concert, Op. 28 (1909), and Rimsky-Korsakov’s
irresistible Fantasia on Two Russian Themes, Op. 33 (1887). Young Annelle K.
Gregory, precocious American concert violinist, traveled to Kyiv to perform and
record these great Russian pieces with the young and vigorous independent
Ukrainian ensemble. Powerful performances all round. Naxos.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Jennifer
Koh, “Limitless." Community and diversity among eight contemporary
composers, each collaborating in duet with the uniquely eloquent violinist
Jennifer Koh. Cedille Records.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: JA;">This year’s bonus question: Greatest Hits of the
2010s, 3 essential songs by the 3 essential Bs:</span><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Johann
Sebastian Bach,<b> </b>The Gigue movement from the Suite for solo
cello No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1008, played by Shirley Hunt: J.S. Bach Suites
& Sonatas Volume Two. Glorious energy, grace, élan. Letterbox Arts 2017.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Beethoven,
String Quartet #15 in A minor, Opus 132, “Heiliger Dankgesang,” first movement,
Assai sostenuto - Allegro. The Tokyo String Quartet released a boxed set of all
Beethoven Quartets in 2012; they offer a great place to begin. Earlier
recordings of these Late Beethovens: illuminating, restorative,
hold-onto-your-biases-at-your-peril versions by the Guarneri, the Emerson, and
the Takacs Quartets. FYI: The Danish String Quartet will bring their
tantalizing teamwork to this piece at Alice Tully Hall in Lincoln Center in New
York at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 16. Soon! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Brahms,
Intermezzo in E-flat, opus 117 No. 1 for piano, contained in Hélene
Grimaud: The Complete Warner Classic Recordings. Grimaud brings back
Brahms as sensuously as the wild genius himself may have imagined. (Too bad
we’ll never know for sure.) ERATO 2014.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ronnie A Shows that
Ever Rose Has its Thrones<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Here
are my soundtrack highlights from 2019: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Florence
+ The Machine, "Jenny of Oldstones" from Game of Thrones<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Jessie
Buckley, "Glasgow (No Place Like Home)" from Wild Rose<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Kathryn
Bostic, "Slow Train" from Clemency<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Natalie
Portman, "Wrapped Up" from Vox Lux<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Robert
Pattinson and the Tindersticks, "Willow" from High Life<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Elisabeth
Moss, "Heaven" from Her Smell<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Michael
Marshall, "If You're Going to San Francisco" from The Last Black Man
in San Francisco<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Mamas
and the Papas, "Twelve Thirty (Young Girls Are Coming to the Canyon)"
from Once Upon a Time . . . in Hollywood<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Maurice
Jarre, Miss Lily [sic] Langtry from Once Upon a Time . . . in Hollywood<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Baily C Takes it On
the Line<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Essential
this year for me.. Jenny Lewis, On The Line<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">More
essentials:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Tyler,
the Creator, IGOR<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Blood
Orange, Angel’s Pulse<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Kevin
Abstract, ARIZONA BABY<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Angel
Olsen, All Mirrors<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Omar
Apollo, Friends<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Greatest
Hits of the 2010’s..<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">SO hard
and I feel the need to be unconventional which is not the point but I would
say:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Miley
Cyrus We Can’t Stop<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Ed
Sheeran Shape of You<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Taylor
Swift Blank Space<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Matthue R Tells Tales<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Most
essential: J.S. Ondara, Tales of America<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">And
featuring:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Tanya Tucker,
While I'm Livin'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Lizzo,
Cuz I Love You<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Thank
You, Black Dresses<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Angel
Olsen, All Mirrors<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Bruce
Springsteen, Western Stars<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Sharon
Van Etten, Remind Me Tomorrow<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Team
Dresch, Captain My Captain<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">2010's
greatest hits:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Beyoncé,
Hold Up<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">St.
Vincent, Severed Crossed Fingers<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Lin-Manuel
Miranda, Dear Theodosia (ideally the Regina Spektor cover)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Teri Y + Love + Fear<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Short
list and all women this year.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Marina,
Love + Fear<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">MUNA,
Saves the World<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Dedicated,
Carly Rae Jepsen<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">If I
were making a 2010s Greatest Hits album, what are three songs you think should
be on it?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Robyn,
Dancing on My Own<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Robyn,
Call Your Girlfriend<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Robyn,
Hang with Me<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">John A Holds Some Mirrors to the
Year<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Top 10
of 2019<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">1.
Angel Olsen, All Mirrors <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">2.
DIIV, Deceiver<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">3.
Elbow, Giants of All Sizes <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">4.
Foals, Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost Part 1 <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">5.
Beck, Hyperspace<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">6.
Sharon Van Etten, Remind Me Tomorrow <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">7.
Tool, Fear Inoculum <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">8.
Torche, Admission <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">9.
Sleater-Kinney, The Center Won’t Hold<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">10.
The New Pornographers, In the Morse Code of Brake Lights <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">2010’s
Greatest Hits<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Deerhunter,
Desire Lines (2000) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">My
Bloody Valentine, Only Tomorrow (2013)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Fleet
Foxes, Third of May / Odaigahara (2017)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Brant R Goes Up to the Mountains<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">My
Essential Albums of 2019:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Purple
Mountains, Purple Mountains<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Helado
Negro, This Is How You Smile<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">De La
Noche, Blue Days, Black Nights<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Chromatics,
Closer to Grey<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Jenny Lewis,
On the Line<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Lana Del
Rey, Norman Fucking Rockwell<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">A.A. Bondy,
Enderness<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Some
of My Essential Tracks of 2019:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Purple
Mountains, “Snow Is Falling in Manhattan”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Jenny Lewis,
“Wasted Youth”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Helado
Negro, “Imagining What to Do”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Faye Webster,
“Right Side of My Neck”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Shura,
“Side Effects”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Elder Albums
I Found Essential in 2019:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Ike and
Tina Turner, River Deep-Mountain High [1966]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Erroll
Garner, The Concert by the Sea [1955]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">The Beths,
Future Me Hates Me [2018]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Christine
and the Queens, Christine and the Queens [2014]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Kirsty
MacColl, Electric Landlady [1991]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Neil Halstead,
Oh! Mighty Engine [2008]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Camera
Obscura, Biggest Bluest Hi-Fi [2001]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Mikal Cronin,
MCIII [2015]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Milt
Jackson, Bags & Trane [1961]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Danny Wilson,
Meet Danny Wilson [1987]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Dionne
Warwick, Heartbreaker [1982]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">The Isley
Brothers, Shout! [1959]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">When David
conducted this poll for the twentieth time last year, I totally forgot to
include My Most Essential 50 Albums of the First 20 Years of the David Music
Poll, so here’s that in alphabetical order by album title: Yo La Tengo, And
Then Nothing Turned Itself<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Inside-Out; Alvvays, Antisocialites; Surfer
Blood, Astro Coast; Aimee Mann, Bachelor No. 2 or, The Remains of the Dodo;
Mates of State, Bring It Back; Broken Bells, Broken Bells; Belle and Sebastian,
Dear Catastrophe Waitress; Drive-By Truckers, Decoration<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Day; Ryan Adams, Demolition; The New
Pornographers, Electric Version; Mojave 3, Excuses for Travellers; Kacey
Musgraves, Golden Hour; The Exploding Hearts, Guitar Romantic; Badly Drawn Boy,
The Hour of the Bewilderbeast; The Strokes, Is This It; Destroyer, Kaputt;
Chromatics, Kill for Love; Spoon, Kill the Moonlight; Washed Out, Life of
Leisure; The War on Drugs, Lost in the Dream; Ambulance Ltd, LP;
Phosphorescent, Muchacho; Kanye West, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy;
Lambchop, Nixon; The Shins, Oh, Inverted World; M. Ward, Post-War; Mac DeMarco,
Salad Days; Stars, Set Yourself on Fire; The Avalanches, Since I Left You; The
Magnetic Fields, 69 Love Songs Vols. 1-3; Japancakes, The Sleepy Strange;
Slowdive, Slowdive; OutKast, Speakerboxxx/The Love Below; Arcade Fire, The
Suburbs; Paul Westerberg, Suicaine Gratification; Beach House, Teen Dream; Katy
Perry, Teenage Dream; Pavement, Terror Twilight; Blur, 13; The Go! Team,
Thunder, Lightning, Strike; Sukpatch, Tie Down That Shiny Wave; Interpol, Turn
on the Bright Lights; Rilo Kiley, Under the Blacklight; Vampire Weekend,
Vampire Weekend; Echo & The Bunnymen, What Are You Going to Do with Your
Life?; The White Stripes, White Blood Cells; The Star Room Boys, Why Do Lonely
Men and Women Want to Break Each Other's Hearts?;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Peter Bjorn and John, Writer's Block; Wilco,
Yankee Hotel Foxtrot; and Youth Lagoon, The Year of Hibernation</span><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">...and
then here are 50 tracks from the same time range that my iTunes Library claims
have been played a lot, listed in descending order of play count: Capital
Cities, “Safe and Sound”; Gorillaz, “On Melancholy Hill”; A.C. Newman, “I'm Not
Talking”; Calvin Harris, “Summer”; Vampire Weekend, “I Stand Corrected”; Lorde,
“Team”; The New Pornographers, “Crash Years”; Yo La Tengo, “You Can Have It
All”; MGMT, “Kids”; Ambulance Ltd, “Heavy Lifting”; Carly Rae Jepsen, “Call Me
Maybe”; The Exploding Hearts, “Throwaway Style”; M. Ward, “Poison Cup”; Ellie
Goulding, “Lights”; The Frank and Walters, “Something Happened to Me”; Katy
Perry, “Roar”; The Go! Team, “Bottle Rocket”; Madonna, “Hung Up”; Damon Albarn,
“The Marvelous Dream”; fun. with Janelle Monae, “We Are Young”; Badly Drawn Boy,
“Magic in the Air”; Lambchop, “The Lone Official”; Blur, “Sweet Song”; Glass
Candy, “Beautiful Object”; Beach House, “Other People”; Broken Bells,
“Vaporize”; Common, “Be”; Grizzly Bear, “Two Weeks”; Clem Snide, “</span><span style="color: #08458c; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Happy Birthday</span><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">”; Destroyer, “Savage Night at
the Opera”; Low, “California”; The National, “Apartment Story”; Wilco,
“Theologians”; Adele, “Rolling in the Deep”; Aimee Mann, “Pavlov's Bell”; Beth
Orton, “Shopping Trolley”; Feist, “I Feel It All”; Japancakes, “Soft N Ez”; The
Raveonettes, “Uncertain Times”; Belle and Sebastian, “I'm a Cuckoo”; Peter
Bjorn and John, “Objects of My Affection”; Ryan Adams, “Nuclear”; Stars,
“Reunion”; Tanlines, “Lost Somewhere”; We Are Scientists, “After Hours”; Arcade
Fire, “Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)”; Lana<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Del Rey, “Summertime Sadness”; Yann Tiersen,
“Fuck Me”; The Auburn University Marching Band, “War Eagle Fanfare & War
Eagle”; and Mali Music, “Sunset Coming On”</span><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Now
for the bonus: David asked, if he was making a 2010s Greatest Hits album, what
are three songs each of us thinks should be on it? My answer is:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Gorillaz,
“On Melancholy Hill”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Deerhunter,
“Desire Lines”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Destroyer,
“Savage Night At The Opera”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">….and,
if I can suggest a fourth, then probably Das Racist, “Combination Pizza Hut and
Taco Bell”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Jonas R, the Dean of Lewis<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Here
are my most essential for 2020:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Jenny Lewis,
On the Line<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Vampire
Weekend, Father of the Bride<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Karen
O and Danger Mouse, Lux Prima<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">New
Pornographers, In the Morse Code of Brake Lights<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">My Top
3 for the 2010s was much harder pare down:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Fun,
Some Nights<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Vampire
Weekend, Diane Young<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Rilo
Kiley, Let Me Back In<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Giles G finds color in a grey
area<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">1.
Little Simz - GREY Area<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">2.
Billie Eilish - When We All Fall Asleep<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">3.
Vampire Weekend - Father of the Bride<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #141414; mso-fareast-language: JA;">4.
Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds: <i>Ghosteen</i></span><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">5.
Tyler The Creator - IGOR<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Songs
for the 2010's Greatest Hits:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">1. LCD
Soundsystem - Dance Yrself Clean<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">2.
Lost - Frank Ocean<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">3.
Kanye West - Runaway<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">4.
Miley Cyrus - We Can't Stop<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">5. Kendrick
Lamar - Alright<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">I know
you said three, but, um, not possible, these five are the least I could bear.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Ben A Thinks We Need to Calm Down<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">(Oh,
my god...am I basic?)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Most
essential:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Taylor
Swift, Lover<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Noteworthy:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Billie
Eilish, When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Ariana
Grande, thank u, next<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Best
songs of the 2010s:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Lady
Gaga, Edge of Glory<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Taylor
Swift, Blank Space<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Nicki
Minaj, Starships<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Zach F’s Living for the Weekend<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Most
essential: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Vampire Weekend,
Father of the Bride<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Also terrific: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Sharon Van Etten,
Remind Me Tomorrow<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Sinkane, Dépaysé<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Billie Eilish, When
We All Fall Asleep...?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">The National, I Am
Easy to Find<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">This is Exactly How Raina T Feels<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #101010; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Obviously
most essential: </span><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #101010; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Lizzo, Cuz I Love You</span><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #101010; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Other
essentials:</span><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #101010; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Carly Rae Jepsen, Dedicated</span><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #101010; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Muna, Saves the World<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: #101010; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Andrea
R Picks the Tempo<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Best
Album<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Lizzo<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Best
song<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Old
Town Road - Lil Nas X<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Lizzo
- Truth Hurts<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Bonus
question:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Lizzo
- Truth Hurts<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Lil
Nas X - Old Town Road<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Taylor
Swift - Archer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Andrew E, Better in Color<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Album
of the Year: Lizzo, <i>Cuz I Love You</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">An
essential single: Florence + the Machine, “Jenny of Oldstones”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Bonus
question / Three essential songs from the 2010s:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Carly Rae Jepsen, “Call Me Maybe”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Scissor Sisters, “Let’s Have a Kiki”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Florence
+ the Machine, “Shake It Out”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Kate H Reminds Us of Tomorrow<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">My list
is short this year: my album of the year is Sharon Van Etten - Remind Me
Tomorrow, with a secondary vote for Lizzo - Cuz I Love You. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Emmanuel H Grooves When He Gets
Home<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Here's
what I was grooving to last year:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Solange,
When I Get Home<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Harry
Styles, Fine Line<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Taylor
Swift, Lover<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Karen O
& Danger Mouse, Lux Prima<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Danielle P Finds a Lover<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">This
year’s favs <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">1)
Lover - Taylor Swift <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">2) Old
Town Road <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">3) Bad
Guy - Billie Ellish<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Decade
- too hard!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">But some
fav albums - Beyoncé, Lemonade; Red, TaylorSwift<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Nick E is in league with dragons<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #353535; mso-fareast-language: JA;">This
year two of my favorite bands had new albums that just didn’t do much for me!
(Belle & Sebastian and Bon Iver.) But maybe they’ll grow on me in the
months ahead. In the meantime, here’s what I’ve been enjoying.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #353535; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Favorite
Albums<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #353535; mso-fareast-language: JA;">The
Mountain Goats, In League with Dragons<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #353535; mso-fareast-language: JA;">The
Gloaming, The Gloaming 3<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #353535; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Calexico
and Iron & Wine, Years to Burn<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #353535; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Takenobu,
Conclusion<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #353535; mso-fareast-language: JA;">The
Ballet, Matchy Matchy<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #353535; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Favorite
Singles<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #353535; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Kygo
& Whitney Houston, “Higher Love”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #353535; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Liz
Phair, “Good Side”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #353535; mso-fareast-language: JA;">William
Fitzsimmons, “What Kind of Love Is Like That”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #353535; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Perfume
Genius, “Pop Song”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #353535; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Florence
+ The Machine, “Jenny of Oldstones”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #353535; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Greatest
Hit of the 2010s<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #353535; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Carly
Rae Jepsen, “Call Me Maybe”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Sarah D Shares Some
Happiness<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">It’s
been a while since I’ve been in a David Poll because I was stuck in a music
rut. But I finally got Spotify so….<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Essential
Album:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Jonas
Brothers, Happiness Begins. I took my daughter to a JoBro concert when
she was in middle school. Now she’s grown up and so have they, and she and I
both love this album!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Other
essentials of 2019:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">This
Land - Gary Clarke Jr<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Cuz I
Love You - Lizzo<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Found
by me in 2019 but albums in 2017 and 18<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Mas
Profundo and Sirocco by Bruxas<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">I
can’t listen to mustic with words when I write, and the “phazed-out, tropical
synths” of Bruxas provide just the right soundtrack for blocking out loud
obnoxious people on the train! : )<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jonathan V’s
Geography of 2019<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Full
disclosure, I spent most of this year in a state of "will my house close
or am I going to be living in this Motel 6 in perpetuity," so I listened
to A LOT of music from previous years to stay grounded, and as a result there's
not much new music for me to suggest this year! Listened to lots and lots and
lots of Boards of Canada, though.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">With
that caveat out of the way, here are my 2019 favorite albums, with my favorite
at the top:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Chemical
Brothers, No Geography<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">White
Lies, Five<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">All
Tvvins, Just to Exist<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Navvi,
2502<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Beirut,
Gallipoli<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Andrew
Bayer, In My Next Life<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Mansionair,
Shadowboxer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Shlohmo,
The End<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">As for
my three best tracks for the 2010s:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">HEALTH,
High Pressure Dave<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Hundred
Waters, Murmurs<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Andy
Stott, Violence<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Kari L Pounces for Pumas<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">1:
Black Pumas, Black Pumas<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">2:
Lizzo, Juice<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">3.
Brittany Howard, Jaime<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">4.
Billie Eilish, When We All Fall Asleep...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">5.
Andrew Bird, My Finest Work Yet<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">6.
Michael Kiwanuka, Kiwanuka<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: JA;">2010 Greatest Hits!</span><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Arcade
Fire, Suburbs - for getting the drama right on the dramatic scene...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Black
Keys, Tighten Up - for writing break dance-offs<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Broken
Bells - Vaporize - listen to that organ<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Goldy M had this one Taylor-made<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">These
got the most replays:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Taylor
Swift, Lover<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Billie
Eilish, when we fall asleep...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Lizzo,
cuz I love you<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Lana
del Rey, NFR<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Hozier,
Wasteland, baby!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Tyler G’s Norman Period<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">My top
five:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">1,
Lana Del Rey, Norman Fucking Rockwell<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">2.
Weyes Blood, Titanic Rising<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">3.
Ariana Grande, Thank U Next<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">4.
Charli XCX, Charli<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">5. Angel
Olsen, All Mirrors<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Wilson R’s three songs from the
‘10s<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Fitz
and the Tantrums, Walker <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Third
Eye Blind, Company of Strangers<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Imagine
Dragons, It’s Time<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Kristin E’s three songs from the
‘10s<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Gorillaz,
Melancholy Hill<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">A. C.
Newman, I’m Not Talking<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Echo
Friendly, Same Mistakes<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">And if
I were selecting a song that happened to be used on a car commercial but had
personal significance:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Safe
and Sound, Capital Cities<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When they go low, Carrie N Goes High<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<u style="text-underline: #181817;"><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Best (tie):</span></u><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">The
Highwomen, THE HIGHWOMEN<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Anderson
.Paak, VENTURA<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<u style="text-underline: #181817;"><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Honorable Mention (in no particular order):</span></u><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Brittany
Howard, JAIME<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Maggie
Rogers, HEARD IT IN A PAST LIFE<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Hozier,
WASTELAND, BABY!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Tyler,
the Creator, IGOR<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Billie
Eilish, WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Rachael
& Vilray, RACHAEL & VILRAY<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Dean B Goes for the Gold<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Top
Albums of 2019<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">1.
David Gray, Gold in a Brass Age<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">2.
Thom Yorke, ANIMA<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">3. The
Flaming Lips, King’s Mouth: Music and Songs<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">4. Various,
Tiny Changes: A Celebration of Frightened Rabbit’s Midnight Organ Flight<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">5.
Pete Yorn, Caretakers<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">6.
Citizen Cope, Heroin and Helicopters<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">7.
Tool, Fear Inoculum<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">8.
Beirut, Gallipoli<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">9. The
National, I Am Easy to Find<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">10.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bon Iver, I, i<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Top 10
Songs of the 2010s<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">1.
Childish Gambino, “This is America”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">2.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kanye, “Runaway”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">3.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Frightened Rabbit, “The Loneliness and the
Scream”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">4.
Fink, “Looking Too Closely”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">5.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Liars, “Left Speaker Blown”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">6.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bon Iver, “Holocene”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">7.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Neil Young & Crazy Horse, “Driftin’ Back”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">8.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Radiohead, “Lotus Flower”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">9.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Frank Ocean, “Pyramids”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">10.
Nine Inch Nails, “The Background World”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Glenn B Wakes up to
Asleep<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; font-family: SegoeUI; mso-bidi-font-family: SegoeUI; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Late as hell this year- Maybe
‘cause I’m turning into one of those people who listen to podcasts (?!!!)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; font-family: SegoeUI; mso-bidi-font-family: SegoeUI; mso-fareast-language: JA;">I didn’t find much out there
last year- not sure if I can find 10 albums- I’ll give it a go.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; font-family: SegoeUI; mso-bidi-font-family: SegoeUI; mso-fareast-language: JA;">1) Billie Eilish WHEN WE ALL
FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; font-family: SegoeUI; mso-bidi-font-family: SegoeUI; mso-fareast-language: JA;">2) Beck- Hyperspace<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; font-family: SegoeUI; mso-bidi-font-family: SegoeUI; mso-fareast-language: JA;">3) elbow- Giants Of All
Sizes <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; font-family: SegoeUI; mso-bidi-font-family: SegoeUI; mso-fareast-language: JA;">4) Foals- Part 1 Everything Not
Saved Will Be Lost<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; font-family: SegoeUI; mso-bidi-font-family: SegoeUI; mso-fareast-language: JA;">5) Lizzo- Cuz I Love You<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; font-family: SegoeUI; mso-bidi-font-family: SegoeUI; mso-fareast-language: JA;">6) Prince- Originals<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; font-family: SegoeUI; mso-bidi-font-family: SegoeUI; mso-fareast-language: JA;">7) Vampire Weekend- Father Of
The Bride<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #181817; font-family: SegoeUI; mso-bidi-font-family: SegoeUI; mso-fareast-language: JA;">I guess that’s all I got- looking
forward to seeing what other people picked so I can listen to newer music!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #181817; font-family: SegoeUI; mso-bidi-font-family: SegoeUI; mso-fareast-language: JA;">To Dan P, Patty takes the cake<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Okay,
here's my list. I liked a whole lot of new music this year. This album is my
essential:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Patty
Griffin, Patty Griffin<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Others
in no order: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Ingrid
Michaelson, Stranger Songs<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Sara
Bareilles, Amidst the Chaos<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Charly
Bliss, Young Enough<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Maggie
Rogers, Heard It in a Past Life<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">The
National, I Am Easy to Find<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Vampire
Weekend, Father of the Bride<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Taylor
Swift, Lover<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Carly
Rae Jepsen, Dedicated<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">An
essential album from a year past that I missed:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Emily Brown,
Bee Eater<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Lawrence U Says It<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Albums:</span><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">1. Heard It In A
Past Life by Maggie Rogers<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">2. Busyhead by Noah
Kahan<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">3. Stranger Songs by
Ingrid Michaelson<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">4. Palo Santo by
Years and Years<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">5. Without Fear
by Dermot Kennedy<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">6. Shawn Mendes by
Shawn Mendes<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">7. Léon by
Léon <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">8. Sucker Punch by
Sigrid<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">9. Lover by Taylor
Swift<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">10. A Place We Knew
by Dean Lewis<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">11. Divinely
Uninspired To A Hellish Extent by Lewis Capaldi<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Songs:</span><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">1. Say It by Maggie
Rogers<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">2. False Confidence
by Noah Kahan<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">3. Jealous by Ingrid
Michaelson
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">4. If You're Over Me
by Years and Years<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">5.
Outnumbered by Dermot Kennedy<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">6. Nervous by Shawn
Mendes<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">7. You And I by Léon<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">8. Don't Kill My
Vibe by Sigrid<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">9. ME! by Taylor
Swift (feat. Brendon Urie)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">10. Waves by Dean
Lewis<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">11. Bruises by Lewis
Capaldi<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Bonus: Favourite Ex
by Maisie Peters<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Bonus: Actu<span style="color: #181817;">ally by Valerie Broussard<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Billy M is a Lover Lover<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Most
essential:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Lover
by Taylor Swift<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Essential:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Rapture
by Koffee<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Truth
Is by Sabrina Claudio<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">El Mal
Querer by Rosalía (officially 2018)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Lion
King: The Gift by Beyoncé<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Bobby
Gentry’s Delta Sweete Revisited by Mercury Rev<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">High
Expectations by Mabel<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Remind
me Tomorrow by Sharon Van Etten<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #181817; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Forever
Neverland by Mø (officially 2018)</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />davidlevithanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00762768300871943772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1509734071563017124.post-5222017103899682972019-02-05T15:16:00.001-08:002019-02-05T15:17:54.830-08:00The 2018 David Music Poll Results<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">THE 2018 David Music
Poll Results<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">1)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Janelle Monae, Dirty Computer (17 votes)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">2)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kacey Musgraves, Golden Hour (11)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">3)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>boygenius (Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers,
Lucy Dacus), boygenius (9)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cardi B, Invasion of Privacy (9)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">5)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Brandi Carlile, By the Way I Forgive You (8)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Robyn, Honey (8)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">7)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Years & Years, Palo Santo (7)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">8)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Courtney Barnett, Tell Me How You Really Feel
(6)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Beach House, 7<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(6)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Troye Sivan, Bloom (6)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Honorable
mention:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Neko Case, Hell-On; Drake,
Scorpion; Snail Mail, Lush; The Decemberists, I’Il Be Your Girl<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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NOTES:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is
Janelle Monae’s third appearance on the music poll, and her first on top.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Beach House has also been a regular fixture
here, and amazingly this is Brandi Carlile’s first trip into the top ten.
(Robyn, Courtney Barnett, and Years & Years are making their second
appearances.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Interestingly, there isn’t
a single debut in the top ten – you have to go to the honorable mentions to find
Snail Mail, who had the top debut.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also
interesting:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the majority of artists on
the list are out queer artists, which is definitely a first.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<br />
Now, to the individual lists....<br />
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">My List Makes Me <i>Feel</i><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">For
2018:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Most
essential albums:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">1)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Janelle Monae, Dirty Computer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">So
brilliant in its audacity, and so audacious in its brilliance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So personal in its politics, and so political
as it explores the personal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the
music is spectacular.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It floored me from
the first time I heard it, and is a fantastic argument in our single-fragmented
world for the power of a bold, cohesive album.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">2)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>boygenius, boygenius EP<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Julien
Baker, Phoebe Bridgers, and Lucy Dacus combine forces and create a harmonious
pendulum on which to swing between bravado and despair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, in truth, Lucy Dacus’s Historian came
close to making this list, Julien Baker’s Turn Off the Lights was my favorite
album last year and was probably still the album I listened to the most this
year, and Phoebe Bridgers didn’t make an impact on my playlists before
boygenius, but then I went back and re-listened and am now a big fan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also, their Election Night concert at Brooklyn
Steel was one of my favorites of the year.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">3)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Brandi Carlile, By the Way I Forgive You<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Brandi
Carlile keeps getting better with each album, and this is the high point,
album-wise, so far.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">4)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Frank Turner, Be More Kind<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">I’m
not entirely sure how a British folkpunk singer managed to articulate the
agitas of the Trump era better than most, but Frank Turner nails it on this
album, including the masterful “!933” and “Make America Great Again”
(lyric:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Make America great again / by
making racists ashamed again.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">5)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Courtney Barnett, Tell Me How You Really Feel<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Because
sometimes you want a really clever rock-out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">6)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>George Ezra, Staying at Tamara’s<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Because
sometimes you want a tuneful pick-me-up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Most
essential songs:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">“Night
Shift” by Lucy Dacus<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">“Light
On” by Maggie Rogers<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">“1933”
by Frank Turner<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">“Schedules”
by Sigrid<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">“Rainbow”
by Kacey Musgraves<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">“Make
Me Feel” by Janelle Monae<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">For
1999-2018<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">My
five favorite albums:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Robyn,
Body Talk<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Death
Cab for Cutie, Transatlanticism<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">The
Postal Service, Give Up<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Lorde,
Pure Heroine<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Florence
and the Machine, Lungs<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">The
next seven:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Sufjan
Stevens, Carrie and Lowell<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Soundtrack,
Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">The
National, Boxer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Bon
Iver, For Emma, Forever Ago<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">The
Killers, Hot Fuss<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Patty
Griffin, 1000 Kisses<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">The
Decemberists, The Crane Wife<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Some
bad calls over the past twenty years:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Among
the albums that didn’t make my annual lists that should have:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Carly
Rae Jepsen, Emotion<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Bon
Iver, For Emma, Forever Ago<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Sufjan
Stevens, Illinois(e)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">The
most dubious calls for top album of the year:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Bloc
Party edged out The National in 2008.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Both albums hold up, but Boxer is better. Also, there’s no excuse for
2009.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I put Snow Patrol over The
Decemberists’ The Crane Wife and Regina Spektor’s Begin to Hope?!?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still like Snow Patrol. But really.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Jaclyn D has the Vide
of her Life<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">This was the year I hooked up my
record player, and I’ve mostly been listening to old vinyl, but I do have two
albums to throw into the 2018 vote:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">1. Lord Huron--Vide Noir<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">2. MGMT--Little Dark Age<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">My Top Five Albums of the last 20
years (only 5…ugh, that is hard), not super in order:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Lord Huron—Strange Trails<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">The Black Keys—El Camino<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Lost in Translation Soundtrack<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Arcade Fire—Reflektor<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">MGMT—Oracular Spectacular<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Andrew E’s New High<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Part
One: <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Essential Albums
of 2018:<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<ol start="1" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l5 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Florence
+ the Machine, High as Hope<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l5 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Mitski,
Be the Cowboy<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l5 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Years
and Years, Palo Santo<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ol>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Bonus Notable
Singles:<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<ol start="1" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Carly
Rae Jepsen, "Party for One,"<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Troye
Sivan, "Strawberries and Cigarettes"<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ol>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Part Two:<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<ol start="1" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l7 level1 lfo3; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Florence
+ the Machine, Ceremonials AND Florence + the Machine, Lungs (Cheating,
sorry, can't help it)<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l7 level1 lfo3; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Lorde,
Pure Heroine<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l7 level1 lfo3; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Regina
Spektor, Begin to Hope<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l7 level1 lfo3; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Robyn,
Body Talk<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l7 level1 lfo3; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Mika,
Life in Cartoon Motion<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ol>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Lucy C Hails the Queens<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">OK,
my fav album of 2018 was - <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Christine
and the Queens, Chris (the French version preferably!)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Top
Five of Past Twenty Years (TOO HARD!)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">1).
Bon Iver, For Emma, Forever ago <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">2).
Ryan Adams, Heartbreaker<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">3).
Sufjan Stevens, Carrie and Lowell<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">4).
La Amazones d'Afrique, Republic Amazone <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">5).
The Chemical Brothers, Surrender<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">I
also wanted "Neutral Milk Hotel, In the aeroplane over the sea" but I
think it might be just a touch too old? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Andrea R Comes Clean
About Dirty<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Janelle
Monae for everything. I don't know if I can pick a single from Dirty Computer
because the whole album is perfect. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Cora R Likes Coco<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">I only have 2 to submit this year. I
started listening to the first one at the beginning of the year, I loved it so
much I listened to little else HA!:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Young Fathers, Coco Sugar<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Rolling Blackouts, Costal Fever<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">20 years is interesting, some of my
old favourites have dated badly but others sound fresh, the freshest 5 are:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Radiohead, In Rainbows<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Daft Punk, Discovery <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Cut Copy, Bright Like Neon Love<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">LCD Soundsystem, LCD Soundsystem<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">The Avalancehes, Since I Left You<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Lucas K Stays Golden<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Hi
there! And the 20-est of 19's to you! I've been absent from these lists the
past couple of years (I blame Otto), but I'm back for the big one. With every
year I seem to get a little more country, Lord help me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="gmail-p1" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">1. Kacey Musgraves,
Golden Hour<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="gmail-p2" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">2. Lori McKenna, The
Tree<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="gmail-p2" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">3. Ralph, A Good Girl<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="gmail-p2" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">4. The Midnight, Kids<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="gmail-p2" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">5. Pistol Annies,
Interstate Gospel<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="gmail-p2" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">6. LANY, Malibu Nights<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="gmail-p2" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">7. Troye Sivan, Bloom<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="gmail-p2" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">8. The 1975, A Brief
Inquiry Into Online Relationships<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="gmail-p2" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">9. KYLE, Light of Mine<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="gmail-p2" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">10. St. Lucia, Hyperion<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="gmail-p2" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="gmail-p2" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">The favorite 5 of the
past 20 years is a hell of a request, but here is my best shot after thorough
consideration. Very heavily weighted toward early aughts (college-era) albums.
In no particular order:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="gmail-p2" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="gmail-p1" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Daft Punk, Discovery<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="gmail-p1" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Ben Folds, Rockin’ the
Suburbs<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="gmail-p1" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Saves the Day, Stay What
You Are<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="gmail-p1" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Kanye West, The College
Dropout<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="gmail-p1" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Carly Rae Jepsen,
Emotion<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="gmail-p1" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="gmail-p1" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">I don't have a great
answer to your first question. But I did note that, way back in 2011, I
predicted my selection of Yeasayer's <i>Odd Blood</i> would turn out to have
least staying power of any choice on that list, and I turned out to be very
correct!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Aaron W’s Sweet Tooth<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Ariana’s
Sweetener should top the list for sure!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Anna Q Forgives it All<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Brandi
Carlisle, By the Way I forgive you. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">That’s
all I’ve got this year because it’s so dominant in my life. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Zach F Waxes Brazilian<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">I
always look forward to this poll, David!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Most
essential albums:</span></u><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Brazilian
Girls, Let's Make Love (Very glad to have them back. Can't stop listening to
this. So much good feeling.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Christine
and the Queens, Chris <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Rosalía,
El Mal Querer <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">The
1975, A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships (Full disclosure: I have not
listened to this whole album, but the five or so tracks I have heard are
proving very difficult to shake!)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Favorite
5 of the last 20:</span></u><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">LCD
Soundsystem, American Dream<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Radiohead,
Hail to the Thief<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">TV
on the Radio, Return to Cookie Mountain<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Santigold,
Master of My Make Believe<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">The
Shins, Chutes Too Narrow <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Collin R’s Got Mail<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">MOST
ESSENTIAL ALBUM OF 2018<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Snail
Mail, Lush<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">TOP
ALBUMS OF 2018 (in no particular order)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Kacey
Musgraves, Golden Hour<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Lucy
Dacus, Historian<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Julien
Baker, Phoebe Bridgers, Lucy Dacus, boygenius<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Soccer
Mommy, Clean<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Frankie
Cosmos, Vessel<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Anna
Meredith, Eighth Grade (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Christine
and the Queens, Chris<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Mitski,
Be the Cowboy<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Courtney
Barnett, Tell Me How You Really Feel<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">BROCKHAMPTON,
Iridescence <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">cupcakKe,
Eden<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">HONORABLE
MENTIONS<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Geotic,
Traversa <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">SOPHIE,
OIL OF EVERY PEARL'S UN-INSIDES<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Robyn,
Honey<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">The
Decemberists, I'll Be Your Girl<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Kim
Petras, TURN OFF THE LIGHT, VOL. 1<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Brent G’s Lush Life<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">1.
Snail Mail - Lush<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">2.
The Internet - Hive Mind<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">3.
Kacey Musgraves - Golden Hour<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">4.
Post Malone - Beerbongs and Bently's<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">5.
Lithics - Mating Surfaces<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">6.
Momma - Interloper<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">7.
Mac Miller - Swimming<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">8.
Kids See Ghosts - Kids See Ghosts<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">9.
DRMCTHR - Hold Your Love<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">10.
Ex:Re - Ex:Re<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Bill K’s Computer Won’t
Crash<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">This
may be the first year that my top album is also THE top album of the list! I'm
so excited by that possibility. Alas, Haley Reinhart didn't have an album this
year, so that helps.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Album
of the Year: Janelle Monae, Dirty Computer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Other
Essential Albums: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Brandi
Carlisle, By the Way, I Forgive You<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Family
of the Year, Goodbye Sunshine, Hello Nighttime<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Other
Essential Tracks:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">St.
Vincent, Los Ageless<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Lady
Gaga and Bradley Cooper, Shallow<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Julien
Baker, Turn Out the Lights<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Haley
Reinhart, I Don't Know How to Love You<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Favorite
Five Albums of the Last 20 Years:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">I
can't possibly narrow it down to under 6...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">6.
Mika, Life in Cartoon Motion<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">5.
Haley Reinhart, Better<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">4.
Aimee Mann, Lost in Space<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">3.
Scissor Sisters, Night Work <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">2.
Ben Folds, Rockin' the Suburbs<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">1.
Rufus Wainwright, Want One<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Kate H Chimes In<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">part one: 2018</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">*Dessa,
Chime<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">boygenius,
boygenius<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Camp
Cope, How to Socialise & Make Friends<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Wye
Oak, The Louder I Call The Faster It Runs<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Prince,
Piano and a Microphone 1983<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">honorable
mention:<br />
Janelle Monae, Dirty Computer <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Big
Red Machine, Big Red Machine <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">part two: past 20</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">top
5 1999-2019:</span></i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Radiohead,
Kid A (2000)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Beck,
Guero (2005)<br />
The National, Boxer (2007)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Bon
Iver, Bon Iver (2011)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Beyonce,
Lemonade (2016)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">honorable
mentions:</span></i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">PJ
Harvey Stories From the City, Stories From the Sea (2000)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Grizzly
Bear, Veckatimest (2009)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Wye
Oak, Civilian (2011) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">The
Staves, If I Was (2015) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">should
have listed in the past:</span></i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Sylvan
Esso, Hey Mami (2014)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Polica,
Shulamith (2013)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Wye
Oak, Civilian (2011)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">The
Staves, If I Was (2015)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Sylvan
Esso, What Now (2017)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">shouldn't
have picked:</span></i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br />
I stand by my musical decisions. Even the bad ones.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Jim D’s Untwisted Logic<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">- Logic, YSIV<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">- Young Fathers, Cocoa Sugar<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">- DeVotchka, This Night Falls
Forever<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">- Post Malone, Beerbongs &
Bentleys <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">- White Denim, Performance <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">- Dirty Projectors, Lamp Lit Prose<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">- Blood Orange, Negro Swan<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Shelly R Comes Full
Circle<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Part 1:<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">A
Perfect Circle, Eat The Elephant<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">After
a thirteen year hiatus, this supergroup returned with a kickass album
commenting on the state of politics, society, technology’s overuse, and more. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Part 2: <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">In
no order at all…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">AFI,
Sing the Sorrow<br />
Beyoncé, Lemonade<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Arctic
Monkeys, AM<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">My
Chemical Romance, The Black Parade<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Stromae,
Racine Carrée <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Roberto R’s Like a Bee
To…<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">ROBYN,
HONEY!!!!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Michael T Likes His
Privacy<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Part 1. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Essential album of 2018:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Cardi B, Invasion of Privacy.
Really aren’t any contenders that come close, but I’d put <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">2. Drake, Scorpion (mainly for God’s
Plan)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">3. The Carters, Everything is Love
(mainly for Friends).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Singles I liked a lot in no
particular order:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Charli XCX and Troye Sivan, “1999”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Beach House, “Dive”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Ariana Grande, “Thank U Next”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Childish Gambino, “This Is America”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Panic! At the Disco, “High Hopes” (a
stupid sugar rush of a banger / shite anthem that always lifted me up with its
goofy positivity) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Part 2.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Essential albums of the last 20
years:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">1. Belle and Sebastian, Dear
Catastrophe Waitress <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">2. The National, Boxer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">3. Vampire Weekend, Modern Vampires
of the City<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">4. Missy Elliott, Under Construction<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">5. Andrew Bird, Armchair Apocrypha<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Jessica S Votes Pink<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">#1:
Janelle Monae, Dirty Computer <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Notable
mentions:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Dessa,
Chime<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Florence +
The Machine, High as Hope<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Brian M’s Nonteenage
Wasteland<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Twenty
years! Crazy:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Here's
my 2018 List.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Most
Essential:</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Uncle
Acid & The Deadbeats, Wasteland<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Essential:</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Mystic
Braves, The Great Unknown<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">The
Decemberists, I'll Be Your Girl<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">The
Good, The Bad & The Queen, Merrie Land<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">L.A.
Witch, Octubre<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Green
Seagull, Scarlet Fever<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Sleep,
The Sciences<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Ryley
Walker, Deafman Glance<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Amrand
Hammer, Paraffin<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Holly
Mirance, Mutual Horse<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Bill
Ryder-Jones, Yawn<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Jordaan
Mason, Earth to Ursa Major<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Ty
Segall, Freedom's Goblin<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Black
Thought, Streams of Thought Vol. 1 & Vol. 2<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Brian
Jonestown Massacre, Something Else<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Gorillaz,
The Now Now<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Richard
Swift, The Hex<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">T.
Hardy Morris, Dude The Obscure<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">The
Growlers, Casual Acquanitences<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Emma
Ruth Rundle, On Dark Horses<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Cat
Power, Wanderer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">I
could literally spend days trying to come up with ten favorite albums of the
last 20 years, but I'm going to go with a gut feeling and instinct. Here's 15
of the best from the last decade:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Manic
Street Preachers, Journal for Plague Lovers<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Portugal
the Man, The Majestic Majesty<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Guns
N Roses, Chinese Democracy<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">The
Mars Volta, Amputecture<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Uncle
Acid & The Deadbeats, The Night Creeper<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">The
Decemberists, The Crane Wife<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Sunset
Rubdown, Shut Up I Am Dreaming<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Elvis
Perkins, Ash Wednesday<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Queenadreena,
The Butcher and the Butterfly<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Thee
Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra, Horses in the Sky<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">John
Frusciante, Inside of Emptiness<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">The
Icarus Line, Penance Soiree<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Kings
of Leon, Youth & Young Manhood<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">White
Stripes, White Blood Cells<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Madrugada,
The Nightly Disease<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Samantha P’s Computer
Runs Well<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">1) Janelle Monáe, Dirty
Computer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">2) Cat Power, Wanderer <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">3) Mitski, Be the Cowboy<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">4) Young Fathers, Cocoa Sugar<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">5) Neko Case, Hell-On<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">6) Courtney Barnett, Tell Me
How You Really Feel<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">7) Drake, Scorpion<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Scott T Hasn’t
Forgotten<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Part, The First</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">2018 Most Essential</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">ionnalee, everyone afraid to be
forgotten<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Other Essential</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Mage, Facets<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Dead Can Dance, Dionysus<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Essential Discoveries in 2018</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Night Drive, Night Drive (2017)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Neurotech, Stigma (2015)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Favorite Songs of 2018</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Alice Merton, No Roots<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">The Orb, Rush Hill Road<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Night Music, Where I End and You
Begin<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">ionnalee, Not Human<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Panic! At the Disco, Say Amen
(Saturday Night)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Santigold, Run the Road<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Solarstone, Motif<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Lily Allen, What You Waiting For<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Franz Ferdinand, Feel the Love Go<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Part, The Second</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Gosh, very difficult ask. Five
albums for 20 years? I'm going to need to cheat. But I will limit
each artist to only one appearance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">My Top 5 Albums (1999 - 2018)</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Austra, Feel It Break (2011)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Avalanches, Since I Left You (2000)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Cut Copy, In Ghost Colors (2008)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Freezepop, Fancy Ultra Fresh (2004)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Royksopp, Junior (2009)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">My Top 5 That I think Other Folks in
Your Poll Could Vote For</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">The Drums, Portamento (2011)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Franz Ferdinand, Franz Ferdinand
(2005)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">M83, Before the Dawn Heals Us (2004)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Moby, Play (1999)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">The Shins, Oh Inverted World (2001)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">My Top 10 Dance Albums</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Above & Beyond, Tri-State (2006)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Breakshift, All the Dreams You Never
Had (2011)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Gareth Emery, Northern Lights (2010)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">LTJ Bukem, Producer 01 (2001)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Michael Cassette, Temporarity (2010)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Orkidea, Harmonia (2015)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Super8 & Tab, Empire (2010)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Tiesto, Just Be (2004)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Paul Van Dyk, Out There and Back
(2000)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Way Out West, Don't Look Back (2004)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Honourable Mentions</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Bag Raiders, Bag Raiders (2010)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Bent, Programmed to Love (2001)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Disclosure, Settle (2013)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Editors, The Back Room (2005)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Easy Access Orchestra, Easy Access
Orchestra (2001)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Everything But the Girl,
Temperamental (1999)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Faithless, Sunday 8pm (1999)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Gold Fields, Black Sun (2013)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Ladytron, Light & Magic (2002)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Night Music, Night Music (2017)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Real Estate, Days (2011)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Santigold, Master of My Make-Believe
(2012)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Stereolab, Margarine Eclipse (2004)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Underworld, A Hundred Days Off
(2002)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">UNKLE, Never Never Land (2004)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">White Lies, Big TV (2013)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Graver’s Expression of
Genius<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">HERE
WE GO:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">PART
ONE</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br />
<b><br />
Most Essential Albums 2018:</b><br />
<br />
boygenius, boygenius<br />
Troye Sivan, Bloom<br />
Janelle Monae, Dirty Computer<br />
St. Vincent, MassEducation<br />
serpentwithfeet, soil<br />
<br />
<b>Best Singles of 2018</b><br />
<br />
This is America by Childish Gambino<br />
Mariners Apartment Complex by Lana Del Rey<br />
Ghost Town by Kanye West<br />
thank u, next by Ariana Grande<br />
Birdsong by Regina Spektor<br />
Time by Angelo De Augustine<br />
Hell by Slow Hollows (video version only)<br />
Save Me by Liz Vice<br />
Honey by Robyn<br />
Woman by Cat Power<br />
<br />
<b>PART TWO</b><br />
<b><br />
Favorite Five Albums of the Past 20 Years:</b><br />
<br />
The Strokes, Is This It (2001)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Fiona
Apple, When the Pawn... (1999)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Arcade
Fire, Funeral (2004)<br />
Franz Ferdinand, Franz Ferdinand (2004)<br />
Au Revoir Simone, Still Night, Still Light (2009)<br />
<br />
This was so hard why did you make us do this?<br />
<br />
I reviewed my selections back to 2012 and I stand by them!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Bryant P Isn’t Holding
Back the Years<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Most
Essential Album:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Years
& Years, Palo Santo<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Other
Essential Albums:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">The
Decemberists, I’ll Be Your Girl<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">CHVRCHES,
Love Is Dead<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Okkervil
River, In the Rainbow Rain<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Andrew F’s Happy Hour<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">I seem to have a type:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Most Essential:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Kacey Musgraves, Golden Hour<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Other Essential;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Pistol Annies, Interstate Gospel<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Ashley McBryde, Girl Going Nowhere<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Brandi Carlile, By the Way, I
Forgive You<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Robyn, Honey<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Teri Y’s Bloomsday<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Troye
Sivan, Bloom<br />
Betty Who, Betty, Pt. 1<br />
Years & Years, Palo Santo<br />
Morgxn, Vital<br />
The Struts, Young & Dangerous<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Robyn,
Honey<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Jukebox
the Ghost, Off to the Races<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Favorites
from the last twenty years... that's a tough one. So many amazing artists,
songs and albums. I'm going to go with the one complete album that I have never
stopped listening to since it came out...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Robyn,
Body Talk<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Sarah M Gives Thanks<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Part
One:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">The
Most Essential: Death Cab for Cutie, Thank You for Today<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Other
Essential Albums:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Lauren
Daigle, Look Up Child<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">The
Kooks, Let’s Go Sunshine<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Hobo
Johnson, NPR Tiny Desk Concert<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Kacey
Musgraves, Golden Hour<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Anderson
Paak, Oxnard<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Part
Two, the past 20 years:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Kings
of Leon, Only By The Night<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">The
Postal Service, Give Up<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Britney
Spears, …Baby One More Time<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">OutKast,
Stankonia<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Bon
Iver, For Emma, Forever Ago<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Kristin E Says La Vie<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Phosphorescent,
C’est la vie<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Matthue R Wants to Hear
About Everyone Who Wants to be Famous<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Most
Essential:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Superorganism,
Superorganism<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">I
love this album! No, actually. When I really want to listen to SORGM, I look up
their Tiny Desk Concert, their little 15-minute Youtube concerts, but I listen
to this album partly because I feel the need to support them financially in my
limited way, and partly because there's a magic to the songs live, and to the
banter of all 8 of these placid zygotelike adults, but apparently they were
originally written and recorded in separate parts, in a studio in their shared
apartment that was too small to hold them all, and some part of the creative
collaborative magic that helped them is located here, inside this LP. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">And
featuring:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Noname,
Room 25<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">The
Decemberists, I'll Be Your Girl<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Mitski,
Be the Cowboy<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">The
Carters, Everything Is Love<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Nine
Inch Nails, Bad Witch<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Beach
House, 7<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Twin
Peaks season 3 soundtrack<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">PART
2:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">The
Decemberists, The Crane Wife<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Sleater-Kinney,
All Hands on the Bad One<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Janelle
Monae, The Archandroid<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Bruce
Springsteen, The Rising<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Regina
Spektor, Begin to Hope<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Jonas R Reaches for the
Unlimited<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Essential 2018</span></u><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">U.S.
Girls, In a Poem Unlimited<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">The
Decemberists, I’ll Be Your Girl<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Eternal
Summers, Every Day It Feel Like I’m Dying…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Pete
Yorn and Scarlett Johansson, Apart<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Courtney
Barnett, Tell Me How You Really Feel<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Dirty
Projectors, Lamp Lit Prose<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">The
Watson Twins, Duo<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Charles
Lloyd & The Marvels, Vanished Gardens<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Matt
and Kim, ALMOST EVERYDAY<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Neko
Case, Hell On<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">The
Past 20 Years List</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Father
John Misty, Fear Fun<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Courtney
Barnett, The Double EP: A Sea of Split Peas<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Rilo
Kiley, rkives<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Whispertown
2000, Swim<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Steve
Martin & Edie Brickell, Love Has Come For You<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Vampire
Weekend, Modern Vampires of the City<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Original
Cast Album, Hamilton<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Fun,
Some Nights<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Best
Coast, The Only Place<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Amy
Lavere, Stranger Me<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Jenny
Lewis & The Watson Twins, Rabbit Fur Coat<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Spoon,
Hot Thoughts<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Anica R, Simply the
Best<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">With
zero bias, my top albums of 2018:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">1.
Owen Lake and the Tragic Loves, The Best of Your Lies<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">2.
Jeff Snyder, Sunspots<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">3.
Jeff Snyder, Concerning the Nature of Things<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">4.
Jeff Snyder and Federico Ughi, Duo<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">5.
Wet Ink Ensemble, Wet Ink: 20<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">6.
Listening Group, Listening Group<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Giles G Parties Like
It’s 1975<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">2018
LIST<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">1. The
1975 - A Brief Inquiry into Online Relationships<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">2.
Brandi Carlile, By The Way, I Forgive You<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">3.
Janelle Monae, Dirty Computer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">4.
Kids See Ghosts, Kids See Ghosts<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">5.
Noname, Room 25<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">6.
Courtney Barnett, Tell Me How You Really Feel<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">7.
Soccer Mommy, Clean<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">8.
Octavian, Spaceman<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">9.
Kurt Vile, Bottle It In<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">10.
Father John Misty, God's Favorite Customer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">20
YEAR LIST<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">This
can't be done in 5 picks, though frankly I'm not sure if 10 picks make it
easier of harder, but here goes:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">1.
Radiohead, Kid A<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">2.
Arctic Monkeys, Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">3.
Kanye West, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">4.
LCD Soundsystem, Sound of Silver<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">5.
Kendrick Lamar, To Pimp A Butterfly<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">6.
Amy Winehouse, Back to Black<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">7.
Jay-Z, The Black Album<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">8.
Frank Ocean, Channel Orange<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">9.
Eminem, The Marshall Mathers LP<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">10.
Norah Jones, Come Away With Me<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">I'm
looking at the albums on my short list that didn't make the top ten, and
it is actually causing me pain. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">So
I’m just going to press send. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Jonathan V Keeps Love
Alive<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">The
big five from the past 20 years:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Radiohead,
KID A<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Songs
Ohia, MAGNOLIA ELECTRIC COMPANY<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">The
National, BOXER<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Arcade
Fire, FUNERAL<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">The
Knife, SILENT SHOUT<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">This
year:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">CHVRCHES,
LOVE IS DEAD<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Arctic
Monkeys, TRANQUILITY BASE HOTEL & CASINO<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Kids
See Ghosts, KIDS SEE GHOSTS EP<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">New
Optimism, AMAZON TO LEFRAK EP<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Andrew
Bayer, IN MY LAST LIFE<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Wild
Nothing, INDIGO<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Oneohtrix
Point Never, AGE OF<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Now,
Now, SAVED<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Superorganism,
SUPERORGANISM<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Shallou,
SOULS<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Billy M’s a Big Mø
(Fan)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">My
2018 List:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">*
Mø, Forever Neverland<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Anne-Marie,
Speak Your Mind<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Black
Panther Soundtrack<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Standout
singles:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">*Emotional
Oranges, “Motion”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">LSD,
“Thunderclouds” & “Audio” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Seinabo
Say, “I Owe You Nothing”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Top
5 of past 20 years:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">*
Ani DiFranco, Revelling/Reckoning (2001)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">*
Radiohead, Kid A (1999)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">*
Fiona Apple, When the Pawn (1999)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">*
Tori Amos, To Venus and Back (1999)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">*
Sufjan Stevens, Age of Adz (2010)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">(painful
not to list these, so I must...)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Beyonce,
Lemonade (2016)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Patty
Griffin, 1000 Kisses (2002)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Lauryn
Hill, MTV Unplugged No. 2.0 (2002)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Anais
Mitchell, Hadestown (2010)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Rufus
Wainwright, Want One (2003)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">The
Internet, Ego Death (2015)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Surprising
that I didn't catch onto the following albums in realtime, considering how
obsessed I am with them currently:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Amy
Winehouse, Back to Black (2007)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Erykah
Badu, Mama's Gun (2000)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Radiohead,
In Rainbows (2007)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Mø,
No Mythologies to Follow (2014)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Miley
Cyrus, Bangerz (2013)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Jaci M’s Violet
Flashback<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Here's my top five from the last 20
years. (I looked over my music and chose names that had immediate,
powerful emotional resonance, even if I don't listen to them so much any
more...)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br />
5. Florence & the Machine, Ceremonials<br />
4. Lorde, Melodrama <br />
3. Danger Mouse & Daniele Luppi, Rome <br />
2. Lana Del Rey, Lust for Life <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<ol start="1" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l8 level1 lfo4; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">The
National, High Violet <o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ol>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">(I'd have included a Gang of Youths
album here if I could have taken a selection from their albums and put them
together; and I should be including Arcade Fire<br />
but I seem to have turned against them lately. I'll send this now before
I remember more and start changing my mind...)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Jon S Knows What He Querer<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Here I am, once again joyfully not
contributing in any way to the larger poll. I will be delighted if any of them
make it anywhere near the top ten :) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Here are my votes for favorite album
of 2018:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l11 level1 lfo5; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Rosalía, <i>El
Mal Querer</i><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l11 level1 lfo5; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Yowler, <i>Black
Dog in My Path</i><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l11 level1 lfo5; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Kikagaku
Moyo, <i>Masana Temples</i> <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l11 level1 lfo5; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Krimewatch, <i>Krimewatch</i><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l11 level1 lfo5; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Unreqvited, <i>Mosaic
I: L’amour Et L’ardeur</i><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l11 level1 lfo5; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Zoe
Keating, <i>Snowmelt</i> <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l11 level1 lfo5; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Lana
Del Rabies, <i>Shadow World</i> <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l11 level1 lfo5; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Amnesia
Scanner, <i>Another Life</i> <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l11 level1 lfo5; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Superorganism, <i>Superorganism</i><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l11 level1 lfo5; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Primal
Rite, <i>Dirge of Escapism</i><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l11 level1 lfo5; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Snailmail,
Lush<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Albums I wish I’d discovered sooner
so I could have put them on previous years:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo6; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">upcdowncleftcrightcabc+start,
<i>And the Battle Is Won</i><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo6; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Myrkur,
<i>Mareridft</i><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo6; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Julien
Baker, <i>Sprained Ankle</i><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo6; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Nicole
Dollanganger, <i>Natural Born Losers</i><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo6; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Saintseneca<i>,
Dark Arc</i><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo6; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Hildur
Gudnadottir<i>, Without Sinking</i><o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Albums I regret listing in previous
years:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l3 level1 lfo7; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">I
regret none of them.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Karen A’s Fleet Foxes<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">2018<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Greta
Van Fleet, Anthem of the Peaceful Army<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Best
single of 2018<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Greta
Van Fleet, Lover, Leaver<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Last
20 years<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Moby,
Play <br />
Queens of the Stone Age, Songs for the Deaf <br />
Green Day, American Idiot<br />
Rodrigo y Gabriela, 11:11<br />
The Black Keys, Brothers <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Jacqueline Q’s Beach
Read<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">I
haven't participated in a few years but I'm back on it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Part
1: My favorite album this year was <b>Beach House, 7</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">
My favorite new artist is <b>Snail Mail, Lush</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Part
2: Top 5 albums of the past 20 years - are you serious? Let's see...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">
1. The Magnetic Fields, 69 Love Songs<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">
2. Radiohead, Kid A<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">
3. Le Tigre, Le Tigre <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">
4. Madonna, Confessions on a Dance
Floor <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">
5. Amy Winehouse, Back to Black <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Part
3: Top 6-10 albums of the past 20 years (I had to...) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">
6. Beck, Midnite Vultures<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">
7. School of Seven Bells, Disconnect from
Desire <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">
8. LCD Soundsystem, Sounds of Silver<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">
9. Yeah Yeah Yeah's, It's Blitz! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">
10. Hot Chip, In Our Heads <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Looking
at the past winners, a few things come to mind: I'm still listening to Kid A
like it was just released, Vampire Weekend too. The Postal Service was probably
the most influential album on the entire list for me, however it's one of those
albums that is so wrapped up in painful young adulthood, ex-boyfriends, and
general dysfunctional lifestyles that it has not lasted as an album I still
gravitate to today. Maybe one day I'll be able to stomach it again. <b>Happy
Polliversary! </b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Lawrence U Goes Beyond
the Palo<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">My list for 2018, plus some highlights from the past 20
years. SO MUCH great new music this year, but the following choices
definitely earned their spots according to my play count/history.
Every year I forget something that definitely deserves a mention but....
c'est la vie.</span><span style="color: #212121; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #212121; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Albums - 2018</span></b><span style="color: #212121; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<ol start="1" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #212121; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo18; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Years & Years, <i>Palo
Santo</i><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #212121; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo18; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Janelle Monáe, <i>Dirty
Computer</i><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #212121; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo18; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Vance Joy, <i>Nation of
Two</i><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #212121; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo18; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Christine and the Queens, <i>Chris</i><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #212121; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo18; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Shawn Mendes, <i>Shawn
Mendes</i><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #212121; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo18; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Troye Sivan, <i>Bloom</i><o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ol>
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<b><span style="color: #212121; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Singles - 2018</span></b><span style="color: #212121; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<ol start="1" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #212121; mso-list: l18 level1 lfo19; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Cruel Intentions Original
Cast, <i>Breakfast at Tiffany’s </i>(Might actually be 2019, but
show ended in 2018 so it counts... plus I'm obsessed and can't wait
for the full album 3/8). <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #212121; mso-list: l18 level1 lfo19; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Felicity, <i>Pilot with a
Fear of Heights</i><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #212121; mso-list: l18 level1 lfo19; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Maggie Rogers, <i>Fallingwater</i><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #212121; mso-list: l18 level1 lfo19; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Nightly, <i>Phantom</i><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #212121; mso-list: l18 level1 lfo19; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Sigrid, <i>High Five</i><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #212121; mso-list: l18 level1 lfo19; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Amy Shark, <i>All Loved Up</i><o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ol>
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<b><span style="color: #212121; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Some of the best from the past two decades!</span></b><span style="color: #212121; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<ol start="1" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #212121; mso-list: l14 level1 lfo20; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Adele, <i>25</i><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #212121; mso-list: l14 level1 lfo20; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Beach House, <i>Depression
Cherry</i><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #212121; mso-list: l14 level1 lfo20; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Amy Winehouse, <i>Back to
Black</i><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #212121; mso-list: l14 level1 lfo20; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">The Killlers, <i>Hot Fuss</i><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #212121; mso-list: l14 level1 lfo20; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Frank Ocean, <i>Channel
Orange</i><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #212121; mso-list: l14 level1 lfo20; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Vampire Weekend, <i>Modern
Vampires of the City</i><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #212121; mso-list: l14 level1 lfo20; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Bon Iver, <i>Bon Iver</i><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #212121; mso-list: l14 level1 lfo20; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Vance Joy, <i>Dream Your
Life Away</i><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #212121; mso-list: l14 level1 lfo20; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">M83, <i>Hurry Up, We’re
Dreaming</i><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #212121; mso-list: l14 level1 lfo20; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Arctic Monkeys, <i>AM</i><o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ol>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Chris K Donates His
Choices to Sciences<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Chris
Krovatin's 13 of '18<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<ol start="1" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l13 level1 lfo8; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Sleep - The Sciences<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l13 level1 lfo8; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Scumpulse - Rotten<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l13 level1 lfo8; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Khemmis - Desolation<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l13 level1 lfo8; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Slasher Dave - Frights<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l13 level1 lfo8; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Rebel Wizard - Voluptuous Worship Of
Rapture And Response<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l13 level1 lfo8; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Clutch - Book Of Bad Decisions<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l13 level1 lfo8; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Uada - Cult Of A Dying Sun<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l13 level1 lfo8; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Nekrofilth - Worm Ritual<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l13 level1 lfo8; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Carnation - Chapel Of Abhorrence<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l13 level1 lfo8; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">High On Fire - Electric Messiah<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l13 level1 lfo8; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Gama Bomb - Speed Between The Lines<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l13 level1 lfo8; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">VHS - The New Batch<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l13 level1 lfo8; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Baneful Storm - Invocations<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ol>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Charlie O Says Long
Live the Prince<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">PART
ONE: The 2018 List<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Prince
– Piano & A Microphone 1983<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Low
Roar – One In A Long, Long While<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Little
Dragon – Season High<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Janelle
Monae – Dirty Computer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">The
National – Sleep Well Beast<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Zebra
Katz – Drklng<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">PART
TWO: The Past 20 Years List<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">The
National – High Violet<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">LCD
Soundsystem – LCD Soundsystem<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Jeff
the Brotherhood – We Are The Champions<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Sufjan
Stevens - Illinois<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Radiohead
– Kid A<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">And
the on-repeat soundtrack of my mind palace: <span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext;"><a href="https://clicktime.symantec.com/37xa8dh311w8fVid4mj4bZz7Vc?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DCSpNJlYIhMA"><span style="color: windowtext;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSpNJlYIhMA</span></a></span></span>
</span><span style="font-family: "segoe ui symbol" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">😉</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Keirsten G’s House of
the Scorpion<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">I have not been listening to a lot
of new music this year but my son, Clyde did. You might note his influence on
my list this year.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Best,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">keirsten<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<ol start="1" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo9; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Drake,
Scorpion<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo9; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Travis
Scott, Astroworld<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo9; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Earl
Sweatshirt, Some Rap Songs<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ol>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Last 20 years!!! This is a bit
stressful but here goes nothing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">In no particular order:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<ol start="1" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l19 level1 lfo10; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Fiona
Apple, Extrodinary Machine<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l19 level1 lfo10; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Radiohead,
Kid A<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l19 level1 lfo10; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Kanye
West, The College Dropout<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l19 level1 lfo10; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Lauryn
Hill, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l19 level1 lfo10; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Wu-Tang
Clan, Wu-Tang Meets The Indie Culture Instrumentals<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ol>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Mike R Talks Dirty to
Us<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">MY (PERSONAL,
SUBJECTIVE) TOP 10 ALBUMS:<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<div style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l17 level1 lfo11; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Janelle
Monáe, <i>Dirty Computer</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l17 level1 lfo11; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Brandi
Carlile, <i>By The Way, I Forgive You</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l17 level1 lfo11; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Original
Cast Recording, <i>The Band’s Visit</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l17 level1 lfo11; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Tove
Styrke, <i>Sway</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l17 level1 lfo11; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">LAKES,
<i>Just To Feel The Feeling</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l17 level1 lfo11; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Titus
Andronicus, <i>A Productive Cough</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l17 level1 lfo11; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Frank
Turner, <i>Be More Kind</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l17 level1 lfo11; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">8.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Jake
Shears, <i>Jake Shears</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l17 level1 lfo11; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">9.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Lucy
Dacus, <i>Historian</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l17 level1 lfo11; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">10.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Carrie
Underwood, <i>Cry Pretty<br />
<br />
</i>NOTES: Everyone buy or stream the EP by New York’s coolest new band, LAKES!
I don’t even know anyone involved or anything, I just saw them open at a show
and now I think they are the coolest thing around. Melody driven guitar-rock
with pop hooks, a surf punk edge, and an incredible frontwoman. Everything
else, y’all already know.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">MY (PERSONAL,
SUBJECTIVE) TOP 10 SINGLES:<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l16 level1 lfo12; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Carly
Rae Jepsen, “Party For One”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l16 level1 lfo12; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Metric,
“Now Or Never Now”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l16 level1 lfo12; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Lucy
Dacus, “Night Shift”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l16 level1 lfo12; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Robyn,
“Honey”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l16 level1 lfo12; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">John
Mayer, “New Light”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l16 level1 lfo12; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Phosphorescent,
“New Birth In New England”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l16 level1 lfo12; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Sigrid,
“Schedules”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l16 level1 lfo12; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">8.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Betty
Who, “Just Thought You Should Know”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l16 level1 lfo12; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">9.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">George
Ezra, “Shotgun”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l16 level1 lfo12; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">10.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Gerard
Way, “Baby You’re A Haunted House”<br />
<br />
NOTES: i am a homosexual<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">MY (EXTREMELY
PERSONAL, EXTREMELY SUBJECTIVE) TOP 5 ALBUMS OF THE PAST 20 YEARS:<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l12 level1 lfo13; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Lady
Gaga, <i>Born This Way</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l12 level1 lfo13; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Kendrick
Lamar, <i>To Pimp A Butterfly</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l12 level1 lfo13; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Robyn,
<i>Body Talk</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l12 level1 lfo13; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Frightened
Rabbit, <i>The Midnight Organ Fight</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l12 level1 lfo13; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Bombadil,
<i>Metrics of Affection</i><br />
<br />
NOTES: to help me narrow down candidates, I had qualification rules: to
qualify, an album had to have fully reoriented my brain chemistry and ushered
me into a new era of my life (sadly cutting out lots of incredible
game-changing albums that I just haven’t gotten around to, eg, any and all
Radiohead), had to actually reveal something personal/intimate about the artist
(cutting out - and it pains me to say this - <i>EMOTION </i>by Carly Rae
Jepsen) without turning into a total snoozey acoustic
cry-yourself-to-sleep-fest (with apologies to Sufjan & Suf-fans), and
apparently had to be some kind of maximalist sprawling beautiful mess, which
was not a rule I had setting out but which turned out to be something all the
albums had in common (with further apologies to the 37-minute <i>Pure Heroine</i>).
Also, Chance the Rapper was robbed. I know I made the list, but he was still
robbed. That will be all thank you for your time<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Kevin W’s Nashville
Sound<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">My
lists:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">2018:</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Shannon
Shaw, Shannon in Nashville<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Shannon
and the Clams, Onion<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Motel
Mirrors, In the Meantime<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Last
20 Years:</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">The
Barbaras, 2006-2008<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Reigning
Sound, Too Much Guitar<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">King
Tuff, Was Dead<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">The
Star Room Boys, Why Do Lonely Men & Women Want to Break Each Others' Heart?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Jerry
Lee Lewis, Live a the Star-Club, Hamburg (Obviously not a 2004 recording, but
that's when this was released, and look I am of the opinion that all the old
dead or half-dead greats usually weren't that great, but they called Jerry Lee
The Killer for a reason. This is the reason.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Daniel H’s Dream Weaver<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Best of the year:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Jane Weaver, Modern Kosmology<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Britta Phillips, Luck or Magic<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Prince, Piano and a Microphone’83<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Metric, Art of Doubt<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">and the best song is Rosalia,
“Malamente,” obviously<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Of the last 20 years:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">The Magnetic Fields, 69 Love Songs<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Metric, Live It Out<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Stars, The Five Ghosts<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Grace Jones, Hurricane<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Yo La Tengo, Popular Songs<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">and I’m sure I’m ashamed of most of
my previous choices.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Hey could I add US Girls
“Velvet4Sale” to my list of this year’s best songs <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">John A’s Got Some Nerve<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Part 1:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<ol start="1" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l9 level1 lfo14; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">The Breeders, All Nerve</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l9 level1 lfo14; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">First Aid Kit, Ruins</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l9 level1 lfo14; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Darlingside, Extralife</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l9 level1 lfo14; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">The Decemberists, I’ll Be Your Girl</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l9 level1 lfo14; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Preoccupations, New Material</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l9 level1 lfo14; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Wye Oak, The Louder I Call, the Faster It Runs</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l9 level1 lfo14; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Parquet Courts, Wide Awake!</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l9 level1 lfo14; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Beach House, 7</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l9 level1 lfo14; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Dirty Projectors, Lamp Lit Prose</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l9 level1 lfo14; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Death Cab For Cutie, Thank You For Today</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l9 level1 lfo14; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Julien Baker/Phoebe Bridgers/Lucy Dacus,
boygenius </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">
<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ol>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Part 2:<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Took a
slightly different approach here. These are my “Now Essential” albums I came
late to over the last 20 years (in no particular order):<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Band of
Horses, Cease to Begin (2007)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Beach Boys
Party (1965)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Elliot Smith,
XO (1998)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Foals,
Antidotes (2008)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Genesis,
Seconds Out (1977)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Metz, Metz
(2012)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Ride, Going
Blank Again (1992)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Rogue Wave,
Asleep at Heaven’s Gate (2008)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Sleigh Bells,
Treats (2010)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Kari L’s Tells Us How
She Really Feels<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">PART ONE</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">ESSENTIAL: It’s a 5 way tie!</span></u><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Beach House, 7 <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Neko Case, Hell On<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Laura Gibson, Goners<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Courtney Barnett, Tell Me How You
Really Feel<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Brownout, Fear of a Brown Planet<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">OTHER:</span></u><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Elvis Costello & The Imposters,
Unwanted Number (Single)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night
Sweats, Tearing at the Seams<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; letter-spacing: 0.2pt;">Minuit,
Paris Tropical (single)</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Broken Bells, Shelter (single)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Death Cab for Cutie, Thank You For
Today<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">The Breeders, All Nerve<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="product-headertitle"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; letter-spacing: 0.2pt;">Orquesta Akokán, Orquesta
Akokán<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="product-headertitle"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; letter-spacing: 0.2pt;">The Beths, Future Hates Me<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="product-headertitle"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; letter-spacing: 0.2pt;">Hozier, Nina Cried Power (with
Mavis Staples) – single<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><a href="https://clicktime.symantec.com/3CB5EBVdQrrraJ1Ahu5pyb17Vc?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.yearendlists.com%2Fartists%2Fc1e85f92-5d69-4500-97d0-c9c1f7f8bf5d"><span style="color: windowtext;">Kamasi Washington</span></a></span></span><span class="product-headertitle"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; letter-spacing: 0.2pt;"> — </span></span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><a href="https://clicktime.symantec.com/3WTQdDGJbyASNUXZPjMgHXj7Vc?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.yearendlists.com%2Falbums%2Fheaven-and-earth-87092d2a-2b38-4b88-be50-abb8f1a12bba"><span style="color: windowtext;">Heaven and Earth</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; letter-spacing: 0.2pt;"><br />
PART TWO<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; letter-spacing: 0.2pt;">Wow, I can’t
even. 5 Albums for 20 years? Well, the best album from 1998 was Elliot
Smith, XO. :)</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Elana M Takes a Drive<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Twenty
years??!!! I don't often listen to whole albums, but I do have favorite
songs . . . <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Best
singles of 2018:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Lake
Street Dive, Good Kisser <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Lake
Street Dive, Shame Shame Shame<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Jayhawks,
Everybody Knows<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Brandi
Carlile, The Joke<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Brandi
Carlile, The Mother<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Janelle
Monae, Make Me Feel<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Elle
King, Another Good Thing Gone <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">And
the TTMT (taller than me teen) votes for<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Brandi
Carlile, The Joke <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Essential
albums from past years:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">The
Jayhawks, Rainy Day Music (2003)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Florence +
the Machine, Ceremonials (2011)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Lumineers,
The Lumineers (2012)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Fun,
Some Nights (2012)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Beck,
Morning Phase (2014) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">New
discoveries:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Josh
Ritter<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">LP<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Thank U, Aimee F<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Hi
David!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Continuing
my tradition of top singles (since my life is all about Spotify playlists right
now…).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l15 level1 lfo15; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Ariana
Grande, Thank U Next<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l15 level1 lfo15; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Kacey
Musgraves, Butterflies<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l15 level1 lfo15; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Cardi
B, Money<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l15 level1 lfo15; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Shallow,
Lady Gaga<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l15 level1 lfo15; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Weezer,
Africa<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Brant R’s Golden Choices<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">My Essential
Albums of 2018:<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Kacey
Musgraves, Golden Hour<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Phosphorescent,
C’est La Vie<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Tracyanne
& Danny, Tracyanne & Danny<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Some of My
Essential Tracks of 2018:<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Kacey
Musgraves, “Slow Burn”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Phosphorescent,
“C’est La Vie No. 2”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Mitski, “Why
Didn’t You Stop Me”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">The Breeders,
“Dawn: Making an Effort”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Juliana
Hatfield, “A Little More Love”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Elder Albums I
Found Essential in 2018:<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">The
Impressions, Keep On Pushing [1964]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Grant Green,
Idle Moments [1965]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Paul
McCartney, Red Rose Speedway [1973]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Vangelis, Opera
Sauvage [1979]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">This Mortal
Coil, It’ll End in Tears [1984]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Josh L’s Stroke of
Genius<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">PART
ONE:<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">The
only English-language album released this year that I obsessively listened to
is by a good old fashioned American rock 'n roll Supergroup.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">1.
boygenius, boygenius,<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">2.
Gwyneth Glyn, Tro<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">3.
Bob Delyn a’r Ebillion, Dal i ‘Redig Dipyn Bach<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">The
runners-up are so delightfully obscure! The only other two albums I listened to
over and over again were more the product more of a new-ish cultural/linguistic
crush than the organic development of my general musical tastes... although,
come to think of it, they're also not that far off: a somewhat Merchant-ile
Welsh poet-singer-songwriter having herself a World Music phase, and a
roots-rock band with a punning name fronted by a hyper-literate, gravel-voiced
bard. (He's literally a <i>bard:</i> he won the chair at the National
Eisteddfod some years back). And just as they are edged here by boygenius, both
lost out for Gwobr Albwm Cymraeg y Flwyddyn (Welsh Language Album of the Year)
to a younger band. For shame. Cymru am byth!<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">PART
TWO:<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">I got
my top five down to seven!<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">1. The
Decemberists, The Crane Wife<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">2.
The National, Boxer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">3.
Sigur Ros, Takk<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">4.
The Mountain Goats, The Sunset Tree <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">5.
Fiona Apple, When the Pawn...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">6. The
Hold Steady, Boys and Girls in America<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">7.
The Killers, Hot Fuss<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">That's
a lot of definite articles.<br />
<br />
While I remain embarrassed by the whiteness and dad-ness of this list (my my,
hey hey!), I'm glad that I realized at the last minute that Fiona Apple's awesome
second album snuck into the last twenty years. That stayed in the CD player for
months, long ago, and I think I still know every note. <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Still,
I'm surprised by how little I listen to some of the above, even though, after
some memory-jogging, it's a pretty fair list for favorites of the last two
decades. Have I outgrown Craig Finn failing to outgrow his adolescence? Is the
reason I've gotten so paunchy that I no longer listen to the Killers while
exercising? The Mountain Goats, although I do dip into that huge discography a
fair amount, you don't really need to listen to a lot to keep those songs at
the center of your consciousness... like poetry!<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">But
The Crane Wife is still a big fave, and lots of Decemberists songs are highly
suitable for family sing-alongs. Sigur Ros, most of all, will always elbow its
way back into my ears--that album stands in for stretches of three different
albums that all still have the power to keep despair at bay. And, let's see...
The National. Eli just learned the drums to "Apartment Story," so we
play that in the basement a lot... Rock 'n roll!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Ronnie A Doesn’t Fight
the Cold War<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Here
are my favorite soundtracks of 2018:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Dwa
Serduszka </span></i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">(or
"Two Hearts"), <i>Cold War</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Justin
Hurwitz, <i>First Man</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Nicholas
Britell, <i>If Beale Street Could Talk</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Keegan
DeWitt, <i>Hearts Beat Loud</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Daniel
Hart, <i>The Old Man and the Gun</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Nathan
Halpern, <i>The Rider</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Mowg,
<i>Burning</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Scott
Walker/Sia, <i>Vox Lux</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Jóhann
Jóhannsson, <i>Mandy</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">As for
my favorite, or "essential" soundtrack of the past twenty years, it's
impossible to narrow it down. But if I had to pick one soundtrack that fills me
with such joy, yet makes me lament for where we are now, it would be <i>Moulin
Rouge!</i> Released three months before 9/11, I miss that world of "truth,
beauty, freedom, and above all things: love."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Joel P’s Massive
Invasion<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">If
you had told me in 2017 that Cardi B and a country singer would be in my top 3
for 2018 I would not have believed you but here we are!!!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Cardi
B - Invasion of Privacy<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Kacey
Musgraves - Golden Hour<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Troye
Sivan - Bloom<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Years
& Years - Palo Santo<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Seinabo
Sey - I'm a Dream<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Kim
Petras - Turn Off the Light, Vol 1<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Janelle
Monae - Dirty Computer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">MGMT
- Little Dark Age<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Lily
Allen - No Shame<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">The
Carters - Everything Is Love<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">My
favorite 5 albums of the last 20 years are going to cheat towards the more
recent years because my homeschooled ass didn't listen to good music until 2004
but by sheer number of times I've played them alone, it'd have to be: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Death
Cab for Cutie - Plans<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Beyonce
- Beyonce<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Tokyo
Police Club - Champ<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Taylor
Swift - 1989<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Disclosure
- Settle<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Steven M Knows the
Meanings of Life<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">I. 2018:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">1) Paul Weller, True Meanings<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">2) Car Seat Headrest, Twin Fantasy<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">3) Spiritualized, And Nothing Hurt<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">4) Shannon Shaw, In Nashville<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">5) Neko Case, Hell-On<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">6) Kacey Musgraves, Golden Hour<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">7) Brandi Carlile, By the Way, I
Forgive You<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">8) Parker Millsap, Other
Arrangements<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">9) Gaz Coombes, World's Strongest
Man<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">10) Hookworms, Microshift<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">II. 1999-2018<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Jason Isbell, Southeastern<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Doves, The Last Broadcast<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Amy Winehouse, Back to
Black <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Bruce Springsteen & The E Street
Band - Hammersmith Odeon, London, '75<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Wilco, Yankee Hotel Foxtrot<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Bonus - Missed hearing The Book of
Mormon Soundtrack too late, would have put that on my list.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Bonus II - Dawes has not aged well<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Phil B’s Privacy
Concerns<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Essential albums of the
year:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Invasion of Privacy,
Cardi B. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Not necessarily because
I loved it or love her but because she defined so much of 2018 in pop.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Ariana Grande, Sweetener</span><span style="color: #212121; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">This was her growing up
album. 2017 had Kesha's Rainbow, 2018 had Ariana's Sweetener</span><span style="color: #212121; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Into The Spider-Verse
Soundtrack</span><span style="color: #212121; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">The best movie of the
year had the best soundtrack of the year. Made me almost -- almost -- want to
listen to more Post Malone.</span><span style="color: #212121; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Raina T Paints it Noir<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">2018 Most essential: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="ydp3060b48fmsonormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Lord
Huron, Vide Noir<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="ydp3060b48fmsonormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="ydp3060b48fmsonormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Other
essentials:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="ydp3060b48fmsonormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Bad
Bad Hats, Lightning Round<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="ydp3060b48fmsonormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">St.
Lucia, Hyperion<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="ydp3060b48fmsonormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">The
Night Game, The Night Game<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="ydp3060b48fmsonormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="ydp3060b48fmsonormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Biggest
discovery from previous years:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="ydp3060b48fmsonormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Lord
Huron, Strange Trails / Lonesome Dreams<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="ydp3060b48fmsonormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="ydp3060b48fmsonormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Favorite five albums of the past
twenty years?</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="ydp3060b48fmsonormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">The Divine Comedy, Fin de Siècle
(1998)</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="ydp3060b48fmsonormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Ben Folds, Rockin’ the Suburbs
(2001)</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="ydp3060b48fmsonormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">The Frames, For the Birds (2001)</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="ydp3060b48fmsonormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Fleet Foxes, Fleet Foxes (2008)</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="ydp3060b48fmsonormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Bleachers, Strange Desire (2014)</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Will W’s Bit O’ Honey<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">PART
ONE:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">My
top 2018 albums, probably no surprises here:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<ol start="1" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l10 level1 lfo16; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Robyn, <i>Honey</i> <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l10 level1 lfo16; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Ariana Grande, <i>Sweetener</i><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l10 level1 lfo16; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Neko Case, <i>Hell-On</i> (I didn't
see this on many end-of-year lists, and I was surprised! For me, it gets
better with every listen. And such storytelling!)<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l10 level1 lfo16; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">boygenius, <i>boygenius EP </i><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l10 level1 lfo16; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Cardi B, <i>Invasion of Privacy</i><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l10 level1 lfo16; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Kacey Musgraves, <i>Golden Hour</i><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l10 level1 lfo16; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Empress Of, <i>Us</i><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l10 level1 lfo16; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Mitski, <i>Be the Cowboy</i><o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ol>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">My
top 2018 songs (not in any particular order):<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Neko
Case, "Halls of Sarah," "Last Lion of Albion," "My
Uncle's Navy" <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Charli
XCX, "Five in the Morning"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Ariana
Grande, "everytime," "breathin," and
"sweetener" <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">boygenius,
"Me & My Dog" <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Cardi
B, "Be Careful" <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Nicki
Minaj, "Come See About Me" <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Empress
Of, "When I'm with Him," "I Don't Even Smoke Weed"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Mitski,
"Geyser," "Nobody," "Two Slow Dancers"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Robyn,
"Honey," "Send to Robyn Immediately," "beach
2k20"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Kacey
Musgraves, "High Horse," "Rainbow" <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Uffie,
"Drugs," "Your Hood"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Cupcakke,
"2 Minutes," "Duck Duck Goose"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Shawn
Mendes, "In My Blood" <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Carly
Rae Jepsen, "Party for One" <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Sia,
"I'm Still Here" <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Ella
Mai, "Boo'd Up" <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Troye
SIvan, "Seventeen," "Bloom" <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Bebe
Rexha, "Knees" <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Lady
Gaga, "Is That Alright?," "I'll Never Love Again" <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">PART
TWO<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<ol start="1" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l6 level1 lfo17; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Britney Spears, <i>. . . Baby One More
Time </i>(first CD I ever bought, picked it up after leaving the Atlanta
zoo; I was seven)<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l6 level1 lfo17; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Yeah Yeah Yeahs, <i>Fever to Tell</i><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l6 level1 lfo17; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">LCD Soundsystem, <i>Sound of Silver</i><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l6 level1 lfo17; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">M.I.A, <i>Kala</i><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l6 level1 lfo17; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Sia, <i>1000 Forms of Fear</i><o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ol>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Jinny W Brings it On
Bach<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; vertical-align: baseline;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Favorites of the year 2018: </span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">1. Shirley Hunt, J.S. Bach Suites and Sonatas, Volume 2 for
viola da gamba. Letterbox Arts 2018. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">2. Hilary Hahn, Hilary Hahn Plays Bach: Sonatas Nos. 1 and
2, Partita No. 1 for Violin. Sony Classical 2018.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">3. Leif Ove Andsnes, Chopin Ballades and Nocturnes (piano).
Sony Classical 2018.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">4. Teodor Currentzis Conducts Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 6
with MusicAeterna. Sony 2018.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; vertical-align: baseline;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">=============</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; vertical-align: baseline;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Five Favorites from the past 20 years:</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Joshua Bell, Steven Isserlis, Jeremy Denk, For the Love of
Brahms. Sony Classical 2016.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Jerusalem Quartet, Debussy and Ravel String Quartets.
Harmonia Mundi 2017.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Palance/Wolff Project, Part 1, Reflecting Forward. CD Baby
2015.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Shirley Hunt, J.S. Bach Suites and Sonatas, Volume 1.
Baroque Cello and Viola da Gamba. Letterbox Arts 2018.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Annelle K. Gregory and Alexander Sinchuk, Rachmaninoff
Complete Works and Transcriptions for Violin and Piano. Bridge Records, Inc.
2017.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Dan P’s Robyn the
Cradle<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">It wasn’t a big new music year for
me in 2018. I mostly fell in love with Carly Rae Jepsen’s Emotion. But for new
stuff:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">1. Robyn, Honey<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">2. First Aid Kit, Ruins<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">3. Maggie Rogers, ALL OF THE SINGLES<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">4. Years and Years, Palo Alto<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Fav Five of Past 20 years:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">1: Sufjan Stevens, Age of Adz <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">2. The National, Boxer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">3. Robyn, Body Talk<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">4. Tori Amos, Scarlet’s Walk<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">5. Beyoncé, Lemonade<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Nick E Tends His Acres<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">PART ONE<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Best of 2018:<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">S. Carey,
Hundred Acres<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Beach House, 7<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Florence + The
Machine, High As Hope<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Iron &
Wine, Weed Garden (EP)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Belle and
Sebastian, How to Solve Our Human Problems, Pt. 2<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Belle and
Sebastian, How to Solve Our Human Problems, Pt. 3<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">PART TWO<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Top 5 of the
last 20 years:<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">The Magnetic
Fields, 69 Love Songs<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Iron & Wine,
The Creek Drank the Cradle<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Sufjan
Stevens, Carrie & Lowell<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Dolorean, Not
Exotic<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Jeremy Soule,
Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Album missing
from my lists:<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Bon Iver, 22,
A Million<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Album that
doesn’t really belong on my lists:<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">my bloody
valentine, mbv<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Maggie S’s Killer Tunes<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">BEST
ALBUMS OF 2018<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">1)
Matt Maeson, Who Killed Matt Maeson<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">I
wore <i>out </i>"Grave Digger," man. One of the side effects of my
insane health crisis in '17-18 was that I stopped having the right
neurotransmitters to like music, which wasn't a hell I thought could happen,
and this was one of the first albums I realized I could love. Learning you can
have music back again . . . it was like a religious experience.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">2)
Mother Mother, Dance and Cry<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">3)
Hozier, Nina Cried Power<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">BEST
SINGLES<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">"I
Know How to Speak," by Manchester Orchestra, because for most of the year,
I didn't.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Words,"
LANNDS, because I didn't have any.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Let
You Down (feat Findlay) (Yeuz Remix)," by Joris Delacroix and Montmartre,
because that was what I basically did to everyone for a year. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">"No
More," by Dirtwire.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">THE
PAST TWENTY YEARS<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Dude,
I think it's time to admit that the album I think I've probably listened to the
most over twenty years that I still love is Enya's Watermark. I listened to it
when I was younger and had a recurring dream of a place called the Barns, a
really lovely farm hidden away in the mountains I love, and the album became
synonymous with it. They say when you write a recurring nightmare down, you
never have it again, and it works for dreams too, because years later I wrote
the Barns down and never returned again in my sleep — but I still do every time
I listen to this album.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">I
can't believe I used to like Lifehouse.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">And
you know who I have newfound appreciation for? 12 year old me would be pleased
to know that I recently picked up those old Billy Joels. Hey, that guy could
write a tune. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<br />davidlevithanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00762768300871943772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1509734071563017124.post-28753870293785446922018-01-28T19:22:00.000-08:002018-01-28T19:22:03.009-08:00The 2017 David Music Poll Results<b>The 2017 David Music Poll Results</b><br />
<br />
1) Lorde, Melodrama (25 votes)<br />
2) Kendrick Lamar, DAMN (19)<br />
3) Kesha, Rainbow (18)<br />
4) Julien Baker, Turn Out the Lights (16)<br />
St. Vincent, MASSEDUCATION (16)<br />
6) SZA, CTRL (15)<br />
7) The National, Sleep Well Beast (11)<br />
8) Perfume Genius, No Shape (8)<br />
9) Lana Del Rey, Lust for Life (7)<br />
<br />
Runners up: (each with six votes) LCD Soundsystem, American Dream; Zola Jesus, Okovi; Spoon, Hot Thoughts; Slowdive, Slowdive<br />
<br />
Notes: As opposed to last year’s Beyonce blowout, this year’s was a very tight race, with Lorde pulling by Kendrick Lamar, Kesha, Julien Baker, St. Vincent, and SZA for the title. Lorde’s the only artist to go two for two in topping the David Music Poll in its nineteen years. Meanwhile, this is The National’s fourth appearance in the top ten, and Kendrick Lamar, St. Vincent, and Lana Del Rey all log in their second. Taylor Swift, who won for her last album, could only muster five votes this year; previous winner got four votes for their latest, while long-ago winner Phoenix didn’t get a single nod for their new album. If Carly Rae Jepsen’s “Cut to the Feeling” had been an album, not a single, it would have made the Top Ten – more than half the respondents who named favorite singles put it on their lists (many, like me, at the top). This year there were 76 respondents to the poll, a little down from last year – but what we lost in numbers, we made up for in taste. On to our 20th anniversary year!<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>In My List, I’ve Seen the Lights</b><br />
<br />
1) Julien Baker, Turn Out the Lights<br />
<br />
Brutally, beautifully honest. If this album had come out when I was in high school, Julien Baker would have been my Joni Mitchell. Now I appreciate it from a slightly older angle, and listen to it obsessively while I write.<br />
<br />
2) Lorde, Melodrama<br />
<br />
Maybe because of the delay, I was wary that Lorde would succumb to the sophomore slump after one of the best debuts ever. Untrue! Just as compelling, and even more accomplished in the details. <br />
<br />
3) Kesha, Rainbow<br />
<br />
It’s always inspiring to see an artist cut loose and do exactly what she wants.<br />
<br />
4) Beck, Colors<br />
<br />
I like him when he mopes and reflects, but I must confess I like him even more when he kicks out the jams and reflects.<br />
<br />
5) Original Cast Recording, Hadestown<br />
<br />
I’m not sure how I’d feel about this as a stand-alone, but since I saw it four times and have the production very much in memory, the cast album brings it all back and then some. Stunning.<br />
<br />
6) The xx, I See You<br />
<br />
I feel this has gotten a little lost on this list, since it came out in January. The xx were always good in shadows; here they prove they can do brightness too.<br />
<br />
7) Aimee Mann, Mental Illness<br />
<br />
Nobody’s better at being Aimee Mann than Aimee Mann, and this is her at top form. Depressing as hell in parts, and clever as hell in others. Sometimes at the same time.<br />
<br />
<br />
Singles of the Year:<br />
Carly Rae Jepsen, “Cut to the Feeling”<br />
Lorde, “Supercut” and “Green Light”<br />
Charli XCX, “Boys”<br />
Pink “What About Us” (I mean, I’m biased – but I loved it even before the Every Day trailer)<br />
Julien Baker, “Appointments”<br />
<br />
<br />
Returns to form: Here’s to good new albums from Jens Lekman, Arcade Fire, U2, The National, and Spoon<br />
<br />
I slipped off the bandwagon: Yes, Reputation is better the more I listen to it. No, it’s still not great.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Anna Q, Melodrama Queen</b><br />
<br />
Lorde, Melodrama <br />
Taylor swift, Reputation <br />
Bleachers, Gone now <br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Andrew E (formerly Andrew H), Patron of Saints</b><br />
<br />
Most Essential Albums<br />
1<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>St. Vincent, MASSEDUCTION<br />
2<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Lorde, Melodrama<br />
3<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Kesha, Rainbow<br />
<br />
BUT<br />
<br />
Most Essential Single<br />
Carly Rae Jepsen, “Cut to the Feeling”<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Steven M Runs off with the Spoon</b><br />
<br />
1. Spoon, Hot Thoughts<br />
2. Ryan Adams, Prisoner<br />
3. Slowdive, Slowdive<br />
4. Alvvays, Antisocialites<br />
5. Wolf Alice, Visions of a Life<br />
6. Jeb Loy Nichols, Country Hustle<br />
7. Pond, Weather<br />
8. Charly Bliss, Guppy<br />
9. Shelby Lynne & Allison Moorer, Not Dark Yet<br />
10. King Gizzard & The Lizzard Wizard, Sketches of Brunswick East<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Phil B is Waving through the Window</b><br />
<br />
My Top Four... but not in any order:<br />
<br />
Damn -- Kendrick Lamar -- transformative album<br />
<br />
Rainbow -- Kesha -- wow!<br />
<br />
The Thrill Of it All -- Sam Smith -- because it's Sam Smith<br />
<br />
Dear Evan Hansen -- Original cast recording was released in February so it qualifies. Best original cast recording since Hamilton.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Kate W Gives a Damn</b><br />
<br />
My most essential album of 2017:<br />
Kendrick Lamar, DAMN<br />
<br />
My most essential singles of 2017:<br />
N.E.R.D. & Rihanna, Lemon<br />
Harry Styles, Sign of the Times<br />
LCD Soundsystem, How Do You Sleep<br />
Sam Smith, Too Good at Goodbyes<br />
Donn T ft Chill Moody, Clear<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Sam P Finds Alice, in Wonderland</b><br />
<br />
My top five are below:<br />
1 Wolf Alice, Visions of a Life<br />
2 The National, Sleep Well Beast<br />
3 Thundercat, Drunk<br />
4<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Kendrick Lamar, Damn<br />
5<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>LCD Soundsystem, American Dream<br />
…With props to Lorde, T Swift, Courtney Barnett, The XX, and Beck<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Evan W Seizes CTRL</b><br />
<br />
SZA, CTRL is my #1<br />
Close second is Sleep Well Beast, The National<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Will W’s ‘Lights’ Shines Bright</b><br />
<br />
1. Julien Baker, Turn Out the Lights<br />
2. Taylor Swift, reputation<br />
3. SZA, CTRL<br />
4. Lorde, Melodrama<br />
5. Kendrick Lamar, DAMN.<br />
6. Perfume Genius, No Shape<br />
7. Kesha, Rainbow<br />
8. Mount Eerie, A Crow Looked at Me<br />
9. Lana Del Rey, Lust for Life<br />
10. The National, Sleep Well Beast<br />
11. Phoebe Bridgers, Stranger in the Alps<br />
12. Zola Jesus, Okovi<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>O Brother, Thou Art with Mike R</b><br />
<br />
TOP 10 ALBUMS<br />
<br />
1) Alex Lahey, I Love You Like A Brother<br />
2) Lorde, Melodrama<br />
3) Kesha, Rainbow<br />
4) Original Broadway Cast, Groundhog Day<br />
5) St. Vincent, MASSEDUCTION<br />
6) Taylor Swift, reputation [sic]<br />
7) Jens Lekman, Life Will See You Now<br />
8) Bombadil, Fences<br />
9) P!nk, Beautiful Trauma<br />
10) Khalid, American Teen<br />
<br />
NOTES: Jack Antonoff worked on or spearheaded 4 of these albums, and released his own album to boot, which I enjoyed, but didn't top 10 enjoy. Feel free to crucify me for putting St. Vincent in the middle - if I'd bought it and listened to it over and over like I did the top 4, it would probably be in the top 4, but I didn't, because I forgot to, so it's not my "soundtrack to 2017" like the others are. It may be my soundtrack to 2018. It just slipped by me! If anyone is reading this and wondering who Alex Lahey is, I can't recommend that album enough. This concludes the notes.<br />
<br />
SINGLES<br />
<br />
1) Carly Rae Jepsen, "Cut To The Feeling"<br />
2) Crazy Ex-Girlfriend Cast, "Let's Generalize About Men"<br />
3) Tove Styrke, "Mistakes"<br />
4) LCD Soundsystem, "oh baby" [sic]<br />
5) The Wailin' Jennys, "Wildflowers"<br />
6) Allie X, "Paper Love"<br />
7) Lindsey Buckingham & Christine McVie, "Sleeping Around The Corner"<br />
8) Charli XCX, "Boys"<br />
9) Scissor Sisters, "SWERLK"<br />
10) AJR, "Bud Like You"<br />
<br />
NOTES: i am a homosexual<br />
<br />
MUSIC FROM PREVIOUS YEARS<br />
<br />
1) Paul Simon, Rhythm of the Saints<br />
2) 2016 Broadway Cast Recording, She Loves Me<br />
3) Josh Ritter, Sermon On The Rocks<br />
4) Miles Fisher, "This Must Be The Place"<br />
5) Peggy Lee, "Pass Me By"<br />
6) Simon and Garfunkel, "Keep The Customer Satisfied"<br />
7) James McMurtry, Childish Things<br />
8) Sinead O'Connor, "Mandinka"<br />
9) Albert Hammond, "It Never Rains In Southern California"<br />
10) Glass Animals, How To Be A Human Being<br />
<br />
NOTE: special thanks to the Veronica Mars finale, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel finale, the Dakota County Public Library system, and several top-tier mix CDs for this line-up.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Leila S Gets Haim With a Little Help From Her Friends</b><br />
<br />
I thought the new Haim album, "Something to Tell You," was terrific. The first single off that, "Want You Back," is probably my favorite new song of the year.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Caitlin F Finds More Life in Drake</b><br />
<br />
I absolutely adore Drake’s MORE LIFE. It’s lush, relaxed and packed with more genres, guest singers, producers and global sounds then any of his other albums. Drake’s achieved a truly unique playlist that’s fun, introspective and never boring. Passionfruit, Portland, Blem and Fake Love are my favs.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Jordan H’s Rainbow Connection</b><br />
<br />
Album:<br />
Rainbow- Kesha<br />
CTRL- SZA<br />
Dua Lipa- Dua Lipa<br />
Ten Years- Aly and Aj<br />
Tell Me You Love Me- Demi Lovato<br />
<br />
Fav songs from each album:<br />
Boots-Kesha<br />
New Rules- Dua Lipa<br />
Take Me- Aly and Aj<br />
Daddy Issues - Demi Lovato<br />
<br />
Songs I was obsessed w/:<br />
Mermaid- Skott<br />
Love so Soft- Kelly Clarkson<br />
Fake Happy-Paramore<br />
Get Free- Lana Del Rey<br />
Disco Tits-Tove Lo<br />
Location- Khaled<br />
Edibles- Jojo<br />
<br />
But always still obsessed w/ Lemonade, Joanne, dangerous woman, etc.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Paul G’s Songs of Experience</b><br />
<br />
With thanks to NPR, who owned me for the last 2 weeks of December:<br />
<br />
Best:<br />
Songs of Experience, U2<br />
Triplicate, Bob Dylan<br />
Celebrate Ornette, Ornette Coleman<br />
Laila’s Wisdom, Rhapsody<br />
For Bunita Marcus, Morton Feldman, piano by Marc André Hamelin<br />
Rainbow, Kesha<br />
Lust For Life, Lana Del Rey<br />
Mogoya, Oumou Sangaré<br />
Palabras Manuales, Danay Suarez<br />
Bladerunner 2049 soundtrack<br />
<br />
Almost:<br />
Típico, Miquel Zenón<br />
The Thrill of it All, Sam Smith<br />
Dunkirk soundtrack<br />
The Kid, Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith<br />
Lindsey Buckingham and Christine McVie<br />
4:44, Jay Z<br />
Ladilikan, Trio Da Kali and Kronos Quartet<br />
Joan Shelley, Joan Shelley<br />
Moorland Elegies, Tõnu Kõrvits<br />
A Ghost Story soundtrack<br />
Wind River soundtrack<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>For Bryant P, This Beast is No Burden</b><br />
<br />
Here are my lists.<br />
<br />
Albums @bbp3<br />
1. The National, Sleep Well Beast<br />
2. Manchester Orchestra, A Black Mile to the Surface<br />
3. Rostam, Half-Light<br />
4. Arcade Fire, Everything Now<br />
5. Cold War Kids, LA DIVINE<br />
<br />
Singles @bbp3<br />
1. Pinegrove, "Old Friends"<br />
2. Manchester Orchestra, "The Gold"<br />
3. Drake, "Teenage Fever"<br />
4. Middle Kids, "Edge of Town"<br />
5. St. Vincent, "Los Angeles"<br />
6. Phoenix, "Ti Amo"<br />
7. Cold War Kids, "No Reason to Run"<br />
8. alt-J, "In Cold Blood"<br />
9. Sir Sly, "High"<br />
10. Tune-Yards, "Look at Your Hands"<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>David A’s Got a Rocket in his Pocket</b><br />
<br />
Julien Baker, Turn Out the Lights<br />
(Sandy) Alex G, Rocket<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Zach F, Living the Dream</b><br />
<br />
Most essential album:<br />
<br />
LCD Soundsystem, American Dream<br />
<br />
Runners up:<br />
<br />
Spoon, Hot Thoughts<br />
Bjork, Utopia<br />
<br />
Singles:<br />
<br />
Wolf Alice, Don't Delete the Kisses<br />
Morrissey, Spent the Day in Bed<br />
This is the Kit, Moonshine Freeze<br />
Portugal. The Man, Feel it Still<br />
Arcade Fire, Creature Comfort<br />
The Orwells, They Put a Body in the Bayou<br />
Sir Sly, High<br />
Father John Misty, Total Entertainment Forever<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Aimee F Cuts to the Feeling</b><br />
<br />
Thanks to Spotify, this seems to be the year I barely listened to any full new albums! The shame, the shame! But here are my top 2017 shamelessly pop-y singles:<br />
<br />
Ed Sheeran, Shape of You<br />
Cardi B, Bodak Yellow<br />
Selena Gomez & Kygo, It Ain’t Me<br />
Luis Fonsi, Despacito<br />
Carly Rae Jepsen, Cut to the Feeling<br />
Harry Styles, Sign of the Times<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Gabriel B Lusts for Lust</b><br />
<br />
This always makes me feel terrible for not listening to new music. But:<br />
<br />
1) Lana del Rey, Lust for Life, duh<br />
<br />
others:<br />
<br />
Kesha, Rainbow<br />
Josh Ritter, Gathering<br />
Call Me By Your Name soundtrack (does this count? whatever)<br />
<br />
Singles:<br />
<br />
Sufjan Stevens, Tonya Harding<br />
Portugal. The Man, Feel it Still<br />
Josh Ritter, feat. Bob Weir, When Will I Be Changed (was this a single? idk. best song of the year tho)<br />
<br />
That is literally all I can remember listening to.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>How About U, Stewart L?</b><br />
<br />
SZA, Ctrl<br />
MUNA, about u<br />
Lorde, Melodrama<br />
Jeffery Martin, On Go Round<br />
Kevin Garret, false hope EP<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>No DAMN Shame for Samantha M</b><br />
<br />
1) Kendrick Lamar, DAMN<br />
2) St. Vincent, Masseduction<br />
3) The Afghan Whigs, In Spades<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Jess S, Rainbow Warrior</b><br />
<br />
I vote:<br />
<br />
Kesha, Rainbow<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Michael T’s Lorde-Damn List</b><br />
<br />
Best record of the year for me is a genuine, exact, unbreakable tie:<br />
<br />
Lorde, Melodrama<br />
Kendrick Lamar, Damn<br />
<br />
Best singles:<br />
<br />
1. Vince Staples, “Big Fish"<br />
2. Charli XCX, “Boys”<br />
3. SZA and Travis Scott, “Love Galore”<br />
4. Frank Ocean, “Chanel”<br />
5. Lil Uzi Vert, “XO Tour Llif3"<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Cora R Sees the Green Light; Goes</b><br />
<br />
OMG David, what an amazing year in music 2017 was. I reckon the best for AGES.<br />
<br />
My top was: LORDE: Melodrama<br />
Other faves: THE NATIONAL: Sleep Well Beast, LCD SOUNDSYSTEM: American Dream, King Krule, the OOZ<br />
<br />
Best concert: Underworld<br />
<br />
Best single(s): Curtis Harding, I need you AND Blue Train Lines, Mount Kimble<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Collin R’s Works of Genius</b><br />
<br />
Here's what I got:<br />
<br />
Essential Album of 2017:<br />
Perfume Genius, No Shape<br />
<br />
Honorable Mentions (Albums in no particular order):<br />
Baths, Romaplasm<br />
Charli XCX, Pop2<br />
Lorde, Melodrama<br />
Sylvan Esso, What Now<br />
Sampha, Process<br />
TWINKIDS, Boys Love<br />
Fever Ray, Plunge<br />
St. Vincent, MASSEDUCTION<br />
Dirty Projectors, Dirty Projectors<br />
Paramore, After Laughter<br />
Feist, Pleasure<br />
Sevdaliza, Ison<br />
The xx, I See You<br />
SZA, Ctrl<br />
Moses Sumney, Aromanticism<br />
Ellen Andrea Wang, Blank Out<br />
<br />
Best Songs of 2017<br />
Carly Rae Jepsen, Cut to the Feeling<br />
Perfume Genius, Slip Away<br />
Sylvan Esso, Kick Jump Twist (Machinedrum Remix)<br />
Jessie Ware, Midnight<br />
SOPHIE, Ponyboy<br />
Gabriel Kahane, Little Love<br />
Lizzo, Truth Hurts<br />
Kimbra, Everybody Knows<br />
TWINKIDS, Overdressed,<br />
Sofie Tukker, Fuck They<br />
Betty Who, Mama Sa y<br />
Big Dipper, LaCroix Boi<br />
Hercules & Love Affair, Omnion (feat. Sharon Van Etten)<br />
Mura Masa, Second 2 None (feat. Christine & the Queens)<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>David G, Shape Shifter</b><br />
<br />
1. Perfume Genius, No Shape<br />
2. Lorde, Melodrama<br />
3. Kamasi Washington, Harmony of Difference<br />
<br />
The rest of the year was dedicated to the Big Little Lies soundtrack, some Lana and Kesha and Beth Ditto.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Goldy M’s Life of Leisure</b><br />
<br />
Best Album:<br />
1. Miguel, War & Leisure<br />
2. Paramore, After Laughter<br />
3. Aimee Mann, Mental Illness<br />
<br />
Biggest Disappointments:<br />
1. Ed Sheeran, Divide<br />
2. Lorde, Melodrama<br />
<br />
Best Single:<br />
1. Dua Lipa, New Rules<br />
2. Miguel, Sky Walker<br />
3. The Bob's Burger's Music Album, Bad Stuff Happens in The Bathroom,<br />
<br />
Best Song On An Otherwise Mediocre Album:<br />
Taylor Swift, I Did Something Bad<br />
<br />
Throw Her a Bone Because This Might Be the Only List She's On:<br />
Katy Perry, Witness<br />
<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Daniel H’s Tropical Thunder</b><br />
<br />
Frankie Rose - Cage Tropical<br />
Scott Gilmore - Subtle Vertigo<br />
Destroyer - Ken<br />
and modesty prevents me from mentioning The Magnetic Fields, 50 Song Memoir<br />
<br />
My not-new records are Duke Ellington, New Orleans Sweet, and Hubert Laws, Rites of Spring<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Lucy C’s Prime Amazones</b><br />
<br />
I'm not sure about the category of "most essential" but here are a couple of albums I have listened to and enjoyed / appreciated this year:<br />
<br />
Les Amazones d'Afrique - Republique Amazone<br />
Cigarettes After Sex - Cigarettes After Sex<br />
Mount Eerie - A Crow Looked at Me<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Tyler G Likes to Visit the Baker</b><br />
<br />
1. Julien Baker, Turn Out the Lights<br />
2. Dirty Projectors, Dirty Projectors<br />
3.Taylor Swift, Reputation<br />
4.Kesha, Rainbow<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Amy M Sleeps Well</b><br />
<br />
1. The National, Sleep Well Beast<br />
2. Grizzly Bear, Painted Ruins<br />
3. Sylvan Esso, What Now<br />
4. Arcade Fire, Everything Now (my daughter sang backup on their Spotify Session)<br />
5. Aldous Harding, Party<br />
6. Stella Donnelly, Thrush Metal<br />
7. Lorde, Melodrama<br />
8. Johnny Flynn, Sillion<br />
9. St Vincent, Masseduction<br />
10. Fleet Foxes, Crack-up<br />
11. Perfume Genius, No Shape<br />
12. Feist, Pleasure<br />
13. Julien Baker, Turn Out the Lights<br />
14. Rainer Maria, S/T<br />
<br />
And the 2 songs I've had on repeat by Sylvan Esso...<br />
<br />
Sylvan Esso, "There Are Many Ways To Say I Love You"<br />
Sylvan Esso, "Sound"<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Jeff Z’s Spun Gold</b><br />
<br />
1. Chelsea Wolfe, Hiss Spun<br />
2. Julien Baker, Turn Out The Lights<br />
3. Phoebe Bridgers, Stranger In The Alps<br />
4. Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, The Nashville Sound<br />
5. Zola Jesus, Okovi<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Chris K Embraces the Mutoid</b><br />
<br />
1 Mutoid Man, War Moans<br />
2 Death Of Kings, Kneel Before None<br />
3 Wolves In The Throne Room, Thrice Woven<br />
4 Warbringer, Woe To The Vanquished<br />
5 The Ominous Circle, Appalling Ascension<br />
6<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Power Trip, Nightmare Logic<br />
7<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Crypt Rot, Embryonic Devils<br />
8<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Acid Witch, Evil Sound Screamers<br />
9<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Darkest Hour, Godless Prophets And The Migrant Flora<br />
10<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Barrows, Obsidion<br />
11<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The Black Dahlia Murder, Nightbringers<br />
12<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Cannibal Corpse, Red Before Black<br />
13<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Cadaveric Incubator, Sermons Of The Devouring Dead<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Brett W, Sizzling with SZA</b><br />
<br />
Top 10 Albums of 2017<br />
<br />
1. SZA - Ctrl<br />
My most played and beloved album in a year where not that many albums captivated me. If you're not a fan by the time you get through the back-to-back "Drew Barrymore" and "Prom," then I don't know what to tell you.<br />
<br />
2. Perfume Genius -- No Shape<br />
Oof, yes. "Slip Away," "Wreath," and "Die 4 You" are my standouts in a nearly perfect album.<br />
<br />
3. Julien Baker -- Turn Out the Lights<br />
A hauntingly beautiful and somber album from a talented young queer. It ended up being the album I most related to in late 2017. "Appointments" captivated me the most and sets the tone for the rest of what's to come. It may be a little one-note at times, but she is my favorite discovery of the year.<br />
<br />
4. Oscar and the Wolf -- Breathing EP<br />
This Belgian queer musician was another one of my favorite discoveries. Love especially "Fever" and "Breathing."<br />
<br />
5. Stars -- There Is No Love In Fluorescent Light<br />
This feels like a return to the Stars I fell in love with so many years ago. "Alone" is my favorite single.<br />
<br />
6. Lana Del Rey -- Lust for Life<br />
Although not my favorite album of hers, it's a marked improvement over Honeymoon. I felt a personal connection to "13 Beaches."<br />
<br />
7. MUNA - About U<br />
Phew . . . the amount of times I listened to "Winterbreak," "Crying on the Bathroom Floor," and "I Know a Place" alone . . .<br />
<br />
8. Lorde -- Melodrama<br />
This is a great album, but I didn't return to it as much as I thought I might. Maybe because it was a summer release. But "Supercut" is magic.<br />
<br />
9. Dua Lipa -- Dua Lipa<br />
Such solid pop. "IDGAF" is a bop.<br />
<br />
10. Kesha -- Rainbow<br />
Sure, its tone is a little all over the place, but goddammit, she deserves a spot! "Learn to Let Go" is my favorite song/mantra from this album.<br />
<br />
Favorite Singles of 2017<br />
<br />
"Pink Cadillac" -- Alice Grey<br />
"Flame" -- Tinashe<br />
"Tonya Harding (in D major)" -- Sufjan Stevens<br />
"Sorry Not Sorry" -- Demi Lovato<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Nick E Dives in (Slowly)</b><br />
<br />
What a great year for music! But I need to start with a correction to my list from LAST year, where I went out of my way to voice my disappointment in Bon Iver’s 22, A Million. It finally clicked for me and became among my most played of 2017. I can admit I was wrong!<br />
<br />
This year saw, I think, a return to form for both Iron & Wine and The Magnetic Fields. And the flat-out triumphant return of Slowdive (I bought the limited edition silver vinyl, i.e., I was ALL IN.) And there were THREE Sufjan albums, including the Planetarium recording I’ve coveted for yeeears.<br />
<br />
Say what you will about 2017, but the music killed!<br />
<br />
1. Slowdive, Slowdive<br />
2. The Magnetic Fields, 50 Song Memoir<br />
3. Sufjan Stevens, Carrie & Lowell Live<br />
4. Jens Lekman, Life Will See You Now<br />
5. Iron & Wine, Beast Epic<br />
6. Sufjan Stevens et al., Planetarium<br />
7. Sufjan Stevens, The Greatest Gift<br />
8. The xx, I See You<br />
9. Perfume Genius, No Shape<br />
<br />
Single of the year:<br />
Carly Rae Jepsen, Cut to the Feeling<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Brian M’s Velvet is No Longer Underground</b><br />
<br />
Strange year in that there was no single album that I loved more than others...just a lot of love all around:<br />
<br />
Devil's Witches, Velvet Magic<br />
Ruby Throat, Baby Darling Taporo<br />
Dead Heavens, Whatever Witch You Are<br />
Mount Eerie, A Crow Looked at Me<br />
Big Blood, The Daughters Union<br />
Electric Wizard, Wizard Bloody Wizard<br />
Ty Segall, Ty Segall<br />
Ryan Adams, Prisoner<br />
Amanda Palmer and Edward Ka-Spel, I Can Spin a Rainbow<br />
Smino, blkswn<br />
Brand New, Science Fiction<br />
Death From Above, Outrage! Is Now<br />
Halasan Bazar, Burns<br />
at the drive in, in*ter a*li*a<br />
Liam Gallagher, As You Were<br />
<br />
Best Live Releases:<br />
Marc Bolan, Skycloaked Lord (...of Precious Light)<br />
Dead Moon, What a way to See the Old Girl Go<br />
Sivert Hoyem, Live at Acropolis<br />
<br />
And since we once again live in an age of songs, here's my favorite singles of the year:<br />
<br />
Portugal the Man - "Feel It Still"<br />
Beck - "Dear Life"<br />
Killers - "I'm the Man"<br />
Liam Gallagher - "For What It's Worth"<br />
Ian Felice - "In the Kingdom of Dreams"<br />
Morrissey - "Spent the Day in Bed"<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Phil T’s Maine Event</b><br />
<br />
Absolute Essential Album Of 2017 for me is The Maine - Lovely, Little, Lonely (if you want to sample it, listen to I Only Wanna Talk To You And you’ll see why!)<br />
<br />
Other notable entries for me would be:<br />
Kesha - Rainbow<br />
Paramore - After Laughter<br />
Björk - Utopia<br />
Sampha - Process<br />
Gabrielle Aplin - Avalon (an EP but still)<br />
Night Riots - Love Gloom<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Scott T Takes it Slow </b><br />
<br />
Most Essential<br />
Slowdive - Slowdive<br />
<br />
Other Essential<br />
Way Out West - Tuesday Maybe<br />
UNKLE - The Road, Part 1<br />
Scandroid - Monochrome<br />
<br />
Older Albums Discovered<br />
<br />
Ghost Data - Girl's Love<br />
Pastel Ghost - Abyss<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Dean B’s Damning Praise</b><br />
<br />
1. Kendrick Lamar, Damn<br />
2. Arcade Fire, Everything Now<br />
3. Aimee Mann, Mental Illness<br />
4. Grizzly Bear, Painted Ruins<br />
5. Liars, TFCF<br />
6. Nine Inch Nails, Add Violence<br />
7. The National, Sleep Well Beast<br />
8. The Magnetic Fields, 50 Song Memoir<br />
<br />
My 2017 Mix Tape:<br />
https://open.spotify.com/user/deanbabin/playlist/7CK5U3quNzefRCFeS0eRbB<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Glenn B Gives a DAMN</b><br />
<br />
I’m including some honorable mentions with my top 10- It was hard to choose just 10!<br />
<br />
It was a good year…well, for music at any rate…<br />
<br />
1) Kendrick Lamar, DAMN.<br />
2) Father John Misty, Pure Comedy<br />
3) St. Vincent, MASSEDUCTION<br />
4) Spoon, Hot Thoughts<br />
5) Beck, Colors<br />
6) Queens Of The Stone Age, Villains<br />
7) Cloud Nothings, Life Without Sound<br />
8) Thundercat, Drunk<br />
9) Foo Fighters, Concrete & Gold<br />
10) Grizzly Bear, Painted Ruins<br />
<br />
Honorable Mentions:<br />
<br />
SZA, Ctrl<br />
The Life And Times, The Life and Times<br />
Elbow, Little Fictions<br />
Beach Fossils, Somersault<br />
N.E.R.D., NO ONE EVER REALLY DIES<br />
The New Pornographers, Whiteout Conditions<br />
Paramore, After Laughter<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>For Ben A, The Showman Must Go On</b><br />
<br />
Most Essential Album:<br />
The Greatest Showman (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack), Various Artists<br />
<br />
<br />
Important Singles:<br />
"Beautiful," by Bazzi<br />
"Say It To My Face," by Madison Beer<br />
"Echame La Culpa," by Luis Fonsi & Demi Lovato<br />
"Never Be The Same," by Camila Cabello<br />
"She Loves Control," by Camila Cabello<br />
"Miss You," by Louis Tomlinson<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Jon S Takes the Plunge</b><br />
<br />
In my life, I generally break down music into two categories. Music that I listen to, and music that I write to. The main difference between them is primarily that the first category has lyrics, and the second generally does not.<br />
<br />
This year, my “music to listen to” list was heavily dominated by female vocalists:<br />
<br />
- Plunge by Fever Ray<br />
- MASSEDUCTION by Saint Vincent<br />
- Hiss Spun by Chelsea Wolfe<br />
- Okovi by Zola Jesus<br />
- Exile in the Outer Ring by EMA<br />
- Melodrama by Lorde<br />
- What Now by Sylvan Esso<br />
- Guppy by Charly Bliss<br />
- Swear I’m Good at This by Diet Cig<br />
- Tourist In this Town by Alison Crutchfield<br />
- Cigarettes After Sex by Cigarettes After Sex<br />
<br />
Only that last band, Cigarettes After Sex, features a male vocalist. I’m not sure why my list turned out this way. Perhaps it was my mood, or perhaps the ladies just really owned this year.<br />
<br />
Some writers don’t listen to music when they write. Some don’t have a problem with lyrics while they’re writing. But if you’re like me, or if you simply are curious to check out new, non-mainstream instrumental music, the below are all either 2017 or late 2016 instrumental albums that are worth a listen on your streaming service of choice:<br />
<br />
- Luciferian Towers by Godspeed You! Black Emperor (rock)<br />
- Aytcheby Joseph Shabason (jazz)<br />
- Diaspora by Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah (jazz)<br />
- Narcopop by Gas (electronic)<br />
- Wood / Metal / Plastic / Pattern / Rhythm / Rock by 75 Dollar Bill (umm…rock? I guess?)<br />
- An Act of Love by Earthen Sea (electronic)<br />
- World Eater by Blanck Mass (electronic)<br />
- Concrete Desert by The Bug & Earth (electronic)<br />
- KWIATY by Jacaszek (electronic)<br />
- Une Meeles by Maarja Nuut (iTunes categorizes it as klezmer?? I would probably say modern classical)<br />
- The Olympians by the Olympians (motown jazz)<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Jordan S Praises the Lorde</b><br />
<br />
Lorde, Melodrama<br />
<br />
Pretty much the only new album I really loved this year. Now, get off my lawn.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Nina L, Turns Up ‘Turn Out’</b><br />
<br />
Julien Baker, Turn Out the Lights<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Derek M Brings the Melodrama</b><br />
<br />
Here it is:<br />
<br />
1. Lorde, Melodrama<br />
<br />
Unranked 2. – 10.:<br />
<br />
-Arca, Arca<br />
-Creeper, Eternity, In Your Arms<br />
-Julien Baker, Turn Out the Lights<br />
-Kendrick Lamar, DAMN.<br />
-LCD Soundsystem, american dream<br />
-Mount Eerie, A Crow Looked at Me<br />
-Sampha, Process<br />
-St. Vincent, Masseduction<br />
-The War on Drugs, A Deeper Understanding<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Nico M, Educated</b><br />
<br />
St. Vincent MASSEDUCTION !!! I'm ob-surrrssed.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Dan P Builds a Bridgers</b><br />
<br />
Most essential:<br />
Phoebe Bridgers, Stranger in the Alps<br />
<br />
Very essential:<br />
Sylvan Esso, What Now<br />
<br />
Other essentials:<br />
Rostam, Half-Light<br />
Arcade Fire, Everything Now<br />
Charly Bliss, Guppy<br />
Lorde, Melodrama<br />
St. Vincent, Masseduction<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Matthue R’s Crooked Saints</b><br />
<br />
Most Essential: St. Vincent, Masseduction<br />
<br />
Can I be brutal? It's not the #1 album of the year, but "New York" is the #1 song of the year, and the other 12 tracks could all be metal machine music, literally or metaphorically, and it would still be bouyed up to #1. She wrings it for every emotion in the book, from utter desperation to utter unfulfilled and pining and all-or-nothing limerence. (And yes, there are other amazing moments, and yes, the chorus of the title song is snarky and brilliant, and even the song that is a sequel to a song on her last album that sounds virtually exactly the same is a really good song, both times.)<br />
<br />
Anyway.<br />
<br />
Offa Rex, Queen of Hearts<br />
Darshan, Raza<br />
Angel Olsen, Phases<br />
Zusha, A Colorful World<br />
Sufjan Stevens & co., Planetarium<br />
Kitty, Miami Garden Club<br />
Ani Difranco, Binary<br />
SZA, Control<br />
<br />
Best Fake Band: Offa Rex. You know how, of late, Colin Meloy of the Decemberists has been writing novels and ditties (and even this weird ethnomusicological tweet about shofars) and creating his own brand of Jorge Luis Borges-style semifictions? This band, basically the Decemberists with another vocalist, feels like one of them.<br />
<br />
Best Horrible Moment: Jay-Z, The Story of O.J.: "You ever wonder why Jewish people own all the property in America? This how they did it." F to the U to the sea to the cay. I completely get what he was trying to do. I see how it fits into the cadence of the song and his message and his delivery, and I actually think it's pretty narratively incredible. But, Jay, you just can't do this. We love that your mom's gay and we love that you're happy and that you're doing therapy. But this is not true. It is not nice.<br />
<br />
Best Recovery: Reputation. Her last album rocked me with all the calorieless indulgence of Liz Phair's most unapologetic pop riff, but I have yet to discover the nuances at the heart of T-Swift's new album. I listen to it, I like it, 5 seconds later, I've shed it for whatever my (gMusic? Goosic?) has served up next and I can't remember a single note. But while I'm there, I like it. Maybe I'll dive in deeper. Or maybe that's just how you follow up an album that slices you in half: with one that's perfectly good-natured and serviceable, but doesn't change your life. That's okay. It doesn't have to.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Eugene K’s in De Zona</b><br />
<br />
Gente de Zona - Visualizate<br />
Charli XCX - Pop 2<br />
Young Thug - Beautiful Thugger Girls<br />
Kendrick Lamar - Damn<br />
21 Savage/Offset/Metro Boomin' - Without Warning<br />
21 Savage - Issa Album<br />
Four Tet - New Energy<br />
Trio Da Kali and Kronos Quartet - Ladilikan<br />
Migos - Culture<br />
Lil Uzi Vert - Luv is Rage 2<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Anna C’s Doing Fine</b><br />
<br />
Some music picks for you:<br />
<br />
1. SUSTO, & I'm Fine Today<br />
2. Zola Jesus, Okovi<br />
3. Craig Finn, We All Want The Same Things<br />
4. Alex Lahey, Love You Like A Brother<br />
5. Downtown Boys, Cost of Living<br />
6. Lilly Hiatt, Trinity Lane<br />
7. Nikki Lane, Highway Queen<br />
8. Lorde, Melodrama<br />
9. Palehound, A Place I'll Always Go<br />
10. Rozwell Kid, Precious Art<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Andy P’s Sheeran Madness</b><br />
<br />
Oh man… I’m always the worst at this… I mean, I listened mostly to Ed Sheeran, P!nk, Troye Sivan, and the Hamilton Soundtrack. Did I mention I’m actually a 13-year-old girl? Oh! And Superfruit! That’s current! And hip! Right?<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Jasper D’s SZA PDA</b><br />
<br />
2017 was a pretty interesting year music-wise for me. It was the year I started admitting that I actually love musicals! So I've been doing a lot of listening to things from the past and really enjoying it. There was also a lot of great new music put out in 2017 so my list is a pretty mixed bag.<br />
<br />
My most essential album of 2017 is CTRL by SZA, and I have a feeling a lot of people will feel similarly. Some of my other essential 2017 albums are:<br />
<br />
Wild Alee, Talos<br />
After Laughter, Paramore<br />
Burn It Down, Daughter<br />
Okovi, Zola Jesus<br />
Pop 2, Charli XCX<br />
<br />
And some important albums from past years I spent time with are:<br />
<br />
Hamilton, Original Broadway Cast Recording<br />
Next to Normal, Original Broadway Cast Recording<br />
Phantom of the Opera, Andrew Lloyd Webber<br />
Carrie and Lowell, Sufjan Stevens<br />
Silent Shout, The Knife<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Teri Y Walks the Moon</b><br />
<br />
Walk the Moon, What If Nothing<br />
Sigrid, Don't Kill My Vibe<br />
Ed Sheeran, Divide<br />
<br />
Streaming services have really killed my album listening. A lot of artists seem to be pushing out singles regularly instead of putting together a full album. Really dug Sigrid's Strangers, Eli Lieb's Hollywood, Pink's What About Us, Leon Else's What I Won't Do, State of Sound's cover of Heaven and Dua Lipa's New Rules.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Kaleb N’s Click Bait</b><br />
<br />
Most Essential Album<br />
AJR, The Click<br />
(Very underrated album — if you play it from start to finish, it feels like you’re experiencing the complete story of a group of brothers working hard to start a music career)<br />
<br />
Best Singles<br />
Imagine Dragons, Thunder<br />
Miley Cyrus, Malibu<br />
Sturgill Simpson, Breakers Roar<br />
Lo-Fang, You’re The One That I Want<br />
Lana Del Rey, Lust For Life<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Maggie S’s Orchestral Maneuvers</b><br />
<br />
Another year of not really buying albums, a year of buying snake people synth heavy remixes, a variety of stomp-clap singles that probably should play during the credits of TV shows set in rural Virginia, and hopeful tunes completely at odds with the burning hive-fire that was 2017.<br />
<br />
Top Ten Most Played Songs From 2017<br />
(whether or not they're from 2017)<br />
(* indicates snake people music<br />
** indicates stomp-clap singles<br />
***hopeful tunes in times of fire)<br />
<br />
1. Sivu - "Lonesome (Toothless Remix)"*<br />
2. Cold War Kids - "Can We Hang On?"**<br />
3. Bad Wave/ Miracle Cat - "Time To Get Lost (Miracle Cat Remix)"*<br />
4. Dirtwire - "No More (feat. Moontricks)**<br />
5. Lupa - "Keep Back"*<br />
6. SAINT WKND & MAX - "Survive"*<br />
7. Gordi - "000000 Million"***<br />
8. Lost Lander - "Give It Time"***<br />
9. Rationale - "Phenomenal"*<br />
10. Saint Mesa - "Lion"<br />
11. Charlie Cunningham - "You Sigh"**<br />
12. Wild - "Haunted Heart"*<br />
<br />
(I know I said 10 but that Charlie Cunningham song was too good for you guys not to hear it and "Haunted Heart" really needs to be heard before it gets used in a dramatic tv show and we all have bad associations with it.)<br />
<br />
Best Albums<br />
<br />
Manchester Orchestra - A Black Mile to the Surface<br />
Their best album to date, in my opinion, the songs working together both as an album and as singles. Bonus is the acoustic version of "The Gold."<br />
<br />
Weezer - Pacific Daydream<br />
I KNOW OK? But another album that works really well as an album, and that poignant closer of "Any Friend of Diane" feels like a gasping, grasping shot at making good out of a bad situation, which is a good closer for '17.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Roberto R’s Courtneys Love</b><br />
<br />
THE COURTNEYS II by The Courtneys is by-far the album I loved the most in 2017<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Chris R’s a Freak for Ctrl</b><br />
<br />
Here are my top albums:<br />
<br />
1. SZA, Ctrl<br />
2. Sylvan Esso, What Now<br />
3. Dirty Projectors, Up in Hudson<br />
4. Big Thief, Capacity<br />
5. Sampha, Process<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Bill K Sounds it Out</b><br />
<br />
Essential Album: Haley Reinhart-What's That Sound<br />
(Because I enjoy being predictable in some ways)<br />
<br />
This was the first year since I was 8 when I didn't do a personal Top 10 songs list, so these are songs I enjoyed this year in no particular order:<br />
Want You Back/Haim<br />
Look What You Made Me Do/Taylor Swift<br />
Two Fux/Adam Lambert<br />
You Can't Fire Me, I Quit/Tacocat<br />
Dis Generation/A Tribe Called Quest<br />
Get a Yes/Sad13<br />
Let's Start/Haley Reinhart<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Tara A Declares War</b><br />
<br />
1) The War on Drugs, A Deeper Understanding<br />
2) Antisocialits, Alvvays<br />
3) Elbow, Little Fictions<br />
4) Courtney Barnett and Kurt Vile, Lotta Sea Lice<br />
5) Spoon, Hot Thoughts<br />
6) Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings: Soul of a Woman<br />
7) Taylor Swift, Reputation<br />
<br />
BEST EP OF THE YEAR: Middle Kids<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Daniel L Waves a Flag for Rainbow</b><br />
<br />
1. Kesha, Rainbow<br />
2. Khalid, American Teen<br />
<br />
And... everything else was pretty much older. :)<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Giles G, a DAMN Good Sport</b><br />
<br />
My fave albums of '17 are as follows:<br />
<br />
1. Kendrick Lamar - DAMN.<br />
2. SZA - CTRL<br />
3. St. Vincent - Masseducation<br />
4. Sampha - Process<br />
5. Father John Misty - Pure Comedy<br />
<br />
Fave songs:<br />
<br />
1. Kendrick - The Heart Part 4<br />
2. Courtney Barnett, Kurt Vile - Over Everything<br />
3. Billie Eilish - Bellyache<br />
4. Miley Cyrus - Malibu<br />
5. Portugal. The Man - Feel it Still<br />
6. SZA - Drew Barrymore<br />
7. N.E.R.D. - Lemon<br />
8. Harry Styles - Sign of the Times<br />
9. Alt J - Deadcrush<br />
10. Big Thief - Shark Smile<br />
<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Jaci M Lordes it Over All Other Albums</b><br />
<br />
My essential albums for this year were:<br />
<br />
1) Lorde, Melodrama<br />
<br />
2) Eminem, Revival [Charlie chooses the music we play in the car, so this album is the music that we have been played in the car a LOT recently. But I've been liking it! Especially 'Remind Me' and 'In your Head' for the nostalgic sampling. I was playing the Cranberries for Charlie (inspired by the Eminem track) just the day before Dolores died. I've actually never stopped listening to the Cranberries since I first heard them, but they still take me back to summer 1996 sharing Ben and Jerry's Cherry Garcia with a German guy named Franz in a sub-let apartment in New Haven, Connecticut. Franz gave me his fan for my room because it was so hot and he 'didn't feel the heat', but then the summer got even hotter and he began to feel the heat and asked for his fan back please. This cured me of a mild crush on him.<br />
<br />
3) Gang of Youths, Go Farther in Lightness (actually, that's a lie - I've only just downloaded it. But I really like the bits I've heard. I just automatically found myself typing it in here.)<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Jinny W, Bach in the Hunt </b><br />
<br />
Here are my votes for 2017.<br />
=============<br />
<br />
Most Essential Albums. It’s a tie this year. <br />
<br />
*SHIRLEY HUNT, Baroque cello and viola da gamba; IAN PRITCHARD, harpsichord: J.S. BACH SUITES & SONATAS, VOLUME TWO. Letterbox Arts. (Volume One came out last year.) Bold, athletic, and meticulous music-making, with graceful leaps and soulful secrets from the brain and heart of Bach. Especially therapeutic for our confused zeitgeist.<br />
<br />
<br />
*ANNELLE K. GREGORY, violin; ALEXANDER SINCHUK, piano: RACHMANINOFF, COMPLETE WORKS & TRANSCRIPTIONS FOR VIOLIN AND PIANO. Bridge Recordings, Inc. They’re almost still kids. One American, one Russian, each a prodigy, who met through conservatory mentors. Only one Sergei Rachmaninoff in history, and these stunningly articulate musicians bring 20 of his delicious gifts to intoxicating fruition.<br />
<br />
Other Essential Albums:<br />
<br />
*ARCADI VOLODOS: VOLODOS PLAYS BRAHMS. Sony. Brahms is, of course, oxygen. This Russian pianist breathes it for all of us.<br />
<br />
<br />
*DANISH STRING QUARTET, LAST LEAF. ECM. These delightful blonds can and do play Beethoven, Brahms, and Haydn, but this time they embrace Nordic folk songs, fiddling for joy and sorrow. They’ve got the warmth, skip, jump, gusto and linger of polka and reel and waltz; and they can convince you for a while that the world is a lovely place.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Shelly R’s Package of Songs </b><br />
<br />
Top Album:<br />
<br />
Original Broadway Cast, Hamilton: An American Musical<br />
-This was THE album that got me through my last semester at Stephens, through six intense weeks of NYU SPI, and just gets me through life every day. I was able to watch the show for my 22nd birthday here in the city and it was magical. So you can say that I worked my way out and graduate college. I didn’t throw away my shot and I followed my dreams of moving to NYC. And now, I’m in the room where it happens working in my dream job.<br />
<br />
Top 10 Songs (in no particular order and yes, my musical taste is all over the place, haha):<br />
<br />
1. The Package – A Perfect Circle<br />
2. Don’t Hurt Yourself – Beyoncé<br />
3. m.A.A.d City – Kendrick Lamar<br />
4. Sweatpants – Childish Gambino<br />
5. Immigrants (We Get The Job Done) – K’NAAN, Snow Tha Product, Riz MC, Residente<br />
6. Don’t Play – Halsey<br />
7. Bartholomew – The Silent Comedy<br />
8. Waving Through a Window – Dear Evan Hansen Original Broadway Cast<br />
9. Ugly Boy – Die Antwoord<br />
10. World In My Eyes – Depeche Mode (original version and the Cicada Mix)<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Keirsten G’s Link, No Longer Missing</b><br />
<br />
Two old and three new:<br />
<br />
OLD:<br />
Songs of Light by Shirley Ann Lee<br />
Lee Fields & The Expressions (no particular album but newly discovered old artist)<br />
<br />
NEW:<br />
“Awaken, My Love” by Childish Gambino<br />
Keria by Susso<br />
At What Cost by Goldlink<br />
<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Maya M’s Somewhere, But Not Over the Rainbow</b><br />
<br />
I have thought about it all week and there is no music from 2017 that I find worth mentioning besides Kesha’s Rainbow. Did other albums even come out? Were any other artists even slightly relevant? Was anything else on the radio a true triumph of human resilience? I couldn’t tell you. Kesha forever.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>By the Time Sarah M Got to Woodstock…</b><br />
<br />
I was invited to join your 2017 music poll from my boss, John Adamo, and I am very excited to share what (in my humble opinion) are the best albums of 2017!<br />
<br />
1. Portugal. The Man, Woodstock<br />
2. The War On Drugs, A Deeper Understanding<br />
3. Grizzly Bear, Painted Ruins<br />
4. Lorde, Melodrama<br />
5. The National, Sleep Well Beast<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Josh L’s Baker, No Faker</b><br />
<br />
I have some confidence that I will be more in tune with the other participants than of late. No way this hip-hop fad is going to last--the singer songwriters will return!<br />
<br />
Julien Baker, Turn out the Lights<br />
<br />
(Runner-up:)<br />
Mountain Goats, Goths.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Brant R, Alvvays and Forever</b><br />
<br />
My Essential Albums of 2017:<br />
Alvvays, Antisocialites<br />
Slowdive, Slowdive<br />
Destroyer, ken<br />
Japanese Breakfast, Soft Sounds from Another Planet<br />
Luna, A Place of Greater Safety [EP]<br />
Delicate Steve, This Is Steve<br />
Rostam, Half-Light<br />
Sia, Everyday Is Christmas<br />
<br />
Some of My Essential Tracks of 2017:<br />
Slowdive, “No Longer Making Time”<br />
Destroyer, “Sky’s Grey”<br />
Alvvays, “In Undertow”<br />
Open Mike Eagle, “95 Radios”<br />
LCD Soundsystem, “Oh Baby”<br />
The War on Drugs, “Up All Night”<br />
Phoenix, “J-Boy”<br />
<br />
Elder Albums I Found Essential in 2017:<br />
Incredible Bongo Band, Bongo Rock [1973]<br />
David Axelrod, Songs of Innocence [1968]<br />
The Impressions, The Impressions [1963]<br />
Milton Nascimento, Clube Da Esquina [1972]<br />
Roland Kirk, The Inflated Tear [1968]<br />
Julie London, Julie Is Her Name [1955]<br />
Christopher Cross, Another Page [1983]<br />
The Kinks, Face to Face [1966]<br />
B.B. King, Indianola Mississippi Seeds [1970]<br />
Michael Martin Murphey, Blue Sky • Night Thunder [1975]<br />
Prince, For You [1978]<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Jonathan V’s Migration Patterns</b><br />
<br />
Albums of 2017 (for me, ranked by personal health benefit)<br />
<br />
1. Bonobo, MIGRATION<br />
2. Theo Katzman, HEARTBREAK HITS<br />
3. Lusine, SENSORIMOTOR<br />
4. The National, SLEEP WELL BEAST<br />
5. Destroyer, KEN<br />
6. Jay-Z, 4:44<br />
7. Odesza, A MOMENT APART<br />
8. Kendrick Lamar, DAMN<br />
9. Wolf Parade, CRY CRY CRY<br />
10. Hundred Waters, COMMUNICATING<br />
<br />
Honorable mention from this year: Chris Stapleton, FROM A ROOM, VOL. 1 (but I stand by our base ten numeric system’s tyranny over “top” lists, and there will be no 11)<br />
<br />
Honorable mention from previous years: Popcaan, WHERE WE COME FROM (wall-to-wall amazing, likely would have been my #1 if it had come out in 2017)<br />
<br />
Can’t believe I still haven’t heard: The Killers, WONDERFUL WONDERFUL (but I’m saving it for a trip)<br />
<br />
My Ultimate Mix from 2017<br />
<br />
1. Austra, WE WERE ALIVE<br />
2. Bleachers, EVERYBODY LOST SOMEBODY<br />
3. Barbelle, NEVER TOO MUCH<br />
4. The Districts, THE POINT<br />
5. Jay-Z, 4:44<br />
6. Goldfrapp, MOON IN YOUR MOUTH<br />
7. Gorillaz w/ Grace Jones, CHARGER<br />
8. Ki: Theory, TERRAFORM<br />
9. Night Drive, YOUNG RIVALS<br />
10. Baynk, COME HOME<br />
11. Loma, BLACK WILLOW<br />
12. Lusine, WITNESS<br />
13. Kendrick Lamar, ELEMENT<br />
14. Groundislava w/ Jake Weary, UNTIL TOMORROW<br />
15. Hundred Waters, FIRELIGHT<br />
16. Washed Out, INSTANT CALM<br />
17. Destroyer, IVORY COAST<br />
18. TR/ST, BICEP<br />
19. Fever Ray, TO THE MOON AND BACK<br />
20. Theo Katzman, PLAIN JANE HEROIN<br />
21. Slowdive, FALLING ASHES<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Lauren and Randy’s List (This is Them)</b><br />
<br />
For 2017:<br />
SONGS:<br />
"Despacito," Luis Fonzi and Daddy Yankee<br />
"Things It Would Be Helpful to Know Before the Revolution," Father John Misty<br />
"Sign of the Times," Harry Styles<br />
"Waiting on a Song," Dan Auerbach<br />
"Dear Life," Beck<br />
"Homemade Dynamite," Lorde<br />
"Everybody Knows," Sigrid<br />
"Dark Side of the Gym," The National<br />
"Now & Later," Sage the Gemini<br />
<br />
ALBUM:<br />
"This Is Us Soundtrack"<br />
<br />
For the random category of non-2017 tunes that we discovered and/or continue to love:<br />
Eric Bib -- Shine On<br />
Freedom Fry -- 1979<br />
Daniela Andrade -- Creep<br />
Alison Krauss & Robert Plant -- Raising Sand<br />
Agnes Obel -- September Song<br />
Daddy Yankee -- Gasolina<br />
David Gray -- Babylon<br />
My Chemical Romance - Welcome to the Black Parade<br />
Darius Rucker -- Wagon Wheel<br />
<br />
And as always: Traveling Willburys, Tom Petty, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Alison Krauss, and Credence Clearwater Revival YO!!!!<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>John A’s Grandaddy Clause</b><br />
<br />
What an amazing year it was!<br />
<br />
In no particular order:<br />
<br />
1. Grandaddy, Last Place<br />
2. Spoon, Hot Thoughts<br />
3. Fleet Foxes, Crack-Up<br />
4. Lana Del Rey, Lust for Life<br />
5. Father John Misty, Pure Comedy<br />
6. Spotlights, Seismic<br />
7. Metz, Strange Peace<br />
8. St Vincent, Masseduction<br />
9. Grizzly Bear, Painted Ruins<br />
10. Death From Above, Outrage! Is Now<br />
11. LCD Soundsystem, American Dream<br />
12. The xx, I See You<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Jonas R Plays Misty for Us</b><br />
<br />
Here goes:<br />
<br />
1. Father John Misty, Pure Comedy<br />
2. Thievery Corporation, The Temple of I & I<br />
3. Courtney Barnett & Kurt Vile, Lotta Sea Lice\<br />
4. Iron & Wine, Beast Epic<br />
5. The Shins, Heartworms<br />
6. The New Pornographers, Whiteout Conditions<br />
7. Spoon, Hot Thoughts<br />
8. Whispertown, I'm a Man<br />
9. The Dollyrots, Whiplash Splash<br />
10. Jolie Holland & Samantha Parton, Wildflower Blue<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Christopher P Manns Up</b><br />
<br />
1) Aimee Mann, Mental Illness<br />
2) Thea Gilmore, The Counterweight<br />
3) a-ha, MTV Unplugged Summer Solstice<br />
4) Beck, Colors<br />
5) Goldfrapp, Silver Eye<br />
6) Paloma Faith, The Architecht<br />
7) Sia, Everyday Is Christmas<br />
8) Flaming Lips, Oczy Mlody<br />
9) Tori Amos, Native Invader<br />
10) Zola Jesus, Okovi<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Alicia G’s Nervous Energy</b><br />
<br />
1) Julia Michaels, Nervous System<br />
2) Kendrick Lamar, Damn<br />
3) Ed Sheeran, Shape of You<br />
4) The XX, I See You<br />
5) Pink, Beautiful Trauma<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Ronnie A’s Peak Performances</b><br />
<br />
Best Soundtracks of the Year:<br />
Twin Peaks: The Return<br />
Daniel Hart, Ghost Story<br />
Clint Mansell, Loving Vincent<br />
Ramin Djawadi, The Mountain Between Us<br />
Mica Levi, Marjorie Prime<br />
Jonny Greenwood, Phantom Thread<br />
Sufjan Stevens, Call Me By Your Name<br />
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<!--StartFragment--><!--EndFragment--><br />
Tamar-kali, Mudbound<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
davidlevithanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00762768300871943772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1509734071563017124.post-14166629284771888002017-01-30T20:27:00.002-08:002017-01-30T20:27:25.381-08:00The 2016 David Music Poll Results<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">The 2016 David Music Poll Results<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">1)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Beyoncé, Lemonade<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(39 votes)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">2)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bon Iver, 22, A Million<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(18)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">3)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Solange, A Seat at the Table<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(17)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">4)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Frank Ocean, Blond(e)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(16)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">5)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Radiohead, A Moon Shaped Pool (15)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">6)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>David Bowie, Blackstar (10)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Various Artists, Hamilton Mixtape (10)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">8)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A Tribe Called Quest, We Got It From Here…
(9)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sia, This is Acting (9)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">10)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Car Seat Headrest, Teens of Denial (8)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Runners Up:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With 7 votes . . . Anohni, Hopelessness;
Rihanna, Anti; Mitski, Puberty 2.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With 6
votes . . . Kanye West, The Life of Pablo; Angel Olsen, My Woman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With 5 votes . . . Anderson.Paak, Malibu;
Tegan and Sara, Love You to Death; Leonard Cohen, You Want it Darker; James
Blake, The Colour in Anything<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Notes:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some years are close. This one was not. You
can even see it in the votes for Beyoncé – most of the people voted with her
assumed she would be the winner. And indeed, she was. Interestingly, we almost
had a one-two punch from the Knowles sisters, with Bon Iver squeezing between them
by one vote.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This list marks the fifth
one Radiohead has hit since we started in 1999, as well as Bon Iver’s third
(one for each album of theirs), and second hits from Sia, Beyoncé, and Frank
Ocean. Previous listers Kanye West and Tegan & Sara came close; previous
listers Regina Spektor and Lady Gaga were wider off the mark. This year we had
87 respondents, from 89 last year. And for those of you who are curious, as we
hit this eighteenth year, there are five people in the mix who have been in it
since 1999.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, for the individual
lists…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">I am full of Love and Hate<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">My Essential Albums of
2017:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">1)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Michael Kiwanuka, Love & Hate<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">I like all the albums on
this list about the same, but this is the one that has most consistently blown
me away – the others are my kind of thing done well, whereas this is something
different from what I usually listen to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And it’s been easy to recommend it to everyone I know, because I think
it’s virtuosity has wide appeal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And his
voice is killer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">2)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Radical Face, The Family Tree: The Leaves<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">This seemed to be the
spiritual cousin to Sufjan Stevens’ <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Carrie
& Lowell</i>, my top album last year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I keep listening to figure out its stories – and it keeps hold of me
every time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">3)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ingrid Michaelson, It Doesn’t Have to Make
Sense<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">I always feel guilty when
bad things happen to good singers (in this case, divorce and death of a
mother), and please note that I really have loved Ingrid Michaelson’s albums
when she’s been happy, as well. This one is heartbreaking and affirming at the
same time – one of those “the only way out is through” albums that completely
gets under your skin.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">4)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Original Broadway Cast, Waitress<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">By a long shot, the album
I’ve listened to the most this year. At the risk of coming close to a bad pun,
this is pure comfort food – and, let’s face it, 2016 required a lot of comfort
food.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Though, like the best diner
waitresses, it also has a spine of attitude.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">5)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Regina Spektor, Remember Us to Life<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Back to form after some
time off, Spektor plays around with her tunes – lots of surprising shifts
between and within songs. And “The Light” is the most beautiful song of the
year, hands down.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">6)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Car Seat Headrest, Teens of Denial<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Filling my Adolescent Male
Angst slot – this is like turning on college radio, circa 1993, but with a
modern flair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Reality, it seems, keeps
biting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">7)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Beyonce, Lemonade<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Confession:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve loved some of Beyonce’s singles, but
have never really felt strongly about her as an artist – she always was a
little too icy for me. But here? She goes all over the place . . . and it
totally works.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">My Essential Songs of
2017:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Phantogram, “You Don’t Get
Me High Anymore”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Regina Spektor, “The
Light”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Ingrid Michaelson, “Light
Me Up”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Bastille, “Send Them Off!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Tegan and Sara, “100x”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Radiohead, “Burn the
Witch”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Broods, “Recovery”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Roo Panes, “Little Giant”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Anna Q goes La-La<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">The La La Land soundtrack.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Regina Spektor, Remember Us
to Life<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Lydia Loveless, Real<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Daphne B-G Mixes is Up<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">I finally have something
to add- my essential album:<br />
Various artists, Hamilton Mixtape. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Phil B Surfs Malibu<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">In order of excellence...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">1. Anderson. Paak, Malibu<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">2. Solange, A Seat at the
Table<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">3. A Tribe Called Quest,
We Got it from Here, Thank You 4 Your Service<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Daniel H’s Epic List<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Kamasi Washington - The
Epic<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Leonard Cohen - You Want
It Darker<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Frankie Meyes - Boleros,
Valses y Mas<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Crissa C Flies Drones<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Here's my list:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">-- Hopelessness by Anohni
is my album of the year.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Single: Drone Bomb Me <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">(the Park Avenue Armory
performance was incredible)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">--Bon Iver, 22, A
Million<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">--David Bowie, Blackstar <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">--Helado Negro, Private
Energy <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">--James Blake, The Colour
in Anything<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">--Plaid, The Digging
Remedy<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Scott D is Pro Anti<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Hey! Here are my top
three:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">1. Rihanna, Anti<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">2. Frank Ocean, Blonde<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">3. Solange, A Seat at the
Table<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Kate W’s Beywatch<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Best Album:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Beyonce, Lemonade<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">10 Best Singles:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Tribe Called Quest, We the
People<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Radiohead, Decks Dark<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Beyonce, Freedom<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Anderson Peak, Come Down<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Glass Animals, Life Itself<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">J. Cole, Foldin Clothes<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Alicia Keys, In Common
(Kaskade Remix)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Bruno Mars, Perm<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Joyryde, Hot Drum<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Local Natives, Fountain of
Youth<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Martina B Takes a Seat at the Table<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">1. Solange, A Seat at the
Table<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">2. Beyonce, Lemonade<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">3. David Bowie, Blackstar<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">4. Alicia Keys, Here<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">5. Carrie Rodriguez, Lola<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Steven M Tips His Hat to a Sailor<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">1. Sturgill Simpson - A
Sailor's Guide To Earth <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">2. Car Seat Headrest -
Teens of Denial <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">3. L.A. Salami -
Dancing With Bad Grammar <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">4. Chris Forsyth
& The Solar Motel Band - The Rarity of Experience <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">5. Emitt Rhodes -
Rainbow Ends<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">6. William Tyler -
Modern Country <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">7. Kevin Morby -
Singing Saw <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">8. Underworld -
Barbara Barbara, We Face a Shining Future<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">9. Whitney - Light
Upon The Lake <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">10a. Jagwar Ma -
Every Now & Then <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">10b. Heron Oblivion
- Heron Oblivion<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Len V’s Retro List<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">I don't listen to a lot of
contemporary music, so my choices are almost always going to be out of date. In
fact, I have a tie this year for #1, which shows just how late to the game I
am:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Sufjan Stevens, Illinoise<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Bob Marley, Legend<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">My wife gave me a record
player for my birthday last May, so I started buying vinyl (oh what a pleasure
to sift through 12 inch LPs again!), for the first time in many years.
These were the two albums I went back to over and over, especially while
editing. I guess I like double albums. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Jordan H’s Grande Gesture<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Albums from 2016: all essential <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Ariana Grande, Dangerous
Woman <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Beyoncé, Lemonade<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Lady Gaga, Joanne <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Cruel Youth, +30Mg<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Album from 2015:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Melanie Martinez, Crybaby
(still obsessed)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Singles from 2016:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Guys My Age - Hey
Violet <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Like This - Jojo<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Cool girl -Tove Lo<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Read U Wrote U- Rupaul<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Milf $ - Fergie<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Gingerbread Man- Melanie
Martinez<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Singles from 2014/2015
(but found in 2016)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Easy -Bonnie Mckee<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Fire Rides- Mø<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Paul G is Jonesing <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">(Not technically an album,
but the most essential, inspiring sound I heard all year) Bruce Springsteen,
Born To Run audiobook<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Also great (and proof that
I am now a REALLY old man):<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Norah Jones, Day Breaks<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Sting, 57th and 9th<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Bonnie Raitt, Dig In Deep<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Beyoncé, Lemonade <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Paul Simon, Stranger to
Stranger<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Nick Cave and The Bad
Seeds, Skeleton Tree<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">David Bowie, Blackstar<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Leonard Cohen, You Want It
Darker<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Rolling Stones, Blue and
Lonesome<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Kyle Dixon and Michael
Stein, Stranger Things soundtrack<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Early entry for 2017 DMP,
Category: Sweetest & Saddest Sound: Barack Obama, Farewell Speech<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Fiona S Wants to Be in the Room<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Various Artists, Hamilton
Mix-tape<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Andra Day, Cheers to the
Fall<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">David Bowie, Blackstar<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">And going back<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">George Michael, Symphonica<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Caleb H’s Glass Animal Collection<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">A lot of these didn't come
out in 2016, whoops. I did a bad job keeping current.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">1) Porter
Robinson, Worlds<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"> I've
listened to this album more than any other album for sure. While writing, while
walking, anything. Not featured on this album was the song Shelter, though, in
collaboration with Madeon, which deserves to be mentioned. The Shelter tour was
the best concert I've ever been to. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"> PICK
A SONG: <i>Sad Machine</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">2) Carly Rae
Jepsen, Emotion <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">
People raved about this last year, I think, but I came to it late and BOY. I
don't think I've gone a week without listening to at least one of these songs since
I first found it, which might be over a year now.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"> PICK
A SONG: <i>When I Needed You</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">3) Glass Animals,
Zaba<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"> Only
discovered Glass Animals a few months ago but they've eaten a lot of my time
since then. Amazing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"> PICK
A SONG: <i>Black Mambo</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">4) Neon
Indian, Vega Intl. Night School<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"> This
album is weird and the videos are weird and I can't get enough. I don't have
the correct words to describe this album. It's sexy and catchy and full of
bizarre samples.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"> PICK
A SONG: <i>Annie</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">5) Glass
Animals, How to Be a Human Being <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"> See
above. I don't get as fully immersed in this album as Zaba, but it's still full
of stuff I want to keep listening to over and over.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"> PICK
A SONG: <i>Season 2 Episode 3</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">6) Anamanaguchi,
Capsule Silence XXIV Original Soundtrack<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"> I
actually just cracked this open this month and it'll definitely be on next
year's list, too. Everything I like about Anamanaguchi's last album ramped way
up. There's a song that I'm pretty sure is about Gastly. It rules.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"> PICK
A SONG: <i>My Heart my Body </i>(the Gastly song is <i>Poisonous Gas, </i>though)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">7) Jukebox the
Ghost, Long Way Home (Live)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"> I
love Jukebox, I've seen them live a bunch of times. The album does a good job
encapsulating why I keep going back.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"> PICK
A SONG: <i>Keys in the Car </i>is the only new song on the album. It's good.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">8) Panic! At
The Disco, Death of a Bachelor<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"> Yeah,
yeah. I know.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"> PICK
A SONG: <i>Death of a Bachelor</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">9) Marian Hill, ACT
ONE<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"> These
tracks follow a pattern that hooks me every time. Start with a catchy simple
melody and then start screwing with it electronically halfway through. It's so
so so so good and this whole album is danceable<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"> PICK
A SONG: <i>I Want You</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">10) The McElroy
Brothers, MBMBaM <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">
This should actually probably be #1, but it's not music, it's just the
podcast I listened to instead of listening to music for most of this year.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"> PICK
AN EPISODE: </span><a href="https://youtu.be/bR0Ubck0IRA"><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 10.0pt;">https://youtu.be/bR0Ubck0IRA</span></a><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"> is one of my favorite bits, but there's hundreds of
hours of these boys you can listen to. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Zach F Dives into the Pool<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">My top 5 from 2016:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">1. Radiohead, A Moon
Shaped Pool<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">2. Tegan and Sara, Love
You to Death<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">3. Santigold, 99 Cents<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">4. Jim James, Eternally
Even<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">5. Beyonce, Lemonade<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Brent G, Naturally Blond<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">(@bandwagon.series)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">1. Frank Ocean, Blond<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">2. Anderson .Paak, Malibu<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">3. Billie Marten, Writings
of Blue & Yellow<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">4. Daughter, Not to
Disappear<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">5. Childish Gambino,
Awaken, My love<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">6. Radiohead, A Moon
Shaped Pool<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">7. Yuna, Chapters<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">8. Gwen Stefani, This Is
What The Truth Feels Like<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">9. Beyonce, Lemonade <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">10. Eagulls, Ullages<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">David A Wishes Upon a Star<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">In this order, my top 4
records of the year...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">David Bowie, Blackstar<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Radiohead, A Moon Shaped
Pool<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Bon Iver, 22, A Million<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Daughter, Not to Disappear<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">David G Makes…<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">1. Beyonce - Lemonade<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">2. Chance the Rapper -
Coloring Book<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">3. David Bowie - Blackstar<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">4. Anohni - Hopelessness<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">5. Frankie Cosmos - Next
Thing<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">6. Blood Orange - Freetown
Sound<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">7. Radiohead - A Moon
Shaped Pool<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">8. Frank Ocean - Blonde<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">9. Rihanna - Anti<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">10. Kanye West - The Life
of Pablo<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Favorite tracks of the
year:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">1A. Beck - Wow<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">1B. Tyler the Creator
featuring Kali Uchis + Austin Feinstein (video version only, different from
album version) - Perfect<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">2. Rihanna - Love on the
Brain<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">3. Kanye West - Ultralight
Beam<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">4. Anohni - Why Did You
Separate Me From The Earth<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">5. David Bowie - Blackstar<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Zehava C Knows it All<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">My two, but I might have
been late in the game for both. Still, I like them lots. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">1) Alessia Cara, Know-it-All<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">2) Scott Helman, Augusta<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Matt de la P ranks 22 #1<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">My faves (no big shockers
here):<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">- Bon Iver - 22, A Million
(fucking love this one)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">- Radiohead, A Moon Shaped
Pool<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">- Frank Ocean, Blonde<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Sean W Sends Word from the Underworld<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">This year I did actually buy something that resembles the present. So
here are my two picks for 2016:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">Underworld, Barbara Barbara, We Face a Shining Future<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">The 1975, I like it when you sleep, for you are so beautiful yet so
unaware of it<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;">Glenn B Looks Through the
Basement<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">A Weird List for a Weird
Year-<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Here ’tis-<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">1) Basement- "Promise
Everything”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">2) A Tribe Called Quest-
“We got it from Here…Thank You 4 Your service”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">3) Bob Mould- “Patch The
Sky”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">4) Kendrick Lamar-
"untitled unmastered.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">5) Elliott Smith- “Heaven
Adores You Soundtrack”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">6) Green Day- “Revolution
Radio”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">7) ”David Bowie- “Black
Star”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">8) Bruno Mars- “24K Magic”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">9) Radiohead- “A Moon
Shaped Pool”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">10) The Weeknd- “ Starboy”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Stef I Pokes the Animal<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Here is my list:<br />
<br />
ANIMAL by Big Scary (my number one).<br />
<br />
And others on my list:<br />
<br />
AWAKEN, MY LOVE! by Childish Gambino<br />
THE COLOUR IN ANYTHING by James Blake<br />
A MINERAL LOVE by Bibio<br />
TELLURIC by Matt Corby<br />
A SEAT AT THE TABLE by Solange<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Evan W Has More Fun<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">My albums in order of
importance are... <i>Blonde </i>by Frank Ocean; <i>ANTI </i>by
Rihanna; <i>A Seat At The Table </i>by Solange; and <i>Views </i>by Drake.
It was the year of incredible rap and hip-hop for me!! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Will W Goes Through Puberty<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Albums: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">1. Mitski, <i>Puberty 2</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">2. Frank Ocean, <i>Blonde</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">3. Solange, <i>A Seat
at the Table</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">4. Bon Iver, <i>22, A
Million</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">5. Beyoncé, <i>Lemonade</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">6. Sia, <i>This Is Acting<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">SPECIAL ATHENS MUSIC SHOUT
OUT: Four Eyes, <i>Welcome to Earth </i>(</span><span style="mso-field-code: " HYPERLINK \0022https\:\/\/foureyesathens\.bandcamp\.com\/album\/welcome-to-earth\0022 \\t \0022_blank\0022 ";"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 10.0pt;">https://foureyesathens.bandcamp.com/album/welcome-to-earth</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">, contains my favorite song of the year, "St.
Francis Loves All the Animals") <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Songs:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">1. Four Eyes, "St.
Francis Loves All the Animals"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">2. Mitski, "Your Best
American Girl"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">3. Chance the Rapper,
"Same Drugs"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">4. Sia, "Alive"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">5. Beyoncé,
"Sorry"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">6. Frank Ocean, "Self
Control"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">7. Solange, "Don't
Wish Me Well" <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">8. Bon Iver,
"666[upside-down t]"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">9. Rihanna,
"Higher"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">10. Regina Spektor,
"Tornadoland" <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Aaron H Loves LA<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Favorite albums<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">1. La La Land
soundtrack <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">2. LANY - kinda<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">3. Satin Jackets -
Panorama Pacifico<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Linas A Walks the Lin<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">At the risk of skewing
your results in a very dorky direction, it's been Lin-Manuel Miranda nonstop
since the election for me...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Various artists, Hamilton:
The Mixtape<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">actual Hamilton cast
recording<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">soundtrack to Moana<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Jon S’s Bon Mots<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">The first time I heard <i>22,
A Million</i>, I texted a friend of mine "This new Bon Iver is literally
killing me its so good.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">I stand by that hyperbole.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Bon Iver, <i>22, A Million</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Radiohead, <i>A Moon
Shaped Pool</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">A Tribe Called Quest, <i>We
Got it From Here...Thank You 4 Your Service</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Car Seat Headrest, <i>Teens
of Denial</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Mitski, <i>Puberty 2</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Adia Victoria, <i>Beyond
the Bloodhounds</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Angel Olsen, <i>MY WOMAN</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Minor Victories, <i>Minor
Victories</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Kate Tempest, <i>Let Them
Eat Chaos</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Explosions in the Sky, The
Wilderness<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Collin R, Life of the Party<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">ESSENTIAL ALBUM<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Andy Shauf, The Party<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">OTHERS<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">James Blake, The Colour in
Anything<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Jessy Lanza, Oh No<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Solange, A Seat at the
Table<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Beyonce, Lemonade<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Mitski, Puberty 2<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Charlie XCX, Vroom Vroom -
EP<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Bon Iver, 22, A Million<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Carly Rae Jepsen, EMOTION
Side B<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Frank Ocean, Blond<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">ANOHNI, Hopelessness<br />
Lucius, Good Grief<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Chairlift, Moth<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Angel Olsen, My Woman<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Blood Orange, Freetown
Sound<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Cakes Da Killa, Hedonism<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">SINGLES<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Ariana Grande, Into You<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">PWR BTTM, New Hampshire<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">The 1985, Somebody Else<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Sylvan Esso, Kick Jump
Twist<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Perfume Genius, Can't Help
Falling in Love with You<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Emmy L, No Stranger to Paul<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Paul Simon, Stranger To
Stranger<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Matthue R Wants it Darker<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Essential album: Leonard
Cohen, You Want It Darker<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">2) Lady Lamb, Tender
Warriors Club<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">3) Bon Iver, 22, a Million<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">4) Regina Spektor,
Remember Us to Life<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">5) Alexander Hamilton,
Original Cast Recording<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">6) Emmy the Great, Second
Love<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">7) A Tribe Called Quest,
We got it from Here... Thank You 4 Your service (their capitalization, not
mine)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Best song that might not
be a song: Bon Iver, 715 - cr∑∑ks (his capitalization, not mine)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Best album that might not
be an album: The Avalanches, Wildflower<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Best comeback: Nine Inch
Nails, Not the Actual Events. Can I explain this? I really didn't like
Hesitation Marks, their "return to form" a year or two ago. I'd just
gotten into them, was really needing some unrestrained angry music, and was
editing a book from 5 years ago which was ALL FREAKIN' ABOUT angry music and
angry sexuality. There was even a chapter called "I Will Make You
Hurt," which was ironic, and I really liked it that way. And then they
came out with a new album that sounded weirdly peaceful. Loud, but peaceful.
These new songs, though. They're tense as anything. They're like the diametric
opposite of Xanax. And I am so grateful.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Elisa L Takes a Seat<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">*Solange/A Seat at the
Table<br />
<br />
Angel Olsen/My Woman<br />
Steve Gunn/Eyes on the Lines<br />
Wild Nothing/ Life of Pause<br />
David Bowie/Blackstar<br />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Samantha M is on a Quest<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">1) A Tribe Called Quest,
We got it from Here...Thank you 4 Your service<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">2) The Kills, Ashes &
Ice<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">3) Radiohead, A Moon
Shaped Pool<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Terribeth S Throws Some Tantrums<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Fitz and the Tantrums,
Fitz and the Tantrums<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">1975, I Like it When You
Sleep for You are So Beautiful yet So Unaware of It<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Lumineers, Cleopatra<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Tegan and Sara, Love You
to Death <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Head and the Heart, Signs
of Light <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Saint Motel,
saintmotelevision <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Naked and Famous, Simple
Forms<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">St Lucia, Matter<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Weezer, Weezer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Tribe Called Quest, We Got
It From Here, Thank You 4 Your Service <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">TB<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Lance R, Puts One Iver on Us<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">My prediction is that
Lemonade is taking it this year. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">But here's my #1: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Bon
Iver, 22, A Million <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Other 2016 albums I love: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Tegan
and Sara, Love You to Death </span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Beyonce,
Lemonade</span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Original
Soundtrack, Moana</span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Aurora,
All My Demons Greeting Me as a Friend </span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">2016 singles I love: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Francis
and the Lights, "May I Have This Dance" </span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Empire
of the Sun, "High and Low" </span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">The
1975, "The Sound" <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Older albums I discovered
and loved: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">2014:
Bleachers, Strange Desire </span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">1998:
Outkast, Aquemini</span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Woo!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Stephen B Offers Up Hopelessness<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">I’ve been waiting for
this!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">1. ANOHNI, <i>HOPELESSNESS</i>
(way too fitting for 2016, sadly)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">2. Iggy Pop, <i>Post Pop
Depression<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">3. David Bowie, <i>Blackstar</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">4. Against Me!, <i>Shape
Shift With Me</i> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">5. Radiohead, <i>A Moon
Shaped Pool<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">[and here’s where I know
my list gets too obscure to line up with anyone else’s]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">6. Bwana, <i>Capsule’s
Pride<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">7. The Sword,<i> High
Country</i>/<i>Low Country</i><u><o:p></o:p></u></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">8. Deftones,<i> Gore<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">9. Pigeonchild,<i> Pray to
the Cross in Between My Antlers<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">10. White Lung, <i>Paradise</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">And honorable
mention/gayest album: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Alaska Thunderfuck 5000, <i>Lil’
Poundcake</i> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Nina G, Livin’ the Life<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">1. Kanye, The Life of
Pablo<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">2. Chance the Rapper,
Coloring Book<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">3. Rihanna, Anti<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">4. Beyonce, Lemonade<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">5. The Weeknd, Starboy<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">6. Childish Gambino,
“Awaken, My Love!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">7. DJ Snake, Encore<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">8. Angel Olsen, My Woman<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">9. Phantogram, Three<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">10. KAYTRANADA, 99.9%<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Best new artist: Bishop
Briggs<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Lauren M and Randy B Team Up and Go All American<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">1. Gangstagrass, American
Music<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">2. Tall Heights, River<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">3. Original Cast Album,
Hamilton<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">4. The National, Trouble
Will Find Me<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">5. José González,
"Stay Alive"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">6. Johnny Cash,
"Hurt"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">7. Disturbed, "The
Sound of Silence"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">8. Vance Joy, "Fire
and the Flood"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">9. Avicii, "The
Nights"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">10. Tommy James and The
Shondells, "I Think We're Alone Now" (slowed down mix)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Stephanie P Looks to the Moon<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">I only had one essential
this year, but I'm happy to add it to your poll!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">1) Radiohead, A Moon
Shaped Pool<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Molly B Lets It Bey<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Thanks for doing this --
it's a happy distraction this week. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Albums: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">1. Beyonce, Lemonade (of
course)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">2. Jamila Woods, HEAVN
(Chicago girl <3 o:p=""></3></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">3. Lizzo, Coconut Oil
(Lizzo is my happy place)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">4. Common, Black America
Again (essential listening for the post-election blues)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">5. Hamilton OBC (for the
second year in a row haha)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Singles: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">1. Bey, Formation<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">2. Jamila Woods, Blk Girl
Soldier (SO GOOD)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">3. Lizzo, Good as Hell
(the ultimate picker-upper!)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">4. Avalanches, Because I'm
Me (ditto)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">5. Common, Letter to the
Free<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">6. Maggie Rogers, Dog
Years (if she puts out an album in 2017, I predict it will be on next year's
list!) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">7. Delta Spirit,
California (not a new song, but new to me in 2016)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">8. Oh Wonder, Without You
(from 2015, discovered in 2016)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">9. Hamilton Mixtape, Who
Tells Your Story<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">10. Hamiton Mixtape,
Satisfied<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Special Recognition: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">The Stranger Things theme<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">SNL, Crucible Cast Party
feat. Lin-Manuel Miranda<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Pretty much every song
from Steven Universe <3 nbsp="" o:p=""></3></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Hang in there in 2017,
everyone!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Jeramey K is Free to Bey<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Essential
Album:</span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Beyoncé, Lemonade<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Essential
Albums Not By Beyoncé:</span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Glass Animals, How To Be A
Human Being<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">The Kills, Ash & Ice<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Songs
I couldn't stop listening to after I saw drag queens perform them:</span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Grace Jones,
"Hurricane"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Patti LaBelle, "The
Alphabet" <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">RuPaul, "Read U Wrote
U" (the first 3/4s)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Songs
featured in TV and Film that forced me to have feelings:</span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Nina Simone,
"Stars" (BoJack Horseman)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Barbara Lewis, "Hello
Stranger" (Moonlight)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Rachel Bloom, "You
Stupid Bitch" (Crazy Ex-Girlfriend)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Kate McKinnon,
"Hallelujah" (SNL)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Belinda Carlisle,
"Heaven is a Place on Earth" (Black Mirror)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Aimee F Goes to the Tape<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Most Essential Album:
Various Artists, The Hamilton Mixtape.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">And then my top 5 singles:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Beyonce, Formation (best
video too!)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Leonard Cohen, You Want It
Darker<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Sia, Cheap Thrills<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Rihanna, Work <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">DNCE, Cake By the Ocean (I
think this may technically have been a ’15 release, but I heard it for the
first time in ’16, maybe because I’m #old?)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Roberto R Gains Kontrol<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Kristin Kontrol,
X-Communicate<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">I have a feeling I'm going
to be the ONLY person with that one.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Kathleen P Ades and Abets<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Beyonce, Lemonade OF
COURSE<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Otherwise essential:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Blood Orange, Freetown
Sound<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Sia, This is Acting<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Anderson .Paak, Malibu<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Solange, A Seat at the
Table<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Kanye West, The Life of
Pablo<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Maya M Goes in Formation<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">No contest.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Beyoncé, Lemonade<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Recommended listening
space: anytime, anywhere, for any occasion.</span></i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"> No other music from 2016 matters. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">However, IF other music
from 2016 did matter I would say:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">The Avett Brothers, True
Sadness<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Recommended listening
space: a hammock, preferably near water. If a hammock is unavailable, a horse
pasture will do. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Watsky, x Infinity <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">I had the same experience
with x Infinity that I did with every album he’s ever released. I listened to
it once and thought it was terrible. I listened a second time and found it
tolerable. I listened a third time and was awash in the feeling that he is a
true genius and national treasure. <i>Recommended listening space: walking in
Manhattan.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Jukebox the Ghost, Long
Way Home<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">My favorite live album
from this year. A guaranteed good time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Recommended listening
space: driving along a highway, outside of rush hour</span></i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">A 2015 album I found in
January of 2016: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Mipso, Old Time Reverie<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">When you’re in Kentucky it
just feels right to listen to Mipso. When you’re far away it reminds you of
home.<i> Recommended listening space: a forested area AND/OR Rabbit Hash, KY, a
town where the mayor is a democratically elected dog.</i> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Jinny W Brings it Bach to Us<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Most Essential Album: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">*MURRAY PERAHIA: BACH—THE
FRENCH SUITES. Deutsche Grammophon. In some ways Bach is the father of us all,
and Murray Perahia lets the music narrate our tragedy, our solace, our joy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Other Essential Albums: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">*JOSHUA BELL, STEVEN
ISSERLIS, JEREMY DENK AND THE ACADEMY OF ST. MARTIN IN THE FIELDS: FOR THE LOVE
OF BRAHMS. Sony Classical.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Potent
music-making by colleagues who continue to surprise one another in light and
shadow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Try to keep your heart from
breaking.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">*DANIIL TRIFONOV:
TRANSCENDENTAL: DANIIL TRIFONOV PLAYS FRANZ LISZT. Deutsche Grammophon. The
complete concert études. Virtuosic and introspective power and flow. And he’s
only<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>25 years old.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">*SHIRLEY HUNT, BAROQUE
CELLO & VIOLA DA GAMBA: J.S. BACH SUITES & SONATAS, VOLUME ONE.
Letterbox Arts. A versatile, adventurous Baroque cellist whose chops and
musical grace illuminate each performance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Keirsten G is Feeling Swell<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">It’s hard to find a whole
album that I like but dug up a few:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Swell, theres still us EP<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">James Blake, The Colour of
Anything<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Moderat, III<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Sango, Hours Spent Loving
You<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Who likes electronic
music?! I do! : )<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Amanda M Picks a Lemon<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Beyoncé, Lemonade<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Mitski, Puberty 2<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Things Can Only Get Better, Bill K<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Here to add my two cents,
knowing for certain that my top pick will get just the one vote. But hey, this
is America, and it's still a Democracy (we think).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Top Album: Better/Haley
Reinhart<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Other Essential Albums: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Lemonade/Beyonce<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">We Got It from Here.../A
Tribe Called Quest<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Esperanza Spalding/Emily's
D+Evolution<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">In Case You Didn't
Know/Rhonda Ross<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Top 10 Singles:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">10. All In the Name/Bright
Light Bright Light<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">9. You Say/Dori Freeman<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">8. All We Ever Knew/The
Head and the Heart<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">7. Better/Haley Reinhart<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">6. Make Me Like You/Gwen
Stefani<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">5. We the People/A Tribe
Called Quest<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">4. Love Yourself/Justin
Bieber<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">3. All I Want/Rhonda Ross<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">2. Can't Stop the
Feeling/Justin Timberlake<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">1. I Belong to You/Haley
Reinhart<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Drew L Takes it to the River<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Great year for music, if
nothing else...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">1. Okkervil River, Away<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">2. Conor Oberst,
Ruminations<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">3. Carseat Headrest, Teens
of Denial<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">4. John K. Samson, Winter
Wheat<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">5. Hamilton Leithauser +
Rostam, I Had a Dream That You Were Mine<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">6. Ezra Furman, Big
Fugitive Life<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">7. AJJ, The Bible 2<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">8. Parquet Courts, Human
Performance<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Brian M Climbs Every Mountain <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Here's my annual
contribution of albums most contributors couldn't care less about :)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Most Essential<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Black Mountain, IV<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Other Essential:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Goat, Requiem<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Howlong Wolf, Owl<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Jack White, Acoustic
Recordings 1998 - 2016<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Sivert Hoyem, Lioness<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Jim James, Eternally Even<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Rolling Stones, Blue &
Lonesome<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Woodpigeon, Trouble<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Yeasayer, Amen and Goodbye<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">The Besnard Lakes, A
Coliseum Complex Museum<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Korn, The Serenity of
Suffering<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Woods, City Sun Eater in
the River of Light<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Pete Doherty, Hamburg
Demonstrations<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">The Jayhawks, Paging Mr.
Proust<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Ryley Walker, Golden Sings
That Have Been Sung<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">The Coral, Distance
Inbetween<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Emma Ruth Rundle, Marked
for Death<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Red Hot Chili Peppers, The
Getaway<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Andy M Goes Blonde<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">1. Frank Ocean, Blonde<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">What can I say about this
one that hasn’t already been said? If the entire album consisted of “Nikes” it
would still probably be my #1 for 2016. Thankfully there are like 15 more
tracks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">2. Deftones, Gore<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">I don’t know how these
guys did it, but this—their eighth album—might be their best. Or at least tied
with White Pony. Triangles placed in your mind, indeed...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">3. Katatonia, The Fall of
Hearts<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">This sounds a little bit
like Nick Drake fronting a melodic Swedish metal band. Melancholy and punishing
in roughly equal measure. Something for everybody!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Josh L in a Drive-By<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Most essential:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Drive-By Truckers,
American Band<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Honorable Mentions:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Babymetal, Metal
Resistence<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Neil Young, Peace Trail<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Elizabeth K Keeps Dreaming<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Laura Mvula, The Dreaming
Room<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Josephine, Portrait<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Michael Kiwanuka, Love
& Hate<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Tiffany S Goes from A/B to A/B<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Looking through my
playlists, my year has been low on new music and high on lullabies. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Kaleo, A/B<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Catfish and the Bottlemen,
The Ride<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Hamilton Mixtape<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Moana soundtrack :) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">“Fire Escape” - Andrew
McMahon In the Wilderness<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">"All the Pretty
Girls” -” Kaleo<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">“Take it All Back” - Judah
and the Lion<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">“Closer” - Chainsmokers<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">“Spirits” - Strumbellas<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">“Lungs” - Vancouver Sleep
Clinic<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">“7” - Catfish and the
Bottlemen<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Uada See Chris K’s List <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Here you go, sir.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Album of the year: Uada, <i>Devoid
of Light</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">The Lot:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">2. Rebel Wizard, <i>Triumph
of Gloom</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">3. Ghoul, <i>Dungeon
Bastards</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">4. Kehmmis, <i>Hunted</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">5. Not Blood Paint, <i>Believing
Is Believing</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">6. Tombs, <i>All Empires
Fall</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">7. Brutally Deceased, <i>Satanic
Corpse</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">8. Ravencult, <i>Force of
Profanation</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">9. Sumac, <i>What One
Becomes</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">10. Mortem, <i>Deinos
Nekromantis</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Best Single of 2016:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Ghost, "Square
Hammer"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Best Album Art of 2016:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Lectern, <i>Precept of
Delator</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Blake N’s Rising Empire<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Oh I only have one album:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Two Vines, Empire of the
Sun<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">One single:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Starboy, The Weeknd<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">One late discovery:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">The National ( I know I
know)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Bryant P’s Ocean Playlist<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Here's my list:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">1) Frank Ocean, Blonde<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">2) Bon Iver, 22, A Million<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">3) Glass Animals, How to
Be a Human Being<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">4) Whitney, Light Upon the
Lake<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">5) Solange, A Seat at the
Table<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">6) James Blake, The Colour
in Anything<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">7) Car Seat Headrest,
Teens of Denial<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Brant R Goes Through Hoops<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">My Essential Albums of
2016:<br />
Hoops/EP, Tape #2, and Tape #3<br />
Frankie Cosmos/Next Thing<br />
Britta Phillips/Luck or Magic<br />
Eleanor Friedberger/New View<br />
Kevin Morby/Singing Saw<br />
Kamaiyah/A Good Night In The Ghetto<br />
Hamilton Leithauser + Rostam/I Had a Dream That You Were Mine<br />
TV Girl/Who Really Cares<br />
William Tyler/Modern Country<br />
Tegan and Sara/Love You to Death<br />
Benji Hughes/Songs in the Key of Animals<br />
<br />
My Essential Tracks of 2016 (in mix order):<br />
De La Soul/Exodus (Outro)<br />
Hoops/Going Strong<br />
Hamilton Leithauser + Rostam/Sick as a Dog<br />
Frankie Cosmos/Fool<br />
Anderson .Paak/Celebrate<br />
Mitski/Fireworks<br />
Eleanor Friedberger/A Long Walk<br />
Britta Phillips/Drive<br />
Anohni/Drone Bomb Me<br />
Kamaiyah/I'm On (Prod. by Drew Banga)<br />
Tegan and Sara/Boyfriend<br />
TV Girl/(Do the) Act Like You Never Met Me<br />
Justin Timberlake/Can't Stop the Feeling!<br />
The Avalanches/Subways<br />
Kool A.D./Rest in Power Dr. Sebi<br />
Frank Ocean/White Ferrari<br />
Belle and Sebastian/Olympic Village, 6AM<br />
Benji Hughes/Longshot<br />
Kevin Morby/Drunk and on a Star<br />
Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein/Stranger Things<br />
Solange/Rise<br />
A Tribe Called Quest/The Space Program<br />
<br />
Elder Albums I Found Essential in 2016:<br />
The Carpenters/A Song for You [1972]<br />
Buddy Miles/Them Changes [1970]<br />
Three Dog Night/The Complete Hit Singles [1969-1975]<br />
Patterson Hood/Heat Lightning Rumbles in the Distance [2012]<br />
Daryl Hall & John Oates/Daryl Hall & John Oates [1975]<br />
Brett Dennen/Loverboy [2014]<br />
Junior Wells/Hoodoo Man Blues [1965]<br />
Beach Fossils/Beach Fossils [2010]<br />
Stereolab/Transient Random-Noise Bursts With Announcements [1993]<br />
Buffalo Springfield/Buffalo Springfield [1966]<br />
Toto/Toto [1978] (love isn’t always on time)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Derek M Peeks Out of His Cave<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Most Essential Album: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">-Nick Cave and the Bad
Seeds, Skelton Tree<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Other albums of note:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">-Bon Iver, 22, A Million<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">-Leonard Cohen, You Want
It Darker<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">-Mitski, Puberty 2<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">-Car Seat Headrest, Teens
of Denial<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Most essential songs:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">-Nick Cave and the Bad
Seeds, “I Need You” and “Distant Sky”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Iain S Feels it in His Soul<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">My 2016 new stuff
consumption has been tracks rather than albums, mostly. I give you (ahem)...:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">De La Soul ( feat Snoop
Dogg), Pain<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Vince Staples, Senorita<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Mr Fingers, Outer Acid<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Rae Sremmurd, Black
Beatles<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Arabrot, The Gospel<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Ultimate Painting, Bills<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Warpaint, New Song<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">DJ Koze, Burn With Me<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Not much use, and straining
for corroboration from your other pollsters perhaps. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Adam G Goes Gaga<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Lady Gaga, Joanne! I wish
I could vote for it three times!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Preeti C, On a Hai<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Can't wait to see what
bubbles up to the top! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">1. Various Artists, Ae Dil
Hai Mushkil soundtrack <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">2. Various Artists,
Hamilton Mixtape <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">3. Riz MC, Englistan<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">4. Beyonce, Lemonade <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">5. <span class="gmail-s-othersongs">Michael Giacchino</span>, Rogue One Soundtrack <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">1. Pritam, Amit Mishra,
& Shilpa Rao, Bulleya <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">2. Beyonce, Freedom <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">3. K'naan, Snow Tha
Product, Riz Mc, & Residente, Immigrants (We Get the Job Done) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">4. Bruno Mars, 24K Magic <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">And random oldie but
goodie I rediscovered and did not stop listening to in 2016: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">1. Duran Duran, Ordinary
World <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Bill C’s Song Song Blue<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">#1
Lila Blue, The Hollows Hold the Healing</span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Ray LaMontagne, Ouroboros<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Bon Iver, 22, A Million<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Lady Gaga, Joanne<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">The Weekend, Starboy<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Sia, This is Acting<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Justin Bieber, Purpose<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Andy P’s Belated Invasion of Troye<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">I’m the worst with these…
um… and I’d nominate Troye Sivan, Blue Neighbourhood, but it apparently came
out in December of 2015, so I’m terrible.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Emmanuel H Sets the Table<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">My faves from 2016:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Solange, A Seat at the
Table<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Banks, The Altar<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Ariana Grande, Dangerous
Woman<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Britney Spears, Glory<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Rihanna, ANTI<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Angel Olsen, MY WOMAN<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Marisa P Waves Good-Bey<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<u><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">MOST</span></u><u><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Beyoncé, Lemonade <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">(OBVI)</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<u><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">OTHER <o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"> Bon Iver, 22,
A Million <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Sia, This is Acting<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">John Paul White, Beulah <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Charlie O’s Late Bloomer<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<a href="" name="_MailEndCompose"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Essential Album of the Year:</span></a><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailEndCompose;"></span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">
Beach House, Bloom<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Others:</span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"> Little Dragon, Nabuma Rubberband<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">
Dead Flowers, Dead Flowers<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">
The War on Drugs, Slave Ambient<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">
The National, Trouble Will Find Me<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">
Leonard Cohen, Songs of Leonard Cohen<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, Architecture and Morality<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Non-music
thing that gives me life:</span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"> This guy’s
review of Patti Labelle’s Sweet Potato Pie: </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQRwFn7WPk8&"><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 10.0pt;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQRwFn7WPk8&</span></a><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"> (I want to love anything as much as this guy loves
Patti Labelle) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Teri Y’s B-Side Himself with Emotion<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">I went through my music
from 2016 and was a little shocked to discover I had only bought one complete
album: Carly Rae Jepsen, Emotion Side B<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Plenty of other good music
from Sia, Tegan & Sara among others, but I guess CRJ wins my pick for album
by default. :-)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Jasper D Knows What He Wants and He Wants It NAO<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Most essential album of
2016: NAO, For All We Know<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">My other very essential
albums:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Daughter, Not To Disappear<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Poliça, United Crushers<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Beyoncé, Lemonade<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Keaton Henson, Kindly Now<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Bon Iver, 22, A Million<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">My best discovery:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Benjamin Clementine, At
Least For Now (2014)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Kaleb N’s Acting Lessons<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Best
Album</span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Sia, This Is Acting<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Honorable
Mentions</span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Lady Gaga, Joanne<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Ariana Grande, Dangerous
Woman<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Best
Artwork</span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Young Thug, Jeffery (I
haven’t heard it but the art is 2016’s best)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Flume, Skin<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Kate H’s First Ade<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">1) Beyonce, Lemonade<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">2) Bon Iver, 22, A Million<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">3) Phantogram, Three<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">4) Tegan and Sara, Love
You To Death<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">5) Sturgill Simpson, A
Sailor's Guide to Earth<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Ronnie A Drives it Like She Stole It<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">My "alternative
facts" soundtracks from 2016:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Gary Clark, "Drive It
Like You Stole It," <em>Sing Street</em><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">[Robbed of an Oscar
nomination for best song, and yeah, I'm looking at you, <em>La La Land</em>]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Mica Levi, <em>Jackie</em><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Danny Bensi and Saunder
Jurriaans, <em>Christine</em><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Nicholas Britell, <em>Moonlight</em><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Anne Dudley, <em>Elle</em><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Mark Korven, <em>The Witch</em><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">[I dare you to listen to
the track "Witch's Coven" while you are alone.]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Jo Yeong-wook, <em>The
Handmaiden</em><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Nick Cave and Warren
Ellis, <em>Hell or High Water</em><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Jóhann Jóhannsson, <em>Arrival</em><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">And finally, a
song written ten years ago but was performed Off-Broadway this year
and should be mandatory listening today: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Anaïs Mitchell, "Why
We Build the Wall" sung by the cast of <em>Hadestown </em><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Lindsay R, Yuri Tops the Jury<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">I have been trying for two
weeks to make a list, but I honestly don't care about anything except the Yuri
On Ice soundtrack.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">And yes, that's my real
answer. >.><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Sia Later, Corey W<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">I'm just TOO behind on
music for this year's list. But I can't wait to see it anyway and have a
soundtrack for surviving the apocalypse. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">PS: Sia's This is Acting
would be at the top of mine. :) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Tyler G Takes the Lemons He’s Been Given And…<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">My List:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">1. Beyonce, Lemonade<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">2. Mitski, Puberty 2<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">3. Frank Ocean, Blonde<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">4. Margaret Glaspy,
Emotions and Math<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">For Jonathan V. III’s the Charm<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">I seriously didn't realize
that my favorite two albums of the year both had the same name (or that their
name...was a number) until just now:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">1. Moderat, III<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">2. Miike Snow, iii<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">3. Anderson Paak, Malibu<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">4. Angel Olsen, My Woman<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">5. Beyoncé, Lemonade<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">6. Mirage, Digitalism<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">7. The Avalanches,
Wildflower<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">8. Omni, NAVVI<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">9. Frank Ocean, Blonde<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">10. Radiohead, A Moon
Shaped Pool<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Biggest discoveries from
"the past":<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">The Chameleons, Script of
the Bridge - They were playing this band over the sound system at the Cobra
Club and I asked the bartender (who was in her 20s) "What band is
this?" Well, I am apparently zoned for this band agewise, because she
totally looked at me like I'd asked her if she knew what city we were in. Then
I mentioned this band to someone my age at work, and when I told him I'd never
heard of them he gave me the same look. This particular album, "Script of
the Bridge," rewards repeated listens, and makes dourness feel like
something that carries bragging rights--though when carried like this, it
totally does.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Fleetwood Mac, Tusk - I
wanted to hear this one because it's so infamous: the not-so-well-liked
follow-up to one of the most popular albums of all time. But unlike a lot of
other misunderstood experimental recordings, this is strong stuff, and fun.
It's also far enough ahead of its time to have, by now, actually arrived. (You
really have to do your homework to tell why it was ever considered weird to
begin with.) I wound up listening to it for like a month. One spin of
"Sisters of the Moon" and YES WE CAN have nice things...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Michael T Gives it a Headrest<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">My album of the year is
Car Seat Headrest, "Teens of Denial"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Followed by Rihanna,
"Anti"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Song of the year would
have to be "Black Beatles" by Rae Sremmurd, no contest. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Chris R’s Solange, Farewell<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">1. Solange, A Seat at the
Table<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">2. Bon Iver, 22 A Million<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">3. Beyonce, Lemonade<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">4. SALES, Sales Lp<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">5. Lumineers, Cleopatra<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"><br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Christopher P Has Something on His
Conscious<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Look forward to
participating every year. Here's what I got for 2016:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Broods, Conscious<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Lucius, Good Grief<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">El Perro Del Mar, KoKoro<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Anohni, Hopelessness<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Mayer Hawthorne, Man About
Town<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Sia, This Is Acting<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Roisin Murphy, Take Her Up
To Monto<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Garbage, Strange Little
Birds<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Teddy Thompson & Kelly
Jones, Little Windows<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Ladyhawke, Wild Things<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Elizabeth W, Sitting on the Dock of the Bey<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Such a weird year…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Essential Album<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Beyonce, Lemonade<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Tribe Called Quest, We Got
it From Here…Thank You 4 Your Service<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Radiohead, Moon Shaped
Pool<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Solange, Seat at the Table<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Singles<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Beyonce, Formation<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Nick E, in the Gloaming<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Unfortunately, I didn’t
find much new music I loved in 2016. Even Bon Iver, whose previous albums are
among my favorites, didn’t win me over this time. In truth my favorite album of
this year was LAST year’s Carrie & Lowell by Sufjan Stevens. I listened to
it at least once a week in 2016.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">I’ve got high hopes for
2017, already loving the singles from upcoming Magnetic Fields and Slowdive
albums.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Here’s what I liked OK
this year:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">1.
The Gloaming, 2<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">2.
Conor Oberst, Ruminations<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">3.
Minor Victories, Minor Victories<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Favorite new song:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Minor Victories,
“Scattered Ashes (Song for Richard)”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Favorite new song to dance
to:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Ariana Grande, “Into You”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">And favorite new song from
a movie soundtrack:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Sing Street, “Drive It
Like You Stole It”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Maggie S Gives It Her Very Best<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">My Top 12 2016 Singles
with The Most Plays:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">1. "Don't Let Me Down
(feat. Daya)" - The Chainsmokers<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">2. "Boomerang" -
She is We<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">3. "Baby Moses"
- Joden Klassen<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">4. "Choke" -
OneRepublic <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">5. "Empty" -
PVRIS<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">6. "Undertow" -
Satchmode<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">7. "Life Itself"
- Glass Animals<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">8. "Team" - Iggy
Azalea<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">9. "Gerson's
Whistle" - Yeasayer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">10. "Hope" -
Jordan Max<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">11. "River" -
Bishop<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">12. "Breakin'
Point" - Peter Bjorn and John<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Top 2016 Albums<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Mumford & Sons, The
Very Best, & Baaba Maal - Johannesburg<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">(If you don't feel
something when "Si Tu Veux" plays, you have no feelings left).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">SAFIA, Internal<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">(this collects all of
their really punchy singles into one place, finally) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Tove Lo, Lady Wood<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">(yeah, yeah, I know, me
and everyone else)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Lawrence U, Wrking for the Weeknd<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Top 10 Albums of 2016<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Albums<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">25 – Adele<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">(from
last year)<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Starboy - The Weeknd <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Waitress (Original
Broadway Cast Recording)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">The Color Purple (New
Broadway Cast Recording)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">It Doesn't Have To Make
Sense - Ingrid Michaelson<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Signs of Light - The Head
and the Heart<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Singles<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Hello - Adele<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Water Under The Bridge -
Adele<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Hell No - Ingrid
Michaelson<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">I’m Here - Cynthia Erivo<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Starboy - The Weekend<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">You Matter to Me -
Waitress Original Broadway Cast<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Reminder - Starboy<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">All We Ever Knew - The
Head and the Heart<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">John A Goes West (Is Life Peaceful There?)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">1. Kanye West, The Life of
Pablo<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">2. Band of Horses, Why Are
You Ok<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">3. Diiv, Is the Is Are<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">4. Radiohead, A Moon
Shaped Pool<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">5. A Tribe Called Quest,
We got it from Here...Thank You 4 Your service<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">6. Rogue Wave, Delusions
of Grand Fur<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">7. Preoccupations, Preoccupations <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">8. Frank Ocean, Blonde<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">9. Parquet Courts, Human
Performance<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">10. Twenty One Pilots,
TOPxMM<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Billy M’s Daddy Said Shoot<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Here are my top albums of
2016!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">1. Lemonade by Beyonce<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">2. Ego Death by The
Internet<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">3. Everything Is Burning
by IAMX<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">4. The Altar by Banks<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">5. Waitress (Original Cast
Recording)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Other contenders: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Human Ceremony by
Sunflower Bean<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">A Moon Shaped Pool by
Radiohead<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Late to the game
discoveries / obsessions:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Let England Shake by PJ
Harvey<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Heavy Starch by Dirty Art
Club<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
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davidlevithanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00762768300871943772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1509734071563017124.post-15243753499086522692016-02-09T20:13:00.001-08:002016-02-09T20:13:16.873-08:00The 2015 David Music Poll Results<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The 2015 David
Music Poll Results<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
1)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sufjan
Stevens, Carrie and Lowell<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(35 votes)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
2) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Adele, 25<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(34 votes)<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
3)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Original Cast
Album, Hamilton (32 votes)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
4)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Beach House,
Depression Cherry<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(15 votes)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>CHVRCHES,
Every Open Eye (15 votes)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
6)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Grimes, Art
Angel (15votes)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
7)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Courtney
Barnett, Sometimes I Sit… (14 votes) <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
8)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Carly Rae
Jepsen, Emotion (13 votes)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
9)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kendrick
Lamar, To Pimp a Butterfly<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(12 votes)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
10)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Years &
Years, Communion<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(10 votes)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryan Adams,
1989 (10 votes)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Runners Up:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">With 9 votes:</i> Florence + the Machine,
How Big How Blue How Beautiful; Sleater-Kinney, No Cities Left to Lose;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">With 8
votes:</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jamie xx, In Colour; Lana Del
Rey, Honeymoon; The Weekend, Beauty Behind the Madness; Beach House, Thank Your
Lucky Stars<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Notes:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was
the most competitive top three we’ve ever had in the music poll, almost resulting
in our first tie in seventeen years. (The tie was broken with the last ballot
in.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s also the first time that a
cast album has appeared in the top three.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(In a weaker year for Adele or Sufjan Stevens, Hamilton would have walked
away with it.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both Adele and Stevens
are previous winners, as is Ryan Adams, who slips into the tenth spot with his
cover album of last year’s number 1. (Is he readying his version of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">25 </i>as we speak?)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Other past winners didn’t fare as well – The
Decemberists eked out four votes, Coldplay not a single one (although, in
fairness, their album came out in December).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And if you’d told me a couple years ago that Carly Rae Jepsen would have
one of the most acclaimed albums of the year, I would have been somewhat
surprised (great as “Call Me Maybe” was).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>CHVRCHES also managed to get only one vote short of their debut album
for their second effort, which is no small feat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And Beach House is, I believe, the first band
to have two albums hit the poll in the same year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This year there were 89 voters in the poll,
up from 86 last year. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Now, the individual Lists:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Sufjan is my
beloved (aka my list)<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Let me just state for the record that this year I had no
trouble whatsoever filling a list of essentials – it was a really good music
year, with a great mix of old favorites and new faces.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And my winner was such a winner, hands down.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
1)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sufjan Stevens,
Carrie & Lowell<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
So beautiful and so depressing, so depressing and so
beautiful at the same time, and as a result it will stand, I think, as one of
my favorite albums of all time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have
listened to it over a hundred times, I’m sure, and I’m still figuring it
out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
2)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>CHVRCHES, Every
Open Eye<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Beating the sophomore slump by amplifying what was great
about the first album, and feeling more comfortable in your own creative
skin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
3)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Years &
Years, Communion<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Beyond the fact that every interview I read with Olly
Alexander makes me love him more, this had the best single of the year (“King”)
on it, as well as other practically perfect pop songs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do all of the album tracks live up to the
singles?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nope.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Does that matter?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not really.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Here’s hoping they take a page from CHVRCHES with album two, and perfect
what they do rather than trying to do something different.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
4)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryn Weaver, The
Fool<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
A genuine surprise for me, and one that stuck on my
headphones far longer than most other albums this year – I’ve probably listened
to “Pierre” a hundred times, because it always makes me happy with its
escapade.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A fantastic intersection of
singer-songwriter and pop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
5)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Brandi Carlile,
The Firewatcher’s Daughter<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
One of the best live shows I saw all year was Brandi
Carlile at Newport.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But even on album,
these songs have a fire to them that makes this, I think, her best album to
date.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If she isn’t my generation’s Bonnie
Raitt, I don’t know who is.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Runners Up:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Courtney Barnett’s Sometimes I Sit Around and Think…;
Carly Rae Jepsen’s Emotion (no one-hit wonder, she – this one’s just a wonder);
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>James Bay, The Chaos and the Calm<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Favorite songs:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Years & Years, “King”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Ryn Weaver, “Pierre”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
JD McPherson, “Let the Good Times Roll”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Matt Nathanson, “Bill Murray”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The Decemberists, “Make You Better” (an incredible song
on an unexceptional album)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Courtney Barnett, “Nobody Cares If You Don’t Go to the
Party”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
CHVRCHES, “Leave a Trace” and “Clearest Blue”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Justin Bieber, “What Do You Mean?” (daft lyrics, amazing
arrangement)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The Bear’s Den, “Above the Clouds of Pompeii” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Chris K Has This
Cross to Bear<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">As always, I'll be
tickled if anyone else picks of my choices.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Album of the Year:
Tau Cross, s/t<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">2. Satan's Wrath, <i>Die
Evil</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">3. The Hell, <i>Brutopia</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">4. Clutch, <i>Psychic
Warfare</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">5. High On Fire, <i>Luminiferous</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">6. Exgenesis, <i>Aphotic
Veil</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">7. Black Fast, <i>Terms
of Surrender</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">8. Bonehunter, <i>Evil
Triumphs Again</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">9. Vampire, <i>Cimmerian
Shade </i>EP<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">10. Enforcer, <i>From
Beyond</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">11. Frosthelm, <i>The
Endless Winter</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">12. Sigh, <i>Graveward</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">13. Ensiferum, <i>One
Man Army</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Best Non-Metal
Release of 2015: Fidlar, <i>Too</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Guilty Pleasure Pop
Song of the Year: Elle King, "Ex's and Ohs"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">How Big, Andrew H. How Beautiful!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Most Essential Album
(tie):<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Hamilton Original
Cast Recording<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Florence and the Machine;
How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Other Essential
Albums:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Sleater-Kinney, No
Cities to Love<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Troye Sivan, Blue
Neighbourhood<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Scott D, In Living Colour<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">1. Sufjan
Stevens, Carrie & Lowell<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">2. Jamie xx,
In Colour<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Hello, Anna Q<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Adele 25.
Nothing else comes close. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Actually there's an
album called Traveller by Chris Stapleton I really like but I wasn't sure how
country would fare on your list, and one called Beautiful Monster by Sky-pony
that I thought might be too obscure. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Hello, Fiona S<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">David Bowie,
Blackstar<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">(ed. note: This is a 2016 album)</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Adele, 25<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Lin-Manuel Miranda
et al, Hamilton the Musical<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Blake N Goes Hollywood<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">All I do with albums
anymore is very quickly sort through them to glean the best couple songs. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">My favorites:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">1) U2
"Songs of Innocence", yes the one you were trying to remove from your
iPhone. It's good! (if you like U2) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">(ed. note: This is a 2014 album)</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">2) Lana Del
Rey "Hollywood"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">3) Courtney
Barnett "Sometimes I Sit…" <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">It's all about the
singles these days. My favorites: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">1) Cloud
Nothings "Hey Cool Kid" <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">2) Cage the Elephant
"Cigarette Dreams" <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">3) Major Lazer
"Lean On"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">4) Coldplay "Magic" <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">5) DNCE "Cake
By the Ocean"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">6) U2 "Iris" <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">7) Lana Del
Rey "High by the Beach" <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">8) Courtney
Barnett "Nobody Really Cares if you go to the party" <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">9) Jeremih ft.
flo rida "Tonight Belongs to You" <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">10) Mark
Farina "Dream Machine" <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">My best retro-find
discovery of 2015, was the band Hospitality. Their first album
"Hospitality" from 2012 was probably my favorite album of 2015.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">The National also
finally caught up to me this year. They are hard to get into! But
so worth it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jackie D Hears the
Lord<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Albums of 2015:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">1. Lord Huron,
Strange Trails (SOOOOO good)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">2. Sunflower Bean,
Show Me Your Seven Secrets<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">"The album
didn't quite do it for me but I couldn't stop listening to the song" of
2015:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">1. The Bright Light
Social Hour, Sweet Madelene<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">As usual, most of
the new stuff I added to my collection was not from 2015. Here are some lists
that are not exactly in order.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Top albums I
discovered in 2015:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">1. The Black Keys,
El Camino (Ironically I listened to this album the year it came out and it did
nothing for me, this year it was an 100% perfect soundtrack to the novel I was
writing)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">2. The Horrors,
Luminous<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">3. Magazine, Real
Life<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">4. The Cars, The
Cars<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">5. Lord Huron,
Lonesome Dreams<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">6. The Horrors,
Skying<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Top songs I
discovered in 2015:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">1. David Bowie,
Dodo/1984 (2003 Remastered)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">2. Squeeze, Take Me
I'm Yours<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">3. The Chieftains,
Shady Grove<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">4. Vashti Bunyan,
Train Song<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">5. Piero Piccioni,
Once and Again-Instrumental (From "La volpe dalla coda di velluto")<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">6. John Denver, I'd
Rather be a Cowboy (Lady's Chains)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">7. The Kinks,
Superman<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">8. Wolf Alice,
Moaning Lisa Smile<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">9. The Fall, Psykick
Dance Hall<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">10. Animotion, I
Want You<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jen S. is Not
Going to Lose Her Shot<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Does the cast
recording for Hamilton count? If so, that's my vote!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">(If not, then:
Adele, 25)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Aaron H Gets So
Emotional<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Carly Rae
Jepsen, E•MO•TION<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Stephen B’s High
Art<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Oh man, I listened
to so little new music this year, but I think I’d have been happy if <i>Art
Angels </i>was the only album released in 2015. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">1. Grimes, <i>Art
Angels</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">2. Sleater-Kinney, <i>No
Cities to Love</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">3. Disasterpiece, <i>It
Follows</i> Original Soundtrack<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">4. Deafheaven, <i>New
Bermuda</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">5. Major Lazer, <i>Peace
Is the Mission</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">6. Florence and the
Machine, <i>How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">7. Sufjan
Stevens, <i>Carrie & Lowell</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">8. Frank Carter
& The Rattlesnakes, <i>Blossom</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">9. Titus Andronicus,
<i>The Most Lamentable Tragedy</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">10. Lil’ BUB, <i>Science
& Magic </i>/ Run the Jewels, <i>Meow the Jewels </i>[cat-related tie]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">My biggest letdown
was <i>To Pimp a Butterfly</i> by Kendrick Lamar. It topped most year-end
lists but I could hardly make it through the overlong track listing once. His
first album is still one of the best rap albums of a generation, but all I can
think of regarding <i>TPAB</i> is that he needed someone to bring him
back down to Earth. The album is overflowing with conflicting ideas and sounds,
barely anything makes it above the noise. Kanye can do over-the-top and make it
work—Kendrick still seems to be figuring that out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">My best
(re)discovery was Hole. Courtney Love has become such a pop-culture punchline
in recent years (and who can really blame her after living out a tragedy on the
world stage?), but <i>Live Through This</i> has to be one of the best
albums of the 90s, hands down. I’m not a big Nirvana guy, but I could listen to
the first few Hole albums endlessly, and I’m sad to think of the Courtney we
missed out on thanks to drugs and the paparazzi. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">My favorite single
of 2015, aside from Grimes’s first two tracks off of <i>Art Angels</i>, is “To
Ü” by Jack Ü (the unholy producing duo of Diplo and Skrillex) featuring
AlunaGeorge. I’m no EDM expert and Diplo acts like the worst man baby in the
world, but it’s a gorgeous love song and the video features a really diverse
range of couples. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">I made it through
the entire year without hearing “Hello” by Adele, “Hotline Bling” by Drake, or
anything off of Carly Rae Jepsen’s <i>E•MO•TION</i>. I wasn’t trying—I
just don’t listen to the radio. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Alex L + Alexander H<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Looking at all these
albums I have written, I realize what a terribly typical white boy I am...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Most Listened to and
Loved (forgive me, David):<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Original Broadway
Cast, Hamilton<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Also loved: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Florence and The
Machine, How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful,'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Chvrches, Every
Open Eye<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Lana Del Rey,
Honeymoon<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Sleater Kinney, No
Cities To Love<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Album By a YouTuber
I Unexpectedly Liked A Lot:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Troye Sivan, Blue
Neighbourhood<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Album That Made Me
Contemplate Mortality:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Sufjan Stevens,
Carrie and Lowell<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Roberto R’s True Grimes<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Grimes, Art Angels
– DUHHHHHHHH<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Rotem M Feels the Burr<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Does Hamilton
Original Broadway Cast Soundtrack count? :)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Aimee F’s Got Recycled Bad Blood<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">In the spirit of TWO
SUMMERS, I’m gonna go with just my top TWO picks for all :).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">The albums I
listened to the most on a loop and provided lots of inspiration:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Ryan Adams, 1989</span><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Various Artists, Hamilton Original Broadway Cast Recording</span><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">And my top two
singles:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Adele, Hello</span><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Fetty Wap, Trap Queens</span><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">And top two older
singles I discovered this year:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: JA;">James Vincent McMorrow, Higher Love</span><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Franz Ferdinand, Fresh Strawberries<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Terra M, Rebel
Rebel<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Easy for me this
time:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Madonna, Rebel Heart<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Chvrches, Every
Open Eye<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Dan P’s Deep Dive<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Here are my
essential picks:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">1) Joanna Newsom,
Divers<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">2) Sufjan Stevens,
Carrie and Lowell<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">3) Patty Griffin,
Servant of Love<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">4) Belle and
Sebastian, Girls in Peacetime Want to Dance<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">5) Florence and the
Machine, How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Favorite New Singles
on Repeat:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">1) Years &
Years, Eyes Shut<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">2) Madonna, Ghosttown<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Favorite Discoveries
from the Recent Past:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">First Aid Kit, Stay
Gold <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Woodkid, The Golden
Age<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Raina T’s Vitals
Statistics<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Tough tough tough,
David!! Almost all my essential albums were from previous years. Alas:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">2015 most
essential album of the year</span></b><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Mutemath, Vitals<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">2015 other
essential albums</span></b><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">The Royal
Concept, Smile<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Glen
Hansard, Didn't He Ramble<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Half Moon
Run, Sun Leads Me On<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">2015 best singles</span></b><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Mutemath, 'Joy
Rides' <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Glen
Hansard, 'Grace Beneath the Pines' <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">The Royal
Concept, 'Higher Than Love' <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Great Good Fine
OK, 'Take It Or Leave It' <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Half Moon
Run, 'Trust'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Windowspeak, 'Narrows'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">big discoveries
from previous years</span></b><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Bleachers, Strange
Desire, 2014<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Young the Giant,
Mind Over Matter, 2014<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Midnight Faces, The
Fire is Gone, 2014<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Civil Twilight, Holy
Weather, 2012<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Two Door Cinema
Club, Beacon, 2012<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Paper Route, The
Peace of Wild Things, 2012<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Paper Route,
Absence, 2009<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">For Bryant P, There’s No Holding Back the Years<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Most Essential
Albums:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">1. Years &
Years, Communion<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">2. EL VY, Return to
the Moon<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">3. Troye Sivan, Blue
Neighbourhood<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">4. Lana del Rey,
Honeymoon<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">5. Grimes, Art
Angels<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Melissa W’s Happy Burr-Day<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Music discovery has
not been my strength this year, but I will say that my entire household is
obsessed with this one:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Various Artists, Hamilton Original
Broadway Cast Recording<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">June, 4, is quite
taken with Leslie Odom, Jr. as Aaron Burr, and keeps asking to see pictures of
both the man and the actor. She's been known to be caught in her room saying to
her Beanie Boos, "Pardon me, are you Aaron Burr, sir?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Hello, Paige H<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">#1 Album*: Adele, 25<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Runners Up: Mumford
& Sons, Wilder Mind<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Cam, Untamed<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">*but, the Hamilton
Soundtrack is easily my most-played album of the year (do Broadway cast albums
count??)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Favorite singles:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">James Bay, Hold Back
the River<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Missy Elliott ft.
Pharrell Williams, WTF (Where They From)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Halsey, New
Americana<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">David Guetta ft.
Sia, Bang my Head<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Rachel Platten,
Fight Song<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Megan B Shakes it Out<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Thanks! I always
enjoy participating and seeing what other people post. It's so hard every year,
but I think I've got a solid top ten albums.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">1. Alabama Shakes,
Sound & Color<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">2. Leon Bridges,
Coming Home<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">3. Courtney Barrett,
Sometimes I Sit and Think, And Sometimes I Just Sit<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">4. Halsey, Badlands<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">5. Mumford and Sons,
Wilder Mind<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">6. Lana del Rey,
Honeymoon<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">7. Joanna Newsome,
Divers<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">8. Father John
Misty, I Love You Honeybear<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">9. Bjork, Vulnicara<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">10. Sufjan Stevens,
Carrie & Lowell<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">10. Frank Turner,
Positive Songs for Negative People<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Okay, yeah, that's
11. Oh well. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Samantha M Awakens the Force of Wilco<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">1. Wilco, Star Wars<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">2. Israel Nash,
Israel Nash's Silver Season<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">3. Courtney
Barnett, Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Crissa’s Even with Stevens<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Here are my
favorites of 2015:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">--best album:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Sufjan Stevens, Carrie
& Lowell<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">--essential albums:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Father John Misty, I
Love You, Honeybear<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Kurt Vile, b’lieve
I’m goin down<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Tame Impala,
Currents<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Jamie xx, In Colour<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Purity Ring, Another
Eternity<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">CHVRCHES, Every Open
Eye<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Beach House,
Depression Cherry<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">--favorite track:
Tame Impala, Let It Happen<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Steven M Flies
High<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Here's my list:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">1. Noel Gallagher's
High Flying Birds, Chasing Yesterday<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">2. Paul Weller,
Saturns Pattern<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">3. Jason Isbell,
Something More Than Free <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">4. Courtney Barnett,
Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I just Sit<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">5. Pokey LaFarge,
Something in the Water<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">6. Jim O'Rourke,
Simple Songs<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">7. Tame Impala,
Currents<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">8. Royce Wood
Junior, The Ashen Tang<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">9. My Morning
Jacket, The Waterfall<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">10. Torres,
Sprinter<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Jinny W’s Magnum Opus<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">First place:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">JERUSALEM STRING
QUARTET. BEETHOVEN, Opus 18 Quartets.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Harmonia Mundi, 2
disc set.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Including Ori Kam,
viola hottie.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Second place: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">THE PALANCE/WOLFF
PROJECT, PART 1: REFLECTING FORWARD. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Contemporary jazz,
available at <a href="http://www.cdbaby.com/"><span style="color: windowtext;">www.cdbaby.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Alluring, jaunty,
serious, will jostle your neurons<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Third place:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">CHRISTIAN TETZLAFF,
TANJA TETZLAFF, LARS VOGT. BRAHMS: THE PIANO TRIOS: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Ondine, 2 disc set.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Includes some of
the most passionate music of the 19th century.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Ellen D’s Sweet Home Alabama<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">I had to think about
mine for a few days, but here’s my list:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">1. Alabama Shakes,
Sound & Color<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">2. Rubblebucket,
Survival Sounds<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">3. Justin Bieber,
Purpose <— I’m not proud of this one…but it is what it is…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">4. Father John
Misty, I Love You Honeybear<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">5. Lupe Fiasco-
Tetsuo & Youth<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"> Elle
King – Love Stuff <— fun fact: I went to college with Elle (but she dropped
out)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"> Adele-
25<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">*I know there are
three 5th place albums…but it was hard to choose…all three were played over and
over equal amounts of time!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Jonathan V’s Great Depression<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Jonathan's Albums
of the Year<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Beach House – DEPRESSION CHERRY<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Father John Misty – I LOVE YOU, HONEYBEAR<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Grimes – ART ANGELS<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Jamie XX – IN COLOUR<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Editors – IN DREAM<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Neon Indian – VEGA INTL NIGHT SCHOOL<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Oneohtrix Point Never – GARDEN OF DELETE<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">8<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Kendrick Lamar – TO PIMP A BUTTERFLY<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">9<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Lower Dens – ESCAPE FROM EVIL<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">10<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Nero –
BETWEEN II WORLDS<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Jonathan's Tracks
of Year<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Nero, The Thrill<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Pictureplane, Riot Porn <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Miike Snow, My Heart is Full <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">A$AP Rocky, Excuse Me<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Mutemath, Used To<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Chvrches, Never Ending Circles<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Grimes, World Princess II<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">8<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Oneohtrix Point Never, No Good<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">9<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Beach House, Space Song <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">10<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">The
Wombats, Emoticons<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jeff Z Tells Us to
Look Into the Abyss<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Ohhhh fun!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">1. Chelsea Wolfe-
Abyss<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">2. Chvrches- Every
Open Eye<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">3. Sufjan Stevens-
Carrie and Lowell<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">4. Julien Baker-
Sprained Ankle<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">5. Beach House-
Depression Cherry<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">6. Ryan Adams- 1989<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">7. Grimes- Art
Angels<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">8. Jason Isbell-
Something More Than Free<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">New discovery:
Daughter<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Hello, Paul G<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">I am old and listen
to old music, so the only new ones I can think of from 2015 are:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Adele, 25<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Straight Outta
Compton soundtrack<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Prokofiev:
Symphonies # 4 and 5, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">The Grand Budapest
Hotel soundtrack (released 2014 but I listened to it 2,900 times in 2015)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">These, charting due
to recent deaths, I listen to too:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">The Best of Bowie<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Eagles Greatest Hits<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Please forgive my
lameness. (That’s not an album name. That’s me apologizing.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Jessica S’s Badlands Self<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">1. Original Broadway
Cast, Hamilton<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">2. Halsey, Badlands<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">3. Florence + the
Machine, How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Elisa L’s
Mythologies<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Here are some of my
2015 favorites:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Cheatahs,
Mythologies<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Julia Holter, Have
You in My Wilderness<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Beach House, Thank
Your Lucky Stars AND Depression Cherry<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Jessica Pratt, On
Your Own Love Again<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Kendrick Lamar, To
Pimp a Butterfly<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Kelley Stoltz, In
Triangle Time<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Like Everyone, emily
d’s Working for the Weeknd<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">My tie for the top
two:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Adele, 25; The
Weeknd, Beauty Behind the Madness<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">In no particular
order, other favorites:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Brandi Carlile, The
Firewatcher's Daughter<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Halsey, Badlands<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Julien Baker,
Sprained Ankle<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">CHVRCHES, Every Open
Eye<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Ryan Adams, 1989<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Ashley Monroe, The
Blade<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Sleater-Kinney, No
Cities to Love<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Carly Rae Jepsen,
E-MO-TION<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Best Coast,
California Nights<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Courtney Barnett,
Something I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Beach House,
Depression Cherry<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Justin Bieber,
Purpose (I find myself shocked to be including this but it's got some great
tracks)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Alabama Shakes,
Sound & Color<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Marie A’s
Honeymoon Period<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">I'm going to skew
this poll terribly, because my specialty is listening to albums only 8 other
people have heard. ;-)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Lana Del Rey,
Honeymoon<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Also obsessed with
the Max Richter soundtrack to the HBO series The Leftovers. Holy crap, is that
an awesome piece of artistry. Modern classical. An absolute revelation. I'm
writing a dystopian I hope will touch on themes similar to The Handmaid's Tale
(but, you know, totally unworthy of claiming to), and this album takes me there
Every. Damn. Time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Sometimes Lena R
Sits and Listens to Courtney Barnett<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Courtney Barnett -
Sometimes I sit and think, and sometimes I just sit<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Disclosure - Caracal<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Death Cab for Cutie
- Kintsugi<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Chris Cornell -
Higher Truth<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Kurt Vile - b'lieve
i'm goin down<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Kendrick Lamar - To
Pimp a Butterfly<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Adele - 25<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Bowie- Black Star - <i>wait
- does that count??? (ed. note: Next year)</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Michael B Parties
Like It’s 1989<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Greatest Records of
2015<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">1. 1989 - Ryan Adams<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">2. Sheezus - Lily
Allen<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">3. Zella Day -
Kicker<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">4. Chris Stapleton -
Traveller<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">5. Hamilton<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">6. Royal Blood -
Royal Blood<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">7. Leon Bridges -
Coming Home<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">8. Carly Rae Jepsen
- e.mo.tion<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">9. The Weekend -
Beauty Behind the Madness<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">10. Adele - 25<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Courtney S’s
Founding Father Fabulousness<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">My album of the year
is (predictably) Hamilton!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Also love the Adele
single, Hello. Haven't listened to the rest of the<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">album yet because
I've been so busy with Hamilton.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Tim F Loves Hamilton Like You Do<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">1) Lin-Manuel
Miranda, HAMILTON <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">2) Various artists,
50 SHADES OF GREY soundtrack<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Most-listened-to not
released in 2015:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Thomas Newman,
AMERICAN BEAUTY soundtrack<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">David A Knows What
He Loves<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">MOST ESSENTIAL ALBUM
OF THE YEAR<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Sufjan Stevens,
Carrie and Lowell<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">TEN HONORABLE
MENTIONS<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">1. Sufjan Stevens,
Carrie and Lowell<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">2. Sufjan Stevens,
Carrie and Lowell<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">3. Sufjan Stevens,
Carrie and Lowell<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">4. Sufjan Stevens,
Carrie and Lowell<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">5. Sufjan Stevens,
Carrie and Lowell<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">6. Sufjan Stevens,
Carrie and Lowell<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">7. Sufjan Stevens,
Carrie and Lowell<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">8. Sufjan Stevens,
Carrie and Lowell<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">9. Sufjan Stevens,
Carrie and Lowell<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">10. Sufjan Stevens,
Carrie and Lowell<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">I Love Your List,
Billy M, But You Caint Use My Phone<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Top of my list:
Sufjan Stevens, Carrie & Lowell<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">(Late contender:
Erykah Badu, But You Caint Use My Phone)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Top tier favorites:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Brandi Carlile, The
Firewatcher's Daughter<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Courtney Barnett,
Sometimes I Sit and Think, And Sometimes I Just Sit<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Elle King, Love
Stuff<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Adele, 25<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Pop:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Years & Years,
Communion<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Marina and The
Diamonds, FROOT<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Carly Rae Jepsen,
E•MO•TION<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Tiffany S’s Capitol List<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Albums<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">1) Hamilton Original
Cast Recording<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">2) Misterwives - Our
Own House<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">3) Of Monsters and
Men, Beneath the Skin<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">4) Ryan Adams, 1989<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">5) Halsey, Badlands<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">6) Mumford and Sons,
Wilder Minds<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">7) Adele, 25<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Elizabeth E Takes
Me to Chvrch<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">MOST ESSENTIAL<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">CHVRCHES, Every Open
Eye - it was a close race with Adele, but this album brought me the most joy<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">OTHER ESSENTIALS<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Adele, 25<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Misterwives, Our Own
House<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Halsey, Badlands<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Years & Years,
Communion<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Of Monsters and Men,
Beneath the Skin<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Florence and the
Machine, How Big, How Bold, How Beautiful<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Sufjan Stevens,
Carrie & Lowell<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lance R Spies,
with his Every Eye…<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">CHVRCHES, Every Open
Eye <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">runner-up <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">First-Aid Kit, Stay
Gold <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">(ed.
note:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is from 2014, albeit still
great)<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">HAMILTON <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">(ed.
note:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You are just jumping on the
bandwagon, Lance.)<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">HAMILTON <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">HAMILTON <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">HAMILTON <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">HAMILTON <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">(i haven't actually
heard the Hamilton soundtrack yet, I JUST KNOW IM GOING TO LOVE IT)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Carol L’s Carrie Diary<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">How fun! Here are
some picks:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Sufjan Stevens,
Carrie & Lowell (no contest!)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Joanna Newsom, Divers
(… but this is a close second)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Bjork, Vulnicura<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Beirut, No No No<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">The Decemberists,
What a Terrible World, What a Beautiful World<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Best song: Fourth of
July, Sufjan Stevens; Divers, Joanna Newsom<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Best live: Sufjan
Stevens, Carrie & Lowell tour<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Best tour costume: <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=bjork+governors+ball&espv=2&biw=1374&bih=978&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiB5vzMvs_KAhVLWD4KHX_kAO8Q_AUICCgD"><span style="color: windowtext;">Bjork</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Best use of music in
TV: Please Like Me<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Best use of music
in film: Mommy, dir. Xavier Dolan (technically a 2014 movie, but with a 2015 US
release date)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Andrea R’s Wild Heart<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Miguel, Wildheart<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Adele, 25<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Kendrick Lamar, To
Pimp a Butterfly<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">FKA Twigs, M3LL155X<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Grimes, Art Angels<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">The Weeknd, Beauty
Behind the Madness<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Hello, Jill S<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Adele, 25<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">The Weekend, Beauty
Behind the Madness<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Florence and the
Machine, How Big How Blue How Beautiful<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Lauren S Hits the Dopamine Hard<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Here's my list for
2015:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">1. Third Eye Blind,
Dopamine<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">2. Vance Joy, Dream
Your Life Away<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">3. Adele, 25<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">4. Ryan Adams, 1989<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">5. Lord Huron,
Strange Trails<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">6. Mumford &
Sons, Wilder Mind<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">7. Of Monsters and
Men, Beneath the Skin<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">8. Joy Williams,
VENUS<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Favorite Singles:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">1. X Ambassadors,
Renegades<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">2. Banners, Shine a
Light<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">3. Cloves, Don't You
Wait<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">4. Vance Joy, Snaggletooth<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Nick E Searches High and Finds Lowell<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">This is the first
time in years I’ve had a list of albums I didn’t just like but absolutely
loved. It’s difficult to rank them, but I’ll try!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">1. Sufjan Stevens,
Carrie & Lowell<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">This one edges the
others out because it feels the most like a cohesive album to me. The whole
thing’s great, and I sometimes forget which song is which, but only because
they all work so well as a part of the whole. It’s also the most emotionally
affecting album I’ve experienced in a while.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">2. Chvrches, Every
Open Eye<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Tons of fun,
reminiscent of my favorite 80s music but still fresh, and just when you think
you’ve got a handle on the band’s formula, they’ll throw in a track that
changes everything up. Also the lyrics are nebulous in a way that I find pretty
engaging – I could make a pretty good case that “Playing Dead” is not a love
song but is actually about when you’re at a crowded concert and the person in
front of you keeps stepping back into your personal space. (This is why I hate
ponytails.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">3. Years and Years,
Communion<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">In a less stellar
year, this could easily have been my #1. Lots of fun. Diminished somewhat,
perhaps, by the fact that so much of the album was released in advance; the
album was pretty familiar to me by the time it finally dropped. Of all the
groups listed here, I’m most excited to see what these guys do next.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">4. Beach House,
Thank Your Lucky Stars<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">I do, Beach House. I
do.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">5. Beach House,
Depression Cherry<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Two Beach House
albums in a single year was a great treat. Most of the other albums on my list
are here in part for their lyrics, but I enjoy Beach House entirely for the
sounds, which tend to fade into the background in a way I enjoy. I don’t know
what any of these songs are about after dozens of listens, and I really only
have a vague sense of liking “Lucky Stars” a little more than “Cherry.” I just
like having these albums on whether I’m actively listening or not.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Scott T’s Full Disclosure<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Essential Album of
2015<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Disclosure - Caracal<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">I was on a Drum
& Bass kick for much of 2015. Two essential D&B albums I came
across (that I doubt anyone in this poll will have interest in)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Nelver - Black &
White (2014)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Breakshift - All the
Dreams You Never Had (2011)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Some Top Songs of
2015<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Artist - Song<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Ratatat - Cream on
Cone<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">East India Youth -
Turn Away<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Amason - Duvan<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Icky Blossoms - In
Folds<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Lower Dens -
To Die in L.A.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">RAC - Back of the
Car<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">FFS - Call Girl<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Disclosure -
Nocturnal<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Best Coast -
California Nights<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Freezepop - Phantoms<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Silence Groove -
Reflection<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Napoleon - Moogie
Wonderland<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Where it Happens for Caleb H<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Top Five Albums:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">1. Lin-Manuel
Miranda, Hamilton<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Best Song: The Room
Where it Happens<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">2. Tobyfox,
Undertale OST<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Best Song:
Megalovania<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">3. Twenty One
Pilots, Blurryface<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Best Song: Ride<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">4. Sufjan Stevens,
Carrie and Lowell<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Best Song: The Only
Thing<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">5. Courtney Barnett,
Sometimes I Sit and Think and Sometimes I Just Sit<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Best Song: Elevator
Operator<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Best Discovery of
Old Album: Django Django, Django Django<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Not-A-Real-Album
Honorable Mention: Every Song in Steven Universe<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Saved-My-Life
Single: Janelle Monae, Dance Apocalyptic<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Favorite Music
Video At This Second: Miike Snow, Genghis Khan<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Jon S thinks Grimes is an Angel!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">I didn’t have much
trouble picking my favorites this year because there weren’t a whole lot of
them. But I wouldn’t say it was a disappointing year for music, because the
ones I loved, I REALLY loved. Especially my top two, <i>Art Angels</i> by
Grimes and <i>Sore</i> by Dilly Dally.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">1. Grimes, <i>Art
Angels</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">2. Dilly Dally, <i>Sore</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">3. Courtney Barnett,
<i>Sometimes I Sit and Think and Sometimes I Just Sit</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">4. Dan Friel, <i>Life</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">5. CHVRCHES, <i>Every
Open Eye</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">6. Jamie XX, <i>In
Colour</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">7. Saintseneca, <i>Such
Things</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">8. Waxahatchee, <i>Ivy
Tripp</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">9.
Pinkshinyultrablast, <i>Everything Else Matters</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">10. Diet Cig, <i>Over
Easy</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Will W Hits the Beach<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<u style="text-underline: #191919;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Albums</span></u><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">1. Beach House, <i>Thank
Your Lucky Stars </i>and <i>Depression Cherry</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">2. Sufjan Stevens, <i>Carrie
and Lowell</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">3. Courtney Barnett,
<i>Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">4. Grimes, <i>Art
Angels </i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<u style="text-underline: #191919;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Songs</span></u><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Girlpool,
"Before the World Was Big" <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Beach House,
"Sparks"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Joanna Newsom,
"Anecdotes"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Grimes, "Belly
of the Beat"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Sufjan Stevens,
"The Only Thing"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Courtney Barnett,
"Depreston"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Beach House,
"All Your Yeahs"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Carly Rae Jepsen,
"Your Type"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">CHVRCHES,
"Leave a Trace" <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Tobias Jesso Jr.,
"Hollywood" <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">John A Cries Foal<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">1. Foals, What Went
Down<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">2. Tame Impala,
Currents<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">3. Viet Cong, Viet
Cong<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">4. Metz, II<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">5. Father John
Misty, I Love You, Honey Bear<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">6. Deerhunter:
Fading Frontier <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">7. The Decemberists,
What a Terrible World, What a Beautiful World <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">8. Torche, Restarter<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">9. Chvrches, Every
Open Eye<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">10. Wavves &
Cloud Nothings, No Life for Me<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Brian M Cries Uncle<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Well, it was another
year of great music. Here's my 2¢<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">1. Uncle Acid, The
Night Creeper<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">2, Blur, The Magic
Whip<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">3. Ryley Walker,
Primrose Green<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">4. Blood Warrior,
Letter Ghost<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">5. The Decemberists,
What A Terrible World...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">6. Jose Gonzalez,
Vestiges & Claws<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">7. The Brian
Jonestown Masscre, Mini Album Thingy Wingy (aka Pish)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">8. Jordaan Mason,
Decline of Stupid Fucking Western Civilization<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">9. Kurt Cobain,
Montage of Heck<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">10. Marilyn Manon,
The Pale Emperor<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">11. Big Blood,
Double Days I & II<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">12. Belle and
Sebastian, Girls in Peacetime Want to Dance<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">13. Death and
Valnilla, To Where the Wild Things Are<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">14. Bjork, Vulnicura<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Normally, I'm not a
fan of Live albums, but this year there were many great ones. So here's my
favorites, as a bonus:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">The White Stripes,
Under Amazonian Lights<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Ryan Adams, Live at
Carnegie Hall<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Edward Sharpe &
The Magnetic Zeros, Live in No Particular Order<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">The Legendary Pink
Dots, Come Out From the Shadows 4<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Placebo, MTV
Unplugged<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">The Rolling Stones,
The Marquee Club Live in 1972<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Dr. Dog, Live at a
Flamingo Hotel<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Belle and
Sebastian, Live 2015<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Sarah Maria V Whips it Good<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">1. Blur, The Magic
Whip<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">2. Placebo, MTV
Unplugged<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">3. Bjork, Vulnicura<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Brant R Shows Some Style<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
My Essential Albums of 2015:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
Car Seat Headrest/Teens of Style<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
Destroyer/Poison Season<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
Mac DeMarco/Another One<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
Beach House/Depression Cherry<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
Beach House/Thank Your Lucky Stars<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
Elvis Depressedly/New Alhambra<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
Alabama Shakes/Sound & Color<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
Jamie xx/In Colour<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
Mac McCaughan/Non-Believers<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
Kendrick Lamar/To Pimp a Butterfly<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
Tame Impala/Currents<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
Shamir/Ratchet<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
Sufjan Stevens/Carrie & Lowell<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sheer Mag/II 7" [EP]<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Some of My Essential Tracks of 2015:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yes I'm Changing/Tame Impala<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What Do You Mean?/Justin Bieber<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Run Away with Me/Carly Rae Jepsen<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Natalie Wood/TV Girl<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On the Regular/Shamir<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
REALiTi/Grimes<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Pass the Vibes/Donnie Trumpet<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Fan the Flames/Sheer Mag<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Something Soon/Car Seat Headrest<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Only Do/Mac McCaughan<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
All Your Yeahs/Beach House<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Can We Still Be Friends/Tobias Jesso Jr.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Don't Wanna Fight/Alabama Shakes<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Young/Frankie Cosmos<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Wastes of Time/Elvis Depressedly<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hard 2 Wait/iji<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Times Square/Destroyer<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Debbie Downer/Courtney Barnett<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ong Ong/Blur<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
While the Song Remains the Same/Noel Gallagher<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Play for Today/Belle and Sebastian<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Without Me/Mac DeMarco<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Albums It Took Me Until 2015 to Find Essential:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
James Carr/You Got My Mind Messed Up [1967]<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Neko Case/Fox Confessor Brings the Flood [2006]<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Christopher Cross/Christopher Cross [1979]<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Donovan/What's Bin Did and What's Bin Hid [1965]<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ducktails/The Flower Lane [2013]<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Daryl Hall and John Oates/Abandoned Luncheonette [1973]<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hefner/Dead Media [2001]<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hollywood Brats/Hollywood Brats [1973]<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Carole King/Music [1971]<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart/Belong [2011]<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Rubinoos/The Rubinoos [1977]<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Paul Siebel/Woodsmoke And Oranges [1970]<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Starbuck/Moonlight Feels Right [1976]<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Supertramp/Breakfast in America [1979]<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Maggie S Lists All the Kings<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">As ever, my list is
singles, not albums. And it's songs I found this year, not necessarily songs
released this year.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">1. Nieves -
"Winter"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">2. Raury -
"God's Whisper"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">3. The Chemical
Brothers feat Miguel & Lorde - "This is Not a Game"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">4. Manicanparty -
"You Are My Soul"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">5. Inner Oceans -
"I Don't Mind"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">6. Christine and the
Queens - "No Harm is Done" <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">7. Cold War Kids -
"First"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">8. SAFIA -
"Counting Sheep"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">9. Ra Ra Riot &
Rostam - "Water"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">10. Editors -
"All the Kings"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">11. AWOLNATION -
"Jailbreak"*<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">12. Brighton -
"Forest Fire"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">*This song struck me
so hard as I was driving to Kansas that I actually had to pull over by the side
of the road because I was not able to listen to it and drive at the same time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Christopher P Will Always Be the King of Hayne<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">1. Emile Hayne, We
Fall<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">2. Chvrches, Every
Open Eye<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">3. Ben Folds, So
There<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">4. Marina and the
Diamonds, Froot<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">5. Little Boots,
Working Girl<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">6. Monarchy, Abnocto<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">7. Rebecca Ferguson,
Lady Sings The Blues<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">8. Hawksley Workman,
Old Cheetah<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">9. Lana Del Rey,
Honeymoon<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">10. Patty Griffin,
Servant Of Love<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Joe M’s Visions of Joanna<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Queens reigned
supreme this year. The year saw the heaviest rotation and most moments of
musical enlightenment from these two albums. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Joanna Newsom,
Divers<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Courtney Barnett,
Sometimes I Sit and Think and Sometimes I Just Sit<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Top tracks:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Courtney Barnett,
Pedestrian at Best<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Shamir, On the
Regular<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Chance the Rapper,
Sunday Candy<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Kurt Vile, Pretty
Pimpin'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Kendrick Lamar, King
Kunta<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Best music video:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Chance the Rapper,
Sunday Candy<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Hello, Corey W<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">1. Adele, 25<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">2. Sufjan Stevens,
Carrie and Lowell ( I know, but I’m going for sing-along-ability this year and
Adele nailed that.) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">3. Of Monsters and
Men, Beneath the Skin<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">4. The Weeknd,
Beauty Behind the Madness <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Coe B’s Treasury Department<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Here is my top album
of 2015:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">1. Hamilton
(Broadway Cast Album)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Runners up (in no
particular order)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">* Halsey
(Badlands) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">I love writing to
her music!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">* Kendrick Lamar (To
Pimp a Butterfly)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Lyrics, lyrics,
lyrics! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">* Grimes (Art Angel)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Another nice artist
to write to. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">* Grace Acladna
(Songs of the Subconscious)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">She’s a new artist
with just a 4-song EP right now. Glad I “discovered” her in 2015. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">* Alessia Cara
(Know-It-All)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Cute, fun, pop
music.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">* Lianne La Havas
(Blood) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">I love her voice and
her jazzy vibe!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">* The Weekend
(Beauty Behind the Madness) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">My niece got me into
him, but now I have to admit, he’s my guilty pleasure… and my ringtone! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Suf’s Up for Joseph H <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Here's my list for
2015:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Sufjan Stevens:
Carrie & Lowell <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Joanna Newsom:
Divers<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Jamie XX: In Colour<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Grimes: Art Angels<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Disclosure: Caracal<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Beach House:
Depression Cherry<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Father John Misty:
'I Love You, Honeybear'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Kevin K Finds Some Cities to Love<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">The year started off
very strong but tailed off about mid-year. I found that lots of albums had some
great singles, but not too many great albums.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Top Ten Best Albums<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"> 1. No
Cities to Love – Sleater-Kinney<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"> 2.
Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit – Courtney Barnett<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"> 3.
Ratchet - Shamir<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"> 4.
Poison Season – Destroyer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"> 5. Back
On Top - The Front Bottoms<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"> 6.
Glitterbug – The Wombats<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"> 7.
Another Eternity – Purity Ring<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"> 8.
Music Complete – New Order<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"> 9.
Sound & Color – Alabama Shakes<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"> 10. All Your
Favorite Bands – Dawes<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Best Songs of the
Year<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"> *
A New Wave - Sleater–Kinney<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"> *
On The Regular - Ratchet<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"> *
Dream Lover – Destroyer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"> *
Don’t Wanna Fight – Alabama Shakes<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"> *
All Your Favorite Bands – Dawes<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"> *
Flood on the Floor – Purity Ring<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"> *
I Remember – Bully<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"> *
Look At Your Life – Death<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"> *
Huarache Lights – Hot Chip<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"> *
Should Have Know Better – Sufjan Stevens<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"> *
King Kunta – Kendrick Lamar<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"> *
Make You Better – The Decembrists<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"> *
Lifted Up (1985) - Passion Pit<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"> *
Dreams – Beck<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"> *
The Legend of Che Guerrero – The Mountain Goats<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"> *
Aqua Profunda! - Courtney Barnett<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"> *
America – First Aid Kit<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"> *
Getting Ready to Get Down – Josh Ritter<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"> *
Shock n Awe – The Go Rounds<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"> *
This Is Not a Party – The Wombats<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"> *
Random Name Generator – Wilco<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"> *
Monday (Overtime I Turn Around) - The Bottle Rockets<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"> *
Pretty Pimpin – Kurt Vile<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"> *
Knee Me On The Fire Escape – Rhett Miller<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"> *
Cough It Out - The Front Bottoms<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"> *
Biscuits – Kacey Musgraves<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"> *
S.O.B. - Nathaniel Ratliff & The Night Sweats<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"> *
Bad Blood – Ryan Adams<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"> *
Number One – Tuxedo<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Singularity
– New Order<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Andy P Takes Communion<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Years & Years,
Communion<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Florence and the
Machine, How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Adele, 25<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Not sure how
helpful that is. I doubt there’s a place for podcasts or NPR’s Marketplace on
the list… :)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Dean B Carries On<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">I've got a top 6
this year and a link to my Best of 2015 Spotify mix. Hope that gets me in
the door!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">2015 mix:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"><a href="https://open.spotify.com/user/deanbabin/playlist/3FQUJ6BJXmcnqKAfF58Vt0"><span style="color: windowtext;">https://open.spotify.com/user/deanbabin/playlist/3FQUJ6BJXmcnqKAfF58Vt0</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Favorite Albums:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">1. Sufjan Stevens,
Carrie & Lowell<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">2. Wilco, Star Wars<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">3. Beach House,
Thank Your Lucky Stars / Depression Cherry<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">4. Ben Folds, So
There<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">5. Nathaniel
Rateliff and the Night Sweats<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">6. Ryan Adams, 1989<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Favorite TV Shows:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">- Detectorists<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">- Better Call Saul<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">- Last Man on Earth<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Ronnie A’s Sound Tracks<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Best soundtracks
2015<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Hamilton</span></i><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Love & Mercy</span></i><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">, for its re-creation of “God Only Knows” and
“Good Vibrations”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Craig Armstrong, <i>Far
from the Madding Crowd</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Carter Burwell, <i>Carol</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Carter Burwell, <i>Mr.
Holmes</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Michael Brook, <i>Brooklyn</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Amy Winehouse, <i>Amy</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Anne Dudley, <i>Poldark</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Ben Salisbury and
Geoff Barrow, <i>Ex Machina<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-language: JA;">David G’s Tame (but
Current) List<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">This isn't how I
expected my year to turn out, but it is exactly that. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Tame Impala, Currents<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Troye Sivan, Blue
Neighbourhood<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Holly Miranda, Holly
Miranda<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Bjork, Vulnicura<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Joanna Newsom,
Divers<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">D'Angelo, Black
Messiah<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Wolf Alice, My Love
is Cool<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Kamasi Washington,
The Epic<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Wilco, Star Wars<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">FFS, FFS<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Joel P Plays Pretend<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">10 best EPs or LPs
to play start to finish<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Seinabo Sey,
“Pretend”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Purity Ring, “Begin
Again”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">The Japanese House,
“Clean” or “Pools to Bathe In”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Years & Years,
“Real”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">MNEK, “Small Talk”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Oh Wonder, “Oh
Wonder”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Adele, “25”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Carly Rae Jepsen,
“Emotion”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">CHRVCHES, “Every
Open Eye”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Disclosure,
“Caracal”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Full list with
singles:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"><a href="https://medium.com/@joelcifer/the-best-music-i-came-across-in-2015-fc1c32e88ec5#.1k35y9yr5"><span style="color: windowtext;">https://medium.com/@joelcifer/the-best-music-i-came-across-in-2015-fc1c32e88ec5#.1k35y9yr5</span></a> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">It’s Not Hard Out
Here for a Pimp on Giles G’s List<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Here's my little
list<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">1. Kendrick
Lamar - To Pimp A Butterfly<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">2. Blur - The
Magic Whip<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">3. Courtney
Barnett - Sometimes I Sit And Think<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">4. Dr. Dre -
Compton<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">5. Sufjan
Stevens - Carrie + Lowell<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">6. Jamie XX -
In Colour<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">7. The Weeknd
- Beauty Behind The Madness<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">8. Leon
Bridges - Coming Home<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">9. Vince
Staples - Summertime '06<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">10. Kamasi
Washington - Epic<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Special mention for
D'Angelo, who is inclusion this year slightly confused by the release of his
album at the very end of '14. It was certainly one of the best albums of
last year. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Phil B Votes for Hamilton<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">#1 Album of the
Year: Hamilton Soundtrack -- a transcendental hip hop album. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">#2 Album of the
Year: Kendrick Lamar -- To Pimp a Butterfly<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Hello, Cassandra P<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Adele, 25<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Miguel, Wildheart<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Puff Daddy & the
Family, MMM<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Erykah Badu, But You
Cain't Use My Phone<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Drake & Future,
What Time to Be Alive<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Drake, If You're
Reading This It's Too Late<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Amy Winehouse &
Antonio Pinto, Amy: The Original Soundtrack<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Zach F’s 10-Dollar Choice<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Most Essential Album
2015:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Hamilton Original
Broadway Cast Recording<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Runners up:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Bjork, Vulnicura<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">The Arcs, Yours
Dreamily<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Speedy Ortiz, Foil
Deer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Punch Brothers, The
Phosphorescent Blues<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Singles:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Heartless Bastards,
Gates of Dawn<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Speedy Ortiz,
Raising the Skate<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Tame Impala, Let it
Happen<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Courtney Barnett,
Pedestrian at Best<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Django Django, First
Light<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Jose Gonzalez, Leaf
Off / The Cave<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Hello, Eamon T<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Adele, 25<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Ryan Adams, 1989<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">New Order, Music
Complete<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Beach House, Depression
Cherry/Thank Your Lucky Stars<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">David Bowie,
Blackstar<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Sleater-Kinney, No
Cities To Love<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Blur, The Magic Whip<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Disclosure, Caracal<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Lana del Rey,
Honeymoon<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Florence and the
Machine, How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Carly Rae Jepsen,
E•MO•TION<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Kari L’s Great Shakes<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Honestly I listened
to a lot of old soul, but in between that there was also:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Alabama Shakes,
Sound and Color<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Sleater-Kinney, No
Cities To Love<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">The Decemberists,
What a Terrible World What a Beautiful World<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Beirut, No, No, No<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Holly Golightly,
Slowtown Now!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Beach House,
Depression Cherry<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Leon Bridges, Coming
Home<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Soundtrack: The
Diary of A Teenage Girl<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Songs:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Hate Street Dialogue
w/Rodriguez, The Wanderings of Avenir<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Spectre, Radiohead<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Drew L’s Favorite Tragedy<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Just going with my
top record this year:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Titus Andronicus,
The Most Lamentable Tragedy<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Teri Y Shows His Emotion<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Lot's of fun singles
in 2015, but only two whole albums really stuck with me all year.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Carly Rae Jepsen,
Emotion<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Marina and the
Diamonds, Froot<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Eugene K’s Up Late Nights Thinking of This List<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Jeremih, Late
Nights: The Album<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">If Prince and Drake
had a kid, I feel like his name would be Jeremih. Fetty could be a distant
cousin.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Drake, If you’re
reading this it’s too late<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Was it possible to
escape Drake in 2015? There is no escape velocity (not that I’m even looking
to).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Marian Hill, Sway<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">From the cello(?)
notes and the simple swing HIll lends to the proceedings I was hooked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Fetty Wap, Fetty Wap<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Who knew that the
twisting vocal lines Fetty Wap wraps around the sparse productions could
support an entire album (and would wrap themselves so tightly around my
eardrums)? I want to make an allusion to Joni Mitchell, but Fetty’s melodic
lines aren’t really as far out there.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Justin Bieber,
Purpose<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">If everything on
this album were as good as the first three singles, it’d top this list; as it
is, I don’t actually know what’s on this other than those singles but that's
enough for a mention.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Original Broadway
Cast, Hamilton<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Suddenly Hamilton
was everywhere. Early in the year I tried (and failed) and tried (and failed)
to get tickets to this at the Public. Then I did the same after the transition
to Broadway. As luck would have it, a friend had extra tickets and I didn’t
give up my shot. From Lin-Manuel’s assured performance at the White House all
those years ago to this must have been an amazing journey. A mix of musical
forms, the Broadway tunes work best for me (tho nothing tops that first
performance all those years ago in front of the 44th president of the United
States.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Jen H. S. Gives Lin a Win<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">#1 Hamilton Broadway
Cast Recording (of course)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Blue Neighborhood:
Troye Sivan<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">1989: Ryan Adams<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Paper Gods: Duran
Duran<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">No Place in Heaven:
Mika<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Kiddo: Tove Stryke<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">The Desired Effect:
Brandon Flowers<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Sound & Color:
Alabama Shakes<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Vamala: Champs<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Our Own House:
MisterWives<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Hello, Danielle P<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">My list remains
unapologetically popular and half the songs may have been discovered from the
CW or during Teen Wolf. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Album:<b> </b></span><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Adele,
25 <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Singles:</span><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">1)Adele, Hello<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">2)Drake, Hotline
Bling<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">3)Little Big Town,
Girl Crush<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">4)One Direction,
Perfect<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">5)Iggy Azelia, Rita
Ora, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">6)Selena Gomez, Same
Old Love<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">7)Dierks Bentley,
Riser <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">8)Nikki Minaj, Pills
and Potions<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">9)And The World was
Gone, Snow Ghosts<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">10) Florence and The
Machine, Ship to Wreck<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Still on Repeat from last year --</span><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Album: Taylor Swift,
1989<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Singles: Damien
RIce, Colour Me In<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Ed Sheeran, I see
Fire<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ben L’s a Chelsea
Girl<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Ranked my top 5; the
rest in no particular order (and truly all over the place)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">1. Chelsea Wolfe,
Abyss<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">2. Kelela,
Hallucinogen<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">3. Kacey Musgraves,
Pageant Material<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">4. Years &
Years, Communion <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">5. Carly Rae Jepsen,
Emotion<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Tinashe,
Amethyst <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">FKA Twigs, M3LL155X<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Grimes, Art Angels<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Purity Ring, Another
Eternity <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Speedy Ortiz, Foil
Deer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Shamir, Ratchet<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Shlohmo, Dark Red<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">The Weeknd, Beauty
Behind the Madness<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Troye Sivan, Blue
Neighborhood<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Jazmine Sullivan,
Reality Show<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Jamie xx, In Colour<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Justin Bieber,
Purpose<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">The Soft Moon,
Deeper<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">PWR BTTM, Ugly
Cherries<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Leila S’s Caught
the Glitterbug<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"> I am terrible
at knowing which year albums actually come out in. But I'm pretty sure the
Wombats' GLITTERBUG came out in 2015, in which case it was my favorite album of
the year. (Also my favorite show of the year.) The other essential albums of
the year that's immediately coming to my mind are EVERYTHING'S COMING UP ROSES,
by Night Terrors of 1927; and GIRLS IN PEACETIME WANT TO DANCE, by Belle &
Sebastian. And my single of the year is either "Give Me a Try," by
the Wombats, or "Clearest Blue," by CHVRCHES. There were loads of other
songs and albums I loved this year, but for all I know they were from 2014 or
even some other, indeterminate year in the past.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Hello, Alicia G<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Album of the year:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">1. ADELE 25<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">
(Song of the year: "Hello" - duh!)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">2. Kamasi Washington
"The Epic"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">3. The Weekend -
"Beauty Behind the Madness"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">4. Kendrick Lamar
"To Pimp a Butterfly"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">5. FKA Twigs
"M3LL155X"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The Only Thing for
Jeffrey W<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">In no particular
order aside from the top two:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">1.
Sufjan Stevens, Carrie & Lowell<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">2.
Adele, 25<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">3.
Grimes, Art Angels<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">4.
Carly Rae Jepsen, E•MO•TION<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">5.
Sleater-Kinney, No Cities to Love<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">6.
Chvrches, Every Open Eye<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">7.
Hamilton Broadway Cast Recording<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Dash G Flies Like
a Butterfly…<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Looks like I sent
the list myself like an idiot. Here's my list. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">1. Kendrick Lamar,
To Pimp a Butterfly <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">2. Kamasi
Washington, The Epic <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">3. Homeshake,
Midnight Snack <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">4. Jamie xx, In
Colour<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">5. Vince
Staples, Summertime '06<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">6. Tame Impala,
Currents<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">7. Drake, If You're
Reading This It's Too Late<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">8. Adele, 25<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">9. A$AP Rocky,
At. Long. Last. ASAP<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">10. FKA twigs,
M3LL155X<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Honorary Mentions<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">- Tobias Jesso Jr.,
Goon <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">- Chvrches, Every
Open Eye<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">- Earl Sweatshirt, I
Don't Like Shit, I Don't Go Outside<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Bill C Carries
That Load<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">1. Sufjan
Stevens, Carrie & Lowell<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">2. Brandi
Carlile, Firewatchers Daughter<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">3. Adele, 25<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">4. Oh Wonder,
Oh Wonder<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">5. Justin Bieber,
Purpose<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Susan V’s Grateful Playlist<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">I know I am too late
and most of my albums aren’t even from 2015, but I am submitting anyway!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">The Grateful Dead,
American Beauty (I heard “Ripple” playing over the speakers of Blue Ribbon
Bakery while at lunch with Cece Bell in the spring and then who should be
playing in SF over the ALA weekend??? The Dead were the soundtrack to a
very exciting year for Cece, EL DEAFO, and me.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Future Islands,
Singles (Tamar and I took a road trip to the Osheaga Music Festival in Montreal
in August, where we had the best time eating poutine and sitting in beautiful
Parc Jean Drapeau. We were totally blown away by Samuel T. Herring’s
devil-summoning voice and dance moves.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Straight Up,
Badfinger (Got it on vinyl recently and it just makes me very happy)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Nathaniel Rateliff
& the Night Sweats, same (Music for the honky tonk Mississippi girl I am
deep inside)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">LP1, FKA Twigs (Cannot
get enough of her kooky style)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Lawrence U Doesn’t Keep His Music at Bay<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">1. Chaos and the
Calm - James Bay<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">2. Dopamine - Børns<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">3. Our Own House -
Misterwives<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">4. Depression Cherry
- Beach House<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">5. Blue Neighborhood
- Troye Sivan<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">6. 25 - Adele<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">7. Higher Than Here
- James Morrison<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">8. Time - Mikky Ekko<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">9. Title - Meghan
Trainor<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">10, VHS - X
Ambassadors <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Benjy A’s Got the
Ghosts and the Struts<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Ghosts in My Head
by Andrew Watt and Have You Heard by The Struts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Lucas K Really Really Really Really Really Likes…<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Carly Rae Jepsen,
Emotion<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #1e3f10; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Kristin E Ends Our Poll With
Another One<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #1e3f10; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Mac
DeMarco, Another One<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #1e3f10; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Car
Seat Headrest, Teens of Style<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #1e3f10; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Sufjan
Stevens, Carrie & Lowell<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #1e3f10; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Yo La
Tengo, Stuff Like That There<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #1e3f10; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Blur,
The Magic Whip<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #1e3f10; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Beach
House, Thank Your Lucky Stars<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #1e3f10; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Shamir,
The Ratchet<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #1e3f10; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Grimes,
Art Angels<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #1e3f10; mso-fareast-language: JA;">And
because I don't live alone:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #1e3f10; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Imagine
Dragons, Smoke + Mirrors<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #1e3f10; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Fall
Out Boy, American Psycho<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #1e3f10; mso-fareast-language: JA;">And
because I don't know the whole album but still have ears:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="color: #1e3f10; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Carly
Rae Jepsen, "Run Away With Me"</span><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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davidlevithanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00762768300871943772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1509734071563017124.post-14948640716496285442015-02-12T06:27:00.001-08:002015-02-12T06:27:22.355-08:00The 2014 David Music Poll Results
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The 2014 David Music Poll Results<o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">1.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Taylor Swift, 1989 (36 votes)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">2.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>St. Vincent, St. Vincent (17)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">3.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>FKA Twigs, LP1 (14)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">4.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sam Smith, In the Lonely Hour (13)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The War on Drugs, Lost in the Dream (13)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">6.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sia, 1000 Forms of Fear (12)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">7.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Beck, Morning Phase (9)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hozier, Hozier (9)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Spoon, They Want My Soul (9)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>TV on the Radio, Seeds (9)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Runners
up:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">With
8 votes</i>:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jenny Lewis, The
Voyager;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lykke Li, I Never Learn;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">With 7
votes</i>:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bleachers, Strange Desire;
Angel Olsen, Burn Your Fire For No Witness<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Notes:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The amusing thing is that I thought this
might be a tight race.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, nope, it
wasn’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For the eighty-six participants
in this year’s music poll, Taylor Swift decisively reigned – although it’s also
amusing to see how reluctantly some people gave her the nod.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Critics’ favorite St. Vincent got the
runner-up slot, with FKA Twigs making a strong debut at #3.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had thought Sam Smith would rank higher,
but am not to surprise to see The War on Drugs (another critics’ favorite)
crack the top ten.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For those of you who
are curious about such things, this is Beck’s and TV on the Radio’s third
appearances on our list (since 1999), and Spoon’s second. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Taylor Swift had never made even the
runners-up list before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Go figure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Now, to the
individual lists…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">David L Wears His Heart on His
Sleeve<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Such are the
waxes and wanes of musical years that any of my top seven from last year would
have been #1 this year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Which is not to
say that the following batch is a bad batch – there’s just nothing that blew me
away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So for the first time that I can
recall, I give you my choices in alphabetical order, since I like ‘em all about
the same.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">-- Mary
Lambert, Heart on My Sleeve<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">This was the
big surprise for me – if you’d said, “Hey, that woman who sings the refrain on
‘Same Love’ is going to release the best Lilith Fair album to hit since Lilith
Fair” – I’m not sure I would have followed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But damned if it doesn’t work, harkening back to Tori and Sarah M and
Ani in their prime.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Funny, moving, and
beautiful in turns.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">-- Ingrid
Michaelson, Lights Out<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">This album
would probably win for sheer number of times I played it in 2014.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some songs hit more than others, but it’s
still a really solid singer-songwriter set that loops itself gracefully into
your thoughts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">-- Sam
Smith, In the Lonely Hour<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I can
already feel the culture kinda getting over him, and I feel I may need to take
a break soon, but a strong voice + strong songs = a fab debut.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">-- SOHN,
Tremors<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I’m not
entirely sure who SOHN is, but his sonic textures and pop hooks were among the
more intriguing I heard this year – both on his own album and on the songs he
worked on with Banks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think the
closest peer in my collection would be James Blake – but whereas Blake always seems
so chilly to me, there’s something very human amidst the digital croon of
SOHN’s songs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">-- Spoon,
They Want My Soul<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">One of my
happiest musical moments of the year was wandering around Edinburgh this August
while hearing this album for the first time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This is a band I’ve always liked, and this is the first album of theirs
I loved from start to finish.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">-- Taylor
Swift, 1989<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The four great songs are great enough to pull the other songs over the
finish line onto this list.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because they
are really, really great.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(And I’d
probably add bonus track “New Romantics” in there, too – how did it not make
the album?)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Runners Up:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Sharon Van Etten’s Are We There, Lana Del Rey’s Ultraviolence (a big
surprise to me), Sylvan Esso’s self-titled debut<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br />
Favorite songs:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">“Coffee” by Sylvan Esso<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">“Out of the Woods” by Taylor Swift<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">“Afterlife” by Ingrid Michaelson<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">“I Wanna Get Better” by Bleachers<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">“My Sad Captains” by Elbow<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">“Do It Again” by Royskopp and Robyn<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">“Your Green Jacket” by Sinead O’Connor<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">“Secrets” by Mary Lambert<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">“No One is Lost” by Stars<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Jess V
Feels a Strong Desire<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">1.
Bleachers, Strange Desire</span><span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">2. Sia, 1000 Forms of Fear<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">3. Taylor Swift, 1989<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">4. Hozier, Hozier<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">5. Ed Sheeran, x</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Daniel H
Sees Stars<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Stars - No One Is Lost<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Zammuto - Anchor<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Wye Oak – Glory<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">For Roberto R, Dum is the Smart Way to
Go</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Best
Album:</span><span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Dum Dum Girls - Too True<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">HANDS DOWN!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Runnerup: Trust - Joyland<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Top
Songs:</span><span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The Courtneys - Lost Boys, K.C.
Reeves<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Grimes - Go<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Lana Del Rey - Florida Kilos<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Dum Dum Girls- Lost Boys and Girls
Club<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Trust- Barely, Four Gut<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">And here's a treadmill jam:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">JLo- First Love (No Joke!On
repeat.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Patrick R’s Heart of Glass<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Garamond; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">My first time participating.
:)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Garamond; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Garamond; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">1. PHILIP GLASS, The Complete
Piano Etudes<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Garamond; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">2. OK GO, Hungry Ghosts<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Garamond; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">3. PASSENGER, Whispers<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Garamond; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">4. LEONARD COHEN, Popular
Problems<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Garamond; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">5. PERFUME GENIUS, Too Bright</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Aaron S’s
Bettin’ on Etten<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">1. Sharon Van Etten: Are We There<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">2. Real Estate: Atlas<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">3. War on Drugs: Lost in the Dream<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">4. Jenny Lewis: The Voyager<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Diamonds are David G’s Best Friend<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">My favorite albums of the year,
arranged by most played:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">My Brightest Diamond, This is My
Hand<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Kishi Bashi, Lighght<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Frankie Cosmos, Zentropy
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Nightmare and the Cat, Simple<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Sondre Lerche, Please <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Julian Casablancas + the Voidz,
Tyranny <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Bryant P Tinkers with Taylor<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Bryant's most essential album of
2014:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Taylor Swift, 1989<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Bryant's other essential albums of
2014:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">alt-J, This Is All Yours<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Sam Smith, In the Lonely Hour<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">James Vincent McMorrow, Post
Tropical<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">How to Dress Well, "What Is
This Heart?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Asgéir, In the Silence<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">FKA Twigs, LP1<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">La Roux, Trouble in Paradise<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Bryant's most essential album of
2014 released before 2014:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Blood Orange, Cupid Deluxe<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Bryant's top seven songs of the
year released in 2014:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">1. Style by Taylor Swift<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">2. Every Other Freckle by alt-J<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">3. The Ballad of Mr. Steak by
Kishi Bashi<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">4. I'm Not the Only One by Sam
Smith<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">5. Red Dust by James Vincent
McMorrow<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">6. Whole Damn Year by Mary J.
Blige<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">7. Blank Space by Taylor Swift<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Chris K Takes Us on a Trip<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Let's mess with the learning
curve, shall we?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Album Of The Year: Triptykon, <i>Melana
Chasmata</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<i><span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">2. Mantar, <i>Death By Burning</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">3. Hooded Menace, <i>Labyrinth of
Carrion Breeze</i> EP<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">4. Behemoth, <i>The Satanist</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">5. Mutilation Rites, <i>Harbinger</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">6. Take Over and Destroy, <i>Vacant
Face</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">7. Origin, <i>Omnipresent</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">8. Skull Fist, <i>Chasing The
Dream</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">9. Electric Wizard, <i>Time To Die</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">10. 1349, <i>Massive Cauldron of
Chaos</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">11. Bastard Sapling, <i>Instinct
Is Forever</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">12. High Spirits, <i>You Are Here</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">13. Temple of Void, <i>Of Terror
and The Supernatural</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<i><span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Non-Metal Album Of The Year:
Espectrostatic, <i>Escape From Witchtropolis</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Swiftest Turnaround From Lovable
To Insufferable: Meghan Trainor<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Leila S,
off the RAC<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">My pick for album of the year is Strangers, by
RAC!</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Only the
Lonely for Kate W<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-ms-text-justify: inter-ideograph; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">MOST ESSENTIAL ALBUM OF 2014</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-ms-text-justify: inter-ideograph; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Sam Smith, In the Lonely Hour</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">MY TOP SINGLES OF 2014</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">1. Hozier, Take
Me to Church</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">2. Paolo Nutini,
Iron Sky</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">3. Royal Blood,
Out of the Black</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">4. Beyonce,
Drunk in Love</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">5. Foo Fighters,
Something From Nothing</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">6. Magic, Rude</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">7. Sam Smith,
I’m Not the Only One</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Jackie D
Rings the Disco Bells<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">My albums of the 2014: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">1. Broken Bells, After the Disco.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">2. Black Keys, Turn Blue<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">3. St. Vincent, St. Vincent<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">But mostly I'm a not-with-the-times girl, so
these are the Top 10 songs I discovered or listened to like crazy this year
(that are obviously mostly not from 2014):<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">1. Roxy Music, If There Is Something<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">2. Wax Fang, The Majestic<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">3. The Black Keys, Bullet in the Brain<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">4. Elton John, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">5. The Moody Blues, Nights in White Satin<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">6. Best Coast, When I'm With You<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">7. Miley Cyrus, 4x4<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">8. Gary Glitter, I'm the Leader of the Gang (I
Am)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">9. Age of Consent, Colours<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">10. Bryan Ferry, Love Me Madly Again <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Evan W
Throws Some Rice<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I have something to contribute this year! Hence
my passion for these albums (and clearly, British singer-songwriters).</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">1. Damien Rice, My Favorite Faded Fantasy</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">2. Ben Howard, I Forget Where We Were</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">3. James Vincent McMorrow, Post Tropical<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">4. Noah Gundersen, Ledges<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">5. Sia, 1000 Forms of Fear<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">6. Joshua Radin, Onwards and Sideways<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">7. Gem Club, In Roses<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">8. How To Dress Well, "What is This Heart?"
</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Who’s
Zooming Who?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Aaron H is!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Betty Who, Take Me When You Go<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Tycho, Awake<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Bright Light Bright Light, Life is Easy<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Troye Sivan, TRXYE - EP</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">A Split
Decision for Steven M<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">1. Courtney Barnett, Double Ep: A Sea of
Split Peas<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">2. Sturgill Simpson, Metamodern
Sounds in Country Music<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">3. Lykke Li, I Never Learn<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">4. Christopher Denny, if The Roses Don't Kill Us<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">5. Spoon, They Want My Soul<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">6. First Aid Kit, Stay Gold<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">7. Real Estate, Atlas<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">8. Justin Townes Earle, Single Mothers<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">9. Lily & Madeline, Fumes<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">10. Damon Albarn, Everyday Robots</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Kate H’s
Gram-ophone<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Essential album: </span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Phantogram, Voices<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Other top choices:</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Alt-J, This is All Yours<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">FKA twigs, LP1<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Beck, Morning Phase<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">My Brightest Diamond, This Is My Hand<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Sturgill Simpson, Metamodern Sounds In Country
Music</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Alex K’s
Taylor-Made List<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Album: 1989, Taylor Swift<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Songs (I don't have ten)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">1) Sia, Elastic Heart<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">2) Tove Lo, Habits (Stay High)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">3) Blank Space, T Swift<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">4) Take me to Church, Hozier<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">5) Storm Song, Phildel<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I think I need to go listen to the radio
now.....</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Eamon T
Declares War<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<u style="text-underline: #191919;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Albums</span></u><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The War on Drugs, Lost in the Dream<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Interpol. Elpintor<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Lana Del Rey, Ultraviolence<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Azealia Banks, Broke With Expensive Taste<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Ryan Adams, Ryan Adams<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Sam Smith, In the Lonely Hour<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Hercules & Love Affair, The Feast of the
Broken Hearted<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Morrissey, World Peace Is None of Your Business<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Ariel Pink, Pom Pom<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Bleachers, Strange Desire<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<u style="text-underline: #191919;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Songs</span></u><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Madonna, Living For Love<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Ariana Grande, Love Me Harder<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Ryan Adams, Tired of Giving Up<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Sam Smith, Stay With Me<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Sleater Kinney, Bury Your Friends<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Sia, Chandelier<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Kevin K
Cruises for a Bruising<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">It was an amazing year for music! This
made it difficult to narrow it down to a reasonable sized list. </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">2014 Top 25 Albums</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">1. <i>Brill Bruisers</i> - The New
Pornographers</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">2. <i>Most Messed Up</i> - Old 97’s</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">3. <i>EP 1-4</i> - Evil Arrows</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">4. <i>We Let Go</i> - Sunday Sun</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">5. <i>Rips</i> - Ex Hex</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">6. <i>Fifth</i> - The Autumn Defense</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">7. <i>Night Surfer</i> - Chuck Prophet</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">8. <i>Black Moon Spell</i> - King Tuff</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">9. <i>Nikki Nack</i> - Tune-Yards</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">10. <i>Silver Ladder</i> - Peter
Mulvey</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">11. <i>Stay Gold</i> - First Aid
Kit</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">12. <i>Lighght</i> - Kishi Bashi</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">13. <i>Something Good</i> - Linus
of Hollywood</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">14. <i>No One Is Lost</i> - Stars</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">15. <i>ART OFFICIAL AGE</i> -
Prince</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">16. <i>They Want My Soul</i> -
Spoon</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">17. <i>Give The People What They
Want</i> - Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">18. <i>Bad Self Portraits</i> -
Lake Street Dive</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">19. <i>If The Roses Don’t Kill Us</i>
- Christopher Denny</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">20. <i>The Legal Matters</i> - The
Legal Matters</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">21. <i>Somewhere Else</i> - Lydia
Loveless</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">22. <i>Commonwealth</i> - Sloan</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Paul & the Broken Bones</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span></b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<u style="text-underline: #1A356E;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Side 1</span></u><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">You Go Down Smooth </span></i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">– Lake Street Dive</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Water Fountain</span></i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> – tUnE-yArDs</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Every Girl </span></i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">– Allah-Las</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">My Silver Lining </span></i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">– First Aid Kit</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Wine Lips </span></i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">– Lydia Loveless</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Let’s Get Drunk & Get It On </span></i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">– Old 97’s</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Romancer</span></i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> – Evil Arrows</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Don’t Wanna </span></i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">– Howler</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The Legend of Walter Wright</span></i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> – The Legal Matters</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<u style="text-underline: #1A356E;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Side 2</span></u><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Tonight We Ride </span></i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">– Bonehawk</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">War On The East Coast</span></i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> – The New Pornographers</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">(Give Me Back My) Bunty Bunty </span></i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">– The Bombay Royale</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Call Me </span></i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">– St. Paul & The Broken Bones</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Cleopatra </span></i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">– Sloan</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Black Moon Spell </span></i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">– King Tuff</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">From The Night</span></i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> – Stars</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Sunday Morning </span></i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">– Sunday Sun</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Ford Econoline</span></i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> – Chuck Prophet</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Don’t You (Forget About Me) </span></i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">– Bleu</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Waterfall</span></i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> – Ex Hex</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I have started a music blog titled 3 Plays for
$1 (</span><a href="http://3playsfor1.wordpress.com/"><u style="text-underline: #1A356E;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">http://3playsfor1.wordpress.com</span></u></a><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">) where you can find a Spotify playlist of my Top 25
albums and 2014 Playlists (Volume 1 and 2).</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Scott D’s
Logic Has Peaked<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Peaking Lights, *Cosmic Logic*</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Christopher
R Bows to the Saint<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Most essential for me: St Vincent, St Vincent</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Runners up: Perfume Genius, Too Bright; Lykke
Li, I Never Learn</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Top 7 songs:</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Sam Smith – I’m Not the Only One</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Perfume Genius – Queen</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Bastille – Pompeii</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Nick Jonas – Jealous (I know, I know)</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Sia - Chandelier</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">All of Me – John Legend</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Beyonce - Partition</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Joe M
Does it for the Love<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Here goes something. I spent half the year
listening to Fleetwood Mac's <i>Rumors</i> in a desperate attempt to fill
the music void that was 2014.</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Top Songs:</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Perfume Genius, "Queen"</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Sam Smith, "Stay With Me"</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Future Islands, "Seasons (Waiting On
You)"</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Sylvan Esso, "Coffee"</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Taylor Swift, "Blank Space"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">D'Angelo, "Ain't That Easy"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Meghan Trainor, "All About that
Bass"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Top Albums:</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Sam Smith, In the Lonely Hour<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The War on Drugs, Lost in the Dream<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Future Islands, Singles<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Taylor Swift, 1989<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Angel Olson, Burn Your Fire for No Witness</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Will W is
Out of the Woods<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Essential Albums:</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">1. Taylor Swift, 1989</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">2. Charli XCX, Sucker</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">3. Jenny Lewis, The Voyager</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">4. Dum Dum Girls, Too True </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Top Seven Songs:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">1. Taylor Swift, Out of the Woods</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">2. Lana Del Rey, Brooklyn Baby</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">3. FKA Twigs, Two Weeks</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">4. Jenny Lewis, Slippery Slopes</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">5. Charli XCX, Need UR Luv</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">6. Cloud Nothings, I'm Not Part of Me</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">7. Grimes, Go <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Phil B’s
Cole Call<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">So my album of the year is J. Cole's Forest
Hills Drive. A close second goes to D'Angelo's Black Messiah.</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The best lyric of the year is from Hozier's
Take Me To Church, "There is no sweeter innocence than our gentle
sin."</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Dan P
Gets His Grammar On<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Easy answer this year: London Grammar, If You
Wait.</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Brent G’s
Head is in the Clouds<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">1. Tove Lo - Queen of the Clouds<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">2. Sylvan Esso - Sylvan Esso<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">3.Eagulls - Eagulls<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">4.Taylor Swift - 1989<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">5. Hospitality - Trouble<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">6. Weatherbox - Files in all Directions<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">7. Childish Gambino - STM MTN<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">8. Alvvays - Alvvays<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">9. FKA Twigs - LP1<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">10. Sarah Jaffe - Don't Disconnect<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">runner ups<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">11. Phryme - Phryme<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">12. Zackey Force Funk - Money Green Viper<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">13.Love Inks - EXI<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">14. Young & Sick - self titled<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">15. Bearhug - self titled</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I have a radio show on every night...10pm - 12a
NYC<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.villakoolaradio.com/"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">www.Villakoolaradio.com</span></a><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">free app in apple store<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">DJ POLTERGEIS<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Jennifer
S, From the Bleachers<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">My absolute favorite this year:</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Bleachers, Strange Desire</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Second favorite:</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Taylor Swift, 1989</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">(Yeah, I said it.)</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Jon S is
Touched by the Void<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The Future's Void</span></i></b><b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">, EMA</span></b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">This was by far my favorite album of the year.
Smart, catchy, and loud, Erica M. Anderson's sophomore album just killed it for
me. It sounds like a cross between Radiohead and early Courtney Love. And
anyone who namecheck's Lovecraft's Cthulhu and Gibson's Neuromancer in the same
album, wins.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">LP1</span></i></b><b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">, FKA twigs</span></b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">This album grew on me slowly. It's smart R&B
in whispery tones, understated in sound, yet bold in format. On first listen, I
thought it was just OK, nothing special. But something about her voice kept drawing
me back. And the more I listened, the more I noticed just how careful and
intricate her song structure is.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Sylvan Esso</span></i></b><b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">, Sylvan Esso</span></b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Take a folk/roots artist and an electronic
artist and have them make an album together. That's pretty much Sylvan Esso. It
could have been terrible. It ended up amazing. There is nothing out there that
sounds quite like them and I'm eagerly waiting for a follow-up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">...And Then You Shoot Your Cousin</span></i></b><b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">, The Roots</span></b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The Roots just keep getting better. They seem to
like their gig on Jimmy Fallon, and I'm sure it pays well. That takes the
commercial pressure off their albums, allowing them to take more creative
risks. It doesn't always work, but you'd be hard-pressed to find a more
progressive group of professionals in hip-hop.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Burn Your Fire for No Witness</span></i></b><b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">, Angel Olsen</span></b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">This album comes at you like it's not even
trying. Olsen makes it all sound so natural and effortless. But this is some of
the clearest, most honest folk rock I've heard since...I don't know, Janice
Joplin?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Nikki Nack</span></i></b><b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">, Tune-Yards</span></b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Merrill Garbus's last album, <i>w h o k i l l</i>,
was one of my favorite albums of 2011. I'm always a little nervous about a
follow up. Will it be as good? Will it be new enough to sound fresh without
losing its old magic? And yes to both for <i>Nikki Nack</i>. Brilliant, funny,
and raucous. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Shriek</span></i></b><b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">, Wye Oak</span></b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Wye Oak is another one of my favorite bands, and
they've made my "best of" list every time they release an album. But
this one I was <i>really</i> worried about, because they were making the whole
album without their signature instrument. What, I wondered, did Wye Oak without
a guitar even sound like? Turns out, it sounds like smartly written 80's pop
with an extra dose of bass guitar groove. It's a great album and I respect
their bold choices. I do hope they bring the guitar back, because it's Jen
Wassner's guitar work that I love best about that band.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Say Yes To Love</span></i></b><b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">, Perfect Pussy</span></b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">It's rare for an authentic hardcore band to get
attention outside of the small niche of regular listeners. But Meredith Graves
is a rare woman. This album is short and abrasive as hell, and the perfect
counterbalance the EDM and synth throwbacks that currently dominate pop music.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The Moon Rang Like A Bell</span></i></b><b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">, Hundred Waters</span></b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Speaking of weird synth throwbacks, this is a
band that does it right. There are tinges of 80s pop, 90s trip-hop, but it's
all grounded with a soul-searching folk sound.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Benji</span></i></b><b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">, Sun Kil Moon</span></b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">And speaking of soul-searching folk sounds,
nobody does it better than Mark Kozelek. This album in particular is so simple,
so free of pretension, so painfully candid, it's at times a little
embarrassing. Although not nearly as embarrassing as some of the jerky things
he's said at his live shows. Still, it's a great album, and weirdly makes me
homesick for Ohio (a rare feat indeed!).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Honorable Mention</span></b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Not quite good enough to make the top ten, but
still worth noting:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Brightly Painted One</span></i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> by Tiny Ruins is a lovely, delicate urban folk album
that reminds me of Joni Mitchell, particularly <i>Ladies of the Canyon</i> or <i>Blue</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I love Nika Danilova's voice and I really wanted
<i>Taiga</i> by Zola Jesus to be good. She was trying to make her music more
accessible, and I commend her for that. But she ended up making it too pop for
existing fans and still not pop enough for new listeners.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Sophomore albums <i>Swimming Time</i> by Shovels
& Rope and <i>This Is All Yours</i> by alt-J were solid, but not as
satisfying as the debut albums<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">You Don’t
Have to be a Genius to Appreciate Andrew H’s Choices<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Most essential albums of the year:</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">1. Perfume
Genius, Too Bright</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">2. St. Vincent,
St. Vincent</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">3. The
Mockingjay Soundtrack</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">4. Taylor Swift,
1989</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">5. Ingrid
Michaelson, Lights Out</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Songs of the year:</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">1. Taylor Swift,
“Out of the Woods”</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">2. Perfume
Genius, “Queen”</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">3. St. Vincent, “Psychopath”</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">4. Lorde,
“Yellow Flicker Beat”</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">5. Stromae
featuring Lorde, Haim, Q-Tip, and Pusha T, “Meltdown”</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">6. Ingrid
Michaelson “Girls Chase Boys”</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">7. Betty Who,
“High Society”</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Len V, Bitten
by the Bugg<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Thanks for including me. This probably doesn't
follow the actual rules, but this year was about others -- mostly teen readers
-- turning me onto music I had missed, so it was more about artists and songs
than albums. The top two, neither, I think, from this year:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">ARTIST, SONG<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Bright Eyes, Lua<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Jake Bugg, Lightning Bolt<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">And anything by the Mountain Goats. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I also rediscovered the albums:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Roxy Music, Manifesto <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Bruce Springsteen, Nebraska<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Both great for late night email answering (like
right now). </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Elizabeth
K Plants Her Vote<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Robert Plant, Lullaby & the Ceaseless
Roar - </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Megan B’s
Fine Hoziery<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">This was SO hard this time. So much good music
came out this year, but I think this is my final list.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Hozier, Take Me To Church<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Vance Joy, Mess is Mine<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Young the Giant, It's About Time<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Royal Blood, Out of the Black<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Imagine Dragons, I Bet My Life<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The Orwells, Who Needs You<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Jack White, Lazaretto</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Elizabeth
E’s Got That James Dean Look in Her Eye…<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Didn't really LOVE a ton this year, and didn't
get a lot of albums. I don't know if this is a statement on the music industry,
or my lack of finding new stuff. But here it is...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">ESSENTIAL ALBUM<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">1989, Taylor Swift (The haters gonna hate, hate,
hate, hate, hate...)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">NEW ARTISTS WHO CAME THISCLOSE TO BEING MY
ESSENTIAL<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Magic Man, Before the Waves<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The Colourist, The Colourist<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">OTHER ESSENTIALS<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Walk the Moon, Talking is Hard<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Sia, 1000 Forms of Fear<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Betty Who, Take Me When You Go (even though its
basically the two EPs)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The War on Drugs, Lost in a Dream<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Vance Joy, Dream Your Life Away<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Ingrid Michaelson, Lights Out<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Neon Trees, Pop Psychology<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Phox, Phox - WISCONSIN REPRESENT!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">SINGLES<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Jessie J, Ariana Grande, and Nikki Minaj, Bang
Bang<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">"Begin Again" cast, Lost Stars<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Panama Wedding, All of the People<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Sia, Chandelier<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Taylor Swift, Shake it Off<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">NoNoNo, Pumpin Blood<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Bleachers, I Wanna Get Better<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">It’s Not
Just a Phase for Crissa C<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">* Beck, Morning Phase<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Caribou, Our Love<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Flying Lotus, You're Dead!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Ariel Pink, Pom Pom<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Lykke Li, I Never Learn<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">SOHN, Tremors<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">St. Vincent, St. Vincent<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">FKA Twigs, LP1<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">* best single: Fenster, Sunday Owls<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Cassandra
P Brings Her Taste to the Poll<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Most Essential Album:</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Azealia Banks, Broke with Expensive Taste</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Other Essential Albums of the Year:</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">J Cole, 2014 Forest Hills Drive</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">D’Angelo & the Vanguard, Black Messiah</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Nicki Minaj, The Pinkprint</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Sia, 1000 Forms of Fear</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Taylor Swift, 1989</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Best Discovery from Previous Years:</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Dawn Richard, Goldenheart (album, 2013)</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Top Seven Songs of the Year:</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Sia, Chandelier</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Beyonce, Flawless (Remix f. Nicki Minaj)</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Azealia Banks, Ice Princess</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Beyonce, 7/11 [the video, mainly] <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Taylor Swift, Blank Space<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Makonnen, Tuesday (f. Drake) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Sam Smith, Stay with Me<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Lawrence
U is Not the Only One That This Music Stays With<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Here are my album picks for 2014!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">1. Sam Smith - In The Lonely Hour<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">2. MisterWives - Reflections EP<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">3. Taylor Swift - 1989<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">4. Ella Henderson - Chapter One<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">5. Nick Jonas - Nick Jonas<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">6. Ingrid Michaelson - Lights Out<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">7. Meghan Trainor - Title<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">8. Sia - 1000 Forms of Fear<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">9. Mary Lambert - Heart On My Sleeve<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">10. Ariana Grande - My Everything<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Top Singles! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">1. Sam Smith - I'm Not The Only One<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">2. MisterWives - Reflections<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">3. G.R.L - Ugly Heart<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">4. Ella Henderson - Pieces<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">5. Sheppard - Geronimo<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">6. Odessa - I Will Be There<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">7. Bleachers - I Wanna Get Better<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">8. Mary Lambert - Secrets<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">9. Sia - Chandelier <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">10. Meghan Trainor - Lips Are Movin<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">11. Ingrid Michaelson - Girls Chase Boys<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">This is always so hard for me to decide, but I
think that this list is pretty much sums up my 2014 music favorites. I'm sure
that I am missing something spectacular, but everything listed here is
deserving. </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Lauren S
is in the Spirit<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Here are my most essential albums of 2014:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">1. Delta Spirit - Into the Wide<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">2. Hozier - Hozier<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">3. Cold War Kids - Hold My Home<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">4. You+Me - rose ave.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">5. Johnnyswim - Diamonds<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">6. Olivia Broadfield - Paper Dolls<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">7. Sia - 1000 Forms of Fear<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">8. Lykke Li - I Never Learn<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">9. The Fray - Helios<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">10. Andrew McMahon - Andrew McMahon in the
Wilderness<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Most Essential Songs:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">1. Hozier, "Work Song"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">2. Delta Spirit, "Hold My End
Up"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">3. Cold War Kids, "First"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">4. William Fitzsimmons, "Centralia"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">5. Sia, "Elastic Heart"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">6. Lorde, "Yellow Flicker Beat"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">7. Wakey!Wakey!, "Stop the World"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I also discovered (and spent quite a bit of
time listening to) Typhoon's 2013 album White Lighter, which definitely would
have made my list last year if I'd known about it. Jono McCleery's song
"Darkest Light" (2010) was also a favorite.</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Danielle
P Can’t Shake it Off<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Very much considered crafting a list that was
indie and cool. But my iPad is unabashedly pop-y, so I just wrote
down the top ten most played songs this year. So I begin and end with Swift!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">This Love, Taylor Swift, 1989<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Night Changes,One Direction, Four<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Tov Lo, Habits, Truth Serum<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Need Ur Love, Charlie XCX<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Thinking Out Loud, Ed Sheeran, X<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">No Rest for the Wicked, Lyke Li, I Never Learn<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Take Me To Church, Hozier, Hozier<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Hideaway, Kiesza, Sound of a Woman<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Black Widow, Ziggy Azaela, The New Classic<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Shake it Off, Taylor Swift, 1989</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Jaci M
and her Gang of Youths<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The only new things that I've heard and loved
this year, to the best of my recollection,</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">are:</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">- Gang of Youths, - especially the song,
Evangelist (but that might be from a previous year? I saw them play this year
and I really liked that song - but their 'new' song was something about drums,
which was good but I have lost a bit of interest in it)</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">- St Vincent, (especially the songs,
Rattlesnake and Birth in Reverse - but everyone's talking about her - and
again, is that the previous year?)</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">- Sylvan Esso, esp Dreamy Bruises and Coffee </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Also, the other day my little sister was
encouraging me to listen to Australian hip hop. She played me this song:</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">- Hilltop Hoods - Cosby Sweater</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">And I liked it, but <i>I don't know if I will
continue to like it. </i></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">However, I do
remember that I love their song, 'Nosebleed Section' from a while back.
So I might? </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Stephen B
Sings the Blues<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I listened to so little new music this year, I
couldn't even make a full ten in either category!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Best Albums<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">1. Against Me!, Transgender Dysphoria
Blues </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">2. Azealia Banks, Broke With Expensive Taste<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">3. Taylor Swift, 1989<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">4. Sia, 1000 Forms of Fear <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">5. Cloud Nothings, Here and Nowhere
Else<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">6. TV on the Radio, Seeds<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">7. Lana Del Rey, Ultraviolence<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">8. La Dispute, Rooms of the House<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Best Songs</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">1. Sia, "Chandelier"</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">2. Azealia Banks, "Chasing Time"</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">3. Taylor Swift, "Blank Space"</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">4. Kiesza, "Hideaway"</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">5. Jack Ü ft. Kiesza, "Take Ü
There"</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">6. Porter Robinson, "Lionhearted"</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">7. Taylor Swift, "Out of the
Woods"</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">8. Lana Del Rey, "Ultraviolence"</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Teri Y
Moon Walks<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Albums</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Walk the Moon, Talking is Hard</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Royksopp & Robyn, Do it Again</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Royksopp, The Inevitable End</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Taylor Swift, 1989</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Singles</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Marina and the Diamonds, Froot</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Lorde, Yellow Flicker Beat</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">OK Go, The Writing's on the Wall</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Stromae, Tous le Memes (2013)</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Jinny W
Strikes Bach<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Most essential album of the year:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">JOSHUA BELL, Bach with the Academy of St. Martin
in the Fields. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Other essential albums:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">JERUSALEM QUARTET, Smetana and Janacek: String
Quartets.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">ANNE-SOPHIE MUTTER and LAMBERT ORKIS, The Silver
Album.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Heartthrobs every one.</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Hillary B
Rocks This Radio <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">1. TV on the Radio, Seeds<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">2. Real Estate, Atlas<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">3. Beck, Morning Phase<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">4. Elbow, The Take Off and Landing of Everything<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">5. Tweedy, Sukierae<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">6. The War on Drugs, Lost in the Dream<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">7. J. Roddy Walston and the Business, Essential
Tremors<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I couldn't even begin to pick songs. My number
one is all the zumba jams featuring Pitbull and I'm not ashamed to admit it.</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Stewart F
is Hearing Voices<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">My top albums of 2014:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">1.</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Phantogram – <i>Voices</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">2.</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">TV On The
Radio – <i>Seeds</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">3.</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Beck – <i>Morning
Phase</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">4.</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Various - <i>Die
Welt Ist Klang: A Tribute To Pete Namlook</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">5.</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Real Estate –
<i>Atlas</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">6.</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Swans – <i>To
Be Kind</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">7.</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Yagya – <i>Sleepygirls</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">8.</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Plaid – <i>Reachy
Prints</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">9.</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The War on
Drugs - <i>Lost in the Dream</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">10.</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Woob – <i>Ambient Disaster Movie</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> Top songs of 2014 (based on raw iTunes play
counts):<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">1.</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Beck – “Blue
Moon”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">2.</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">TV On The
Radio – “Careful You”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">3.</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Elbow –
“Charge”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">4.</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Phantogram –
“Fall In Love”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">5.</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Plaid –
“Hawkmoth”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">6.</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">TV On The
Radio – “Careful You”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">7.</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Spoon – “New
York Kiss”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">8.</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Real Estate –
“Past Lives”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">9.</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Damon Albarn
– “Everyday Robots”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">10.</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The National – “I Should Live in Salt”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> Essential stuff I (re)discovered this year
(in no order):<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Faith No More – Angel Dust<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Wounds of the Earth – V/A compilations<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Fela Soul (De La Soul/Fela Kuti mashups by
Gummy Soul/Amerigo Gazaway)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">School of Fish – “Three Strange Days”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Stereolab – “Miss Modular”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Tympanik Audio label<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Touched Two compilation (touched.bandcamp.com)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Joy Division<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Killing Joke – “Love Like Blood”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Nine Inch Nails’ entire back catalogue<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Godflesh, Skinny Puppy, Frontline Assembly…
it’s been a rough year<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Nirvana’s cover of “The Man Who Sold The
World”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Dusted Wax Kingdom netlabel<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Husker Du – “Don’t Want to Know if You Are
Lonely”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Built to Spill<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Del Tha Funkee Homosapien – “Pissin’ On Your
Steps”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Lalo Schifrin – <i>Bullitt</i> soundtrack<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Life is
But a Dream for Brant R<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">My Essential Albums of 2014:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The War on Drugs/Lost in the Dream<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">TV Girl/French Exit<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Real Estate/Atlas<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Future Islands/Singles<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 15pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Mac DeMarco/Salad Days<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Frankie Cosmos/Zentropy<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 15pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Todd Terje/It’s Album Time<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">TV on the Radio/Seeds<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 15pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Iggy Azalea/The New Classic<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Heaven’s Jail/Ace Called Zero</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Jonathan
V’s Finds Peace in This War<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">1. The War on Drugs, Lost in the Dream</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Springsteengaze is officially a thing now.</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">2. iamamiwhoami, Blue The Scandinavian synthpop
beach record<i> </i>is officially a thing now<i>. </i> 3. Future Islands,
Singles</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Manic raptor new wave is officially a thing now.</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">4. Angel Olsen, Burn your Fire for No
Witness The kind of folk songs you’d expect to hear at a séance, sung by the
ghost.</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">5. alt-J, This Is All Yours Recalls the
suitelike '00s alt-rock splendor of early Doves; that's recommendese for “get
it now.”</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">6. Bombay Bicycle Club, So Long See You
Tomorrow Long accustomed to navigating the tortuous streets of Crouch End,
this band is now creating equally intricate music. 7. Tycho, Awake Mellow,
guitar-borne profundity. 8. Trust, Joyland Co-vocalist Maya Postepski left
this darkwave duo between albums and, in a twist worthy of early Brian De
Palma, co-vocalist Robert Alfons replaced her with himself. Now he’s
singing octave-hopping, reflexive duets. Remarkably, this mesmerizing LP
more than outshines its backstory.</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> 9. Dean Blunt, Black Metal </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> Music fans
everywhere agree: we have no idea what this guy is doing, but "Black
Metal" certainly raises the bar of <i>whatever that is</i>, infusing
Blunt's bedroom-fi recordings with a quixotic kind of grace. Good luck
putting your finger on it! 10. The Twilight Sad, Nobody Wants to Be Here
Nobody Wants to Leave …and the award for "Implementing an Awesomely
Scottish Accent to Pry Hope from Unrelenting Darkness" goes to James
Graham, and the wall of sound behind him.</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">1. FKA Twigs - Two Weeks</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">2. Angel Olsen - Stars</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">3. Andy Stott - Violence</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">4. Future Islands - Fall from Grace</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">5. Saintseneca - Fed Up with Hunger</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">6. The War on Drugs - Under the Pressure</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">7. Perfume Genius - Queen</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">No Blank
Spaces on Goldy M’s List<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Most essential album: Taylor Swift,
1989 <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Other good albums: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Dream Your Life Away, Vance Joy<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Ed Sheeran, X<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">7 Best songs (album cuts and
singles):<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">"Take me to Church," Hozier<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">"Waves," Mr. Probz<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">"Georgia," Vance Joy <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">"Afire Love," Ed
Sheeran <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">"Wildest Dreams," Taylor
Swift <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">"Style," Taylor Swift <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Song I'm most embarrassed to admit I
love: "Stockholm Syndrome," One Direction <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Adam G
Puts the Pikes at His Peak<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Okay. First time participant. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">1. Turnpike Troubadours, Goodbye Normal Street
(album)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">2. Hayes Carll, Trouble in Mind (album)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">3. Kishi Bashi, Lighght (album)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">4. Hozier, Hozier (album)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Lucas K
Merrily Weathers Lewis<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">My top album this year was actually from 2013:
Kacey Musgraves, Same Trailer Different Park<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">For 2014 releases:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">1. Jenny Lewis, The Voyager<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">2. Bleachers, Strange Desire<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">3. Eric Church, The Outsiders<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">4. Taylor Swift, 1989<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">5. Coldplay, Ghost Stories<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">6. TV on the Radio, Seeds<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">7. St. Lucia, When the Night<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">8. Sam Smith, In the Lonely Hour<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">9. Wye Oak, Shriek <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Chris S’s
Gotta Have Faith<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Paloma Faith, A Perfect Contradiction</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Matthue
R’s Vincent Van Goes<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Dammit, David. I am warning you, for reasons I
cannot really articulate or even fathom, there is Taylor Swift on this list.</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Most: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">St. Vincent, St. Vincent<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">And: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Feter Hendel, Fire Bright (okay, this is way
more obscure than any of my others, but it's amazing, you need to hear it now </span><a href="http://feterhendel.bandcamp.com/"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">http://feterhendel.bandcamp.com</span></a><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> )<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Taylor Swift, 1989<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Angel Olson, Burn Yr Fire For No Witness<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Impatiens, Kitty Pryde<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Sylvan Esso, Sylvan Esso<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Strangest fact:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I always used to think bands who put out
self-titled albums were ultra lame. Now they're making my essential list. I
feel uncomfortable about this, but they're too good not to be there.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">2014 Album That Has No 2014 Songs on It:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Guardians of the Galaxy soundtrack<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">My 2015 List: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">No Cities to Love<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">No Cities to Love<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">No Cities to Love<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">No Cities to Love</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Josh A’s
Live at V<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">2014 was comprised of listening to Frozen
exactly 473 times and the rest is the 6 minute drive to my train station of top
40(of which I do actually like a bunch of those songs). </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">However, he is my stab at it:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Best Album:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Maroon 5, V<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Best song: <b><u>Don't judge me for this:</u></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Taylor Swift Shake it off - You have to admit it
is super catchy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Andrew F
Lives by the Saint<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">My Top 5 of the Year:</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">1. St. Vincent, St. Vincent<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">2. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Hypnotic
Eye<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">3. Lori McKenna, Numbered Doors<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">4. Guardians of the Galaxy Soundtrack, Awesome
Mix: Volume 1<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">5. Miranda Lambert, Platinum</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">No
Waterloo for Scott T<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">As for music, I still listen to a lot
but the one that grabbed me the most this year was actually a guy named Simon
Mills who records as Napoleon. He set himself the task of digitally
releasing a 4 song EP each month of the year. It's a bit unconventional
but I guess music as an industry the music biz is getting a lot less
conventional.</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Essential Album of the Year</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Napoleon - 12 EPs</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Top Songs of the Year</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">1. The Asteroids Galaxy Tour,
My Club</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">2. Glass Animals, Gooey</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">3. Lykke Li, No Rest for the
Wicked</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">4. Royksopp, Sordid Affair</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">5. SOHN, Artifice</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">6. Hospitality, Rockets and
Jets</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">7. Brett Domino, Pinocchio</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">God
Helped the Boy, and That Boy is Nick E<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">This was the year I finally got the Belle and
Sebastian album I've been waiting for! It's just not technically by Belle and
Sebastian, is all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Essential albums:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">God Help the Girl, God Help the Girl<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The New Pornographers, Brill Bruisers<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Royksopp and Robyn, Do It Again<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Trevor Morris, Dragon Age Inquisition Soundtrack<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Essential singles:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">RuPaul, Sissy That Walk<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Banks, Beggin for Thread<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Hozier, Take Me to Church<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Something went terribly wrong here:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Sun Kil Moon, Benji</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">For Drew
L, It’s All About the Losing<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">1. Cymbals Eat Guitars, Lose<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">2. The War on Drugs, Lost in the Dream<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">A Swiftly
Tilting Tyler G<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Taylor Swift, 1989<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Charli XCX, Sucker<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Original Broadway Cast, The Bridges of Madison
County (What can I say?)</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Bill K’s
Wonderful World<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Albums of the year-<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">4. Ed Sheeran - X<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">3. Sam Smith - In the Lonely Hour<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">2. Fitz and the Tantrums - More than Just a
Dream<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">1. A Great Big World - Is There Anybody Out
There?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Top 7 songs of the year-<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">7. We Exist - Arcade Fire<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">6. Stay With Me - Sam Smith<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">5. Love Never Felt so Good - Michael Jackson and
Justin Timberlake<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">4. Happy - Pharrell Williams<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">3. Out of My League - Fitz and the Tantrums<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">2. Chocolate - The 1975<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">1. Already Home - A Great Big World</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Anna C
Coughs Up a Lung<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Here are my picks - difficult ones! This was
such an amazing year for albums!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">1. White Lung, Deep Fantasy<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">2. Jenny Lewis, The Voyager<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">3. Priests, Bodies and Control and Money and
Power<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">4. Angel Olsen, Burn Your Fire For No Witness<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">5. King Tuff, Black Moon Spell<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">6. Ex Hex, Rips</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">For John
A, 1979 trumps 1989<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Here’s my top ten, from first to last:</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">1. Death from
Above 1979, The Physical World</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">2. Parquet
Courts, Sunbathing Animal</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">3. Spoon, They
Want My Soul</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">4. St Vincent,
St.Vincent</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">5. Lana Del Rey,
Ultraviolence</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">6. Elbow, The
Take Off and Landing of Everything</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">7. Real Estate,
Atlas</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">8. The Life and
Times, Lost Bees</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">9. Cloud
Nothings, Here and Nowhere Else</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">10. Perfume Genius, Too Bright</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Honorable Mentions (in no particular order):</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Speedy Ortiz, Real Hair</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The Afghan Wigs, Do the Beast</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Foxygen, ….And Star Power</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Weezer, Everything Will Be All Right in the
End</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Mogwai, Rave Tapes</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The New Pornographers, Brill Bruisers</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">And finally, the song I played on
constant repeat:</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Jenny Lewis, Slippery Slopes</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Peter K
Shares His Encyclopedic Knowledge<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">1. The
Drums, Encyclopedia (of course!)</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">2. FKA
Twig, LP1</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">3. Spoon,
They Want My Soul</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Frankie
Kicks Ass (aka FKA)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">FKA Twigs, LP1</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">TAYLOR SWIFT, 1989</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">D'Angelo, Black Messiah</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Azealia Banks, Broke with Expensive Taste</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">This is All Yours, alt-J</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">As far as essential, etc., this year I dove
deep into Björk's back list, which I've never ever listened to before, and fell
in complete love. Especially with Vespertine Live. So there's that!</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Kevin W
Manipulates the List<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">1. Ty Segall, Manipulator<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">2. The Men, Tomorrow’s Hits<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">3. Angel Olsen, Burn Your Fire for No Witness<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">4. Reigning Sound, Shattered<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">5. Joyce Manor, Never Hungover Again<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">6. Christopher Denny, If the Roses Don’t Kill Us<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">7. Legendary Wings, Do You See?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">8. Twin Peaks, Wild Onion<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">9. King Tuff, Black Moon Spell<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">10. Sugar Stems, Only Come Out at Night<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">11. Amy LaVere, Runaway’s Diary</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Andrea R,
Quite a Fox<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Foxes, Glorious<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Taylor Swift, 1989<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">TV on the Radio, Seeds<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Bastille, Bad Summer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Beck, Morning Phase<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Hozier, Hozier<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">London Grammar, If You Wait<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">FKA Twings, LP1<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Phantogram, Voices<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Alt-J, This is All Yours<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Haley Bonar, Last War</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Iain S
Swans Songs<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Diffuse year musically.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Swans, To Be Kind<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Aphex Twin, Syro<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Caribou, Our Love</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Glenn B
Spoons Nicely<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">1 Spoon, They Want My Soul<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">2 Beck, Morning Phase<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">3 Life & Times, Lost Bees<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">4 Braid, No Coast<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">5 St. Vincent, St. Vincent<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">6 Bob Mould, Beauty and Ruin<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">7 GOASTT- The Ghost of A Sabre Tooth Tiger<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">8 Parquet Courts, Sunbathing Animals<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">9 Run the Jewels, Run the Jewels 2<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">10 Afghan Whigs, Do the Beast</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Christopher
P, Slow Club Kid<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue Light"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">1. Slow Club - Complete
Surrender</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue Light"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue Light"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">2. Jessie Ware - Tough Love</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue Light"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue Light"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">3. Lykke Li - I Never Learn</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue Light"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue Light"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">4. Kelis - Food</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue Light"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue Light"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">5. Sia - 1000 Forms of Fear</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue Light"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue Light"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">6. Sondre Lerche - Please</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue Light"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue Light"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">7. Banks - Goddess</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue Light"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue Light"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">8. Paloma Faith - A Perfect
Contradiction</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue Light"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue Light"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">9. Lily Allen - Sheezus</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue Light"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue Light"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">10. Sam Roberts Band -
Lo-Fantasy</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Veronica
Handles Messiah<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Here it top 5 for me, with 1 on top
and the rest interchangeable depending on mood. </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">D'Angelo and the Vanguard, Black
Messiah</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Lykke Li, I Never Learn</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">FKA Twigs, LP1<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Mr. Twin Sister, Mr. Twin Sister<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Run the Jewels, Run the Jewels 2</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Heather H
Takes it to Church<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Albums:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Hozier, Hozier<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Against Me!, Transgendered Dysphoria Blues<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Future Islands, Singles<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Ed Sheeran, X<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Foo FIghters, Sonic Highways<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">U2, Songs of Innocence<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Pearl Jam, Lightning Bolt<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Singles:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Sia, Chandelier<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Faith No More, Motherfucker<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Sam Smith, Stay with Me<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Slow, Leonard Cohen<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Islander, Coconut Dracula<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Nico and Vinz, Am I Wrong</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Erich N’s
Taylor-made List<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I'm not really any good at listening to the
latest music. But last year I quite enjoyed:</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">1989 — Taylor Swift<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The Pinkprint — Nicki Minaj<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Shabazz Palaces — Lese Majesty<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Stromae — Racine Carree</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Tiffany S
Comes Out for the Wilderness<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Albums:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">1) Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness, Andrew
McMahon in the Wilderness<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">2) Vancouver Sleep Clinic, Winter<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">3) Taylor Swift, 1989<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">4) Echosmith, Acoustic Dreams<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">5) Hunter Hunted, Hunter Hunted<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">6) Sam Hunt, Montevallo<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">7) Hozier, Hozier<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Songs:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">1) Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness, “All Our
Lives"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">2) Vancouver Sleep Clinic, “Stakes”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">3) Sir Sly, “You Haunt Me"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">4) Taylor Swift, “Style"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">5) Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness, “Black and
White Movies"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">6) Bleachers, “I Wanna Get Better”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">7) Sam Hunt, “Make You Miss Me"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">8) The Gaslight Anthem, “Get Hurt”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Maggie
S’s Beck and Call<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">It was a brilliant year for music — more ways
than ever before for the average schmo to discover new indie sounds as soon as
they happen. Also frustrating, though, because it’s easier than ever to find a
band before the EP is available. I told myself I was doing a top 10, and then I
promised it would only be a top 20, and then I told myself 30 and that was
all-definitely-all. And then I just gave up and said, Top 40 has a ring. I’m
not sorry.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Here they are, in no particular order. My sister
says I’m only listening to music that sounds off-kilter these days, so consider
that a warning, I suppose.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">1. Beck, “Turn Away”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">2. Raury, “God’s Whisper”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">3. Air Dubai, “Warning (feat. Patricia Lynn)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">4. SPEAK, “Heavy Metal War”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">5. SVE, “Riot”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">6. Sia, “Elastic Heart”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">7. Reuben And the Dark, “Marionette”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">8. Coldplay, “Midnight”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">9. Ben Khan, “Eden”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">10. Seinabo Sey, “Hard Time”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">11. Robots Don’t Sleep, “Trouble”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">12. Florrie, “Seashells”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">13. X Ambassadors, “Unsteady”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">14. Matthew and the Atlas, “Out of the Darkness”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">15. Marika Hackman, “I Follow Rivers (Lykke Li
cover)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">16. SAFIA, “Paranoia, Ghosts, & Other
Sounds”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">17. S O H N, “Artifice”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">18. NONONO, “Jungle”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">19. Koda, “Staying”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">20. Junip, “Line of Fire”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">21. THUMPERS, “Unkinder (A Tougher Love)”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">22. Sam Roberts Band, “We’re All In This
Together”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">23. ceo, “OMG”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">24. Broods, “Sleep Baby Sleep”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">25. ASTR, “We Fall Down”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">26. Switchfoot, “Wherever This Goes”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">27. Ryn Weaver, “OctaHate”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">28. The New Pornographers, “Brill Bruisers”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">29. Interpol, “My Desire”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">30. Alt-J, “Arrival in Nara”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">31. Yelawolf, “Till It’s Gone”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">32. My Brightest Diamon, “Pressure”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">33. The Chemical Brothers, “This is Not a Game
(feat. Miguel)”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">34. Iggy Azalea, “Beg for It”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">35. SOAK, “B anoBody”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">36. Maps, “A. M. A. Eule Remix”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">37. Ibeyi, “River”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">38. Big Data, “Dangerous (feat Joywave)”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">39. KONGOS, “Come With Me Now”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">40. Laurel, “Fire Breather”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Here are two songs released in 2014 but not
available yet:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Seinabo Sey, “Pistols at Dawn”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Sprawlhunt, “Suede Bomber”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">And a remix I adore but isn’t available for
download, only streaming:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Angus & Julia Stone, “A Heartbreak (Active
Child remix)”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Tim D
Takes You There<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Albums:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Sharon Van Etten - Are We There<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Jack White - Lazaretto<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Perfect Pussy - Say Yes to Love<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Great Caesar - (Eponymous EP)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Singles:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">All About That Bass - Meghan Trainor 'cause like
this is auditory crack-cocaine and the best three chord G-Am-D song of the
year.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Elastic Heart - Sia - mostly because of the
video.</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Eugene K
parties like it’s 1989<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Taylor Swift - 1989<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Makthaverskan - II<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Aphex Twin - Syro<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">FKA Twigs - LP1<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Tinashe - Aquarius<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Jon Bellion - The Definition</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Jonas R
Gives Peas a Chance<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Thanks for hosting the annual music poll and for
inviting me to participate. It was a great year for music - the only hard
part was narrowing down the list. Harder still was selecting # 1 -
depending on what mood I'm in, that could easily be almost any album on my top
ten list:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Courtney Barnett, The Double EP: A Sea of Split
Peas<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Spoon, They Want My Soul<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Jenny Lewis, The Voyager<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">G. Love & Special Sauce, Sugar<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Real Estate, Atlas<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The Secret Sisters, Put Your Needle Down<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Jolie Holland, Wine Dark Sea<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The New Pornographers, Brill Bruisers<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Karen O, Crush Songs<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Lucinda Williams, Down Where the Spirit Meets
the Bone</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Dean B’s
List is a Mess<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Favorite
Albums:</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">1. Liars, Mess</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">2. Damien Rice, My Favorite Faded
Fantasy</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">3. Spoon, They Want My Soul</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">4. Gone Girl soundtrack</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">5. Ryan Adams, s/t</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">6. Coldplay, Ghost Stories</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">7. Broken Bells, After The Disco</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">8. Fink, Hard Believer</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">9. Beck, Morning Phase</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">10. David Gray, Mutineers</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Favorite
Songs:</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Liars, Left Speaker Blown / Mess on a
Mission</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Fink, Looking Too Closely</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Spoon, Do You</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Damien Rice, The Box</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Ryan Adams, My Wrecking Ball</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Broken Bells, Perfect World</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">David Gray, Back in the World / Gulls</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Oscar Isaac & Marcus Mumford,
Fare Thee Well (Inside Llewyn Davis sdtk)</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Karen O, Ooo</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">My 2014 Mix</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> (on Spotify):</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://open.spotify.com/user/deanbabin/playlist/6SVJlHHggGMThBE1qwANbe"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"></span><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Dean's List 2014</span></a><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Favorite
Movies:</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">1. McConkey<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">2. Grand Budapest Hotel<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">3. Frank<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">4. Guardians of the Galaxy<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">5. Two Days, One Night<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">6. Under The Skin<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">7. Virunga<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">8. Museum Hours<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">9. Her<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Preeti
Loves Preet<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">1. Various Artists, Khoobsurat soundtrack <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">2. Damon Albarn, Everyday Robots <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">3. Various Artists, Guardians of the
Galaxy <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">4. Dale Earhardt Jr. Jr., The Speed of
Things <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">1. Sunidhi Chauhan & Resmo Sateesh,
Preet <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">2. Sia, Chandelier <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">3. Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr., Dark Waters <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">4. Swaroop Khan, Tharki Chokro<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">5. Damon Albarn, Lonely Press Play <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">6. Ed Sheeran, I See Fire<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">7. Beyoncé, Drunk in Love <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Siobhan’s
Patron Saint<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">1. St. Vincent, St.
Vincent</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">2. Jenny Lewis, The
Voyager</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">3. Karen O, Crush Songs</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">4. Lana Del Rey,
Ultraviolence</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">5. Taylor Swift, 1989</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Dash
Twigs Out<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">1. FKA Twigs, LP1<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">2. Mac Miller, Faces<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">3. Mac Demarco, Salad Days<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">4. St. Vincent, St. Vincent<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">5. Flying Lotus, Your'e Dead!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">6. J. Cole, 2014 Forrest Hills Drive<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">7. Childish Gambino, Kauai<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">8. Weezer, Everything Will Be Alright In The End<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">9. Vince Staples, Hell Can Wait<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">10. Sia, 1000 Forms of Fear</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Chris H
conquers his Fear<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Singles:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">1. Sam Smith - Stay With Me<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">2. Sia - Chandelier <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">3. Taylor Swift - Blank Space<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">4. Charli XCX - Boom Clap<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">5. Disclosure - Latch<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">6. Hozier - Take Me to Church<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">7. Lana Del Rey - Brooklyn Baby<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">And my favorite albums: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">1. Sia - 1000 Forms of Fear<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">2. Jenny Lewis - The Voyager<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">3. Taylor Swift - 1989<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">4. Lana Del Rey - Ultraviolence<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">5. War on Drugs - Lost in a Dream <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">6. Caribou - Our Love<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">7. Betty Who - Take Me When You Go<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">8. Bleachers - Strange Desire<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">9. Lykke Li - I Never Learn <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">10. Calvin Harris - Motion</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Brett W is a tween girl<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">1. 1989 by Taylor Swift.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Because I could listen to "Style"
while aimlessly driving nowhere at midnight singing, "Just take me
hooome" at the top of my lungs FOR-EV-ER.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">2. Ultraviolence by Lana Del Rey.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Because no one does summertime sadness quite
like LDR.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">3. Kiss Me Once by Kylie Minogue.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Because "Kiss Me Once" sounds exactly
like how winter melting into spring feels.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">4. Four by One Direction<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Solely for "Fireproof" and for the
heavens giving us Zayn Malik. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">5. Do It Again by Robyn and Röyksopp<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Every Little Thing Robyn does is so perfect.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">6. Born Naked by RuPaul<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Three words that I live my life by: SISSY. THAT.
WALK.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">7. 1000 Forms of Fear by Sia<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Because this one is probably going to be
everyone's #1, isn't it? And I'll be shamed for putting it at #7.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">8. Black Messiah by D'Angelo<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Because I'm still settling into this one from
December but unf.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">9. Sorry I'm Late by Cher Lloyd<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Because I love "Bind Your Love" and
"I Wish" and I DON'T CARE WHO KNOWS.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">10. And finally, a HUGE shout out to my favorite
song + music video combo of 2014!!! "Touch My Body" by Sistar.
KILLIN' IT.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q33SoblaZbU"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q33SoblaZbU</span></a><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Emily M’s Booker Prize<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">My most essential albums of 2014:</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Benjamin Booker</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Taylor Swift, 1989</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Hozier</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Guardians of the Galaxy Soundtrack</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The Black Keys, Turn Blue</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">FKA Twigs</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">St. Vincent</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Weezer, Everything Will Be Alright In the End</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Old Crow Medicine Show, Remedy</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Little Big Town, Pain Killer</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Sam Smith, In the Lonely Hour</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Everything Will Be Alright with Melissa W in the End</span></b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I may be too late and I'll totally
use the "new baby" excuse, but if you're still compiling, I just have
a couple of essential albums to add, in no particular order (see above excuse):</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Weezer, Everything Will Be Alright in
the End</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Taylor Swift, 1989 </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Miranda Lambert, Platinum</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Sturgill Simpson, Metamodern Sounds
in Country Music</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">St. Vincent, St. Vincent</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Kristin Plants Some Seeds<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">There seemed to be a lot of good stuff last
year, but I particularly je t'aime:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">TV on the Radio, Seeds<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Chris R Stations Esso<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">This was a tough list to make. I
realized in the process of putting this together that I've mostly been
exploring older album and artists this year. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">1. Sylvan Esso, Sylvan Esso<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">2. Timber Timbre, Hot Dreams<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">3. Vance Joy, Dream Your Life Away<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">4. Alt-J, This is all yours<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">5. Sam Smith, In the Lonely Hour<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">6. Hozier, Hozier<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">7. Roo Panes, Little Giant<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">8. Mapei, Don’t Wait – Single<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Billy M’s Ray of Light<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Ultraviolence by Lana Del Rey<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Lightght by Kishi Bashi <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Broke With Expensive Taste by
Azealia Banks<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Are We There by Sharon Van
Etten<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Lost on the River by The New
Basement Tapes<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Tremors by S O H N<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Crush Songs by Karen O<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Sylvan Esso by Sylvan Esso<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Stay Gold by First Aid Kit<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Burn Your Fire For No Witness
by Angel Olsen<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Singles:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">“Take Me To Church” by Hozier<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">“Stay With Me” by Sam Smith</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
davidlevithanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00762768300871943772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1509734071563017124.post-51117952096331697212014-02-23T08:37:00.001-08:002014-02-23T08:37:15.051-08:00The 2013 David Music Poll results<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">THE 2013 David
Music Poll Results<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Lorde, Pure Heroine (38 votes)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Vampire Weekend, Modern Vampires of the City
(32)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Haim, Days are Gone (24)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Beyonce, Beyonce (21)<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
National, Trouble Will Find Me<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>6.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tegan and Sara, Heartthrob (20)<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>7.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Chvrches, The Bones of What You Believe
(16)<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>8.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Janelle Monae, The Electric Lady (15)<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>9.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Arcade Fire, Reflektor (14)<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Kanye
West, Yeezus (14)<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Runners up:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Arctic
Monkeys, AM (13), Daft Punk, Random Access Memories (12), Neko Case, The Worse
Things Get… (9), Justin Timberlake, the 20/20 Experience (9), Kacey Musgraves,
Same Trailer, Different Park (8)<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
NOTES:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Welcome to
the fifteenth iteration of the David Music Poll. This year we had a record 114
respondents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some only put singles,
showing how our listening habits are changing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But there was an interesting overlap– more than I can remember – in
those people who listed albums.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lorde is
the first purely debut artist to top the poll since 2008 … when the poll was
won by Vampire Weekend, this year’s number two.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Like Vampire Weekend, The National also hits the top ten for the third
album in a row.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Two-time winner Arcade
Fire, which has hit the top ten four times, is a relatively low ninth place
this year, reflecting that more than a few people (myself included) were
underwhelmed by Reflektor. Tegan and Sara crack the top ten for the first time,
as does Beyonce and debut artists Chvrches and Haim.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Janelle Monae’s been here once before, and
Kanye West three times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Previous winners
Phoenix and Franz Ferdinand and former runner-up Yeah Yeah Yeahs released new
albums to little effect, while Neko Case just missed out on her fourth trip to
the top ten and Kacey Musgraves made a notable debut.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Individual lists are to be found at <span style="mso-field-code: " HYPERLINK \0022http\:\/\/davidmusicpoll\.blogspot\.com\/\0022 \\t \0022_blank\0022 \\o \0022http\:\/\/davidmusicpoll\.blogspot\.com\/\000ACmd+click or tap to follow link\0022 ";"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt;">http://davidmusicpoll.blogspot.com/</span></span></span><span style="color: #282828; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Thanks to everyone who participated this year!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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/:) David<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">I praise the Lorde<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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MY ESSENTIAL ALBUMS:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Lorde, Pure Heroine<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Tegan & Sara, Heartthrob<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Chvrches, The Bones of What You Believe<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Daughter, If You Leave<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Vampire Weekend, Modern Vampires of the City<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->The National, Trouble Will Find Me<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Sara Bareilles, This Blessed Unrest<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">8)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Sin Fang, Flowers<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Notes:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Clearly
this is the year of female-fronted new-wavish bands for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lorde did something astonishing – that is,
created something I hadn’t heard before, and wanted to hear over and over
again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tegan & Sara scored most of
my year with their synthpop turn, which Chvrches chiming in with their own mix,
which harkened back to my college radio.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Daughter also harkened back to alternative 90s music, but in a more
moody way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then two of my favorite bands
lived up to their previous albums – no small feat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sara Bareilles ended up making my feel-good
Lilith album of the year, and Sin Fang hit my radar right at the end of the
year – but I’ve been listening to it so religiously ever since (especially the first
two tracks) that I’m giving it a berth here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Honorable mentions go to Laura Marling, Haim, the Great Gatsby
soundtrack, Icona Pop (the most fun album of the year), <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
MY ESSENTIAL SEVEN SONGS:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Boy, Little Numbers<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Lorde, Ribs<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Sin Fang, Young Boys<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Tegan & Sara, I’m Not Your Hero<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Florence + the Machine, Over the Love<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Chris Rubeo, Erin<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Daughter, Human<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Honorable mention:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Tom Odell’s Another Love, Barenaked Ladies’ Odds Are, Sara Bareilles’s
Brave, Chvrches’ Gun<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Trouble Will Find</b>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Daniel H (if it hasn’t already)<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
National - Trouble Will Find Me<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Future
Bible Heroes - Partygoing<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Waxahatchee
- American Weekend<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Amelia K’s Wild
Women<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Lorde, Pure Heroine<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Lucius, Wildewoman<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And my big discovery of the year, a band I am obsessed
with but which doesn't have a new album out this year: Mountain Man<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Crissa C hits the
City<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
MOST ESSENTIAL: Vampire Weekend: Modern Vampires of the
City<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
OTHER ESSENTIAL ALBUMS: <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Chvrches: The Bones of What You Believe<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Kurt Vile: Walkin on a Pretty Daze<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Blood Orange: Cupid Deluxe<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
James Blake: Overgrown<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Bonobo: The North Borders<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
When Saints Go Machine: Infinity Pool<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
BEST SONG: Daft Punk: Doin' It Right (with Panda Bear)<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Kody Gets a Little
Big Closer<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
MOST ESSENTIAL ALBUM: <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Tegan and Sara, <i>Heartthrob</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
HONORABLE MENTIONS<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The Civil Wars, <i>The Civil Wars</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Andrew McMahon, <i>The Pop Underground EP</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
SONGS OF THE YEAR<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
1.) Passenger, "Let Her Go"<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
2.) Lana Del Rey, "Young and Beautiful"<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
3.) The Civil Wars, "The One That Got Away"<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
4.) Avicii, "Wake Me Up"<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
5.) Imagine Dragons, "Demons"<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
6.) Lily Allen, "Hard Out Here"<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
7.) Lorde, "Royals"<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rob A’s Reflektive
List<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
MOST ESSENTIAL:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Arcade Fire, Reflektor<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
OTHER ESSENTIAL:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Janelle Monae, The Electric Lady<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Rhye, Woman<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Haim, Days Are Gone<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Darkside, Psychic<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
OTHER SINGS I ENJOYED:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Daft Punk, Get Lucky<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Lady Gaga ft. R. Kelly, Do What U Want<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Drake, Hold On, We're Going Home<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Kanye West, Bound 2<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Lauren S’s National anthems<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Here
are my most essential albums of 2013:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1.
The National, Trouble Will Find Me<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2.
Cold War Kids, Dear Miss Lonelyhearts<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">3. Bastille,
Bad Blood<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">4.
Local Natives, Hummingbird<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">5. Arcade
Fire, Reflektor<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">6.
OneRepublic, Native<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">7.
Leagues, You Belong Here <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">8.
The Boxer Rebellion, Promises<br />
9. The Civil Wars, The Civil Wars<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">10.
Amos Lee, Mountains of Sorrow, Rivers of Song<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">7
Essential Songs:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1.
"Fireproof" by The National<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2.
"Lost That Easy" by Cold War Kids<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">3.
"Heart Beats" by Johnnyswim<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">4.
"The Struggle" by Grizfolk<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">5.
"Counting Stars" by OneRepublic<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">6.
"Gone" by Olivia Broadfield<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">7.
"Wake Me Up" by Avicii<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Andrew K Gets Personal<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Most essential album: Eleanor Friedberger, Personal
Record.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Discovery of the year: Van Morrison, Astral Weeks (Yes,
I'm late to the party. It came out in 1968.)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Lev G Was Always Royal<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Literally the only new song I listened to this year was
Lorde, "Royals." It was good! But that's all I got. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Anna Q Follows Her Arrow<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Kacey Musgraves, Same Trailer Different Park. (And
why am I so sure that I am the only person who will make this choice in your
cohort???)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Ed. Note:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Keep scrolling to see
if she’s right.</i>)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jess S is very
Civil:<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The Civil Wars, The Civil Wars<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Lorde, Pure Heroine would be a close second!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Megan B has quite
a Weekend<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Albums <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
TOP: Vampire Weekend, Modern Vampires of the City<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Queens of the Stone Age, “…Like Clockwork’<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Pearl Jam, Lightning Bolt<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Lorde, Pure Heroine<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Eminem, the Marshall Mathers LP 2<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Arctic Monkeys, AM<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Top Seven Songs (this was so hard!!)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
7. Lorde, Royals<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
6. MS MR, Hurricane<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
5. Avicii, Wake me up<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
4. Frank Turner, Recovery<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
3. Arctic Monkeys, Do I Wanna Know<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
2. Franz Ferdinand, Right Action<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
1. Vampire Weekend, Unbelievers<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Corey H Loves
Lucius<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Lucius, Wildewoman<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Tegan and Sara, Heartthrob <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The Bones of what Andrea
R believes<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Albums:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
CHVRCHES, The Bones of What You Believe<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Lorde, Pure Heroine<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Polica, Shulamith<br />
Frightened Rabbit, Pedestrian Verse<br />
Daughter, If You Leave<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Phosphorescent, Muchacho<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Songs:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
CHVRCHES - Gun<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
CHVRCHES - Recover<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Phosphorescent - Song for Zula<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Frightened Rabbit - the Woodpile<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Lorde - Royals<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Icona Pop - I Love It<br />
Sara Bareilles - Brave<br />
Justin Timberlake - Mirrors<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Daft Punk - Get Lucky<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Katy Perry - Roar<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Aimee is down to the Wire
with her singles<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Haim,
The Wire<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Daft
Punk, Get Lucky<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Paul
McCartney, New<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Justin
Timberlake, Mirrors<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Beyonce,
Drunk in Love<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Tegan
and Sara, Closer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Vampire
Weekend, Diane Young<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Also:
Frozen Soundtrack, Let it Go <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Honorable
Mentions (with mixed feelings): Robin Thicke, Blurred Lines; Miley Cyrus,
Wrecking Ball. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Scott W’s saying
Monae, Monae<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Janelle
Monae *Electric Lady*<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Dessa
*Parts of Speech*<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Beyonce
*Beyonce*<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Justin B’s unfunny
Valentine<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
1. My Bloody Valentine, MBV<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
2. MIA, Matangi<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
3. Boards of Canada, Tomorrow's Harvest<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
4. The Dodos - Carrier<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
5. Beyonce, Beyonce (*just 'cause... haven't actually
listened to it)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lia C’s Drunk on
Beyonce<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
1. Beyonce, Beyonce <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
2. Lorde, Pure Heroine <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
3. Ellie Goulding, Halycon <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
4. MIA, Matangi <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
5. The 1975, The 1975 <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
6. Miley Cyrus, Bangerz <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lucas K’s
Haim/T&S Cage Match<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Here are my picks! Haim edges out Tegan and Sara for the
top album spot, but "Closer" edges out "Falling" for song
of the year, imho.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
1. Haim, Days Are Gone<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
2. Tegan and Sara, Heartthrob<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
3. Camera Obscura, Desire Lines<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
4. The 1975, The 1975<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
5. Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, The Heist<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
6. Breakbot, By Your Side<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
7. MIKA, The Origin of Love<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
8. Best Coast, Fade Away<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
9. Neko Case, The Worse Things Get...<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
10. Elton John, The Diving Board<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Scott D’s
Bibiology<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Bibio, <i>Silver Wilkinson</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Gold Panda, <i>Half of Where You Live</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Gregory Alan Isakov, <i>The Weatherman</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Lorde, <i>Pure Heroine</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Betty Who, <i>The Movement</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Jessy Lanza, <i>Pull My Hair Back</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The National, <i>Trouble Will Find Me</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Disclosure, <i>Settle</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Major Lazer, <i>Free the Universe</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The Preatures, <i>Is This How You Feel?</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jen N imagines
dragons<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Most
essential album of the year: Imagine Dragons, Night Visions<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My
Top 7 Songs of the Year. Er, 6. I had trouble coming up with others…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1.
“Demons" by Imagine Dragons<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2.
"Ho Hey" by The Lumineers<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">3.
Pink and Nate Ruess “Just Give Me a Reason"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">4.
Lorde “Royals"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">5.
“Lightning Bolt” by Pearl Jam <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">6.
“Pompeii” by Bastille<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rick K’s Got
Trouble with a Capital T<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The most essential album of the year:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
1. The National, Trouble Will Find Me.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
2. Pearl Jam, Lightning Bolt<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Justine L Goes
Electric<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Janelle Monáe, Electric Lady <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Dessa, Parts of Speech <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Beyoncé, Beyoncé<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Kate W is seeing
Ghosts<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
My top five albums of 2013:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
John Grant, Pale Green Ghosts<o:p></o:p></div>
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Justin Timberlake, The 20/20 Experience<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Jay Z, Magna Carta Holy Grail<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Imagine Dragons, Night Visions<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Arctic Monkeys, AM<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
If you haven’t listened to GMF by John Grant...do
so...immediately. Quite possibly the best song ever recorded in the history of
the world. And I’m not kidding.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Chris K takes
over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And destroys.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Album of the Year: Take Over And Destroy, <i>Endless
Night</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The rest:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
2. Clutch, <i>Earth Rocker</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
3. Aosoth, <i>Arrow Through The Heart</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
4. The Black Dahlia Murder, <i>Everblack</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
5. Stomach Earth, <i>s/t</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
6. Autopsy, <i>The Headless Ritual</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
7. Iron Tongue, <i>The Dogs Have Barked, The Birds Have
Flown</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
8. Light Bearer, <i>Silver Tongue</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
9. Sannhet, <i>Known Flood</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
10. Exhumed, <i>Necrocracy</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
11. Watain, <i>The Wild Hunt</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
12. Carcass, <i>Surgical Steel</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
13. Lightning Swords of Death, <i>Baphometic Chaosium</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
ALBUM COVER OF THE YEAR: Beastwars, <i>Blood Becomes Fire</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
NON-METAL CONTENDER OF THE YEAR: Beastmilk, <i>Climax</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
MUSICAL ACT I DON'T GET, PROBABLY NEVER WILL: Death Grips<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
WORST SONG OF 2013: Robin Thicke, "Blurred
Lines"<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Bob R lights up
the Sky<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Sky Ferreira, Night Time, My Time<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
MS MR, Secondhand Rapture<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Leanna storms the…<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Big
discovery:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bastille<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Their
covers of hateful songs like We Can't Stop blow my mind. Their cover of Scrubs
nearly brought a tear to my eye.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Beth D gives a
little piece of her Heart<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1.
Tegan and Sara, Heartthrob<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2.
Vampire Weekend, Modern Vampires of the City<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">3.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Mosquito<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Best
single:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Lorde,
Royals<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Brent W’s Trailer
Park of Fun<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Can't
bet my life on this order. But I'll try<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1.
Kacey Musgraves - Same Trailer, Different Park<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2.
Kanye West - Yeezus<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">3.
Daughter - If you leave<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">4.
Data Romance - Other<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">5.
Drake - Nothing was the same<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">6.
Kate Nash - Girl Talk<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">7.
Deftones - Koi No Yokan<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">8.
Metz - Metz<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">9.
No Joy - wait to pleasure<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">10.
Rue Royal - remedies ahead<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Alecia W Gives ‘Em
Hell<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Album<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Pistol
Annies, Hell on Heels<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Imagine
Dragons, Night Visions<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Songs <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Pistol
Annies, Boys from the South<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Imagine
Dragons, On Top of the World<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Ylvis,
What does the fox say?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Pink,
Just Give Me a Reason<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Robin
Thicke, Blurred Lines (I know, I hate myself for it)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Lorde,
Royals<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--></span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Anna C swears by
Yeezus<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I'm excited to see the end results this year, a LOT of
good records came out in 2013 & I feel like the Annual Poll is going to be
neck & neck! Here are my picks: <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Albums: </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">1. Kanye West,
Yeezus</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">2. Waxahatchee,
Cerulean Salt</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">3. Lorde, Pure
Heroine</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">4. Screaming
Females, Chalk Tape</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">5. Potty Mouth,
Hell Bent</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">6. Against Me!,
True Trans (EP)</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">7. Those Darlins,
Blur The Line</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">8. Priests, Tape
2</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Songs: </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">1. Kanye West,
Hold My Liquor</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">2. Garbage
& Screaming Females, Because The Night (Patti Smith cover)</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">3. Against Me!,
FUCKMYLIFE666</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">4. Bleached, Dead
In Your Head</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">5. Lorde,
Buzzcut Season</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">6. Waxahatchee,
Dixie Cups & Jars</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">7. Those Darlins,
Optimist</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Records that were
not released in 2013 but were in heavy rotation on my Spotify account &
turntable: </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">PAWS, Cokefloat!</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">The Babies, Our
House on the Hill</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">The Murder City
Devils, In Name And Blood</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">High Dive, High
Dive</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Hank &
Cupcakes, Naked</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Lifter Puller,
Fiestas & Fiascos</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Jets to Brazil,
Orange Rhyming Dictionary</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Warpaint, The
Fool</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Broken Social
Scene, You Forgot It In People</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Bruce
Springsteen, Darkness on the Edge of Town</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Brian M flies off
to Portugal for this year’s list<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Ah, my favorite time of year. Thankfully, I've already
done my list.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
1. Portugal. The Man, Evil Friends<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
2. Arctic Monkeys, AM<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
3. Beady Eye, BE<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
4. The Icarus Line, Slave Vows<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
5. Kurt Vile, Wakin on a Pretty Daze<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
6. Samantha Crain, Kid Face<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
7. Kanye West, Yeezus<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
8. Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats, Mind Control<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
9. Mazzy Star, Season of Your Day<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
10. Babyshambles, Sequel to the Prequel<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
11. Low, The Invisible Way<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
12. Manic Street Preachers, Rewind the Film<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
13. Neko Case, The Worse Things Get....<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
14. Earl Sweatshirt, Doris<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
15. Rob Zombie, Venomous Rat Regeneration Vendor<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
(Full list and reviews here: <a href="http://brianjamestheauthor.blogspot.com/2014/01/year-end-music-roundup-best-of-2013.html"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">http://brianjamestheauthor.blogspot.com/2014/01/year-end-music-roundup-best-of-2013.html</span></a>)<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Albums from 2012 that should've been on my list last year<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Peter Murphy's Carver Combo, Let the Fire In<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Lana Del Rey, Born to Die<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Beth Orton, Sugaring Season<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Essential albums from previous Years that I first heard
in 2013<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Blue Oyster Cult, Secret Treaties<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Adam and the Ants, Antmusic EP<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The Deep, Psychedelic Moods<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Whiskeytown, Stranger's Almanac<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Mountain, Climbing!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Loop, Heaven's End<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Echo and the Bunnymen, Crocodiles<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Fresh Maggots, Fresh Maggots<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Best Songs of 2013<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Portugal. The Man, "Evil Friends"<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Arctic Monkeys, "RU Mine"<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Beady Eye, "Soon Come Tomorrow"<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Kanye West, "Black Skinhead"<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Babyshambles, "Dr. No"<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Rob Zombie, "Ging Gang Gong De Do Gong De L"<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The Strokes, "Welcome to Japan"<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Secret Colours, "Me"<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, "Let's Get
High"<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Stephen B Goes West<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Stephen’s
Top Ten Albums of 2013:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1.
Kanye West, <i>Yeezus</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2.
Queens of the Stone Age, <i>…Like Clockwork</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">3.
Beyoncé, <i>BEYONCÉ</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">4<i>. </i>Lorde, <i>Pure
Heroine</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">5.
M.I.A., <i>Matangi</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">6. Disclosure, <i>Settle</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">7.
Los Campesinos!, <i>No Blues</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">8.
Nine Inch Nails, <i>Hesitation Marks</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">9. Arctic
Monkeys, <i>AM</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">10. Janelle
Monae, <i>The Electric Lady</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Stephen's
Top Ten(ish) Songs of 2013:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1.
Kanye West, "Blood on the Leaves"/ "New Slaves"/
"Black Skinhead" [Cheating — I can't choose]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2.
Janelle Monae ft. Erykah Badu, "Q.U.E.E.N."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">3.
Miley Cyrus, "We Can't Stop"/ "Wrecking Ball" <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">4.
Lorde, "Tennis Court"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">5.
CHVRCHES, "Recover"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">6. Deafhaven,
"Dream House"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">7.
Queens of the Stone Age, "The Vampyre of Time and Memory"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">8.
Tegan & Sara, "Closer"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">9.
Disclosure, "When a Fire Starts to Burn"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">10. Yeah
Yeah Yeahs, "Sacrilege" <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">BONUS
Ten More:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Most
Critically Praised Albums I Just Can't Stand:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1.
Vampire Weekend, <i>Modern Vampires of the City</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2<i>. </i>Arcade
Fire, <i>Reflektor</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Biggest
Letdown That Wasn't That Bad But Wasn't Good Either:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">3.
Jay Z, <i>Magna Carta Holy Grail</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Most
Decent Album That Got Way Harsher Reviews Than It Should Have:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">4.
Lady Gaga, <i>ARTPOP</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Best
Older Albums I Discovered This Year:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">5. Tyler,
the Creator, <i>Bastard </i>(2009)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">6.
Solange, <i>True </i>(2012)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Best
Cat-Related Video/Singalong/Anthem:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">7.
Anamanaguchi, "Meow"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Most
Forgotten Release of the Year That Even Britney Spears Doesn't Remember Came
Out in 2013:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">8.
Britney Spears, <i>Britney Jean</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Best
F-U to Macklemore & Ryan Lewis for Appropriating LGBTQ People for Profit:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">9.
</span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVP_XlxV2Q0"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Angel Haze, "Same Love"</span></a><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Best/Most
Terrifying Clown-Sung Cover of a Popular Song:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">10.
</span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBmCJEehYtU"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Lorde, "Royals" as performed by Scott Bradlee & Postmodern
Jukebox ft. Puddles Pity Party </span></a><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Kate H Gives a
convincing Speech<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Best Album: <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Dessa, Parts of Speech<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I can't believe that Dessa is not the official darling of
publishing. I mean, she raps about Greek myths and Plath and the Chicago Manual
of Style. This is obviously a thing that should happen.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Other favorites: <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The National, Trouble Will Find Me<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Bonobo, The North Borders<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Janelle Monae, Electric Lady<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The Shouting Matches,Grownass Man<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Lorde, Pure Heroine (extended)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Atoms For Peace, Amok<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Sara R Pumps Up
the Janelle<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Janelle Monáe, The Electric Lady<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Kaleb’s Unrest is not silence<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I’m
joining in for the first time! Some of my picks are odd but the weirdness sums
up 2013 for me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Thanks
for including me in the publishing industry’s most prestigious music awards :)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">ALBUMS</span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sara
Bareilles, The Blessed Unrest<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Lorde,
Pure Heroine<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">SONGS</span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Miley
Cyrus, We Can’t Stop<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sara
Bareilles, Brave<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Avicii,
Wake Me Up<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Lourde,
Team<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Chvrches,
The Mother We Share<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Daft
Punk, Get Lucky<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Ylvis,
The Fox<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">SOUNDTRACKS</span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Rob
Simonsen, Red (Instrumental)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Various,
The Great Gatsby<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Kevin K Makes His
Case<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Albums:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>1. The Worse
Things Get, the Harder I Fight, the Harder I Fight, the More I Love You - Neko
Case<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2. The Electric
Lady - Janelle Monae<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>3. Heartthrob -
Tegan and Sara<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>4. AM - Arctic
Monkeys<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>5. You Were Right
- Brendan Benson <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>6. Let It Rock -
The Connection<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>7. Dormarion -
Telekinesis <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>8. Talon of the
Hawk - The Front Bottoms<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>9. Wise Up Ghost
- Elvis Costello & The Roots<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>10. The Beast In
Its Tracks - Josh Ritter<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>11. Modern
Vampires of the City - Vampire Weekend<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>12. Beta Love -
Ra Ra Riot<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>13. Shruggy Ji -
Red Baraat<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>14. Novel and
Profane - Wyatt Funderburk<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>15. Self-Titled -
Wesley Stace<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>16. Gone Away
Backward - Robbie Fulks<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>17. MCII - Mikal
Cronin<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>18. The Silver
Gymnasium - Okkervil River<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>19. The Muse -
The Wood Brothers<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>20. Electric Pet
Shop Boys <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>21. No Blues -
Los Campesinos!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>22. Muchacho -
Phosphorescent<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>23. Matangi -
M.I.A.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>24. I Hate Music
- Superchunk<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>25. Same Trailer
Different Park - Kacey Musgraves<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>26. American Kid
- Patty Griffin<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>27. White Lighter
- Typhoon<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>28. 13 In My Head
- Nick Piunti<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>29. Where Does
This Door Go - Mayer Hawthorne<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>30. Right
Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action - Franz Ferdinand<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Top 7 tracks of 2013:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>1.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Arabella by Arctic Monkeys<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Twin Size Mattress by The Front Bottoms<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>3.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Avocado, baby by Los Campesinos!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>4.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Weight by Mikal Cronin<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>5.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Breakfast Can Wait by Prince<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>6.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Me & You & Jackie Mittoo by
Superchunk<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>7.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Follow Your Arrow by Kacey Musgraves<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Here is a link to a Spotify list of my complete favorite
tracks of 2013!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
djkevink's 2013 Playlist<<a href="http://open.spotify.com/user/djkevink/playlist/004db7JGC6nRgOYinKskkt"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">http://open.spotify.com/user/djkevink/playlist/004db7JGC6nRgOYinKskkt</span></a>><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Andrew H won’t go
post- Modern<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Most Essential Albums:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Vampire Weekend, Modern Vampires of the City<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Tegan & Sara, Heartthrob<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Lorde, Pure Heroine<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
That Said, The Top Seven Singles:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The Joy Formidable, “Silent Treatment”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The National, “I Need My Girl”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Vampire Weekend, “Step”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Lorde, “A World Alone”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Keaton Henson, “Corpse Roads”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Tom Odell, “Another Love”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Yeah Yeah Yeahs, “Sacrilege”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Daniel L’s Brave choices<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Sara Bareilles, The Blessed Unrest is my top pick<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Top Songs: <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
1. Sara Bareilles, Brave<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
2. Walk off the Earth, Gang of Rhythm (R.E.V.O.) <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
3. Lorde, Royals<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
4. Vampire Weekend, Obvious Bicycle<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
5. Katy Perry, Roar<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
6. Sara Bareilles, Hercules<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
7. Lucy Wainwright Roche, Call Your Girlfriend (Robyn
cover - not sure if that counts, but it's lovely) <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br clear="all" style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Bianca T parties
with the Vampires<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Vampire Weekend, Modern Vampires in the City<br />
HAIM, Days Are Gone<br />
Lorde, Pure Heronie<br />
Chvrches, The Bones of What You Believe<br />
The Strokes, Comedown Machine<br />
The National, Trouble Will Find Me<br />
Jake Bugg, Jake Bugg<br />
Purity Ring, Shrines<br />
Daft Punk, Random Access Memories<br />
The Weeknd, Kiss Land<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Tara A loves Mark
Mulcahy<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #1e1e1e; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mark Mulcahy, Dear
Mark J. Mulcahy, I Love You</span><span style="color: #1e1e1e; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #1e1e1e; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Best Coast, Fade
Away<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #1e1e1e; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Arcade Fire,
Reflektor</span><span style="color: #1e1e1e; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #1e1e1e; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Joy
Formidable, Wolf's Law</span><span style="color: #1e1e1e; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #1e1e1e; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Ms Mr, Secondhand
Rapture</span><span style="color: #1e1e1e; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="color: #1e1e1e; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jake Bugg, Jake Bugg</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lindsay R copies
Carbon<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I'd apologize for the bulk of my lists being taken up by
Carbon Leaf, but... I don't want to. I mean, how often do you get a year in
which your favorite-ever band releases not one, but TWO full-length albums?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br />
TOP 9 ALBUMS<br />
1. Carbon Leaf - Constellation Prize<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
2. Alpha Rev - Bloom<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
3. Butch Walker - Peachtree Battle (EP)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
4. Carbon Leaf - Ghost Dragon Attacks Castle<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
5. Panic! at the Disco - Too Weird to Live, Too Rare to
Die!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
6. The Colourist - Lido (EP)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
7. Lucius - Wildewoman<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
8. Matt Nathanson - Last of the Great Pretenders<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
9. Neko Case - The Worse Things Get, the Harder I Fight,
the Harder I Fight, the More I Love You<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
TOP 10 SONGS<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
1. Alpha Rev - "Highways"<br />
2. Carbon Leaf - "Oi"<br />
3. Butch Walker - "I've Been Waiting For This"<br />
4. The Colourist - "Little Games"<br />
5. Carbon Leaf - "All of My Love"<br />
6. Butch Walker - "Coming Home"<br />
7. Carbon Leaf - "Pierce My Heart"<br />
8. Panic! at the Disco - "Collar Full"<br />
9. The Mariner's Children - "In My Bed"<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
10. Alpha Rev - "Lexington" <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">David G praises
Yeezus<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
1. Kanye West, Yeezus (YES)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
2. Lorde, Pure Heroine<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
3. Vampire Weekend, Modern Vampires of the City<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
4. Sky Ferraira, Night Time, My Time<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
5. The Great Gatsby Soundtrack... <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Sara F’s Rey of
light<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Top seven songs of 2013. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">1.Lana Del Rey, Young and Beautiful</span></span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">2. Atlas Genius, Trojans</span></span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">3. Zendaya, Replay (This one is embarrassing, but
catchy)</span></span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">4. J. Cole ft. Miguel, Power Trip</span></span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">5. ASAP Rocky, Drake, Kendrick Lamar, 2 Chainz
F**king Problems</span></span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">6. LIZ, Stop Me Cold</span></span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">7.CHVRCHES, The Mother We Share</span></span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Honorable Mention: Britney Spears, Work Bitch</span></span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Bill K loves the
Lady<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Essential Album: <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Janelle Monae - Electric Lady<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Other essential albums: <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Tegan and Sara - Heartthrob<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
P!nk - The Truth About Love<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Justin Timberlake - The 20/20 Experience<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Haim - Days Are Gone<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Capital Cities - In a Title Wave of Mystery<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Discoveries from Years Past:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Family of the Year - Loma Vista<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Brandi Carlisle - Bear Creek<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Definitive Top 7 Songs of 2013:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
1. Q.U.E.E.N. - Janelle Monae feat. Erykah Badu<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
2. Just Give Me a Reason - P!nk feat. Nate Reuss<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
3. Royals - Lorde<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
4. Hero - Family of the Year<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
5. Safe and Sound - Capital Cities<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
6. Closer - Tegan and Sara<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
7. Love to Get Used - Matt Pond<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Amy T’s on Fire<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2013
most essential albums:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Arcade
Fire <i>Reflektor</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My
Bloody Valentine,<i> mbv</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sky
Ferreira <i>Night Time, My Time</i></span></span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Bands
I discovered in 2013 that I wish I'd discovered before:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
xx<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Dum
Dum Girls<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
Tallest Man on Earth<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Corey W’s addicted
to Heroine<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Albums:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1.)
Lorde, Pure Heroine<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2.)
Haim, Days Are Gone<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">3.)
Arctic Monkeys, AM<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">4.)
Vampire Weekend, Modern Vampires of the City<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">5.)
CHVRCHES, The Bones of What You Believe <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Songs:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1.)
Team, Lorde<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2.)
Tennis Court, Lorde<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">3.)
Days Are Gone, Haim<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">4.)
Number One Party Anthem, Arctic Monkeys<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">5.)
Steps, Vampire Weekend <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">6.)
Recover, CHVRCHES<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">7.)
Pompeii, Bastille <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(very)
Guilty Pleasure Songs: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1.)
Wrecking Ball/We Can't Stop, Miley Cyrus<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2.)
Story of My Life, One Direction<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">3.)
Roar, Katy Perry<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Song
that wasn't new but deserves a shout out for a beautiful cover: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">500
Miles, Justin Timberlake, Carey Mulligan, and Stark Sands (Inside Llewyn Davis
soundtrack) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
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<!--StartFragment-->
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>Rachel L faces
some Demons<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Imagine Dragons, Demons<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
One Republic, Native <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Brett Dennan, Smoke and Mirrors<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Macklemore, The Heist<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Icona Pop, Icona Pop<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Capital Cities, In a Tidal Wave of Mystery<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Robin Thicke, Blurred Lines<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>Steven’s
Southeasternly win<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
1. Jason Isbell,
Southeastern<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
2. Mikal Cronin,
MCII<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
3. Primal Scream,
More Light<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
4. The Civil Wars,
The Civil Wars<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
5. Neko Case, The
Worse Things Get, The Harder I Fight, The Harder I Fight, The More I Love You <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
6. Daft Punk,
Random Access Memories <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
7. The Strypes,
Blue Collar Jane <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
8. Smith Westerns,
Soft Will <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
9. Rhye, Woman <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
10. Midlake, Antiphon <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>In with the old
for Josh L<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I
saw the Arcade Fire on Colbert and thought "eh," and I like the
Waxahatchee, but since I'm kind of between music-acquisition systems I just
haven't been listening to enough new stuff this year... so I'll split my
throwaway write-in vote on Neil Young Live at the Cellar Door and Bob Dylan
Bootleg Series Volume Ten (Septuagenarian protest vote! Rock on old white
guys!)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>Amanda M’s
National pride<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Album: Trouble Will Find Me, The National<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Singles: Royals, Lorde; Million Miles, TV On The Radio;
The Wire, HAIM<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>Ted G’s Royals
affair<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
My
top sevens songs below, and no, that fucking what does the fox say isn’t on it.
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
1.
Lorde, Royals<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
2.
John Legend, All of Me <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
3.
Ciara, Body Parts<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
4.
Vampyre Weekend, Hanna Hunt<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
5.
TV on the Radio, Mercy<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
6.
Disclosure, When a Fire Starts to Burn<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
7.
Kanye West, Blood on the Leaves<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>Andy M has the
band with the best band name<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br />
Deafheaven, Sunbather<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Easily my favorite album of the year. A sprawling, oddly
affecting wash of guitars and screams held together by some truly insane
drumming. And the pretty pink album cover makes for an eye-catching shelf
decoration.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>Emelia Z hasn’t
quite hurried up<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I
just realized my essential album of 2013 was two years old. Fail.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
M83,
Hurry Up We're Dreaming<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Songs
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
"Hold
On, We're Going Home" - Drake<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
"Team"
- Lorde<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
"Do
What U Want" - Lady Gaga, R. Kelly<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
"Mirrors"
- Justin Timberlake<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
"Young
and Beautiful" - Lana Del Ray<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
"Story
of My Life" - One Direction<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
"The
Monster" - Eminem, Rihanna<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>Beth R can’t stop<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
My most essential album would probably be: Miley Cyrus,
Bangerz. So cliche, but it's the one I've listened to most. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>Elizabeth K picks
her Kings<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Kings of Leon, Mechanical Bull<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
JT, 20/20 Experience<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Anna Calvi, One Breath<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>Jaci has found The National<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
These
days I am always a long way behind in music. I have been obsessed by
Mumford & Sons this year, for example, especially 'Babel' and 'Sigh No
More'. Otherwise, my essential albums of the year have been the
National's 'Trouble will Find Me', and Danger Mouse and Daniele Luppi's,
'Rome'. I just got Laura Marling's, 'Once I was an eagle' and it sounds
great so far; same with the Arcade Fire's 'Reflektor'. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>Kevin W Hangs Tuff<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Top 10 2013 Albums<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
1. King Tuff, <i>Was Dead</i> – Well, it’s a re-issue.
But <i>nobody</i> got their hands on this the first time out. So this isn’t
just the album of the year, but the best one I’ve picked up in a number of
years—this is why he’s the King. I mean, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgVO4stIEgI"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“Sun Medallion”</span></a> sounds like the best,
lost track from <i>Beggar’s Banquet</i> and it’s not even the best cut on the
album.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br />
2. Shannon & the Clams, <i>Dreams in the Rat House</i>—It was great on the
first spin and keeps getting better. The title track isn’t close to being the
best, but its video does feature a gorilla drumming with fried chicken: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AebaaBKaQbo"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“Rat House.”</span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br />
3. Nobunny, <i>Secret Songs: Reflections from the Ear Mirror—</i>Good God, this
man is a strange one. The bunny mask’s a bit tired these days, but the sound
here isn’t. All over the map, but it’s his best work yet.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br />
4. King Khan & the Shrines, <i>Idle No More</i> –He’s back! And in splendid
form. The horns, the yelps, the swagger. A <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtZccp4vtLQ"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">campy video</span></a>. It’s all here. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br />
5. The Dirtbombs, <i>Ooey Gooey Chewy Ka-Blooey!</i>—Bubble gum, baby! It gets
a little “concept” toward the end, but Mick Collins does what he wants to do.
And always does it well.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br />
6. Mikal Cronin, <i>MC II</i>—This year, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0F7R6nBCe10"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">MC outdid</span></a> his off-and-on bandmate, Ty
Segall. No small feat. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br />
7. Oblivians, <i>Desperation—</i>No way this album could live up to
expectations. These guys are in their 40s now. No way they’re cranking out
another <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X77cCfsJCkU"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“Pill Popper.”</span></a>
Then again, it would be kind of pathetic if they’d tried to.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br />
8. John Paul Keith, <i>Memphis Circa 3 a.m.—</i>Not perfect, but JPK always has
his moments. His best moment of the year came with Motel Mirrors, though.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br />
9. Foxygen, <i>We Are the 21<sup>st</sup> Century Ambassadors of Peace &
Magic</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br />
10. Lucius, <i>Wildewoman</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>Molly B takes a
Pax<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Tied for first place: <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Youngblood Brass Band, Pax Volumi -- New Orleans-style
brass band plus hip hop plus electronica plus who knows what else. So
great. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Lorde, Pure Heroine -- because obviously. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Runners up: <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Chvrches, The Bones of What You Believe<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Haim, Days Are Gone<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Birdy, Fire Within<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The Baz Luhrmann Great Gatsby soundtrack <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Essential Songs: <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Robyn, Indestructible<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Cee Lo Green, Bright Lights, Bigger City<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
M.I.A., Bad Girls<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Miley Cyrus, Wrecking Ball<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Usher, Numb<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Vishal Dadlani & Shweta Pandit, Thug Le<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Diplo feat. Lazerdisk Party Sex, Set It Off (The FatRat
Remix)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>Julian Hector is a
little bit Daft, a little bit Punk<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Top Albums:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Daft Punk, Random Access Memory<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
HAIM, Days are Gone<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Cut Copy, In Ghost Colours<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Portugal the Man, Evil Friends<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Empire of the Sun, Ice on the Dune<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Tegan and Sara, Heartthrob<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
San Cisco, San Cisco<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Lady Gaga, ARTPOP<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Fitz and the Tantrums, More than Just a Dream<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Still Corners, Stranger Pleasures <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Top 7 Songs:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Tegan and Sarah, Closer<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Haim, Don't Save Me<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Cut Copy, Far Away<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Portugal the Man, Creep in a T-Shirt<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Fitz and the Tantrums, Break the Wall<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Lady Gaga, Do What You Want<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Chvrches, We Sink<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>Terra dives into the Rkives<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Three most essential albums for me this year were Rkives
by Rilo Kiley (cannot stop listening to it), Delta Machine by Depeche Mode and
Cold Fact by Rodriguez (which I know didn't come out this year, but still it is
AMAZING). <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>Dean Didn’t Start the Fire<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
If
interested, here's a Spotify link to my favorite songs of 2013 (though some
tracks were released before 2013): <a href="http://open.spotify.com/user/deanbabin/playlist/4Fx01X16Aol2ingqF7eIbu"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Dean's List 2013</span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Albums:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
1.
Arcade Fire - Reflektor<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
2.
The Flaming Lips - The Terror<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
3.
Atoms For Peace - Amok<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
4.
Neil Young - Psychedelic Pill<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
5.
Moby - Innocents<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
6.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Mosquito<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
7.
Kanye West - Yeezus <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
8.
Nine Inch Nails - Hesistation Marks<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
9.
The National - Trouble Will Find Me<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
10.
Devendra Banhart - Mala<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
11.
Junip - s/t<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
12.
moskitoo - mitosis<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
13.
Vampire Weekend - Modern Vampires of the City<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Songs:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
1.
The Flaming Lips - Look…The Sun Is Rising<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
2.
Neil Young & Crazy Horse - Driftin' Back<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
3.
Arcade Fire - Porno<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
4.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Wedding Song<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
5.
Devendra Banhart - The Ballad of Keenan Milton<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
6.
Divine Fits - Civilian Stripes<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
7.
Bruce Springsteen - Dream Baby Dream<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>Jinny ocean of
Pacifica<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Most essential album of the year 2013:</span></span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
PACIFICA
QUARTET: ‘THE SOVIET EXPERIENCE, VOL. 3: DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH, STRING
QUARTETS (NOS. 9-12), AND MIECZYSLAW WEINBERG, QUARTET NO. 6.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Other essential albums:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br />
1. TOKYO STRING QUARTET: DVORAK: QUARTET NO. 12, SMETANA: QUARTET NO. 1. <br />
Released: May 14, 2013<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
2.
JEREMY DENK: J.S. BACH, THE GOLDBERG VARIATIONS. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">3. TAKACS
STRING QUARTET: BENJAMIN BRITTEN QUARTETS NOS. 1, 2, AND 3.</span></span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
4.
HILARY HAHN: <span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">IN
27 PIECES: THE HILARY HAHN ENCORES. </span></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Lawrence U is up
in the Air<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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My top ten albums for 2013 are as follows. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Pacific Air, Stop Talking<o:p></o:p></div>
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Lorde, Pure Heroine<o:p></o:p></div>
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Katy Perry, Prism<o:p></o:p></div>
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Haim, Days Are Gone<o:p></o:p></div>
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Ben Rector, The Walking in Between<o:p></o:p></div>
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One Republic, Native<o:p></o:p></div>
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Icona Pop, This Is…Icona Pop<o:p></o:p></div>
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Sara Bareilles, The Bessed Unrest<o:p></o:p></div>
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One Direction, Midnight Memories<o:p></o:p></div>
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Lady Gaga, ARTPOP <o:p></o:p></div>
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(Bonus Album) Frozen (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>You don’t know the
Trouble that Bryant’s seen<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Most Essential Album of 2013:<o:p></o:p></div>
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1. The National, Trouble Will Find Me<o:p></o:p></div>
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Other Essential Albums of 2013:<o:p></o:p></div>
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2. Vampire Weekend, Modern Vampires of the Weekend<o:p></o:p></div>
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3. Tegan & Sara, Heartthrob<o:p></o:p></div>
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4. Arcade Fire, Reflektor<o:p></o:p></div>
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5. Cold War Kids, Dear Miss Lonelyhearts<o:p></o:p></div>
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6. HAIM, Days Are Gone<o:p></o:p></div>
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7. Beyoncé, Beyoncé<o:p></o:p></div>
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Top 7 Songs of the Year:<o:p></o:p></div>
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7. Okkervil River, "Pink-Slips"<o:p></o:p></div>
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6. Lorde, "Royals"<o:p></o:p></div>
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5. Miley Cyrus, "We Can't Stop"<o:p></o:p></div>
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4. Tegan & Sarah, "I Couldn't Be Your
Friend"<o:p></o:p></div>
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3. CHVRCHES, "Gun"<o:p></o:p></div>
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2. Cold War Kids, "Miracle Mile"<o:p></o:p></div>
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1. The National, "Don't Swallow the Cap"<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Tiffany embraces
some Flaws<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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I spent far too much of 2013 listening to "Muffin
Man," "Puff the Magic Dragon," & "What Does the Fox
Say?" This was far harder than it should've been!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Songs:<o:p></o:p></div>
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1) Bastille - "Flaws" <o:p></o:p></div>
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2) Andrew McMahon - "Catching Cold"<o:p></o:p></div>
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3) Paul Otten - "Girl You're Alright"<o:p></o:p></div>
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4) Walk the Moon - "Anna Sun"<o:p></o:p></div>
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5) Walk Off The Earth - "Red
Hands" <o:p></o:p></div>
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6) Explorers - "The Rocketeer"<o:p></o:p></div>
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7) A Great Big World - "Say
Something" <o:p></o:p></div>
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Albums:<o:p></o:p></div>
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1) Bastille - Bad Blood<o:p></o:p></div>
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2) Andrew McMahon - The Pop Underground<o:p></o:p></div>
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3) Walk the Moon - Walk the Moon<o:p></o:p></div>
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4) twenty on pilots - Vessel<o:p></o:p></div>
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5) Florida Georgia Line - Here's to the Good Times<o:p></o:p></div>
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6) The Civil Wars - The Civil Wars<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Kieran’s Days are here</b><br />
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My essential album this year was:<br />
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HAIM, Days Are Gone<br />
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Singles:<br />
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1. American Author, Best Day of My Life<br />
2. Lorde, Royals<br />
3. OneRepublic, Counting Stars<br />
4. Zedd, Stay the Night<br />
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<b>Andrew F takes a walk in the
Park<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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1. Kacey Musgraves, Same Trailer, Different Park<o:p></o:p></div>
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My
most played album of the year. Exemplifies what is currently wrong with
country radio- this should have had four top ten hits. Stunned but
pleased that it's getting critical love. <o:p></o:p></div>
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2. Lindi Ortega, Tin Star<o:p></o:p></div>
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Best
alt.country album of the year.<o:p></o:p></div>
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3. Lori McKenna, Massachusetts<o:p></o:p></div>
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Best
singer-songwriter out there when it comes to tunes about being married for a
long time and having five kids. This album allows me to forgive her
for co-writing 'I Want Crazy' with Hunter Hayes. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Matt U Rings the
Bell<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Most
essential album of the year:<o:p></o:p></div>
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Patty
Griffin, Silver Bell (finally released this year, though recorded many years
ago)<o:p></o:p></div>
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Other
essential albums:<o:p></o:p></div>
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Neko
Case, The Worse Things Get, the Harder I Fight, The Harder I Fight, the More I
Love You<o:p></o:p></div>
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Patty
Griffin, American Kid<o:p></o:p></div>
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Discovery
from prior year:<o:p></o:p></div>
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First
Aid Kit, The Lion's Roar<o:p></o:p></div>
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Song:<o:p></o:p></div>
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Neko
Case, I'm a Man<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Jim D Gets Down<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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I
feel like many of my discoveries that turned into LOVE this year were from 2012
and before! Mostly I'm talking about Kishi Bashi!!!! But also
Vacationer, Shadows on Stars, Bear Hands, Lord Huron. LOVE all of
those!!! And not that you asked this question, but the albums (that I'm
aware of!) that I'm MOST excited for this year are the new Kishi Bashi and the
new Tokyo Police Club. Of course, if PJ Harvey puts something out, then
2014 will absolutely amAZing! :)<o:p></o:p></div>
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OK,
here we go:<o:p></o:p></div>
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Albums:<o:p></o:p></div>
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1.
Thao & the Get Down Stay Down, We the Common<o:p></o:p></div>
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2.
Lorde, Pure Heroine<o:p></o:p></div>
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Sky Ferreira, Night Time My Time<o:p></o:p></div>
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3.
Vampire Weekend, Modern Vampires of the City<o:p></o:p></div>
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Goldfrapp, Tales of Us<o:p></o:p></div>
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4.
Gin Wigmore, Gravel & Wine<o:p></o:p></div>
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The Knife, Shaking the Habitual<o:p></o:p></div>
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Porcelain Raft, Permanent Signal<o:p></o:p></div>
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5.
Polica, Shulamith<o:p></o:p></div>
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Phedre, Golden Age<o:p></o:p></div>
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Foxygen, We are the 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace & Magic<o:p></o:p></div>
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Songs:<o:p></o:p></div>
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1.
Fools, by The Aikiu<o:p></o:p></div>
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2.
Royals, by Lorde<o:p></o:p></div>
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Omanko, by Sky Ferreira<o:p></o:p></div>
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Philosophize In It! Chemicalize With It!, by Kishi Bashi<o:p></o:p></div>
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3.
We the Common, Thao & the Get Down Stay Down<o:p></o:p></div>
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Black Skinhead, by Kanye West<o:p></o:p></div>
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Diane Young, Vampire Weekend<o:p></o:p></div>
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4.
Work, Iggy Azalea<o:p></o:p></div>
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5.
Black Sheep, by Gin Wigmore<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Preeti C’s
battering Ram<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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My essential albums: <o:p></o:p></div>
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1. Ram-Leela (OST) - Aditya Narayan<o:p></o:p></div>
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2. Random Access Memories - Daft Punk<o:p></o:p></div>
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3. Raanjhanaa (OST) - A. R. Rahman, Jaswinder Singh,
Shiraz Uppal <o:p></o:p></div>
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4. Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani (OST) - Vishal Dadlani,
Shalmali Kholgade <o:p></o:p></div>
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5. Racine Carrée - Stromae <o:p></o:p></div>
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Singles: <o:p></o:p></div>
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1. Lorde - Royals<o:p></o:p></div>
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2. Stromae - Tous Les Memes<o:p></o:p></div>
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3. Osman Mir & Shreya Ghoshal - Nagada Sang Dol<o:p></o:p></div>
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4. A. R. Rahman - Aise Na Dekho<o:p></o:p></div>
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5. Sara Bareilles - Brave<o:p></o:p></div>
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6. Beyonce - Pretty Hurts<o:p></o:p></div>
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7. M.I.A. - Lights <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Cat T’s Rhye
observations<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Favorite
album of the year (as well as fantastic new discovery): Rhye (artist): Woman
(album). If Sade were Scandinavian, this is the album she would've made.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Favorite
song of the year: Closer by Tegan and Sara<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Joe M’s Finds<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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I'm predictably mellow in my music tastes, but also
shamelessly so. After the first album listed, there's no particular order.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The National - Trouble Will Find Me<o:p></o:p></div>
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Laura Marling - Once I Was an Eagle<o:p></o:p></div>
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Jason Isbell - Southeastern<o:p></o:p></div>
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Lorde - Pure Heroine<o:p></o:p></div>
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Courtney Barnett - The Double EP: A Sea of Split Peas<o:p></o:p></div>
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Haim - Days Are Gone<o:p></o:p></div>
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Some top songs of 2013: <o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>Royals</i> by Lorde<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>Get Lucky </i>by Daft Punk<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>Cover Me Up</i> by Jason Isbell<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>Blurred Lines </i>by Robin Thicke<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>San Francisco </i>by Foxygen<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Heather H’s Sound choices<br />
</b><br />
ALBUMS<br />
Various artists, Sound City - Real to Reel (by far my favorite album this year)<br />
Billy Joe & Norah, Foreverly<br />
Kayne West, Yeezus (hate to put it on my list because he is such a Wanker
but it is a really good album)<br />
Avicii, True<br />
<br />
SINGLES<br />
"Brave" by Sara Bareilles<br />
"Stoned and Starving" by Parquet Courts<br />
"Counting Stars" by Onerepubic<br />
"Norbat Okelo" by Owiny Sigoma Band<br />
"Let it Go" (performed by Idina Menzel) - from the Frozen soundtrack<br />
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<b>Simone
E saves Rock and Roll</b><b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Top
album of the year:<o:p></o:p></div>
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(Fall
Out Boy) Save Rock and Roll<o:p></o:p></div>
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Top
7 songs:<o:p></o:p></div>
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My
Songs know what you did in the dark (Fall Out Boy)<o:p></o:p></div>
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Unconditionally
(Katy Perry)<o:p></o:p></div>
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Man
I think I love her (Stereo Skyline)<o:p></o:p></div>
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Everything
I ask for (The Maine)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Blurred
Lines (Robin Thicke)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Alone
Together (Fall Out Boy)<o:p></o:p></div>
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True
Love (Pink)<o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--StartFragment-->
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>Scott T draws his Maps<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br />
Essential Album of 2013:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Maps,
Vicissitude<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Other
Essentials in 2013:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Still
Corners, Strange Pleasures<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Marnie,
Crystal World<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Gold
Fields, Black Sun<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Disclosure,
Settle<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Austra,
Olympia<br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Other
Essentials Discovered in 2013:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Santigold,
Master of My Make-Believe (2012)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Top
Songs of 2013:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
1.
White Lies, There Goes Our Love Again<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
2.
Cults, High Road<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
3.
Still Corners, The Trip<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
4.
Armin van Buuren, Beautiful Life<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
5.
Cayucas, High School Lover<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
6.
Marnie, The Hunter<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
7.
Maps, You Will Find a Way<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
8.
Disclosure, White Noise<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
9.
Gold Fields, Dark Again<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
10.
CHVRCHES, Recover<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>Kathleen P’s
Orange is the new black<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Blood Orange, Cupid Deluxe<br />
Mela Machinko, Hov Said it Best<br />
Fitz and the Tantrums, More Than Just a Dream<br />
Daft Punk, Random Access Memories<br />
Jason Isbell, Southeastern<br />
Charli XCX, True Romance<br />
Sky Ferreira, Night Time, My Time<br />
Haim, Days Are Gone<br />
CHVRCHES, The Bones of What You Believe<br />
Kanye West, Yeezus<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>Cassandra P gives
a big XO to Beyonce<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<u>Most Essential:</u><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Beyonce, BEYONCE.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
For so many reasons involving words like: secret delivery
(“Wait, what? Beyonce just…she dropped an album?? Just now???); a great video
for every song; the sexiest songs about marital sex ever; a feminist monologue
for an audience who might not otherwise hear one; a celebration of women. If
you’re not a Beyonce fan, this album is essential. If you listened/watched this
album and didn’t like it, it is still essential that you listened to/watched
it.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<u>Other Essentials:</u><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Andy Mineo, Heroes for Sale<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Daft Punk, Random Access Memories<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Drake, Nothing Was the Same<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Fall Out Boy, Save Rock N Roll<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
J Cole, Born Sinner<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Janelle Monae, The Electric Lady<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Jarell Perry, Simple Things<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Jay-Z, Magna Carta Holy Grail<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Jhene Aiko, Sail Out<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
John Legend, Love in the Future<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Justin Timberlake, The 20/20 Experience (only Part I,
though)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Kimbra, Vows (2012 but rocked all of 2013)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Lorde, Pure Heroine<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Paramore, Paramore<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Solange, True<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The Weeknd, Kiss Land<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>Michael T is among
the Unbelievers<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Albums<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
1.
Vampire Weekend, Modern Vampires of the City <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
2.
The National, Trouble Will Find Me<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
3.
Mutual Benefit, Love’s Crushing Diamond<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
4.
Disclosure, Settle<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
5. Waxahatchee,
Cerulean Salt<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Singles<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
1.
Young Galaxy, Pretty Boy"<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
2.
Lorde, "Royals"<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
3.
Chvches, “Gun”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
4.
Youth Lagoon, “Dropla"<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
5.
Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, “Thrift Shop”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
6.
Mikal Cronin, “Weight”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
7.
Rhye, “Open"<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>Frankie Sings to
the Moon<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Albums, essential:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Laura Mvula, Sing
to the Moon<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
James Blake, Overgrown<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Lorde (<i>of course</i>), Pure Heroine<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
(all hail) Beyonce, Beyonce<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Chvrches, The Bones of What You Believe<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Baths, Obsidian<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Vampire Weekend, Modern Vampires of the City<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Singles, essential:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
James Blake, Retrograde<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Chvrches, The Mother We Share<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Baths, Miasma Sky<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Foals, Out of the Woods<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Beyonce, Flawless<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Lorde, Glory and Gore<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Vampire Weekend, Unbelievers<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Beyonce, Pretty Hurts<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Laura Mvula, Like the Morning Dew<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Laura Mvula, Is There Anybody Out There?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
(I could easily list Laura Mvula's entire album, but I'll
stop there.)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>Jenni H’s
unorthodox jukebox choice<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Bruno
Mars!<br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>Tyler G shows his
Moonie tendencies<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
This is my top three:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
1. Laura Mvula--<i>Sing to the Moon</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
2. Chvrches--<i>The Bones of What You Believe</i> <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
3. Bevonce--<i>Bevonce</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I went ahead and changed Beyonce's name to fit.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>Will W’s sitting
on the dock of the Bey<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
1. <i>Beyonce, </i>Beyonce <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
2. <i>Modern Vampires of the City, </i>Vampire Weekend<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
3. <i>Random Access Memories, </i>Daft Punk<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
(the rest are in no particular order)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i>Reflektor, </i>Arcade Fire<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i>Paracosm, </i>Washed Out<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i>Rkives, </i>Rilo Kiley<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i>Heartthrob, </i>Tegan and Sara<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i>Mother, </i>Natalie Maines<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i>The Bones of What You Believe, </i>CHVRCHES<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Now I am scared because I fear that there are more.
Alas... <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Oh shit! Kacey Musgraves!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
She's in there too: <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i>Same Trailer, Different Park, </i>Kacey
Musgraves <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Gah, she might actually bump Daft Punk down a slot now
that I think about it.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
THIS IS SO HARD!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
and i love it.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>Elizabeth E
attends fine chvrches<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
This was the year of new artists for me, as many of my
tried and true underwhelmed (*cough Arcade Fire cough*).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
MOST ESSENTIAL ALBUM<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
CHVRCHES, The Bones of What You Believe<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
SUPER CLOSE RUNNER-UPS<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Lorde, Pure Heroine<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Haim, Days are Gone<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
ESSENTIAL ALBUMS<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Atlas Genius, When it Was Now<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Fitz and the Tantrums, More than Just a Dream<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
John Newman, Tribute<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Kelly Clarkson, Wrapped In Red (I love K. Clark, I love
Christmas albums, so win-win)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Kodaline, In a Perfect World<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Paul McCartney, New (while I realize I'd pretty much put
anything he does down, this album was his best in decades. A few of the songs
sounded like B-sides to Sgt. Pepper's)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
St. Lucia, When the Night<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Vampire Weekend, Modern Vampires of the City<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Walk Off the Earth, R.E.V.O.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
TOP SEVEN SONGS<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Bruno Mars, Locked Out of Heaven<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Grouplove, Ways to Go<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
John Newman, Love Me Again<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Justin Timberlake, Mirrors<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Kodaline, All Comes Down<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The Naked and the Famous, Hearts Like Ours<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Sara Bareilles, Brave<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>All is not lost
when Ronnie A parses soundtracks<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
All Is Lost, Alexander Ebert<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The Broken Circle Breakdown<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The Great Gatsby<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
How I Live Now, Jon Hopkins<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Inside Llewyn Davis<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Mud, David Wingo <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Only Lovers Left Alive, Josef van Wissem, Sqürl<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The Returned, Mogwai<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
20 Feet From Stardom (If you don’t get chills from
listening to Merry Clayton’s vocals on “Gimme Shelter” you might as well be
dead)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>Chris H’s Weekend
getaway<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Albums:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Vampire Weekend, Modern Vampires of the City <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Drake, Nothing Was the Same <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Lorde, Pure Heroine <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Justin Timberlake, The 20/20 Experience <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Kanye West, Yeezus <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Arcade Fire, Reflektor <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Tegan & Sara, Heartthrob <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Chvrches, The Bones of What You Believe <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Daft Punk, Random Access Memories <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Beyoncé, Beyoncé<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Singles:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Passion Pit, "Carried Away"<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Lorde, "Royals"<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Avicii (featuring Aloe Blacc), "Wake Me Up"<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Drake, "Hold On, We're Going Home"<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Justin Timberlake, "Mirrors"<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The Neighbourhood, "Sweater Weather"<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Beyoncé, "Drunk in Love"<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>Melissa W finds no
lows in Haim<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Most
Essential Album:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Haim,
Days Are Gone<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Essential
Albums:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Beyonce,
Beyonce <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Brandy
Clark, 12 Stories<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Chance
the Rapper, Acid Rap<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Jason
Isbell, Southeastern<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Kacey
Musgraves, Same Trailer Different Park<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Kanye
West, Yeezus<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Lorde,
Pure Heroine (Side note: She was born after I graduated from high school. Ack.)
[<i>ed. Note: And don’t you love when she
sings about how hard it is to get old?]<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Most
Essential Single:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Ylvis,
What Does the Fox Say? (This video has calmed countless tantrums, so...
essential.)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>Margie’s 20/20
vision<br />
</b><br />
My vote for best album is The 20/20 Experience<br />
<br />
Here are my top songs:<br />
<br />
1. Wake Me Up by Avicii<br />
2. Counting Stars by One Republic<br />
3. Gov. Christie Traffic Jam by Bruce Springsteen and Jimmy Fallon :-)<br />
4. Wrecking Ball by Miley Cyrus (yeah, yeah, I know people hate her, but I love
this song. Blame GLEE as first heard it on the show and fell in love with it)<br />
5. Pompeii by Bastille<br />
6. Get Lucky by Daft Punk<br />
7. Mirrors by Justin Timberlake<br />
<br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>Joe H’s Jai
society<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Here's my 2013 list:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Jai Paul - Jai Paul<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Beyoncé - Beyoncé<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Autre Ne Veut - Anxiety <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Volcano Choir - Reprave<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Blood Orange - Cupid Deluxe<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Arcade Fire - Reflektor<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Disclosure - Settle<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Deptford Goth - Life After Defo<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Rhye - Woman<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
HAIM - Days Are Gone<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>Nick E’s heart
throbs<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I felt 2014 was a good year for music overall, but when
it comes to naming essential albums, I’ve only got a few. New albums from
perennial favorites Belle & Sebastian, Iron & Wine, Arcade Fire, and
Future Bible Heroes feel too uneven to be essential. Or maybe we’re just
growing apart? And while new songs by Arcade Fire, Bastille, and Vampire
Weekend have won probably permanent spots on my iPod, these are the albums I
enjoy from start to finish:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
1. Tegan & Sara, Heartthrob<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
2. The National, Trouble Will Fine Me<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
3. my bloody valentine, mbv<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>Susan V turns it
around<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I
am so honored be included, though I realize my music this year has been
dominated by children's songs as I try to sing to the baby all the songs my mom
used to sing to me. I don't think "Bushel and a Peck" or "John
Brown's Baby" will rank very high in your poll!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Here
are my top songs (though I think some might be 2012!)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
1)
That Wasn't Me, Brandi Carlile, Bear Creek<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
2)
Into the Wild, LP, Into the Wild<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
3)
QUEEN, Janelle Monae, Electric Lady<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
4)
Royals, Lorde, Pure Heroine<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
5)
Turn It Around, Lucius, Wildewoman<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
6)
This Old Guitar, Lucinda Williams, The Music Is You<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
7)
Song for Zula, Phosphorescent, Muchacho<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I
also loved Heart’s performance of "Stairway to Heaven" at the Kennedy
Center Honors but that was 2012, too. Did I mention I had a baby? Looking
forward to the results!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>Teri Y’s a
throbber<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Tegan and Sara, Heartthrob - This was the only full album
that I consistently listen to all year long.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I loved a lot of singles from Lorde, Icona Pop, Two Door
Cinema Club and Eli Lieb, among others. For me, 2013 was a better year of
singles although most of them wore out after a couple months of heavy rotation.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>Jacqueline Q’s
full Disclosure<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Top Albums<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
1. Disclosure, Settle<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
2. Sleigh Bells, Bitter Rivals <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
3. Cut Copy, Free Your Mind<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
4. Haim, Days are Gone<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
5. Chvrches, The Bones of What You Believe<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
6. Au Revoir Simone, Move In Spectrums<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
7. Foxygen, We are the 21st Century Ambassadors of
Peace & Magic<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Top Songs<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
1. Disclosure, White Noise<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
2. Daft Punk, Get Lucky <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
3. Sleigh Bells, Bitter Rivals <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
4.Lorde, Royals<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
5. Haim, Falling<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
6. Lady Gaga, Applause<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
7. Robin Thicke, Blurred Lines<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>Jonas R’s Rkive
fire<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
While 2013 was a fantastic year for music for me, I had a
hard time getting to a top 10. I have a
solid top 8 and a handful of near-misses that I liked, but didn't quite love.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Rilo Kiley is one of those bands that I wake up almost
daily hoping to find a new release from.
That they assembled their latest album from tracks that were left on the
cutting room floor only underscores how great the music they released to date
has been. The album starts with a
beautiful homage to LA, "Let Me Back In." But it's really about my
own heart they are singing. And by the end of the first verse, there they were,
squarely back in, and they've been there since the very fist play.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Here goes, then:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
1. Rilo Kiley,
rkives<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
2. Steve Martin
& Edie Brickell, Love Has Come For You<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
3. Neko Case,
The Worse Things Get, The Harder I Fight, The Harder<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I Fight, The More I Love You<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
4. Vampire
Weekend, Modern Vampires of the City<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
5. Yeah Yeah
Yeahs, Mosquito<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
6. Jim James,
Regions of Light and Sound<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
7. Jake Bugg,
Shangri La<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
8. Lorde, Pure
Heroine<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Honorable Mentions<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
1. Thao &
The Get Down Stay Down, We the Common<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
2. Bad Religion,
True North<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
3. Kate Nash,
Girl Talk<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
4. Parquet
Courts, Light Up Gold<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
5. The Civil
Wars & T Bone Burnett, A Place at the Table<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
6. Devendra
Banhart, Mala<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
7. Iggy &
the Stooges, Ready to Die<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>Emily M’s Lorde
above<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
My top albums of 2013:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Lorde, Pure Heroine<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
John Mayer, Paradise Valley<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Frank Turner, Tape Deck Heart<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Daft Punk, Random Access Memories<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Arctic Monkeys, AM<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The Great Gatsby soundtrack<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Justin Timberlake, The 20/20 Experience<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Haim, Days are Gone<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, The Heist<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The Avett Brothers, Magpie and the Dandelion<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>Trevor I doesn’t
fuck with anyone’s dreams<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The Smith Street Band, Don't Fuck With Our Dreams<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Superchunck, I Hate Music<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Restorations, LP2<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Appleseed Cast, Illumination Ritual<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Mikal Cronin, MCII<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Radioactivity, Radioactivity <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>Jon S’s list is
anything but Common<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
10. The Knife,<i> Shaking the Habitual<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I had been looking forward to another album from The
Knife ever since 2007's <i>Silent Shout</i>, which set the bar for goth pop.
While <i>Shaking the Habitual</i> wasn't everything I hoped it would be,
particularly some of the rather self-indulgent extra long jam session tracks in
the middle, The Knife took bold chances and tried new things rather than
resting on their laurels. Plus, "Without You My Life Would Be Boring"
is an incredible track. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
9. Chelsea Wolfe, <i>Pain is Beauty<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Another album I've been waiting on. I've picked up every
Chelsea Wolfe album since 2010's <i>The Grime and the Glow</i>. She has such a
haunting, distinctive voice. Similar to Zola Jesus, but more gritty and folk.
Unfortunately, her music composition wasn't nearly as developed as Zola Jesus.
At least, not until <i>Pain is Beauty</i>. With this album, we're finally
hearing the promise that was hinted at but never owned until now.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
8. Mutual Benefit, <i>Love’s Crushing Diamond<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The latest album from Mutual Benefit is a masterpiece of
gentle, earthy reflection. Not a single song detracts from the feeling of sweet
reverie. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
7. my bloody valentine, <i>m b v</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Honestly, I had not been waiting for this album. At all.
I mean, I loved 1991's <i>Loveless</i> just like every other emo grunge
teenager, and probably for a few years after I would have wanted a follow up.
But that was a long time ago. If anything, I was nervous that this new album
might detract from the legacy, like some other come back early 90's bands. Boy
was I wrong. Unlike The Knife, who blazed new ground, or Chelsea Wolfe, who
grew into herself, my bloody valentine just did their thing. And it was just as
good. In fact, it was possibly better. Deeper, more intricate, and just a hint
at what might lie ahead.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
6. Rhye, <i>Woman</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
While I'm mostly an indie rock/folk with a decent helping
of electronic kind of guy, I grew up in a house that had Sade more or less on
endless repeat. I don't have a wide knowledge of R&B, other than my
longstanding obsession with Erykah Badu. But I know when something is pretty
much perfect. And if you are looking for an album that is one non-stop, slow
smoldering, "take your pants off" song, this is it. Also, rather
fascinatingly, despite the fact that there are moments I would <i>swear</i> I
was listening to Sade, the lead singer is a man.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
5. Daft Punk, <i>Random Access Memories</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
My eight year old son loves the previous Daft Punk
albums. He discovered the band when they did the soundtrack to <i>TRON: Legacy</i>.
He was highly disappointed with the new album, saying it was "kinda
boring" and "slow". Maybe this means that both Daft Punk and I
are getting old, but I love it. In fact, I think it's my favorite Daft Punk
album to date. A perfect blend of classic electronica, dance, and pop.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
5. Vampire Weekend, <i>Modern Vampires of the City</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
These guys. I don't really know what to say. They keep
trying stuff, it keeps being really good. Some things are pure carry over from
the previous albums and some things are startlingly new. I wish there's been a
bit more focus on percussion, which is my absolute favorite thing about the
band, other than Ezra Koenig's voice. But still, it's a damn good album.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
4. Waxahatchee, <i>Cerulean Salt</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I loved the opening track of this album so much I put it
in the video I made about my <i>Man Made Boy</i> tattoo. Katie Crutchfield adds
some new layers and more instruments to the sound from her previous album, <i>American
Weekend</i>, but loses none of the intimacy and heartache that made me swoon
over that album, too. It's so nice to see some straight up folk rock with
depth, nuance, and humor.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
3. DARKSIDE, <i>Psychic</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Moody, dark, soulful, and with a solid beat, this album
harkens back to the glory days (or glory box??) of classic trip-hop without
ever feeling nostalgic or tired. With the de-emphasis on vocals, and a driving,
dynamic album-length arc, this is the perfect music to write something creepy
to.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
2. Swearin’, <i>Surfing Strange</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I don't know what they fed those Crutchfield girls
growing up, but I want it for my kids. Waxahatchee's Katie Crutchfield has a
sister named Allison, who is in the band Swearin' and while somewhat less of a
frontwoman, she is no less talented. I'm ashamed to admit that I didn't
discover Swearin' on my own. My little brother turned me on to them, suggesting
that it sounded like my kind of thing. And boy is it. It's a little like early
90's alt-grunge when it wasn't being pretentious, and a little like late 00's
indie when it wasn't been whiny, and a little like the inside of my brain all
the time.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
1. Thao & the Get Down Stay Down, <i>We the Common</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Look, I'm not saying it's actually the best album of
2013. But it was unquestionably THE album for me. I had some trouble getting
into Thao Nguyen's previous work, but this album is so generous, so accessible,
that it's been like a bridge to all her previous offerings. It's an album for
the outlaw in all of us. It's the rambler, free spirit, laugh out loud even
when you know damn well you look like an asshole album. In my humble opinion,
we could all use some of that.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>Joel P ordinarily
refuses to Settle. But in this case…<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Obviously, the big tussle was between Lorde, Vampire
Weekend and Disclosure for the top album spot, but in the end, I had to pick
the one I've listened to and loved the most. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Albums: <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
1. Disclosure, Settle<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Start to finish techno bliss with no dreary dubstep
nonsense to drag it down. Will be listening to this album forever. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
2. Lorde, Pure Heroine<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It's not a perfect album, and there are definite holes
and a few repetitions, but for a 17-year-old she came out of nowhere and proved
she has the chops. This is her debut! And it's stunning. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
3. Vampire Weekend, Modern Vampires of the City<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
They rock and their sound really grew up with this album.
It's brilliant start to finish. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
4. Beyonce, Beyonce<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Because duh, the queen, etc. etc. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
5. CHVRCHES, The Bones of What You Believe<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It seems like everybody's trying to do this sound these
days - the synth heavy creepy indie vibe with a squeaky high-voiced chick lead
- but nobody does it better than Chvrches<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
6. Betty Who, The Movement<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It's not even a full album, it's just an EP, and it was
still one of the most exciting releases of the year. Mark my words she'll be
everywhere in 2014. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
7. London Grammar, If You Wait<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Demure and lovely and everything I adore. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
8. King Krule, 6 Feet Beneath the Moon<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
This skinny little British boy has surprising depth that
will carry your through a rainy afternoon. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
9. Angel Haze, Dirty Gold<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
She's the future of rap because she actually has
something really big and honest to say. A genius debut album. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Also rans: Jillette Johnson, Water in a Whale (because I
sang along to the whole thing for months) Lady Gaga, ARTPOP (because I danced
around to it for weeks until it came out and everybody else hated it and it
disappeared) <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Singles: <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
1. Tongues (feat. Kopps) by Joywave<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Hands down my most-played song of the year<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
2. High Society, Betty Who<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
3. Lay Me Down, Sam Smith<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I literally want to have sex with this man's voice<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
4. Gun, by CHVRCHES<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Because you! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
5. Fool of Me, by Say Lou Lou and Chet Faker<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
6. Let Go, by RAC Kele and MNDR<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
7. Neptune Estate by King Krule<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>Marisa P yells
Timber!<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Like the Grammy Awards, I’ve decided that Beyoncé’s album
came out too late in the game to be considered for 2013. If you don’t abide by
these rules then EFF THIS LIST! BEYONCE FOR EVERYTHING! <i>[ed.
Note: She counts. So we’ll add her to your tally.]<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Marisa<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
ESSENTIAL ALBUMS<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i>[Beyonce, Beyonce]<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Justin Timberlake, The 20/20 Experience<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Haim, Days are Gone<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
James Blake, Overgrown<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Lorde, Pure Heroine<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Sara Bareilles, The Blessed Unrest<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Tegan and Sara, Heartthrob<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Drake, Nothing Was the Same<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
ESSENTIAL SONGS<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Daft Punk featuring Pharrell, Get Lucky<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Justin Timberlake, Mirrors <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Avicci, Wake Me Up<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Rihanna, Stay<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Lorde, Royals<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Miley Cyrus, We Can’t Stop<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Kanye West, Bound II <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>Siobhan V’s blue
mama<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
1.
BEYONCE, Beyonce<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
2.
ARCADE FIRE, Reflektor<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
3.
VAMPIRE WEEKEND, Modern Vampires of the City<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
4.
CAMERA OBSCURA, Desire Lines<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
5.
MAN MAN, On Oni Pond<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>Annie M’s
radioactive choice of singles<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Imagine Dragons, “Radioactive”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Lorde, “Royals”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
American Authors, “Best Day of My Life”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Katy Perry, “Roar”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Sara Bareilles, “Brave”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Pharrell Williams, “Happy”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
One Republic, “Counting Stars”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>Brant R finds it’s
better to Fade<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<u>My Top Ten for 2013:<o:p></o:p></u></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Yo La Tengo, Fade<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Katy Perry, Prism<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Mikal Cronin, MCII<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Vampire Weekend, Modern Vampires of the City<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Palma Violets, 180<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
TV Girl, Lonely Women [EP]<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Phosphorescent, Muchacho<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Haim, Days Are Gone<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
My Bloody Valentine, m b v<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Kurt Vile, Wakin on a Pretty Daze<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<u>Other 2013 Recordings I Enjoyed:<o:p></o:p></u></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Neko Case, The Worse Things Get, The Harder I Fight, The
Harder I Fight, The More I Love You<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Lorde, Pure Heroine<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Eleanor Friedberger, Personal Record<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Chvrches, The Bones of What You Believe<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Kim Deal’s six 2013 singles<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Courtney Barnett, How to Carve a Carrot into a Rose [EP]<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Washed Out, Paracosm<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Albert Hammond, Jr., AHJ [EP]<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Rhye, Woman<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Waxahatchee, Cerulean Salt<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Sky Ferreira, Night Time, My Time<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Capital Cities, In a Tidal Wave of Mystery<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Audio Push, Come as You Are<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Daft Punk, Random Access Memories<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Foxygen, We Are The 21st Century Ambassadors Of Peace
& Magic<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Kacey Musgraves, Same Trailer, Different Park<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Blood Orange, Cupid Deluxe<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Chance the Rapper, Acid Rap<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Arcade Fire, Reflektor<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Janelle Monáe, The Electric Lady<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Phoenix, Bankrupt!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Youth Lagoon, Wondrous Bughouse<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Miley Cyrus, Bangerz<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Kanye West, Yeezus<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Empire of the Sun, Ice on the Dune<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<u>Some Pre-2013 Stuff I Got Around to:<o:p></o:p></u></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Albert King, Born Under A Bad Sign [1966]<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Chromatics, Kill For Love [2012]<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Frankie Rose, Interstellar [2012]<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I Break Horses, Hearts [2011]<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Phosphorescent, Here's To Taking It Easy [2010]<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Johnny Thunders, So Alone [1978]<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Tame Impala, Innerspeaker [2010]<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Sammy Davis, Jr., The Sounds Of '66 [1966]<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Crosby, Stills & Nash, CSN [1977]<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Jay Reatard, Watch Me Fall [2009]<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Candi Staton, I'm Just A Prisoner [1970]<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Mac DeMarco, 2 [2012]<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Johnny Hartman, I Just Dropped By To Say Hello [1963]<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Chairlift, Something [2012]<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Now, Now, Threads [2012]<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Dirty Projectors, Swing Lo Magellan [2012]<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Arlo Guthrie, Alice's Restaurant [1967]<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Goat, World Music [2012]<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Faces, Long Player [1971]<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Donny Hathaway, Everything Is Everything [1970]<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>Dan P gives the
Kid a break<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Last
year wasn't a big music year for me... But I always have to say Patty Griffin
is essential for me, so:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
#1)
Patty Griffin, American Kid<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
That's
IT!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>Jonathan V’s rockin’
Caveman tunes<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">1. Caveman, CAVEMAN<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br />
An outstanding live band with a knack for hard-to-pin-down indie fugues and
ghostly harmonies. The two-plus drummers in the mix only add to the hypnotics.
Everything you've heard is true.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
2. Various Artists, AFTER DARK VOL. 2<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br />
A mixtape that seems to emanate from the sleek, unforgiving universe Nicholas
Winding Refn's "Drive". Nothing else captures deep city
nighttime cool like this collection. Synthy, vampy, and oh so
indispensable.<br />
<br />
3. On An On, GIVE IN<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br />
One of the biggest surprises of the year, this band (formed expeditiously from
the ashes of Scattered Trees when they split just prior to some studio
sessions) exudes a herky-jerky, dreamy vibe that transports you instantly, and
leaves you stranded.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
4. Moderat, II<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br />
Seductive, mellow, and urgent. Sometimes simultaneously. (You'll
have to hear it to find out how.)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
5. Phoenix, BANKRUPT!<br />
<br />
6. Vampire Weekend, MODERN VAMPIRES OF THE CITY<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br />
Let's play Jeopardy! A: "WHAT DID I TELL YOU?! They're effing
BRILLIANT!" Q: "What you say to VW haters when you shove MODERN
VAMPIRES OF THE CITY in their faces."<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
7. Daft Punk, RANDOM ACCESS MEMORIES<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br />
In a world where music tastes have divided into subfactions of subfactions, it
was a joyful development to see this pair of robots from France achieve Michael
Jackson levels of consensus. And by reviving Disco?! If I'm
dreaming, may I never wake. (Bonus points for including frequent Muppet
collaborator Paul Williams on this record, I have no words.)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br />
8. The National, TROUBLE WILL FIND ME<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br />
Chilling, stirring, etc. All the wonderful and terrible things for which we've
taken Belle & Sebastian's evil twins for granted.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
9. Shearwater, FELLOW TRAVELERS<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
A cover record that outclasses most albums of original
material. See my below songlist for one recommendation from its
tracklist, but please, DO NOT MISS their brilliant
"I-CAN'T-BELIEVE-IT'S-THE-SAME-SONG" cover of Coldplay's "Hurts
Like Heaven".<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br />
10. Arcade Fire, REFLEKTOR<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
SONGS<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
1. Shearwater, F*CKED UP LIFE<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
2. Glass Candy, WARM IN THE WINTER<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
3. Kavinsky, ODD LOOK<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
4. Major Lazer, YOU'RE NO GOOD<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
5. Wale, LOVE / HATE THING<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
6. The National, PINK RABBITS<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
7. Daft Punk, GET LUCKY<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>Cecil C gives a shoutout to a
song from a musical based on a piece of War and Peace<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
My
favorite song of the year was:<b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Sonya
Alone from Natasha and Pierre. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>Kristin E washes
that Paracosm right out<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I
never feel I have a proper grasp on full albums, but these have offered
essential reflections at the very least:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Washed
Out, Paracosm<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Neko
Case, The Worse Things Get, The Harder I Fight, The Harder I Fight, The More I
Love You<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Haim,
Days Are Gone<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Replacements,
Songs for Slim<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Capital
Cities, In a Tidal Wave of Mystery<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Lorde,
Pure Heroine<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Katy
Perry, Prism<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Phosphorescent,
Muchacho<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Arcade
Fire, Reflektor<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
New
discoveries, past years:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Chromatics,
Kill for Love<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
There
are always others, but there is more music than memory.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>Giles G shocks the
Monkeys<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Hi David. Just under the wire (I hope!) here are my
fave albums of the past year, not including the guilty pleasure I took from
Miley Cyrus' Bangerz.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
1. Arctic Monkeys - AM<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
2. Atoms for Peace - AMOK<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
3. Eminem - The Marshall Mather LP 2<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
4. J. Cole - Born Sinner<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
5. Miley Cyrus - Bangerz (Fuck it! I enjoyed this album.
Sue me!)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>Chris P’s in
Electric Lady-land<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I
bought less music this year than i have in past years but here it goes.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Janelle
Monae "The Electric Lady"<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Jessie
Ware "Devotion"<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Jamie
Lidell "Jamie Lidell"<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Kate
Nash "Girl Talk"<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Little
Boots "Nocturnes"<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Tegan
& Sara "Heartthrob"<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
V.V.
Brown "Samson & Delilah"<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Patty
Griffin "Silver Bell"<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
STRFKR
"Miracle Mile"<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Travis
"Where You Stand"<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Ay
... as far as 7 songs go...<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Janelle
Monae "Primetime (feat. Miguel)"<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Jamie
Lidell "I'm Selfish"<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Jessie
Ware "Wildest Moments"<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Eels
"On the Ropes"<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
STRFKR
"While I'm Alive"<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Little
Boots "Beat Beat"<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Tegan
& Sara "Closer" <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>Dash G goes for
The Monster<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Album
of the Year:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
1:
Marshall Mathers LP 2- Eminem<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
2:
Yeezus - Kanye West<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
3:
AM - Arctic Monkeys<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
4:
Wolf - Tyler the Creator<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
5:
6 feet beneath the moon - King Krule<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
6:
Summer Knights - Joey Bada$$<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Best
new artists:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
King
Krule<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Joey
Bada$$<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Flume<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>Alicia G wakes up
to AM<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Best
Album: Arctic Monkeys "a.m."<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
2nd
Best Album: Vampire Weekend "Modern Vampires of the City."<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
3rd
Best Album: Lorde "Pure Heroine" <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Best
Song: "Just Give Me A Reason" - Pink and the guy with the mediocre
voice.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
and<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
2nd
Best Song - "Do I wanna know?" By Arctic Monkeys <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>Billy M Keeps it
Pure<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Lorde - Pure Heroine<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
M.I.A. - Matangi<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire Soundtrack<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Eisley - Currents<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Runners Up<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The Weeknd - Kiss Land<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Ciara - Ciara<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Tegan and Sara - Heartthrob<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
HAIM - Days Are Gone<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>Chris R’s Modern
love<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
1. Vampire Weekend, Modern Vampires of the City<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
2. Haim, Days Are Gone<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
3. Johnny Flynn, Country Mile<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
4. Lorde, Pure Heroine<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
5. Wet, Wet EP<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>Iain S shows his Logic<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Albums<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
1. Daniel Avery, Drone Logic<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
2. Arctic Monkeys, AM<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
3. The Fall, Remainderer<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Tracks (which are not on the above)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
1. Dizzee Rascal, Bassline Junkie<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
2. Drenge, Bloodsports<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
3. Dub Phizik and Skeptical,
Marka<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>Karen A knows this
much is True<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Essential album: <br />
Avicii, True<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Old is new: <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Boy and Bear, Moonfire (2011)<br />
Angus and Julia Stone<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment--><div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
davidlevithanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00762768300871943772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1509734071563017124.post-76829788087157101642013-02-13T15:12:00.001-08:002013-02-13T15:12:21.818-08:00The 2012 David Music Poll Results<strong>The 2012 David Music Poll Results</strong>
<br />
<br /><br />
<br />
<br />
1. fun., Some Nights (23 votes)<br />
<br />
2. Frank Ocean, Channel Orange (21)<br />
<br />
3. The Lumineers, The Lumineers (20)<br />
<br />
Beach House, Bloom (20)<br />
<br />
5. Fiona Apple, The Idler Wheel… (18)<br />
<br />
6. Of Monsters and Men, My Head is an Animal (13)<br />
<br />
Lana Del Ray, Born to Die (13)<br />
<br />
Jack White, Blunderbuss (13)<br />
<br />
Grizzly Bear, Shields (13)<br />
<br />
10. Mumford & Sons, Babel (11)<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
runners up: (10 votes) Alabama Shakes, Boys & Girls; (8 votes) First Aid Kit, The Lion’s Roar; Alt-J, An Awesome Wave; Grimes, Visions; (7 votes) Cat Power, Sun; Passion Pit, Gossamer; The Shins, Port of Morrow <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Notes: Well, it was a mighty close race in the David Music Poll this year, with only five votes separating the top five. In the end, fun. edged out critical darling Frank Ocean, newcomers The Lumineers, and relative veterans Beach House and Fiona Apple. This is Ms. Apple’s third top five showing for her three albums released since the music poll began in 1999. Other music poll stalwards with good showings were Jack White and Grizzly Bear, although some previous favorites (I’m looking at you, The Killers, Rufus Wainwright, Regina Spektor, Bob Dylan…) didn’t fare as well. Interestingly, The Lumineers and Of Monsters and Men, who both ride the coattails of Mumford & Sons, ended up surpassing Mumford’s new effort in the poll. 2013 will mark the return of many poll favorites (Vampire Weekend! The National! Phoenix! Possibly Arcade Fire!), so it will be interesting to see if they keep their favorite status.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Now, to the individual lists…<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>I Tramp All Over My List</strong><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
This year is the first where, I have to say, the order of my favorites seems almost arbitrary. No single album stood out in a big way this year – there were a lot I liked a lot, but I can’t say there was a single album that I unreservedly loved -- in the way, say, that I unreservedly loved, and still unreservedly love, the Robyn album(s) last year. The Ingrid Michaelson album was easily my most-listened-to album this year – I don’t love every song, but it has more songs I love than probably any other album, so I’m going to put it on top. Both Sharon Van Etten and Metric surprised me this year – I’d liked some songs of theirs before, but this time around, the albums won me over. (The Sharon Van Etten narrowly wins partly because I’ve lived with it longer.) The February House cast album is the first cast album to make my list (although Once is close behind). Of Monsters and Men released the best Mumford & Sons album this year (with Phillip Phillips’s “Home” being the best Mumford & Songs song.) Beth Orton made a nice return to form, The Hunger Games soundtrack made me respect Taylor Swift, I liked this Cat Power album more than any other before, and Ellie Goulding’s album was aural wallpaper in a good way. Cutting my songs list to seven was hard – which is kinda funny, since I was the one who limited people to seven. But Sinead O’Connor’s “Queen of Denmark” was my runaway favorite, with “Call Me Maybe” easily the pop song of the year. All of the debuts listed below popped onto my radar in December – I have a feeling that both Kishi Bashi and Django Django might have made my year-end list had they arrived earlier. As for old favorites, Fiona Apple kept things interesting, Sinead O’Connor returned to form, Ben(jamin) Gibbard did a good job solo, and Aimee Mann did what she does well, but Regina Spektor disappointed and The Killers released an album so bad there’s only one song from it I can bear to listen to. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Essential Albums<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Ingrid Michaelson, Human Again<br />
<br />
Sharon Van Etten, Tramp<br />
<br />
Metric, Synthetica<br />
<br />
Gabriel Kahane, February House cast album<br />
<br />
Of Monsters and Men, My Head is an Animal<br />
<br />
Beth Orton, The Sugaring Season<br />
<br />
Soundtrack, The Hunger Games<br />
<br />
Cat Power, Sun<br />
<br />
Ellie Goulding, Halcyon<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
7 Essential Songs<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
“Queen of Denmark” by Sinead O’Connor<br />
<br />
“Call Me Maybe” by Carly Rae Jepsen<br />
<br />
“Blank Maps” by Cold Specks<br />
<br />
“Come Back Down” by Greg Laswell featuring Sara Bareilles<br />
<br />
“Keep Your Head Up” by Ben Howard<br />
<br />
“It’s Time” by Imagine Dragons<br />
<br />
“We Will Never Ever Get Back Together” by Taylor Swift<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Most Interesting Debuts<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Kishi Bashi<br />
<br />
Django Django<br />
<br />
Tom Odell<br />
<br />
Little Green Cars<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>Steven M Stands at the Sky’s Edge</strong><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
1. Richard Hawley, Standing at the Sky's Edge<br />
<br />
2. Tame Impala, Lonerism<br />
<br />
3. Spiritualized, Sweet Heart Sweet Light<br />
<br />
4. First Aid Kit, The Lion's Roar<br />
<br />
5. Bobby Womack, The Bravest Man in the Universe<br />
<br />
6. Titus Andronicus, Local Business<br />
<br />
7. Cody Chestnutt, Landing on a Hundred<br />
<br />
8. Melody's Echo Chamber, Melody's Echo Chamber<br />
<br />
9. Wind Nothing, Nocturne<br />
<br />
10. Turbo Fruits, Butter<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Best discovery from a previous year: Echo and the Bunnymen, What Are You Going to Do With Your Life? (1999); Dennis Wilson, Pacific Ocean Blue (1977)<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>Trevor Celebrates Good Rock (Come On!)</strong><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
1. Japandroids, Celebration Rock<br />
<br />
2. Tame Impala, Lonerism<br />
<br />
3. Title Fight, Floral Green<br />
<br />
4. forgetters, Forgetters<br />
<br />
5. Hot Water Music, Exister<br />
<br />
6. Jeff the Brotherhood, Country Life<br />
<br />
7. Smith Street Band, Sunshine and Technology<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>Jordan S Has Some Fun</strong><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
#1. Fun, Some Nights<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
#2. Benjamin Gibbard, Former Lives<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>Maggie S Rides an Awesome Wave</strong><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Easy for me, because I didn't do a lot of album-faithful purchasing this year:<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
1. Alt-J, An Awesome Wave<br />
<br />
2. Fun, Some Nights<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
You said 7. I'd already tried to narrow my 2,347 songs I acquired last year for my blog and only managed to get it this tidy. Then again, I think only 8 of these came out in 2012. The rest were just new finds for me.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
1. “North Col” – Shearwater <br />
<br />
2. “Dear Fellow Traveler” – Sea Wolf <br />
<br />
3. “How Many More Times” – Field Music <br />
<br />
4. “Lay it Down” & “The Best We Got” – The Rubens<br />
<br />
Cheery<br />
<br />
5. ”YoYo” – Pop ETC (formerly the Morning Benders, if you care)<br />
<br />
6. “I’m a Pilot” – Fanfarlo <br />
<br />
7. “Submarines” – The Lumineers <br />
<br />
8. “This is What I Said” – Cloud Control <br />
<br />
9. “Rapunzel” – Drapht <br />
<br />
10. “Can’t Touch It” – Ricki Lee<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Plain Awesome<br />
<br />
11. “Sun” – Two Door Cinema Club <br />
<br />
12. “Feels Like We Only Go Backwards” – Tame Impala <br />
<br />
13. “Fingers Never Bleed” & “Longevity” – Yeasayer<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Things that Sound Good While I Drive Sideways<br />
<br />
14. “Fame” – Santigold <br />
<br />
15. “Nothing Else is Real” – Mackintosh Braun <br />
<br />
16. “Again (Original Mix)” – Elizabeth Rose feat. Sinden <br />
<br />
17. “Monsoons” – Puscifer <br />
<br />
18. “Love from a Stone” – School of Seven Bells <br />
<br />
19. “Afterlife (Neon Feather Remix)” – Switchfoot<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>Zachary P, Here Comes the Sun</strong><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
My number 1 album is Cat Power, Sun. That's all -- don't wanna listen to anything else :)<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>Megan B Puts the Fun Into 2012</strong><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Albums:<br />
<br />
Fun, Some Nights<br />
<br />
Frank Ocean, Channel Orange<br />
<br />
The Lumineers, The Lumineers<br />
<br />
Lana Del Ray, Born to Die<br />
<br />
Regina Spektor, What We Saw From the Cheap Seats<br />
<br />
Mumford and Sons, Babel<br />
<br />
Jack White, Blunderbuss<br />
<br />
Brandi Carlile, Bear Creek<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Songs:<br />
<br />
Fun, Some Nights<br />
<br />
Frank Ocean, Bad Religion<br />
<br />
The Lumineers, Ho Hey<br />
<br />
Mumford and Sons, I Will Wait<br />
<br />
Phillip Phillips, Home<br />
<br />
Lana Del Rey, Born to Die<br />
<br />
Muse, Madness<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>Leanna Doesn’t Fight the Civil Wars</strong><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
My big discovery this year was The Civil Wars.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Entirely separate from their being on the Hunger Games soundtrack - which is valid and an /amazing/ song. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I saw them play live on Austin City Limits and as live performers they BLEW MY MIND and now I listen to them all the time.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>Gabe B, Born to Love Lana</strong><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Lana del Rey, Born to Die<br />
<br />
Lana del Rey, Paradise<br />
<br />
End of list.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>Crissa in da House</strong><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
1. Beach House, Bloom<br />
<br />
2. Grizzly Bear, Shields<br />
<br />
3. Grimes, Visions<br />
<br />
4. Purity Ring, Shrines<br />
<br />
5. Tame Impala, Lonerism<br />
<br />
6. Passion Pit, Gossamer<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
best single: Yet Again by Grizzly Bear<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>Lisa M Sees Pink</strong><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I have very little to offer, but I cannot pass up the chance to share my love and admiration for Pink.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Albums: <br />
<br />
1. Pink, The Truth About Love<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Top songs: <br />
<br />
1. Try, Pink <br />
<br />
2. Just Give Me a Reason (Feat. Nate Ruess), Pink<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>Ted G Channels Orange</strong><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I'm listening to number 3 as I write...and now, against my will, number 6.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
1. Frank Ocean, Channel Orange<br />
<br />
2. Fiona Apple, The Idler Wheel is Wiser<br />
<br />
3. Jimmy Cliff, Rebirth<br />
<br />
4. Killer Mike, R.A.P. Music<br />
<br />
5. Grizzly Bear, Shields<br />
<br />
6. Bruno Mars, Unorthodox Jukebox (My 3-three-year old daughter insisted I include this; just what I need, seriously -- Dora singing 'Your sex takes me to paradise' at the JCC.)<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>Bryant P Swims in the, erm, Ocean</strong><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Most Essential Albums 2012:<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
1. Frank Ocean, Channel Orange<br />
<br />
2. M. Ward, A Wasteland Companion<br />
<br />
3. The Avett Brothers, The Carpenter<br />
<br />
4. Michael Kiwanuka, Home Again<br />
<br />
5. Beach House, Bloom<br />
<br />
6. Passion Pit, Gossamer<br />
<br />
7. Tennis, Young & Old<br />
<br />
8. Alabama Shakes, Boys & Girls<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Top Seven Songs of 2012 (great idea!):<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
1. M. Ward, Clean Slate<br />
<br />
2. Frank Ocean, Lost<br />
<br />
3. Taylor Swift, We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together<br />
<br />
4. Gossip, Move in the Right Direction<br />
<br />
5. Imagine Dragons, It's Time<br />
<br />
6. Pink, Blow Me (One Last Kiss)<br />
<br />
7. Gotye, Somebody That I Used to Know<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>Jonathan V iswhoheiswhoheiswho</strong><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
First the lists, then the disclaimer...<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Albums<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
1. iamamiwhoami, Kin<br />
<br />
2. Beach House, Bloom<br />
<br />
3. Tame Impala, Lonerism<br />
<br />
4. Stars, The North<br />
<br />
5. The Killers, Battle Born<br />
<br />
6. Bear in Heaven, I Love You, It's Cool<br />
<br />
7. Chiddy Bang, Breakfast<br />
<br />
8. Grimes, Visions<br />
<br />
9. Santigold, Master of My Make-Believe<br />
<br />
10. Guided by Voices, The Bears for Lunch / Shins, Port of Morrow<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Singles<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
1. iamamiwhoami, Idle Talk<br />
<br />
2. Miike Snow, God Help This Divorce<br />
<br />
3. The Killers, The Rising Tide<br />
<br />
4. Purity Ring, Amenamy<br />
<br />
5. Stars, A Song is a Weapon<br />
<br />
6. Chiddy Bang, Handclaps and Guitars<br />
<br />
7. Andy Stott, Luxury Problems<br />
<br />
8. Sleigh Bells, Crush<br />
<br />
9. Moonface, Yesterday's Fire<br />
<br />
10. Disparate Youth, Santigold<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
These lists feel very flakes-without-the-raisins to me, and I realize now that it's not just because I legally can't include that Gotye song. The fact is, some of the very best music I heard all year was from previous years, in some cases the IMMEDIATELY PREVIOUS ONE! Mea culpas, really--me stumbling over a band or group or album that everybody else knows is awesome already, or should. So here are some recommendations from that end of the music timeline.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Phantogram - Saratoga Springs isn't famous for just the horses anymore. This duo from yes, Saratoga Springs, is teleporting everything that was awesome about trip-hop into the not-so-distant future, and they are waiting for you to meet them there. Get the track "Don't Move", and just TRY to obey the order implicit in its name.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Guided by Voices - You're probably wondering why everyone who gets into this band turns into a GBV cultist. Just listen to "Bee Thousand" and "Alien Lanes" and it will all become clear. There are few modern bands that compare favorably with The Beatles in terms of consistent songwriting genius.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Pavement - Guilted by The National's famous lyric ("praying for Pavement to get back together...") I figured I should check out the Malkmusian rockers in question, and yes, they're amazing. But they're SO good, so musically DENSE, that it actually takes a while for you to cross the line from being merely interested to being gut-hooked. Everyone disagrees on the best gateway albums, I say start with "Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain" and "Brighten the Corners", they're very accessible.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Neon Indian - If you're into M83 and Washed Out, allow me to play "purchase-bot" for a moment, and recommend Neon Indian. Trippy, playful electronica that justifies the existence of headphones.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Kuedo - I'm recommending a specific Kuedo album here, "Severant". If you like electronica and you like the music Vangelis wrote for the "Blade Runner" soundtrack, consider your weekend awesomified.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>Scott T Can Dance</strong><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Tough year for "essentials". I don't think I picked up one album from a new artist for 2012. There were many fine albums by the groups I already enjoyed, but none of them were among what I'd consider the artists' best work. So as not to vote a goose egg, I'll go with my favorite all-time band who reunited after a 16 year break to produce another excellent record. To top it off it was the one concert I attended in 2012 - my first concert in three years (Thanks having a toddler!)<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Essential Album of 2012<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Dead Can Dance, Anabasis<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Essental Albums Discovered in 2012<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Real Estate, Days (2011)<br />
<br />
Dum Dum Girls, Only In Dreams (2011)<br />
<br />
Austra, Feel It Bread (2011)<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Top 7 Songs of the Year (How did you choose seven as the number?_<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
1. Metric - Youth Without Youth<br />
<br />
2. Black Taxi - Tightrope<br />
<br />
3. Chairlift - Sidewalk Safari<br />
<br />
4. Grimes - Oblivion<br />
<br />
5. Now, Now - School Friends<br />
<br />
6. POP ETC - Keep It For Your Own<br />
<br />
7. Saint Etienne - Tonight<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>Mondo Blake N </strong><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Electric Guest Mondo is my fave album of the year.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>Hey, Ho, Phil B!</strong><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Top Albums<br />
<br />
The Lumineers, The Lumineers<br />
<br />
Frank Ocean, Channel ORANGE<br />
<br />
Lupe Fiasco -- Food & Liquor II<br />
<br />
Kendrick Lamar -- Overly Dedicated<br />
<br />
Justin Bieber -- Believe<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Top Songs:<br />
<br />
P!nk -- Try -- Song and Video<br />
<br />
Fun -- Some NIghts<br />
<br />
Cruise -- Florida Georgia Line<br />
<br />
Swedish House Maifa -- Don't You Worry Child<br />
<br />
Jason Mraz -- I Won't Give Up<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Top Acts<br />
<br />
Swedish House Mafia<br />
<br />
The Lumineers<br />
<br />
Justin Bieber<br />
<br />
P!nk<br />
<br />
Jason Mraz<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>The Ty Goes To Kevin W</strong><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Most Disappointing Album, 2012: <br />
<br />
Diamond Rugs, Diamond Rugs – This album just kind of sits there, occasionally making brief forays into middle-of-the-road depravity. I expected actual depravity.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Likely essential album I’ve not heard yet: River City Tanlines, Coast to Coast – Just about everything Alicja Trout touches is worth checking out. Memphis, man.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Recent Essential album I just discovered:<br />
<br />
Vending Machine, Let the People Sing (2010) – Memphis, man. Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6KOGVgJIv4<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Essential albums, 2012:<br />
<br />
9. Dwight Yoakam, Three Pears<br />
<br />
8. Tigher High, Myth is This – Memphis.<br />
<br />
7. Jack Oblivian, Rat City – The album never quite reaches the guitargasm of the opening (and title) track again, but Jack-O keeps churning it out. He’s from Memphis.<br />
<br />
6. Gentleman Jesse, Leaving Atlanta – There are moments when this sounds like a Joe Jackson tribute album, which is a good thing in my book, but it’s its own animal.<br />
<br />
5. Mind Spiders, Meltdown – There are moments when this sounds like a Jay Reatard tribute album, which is a good thing in my book, but it’s its own animal. Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BScrSWZ-uoQ<br />
<br />
4. Mikal Cronin, Mikal Cronin – Jangly pop with a few smack-you-upside-your-head moments from one of Ty Segall’s crew.<br />
<br />
3. The Barbaras, 2006-2008 – Yes, I know the years say otherwise, but this is a 2012 release. These old part-time bandmates ofJay Reatard traded in his insanity for pure, gorgeous, bouncing pop. Jay claimed the recordings were lost, but – now that Jay’s gone and the band’s morphed into The Magic Kids – they were found, remastered by Alicja Trout, and presented by Goner Records in all their glory. Memphis, man. Live video with Jay Reatard on drums: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iswcqxn_Iv4 <br />
<br />
2. King Tuff, King Tuff – King Tuff alternates between cock-rock swagger and balladeering, sneering along like a teenager with a head cold, a bad attitude, and a bottomless bag of weed. Video (in 3D): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WsGbrwrkFE<br />
<br />
1. Ty Segall – It’s too difficult to disambiguate all the projects from his ambitious year, so I’m just saying Ty Segall. I could write at length about his Fun House-era Stoogey sludge, but I’ll simply quote from AMG’s review of Slaughterhouse: “Segall and his bandmates recall some crazed biker gang who have come to town to feed your children bad drugs and leave them deaf.” Giddyup. Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EgWJNl9TZJw <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Top 7 songs<br />
<br />
7. Mark Sultan, Axis Abraxis<br />
<br />
6. Ty Segall, Tell Me What’s Inside Your Heart<br />
<br />
5. Mikal Cronin, Again and Again<br />
<br />
4. Jack Oblivian, Rat City<br />
<br />
3. Mind Spiders, Play You Out<br />
<br />
2. Ty Segall, Ghost<br />
<br />
1. King Tuff, Bad Thing<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>Lonnie’s Head is an Animal</strong><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Of Monsters and Men, My Head is an Animal<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>Of Monsters and Elizabeth E</strong><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Most essential album:<br />
<br />
Of Monsters and Men, My Head is an Animal<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Other essentials:<br />
<br />
The Avett Brothers, The Carpenter<br />
<br />
Ed Sheeran, +<br />
<br />
fun., Some Nights<br />
<br />
Grouplove, Never Trust a Happy Song<br />
<br />
Imagine Dragons, Night Visions<br />
<br />
The Lumineers, The Lumineers<br />
<br />
Mumford & Sons, Babel<br />
<br />
The Shins, Port of Morrow<br />
<br />
Various Artists, The Hunger Games soundtrack<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
TOP SEVEN SONGS 2012:<br />
<br />
Taylor Swift, We Are Never Getting Back Together (obvs.)<br />
<br />
Imagine Dragons, It's Time<br />
<br />
Kelly Clarkson, Stronger (double obvs.)<br />
<br />
Of Monsters and Men, Little Talks<br />
<br />
Grouplove, Tongue-Tied<br />
<br />
fun., Some Nights<br />
<br />
Phillip Phillips, Home<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>Daniel H Kills For Love</strong><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
1. Chromatics, Kill For Love<br />
<br />
2. Metric, Synthetica<br />
<br />
3. Of Monsters And Men, My Head Is An Animal<br />
<br />
4. Zammuto, Zammuto<br />
<br />
5. Letting Up Despite Great Faults, Untogether<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
not that I expect anyone else to stand with me on this. It's lonely, my music tastes.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>Matthue Bows to Royalty</strong><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Will it skew your stats if I only give a top-7? I've been sort of lackadaisical in the new-music-I-love department. Not that I haven't heard of things; I only think I'm running out of things that blow my mind. Does this mean I'm old?<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
1. Childish Gambino, Royalty <br />
<br />
2. Jean Grae, Cookies & Comas <br />
<br />
3. Freelance Whales, Diluvia <br />
<br />
4. Of Monsters and Men, My Head Is an Animal <br />
<br />
5. Lana del Rey, Born to Die <br />
<br />
6. Frank Ocean, Channel Orange <br />
<br />
7. How to Destroy Angels, An omen<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Songs:<br />
<br />
Call Me Maybe, Carly Rae Jepsen - I just heard this for the first time, in its entirety, about a week ago. (If I was a slightly more successful YA author, there would be no way I could admit this.) And I didn't even hear the real version -- it was her with the Roots, on that late night show, with a xylophone and toy piano and ?uestlove playing kazoo. And it was the most wonderful thing ever. I guess she's hugely successful, and getting all over the place, but how she kept glancing at Quest to see if she was doing the right thing, and lost her place for a second because she seemed to be genuinely starstruck, it was really sweet. That's the only song. There.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>Dean B’s Idler Hands…</strong><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Essential Album of 2012:<br />
<br />
1. Fiona Apple, The Idler Wheel...<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Other Favorites: <br />
<br />
2. Big Boi, Vicious Lies and Dangerous Rumors<br />
<br />
3. Mike Doughty, The Lo-Fi Lodge<br />
<br />
4. Mumford & Sons, Babel<br />
<br />
5. Bob Dylan, Tempest<br />
<br />
6. The Walkmen, Heaven<br />
<br />
7. Jack White, Blunderbuss<br />
<br />
8. The Magnetic Fields - Love at the Bottom of the Sea<br />
<br />
9. Santigold, Master of My Make-Believe<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Top 7 Songs:<br />
<br />
A Ring On Every Finger - Liars<br />
<br />
Madness - Muse<br />
<br />
We Can’t Be Beat - The Walkmen<br />
<br />
Werewolf - Fiona Apple<br />
<br />
Just From Chervon - Dirty Projectors<br />
<br />
Something To Believe In - Citizen Cope<br />
<br />
Thinkin Bout You - Frank Ocean<br />
<br />
All She Cares About Is Mariachi - The Magnetic Fields<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>Kate W Will Not Be Caught Unaware</strong><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The only album I purchased in 2012 was Broken Bells’ self-titled 2010 album. For me, 2012 was the year of singles.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
1. Allen Stone, Unaware = haunting perfection<br />
<br />
2. Bruno Mars, Locked Out of Heaven = an “over and over and over again” song<br />
<br />
3. Phillip Phillips, Home = just makes me happy<br />
<br />
4. Nicki Minaj, Starships = my 2012 jam<br />
<br />
5. David Guetta, feat Sia, Titanium = one of my “belt it out in the car” songs<br />
<br />
6. Jack White, Sixteen Saltines = genius<br />
<br />
7. Swedish House Mafia, Don’t You Worry Child = a second “belt it out on the car” favorite<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>Elana M’s Stubborn Music Love</strong><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Essential Albums:<br />
<br />
1. The Lumineers, The Lumineers<br />
<br />
2. The Shins, Port of Morrow<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Best Singles:<br />
<br />
Flowers in Your Hair, Ho Hey, Classy Girl, Stubborn Love (The Lumineers)<br />
<br />
Simple Song and It's Only Life (The Shins)<br />
<br />
I Will Wait (Mumford & Sons, Babel)<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Best discovery from previous years: Mumford & Sons, Sigh No More <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>Kate H Goes Grizzly</strong><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Best Album 2012:<br />
<br />
Shields - Grizzly Bear<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
runners up:<br />
<br />
Cat Power - Sun<br />
<br />
Polica - Give You the Ghost<br />
<br />
Horse Feathers - Cynic's New Year<br />
<br />
Caveman - Coco Beware<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Best "New To Me" Artists:<br />
<br />
The Antlers<br />
<br />
The Head and the Heart<br />
<br />
Wye Oak<br />
<br />
Dessa<br />
<br />
S. Carey<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>Jennifer H S is a Charmer</strong><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
My essential 2012 albums:<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Aimee Mann, Charmer<br />
<br />
The Lumineers, The Lumineers<br />
<br />
One Direction, Take Me Home<br />
<br />
Nicki Minaj, Pink Friday Roman Reloaded<br />
<br />
Ke$ha, Warrior<br />
<br />
Alabama Shakes, Boys and Girls <br />
<br />
The Shins, Port of Morrow<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>Eamon T Makes Some Myth</strong><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I accidentally hit send in the middle of editing my list. Here's my actual finalized submission. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
1.Beach House - Myth <br />
<br />
2. Ssion - Bent (technically from 2011...but really took off last year) <br />
<br />
3. Bat for Lashes - The Haunted Man<br />
<br />
4. The Raveonettes - Observator<br />
<br />
5. Gossip - A Joyful Noise<br />
<br />
6. Goat - World Music <br />
<br />
7. Ariel Pink - Mature Themes <br />
<br />
8. Cat Power - Sun <br />
<br />
9. Jack White - Blunderbuss <br />
<br />
10. Sky Ferreira - Ghost EP<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Promising for 2013: <br />
<br />
Suede - Bloodsports<br />
<br />
If Suede's leaked lead off track, Barriers, from their first album in 10 years is any indication, they have truly returned to form. <br />
<br />
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=daQb_AKo7rs<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Christopher Owens - Lysandre<br />
<br />
Former Girls front man successfully strikes out on his own.<br />
<br />
http://pitchfork.com/news/49151-stream-christopher-owens-debut-solo-record-in-full-plus-west-coast-dates-added/<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>Daniel L Finds the Origin of Love</strong><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
My Essential Album from 2012: <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Mika, The Origin of Love<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Other Essentials: <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Dragonette, Bodyparts<br />
<br />
Of Monsters and Men, My Head is an Animal <br />
<br />
Neon Trees, Picture Show<br />
<br />
Mumford & Sons, Babel <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>Leila S Sees Stars</strong><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
MOST ESSENTIAL ALBUM:<br />
<br />
Stars, The North<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
OTHER ESSENTIAL ALBUMS:<br />
<br />
Sweet Heart Sweet Light, Spiritualized<br />
<br />
I Know What Love Is, Jens Lekman<br />
<br />
Love at the Bottom of the Sea, The Magnetic Fields<br />
<br />
Four, Bloc Party<br />
<br />
In Our Heads, Hot Chip<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
TOP SEVEN SONGS OF THE YEAR (in no particular order)<br />
<br />
Call Me Maybe, Carly Rae Jepsen<br />
<br />
So Long You Pretty Thing, Spiritualized<br />
<br />
I Love It, Icona Pop<br />
<br />
Idea of Happiness, The Van She<br />
<br />
Hold On When You Get Love and Let Go When You Give It, Stars<br />
<br />
All of Me, Tanlines<br />
<br />
Cowboy Boots, Jens Lekman<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>Brian M’s Ruby Slipper</strong><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
It was a good year of music this year, a lot of really good albums, but the top ten or so really stood out for me. Here you go. (full list and reviews on my blog if you're interested: here)<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
MOST ESSENTIAL<br />
<br />
Ruby Throat, O Doubt O Stars<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
OTHER ESSENTIALS<br />
<br />
Big Blood, Old Time Primitives<br />
<br />
Langhorne Slim, The Way We Move<br />
<br />
Jack White, Blunderbuss<br />
<br />
Nacho Picasso, Lord of the Fly<br />
<br />
Andrew Bird, Break It Yourself<br />
<br />
Andrew Bird, Hands of Glory<br />
<br />
Alberta Cross, Songs of Patience<br />
<br />
The Wooden Sky, Every Child a Daughter Every Moon a Sun<br />
<br />
Spiritualized, Sweet Heart Sweet Light<br />
<br />
Neil Young & Crazy Horse, Psychedelic Pill<br />
<br />
Right Away Great Captain, The Church of the Good Thief<br />
<br />
Kadavar, Kadavar<br />
<br />
Fiona Apple, The Idler Wheel...<br />
<br />
Guided by Voices, Class Clown Spots UFO<br />
<br />
Jason Molina, Autumn Bird Songs<br />
<br />
Ty Seagall - Twins<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
As for favorite songs, I got that covered too. (If you're interested, you can hear them all on my blog, here).<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Sivert Hoyem, "Where is My Moon"<br />
<br />
Andrew Bird, "Give It Away"<br />
<br />
Nacho Picasso, "Naked Lunch"<br />
<br />
Blur, "Under the Westway"<br />
<br />
John Frusciante, "Ratiug"<br />
<br />
The View, "Tacky Tattoo"<br />
<br />
Jack White, "Sixteen Saltines"<br />
<br />
Neil Young, "Driftin Back"<br />
<br />
Langhorne Slim, "Coffee Cups"<br />
<br />
Fiona Apple, "Every Single Night"<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>Lindsay R’s Funtastic Nights</strong><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Top Seven Albums<br />
<br />
( * denotes “not released in 2012, but discovered by me in 2012”)<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
1. fun., Some Nights<br />
<br />
2. Brandi Carlile, Bear Creek<br />
<br />
3. Amy Ray, Lung of Love<br />
<br />
4. Alpha Rev, New Morning *<br />
<br />
5. Florence + the Machine, Ceremonials *<br />
<br />
6. The Black Keys, El Camino *<br />
<br />
7. Adam Lambert, Trespassing<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Top Seven Songs of 2012<br />
<br />
( * denotes “not released in 2012, but discovered by me in 2012”)<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
1. Brandi Carlile, “Hard Way Home”<br />
<br />
2. Amy Ray, “Bird in the Hand”<br />
<br />
3. Alpha Rev, “Lonely Man” *<br />
<br />
4. Adam Lambert, “Chokehold”<br />
<br />
5. fun., “Some Nights”<br />
<br />
6. Brandi Carlile, “Raise Hell”<br />
<br />
7. Alan Doyle, “I’ve Seen a Little”<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>David G Tames the Lonerism</strong><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Tame Impala - Lonerism<br />
<br />
Fiona Apple - The Idler Wheel!!!<br />
<br />
and of course... Frank Ocean.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Jennifer S Has More Fun This Year<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Was “Some Nights” by fun this year or last? If this year, then I’m voting for that!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>Bob R Has Visions</strong><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
ALBUM OF THE YEAR BY FARRRRRRR:<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Grimes - Visions<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
and my favorite single was Nuclear Seasons by Charli XCX<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>Josh L, Weekend Warrior</strong><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I think I'm getting even less cool and with-it, if that can be believed. I just discovered that a lot of "new" albums I like were in fact 2011, that a lot of bands I "discovered" this year put out crappy albums--I had discovered, apparently, their earlier work. I can't even vote for my two lifetime most essential musicians who both released albums, because they weren't great. Well, I will, actually, because somebody needs to speak up for old white men. I will be lecturing on hoplite warfare in two hours, after three hours sleep, so I may talk about Dylan and Young there too if I forget how Greek battle works... but you know what I was listening to on repeat last night?<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Waxahatchee<br />
<br />
American Weekend<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
So I'll vote for that. I haven't even listened to the latest Mountains Goats yet, which is a disgusting failure. But: Neil's Psychedelic Pill and Dylan's Tempest are also essential, and I stand by Fiona and the Idler Wheel, even if Kristen has banned the "Hot Knife" track (I sing all the parts at once). But check this out: my most essential music-related activity is riding the exercise bike (if you don't got your health, right?) and therefore the dumb-as-shit, great-for-pedaling-fast-and-singing-in-a-bono-voice essential album of the year is The Killers, Battle Born. Nice.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>Aimee F Does Not Prefer That Indie Rock Record That’s So Much Cooler Than Taylor’s</strong><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I’ll just do singles for this year:<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
1) Taylor Swift, We Are Never, Ever Getting Back Together<br />
<br />
2) Gotye, Somebody That I Used to Know<br />
<br />
3) Carly Rae Jepsen, Call Me Maybe<br />
<br />
4) Nicki Minaj, Starships<br />
<br />
5) Adele, Skyfall<br />
<br />
6) Fun., We are Young<br />
<br />
7) Psy (sigh!), Gangnam Style (I wasn’t even sure if this could count as a “single”—it was more a YouTube sensation with a song attached, but still, it kind of defined 2012).<br />
<br />
8) Bruce Springsteen, We Take Care of Our Own<br />
<br />
9) Frank Ocean, Thinking Bout You<br />
<br />
10) Regina Spektor, Don’t Leave Me (Ne Me Quitte Pas)<br />
<br />
11) Taylor Swift (again), I Knew You Were Trouble<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>Cecil C Heads to the Bahamas</strong><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
1. Bahamas, Barchords<br />
<br />
2.Martha Wainwright, Come Home to Mama<br />
<br />
3. Laura Marling, A Creature I Don't Know<br />
<br />
4. Fiona Apple, The Idler Wheel<br />
<br />
5. Dallas Don Burnet, Cancel My Disappointment<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
best single - Adele - Skyfall<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
best rock documentary - Hits So Hard <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
best rediscovery - Lisa Germano<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>Jon S Does Not Avoid the ‘droids</strong><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
My favorite new albums:<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Japandroids, Celebration Rock - Without question, this was my favorite album of the year. Coming in at around just 30 minutes, they took the cool stuff they made in their debut release, Post-Nothing, and made it perfect. the name "Celebration" is perfectly apt. This is what real rock n' roll feels like. Large-hearted and free.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Crystal Castles, III - CC's third album is by far their most organic and gentle. And by gentle, I just mean it doesn't feel like Alice Glass is stabbing me in the eardrums (although don't get me wrong, Alice Glass can stab my eardrums or really do anything she wants to me ANY TIME SHE WANTS). This album is ominous, lush, and takes me swiftly to my dark brooding place. Which is handy, since I tend to write dark, brooding fiction.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Fiona Apple, The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than the Driver of the Screw and Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do - The long awaited (by me, anyway) follow-up to her 2005 release Extraordinary Machine does not disappoint in any way. Frequently teetering between pop glide and ragged-edge chaos, this, my friends, is good art.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Shovels & Ropes, O Be Joyful - Out of left field, an up-tempo folk band with a twinge of bluegrass. This debut album from a husband and wife duo is gritty, cheerful, and full of heart. Even the sad songs are somehow uplifting.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Passion Pit, Gossamer - Sometimes you want something big and full with a nice groove. Something that recalls a bit of Motown flourish but still has a modern electro-pop feel. Here's that album for you.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Grimes, Visions - Light yet daring, ethereal yet audacious, there really isn't anyone out there doing what she's doing. Pop electronica pushed through some surreal looking glass world. But it never devolves into tedious conceptual junk. It floats above.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Buke and Gase, Function Falls - Nerd punk at its best. They make their own instruments and have a smart, raw sound that <br />
<br />
remains catchy.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Fun, Some Nights - It's the sort of cheesy pop that my 7 year old and I can enjoy together. Imagine the two of us belting out "Carry On" during last summer's road trip with the windows rolled down. Albums come and go, but this memory will be enshrined perfectly in my mind forever.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Purity Ring, Shrines - Purity Ring reminds me a little of one of my favorite bands, The Knife. It's dark, it's electronic, it's the sort of thing I dance to in my room alone when I'm psyching myself up for an extended writing session (that may have been TMI). I'm hoping for a bit more dynamics on the next album, but for a debut album this is solid stuff that, for now at least, fills that Karin Andersson-shaped hole in my heart.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The xx, Coexist - The xx seem to be slightly obsessed with the minimalism trend, which is fine by me. Achingly sincere, romantic, and lovely, there is not a note out of place on this album. Or really, a note wasted. I'm a little worried about the next album, though. I'm not sure where you go from here. They may have to start putting stuff back in.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Honorable mention to Cat Power's Sun. It's a good album, but hewing a little too close to "Adult Contemporary" for my tastes.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Album I missed the first time around:<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
M83, Hurry Up, We're Dreaming - I picked this 2011 release up after it made David's top ten list for last year. So glad I did. It's soaring and epic and really great to write to. Also, bonus guest vocals from one of my favorites, Nika Danilova, aka Zola Jesus.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Singles:<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
More than half of these are from albums I didn't list as my favorites. Particularly Lana Del Rey, Regina Spektor, and Best Coast, felt like a few really good tracks, with the rest of the album as padding.<br />
<br />
- Bat for Lashes, "Oh Yeah"<br />
<br />
- Cloud Nothings, "Stay Useless"<br />
<br />
- Lana Del Rey, "Blue Jeans"<br />
<br />
- Best Coast, "The Only Place"<br />
<br />
- Regina Spektor, "All The Rowboats"<br />
<br />
- Japandroids, "The House that Heaven Built"<br />
<br />
- Purity Ring, "Belispeak"<br />
<br />
- Crystal Castles, "Affection"<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>Molly B Kills the Darlings</strong><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Number one album of 2012 was "Killing the Darlings" by Pearl & the Beard, a band from Brooklyn who was touring with Ani last fall.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Runner up: Hunger Games Soundtrack<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Pretty sure the song of the year is Call Me Maybe by Carly Rae Jepsen.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Other top songs:<br />
<br />
Calvin Harris, Feel So Close<br />
<br />
Of Monsters and Men, Little Talks<br />
<br />
David Guetta, Titanium<br />
<br />
Alex Clare, Too Close<br />
<br />
Taylor Swift, We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together<br />
<br />
Katy Perry, Wide Awake <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Special Summer 2012 shout-out to Michael Sembello's "Maniac," which is surprisingly modern and can hold its own with today's pop music. (Note: do not watch the video if you are prone to seizures.)<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>Teri Y Knows How to Be a Heartbreaker</strong><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Top Albums<br />
<br />
1. Marina & the Diamonds, Electra Heart<br />
<br />
2. Pink, Truth About Love<br />
<br />
3. Walk the Moon, Walk the Moon<br />
<br />
4. The Hundred in the Hands, The Hundred in the Hands<br />
<br />
5. Lana Del Rey, Born to Die<br />
<br />
6. Scissor Sisters, Magic Hour<br />
<br />
7. Karmin, Hello<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Honorable Mentions<br />
<br />
Ellie Goulding, Halcyon<br />
<br />
Eve 6, Speak in Code<br />
<br />
fun., Some Nights<br />
<br />
Garbage, Not Your Kind of People<br />
<br />
Ke$ha, Warrior<br />
<br />
Ladyhawke, Anxiety<br />
<br />
Madonna, MDNA<br />
<br />
Metric, Synthetica<br />
<br />
Niki & the Dove, Instinct<br />
<br />
Regina Spektor, What We Saw From the Cheap Seats<br />
<br />
Rizzle Kicks, Stereo Typical<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>JR Plays Video Games</strong><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Albums:<br />
<br />
1. Lana Del Rey, Born to Die<br />
<br />
2. Gotye, Making Mirrors<br />
<br />
3. Rihanna, Unapologetic<br />
<br />
4. Justin Bieber, Believe<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>Alaya J Loves One of the Bois</strong><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Most Essential Album of 2012: Big Boi, Vicious Lies and Dangerous Rumors<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Santigold, Master of My Make-Believe (Would have been my essential if Big Boi hadn't run me over with his truck of holy-shit-awesome) <br />
<br />
Dr. John, Locked Down <br />
<br />
Michael Kinuwaka, Home Again <br />
<br />
Yeasayer, Fragrant World <br />
<br />
Firewater, International Orange! <br />
<br />
The Walkmen, Heaven <br />
<br />
Brandi Carlile, Bear Creek <br />
<br />
Laura Gibson, La Grande<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Songs:<br />
<br />
1. Apple Of My Eye, Big Boi <br />
<br />
2. Jack White, Love Interruption <br />
<br />
3. ZZ Ward, Put The Gun Down <br />
<br />
4. First Aid Kit, Emmylou <br />
<br />
5. The Shins, The Rifle's Spiral <br />
<br />
6. Chairlift, Take It Out On Me <br />
<br />
7. Gotye, Somebody That I Used To Know<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>Joe M Gets on the Buss</strong><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Jack White - Blunderbuss<br />
<br />
Alabama Shakes - Boys & Girls<br />
<br />
The Lumineers - self titled<br />
<br />
Frank Ocean - Channel ORANGE<br />
<br />
The XX – Coexist<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
And top song (that's right, just one, not seven - damn your rules) has to be Azealia Banks' "212" <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>Sarah H Bears It</strong><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Most essential albums of 2012:<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
1. Grizzly Bear, Shields<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Top seven tracks of 2012:<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
1. Best Coast "The Only Place"<br />
<br />
2. Carly Rae Japsen "Call Me Maybe"<br />
<br />
3. Tame Impala "Feels Like We Only Go Backwards"<br />
<br />
4. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis "Thrift Shop"<br />
<br />
5. Grizzly Bear "Yet Again"<br />
<br />
6. Miguel "Do You..."<br />
<br />
7. Father John Misty "Nancy From Now On"<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>Matthew U’s Delta Dawns </strong><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Most essential album:<br />
<br />
Iris Dement, Sing the Delta<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Other essential albums:<br />
<br />
Patti Smith, Banga<br />
<br />
Brandi Carlile, Bear Creek<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Discoveries from previous years I just started listening to this year:<br />
<br />
Iron & Wine (with Calexico), In the Reins<br />
<br />
Gossip, Music for Men <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Most essential songs:<br />
<br />
Patti Smith, Amerigo<br />
<br />
Iris Dement, The Kingdom Has Already Come<br />
<br />
Iris Dement, The Night I Learned How Not to Pray<br />
<br />
Shawn Colvin, American Jerusalem<br />
<br />
Brandi Carlile, Raise Hell<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>Emmy L Calls to Port</strong><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
ALBUMS<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Shins, Port Of Morrow<br />
<br />
Michael Kiwanuka, Home Again<br />
<br />
Alabama Shakes, Boys and Girls<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
SONGS<br />
<br />
Michael Kiwanuka, Getting Ready<br />
<br />
Psy, Gangam Style (Because I still love it)<br />
<br />
Loughton Wainwright III, Older Than My Old Man Now<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>Kieran V Has Some Fun</strong><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
1. fun. - Some Nights<br />
<br />
2. The Lumineers - The Lumineers<br />
<br />
3. Fiona Apple - The Idler Wheel<br />
<br />
4. Pink - The Truth About Love<br />
<br />
5. Pitch Perfect - The Soundtrack (yeah, you know I love me some a capella!)<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Favorite songs of the year:<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
1. Some Nights - fun.<br />
<br />
2. The A Team - Ed Sheeran<br />
<br />
3. (Blow Me) One Last Kiss - Pink<br />
<br />
4. Playing for Keeps - Elle King<br />
<br />
5. Ho Hey - The Lumineers<br />
<br />
6. Everybody Talks - Neon Trees<br />
<br />
7. I Won't Give Up - Jason Mraz<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Emelia Z is Il-lumin-ated<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I wasn't too thrilled with the new music I listened to this year, but here it goes:<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The Lumineers, The Lumineers<br />
<br />
John Mayer, Born & Raised<br />
<br />
fun., Some Nights<br />
<br />
Maroon 5, Overexposed<br />
<br />
Mumford & Sons, Babel<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Bill K Listens Up<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Most essential album: Haley Reinhart - Listen Up.<br />
<br />
Perfect pop album basically ignored because she was on American Idol. If you haven't listened to this and you like good female vocalists and a Motown vibe, you must check it out!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Other essentials:<br />
<br />
P!nk - The Truth About Love<br />
<br />
Ben Folds Five - The Sound of the Life of the Mind<br />
<br />
Aimee Mann - Charmer<br />
<br />
Rufus Wainwright - Out of the Game<br />
<br />
Matt Alber - Constant Crows<br />
<br />
Adam Lambert - Tresspassing<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Top 7 Songs of the Year:<br />
<br />
1. Oh My! - Haley Reinhart<br />
<br />
2. We Are Young - Fun.<br />
<br />
3. Free - Haley Reinhart<br />
<br />
4. Stronger - Kelly Clarkson<br />
<br />
5. Big Machine - Mark Duplass<br />
<br />
6. Somebody That I Used to Know - Gotye<br />
<br />
7. Everybody Talks - Neon Trees<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Erich N Shakes it Up<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
ALBUM<br />
<br />
1. Alabama Shakes, Boys and Girls<br />
<br />
1. Frank Ocean, Channel Orange<br />
<br />
3. Twin Shadow, Confess<br />
<br />
4. Emeli Sande, Our Version of Events<br />
<br />
5. Santigold, Master of My Make Believe<br />
<br />
6. Cat Power, Sun<br />
<br />
7. Jack White, Blunderbuss<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
SONG<br />
<br />
1. Jack White, Love is Blindness<br />
<br />
2. Emeli Sande, Heaven<br />
<br />
3. Twin Shadow, Golden Light<br />
<br />
4. Cat Power, Cherokee<br />
<br />
5. Frank Ocean, Thinkin Bout You<br />
<br />
6. Santigold, Disparate Youth<br />
<br />
7. Alabama Shakes, Hold On<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Cassandra P Finds Perfect Imperfection<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Most Essential Album:<br />
<br />
Elle Varner, Perfectly Imperfect<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Other Essential Albums (in random order):<br />
<br />
Solange, True<br />
<br />
Bruno Mars, Unorthodox Jukebox<br />
<br />
Rihanna, Unapologetic<br />
<br />
Kendrick Lamar, Good Kid: M.A.A.D. City<br />
<br />
Miguel, Art Dealer Chic<br />
<br />
Miguel, Kaleidoscope Dream<br />
<br />
Purity Ring, Shrines<br />
<br />
Alex Clare, Lateness of the Hour<br />
<br />
Rick Ross, God Forgives—I Don't<br />
<br />
B.o.B, Strange Clouds<br />
<br />
Emeli Sande, Our Version of Events<br />
<br />
Marvin Sapp, I Win<br />
<br />
Meek Mill, Dreams and Nightmares<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
7 Essential Songs (Arggghh only 7?!? Okay. Also in random order:):<br />
<br />
Rihanna, Pour It Up<br />
<br />
Elle Varner, Stop the Clock<br />
<br />
Rick Ross, Bag of Money<br />
<br />
Big Sean (f. Kanye West & Jay-Z), Clique<br />
<br />
Miguel, That I Do<br />
<br />
Emeli Sande, My Kind of Love<br />
<br />
Ellie Goulding, Lights (old but I just got wind of it and played the hell out of it last year)<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Tiffany S’s Tower of Babel<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Top album of the year: Mumford & Sons, Babel<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Runners up: <br />
<br />
Ben Howard, Every Kingdom<br />
<br />
Of Monsters & Men, My Head is an Animal <br />
<br />
Taylor Swift, Red<br />
<br />
Pitch Perfect Soundtrack<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Top seven songs of the year:<br />
<br />
1) Naked & Famous, Young Blood (technically released in 2011, but didn't *hit* until 2012)<br />
<br />
2) Lumineers, Ho Hey<br />
<br />
3) Matt & Kim, Let's Go<br />
<br />
4) Of Monsters & Men, Love, Love, Love<br />
<br />
5) Gotye, Somebody I Used to Know (technically released in 2011, but didn't *hit* until 2012)<br />
<br />
6) Imagine Dragons, It's Time<br />
<br />
7) Family of the Year, Hero<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Amy M is Hot for Cold<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
1. Cold Pumas, Persistent Malaise<br />
<br />
2. Grizzly Bear, Shields<br />
<br />
3. The Daredevil Christopher Wright, In Defense of a Broken Back<br />
<br />
4. Deerhunter, Halcyon Digest <br />
<br />
5. Dark Dark Dark, Who Needs Who<br />
<br />
6. Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, The Heist<br />
<br />
7. Azealia Banks featuring Lazy Jay, 212<br />
<br />
8. Cate Le Bon, Cyrk<br />
<br />
9. Blue Hawaii, Blooming Summer<br />
<br />
10. Lord Huron, Lonesome Dreams<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Josh B’s Jagged Little Pill<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
1. Neil Young with Crazy Horse, Psychedelic Pill<br />
<br />
2. The Avett Brothers, The Carpenter <br />
<br />
3. Japandroids, Celebration Rock <br />
<br />
4. Jack White, Blunderbuss<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Japandroids also have the song of the year: "The House That Heaven Built." Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeah!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Thanks for letting me be part of this even though I'm really out of the loop musically and spend most of the time listening to Dora the Explorer CDs. :)<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Annie M is the Queen of Denmark<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Favorite Albums<br />
<br />
Sinead O’Connor, How About I Be Me (and You Be You)?<br />
<br />
Beth Orton, Sugaring Season<br />
<br />
Aimee Mann, Charmer<br />
<br />
The Shins, Port of Morrow<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Song of the Year (though it was overplayed)<br />
<br />
Gotye, “Somebody That I Used to Know”<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Youtube Video Song of the Year (overplayed but still kind of irresistible)<br />
<br />
Carly Rae Jepson, “Call Me Maybe”<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Ned V’s Final Testament<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
1) TESTAMENT 'DARK ROOTS OF EARTH'<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Metal!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Jinny W Trio of Quartets<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
My top favorite of 2012:<br />
<br />
*Takacs Quartet with Ralph Kirshbaum, Schubert String Quintet in C, plus the Quartettsatz. Hyperion.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Runners Up:<br />
<br />
*Pacifica Quartet, The Soviet Experience, Vol. 2, String Quartets by Shostakovich and His Contemporaries. Cedille Records.<br />
<br />
*Tokyo String Quartet, Brahms Quintets with Jon Nakamatsu and Jon Manasse. Harmonia Mundi.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Scott D Whispers Sweet Nothing<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I had trouble thinking of albums, but here are some tracks. I feel like I've been into music recently that wasn't released this year.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
1. Calvin Harris feat. Florence Welch, "Sweet Nothing" <br />
<br />
2. Paloma Faith, "Picking Up Pieces" <br />
<br />
3. Cat Power, "Cherokee" <br />
<br />
4. Florence + The Machine, "Spectrum (Calvin Harris remix)" <br />
<br />
5. Loreen, "Euphoria"<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Tim D Tramps All Over This List<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Albums:<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
1. Sharon Van Etten, Tramp<br />
<br />
2. Screaming Females, Ugly<br />
<br />
3. The Luyas, Too Beautiful to Work<br />
<br />
4. Jack White, Blunderbuss<br />
<br />
5. Jukebox the Ghost, Safe Travels<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Songs:<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
1. Darlingside, The Ancestor<br />
<br />
2. Green Day, Oh Love<br />
<br />
3. Shearwater, Animal Life<br />
<br />
4. Prince, Screwdriver<br />
<br />
5. Jonsi, Go Do<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
e’s Kindred Spirit<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Burial - Kindred / Truant Rough Sleeper EP<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Perfume Genius - Put Your Back N 2 It<br />
<br />
How to Dress Well - Total Loss / Live Yourself<br />
<br />
Purity Ring - Shrines<br />
<br />
Grimes - Visions<br />
<br />
JJ - High Summer EP<br />
<br />
Clams Casino - Instrumental Mixtape 2<br />
<br />
Himanhsu - Nehru Jackets<br />
<br />
Allo Darlin' - Europe<br />
<br />
Angel Haze – King<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Lucas K Rocks the Jukebox<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
1. Jukebox the Ghost, Safe Travels<br />
<br />
2. Jens Lekman, I Know What Love Isn't<br />
<br />
3. The Mountain Goats, Transcendental Youth<br />
<br />
4. Ben Folds Five, The Sound of the Life of the Mind<br />
<br />
5. First Aid Kit, The Lion's Roar<br />
<br />
6. Best Coast, The Only Place<br />
<br />
7. John Mayer, Born and Raised<br />
<br />
8. Passion Pit, Gossamer<br />
<br />
9. Aimee Mann, Charmer<br />
<br />
10. Fiona Apple, The Idler Wheel<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Terra M Wrecks It<br />
<br />
I love the idea of Most Essential Songs, too. Mainly I will be interested in perusing this list though, because I was on a big Depeche Mode kick this year during my writing. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
But! Most essential albums:<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
#1 Bruce Springsteen: Wrecking Ball (I know this totally makes me an Old Lady, but it's an awesome album) <br />
<br />
#2 David Byrne and St. Vincent: Love This Giant <br />
<br />
#3 XX: Coexist (I know everyone's over them but I listen to this over and over) <br />
<br />
#4 Mozella: The Brian Holland Sessions (great Motown sort of throwback that is pure FUN)<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
New discovery for me this year was also 2:54 (self-titled album) and also this AWESOME band called Zammuto. (Here's a link to my blog post on them (http://terraelan.com/wordpress/?p=748). <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Kasia Catches Some Reys<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Favorite Album of 2012<br />
<br />
Lana Del Rey - Born to Die <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The Rest!<br />
<br />
Twin Shadow, Confess<br />
<br />
Alt-J, An Awesome Wave<br />
<br />
Dirty Projectors, Swing Lo Magellan<br />
<br />
Sharon van Etten, Tramp<br />
<br />
First Aid Kit, The Lion's Roar<br />
<br />
Of Monsters and Men, My Head Is An Animal<br />
<br />
Lord Huron, Lonesome Dreams<br />
<br />
Sanders Bohlke, Ghost Boy<br />
<br />
Smoke Fairies, Blood Speaks<br />
<br />
Milo Greene, Milo Greene<br />
<br />
Electric Guest, Mondo<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Best Albums from Years Before<br />
<br />
Civil Wars, Barton Hollow<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
7 Best Tracks from Years Before<br />
<br />
Birdy - "White Winter Hymnal" <br />
<br />
Active Child - "Johnny Belinda"<br />
<br />
Other Lives - "For 12"<br />
<br />
Massive Attack - "Paradise Circus"<br />
<br />
Oh Land - "Wolf & I"<br />
<br />
Patti Smith - "Dancing Barefoot"<br />
<br />
Paul Simon - "Peace Like a River"<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
7 Favorite Tracks<br />
<br />
Father John Misty - "Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings"<br />
<br />
alt-J - "Breezeblocks"<br />
<br />
Dirty Projectors - "Gun Has No Trigger"<br />
<br />
David Byrne & St. Vincent - "Who"<br />
<br />
Lana Del Rey - "American"<br />
<br />
Shearwater - "You As You Were"<br />
<br />
Andrew Bird - "Three White Horses"<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Jasper D Calls the POLIÇA<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Most Essential Album of 2012:<br />
<br />
1. POLIÇA, Give You The Ghost<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Other Essential Albums of 2012:<br />
<br />
2. Lana Del Rey, Born To Die<br />
<br />
3. Marina & The Diamonds, Electra Heart<br />
<br />
4. Ellie Goulding, Halcyon <br />
<br />
5. Azealia Banks, Fantasea<br />
<br />
6. Grimes, Visions<br />
<br />
7. Regina Spektor, What We Saw From The Cheap Seats<br />
<br />
8. Santigold, Master of my Make-Believe<br />
<br />
9. Julia Nunes, Settle Down <br />
<br />
10. Nicki Minaj, Pink Friday Roman Reloaded: The Re-Up<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Top Singles of 2012:<br />
<br />
MNDR, Feed Me Diamonds<br />
<br />
Bat For Lashes, Laura<br />
<br />
Lady Gaga, Cake Like Lady Gaga<br />
<br />
Delta Rae, Bottom Of The River<br />
<br />
Gossip, Move In The Right Direction<br />
<br />
CocoRosie, We Are On Fire<br />
<br />
Discoveries From Previous Years:<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
(Honestly, all of these albums would be in my top five had they been released in 2012)<br />
<br />
CocoRosie, Grey Oceans (2010)<br />
<br />
Washington, I Believe You Liar (2010)<br />
<br />
The Knife, Deep Cuts (2003)<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Julian H is an Animal (Collectively)<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Favorite Albums:<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
1. Animal Collective, Centipede Hz<br />
<br />
2. Beach House, Bloom<br />
<br />
3. Matt & Kim, Lightning<br />
<br />
5. Of Montreal, Paralytic Stalks<br />
<br />
6. Matisyahu, Spark Seeker<br />
<br />
7. DIIV, Oshin<br />
<br />
8. Passion Pit, Gossamer<br />
<br />
9. Nicki Minaj, Pink Friday<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Favorite Songs:<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
1. Kate Bush, Running up that Hill - London 2012 Olympic version<br />
<br />
2. Mark Ronson & The Business Intl., Bang Bang Bang - Girls Episode 7<br />
<br />
3. Shonen Knife, Psychedelic Life<br />
<br />
4. Stars, A Song is a Weapon<br />
<br />
5. Walk the Moon, Next in Line<br />
<br />
6. WZRD, Upper Room<br />
<br />
7. Jungle Drum, Emiliana Torrini<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Stephanie P, A Rós is a Rós is a Rós<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
ALBUMS<br />
<br />
1. Sigur Rós, Valtari (most essential)<br />
<br />
2. Alabama Shakes, Boys & Girls<br />
<br />
3. Jack White, Blunderbuss<br />
<br />
4. Rufus Wainwright, Out of the Game<br />
<br />
5. Brian Eno, LUX<br />
<br />
6. Regina Spektor, What We Saw from the Cheap Seats<br />
<br />
7. Hammock, Departure Songs<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
SONGS<br />
<br />
1. Rufus Wainwright, "Montauk"<br />
<br />
2. Atoms for Peace, "Default"<br />
<br />
3. Jack White, "Sixteen Saltines"<br />
<br />
4. Kishi Bashi, "Bright Whites"<br />
<br />
5. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, "Thrift Shop"<br />
<br />
6. M.I.A., "Bad Girls"<br />
<br />
7. Regina Spektor, "All the Rowboats"<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
(Bonus)<br />
<br />
8. Alabama Shakes, "Hold On"<br />
<br />
9. Kreayshawn, "Gucci Gucci"<br />
<br />
10. Passion Pit, "I'll Be Alright"<br />
<br />
11. Hunx, "Private Room"<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
A few discoveries from previous years . . .<br />
<br />
1. The Vaccines, What Did You Expect from The Vaccines?<br />
<br />
2. The Blow, Paper Television<br />
<br />
3. Adam Hurst, Elegy (perfect writing music, especially combine with rainymood.com)<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
And the best live shows . . .<br />
<br />
1. Radiohead<br />
<br />
2. Jack White with Alabama Shakes<br />
<br />
3. Childish Gambino<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The Way Kevin K Moves<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
1. Langhorne Slim - The Way We Move<br />
<br />
2. Alabama Shakes - Boys & Girls<br />
<br />
3. Brendan Benson - What Kind of World<br />
<br />
4. Jack White - Blunderbuss<br />
<br />
5. The Avett Brothers - The Carpenter <br />
<br />
6. Cliff Hillis - Dream Good<br />
<br />
7. The Lumineers - The Lumineers<br />
<br />
8. Jukebox the Ghost - Safe Travels<br />
<br />
9. Of Monsters and Men - My Head is an Animal<br />
<br />
10. Gentleman Jesse - Leaving Atlanta<br />
<br />
11. Rhett Miller - The Dreamer<br />
<br />
12. Nada Surf - The Stars Are Indifferent To Astronomy <br />
<br />
13. Chuck Prophet - Temple Beautiful<br />
<br />
14. Divine Fits - A Thing Called Divine Fits<br />
<br />
15. Rodriguez - Searching for Sugar Man <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Jarrett K Hits it Out of the Ballpark<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
1 -- Ballpark Music: it's nice to be alive<br />
<br />
2 -- Macklemore & Ryan Lewis : The Heist<br />
<br />
3-- Etyan and the Embassy: Everything Changes<br />
<br />
4 -- Passion Pit: Take a Walk<br />
<br />
5 -- The Lumineers<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The Apple of Andrew F’s Eye<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
My top 3 this year:<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
1. Fiona Apple, The Idle Wheel...<br />
<br />
2. Fun, Some Nights<br />
<br />
3. Bruce Springsteen, Wrecking Ball<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
12 year old Carolyn's Vote:<br />
<br />
1. Taylor Swift, Red<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Ronnie A’s Skyfalllllllll<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Less scores this year, instead sublime music/film moments<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Skyfall, Adele for the song and Thomas Newman for the score<br />
<br />
Anna Karenina, Dario Marianelli<br />
<br />
The Perks of Being a Wallflower, “Heroes” David Bowie<br />
<br />
Moonrise Kingdom<br />
<br />
Bernie, “Love Lifted Me” sung by Jack Black<br />
<br />
Not Fade Away, “Road Runner” sung by the Sex Pistols<br />
<br />
Searching for Sugar Man, Rodriguez<br />
<br />
Holy Motors, the accordion scene “Let My Baby Ride” and “Who Were We” sung by Kylie Minogue<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Hay is for Horses, But Hey Ho is for Nina S<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
"Essential" is a tough word to parse, and I tend to listen to music I've loved for years, or decades... but here are some 2012 releases I like:<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
1. The Lumineers, The Lumineers<br />
<br />
2. Carolina Chocolate Drops, Leaving Eden<br />
<br />
3. Grizzly Bear, Shields<br />
<br />
4. Tallest Man on Earth, There's No Leaving Now<br />
<br />
5. Mumford & Sons, Babel (though I like their first better)<br />
<br />
6. Janis Joplin, The Pearl Sessions (OK, it's a 2012 RErelease, but still knockout!)<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
More banjos than drums in this year's playlist. Hmm. And even a cello--thanks, Lumineers, for making the instrument I played in high school as hip as the bass guitar I secretly craved.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Kathleen P Weaves on the Lumineers<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
1. The Lumineers, The Lumineers<br />
<br />
2. Father John Misty, Fear Fun<br />
<br />
3. Tanlines, Mixed Emotions<br />
<br />
4. Of Monsters and Men, My Head is an Animal<br />
<br />
5. Lana Del Rey, Born to Die: The Paradise Edition<br />
<br />
6. Beach House, Bloom<br />
<br />
7. Jessie Baylin, Little Spark<br />
<br />
8. First Aid Kit, The Lion's Roar<br />
<br />
9. Alabama Shakes, Boys and Girls<br />
<br />
10. Nashville Cast, The Music of Nashville Original Soundtrack<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
John A Grins and Bears It<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
12. Lana Del Rey: Born to Die<br />
<br />
11. The Unwinding Hours: Afterlives<br />
<br />
10. Godspeed You! Black Emperor: Allelujah! Don't Bend! Ascend!<br />
<br />
9. alt-J: An Awesome Wave<br />
<br />
8. Bob Mould: Silver Age<br />
<br />
7. Tanlines: Mixed Emotions<br />
<br />
6. Divine Fits: A Thing Called Divine Fits<br />
<br />
5. Dirty Projectors: Swing Lo Magellan<br />
<br />
4. Cloud Nothings: Attack on Memory<br />
<br />
3. Animal Collective: Centipede Hz<br />
<br />
2. Frank Ocean: channel ORANGE<br />
<br />
1. Grizzly Bear: Shields<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Top 7 Seven Tracks of 2012<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
7. Alt-J: breezeblocks<br />
<br />
6. Frank Ocean: Lost<br />
<br />
5. Grimes: Oblivion<br />
<br />
4. Tame Impala: Feels Like We Only Go Backwards<br />
<br />
3. Bob Mould: Briefest Moment<br />
<br />
2. Grizzly Bear: Yet Again<br />
<br />
1. Animal Collective: Today's Supernatural<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Biggest Band Discoveries<br />
<br />
Foals<br />
<br />
Rogue Wave<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Emily S Hits Alt-J<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
For most essential album of the year I have a tie vote between Alt-J's An Awesome Wave and First Aid Kit's The Lion's Roar.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Melissa W Sees Red<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Albums:<br />
<br />
Taylor Swift, Red<br />
<br />
fun., Some Nights<br />
<br />
The Lumineers, The Lumineers<br />
<br />
Beach House, Bloom<br />
<br />
First Aid Kit, The Lion's Roar<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Individual Songs:<br />
<br />
Call Me Maybe, Carly Rae Jepsen (pref with this video, which I find heartwarming): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAQhG59zqZc<br />
<br />
Ho Hey, The Lumineers<br />
<br />
Starships, Nicki Minaj<br />
<br />
We Are Young, fun.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Justin S’s Fun-damental Choice<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
My nomination for the music poll is SOME NIGHTS by FUN.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Megan S is Perfectly Frank<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Top Albums of 2012<br />
<br />
1. Frank Ocean - Channel Orange<br />
<br />
2. Grizzly Bear - Shields<br />
<br />
3. Best Coast - The Only Place<br />
<br />
4. Cloud Nothings - Attack On Memory<br />
<br />
5. Fiona Apple - The Idler Wheel ......<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Older Albums I Discovered This Year<br />
<br />
1. Aretha Franklin - I Never Loved A Man(The Way I Loved You) (1967)<br />
<br />
2. Caetano Veloso - s/t (1986)<br />
<br />
3. Elton John - s/t (1970)<br />
<br />
4. Simon & Garfunkel - Bridge Over Troubled Water (1970)<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Top 10 Songs (Seven seemed like an odd place to cut it off so I did 10.) <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
1. My Blood - Ellie Goulding (I'm not even an Ellie Goulding fan and I can't believe this song hasn't been discovered yet! Heads and shoulders above Anything Can Happen.) <br />
<br />
2. Wasted Days - Cloud Nothings<br />
<br />
3. There's No Leaving Now - Tallest Man on Earth <br />
<br />
4. Emmylou - First Aid Kit <br />
<br />
5. Myth - Beach House<br />
<br />
6. The Only Place - Best Coast<br />
<br />
7. Laura - Bat for Lashes<br />
<br />
8. The House That Heaven Built - Japandroids<br />
<br />
9. Hold On - Alabama Shakes<br />
<br />
10. Hollywood Forever Cemetary Sings - Father John Misty<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Brant R is a Crazy Beach<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
My Essential Albums of 2012: <br />
<br />
Beach House/Bloom <br />
<br />
Wild Nothing/Nocturne <br />
<br />
King Tuff/King Tuff <br />
<br />
Cat Power/Sun <br />
<br />
Grizzly Bear/Shields <br />
<br />
The Raveonettes/Observator <br />
<br />
TV Girl/The Wild, the Innocent, and the TV Shuffle<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
My Essential Tracks of 2012: <br />
<br />
TV Girl/Diet-Coke <br />
<br />
Beach House/Other People <br />
<br />
King Tuff/Baby Just Break <br />
<br />
Tanlines/Lost Somewhere <br />
<br />
Wild Nothing/Nocturne <br />
<br />
Grizzly Bear/Yet Again <br />
<br />
Cat Power/Manhattan<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
My Essential Discoveries of 2012: <br />
<br />
Miike Snow/Miike Snow [2009] <br />
<br />
Black Lips/Arabian Mountain [2011] <br />
<br />
John Lennon/Some Time in New York City [1972] <br />
<br />
Youth Lagoon/The Year of Hibernation [2011] <br />
<br />
Buddy Holly/Buddy Holly [1958] <br />
<br />
Sonny Rollins/Way Out West [1957] <br />
<br />
Blouse/Blouse [2011]<br />
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<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Marisa P Won’t Switch Channels<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Essential Albums<br />
<br />
1. Frank Ocean, Channel Orange<br />
<br />
2. Solange, True EP<br />
<br />
3. Bruce Springsteen, Wrecking Ball<br />
<br />
4. Alabama Shakes, Boys & Girls<br />
<br />
5. Haim, Forever EP<br />
<br />
6. Taylor Swift, Red<br />
<br />
7. Ellie Goulding, Halycon<br />
<br />
8. FUN, Some Nights<br />
<br />
9. Miguel, Kaleidoscope Dream<br />
<br />
10. Best Coast, The Only Place<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Best Singles<br />
<br />
1. Gotye, Somebody That I Used to Know<br />
<br />
2. Taylor Swift, We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together<br />
<br />
3. Adele, Skyfall<br />
<br />
4. Florence & Calvin Harris, Sweet Nothing<br />
<br />
5. Grimes, Genesis<br />
<br />
6. Fun, Some Nights<br />
<br />
7. Rihanna, Stay<br />
<br />
8. Adorn, Miguel<br />
<br />
9. Carly Rae Jepson, Call Me Maybe<br />
<br />
10. Katy Perry, Part of Me<br />
<br />
11. 212, Azelia Banks<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Top Seven Songs<br />
<br />
1. Frank Ocean, Thinkin’ Bout You<br />
<br />
2. Solange, Losing You<br />
<br />
3. Ellie Goulding, Anything Can Happen<br />
<br />
4. Alabama Shakes, Hold On<br />
<br />
5. Bruce Springsteen, Wrecking Ball<br />
<br />
6. Haim, Forever<br />
<br />
7. Another Love, Tom Odell<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Joseph H Blooms<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Beach House - Bloom<br />
<br />
Sigur Ros - Valtari<br />
<br />
Grimes - Visions<br />
<br />
Grizzly Bear - Shields<br />
<br />
Alt-J - An Awesome Wave<br />
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Passion Pit – Gosamner<br />
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<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Siobhan V in da House<br />
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<br />
Beach House, Bloom<br />
<br />
Fiona Apple, The Idler Wheel...<br />
<br />
Wild Nothings, Nocturne<br />
<br />
Apollo Ghosts, Landmark<br />
<br />
Neil Halstead, Palindrome Hunches<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Biggest Letdown of 2012: a tie! THE XX, coexist SHINS, Port of Morrow<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU GONE?!? Camera Obscura<br />
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<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Andy M on Mars<br />
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<br />
The Mars Volta, Noctourniquet<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
TMV's best album in years. And, sadly, their swan song. To mourn their break-up, this is my only submission. <br />
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<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Andrew H Watches the Wheels<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Most Essential Albums:<br />
<br />
1. Fiona Apple, The Idler Wheel<br />
<br />
2. Pink, The Truth About Love<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Honorary Beatific Mention:<br />
<br />
- Regina Spektor, What We Saw from the Cheap Seats<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Top Seven Songs of the Year:<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
1. “Shut Eye” – Stealing Sheep<br />
<br />
2. “Navajo” – Ponderosa<br />
<br />
3. “Hot Knife” – Fiona Apple<br />
<br />
4. “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” – Taylor Swift<br />
<br />
5. “Angels” – The XX<br />
<br />
6. “Let’s Have a Kiki” – Scissor Sisters<br />
<br />
7. “Ho Hey” – The Lumineers<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Most Essential Songs that are a) covers and b) from previous years but nevertheless c) what I listened to most often:<br />
<br />
1. “Take Care” – Florence + the Machine<br />
<br />
2. “A Boy from School” – Grizzly Bear<br />
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<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Preeti C Has a Chip on Her iPod <br />
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<br />
<br />
Essential album of 2012: <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Hot Chip, In Our Heads<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Essential Songs: <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Blur, Under the West Way<br />
<br />
A.R. Rahman, Heer<br />
<br />
M.I.A. Bad Girls<br />
<br />
Hot Chip, Look At Where We are <br />
<br />
Los Encantados, Maritime<br />
<br />
Fun., Some Nights<br />
<br />
Nas, Bye Bye Baby<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Jonas R Fears Fun AND Chooses Fun<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I definitely found myself listening to tracks more than albums this year - so I'm happy to contribute to this year's definitive mix as well. Since I fear some of my favorite songs may not get enough votes to warrant a place on the list, I implore you to play the track "My Bonneville," by Annie and the Beekeepers. It captures all the joy of being 16 and inheriting your first car, not necessarily a dream car, but more than you ever dreamed of.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
OK, here goes...<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Top Albums<br />
<br />
1. Fun, Some Nights<br />
<br />
2. Father John Misty, Fear Fun<br />
<br />
3. Best Coast, The Only Place<br />
<br />
4. Jack White, Blunderbuss<br />
<br />
5. First Aid Kit, The Lion's Roar<br />
<br />
6. The Shins, Port of Morrow<br />
<br />
7. Annie and the Beekeepers, My Bonneville<br />
<br />
8. Japandroids, Celebration Rock<br />
<br />
9. M. Ward, A Wasteland Companion<br />
<br />
10. Off!, OFF!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Top Songs - mostly a list of title tracks...<br />
<br />
1. Annie and the Beekeepers, My Bonneville<br />
<br />
2. Father John Misty, I'm Learning to Love the War<br />
<br />
3. Best Coast, The Only Place<br />
<br />
4. Fun, Some Nights<br />
<br />
5. Jack White, Freedom at 21<br />
<br />
6. Ben Folds Five, Erase Me<br />
<br />
7. The Ting Tings, Hit Me Down Sonny<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Lauren S Belongs To You, And You Belong to Her<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
My favorite albums this year:<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
1. The Lumineers, The Lumineers<br />
<br />
2. Mumford & Sons, Babel<br />
<br />
3. Imagine Dragons, Night Visions<br />
<br />
4. Morning Parade, Morning Parade<br />
<br />
5. Of Monsters & Men, My Head is an Animal<br />
<br />
6. Kopecky Family Band, Kids Raising Kids<br />
<br />
7. Various Artists, The Hunger Games (Songs from District 12 and Beyond)<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Favorite songs of the year (in no particular order):<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The Lumineers, Stubborn Love<br />
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Mumford & Sons, Hopeless Wanderer<br />
<br />
Morning Parade, Born Alone<br />
<br />
Imagine Dragons, Radioactive<br />
<br />
Daughter, Run<br />
<br />
The Heavy, Same Ol'<br />
<br />
Santigold, Disparate Youth<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Favorite Older Album I Wish I'd Discovered Sooner: James Vincent McMorrow, Early in the Morning (2011).<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Nick E Shows His Preferences<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
1. Earlimart, System Preferences<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Man, I could swear Elliott Smith worked on this album. Is that just me? It's maybe not groundbreaking, but it's strong from start to finish, shows some nice variety, and feels like something I'd have loved in college but with a fresh coat of paint. I wouldn't recommend it to everyone, but it's kind of perfect for me.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
2. Jens Lekman, I Know What Love Isn't<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
In my opinion, Jens has never quite replicated the perfection of his first album -- which is really my way of saying that I like him as a total underdog sad sack. This album comes close to those good old days. Fun lyrics across the board, and enough somber songs to balance out the louder, more exuberant stuff. Also, Flatbush Avenue Target name-checked!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
3. The Magnetic Fields, Love at the Bottom of the Sea<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The good songs on this album are phenomenal. I can't imagine living in a world without "Andrew in Drag." But as usual with TMF in recent years, the bad songs are just as numerous as the good and, like a just-okay joke, not worth a replay once you know the punchline.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
4. The XX, Coexist<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
A bit too muted to rank higher -- the lyrics have hardly registered with me at this point, but it's a beautiful album I'll continue to listen to for some time, I'm sure. Unless I forget about it….<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
5. Neil Halstead, Palindrome Hunches<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The individual tracks blend together a bit too much, but hey, he's really good at what he does. Perfectly enjoyable and occasionally devastating -- though I hope his next project takes him in a new direction. It's time, Neil!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Song of the year:<br />
<br />
Scissor Sisters, "Let's Have a Kiki"<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I'm a bit sick of it at the moment, but for the rest of my life, whenever I hear it, I will remember 2012.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Pop mix track of the year:<br />
<br />
Katy Perry, "Wide Awake"<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
There's always one song that makes me want to do drag, and this year, this is it.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Andrea R Heads to the Beach<br />
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<br />
Beach House, Bloom<br />
<br />
Metric, Synthetica<br />
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Ellie Goulding, Halcyon<br />
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Father John Misty, Fear Fun<br />
<br />
Santigold, Master of Our Make Believe<br />
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Alt-J, An Awesome Wave<br />
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Frank Ocean, Channel Orange<br />
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Purity Ring, Shrines<br />
<br />
Now Now, Threads<br />
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The xx, Coexist<br />
<br />
Gotye, Making Mirrors<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Top songs:<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Ellie Goulding, "Only You"<br />
<br />
Alt-J, "Fitzpleasure"<br />
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Father John Misty, "Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings"<br />
<br />
Sea Wolf, "Old Friend"<br />
<br />
Santigold, "Disparate Youth"<br />
<br />
Purity Ring, "Lofticries"<br />
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Passion Pit, "It's Not My Fault, I'm Happy"<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Billy M is a Young Man in America<br />
<br />
Young man in America - Anais Mitchell <br />
<br />
Not our kind of people - Garbage <br />
<br />
Hunger Games soundtrack <br />
<br />
Fiona apple – The Idler Wheel<br />
<br />
Rufus Wainwright – Out of the Game<br />
<br />
Bat for Lashes – The Haunted Man<br />
<br />
Glen Hansard – Rhythm and Repose<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Dan P and His Incorruptible Heart<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Lavender Diamond - Incorruptible Heart<br />
<br />
Beach House - Bloom<br />
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Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros - Here<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Christopher P’s Version of Events<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
1. Emeli Sande "Our Version of Events"<br />
<br />
2. Paloma Faith "Fall to Grace"<br />
<br />
3. Marina & the Diamonds "Electra Heart"<br />
<br />
4. Lana del Rey "Born to Die"<br />
<br />
5. Ellie Goulding "Halcyon"<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Benjamin W Has Some Old Ideas<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
1. Leonard Cohen, Old Ideas<br />
<br />
2. Niki and the Dove, The Fox<br />
<br />
3. Frank Ocean, Channel Orange<br />
<br />
4. Kendrick Lamar, Good Kid M.A.A.D City<br />
<br />
5. Jack White, Blunderbuss<br />
<br />
6. Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, Here<br />
<br />
7. David Byrne & St. Vincent, Love This Giant<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
And, of course, the song from my mom's book trailer. Whoever made it is a genius.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Giles G is Thinking About Frank<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
1. Frank Ocean, Channel Orange<br />
<br />
2. Fiona Apple, The Idler Wheel...<br />
<br />
3. Kendrick Lamar, good kid, m.A.A.d city<br />
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4. Mumford & Sons, Babel<br />
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5. Beach House, Bloom<br />
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<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Dash G Surfs to This Ocean<br />
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<br />
<br />
Artist: Frank Ocean<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Albums:<br />
<br />
Channel-Orange-Frank Ocean<br />
<br />
good kid, m.A.A.d city-Kendrick Lamar<br />
<br />
Cruel Summer-Good Music<br />
<br />
Babel-Mumford and Sons<br />
<br />
The Heist-Macklemore and Ryan Lewis<br />
<br />
Royalty-Childish Gambino<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Bob B On Fire<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
"Where The Kids Are" by Blondefire.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Joel P<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Top 5 Albums (for nostalgia’s sake, because we don’t really listen to music as albums anymore, do we? I included one mixtape that really isn’t an album. Sue me.)<br />
<br />
1. Metric , Synthetica<br />
<br />
- Undeniably my most-listened-to album of the year, and a gem from start to finish. Perfect as an album, it flows from start to finish, the lyrics are brilliant and give me frequent frissons, the sound so heartfelt that it always makes me feel infinite. One of my all-time favorites.<br />
<br />
2. Kishi Bashi, 151a<br />
<br />
- Creative, fun, touching. A great listen start to finish with original ideas that surprise you around every turn, like a reinvented, accessible Animal Collective.<br />
<br />
3. King Charles, LoveBlood<br />
<br />
- In a year where the Lumineers and Mumford made watered down folk music boring and ubiquitious, King Charles played around with the forms and made something a lot more interesting.<br />
<br />
4. fun., Some Nights<br />
<br />
- You’re just dumb and full of your hipster self if this isn’t in your year-end-countdown. Nate Ruess has been making awesome music since the beginning of The Format and his music deserves the mainstream attention it’s getting. No other album was more rousing, more unafraid, more universal in the best possible way.<br />
<br />
5. Azealia Banks, Fantasea<br />
<br />
- Hit or miss, but when it hits (with Fierce, Esta Noche, Luxury, 1991, etc.) it’s amazing. And she’s hands-down this year’s breakout artist. If only she can keep it going…<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Honorable Mentions:<br />
<br />
Japandroids, Celebration Rock<br />
<br />
Imagine Dragons, Night Visions<br />
<br />
The xx, Coexist<br />
<br />
Die Antwoord, Ten$ion<br />
<br />
Wild Cub, Youth<br />
<br />
Death Grips, The Money Store<br />
<br />
Alt-J, An Awesome Wave<br />
<br />
Angel Haze, New York EP<br />
<br />
Emeli Sande, Our Version of Events<br />
<br />
Rye Rye, Go! Pop! Bang!<br />
<br />
Two Door Cinema Club, Beacon<br />
<br />
Mika, The Origin of Love<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Most overrated artist of the year: Frank Ocean<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Seriously someone just stab me in the ear if I have to hear about his whiny mediocrity one more god damn time. I don’t care that he said he sucked a dick for some free album promotion, the guy’s lame.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Singles:<br />
<br />
1. Cha-Ching by Imagine Dragons<br />
<br />
- NO ONE HAS HEARD THIS SONG. And it’s insanely amazing! It was an extra (I think) that was only added to the Spotify album and it’s so finger-snappingly infectious that I definitely listened to it nine million times this year.<br />
<br />
2. 212 by Azealia Banks<br />
<br />
3. Some Nights by Fun<br />
<br />
4. Breathing Underwater by Metric<br />
<br />
5. Went Away by The Maccabees<br />
<br />
6. Sleep Alone by Two Door Cinema Club<br />
<br />
7. I Don’t Recall by Lavender Diamond<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
LoveBlood by King Charles, Thunder Clatter and Colour by Wild Cub, New York by Angel Haze, Send Me Down by Haim, Hero by Family of the Year, Taro by Alt-J, Manchester and Bright Whites by Kishi Bashi, White Foxes by Susanne Sundfor, Heart Attack by Asteroid Galaxy Tour, Dum Dum by Baauer, Can’t Say No by Conor Maynard, Monopoly by Danny Brown, Next to Me by Emeli Sande, The House that Heaven Built by Japandroids, How to Be a Heartbreaker by Marina and the Diamonds, Tightrope by Walk the Moon, Elephant by Tame Impala, Losing You by Solange, Bangs by Brick + Mortar, 40oz Bounce by Krueger, The Veldt by Deadmau5, Faithless by Heavenly Beat<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Tis the Season for Kristin E<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Singles<br />
<br />
fun., We Are Young (because it had the power to make me feel younger than Paul Rudd and Leslie Mann)<br />
<br />
Beth Orton, Call Me the Breeze<br />
<br />
Gotye, Somebody That I Used to Know<br />
<br />
A. C. Newman, I'm Not Talking<br />
<br />
Carly Rae Jepsen, Call Me Maybe<br />
<br />
Aimee Mann, Labrador (the video boosts its single power)<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Albums<br />
<br />
Beth Orton Sugaring Season<br />
<br />
A. C. Newman, Shut Down the Streets<br />
<br />
Inner Banks, Wild<br />
<br />
fun., Some Nights<br />
<br />
Beach House, Bloom<br />
<br />
Wild Nothing, Nocturne<br />
<br />
Aimee Mann, Charmer<br />
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davidlevithanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00762768300871943772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1509734071563017124.post-23911068660261199902012-01-17T13:52:00.000-08:002012-01-17T14:27:30.635-08:00The 2011 David Music Poll Results<strong>The 2011 David Music Poll Results</strong>
<br />
<br />1. Adele, 21 (42 votes)
<br />2. Bon Iver, Bon Iver (29)
<br />3. Florence + the Machine, Ceremonials (25)
<br />4. The Decemberists, The King is Dead (17)
<br />5. Fleet Foxes, Helplessness Blues (15)
<br />6. M83, Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming (10)
<br />Cults, Cults (10)
<br />Radiohead, King of Limbs (10)
<br />Lady Gaga, Born This Way (10)
<br />
<br />Runners up: Death Cab for Cutie, Codes and Keys (8), Lykki Li, Wounded Rhymes (8), The Weeknd, House of Balloons (8), PJ Harvey, Let England Shake (7), Feist, Metals (7), The Head and the Heart, The Head and the Heart (7)
<br />
<br />Notes: We had 89 respondents this year, and two impressive feats for Adele here. Ahe ekes out the highest vote total in the history of the poll (beating 2007’s The Neon Bible by Arcade Fire by one vote). And, for the first time in thirteen years, the collective poll’s top choice matches my own. As many of you say: It was Adele’s year. So how could we resist? Bon Iver, Florence + the Machine, and Fleet Foxes had strong showings for second albums, which is not always the case in the music poll (Arcade Fire notwithstanding). Radiohead hit the list for the fourth time – a first that Death Cab for Cutie would have matched if they’d gotten two more votes.
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /><strong>My choices leave me Rolling in the Deep</strong>
<br />
<br />I must confess that this was not a particularly great music year for me. Good, yes. Great, no. I think any of my top four from last year would have beat the following for #1 this year. But so it goes. There’s still a lot to be happy about.
<br />
<br />(1) Adele, 21
<br />
<br />It’s a great album, and I spent the first half of the year listening to it fairly nonstop. And if contains at least three undeniably great songs (hello, “Rolling in the Deep”, “Turning Tables”, and “Someone Like You” – all of which will be played fifty years from now.) If I’m at all hesitant, it’s because Adele fatigue has set in – I’m ready to not listen to this for a while. But for posterity’s sake, it would be ridiculous of me to not recognize this as the album that was most essential to my year.
<br />
<br />Best tracks: “Someone Like You”, “Turning Tables”, “Rolling in the Deep”
<br />
<br />(2) Florence + the Machine, Ceremonials
<br />
<br />Ultimately, this will probably prove more important to me than Adele’s album . . . but it hasn’t quite broken through to that point yet. I imagine I’m being unfair to it, like a parent who is secretly disappointed that the second child isn’t quite as awesome as the first one. Lungs is going to end up being one of my favorite albums of all time; I suspect Ceremonials will end up being (when I look back) one of my favorite albums of 2011. I also don’t know whether or not to count the bonus tracks on the deluxe edition of the album, which aren’t nearly as good as the album proper. But putting that aside, it’s still a stunner. And “Shake it Out” came close to being my song of the year.
<br />
<br />Best tracks: “Shake it Out”, “No Light, No Light”, “What the Water Gave Me”
<br />
<br />(3) Death Cab for Cutie, Codes and Keys
<br />
<br />Just as my love for Lungs makes me too critical of Ceremonials, my disappointment in Narrow Stairs probably made me like Codes and Keys more. It’s indie pop at its best, with songs like “Some Boys” adding an edge to the romanticism.
<br />
<br />Best tracks: “Some Boys”, “Codes and Keys”, “Stay Young, Go Dancing”
<br />
<br />(4) Lykke Li, Wounded Rhymes
<br />
<br />Although there would be echoes of it in albums that came out later in the year, what struck me most about Wounded Rhymes was its singular sound – merging the Spector touch with indie rock to make music that harkened back to Be My Baby while at the same time feeling very now. Sexy, sad, and Swedish.
<br />
<br />Best tracks: “Sadness is a Blessing”, “Youth Knows No Pain”, “Get Some”
<br />
<br />Honorable mention:
<br />
<br />Bon Iver, Bon Iver
<br />Feist, Metals
<br />Alexi Murdoch, Towards the Sun
<br />
<br />The Firework Award for Song That Made Me Happiest This Year: Kelly Clarkson’s “What Doesn’t Kill You (Stronger)”
<br />
<br />Songs of the Year (not counting those mentioned above):
<br />
<br />Matt Nathanson, “Kiss Quick”
<br />The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, “Heart in Your Heartbreak”
<br />The Head and the Heart, “Rivers and Roads”
<br />Avril Lavigne, “I Love You”
<br />Fleet Foxes, “Helplessness Blues”
<br />Robyn, “Every Teardrop is a Waterfall” (Coldplay cover)
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /><strong>Rumor Has Rachel L’s Picks</strong>
<br />
<br />1. Adele, 21
<br />2. Christina Perri, Lovestrong
<br />3. Coldplay, Mylo Xyloto
<br />
<br />
<br /><strong>Elisa votes for Civilians</strong>
<br />
<br />1. Wye Oak, Civilian
<br />2. tUnE-yArDs, Whokill
<br />3. Light Asylum, In Tension (EP)
<br />4. Shabazz Palaces, Black Up
<br />5. EMA, Past Martyred Saints
<br />6. PJ Harvey, Let England Shake
<br />7. Sons and Daughters, Mirror Mirror
<br />8. Wild Flag, S/T
<br />9. Das Racist, Relax
<br />10. Kate Bush, Director's Cut
<br />
<br />
<br /><strong>So Beautiful, So Sarah W. Says</strong>
<br />
<br />Most Essential: Paul Simon, So Beautiful, So What
<br />
<br />
<br /><strong>Anna Q Lets It Shake</strong>
<br />
<br />Adele, 21
<br />
<br />
<br />Civil Wars, Barton Hollow
<br />
<br />
<br />Corinne Bailey Rae, The Sea*
<br />
<br />
<br />Decemberists, The King Is Dead
<br />
<br />
<br />Feist, Metals
<br />
<br />
<br />PJ Harvey, Let England Shake
<br />
<br />
<br />Florence and the Machine, Lungs*
<br />
<br />
<br />Gaby Moreno, Illustrated Songs
<br />
<br />(*- not 2011 releases, but listened to throughout 2011)
<br />
<br />
<br /><strong>Andrew H Stands on Ceremonials</strong>
<br />
<br />Most Essential Album
<br />Florence + The Machine, Ceremonials
<br />But Most Essential Song
<br />Lana Del Ray, “Video Games”
<br />Other Essential Albums
<br />Bon Iver, Bon Iver
<br />Various Artists, The Breaking Dawn Soundtrack (with no apologies – it’s boot-stompingly, heart-chillingly fantastic)
<br />
<br />
<br /><strong>Steven M’s Diamond Life</strong>
<br />
<br />10. Cass McCombs, Wit's End - not sure how I've missed this guy (this is his fifth record). Singer-songwriter stuff, but pretty sparse, depressing, slow and dark. I find it captivating, and love his voice, although it sort of peters out by the end. Maybe would have been the album Harry Nilsson would be making if he was still around and backed up by The Clientele. <a title="blocked::http://www.youtube.com/watch?v="" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOcnITphyjk&ob=av2e" target="_blank" ob="av2e">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOcnITphyjk&ob=av2e</a>
<br />
<br />9. Radiohead, The King of Limbs. Full disclosure - they are my favorite band. I would buy just about anything they put out, no questions asked. Naturally, I eagerly anticipated this 2011 release and devoured it as soon as I got it. I have mixed emotions about it - I love the last four songs, but the first four don't do as much for me. The first four are amazing and a tremendous achievement, meaning I can't imagine any other band being able to play and construct those songs. However, other than "Little by Little," they seem to be missing something, namely a memorable hook or melody line for me. In some ways, they are in another world musically, not needing the typical song constructs to make their point. As for the final four tunes, I love them, they're so complex yet accessible. "Give up the Ghost" sounds like a long lost Neil Young tune, great touch. Here's the last tune on the record, a little disconcerting, the video is backwards, everyone plays left handed: <a title="blocked::http://www.youtube.com/watch?v="" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaVylBJQsro" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaVylBJQsro</a> Can't wait to see them on tour in 2012 if I'm lucky enough. No band comes close. Still have no idea why they added a second drummer though...
<br />
<br />8. Feist, Metals. At first, this didn't grab me like it has at this point. I think things changed after seeing her live on this tour - I understand what she's trying to do a little more - use the vocals instead of other instruments to solo. I was hoping for another "The Reminder," but this is a departure from that. I especially love the background vocals throughout the record, pretty amazing. This could have been at the top of the list if it had a stronger single. With a single on par with "Mushaboom," this could have been a classic record. Still, really well-written and sung tunes, just a little too slow to bring out her best. She's still the best female rock star. <a title="blocked::http://www.youtube.com/watch?v="" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INtvoVTYeGc" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INtvoVTYeGc</a>
<br />
<br />7. Lykke Li, Wounded Rhymes - I have the record she made before this, which I enjoy, but she made a big step on this record - much more consistent in both quality and as a record as a whole. I definitely enjoy the record more than the concert, which I thought became tiresome. I really like the influences on this record - '60's Rock and roll, heavy percussive drums, never as present as in <a title="blocked::http://www.youtube.com/watch?v="" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7hqiiKwuJE" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7hqiiKwuJE</a>
<br />
<br />6. Little Scream, The Golden Record - Wow, when did this list turn into the "Lilith Faire," with three female artists in a row? Not as surprising as my three Swedish artists in a row in '10's list, but interesting nonetheless. As far as I can tell, Little Scream is, like Feist, from Montreal. Some of these songs are really really good, and the performances are great. No telling what the ceiling is for Little Scream, the songs are varied, not formulaic and all hit the mark. My favorite song isn't necessarily the best, but my favorite because its very Townshend/Who-ish, judge for yourself: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zafwnCzuO9M My hope for the years to come is for Little Scream to team up with Thom Yorke, what a combination that would be.
<br />
<br />5. Dawes, Nothing is Wrong - Solid songwriting from an LA band - nothing incendiary, but a good listen, Americana/roots music-style. Like Lykke Li, the better performance is on the record, they could tighten things up live. Perhaps a little too Jackson Browne/classic rock sounding, but hey one of the great revelations in the Keith Richards' book is that he listened to "Running on Empty" ("We were in the Pathé Marconi studios because they were owned by EMI, with whom we'd just made a big deal. This one was way on the outskirts of town in Boulogne-Billancourt, near the Renault factory; nothing around like restaurants or bars. It was a car ride, and I remember that I was listening to Jackson Browne's Running on Empty on a daily commuter basis."). In fact, this song has him on it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdjxDLZrtKQ. Like the harmonies between the two brothers, including the drummer.
<br />4. The Naked and Famous, Passive Me Agressive You: it's about time a Kiwi band made it back on the list. Just a fun record, good time music, a good tonic for just about every record preceding this on the list. What they lack in musical chops they more than make up in energy, sophmoric mostly, but without sounding teenage. Good mostly synth party record. Not the greatest song, but what a great title in "A Wolf in Geek's Clothing." You had me at "A Wolf..." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQOwFyGG9Bc
<br />
<br />3. Belle Brigade, Belle Brigade - The opener on the now legendary Belle Brigade/Dawes/Blitzen Trapper show this Fall at the Fillmore, I had no expectations. However, the band was hot, performances and vocals spectacular, what a great set. Definitely glad we got there early that night. At that point, I already had the record, and enjoyed it. From the record, I hadn't put it together that the singers are brother and sister. But instead playing Phil and Don, its more of a Nash and Crosby harmony sound, they actually shoot for a CSN sound and pull it off. To credit the vocals for the success of the record is shortsighted - the songs are strong alt.country with inspired performances. Once they get some more tunes under their belt, they could be a force. Quite a debut record. Here's a song with them without the band. In the bath. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1p7EG65tf4
<br />
<br />2. Nick Lowe, The Old Magic - I spent a lot of the first part of the year listening to Nick Lowe's back catalog, finding my favorites being the later half of his career. I went to a memorable Elvis Costello this summer and Elvis played "Peace, Love, and Understanding," introducing it as written by England's greatest songwriter - Nick Lowe. From that point on, I was excited about "The Old Magic," and he, as usual, didn't disappoint. Shelagh and I were lucky enough to see him play the record solo at the Great American Music Hall, and the songs and performance were charming and impeccable. He makes songwriting seem so easy. Each song is fantastic, though the 50's songs are probably one too many, but that's nitpicking. What I would do to be able to write a song like "Stoplight Roses" or "House For Sale (at 9:12 of http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKhawkQQQmY)." He's also kind enough to throw in "The Poisoned Rose," from my favorite Elvis record, "King of America." He opened up for Wilco this year on tour, must have been a hell of a show.
<br />
<br />1. King Creosote & Jon Hopkins, Diamond Mine - This was one of the last records I heard this year, and am so glad I was able to find it. Just absolutely mesmerizing. When I play it in iTunes, it comes up as "electronica," but I believe its the "folkiest" record I've bought in years. It's a mix of Creosote's stripped down songs and Hopkins' smart production and electronic input, somewhat like Alan Parson's additions to "Dark Side of the Moon." Creosote himself decribes it as a ""soundtrack to a romanticized version of a life lived in a Scottish coastal village, the record weaves in slices of life, bike wheels, spring tides, tea cups and cafe chatter." One of those records I wish was a little longer, just an intense atmosphere of a Scottish world through words, music and effects. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJ723RFTe4Q
<br />
<br />Best music moment of the year - Without a doubt, the highlight of the year, musically speaking, was getting a chance to meet THE Brian Wilson at Amoeba Records, as he signed a copy of the recently released "Smile" for me. Other than Mozart himself arising from the dead, I can't imagine meeting a bigger musical hero. What a thrill, I couldn't have been happier, and all he said to me was, "your welcome."
<br />
<br />My favorite two songs of the year were Mogwai's "White Noise" the (naturally) instrumental opener from the best named record of the year, "Hardcore Will Never Die But You Will: <a title="blocked::http://www.youtube.com/watch?v="" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ovFDMCPoHQ;" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ovFDMCPoHQ;</a> and Low's "Try To Sleep" from "C'Mon": <a title="blocked::http://www.youtube.com/watch?v="" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXgc0I0zsYs" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXgc0I0zsYs</a> (best use of Stamos since "Stepbrothers").
<br />
<br />
<br /><strong>Ben W Turns Some Tables</strong>
<br />
<br />1. Adele, 21
<br />2. Fleet Foxes, Helplessness Blues
<br />3. Beyonce, 4
<br />4. Jay Z and Kanye West, Watch the Throne
<br />5. Lady Gaga, Born this Way
<br />6. Paul Simon, So Beautiful or So What
<br />7. Radiohead, King of Limbs
<br />8. The Decemberists, The King is Dead
<br />
<br />Favorite new band is Aunt Martha.
<br />
<br />
<br /><strong>Ned V. Strikes Out for the Riviera</strong>
<br />
<br />Most essential:
<br />
<br />Metronomy, The English Riviera
<br />
<br />Other essential:
<br />The Strokes, Angles
<br />
<br />Rock on!
<br />
<br />
<br /><strong>Stewart L, Blake Baby</strong>
<br />
<br />1) Jonsi, Go*
<br />2) James Blake, James Blake
<br />3) Imogen Heap, Ellipse*
<br />4) Kate Bush, 50 Words For Snow
<br />5) Mike Doughty, Yes And Also Yes
<br />6) One Eskimo, One Eskimo, EP
<br />7) Mat Kearny, Young Love
<br />8) Radical Face, Ghost
<br />9) Thom Yorke, The Eraser*
<br />10) Gregory Alan Isakov, This Empty Northern Hemisphere
<br />
<br />
<br />(*- not 2011 releases, but listened to throughout 2011)
<br />
<br />
<br /><strong>Megan B’s Essentials: DeCoded</strong>
<br />
<br />So here are my essential albums for 2011:
<br />
<br />1. Death Cab for Cutie, Codes and Keys
<br />2. Foo Fighters, Wasting Light
<br />3. Adele, 21
<br />4. Florence and the Machine, Ceremonials
<br />5. Radiohead, King of Limbs
<br />Singles:1. Death Cab for Cutie, Stay Young Go Dancing2. Adele, Rolling in the Deep3. Florence and the Machine, What the Water Gave Me4. Black Keyes, Lonely Boy5. Beastie Boys featuring Santigold, Don't Play No Game That I Can't Win6. Young the Giant, Cough Syrup
<br />
<br />
<br /><strong>Jeff S, Arch Loafer</strong>
<br />
<br />Here’s my top 10 for the year:
<br />
<br />1. Archers of Loaf, Icky Mettle reissue! / Can, Tago Mago reissue! / Superchunk, Foolish reissue!
<br />
<br />2. The Weeknd, House of Balloons & Thursday
<br />
<br />3. Youth Lagoon, The Year of Hibernation
<br />
<br />4. Battles, Gloss Drop
<br />
<br />5. The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, Belong
<br />
<br />6. PJ Harvey, Let England Shake
<br />
<br />7. Iceage, New Brigade
<br />
<br />8. Bon Iver, Bon Iver
<br />
<br />9. Holy Ghost, Holy Ghost
<br />
<br />10. Fucked Up, David Comes to Life
<br />
<br />
<br /><strong>Aimee F. Finds Someone Like You</strong>
<br />
<br />These are my shameless-pop single picks:
<br />
<br />
<br />Obvious, but: SOMEONE LIKE YOU (Adele)
<br />
<br />It’s sort of terrible, but can’t stop listening: MOVES LIKE JAGGER (Maroon 5)
<br />
<br />Ditto: S&M (Rihanna)
<br />
<br />THE EDGE OF GLORY (Gaga)
<br />
<br />I WANNA GO and TILL THE WORLD ENDS (Britney)
<br />
<br />PARTY ROCK ANTHEM (LMFAO)
<br />
<br />Clearly I was in a dancing mood this year…
<br />
<br /><strong>
<br />Dan P Rages for the Machine
<br /></strong>
<br />This one's easy:
<br />
<br />1. Florence + the Machine, Ceremonials
<br />2. Bon Iver, Bon Iver
<br />3. Patrick Wolf, Lupercalia
<br />4. Adele, 21
<br />
<br />One I missed from last year:
<br />The Naked and Famous, Passive Me Agressive You
<br />
<br />And some with future potential:
<br />Katie Herzig, The Waking Sleep
<br />Youth Lagoon, The Year of Hibernation
<br />
<br />
<br /><strong>Corey W, Bon Vivant</strong>
<br />
<br />My most essential album for the year:
<br />
<br />1. Bon Iver, Bon Iver
<br />
<br />Best Single of the Year:
<br />
<br />1. "We Are Young," Fun, Some Nights
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /><strong>Wye? Because Jon S Loves Them!</strong>
<br />
<br />The number ten cannot contain my favorite albums for the year!
<br />
<br />12. Fucked Up, David Comes to Life
<br />11. Times New Viking, Dancer Equired
<br />10. Wild Flag, Wild Flag
<br />9. Wavves, Life Sux
<br />8. Zola Jesus, Conatus
<br />7. Tom Waits, Bad As Me
<br />6. EMA, Past Life Martyred Saints
<br />5. Lykke Li, Wounded Rhymes
<br />4. Bon Iver, Bon Iver
<br />3. Youth Lagoon, The Year of Hibernation
<br />2. tUnE yArDs, w h o k i l l
<br />
<br />And my favorite album of the year, from a band who I've always loved and who I have watched mature over the course of several albums into artists I hope will be a lasting influence on rock music:
<br />
<br />1. Wye Oak, Civilian
<br />
<br />
<br /><strong>Kate H’s Bon Mots</strong>
<br />
<br />#1: Bon Iver, Bon Iver
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />runners up:
<br />
<br />
<br />Radiohead, King of Limbs
<br />
<br />
<br />Other Lives, Tamer Animals
<br />
<br />
<br />The Black Keys, El Camino
<br />
<br />
<br />Feist, Metals
<br />
<br />
<br />Danger Mouse and Daniele Luppi, Rome
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />discoveries from previous years:
<br />
<br />
<br />Gayngs, Relayted
<br />
<br />
<br />The XX, XX
<br />
<br />
<br />Doomtree, Doomtree
<br />
<br />
<br />Four Tet, There Is Love In You
<br />
<br />
<br /><strong>Lucas K Hurries Up His Choices</strong>
<br />
<br />1. M83, Hurry Up We're Dreaming
<br />2. The Antlers, Burst Apart
<br />3. Cut Copy, Zonoscope
<br />4. The Go! Team, Rolling Blackouts
<br />5. The Mountain Goats, All Eternals Deck
<br />6. The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, Belong
<br />7. The Decemberists, The King is Dead
<br />8. Jay-Z/Kanye West, Watch the Throne
<br />9. Fleet Foxes, Helplessness Blues
<br />10. Sebastian, Total
<br />
<br />
<br /><strong>Michael T is Workng for the Weeknd
<br /></strong>
<br />Here is a list (in descending order) of my favorite albums and songs of the year.
<br />
<br />1. The Weeknd: House of Balloons
<br />2. Cults: Cults
<br />3. tUnE-yArDs: whokill
<br />4. James Blake: James Blake
<br />5. Bon Iver: Bon Iver
<br />
<br />Singles:
<br />1. Azealia Banks: 212
<br />2. Fun.: We Are Young
<br />3. Foster the People: Pumped Up Kicks
<br />4. Laura Marling: Sophia
<br />5. Cut Copy: Need You Now
<br />
<br />
<br /><strong>Jeff H Rolls Some Stones</strong>
<br />
<br />Didn't hear alot of the bigger albums this year but I really liked....
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Raphael Saadiq, Stone Rollin
<br />
<br />
<br />Adele, 21
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Yeesh, that Adele pick makes me feel so middle of the road. But what can you do? It's good.
<br />
<br />
<br /><strong>Bright Eyes Has the Key to Josh B’s Heart</strong>
<br />
<br />My essential albums of 2011 are:
<br />
<br />Bright Eyes, The People's Key
<br />PJ Harvey, Let England Shake
<br />Wilco, The Whole Love
<br />
<br />Bright Eyes is my favorite, even with the weird rambling speeches by a possibly insane person between the songs.
<br />
<br />
<br /><strong>Jinny W Finds Music For a Time of War</strong>
<br />
<br />Here are my picks:
<br />
<br />1. Carlos Kalmar and the Oregon Symphony, Music for a Time of War.
<br />
<br />2. Emerson String Quartet, Mozart's Prussian Quartets.
<br />
<br />3. Takacs String Quartet, Haydn Quartets Op. 71.
<br />
<br />
<br /><strong>Dissing Places, Kody K Votes for People and Things</strong>
<br />
<br />Albums:
<br />1. Jack's Mannequin, People and Things
<br />2. The Civil Wars, Barton Hallow
<br />3. Adele, 21
<br />4. All Time Low, Dirty Work
<br />5. Lady Gaga, Born This Way
<br />6. Jessie J, Who You Are
<br />
<br />Best Import:
<br />Birdy, Birdy
<br />
<br />Best Singles:
<br />1. Fun, We Are Young
<br />2. Taylor Swift ft. The Civil Wars, Safe and Sound
<br />3. Snow Patrol, New York
<br />
<br />
<br /><strong>Kristen K’s One and Only</strong>
<br />
<br />1. Adele, 21Favorite songs:Nicki Minaj, Super BassFuck You, Cee Lo Green
<br />
<br />
<br /><strong>...is the same as Alecia’s One and Only</strong>
<br />
<br />My fave this year was 21 by Adele.
<br />
<br />
<br /><strong>Matthue R Goes Camp</strong>
<br />
<br />Weird thing: There's not much punk/loud stuff on here. I mean, Wild Flag, but that might be a vote for my past. I think that the most exciting stuff I'm finding is stuff that I'm just starting to give a second thought to? Also, other thing: A lot of the albums here are free mixtapes that the artists give away online. I mean, I love the hip-hop community.
<br />
<br />most essential: Childish Gambino, Camp
<br />
<br />and:
<br />2. Wild Flag, Wild Flag
<br />3. Frank Ocean, nostalgia, ultra.
<br />4. Shondes, Searchlights
<br />5. Regina Spektor, Live in London
<br />6. Roots, undun
<br />7. Nicki Minaj, Pink Friday
<br />8. Girls in Trouble, Like You, Like Me
<br />9. The Amy Winehouse uncollected-songs album.
<br />10. House of Balloons, The Weeknd
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /><strong>For Kirsten H, No Poison Iver</strong>
<br />
<br />but of course, number one goes to:
<br />
<br />
<br />Bon Iver: Bon Iver
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />others I adore:
<br />
<br />
<br />M83: Hurry Up, We're Dreaming
<br />
<br />
<br />TV on the Radio: Nine Types of Light
<br />
<br />
<br />Lykke Li: Wounded Rhymes
<br />
<br />
<br />The Joy Formidable: The Big Roar
<br />
<br />
<br />Tegan and Sara: Get Along
<br />
<br />
<br />Radiohead: The King of Limbs
<br />
<br />
<br />Nero: Welcome Reality (...that's right, I included a dubstep album)
<br />
<br />
<br />The Antlers: Burst Apart
<br />
<br />
<br />Explosions in the Sky: Take Care, Take Care, Take Care
<br />
<br />
<br /><strong>Scott T Bangs His Drums</strong>
<br />
<br />2011 Most Essential Album
<br />
<br />The Drums, Portamento - catchiest record of the year for me. In heavy heavy rotation via Spotify until I finally got my Xmas copy
<br />
<br />Other 2011 Essentials
<br />
<br />Cut Copy, Zonoscope - follow-up to another essential proves equally essential
<br />Ladytron, Gravity the Seducer - another classic from Ladytron
<br />Washed Out, Within and Without - Infectious from first listen
<br />
<br />Essentials Discovered in 2011
<br />
<br />Bag Raiders, Bag Raiders (2010) - another brilliant Aussie electropop band
<br />Daft Punk, Tron:Legacy Soundtrack (2010) - film was just an excuse for this amazing record. It almost made the movie good.
<br />
<br /><strong>
<br />Patrick C Joins the Cult of Cults</strong>
<br />
<br />TOP
<br />Cults - Cults. Fell for the 60's vibe!
<br />
<br />RUNNER UP
<br />Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues
<br />
<br />
<br /><strong>Sara R loves her Girl Talk</strong>
<br />
<br />Girl Talk, All Day
<br />
<br />in part because of <a title="blocked::http://girlwalkallday.com/" href="http://girlwalkallday.com/">Girl Walk All Day</a>, which is deeply joyous and fantastic.
<br />
<br />I could mention other albums but really that is the one which was most essential in 2011.
<br />
<br />
<br /><strong>Elana V Keeps Her Bones</strong>
<br />
<br />My picks are:
<br />1. Frank Turner, England Keep My Bones -- he's my favorite and best discovery of the year; "I Still Believe" is an essential single
<br />
<br />Followed by -- The Decemberists, The Kind is Dead;
<br />And of course, Adele.
<br />
<br />
<br /><strong>Kate W Chooses Her King</strong>
<br />
<br />King of Limbs, Radiohead
<br />Brothers, The Black Keys
<br />Live at Third Man, White Denim
<br />
<br />
<br /><strong>Matthew U Sets Fire to the Rain</strong>
<br />
<br />Most essential album:
<br />Adele, 21
<br />It's her year, there's no escaping it...
<br />
<br />Other essential albums:
<br />Gillian Welch, The Harrow and the Harvest
<br />The Civil Wars, Barton Hollow
<br />Moby, Destroyed
<br />Brian Eno, Drums Between the Bells
<br />Shpongle, The God Particle (EP, full album coming soon)
<br />
<br />Artist I bought this year that I can't believe I wasn't already worshipping:
<br />Neko Case, all her albums
<br />
<br />Discoveries from the past:
<br />Groove Armada, Black Light
<br />Deadmau5, 4x4=12
<br />
<br />
<br /><strong>Preeti C Heads Toward a Fall</strong>
<br />
<br />
<br />Essential album of 2011: Gorillaz – The Fall
<br />My favorite 2011 discovery (though it came out in 2010): Kid Canaveral – Shouting at the Wildlife
<br />
<br />
<br /><strong>Dean B.’s Tide is High</strong>
<br />
<br />Favorite Albums of 2011:1. Beirut - Rip Tide2. Alexi Murdoch - Towards The Sun3. Ryan Adams - Ashes & Fire4. Radiohead - King Of Limbs5. PJ Harvey - Let England Shake6. Bon Iver - s/t7. R.E.M. - Collapse Into Now8. Mike Doughty - Yes And Also Yes9. Feist - Metals10. Eddie Vedder - Ukelele Songs11. Thao & Mirah - s/t
<br />
<br />2011 Favorites Mix Tape1. Lotus Flower – Radiohead2. Sad Song – The Cars3. Under Cover of Darkness – The Strokes4. Don’t Play No Game That I Can’t Win – Beastie Boys f/Santogold5. Discoverer - R.E.M.6. The Trick – Das Racist7. Keep Your Heart - TV on the Radio8. East Harlem – Beirut9. The Glorious Land – PJ Harvey10. How Dare You – Thao & Mirah11. Ashes & Fire – Ryan Adams12. Comfort Me – Feist13. Rational Man – Mike Doughty14. You Are A Tourist – Death Cab for Cutie15. The Broken Places – Moby16. Holocene – Bon Iver17. Virus – Bjork18. Through The Dark – Alexi Murdoch19. One Sunday Morning - Wilco
<br />
<br />
<br /><strong>Josh L’s King David</strong>
<br />
<br />1. Decemberists, The King is Dead2. Fucked Up, David Comes to Life
<br />
<br />
<br /><strong>Scott D’s Bout That Life</strong>
<br />
<br />1. Lady, Bout Dat Life2. Lady Gaga, Born This Way3. Rihanna, Talk That Talk
<br />
<br />
<br /><strong>Rob M’s Counting His Days</strong>
<br />
<br />1. Real Estate - Days
<br />2. Caged Animals - Eat Your Own
<br />3. Bewitched Hands - Birds & Drums
<br />4. Yuck - S/T
<br />5. Cloud Nothings - S/T
<br />6. Girls - Father, Son, Holy Ghost
<br />7. Hooray For Earth - True Loves
<br />8. New Animal - S/T
<br />9. Black Lips - Arabia Mountain
<br />10. Hotel Mexico - His Jeweled Letter Box
<br />11. War On Drugs - Future Weather
<br />12. Ume - Phantoms
<br />13. The Horrors - Skying
<br />
<br />
<br /><strong>Fiona S Takes it All</strong>
<br />
<br />Adele, 21
<br />
<br />
<br />Florence and the Machine, Ceremonials
<br />
<br />
<br />The Decemberists, The King is Dead
<br />
<br />
<br />Coldplay, Mylo Xyloto
<br />
<br />
<br />Beyonce, 4
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Almost Great/Should have been:
<br />
<br />
<br />Lady Gaga, Born This Way
<br />
<br />
<br /><strong>Jasper D Shakes it Out</strong>
<br />
<br />Most essential album of 2011:
<br />
<br />Florence and the Machine, Ceremonials
<br />
<br />Other essential albums of 2011, in no particular order:
<br />
<br />Adele, 21
<br />Lady Gaga, Born This Way
<br />Lykke Li, Wounded Rhymes
<br />Jessie J, Who You Are
<br />Rachael Yamagata, Chesapeake
<br />Patrick Wolf, Lupercalia
<br />Ellie Goulding, Lights
<br />Bjork, Biophilia
<br />St. Vincent, Strange Mercy
<br />
<br />What a fantastic year for music.
<br />
<br />
<br /><strong>Lauren O Rises the Ashes</strong>
<br />
<br />Ryan Adams, Ashes and Fire!
<br />Incredible writing, driving, and lounging-by-the-fire-doing-nothing accompaniment. :)
<br />
<br />
<br /><strong>Paula M Keys In Her Choices</strong>
<br />
<br />It was hard to narrow down the list but I think I have finally done it. 1. Death Cab for Cutie, Codes and Keys This was a hard call to make. Death Cab and Florence + the machine were my top choices. If I were being completely honest, I'd tell you Florence had the better album and I let my sick obsession with Death Cab color my decision. But honesty be damned. I decided to pick Codes and Keys because it was most essential to me even if it wasn't the best album of the year. 2. Florence + the machine, Ceremonials Fine, I'll be honest. It was the best. 3. The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, BelongI discovered this album because Rhapsody recommended it and I absolutely love it. I've sung it's praises to many people. However, no one seems to have heard of it. I'm not exactly on the cutting edge of the music scene so this leads me to believe that the band may not actually exist. 4. Destroyer, KaputtI have been a long time Destroyer fan and this album does not disappoint. It makes me quite happy. 5. The Head and The Heart, The Head and The HeartI'm not sure if this one actually counts. I loved the album but I only recently learned it was actually a re-release. (Not on the cutting edge, remember?) Do re-releases count here? Probably not but this album was essential to me. 6. Bon Iver, Bon IverI finally caught up and got on the Bon Iver wagon. Everyone was right. It's amazing. 7. Adele, 21I know she has been horrendously over played. My husband is so sick of her he can barely control his verbal assaults each time she comes on the radio. But this album broke my heart. It broke my heart into a hundred pieces and threw them on the floor. Afterwards, it helped me pick up every piece. And what more can you really ask of an album? 8. Real Estate, DaysThis was a late in the year find but it became essential quite quickly. Just listen to "It's Real." 9. Girls - Father, Son, Holy Ghost
<br />It's just a good, old fashioned album about love and heartbreak.
<br />
<br />10. M83 - Hurry Up, We're Dreaming
<br />Some songs can be skipped but they had me at "Midnight City."
<br />11ish. If number 5 doesn't count, move everything else up and add Alex Turner at number 10.
<br />
<br />Honorable Mention
<br />Bright Eyes, The People's Key
<br />Foo Fighters, Wasting Light
<br />Big Talk, Big Talk
<br />Alex Turner, Submarine
<br />Cat's Eyes, Cat's Eyes
<br />Tune-yards, w h o k i l l
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /><strong>Bill K Goes for the Head, Heart</strong>
<br />
<br />1) The Head and the Heart/The Head and the Heart Perfect chill-out music for an evening drive. Harmonies straight out of the Indigo Girls playbook. If you don't like "Rivers and Roads"
<br />there may be something wrong with you.
<br />
<br />2) Foster the People/Torches
<br />Awesome pop music. Listened to it a million times this summer and fall. "Call It What You Want" is my favorite track.
<br />
<br />3) Adele/21
<br />'Twas the year of Adele. Did you know that "Someone Like You" was the first number one song in more than a decade to feature just piano and vocal. A fact.
<br />
<br />4) Guster/Easy Wonderful
<br />Maybe this is a 2010, but man is it good. I found it in 2011 so that's enough for me.
<br />
<br />5) Haley Reinhart
<br />I know. American Idol is over. But this girl is so amazing, I could, as Simon Cowell might have said, listen to her sing the phone book.
<br />Her version of Benny and the Jets was my favorite vocal performance of the year.
<br />
<br />
<br /><strong>Rex O. has the Hundred in his Hands</strong>
<br />
<br />THE HUNDRED IN THE HANDS (self-titled album) is easily my fave new band.
<br />NEW YOUNG PONY CLUB (album: Optimist) comes in as a close second.
<br />CRYSTAL CASTLES(self-titled) in third.
<br />ADELE, 21 in fourth
<br />
<br />
<br /><strong>Eamon T Says This to All The Girls
<br /></strong>
<br />Girls - Father, Son, Holy Ghost
<br />(Each record keeps getting better. Amazing.)
<br />
<br />The Kills - Blood Pressure
<br />(How two people can be this cool is beyond me.)
<br />
<br />Lady Gaga - Born This Way
<br />(Undeniable.)
<br />
<br />Chapel Club - Palace
<br />(Best new English band.)
<br />
<br />Blood Orange - Coastal Grooves
<br />(Dev Hynes latest and best project to date.)
<br />
<br />Adele - 21
<br />(Also undeniable.)
<br />
<br />Beth Ditto - Beth Ditto EP
<br />(She's everything.)
<br />
<br />Wild Flag - Wild Flag
<br />(The 90's really are alive in Portland. Rock n' Roll chicks. Yes!)
<br />
<br />Hercules and Love Affair - Blue Songs
<br />(Real disco)
<br />
<br />Florence and the Machine - Ceremonials
<br />(As much as I don't want to like this...I find myself singing Shake It Off on a daily basis)
<br />
<br />Honorable Mentions...
<br />Pj Harvey - Let England Shake
<br />Cults - Cults
<br />Pains of Being Pure at Heart - Belong
<br />The Rapture - In the Grace of Your Heart
<br />
<br />Looking forward to in 2012
<br />Scissor Sisters - not in love with the single they just released...but can see it's commercial appeal
<br />Lady Gaga - just announced she'll be putting out another record. Don't know how Mother Monster does it all.
<br />Suede - rumors are that they're working on new material
<br />
<br />
<br /><strong>Alaya J’s Americana Harvest</strong>
<br />
<br />Most essential album of the year:
<br />
<br />The Harrow and the Harvest, Gillian Welch (Welch's first album in eight years. Every song is gorgeous. Her voice is one for the ages.
<br />David Rawlings' guitar gently weeps, and you haven't heard harmony until you listen to them sing together. This album felt like a gift.)
<br />
<br />Other favorite albums of the year:
<br />
<br />The King Is Dead, The Decemberists (Almost made my most essential, except no one can beat Gillian Welch. But she sings on this album!
<br />Which might be my favorite Decemberists record. The English-major-relaxes-in-the-country thing works for them.)
<br />
<br />Cults, Cults (I listened to this a lot. I figured it should get a mention on the merits of play count alone.)
<br />
<br />El Camino, The Black Keys (Short, sweet and loud.) The Rip Tide, Beirut (This didn't get much love from the press, but I find Beirut compulsively listenable, and this one is no exception).
<br />
<br />So Beautiful or So What, Paul Simon (Paul Simon steps up his game.
<br />"Waiting for Christmas Day" and "The Afterlife" are quirky, classic Paul Simon stand outs.)
<br />
<br />Helplessness Blues, Fleet Foxes (This didn't sweep me away quite as much as their debut, but it's still an immersive, mesmerizing album.)
<br />
<br />Bon Iver, Bon Iver (I don't get the last song. It hurts me. Everything else is great).
<br />
<br />Simmerkane II, Chadwick Stokes (I stumbled upon this album via the song "Coffee & Wine," which I strongly suggest you download right now.
<br />Catchy, playful, old-new Americana.)
<br />
<br />Singles:
<br />
<br />Pumped Up Kicks, Foster The People (Have I listened to this song about a hundred times since I first heard it? Yes. Have I danced every time?
<br />Almost.)
<br />
<br />Shake It Up, Florence + The Machine (The album as a whole doesn't quite work for me, but I love this track).
<br />
<br />Blue Jeans, Lana Del Rey (I love this song! Video Games is all right, but this is the one that's got the embarrassingly high play count. It reminds me of how much I, too, love the "Marlon Brando in Streetcar Named Desire" look).
<br />
<br />Albums I'm sorry I missed last year:
<br />
<br />The Turista, Josh Rouse (I love this guy. It's sort of like soft rock, except I normally hate soft rock. Just easy and beautiful and unpretentious. This might be my favorite album of his yet).
<br />
<br />Be My Thrill, The Weepies (Actually, is this a theme? Another easy, unpretentious band. I read a review that described their music as being like a "warm hug." Who doesn't like warm hugs?)
<br />
<br />
<br /><strong>Steven M Says, Long Live the King</strong>
<br />
<br />1. The Decemberists, The King is Dead
<br />2. Brave Irene, Self-titled
<br />3. Josh Rouse & The Long Vacations, Self-titled
<br />4. Brown Recluse, Evening Tapestry
<br />5. The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, Belong
<br />6. Chixdiggit, Safeways Here We Come
<br />7. Tenement, Napalm Dream
<br />8. Me First & The Gimme Gimmes, Go Down Under
<br />9. P.S. Eliot, Sadie ________________________________
<br />
<br />
<br /><strong>Bryant P Sings the Blues</strong>
<br />
<br />Most essential albums of 2011, with most essential tracks for each:1. Fleet Foxes, Helplessness Blues"Helplessness Blues," "Bedouin Dress," "Montezuma"2. Smith Westerns, Dye It Blonde"Imagine Pt. 3," "Weekend"3. Kelly Clarkson, Stronger"Stronger," "You Can't Win," "Dark Side"4. M83, Hurry Up We're Dreaming"Splendor," "Midnight City"5. Cults, Cults"Never Saw the Point," "Walk at Night"6. Craft Spells, Idle Labor"After the Moment," "Scandinavian Crush"7. The Head and the Heart, The Head and the Heart"Ghosts," "Cats and Dogs"8. Seryn, This Is Where We Are"We Will All Be Changed"9. Tennis, Cape Dory"Cape Dory," "South Carolina"10. The Drums, Portamento"I Don't Know How to Love," "Money"Honorable mention, but not quite essential: Washed Out, Within and Without; Bon Iver, Bon Iver; Toro y Moi, Underneath the Pine; Thao & Mirah, Thao & Mirah; Charles Bradley, No Time for DreamingTracks I listened to the most this year: "Ghosts" by The Head and the Heart (110); "Helplessness Blues" by Fleet Foxes (107); "Imagine Pt. 3" by Smith Westerns (100)
<br />
<br />
<br /><strong>What the Water Gave Marie R
<br /></strong>
<br />Most essential:
<br />Florence + The Machine, Ceremonials
<br />
<br />Also essential:
<br />Adele, 21
<br />Feist, Metals
<br />The Head and the Heart
<br />
<br />
<br /><strong>Erich N Reaches 21, Drinks It In</strong>
<br />
<br />1. Adele, 21
<br />
<br />The Roots, Undun
<br />Jay-Z & Kanye West, Watch the Throne
<br />The Weeknd, House of Balloons
<br />Nicki Minaj, Pink Friday
<br />Danger Mouse & Daniele Luppi, Rome
<br />Amos Lee, Mission Bell
<br />Lady Gaga, Born This Way
<br />Beyonce, 4
<br />TV on the Radio, Nine Types of Light
<br />
<br />
<br /><strong>Anna O Joins the Goat Rodeo</strong>
<br />
<br />Most Essential Album:
<br />Yo-Yo Ma, Stuart Duncan, Edgar Meyer, Chris Thile, The Goat Rodeo Sessions
<br />If you love classical and bluegrass, this is the album you’ve been waiting for.
<br />
<br />Other Favorites:
<br />Beirut, Rip Tide
<br />I go up and down on Beirut, but I enjoyed a lot of the songs on this album
<br />
<br />Adele, 21
<br />21 was my first introduction to Adele (I still haven’t listened to all of 19). That voice!
<br />
<br />Unfortunately that’s about it for albums. Only since 2009-2010 have I gradually been getting into The Decemberists, Avett Brothers, Vampire Weekend, and Mumford & Sons. So I listened to a lot of their albums last year to my great enjoyment. I can’t get enough of the collaboration between Mumford, The Dharohar Project, and Laura Marling. Only 4 songs, but the amount I’ve played them they seem to be an entire album’s worth.
<br />
<br />
<br /><strong>Teri Y Was Born a Wolf
<br /></strong>
<br />I think this was a pretty good year for music. Often I find an album I love and then a few months later I find myself not listening to it at all any more. This year I kept going back to albums and not just for that one great single.
<br />
<br />This year I had two most essential albums:
<br />Patrick Wolf, Lupercalia
<br />Lady Gaga, Born This Way
<br />
<br />Then in no particular order:
<br />The Wanted, Battleground
<br />Ellie Goulding, Bright Lights
<br />Florence + The Machine, Ceremonials
<br />Zebrahead, Get Nice!
<br />Avril Lavigne, Goodbye Lullaby
<br />Cobra Starship, Night Shades
<br />Kelly Clarkson, Stronger
<br />I think it's also important to point out that Robyn, Body Talk is still going strong even though it's been out since 2010.
<br />
<br />Top Singles:
<br />Blake Lewis, Heartbreak on Vinyl
<br />Travie McCoy, We'll Be Alright
<br />The Good Natured, Wolves
<br />Britney Spears, Till the World Ends
<br />Karmin, Crash Your Party
<br />Many, many songs from Glee
<br />
<br />Best find I missed last year:Chromeo, Business Casual
<br />
<br />
<br /><strong>Lonnie M’s Playing By Heart </strong>
<br /><strong>
<br /></strong>Jonathan Coulton, Artificial Heart
<br />
<br />
<br /><strong>Josh R’s Bon Voyage</strong>
<br />
<br />Bon Iver was hands down my top album of the year, and seeing the band perform live, it was an incredible experience.
<br />Here are my top ten albums of the year:
<br />
<br />1: Bon Iver, Bon Iver
<br />2: Feist, Metals
<br />3: Bombay Bicycle Club, A Different Kind of Fix
<br />4: The Antlers, Burst Apart
<br />5: Florence & The Machine, Ceremonials
<br />6: Foster the People, Toches
<br />7: PJ Harvey, Let England Shake
<br />8: Radiohead, The King of Limbs
<br />9: Bright Eyes, The People's Key
<br />10: Coldplay, Xylo Myloto
<br />
<br />
<br /><strong>Elizabeth E Makes Me Stronger</strong>
<br />
<br />
<br />MOST ESSENTIAL
<br />Adele, 21 - Duh.
<br />
<br />MOST ESSENTIAL: INNER 16 YEAR OLD
<br />Kelly Clarkson, Stronger - beware boys everywhere, Kelly is back and she's been screwed over. And it's so much fun for the rest of us!
<br />
<br />ESSENTIAL
<br />Florence + the Machine, Ceremonials
<br />The Black Keys, El Camino
<br />Death Cab for Cutie, Codes & Keys
<br />The Decemberists, The King is Dead
<br />Foo Fighters, Wasting Light
<br />Foster the People, Torches
<br />Blind Pilot, We are the Tide
<br />Oh Land, Oh Land
<br />Bon Iver, Bon Iver
<br />Marketa Irglova, Anar
<br />The Jezabels, Prisoner
<br />
<br />
<br /><strong>Kevin W’s Lips Are Unsealed</strong>
<br />
<br />2011 Albums1. Black Lips, Arabia Mountain -- The best Black Lips effort yet pretty much makes it the best album of the year. I repaired and painted the exterior of my house this summer. I live in Alabama. It's hot in the summer in Alabama, very hot. But this Black Lips album made that a fun experience, truth be told. There are at least six or seven songs on here -- "Raw Meat," "Bone Marrow" and "New Direction" in particular -- that make it impossible to remain in a bad mood.
<br /></strong>
<br />2. The King Khan Experience, The King Khan Experience -- You know what else is good? Free music. Especially free music by Mr. Supernatural himself. Who cares if this was brought to the world from a car company?
<br />
<br />3. The Reigning Sound, Abdication -- Another free album from Scion A/V. Honestly, it's not Greg Cartwright's finest work, but even his B game is better than most people's A game.Top single, 20111. Hunx and His Punkettes, Lover's Lane -- I don't know if this was released under Hunx and his Punx or his Punkettes or what, but it's just a slithering little stunner. I am pretty sure this is what Phil Spector had in his heart of hearts all along.
<br />
<br />2. Indian Wars, Tuscaloosa Bar -- Okay, so there are better songs out there, but I'm kind of obligated to list this seeing as I live in T-Town.
<br />
<br />Early favorites for best song of 2012
<br />King Khan and His Shrines, Bite My Tongue -- Everybody should see a King Khan show before it's too late. Seriously. If you can't have fun at one of his shows you are likely dead or Newt Gingrich.
<br />Mikal Cronin, Am I Wrong -- This is the flipside to the King Khan track. I know precious little about this guy, but this track's a fine start.
<br />
<br />Most disappointing album, 2011
<br />The Ettes, Wicked Will -- Meh. Just meh. I guess she left her best work with The Parting Gifts.
<br />
<br />Albums from 2010 that was released too late to make the list:
<br />White Wires, WWII -- Who says I don't appreciate straight-out pop?
<br />Sugar Stems, Sweet Sounds Of -- I mean, really, I like a good pop song.
<br />
<br />
<br /><strong>Annie M Wants Someone Like Adele</strong>
<br />
<br />Overall the year belongs to Adele, 21
<br />Promising new discovery: Agnes Obel, Philharmonics
<br />Most interesting Sound of Music remix: Brooklyn Rundfunk Orkestrata, The Hills Are Alive
<br />And the Broadway album of the year would have to go to The Book of Mormon
<br />
<br />
<br /><strong>Amanda M and the Big Nine</strong>
<br />
<br />TV On the Radio, Nine Types of Light
<br />
<br />
<br /><strong>Eugene K Watches the Throne</strong>
<br />
<br />I don't know that I have an album that I would consider the most essential. It's kind of a toss up between Watch the Throne and Bon Iver and the James Blake.
<br />
<br />Kanye West & Jay Z, Watch the Throne
<br />Bon Iver, Bon Iver
<br />James Blake, James Blake
<br />Kendrick Lamar, Seection:80
<br />The Weeknd, House of Balloons
<br />Lykke Li, Wounded Rhymes
<br />EMA, Past Life Martyred Saints
<br />Frank Ocean, Nostanlia/ultra
<br />BEBETUNE$, inhale C-4 $$$$$
<br />dj BC, Another Jay On Earth
<br />
<br />
<br /><strong>Emelia Z, 21 at Heart</strong>
<br />
<br />Adele, 21
<br />Bon Iver, Bon Iver
<br />Coldplay, Mylo Xyloto
<br />
<br />
<br /><strong>Drew L. Prepares for the Jihad</strong>
<br />
<br />1. Andrew Jackson Jihad, Knife Man
<br />2. Bomb the Music Industry!, Vacation
<br />3. The Horrible Crowes, Elsie
<br />
<br />Honorable mention:
<br />
<br />Wu Lyf, Go Tell Fire on the Mountain
<br />Girls, Father, Son, Holy Ghost
<br />
<br />
<br /><strong>Jordan S Drinks the Wine
<br /></strong>
<br />I think I only have one standout for 2011:
<br />
<br />Iron & Wine, Kiss Each Other Clean
<br />
<br />
<br /><strong>Ryan C’s Washed Out 2011</strong>
<br />
<br />1. Washed Out, Within and Without
<br />2. James Blake, James Blake
<br />3. Destroyer, Kaputt
<br />4. M83, Hurry Up, We're Dreaming
<br />5. The Weeknd, House of Balloons
<br />6. JJ, Kills
<br />7. How to Dress Well, Just Once EP
<br />8. Cults, Cults
<br />9. Girls, Father, Son, Holy Ghost
<br />10. Drive soundtrack
<br />
<br />
<br /><strong>Sarah DL’s Show of Compassion</strong>
<br />
<br />Album of the year: CAKE: Showroom of Compassion although I still haven't forgiven the band for playing their New York shows on the nights of the Passover seder so I couldn't have my Cake and eat it too.
<br />
<br />
<br />Songs: LMFAO - Sexy and I Know It Serious ear worm. Has the added bonus that my teen daughter is absolutely mortified that I downloaded it. I'm practicing singing it in the car so that I can break it out the next time she and I are in the presence of a karaoke machine. Cause I'm evil that way.
<br />
<br />I also admit to a strange fascination with DJ RedFoo, who in addition to being Berry Gordy's son, is a former day trader who's appeared on Jim Cramer's Mad Money. AND he cites my favorite band, Led Zeppelin, as an influence. I used to work on Wall Street. We both like Led Zeppelin. It's like we're….soul mates. But seriously, what I REALLY want to know is: What's the deal with the dude with the box on his head?
<br />
<br />
<br /><strong>Don’t Underestimate the Things Cassandra P Will Do With Her Picks
<br /></strong>
<br />Here's my list, ranked in order (reluctantly):
<br />
<br />1. Adele, 21
<br />2. The Weeknd, Thursday
<br />3. The Weeknd, House of Balloons
<br />4. Beyonce, 4
<br />5. Drake, Take Care
<br />6. Rihanna, Talk That Talk
<br />7. Florence + the Machine, Ceremonials
<br />8. Jay-Z and Kanye West, Watch the Throne
<br />9. Wale, Ambition
<br />10. The Weeknd, Echoes of Silence
<br />
<br />
<br /><strong>Ronnie A’s Favorite Movie Moments</strong>
<br />
<br />A number of movies this year shunned original scores and used classical pieces to great effect. The two best were Tree of Life (favorite cut: Zbigniew Preisner’s Lacrimosa 2 during the creation sequence) and the opening of Melancholia with Richard Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde (the only movie this year to use that music properly). The rest:
<br />
<br />Le Havre, Little Bob kicks ass
<br />Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross
<br />Attack the Block, Basement Jaxx
<br />Jane Eyre, Dario Marianelli
<br />Moneyball, “The Mighty Rio Grande” by This Will Destroy You and “The Show,” written by Lenka, performed by Kerris Dorsey
<br />Take Shelter, David Wingo
<br />Carey Mulligan singing New York, New York in Shame
<br />Downton Abbey, the moment Sybil comes down to dinner wearing her bloomers. I can listen to that music cue over and over (Alfie Boe)
<br />
<br />
<br /><strong>Veronica W’s List Bursts Apart</strong>
<br />
<br />The Antlers, Burst Apart
<br />Fleet Foxes, Helplessness Blues
<br />Adele, 21
<br />Cults, Cults
<br />Lykke Li, Wounded Rhymes
<br />The Decemberists, The King Is Dead
<br />
<br />
<br /><strong>Megan S, Fleet of Foot</strong>
<br />
<br />I'm finding it increasingly hard each year to find albums that 1) I love from top to bottom and 2) I return to again and again, which are my primary criteria for a top 10 list. Thus, my list this year is a very short one. In a very particular order:
<br />
<br />1. Helplessness Blues - Fleet Foxes
<br />2. Middle Brother - Middle Brother
<br />3. The Whole Love - Wilco
<br />4. Parallax - Atlas Sound
<br />
<br />Top Discoveries From Previous Years (in no particular order):
<br />1. The Monitor - Titus Andronicus
<br />2. Epic - Sharon Van Etten
<br />3. Sam Cooke at the Copa - Sam Cooke
<br />4. Running On Empty - Jackson Browne
<br />5. Let It Be - The Replacements
<br />
<br />
<br /><strong>Julian H, Foxy As Ever</strong>
<br />
<br />1. Fleet Foxes, Helplessness Blues
<br />2. M83, Hurry Up We're Dreaming
<br />3. Neon Indian, Era Extra
<br />4. Beirut, The Rip Tide
<br />5. Hooray for Earth, True Loves
<br />6. Handsome Furs, Sound Kapital
<br />7. Lady Gaga, Born This Way (Bonus Track Version)
<br />
<br />
<br /><strong>Cora K, Rapturous</strong>
<br />
<br />The Rapture, In the Grace of Your Love
<br />The Vaccines, What Did You Expect From the Vaccines
<br />The Drums, Portamento
<br />Above and Beyond, Group Therapy
<br />Gotye, Making Mirrors
<br />Best concert: The Rapture at The Corner Hotel, MelbourneBest DJ: Above and Beyond, Amnesia, IbizaMost memorable festival experience: Portishead at Harvest Festival, Weribee. They were so dark that free therapy sessions should have been given out afterwards.
<br />
<br />\
<br /><strong>Rhiannon F Goes with the Flo</strong>
<br />
<br />Ok best album - Florence + the Machine - Ceremonials.
<br />
<br />Also over here in sunny ol' England there was an advert around Christmas time for John Lewis (department store) and they had this really cute kid in it but the song behind I loved. It was Slow Moving Millie with Please, please, please let me get what I want. A cover of The Smiths and also She + Him did a cover of it for 500 Days of Summer but Slow Moving Millie's version is so nice.
<br />
<br />
<br /><strong>Bon Appetit, Melissa W!</strong>
<br />
<br />My list is short this year, as I didn't discover much, just dove back into my old stuff and basked in nostalgia for the most part. But on the 2011, front...
<br />
<br />1. Bon Iver, Bon Iver
<br />2. Cults, Cults
<br />3. Wilco, The Whole Love
<br />4. Fleet Foxes, Helplessness Blues
<br />And, new to me, but perhaps long-known to other parents around Brooklyn and the world:
<br />5. Various, Music for Aardvarks and Other Mammals ("Tess" is a standout)
<br />
<br />
<br /><strong>Kathleen P says Trapper is a Keeper</strong>
<br />
<br />Blitzen Trapper - American Goldwing
<br />Cassettes Won't Listen - Evinspacey
<br />The Dears - Degeneration Street
<br />The Decembrists - The King is Dead
<br />Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues
<br />Kooley High - Presents David Thompson
<br />Lupe Fiasco - Lasers
<br />Oh Land - Oh Land
<br />Rihanna - Talk That Talk
<br />Tennis - Cape Dory
<br />
<br />Special Mention For a Most Promising EP - Glass Candy, Warm in the Winter
<br />
<br />
<br /><strong>Maggie S Catches a Cab</strong>
<br />
<br />Favorite 2011 Albums
<br />1 - Death Cab for Cutie - Codes and Keys
<br />2 - Zoe Keating - Into the Trees
<br />3 - Boy & Bear - Moonfire
<br />4 - Florence & the Machine - Ceremonials
<br />
<br />Notes: Three of these are by artists I loved so much I didn’t think they could pull off an album I would like as well or —gasp — even better than their previous ones. But Death Cab, Florence, and Zoe delivered three albums that are that Holy Grail of music — songs that are fantastic on their own but make even more sense as an album. Boy & Bear is an Australian newcomer for me. It was what I WANTED the Fleet Foxes album to be.
<br />
<br />Favorite Albums I Found in 2011 (Not from 2011)
<br />- Ramona Falls - Intuit (2009)
<br />- Fionn Regan - The End of History(2007)
<br />I’m not sure if I would’ve been sucked into Ramona Falls without their weird and distressing music video for “I Say Fever,” but I DID see the video (<a title="blocked::http://www.youtube.com/watch?v="" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6eqZHvpAbss">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6eqZHvpAbss</a>), and the rest is iPod history. Fionn Regan is an Irish songwriter who is always appropriate to play when you have any sort of company over, even when that company is your mother.
<br />
<br />2011 Albums I thought would make it, but didn’t:
<br />- Coldplay - Mylo Xyloto (songwriting largely buried by bombastic, big stage production)
<br />Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues (beautiful but inaccessible, with the exception of “Helplessness Blues” and “The Shrine”)
<br />- Feist - Metals (lovely but missing the whimsy of her earlier work)
<br />
<br />Favorite 2011 Singles
<br />Coldplay - “Major Minus”
<br />Gotye - “Someone That I Used to Know”
<br />Shinedown - “The War Inside”
<br />Adele - “Rolling in the Deep”
<br />Imogen Heap - “Lifeline”
<br />City & Colour - “Little Hell”
<br />The Civil Wars - “Barton Hollow”
<br />Foster the People - “Pumped Up Kicks”
<br />Lost Lander - “Cold Feet” & “Afraid of Summer”**Lost Lander gets bonus points for being so new and so small that you get to be the cool person for knowing they exist for at least a few months
<br />
<br />Favorite Singles I Found in 2011 (Not From 2011)
<br />The Saw Doctors - “Red Cortina (acapella version)
<br />The Submarines - “1940 (AmpLive remix”)
<br />Arcade Fire - “Ready to Start”
<br />Bell X1 - “Snakes & Snakes”
<br />Woodpigeon - “And As the Ship Went Down . . .”
<br />
<br />
<br /><strong>Thu Says, “Bon’s Away!”</strong>
<br />
<br />a year of great singles trapped inside mediocre albums:
<br />
<br />1. bon iver, bon iver
<br />good but nowhere near as good as for emma, forever ago. too much green, not enough white. best tracks: minnesota, WI and michicant.
<br />
<br />2. nicolas jaar, space is only noise
<br />apparently this kid was born in the ‘90s. he’s good at replicating the sound of rain falling infinitely outside a gray window, so, kudos.
<br />especially: too many kids finding rain in the dust, keep me there.
<br />
<br />3. feist, metals
<br />i’m just happy this exists. most of all for: the circle married the line.
<br />
<br />4. st. vincent, strange mercy
<br />i applaud st. vincent for wanting to get weirder, but remembering the ease and glibness with which she told john to marry her in 2007, i wish her lyrical bravado were still the most important part of her music. alas, girl’s still got plenty of moxie with: surgeon, cheerleader, and cruel.
<br />
<br />
<br /><strong>John A: The Oak’s On Him</strong>
<br />
<br />11.M83: Hurry Up We’re Dreamers
<br />10. Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.: It’s a Corporate World
<br />9. Bjork: Biophilia
<br />8. PJ Harvey: Let England Shake
<br />7. Fleet Foxes: Helplessness Blues
<br />6. Radiohead: The King of Limbs
<br />5. Elbow: The Seldom Seen Kid
<br />4. Panda Bear: Tomboy
<br />3. Beirut: The Rip Tide
<br />2. The Decemberists: The King is Dead
<br />1. Wye Oak: Civilian
<br />
<br />Best “Metal” Record: Anthrax: Worship Music
<br />Best Reissue: Smashing Pumpkins: Siamese Dream
<br />Biggest Surprise: Coldplay: Mylo Xyloto (it doesn’t suck!)
<br />Best Discovery: Riddle of Steel (from St.Louis; broke up in 2003, two killer albums; for fans of Queens of the Stone Age, The Police and Van Halen!)
<br />
<br />
<br /><strong>Jonathan V is in it, Head and Heart</strong>
<br />
<br />My Favorites of 2011
<br />
<br />1. The Head and the Heart, The Head and the Heart
<br />2. F*cked Up, David Comes to Life
<br />3. The Antlers, Burst Apart
<br />4. Destroyer, Kaputt
<br />5. Active Child, You Are All I See
<br />6. M83, Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming
<br />7. Kate Bush, 50 Words for Snow
<br />8. Beirut, The Riptide
<br />9. Florence & The Machine , Ceremonials
<br />10. Washed Out, Within and Without
<br />
<br />1. THE HEAD & THE HEART - The second time listening through this simple, sweet folk album, I knew it was going to be my favorite of not just 2011, but retroactively 2010, 2009, and possibly 2008. Heartfelt, full of quiet yearning, usually an album needs to be “live” to have this same warm vibe.
<br />
<br />2. DAVID COMES TO LIFE – A punk epic that redefines the rock opera, this is a truly great record. The track “Just One More Night” must be heard to be believed--imagine a Green Jelly song that gives you chills up and down your spine. Its final strains will be accompanied by the sound of you weeping openly.
<br />
<br />3. BURST APART – Get lost in a forest of falsetto and digital fuzz.
<br />
<br />4. KAPUTT – Dan Bejar’s lyrics sound like indie pop riddles, his music is downright gorgeous, and he proves on “Kaputt” that he’s capable of morphing from “Hunky Dory” to “Avalon” without losing his essential Canadianness.
<br />
<br />5. YOU ARE ALL I SEE – For a good month, you were all I heard! Active Child's music is increasingly indescribable, like the genes of several genres remixing themselves for fun and profit. Just listen to the first minute of “Hanging On”. You won’t know what the hell you’re hearing, and I mean that in the best way.
<br />
<br />6. HURRY UP, WE’RE DREAMING – This is another epic M83 album, full of space and awe and unexpected gorgosity. “Midnight City” was the single of the year for me, with its hyperactive electropop rooster chorus.
<br />
<br />7. 50 WORDS FOR SNOW –Kate Bush has concocted another beguiling mystery of an album, with its own arch sense of humor and real gravitas. Where else are you going to hear a song about knocking boots with a snowman? And who else can make that song both erotic and heartbreaking? She’s one of our great storytellers, in any medium.
<br />
<br />8. THE RIPTIDE – Consistently brilliant. Music that's inventive and old-fashioned at the same time.
<br />
<br />9. CEREMONIALS – What’s even better than a year with a great new Kate Bush record? A year that ALSO features a great new record from somebody working in the same mystical, voice-as-sound-weapon vein.
<br />
<br />10. WITHIN AND WITHOUT – Car commercial music mixed with sex scene music, what more do you want?
<br />
<br />More Than Honorable Mention:
<br />
<br />We Are Augustines for unbridled muppet passion, Feist for a wonderfulness that I have officially taken for granted, Iron and Wine for pretty much the same thing, The Decemberists for their brilliant skin-shedding act, John Maus for his borderline-satire-synths, and The Vaccines for earnestly punky britpop.
<br />
<br />Albums of the Year that Weren’t from the Year:
<br />
<br />Three of the best albums I heard in 2011 were not from 2011, two of them not even remotely…
<br />
<br />The Blue Nile, “Hats”
<br />
<br />How can something so understated be so overwhelming? Call it the Zen of Soft Synth.
<br />
<br />Genesis, “The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway”
<br />
<br />This album is a proggy odyssey, full of gorgeous instrumentals, batsh*t crazy lyrics, and the brashest performance from Gabriel ever put under a needle.
<br />
<br />Kverlatak, Kverlatak
<br />
<br />Norwegian metal in Norwegian, not that this matters if you want to rock with them.
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /><strong>Kevin K. Gives 2011 to December</strong>
<br />
<br />My list:
<br />The King Is Dead by The Decemberists
<br />Middle Brother by Middle Brother
<br /><a title="blocked::http://www.catalog.kpl.gov/uhtbin/cgisirsi/x/0/0/5?searchdata1="" href="http://www.catalog.kpl.gov/uhtbin/cgisirsi/x/0/0/5?searchdata1=The+Double+Cross%7BTI%7D+AND+Sloan%7BAU%7D&library=BRANCHES&language=ANY&format=MUSIC&item_type=ANY&location=ANY&match_on=KEYWORD&item_1cat=ANY&item_2cat=ANY&sort_by=-PBYR" library="BRANCHES&language=" format="MUSIC&item_type=" location="ANY&match_on=" item_1cat="ANY&item_2cat=" sort_by="-PBYR">The Double Cross </a>by Sloan
<br />The Wombats Proudly Present: This Modern Glitch by The Wombats
<br /><a title="blocked::http://www.catalog.kpl.gov/uhtbin/cgisirsi/x/0/0/5?searchdata1="" href="http://www.catalog.kpl.gov/uhtbin/cgisirsi/x/0/0/5?searchdata1=Nothing+Is+Wrong+%7BTI%7D+AND+Dawes%7BAU%7D&library=BRANCHES&language=ANY&format=MUSIC&item_type=ANY&location=ANY&match_on=KEYWORD&item_1cat=ANY&item_2cat=ANY&sort_by=-PBYR" library="BRANCHES&language=" format="MUSIC&item_type=" location="ANY&match_on=" item_1cat="ANY&item_2cat=" sort_by="-PBYR">Nothing Is Wrong </a>by Dawes
<br /><a title="blocked::http://www.catalog.kpl.gov/uhtbin/cgisirsi/x/0/0/5?searchdata1="" href="http://www.catalog.kpl.gov/uhtbin/cgisirsi/x/0/0/5?searchdata1=Torches+%7BTI%7D+AND+Foster+the+People%7BAU%7D&library=BRANCHES&language=ANY&format=MUSIC&item_type=ANY&location=ANY&match_on=KEYWORD&item_1cat=ANY&item_2cat=ANY&sort_by=-PBYR" library="BRANCHES&language=" format="MUSIC&item_type=" location="ANY&match_on=" item_1cat="ANY&item_2cat=" sort_by="-PBYR">Torches </a>by Foster the People
<br />The Sound of His Own Voice by <a title="blocked::http://www.catalog.kpl.gov/uhtbin/cgisirsi/x/0/0/5?searchdata1="" href="http://www.catalog.kpl.gov/uhtbin/cgisirsi/x/0/0/5?searchdata1=john+wesley+harding%7BAU%7D&library=BRANCHES&language=ANY&format=MUSIC&item_type=ANY&location=ANY&match_on=KEYWORD&item_1cat=ANY&item_2cat=ANY&sort_by=-PBYR" library="BRANCHES&language=" format="MUSIC&item_type=" location="ANY&match_on=" item_1cat="ANY&item_2cat=" sort_by="-PBYR">John Wesley Harding</a>
<br /><a title="blocked::http://www.catalog.kpl.gov/uhtbin/cgisirsi/x/0/0/5?searchdata1="" href="http://www.catalog.kpl.gov/uhtbin/cgisirsi/x/0/0/5?searchdata1=Dye+It+Blonde%7BTI%7D+AND+Smith+Westerns+%7BAU%7D&library=BRANCHES&language=ANY&format=MUSIC&item_type=ANY&location=ANY&match_on=KEYWORD&item_1cat=ANY&item_2cat=ANY&sort_by=-PBYR" library="BRANCHES&language=" format="MUSIC&item_type=" location="ANY&match_on=" item_1cat="ANY&item_2cat=" sort_by="-PBYR">Dye It Blonde </a>by Smith Westerns
<br /><a title="blocked::http://www.catalog.kpl.gov/uhtbin/cgisirsi/x/0/0/5?searchdata1="" href="http://www.catalog.kpl.gov/uhtbin/cgisirsi/x/0/0/5?searchdata1=International+Pop+Overthrow+%7BTI%7D+AND+Material+Issue+%7BAU%7D&library=BRANCHES&language=ANY&format=MUSIC&item_type=ANY&location=ANY&match_on=KEYWORD&item_1cat=ANY&item_2cat=ANY&sort_by=-PBYR" library="BRANCHES&language=" format="MUSIC&item_type=" location="ANY&match_on=" item_1cat="ANY&item_2cat=" sort_by="-PB">International Pop Overthrow </a>by Material Issue (Re-issue)
<br /><a title="blocked::http://www.catalog.kpl.gov/uhtbin/cgisirsi/x/0/0/5?searchdata1="" href="http://www.catalog.kpl.gov/uhtbin/cgisirsi/x/0/0/5?searchdata1=whole+love%7BTI%7D+AND+wilco%7BAU%7D&library=BRANCHES&language=ANY&format=MUSIC&item_type=ANY&location=ANY&match_on=KEYWORD&item_1cat=ANY&item_2cat=ANY&sort_by=-PBYR" library="BRANCHES&language=" format="MUSIC&item_type=" location="ANY&match_on=" item_1cat="ANY&item_2cat=" sort_by="-PBYR">The Whole Love </a>by Wilco
<br />The Last Place by Army Navy
<br /><a title="blocked::http://www.catalog.kpl.gov/uhtbin/cgisirsi/x/0/0/5?searchdata1="" href="http://www.catalog.kpl.gov/uhtbin/cgisirsi/x/0/0/5?searchdata1=tune-yards%7BAU%7D&library=BRANCHES&language=ANY&format=MUSIC&item_type=ANY&location=ANY&match_on=KEYWORD&item_1cat=ANY&item_2cat=ANY&sort_by=-PBYR" library="BRANCHES&language=" format="MUSIC&item_type=" location="ANY&match_on=" item_1cat="ANY&item_2cat=" sort_by="-PBYR">W H O K I L L </a>by Tune-Yards
<br />The Electromagnetic Escape by <a title="blocked::http://www.catalog.kpl.gov/uhtbin/cgisirsi/x/0/0/5?searchdata1="" href="http://www.catalog.kpl.gov/uhtbin/cgisirsi/x/0/0/5?searchdata1=The+Red+Sea+Pedestrians%7BAU%7D&library=BRANCHES&language=ANY&format=MUSIC&item_type=ANY&location=ANY&match_on=KEYWORD&item_1cat=ANY&item_2cat=ANY&sort_by=-PBYR" library="BRANCHES&language=" format="MUSIC&item_type=" location="ANY&match_on=" item_1cat="ANY&item_2cat=" sort_by="-PBYR">The Red Sea Pedestrians</a>
<br /><a title="blocked::http://www.catalog.kpl.gov/uhtbin/cgisirsi/x/0/0/5?searchdata1="" href="http://www.catalog.kpl.gov/uhtbin/cgisirsi/x/0/0/5?searchdata1=Picking+Up+The+Pieces+%7BTI%7D+AND+Fitz+%26+The+Tantrums+%7BAU%7D&library=BRANCHES&language=ANY&format=MUSIC&item_type=ANY&location=ANY&match_on=KEYWORD&item_1cat=ANY&item_2cat=ANY&sort_by=-PBYR" library="BRANCHES&language=" format="MUSIC&item_type=" location="ANY&match_on=" item_1cat="ANY&item_2cat=" sort_by="-PBY">Pickin’ Up The Pieces </a>by Fitz & The Tantrums
<br /><a title="blocked::http://www.catalog.kpl.gov/uhtbin/cgisirsi/x/0/0/5?searchdata1="" href="http://www.catalog.kpl.gov/uhtbin/cgisirsi/x/0/0/5?searchdata1=Hot+Sauce+Committee+%7BTI%7D+AND+Beastie+Boys%7BAU%7D&library=BRANCHES&language=ANY&format=MUSIC&item_type=ANY&location=ANY&match_on=KEYWORD&item_1cat=ANY&item_2cat=ANY&sort_by=-PBYR" library="BRANCHES&language=" format="MUSIC&item_type=" location="ANY&match_on=" item_1cat="ANY&item_2cat=" sort_by="-PBYR">Hot Sauce Committee Part Two </a>by Beastie Boys
<br />Sky Full of Holes by <a title="blocked::http://www.catalog.kpl.gov/uhtbin/cgisirsi/x/0/0/5?searchdata1="" href="http://www.catalog.kpl.gov/uhtbin/cgisirsi/x/0/0/5?searchdata1=Fountains+of+Wayne%7BAU%7D&library=BRANCHES&language=ANY&format=MUSIC&item_type=ANY&location=ANY&match_on=KEYWORD&item_1cat=ANY&item_2cat=ANY&sort_by=-PBYR" library="BRANCHES&language=" format="MUSIC&item_type=" location="ANY&match_on=" item_1cat="ANY&item_2cat=" sort_by="-PBYR">Fountains of Wayne</a>
<br />Alabama Shakes EP by Alabama Shakes
<br /><a title="blocked::http://www.catalog.kpl.gov/uhtbin/cgisirsi/x/0/0/5?searchdata1="" href="http://www.catalog.kpl.gov/uhtbin/cgisirsi/x/0/0/5?searchdata1=21%7BTI%7D+AND+adele%7BAU%7D&library=BRANCHES&language=ANY&format=MUSIC&item_type=ANY&location=ANY&match_on=KEYWORD&item_1cat=ANY&item_2cat=ANY&sort_by=-PBYR" library="BRANCHES&language=" format="MUSIC&item_type=" location="ANY&match_on=" item_1cat="ANY&item_2cat=" sort_by="-PBYR">21 </a>by Adele
<br />The Go Rounds (2011) by The Go Rounds
<br /><a title="blocked::http://www.catalog.kpl.gov/uhtbin/cgisirsi/x/0/0/5?searchdata1="" href="http://www.catalog.kpl.gov/uhtbin/cgisirsi/x/0/0/5?searchdata1=KMAG+YOYO+%7BTI%7D&library=BRANCHES&language=ANY&format=ANY&item_type=ANY&location=ANY&match_on=KEYWORD&item_1cat=ANY&item_2cat=ANY&sort_by=-PBYR" library="BRANCHES&language=" format="ANY&item_type=" location="ANY&match_on=" item_1cat="ANY&item_2cat=" sort_by="-PBYR">KMAG YOYO (& other American stories)</a> <a title="blocked::http://www.catalog.kpl.gov/uhtbin/cgisirsi/x/0/0/5?searchdata1="" href="http://www.catalog.kpl.gov/uhtbin/cgisirsi/x/0/0/5?searchdata1=Hayes+Carll+%7BAU%7D+AND+KMAG+YOYO%7BTI%7D&library=BRANCHES&language=ANY&format=MUSIC&item_type=ANY&location=ANY&match_on=KEYWORD&item_1cat=ANY&item_2cat=ANY&sort_by=-PBYR" library="BRANCHES&language=" format="MUSIC&item_type=" location="ANY&match_on=" item_1cat="ANY&item_2cat=" sort_by="-PBYR"></a>by Hayes Carll
<br /><a title="blocked::http://www.catalog.kpl.gov/uhtbin/cgisirsi/x/0/0/5?searchdata1="" href="http://www.catalog.kpl.gov/uhtbin/cgisirsi/x/0/0/5?searchdata1=el+camino%7bTI%7d+AND+black+keys%7bAU%7d&library=BRANCHES&language=ANY&format=ANY&item_type=ANY&location=ANY&match_on=KEYWORD&item_1cat=ANY&item_2cat=ANY&sort_by=-PBYR" library="BRANCHES&language=" format="ANY&item_type=" location="ANY&match_on=" item_1cat="ANY&item_2cat=" sort_by="-PBYR">El Camino</a> by The Black Keys
<br />Only In Dreams by Dum Dum Girls
<br />We Are The Champions by Jeff The Brotherhood
<br />All Eternals Deck by The Mountain Goats
<br />An Argument With Myself EP by Jens Lekman
<br />Hello Sadness by Los Campesinos!
<br />It’s A Corporate World by Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.
<br />Kiss Each Other Clean by Iron & Wine
<br />The Old Magic by Nick Lowe
<br />Stone Rollin’ by Raphael Saadiq
<br />
<br /><strong>Andrea C, Throws Her Support to Minnesota, WI </strong>
<br />
<br />1. Bon Iver, Bon Iver
<br />2. Adele - 21
<br />3. Lykke Li - Wounded Rhymes
<br />4. Low - C'mon
<br />5. Foster the People - Torches
<br />6. Cults - Cults
<br />7. Neon Indian - Era Extrana
<br />8. M83 - Hurry Up We're Dreaming
<br />9. Florence and the Machine - Ceremonials
<br />10. Phantogram - Nightlife
<br />
<br />May 2012 bring yet more fantastic music. I'm waiting for the National's next album...
<br />
<br />
<br /><strong>Billy M Will Lay Your Shit Bare
<br /></strong>
<br />21, Adele
<br />Born This Way, Lady Gaga
<br />Anar, Marketa Irglova
<br />Night of Hunters, Tori Amos
<br />Ceremonials, Florence + The Machine
<br />Born to Die (leaked!), Lana Del Rey
<br />Helplessness Blues, Fleet Foxes
<br />The King Is Dead, The Decemberists
<br />Femme Fatale, Britney Spears
<br />Bon Iver, Bon Iver
<br />
<br />
<br /><strong>Harry S, Aggressively Naked, Famous</strong>
<br />
<br />Passive Me, Aggressive You, by The Naked and Famous, and Wild Flag's eponymous album
<br />
<br />
<br /><strong>Zack Goes For Flora Over Fauna</strong>
<br />
<br />Fredrik, Flora
<br />
<br />
<br /><strong>Jonas R Looks into the eyes of a Stranger</strong>
<br />
<br />Most essential:
<br />
<br />Amy Lavere, Stranger Me -- such a great breakup album I wish I had a vindictive heart and someone just broke it.
<br />
<br />Filling out my Top 10, in no particular order:
<br />
<br />Cake, Showroom of Compassion
<br />Wild Flag, Wild Flag
<br />John Doe, Keeper
<br />Wilco, The Whole Love
<br />Beastie Boys, Hot Sauce Committee Part Two
<br />Snakefarm, My Halo at Half-Light
<br />Thao and Mira, Eleven
<br />Honeyhoney, Billy Jack
<br />Adele, 21
<br />
<br />Honorable Mentions:
<br />Shilpa Ray, Teenage and Torture
<br />The Gaddabouts, The Gaddabouts
<br />The Smithereens, 2011
<br />David Lynch, Crazy Clown Time
<br />Ryan Adams, Ashes & Fire
<br />Dum Dum Girls, Only in Dreams
<br />Mumford & Sons and Laura Marling, Dharohar Project EP
<br />
<br />
<br /><strong>Siobhan V Raves On</strong>
<br />
<br />Veronica Falls - Veronica Falls
<br />Cults - Cults
<br />Out of Love - Mister Heavenly
<br />Strange Mercy - St Vincent
<br />In Heaven - Twin Sister
<br />
<br />!Bonus! Rave On - Buddy Holly covers
<br />
<br />
<br /><strong>Brant R Goes Kaputt</strong>
<br />
<br />My Most Essential Album:
<br />Destroyer/Kaputt
<br />
<br />In Range of Most Essential:
<br />James Blake/James Blake
<br />Cults/Cults
<br />Stephen Malkmus/Mirror Traffic
<br />Washed Out/Within and Without
<br />
<br />Eventual Essential Potential: Atlas Sound/Parallax; The Black Keys/El Camino; Bon Iver/Bon Iver; Clams Casino/Instrumental Mixtape; Florence + The Machine/Ceremonials; Eleanor Friedberger/Last Summer; Girls/Father, Son, Holy Ghost; Little Dragon/Ritual Union; Frank Ocean/nostalgia, ULTRA; Real Estate/Days; Smith Westerns/Dye It Blonde; Surfer Blood/Tarot Classics [EP]; tUnE-yArDs/W H O K I L L; Youth Lagoon/The Year of Hibernation; Yuck/Yuck
<br />
<br />Other Albums I Enjoyed: Adele/21; Beyoncé/4; Blouse/Blouse; Bright Eyes/The People’s Key; Guy Clark Jr./The Bright Lights EP; Coldplay/Mylo Xyloto; Danger Mouse/Rome; The Decemberists/The King Is Dead; Fleet Foxes/Helplessness Blues; Noel Gallagher/Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds; Jay-Z & Kanye West/Watch the Throne; The Joy Formidable/The Big Roar; Lady Gaga/Born This Way; The Strokes/Angles; Tom Waits/Bad As Me; The Weeknd/House of Balloons; Wilco/The Whole Love; Wild Flag/Wild Flag
<br />
<br />Some Essential Tracks: Adele/Rolling in the Deep; Atlas Sound/Mona Lisa; Battles with Matias Aguayo/Ice Cream; The Black Keys/Nova Baby; James Blake/Limit to Your Love; Blouse/Videotapes; Cults/Abducted; Destroyer/Savage Night at the Opera; Eleanor Friedberger/I Won’t Fall Apart on You Tonight; Noel Gallagher/I’d Pick You Every Time; Girls/Alex; The Joy Formidable/Austere; Little Dragon/Ritual Union; Stephen Malkmus/Stick Figures in Love; Smith Westerns/Weekend; The Strokes/Life Is Simple in the Moonlight; Surfer Blood/Voyager Reprise; tUnE-yArDs/Bizness; Washed Out/Amor Fati; Yuck/Shook Down
<br />
<br />Essential Albums from Previous Years:
<br />Alice Cooper/Billion Dollar Babies [1973]
<br />Beach House/Teen Dream [2010]
<br />The Black Keys/The Big Come Up [2002]
<br />Cut Copy/In Ghost Colours [2008]
<br />Deerhunter/Halcyon Digest [2010]
<br />Electric Light Orchestra/Out of the Blue [1977]
<br />Brian Eno/Before and After Science [1977]
<br />Heart/Dreamboat Annie [1976]
<br />Ke$ha/Animal [2010]
<br />Lynyrd Skynyrd/(pronounced 'lĕh-'nērd 'skin-'nērd) [1973]
<br />TV Girl/TV Girl [EP] [2010]
<br />Washed Out/Life of Leisure [2010]
<br />Ron Wood/Gimme Some Neck [1979]
<br />Neil Young/Live Rust [1979]
<br />
<br />Essential Tracks from Previous Years: ABBA/Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (a Man After Midnight); Alice Cooper/Hello Hooray; The Black Keys/I’ll Be Your Man; Cut Copy/Out There on the Ice; Deerhunter/Desire Lines; Electric Light Orchestra/Summer and Lightning; Electric Six/Synthesizer; Brian Eno/By This River; Donald Fagen/I.G.Y.; Fleetwood Mac/Lindsey’s Song #1 (I Know I’m Not Wrong); The Flying Burrito Bros/Hand to Mouth; Heart/Crazy on You; The Hold Steady/Certain Songs; The Human League/Human; INXS/Mystify; Jackson 5/Maybe Tomorrow; Ke$ha/TiK ToK; Nicolette Larson/Lotta Love; Huey Lewis & the News/Walking on a Thin Line; Madvillain/Sickfit; J Mascis/Ground Me to You; Harry Nilsson/River Deep, Mountain High; Pearl Jam/Corduroy; Katy Perry/Hot N Cold; The Rascals/Groovin’; Right Said Fred/Don’t Talk Just Kiss; Johnny Rivers/Secret Agent Man; Semisonic/Closing Time; The Staple Singers/(Sittin’ on) The Dock of the Bay; Mavis Staples/Trippin’ On Your Love; Rod Stewart/It’s Not the Spotlight; Sweet/Fox on the Run; Yann Tiersen/Fuck Me; Alphonse Trent and His Orchestra/After You’ve Gone; TV Girl/If You Want It; The Walker Brothers/No Regrets; Washed Out/Feel It All Around; Steve Winwood/While You See a Chance; Ron Wood/Worry No More; Neil Young/Lotta Love
<br />
<br />
<br /><strong>Nick E is a Holocene-ster</strong>
<br />
<br />1. Bon Iver, Bon Iver
<br />During a summer overrun with Gaga and Britney and Rihanna, this album was a breath of fresh air. The pop was fun, it served its purpose; but it’s Bon Iver I wanted to come home to at the end of a day. This has earned a permanent place on my iPod.
<br />2. Dolorean, The Unfazed
<br />After several albums that only offered love songs about adultery, self-destruction, and a half-botched suicide pact, this one closes out with an unapologetic, almost saccharine love song. It’s like finally being rewarded with affection from a withholding lover! And the rest of the album is great, too.
<br />3. M83, Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming
<br />I want to buy a car just so I can drive around at night listening to this on a dark interstate.
<br />4. Florence + The Machine, Ceremonials
<br />This one might deserve to rank higher, but I’ve only listened to it a few times at this point. There’s something oddly shameless about these songs – totally uninhibited. If I had long hair, I’d have to let it down when listening to this.
<br />5. Stephin Merritt, Obscurities
<br />Something old, something new. A little bit of everything I love about this man’s music and, for the first time in a while, not a single track so weird I have to skip it.
<br />
<br />
<br /><strong>Stephanie S Paints it Black</strong>
<br />
<br />Here we go...
<br />
<br />1,The Black Keys, El Camino
<br />2. Florence and the Machine, Ceremonials
<br />3. Bon Iver, Bon Iver
<br />
<br />Best new finds:
<br />Brother by Matt Corby
<br />Seeker Lover Keeper ( Aussie super group with Sally Seltman, Holly Throsby and Sarah Blasko)
<br />
<br />
<br /><strong>Kasia G Shows Some Mercy</strong>
<br />
<br />My essential album of the year was:
<br />
<br />St. Vincent, Strange Mercy
<br />
<br />
<br /><strong>Anica Likes Welch’s Jelly</strong>
<br />
<br />Most essential:
<br />Gillian Welch, The Harrow & The Harvest
<br />(I mean, come on. It's Gillian.)
<br />
<br />Also essential:
<br />The Roots, Undun
<br />
<br />Me likey:
<br />The Black Keys, El Camino
<br />Ana Egge, Bad Blood
<br />The Jayhawks, Mockingbird Time (but mostly for sentimental reasons)
<br />Yo-Yo Ma, Stuart Duncan, Edgar Meyer, & Chris Thile, The Goat Rodeo Sessions
<br />
<br />Best old albums I bought last year:
<br />John Fahey, The Transfiguration of Blind Joe Death The Dillards, Wheatstraw Suite
<br />
<br />2010 album I'm still playing the most:
<br />Gorillaz, Plastic Beach
<br />(so good)
<br />
<br />
<br />davidlevithanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00762768300871943772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1509734071563017124.post-90560215565167442462011-01-28T06:42:00.000-08:002011-01-28T06:53:58.547-08:00The 2010 David Music Poll Results<strong>The 2010 David Music Poll Results</strong><br /><br />1. Arcade Fire, The Suburbs (37 votes)<br />2. The National, High Violet (32)<br />3. Robyn, Body Talk (28)<br />4. Kanye West, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (24)<br />5. Beach House, Teen Dream (16)<br /> LCD Soundsystem, This is Happening (16)<br />7. Vampire Weekend, Contra (15)<br />8. Mumford & Sons, Sigh No More (14)<br />9. Janelle Monae, The ArchAndroid (13)<br />10. Broken Bells, Broken Bells (11)<br /><br />Runners up: (10 votes:) Sufjan Stevens, The Age of Adz; (9 votes:) The Black Keys, Brothers; (8 votes:) Joanna Newsom, Have One on Me; Yeasayer, Odd Blood; Cee-lo Green, The Lady Killer; (7 votes:) Local Natives, Gorilla Manor<br /><br /><br />Notes: 81 people responded to this year’s DMP – up from last year. The results? We had our first repeat winner in the history of the poll – Arcade Fire, which topped 2007’s poll with their last album, The Neon Bible. It was a tight race again this year, with many people putting three or four of the top five on the same list. For those who track such things, this was the third time Arcade Fire made the top ten, and the second visit for The National, Kanye West, LCD Soundsystem, and Vampire Weekend. Mumford & Sons charted the highest debut. MGMT only got two votes, but if more of you had listened to Florence + the Machine last year, odds are she would have won last year’s poll. Maybe if she releases a new album this year she’ll take the crown.<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Me, Dancing On My Own</strong><br /><br />The top three are rather close together.<br /><br />(1) Robyn, Body Talk (Parts 1, 2, and 3)<br /><br />Skip the first song of the first E.P. – great title (“Don’t F***ing Tell Me What To Do”), not so great song. But. man, after that, it’s three albums of pure pop pleasure. Robyn owned my iPod this year, no contest. I was always in the mood for her. And, bizarrely, the songs are just as fun on the 100th listen as they were on the 1st. (With the exception that I now know she’s slurring the word “girl” in “Dancing on My Own” and not saying “guy” – R.I.P. gender confusion.) I will confess that I expected a creative dip on part three, but then she went and hit me with “Time Machine” and “Call Your Girlfriend”. I don’t understand why she isn’t at the top of the pop charts, but at the same time I’m glad she’s not, so there can be a not-so-secret society of us admirers. Pop is at its best when it goes for the honest truths in an honest way. And for that alone, Robyn takes the crown this year.<br /><br />Best tracks: “Dancing on My Own”, “Hang with Me” (fast version), “Time Machine”<br /><br /><br />(2) The National, High Violet<br /><br />Miraculously, The National make a follow-up that’s almost as amazing at Boxer, my album of the year from two years ago. I feel like The National have followed through on all of the feelings I had for R.E.M. when I was in college – absorbing music, lyrics that are cryptic in an interesting way, phrases that crash well on the swell of the tune. <br /><br />Best tracks: “Bloodbuzz, Ohio” “Terrible Love”<br /><br /><br />(3) Jonsi, Go<br /><br />A hard thing to admit: I think I like Jonsi’s solo album even more than any of Sigur Ros’s albums. There’s an element of bright color that’s here that I found utterly captivating – whenever I found myself wandering this year, this was the soundtrack I wanted. One of my big regrets this year is that I somehow managed to be out of town every time he played NYC<br /><br />Best tracks: “Go Do”, “Boy Lilikoi”, “Animal Arithmatic”<br /><br /><br />And the other essentials are:<br /><br />(4) Vampire Weekend, Contra<br />In a weaker year, this could’ve been a #1. Just as good as the first album. Best tracks: “Horchata”, “Giving Up the Gun”<br /><br />(5) Katy Perry, “Teenage Dream”, “Firework”, and “California Gurls”<br /><br />The rest of the album is nothing special, but any collection that includes these three songs deserves some sort of nod. So I am bending the rule a little to include three singles that alone were as good as most albums I heard this year. <br /><br />(6) Kate Nash, “My Best Friend is You”<br /><br />Some critics really didn’t like this, but I really did. Granted, one of the songs (I think it was called “Mansions” – I deleted it from my iTunes”) was the most unlistenable thing released by an artist I like who isn’t named Liz Phair. But the rest of the songs held up to many, many listens. Is it much different from Nash’s tart-slice-of-life debut? Not really. But I’m happy to listen to more of the same, with some sonic inventiveness every now and then.<br /><br /><br />Honorable mention:<br /><br />Freelance Whales, Weathervanes<br />Frightened Rabbit, The Winter of Mixed Drinks<br />Local Natives, Gorilla Manor<br />Rogue Wave, Permalight<br />Soundtrack, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World<br />Sufjan Stevens, The Age of Adz<br />KT Tunstall, Tiger Suit<br /><br /><br />Album That Last Year I Rightly Labeled “Album That I Bought Late in the Year That Could Eventually Become Essential”:<br /><br />The Avett Brothers, I and Love and You<br /><br />Songs of the Year (not counting those already mentioned above):<br /><br />Arcade Fire, “We Used to Wait”<br />Sarah Harmer, “The City”<br />The Hold Steady, “The Weekenders”<br />Bruno Mars, “Just the Way You Are”<br />Owen Pallett, “Lewis Takes Off His Shirt”<br />Perfume Genius, “Learning”<br />The Script, “Breakeven”<br />The Tallest Man on Earth, “The King of Spain”<br /><br /><br />Favorite Trend: Female Anthemic (Katy Perry’s “Firework”, Ke$ha’s “We R What We R”, Pink’s “Raise a Glass”), which will no doubt reach its apotheosis with this year’s “Born This Way” from Ms. Gaga.<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Looking Through Jen H.’s Kaleidoscope<br /></strong><br />1. Sara Bareilles: Kaleidoscope heart<br />2. Michael Franti and Spearhead: The Sound of Sunshine<br />3. Robyn: Body Talk<br />4. Nicki Minaj: Pink Friday<br />5. The Hold Steady: Heaven is Whenever<br />6. Neon trees: Habits<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Kirsten H. is ultra Violet</strong><br /><br />Most essential album of the year:<br />High Violet by The National.<br /><br />Second:<br />Forgiveness Rock Record by Broken Social Scene<br /><br />Third:<br />Sigh No More by Mumford and Sons<br /><br />Others:<br />The Suburbs by Arcade Fire<br />A Chorus of Storytellers by The Album Leaf<br />Fields by Junip<br />Sainthood by Tegan and Sara<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Olivia B. Learned the Hard Way</strong><br /><br />This is hard!<br /><br />Here are my picks in no particular order:<br /><br />Robyn—Body Talk <br />The National—High Violet <br />Kanye West—My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy <br />Esperanza Spalding—Chamber Music Society <br />Dead Weather—Sea of Cowards <br />LCD Sound System—This is Happening <br />Band of Horses—Infinite Arms <br />Vampire Weekend—Contra <br />The National—High Violet <br />Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings—I Learned the Hard Way<br /><br />Among many others I wanted to include:<br />Eminem--Recovery <br />Justin Townes Earle—Harlem River Blues <br />Mavis Staples—You Are Not Alone <br />Broken Bells--Broken Bells<br /><br />And I always like The Arcade Fire and Sufjan Stevens, but their albums didn't seem super revolutionary (for them) this year....<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Patrick R., Wizard of Adz</strong><br /><br />Hands-down, the album I was most excited about in 2010 was Sufjan Steven's THE AGE OF ADZ.<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Kate H., God Willin’</strong><br /><br />My essential album for 2010 is Ray LaMontagne - God Willin' And the Creek Don't Rise (even though I just got it last month). My "2010 albums I haven't bought yet but desperately want" are The Black Keys - Brothers and Four Tet - There is Love In You. The "song that I can't not dance to" is definitely "Tightrope" by Janelle Monae, and the "albums that didn't come out this year, but came into heavy rotation at my house in 2010" are Florence + the Machine - Lungs, Grizzly Bear - Vecktamist, Lady Gaga - Fame/The Fame Monster, and The National - Boxer.<br /><br />I'd better stop there or we'll be here all day.<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Andrea C. Goes National</strong><br /><br />I'm going with Best Album: The National - High Violet with Mumford & Sons - Sigh No More and Broken Bells coming in close second and third.<br /><br />I can't pick just one Best Single (too much love), but here are some faves: Sufjan Stevens - I Walked (I love this song, but sadly am not a fan of the rest of the album), Jonsi - Boy Lilikoi, The National - England, Cloud Cult - Running with the Wolves, Janelle Monae - Wondaland, Yeasayer - O.N.E., Beck & Bat for Lashes - Let's Get Lost<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Nico W., Really Rosie</strong><br /><br />Top Music Discoveries<br /><br />1. Coco Rosie: Grey Oceans, Ghosthorse and Stillborn<br />2. Arthur Russell: World of Echo<br />3. Little Dragon: Little Dragon<br />4. Yoko Ono: Yes, I'm a Witch<br />5. Dirty Projectors + Bjork collaboration<br />6. Fever Ray: Fever Ray<br />7. Omar Souleyman: Jazeera Nights<br />8. Vashti Bunyan: Just Another Diamond Day<br />9. Karen Dalton: In my own time<br />10: Toumani Diabate: King of the Kora<br /><br />Top Songs:<br /><br />- Stillness in the Move: Dirty Projectors<br />- Wat Pomp: Die Antwoord (feat. Jack Parow)<br />- Lily Pond: Vashti Bunyan<br />- Brandy Alexander: Feist<br />- Revelations: Yoko Ono (feat. Cat Power)<br />- Queen Bee - Toumani Diabate<br />- Fairy Paradise: Coco Rosie<br />- Werewolf: Coco Rosie<br />- Lemonade: Coco Rosie<br />- Horchata: Vampire Weekend<br />- +81: Deerhoof<br />- Your Love: Nicki Minaj<br />- Me and Jane Doe: Charlotte Gainsbourg<br />- Tone Bone Kone: Arthur Russell<br />- Twice: Little Dragon<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Eugene’s a Big Boi now</strong><br /><br />Favorite albums:<br /><br />Big Boi, Sir Lucious Left Foot...The Son Of Chico Dusty<br /><br />After languishing in record label limbo (and perhaps benefiting from the long gestation period), 2010 finally saw the release of the OutKast member's solo record. With rubbery beats and a funk backbone descended from Bootsy Collins and the Godfather (the title references the southern slang phrase "gettin' out on the good foot" and, no doubt, James himself), Big Boi kept bottoms bouncing.<br /><br /><br />How to Dress Well, Love Remains <br /><br />An album that sounds like it was recorded underwater, the sounds just seem to surface before being washed back under the waves. Much has been made of Tom Krell's R&B interests, and this deconstruction of the genre, filtering it through indie rock's lo-fi lens (with echoes of William Baskinski's Disintegration Loops), produced one of the most haunting and haunted records of the year.<br /><br /><br />JJ, Kills <br /><br />A Christmas gift from JJ, this mixtape places Elin Kastlander's ethereal voice over beats by Dre, et al. It's goofy and and somehow a lot more fun than their official release of 2010, No3, which would have made this list if it weren't for this more enjoyable record.<br /><br /><br />Kanye West, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy <br /><br />While there's no ranking on this list, make no mistake. My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy tops the charts (as evidenced by the artwork, above). A baroque exploration into West's psyche that proves more is more, this album is relentless in its pursuit of ideas, browbeating one into submission. It didn't quite hit me on the first listen (though my mother actually commented that she liked one of the songs), it grabbed my ears and still hasn't let go after I watched the 30 minute video for "Runaway." Somehow, I love even the songs I don't like. The only album I actually purchased on vinyl this year (even tho it's already on backorder after having dropped on Tuesday).<br /><br /><br />Nicki Minaj, Barbie World (The Mixtape) <br /><br />Before showing up all over Kanye West's album (and releasing an album of her own) Minaj set the stage with this mixtape. Barbie World manages to bring back Aqua and Annie Lennox in the span of the first two tracks. Maybe it's the nostalgia that those tracks garner or maybe that it manages to burnish the reputation of tracks I had all but forgotten when resequenced in this mixtape, but it poised Minaj to take over.<br /><br /><br />Robyn, Body Talk Pt. 1 <br /><br />In a year that saw no less than three EPs by pop queen Robyn (plus an LP that cherry-picks tracks from the three), my favorite continued to be the first EP. Driven by the propulsive "Dancing on My Own" (in a version I prefer over that released on the album) followed the rocking "Cry When You Get Older" I found myself returning again and again to this introduction to the pop project that Robyn would be working on through the year.<br /><br /><br />The Tallest Man on Earth, The Wild Hunt <br /><br />Kristian Matsson's second album manages to improve on his first as he steps more firmly out from under Bob Dylan's shadow and into his own. The slightly ragged production highlights his voice and the sparse arrangements, leaving space for the sentiment contained therein to burrow into your emotional subconscious.<br /><br /><br />Wild Nothing, Gemini <br /><br />The promise and release of summer run through this album, which manages to hit so many dream-pop touchstones and references that it would take paragraphs to outline them all. High school memories abound. I just want to get in my car and drive on empty roads thorugh wide open spaces, top down, radio up.<br /><br />++++++++++++++<br />Favorite tracks of 2010<br /><br />Drake "Karaoke" from Thank Me Later An easy-going synth jam that speaks to the difficulties of relationships, I found myself listening to this on those long evening bus rides through the various parts of the world.<br /><br />The Dream, "Yamaha" from Love King The type of jam Prince would have tossed off in the 80s (I would die 4 u?, maybe?) it captures the thrill and excitement of street club love.<br /><br />Iyaz "Replay" from Replay Before trying to lay claim to an autotuned Chris Brown on his album, Iyaz released this single with a difficult melodic line that winds its way around chorus. The tricky melody hooked me and didn't let me go for weeks. Just ask Karen.<br /><br />Justin Bieber, "Baby" from My World 2.0 Somehow, when Michael Jackson sang in his pre-teens he already had managed to exhude a certain amount of bass and sex and danger. Not so, Beiber, who is all treble and puppy love. Still, this pop confection managed captivate my aural sweet tooth. The Luda appearance rapping about his 13-year old first love seems, well, ludicrous, but somehow it all adds up to the fun.<br /><br />Kanye West, "Runaway" from My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy Opening with a single repeated piano note that suggests Terry Riley's "In C" on prozac, "Runaway" builds into an a dark heavy indictment of his own failings. And just when you think it might be over along comes a coda reminiscent of Eric Clapton's "Layla" or B.Fleischmann's hidden cover of "Torn" at the End of Pop Loops For Breakfast. It's over indulgent and over the top but like almost everything else on the album it works magically and majestically.<br /><br />LCD Soundsystem "All I Want" from This Is Happening It's just a sliding guitar and a steady beat, but it comes together in such an amazing way that I found myself returning again and again to this song that was more of a "rock song" than the dance music for which they're known.<br />Mos Dub, "History Town" from Mos Dub Max Tannone's mashup of Mos Def with dub reggae wasn't a total success for me, but I couldn't resist this combination of Mos with Desmond Dekker.<br /><br />The New Pornographers, "Moves" from Together Crunching guitars lead to slightly off-beat keyboard ryhthms in this entry. It's a highly produced track, with a lot of aural tricks sprinkled throughout the track, and I thoroughly enjoyed them all. Unfortunately, the rest of the album didn't prove quite as memorable.<br /><br />Nicki Minaj, "I Love You" from Barbie World Mixtape Maybe it's because I'm a sucker for the Annie Lennox sample that brings me back to my first year in NY or maybe it's just the sweetness in the lyrics, but this track managed to keep my heart in thrall and my hopes held high for the coming year.<br /><br />Rihanna, "What's My Name" from Loud Remember Ja Rule and Ashanti? Mesmerize? Something about this song takes me back to what I remember being the early days of rappers and R&B singer collaborations. At any rate, there's something about Rihanna's voice that I really love, and this song suggests the warm nights and late night relationships that keep the memory of summer alive in the cold winter months.<br /><br />Robyn, "Dancing On My Own" from Body Talk Pt. 1 A driving song that commands your attention from the first pulsing synths, Robyn's fraught declarations of herself in the face of lost love are both painful and yet amazingly danceable. I prefer the version on the first Body Talk ep, but I can't argue with the album version either.<br /><br />Shakira and Freshlyground, "Waka Waka" This year's World Cup saw Shakira joining forces with South African Afro-fusion band Freshlyground to create an anthem from which you couldn't run. My favorite parts are actually the Freshlyground verses and the highlife-ish guitars.<br /><br />Tallest Man on Earth, "The Wild Hunt" from The Wild Hunt The beautiful (and somewhat Dylan-esque) opening track of that sets the stage for his latest album, it suggests the wide open cover art with just enough banjo to scratch that itch I have.<br /><br />The Very Best "You Got The Love (remix)" I missed the XX boat last year (though I did see them in concert) but this remix brought them back to me with a Very Best bonus.<br />Wild Nothing "Summer Holiday" from Gemini<br /><br /><br /><strong>For Fiona S., Life on Mars</strong><br /><br />No real order<br /><br />1. Bruno Mars -- Doo-Wops and Hooligans<br />2. Kanye West -- My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy<br />3. She and Him -- Volume 2<br />5. The Decemberists -- Hazards of Love and The King is Dead (okay one comes out in 2011 and the first one came out in 2009 but I discovered both end of the year. Love them!)<br /><br />The rest of what I "discovered" is sort of old and embarrasing -- Like I never listened to Florence and the Machine until late in the year. I guess if it isn't on Glee . . .<br /><br /><br /><strong>Steven M., just Drawn this way</strong><br /><br />10. Sigh No More - Mumford and Sons: What a strong debut, from this London bluegrassy folk band. I haven't heard a record that sounded like this in a while, totally unique. The playing is great and the songs organically go places. I love the instrumentation, and can be really lyrically, vocally and instrumentally powerful. Love the banjo and upright bass. I'd love to hear them back Springsteen, remind me of a British Avett Bros.<br /><a href="https://email.scholastic.com/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=REo7VnlenOA">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=REo7VnlenOA</a><br /><br />9 A+B. Release Me - The Like; Pictures - Len Price 3: I couldn't choose between the two retro bands (playing original tunes), and they reminded me of a female/male version of each other, so they share the #9 slot. The Like are an LA all-girl band, not in the Bangles girl-band sense, but the Crystals/Ronettes sounding group. Why has it been so long since we've had that kind of group?<br />Some of the finest American music are the Phil Spector-produced groups, I miss that! The songs are great - not surprisingly, two of the band members are daughters of Mitchell Froom and Pete Thomas! Very fun record, can't wait to see them on tour. The Len Price 3 are also a revelation, sounds like the Jam if Paul Weller left and was replaced by the combination of Joe Jackson and Dave Davies. Very British Invasion-Kinks era songs. Both are fun records and<br />consistently tight and good throughout.<br /><a href="https://email.scholastic.com/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUghPiEfd5Y">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUghPiEfd5Y</a><br /><a href="https://email.scholastic.com/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42p2nERiNFkwow">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42p2nERiNFkwow</a>, their videos are cool, they deserveanother <a href="https://email.scholastic.com/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifAU55G92FE%26feature=channelIt%27s">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifAU55G92FE&feature=channelIt's</a><br /><br /><br />8. The Winter of Mixed Drinks - Frightened Rabbit. This record gets me fired up. Many thanks to Dan Jackson for getting me into this band, who hail from Selkirk, Scotland. The thick accents and damp sound would make this the ideal soundtrack to driving through the Northern UK. In the singer/songwriter's words, "The theme I'm going for is pushing yourself out to the edge of things and being alone, feeling lost and not knowing where you are, which is how I've felt recently. It's not all fun and games, but hopefully it'll just be less obviously personal and brutal than the last record."<br /><a href="https://email.scholastic.com/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzjERZU3wbY%26feature=related">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzjERZU3wbY&feature=related</a><br /><br />7. Big Echo - Morning Benders. Finally, a new local band I'm into. From Berkeley, my favorite local new band since the Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. My favorite song of the year: <a href="https://email.scholastic.com/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://vimeo.com/14568195">http://vimeo.com/14568195</a><br /><br />6. The Ghost Who Walks - Karen Elson: I'm not sure I've ever been as pleasantly surprised as I am with this one from Jack White's British model/musician wife, recorded in Nashville. A real interesting mood, helped and created by the unique instrumentation including organ, pedal steel, accordion and White himself<br />on drums. Each song is interesting - "old-timey", country, folky, gothic, and rocking, often at the same time. A prime example: "A Thief At My Door" (starts at 4:52, a Sandy Denny song before that) -<br /><a href="https://email.scholastic.com/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHqKxNDvxi0">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHqKxNDvxi0</a><br /><br />5. History From Below - Delta Spirit. I have to thank my friend Darcy for getting me into this SoCal band, and for her, Stephen and Delta Spirit for getting me into their show at the Bottom of the Hill a few years back (editor's note: I"m a music whore). I was a fan of their last record, but this is a big step up. Musically, they're right up my alley, a bit alt.country, rock, americana. They have improved musically, both in playing and writing. This is the record Ryan Adams had been trying to make, and never was able to, in my<br />opinion. The first side of the record is great, but I'd say it starts to run out of steam after "Scarecrow" - otherwise, no complaints. Really well paced and the songs go places, the tempos are perfectly chosen, I say that because some of the songs would have been ruined at incorrect pacing.<br /><a href="https://email.scholastic.com/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.myspace.com/video/vid/106301262">http://www.myspace.com/video/vid/106301262</a><br /><br />4. Black Sands - Bonobo: I've had this record up and down on the list all year, possibly because its sort of rainy-day moody. Bonobo, aka Simon Green, is a British DJ/Producer/Musician, who wisely hooked up with singer AudreyanaTriana, who sings 3 songs, which are all great. She does for this record what Tina<br />Dico/Robyn/Sia do for the Zero 7 records. Nevertheless, all of the grooves and beats are strong throughout on this, and includes some interesting<br />instrumentation. <a href="https://email.scholastic.com/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wxJu-X0zVo">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wxJu-X0zVo</a><br /><br />3. Work - Shout Out Louds: I've been a fan since they put out "Howl Howl Gaff Gaff" (in my 2005 top 10). This record doesn't have the one really strong single, like "Very Loud," used so perfectly in "Nick and Norah's...", however, what it does have is consistently good songs and performances. It's unclear to me listening to their records how strong of musicians they are, since they don't solo. In fact, most of the guitar parts I could probably play despite my meager skills. But that doesn't stop them from having tasty licks and melodies which center the songs and create a ton of emotion. Also, I love how the singer creates so much emotion and passion, he's really skilled despite lacking the classic voice. Something about this band makes me think of a Swedish Cure without the histrionics, and I mean that as a compliment. I love the production choices they make - keeping things simple, but throwing in nice touches here and<br />there, like horns. <a href="https://email.scholastic.com/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.shoutoutlouds.com/walls.html">http://www.shoutoutlouds.com/walls.html</a><br /><br /><br />2. Interpretations: The British Rock Songbook - Bettye LaVette. This record came out early in the year, and I saw the show at the Great American Music Hall in SF and love everything about it. The whole record is British classic rock covers, and because there is no original material, I can't classify this as a "classic." But that didn't stop me from keeping it in my listening rotation all year. Let's face it, these are the songs I was raised on. Whoever picked and arranged these tunes for her did an outstanding job. We all know they are great songs, but they are tweaked when need to be tweaked. Interestingly, during her show, she remarked she wasn't a fan of these tunes when they came out, as she was totally into her own music and soul music at the time. My favorite tracks are Zeppelin's "All My Love," Ringo's "It Don't Come Easy," (in my opinion, a<br />huge improvement from the original) and McCartney's "Maybe I'm Amazed." If you've never heard her sing, her voice, through years of gigs and hard work, is a force of nature (and as Shelagh says, like a hot cup of coffee). Apparently, this project came together after her performance of The Who's "Love Reign O'Er Me" at the Kennedy Center Honors, which is included in this set. You can see why: <a href="https://email.scholastic.com/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJi6maTueSc%26feature=related">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJi6maTueSc&feature=related</a><br /><br />1. What I'm Thinking: Photographing Snowflakes - Badly Drawn Boy. I've been a fan of BDB/Damon Gough since I got "Bewilderbeast" and when I saw him dropkick a fan at SF's Bimbo's 365 Club ("I'm from Manchester!") on that tour. I picked<br />this up after watching "About A Boy" for the umpteenth time recently. His music in that film is perfect. Anyway, I didn't know what to expect, not hearing much from him since that soundtrack. Apparently, this record is the first in a musical trilogy he plans on releasing, all to be released under the title It's What I'm Thinking. There's nothing radio-friendly on this, but I"m a big fan of "records," and this one is consistent throughout, sounds great, with great<br />songwriting, consistency across the performances and moods, and I'm glad he's back with a big picture idea in an iTunes world. As a bonus, "You Lied" sounds like a 2010 version of "Don't Fear the Reaper," and I mean that as complement.<br /><a href="https://email.scholastic.com/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snmv5W9Wxxc">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snmv5W9Wxxc</a><br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Phil B. rides the Suburbs</strong><br /><br />Essential Album -- Arcade Fire -- The Suburbs -- Start to finish, the best album of the year.<br /><br />Runner Up -- Kanye West --My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy -- I really wanted to despise this album, instead I couldn't stop listening to it.<br /><br />Video Experience -- The Google Chrome experiment with Arcade Fire's The Wilderness Downtown. Using Google Earth, your teen years home becomes the focal point of the video. <a href="https://email.scholastic.com/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.thewildernessdowntown.com/">http://www.thewildernessdowntown.com/</a><br /><br />Music Moment -- Deadmau5 as the resident DJ for the MTV Music Awards. Electronica goes full mainstream.<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Gayle F.’s a Teen Dream</strong><br /><br />In this era of downloads, it is so rare for me to find a whole album that blows me away. Even my beloved Sufjan fell short last year. The only entire record I loved last year is Beach House's Teen Dream (how appropriate, no?). So that is my lone entry. Lots of songs I loved. But not many albums. I'm sure Kanye West will sweep it. Everyone else has gone mad over that album.<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Joseph H., the Beach House is on Fire</strong><br /><br />Here's a few of my favourites from 2010,<br /><br />Antony and the Jonsons - Swanlight<br />Arcade Fire - The Suburbs<br />Beach House - Tean Dream<br />Cocorosie - Grey Oceans<br />Joanna Newsom - Have One On Me<br />Jonsi - Go<br />Sufjan Stevens - Ages of Adz<br />Yeasayer - Odd Blood<br /><br />My favourite song off all of those has to be Joanna Newsom Baby Birch, 9 minutes of a wailing woman with a harp!<br /><br />Reading your email reminded me of when we were just hanging out in your hotel room in Auckland talking about music, and I know if there are any bands on your list that I haven't heard of then I shall be heading straight for iTunes!<br /><br />I keep trying to think of my 'most essential' album, I can only narrow it down to the most essential 4: Arcade Fire, Beach House, Jonsi and Sufjan.<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Strolling the Arcade with Lucas K.</strong><br /><br />1. Arcade Fire, The Suburbs<br />2. Big Boi, Sir Lucious Left Foot<br />3. Jukebox the Ghost, Everything Under the Sun<br />4. Yeasayer, Odd Blood<br />5. Surfer Blood, Astro Coast<br />6. Kanye West, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy<br />7. Cee Lo Green, The Lady Killer<br />8. Robyn, Body Talk<br />9. The Weepies, Be My Thrill<br />10. Vampire Weekend, Contra<br /><br />I have the feeling Yeasayer will have the least staying power of any album on here, but it was perfect for several months.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Scott D: Touch His Body<br /></strong><br />My album of the year is obviously Robyn's BODY TALK.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Here’s One on Brian M.</strong><br /><br />My favorite time of the year. Here's my list of favorites out of the 150 plus releases I heard from this year. (If you're interested, here's my expanded lists along with reviews: <a href="https://email.scholastic.com/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://brianjamestheauthor.blogspot.com/2011/01/weekend-music-roundupbest-of-2010.html">Here</a> and <a href="https://email.scholastic.com/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://brianjamestheauthor.blogspot.com/2011/01/weekend-music-rounduprest-of-best.html">Here</a>.)<br /><br />MOST ESSENTIAL<br /><br />Joanna Newsom, Have One On Me<br /><br /><br />OTHER ESSENTIAL ALBUMS<br /><br />Evelyn Evelyn, Evelyn Evelyn<br />Karen Elson, The Ghost Who Walks<br />Portugal. The Man, American Ghetto<br />Arcade Fire, The Suburbs<br />Wu Tang Clan vs. The Beatles, Enter the Magical Mystery Chambers<br />Menomena, Mines<br />Midlake, The Courage of Others<br />Holly Miranda, The Magician's Private Library<br />Manic Street Preachers, Postcards from a Young Man<br />Kanye West, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy<br />Sparrow & the Workshop, Crystals Fall<br />Smoosh, Withershins<br />Electric Wizard, Black Masses<br /><br /><br /><br />FAVORITE DISCOVERIES FROM PREVIOUS YEARS<br />The Wooden Sky, If I Don't Come Back You'll Know I'm Gone<br />Bonnie Prince Billy, Ask Forgiveness<br />Pink Floyd, The Man & The Journey<br />Jim Kwesnkin & The Jug Band, Jug Band Music<br />Brenda Lee, All Alone Am I<br />Spirogyra, St. Radigunds<br />Grateful Dead, Wake of the Flood<br />Fleetwood Mac, The Original Fleetwood Mac<br />David Bowie, Hunky Dory<br /><br /><br /><br />FAVORITE SONGS OF THE YEAR<br />Yeasayer, "O.N.E."<br />Quadron, "Slippin'"<br />Fitz & the Tantrums, "Moneygrabber"<br />Kanye West, "POWER"<br />Lifeseeker, "Sammy Hagar Rules"<br />Holly Miranda, "Ex-Factor"<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Cora K. is Happening<br /></strong><br />6. Arcade Fire, The Suburbs<br />PLEASE can they come to Australia in 2011<br /><br />5. Faithless, Home<br />They still have it, and can show these new dj's how to do it<br /><br />4. Yeasayer, Old Blood<br />I keep playing this.<br /><br />3. Broken Social Scene, Forgiveness Rock Record<br />I was moved to tears (twice) when I saw them in concert<br /><br />2. The Drums, The Drums<br />How could you not love these lyrics 'I see a beautiful flower. It was trampled on the ground. And it makes me think of you. How you used to be and how you are now.'<br /><br />1. LCD Soundsystem, This is Happening<br />The perfect album. It makes you want to dance, and the lyrics are smart and have heart.<br /><br />Special mentions:<br /><br />Best concert: Peaches at Hifi Bar<br />Best music festival: Splendor in the Grass. Special mention to Scissor Sisters on the Friday night. Lineup: <a href="https://email.scholastic.com/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://splendourinthegrass.com/artist-lineup.html">http://splendourinthegrass.com/artist-lineup.html</a><br />Best compilation: David Levithan, Spring 2010<br />Biggest disappointment: Vampire Weekend, Contra. It was just more of the same, maybe they should have made us wait longer.<br />Most anticipated of 2011: Cut Copy, Zonoscope<br /><br /><br />Number of concerts / festivals I'm going to between now and the end of March: 12<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Matthue R. Used to Wait</strong><br /><br />Arcade Fire, The Suburbs. (I'm not even from the suburbs. I've never lived there and have no way, save a few memories of reading The Outsiders, to verify whether it really is this bleak and beautiful. But this album is.)<br /><br />And:<br /><br />Nikki Minaj, Barbie World (or any other non-Pink Friday mixtape) <br />The Roots, How I Got Over <br />Regina Spektor, Live in London <br />Kim Boekbinder, Impossible Girl <br />Kanye West, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy <br />They Might Be Giants, Here Comes Science<br /><br />Best moment of music: Nicki Minaj switches between four different personas and about seven completely different vocal styles in under a minute during her guest appearance on Kanye's "Twisted Dark Fantasy." There are so many distinctive styles of genius in that moment, I can't even begin to fathom it. I think it's influenced my whole best-of list.<br /><br />Best album of 2010 that wasn't actually in 2010: The Where the Wild Things Are soundtrack. Overflow from last year. Only realized it was awesome this year.<br /><br />Best new album of 2010, according to my 3-year-old: The B-52's, Cosmic Thing. It's a new discovery if you were negative 20 years old when it came out.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Anica R. hits the Beach</strong><br /><br />Most essential:<br />Gorillaz, Plastic Beach<br /><br />Other essentials:<br />Bonnie Prince Billy & The Cairo Gang, The Wonder Show of the World<br />LCD Soundsystem, This Is Happening<br />Spoon, Transference<br />Robyn, Body Talk<br /><br /><br /><strong>Eamon T.’s Night Work</strong><br /><br />Like I said last year, the era of the album seems to be over...this year was all about the Pop/Dance Hits for me...like...<br />Rihanna's "Only Boy in the World"<br />Katy Perry's "Teenage Dream"<br />Robyn's "Dancing on my Own"<br />&<br />Mark Ronson & The Business International featuring Boy George and Andrew Wyatt's "Someone to Love Me"<br /><br />That said I still managed to discover some great albums too...<br /><br />Best of 2010<br />Scissor Sisters - Nightwork<br />Beach House - Teen Dream<br />Robyn - Body Talk Parts 1-3<br />Gorillaz - Plastic Beach<br />M.I.A. - Maya<br />Crocodiles - Sleep Forvever<br />Das Racist - Sit Down, Man<br />Hurts - Happiness<br />Sleigh Bells - Treats<br /><br />Disappointments from 2010<br />Paul Weller - Wake Up the Nation...total blah...sounds the same as always even with Kevin Shields on board<br />Richard Ashcroft's United Nations of Sound...terrible band name...even worse music. Disappointing considering I stuck with him through a spotty solo career.<br /><br />Over It...Sorry...<br />Arcade Fire, Vampire Weekend, and Kayne<br /><br />Looking forward to in 2011<br />Sophomore release from Himalaya<br />PJ Harvey...always looking forward to more<br />Long overdue one from the Strokes<br />Beady Eye...if the early tracks being released are any indication, their debut CD should be pretty great.<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Cecil C. Whips Her Hair</strong><br /><br />I can't remember anything. But these came off the top of my head. So i'll just go with it. <br /><br />Lykke Li, Get Some<br />Melissa Auf der Maur, Out of Our Minds<br />Come Gather Round Us, Come Gather Round Us<br />Coeur de Pirate, Coeur de Pirate<br />Rufus Wainwright, Songs for Lulu<br />Annie Lennox, A Christmas Cornucopia<br />Cee Lo Green, The Lady Killer<br />Willow Smith, Whip my Hair<br />Janelle Monae, The ArchAndroid<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Kevin W.’s Parting Gift</strong><br /><br />1. Parting Gifts, Strychnine Dandelion ... Greg Cartwright teams with Coco Hames from The Ettes. As good as you might expect.<br /><br />Also, of note ... I'm not sure what year this song was released but the best song I heard in 2010 is "M.R.E.s" by Black Sunday. I mean, holy shit. Easily the best thing ever written about Katrina. Not even a close second. Alicja Trout is an evil genius (do you hear me, Brant Rumble?) an evil genius.<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Dan Pe. and his Girl Talk</strong><br /><br />Album of the year goes somewhat begrudgingly to Girl Talk's All Day (begrudging because this was the first year in a while that I didn't have a runaway favorite, and I think it's inferior to his last effort). Additional nods go to Release Me by The Like, Brothers by the Black Keys, The Winter of Mixed Drinks by Frightened Rabbit and The Archandroid by Janelle Monae. I haven't listened to Big Boi, Lil Wayne or Em's albums, so I'll abstain on hip hop rather than give it to Kanye on the strength of Power alone. But I'd probably give him song of the year for it.<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Dan Po. shows his Age</strong><br /><br />Favorite Music 2010: In order of essentiality:<br /><br />1. Sufjan Stevens, The Age of Adz<br />2. Sarah Bareilles, Kaleidoscope Heart<br />3. Patty Griffin, Downtown Church<br />4. Robyn, Body Talk Pts 1, 2, and 3<br /><br />Other Good Stuff: Maybe not Essential<br /><br />5. Lost in the Trees, All Alone in an Empty House<br />6. Joanna Newsom, Have One on Me<br />7. Fanfarlo, Reservoir<br />8. Local Natives, Gorilla Manor<br />9. Vampire Weekend, Contra<br /><br />Favorite Ridiculous Pop Singles:<br /> Eminem ft. Rihanna, Love the Way You Lie<br /> Katy Perry, Firework<br /> Glee Cast, Teenage Dream<br /><br /><br /><strong>Jon S. is Crazy for the Coast</strong><br /><br />My number one album for 2010 is Crazy For You by Best Coast. Cresting the wave of last Summer's "Chill Wave" beach rock sound, it hit the perfect blend of lo-fi grit and mellow crooning. Lead singer Beth Cosentino has the kind of frank, no nonsense charm that leaves ex-90's grunge boys like me weak in the knees. They'll need to evolve their sound if they want to be more than just the best example of a short-lived fad, but for me, Best Coast was the soundtrack to my Summer of 2010.<br /><br />Although it's difficult for me to separate Crazy for You from another great Chill Wave album. King of the Beach, sophomore effort from Wavves, was surprisingly smart and catchy compared to their self-titled first album. And yet they still held on to the edgy trickster quality that made me like them in the first place.<br /><br />But summer can't last forever and another music wave seems to be cresting. Grave Wave, Dark Wave, Nu Goth, or whatever you want to call it, is an interesting blend of classic 80's goth with the more recent indie lo-fi sound. At the top of the list in 2010 for this movement is Zola Jesus's album Stridulum II. Simple yet sprawling, it conjured up the perfect thoughtful melancholy for Fall.<br /><br />And I would be remiss if I didn't mention Fang Island's self-titled debut. A mostly instrumental rock band out of Brooklyn, they describe their sound as "everyone high-fiving everyone". It totally is, and if you are in need of an injection of triumphant w00ts, this is the album to pick up.<br /><br />My guilty pleasure for 2010 was Body Talk Pt. 1 by Robyn. Indie music's dance hall pop darling is at her best on the first volume of an ambitious three volume staggered release. Parts 2 and 3 were somewhat of a let down, but Part 1 perfectly expresses her early Madonna meets Ani Difranco vibe.<br /><br />My surprise album of 2010 was a tie. Joanna Newsom's Have One On Me was a departure from her usual discordant folk strangeness. She seems to be channeling Joni Mitchell's Blue album, adding her own high concept design and trademark quirk. How I Got Over by the Roots is probably one of the most well made albums I've heard in a long time. It's obvious that playing every day together on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon has turned them into a band that knows exactly what they do and how to do it right.<br /><br />Honorable mentions to some sophomore efforts that I enjoyed a lot but felt had no real growth from the previous album:<br />The Winter of MIxed Drinks, Frightened Rabbit<br />Contra, Vampire Weekend<br />Crystal Castles 2010, Crystal Castles<br /><br /><br /><strong><br />Alaya J walks the Tightrope</strong><br /><br />Most essential album:<br /><br />The Archandroid, Janelle Monae (I thought her EP Metropolis: The Chase Suite was one of the coolest things I'd ever heard and then she just did it one better. Probably the best all around performer--dancer, singer, time-traveling robot--around today.)<br /><br />Other very awesome albums:<br /><br />So Runs The World Away, Josh Ritter ("The Curse" is especially amazing)<br />Contra, Vampire Weekend<br />The Age of Adz, Sufjan Stevens (so I'm not entirely sure about this one yet, but I feel like I should at least acknowledge its ambition)<br />Dream Attic, Richard Thompson<br />High Violet, The National<br />Odd Blood, Yeasayer<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Ryan C. runs Wild</strong><br /><br /><br />1. Wild Nothing – Gemini<br />2. Gigi – Maintenant<br />3. John Adams – I Am Love Soundtrack<br />4. Sleigh Bells – Treats<br />5. The National – High Violet<br />6. Beach House – Teen Dream<br />7. Vampire Weekend – Contra<br />8. The Walkmen – Lisbon<br />9. Kanye West – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy<br />10. How to Dress Well – Love Remains<br />11. Girls – Broken Dreams Club<br />12. Girl Talk – All Day<br />13. Male Bonding – Nothing Hurts<br />14. Magic Kids – Memphis<br />15. Radio Dept. - Clinging to a Scheme<br />16. LCD Soundsystem – This Is Happening<br />17. Broken Social Scene – Forgiveness Rock Record<br />18. Gorillaz – Plastic Beach<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>This is Megan M.</strong><br /><br />Essential:<br />This Is Happening, LCD Soundsystem<br /><br />Runners Up:<br />My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, Kanye West <br />The Suburbs, Arcade Fire All Day, Girl Talk <br />Brothers, Black Keys <br />Broken Bells, Broken Bells<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Matthew U. Dreams of Angels<br /></strong><br />Apparently I no longer live in the present (or am just getting old)… Literally, this may be the only album I bought this year that was actually released this year:<br /><br />Black Angels, Phosphene Dream<br />So I guess that’s most essential<br /><br />Favorite pop single of the year:<br />P!nk, Raise Your Glass<br /><br />Recent artist I’m listening to the most:<br />Bob Schneider<br /><br />Legend I can’t stop listening to:<br />Leonard Cohen<br /><br />Weirdest group I’ve discovered this year:<br />Shpongle<br /><br />Maybe this year I’ll ‘live in the now,’ but somehow I doubt it.<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Grease is the word for Ned V.</strong><br /><br />The best album I heard this year has not officially been released. It's East Bay Grease's demos. They are a side project of Drunk Horse and Red Meat. Drunk Horse is one of my favorite bands of all time (from San Francisco); Red Meat has a guitar player who is as good as Clapton. While East Bay Grease does not have a full length yet, they released an EP "Just Head":<br /><a href="https://email.scholastic.com/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://classicbarmusic.com/CBMLibrary/CBMLib003/CBMLib003.cfm">http://classicbarmusic.com/CBMLibrary/CBMLib003/CBMLib003.cfm</a><br />Reviewed here:<br /><br /><a href="https://email.scholastic.com/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.terminal-boredom.com/reviews28.html">http://www.terminal-boredom.com/reviews28.html</a><br />And their Facebook is here:<br /><br /><a href="https://email.scholastic.com/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.facebook.com/pages/East-Bay-Grease/274939302325">http://www.facebook.com/pages/East-Bay-Grease/274939302325</a><br /><br />Good time honkey-tonkin bar music. East Bay Grease "Just Head" EP is my most essential album of 2010. Hopefully a full-length comes this year.<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Megan S., High on 2011<br /></strong><br />This was an AWESOME year in music. Here are my picks:<br /><br />1. High Violet – The National<br />2. The Suburbs – Arcade Fire<br />3. Have One On Me – Joanna Newsom<br />4. The Wild Hunt – Tallest Man on Earth<br />5. Lisbon – The Walkmen<br />6. Gorilla Manor – Local Natives<br />7. Sigh No More – Mumford and Sons<br />8. The ArchAndroid – Janelle Monae<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Steph S.’s National anthems</strong><br /><br />Here are my picks:<br /><br />1. The National, High Violet<br />2. Angus & Julia Stone, Down The Way<br />3. Arcade Fire, The Suburbs<br />4 The Jezabels, Dark Storm (EP)<br />5. Yeasayer, Old Blood<br /><br />Best cover- very close tie between Jordie Lane and Jen Cloher's 'Electric Feel' and Boy and Bear's cover of 'Fall at your feet' by Crowded House<br />Best compilation- David Levithan mix- first edition<br />Best gig- Florence and the Machine- live at the Melbourne Laneway festival<br />Best festival- Splendour in the Grass<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Brent C. hits the right Keys</strong><br /><br />While I was moved by a few artists this year, ( <a href="https://email.scholastic.com/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.spin.com/gallery/40-best-albums-2010?page=37%23main">LCD Soundsystem, This Is Happenin</a>g & <a href="https://email.scholastic.com/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.spin.com/gallery/40-best-albums-2010?page=40%23main">Kanye West, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy</a>) my absolute "essential" album of 2010 was The Black Keys, Brothers.<br /><br />I've spent this past year writing the third installment of the Carter Series (Carter's Unfocused One-Track Mind). Channeling the heartbreak and lust of a fifteen-year-old boy requires a driving rock blues soundtrack, and this was it!<br /><br />My favorite song and music video of 2010, also by The Black Keys, Next Girl <a href="https://email.scholastic.com/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_PrT25o8Vs">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_PrT25o8Vs</a><br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Ders H. and his Relatives</strong><br /><br />Without over thinking this one I am going to go straight from the gut this year...<br /><br />Single: Aloe Blacc "I need a dollar"<br /><br />Albums:<br />The National "high violet"<br />Nas and Damian Marley "Distant Relatives"<br /><br />Best Remaster: Black Sabath "Digipacks"<br /><br />Best Record find from another year:<br />The Refused "the shape of punk to come". FYI...it's fucking awesome if you don't have it!!! Swedish punk/hardcore from 1997...it's sick.<br /><br />I want to say Broken Bells for best record but it really is a boring...<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Sigh no more, Marie R.!</strong><br /><br />Most essential album of the year:<br />Mumford & Sons, Sigh No More<br />Favorite songs therein: "Sigh No More," "Roll Away Your Stone," and "White Blank Page."<br /><br />Other essential albums:<br /><br />The National, High Violet<br />This one was a very close second for me, and I love it, particularly "Sorrow" and "Bloodbuzz Ohio."<br /><br />Arcade Fire, The Suburbs (thanks, David, for the introduction!)<br />Favorite songs therein: "Modern Man," "City With No Children," "Half Light II (No Celebration)"<br /><br />The Black Keys, Brothers<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Bryant P.’s National-ism</strong><br /><br />The most essential albums of 2010:<br /><br />9. Local Natives, Gorilla Manner<br />8. Mumford & Sons, Sigh No More<br />7. Katy Perry, Teenage Dream<br />6. Arcade Fire, The Suburbs<br />5. The Tallest Man on Earth, Wild Hunt<br />4. Kanye West, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy<br />3. Vampire Weekend, Contra<br />2. Beach House, Teen Dream<br />1. The National, High Violet<br /><br />The most essential singles:<br /><br />5. 10 Miles Stereo by Beach House<br />4. Little Lion Man by Mumford & Son<br />3. Diplomat’s Son by Vampire Weekend<br />2. Sorrow by The National<br />1. Airplanes by Local Natives<br /><br /><br />Most Likely to Make My 2010 Most Essential List Retroactively, Because I Picked Up the Album Late in the Year:<br /><br />Robyn, Body Talk<br />Deerhunter, Halcyon Digest<br />The Walkmen, Lisbon<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Alex R., perfumed like a Genius</strong><br /><br />This is a tough one, i felt a bit let down in 2010. Favorite acts released albums that I felt on the whole we disappointments (The National, Arcade Fire). So I can think of many albums with merits/great moments, but as an essential whole I can only think of two. So sorry if this listing doesn't really help you in terms of assigning votes/counts. If you're doing this on some kind of points system, 1 point per album except for the top two, who get a bigger weighting.<br /><br />Albums of 2010<br /><br />1. Perfume Genius - Learning<br />2. Glasser - Ring<br /><br />Other good 2010 albums, in alphabetical order:<br /><br />Arcade Fire - The Suburbs<br />Beach House - Teen Dream<br />Belle & Sebastian - Write About Love<br />Deerhunter - Halcyon Digest<br />Girl Talk - All Day<br />LCD Soundsystem - This is Happening<br />Laura Marling - I Speak Because I Can<br />The National - High Violet<br />Joanna Newsom - Have One on Me<br />No Age - Everything In Between<br />Sleigh Bells - Treats<br />Vampire Weekend - Contra<br />The Walkmen - Lisbon<br /><br /><br />Song of the Year not included on any of above:<br />Real Estate - Out of Tune (single, no 2010 album)<br /><br /><br />Favorite song of year: Perfume Genius - Mr Peterson<br /><br /><br />Video of the year: Esben and the Witch - Marching Song<br /><br /><br />Best New Acts of 2010:<br />Perfume Genius<br />Glasser<br />Esben and the Witch<br /><br /><br />Most Disappointing Album of the Year:<br />The National - High Violet<br /><br />Best Live Event:<br />Matador at 21 - The Lost Weekend<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Put it on Scott T.’s Tab</strong><br /><br />Essential Album of 2010<br /><br />Super8 & Tab - Empire (yeah, I'm the only one on your whole list who will vote for it, or even an album in the genre (Trance) but this album was fun and gorgeous)<br /><br />2010 Essentials<br /><br />Best Coast - Crazy For You<br />Broken Bells - Broken Bells<br />The Hundred in the Hands - The Hundred in the Hands<br />Gareth Emery - Northern Lights<br /><br /><br />Essentials Picked up in 2010<br /><br />School of Seven Bells - Alpinisms (2009) - also released a terrific album in 2010, but this one was better<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Cassandra P. is living in a Fantasy world</strong><br /><br />Most Essential:<br />Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy<br /><br />Other Essentials (in no particular order):<br />Cee-Lo Green - The Lady Killer <br />Diddy Dirty Money - Last Train To Paris <br />Miguel - All I Want Is You <br />Jazmine Sullivan - Love Me Back <br />Rick Ross - Teflon Don <br />B.O.B. - B.O.B. Presents: The Adventures of Bobby Ray <br />Janelle Monae - The ArchAndroid <br />The Roots - How I Got Over <br />Drake - Thank Me Later<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Elizabeth E., rockin’ the Suburbs</strong><br /><br />Most Essential:<br />Arcade Fire, The Suburbs<br /><br />Super Close Runner-ups:<br />Mumford & Sons, Sigh No More<br />Tired Pony, The Place We Ran From<br /><br />Other Essentials:<br />Frightened Rabbit, The Winter of Mixed Drinks<br />Broken Bells, Broken Bells<br />Iain Archer, To the Pine Roots (came out in 2009, but been playing it non-stop since I got it a couple months ago)<br />Band of Horses, Infinite Arms<br />The National, High Violet<br />Belle and Sebastian, Write About Love<br />LCD Soundsystem, This is Happening<br />MGMT, Congratulations<br />OK Go, Of the Blue Colour of the Sky (while this is my least favorite of OK Go’s albums, still has really good moments)<br /><br />If I Bought This Album When It Came Out, It May Have Been My Most Essential of 2009, But I’m Sometimes Behind:<br />Florence + The Machine, Lungs<br /><br />Quite Possibly One of the Greatest Songs of All Time:<br />Cee-Lo’s “F*ck You!”<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Terra M. hits a High note</strong><br /><br />High Violet, The National<br /><br />They are about all I listened to in 2010 it feels like! Other stuff was just bits and pieces<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Maggie S. hits the right Keys</strong><br /><br />This year was a really good year for music, so this is somewhat annoying to narrow down.<br /><br />Shit. Best album? crapcrapcrap. Okay. The Black Keys. Brothers. Because anything that can make my Camaro more bad ass deserves it. But I have to say that Wakey!Wakey!'s Almost Everything I Wish I'd Said Last Time I Saw You is a runner up because when a friend's brother's suicide made me silent for weeks, they said what I needed to say.<br /><br />Other fantastic albums from 2010:<br />1. Mumford & Sons - Sigh No More -- I was given this album twice, once by my best friend from college and once by a reader at a signing. Both of them were right. Lovely, understated stuff. Who could've known I'd learn to love a banjo?<br /><br />2. Broken Bells - Broken Bells -- Aside from some fantastic individual songs from the Shins dude, this album will forever be associated with a fantastic memory of bringing a condescending woman-hater to his knees.<br /><br />3. Yeasayer - Odd Blood -- Weird as hell. It's like the 80s, but without the white pants.<br /><br />4. Local Natives - Gorilla Manor -- Great and understated. Drink with a side of Mumford.<br /><br />Best album no one's ever heard of<br />Jenny O - Home (EP)<br /><br />Singles I Can't Stop Listening To:<br />"New Low" - Middle Class Rut<br />"When I Decide" - My Terrible Friend<br />"You Will Leave a Mark" - A Silent Film<br /><br />Songs no one else will agree with:<br />"Drive it Like You Stole It" - The Glitch Mob<br /><br />Songs I loved fiercely for two seconds and now hate just as fiercely:<br />"Bang Pop" - Free Energy<br /><br />Best not2010 Songs Discovered in 2010:<br />"Struggle" - Ringside<br />"Welcome Home" - Radical Face<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Annie M. gives it up for Andy Jackson<br /></strong><br />I haven’t bought much new music this year so I don’t have anything essential (maybe Robyn will become essential when I finally catch up with her latest compilation…)<br />But to give Broadway some representation, I’ll cast my vote for the cast album of Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson.<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Rhiannon F. speaks because she can</strong><br /><br />I have two favourite albums of 2010 and they are fairly different from each other :/<br /><br />Laura Marling - I speak because I can<br /><br />And slightly embarassingly....<br /><br />Katy Perry - Teenage Dream<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Beach House makes Jonathan V. feel like a Teen Dream<br /></strong><br />Only sorta sorted into "favorites first" order. (For scoring purposes though, "Teen Dream" is my #1.)<br /><br />Beach House - Teen Dream The first time I heard it, I resigned myself to the fact that I wouldn’t hear anything better all year. Here, Beach House recalls the swanky tones of Getz/Gilberto while moving above and beyond them, to an outer space all their own.<br />The National - High Violet They illuminate every lonely nook of city and country both, with deft lyrics and subtle, potent melodies. I think it's safe to put the word "Treasure" after the band's name now. <br />Arcade Fire – The Suburbs Like the suburbs themselves, this album is sprawling, maudlin, and hard to get out of—I wound up listening to it from its August release, straight through to the end of the year, and it's still not quite through with me. <br />The Chemical Brothers – Further The mere idea of anyone finding a way to keep their sound fresh after over ten years is inspiring, especially in a genre so prone to clunk. "Further" even comes with its own album-length (and appropriately trippy) music video, the better to hypnotize you with.<br />Broken Bells - Broken Bells I am pleased to report that the operation to merge Danger Mouse with James Mercer was a success. On their "Broken Bells" album, one's style complements the other's in surprising ways--such that you don't need to like either artist to enjoy what they've done here together. (If you need proof, and have not heard their song "October" yet, then get thee to an iTunery!)<br />The New Pornographers – Together A.C. Newman, Dan Bejar and Neko Case “form blazing sword” once again, in a band that's even more than the sum of its parts. (And with parts like these, that's really saying something.) <br />Crystal Castles - Crystal Castles The spirit of punk rock is alive in the body of a killer cyborg! Crystal Castles' music is worth every bit of brain it sends through the back of your skull--epic and handmade simultaneously, and truly brutal.<br />Shearwater – The Golden Archipelago Another elemental stunner from Jonathan Meiburg, the choirboy with the bipolar throat. Plus, percussion by Thor. Need I say more? <br />Janelle Monae – The Archandroid Old-school sci-fi fandom meets new-school R&B, the theatricality of Judy Garland meets the adventurousness of Stevie Wonder...Janelle Monae is the venn diagram of so many "awesomes" that it’s impossible not to love her.<br />Wolf Parade - Expo '86 When they are recording as Wolf Parade, Dan Boeckner and Spencer Krug enter the same hopped-up groove for a playdate, and their music practically hurtles. Do not have your blood pressure checked after listening to them, unless you want to prank your doctor.<br />Johnny Flynn – Been Listening Johnny Flynn's voice has personality to spare, shaping every song he sends your way into a story worth hearing. I've been a fan since "A Larum" but this one sealed the deal for me.<br />Clinic – Bubblegum "Bubblegum" continues the evolution of Clinic's woozy trademark sound into something even more mysterious and distinctly theirs. If you haven't heard them in a while, it's time to check back.<br />SPECIAL MENTION...<br />The Knife collaborated with Mt. Sims and Planningrock to produce the score to a Charles Darwin opera, and I'll be dipped in the gene pool if their track "Colouring of Pigeons" was not great workout music!<br />FROM PREVIOUS YEARS...<br />Destroyer This year I decided (finally) to get into Dan Bejar's solo-project-cum-band Destroyer, though needless to say, there was no heavy lifting involved. With the impending release of their Roxy-inspired 2011 album "Kaputt", it's safe to say my ears will belong to them for some time to come. And speaking of Roxy...<br />Roxy Music - Roxy Music Having heard nearly every other one of their albums (save the universally-reviled "Manifesto", which I'll probably like anyway) I settled down to the first, and probably best, in the Roxy canon. Listen to them... Eno and Ferry... Children of the seventies... What music they make...<br />Kent – Rod Sweden's power-pop supergroup has at last perfected the nineties.<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Scissors beats rock for Teri Y.</strong><br /><br />There weren't that many full albums that I really fell in love with in 2010, which is rather unusual. There were a lot more singles that I ended up enjoying.<br /><br />Top Albums:<br />1. Night Work - Scissor Sisters<br />2. Body Talk - Robyn<br />3. Tourist History - Two Door Cinema Club<br />4. The Family Jewels - Marina and the Diamonds<br />5. Aphrodite - Kylie Minogue<br /><br />Honorable Mention Albums:<br />Pieces - Erik Hassle<br />Real Blasty - Kyle Andrews<br />Interpreting the Masters Vol. 1: A Tribute to Daryl Hall and John Oates - The Bird & The Bee<br />The Dark Leaves - Matt Pond PA<br /><br />Singles (in no particular order):<br />The King and All of His Men - Wolf Gang<br />Pieces of You - Wolf Gang<br />Just the Way You Are - Bruno Mars<br />Marry You - Bruno Mars<br />Fuck You - Cee Lo Green<br />Teenage Dream - Glee Cast Version (because the world needs more boys serenading boys)<br />When You Walk in the Room - Fyfe Dangerfield<br />End Love - OK Go<br />Club Called Heaven - Black Cards<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Erich N. thanks Drake now</strong><br /><br />Here's my list from twenty-ten:<br />1. Drake - Thank Me Later<br />2. Arcade Fire - The Suburbs<br />3. Sleigh Bells - Treats<br />4. Vampire Weekend - Contra<br />5. Yeasayer - Odd Blood<br /><br />And 2009 albums I was late to, but loved last year:<br />1. Alicia Keys - Element of Freedom<br />2. Metric - Fantasies<br /><br />Oh, and didn't know about Florence + Machine till 2010, and at the moment I'm absolutely addicted. (I see she made last year's music poll. I feel so behind!)<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Dean B., Afraid of Everyone?</strong><br /><br />Favorite Albums of 2010:<br /><br />1. The National - High Violet<br />2. The Walkmen - Lisbon<br />3. Arcade Fire - The Suburbs<br />4. LCD Soundsystem - This Is Happening<br />5. Pete Yorn - s/t<br />6. Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy<br />7. Big Boi - Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty<br />8. Spoon - Transference<br />9. Kings of Leon - Come Around Sundown<br />10. Liars - Sisterworld<br /><br />Favorite Songs of 2010:<br /><br />The National: Afraid of Everyone, England, Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks, Sorrow<br />The Walkmen: Lisbon, Angela Surf City<br />Kanye West: Lost In The World (f/Bon Iver), Runaway, Blame Game (f/John Legend)<br />LCD Soundsystem: You Wanted A Hit, All I Want, Can Change<br />Big Boi: Turns Me On, Hustle Blood<br />Arcade Fire: Sprawl II, We Used To Wait<br />Ryan Adams: Dear Candy<br />Pete Yorn: Stronger Than, Precious Stone, Rock Crowd<br />Brandon Flowers: Only The Young<br />Weezer: Memories<br />Spoon: Nobody Gets Me But You, Out Go The Lights, Who Makes Your Money<br />Magnetic Fields: We Are Having A Hootenanny<br />Liars: Proud Evolution<br />Gorillaz: Rhinestone Eyes<br />Kele: Everything You Wanted, On The Lam<br />Eminem f/Lil Wayne: No Love<br />Broken Social Scene: All To All<br />Hot Chip: One Life Stand<br />David Gray: Forgetting<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Paula M. loves her little lion man</strong><br /><br />1. Mumford and Sons - Sign No More<br />2. Jonsi - Go<br />3. She and Him - Volume 2<br />4. Mgmt - Congratulations<br />5. Teenage Fan Club - Shadows<br />5. Gaslight Anthem - American Slang<br /><br />Discoveries of the Previous Year<br />Monsters of Folk - Monsters of Folk (2009)<br />Lay Low - Farewell Good Night's Sleep (2009)<br /><br />Singles<br />Cee Lo Green - Fuck You<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Lauren S. has got a bloodbuzz</strong><br /><br /><br />Most Essential Album of the Year:<br />1. The National, High Violet<br />2. Mumford & Sons, Sigh No More<br />3. Frightened Rabbit, The Winter of Mixed Drinks<br />4. Arcade Fire, The Suburbs<br />5. Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings, I Learned the Hard Way<br /><br />Most Essential Songs of the Year:<br />1. Cee Lo Green - F*** You<br />2. Mumford & Sons - Little Lion Man<br />3. The National - Conversation 16<br />4. Arcade Fire - Ready to Start<br />5. The Black Keys - Chop and Change / Sia - My Love<br /><br />Most Essential Soundtrack of the Year (That I Am Almost Embarrassed to Admit)<br />The Twilight Saga: Eclipse Soundtrack<br /><br />Best Album I Wish I'd Discovered Last Year<br />Florence + the Machine, Lungs<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>You can hang with Steve S.</strong><br /><br />ALBUMS<br /><br />1. Robyn - Body Talk Parts 1-3<br /><br />2. Marina and the Diamonds - The Family Jewels<br /><br />3. Plan B - The Defamation of Strickland Banks<br /><br />4. Bryan Ferry - Olympia<br /><br />5. Sade - Soldier of Love<br /><br />6. Mumford and Sons - Sigh No More<br /><br /><br />SINGLES (no particular order)<br /><br />LCD Soundsystem - Drunk Girls<br /><br />MIA - XXXO (Jay-Z Remix)<br /><br />Mark Ronson and Business International (feat. Q-Tip & MNDR) - Bang Bang Bang<br /><br />Far East Movement - Like a G6<br /><br />Groove Armada (feat. Will Young) - History<br /><br />Coma Cat - Tensnake<br /><br />Martin Solveig and Dragonette – Hello<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Zack C. walks a strange Landscape</strong><br /><br />Hauschka, Foreign Landscapes<br />Broken Social Scene, Forgiveness Rock Record<br />Arcade Fire, The Suburbs<br />I’d add Sufjan, but I’m still ambivalent about him. Something tells me he’ll be well-represented, anyways. If he needs a tie-breaker, you can pretend I included him at the end of this list.<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Jack M. writes about Love</strong><br /><br />Here ya go:<br />1. Belle and Sebastian--Write About Love <br />2. Kanye West--My Beautiful Twisted Fantasy <br />3. The Arcade Fire--Suburbs <br />4. Deerhunter--Halcyon Digest<br /><br />Top 10 Records on my floor:<br />The Chills--Kaleidoscope World<br /> Orchestral Manouevers in the Dark--Architecture and Morality <br />The Orchids--Unholy Soul <br />Nancy Sinatra--Nancy in London <br />Kitchens of Distinction--Gorgeous Love EP <br />The Durutti Column--LC <br />Dislocation Dance--Midnight Shift<br /> Altered Images--Pinky Blue<br /> Close Lobsters--Foxheads Stalk This Land <br />Fra Lippo Lippi<br />Orange Juice, Coals to Newcastle<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Jonas walks a lonely Avenue</strong><br /><br />2010 was only a so-so year for new music for me -- though there are a few near the top that I love.<br />1. Ben Folds/Nick Hornby, Lonely Avenue<br /> 2. Ray LaMontagne, God Willin' & The Creek Don't Rise <br />3. Jenny & Johnny, I'm Having Fun Now <br />4. Matt & Kim, Sidewalks<br /> 5. Sarah Harmer, Oh Little Fire <br />6. Hole, Nobody's Daughter <br />7. Richard Barone, Glow <br />8. The Rolling Stones, Exile on Main Street (reissue)<br />9. The New Pornographers, Together <br />10. Arcade Fire, The Suburbs<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Cindy D. thinks you’re not the king of anything</strong><br /><br />Sara Bareilles. Kaleidoscope Heart<br /><br />and<br /><br />Music to drink at the Tiki Bar by:<br />Michael Franti & Spearhead. The Sound of Sunshine.<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Siobhan V. is ready to start</strong><br /><br />Most Essential: ARCADE FIRE, The Suburbs<br /><br />Other Awesomeness:<br />BROKEN BELLS, Broken Bells<br />GORILLAZ, Plastic Beach<br />BEACH HOUSE, Teen Dream<br />ROGUE WAVE, Permalight<br />THE RADIO DEPT, Clinging to a Scheme<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Glenn B. is a Modern Man</strong><br /><br />Arcade Fire- The Suburbs<br />Spoon- Transference<br />of Montreal- False Priest<br />Broken Bells- Broken Bells<br />The National- High Violet<br />Vampire Weekend- Contra<br />Kanye West- My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy<br />Yeasayer- Odd Blood<br />Cee-Lo Green- The Lady Killer<br />The Bird and the Bee- Interpreting the Masters, Vol. 1 (A Tribute to Daryl Hall and John Oates)<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Drew L. slings the Slang<br /></strong><br />The most essential, most impossible-to-live-without album that God sent us as an emblem of His love in 2010 was (obviously) --<br /><br />1. The Gaslight Anthem, "American Slang"<br /><br />The next bunch of essential stuff, IN THIS ORDER:<br /><br />2. The National, "High Violet"<br />3. Titus Andronicus, "The Monitor"<br />4. Sundowner, "We Chase the Waves"<br />5. Brendan Kelly's half of the "Wasted Potential" split<br />6. John K. Samson, "Provincial Road 222"<br />7. Jim Bryson, "The Falcon Lake Incident"<br />8. The Weakerthans, "Live at the Burton Cummings Theatre"<br />9. Alkaline Trio, "This Addiction"<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Nico M. gets himself together</strong><br /><br />#1: Robyn - Body Talk (I'd've said "Body Talk Part 2" but Part 2 didn't have "Time Machine" or "Get Myself Together")<br />Then...<br />Goldfrapp - Head First <br />Kylie Minogue - Aphrodite <br />Kelis - Flesh Tone<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Andrew H. wizardly chooses Adz</strong><br /><br />Essential is such a weighty word. I don’t know if there was any new music last year that felt essential to me.<br /> But! Let’s go with:<br /> 1. Sufjan Stevens – The Age of Adz (because this was my favorite)<br />2. Robyn – Body Talk Pt. 1 (because this was my favorite to dance to)<br />3. Vampire Weekend – Contra (because this was my favorite to dance to alone in my room)<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Jason G. doesn’t want to be anyone’s ghost</strong><br /><br />1. The National – High Violet<br /><br />2. Arcade Fire – The Suburbs<br />3. Laura Marling – I Speak Because I can<br />4. LCD Soundsystem – This Is Happening<br />5. Vampire Weekend - Contra<br />6. The Black Keys – Brothers<br />7. Band of Horses – Infinite Arms<br />8. Kings of Leon – Come Around Sundown<br />9. Grinderman 2 – Grinderman 2<br />10. John Mellencamp – No Better Than This<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Christopher P.’s Monae shot</strong><br /><br />Best Albums:<br />1. Janelle Monae “The Archandroid”<br />2. Findlay Brown “Love Will Find You”<br />3. Hawksley Workman “Milk” and “Meat”<br />4. Robyn “Body Talk” LP & EPs<br />5. Kelis “Flesh Tone”<br />6. Magic Kids “Memphis”<br />7. Liz Phair “Funstyle”<br />8. Delorean “Subiza”<br />9. of Montreal “False Priest”<br />10. Eels “End Times” and “Tomorrow Morning”<br />11. Morcheeba “Blood Like Lemonade”<br />12. Owen Pallett “Heartland” and “Lewis Takes His Shirt Off” EP<br />13. Marina & the Diamonds “The Family Jewels”<br />14. The Bird and the Bee “Interpreting the Masters Volume 1: A Tribute to Daryl Hall and John Oates”<br />15. Goldfrapp “Head First”<br />16. Admiral Radley “I Heart California”<br />17. Beach House “Teen Dream”<br />18. Kate Nash “My Best Friend Is You”<br />19. Ed Harcourt “Lustre”<br />20. Scissor Sisters “Night Work”<br /><br />Honorable Mentions (aka you would’ve placed if I listened to you more):<br />§ Chromeo “Business Casual”<br />§ Sufjan Stevens “The Age of Adz”<br />§ Vampire Weekend “Contra”<br />§ Yeasayer “Odd Blood”<br /><br />Biggest Disappointments:<br />Sheryl Crow “100 Miles From Memphis”<br />Patty Griffin “Downtown Church”<br />Cyndi Lauper “Memphis Blues”<br /><br />Biggest Surprises:<br />Macy Gray “The Sellout”<br />Travie McCoy “Lazarus”<br />Sarah McLachlan “Laws of Illusion”<br /><br />Wish I Met You Earlier (older albums enjoyed this year):<br />V.V. Brown “Traveling Like The Light”<br />Paloma Faith “Do You Want the Truth or Something Beautiful”<br />Vandaveer “Divide & Conquer”<br /><br />Most Listened Albums:<br />1. Janelle Monae “The Archandroid”<br />2. Findlay Brown “Love Will Find You”<br />3. Hawksley Workman “Milk”<br />4. Hawksley Workman “Meat”<br />5. Marina & the Diamonds “The Family Jewels”<br />6. Magic Kids “Memphis”<br />7. Eels “End Times”<br />8. Owen Pallett “Heartland”<br />9. Eels “Tomorrow Morning”<br />10. Kate Nash “My Best Friend Is You”<br /><br />Best Songs (one per artist, no particular order):<br />The Bird and the Bee “Heard It on the Radio”<br />Findlay Brown “Love Will Find You”<br />Chromeo “Night by Night”<br />Delorean “Stay Close”<br />Kelis “Acapella”<br />Magic Kids “Superball”<br />Janelle Monae “Cold War”<br />Robyn “Hang With Me”<br />Scissor Sisters “Fire with Fire”<br />Hawksley Workman “Chemical”<br /><br />Best Concerts:<br />1. a-Ha! @ Club Nokia, May 16<br />2. Slow Club @ Spaceland, March 11<br />3. Robyn, Kelis and Dan Black @ Music Box, July 23<br />4. Justin Bond @ Upright Cabaret, January 30<br />5. Janelle Monae @ Viper Room, March 24<br /><br /><br /><strong><br />Zachary H.’s owl eyes</strong><br /><br />For me, this year was very much about re-discovering old favorites than it was about downloading new albums. But anyway, here's my 2010 list:<br /><br />1. Owl City - Ocean Eyes<br />I saw the music video for "Fireflies" the other night, and it was my first time hearing Ocean City. I immediately downloaded the full album and fell in love. It's Death Cab meets Hellogoodbye with a little bit of Sherwood adorableness thrown in. The whole album is sort of whimsical and magical, and the music carries this innocence that makes me want to believe in true love and magic.<br /><br />2. Janelle Monae - The ArchAndroid<br />I was drawn to this first for the song "Tightrope" and then, as I listened to the rest of the album, I was just amazed at the sheer range of styles she uses to tell the stories of her science fiction world.<br /><br />3. Robyn - Body Talk<br />Fun dance music, "Dancing on my Own" is a song I can identify with. 'Nuff said.<br /><br />4. Katy Perry - Teenage Dream<br />Ah, Katy Perry. So inspiring, so fun to listen to and watch. Who else would come up with a Candy Land music video? Or one with fireworks shooting out from her boobs? I joke, but seriously. I really find her music fun.<br /><br />And that takes care of all the albums I own that came out in 2010. Now, as for old favorites whose awesomeness I rediscovered, I'll give your four of those as well:<br /><br />1. What Made Milwaukee Famous - Trying to Never Catch Up<br />They sound so earnest! I'd heard one of their songs years ago and then found it again in a dream, and downloaded the rest of the album along with it. Their music is somewhere between hopeful and sure, with such clear notes of yearning to belong and find comfort with another. This album is magnificent rainy day music, especially if you're traveling. It's thoughtful, and lends itself well to thinking.<br /><br />2. Ida Maria - Fortress Round My Heart<br />Dear gods, I need to be friends with this woman. She crazy. Fun to dance to, and chock full of great anthems - whether it's an anthem for a night ("I Like You So Much Better When You're Naked and I Like Me So Much Better When I'm Naked") or an anthem for a year ("Queen of the World"). I love this band, this album. They will never grow old for me.<br /><br />3. The Darkness - Permission to Land<br />Do I even really need to explain myself on this one? I don't think I do. Rawesome.<br /><br />4. Murder By Death - In Bocca Al Lupo<br />I love string instruments, but especially I love the cello. It isn't used enough, I don't think. A lot of the songs on this album are incredibly reminiscent of old sea shantys, telling mournful stories of mankind. Wonderful background music, fantastic mood music. I so highly recommend them.<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Melissa W.’s got the Power<br /></strong><br />Essential: Kanye West, "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy"<br /><br />More:<br />Beach House, "Teen Dream"<br />http://www.myspace.com/beachhousemusic<br />The Thermals, "Personal Life"<br />http://www.thethermals.com/home.html<br />The Young Veins, "Take a Vacation!"<br />http://www.myspace.com/theyoungveins<br />Band of Horses, "Infinite Arms"<br />http://stream.bandofhorses.com/<br /><br />Singles:<br />Kanye, "Blame Game"<br />Beach House, "Zebra"<br />Rihanna, "Only Girl in the World"<br /><br />Bonus: A 20-year-old guest writer for I Heart Daily's top 5 songs of 2010, really well explained, just in case you want to check it out.<br /><a href="http://www.iheartdaily.com/2010/12/red-hearts-top-five-songs-of-2010.html">http://www.iheartdaily.com/2010/12/red-hearts-top-five-songs-of-2010.html</a><br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Billy M.’s trip down to Hades</strong><br /><br />My picks for 2010 are:<br /><br />1. Hadestown, Anais Mitchell<br />2. Age of Adz, Sufjan Stevens<br />3. Downtown Church, Patty Griffin<br />4. Body Talk, Robyn<br />5. Flesh Tone, Kelis<br />6. Oh Little Fire, Sarah Harmer<br />7. Have One on Me, Joanna Newsom<br /><br />Discovered favorite in 2010: Fixin to Thrill, Dragonette (2009)<br /><br />I'm sure I'm forgetting something obvious, but I don't have all my albums in my computer, so it gets weird.<br /><br />Go Hadestown Go!<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Chris H. gets along like a Suburbs on fire</strong><br /><br />Actually didn’t get to listen to much music last year—so I’ll be playing catch-up. But in the spirit of trying to get you to your #100, here are my top ten:<br /><br />1. Arcade Fire - The Suburbs<br />2. Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy<br />3. Vampire Weekend - Contra<br />4. Drake - Thank Me Later<br />5. The Black Keys - Brothers<br />6. Best Coast - Crazy For You<br />7. Sleigh Bells - Treats<br />8. Cee Lo Green - The Lady Killer<br />9. Beach House - Teen Dream<br />10. LCD Soundsystem - This is Happening<br /><br /><br /><strong><br />Nancy M., local native</strong><br /><br />Small caveat: In 2010 I pretty much exclusively listened to Jonny's band (The Loom) and the bands that they played with or are going to play with. I'm not complaining. They played with some kick ass people and I was lucky to see lots of live music in 2010 which is not something I can usually say!<br /><br />In no particular order:<br /><br />--Local Natives; Gorilla Manor <br /><br />--Breathe Owl Breathe; Magic Central (The weirdest, most interesting show I've seen in a long time. The album is pretty darn quirky but I can't stop listening to it on repeat.)<br /><br />--Rural Alberta Advantage; Hometowns<br /><br />--First Aid Kit; The Big Black and Blue (The two girls made famous by their youtube video singing Fleet Foxes a capella.)<br /><br />--Lost in the Trees; All Alone In An Empty House<br /><br />-Forest City Lovers; Carriage<br /><br />-The Loom; At Last Light (not yet released); Teeth EP<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Nick E. is indestructable</strong><br /><br />Oh man, there’s a part of me that just wants to give Belle & Sebastian the top slot every time they have something new. But as much as I like the new album, it can’t match Robyn for pop perfection or Sufjan for mad genius. And though Sufjan’s album feels more like, well, an album... it’s Body Talk that’ll still be on my iPod in 5 years. Or wired directly into my brain, if technology allows!<br /><br />1. Robyn, Body Talk<br />2. Sufjan Stevens, Age of Adz<br />3. Belle and Sebastian, Write About Love<br />4. Arcade Fire, The Suburbs<br />5. Band of Horses, Infinite Arms<br /><br />Robyn also gets my vote for best live show of the year (Webster Hall) and best single (Hang with Me).<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Ronnie A. likes that Creep…<br /></strong><br />I only have a couple of best soundtrack choices this year. I don’t know if that says something about me or the movies released this year. Probably both.<br />Red Riding Trilogy<br />1974, Adrian Johnston<br />1980, Dickon Hinchliffe<br />1983, Barrington Pheloung<br />The Ghost Writer, Alexandre Desplat<br />Let Me In, Michael Giaccchino<br />The music used in the trailer for The Social Network, Radiohead’s “Creep” by Scala and Kolacny Brothers. Brilliant.<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Kathleen P., Lost and found</strong><br /><br />Raashan Ahmad - For What You've Lost<br />Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy<br />Nicki Minaj - Pink Friday<br />Local Natives - Gorilla Manor<br />Janelle Monae - The ArchAndroid<br />David Byrne and Fatboy Slim - Here Lies Love<br />Girl Talk - All Day<br />Beach House - Beach House<br />Vampire Weekend - Contra<br />Broken Bells - Broken Bells<br /><br />Miscellanea:<br />Best Single on an almost-made-it album: Baby Lee on Teenage Fanclub's Shadows. It's so adorable!<br />Best Single to dance to that I listened to over and over and almost made myself sick of: Dynamite by Taio Cruz (close tie with Britney Spears' Toxic)<br />Worst Song of the year: Bruno Mars' Just the Way You Are. Just typing it makes me sick.<br />Best Dance Single that needs to be more popular and should be downloaded rightaway: Satellite by Lena<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Veronica goes West</strong><br /><br />This is me scrolling through my iPod in 5 minutes and trying to remember which albums were released this year ... hope I'm right!<br /><br />Kanye West, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy<br />Owen Pallett, Heartland<br />Belle and Sebastian, Write About Love<br />Robyn, Body Talk<br />Arcade Fire, Suburbs<br />Girl Talk, All Day<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>That’s Brett W. in the corner…</strong><br /><br />1. Robyn - Body Talk<br />Tough call between numbers 1 and 2. Robyn had some misses, but she is making the most exciting pop music today. I've loved her since I heard "Be Mine!" back in 2005. She made it worth the wait. Best Song: "Dancing On My Own." Duh.<br /><br />2. Jonsi - Go<br />Flawless--every song. And like Robyn, he was one of the best live shows of 2010. Best Song: "Grow Till Tall" or "Sinking Friendships."<br /><br />3. Kylie Minogue - Aphrodite<br />Kylie returns to what she's best at, and every sassy gay strutting down 5th Ave is listening to "Get Outta My Way" (also Best Song).<br /><br />4. Joanna Newsom - Have One On Me<br />The thing is, I love (and sort of miss) the less-accessible, more squeaky Joanna of "The Milk-Eyed Mender," but no one can deny this epic album, especially "Good Intentions Paving Company" (Best Song).<br /><br />5. Beach House - Teen Dream<br />Nothing against Katy Perry, but this is the real teen dream. "Norway" got a lot of deserved attention. Close to perfection.<br /><br />6. Cee Lo Green - The Lady Killer<br />Never has saying "Fuck You" been so fun, but it's his voice on "Old Fashioned" that sealed the deal for me.<br /><br />7. Arcade Fire - The Suburbs<br />Finally, Arcade Fire! It's been long enough. Best Song: "Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)"<br /><br />8. Laura Veirs - July Flame<br />Like Joanna, she's a poet whose words I linger on long after her songs are over. Best Song: "July Flame."<br /><br />9. Stars - The Five Ghosts<br />Not my favorite album of theirs, but I love them too much to not give them a spot. Plus "We Don't Want Your Body" is way too much fun.<br /><br />10. Nicki Minaj - Pink Friday<br />Listen, I didn't care for this album (there are a few gems, like, say, "I'm The Best"), but everyone should be aware of her mix-tapes, which I listened to enough in 2010 to put her on the Best Of list.<br /><br />Yay! Now I'm going to go back and listen to each of these albums again and again. :)<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Blake N., king of the beach</strong><br /><br />Favorite singles (in order):<br /><br />"King of the Beach" Wavves<br />"Solitude is Bliss" Tame Impala<br />"Me me me" Lars and the Hands of Light<br />"Chinatown" Destroyer<br />"Shake me Down" Cage the Elephant<br />"Bushwick Blues" Delta Spirit<br />"Pumped up Kicks" Foster the People<br />"When I Grow up" Fever Ray<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>John A.’s Halcyon days</strong><br /><br />Album of the Year: Halcyon Digest by Deerhunter<br /><br />A list of more great music from 2010 in no particular order:<br /><br />Beach House: Teen Dream<br />Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.: Horse Power EP<br />Panda Bear: Tomboy, You Can Count on Me, and Last Night at the Jetty singles<br />Local Natives: Gorilla Manor<br />Mogwai: Special Moves<br />Ra Ra Riot: The Orchard<br />Suuns: Zeroes QC<br />Tame Impala: InnerSpeaker<br />Teenage Fanclub: Shadows<br />The Twilight Sad: The Wrong Car<br />The Unwinding Hours: The Unwinding Hours<br /><br /><br /><strong>Kevin K. shows us the Monae</strong><br /><br />1. The ArchAndroid by Janelle Monae<br />2. This Is Happening by LCD Soundsystem<br />3. Sigh No More by Mumford & Sons<br />4. The Winter of Mixed Drinks by Frightened Rabbit<br />5. River Blues by Justin Townes Earle<br />6. Together by The New Pornographers<br />7. The Lady Killer by Cee-Lo<br />8. Body Talk by Robyn<br />9. Scott Pilgrim vs. the World Motion Picture Soundtrack by Various Artists<br />10. The Suburbs by Arcade Fire<br />11. Contra by Vampire Weekend<br />12. False Priest by Of Montreal<br />13. How I Got Over by The Roots<br />14. The Guitar Song by Jamey Johnson<br />15. Adrift by The Red Sea Pedestrians<br /><br />2010 was a great year for music compared to 2009<br /><br /><br /><strong>Sarah D.L. is full of Joy</strong><br /><br />Robert Plant Band of Joy - because it's a great album and also because I so enjoyed posting the song "You can't buy my love" on a political blog I write for after a certain Republican wrestling executive dropped $50 million of her own money to run for Senate here in CT and LOST.<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Anna C. joins the Club</strong><br /><strong> </strong><br />TOKYO POLICE CLUB, "Champ" I didn't like TPC before this, but a 13-hour car ride with just "Champ" to listen to made me a convert. I love so much about this record. It's a fantastic road trip album & is my takealong for going home even after that 13-hour drive, you can dance to it, you can curl up on a cold day with cocoa and listen to it, you can sing it with your friends. My only gripe with them is that I wish the lyrics were better--parts are very accessible, but a lot sounds like a collage of random lines of…journals? Newspaper headlines? I couldn't tell you. But for something with such an accessible tone--the opening "Favourite Food" invites you in with a vulnerable voice & delicate pace, then kicks in for you to dance to--I wish I could understand a little more where they're going with what they're saying with their mixed metaphors, almost-narration then incoherent line collages. But! Aside from that, I love love love love love this record. Hooray!<br />THE RED RIVER, "Little Songs about the Big Picture" I shared the stage with The Red River a few months ago & was immediately swept off my feet by "Milk & Honey," an upbeat, folk-tale singalong (which can be viewed on NPR's Tiny Desk Concerts). The songs on "Little Songs" are nostalgic, honest & precious, without being too precious. They're almost religious, yet very grounded. NPR rated it one of the top 10 of 2010. Rightfully so.<br />SALLIE FORD & THE SOUND OUTSIDE, "Not An Animal EP" Originally from Asheville, NC, the first time I heard Sallie on WNCW I thought the track "Not An Animal" was straight out of the 40s. It's Ella FItzgerald by way of the Blue Ridge Parkway. They have an album due out within the year I believe.<br />ORYX & CRAKE, "Oryx & Crake" Atlanta-based band getting love from Paste among other publications. What I loved about O&C off the bat was the Margaret Atwood reference, but then the way that name & aspects of the book play into the songs--the organic sounds of the singing saw & coffee-grinder (yes, as an instrument)--then the electro elements of the keys & drum loops.<br />JAMISON MURPHY, "Shape & Recollection" Jamison Murphy is 14 years old. He plays an array of instruments, from 6-string guitar to dulcimer to cigar-box instruments handmade by Southern jazz musicians, and incorporates them all into his literature-inspired songs. Homages to the Glass family, Nietzsche, Flannery O'Connor, & Faulkner are penned with a well-rounded understanding & interpretation of, and reflection on, the material. "Shape & Recollection," his second album, shows him growing exponentially as a musician & a writer.<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Michael T.’s sound system</strong><br /><br />1. LCD Soundsystem, This is Happening<br />2. The National, High Violet<br />3. Arcade Fire, The Suburbs<br />4. Robyn, Bodytalk<br />5. Sleigh Bells, Treats<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Steve M.’s roused by Rouse</strong><br /><br />If we're talking strictly 2010, here are a few:<br /><br />1. Josh Rouse -- El Turista <br />2. Goodnight Loving -- Goodnight Loving Supper Club <br />3. The Riverdales – Tarantula<br />4. The White Wires -- WWII <br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Brant R. Rings dem Bells</strong><br /><br />Most Essential:<br />Broken Bells/Broken Bells<br /><br />Other Essentials:<br />Surfer Blood/Astro Coast<br />The New Pornographers/Together<br />Vampire Weekend/Contra<br />Spoon/Transference<br />Cee Lo Green/The Lady Killer<br />Arcade Fire/The Suburbs<br />Katy Perry/Teenage Dream<br />Kanye West/My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy<br />Das Racist/Shut Up, Dude<br /><br />Perhaps Essential:<br />Das Racist/Sit Down, Man<br />Sleigh Bells/Treats<br />She & Him/Volume Two<br />Belle & Sebastian/Write About Love<br />LCD Soundsystem/This Is Happening<br />Janelle Monáe/The ArchAndroid<br />Gorillaz/Plastic Beach<br />Big Boi/Sir Lucious Left Foot...The Son Of Chico Dusty<br /><br />Essential Songs (Mix Order):<br />Broken Bells/Vaporize<br />Vampire Weekend/Giving Up the Gun<br />Kanye West/All of the Lights<br />God Help the Girl/Baby You're Blind<br />Gorillaz/On Melancholy Hill<br />The New Pornographers/Crash Years<br />Surfer Blood/Floating Vibes<br />Ted Leo/Bottled in Cork<br />Sean Bones featuring Norah Jones/Turn Them<br />Belle and Sebastian/I Didn't See It Coming<br />Best Coast/Crazy for You<br />Das Racist/You Oughta Know<br />Big Boi featuring Janelle Monáe/Be Still<br />She & Him/Thieves<br />Free Energy/Psychic Lighting<br />Arcade Fire/Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)<br />Katy Perry/Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)<br />Cee Lo Green/Fuck You<br />Weezer/Trainwrecks<br />Spoon/Out Go the Lights<br /><br />Essential Discoveries from Previous Years:<br />Al Stewart/Year of the Cat [1976]<br />Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young/Déjà Vu [1970]<br />Daft Punk/Discovery [2001]<br />Florence + the Machine/Lungs [2009]<br />Guided By Voices/Earthquake Glue [2003]<br />Larry Norman/Only Visiting This Planet [1972]<br />Lay Gaga/The Fame [2009]<br />Lou Reed/Coney Island Baby [1976]<br />Matt & Kim/Matt & Kim [2006]<br />Neil Young/Harvest Moon [1992]<br />Ra Ra Riot/The Rhumb Line [2008]<br />The Call/Let the Day Begin [1989]<br />The Psychedelic Furs/Talk Talk Talk [1981]<br />The Undertones/The Undertones [1979]<br />Yo La Tengo/Ride the Tiger [1986]davidlevithanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00762768300871943772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1509734071563017124.post-78406357966435846712010-02-10T05:38:00.000-08:002010-02-10T13:33:00.103-08:00The 2009 David Music Poll Results<strong>The 2009 David Music Poll Results<br /></strong><br />1. Phoenix, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix (23 votes)<br />2. Yeah Yeah Yeahs, It’s Blitz (20)<br />3. Florence + the Machine, Lungs (19)<br />4. Lady Gaga, The Fame Monster (17)<br />5. Neko Case, Middle Cyclone (11)<br />6. Regina Spektor, Far (10)<br />Animal Collective, Merriweather Post (10)<br />Passion Pit, Manners (10)<br />The XX, XX (10)<br />10. Camera Obscura, My Maudlin Career (9)<br />Dirty Projectors, Bitte Orca (9)<br /><br /><br /><br />Runners Up: (8 votes:) Grizzly Bear, Veckatimest (7 votes:) La Roux, La Roux; The Avett Brothers, I and Love and You; Royksopp, Junior (6 votes:) Miike Snow, Miike Snow; Fever Ray, Fever Ray; Karen O and the Kids, Where the Wild Things Are; The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart; Jay-Z, The Blueprint III (5 votes:) Metric, Fantasies; Various Artists, Dark Was the Night; Muse, the Resistance<br /><br />Notes: This year there were seventy-three respondents, up from last year. It was the tightest race in years. Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Regina Spektor, and Neko Case all make their second appearances in the top ten, while Florence + the Machine has the highest debut. Lady Gaga was strangely absent last year, but has made up for it this year. The XX might be the biggest surprise. As for misses: Previous winner Franz Ferdinand didn’t garner much support, Lily Allen was probably hurt by coming out early in the year, and Grizzly Bear didn’t get quite as many votes as its hype might have merited. Next year’s big question: Will Vampire Weekend keep its crown from 2008?<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><strong><br />My List, a Lungful</strong><br /><br />David’s List of Essentials, 2009<br /><br />Florence + the Machine, Lungs<br /><br />I’m finding it harder and harder to hear an album and feel that all-powerful wow. I don’t know whether it’s too easy to get new music, whether indie is turning in on itself, or whether I’m just getting older. Whatever the case, Florence + the Machine gave me back my wow this year. Not just on this album, which is pretty amazing. But live, and in clips on YouTube, whether amped up or acoustic. There are plenty of influences here – Kate Bush, British folk, maybe even a little Fiona Apple – but Florence damn well transcends them and creates something startling and new. And her voice is just incredible. I genuinely have no idea where she goes from here; this very well may be the debut that tops everything that follows. But I’m hoping against that.<br /><br />Yeah Yeah Yeahs, It’s Blitz<br /><br />A surprisingly close #2 to Florence + the Machine. Confession: Although I think “Maps” is one of the greatest songs of the past decade (easy), I’ve never been a YYYs devotee. Not until this album. It’s great indie pop, powered by some kick-ass tunes and some heartbreaking ballads. “Hysteric” comes close to “Maps”, and “Zero” and “Heads Will Roll” still require blasting, almost a year in. And their concert at the Music Hall of Williamsburg was my favorite of the year.<br /><br />Tegan and Sara, Sainthood<br /><br />Maybe not quite up to the intensity and excellence of their previous album, The Con, but this is still a damn good record. I wish I lived in a world where “Hell” was a Top 10 hit – and “Northshore” is even better. Grows on me with every listen – and there have been a lot of listens.<br /><br />Ingrid Michaelson, Everybody<br /><br />Probably the album I’ve listened to the most this year, because it is fantastic comfort music. (And I don’t mean that in a belittling sense.) Even though the lyrics are full of sadness and confusion, the music is so listener-friendly that it lands just the right way. “Are We There Yet” (no relation to the novel of the same name) is easily one of my favorite songs of the year.<br /><br />Plushgun, Pins and Panzers<br /><br />It’s like the soundtrack to a John Hughes film set in 2009. And who can argue with that?<br /><br />Swell Season, Strict Joy<br /><br />It doesn’t have a movie behind it, but the first album since Once from the Swell Season certainly has enough drama. Breakup ballads and regret abound, but it’s all rather beautiful.<br /><br /><br />Close-to-Essential Debuts:<br />Fanfarlo, Reservoir<br />The Low Anthem, Oh My God, Charlie Darwin (not technically a debut, but still…)<br />White Lies, To Lose My Life<br /><br /><br />Close-to-Essential Returns:<br />Patrick Wolf, The Bachelor<br />Regina Spektor, Far<br />Various Artists, Dark Was the Night<br /><br /><br />Album That I Bought Late in the Year Which Could Eventually Be Essential<br />The Avett Brothers, I and Love and You<br /><br /><br />Albums That, In Retrospect, Should Have Made My List of Essentials Last Year:<br />Bon Iver, For Emma, Forever Ago<br />The Gaslight Anthem, The ’59 Sound<br />(in fairness, both were listed as near essential)<br /><br /><br />Singer-Songwriter Discovery of the Year:<br />Greg Laswell<br /><br /><br />Essential Songs:<br />Florence + the Machine, “Dog Days Are Over”<br />Greg Laswell, “What a Day”<br />Metric, “Help, I’m Alive”<br />Ingrid Michaelson, “Are We There Yet”<br />Plushgun, ‘Just Impolite”<br />Royksopp featuring Robyn, “The Girl and the Robot”<br />The Swell Season, “In These Arms”<br />Yeah Yeah Yeahs, “Zero” and “Hysteric”<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Alice H, Feeling (Musically) Moody</strong><br /><br />My vote is<br />Ben Moody<br />All for This<br /><br /><br /><strong>Steven M, Living the Swede Life</strong><br /><br />Here's my $0.02 from 2009, with comments:<br />In short, I thought the best music came from Sweden, in fact the majority of bands I listed to were Swedish. I'm not sure what American bands were doing this year, but I don't feel it measured up to Western Europe at all.<br /><br />My favorite video was Sigur Ros' "Heijma." If you like them or want to see what Iceland is like, you must see this film.<br /><br />My favorite records of 2009<br /><br />10. Bibio - Ambivalence Avenue. This record is an interesting and catchy electro-acoustic mash. I can't say there's anything groundbreaking in it, and I have no idea how much of this is playing v. sampling. The melodies and feel are simple, but very memorable, a record you could put on anytime of day and enjoy. I guess the guy is a Brit who's into both electronic and English folkie tunes. I like the mix, it works.<br /><br />9. Camera Obscura - My Maudlin Career. I'm not familiar with their previous work, but I enjoy this poppy, 60's-esque collection. The arrangements and production definitely enhance the songs, sung with her Glaswegian accent. My favorite song, "Honey In the Sun," really is improved by the horn arrangement, leaving me wonder why they didn't make more of an effort to include that in their sound. I find it interesting (and sad) that a band from Scotland has made my favorite Spector-influenced record of the year (likewise with Hawley's British Orbison-influenced record). This seems to be a true collection of songs that fit together great and sound better as a group.<br /><br />8. Richard Hawley - Truelove's Gutter. Richard Hawley is a familiar face on my lists, and rightfully so. I hope his inclusion on my lists year after year has helped make him more of a household name, he deserves it. I've been singing his praises since I first heard him. What he does, he does best. If you're looking for a post-modern rock record, this isn't it. The 50's-era (and late-model Nick Lowe era) quiet vintage songs, moods, guitars and voice are second-to-none. I love the decision to give space to instrumental passages to showcase Hawley's guitar playing more so than previous records. There isn't much separating any of his records musically, but I love them all. Hawley performs and writes timeless tunes, impeccable collections.<br /><br />7. The Clientele - Bonfires on the Heath. The Clientele remind me of what kind of music I imagine John Lennon would be making if he were alive today. Either way, I always enjoy their records, and this is no exception. The tempos are slow, the mood melancholy (though not overbearingly so) and nice vocals. Perfect British rainy day music.<br /><br />6. Loney dear - Dear John. I think this is one guy, as opposed to a band. I consider this a sort-of Swedish "Something Anything." Singer-songwriter songs of gloom and doom, with catchy hooks, heartfelt lyrics and a unique sound.<br /><br />5. The Temper Trap - Conditions. It's about time I got an Aussie (Melbourne) band back on the list. I need to get back to listening to Triple J radio on a regular basis. The one thing I love about Aussie bands is that they use the electric guitar better than American bands do. I imagine the lead guitarist probably spent his days playing along with "The Unforgettable Fire," versus earlier generations playing along with "Houses of the Holy." Sad, we've lost the motivation to spend our adolescent afternoons practicing instruments after school. In my opinion, rock and roll has suffered and will never recover from this sociological change. "Conditions" is well-produced, with good performances and good tunes. And, the singer has a nice voice (with falsetto), some skills. It's not equally great from top to bottom, but when its good, its great. I just saw 500 Days of Summer, and they wisely used the best songs on this record in it.<br /><br />4. Brendan Benson - "My Old, Familiar Friend." As usual, Benson has made an incredibly catchy, up-tempo, well-written and performed collection of power pop. But this time, I'd say it's his best effort. Each song is equally great and I could listen to him sing all day. Unfortunately (for me), there aren't many artists putting good power-pop out these days, thank goodness for Benson. Can it be that this is the only U.S. recording in this list?<br /><br />3. The Veils - Sun Gangs. Man, the lead singer's voice sounds great on this. I'd like to catch them play live, they have the ability to play a variety of styles, without diminishing the lead singer's power and strengths. Not a totally consistent offering, but the majority of the tunes are really strong.<br /><br />2. Mew - No More Stories Are Told Today I'm Sorry They Washed Away No More Stories The World Is Grey I'm Tired Let's Wash Away. I've probably listened to this record more than any other this year because I enjoy it, but also because I'm trying to figure out how they did it. I think Mew are Danish, for what that's worth. This record sounds totally unique and has so many different things going on in it, musically, vocally and production-wise. I caught them live and they weren't unable to pull it off, quite frankly. I like the first half much more than the second, but based on the total effort, I really like this record.<br /><br />1. The Soundtrack of our Lives - Communion. Wow, who else has the chops, cajones, and gravitas to release a double album in the ipod/single era of 2009? And it's just not a few songs and filler. Each song is impressive on its own and served with ample gusto. Can't wait to hear them perform this live in February. The first "side" is more bombastic (is "Mensa's Marauder's a cover of Austin Powers' "BBC?"...) and the second more restrained. We're talking over 20 strong tunes, a throwback release to my youth. How this record slipped under the radar is anyone's guess - perhaps the classic rock leanings (see: "Lifeline"), or merely the fact they're from Sweden. Who knows, who cares. Always a great band, I feel this is their crowning achievement, defining them as the great band they are. I wonder if this release will influence radiohead back in this musical direction? Lyrically and in terms of ambition, they two bands are on par, but radiohead leads in terms of virtuosity and originality. Looking forward to hearing something new from them in '10.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Francesca Lia B. Snows Us</strong><br /><br />miike snow/miike snow<br />metric/fantasies<br />loney dear/dear john<br />lady gaga/ the fame monster (sorry but)<br />pj harvey, john parrish a woman a man walked by (because it's pj!)<br /><br /><br /><strong>Chris V. Doesn’t Stop Believin’</strong><br /><br />Really the only album that mattered in 2010 was: Glee, The Music, Volume One.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Charles B. Performs Parades</strong><br /><br />A longish list, but then no numbers were mentioned, so...<br /><br />Black Tambourine - The Complete Recordings (re-issue)<br />The Clientele - Bonfires on the Heath<br />Florence + the Machine - Lungs<br />Miike Snow - Miike Snow (best new artist)<br />tUnE-yArDs - Bird-Brains<br />Efterklang & The Danish National Chamber Orchestra - Performing Parades<br />Cold Cave - Love Comes Close<br />Charlotte Gainsbourg - IRM<br />WarPaint - Exquisite Corpse<br />Fever Ray - Fever Ray<br />A Sunny Day in Glasgow - Ashes Grammar<br />Death - For The Whole World To See (re-issue)<br />Connie Converse - How Sad, How Lonely (re-issue)<br />Dirty Projectors - Bitte Orca<br />James Yorkston - When the Haar Rolls In<br />Danny Norbury - Light In August<br />Imaad Wasif - The Voidist<br />IO Echo - +++<br />Klimek - Listen The Snow Is Falling<br />Yeah Yeah Yeahs - It's Blitz<br />The Big Pink - A Brief History of Love<br />Swimming In Speakers - Swimming in Speakers EP<br />Desire - II<br />We Were Promised Jetpacks - These Four Walls<br />Passion Pit - Manners<br />Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion<br /><br />Most Essential - tie - Efterklang or Florence + the Machine<br /><br />OH, SNAP!!!<br /><br />I forgot to add one of my favorite albums of the year -- maybe the favorite: Loney Dear - Dear John. Totally essential.<br /><br />biggest total surprise [single] "The Gnashing" from Baroness - Blue Record<br /><br />best collection of Lullabies: múm - singalong to songs you don't know<br /><br />least-cursed sophomore album (though many of these are sophomore albums): Imogen Heap - Ellipse<br /><br />act to watch: WarPaint<br /><br />best re-issue: Connie Converse - How Sad, How Lonely<br /><br />most deserving of its hype: Dirty Projectors - Bitte Orca<br /><br />best album featuring a relative: Miike Snow - Miike Snow<br /><br /><br /><strong>Pete S., What Will We Be, Will Be</strong><br /><br />Okay! Here goes nothing'...<br /><br />[These lists are hard to do!]<br /><br />1. Devendra Banhart: What Will We Be<br />2. Vetiver: Tight Knit<br />3. Q-Tip: The Renaissance<br />4. The Growlers: Are You In or Out<br />5. Bon Iver: Blood Bank<br />6. Amos Lee: Last Days at The Lodge<br />7. Girls: Girls<br />8. Karen O and The Kids: Where The Wild Things Are Soundtrack<br />9. J. Tillman: Cancer and Delirium<br />10. Beastie Boys: Paul's Boutique 20th Anniversary<br /><br /><br /><strong>Gabe B. Declares His Dependence on Gaga</strong><br /><br />Oh jeez, I buy/listen to so little new music anymore... If I had to think of a few, I'd say:<br /><br />Gaga-- The Fame (this seems so obvious)<br />Kings of Convenience -- Declaration of Dependence<br />La Roux -- La Roux<br /><br />oh, and essential singles, obviously:<br />Kesha -- Tik Tok<br />Britney – 3<br /><br /><br /><strong>Ned V. Likes Ike’s Hard Luck</strong><br /><br />Most Essential:<br /><br />Ike Reilly HARD LUCK STORIES<br /><br /><br />Also Essential:<br /><br />Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros S/T<br />Alec Ounsworth MO BEUATY<br />Flaming Lips EMBRYONIC<br />Felice Brothers YONDER IS THE CLOCK<br />Lady Gaga THE FAME MONSTER<br />Dinosaur Jr. FARM<br />Girls ALBUM<br />Julian Casablancas PHRAZES FOR THE YOUNG<br />Weezer RADITUDE<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Jennifer S. and I and Love and You</strong><br /><br />My favorites this year:<br /><br />I and Love and You - The Avett Brothers<br />Wilco - Wilco<br />Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix - Phoenix<br />Miike Snow -- can't remember if that album was this year, but if it was, it deserves to be on the list!<br /><br /><br /><strong>Jon S.’s Got the Fever</strong><br /><br />After much deliberation, here's my list of essential 2009 releases.<br /><br />My essential album of 2009 is unquestionably:<br />1. Fever Ray - Fever Ray<br /><br />The rest, more or less in order of playcount:<br />2. Soap & Skin - Lovetune for Vacuum<br />3. Wye Oak - The Knot<br />4. Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band - Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band<br />5. Wavves - Wavves<br />6. Metric - Fantasies<br />7. Miike Snow - Miike Snow<br />8. Black Moth Super Rainbow - Black Moth Super Rainbo<br />9. Anthony and the Johnsons - The Crying Light<br />10. Passion Pit - Manners<br />11. Yeah Yeah Yeah's - It's Blitz<br />12. Florence and the Machine - Florence and the Machine<br /><br />with honorable mentions to:<br />Eels - Hombre Lobo (not their best, but I found the stripped down sound refreshing)<br />Regina Spektor - Far (nowhere near as good as Begin to Hope, but I'm happy she's finally breaking into some sort of popular scene)<br /><br />And I know 2008 was a killer year for new music, so it must have been tough to narrow it down. Here's my "Should have made the 2008 List" category:<br />Blitzen Trapper - Furr<br />Crystal Castles - Crystal Castles<br />Frightened Rabbit - The Midnight Organ Fight<br />Lykke Li - Youth Novel<br />Man Man - Rabbit Habits<br />She & Him - Volume One<br />Why? – Alopecia<br /><br /><br /><strong>Brett Was Hit By a Cyclone</strong><br /><br />1. Neko Case -- Middle Cyclone<br /><br />The rest:<br /><br />Bat For Lashes -- Two Suns<br />Dirty Projectors -- Bitte Orca<br />Grizzly Bear -- Veckatimest<br />Phoenix -- Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix<br />Various Artists -- Dark Was the Night compilation (best compilation)<br />Florence + The Machine -- Lungs (best new discovery)<br />Camera Obscura -- My Maudlin Career<br />La Roux -- La Roux (best dance album)<br />Royskopp -- Junior<br />The Pains of Being Pure at Heart -- The Pains of Being Pure at Heart<br />Here We Go Magic -- Here We Go Magic<br />Thao With the Get Down Stay Down -- Know Better Learn Faster<br /><br /><br /><strong>Lucas Finds Passion in the Pit</strong><br /><br />1. Passion Pit, Manners<br />2. Royksopp, Junior<br />3. Phoenix, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix<br />4. The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart<br />5. Mika, The Boy Who Knew Too Much<br />6. Neko Case, Middle Cyclone<br />7. Yeah Yeah Yeahs, It's Blitz!<br />8. Regina Spektor, Far<br />9. The-Dream, Love vs. Money<br />10. Dirty Projectors, Bitte Orca<br /><br /><br /><strong>Jonathan V.’s Ray of Light</strong><br /><br />My top 12 for the year, with associated justifications listed just below each album title...<br /><br />1. FEVER RAY - Fever Ray<br /><br />"Fever Ray" is loaded with slowburn soundscapes, creepy pitched-down vocals, and wall-to-wall electrofweep. From exactly 1/2 of The Knife, the album plays like a colder, more implacable "Silent Shout". Download the closing track "Coconut" for a set of chills.<br /><br />2. DRAGONSLAYER - Sunset Rubdown<br /><br />Every song on this album is something between an imbroglio and a rollercoaster, with music that changes shape and gains momentum while Spencer Krug's fairly-yelped lyrics jolt and spasm to beat the band. Physicians advise that you avoid having your blood pressure checked immediately after listening to DRAGONSLAYER.<br /><br />3. VECKATIMEST - Grizzly Bear<br /><br />The tracks on VECKATIMEST play by their own rules, with gorgeous vocals and a constant air of mystery. "Two Weeks" is so majestic, I fell in love with it before the first eight bars were up.<br /><br />4. MERRIWEATHER POST PAVILION - Animal Collective<br /><br />I generally think of Animal Collective as The Most Important Band That Makes Me Want To Claw My Eyes Out. They take the sounds cartoon characters make when electrified, and fashion them into songs. This time around, however, they took a new tact, and latched their gator-clamps to The Beach Boys instead--that has made all the difference.<br /><br />5. XX - The XX<br /><br />Fair warning: If your significant other puts this album on, they mean business. A continuum of tracks that verge on spoken (in-your-ear) word, it's the sexiest set since "Avalon".<br /><br />6. IGNORE THE IGNORANT - The Cribs<br /><br />The ignorant, in this case, being anyone who mistook this album for a Junior Year slump. Sure there's a noticeable change in tempo and tone on The Cribs' latest offering, with the songs digging in deep and the hurt cutting deeper, but I don't see how that's a problem--especially with Johnny Marr's guitar bouncing all over the proceedings like the Peanut Butter Jelly Time banana.<br /><br />7. JOSEPHINE - Magnolia Electric Company<br /><br />Jason Molina's lyrics return again and again to the same images--the highway, the owl, the moon. The symbols begin to connect over time, forming a kind of inner vocabulary, an open diary written in code. It's some the most deeply personal work you'll ever hear.<br /><br />8. CRACK THE SKYE - Mastodon<br /><br />A mystical firework display of gutsy guitars and sneered vocals--starring Rasputin! More intricate and melodic than earlier Mastodon albums, but don't hold that against them.<br /><br />9. THE MOUNTAIN - Heartless Bastards<br /><br />Every song on this album seems aimed at teaching the listener to beat their way out of a spiritual bar brawl.<br /><br />10. MARCH OF THE ZAPOTEC / HOLLAND - Beirut / Realpeople<br /><br />The first half of this album comprises MARCH OF THE ZAPOTEC, a series of songs that Beirut (Zach Condon) composed with a team of funeral musicians. The second half of the album comprises HOLLAND, an old EP of electronica tracks that Condon wrote (under the name Realpeople) before founding Beirut. Oddly enough, it's the second set of tracks that landed this album on my hit list--Condon's voice blends so effortlessly with electronic music, it's a shame he doesn't do the Conor Oberst thing, and two-time on his accordion with his Mac.<br /><br />11. WOLFGANG AMADEUS PHOENIX - Phoenix<br /><br />Effervescent without being stupid, which ain't easy to pull off.<br /><br />12. DARK WAS THE NIGHT - Various Artists<br /><br />It feels like cheating to put this album too high on the list, because it's a compilation. But truth be told, there are some of the best tunes of the oughts hiding on these CDs--and with a collection of talent this diverse, it's fair to say that everybody will choose a different set to call their own. For me, The National's "So Far Around the Bend", Feist & Grizzly Bear's "Service Bell" and Feist & Ben Gibbard's "Train Song" did much to make my year.<br /><br />BEST ALBUMS I GOT INTO THIS YEAR THAT WERE NOT FROM 2009:<br /><br />YS - Joanna Newsom<br /><br />Joanna Newsom is a riddle in human form...and armed with a harp besides. The tripped-out madrigals on her album "Ys" worm your way into your soul, then smuggle it off to a Renfair orgy.<br /><br />IN GHOST COLOURS - Cut/Copy<br />PLEASURE PRINCIPLE - Gary Numan<br />SANTOGOLD - Santogold<br />MICROCASTLE - Deerhunter<br />DEAR SCIENCE - TV on the Radio<br /><br /><br /><strong>Nancy M. Gives Rural Alberta the Advantage</strong><br /><br />most essential: the rural alberta advantage (to see them live is to love them)<br />also most essential: neko case, middle cyclone<br />essential: local natives, gorilla manor<br />from a year or two ago, but just discovered this year:<br />the national, boxer<br />essie jain, the inbetween<br />dark dark dark, snow magic<br />festival, come arrow come<br />she and him, volume one<br /><br /><br /><strong>Eugene Can Encompass Ella and Gaga</strong><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://email.scholastic.com/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001MW0IY8?ie=UTF8%26tag=226-20%26linkCode=as2%26camp=1789%26creative=390957%26creativeASIN=B001MW0IY8">Antony and the Johnsons-The Crying Light</a> I have yet to encounter an Antony album I haven't liked, and their third full-length record is no exception. Beginning with Antony's plaintive vocals, accompanied by his piano and a cello, the album unfolds with beautifully sparse arrangements in support of plaintive melodies. At times, the album comes across almost like Nick Cave's The Boatman's Call, but with greater fragility. This year I also had the opportunity to see Antony and the Johnsons perform live. The band was tight and played magnificently, shedding new light on the material. I could barely believe my ears.<br /><a href="https://email.scholastic.com/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001XJNZ9A?ie=UTF8%26tag=226-20%26linkCode=as2%26camp=1789%26creative=390957%26creativeASIN=B001XJNZ9A">Au Revoir Simone-Still Night, Still Light</a> Still Night, Still Light captivates me with its occasional strange shifts in key and harmony, and the dreamy pop tunes that preside over the recording. While this Brooklyn-based, Casio-centric synthpop trio has delivered a melancholy album, the overall downcast pallor is leavened by occasional bursts of energy that leaven the proceedings and propel the album forward.<br /><a href="https://email.scholastic.com/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002IRBGYC?ie=UTF8%26tag=226-20%26linkCode=as2%26camp=1789%26creative=390957%26creativeASIN=B002IRBGYC">Ella Fitzgerald-Twelve Nights in Hollywood</a> I tend to fall on the Billie Holiday side of the Holiday/Fitzgerald divide, but there's something about her energy and exuberance that wins me over during the holidays. This new live recording sees her in fine form, as she makes her way through a series of standards on these loose 1960 and 1961 club dates. She sounds amazing; her vocal lines are incredibly agile and rhythmic timing is impeccable.<br /><a href="https://email.scholastic.com/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002G38KMY?ie=UTF8%26tag=226-20%26linkCode=as2%26camp=1789%26creative=390957%26creativeASIN=B002G38KMY">JJ-JJ N° 2</a> An enigmatic Swedish duo, JJ's bubbling synths and delicate harmonies conjure references to everyone from Paul Simon and Toto to Lil' Wayne and the Cowboy Junkies with a dash of the Postal Service. And that's a poor description. When I returned to New York from China, these 27 minutes of music were all I could handle. It was the soundtrack of my decompression and re-emergence into the city.<br /><a href="https://email.scholastic.com/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001GM28HO?ie=UTF8%26tag=226-20%26linkCode=as2%26camp=1789%26creative=390957%26creativeASIN=B001GM28HO">Lady Gaga-The Fame</a> I came late to Lady Gaga but once I heard the album I couldn't stop. It's been a while since I've been so taken with a pop/dance record, and while I may not like a song when I first hear it, she always manages to blow open a song with the chorus so that I want to be completely encompassed by it.<br /><a href="https://email.scholastic.com/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002CA8DD2?ie=UTF8%26tag=226-20%26linkCode=as2%26camp=1789%26creative=390957%26creativeASIN=B002CA8DD2">Major Lazer-Guns Don't Kill People...Lazers Do</a> In the absence of a genre-hopping tropical infused album by the likes of, say, MIA, Diplo teams with Switch to bring forth Major Lazer, a genre-hopping reggae-infused album by an alter ego who "a Jamaican commando who lost his arm in a secret zombie war in 1984. He supposedly fights vampires and various monsters, parties hard, and has a rocket powered skateboard." Sometimes you just have to go along for the ride.<br /><a href="https://email.scholastic.com/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002JODUPM?ie=UTF8%26tag=226-20%26linkCode=as2%26camp=1789%26creative=390957%26creativeASIN=B002JODUPM">Pastels/Tenniscoats-Two Sunsets</a> A collaboration between a band from Glasgow and one from Tenniscoats, the album emerged when the Tenniscoats suggested the two bands book some time in Glasgow to see what might happen. It's a pastoral album that feels like summer sunlight collected for a frigid winter afternoon. I shudder at the comparison (and the somewhat cheesy turn of phrase), but here something has definitely been found in translation.<br /><a href="https://email.scholastic.com/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002OQZE7C?ie=UTF8%26tag=226-20%26linkCode=as2%26camp=1789%26creative=390957%26creativeASIN=B002OQZE7C">Roll Deep-Street Anthems</a> A collection of sides from the grime/hip hop collective that brought us Dizzie Rascal, this compilation collects the hits that demonstrate why they're considered the forefathers of the grime scene. As fresh as it must have sounded when it first emerged onto the scene, the music continues to sound fresh, and it's great to have this record to look back on the development of this subgenre of music.<br /><a href="https://email.scholastic.com/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002EC3932?ie=UTF8%26tag=226-20%26linkCode=as2%26camp=1789%26creative=390957%26creativeASIN=B002EC3932">Vijay Iyer-Historicity</a> I wasn't immediately taken by this recording of Iyer's piano trio, but as I found myself returning to it again and again for his interpretations of recent pop songs (MIA's "Galang"), 70's hits (Stevie Wonder's "Big Brother"), Broadway tunes ("Somewhere"), and Andrew Hill ("Smoke Stack"). A muscular player, Iyer demonstrates his understanding of a wide range of music and musical styles on this record, and he's a pianist I'll be following in years to come.<br /><a href="https://email.scholastic.com/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001W3P5FY?ie=UTF8%26tag=226-20%26linkCode=as2%26camp=1789%26creative=390957%26creativeASIN=B001W3P5FY">Pink Mountaintops-Outside Love</a> <a href="https://email.scholastic.com/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002HR1X6E?ie=UTF8%26tag=226-20%26linkCode=as2%26camp=1789%26creative=390957%26creativeASIN=B002HR1X6E">The Raveonettes-In & Out of Control</a> <a href="https://email.scholastic.com/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001CTQTF8?ie=UTF8%26tag=226-20%26linkCode=as2%26camp=1789%26creative=390957%26creativeASIN=B001CTQTF8">Crystal Stilts-Crystal Stilts</a> I'm a sucker for bands with a strong kinship to the Jesus & Mary Chain, and this year posted the above three albums that scratched this itch. The Pink Mountaintops tackle the walls of sound from a country bent, the Raveonettes emphasize the 60s girl group aspect, and the Crystal Stilts (on their EP) from the stanpoint of a lo-fi echo-chamber.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Erich Gives Us His Greatests</strong><br /><br />Oh God—I'm so behind on these things. I'm just discovering albums that came out in 1996 that I think are amazing. Then I try to talk them up with my friends, ant they're like, Uuuuhh—duh. Where have you been??<br /><br />But—here are the categories where I saw clear award winners in '09:<br /><br />Greatest Reason to Still Believe in Indie Rock:<br />Grizzly Bear—Veckatimest<br /><br />Greatest Living Legend (Dept. of Still Got It):<br />Jay-Z—Blueprint III<br /><br />Greatest Hometown Heroes [Doing Bklyn Proud]:<br />Yeah Yeah Yeahs—It's Blitz<br /><br />Greatest Supergroup Formation (Creating, in the ears of this listener, "the sound of Fall 2009"):<br />Monsters of Folk—Monsters of Folk<br /><br />Greatest Tragedy (Dept. of Voices Gone to Seed):<br />Whitney Houston—I Look To You<br /><br />Greatest Discovery (Dept. of Where Have You Been?):<br />Nico Case—Middle Cyclone<br /><br />Greatest Bafflement (Dept. of Please Explain)<br />Bob Dylan—Christmas In The Heart<br /><br /><br />Garth N. Supports a Fellow Australian<br /><br />Upon looking at my iTunes collection I see that I am old and only play music from the past, with the single exception of Sarah Blasko's "As Day Follows Night", which is a great album from 2009.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Marie R. Gives it Up for the Goats<br /></strong><br />Most essential: The Mountain Goats, The Life of the World to Come<br />Also essential:<br />Franz Ferdinand, Tonight<br />Regina Spektor, Far<br /><br /><br /><strong>Melissa W. Got Married, But Still Loves Her Bad Romance</strong><br /><br />Albums:<br />MOST ESSENTIAL: Lady Gaga, The Fame Monster (don't judge!)<br />Tahiti 80 - Activity Center<br /><a href="https://email.scholastic.com/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.myspace.com/wearephoenix">Phoenix</a> - <a href="https://email.scholastic.com/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.amazon.com/Wolfgang-Amadeus-Phoenix/dp/B0021X515S">Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix</a><br />Eisley - Fire Kite<br />ASH - A-Z Series<br />Metric - Fantasies<br />The <a href="https://email.scholastic.com/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.myspace.com/thepainsofbeingpureatheart%20">Pains of Being Pure at Heart</a> - The <a href="https://email.scholastic.com/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.myspace.com/thepainsofbeingpureatheart%20">Pains of Being Pure at Heart</a><br />Ben Kweller - Changing Horses<br />Jay Z - The Blueprint 3<br /><br />Singles:<br />"Bad Romance" - Lady Gaga<br />"You Belong with Me" - Taylor Swift<br />"<a href="https://email.scholastic.com/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BJDNw7o6so%20">Lisztomania</a>" -Phoenix<br />"True Love 1980" - ASH (<a href="https://email.scholastic.com/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXl8m_IJhpY%26feature=player_embedded">YOUTUBE the great video!</a>)<br />"Hitten" - Those Dancing Days (<a href="https://email.scholastic.com/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILuNZYmAs5o%26feature=player_embedded">YOUTUBE</a>)<br />"Everything With You" - <a href="https://email.scholastic.com/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.myspace.com/thepainsofbeingpureatheart%20">Pains of Being Pure at Heart</a><br />"My Girls" - Animal Collective<br />"Empire State of Mind" - Jay-Z<br />"Battlefield" - Jordin Sparks<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Jason B. Feels it in His Lungs</strong><br /><br />THE album: Florence and the Machine - Lungs<br />also:<br />Band of Skulls - Baby Darling Doll Face Honey<br />Wild Beasts - Two Dancers<br />Mos Def - The Ecstatic<br />Pree - A Chopping Block (ep)<br />Telekinesis - Telekinesis<br />The Gossip - Music for Men<br />Kid Cudi - Man on the Moon<br />Zero 7- Yeah Ghost<br />The Cave Singers - Welcome Joy<br />K'naan - Troubadour<br />Songs:<br />Little Pieces - Gomez<br />Bad Romance - Lady Gaga<br />Rain Dance - The Very Best feat. MIA<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Matthue R., So Close to Far</strong><br /><br />hey! again, as always, apologies if half of these are totally obscure and half are totally beyond obvious. this is my brain.<br />so: most essential: regina spektor, far<br />and:<br />it's blitz, yeah yeah yeahs<br />matisyahu, light<br />danger mouse & sparklehorse, dark night of the soul<br />where the wild things are soundtrack<br />the sway machinery, hidden melodies revealed<br />girls in trouble, girls in trouble<br />the love bubble, mista cookie jar<br /><br /><strong><br />Nick B. Loves That Atlas Sound</strong><br /><br />1. Atlas Sound - Logos<br />2. Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix<br />3. Animal Collective - Meriweather Post Pavilion<br />4. DOOM - Born Like This<br />5. The XX - s/t<br />6. Real Estate - s/t<br />7. Neko Case - Middle Cyclone<br />8. Japandroids - Post- Nothing<br />9. Lotus Plaza - The Floodlight Collective<br />10. Woods - Songs of Shame<br /><br /><br /><strong>Jason G.’s Big Blitz</strong><br /><br />Jason Gordon (aka Productshopnyc.com)<br />50. Velvet Underground & Nico ­ Record Club 49. Elvis Perkins in Dearland ­ Elvis Perkins in Dearland 48. Dark Was the Night ­ Various Artists 47. Catacombs ­ Cass McCombs 46. Album - GIrls 45. Time to Die ­ The Dodos 44. Actor ­ St. Vincent 43. A Brief History of Love ­ The Big Pink 42. Popular Songs ­ Yo La Tengo 41. God Help the Girl ­ God Help the Girl 40. Grand - Matt & Kim 39. Beware ­ Bonnie ³Prince² Billy 38. Hold Time ­ M Ward 37. Sainthood - Tegan & Sara 36. Hospice - The Antlers 35. Reservoir - Fanfarlo 34. Backspacer ­ Pearl Jam 33. The Eternal - Sonic Youth 32. Horehound - Dead Weather 31. Secret, Profane & Sugarcane - Elvis Costello 30. Middle Cyclone - Neko Case 29. Journal For Plague Lovers - Manic Street Preachers 28. The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart - The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart 27. Veckatimest - Grizzly Bear 26. Sigh No More - Mumford & Sons 25. Art Brut vs Satan - Art Brut 24. At the Cut ­ Vic Chesnutt 23. Manners - Passion Pit 22. 21st Century Breakdown - Green Day 21. Crack the Skye - Mastadon 20. Humbug - Arctic Monkeys 19. Where the Wild Things Are ­ Karen O and the Kids 18. The Life of the World to Come ­ Mountain Goats 17. BLACKsummernights - Maxwell 16. Primary Colours - The Horrors 15. March of the Zapotec/Holland EP - Beirut 14. The Blueprint 3 - Jay-Z 13. Wilco (The Album) - Wilco 12. Outer South - Conor Oberst & the Mystic Valley Band 11. The First Days of Spring - Noah & The Whale 10. Phrazes For The Young - Julian Casablancas 9. Merriweather Post Pavilion - Animal Collective 8. Bitte Orca - Dirty Projectors 7. The XX - The XX 6. Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix - Phoenix 5. Far - Regina Spektor 4. Warm Heart of Africa - The Very Best 3. I And Love And You - Avett Brothers 2. Lungs - Florence & The Machine 1. It's Blitz - Yeah Yeah Yeahs<br /><br /><strong>David O. is a Fame Monster</strong><br /><br />LADY GAGA! The Fame Monster.<br /><br />Best Euro Singles: Evacuate the Dancefloor (Cascada) and Ella Elle l'a (Kate Ryan)<br /><br /><br /><strong>Liz S. Finds One from Last Year</strong><br /><br />My best discovery of 2009 -- Bon Iver.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Teri’s Blitzed Out</strong><br /><br />I know that the second I hit the send button I'll think of something else.<br /><br />#1 - Yeah Yeah Yeahs - It's Blitz!<br /><br />The rest in no particular order:<br /><br />Patrick Wolf - The Bachelor<br />La Roux - La Roux<br />The Builders and the Butchers - Salvation is a Deep Dark Well<br />Calvin Harris - Ready for the Weekend<br />Lady Gaga - The Fame Monster<br />Lily Allen - It's Not Me, It's You<br />Muse - The Resistance<br />Sea Wolf - White Water, White Bloom<br />Regina Spektor - Far<br />Florence and the Machine - Lungs<br /><br />Unreleased in the US, do they count?<br /><br />Frankmusik - Complete Me<br />V. V. Brown - Traveling like the Light<br /><br /><br /><strong>Lauren S. is Majorly Into 3EB</strong><br /><br />Most essential: Third Eye Blind - Ursa Major<br /><br />Other essentials, in no particular order:<br />Silversun Pickups - Swoon<br />William Fitzsimmons - The Sparrow and the Crow<br />Muse - The Resistance<br />Regina Spektor - Far<br />Avett Brothers - I And Love And You<br />The Veils - Sun Gangs<br />White Rabbits - It's Frightening<br />(500) Days of Summer - Music from the Motion Picture<br />Athlete - Black Swan (Import--does this count?)<br /><br />Honorable Mentions:<br />Erin McCarley - Love Save the Empty<br />Civil Twilight - Civil Twilight<br /><br />Most Essential Singles:<br />Trent Dabbs - Inside These Lines<br />Kingsfoil - Love is a Carnival Goldfish<br />Matt & Kim - Daylight<br />Foo Fighters - Wheels<br />Death Cab for Cutie - Grapevine Fires<br /><br /><br /><strong>Bryant P. Shows His Manners</strong><br /><br />6. Lady GaGa, The Fame Monster<br />5. The XX, XX<br />4. JJ, JJ N° 2<br />3. Gossip, Music for Men<br />2. M. Ward, Hold Time<br />1. Passion Pit, Manners<br /><br /><br /><strong>Jen H. Knows Too Much</strong><br /><br />1. Mika: The Boy Who Knew Too Much (most essential!)<br />2. Phoenix: Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix<br />3. Tinted Windows: Tinted Windows<br />4. Kelly Clarkson: All I Ever Wanted<br />5. 500 Days of Summer soundtrack<br /><br /><br /><strong>Jinny W. Brings Some Class(ical) to Our List</strong><br /><br />Most essential album of the year:<br /><br />Mahler: Symphony No. 8; Adagio From Symphony No. 10<br />Michael Tilson Thomas, conductor; Ragnar Bohlin, Kevin Fox & Susan McMane, choir directors; Andreas Neubronner, producer;<br />Peter Laenger, engineer/mixer; Andreas Neubronner, mastering engineer (Laura Claycomb, Anthony Dean Griffey, Katarina Karnéus, Quinn Kelsey, James Morris, Yvonne Naef, Elza van den Heever & Erin Wall; San Francisco Symphony; Pacific Boychoir, San Francisco Girls Chorus & San Francisco Symphony Chorus)<br />[SFS Media]<br />-------------<br /><br />Next most essential album of the year:<br />Intimate Letters<br />Emerson String Quartet<br />[Deutsche Grammophon]<br /><br />------------<br /><br />Best discovery from years past:<br /><br />Beethoven, the Late String Quartets<br />Emerson String Quartet<br />[Deutsche Grammophon, 1996]<br /><br /><br /><strong>Despite Misfortune, Paula M’s Grand</strong><br /><br />My ipod broke this year and I think my music tastes have suffered as a result. I'm looking forward to seeing what other people liked this year so that I may get back into 'the loop'. I'm only putting 5 this year. I don't want to fill up on fluff.<br /><br />1. Matt and Kim - Grand<br />2. 30 Seconds to Mars - This is War<br />3. Lady Gaga - The Fame Monster<br />4. Asobi Seksu - Hush<br />5. Where the Wild Things Are - Karen O and The Kids<br /><br /><br /><strong>Siobhan V, Rocked By Amadeus</strong><br /><br />1. Phoenix -- Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix<br />2. Passion Pit -- Manners<br />3. The XX - xx<br />4. Matt & Kim - Grand<br />5. Camera Obscura - My Maudlin Career<br /><br />BONUS! Most amazing new band I discovered (that you might not know, but absolutely, positively should) - Apollo Ghosts. Please check them out! They are amazing. Seriously. I would have put them as my number one, but it would have been their only vote.<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Sean K.’s Got the Blueprint</strong><br /><br />My most essential album for 2009 is likely Jay Z -- The Blueprint III.<br /><br />Honorable essential mention goes to Fever Ray -- Fever Ray.<br /><br /><br /><strong>It’s Not Me, It’s Eamon T.</strong><br /><br />2009 was a crap year for multiple reasons (loss of jobs, break-ups, deaths, etc.)...and I am sad to say this is the first year I actually feel that the album is dead...or at least I've stopped listening to new bands in album form. In any case here's what I've been listening to in 2009...<br /><br />Yeah Yeah Yeah's - It's Blitz<br />Lady Gaga - The Fame Monster<br />Girls - Album<br />The XX - XX<br />Morrissey - Years of Refusal<br />School of Seven Bells - Alpinisms<br />Lily Allen - It's Not Me It's You<br />Yo La Tango - Popular Songs<br /><br />Ones to Watch...<br />The Joy Formidable<br />Trailer Trash Tracys<br />The Big Pink<br /><br />Favorite rediscovery of the year...<br />Manic Street Preachers<br /><br />Hotly anticipated for 2010...<br />Paul Weller's new one with Kevin Shields (MBV)<br /><br />Sadly looks crap...<br />United Nations of Sound (Richard Ashcroft's new thing)<br /><br />Still overrated...<br />Vampire Weekend<br /><br />Here's to 2010!!!<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Elizabeth E. Rises Like a Phoenix</strong><br /><br />Most Essential:<br />Phoenix, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix – I was counting down the days for this album to come out and love every song on it. Out of any release in 2009, it still holds up for me every time I listen to it. (I will have to admit that I was disappointed in their live show, they didn’t really add anything in person, but I’m willing to give them another chance live. I’m generous like that.)<br />Pretty Darn Close:<br />The Temper Trap, Conditions – I only got this CD right before Christmas, but I’ve been listening to it non-stop.<br />Passion Pit, Manners – If you ever want to see me dance around like a maniac, put on “Little Secrets.” Plus, they are pretty amazing live – seen them twice in two months!<br />Other Essential Albums:<br />The Swell Season, Strict Joy<br />Empire of the Sun, Walking on a Dream<br />Animal Collective, Merriweather Post Pavilion<br />La Roux, La Roux<br />Metric, Fantasies<br />Green Day, 21st Century Breakdown – American Idiot is one of my favorite albums of all time, so this had huge expectations for me. It had some great moments. Didn’t match AI, but still pretty dang good.<br />Oppenheimer, Oppenheimer (great Belfast duo who opened up for OkGo a few months ago – really unique and fun band)<br />Owl City, Ocean Eyes<br />Gomez, A New Tide<br />Franz Ferdinand, Tonight<br /><br />Special Honors go to:<br />Most Played Album on my iPod:<br />Kelly Clarkson, All I Ever Wanted – it took me years to be comfortable enough to admit it, but dammit, I love me some Kelly Clarkson. I had this as my favorite album of 2009 on my blog because of how much I listened to it (and more appropriate for my teen reader audience). My Top 25 Most Played Playlist on my iPod is dominated by this album. I have to listen to about five K.Clark songs will working out. It is a must. Plus, she is awesome in concert. So there. My name Elizabeth and I’m a Kelly fan!<br /><br />How Can You Not Smile whiling listening to:<br />Glee Cast, Soundtracks – Seriously? How can you NOT be in a good mood listening to these songs? I’ll admit there are a few songs I’m not in love with (sorry Quinn, I’m not feeling you), but “Defying Gravity,” “Don’t Stop Believin,’” “Jump” and the mash-ups are awesome. And OF COURSE, “My Life Would Suck Without You” K. Clark AND Glee – I’m in pop heaven!<br /><br /><strong>Holly B. Gives it Up for the Boys</strong><br /><br />Beyond Dull Care - Junior Boys<br />Who Killed Amanda Palmer - Amanda Palmer<br />It's Blitz! - Yeah Yeah Yeahs<br /><br /><br /><strong><br />Maggie S., Down the Rabbit Hole</strong><br /><br />I'm not sure I'm doing this right. But it was fun to listen to all these again anyway. Over and over and over and over and it was annoying how many songs from '08 I found in '09 and thus didn't mention.<br /><br />Also, it is like choosing between children. Some of these albums will never speak to me again for picking between them.<br /><br />Mighty Finest Songs of 2009<br /><br />1) White Rabbits - "Percussion Gun"<br />This song makes me want to burn buildings, jump on cars, start revolutions, build museums, and make love when I listen to it. Every time I listen to it. When I put it on repeat, I basically start saddling the elephants and heading for the Alps.<br /><br />2) Guggenheim Grotto - "The Dragon"<br />This song should be used by freelance demon hunters. If someone manages to not crack a smile while listening to this song, they're possessed and can be staked without guilt.<br /><br />3) Oren Lavie - "Her Morning Elegance"<br />Technically this baby is not an '09, just an '09 in this country, but since when did rules particularly apply to me? Since never. Aside from having the best music video since A-Ha's "Take on Me", this song makes me feel classy and like a girl who might, one day, drink expensive coffees.<br /><br />4) The Sounds - "No One Sleeps When I'm Awake"<br />Something about this song just says rock and roll life to me. The video is slice-of-life, which I think is appropriate, because this song just feels like oily streets, street lights, smoky bars, and greasy stages stomped by the passionate feet of one thousand amateur bands and one Bono.<br /><br />5) Imogen Heap - "Canvas"<br />In an album otherwise fluffy and cheery -- no good for an emo angst puppy like myself -- this moody piece is like the Imogen I fell in love with and played constantly while writing SHIVER.<br /><br />6) Matias Aguayo - "Koro Koro"<br />Say you find yourself in traffic on interstate 95 with unhappy housewives in sky blue minivans blocking your way at every mile marker. Arm yourself with your trusty middle finger, chuck this in the CD player, blare it loud, and you're good to go.<br /><br />7) Phoenix - "1901"<br />I hate myself for loving this one, because everyone does, and it pains me to be so mainstream. But damn, people. Damn. Those French people.<br /><br />8) Living Things - "Oxygen"<br />More driving music. I just don't get tired of it.I need a soundtrack for my speeding.<br /><br />9) Plushgun - "Just Impolite"<br />This one is David's fault. I had a mix with this on it and while fumbling to make it repeat for the 14th time on the way to bookstore gig, missed my exit and ended up somewhere in Alexandria when I was supposed to be in Springfield. Rock is dangerous.<br /><br /><br />Best Album Put Out By Someone You've Never Heard Of Because They're Welsh<br />The Gentle Good - While You Slept I Went Out Walking<br /><br />Best Song That Proves I Actually Have Estrogen<br />"Sort Of" - Ingrid Michaelson<br /><br />Best Song That Is Not From 2009 But Ought to be Friggin' Famous, What is the Problem Here, People?<br />Sound Team - "No More Birthdays"<br /><br />Best Music to Beat a Car With A Stick To<br />Paper Route - "Gutter"<br /><br />Music I've Discovered Scares Relatives and Polite Company<br />Of Montreal - "Id Engager"<br /><br />Song I Hate Myself the Most For Liking<br />The Big Pink - "Dominos"<br /><br />Song Most Likely to Cause Me To Go On A Homicidal Rampage That Will Be Difficult to Clean Up<br />Jordin Sparks - "Battlefield"<br /><br />Top Two Albums<br />White Rabbits - It's Frightening<br />Coconut Records – Davy<br /><br /><br /><strong>Joe M.’s Strict Joy</strong><br /><br />So, a short list, partially because of fatherhood, partially because of finances.<br /><br />Green Day – 21st Century Breakdown (Can't wait for B'way!) Political Rock! Sweet.<br />Swell Season - Strict Joy Thank the gods I'm over the need for the breakup album; still heart-wrenching at times.<br />Abney Park - Aether Shanties Steampunk music. Love it. More kitschy than last CD, which was awesome.<br />Tom Waits - Glitter & Doom<br /><br />Disappointed by a lot of favorite artists, so a short list due to that too.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Anna C’s List Takes Us to Hospice</strong><br /><br /><br />1. Hospice - The Antlers. A week ago when I started this list, it was slightly different...so I hope this isn't cheating. But over the weekend I've been sitting doing homework and listening to this album beginning to end nonstop...for some reason it took me eight-ish months to realize how incredible it is. I've never heard anything so tense & haunting, yet delicate with this electricity...I can't quite compare it to anything else I've heard as of late, but it's changing the way I write & listen to music as I type. Standout track is awfully hard to pick, but I think I've listened to "Bear" about 36 times today. Something about the line "We're too old/we're not old at all" being howled repeatedly toward the end...can't stop listening to it. Truly a gem that's going to last.<br /><br />2. Merriweather Post Pavilion - Animal Collective. Not going to lie, I'd tried to get into Animal Collective before this album, but found myself seeking shelter Panda Bear's gentler, steadier Person Pitch; Feels and everything else pre-2009 has this tendency to make your heart race and just make you frantic (or me, at least). Thank goodness for a better lead-in. MPP is the perfect gateway to the rest of their discography--it's digestible yet not compromising their previous records. Also gets a nod for best soundtrack for summer--so much joy! They've become a favorite band now, standout track, I think, being "Brothersport."<br /><br />3. Signal Morning - Circulatory System. Odd that the album I and many an Elephant 6 nerd have been pining for for years now ended up at #3. This second album was well worth the wait, with a more Olivia Tremor Control-like pulse and a new kind of vibrancy that replaced the self-titled album's sleepier psychedelic nature. With more orchestration than the previous, this album's sense of bold experimentation is its strength. Standout: "Overjoyed." It will make you dance.<br /><br />4. It's Blitz! - Yeah Yeah Yeahs. YYYs were one of the few bands that went "Hey, let's make a dance record" this year who actually pulled it off. Could have done with a few more gut-wrenching Karen O yelps, but we still have Fever to Tell & It's Blitz for that. Favorite is "Dull Life" with that sick driving guitar riff...love it.<br /><br />5. Ruth - Nana Grizol. Infectious folk-tinged pop that just makes you bounce, Theo Hilton sounds a little less like his Defiance, Ohio roots on this release that seems to favor the more melancholy horn segments than last year's "Love It Love It". It's really neat to hear more unique instrumentation (and strictly instrumental tracks) alongside Theo's wonderful odes to hometowns, travel, and love. Before the release of this album, 'Black Box', then unreleased, would have been the favorite track--and it still bears my favorite lyrics--but the album version is just too slow. The surprising instrumental 'Alice & Gertrude', teetering on ragtime + The Microphones + Nana + an autoharp really struck me on my first listen and I consistently return to it.<br /><br />6. Up From Below - Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros. If you haven't watched them perform, look it up on Youtube now and brace yourself for something equally adorable and delightful. They make the music fun and have what, 12 people in the band? Pretty neat.<br /><br />7. Wind's Poem - Mount Eerie. Phil Elvrum will keep making music, I will keep buying it and listening to it and loving it.<br /><br />8. Fame Monster - Lady Gaga. Oh, come now. "Telephone." All I have to say about that.<br /><br />9. ...and I know this is dorky, but making my band's demo was really the most special musical experience this year! We, General Oglethorpe & the Panhandlers, just began writing together this summer, and by Christmas, we had a little homemade folk rock demo to share with the world on our myspace (http://www.myspace.com/generaloandthepanhandlers)! </SHAMELESS self-promotion><br /><br /><br /><strong>Matt de la P. Shows Us His Antlers<br /></strong><br />I only had two albums that really hooked me this year. The Antlers and J Tillman.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Andy P. Will Not Rage Against the Machine</strong><br /><br />1. Florence & The Machine -- Lungs (I can't stop playing this)<br />2. Adam Lambert -- For Your Entertainment (After he kissed that boy on ABC I bought his album - and I kind of love it)<br />3. Owl City -- Ocean Eyes (Because we all know that The Postal Service is never making another album)<br />4. Regina Spektor -- Far (Always loved her)<br />5. Bishop Allen -- Grrr... (Probably biased here because I saw them in concert... uh, with you)<br />6. Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band -- Outer South (Not my favorite work ever of his, but I quite enjoyed it and it's on my list)<br />7. Glee Cast -- Show Soundtrack (Fun covers of songs I usually don't like or wouldn't listen to)<br /><br /><br /><strong>Jonathan F. Goes to School</strong><br /><br />Most essential album:<br />School of Seven Bells – High Places<br /><br />Other Essential Albums:<br />Band of Horses – Everything All the Time<br />Redwing Blackbird – That River Skinned a Bear<br />The Brother Kite – Waiting for the Time to be Right<br />Dawn Landes – Sweetheart Rodeo<br /><br />Mentions:<br />Johann Johannsson - Fordlandia<br />Klessa – Aloha Demons<br />Throwing Muses – House Tornado<br /><br /><br /><strong>Rotem is Batty!</strong><br /><br />My one contribution is biggest discovery from previous years: Fruit Bats / Mouthfuls<br />Amazing!<br /><br /><strong>Thu Goes for the Animal Instinct</strong><br /><br />bah! what a disappointing music year.<br />1. animal collective, merriweather post pavilion (truly as good as the hype) 2. bon iver, blood bank (an ep, I know, but WHAT an ep!) 3. the dirty projectors, bitte orca (has anyone else noticed that a lot of the dirty projectors’ lyrics just make no sense?)<br />most disappointing: wilco, wilco (the album) most outrageously overhyped: grizzly bear, veckatimest<br /><br /><strong>Sarah D.L., Rated XX</strong><br /><br />I'm afraid my GOOD music listening is seriously curtailed these days by the fact that my daughter has bullied me into over ruling my Z100 ban in the car. All I ever did was play great tunes for my kids and one ends up liking Z100 and other liking Trash Metal. Oy Vey, where did I go wrong?!<br /><br />Anyway, here is my rather sad list:<br /><br /><br />Album which I'm most embarrassed to admit I like but I can't help it because it makes me want to dance (much to the mortification of my 13 year old daughter, which makes it even more gratifying) even though I'm getting really sick of it already:<br /><br />Lady Gaga The FAME<br /><br /><br />Best Albums:<br />The XX XX<br />The Black Eyed Peas The E.N.D<br />Moby Wait for me<br /><br /><br />Songs:<br />Wavin' Flag Knaan from Troubador<br />One Day Matisyahu<br />No you girls Franz Ferdinand<br /><br /><br /><strong>Cecil Shows Us What's Going on in the Attic<br /></strong><br />Catherine Feeny - People in the Hole<br />Auf der Maur - OOM 3 song sampler<br />VV Brown - The Attic<br />Florence and the Machine - Lungs<br /><br />from the end of 2008 that I didn't get around to finding out until 2009:<br /><br />Amanda Palmer - Who Killed Amanda Palmer?<br />Anya Marina - Slow and Steady Seduction Phase 2<br />Beyonce - All the single ladies<br /><br /><strong><br />Steve S., Sunny Side Up</strong><br /><br />Okay, I’ll just list a few records that come to mind . . .<br /><br />Muse — The Resistance<br />La Roux — La Roux<br />Florence and the Machine — Lungs<br />Paolo Nutini — Sunny Side Up<br />Empire of the Sun — Walking On A Dream<br /><br />Guilty pleasures: Dizzee Rascal, Alexandra Burke, Alphabeat<br /><br /><br /><strong>Kevin W.’s Reigning Sounds</strong><br /><br />1. The Reigning Sound, Love and Curses ... first listen had me thinking this was a step back, but this one was a grower. Greg Cartwright can blast away or deliver a country ballad with the best of them, but sometimes he's best when he's writing pop songs Phil Spector would kill for. Like, say, "Is it True?"<br /><br />2. King Khan & BBQ Show, Invisible Girl ... Super, super fun. But since other people may in fact read this I should warn any who are curious that these guys always insist on putting one or two incredibly tasteless tracks on each record. Those easily offended beware (and know that these guys got their start in a band called "The Spaceshits" who managed to get banned in Montreal.). Also, it's worth searching youtube for "Spaceshits."<br /><br />3. Black Lips, 200 Million Thousand ... Okay. Not as good as their last effort. But still better than most efforts. "Drugs" instantly became one of my favorite car songs ever.<br /><br />4. The A-Bones, Not Now! ... I'm biased because the sax player lives and raises chickens in Coker, AL. They're fun as hell. The song "Shallow Grave" (penned by an old Dictator) is fine, fine work.<br /><br />5. Jay Reatard, Watch Me Fall ... A sadly prophetic title.<br /><br />6. The Almighty Defenders, Almighty Defenders ... Not all it's cracked up to be, but anything that combines Black Lips, King Khan, and BBQ -- with a song called "Jihad Blues" no less -- demands a spot on this list.<br /><br />Album I haven't heard but would probably love: Obits, I Blame You<br /><br /><br /><strong>Dan P. Reaches Far</strong><br /><br />I've been hemming and hawing... But I'm trying to think about what will hold up over time, so here's my picks:<br /><br />Most Essential:<br />Regina Spektor, Far<br /><br />Others I'll probably listen to a whole-bunch:<br />Ingrid Michaelson, Everybody<br />Yeah Yeah Yeahs, It's Blitz<br />Karen O and the Kids, Where the Wild Things Are<br />Muse, The Resistance<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Kathleen P. Supports the Brothers</strong><br /><br />Album of the Year (close race): Avett Brothers, I and Love and You<br />Best of the rest:<br />A C Newman, Get Guilty<br />The Bird and the Bee, Ray Guns Are Not Just the Future<br />Camera Obscura, My Maudlin Career<br />Jay-Z, The Blueprint 3<br />Jaydiohead, Jaydiohead<br />Lady Gaga, The Fame Monster<br />Miike Snow, Miike Snow<br />Monsters of Folk, Monsters of Fold<br />Wilco, Wilco (The Album)<br /><br /><br /><strong>Scott T. ‘Sopps it Up</strong><br /><br />Essential Album of 2009<br /><br />Royksopp - Junior (best electronica outfit in the world these days. nothing but brilliance.)<br /><br />2009 Essentials<br /><br />Au Revoir Simone - Still Night, Still Light (my fave synth-pop female trio from brooklyn)<br />IAMX - Kingdom of Welcome Addiction<br /><br />2009 Essential Best of<br /><br />Best of Bent - amazing electronic duo, with a full album of rarities to go with the "hits"<br /><br />Essentials Picked up in 2009<br /><br />New Young Pony Club - Fantastic Playground (2007) - catchy and fun<br />B.I.G. - Mindscapes (2005) - DJs from Greece creating amazingly lush soundscapes<br />Cut Copy - In Ghost Colours (2008) - my fave synth-pop band from australia<br /><br />2009 Best Singles<br /><br />IAMX - Think of England<br />Franz Ferdinand - No You Girls<br />Royksopp - The Girl and the Robot<br />Pet Shop Boys - Love, Etc<br />Editors - Papillon<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Jonas Makes It Through the Preliminaries</strong><br /><br />2009 Top Ten<br /><br />Iggy Pop, Preliminaries<br />Pete Yorn & Scarlett Johansson, Break Up<br />Eileen Jewel, Sea of Tears<br />John Doe and the Sadies, Country Club<br />Exene Cervenka, Somewhere Gone<br />Eleni Mandell, Artificial Fire<br />Neko Case, Middle Cyclone<br />Rosanne Cash, The List<br />Dirty Projectors, Bitte Orca<br />M. Ward, Hold Time<br /><br />I've got a few additional categories to mention:<br /><br />2009 Best Album Title (which only narrowly missed my top 10 list):<br />Brandi Shearer, Love Don't Make You Juliet<br /><br />2009 Best Children's Album (and a great live show):<br />Gustafer Yellowgold, Mellow Fever<br /><br />2 Albums That Should Have Been on my 2008 List:<br />Whispertown 2000, Swim<br />Amy Lavere, Anchors and Anvils<br /><br /><strong>Annie Shows Her Glee</strong><br /><br />Most Essential:<br />Glee Pt 1 soundtrack<br />The Eels, Hombre Lobo<br /><br />Somewhat Essential or Notable:<br />Florence and the Machine, Lungs<br />Landon Pigg, The Boy Who Never<br />Glee Pt 2 soundtrack<br />Camera Obscura, My Maudlin Career<br />(500) Days of Summer soundtrack<br />XX, XX<br /><br /><strong>It’s Zach P!</strong><br /><br />Yeah Yeah Yeahs — It's Blitz<br />Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros — Up From Below<br />Beirut — March of the Zapotec<br />Dirty Projectors — Bitte Orca<br />Neko Case — Middle Cyclone<br />Phoenix — Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix<br />PJ Harvey and John Parish — A Woman A Man Walked By<br />Sonic Youth — The Eternal<br /><br /><br /><strong>Julia R Showers Us with Singles</strong><br /><br />Top of the Pop 09: The Singles Life<br />Most essential of 2009: Animal Collective's "My Girls".<br />9 more: Phoenix "Lisztomania" Camera Obscura “French Navy” The Clientele "Bonfires on the Heath" High Places “I Was Born” Atlas Sound "Walkabout" (The main riff made me revisit the song "He’s A Rebel" by The Crystals ) Lionel Richie featuring Akon “Just Go” El Perro Del Mar "Change of Heart" A Sunny Day in Glasgow "Shy" Beach House "Norway"<br />In addition: Favorite LP Reissue: The Monks “Black Monk Time/The Early Years 1964-65″<br />Not new, but new to me: Artists: Timi Yuro, Dee Dee Warwick Single: Jennifer Warnes sings "P.F. Sloan" produced by John Cale.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Anica R. Likes Her Music Dirty</strong><br /><br />Most essential:<br />*Emily Wells, Dirty<br />(if you download just one song, choose: Whiskey and Rags)<br /><br />Also essential:<br />*Dirty Projectors, Bitte Orca<br />(song to try: Cannibal Resource)<br />*Grizzly Bear, Veckatimest<br />(song to try: Two Weeks)<br />*Harper Blynn, Loneliest Generation<br />(song to try: Loneliest Generation)<br />*Wilco, Wilco (The Album)<br />(song to try: I'll Fight)<br /><br />Not essential, but nice to have:<br />*The Avett Brothers, I and Love and You<br />(song to try: Kick Drum Heart)<br />*Dave Rawlings Machine, A Friend of a Friend<br />*Florence + the Machine, Lungs<br />(song to try: Dog Days Are Over)<br />*The Mountain Goats, The Life of the World to Come<br /><br />Yes, I am also listening to:<br />Animal Collective, St. Vincent, Phoenix, Andrew Bird, The Decemberists, Jay-Z, and Savoir Adore.<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Sherri L. Joins the (Wolf)gang</strong><br /><br /><br />1. Phoenix / Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix<br />2. Pains of Being Pure at Heart / s/t<br />3. Camera Obscura / My Maudlin Career<br />4. The Mountain Goats / The Life of the World to Come<br />5. Mew / No More Stories<br />6. Ravonettes / In and Out of Control<br />7. The Reigning Sound / Love and Curses<br />8. Royksopp / Junior<br />9. Yo La Tengo / Popular Songs<br />10. Pants Yell! /Received Pronunciation<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Erin C. Goes for the Maudlin<br /></strong><br />Camera Obscura — My Maudlin Career.<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>John A.’s Grizzly Fate</strong><br /><br />9. The Raveonettes: In And Out Of Control<br />8. Pelican: What We All Come to Need<br />7. The Twilight Sad: Forget the Night Ahead<br />6. Jason Lytle: Yours Truly, The Commuter<br />5. Mew: No more stories Are told today I'm sorry They washed away No more stories The world is grey I'm tired Let's wash away<br />4. The Big Pink: A Brief History of Love<br />3. Neko Case: Middle Cyclone<br />2. Animal Collective: Merriweather Post Pavilion<br />1. Grizzly Bear: Veckatimest<br /><br /><br /><strong>Nick E., The Girl, and the Robot</strong><br /><br />A lot of talented artists produced new albums in 2009. Unfortunately, I was too busy listening to Lady Gaga to notice! Here’s the new stuff that HAS gotten some play.<br /><br />1. Royksopp, Junior<br />2. Iron and Wine, Around the Well<br />3. Mika, The Boy Who Knew Too Much<br />4. Various, Dark Was the Night<br />5. Fischerspooner, Entertainment<br /><br />And my pick for favorite “Pop Mix” track that I hadn’t heard before the “Pop Mix”: Cobra Starship w/ Leighton Meester, “Good Girls Gone Bad.”<br /><br /><br /><strong>Brant R. Goes With What’s Popular</strong><br /><br />My Most Essential:<br />Yo La Tengo, Popular Songs<br /><br />My Other Essentials:<br />Matt & Kim, Grand<br />The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart<br />Wilco, Wilco (the album)<br />Jay-Z, The Blueprint 3<br />Phoenix, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix<br />Various Artists, Dark Was the Night<br />Yeah Yeah Yeahs, It’s Blitz<br />Grizzly Bear, Veckatimest<br />Passion Pit, Manners<br />The Very Best, Warm Heart of Africa<br /><br />Perhaps Essential:<br />The xx, XX<br />Miike Snow, Miike Snow<br />Animal Collective, Merriweather Post Pavilion<br />Japandroids, Post-Nothing<br />The Fiery Furnaces, I’m Going Away<br />The Swell Season, Strict Joy<br /><br />My Essential Songs:<br />Yo La Tengo, “If It’s True”<br />Matt & Kim, “Daylight”<br />Jay-Z and Alicia Keys, “Empire State of Mind”<br />Grizzly Bear, “Two Weeks”<br />Yeah Yeah Yeahs, “Zero”<br /><br />Beyond Essential:<br />Wilson Rumble, Wilson Performs [EP]<br />Wilson Rumble, “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star”<br /><br />My Essential Discoveries from Previous Years:<br />Joe Walsh, “But Seriously, Folks…” [1978]<br />Doug Sahm and Band, Doug Sahm and Band [1973]<br />Otis Redding & Carla Thomas, King & Queen [1967]<br />Dave Brubeck, Jazz Goes to College [1954]<br />Bon Iver, For Emma, Forever Ago [2007]<br />The Feelies, Only Life [1988]<br />Jimmy Cliff, Struggling Man [1974]<br />Stevie Wonder, Music of My Mind [1972]<br />The Flaming Lips, At War with the Mystics [2006]<br />B.B. King, Live at the Regal [1965]<br />Miles Davis, A Tribute to Jack Johnson [1970]<br />Janet Jackson, Control [1986]<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Kimberly P. Parties Like It’s 1901</strong><br /><br /><br />favorite album of the year:<br /><br />Phoenix, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix<br /><br />Runners-up:<br /><br />Black Eyed Peas, The E.N.D.<br />Pearl Jam, Backspacer<br /><br />although... my favorite song of the year is PJ's Just Breathe -- one of my least favorite is PJ's The Fixer. Go figure.<br /><br /><br /><strong><br />Flinn Goes with the Flo</strong><br /><br />Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion<br />Yeah Yeah Yeahs - It's Blitz!<br />Tegan and Sara - Sainthood<br />Dirty Projectors - Bitte Orca<br />Neko Case - Middle Cyclone<br />Camera Obscura - My Maudlin Career<br />Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest<br />Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix<br />The Avett Brothers<br />St. Vincent - Actor<br />Lily Allen - It's Not Me, It's You<br />Bat For Lashes - Two Suns<br />Most Essential: Florence and the Machine – Lungs<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Ronnie A. Takes Us to the Movies<br /></strong><br />SONGS<br />Inglourious Basterds “Cat People (Putting Out the Fire)” David Bowie<br />500 Days of Summer “You Make My Dreams Come True” Hall & Oates<br />A Serious Man “Somebody to Love” Jefferson Airplane<br />Fantastic Mr. Fox “Just Another Dead Rat in a Garbage Pail (Behind a Chinese Restaurant)” Alexandre Desplat<br />Cast of Glee “Don’t Stop Believin”<br /><br />SCORES<br />Where the Wild Things Are Carter Burwell<br />Moon Clint Mansell<br />Broken Embraces Alberto Iglesias<br />A Single Man Abel Korzeniowski<br />The Informant! Marvin Hamlisch<br /><br /><strong>Drew L. is Up in Arms<br /></strong>essential album for 2009 is, naturally and without a doubt...<br /><br />The Lawrence Arms - "Buttsweat and Tears"<br /><br /><br /><strong>Lauren M. Takes Us to Vienna<br /></strong><br />Vienna Teng. That's all I have to say. But she's just new to me; not new to 2009. ;)<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Jordan S. Goes for the Mariachi</strong><br /><br />throw in my vote for Mariachi El Bronx, by Mariachi El Bronx.<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Jason B. Likes to WAP</strong><br /><br />Phoenix, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Billy’s Extraordinary Machine</strong><br /><br />Billy's favorites 2009!<br />Florene + the Machine - Lungs<br />Various - Dark Was the Night<br />Lady Gaga - The Fame Monster<br />Yeah Yeah Yeahs - It's Blitz<br />IAMX - Kingdom of Welcome Addiction<br />Tori Amos - Abnormally Attracted to Sin<br />The Swell Season - Strict Joy<br />Karen O and the Kids - Where the Wild Things Are<br />La Roux - La Roux<br />Metric – Fantasies<br /><br /><br /><strong>Nico, You’re a Monster!</strong><br /><br />Hrm ... I'm so predictable I disappoint myself.<br /><br />#1: Lady Gaga: The Fame Monster<br /><br />Pardon the tired old cliche, but this bitch breathed new life into pop<br />music (and pop culture) last year ... and then reinvented herself with<br />the 8-track follow-up EP in '09. I'm blown away ... can't wait to see<br />what she does next. And I have to say, it's nice to have a little bit<br />of the Marilyn Manson I knew and loved in the late nineties<br />reincarnated in a 23-yr-old pop star who sets pianos on fire, hangs<br />her bloody self onstage, and dances in arm braces. Pure theater.<br /><br /><br />Notables....<br /><br />Metric: Fantasies<br />(They're just getting better and better!)<br /><br />Tori Amos: Abnormally Attracted to Sin<br />(She'd been getting worse and worse, until this welcome surprise!)<br /><br />Muse: The Resistance<br />(Chopin solos, French symphony shout-outs, anti-imperialist anthems ... EPIC!)<br /><br />Yeah Yeah Yeahs: It's Blitz!<br />(YYYs do dance-y techno---heaven!)<br /><br />La Roux: La Roux<br />(Excellent newcomer who brightened up so many of my commutes -- thanks<br />for the album, DL, you know what I need!)<br /><br /><br /><strong>Kevin K. Rises Like a Phoenix</strong><br /><strong></strong><br />Overall 2009 will be known as “The Year of the Reissues.” In addition to the Beatles, Neil Young, Beastie Boys and The Housemartins, there were a ton of fabulous reissues. My list also leans to the more “twangy” or alt-country side of music. I am looking forward to 2010!<br /><br />Phoenix – Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix<br />Brendan Benson – My Old, Familiar Friend<br />Big Star – Keep An Eye On The Sky (Reissue)<br />Roman Candle – Oh Tall Tree in The Ear<br />John Wesley Harding – Who Was Changed and Who Was Dead<br />The Avett Brothers – I and Love and You<br />Death - ...For the Whole World to See (Reissue)<br />Justin Townes Earle – Midnight at the Movies<br />Passion Pit – Manners<br />Wilco (The Album) - Wilco<br />Todd Snider – The Excitement Plan<br />Neko Case – Middle Cyclone<br />Leonard Cohen – Live In London<br /><br />2009 Mixtape<br /><br />“Lisztomania” - Phoenix<br />“Top of the Bottom” - John Wesley Harding<br />“Can’t Hardly Wait” - Justin Townes Earle<br />“Kind of a Girl” - Tinted Windows<br />“Slight Figure of Speech” - The Avett Brothers<br />“A Whole Lot Better” - Brendan Benson<br />“Lust for Life” - Girls<br />“Why Modern Radio is A-OK” - Roman Candle<br />“Hell” - Tegan and Sara<br />“Little Secrets” - Passion Pit<br />“Say Please” - Monsters of Folk<br />“Liquid In, Liquid Out” - The Thermals<br />“Zero” - Yeah Yeah Yeahs<br />“Blood Bank” - Bon Iver<br />“You Never Know” - Wilco<br />“Send My Fond Regards To Lonelyville” - Elvis Perkins in Dearland<br /><br /><strong>Rob's Big Pink List</strong><br /><br />1. Big Pink - A Brief History of Love2. Pomegranates - Everybody, Come Outside!3. Sonic Youth - The Eternal4. Mean Creek - The Sky (Or the Underground)5. Japandroids – Post-nothing6. Cold Cave - Love Comes Close7. The Answering Machine - Another City Another Sorry8. Boat – Setting the Paces9. The xx – xx10. The Pains of Being Pure at Heart – The Pains of Being Pure at Heart11. Camera Obscura – My Maudlin Career12. French Miami - French Miami13. Phoenix – Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix14. We Were Promised Jetpacks - These Four Walls15. Royal Bangs - Let It Beep16. Silversun Pickups - Swoon17. Built to Spill - There is No Enemy18. Islands – Vapours19. Pants Yell! – Received Pronunciation20. Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavilion21. Girls – Album22. Heartless Bastards - The Mountain23. The Antlers - Hospice24. The Soft Pack - The Muslims25. Cymbals Eat Guitars – Why There Are Mountains26. LoveLikeFire - Tear Ourselves Away27. Real Estate – Real Estate28. Mumford & Sons - Sigh No More29. Bad Veins - Bad Veins30. Doves - Kingdom of Rust31. Dinosaur Jr - Farm32. The Horrors - Primary Colours33. Generationals - Con Law34. You, You're Awesome - You're My Superhero35. Fanfarlo - Reservoir36. Neon Indian - Psychic Chasms37. Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeroes - Up From Below38. The Drums - Summertime39. Darlings - Yeah I know40. Princeton - Cocoon of Love41. Passion Pit - Manners42. Atlas Sound – Logos43. Kings of Convenience – Declaration of Dependence44. Super Furry Animals – Dark Days/Light Years 45. VDSQ 002 Solo Acousic - Mark McGuiredavidlevithanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00762768300871943772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1509734071563017124.post-88902981738979870762009-02-08T16:46:00.000-08:002009-02-08T17:21:47.086-08:00The 2008 David Music Poll Results<span style="font-weight:bold;">The 2008 David Music Poll Results<br /></span><br />1. Vampire Weekend -- Vampire Weekend (30 votes)<br />2. Bon Iver -- For Emma, Forever Ago (18)<br />3. Fleet Foxes – Fleet Foxes (15)<br />4. Sigur Ros -- Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust (12)<br />Soundtrack – Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist (12)<br />6. Portishead – Third (11)<br />MGMT – Oracular Spectacular (11)<br />8. Okkervil River – The Stage Names (9)<br />TV on the Radio – Dear Science (9)<br />9. Death Cab for Cutie – Narrow Stairs (8)<br /><br /><br />NOTE: There were sixty-six respondents to this year’s music poll – lower than last year, but higher than average. For the first time ever, all three top slots were taken by new bands, with some longtime poll favorites (Aimee Mann, Coldplay, The Magnetic Fields, Bloc Party, Ben Folds, Conor Oberst) hovering outside the top ten. Other newcomers with multiple mentions include Los Campesinos, Adele, Santogold, and Ra Ra Riot. Time will tell which of these acts will make a return trip to the music poll.<br /><br />Now, for the lists….<br /><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">I’m biased, but stand by my top choice of the year</span><br /><br />David’s Essentials for 2008<br /><br />1. Soundtrack, Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist<br /><br />Yes, I am hardly objective on this one. I didn’t have anything to do with the song choice … but somehow it came out right around where I would have wanted it to be. I will never be able to think about 2008 without hearing “After Hours” in my head – and, I imagine, I won’t be able to ever hear “After Hours” without thinking of the rush of 2008. Add to that Vampire Weekend’s “Ottoman” – their best song, in my opinion, because it taps into something universal rather than local – and the Submarine’s remarkable “Xavia”, especially with its fake-out non-ending, as well as more familiar tunes from Band of Horses and Takka Takka. And, my goodness, there’s even a Devandra Banhart song I like! So, yes, I genuinely thing this album would be near the top, if not at the top, even if it was the soundtrack for, say, City of Ember. But I’m damn glad it’s the soundtrack for Nick & Norah.<br /><br />2. Colin Meloy, Colin Meloy Sings Live!<br /><br />A live album? At number two? It’s not just good memories of Colin Meloy’s excellent Brooklyn concert at the start of the year that are putting this here. It’s really a fantastic album, with “On the Bus Mall” being one of my most played songs of the year (as a certain former intern of mine can attest).<br /><br />3. Kate Nash, Made of Bricks<br /><br />Came out in the UK in 2007, but here in 2008, and since it wasn’t on my list last year, I’m putting it on this year. Partially because I spent the first few months of the year listening to it nonstop. It’s pretty much the musical equivalent of a teen movie, but that only makes me love it more. And “The Nicest Thing” is one of the bittersweetest love songs I know.<br /><br /><br />4. Sigur Ros, Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust<br /><br />I dare you to find anything more joyous than the song “Gobbledigook” and the accompanying video. And this is not a band known for its joyousness. On this album, though, they really bring out the color instead of leaving you on the ice.<br /><br />5. Coldplay, Viva La Vida<br /><br />It feels like they threw it all to the wind and ended up with one of their best albums yet. And the title song is brilliant.<br /><br />6. Vampire Weekend, Vampire Weekend<br /><br />It’s a bit strange, to have an album that sounds like a bunch of college students appropriating Paul Simon appropriating African musicians. But if it’s not singular for world music, it’s pretty singular for indie rock, and it works incredibly well. For sheer enjoyment, it makes the list.<br /><br />7. Alanis Morissette, Flavors of Entanglement<br /><br />Some of the lyrics are just as clunky as the album’s title. And Alanis certainly hits some syllables in ways that should count as abuse. But, foibles aside, she gets right to the truth of the matter – which is that she’s just been through the emotional wringer of a big break-up, and she has some stories to tell. Now, I don’t believe that one has to suffer to make great art, but the break-up certainly gave her the knife with which to cut to the bone. And it works. For every lyrically awkward song (“In Praise of the Vulnerable Man”), there are two or three that are painfully honest and honestly beautiful (“Tapes”, “Torch” – maybe Alanis should stick to songs with one-word titles?) One gripe: some of the best songs are on the bonus edition, not the standard CD, which is annoying. Because, really, no matter what your age, the song “It’s a Bitch to Grow Up” should have you nodding.<br /><br /><br /><br />Very Close to Essential for 2008:<br /><br />The Gaslight Anthem, The '59 Sound<div>Mates of State, Re-arranger<br />Augustana, Can’t Love, Can’t Hurt<br />Bon Iver, For Emma, Forever Ago<br />The Hold Steady, Stay Positive<br />Jack’s Mannequin, The Glass Passenger<br /><br /><br />Would Have Made my List if I hadn’t bought it in Sweden three years ago:<br /><br />Robyn, Robyn<br /><br /><br />Essential Songs for 2008:<br /><br />We are Scientists, “After Hours”<br />The Gaslight Anthem, “The 59 Sound”<br />The Hold Steady, “Slapped Actress”<br />The Stills, “Everything I Build”<br />The Submarines, “Xavia”<br />Coldplay, “Viva la Vida”<br />Pink, “So What”<br />Vampire Weekend, “Ottoman”<br />Fleet Foxes, “White Winter Hymnal”<br />Colin Meloy, “On the Bus Mall (live)”<br />Bon Iver, “Skinny Love”<br /><br /><br />10 Most Essential Albums (1999-2008)<br /><br />1. Death Cab for Cutie, Transatlanticism (#1, 2003)<br />2. The Postal Service, Give Up (#2, 2003)<br />3. Patty Griffin, 1000 Kisses (#1, 2002)<br />4. The Killers, Hot Fuss (#1, 2004)<br />5. Fiona Apple, When the Pawn… (#3, 1999)<br />6. Aimee Mann, Magnolia soundtrack (#4, 1999)<br />7. The Decemberists, The Crane Wife (#2, 2006)<br />8. Beth Orton, Central Reservation (#1, 1999)<br />9. Soundtrack, Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist (#1, 2008)<br />10. The National, Boxer (#3, 2007)<br /><br />Special mention (for the album that I’ve listened to the most on my iPods over the past three years):<br />Jack’s Mannequin, Everything in Transit (not ranked, 2005)<br /><br /><br />10 Most Essential Songs (1999-2008):<br /><br />(in alphabetical order, because ranking is too hard):<br /><br />Aimee Mann, “Save Me”<br />Ben Folds, “Still Fighting It”<br />Coldplay, “The Scientist”<br />Death Cab for Cutie, “Transatlanticism”<br />Patty Griffin,”Rain”<br />The Postal Service, “Such Great Heights”<br />Rachael Yamagata, “Worn Me Down”<br />Regina Spektor, “Samson”<br />Sia, “Breathe Me”<br />Wolf Parade, “I’ll Believe in Anything”<br /><br />Special mention (for the songs most played on all the iPods I’ve ever owned):<br />Kelly Clarkson, “Since U Been Gone”<br />Robyn, “Handle Me”<br /><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Jen H-S Sucks the Blood of the Music (but only on weekends)</span><br /><br />Vampire Weekend: Vampire Weekend (most essential)<br /><br />Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist soundtrack<br />Ben Folds: Way to Normal<br />Black Kids: Partie Traumatic<br />Ryan Adams and the Cardinals: Cardinology<br />The Pretenders: Break up the Concrete<br />The Hold Steady: Stay Positive<br />Los Campensinos: We are beautiful, We are doomed<br />Robyn: Robyn<br />Sugarland: Love on the Inside<br /><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Bill K Sings, Dances, Steal Things</span><br /><br />Essential albums of the year (2008)<br /><br />1 = We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things, Jason Mraz<br /><br />Yes, it's poppy. It's still song for song my favorite CD this year. And I don't feel guilty about that.<br /><br />Others:<br />The Glass Passenger, Jack's Mannequin<br />Rockferry, Duffy<br />@#%& *! Smilers, Aimee Mann<br />Time the Conqueror, Jackson Browne<br />Sam Sparro, Sam Sparro<br /><br /> Top Ten Albums of 1999-2008<br />1. Scissor Sisters, Scissor Sisters<br />2. Want One, Rufus Wainwright<br />3. Rockin' The Suburbs, Ben Folds<br />4. Bachelor No. 2, Aimee Mann<br />5. Life in Cartoon Motion, Mika<br />6. MP4: Days Since a Lost Time Accident, Michael Penn<br />7. The Unauthorized Biography of Reinhold Messner, Ben Folds Five<br />8. We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things, Jason Mraz<br />9. The Ego Has Landed, Robbie Williams<br />10. Lost and Gone Forever, Guster<br /><br /> Top Ten Songs of 1999-2008<br />1. Go or Go Ahead, Rufus Wainwright<br />2. The Luckiest, Ben Folds (my wedding song, after all)<br />3. I Don't Feel Like Dancin', Scissor Sisters<br />4. Still Fighting It, Ben Folds<br />5. A Beautiful Mess, Jason Mraz<br />6. Grace Kelly, Mika<br />7. Supreme, Robbie Williams<br />8. You Do, Aimee Mann<br />9. Speak Slow, Tegan & Sara<br />10. Everything is Everything, Lauryn Hill<br /><br />Hidden Gems, or Songs I Love on Albums that I Don't Like (or Don't Have)<br /><br />1. G.P.T., Martha Wainwright<br />2. They Say Vision, Res<br />3. H.W.C., Liz Phair<br />4. Won't Give In, The Finn Brothers<br />5. Walter Reed, Michael Penn<br />6. Don't Let Me Get Me, P!nk<br />7. Fortress, Pinback<br />8. Love Me Like the World is Ending, Ben Lee<br />9. Come on Get Higher, Matt Nathanson<br />10. O Divina, Terence Trent D'Arby<br /><br /><div><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Krist S. Wakes it on Up</span><div><br />OUR FAVORITE RECORDS OF 2008.<br />Rosetta - Wake / Lift<br />This band, almost singlehandedly changed my taste in music this year. Like I have said in the past, metal with the vocals far back in the mix, creating a beautiful atmospheric noise. Amazing music to walk around new york city to.</div><div><br />31knots - Worried Well<br />Consistently one of the most underrated bands that we love here on this website. This record is what 1998 indie rock would sound like if it kept progressing in strange and interesting ways. His voice is great.</div><div><br />Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago<br />Like I even need to write about this album. Anyone who reads this site knows how much I love this album. if you like nature based pretty ethereal music with a bluesy voice, this ones for you.</div><div><br />Lil’ Wayne - tha Carter 3<br />Like I even need to tell you who this is. Let me just say this, I am not sure if it’s the Codeine with Promethazine talking but Lil’ Wayne is pretty genius. I know I know, he looks ridiculous and seems pretty ignorant but anyone, and I mean anyone who writes rhymes yeast infection with geese erection, has to be some kind of prodigy. Either way, listen to the humor and metaphors below.<br /><br />Horse Feathers - House with No Name<br />More soft acoustic, pretty backwoods type stuff. A pretty voice with some really nice instrumentation.</div><div><br />ASS - My get up and go just got up and went LP<br />ASS is the initials for Sweden’s Andreas Söderström and also a ridiculous band name. He’s plays all the instruments on the record and occasionally sings. Think folk without the vocals (most of the time). Not to mention he does a kick ass version of the title track from Escape from New York </div><div><br />Russian Circles - Station<br />By far my favorite instrumental record of the year. Just so calculated, so intricate without sounding soulless. Not too mention a great live show. For those who like instrumental music to be atmospheric and complex. Oh yea and they get metal occasionally too.</div><div><br />Portishead - Third<br />After a long wait, Portishead finally delivers. Third sounds like Portishead’s KID A if that makes any sense. I really liked it.</div><div><br />This Will Destroy You - s/t<br />Maybe my 2nd favorite instrumental record of the year. This one is like Russian Circles a little less complex, less metal but a bit more cinematic. Think Godspeed without 30 people in the band and huge crescendos. I do love it.</div><div><br />the Mars Volta - Bedlam in Goliath<br />A pretty good release from one of the band featuring members of my favorite band of all time. If you know them, you probably already hate them or love them. The singles are great.</div><div><br />The Grey Daturas - Return to Disruption<br />Like Neurosis without the singer, the Grey Daturas is noisy and dissonant in the same way</div><div> Explosions in the Sky is. The kind of music that would accompany the end of the world.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Detektivbyrån – Wermland<br />This Swedish band sounds like the theme music to a children’s TV show or maybe to a psychotic circus. Either way, this is great soundtrack music and a real fun listen.</div><div><br />The Jimmy Cake - Spectre and Crown<br />Does anyone get the feeling that all I listened to this year was instrumental music?? Weird, I know. The Jimmy Cake from Dublin, is a nice instrumental indie rock band with some classical instrumentation. Occasionally think, a voiceless Fugazi with strings. Sometimes.</div><div><br />The Black Angels -Directions to see a Ghost<br />This Texan Psychedelic band is just good old rock n roll. Think if A Band of Horses was around in like the 60’s. Must be a great band to see live.<br /><br />Sigur Rós - Með suð í eyrum við spilum end<br />I always thought of Sigur Rós as the Icelandic Radiohead. What do you think about that? I am a total late bloomer when it comes to Sigur Rós but maybe it was my trip to Iceland that did it or what but finally I love this band. And this is a beautiful record.<br /><br />Asher Roth - The Greenhouse Mixtape<br />Next year’s Eminem, this mixtape shows a ton of potential with some great songs with a ton of stolen mixtape beats. The mixtape MC is totally annoying but if you can get over that check out the download.<br /><br /></div><div><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Jonathan V = Youth</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span>2008<br /><br />Essential albums of 2008 for me…<br /><br />MOST ESSENTIAL: VAMPIRE WEEKEND by Vampire Weekend<br /><br />I can’t pretend that this album in particular didn’t make a huge difference in my attitude and outlook all year long. And I share their sentiment about the bears out in Provincetown.<br /><br />OTHER ESSENTIAL ALBUMS:<br /><br />SATURDAYS = YOUTH by M83<br /><br />If the 80s sounded the way the “Beyond Infinity” sequence of 2001 looked, they would have sounded like this. And if Andrei Tarkovsky directed THE BREAKFAST CLUB, this would have been the soundtrack.<br /><br />ROOK by Shearwater<br /><br />Another fantastic CD in the vein of the multiple-chill-inducing PALO SANTO. Genuinely haunting, with amazing (and subtle) musicianship. FYI: If you can see them live, you must. They’re like a jam band of elementals from The Plane of Ice.<br /><br />FEED THE ANIMALS by Girl Talk<br /><br />The first time through, this album is like having a music stroke: Too many familiar pop clips patched over too many swatches of hardcore hip-hop, all reconstituted into something like a guilty-pleasure-paste. But on repeated listens, the genius (and flat-out mischief) of the mash-up become apparent. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to listen to The Carpenters again without wishing Mims were in the background—or without feeling disappointed when a Metallica riff doesn’t kick in right after Karen’s done singing.<br /><br />THIRD by Portishead<br /><br />2008 had a lot of unexpected comebacks up its sleeve, but out of all of them, Portishead’s seemed to be the most engaging and mature. An album made for night-driving through industrial wastelands. And it’s even got a scary ending…hopefully, the kind that leaves things open for a sequel.<br /><br />THE STAND-INS by Okkervil River<br /><br />Originally recorded to be the second half of a double-album set (which would have been released alongside THE STAGE NAMES in the Summer of 07) this is by no means a B-side collection—and it’s a little disturbing just how much good music there is packed into these two releases. Buy one album and be impressed, buy both and be kinda scared.<br /><br />VIVA LA VIDA by Coldplay<br /><br />And you know what? I hate Coldplay. HATE them. But I can’t deny that they’ve scored a hit with this one. And sure, I could wimp-out on that admission, and say that it had a lot to do with Brian Eno’s furry little paws being ALL OVER the production…but that hasn’t helped U2 crawl out of the suck-gutter lately, now has it? So touché Coldplay. This round goes to your grating, clunky earnestness. I’ll get you next time.<br /><br />METROPOLIS: THE CHASE SUITE by Janelle Monae<br /><br />It may just be an EP, but it totally blew my mind. It’s an R&B/pop opera about a girl robot on the run from the law. Repeat: It’s an R&B/pop opera about a girl robot on the run from the law. Stevie Wonder meets…Rush?<br /><br />STAY POSITIVE by The Hold Steady<br /><br />Compelling, anthemic.<br /><br />BRAIN THRUST MASTERY by We Are Scientists<br /><br />Just plain fun, no aftertaste.<br /><br />DAY & AGE by The Killers<br /><br />Cheesy fun with a touch of genius.<br /><br />TO SURVIVE by Joan As Policewoman<br /><br />Soulful and stirring.<br /><br />DISTORTION by Magnetic Fields<br /><br />Woefully underrated. It takes what Jesus and Mary Chain were attempting with PSYCHOCANDY, and perfects the experiment.<br /><br />Biggest Re-Discoveries From The Past:<br /><br />With the downturn this year, I started buying less and revisiting more. Two artists stood out as the unsung heroes of my disc-binders…<br /><br />Kate Bush<br /><br />She didn’t just open the door for your quirkier lady songwriters of later generations; she built the mansion, moved in, and added a new wing. Her music alone would be remarkable if it weren’t for her voice. Her voice alone would be remarkable if it weren’t for her lyrics. And her lyrics…let’s just say she’s the only songwriter besides The Davids Bowie and Byrne who could conceivably win the Hugo or Nebula.<br /><br />Robyn Hitchcock<br /><br />The melodies are lovely, the wit is befuddling, the charm is downright antagonizing. He’s a Grade A songwriter who doesn’t have to be a kook; the kook part, to quote the man himself, is “just plumage”.<br /><br />Favorite New Song of The Whole Year:<br /><br />A&E by Goldfrapp – And I still have no idea what it’s about.<br />KIM & JESSIE by M83 – Sounds like Jose Gonzalez being attacked by a bird from another dimension.<br />UNTRUST US by Crystal Castles – Magic Eye for your ears. First you think something is wrong with your speakers…then you’re in love.<br />FREEWAY by Aimee Mann – Like Elvis Costello at his best, she makes spite sound transcendent.<br />BROKEN by Tift Merritt – Warm like a good sweater.<br /><br />Favorite “New To Me” Songs of Previous Years:<br /><br />YOUR LOVE by The Outfield – The most depraved lyrics to ever grace a pop song.<br />DO YOU FEEL ME? by Anthony Hamilton – A pitch-perfect soul track from 2007 that’s really from 1972…in spirit, anyway.<br />WORLD AS LARGE by Parlour Steps – A standout track from their thoughtful, bop-along sleeper AMBIGUOSO.<br />THE EMERGENCY by Gileah and The Ghost Train – A country track with a hint of darkness at the edges.<br />BULLY THEME by Shawn Lee – I like to play it on repeat and pretend I’m in the game, alright?<br /><br />Favorite Ten Songs of 1999-2008<br /><br />1. HEARTBEATS by The Knife<br />2. BLACK CAB by Jens Lekman<br />3. MOUNTAIN LAUREL by Shearwater<br />4. DAWN CHORUS by Boards of Canada<br />5. ALL I NEED by Radiohead<br />6. REBELLION (LIES) by Arcade Fire<br />7. FAREWELL TRANSMISSION by Songs: Ohia<br />8. LET IT LIVE by Haven<br />9. SOCCER by Kent<br />10. BLOOD AND THUNDER by Mastodon<br /><br />Favorite Albums of 1999-2008<br /><br />1. SILENT SHOUT by The Knife<br />2. KID A by Radiohead<br />3. MAGNOLIA ELECTRIC COMPANY by Songs: Ohia<br />4. FUNERAL by Arcade Fire<br />5. CASTAWAYS & CUTOUTS by The Decemberists<br />6. THE CREEK DRANK THE CRADLE by Iron & Wine<br />7. HOT FUSS by The Killers<br />8. THE LIFE PURSUIT by Belle & Sebastian<br />9. WINGED LIFE by Shearwater<br />10. IS THIS IT by The Strokes<br /><br />And can I just say…I really liked VESPERTINE too. Okay. I’m done.<br /><br /></div><div><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Paula M has no trouble in dreams, or in being a destroyer</span></div><div><br />Ahhh, the music poll. I love this time of year. At the risk of "nerding myself out," I have to admit I keep a running list of my favorite albums in the 'notes' section of my cell phone.<br /><br />Essential Albums of 2008<br /><br />Destroyer, Trouble in Dreams<br />I love Destroyer. They never disappoint.<br /><br />Death Cab for Cutie, Narrow Stairs<br />Is it their best album? No, I don't think so but when you date Zooey Dechanel work probably falls by the wayside.<br /><br />Atmosphere, When Life Gives You Lemons, Paint That Shit Gold<br />Everything that is good about hip hop and it comes with a children's book!<br /><br />Adele, 19<br />If I drove, I could drive around all day listening to this album. It's mellow but catchy.<br /><br />Xiu Xiu, Women as Lovers<br />I might be alone here but I really love breathy, tortured and disturbing lyrics.<br /><br />Conor Oberst, Conor Oberst<br />Fine, I'm emo.<br /><br />Jenny Lewis, Acid Tongue<br />Not as good as what she does with Rilo Kiley but I love her voice.<br /><br />She and Him, Volume 1<br />All of the songs kind of sound the same but it's still nice.<br /><br />The Magnetic Fields, Distortion<br />If you can get past the distortion, it's pretty good.<br /><br />I guess my most essential would be Destroyer, Trouble in Dreams.<br /><br />Top 10 -1999 to 2008, in no particular order<br />Once, Soundtrack<br />The Sounds, Dying to Say This to You<br />The Postal Service, Give Up<br />Death Cab for Cutie, Transatlanticism<br />Brandnew, Deja Entendu<br />Bright Eyes, Lifted or The story is in the soil, keep your ear to the ground<br />Dashboard Confessional, The Swiss Army Romance<br />Destroyer, Your Blues<br />The Get Up Kids, Something to Write Home About<br />Saves the Day, Through Being Cool<br /><br /><br />Songs<br />Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova, Falling Slowly<br />Destroyer, It's Gonna Take an Airplane<br />Postal Service, Nothing Better<br />Saves the Day, Sell My Old Clothes, I'm Off to Heaven<br />Get Up Kids, I'll Catch You<br />Underoath, Reinventing Your Exit<br />Xiu Xiu, I Love the Valley, OH!<br />Death Cab for Cutie, A Movie Script Ending<br />Bright Eyes, Nothing Get Crossed Out<br />Atmosphere, Shoes<br /><br />I don't feel these lists are comprehensive or exactly right. It's just a really big task to compile a list of favorites from the last ten years. These are just some definite essentials.<br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Dean B’s Modern in his Guilt</span><br /><br />Favorite Albums of 2008<br /><br />1. Beck – Modern Guilt<br />2. Bon Iver – For Emma, Forever Ago<br />3. Aimee Mann – Smilers<br />4. Portishead – Third<br />5. Sigur Rós - Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust<br />6. Devotchka – A Mad And Faithful Telling<br />7. TV On The Radio – Dear Science<br />8. The Walkmen – You & Me<br />9. Bloc Party – Intimacy<br />10. Ryan Adams – Cardinology<br />11. Frightened Rabbit – Midnight Organ Fight<br />12. Estelle – Shine<br />13. Santogold – S/T<br />14. Ray LaMontagne – Gossip In The Grain<br />15. Ben Folds – Way To Normal<br /><br />Honorable mentions:<br /><br />The Dodos – Visiter; Conor Oberst – S/T; R.E.M. – Accelerate; Girl<br />Talk – Feed The Animals; Counting Crows – Saturday Nights & Sunday<br />Mornings; Jay Reatard – Matador Singles '08; Grand Archives – S/T;<br />Neil Young – Sugar Mountain: Live at Canterbury House 1968<br /><br />Album cuts from 2008 that're worth checking out on<br />youtube/last.fm/pandora/myspace/etc:<br /><br />> Hot Chip "Ready For The Floor"<br />> Thao Nguyen "Beat", "Feet Asleep"<br />> Conor Oberst "Cape Canaveral"<br />> R.E.M. "Living Well Is The Best Revenge", "Supernatural Superserious"<br />> Jay Reatard "Screaming Hand"<br />> The Dodos "Fools"<br />> Lil Wayne f/Jay-Z "Mr. Carter"<br />> MGMT "Time To Pretend"<br />> Dido "Grafton Street"<br />> Death Cab For Cutie "I Will Possess Your Heart" (radio edit) Jakob<br />> Dylan "Up On The Mountain"<br />> Counting Crows "On A Tuesday In Amsterdam"<br />> Beck "Profanity Prayers", "Modern Guilt" and "Volcano"<br />> Bloc Party "Ion Square", "Biko"<br />> Aimee Mann "Phoenix" and "True Believer"<br />> Ben Folds "Before Cologne", "You Don't Know Me"<br />> Bon Iver "Skinny Love", Flume"<br />> Devotchka "Undone", "New World"<br />> Frightened Rabbit "Backwards Walk", "Poke"<br />> Portishead "The Rip", "Nylon Smile", "Magic Doors"<br />> Ray LaMontagne "Let It Be Me", "Gossip In The Grain"<br />> Ryan Adams "Like Yesterday", "Crossed Out Name"<br />> Santogold "You'll Find A Way", "Creator"<br />> Santogold f/M.I.A. & Gorilla Zoe "Get It Up" (Radioclit Mix on Top<br />> Ranking<br />> album)<br />> Sigur Rós – "Med Sud I Eyrum", "All Alright"<br />> The Walkmen "The Blue Route"<br />> TV On The Radio "Lover's Day", "Love Dog"<br /><br />Mainstream/Pop Guilty Pleasures:<br /><br />> Secondhand Serenade "Fall For You"<br />> Chris Brown "Forever"<br />> Matt Nathanson "Come On Get Higher" & "Car Crash"<br />> Ne-Yo "Miss Independent"<br />> Gavin Degraw "Love Remains The Same"<br />> Carolina Liar "I'm Not Over"<br />> Miley Cyrus "See You Again"<br />> The Killers "Human"<br />> Staind "Believe"<br />> Alicia Keys "Like You'll Never See Me Again"<br />> Jason Mraz "I'm Yours"<br />> The Ting Tings "Shut Up And Let Me Go"<br />> Leona Lewis "Run" (Snow Patrol cover)<br />> T.I. "Whatever You Like" & "Live Your Life"<br />> Britney Spears "Womanizer"<br />> Colbie Caillat "Realize"<br />> Chris Brown "With You"<br />> Jordin Sparks f/Chris Brown "No Air"<br />> Nickelback "Gotta Be Somebody"<br />> Black Kids "I'm Not Going To Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance"<br />> Weezer "Pork N' Beans", "Troublemaker"<br />> Taylor Swift "Love Story"<br />> John Mayer "Say"<br />> Estelle f/ Kanye "American Boy"<br /><br /></div><div><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Daphne’s Wicked</span></div><div><br />I am excited to be part of the poll because I have no musical taste at all and will learn things! My one vote for best album in the last ten years is the soundtrack to Wicked, which tells you just how lame I am musically :-)<br /><br /></div><div><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Alaya, nearly slayed, but in her Golden Hour</span></div><div><br />Well, this was exciting. Top ten songs nearly slayed me, but here you go :)<br /><br />My most essential album: Firewater, The Golden Hour<br />I saw them live for the first time this year and went nuts. Amazing, amazing album.<br /><br />Little Jackie, The Stoop<br />Janelle Monae, Metropolis: The Chase Suite (an EP, but whatever, it's awesome)<br />Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Dig!!! Lazarus Dig!!!<br />TV on the Radio, Dear Science<br />Vampire Weekend, Vampire Weekend<br />Nat Baldwin, Most Valuable Player<br />Raffael Saddiq, The Way I See It<br />Evangelicals, The Evening Descends<br /><br />Top ten albums of last ten years (this doesn't include tons of things I've loved, but okay):<br /><br />Gorillaz, Demon Days<br />Sufjan Stevens, Come On Feel the Illinoise!<br />T-Bone Burnett, The True False Identity<br />Arctic Monkeys, Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not<br />Kate Bush, Aerial<br />Imani Coppola, The Black & White Album<br />Loudon Wainwright III, Last Man on Earth ("White Winos" one of my favorite songs ever)<br />Outkast, Speakerboxxx/The Love Below<br />Seu Jorge, The Life Aquatic Studio Sessions<br />The Real Tuesday Weld, The London Book of the Dead<br /><br />The songs (even more ridiculous than the albums...this was painful to cut down):<br /><br />Outkast (from Speakerboxxx/The Love Below), Hey ya!<br />Loudon Wainwright (from Last Man On Earth), White Winos<br />Imani Coppola (from the Black & White Album), Springtime<br />Gnarls Barkley, Crazy<br />Sufjan Stevens (from Illinoise), Chicago<br />Richard Thompson (from Sweet Warrior), Dad's Gonna Kill Me<br />Camera Obscura (from Let's Get Out of This Country), Lloyd, I'm Ready to Be Heartbroken<br />T-Bone Burnett (from The True False Identity), Zombieland<br />Les McCann and Eddie Harris (from Swiss Movement), Compared to What<br />The Real Tuesday Weld (from I, Lucifer), Bathtime in Clerkenwell<br />(alternate 11th: Gorillaz (from Demon Days), Feel Good Inc.)<br /><br /></div><div><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">For Brian Merrell, Forever 2008</span></div><div><br />2008 in order of how much time I've spent with them<br /><br />Bon Iver, For Emma, Forever Ago<br />Fleet Foxes, Fleet Foxes<br />Annuals, Such Fun<br />Ray LaMontagne, Gossip In The Grain<br />Death Cab For Cutie, Narrow Stairs<br />Jenny Lewis, Acid Tongue<br />Conor Oberst, Connor Oberst<br />Mike Doughty, Golden Delicious<br />The Faint, Fascinatiion<br />The Breeders, Mountain Battles<br /><br /><br />1999 - 2008 in rough order of amazingness<br /><br />Bright Eyes, Lifted Or The Story Is In The Soil, Keep Your Ear To The Ground (2002)<br />Radiohead, Hail To The Thief (2002)<br />Sufjan Stevens, Come on and Feel The Illinoise (2005)<br />Iron & Wine, The Creek Drank The Cradle (2002)<br />Bon Iver, For Emma, Forever Ago (2008)<br />Self, Breakfast with Girls (1999)<br />David Poe, The Late Album (2002)<br />The Flaming Lips, Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots (2002)<br />The Postal Service, Give Up (2003)<br />Rufus Wainwright, Poses (2001)<br />I don't remember 2002 being especially cool, but it may have been.<br /><br /></div><div><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Nick B Cuts n’ Copies</span></div><div><br />Essential albums of the year (2008), choosing one as the most essential and the others you consider essential.<br /><br />1. Cut Copy, In Ghost Colours.<br /><br />Also up there (no particular order) Swimming by the French Kicks, Microcastle by Deerhunter, Third by Portishead, Temper by Benoit Pioulard, s/t by Hercules and Love Affair, You & Me by the Walkmen, and Dear Science, by TV On the Radio, 4 by Dungen<br /><br />Your Top Ten Albums of 1999-2008<br /><br />In Rainbows by Radiohead<br />In Ghost Colours by Cut Copy<br />Alligator by the National<br />Neko Case, Fox Confessor Brings the Flood<br />Sound of Silver by LCD Soundsystem<br />Person Pitch by Panda Bear<br />Madvillainy by Madvillain<br />Kid A by Radiohead<br />Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga by Spoon<br />Businessmen and Ghosts by Working for a Nuclear Free City<br /><br />Your Top Ten Songs of 1999-2008<br /><br />"All My Friends" by LCD Soundsystem<br />"So Far We Are" by the French Kicks<br />"Star Witness" by Neko Case<br />"Festival" by Dungen<br />"Fumbling Over Words that Rhyme" by Edan<br />"Take Pills" by Panda Bear<br />"Finer Feelings" by Spoon<br />"The Worst Taste In Music" by the Radio Dept.<br />"Quiet Place" by Working for a Nuclear Free City<br />"The Companion" by the Mary Onettes<br /><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Sherri L., Indiepop Girl</span></div><div><br />Essential:<br />(but only if you love indiepop!)<br />MiniSnap // Bounce Around<br /><br />LPs<br /><br />Los Campesinos! // Hold on Now, Youngster...<br />Of Montreal // Skelatal Lamping<br />Deerhunter // Microcastle / Weird Era Cont.<br />Hello Seahorse! // Holy A Las Ocho<br />Atlas Sound // Let the Blind Lead Those Who Can See But Cannot Feel<br />Vivian Girls //Vivian Girls<br />MiniSnap // Bounce Around<br />The Lucksmiths // First Frost<br />Girl Talk // Feed the Animals<br />Fuck Buttons //Street Horrrsing<br /><br />Singles<br /><br />The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart // Everything With You<br />My Teenage Stride // Theme From Teenage Suicide<br />The Secret History // It's Not The End of The World<br />Jonah Je Suis Animal // Painted In My Face<br />M83 //Kim & Jesse<br />The Faint The Geeks Were Right<br />The Ting Tings // Shut Up and Let Me Go<br />MGMT //Time to Pretend<br />Adele // Chasing Pavements<br />Black Kids //Look at Me (When I Rock Wichoo)<br /><br /><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Marie R’s long Weekend<br /></span><br />Most Essential Album of 2008<br />Vampire Weekend, Vampire Weekend<br /><br />Other Essential Albums of 2008<br />Coldplay, Viva la Vida<br />The Ting Tings, We Started Nothing<br />Bjork, Volta<br /><br />Essential Albums 1999-2008<br />Ranked, #1 being most essential.<br /><br />1. Moby, Play (1999)<br />2. The Postal Service, Give Up (2003)<br />3. Bjork, Vespertine (2004)<br />4. Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, Raising Sand (2007)<br />5. The Mountain Goats, The Sunset Tree (2005)<br />6. Vampire Weekend, Vampire Weekend (2008)<br />7. Death Cab for Cutie, Transatlanticism (2003)<br />8. The Killers, Hot Fuss (2004)<br />9. Thievery Corporation, The Richest Man in Babylon (2002)<br />10. Coldplay, Parachutes (2000)<br /><br /><br />Essential Songs 1999-2008<br />Ranked, #1 being most essential.<br /><br />1. Dixie Chicks, “Not Ready to Make Nice” (Best Anthem for the Bush Administration Years)<br />2. The Postal Service, “Such Great Heights” (Best Love Song about Soulmating)<br />3. Death Cab for Cutie, “Transatlanticism” (Best Love Song about Yearning)<br />4. Bjork, “Mouth’s Cradle” (Most Innovative)<br />5. The White Stripes, “Seven Nation Army” (Most Rockin)<br />6. Amy Winehouse, “You Know I’m No Good” (Best Set of Pipes)<br />7. Bright Eyes, “Lua” (Best Song of the Anti-Hero)<br />8. The Mountain Goats, “Pale Green Things” (Best Musical Narrative)<br />9. Franz Ferdinand, 40’ (Best Use of a Theremin)<br />10. Andrew Bird, “Imitosis” (Best Use of Vocabulary)<br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Matthue R Sways Machiner</span>y<br /><br />THIS YEAR<br /><br />The Sway Machinery, self-titled<br />Mirah, (a)spera<br />Tender Forever, Wider<br />Jeremy Jay, A Place Where We Could Go<br />Y-Love, This Is Babylon<br />Nine Inch Nails, The Slip<br />The Roots, Rising Down<br />TV On the Radio, Dear Science<br />Northern State, Can I Keep This Pen?<br /><br />TEN YEARS<br /><br />Amy Winehouse, Back to Black<br />Magnetic Fields, 69 Love Songs<br />Regina Spektor, Begin to Hope<br />Ani Difranco, Knuckle Down<br />CocoRosie, La Maison de mon Reve<br />OutKast, Love Below/Speakerboxxx<br />Loretta Lynn, Van Lear Rose<br />Kanye West, College Dropout<br />Architecture in Helsinki, Fingers Crossed<br />Liz Phair, Liz Phair (i know. i know. but it just keeps showing up.)<br /><br /><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Bon Hiver, Thu</span><br /><br />1. bon iver, for emma forever ago<br />2. portishead, third<br />3. dungen, 4<br />4. department of eagles, in ear park<br /><br /></div><div><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Fiona S. makes some Electric Arguments</span><br /><br />Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová -- The Swell Season (while it was released in 2006, it's one of those albums I just kept going back to all the time)<br /><br />The Fireman -- Electric Arguments<br /><br />Bruce Springsteen -- Magic<br /><br />Seal -- Soul<br /><br />George Michael -- Twenty-Five (come on, just try staying in you seat while listening to some of those old Wham songs or to "Faith")<br /><br />Carla Bruni -- Comme si de rien n'étai<br /><br />Bruce Springsteen (again) -- The Rising (thanks Obama, I had to go back and listen again and again!)<br /><br /><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Kathleen P dives into the Submarines</span><br /><br />From a children's librarian in North Carolina, and in no particular order:<br /><br />Best Albums of 2008<br /><br />1. The Submarines, Honeysuckle Weeks<br />2. Fleet Foxes, Fleet Foxes<br />3. Raphael Saadiq, The Way I See It<br />4. Solange, Sol-Angel and the Hadley St. Dreams<br />5. Wolf Parade, At Mount Zoomer<br />6. The Killers, Day and Age<br />7. Adele, 19<br />8. My Morning Jacket, Evil Urges<br />9. Al Green, Lay It Down<br />10. Britney Spears, Circus<br /><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Steven M goes all Icelandic on Us</span><br /><br />My Favorite records of 2008<br /><br />10. Vampire Weekend; Vampire Weekend<br /><br />9. Marah - Angels of Destruction<br /><br />8. Delta Spirit - Ode to Sunshine<br /><br />7. Helio Sequence - Keep Your Eyes Ahead<br /><br />6. Dr. Dog - Fate<br /><br />5. My Morning Jacket - Evil Urges<br /><br />4. Pacific! - Reveries<br /><br />3. Goldfrapp - Seventh Tree<br /><br />2. Drive-by Truckers - Brighter Than Creation<br /><br />1. Sigur Rós -Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust<br /><br /><br />My Favorite Records of the Last 10 Years<br /><br />Moon Safari - Air<br /><br />The Last Broadcast - Doves<br /><br />When It Falls - Zero 7<br /><br />7 Worlds Collide - Neil Finn<br /><br />Destroy Rock and Roll - Mylo<br /><br />Back To Black - Amy Winehouse<br /><br />Costello Music - The Fratellis<br /><br />Brighter Than Creation's Dark - Drive-By Truckers<br /><br />The Great Destroyer - Low<br /><br />Howl - Black Rebel Motorcycle Club<br /><br /><br />My Favorite Singles of the Last 10 Years<br /><br />New World - Bjork<br /><br />The Origin of Love - Hedwig and the Angry Inch<br /><br />La Femme d’Argent - Air<br /><br />Valerie – Mark Ronson featuring Amy Winehouse<br /><br />Pounding - Doves<br /><br />When I Go Deaf - Low<br /><br />A Certain Romance - Arctic Monkeys<br /><br />Baby Fratelli - The Fratellis<br /><br />Sea Groove - The Thievery Corporation<br /><br />Black Cherry - Goldfrapp<br /><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Rotem joins the Eagle Dept.</span><br /><br />I’d say my essential album of the year is<br /><br />Department of Eagles – In Ear Park<br /><br />That’s all I got!<br /><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Anna C Has an Affinity for Music with Capital M’s</span><br /><br />[for the record, I have a broken m key and have to copy-paste all of them. apparently I have an affinity for music with capital m's. apologies for inconsistency.]<br /><br />The essentials of 2008:<br /><br />1] The music Tapes, music Tapes for Clouds & Tornadoes<br />2] Nana Grizol, Love It Love It<br />3] mount Eerie, Lost Wisdom<br />4]The Kills, midnight Boom<br />5] Fleet Foxes, Fleet Foxes<br />6] Girl Talk, Feed The Animals<br />7] Love Is All, A Hundred Things Keep me Up At Night<br />8] Dr. Dog, Passed Away, Vol. 1<br />9] mGmT, Oracular Spectacular<br />10] Vampire Weekend, Vampire Weekend<br /><br />Top Ten Albums of 1999-2008<br /><br />1] Circulatory System, Circulatory System<br />2] Radiohead, Amnesiac<br />3] Rilo Kiley, The Execution of All Things<br />4] Panda Bear, Person Pitch<br />5] The music Tapes, 1st Imaginary Symphony For Nomad<br />6] Ys, Joanna Newsom<br />7] Cocorosie, Joanna Newsom<br />8] The Gerbils, Are You Sleepy?<br />9] The Apples in Stereo, New magnetic Wonder<br />10] The magnetic Fields, 69 Love Songs Vol. 1<br /><br />Top Ten Songs of 1999 - 2008 (according to my iTunes most played playlist, mind you, because it's nearly impossible to choose!)<br /><br />Julian Koster [The music Tapes] -Takashi & Elijah<br />The music Tapes - manifest Destiny<br />Rilo Kiley - Spectacular Views<br />Radiohead - Idioteque<br />Joanna Newsom - Sawdust & Diamonds<br />Andrew Bird - Tables and Chairs<br />modest mouse - Grey Ice Water<br />Cocorosie - Armageddon<br />Jenny Lewis with the Watson Twins - Happy<br />Okkervil River - John Allyn Smith Sails<br /><br />OTHER LISTS<br /><br />most Likely To Be Sung and Danced To Out Loud Accidentally In Public/While Partially Nude and Walked In On/Guaranteed Humiliation<br /><br />Of montreal - Plastis Wafers<br />The magnetic Fields - Let's Pretend We're Bunny Rabbits<br />Brazilian Girls - Good Time<br />Kelly Clarkson - Behind These Hazel Eyes<br />Tilly & The Wall - Nights of the Living Dead<br />manu Chao - Rumba de Barcelona<br />Nina Simone - Feeling Good<br />Tal Bachman - She's So High<br />Everclear - I Will Buy You A New Life<br />Katy Rose - Vacation<br />CSS - music Is my Hot Hot Sex<br />Amy Adams - That's How You Know (Enchanted Soundtrack)<br /><br /><br />Great Covers. In general. Or the ones I listened to most this year.<br /><br />muse (covering Nina Simone) - Feeling Good<br />Ben Kweller (covering The Beatles) - Wait<br />Jenny Owen Youngs (covering Nelly) - Hot In Herre<br />The Shins (covering the Postal Service) - We Will Become Silhouettes<br />Regina Spektor (covering John Lennon) - Real Love<br />Tilly & The Wall (covering Outkast) - Hey Ya!<br />Jeff mangum (covering Phil Spector) - I Love How You Love me<br />Andrew Bird (covering Bob Dylan) - Oh Sister<br /><br /><br />Beatles 2008 Playlist (because every year is a different year in your Beatles library)<br /><br />Tomorrow Never Knows<br />Golden Slumbers/<br />Carry That Weight<br />Yer Blues<br />All my Loving<br />Baby It's You<br />Why Don't We Do It In The Road?<br />With A Little Help From my Friends<br />Happiness Is A Warm Gun<br />Because<br /><br /><br />Best Live Performances of 2008<br /><br />Elephant 6 Holiday Surprise Tour (Circulatory System/The Olivia Tremor Control/The Gerbils/Elf Power/The music Tapes/Pipes You See, Pipes You Don't, major Organ and the Adding machine) [October, Athens] - We were the first stop on the tour and the FIRST to see all of these bands back together! Preceded by the much-anticipated film "major Organ and the Adding machine". Which ruled.<br /><br />Julian Koster (The music Tapes) [November, Caroling Tour, right down the road in my friend Robby's apartment, Savannah, GA] - Okay, we are Elephant 6 geeks. You could write Julian a letter and he would show up on your doorstep with his banjo, singing saw and miniature organ and play you Christmas carols on your doorstep and in your home. And he did. And it was excellent.<br /><br />Radiohead [June, Atlanta] - Best eco-friendly light show I've ever seen.<br /><br />The music Tapes/mount Eerie (Phil Elvrum of The microphones/Thimble Circus) [September, Athens, GA] - Phil Elvrum had a fog machine. Awesome. And we played a game called St. Nicholas's Game for the Lamplighters that "came to Julian in a dream" in a field until 4 in the morning.<br /><br />Ben Folds [march, Savannah, GA] - He put peanut tins inside the piano on one side so he was playing piano with one hand and percussion with the other...need I say more. Also, you can hear the heartcries of our Savannah audience on the first track of his new album.<br /><br />Don Caballero [December, Brooklyn] - Everything it needed to be. Awkward, hilarious, and quite a spectacle packed into about a 45 minute - one hour set.<br /><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Dig, Jonas R, Dig!!!</span><br /><br />Jonas' Mostly Mellow Year in Music, 2008:<br /><br />1. Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!!<br />2. Amelia, A Long, Lovely List of Repairs<br />3. Star Anna, Crooked Path<br />4. Kris Delmhorst, Shotgun Singer<br />5. Sons and Daughters, This Gift<br />6. Sagasso Trio, Burnin' Burnin' Burnin'<br />7. David Byrne and Brian Emo, Everything That Happens Will Happen Today<br />8. R.E.M., Accelerate<br />9. HoneyHoney, First Rodeo<br />10. Jenny Lewis, Acid Tongue<br /><br />Other New Releases that Barely Missed the Top 10 List:<br /><br />Dash Rip Rock, Country Girlfriend<br />The Watson Twins, Fire Songs<br />Laura Cantrell, Trains and Boats and Planes<br />She & Him, Volume One<br />Joan Baez, Day After Tomorrow<br />Natalia Clavier, Nectar<br /><br />Sexiest Album by a First Lady:<br /><br />Carla Bruni, Comme Si de Rien N'Etait by<br /><br />Two I Regretting Missing Last Year:<br /><br />Jenny Lewis with The Watson Twins, Rabbit Fur Coat<br />Amy LaVere, Anchors & Anvils<br /><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Eamon T Lusts three times over</span><br /><br />Eamon's Favorties of '08 (in order)<br /><br />The Raveonettes, Lust Lust Lust<br />MGMT, Oracular Spectacular<br />Kings of Leon, Only by Night<br />The Verve, Fourth<br />Glasvegas<br />The Breeders, Mountain Battles<br />Foals, Antidotes<br />Hercules and Love Affair<br />Santogold<br />Lightspeed Champion, Falling Off the Lavendar Bridge<br /><br />Honorable Mentions:<br />Duffy, Rockferry (The new Winehouse)<br />Oasis, Dig Out Your Soul (A welcome return to form)<br />Ryan Adams, Easy Tiger (Another welcome return to form)<br />Vampire Weekend (Most Overrated, but undeniable)<br /><br /><br />Here's my favorite songs of the last 10 years...<br /><br />1998 Garbage, Special<br />1999 Suede, She's In Fashion <br />2000 The Dandy Warhols, Bohemian Like You<br />2001 The Strokes, The Modern Age<br />2002 Kylie Minogue, Can't Get You Out of My Mind<br />2003 The Postal Service, Such Great Heights<br />2004 Scissor Sisters, Take Your Mama<br />2005 Arcade Fire, Rebellion (Lies)<br />2006 Lily Allen, LNDN<br />2007 Klaxons, Golden Skans<br />2008 MGMT, Kids<br /><br /><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Danielle T Predicts a Riot</span><br /><br />David,<br /><br />You are right. I have taken some time, and realized that there are a few albums I want to make sure are represented on your list, despite the agony of cutting others. So here I go!<br /><br />A. Essential Albums of 2008 (I think I might have been too depressed in 2008 to find new music)<br />1. Ra Ra Riot – “The Rhumb Line” [Most Essential!]<br />2. Los Campesinos! – “Hold on Now, Youngster…”<br />3. Britney Spears – “Circus”<br />4. Adele – “19”<br />5. Mariah Carey – “E=MC2” [This is more in recognition of past accomplishment than present work]<br /><br />B. Top Ten Albums of 1999 – 2008 (in no particular order, and I am sorry, but I went over – CUT ME AT 10 IF YOU MUST, but I had a short 2008 list!)<br />1. Shout Out Louds – “Howl Howl Gaff Gaff” (2005, U.S. release)<br />2. Jaymay – “Autumn Fallin’” (2007)<br />3. Jaguar Wright – “Denials, Delusions, and Decisions” (2002)<br />4. Beth Orton – “Daybreaker” (2002)<br />5. Alexz Johnson – “Songs from Instant Star, Season Two” (2006) (Seriously, Alexz Johnson is AMAZING – please check her out!)<br />6. The Comas – “Conductor” (2004)<br />7. Ed Harcourt – “Here Be Monsters” (2001)<br />8. Hem – “Rabbit Songs” (2001)<br />9. Lauren Hoffman – “Choreography” (2006)<br />10. Jill Scott – “Who is Jill Scott? Words and Sounds Vol. 1 (2000)<br />11. Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins – “Rabbit Fur Coat” (2006)<br />12. Cheese on Bread – “The Search for Colonel Mustard” (2007)<br />13. Damien Rice – “O” (2002)<br />14. Floetry – “Floetic” (2002)<br /><br />C. Top Ten Songs of 1999 – 2008 (in no particular order, except maybe number one)<br />1. Kelly Clarkson – “Since U Been Gone” (2004)<br />2. Arcade Fire – “Keep the Car Running” (2007)<br />3. Stars – “Your Ex-Lover is Dead” (2005)<br />4. Le Tigre – “Deceptacon (DFX Remix) (2001)<br />5. I’m From Barcelona – “Oversleeping” (2006)<br />6. Mates of State – “Goods (All in Your Head)” (2004)<br />7. Bloc Party – “This Modern Love” (2005)<br />8. Mariah Carey – “Crybaby” (1999)<br />9. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah – “In This Home on Ice” (2005)<br />10. Sufjan Stevens – “Chicago” (2006)<br /><br /><br />OK, this was exhausting, I am going to think of a million issues later – LIKE THE GENERAL LACK OF MARIAH CAREY – but until then, THANK YOU<br /><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Michael T Feeds the Animals</span><br /><br />Best album of 2008:<br /><br />Girl Talk, Feed the Animals<br /><br />Runners Up (in no order):<br /><br />Death Cab for Cutie, Narrow Stairs<br />Hot Chip, Made in the Dark<br />Adele, 19<br />Lykke Li, Youth Novels<br />Glasvegas, Glasvegas<br /><br />Top Ten Albums of 1999-2008<br /><br />Belle and Sebastian, Fold Your Hands Child, You Walk Like a Peasant<br />Say Anything, . . . . Is a Real Boy<br />Death Cab for Cutie, Plans<br />Gillian Welch, Time--The Revelator<br />New Pornographers, Twin Cinema<br />Soundtrack, O Brother Where Art Thou?<br />Decemberists, The Crane Wife<br />The National, Boxer<br />Spoon, Gimme Fiction<br />Moby, Play<br /><br />[It turns out that 1998 was really the seminal musical year for me: most of the important records that still matter most to me seem to have been released that year, and to a certain extent it is my Golden Age, frozen in time: Lucinda Williams, Car Wheels on a Gravel Road; Belle and Sebastian, The Boy with the Arab Strap; Garbage, Version 2.0; and Elliott Smith, X/O. 1998 was truly a great year for music, or at least for my music.]<br /><br />Top Ten Songs of 99-2008<br /><br />Not really my thing but here are the songs that seem in the heaviest rotation on my Itunes, and I'd have a hard time finding stuff I'd rather listen to:<br /><br />Missy Elliott, Work It<br />Regina Spektor, On the Radio<br />Blink-182, What's My Name Again<br />The Postal Service, Nothing Better<br />Coldplay, Yellow<br />Aimee Mann, Wise Up<br />Damien Rice, Older Chests<br />Martha Wainwright, BMFA<br />Walkmen, The Rat<br />Paul Oakenfold, Starry Eyed Surprise</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Careful on those stairs, Zac</span><br /><br />Most Essential Album of 2008:<br />Death Cab for Cutie, Narrow Stairs<br /><br />Other Essentials of 2008:<br />2. Right Away, Great Captain!, The Eventually Home<br />3. Bloc Party, Intimacy<br />4. The Gay Blades, Ghosts<br />5. Vampire Weekend, Vampire Weekend<br />6. Margot and the Nuclear So and So's, Animal/Not Animal<br />7. Gregory and the Hawk, Moenie and Kitchi<br />8. Jay Brannan, Goddamned<br />9. Ingrid Michaelson, Be OK<br />10. Her Space Holiday, XOXO, Panda and the New Kid Revival<br /><br />Most Essential Song of 2008:<br />Death Cab for Cutie, "Your New Twin Sized Bed" (from Narrow Stairs)<br /><br />Other Essential Songs of 2008:<br />2. Jay Brannan, "On all Fours" (from Goddamned)<br />3. Right Away, Great Captain!, "Down to Your Soul" (from The Eventually Home)<br />4. Original Cast/Soundtrack, "Were the World Mine" (from Were the World Mine)<br />5. Death Cab for Cutie, "Bixby Canyon Bridge" (from Narrow Stairs)<br />6. The Gay Blades, "O Shot" (from Ghosts)<br />7. Gregory and The Hawk, "Oats We Sow" (from Moenie and Kitchi)<br />8. Margot and The Nuclear So and So's, "The Ocean (is Bleeding Salt)" (from Not Animal)<br />9. Bloc Party, "Better than Heaven" (from Intimacy)<br />10. The Decemberists, "Valerie Plame" (from "Always the Bridesmaid: Vol. 1")<br /><br />Most Essential Album, 1999-2008:<br />The Decemberists, Picaresque (2005)<br /><br />Other Essential Albums, 1999-2008:<br />2. Regina Spektor, Begin to Hope (2006)<br />3. Damien Rice, O (2003)<br />4. Girlyman, Little Star (2005)<br />5. Belle and Sebastian, Dear Catastrophe Waitress (2003)<br />6. Margot and the Nuclear So and So's, The Dust of Retreat (2005)<br />7. Rilo Kiley, More Adventurous (2004)<br />8. The Decemberists, The Crane Wife (2006)<br />9. David Gray, White Ladder (2000)<br />10. The Weepies, Say I am You (2005)<br /><br />Most Essential Song, 1999-2008:<br />Damien Rice, "The Blower's Daughter" (from O, 2003)<br /><br />Other Essential Songs, 1998-2008:<br />2. The Decemberists, "The Engine Driver" (from Picaresque, 2005)<br />3. Rilo Kiley, "Portions for Foxes" (from More Adventurous, 2004)<br />4. Girlyman, "This is Me" (from Little Star, 2005)<br />5. Margot and the Nuclear So and So's, "Skeleton Key" (from The Dust of Retreat, 2005)<br />6. Feist, "1234" (from The Reminder, 2007)<br />7. Yael Naim, "New Soul" (from self-titled, 2007)<br />8. Elliott Smith, "Whatever (Folk Song in C)" (from New Moon, 2007)<br />9. The Weepies, "Gotta Have You" (from Say I am You, 2005)<br />10. Bloc Party, "On" (from A Weekend in the City, 2007)<br /><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Kevin W gets poetic</span><br /><br />Once I was e'er bearded and bourboned, quite the excitable boy,<br />A lad who thrashed and smashed on stage, howling "Search and Destroy."<br />I counted as influences Johnny Thunders, Nina Shock, Bon Scott,<br />Kept company with T-Town Communists and other assorted sots.<br />But goodbye bassist, goodbye band, adios to ears a-ringing;<br />Hello acreage, country home, starlit sky for dreaming.<br />No more does my name appear on the flier above the urinal<br />I quietly submit instead to the land's respected journals.<br />And though we all if happy be must finally leave the gutter,<br />the gutter remains home to rock and roll strutters.<br />I don't regret what I now must say; I don't hesitate; I don't stutter.<br />This word is nothing new beneath the sun, not guarded by troll or sentry:<br />Tis true the pleasures are myriad to be of the landed gentry<br />but when the question comes – Whereth rock? – you forfeit right to make an entry.<br /><br />(Or it could just be that I spent 2008 digging on the back catalogs of King Khan, Swamp Dogg and the Eccentric Soul series. Oh, and while not "essential" The Baby Shakes' "First One" is kinda cool. Plus Gentleman Jesse and His Men put out a full-length album which is probably stellar.)<br /><br />My top 10 of the last 10, though:<br />1. Dirtbombs, Ultraglide in Black – There are certainly more original albums. More "important" albums, I suppose. But this album nails the only "concept" that a band should ever have: make sure the people who put this on have a goddamn good time. And Mick Collins is the only man alive that can cover a Barry White song and not get laughed out of the room.<br />2. The Paybacks, Knock Loud – Wendy Case = #$!*#%!@. Wow, she turns it loose on here.<br />3. The Star Room Boys, Why Do Lonely Men and Women Want to Break Each Other's Hearts? -- Is there a sound sadder than that lonesome whippoorwill? Maybe not. But this one comes close.<br />4. The Reigning Sound, Time Bomb High School – Greg Cartwright is the greatest living American songwriter and I'll stand on Steve Earle's coffee table and say it to his face.<br />5. Black Lips, Good Bad Not Evil – Black lights. Bad kids. Wasted youth. Bless you.<br />6. Exploding Hearts, Guitar Romantic – Brant Rumble was the first to tell me about these kids.<br />7. The Compulsive Gamblers, Live & Deadly: Memphis-Chicago – Greg Cartwright is the greatest living American songwriter and I'll stand in Steve Earle's cowboy boots and tell Bob Dylan.<br />8. The Reigning Sound, Too Much Guitar – Greg Cartwright. Seriously.<br />9. King Khan, Three Hairs and You're Mine – If you go to youtube and search for The Spaceshits on Canadian TV, you can see a young King Khan when he was known as Black Snake. He went on to make this and other albums. It's good.<br />10. The Coup, Pick a Bigger Weapon – "Bush and Hussein together in bed / giving H-E-A-D head / y'all motherfuckers heard what we said / billions made and millions dead."<br /><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Annmarie N’s Music Tapes</span><br /><br />Might as well not waste time, there’s a lot of ground to cover:<br /><br />Most anticipated, longest-awaited, most essential by default:<br />The Music Tapes, Music Tapes for Clouds and Tornadoes<br /><br />It was a good year for music, I could go on and on:<br />Nana Grizol, Love It Love It<br />Jeffrey Lewis, 12 Crass Songs [yeah, I know, I know, technically this is from 2007, but I didn’t do a list last year and damn this album is great]<br />Dark Dark Dark, The Snow Magic<br />Hurray for the Riff Raff, It Don’t Mean I Don’t Love You<br />The Black Angels, Directions to See a Ghost<br />Spindrift, The West<br />Laura Stevenson, A Record<br />The Great Northwest, The Widespread Reign of the Great Northwest<br />First Communion Afterparty, Sorry for all the Mondays and to Those Who Can’t Sing<br /><br />And, for good measure, New York bands I want everyone to love as much as I do: The Beets, Air Waves, No Courage, Arliss Parker, Archipelago, Never Heard of Zeppelin, Laura Stevenson & the Cans, She Keeps Bees, The Vultures, The So So Glos, The Toothaches (half Boston / half New York), The December Sound (ditto), Silver Rockets, A Place to Bury Strangers<br /><br />A Decade of Awesome, Album Edition:<br />2008: The Music Tapes, Music Tapes for Clouds and Tornadoes<br />2007: A Place to Bury Strangers, s/t<br />2006: The Black Angels, Passover<br />2005: A Hawk and A Hacksaw, Darkness at Noon // Jack Rose, Kensington Blues<br />2004: The Out Crowd, Then I Saw the Holy City<br />2003: Jeffrey Lewis, It’s the Ones Who’ve Cracked That the Light Shines Through<br />2002: The Lollies, Taste<br />2001: Brian Jonestown Massacre, Bravery, Repetition, and Noise<br />2000: The Music Tapes, The First Imaginary Symphony for Nomad // Smallstone, s/t<br />1999: The Olivia Tremor Control, Black Foliage<br /><br />And, well, I am gonna cheat on this song business. A mixtape-exchange-club I’m in recently introduced the theme of Best of the 2000s, so I hope you’ll excuse the recycle:<br /><br />Spindrift, Titoli<br />First Communion Afterparty, The Mini Apple<br />Morning After Girls, Hidden Spaces<br />Sarabeth Tucek, Something for You<br />Mariee Sioux, Bravitzlana Rubikalva<br />Jack Rose, Kensington Blues<br />The Black Angels, Black Grease<br />The Warlocks, Shake the Dope Out<br />Air Waves, Broken Tides<br />Dark Dark Dark, Trouble No More<br />The Music Tapes, The Minister of Longitude<br />The Stevenson Ranch Davidians, Getting By<br />The Soft Explosions, Sister Come On<br /><br /><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Brandi D Parades with Wolves</span><br /><br />Essential Albums of 2008:<br />Most essential:<br />Wolf Parade, At Mount Zoomer<br />Other essentials:<br />MGMT, Oracular Spectacular<br />Fleet Foxes, Fleet Foxes<br />Okkervil River, The Stand Ins<br />Ryan Adams and the Cardinals, Cardinology<br /><br />Top Ten Albums 1999-2008<br />2008: Wolf Parade, At Mount Zoomer<br />2007: Arcade Fire, Neon Bible<br />2006: Bonny Prince Billy, The Letting Go<br />2005: Death Cab for Cutie, Plans<br />2004: Arcade Fire, Funeral<br />2003: Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Fever to Tell<br />2002: Interpol, Turn on the Bright Lights<br />2001: The Strokes, Is This It<br />2000: Radiohead, Kid A<br />1999: Beck, Midnight Vultures<br /><br />Top Ten Songs 1999-2008 (in no particular order or year):<br />Bonny Prince Billy's performance of R. Kelly's Ignition<br />Spoon, Stay Don't Go<br />Shout out Louds, The Comeback<br />Ryan Adams, If I am a Stranger<br />Beck, Debra<br />Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Phenomena<br />Arcade Fire, Ocean of Noise<br />The Postal Service, Such Great Heights<br />Radiohead, Idioteque<br />The National, Fake Empire<br /><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Flinn G, Foxy!</span><br />(Most Essential) Fleet Foxes, Fleet Foxes<br /><br />Vampire Weekend, Vampire Weekend<br />Bon Iver, For Emma, Forever Ago<br />She and Him, Volume One<br />Santogold, Santogold<br />Sigur Ros, Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust<br />Amadou and Mariam, Welcome to Mali<br />Lykke Li, Youth Novel<br />Kate Nash, Made of Bricks<br />Okkervil River, The Stand Ins<br />MGMT, Oracular Spectacular<br /><br /></div><div><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Sandy breaks the block</span></div><div><br />Okee Dokee.<br /><br />I didn't get a lot of new music this year, but here's three of my most essential albums released in 2008. I used these three to break writer's block. I admit, they are a bit insane, which is helpful when you're trying to hack open a resistant mind. I'd send more, but i have to turn in my revised manuscript by Friday. So it's back to the Sigur Rós.<br /><br /><br />1. Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust by Sigur Rós,<br /><br />2. Spectrum, 14th Century EP by Final Fantasy<br /><br />3. Daniel Variations by Steve Reich & Steve Reich Ensemble<br /><br /></div><div><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Lauren M’s Gonna Save Your Soul</span></div><div><br />I'm ashamed to say the only album I bought this year was Gnarls Barkley's The Odd Couple, but hot damn it's good. Especially, "Who's Gonna Save My Soul." Oh wait and one more. Super indie musician Dare Dukes'<br />debut album "Prettiest Transmitter Of All." Utterly wonderful. Check it out. I'll wait for your results so I know what else was worth listening to. I need some new music. I've been listening to Bach for the last 6 months.<br /><br /></div><div><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Drew L’s ’08 Sound</span></div><div><br />Best album of 2008:<br /><br />The Gaslight Anthem, The '59 Sound<br /><br />Other essential albums:<br /><br />Elliot Brood, Mountain Meadows<br />Okkervil River, The Stand-Ins<br />Blitzen Trapper, Furr<br />Vampire Weekend, Vampire Weekend<br /><br />Top Ten 1998-2008<br /><br />1. The Lawrence Arms, The Greatest Story Ever Told<br />2. The Weakerthans, Left and Leaving<br />3. Okkervil River, Down the River of Golden Dreams<br />4. Alkaline Trio, Goddamnit<br />5. Bright Eyes, Fevers & Mirrors<br />6. The Falcon, Unicornography<br />7. The Gaslight Anthem, the '59 Sound<br />8. Propagandhi, Less Talk More Rock<br />9. Neutral Milk Hotel, In the Aeroplane Over the Sea<br />10. The Distillers, Coral Fang<br /><br />I'm only doing one album per band ... and Greatest Story Ever Told isn't even my favorite Lawrence Arms album of the last ten years, I just chose it because I feel like it, more than any other album, shows what a great punk album can be. I don't know. Everyone should listen to The '59 Sound though. It's like Bruce Springsteen with a little punk influence and lots and lots of nostalgia.<br /><br /></div><div><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Catherine’s big So What</span></div><div><br />PINK'S FUN HOUSE rocked.<br /><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Rachel G and friends offer a topic of discussion</span></div><div><br />Okay, so I’m musically retarded, and rely on the guidance of friends. The friends would not fill this out individually, but it was the topic of discussion at a dinner party, and here’s the dinner party list (in no particular order). I have one more straggler friend I’m hoping to get, but they are as flaky as I am musically retarded…<br /><br />Vampire Weekend, Vampire Weekend<br />Ting Tings, We Started Nothing<br />MGMT, Oracular Spectacular<br />Santogold, Santogold<br />Animal Collective, Merriwether Post Pavilion<br />Gang Gang Dance, Saint Dymphna<br />Portishead, Third<br />Lykke Li, Youth Novels<br />Crystal Castles, Crystal Castles<br />Fleet Foxes, Fleet Foxes<br /><br /></div><div><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Virginia E. W. introduces strings (and more) to the mix</span><br /><br />8 items, some older than 2008. <br /><br />1. Brahms Piano Quintet: Leon Fleisher and the Juilliard String Quartet. Sony 2008.<br /><br />2. Fiesta: Gustavo Dudamel and the Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra. Deutsche Grammophone 2008.<br /><br />3. Gang He Chen, Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto and Tchaikovsky, Violin Concerto: Gil Shaham, with Lan Chui conducting the Singapore Symphony Orchestra. Canary Classics 2007.<br /><br />4. Beethoven, the Late String Quartets: Guarneri String Quartet. BMG Classics 1990.<br /><br />5. Brahms String Quartets: The Emerson String Quartet. Deutsche Grammophon 2007.<br /><br />6. Beethoven Piano Sonatas, Vol. 4: Paul Lewis. Hamonia Mundi 2008.<br /><br />7. Shostakovich, Piano Quintet in G-minor, Piano Trio in E-minor: The Beaux Arts Trio with Eugene Drucker and Lawrence Dutton. Phillips 1998.<br /><br />8. Schoenberg and Sibelius, Violin Concertos: Hilary Hahn, with Esa-Pekka Salonen conducting the Swedish Radio Symphony. Deutsche Grammophon 2008.<br /><br /></div><div><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Iain S. goes into a Cave</span></div><div><br />This gets ever harder. Less time to listen to music, 40 year old's tastes finding less to like out there (it all sounds like inferior versions of stuff I like from the olden days, grumble, moan), and lazy skinflint iTunes usage means I don't really DO albums any more.<br /><br />Essential albums this year:<br /><br />Most (by a country mile): Dig!! Lazarus!! Dig, Nick Cave<br /><br />Others:<br />Imperial Wax Solvent, The Fall<br />Third, Portishead<br />Do You Like Rock Music, British Sea Power<br /><br />Albums of last 10 years<br /><br />Knock Knock - Smog<br />Ease Down The Road - Bonnie "Prince" Billy<br />The Unutterable - The Fall<br />The Real New Fall LP - The Fall<br />Van Occupanther - Midlake<br />KC Rules OK - King Creosote<br />Tromatic Reflexxions - Von Sudenfed<br />Dig!! Lazarus!! Dig, Nick Cave<br />Ghost Dog - RZA<br />Sea Change - Beck<br /><br />Tracks of last 10 years<br /><br />Footsteps - Bricolage<br />The Red - Jaylib<br />James - Josh Rouse<br />Grand dark feeling of emptiness - Bonnie "Prince" Billy<br />The Rat - Walkmen<br />Klutz - King Creosote<br />River Guard- Smog<br />Today's Lesson - Nick Cave<br />Xralothep - The Fall<br />Raise Your Swords - RZA<br /><br /></div><div><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Ronnie A. Lets the Right One In</span></div><div><br />Essential Soundtracks of 2008<br /><br />Most essential: Let the Right One In<br /><br />The rest in alphabetical order:<br /><br />Ashes of Time Redux<br />Che<br />Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog<br />The Fall (for the use of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7)<br />Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist<br />Pushing Daisies<br />Slumdog Millionaire<br />Tell No One<br />Wall-E<br /><br />Top Soundtracks of 1999-2008<br /><br />Moulin Rouge<br />Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s Once More With Feeling<br />Donnie Darko<br />Far From Heaven<br />Birth<br />The Incredibles<br />Garden State<br />Brokeback Mountain<br />Across the Universe<br />Zodiac<br /><br /></div><div><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Lucas K looks good in ghost colours</span></div><div><br />Sorry I've been slow on this. Cataloguing my decade-al tastes is kind of an intimidating challenge, so I'm afraid I'm going to have to wimp out.<br /><br />Here are my choices for 2008, though!:<br /><br />10. Jukebox the Ghost, Let Live and Let Ghost<br />9. Mates of State, Re-arrange Us<br />8. Death Cab for Cutie, Narrow Stairs<br />7. M83, Saturdays = Youth<br />6. Fleet Foxes, Fleet Foxes<br />5. Kanye West, 808s and Heartbreak<br />4. Ra Ra Riot, The Rhumb Line<br />3. Lil Wayne, Tha Carter III<br />2. Nada Surf, Lucky<br />1. Cut Copy, In Ghost Colours<br /><br /></div><div><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Terra M has a suggestion</span></div><div><br />Ugggh I was so out of it this year for music. Like, utterly and completely. And I may be getting too old for this list, anyhow. :) I will say that my own personal most essential was Daniel Clay, "The Protestant." It is lovely and you would like it a lot. He is a local guy but you CAN get the album on iTunes. (What did we all do before iTunes I don't know. Mix tapes?)<br /><br /></div><div><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">David Levi’s dear Science</span></div><div><br />Top Ten Albums of 2008<br /><br />1. TV on the Radio, Dear Science<br />2. Bon Iver, For Emma, Forever Ago<br />3. Vampire Weekend (self-titled)<br />4. Fleet Foxes (self-titled)<br />5. The Dodos, Visiter<br />6. The Walkmen, You & Me<br />7. Hercules & Love Affair (self-titled)<br />8. Sigur Ros, Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust<br />9. Le Trio Joubran, Majaz<br />10. Portishead, Third<br /><br />Top Ten Albums of 1999-2008<br /><br />1. Radiohead, In Rainbows (2007)<br />2. Sigur Ros, () (2002)<br />3. Gillian Welch, Time (The Revelator) (2001)<br />4. Radiohead, Kid A (2000)<br />5. The Walkmen, Bows + Arrows (2004)<br />6. Andrew Bird, The Mysterious Production of Eggs (2005)<br />7. Sufjan Stevens, (Come On, Feel the) Illinoise (2005)<br />8. Devendra Banhart, Rejoicing in the Hands, (2004)<br />9. Mos Def, Black on Both Sides (1999)<br />10. Death Cab for Cutie, Transatlanticism (2003)<br /><br />Top Ten Songs of 1999-2008<br />1. The Walkmen, “The Rat”<br />2. The White Stripes, “Seven Nation Army”<br />3. The Postal Service, “Such Great Heights”<br />4. LCD Soundsystem, “Tribulations”<br />5. Amy Winehouse, “Back to Black”<br />6. The Futureheads, “Hounds of Love” (adapted from Kate Bush)<br />7. Franz Ferdinand, “Take Me Out”<br />8. Hercules and Love Affair, “Blind”<br />9. Modest Mouse, “Float On”<br />10. M.I.A., “Paper Planes”<br /><br />Albums 1999-2008: Honorable Mentions<br /><br />TV on the Radio, Dear Science (2008)<br />Bon Iver For Emma, Forever Ago (2008)<br />The Roots, Things Fall Apart (1999)<br />The Flaming Lips, Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots (2002)<br />Fleet Foxes (2008)<br />Kings of Leon, Aha Shake Heartbreak (2005)<br />Wilco, Summerteeth (1999)<br />Futureheads (2004)<br />The Decembrists, Picaresque (2005)<br />The Arcade Fire, Funeral (2004)<br />Sigur Ros, Takk (2005)<br />Thom Yorke, The Eraser (2006)<br />LCD Soundsystem (2005)<br />Vampire Weekend (2008)<br />Amy Winehouse, Back To Black (2006)<br />Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, Raising Sand (2007)<br />Outkast, Stankonia (2000)<br />The White Stripes, Elephant (2003)<br />Radiohead, Amnesiac (2001)<br />The Notwist, Neon Golden (2003)<br />The Postal Service, Give Up (2003)<br />Wilco, Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (2002)<br />My Morning Jacket, Z (2005)<br />The Streets, A Grand Don’t Come for Free (2004)<br />The Killers, Hot Fuss (2004)<br />The New Pornographers, Twin Cinema (2003)<br />Radiohead, Hail to the Thief (2003)<br />Gillian Welch, Hell Among the Yearlings (2003)<br />The Shins, Chutes Too Narrow (2003)<br />Rage Against the Machine, The Battle of Los Angeles (1999)<br />Modest Mouse, Good News for People Who Love Bad News (2004)<br /><br />a couple more honorable mentions:<br /><br />Bjork, Vespertine (2001)<br />Wolf Parade, Apologies to the Queen Mary (2005)<br />Aimee Mann, The Forgotten Arm (2005)<br />Sufjan Stevens, Seven Swans (2004)<br />Bonny “Prince” Billy, The Letting Go (2006)<br />Nitin Sawney, Beyond Skin (1999)<br /><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Josh A.’s Day and Age</span><br /><br />Top Albums of 2008<br />The Killers - Day and Age<br />Coldplay – Viva la Vida<br /><br />Top 10 Albums of last 10 years<br />Coldplay – Rush of Blood to The Head 2002<br />The Killers – Sam’s Town 2006<br />U2 – All that you can’t leave behind 2000<br />Eminem - Marhsal Mathers 2000?<br />Amy Winehouse Rehab 2007<br />Green Day American Idiot 2005<br />Coldplay Clocks 2003<br />U2 All that you can't leave behind 2001<br />Limp Bizkit Significant Other 1999<br />Nsync no strings attached – not a fan, but was a good album<br /><br />Top 10 Songs (I only could come up with 7)<br />Hurt by Jonny Cash Metallica remake<br />When you were young by The Killers<br />Fix You by Coldplay<br />What it's like by Everlast<br />Nookie by Limp Bizkit<br />Move Along by All American Rejects<br />Crazy in love Beyonce<br /><br /></div><div><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Erin C.’s Spectacular list<br /></span><br />Essential Albums of 2009:<br />MGMT, Oracular Spectacular<br />Vampire Weekend, Vampire Weekend<br /><br />Top Ten Albums of 1999-2008 (no particular order):<br />Badly Drawn Boy, Hour of Bewilderbeast<br />Amy Winehouse, Back to Black<br />Franz Ferdinand, Franz Ferdinand<br />The Strokes, Is This It?<br />The White Stripes, Elephant<br />The Doves, Last Broadcast<br />Daft Punk, Alive 2007<br />Libertines, Libertines<br />Belle & Sebastian, Life Pursuit<br />LCD Soundsystem, Sound of Silver<br /><br />Top Ten Songs of 1999-2008 (no particular order):<br />Hives, Hate to Say I Told You So<br />MIA, Paper Planes<br />Amy Winehouse, Back to Black<br />Postal Service, Such Great Heights<br />Morrissey, First of the Gang To Die<br />Black Kids, I’m Not Going to Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance with You<br />Franz Ferdinand, Take Me Out<br />MGMT, Time to Pretend<br />Peter, Bjorn & John, Young Folks<br />The Streets, Fit But You Know It<br /><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Laura D loves them Vampires</span></div><div><br />Most Essential for moi<br /><br />Vampire Weekend, Vampire Weekend<br /><br />These guys are my favorite new discovery last year. I just love their sound. With extra points for a band from my NYC alma mater CU & for having a tune on Nick & Norah soundtrack (that's a nod to you, Mr. David)<br /><br />Also Essential for moi<br /><br />Aimee Mann, @#%&*! Smilers<br />Coldplay, Vida La Vida<br />Fleet Foxes, Fleet Foxes<br />Santogold, Santogold<br />B-52s, Funplex (for me, anything Kate Pierson is essential and has been since 9th grade)<br />The Submarines, Honeysuckle Weeks (saw them @ Aimee's concert for first time and the lead singer has a contagious joy that sucked me in!)<br /><br /><br />Most Essential Albums <br /><br />2007: Radiohead In Rainbows<br />2006: KT Tunstall, Eye to the Telescope <br />2005 Bright Eyes I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning and Fiona Apple Extraordinary Machine<br />2004 The Killers Hot Fuss and Elliot Smith From the Basement... (RIP)<br />2003 The White Stripes Elephant<br />2002 Norah Jones Come Away With Me<br />2001 Ryan Adams Gold<br />2000 Aimee Mann Bachelor No. 2<br />1999 Moby Play<br /><br />Most Essential Songs<br /><br />2007: Feist "1234"<br />2006: Regina Spektor "Fidelity"<br />2005: Gwen Stefani "Hollaback Girl"<br />2004: The Killers "Mr. Brightside" <br />2003: Coldplay "Clocks"<br />2002: Norah Jones "Come Away With Me" <br />2001 John Mayer "No Such Thing"<br />2000: Aimee Mann "Red Vines" <br />1999: Beth Orton "Central Reservation"<br /><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Stephenie M.’s Season of Poison</span></div><div><br />Essential Album of the Year:<br />1. Shiny Toy Guns – Season of Poison<br /><br />Other Essentials:<br />2. Carolina Liar – Coming to Terms<br />3. Vampire Weekend – Vampire Weekend<br />4. Coldplay – Viva la Vida<br />5. MGMT – Oracular Spectacular<br />6. Jack’s Mannequin – The Glass Passenger<br />7. R.E.M. – Accelerate<br />8. The Twilight Soundtrack<br /><br /><br />Top Ten Albums of the Last Ten Years:<br />1. Muse – Absolution<br />2. Arcade Fire – Neon Bible<br />3. Gomez – How We Operate<br />4. The Strokes – Room on Fire<br />5. Linkin Park – Hybrid Theory<br />6. My Chemical Romance – Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge<br />7. Blue October – Foiled<br />8. Ok Go – Oh No<br />9. Elbow – Leaders of the Free World<br />10. Coldplay – A Rush of Blood to the Head<br /><br /><br /><br />Top Ten Songs of the Last Ten Years:<br />1. Muse – Hysteria (Absolution)<br />2. Arcade Fire – Intervention (Neon Bible)<br />3. Refused – New Noise (The Shape of Punk to Come)<br />4. Jack’s Mannequin – Dark Blue (Everything In Transit)<br />5. Stars – Your Ex-Lover is Dead (Set Yourself on Fire)<br />6. Rhinocerose – Cubicle (Rhinocerose)<br />7. Phoenix – Consolation Prizes (It’s Never Been Like That)<br />8. Motion City Soundtrack – Hold Me Down (Commit This to Memory)<br />9. Brand New – The Boy Who Blocked His Own Shot (Deja Entendu)<br />10. Marjorie Fair – Empty Room (Self Help Serenade)<br /><br /><br />Best Songs by Artists That I Wasn’t Previously Aware Of That I’ve Heard in the Last 6 Months:<br />1. The Ting Tings – That’s Not My Name<br />2. Too Many Sisters – When I Get My Confidence Back<br />3. Asteroid Galaxy Tour – Around the Bend<br />4. Pink Spiders – Gimme Chemicals<br />5. Fol Chen – Cable TV<br />6. Glasvegas – Geraldine<br />7. Pendulum – Propane Nightmares<br />8. Greg Laswell – Days Go On<br />9. Hot Springs – Tiny Islands<br />10. The Waking Eyes – Keeps Me Coming Back<br /><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Chris S.’s golden age is upon us</span><br /><br />2008:<br /><br />Most Essential: TV on the Radio, Dear Science<br /><br />Still Essential:<br />Bon Iver, For Emma, Forever Ago<br />Vampire Weekend, Vampire Weekend<br />Eef Barzilay, Lose Big<br />Ben Folds, Way to Normal<br />Death Cab for Cutie, Narrow Stairs<br />Sun Kil Moon, April<br />Fleet Foxes, Fleet Foxes<br />Jenny Lewis, Acid Tongue<br />Conor Oberst, Conor Oberst<br /><br />Top Albums of 1999-2008<br /><br />1. Sufjan Stevens, Illinois<br />2. Radiohead: In Rainbows<br />3. Outkast, Speakerboxxx/The Love Below<br />4. Elliott Smith, Figure 8<br />5. Iron & Wine, The Shepherd's Dog<br />6. The National, Boxer<br />7. TV on the Radio, Dear Science<br />8. Belle & Sebastian, If You're Feeling Sinister<br />9. Arcade Fire, Funeral<br />10. M. Ward, Transfiguration of Vincent<br /><br />Top Songs of 1999-2008<br /><br />1. Iron & Wine, The Trapeze Swinger<br />2. Outkast, Hey Ya!<br />3. Radiohead, Jigsaw Falling into Place<br />4. Sufjan Stevens, Casimir Pulaski Day<br />5. The National, Slow Show<br />6. Feist, Mushaboom<br />7. Bright Eyes, First Day of My Life<br />8. Elliott Smith, Twilight<br />9. The Arcade Fire, Rebellion (Lies)<br />10. M. Ward, Post-War<br /><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Annie M will be OK</span><br /><br />Essential album of 2008:<br />I didn’t really buy much music this year, so nothing stands out as essential. Classified more as “enjoyable” than “essential”<br /><br />Dr. Horrible soundtrack<br />Ingrid Michaelson, Be OK<br /><br />Essential songs of 2008:<br />Leona Lewis, “Bleeding Love”<br />Will.i.am, “It’s a New Day”<br /><br />Top Ten Albums of 1999-2008 (in no particular order except for #1):<br />#1 Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Once More with Feeling<br />Eels, Daisies of the Galaxies<br />Eels, Blinking Lights and Other Revelations<br />Eels, Shootenanny<br />Liz Phair, Liz Phair<br />Liz Phair, Somebody’s Miracle<br />U2, All That You Can’t Leave Behind<br />Beck, Sea Change<br />Sinead O’Connor, She Who Dwells…<br />Madonna, Music<br /><br />Overflow from the Top Ten Albums of 1999-2008 that are essential enough to be included too (it was hard enough to whittle it down to this!):<br />Ben Folds, Rockin’ the Suburbs<br />Shins, Wincing the Night Away<br />Jill Sobule, Pink Pearl<br />Feist, Let It Die<br />Jem, Finally Woken<br />Magnetic Fields, i<br />Sinead O’Connor, Collaborations<br />Joseph Arthur, Redemption’s Son<br />The 6ths, Hyacinths and Thistles<br />Nellie McKay, Get Away from Me<br />Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah<br />Garden State soundtrack<br />The O.C. soundtracks (multiple volumes)<br />Grey’s Anatomy soundtracks (multiple volumes)<br /><br />Top Ten Songs of 1999-2008 (in no particular order):<br />If a song (like U2’s “Beautiful Day” or “Stuck in a Moment”) were on an album on the top ten list above, I didn’t include it here ‘cause there would have been too much crossover. These songs are ones that make me happy singing along with the radio, or the standout song that makes me pick up a CD that didn’t quite make the top ten album list.<br />OutKast, “Hey Ya”<br />Kelly Clarkson, “Since U Been Gone”<br />Green Day, “Wake Me Up When September Ends”<br />Pink, “Just Like a Pill”<br />Bree Sharp, “David Duchovny”<br />Lily Allen, “Smile”<br />Magnetic Fields, “Buzby Berkeley Dreams”<br />Nelly Furtado, “I’m Like a Bird”<br />Kim Richey, “Hello, Old Friend”<br />Scrubs musical episode, “I’m Going to Be OK”<br /><br />Since Broadway has to represent, here are Top Broadway/Off-Broadway Cast Albums of 1999-2008 (in no particular order):<br />You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown<br />Urinetown<br />Bat Boy<br />Suburb<br />High Fidelity<br />The Full Monty<br />Avenue Q<br />Hairspray<br />The Producers<br /><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Anica gives us some Time</span><br /><br />Ack--I wish I'd done this weeks ago. If I'm near a computer this weekend, I will send you both lists...but that likely won't happen, so I'm going to cast my vote now for the Single Most Essential Album of 1999-2008:<br /><br />Gillian Welch, Time (The Revelator)<br /><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Karen gives Billie Joe a shout out</span><br /><br />Pretty much the last artists I recognize are from about 2003. However I look forward to seeing the list. Green Day American Idiot is my best of decade.<br /><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Andrew P, Infinitely playlistin</span>g<br /><br />Ok, so put my vote in for the N&N soundtrack, because, aside from Coldplay's latest (which I also quite liked), it's the *only* album I bought this year. I know, sad, right?<br /><br />I was working so much, and listening to NPR when I wasn't. It wasn't a huge music year for me... unless I can add Terry Gross / Fresh Air to the list...<br /><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Bryant P’s Skinny Love</span><br /><br />Bryant's Most Essential Album of 2008:<br />Bon Iver, For Emma, Forever Ago<br /><br />Other Essential Albums of 2008:<br />Thao, We Brave Bee Stings and All<br />Ra Ra Riot, The Rhumb Line<br />Okkervil River, The Stand Ins<br />Bloc Party, Intimacy<br />Girl Talk, Feed the Animals<br />Vampire Weekend, Vampire Weekend<br />The Morning Benders, Talking Through Tin Cans<br />Panic at the Disco, Pretty. Odd.<br /><br />Essential Guilty Pleasure of 2008:<br />E=MC2 by Mariah Carey<br /><br />Best Concert of 2008<br />Thao Ngyuen with the Get Down Stay Down at the Empty Bottle, Chicago, August 9<br /><br />Bryant's Top Ten Albums, 1999 - 2008<br />10. Bloc Party, Weekend in the City<br />9. Bon Iver , For Emma, Forever Ago<br />8. Camera Obscura, Let's Get Out of This Country<br />7. The Decemberists, Picaresque<br />6. Bloc Party, Silent Alarm<br />5. Death Cab for Cutie, Transatlanticism<br />4. The Roots, Things Fall Apart<br />3. Okkervil River, The Stage Names<br />2. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah<br />1. Death Cab for Cutie, Plans<br /><br />Bryant's Top Fifteen Songs, 1999 – 2008<br />15. Andrew Bird, Imitosis<br />14. Rufus Wainwright, 14th Street<br />13. The Decemberists, The Sporting Life<br />12. Death Cab for Cutie, Your Heart Is an Empty Room<br />11. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Upon This Tidal Wave of Young Blood<br />10. Ryan Adams, Come Pick Me Up<br />9. Beyoncé, Irreplaceable<br />8. Kelly Clarkson, Since U Been Gone<br />7. Modest Mouse, Float On<br />6. Bloc Party, This Modern Love<br />5. Jason Mraz, I'm Yours (original demo, 2005)<br />4. Elliott Smith, Pretty (Ugly Before)<br />3. Mos Def, Ms. Fat Booty<br />2. Okkervil River, Black<br />1. Death Cab for Cutie, I Will Follow You Into the Dark<br /><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Andrew F gives us just a Little Lovin’</span><br /><br />Very quiet music year for me. I only bought five albums, so these must be my Essential for 2008:<br /><br />Most Essential:<br />Shelby Lynne, Just A Little Lovin'<br /><br />Essential:<br />Emmylou Harris, All I Intended To Be<br />Aimee Mann, @#%&*! Smilers<br />Tift Merrit, Another Country<br />Lucinda Williams, Little Honey<br /><br />Essential in 2007, but Most Essential in 2008:<br />Lori McKenna, Unglamorous. I thought it was great last year, but this year it has become my go-to album. Nearly all of the cuts are great, but the title song is about a loving couple with five young kids and one t.v. set. What are the odds?<br /><br />My Top Ten Albums of 1999-2008, in Alphabetical Order:<br /><br />Fiona Apple, Extraordinary Machine<br />Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Once More With Feeling<br />Dixie Chicks, Taking The Long Way<br />Green Day, American Idiot<br />Shelby Lynne, I Am Shelby Lynne<br />Aimee Mann, Bachelor No.2<br />Lori McKenna, Unglamorous<br />Liz Phair, Liz Phair<br />Bruce Springsteen, The Rising<br />Lucinda Williams, Essence<br /><br /></div><div><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Christopher O, Standing In</span></div><div><br />Essential album of 2008:<br />=========================<br />The Stand Ins - Okkervil River<br /><br />Some other notables that came out in 2008:<br />Ane Brun - Changing of the Seasons<br />Anna Ternheim - Leaving on a Mayday<br />Calexico - Carried to Dust<br />Elbow - The Seldom Seen Kid<br /><br />Top ten albums of 1999 - 2008<br />=============================<br />Radiohead - In Rainbows<br />Editors - An End Has A Start<br />Imogen Heap - Speak for Yourself<br />Lambchop - Is A Woman<br />Ryan Adams - Gold<br />Sufjan Stevens - Illinois<br />Tori Amos - Scarlet's Walk<br />Coldplay - X & Y<br />Wilco - Yankee Hotel Foxtrot<br /><br />Top ten songs of 1999 - 2009<br />============================<br />Radiohead - All I Need<br />Travis - Sing<br />Editors - When Anger Shows<br />Iron & Wine - He Lays in the Reins<br />Imogen Heap - Hide and Seek<br />Thom Yorke - Harrowdown Hill<br />Woven Hand - Blue Pail Fever<br />A Perfect Circle - Weak and Powerless<br />Radiohead - No Surprises<br />Bright Eyes - No One Would Riot For Less<br /><br /></div><div><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Glenn B, of Montreal (but not Canadian)</span></div><div><br />I found it hard to compile the list this year as I felt there was a dearth of good stuff out there...<br />Here's what I ended up with:<br /><br />1) of Montreal, Skeletal Lamping (Bonus points for being the best live act I saw this year)<br />2) Beck, Modern Guilt<br />3) Santogold, Santogold<br />4) MGMT, Oracular Spectacular<br />5) Snow Patrol, A Hundred Million Suns<br />6) Vampire Weekend, Vampire Weekend<br />7) Oasis, Dig Out Your Soul<br />8) Flight of the Conchords, Flight of the Conchords<br />9) The Raconteurs, Consolers of the Lonely<br />10) Deathcab for Cutie, Narrow Stairs<br /><br />Oh! Mighty Nick E<br />TOP 5 ALBUMS OF 2008<br /><br />Bon Iver, For Emma, Forever Ago<br />Neil Halstead, Oh! Mighty Engine<br />Sun Kil Moon, April<br />The Magnetic Fields, Distortion<br />Soundtrack, Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist<br /><br /><br />TOP 10 ALBUMS 1999-2008<br /><br />1. The Magnetic Fields, 69 Love Songs<br />2. Radiohead, Kid A<br />3. Bright Eyes, Lifted or The Story Is in the Soil, Keep Your Ear to the Ground<br />4. Iron & Wine, The Creek Drank the Cradle<br />5. Trembling Blue Stars, Broken by Whispers<br />6. Sun Kil Moon, Ghosts of the Great Highway<br />7. The 6ths, Hyacinths and Thistles<br />8. Dolorean, Not Exotic<br />9. Jens Lekman, When I Said I Wanted To Be Your Dog<br />10. Calla, Televise<br /><br /><br />TOP 10 SONGS 1999-2008<br /><br />1. The Magnetic Fields, I Don't Want To Get Over You<br />2. Jens Lekman, Your Arms Around Me<br />3. Trembling Blue Stars, Maybe After All<br />4. Dolorean, Morningwatch<br />5. Belle and Sebastian, The Model<br />6. Doves, There Goes the Fear<br />7. Iron & Wine, Upward Over the Mountain<br />8. Enio, We Sabotage Ourselves<br />9. Vermont, Bells of Saint Alcohol<br />10. Sun Kil Moon, Carry Me Ohio<br /><br /></div><div><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Dan E hits some Black Ice</span></div><div><br />Essential album of 2008: AC/DC "Black Ice" Have to say, best AC/DC album since "For Those About to Rock."<br />As always, my other essentials are 2008 remastered reissues, but they reflect my catholic tastes:<br />* The Stranger, Billy Joel<br />* The Smiths, The Smiths<br />* Murmur, REM<br /><br />Top 10 albums 1999-2008 (Only 3 reissues, okay!)<br />How the West was Won, Led Zeppelin<br />Sea Change, Beck<br />Return to Cookie Mountain, TV on the Radio<br />Humpty Dumpty LSD, The Butthole Surfers<br />Something Deeper than These Changes, Stew<br />Motor Booty Affair, Parliament<br />Fishscale, Ghostface Killah<br />To the Five Boroughs, Beastie Boys<br />Steady Groovin', Soulive<br />The Singles, The Clash<br /><br />Top 10 songs are too hard...cop out I know...<br /><br /></div><div><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Nico climbs that Tree and finds a Swede</span></div><div><br />This is admittedly rushed, so I may regret some of these choices later... But this is my gut feeling.....<br /><br /><br />Most Essential Album(s) of 2008<br />------------------------------------------------<br />A Tie btwn<br />1. Goldfrapp: Seventh Tree (so soothing and utterly gorgeous)<br />~and~<br />1. Robyn: Robyn (such beautifully done, slick, modern pop music--"modern" by US standards, since this actually came out in Europe in 2005)<br /><br />Tied @ 2nd are<br />2. Lady Gaga: The Fame (my GOD, this album is so fun that it makes me feel like a lame old geezer for listening to it)<br />~and~<br />2. Cut Copy: In Ghost Colours<br /><br /><br />Honorable Mention<br />Portishead: Third<br /><br /><br />In the "I Bought It in 08 But It Came Out in 07 Category" is:<br />Radiohead: In Rainbows (probably my favorite of theirs, ever, and that's saying a lot)<br /><br /><br /><br />Top 10 Albums of 1999-2008<br />-------------------------------------------<br />1. Nine Inch Nails: Year Zero<br />2. Goldfrapp: Supernature<br />3. Madonna: Confessions on a Dance Floor<br />4. Placebo: Sleeping with Ghosts<br />5. Garbage: beautifulgarbage<br />6. Kylie Minogue: X<br />7. Marilyn Manson: Holy Wood<br />8. No Doubt: Rocksteady<br />9. Fiona Apple: When the Pawn...<br />10. Christina Aguilera: Stripped<br /><br /><br />Top 10 Songs of 1999-2008<br />------------------------------------------<br />1. Garbage: Cherry Lips (Go Baby Go!)<br />2. Madonna: Get Together<br />3. Goldfrapp: Ride a White Horse<br />4. Nine Inch Nails: The Great Destroyer<br />5. Christina Aguilera: Dirrty<br />6. Robyn: Cobrastyle<br />7. Britney Spears: Toxic<br />8. Rihanna: Don't Stop the Music<br />9. No Doubt: Hella Good<br />10. Radiohead: Exit Music (For a Film)<br /><br /><br />***<br />In the "Thank Goodness I Didn't Have to Factor in the 1998 Albums" Category:<br />Garbage: Version 2.0<br />Marilyn Manson: Mechanical Animals<br />Tori Amos: From the Choirgirl Hotel<br />Madonna: Ray of Light<br />***<br /><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Brian Masino Says Definitively That It Was Worth the Wait, and Thus After a Ten Year Stretch, The Music Poll Can No Longer Taunt Him On This Point</span></div><div><br />MOST ESSENTIAL of 2008:<br />Guns N' Roses, Chinese Democracy<br /><br />ESSENTIAL of 2008<br />O'Death, Broken Hymns, Limbs & Skin<br />The Mars Volta, Bedlam in Goliath<br />Blue Sky Black Death & Jean Grae, The Evil Jeanius<br />Portugal. The Man, Censored Colors<br />Lightspeed Champion, Falling Off the Lavender Bridge<br />Okkervil River, The Stand-Ins<br />Bon Iver, For Emma, Forever Ago<br />Dr. Dog, Fate<br />MGMT, Oracular Spectacular<br /><br />HONORABLE MENTIONS of 2008:<br />The Verve, Forth<br />Cool Kids, The Bake Sale<br />The Roots, Rising Down<br />The Dears, Missiles<br />Johnny Flynn, A Larum<br />Dead Meadow, Old Growth<br />Gnarls Barkley, The Odd Couple<br /><br /><br />TOP 11 ALBUMS 1999-2009 (in no particular order)<br />Guns N' Roses, Chinese Democracy<br />Sunset Rubdown, Shut Up...I'm Dreaming<br />Murder By Death, In Bocca Al Lupo<br />The Dears, Gang of Losers<br />Mars Volta, Amputechure<br />Elvis Perkins, Ash Wednesday<br />Bonnie Prince Billy, I See A Darkness<br />The Icarus Line, Penance Soiree<br />John Frusciante, Curtains<br />Nirvana, With the Lights Out<br />The White Stripes, White Blood Cells<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />ALBUMS FROM PREVIOUS YEARS THAT I DISCOVERED THIS YEAR AND ABSOLUTELY LOVED<br />Boards of Canada, Music Has the Right to Children<br />Hawkwind, Warriors on the Edge of Time<br />Drop Nineteens, Mayfield<br />The Family of Apostolic, The Family of Apostolic<br />The Microphones, The Glow Pt. 2<br />Alamo Race Track, Birds at Home<br />Beefeater, Need a Job<br />Andrew Bird & the Mysterious Production of Eggs<br />A.A. Bondy, America Hearts<br />Okkervil River, The Stage Names<br />The Jayhawks, Tomorrow the Green Grass<br />Gliss, Love the Virgins<br />Smoosh, Free to Stay<br />Jack Starr, Born Petrified<br />Brenda Lee, Sweet Nuthin's<br />Lucero, The Attic Tapes<br />Mudhoney, Superfuzz Bigmuff Plus Early Singles<br />Tappi Tickerrass, Miranda<br />Those Poor Bastards, Songs of Desperation<br /><br />I couldn't even begin to think about 10 songs, but I'll put a vote for Gnarls Barkley's "Crazy"<br /> <br /></div><div><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">O’ Sarah-Maria</span></div><div><br />2008 top 10<br /><br />O’death - Broken Limbs, Hymns and Skin<br />Fratellis - Here we Stand<br />Dr dog - Fate<br />Last Shadow Puppets - The Age Of The Understatement<br />MGMT - Oracular Spectacular<br />Raveonettes - Lust, Lust, Lust<br />The Kills - Midnight Boom<br />Kaizers orchestra - Maskineri<br />Madrugada - Madrugada<br />The Duke Spirit - Neptune<br /><br /><br />2008 Honorable mentions:<br /><br />Raconteurs - Consolers Of The Lonely<br />Supergrass - Diamond Hoo Ha<br />Johnossi - All They Ever Wanted<br />Oasis - Dig Out Your Soul<br />Dears - Missiles<br />Fleet foxes - Fleet Foxes<br />Figurines - When The Deer Wore Blue<br />Murder by Death - Red of Tooth and Claw<br />Jenny Lewis - Acid Tongue<br />Kooks - Konk<br /><br />Biggest Discoveries of 2008:<br />-Shout out Louds - I can listen to "Impossible" at least 5 times in a row<br />-Admiral James T - he's Swiss and he rocks<br /><br />Top 10 albums of the last ten years<br /><br />Blur - 13<br />The Good, the Bad and the Queen - The Good, the Bad and the Queen<br />Madrugada - Grit<br />Kaizer's Orchestra - Oompa Til Du Dor<br />The Kills - The Kills<br />The White Stripes - White Blood Cells<br />HIM - Dark Light<br />Placebo - Black Market Music<br />Shout Out Louds - Our Ill Wills<br />Mando Diao - Never Seen the Light of Day<br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Erin B’s got a new soul</span><br /><br />Most essential 2008 album that I actually bought in 2008: Yael Naim<br />- also, the Nick & Norah soundtrack, which goes with most fun movie of 2008<br />- also Vampire Weekend, which I don’t own but listened to a lot with our friends because their 4-month-old likes it. I do too, though I actually am a big fan of the Oxford comma.<br /><br />Most essential recent albums/artists that would have been perfect if I’d discovered them earlier: <br />- Feist<br />- Rachel Yamagata<br />- Casey Dienel<br />- Regina Spektor<br /><br />Scrolling through the previous polls, it seems that not enough people who’ve responded have spent much of the past 10 years learning to drive, and then proceeding to do so around New England, NY and NJ. Because if they had, they would need good driving-on-highway-during-the-summer-with-windows-down music (or sitting in traffic on the way to the shore music), and would agree that the most essential albums 1999-2008 are:<br /><br />Red Hot Chili Peppers, Californication, By the Way, and Stadium Arcadium<br /><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Billy M is Fleet, AND he’s a Fox</span><br /><br />1999 - 2008<br />-----------<br />Reveling, Reckoning - Ani DiFranco<br />Radiohead - Kid A<br />Fiona Apple - When the Pawn…<br />Poses - Rufus Wainwright<br />Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Yeah Yeah Yeahs<br />MTV Unplugged No. 2.0 - Lauryn Hill<br />For the Birds - The Frames<br />Now It's Overhead - Now It's Overhead<br />I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning - Bright Eyes<br />1000 Kisses - Patty Griffin<br />Runners Up<br />Greetings from Michigan, The Great Lakes State - Sufjan Stevens<br />Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes<br />All of Our Names - Sarah Harmer<br />Supernature - Goldfrapp<br />Wincing the Night Away - The Shins<br />Wet From Birth - The Faint<br />Kala - M.I.A.<br />To Venus and Back - Tori Amos<br />Give Up - The Postal Service<br />Lost in Space - Aimee Mann<br />Vespertine - Bjork<br />Once Soundtrack<br />In Rainbows - Radiohead<br />Alanis Unplugged - Alanis Morrissette<br />Odessey - Fischerspooner<br /><br />2008<br />----<br />***Fleet Foxes, Fleet Foxes<br />Annuals, Such Fun<br />Portishead, Third<br />Goldfrapp, Seventh Tree<br />Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist soundtrack!<br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Wilson May Be Two Years Old, But He Has His Opinions</span><br /><br />My Only Essential Album of 2008:<br />1. Dan Zanes & Friends /¡Nueva York!<br /><br />My Top Albums of 1999-2008:<br />1. Dan Zanes & Friends / Family Dance<br />2. Dan Zanes & Friends / House Party<br />3. Genevieve Goings / Choo Choo Soul<br />4. Dan Zanes & Friends /¡Nueva York!<br />5. Dan Zanes & Friends / Catch That Train!<br />6. Dan Zanes & Friends / Night Time!<br />7. Randy Kaplan / Five Cent Piece<br />8. Dan Zanes & Friends / Rocket Ship Beach<br /><br />My Top Twelve Songs of 1999-2008:<br />1. Dan Zanes & Friends / “Jump Up”<br />2. Dan Zanes & Friends / “Wonder Wheel”<br />3. Dan Zanes & Friends / “House Party Time”<br />4. Dan Zanes & Friends / “All Around the Kitchen”<br />5. Dan Zanes & Friends / “Colas”<br />6. Dan Zanes & Friends / “Malti”<br />7. Dan Zanes & Friends / “Hello”<br />8. Genevieve Goings / “ABC Gospel”<br />9. Dan Zanes & Friends / “Catch That Train!”<br />10. Dan Zanes & Friends / “Pay Me My Money Down”<br />11. Dan Zanes & Friends / “The Hokey Pokey”<br />12. Dan Zanes & Friends / “Let’s Shake”<br />13. Dan Zanes & Friends / “Down in the Valley”<br />14. Dan Zanes & Friends / “Shining Star”<br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Kristin is related to Wilson</span><br /><br />2008 Essential<br />Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist (far too finite in my opinion)<br />Dan Zanes & Friends Nueva York<br /><br />The Most Dear of the Decade<br />Yo La Tengo And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside Out<br />Dan Zanes & Friends Family Dance<br />Blur 13<br />The Go! Team Thunder, Lightning, Strike<br />Mali Music Mali Music<br />Aimee Mann Bachelor No. 2 Or, Remains of the Dodo <br />Badly Drawn Boy About a Boy<br />Mojave 3 Excuses for Travelers<br />The Magnetic Fields 69 Love Songs<br />Ted Barnes Short Scenes<br />Beth Orton Central Reservation<br />Stars Set Yourself on Fire<br />Gotan Project La Revancha del Tango<br /><br />Tunes That Claimed Many Moments and Memories<br />Yo La Tengo “You Can Have It All”<br />Gorillaz “Feel Good Inc.”<br />Clem Snide “Happy Birthday”<br />Feist “Feel It All”<br />Zwan “El Sol” <br />Moulin Rouge Cast “Come What May”<br />Sukpatch “Stuck On Me”<br />M. Ward “Poison Cup”<br />Ryan Adams “Nuclear”<br />Belle and Sebastian “Wrapped Up in Books”<br />We Are Scientists “After Hours”<br />Yann Tiersen “Le Valse d’Amelie”<br />Ben Folds “Still Fighting It”<br />Drive-By Truckers “Outfit”<br />Wilco “California Stars”<br />The general sound of The Shins<br />Any Dan Zanes song … absolutely any one<br /><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Brant Forsakes Dan Zanes for Vampires</span><br /><br />My Top Ten Most Essential Albums of 2008:<br />1. Vampire Weekend / Vampire Weekend<br />2. Nick & Nora’s Infinite Playlist<br />3. Sigur Rós / Með Suð Í Eyrum Við Spilum Endalaust<br />4. Mates of State / Re-Arrange Us<br />5. Los Campesinos! / Hold On Now, Youngster…<br />6. She & Him / Volume One<br />7. Santogold / Santogold<br />8. Deerhunter / Microcastle<br />9. TV on the Radio / Dear Science<br />10. Aimee Mann / @#%&! Smilers<br /><br />Track Listing for My Most Essential Songs of 2008 Mix:<br />“After Hours” / We Are Scientists; “Jigsaw” / Mates of State; “I Stand Corrected” / Vampire Weekend; “Kids” / MGMT; “Never Stops” / Deerhunter; “Lights Out” / Santogold; “Lost Coastlines” / Okkervil River; “Gobbledigook” / Sigur Rós; “New York” / Cat Power; “Don't Tell Me to Do the Math(s)” / Los Campesinos!; “Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?” / She & Him; “The Beat Dies” / The Raveonettes; “Lost!” / Coldplay; “Freeway” / Aimee Mann; “He Doesn't Know Why” / Fleet Foxes; “The Turning” / Oasis; “Gardenia” / Stephen Malkmus; “Crossed Out Name” / Ryan Adams; “The Nun's Litany” / The Magnetic Fields; “Sing a Song for Them” / Jenny Lewis; “Chemtrails” / Beck; “Black President” / Nas<br /><br />My Top Ten Most Essential Elder Albums That I Didn’t Focus On Until 2008:<br />1. The Who / Sings My Generation<br />2. Paul McCartney / Band on the Run<br />3. Spoon / Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga<br />4. Nick Lowe / Jesus of Cool<br />5. The Kinks / Arthur (or The Decline and Fall of the British Empire)<br />6. Lou Reed / Transformer<br />7. Benny Goodman / B.G. in Hi-Fi<br />8. Goldfrapp / Supernature<br />9. Jason Isbell / Sirens of the Ditch<br />10. The Mountain Goats / The Sunset Tree<br /><br />Above the Next List:<br />The entire output of Belle & Sebastian. The first three albums were originally released prior to 1999, and nothing they’ve recorded since has quite reached those heights, but that hasn’t kept them from being my favorite band for the past ten years. Two of their albums could have easily made the list below, but I’ve decided instead to put them all, along with the EPs, live sessions, bootlegs, soundtracks, compilations, and guest spots above the list. Seems fair.<br /><br />My Top Twenty Albums of the David Music Poll Era:<br />1. Yo La Tengo / And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside-Out<br />2. Aimee Mann / Bachelor No. 2 Or, The Remains of the Dodo<br />3. Badly Drawn Boy / The Hour of the Bewilderbeast<br />4. The Go! Team / Thunder, Lightning, Strike<br />5. Ryan Adams / Demolition<br />6. Weezer / Weezer [Green Album]<br />7. The Strokes / Is This It<br />8. The Magnetic Fields / 69 Love Songs<br />9. New Pornographers / Electric Version<br />10. The Exploding Hearts / Guitar Romantic<br />11. M. Ward / Post-War<br />12. Stars / Set Yourself on Fire<br />13. Mojave 3 / Excuses for Travellers<br />14. Japancakes / The Sleepy Strange<br />15. Cat Power / The Covers Recordthe who sing my generthe who<br />16. Lambchop / Aw C’mon; No You C’mon<br />17. Ambulance Ltd / LP<br />18. Drive-By Truckers / Southern Rock Opera<br />19. Dan Zanes & Friends / Family Dance<br />20. The National / Boxer<br /><br />My Top Twenty Songs of the David Music Poll Era:<br />1. M. Ward / “Poison Cup”<br />2. Yo La Tengo / “You Can Have It All”<br />3. The Magnetic Fields / “The Book of Love”<br />4. The Go! Team / “Bottle Rocket”<br />5. Aimee Mann / “The Moth”<br />6. Bright Eyes / “Easy/Lucky/Free”<br />7. The Exploding Hearst / “Throwaway Style”<br />8. Belle & Sebastian / “I’m a Cuckoo”<br />9. Ambulance Ltd / “Heavy Lifting”<br />10. Sukpatch / “Stuck on Me”<br />11. Weezer / “Island in the Sun”<br />12. Blur / “Sweet Song”<br />13. Stars / “Reunion”<br />14. The Raveonettes / “Uncertain Times”<br />15. The New Pornographers / “The Laws Have Changed”<br />16. Cat Power / “I Found a Reason”<br />17. Fiest / “I Feel It All”<br />18. Ben Folds / “Still Fighting It”<br />19. Drive-By Truckers / “Heathens”<br />20. The National / “Apartment Story”<br /><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Michael S. Gets Better With Each Listen, Too</span><br /><br />Here are the few albums I loved from last year, in the most random order:<br /><br />1. Bon Iver, For Emma, Forever Ago<br />—My favorite record in a long, long time. Gets better with each listen.<br />2. Vampire Weekend, [eponymous]<br />—Kind of unassailably great.<br />3. Fleet Foxes, [eponymous]<br />—Has grown on me. Also, their EP is terrific, too.<br />4. Duffy, Rockferry<br />—I expect to hear from the haters about this, but I actually thought it was more than a sixties girl singer reboot post-Winehouse. And played it more than I care to admit.<br />5. Okkervil River, the Stand-Ins<br />—Love these guys.<br />6. Mike Doughty, Golden Delicious<br />—A mixed record, but man, I could not stop playing "Fort Hood" and found it an emotional touchstone for a time.<br />7. R.E.M., Accelerate<br />—They're not back in top form, no, but this is the closest they've come in a long, long time.<br /><br />And then a grab bag of three not-quite-perfect-but-still-weirdly-lovable-to-me albums:<br />8. Jenny Lewis, Acid Tongue<br />—Nowhere near as good as Rabbit Fur Coat, but ... so what? Still good.<br />9. Shelby Lynne, Just a Little Lovin'<br />—I have had a love/hate relationship with Ms. Lynne since the superb I Am Shelby Lynne. This one logged on the love side of the equation.<br />10. Sharleen Spiteri, Melody<br />—Lead singer from Texas goes out with an often mediocre collection of sixties inspired pop songs. Lame. And yet I kind of sort of guiltily loved it.<br /><br /><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Anton’s intimate bloc party</span><br /><br /><br />TOP FIVE ALBUMS OF 2008:<br /><br />There were so many albums this year that I loved, that I simply couldn’t choose a favorite. Don’t make me! It’s like picking a favorite child. So for that reason, I’m just going to list six of my essential albums for 2008, in no particular order, and you can take it from there….<br /><br />BLOC PARTY — “Intimacy”<br />There’s no question that Bloc Party is one of the most original and exciting bands around. Their music is super-charged, powerful and emotional, and like nothing else out there. They have one of the most fascinating and intriguing lead singers, and they perform some of the most electrifying and memorable shows. Plus, they know how to keep their fans continually pumped, from one album to the next. The delivery of “Intimacy,” their third studio album, was no exception. While on a live, fan-interactive web video chat, the band simply announced that their new album could be pre-ordered right then, and would be released digitally later that week. The anticipation for “Intimacy” was like nothing I’ve ever experienced with a band before. Having already heard new tracks like “Flux” and “Mercury,” it was clear the band was heading in an exciting new direction while still staying true to their unique sound. I was on a high all week, and when the digital tracks were finally ready to download, the band did not disappoint. Even better, more tracks kept coming in the weeks to come — including my favorite, “Talons,” a song that hits you like a twister and leaves you craving for more. This band intrigues me like no other, and my obsession has no signs of fading any time soon.<br /><br />THE DEARS — “Missiles”<br />The Dear’s have been on a slow and steady rise to stardom, starting with 2004’s “No Cities Left” and continuing with 2006’s “Gang of Losers.” So when their next album was getting ready to hit, it was surely going to become their most commercially successful album yet.<br />However, when they did NOT deliver that radio-friendly hit-machine with “Missiles,” it almost seemed like a step back for them. Not only that, the band was falling apart behind the scenes, to the point that all that was left was lead singer Murray Lightburn and his wife Natalia Yanchak. It did not look good for my favorite Canadian band. On first listen of “Missiles,” even I — one of the most devoted Dears fans I know — was a bit disappointed. But then I realized the band wasn’t necessarily planning to be “the next big thing” anyway. All they wanted was to deliver a beautiful and soulful album of songs, and that’s just what “Missiles” is. From the breathtakingly beautiful opener “Disclaimer” (“See I’ve come back, from almost death…”), to the jazzy mellowness of closer “Threats” (“It’s going to be all right…”), The Dears know exactly what they’re doing — and that’s all right with me. If you haven’t given it a listen, or if you have and had written if off, I implore you to give it another go, and another, and another. The more you listen, the more the music enters your soul and simply won’t let go.<br /><br />JAMES — “Hey Ma”<br />James is one of the most underappreciated bands in modern music history, and they should really be MUCH bigger than they are. But I kind of like that they’re not — otherwise how else would I have been able to enjoy their amazing show at the legendary (but extremely tiny) Stone Pony in Asbury Park, NJ? Unfortunately they’re remembered as a band with a string of hits in the early ‘90s, but not much else going for them. Some people don’t even realize they’re still around. True, they hadn’t released anything since 2001’s amazing “Pleased to Meet You” (sadly, not a single song of which was played at their Stone Pony show). So it’s not surprising that no one was expecting much from their latest album, “Hey Ma.” Well, except for me — I knew the band could do no wrong. What I didn’t realize was that this would be their best album yet — containing songs both fun and uplifting, and others powerful and emotional.<br /><br />BEN FOLDS — “Way to Normal”<br />This was another great way for a new album to be delivered. Ben and his band decided to make “fake” versions of the songs from their upcoming album, where the song titles were the same, but everything else was different — and then they “leaked” the album onto the web, for anyone to find and download. Written in one night, these songs had a fresh spontaneity to them, while the lyrics were deliciously absurd and silly. The album was so unlike the rather boring-in-comparison “Songs for Silverman,” that some had thought Ben had lost his mind, while many other fans actually thought the fake album was better than the real one that eventually debuted later. Which is surprising — since “Way to Normal” is easily his best album since “Rockin’ the Suburbs” in 2001. “You Don’t Know Me,” featuring Regina Spektor, was an early, unexpected surprise. And of course, there’s not a single person who hasn’t fallen in love with “Cologne” upon first listening. But it’s the quirky songs, like both versions of “Bitch Went Nutz,” and the amazingly kinetic “Brainwascht,” that prove just how much a genius Ben really is. All together, the fake and real albums combined, along with a fantastic tour, made 2008 Ben’s best year yet.<br /><br />R.E.M. — “Accelerate”<br />I was seriously ready to write off R.E.M. for good. Ever since the departure of drummer Bill Berry, they’ve been off their A-game. “Up” was their first fall down, in my opinion. And while “Reveal” garnered a couple of gems, “Around the Sun” made me completely rethink my love for this band. They were almost approaching deadly dull “adult alternative” status, which many other once-favorite bands — like U2 — had seemed to go. Basically, no longer musically relevant. So when I got an early hold of “Accelerate,” I almost didn’t bother giving it a listen. But a music-loving friend of mine, with almost identical tastes and the same attitude about R.E.M.’s latest output, said that I had to give it a chance. The R.E.M. he loved was back again, and the new stuff ROCKED. <br />And rocked it did, indeed — at first listen it was almost TOO intense, and something I wasn’t quite ready for. But by the second go-around, I was deep, deep in love.<br /><br />BLACK KIDS — “Partie Traumatic”<br />Black Kids are hands down the most promising new band of 2008, delivering an incredibly impressive debut with “Partie Traumatic.” The band members are so young, and yet already their first album is lightyears ahead of the output of other bands who’ve been around the block for a while.<br />Though the album is also unabashedly NOT “mature.” It’s fun, energetic, and full of poppy, catchy, danceable tunes but with a decidedly indie edge. It makes me seriously want to listen to every future album of theirs RIGHT NOW. Hurry up kids!!<br /><br /><br />PLAYLIST FOR 2008<br />Every year I make a playlist of my favorite songs, making sure they all fit onto a single, 80-minute CD. Here’s mine for 2008:<br />THE DEARS — “Disclaimer”<br />THE STILLS — “Don’t Talk Down”<br />THE KILLERS — “Human”<br />THE VERVE — “Love is Noise”<br />BLOC PARTY — “Talons”<br />MORRISSEY — “I’m Throwing My Arms Around Paris”<br />R.E.M. — “I’m Gonna DJ”<br />TRAVIS — “Something Anything”<br />EARLIMART — “Teeth”<br />BLACK KIDS — “Look at Me (When I Rock Wichoo)”<br />BEN FOLDS — “Cologne (Piano Orchestra Version)”<br />THE CURE — “Only One”<br />KEANE — “Spiraling”<br />STARS — “14 Forever”<br />WOLF PARADE — “Call it a Ritual”<br />DEATH CAB FOR A CUTIE — “I Will Possess Your Heart”<br />JAMES — “I Wanna Go Home”<br /><br /><br />TOP TEN ALBUMS OF THE LAST TEN YEARS:<br />BEN FOLDS — “Rockin’ the Suburbs” (2001)<br />TRAVIS — “12 Memories” (2003)<br />ARCADE FIRE — “Funeral” (2004)<br />THE KILLERS — “Hot Fuss” (2004)<br />MORRISSEY — “You Are the Quarry” (2004)<br />METRIC — “Live it Out” (2005)<br />THE DEARS — “Gang of Losers” (2006)<br />THE STROKES — “First Impressions of Earth” (2006)<br />BLOC PARTY — “A Weekend in the City” (2007)<br />GLEN HANSARD & MARKETA IGLOVA — “Once (Soundtrack)” (2007)<br /><br /><br />TOP TEN SONGS OF THE LAST TEN YEARS:<br /><br />SUEDE — “Can’t Get Enough” (1999)<br />BEN FOLDS — “Not the Same” (2001)<br />BROKEN SOCIAL SCENE — “Lover’s Spit” (2002)<br />DOVES — “The Sulphur Man” (2002)<br />ELLIOTT SMITH — “Coast to Coast” (2004)<br />FRANZ FERDINAND — “Take Me Out” (2004)<br />THE KILLERS —“All These Things That I’ve Done” (2004)<br />MORRISSEY — “Ganglord” (2004)<br />THE DEARS — “Ballad of Humankindness” (2006)<br />ARCADE FIRE — “No Cars Go” (2007)<br /><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Cecil is so Eno</span></div><div><br />Top albums of 2008<br /><br />David Byrne & Brian Eno / Everything that happens will happen today<br />Jolie Holland / The Living and The Dead<br />Adele/ 19<br />Jill Barber / Chances<br />Herman Dune / Next Year in Zion<br />She & Him / Volume One<br />The Weepies /Hideaway<br />Lykke Li / Youth Novels<br />Title of Show / Original Cast Soundtrack<br />Auf der Maur / OOOM (this is my bff, and I am so throwing a shout out!)<br /><br />Sub Category Best Comedy Album of 2008:<br /><br />Sean Cullen / I Am A Human Man<br /><br />Fave song of 2008:<br /><br />Oh My My / Jill Barber<br /><br /><br />Best Rediscoveries this year - <br /><br />Archers of Loaf / Icky Mettle<br />The Muppet Movie Soundtrack<br />Thompson Twins / Into the Gap<br />Yaz / You and Me Both<br />NOFX / Punk in Drublic<br /><br />Best new discovery from 2004<br />Joel Plaskett Emergency / Truthfully, Truthfully<br /><br />Top Ten Albums of the last Decade ( just a sampling!)<br /><br />Ben Lee / Awake is the New Sleep<br />Elliot Smith / Basement on the Hill<br />Joanna Newsom / Ys<br />Feist / Let it Die<br />The Killers / Hot Fuss<br />Rufus Wainwright / Poses<br />Nouvelle Vague / Nouvelle Vague<br />Coco Rosie / The Adventures of Ghosthorse and Stillborn<br />Explosions in the Sky / The Earth is not a Cold Dead Place<br />Dean & Britta / L'Aveventura<br /><br /><br />Some essential songs of the last decade (so totally not complete, consider a girly tasting and it's 15)<br /><br />Let it Die / Feist<br />Remember me as a time of day / Explosions in the Sky<br />Stronger/ Kanye<br />Beautiful Life / Anna Waronker<br />Gamble Everything for Love / Ben Lee<br />First Day of My Life / Bright Eyes<br />Hurricane Glass / Catherine Feeny<br />Knives From Bavaria / Dean & Britta<br />Not Ready to Make Nice / Dixie Chicks<br />You Can't Hold the Hand of a Rock and Roll Man / Okkervil River<br />Peace and Hate / The Submarines<br />Say So / Uh Huh Her<br />Joanna Newsom/ Sprout and the Bean<br />Nine Things / Title of Show Soundtrack<br />Bloody Mother Fucking Asshole (BFMA) / Martha Wainwright<br /><br /></div><div><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Med Sud I evr… Dan P</span><br /><br />Most Essential:<br />Sigur Ros, Med Sud i eyr...<br /><br />Others:<br />Vampire Weekend, Vampire Weekend<br />Adele, 19<br />Robyn, Robyn<br />Laura Marling, Alas I Cannot Swim<br /><br />Oh gosh... and now the most essential from the past 10 years???<br /><br />Patty Griffin, 1000 Kisses<br />Madonna, Confessions on a Dancefloor<br />Patrick Wolf, The Magic Position<br />The Postal Service, Give Up<br />Scissor Sisters, Scissor Sisters<br />Sarah Harmer, You Were Here<br />Rufus Wainwright, Poses<br />Radiohead, Kid A<br />The Killers, Hot Fuss<br />Sufjan Stevens, Illinois<br /><br />And now for some essential songs:<br /><br />Kelly Clarkson, Since U Been Gone<br />Death Cab for Cutie, Transatlanticism<br />Rihanna, Umbrella<br />Coldplay, The Scientist<br />Robyn, Handle Me<br />Madonna, Hung Up<br />Kylie Minogue, Can't Get You Out of My Head<br />The Arcade Fire, Rebellion<br />Franz Ferdinand, Take Me Out<br />Beyonce, All the Single Ladies<br /><br /></div><div><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Tricks are for kids, and Rabbits are for Joe P</span></div><div><br />15. Robyn<br />What in Holy Hell is this? In what can only be described as Best Comeback Ever, Robyn, the tweeny pop tart of 1998, rises like a veritable phoenix from the snowbanks of Sweden and unleashes a dizzying eponymous collection of tracks that are guaranteed to inspire grooving. It’s what pop music should be: fun, catchy, and a little too smart for its own good – which means it will be outdated soon, so enjoy it while you can.<br />Peaks: Dream On, Eclipse, Handle Me, Who’s That Girl?<br /><br />14. Ray LaMontagne “Gossip In The Grain”<br />In what is perhaps The Greatest Fake-Out Of Modern Music, LaMontagne kicks off his third album with the sexy, Motown-infused “You Are The Best Thing”. For 3:55, you think, “Wow, look at Ray go! What a great change of style!” The nine tracks that follow, however, are typical LaMontagne: tender and sad love songs, all sung in his glorious teddy bear of a voice, and all of which are better than the fake out.<br />Peaks: Sarah, Winter Birds, Gossip in the Grain, I Still Care For You<br /><br />13. Bloc Party. “Intimacy”<br />Equally ironic titles for this album would be: Warm Fuzzies, Love & Cuddles, and Puppies Are Awesome!. Tongue-in-cheek or not, Intimacy is anything but. Jarring and aloof schizophrenic dance beats mash up against jabbing guitars that razor frenetic melodies while rousing mantras collide with unholy choirs. All the while frontman Kele Okereke bleats along like the excitable goat he is.<br />Peaks: Flux, Ion Square, Zephyrus, Talons<br /><br />12. Aimee Mann “@#%&*! Smilers”<br />Many critics grouse that Aimee Mann churns out album after album of similar but likable and competent pop. I say there’s something to be said about consistency. With Aimee Mann, there are no surprises: expect melodic, beautifully written songs with wrist-slashing lyrics about dead end people in their dead end lives. With @#%&*! Smilers, that’s exactly what you get; except Mann adds synthesizers to the mix just for giggles.<br />Peaks: 31 Today, Ballentines, Freeway, Phoenix<br /><br />11. Greg Laswell “Three Flights From Alto Nido”<br />A good pop song is like a love letter: simple and a bit predictable while being memorable and sweet. With his sophomore album, Three Flights To Alto Nido, Greg Laswell has written eleven perfect love letters, each crawling through the cyclonic prairies of relationships, bleeding and exhausted, but undeniably hopeful. I want to send this man a Valentine every day of the week.<br />Peaks: I’d Be Lying, The One I Love, Not Out, Sweet Dream<br /><br />10. Goldfrapp “Seventh Tree<br />Allison Goldfrapp can be accused of many things, but resting on her laurels is not one of them. After dabbling in one album of psychedelic-fused trip hop and two albums of sex-kitten electrotrash, the woman makes the most brilliant move of her career: electronica-tinged folk. In lesser hands, it would have been a wreck. In Goldfrapp’s hands, it is unforgettable poetry: Seventh Tree is the most dazzling album of her career.<br />Peaks: Eat Yourself, A&E, Clowns, Monster Love<br /><br />9. Snow Patrol “A Hundred Million Suns”<br />Brrring! Brrrring! “Hello, Snow Patrol speaking.” “Hi! It’s Grey’s Anatomy! We loved the radio-friendly nature of your last album, but it was a spectacularly shitty release! We’d really enjoy an album full of panoramic, sweeping anthems to exploit on our show without the puffy stench of sell-out.” “So you want more of the awesomeness we displayed on our album Final Straw?” “Yes.” “Consider it done.” “Kthnxbye.”<br />Peaks: Disaster Button, Please Just Take These Photos From My Hands, The Lightning Strike, If There’s A Rocket Tie Me To It<br /><br />8. Coldplay “Viva La Vida/Prospekt’s March EP”<br />The triumphant French woman rises above the toppled bodies, her fist clenching her nation’s flag, her face defiant. Quite honestly, Coldplay couldn’t have chosen a better album cover. After wallowing in mediocrity, the band collectively decided it was high time to kick ass, to crush their critics and nay-sayers, and release a bombastic record heralding their return to the limelight. Congratulations, boys. I’m friggin’ impressed.<br />Peaks: Strawberry Swing, Glass of Water, Lovers In Japan/Reign of Love, Death and All His Friends<br /><br />7. Fleet Foxes<br />The sunrise gently crests the hills, illuminating the thin layer of fog that carpets the ground and hugs the roots of the trees. In the distance, a flock of starlings alight and fly toward the horizon as dawn dips its way into the moss-scented forest. It is a morning for celebrating the glories of Mother Gaia and the sounds of Fleet Foxes’ ingenious and vaguely granola-hippie-dippy debut grace the valley with their presence.<br />Peaks: Ragged Wood, Your Protector, Oliver James, Blue Ridge Mountains<br /><br />6. Amanda Palmer “Who Killed Amanda Palmer?”<br />Let’s line up the suspects, shall we? 1.) An old flame. 2.) Mental illness. 3.) The constrictive nature of relationships. 4.) A soccer team and sour mash. 5.) Blake 6.) A tormented teenager 7.) A rock star/video game. 8.)Loneliness. 9.) Rogers & Hammerstein musicals. 10.) An abortion. 11.) Depression. 12.) Heartache. Whoever is responsible for killing Amanda Palmer should do it again if it results in albums this brilliant.<br />Peaks: Astronaut, Have To Drive, Runs in the Family, Strength Through Music<br /><br />5. elbow “The Seldom Seen Kid”<br />Definitive proof that they are incapable of recording a lackluster album, Elbow delivers another truly remarkable piece of craftsmanship. Coasting on melancholy tides and adding even more unexpected flourishes, The Seldom Seen Kid grapples with post-millennial ostracism, pays a visit to the pope, and waltzes through pubs of broken dreams before succumbing to contagious joy on the rapturous “One Day Like This”.<br />Peaks: One Day Like This, The Loneliness of a Tower Crane Driver, Weather To Fly, An Audience With The Pope, Starlings<br /><br />4. Vampire Weekend<br />Thanks to a Pollyanna Mormon and her shitty imagination, American teens can’t get enough of vampires. What they should obsess over is Vampire Weekend. On their wildly enjoyable eponymous debut, four cheeky, too-smart-for-their-own-good Columbia University graduates hammer out eleven gleeful ditties that manage to marry the choppy hooks of The Police with Afro-Caribbean beats and nonsense lyrics. Sickeningly fun.<br />Peaks: Walcott, M79, Oxford Comma, Bryn, Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa<br /><br />3. Portishead “Third”<br />It’s been a decade since Portishead graced the music world with their presence, and the hiatus has not rusted their talent. The title of their third release is the only unimaginative thing about it, for the record boasts the most creative and creepy music the band has yet written. From the jarring, breakneck pace (for Portishead, anyway) of opener “Silence” to the terrifying, apocalyptic foghorn squalls that wash out “Threads”, Third is the strongest entry in a spotless and illustrious career.<br />Peaks: The Rip, Plastic, Magic Doors, Hunter, Silence<br /><br />2. Bon Iver “For Emma, Forever Ago”<br />Winter descended on the hunting cabin in northwestern Wisconsin. The dusky twilight revealed our disheveled protagonist, depression taking a toll on his bones, a cold cup of coffee in his hands. “I’m sad!” announced Justin Vernon (a.k.a Bon Iver). “My band broke up! I feel desolate!” And like all great artists, Vernon turned his sadness into art: For Emma, Forever Ago, a so-painful-it’s-palpable song cycle of regret, loneliness, and fear. Music this personal comes along once in a decade, and Vernon captures every emotion perfectly in his pining falsetto and battered acoustic guitar. Sublime.<br />Peaks: The Wolves (Act I & II), For Emma, Re: Stacks, Skinny Love, Flume<br /><br />1. Frightened Rabbit “The Midnight Organ Flight”<br />It’s the morning after. The dull ache still remains in your chest and the hollow feeling in your cheeks is the residual effect from crying jags. The sun may be filtering through the curtains, but there’s nothing cheerful on the horizon. There is only an endless, lonely day ahead of you. For anyone who has experienced the gritty ache of a failed relationship, Frightened Rabbit’s sophomore effort will strike almost too close to the heart.<br /><br />Angry, hopeless, and desperate, but wrapped in anthemic arrangements, the songs that make up The Midnight Organ Flight refuse victimization while turning an uncomfortable critical eye to the hurt we inflict on one another in the tenuous waltz of love. Most striking are the razor-sharp lyrics, which are sung with such conviction (and in an endearing Scottish brogue), that you swear Scott Hutchinson is using your soul as his mirror. It's not the most groundbreaking music you'll ever hear, but it's some of the most affecting.<br />Peaks: The Twist, Keep Yourself Warm, Poke, Good Arms Vs. Bad Arms, The Modern Leper<br /><br /><br />The Single of the Year Award<br />Beyonce “Single Ladies”. Really, though. Is anyone surprised? How could it not be this song?<br /><br />The Album Cover of the Year Award<br />Coldplay “Viva La Vida” – Simply because three words one wouldn’t associate with Coldplay are death, destruction, and mayhem. Way to fake us out.<br /><br />The That’s Not Art! Award<br />31 Knots “Worried Well” – How To Give Joe A Panic Attack Via Artwork. Seriously. What the hell is wrong with this band? <br />The Top Five Songs of the Year Award<br />1. “Slapped Actress” The Hold Steady<br />2. "Acid Tongue" Jenny Lewis<br />3. “Astronaut"/"Have To Drive" Amanda Palmer<br />4. “One Day Like This” elbow<br />5. “Inní mér syngur vitleysingur" Sigur Rós<br /><br />The Drive My Head Through A Plate Glass Window Award<br />The year's top three songs that make me want slice my ears off with a straightrazor.<br />1. "The Club of Fathomless Love" – Wild Beasts<br />2. “Incredible” - Madonna<br />3. “Joy Ride” – The Killers<br /><br />The Guilty Pleasure Award<br />Wild Beasts “The Devil’s Crayon" –<br /><br /></div><div><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Hold on Now, Kevin K…</span><br /><br />Top Ten Albums of 2008<br /><br />1. Los Campesinos! – Hold on Now, Youngster… - The band’s moniker is Spanish for “the farmers” or “the peasants” but they possess a sound that is more fitting for a spastic indie-punk party than a simple, backwoods music circle. It is tough to pinpoint their sound, but I have tried by saying that if you put The New Pornographers, Art Brut, The Decemberists and Architecture in Helsinki in a blender you would get a sound similar to this seven piece band from Wales. It is almost cliché to say that a band is “hyper-literate” but it is a description, along with hilarious, energetic, and talented, that best fits Los Campesinos! Best Tracks – “Broken Heartbeats Sound Like Breakbeats,” “Death to Los Campesinos!,” “Don’t Tell Me to Do the Math(s),” “You! Me! Dancing!,” “..And We Exhale and Roll Our Eyes in Unison”<br /><br />2. Vampire Weekend, Vampire Weekend – Early in 2008, the debut full-length CD from this preppy band from New York City was on the verge of being over-hyped. I jumped on the wagon early and never found a reason to jump off. This CD has the feel of early Police with a flavor of Paul Simon’s Graceland which many of the critics called “Afro-pop.” The lyrics are smart and the tunes are filled with exuberant hooks that will keep you bouncing in your seat for days. A CD destined to become a classic. Best Tracks – “Oxford Comma,” “A-Punk,” “Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa,” “M79,” “Campus,” “One (Blake’s Got a New Face),” “The Kids Don’t Stand a Chance”<br /><br />3. Flight of the Conchords, Flight of the Conchords – How could you not love a duo that calls themselves the, "4th most popular guitar-based digi-bongo acapella-rap-funk-comedy folk duo" in New Zealand? Bret McKenzie and Jermaine Clement are not only hilarious but also very talented musicians and songwriters. On their debut CD they pay homage to Marvin Gaye, Pet Shop Boys, Radiohead, and David Bowie without becoming carbon copies. Best Tracks – “Inner City Pressure,” “Think About It,” “Robots,” “The Most Beautiful Girl (In the Room),” “Business Time”<br /><br />4. Blitzen Trapper, Furr – The best “campfire” CD of the year. This Portland, Oregon band spins yarns of men turning into wolves and serial killers with music reminiscent of Neil Young recording with the guys from Elephant Six. This is music that could quite possibly define the sound of the early 21st century. Best Tracks – “Sleepytime in the Western World,” “Gold for Bread,” “Furr,” “Black River Killer,” “War on Machines”<br /><br />5. Nada Surf, Lucky - For most of the year I was claiming that the newest CD from the NYC trio was my very favorite. At first I didn't think it was anything special, but the more it kept popping up on the iPod, the more I became a believer. Lucky is filled with catchy power pop, perfect for the weekend. Best Tracks - "I Like What You Say," "See These Bones," "Beautiful Beat," "Weightless"<br /><br />6. Bon Iver, For Emma, Forever Ago - Justin Vernon spent a winter in Wisconsin, holed up in a cabin to record this amazing debut CD. His voice sounds like a blustery wind and his lyrics stir up feelings of a broken world. Best Tracks - "Skinny Love," "Flume," "The Wolves (Act I and II)"<br /><br />7. The Mountain Goats, Heretic Pride - John Darnielle is one of the best songwriters in music. He consistently crafts songs about characters struggling with very heavy topics. This CD takes a look at religion. Best Tracks - "Sax Rohmer #1," "San Bernardino," "Lovecraft in Brooklyn"<br /><br />8. Ra Ra Riot, The Rhumb Line - What happens when you add a string section to a indie pop band? In the case of Ra Ra Riot you get pretty sweet music filled with intelligent lyrics. Tragically the original drummer of the band died while working on this record. This is the first of five debut CDs in the Top Ten. Best Tracks: "Dying is Fine," "Can You Tell," "Ghost Under Rocks"<br /><br />9. Kaiser Chiefs, Off With Their Heads - The third CD from this band from Leeds, England is Brit pop at its finest. Grammy winning producer Mark Ronson (Amy Winehouse, Lily Allen) has helped the boys craft a winner. Best Tracks: "Never Miss A Beat," "Addicted to Drugs," "Good Days, Bad Days"<br /><br />10. R.E.M., Accelerate - After the three previous less than mediocre CDs, Michael Stipe, Peter Buck, and Mike Mills came close to reclaiming their title as indie rock Kings. Best Tracks: "Supernatural Superserious," "Mr. Richards," "I'm Going to D.J."<br /><br /><br />Best 40 Tracks of 2008<br />1. Alejandro Escovedo - Always A Friend<br />2. Army Navy – Right Back Where We Started From<br />3. The Baseball Project – Past Time<br />4. Be Your Own Pet - The Kelly Affair<br />5. Blitzen Trapper – Gold for Bread<br />6. Bon Iver – Skinny Love<br />7. British Sea Power – Waving Flags<br />8. Chairlift – Bruises<br />9. Conor Oberst – Get-Well-Cards<br />10. Crystal Castles - Crimewave<br />11. Cut Copy – Out There on the Ice<br />12. The Decemberists – Valerie Plame<br />13. Fleet Foxes – White Winter Hymnal<br />14. Flight of the Conchords – Inner City Pressure<br />15. Frightened Rabbit – The Twist<br />16. The Gaslight Anthem – Great Expectations<br />17. Hercules and Love Affair – Blind<br />18. Hot Chip – Ready For the Floor<br />19. Human Highway – The Sound<br />20. Kaiser Chiefs – Never Miss A Beat<br />21. The Kills – U.R.A. Fever<br />22. Los Campesinos! - Broken Heartbeats Sound Like Breakbeats<br />23. Los Campesinos! - Ways To Make It Through The Wall<br />24. Lucinda Williams – Real Love<br />25. MGMT – Time to Pretend<br />26. The Mountain Goats - Lovecraft In Brooklyn<br />27. Nada Surf - I Like What You Say<br />28. Okkervil River – Lost Coastlines<br />29. R.E.M. - Supernatural Superserious<br />30. Ra Ra Riot - Dying Is Fine<br />31. The Raconteurs - Salute Your Solution<br />32. Robyn – Cobrastyle<br />33. Santogold - L.E.S Artistes<br />34. She & Him - Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?<br />35. Slow Runner - Love And Doubt<br />36. Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks – Gardenia<br />37. Thao – Bag of Hammers<br />38. Ting Tings – Great DJ<br />39. Vampire Weekend – A-Punk<br />40. The Wombats - Let's Dance to Joy Division<br /><br />Top Ten Albums 1999-2008<br /><br />1. Belle & Sebastian, Dear Catastrophe Waitress<br />2. The Decemberists, The Crane Wife<br />3. The Flaming Lips, Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots<br />4. The New Pornographers, Twin Cinema<br />5. Arcade Fire, Neon Bible<br />6. M.I.A., Kala<br />7. Sufjan Stevens, Greetings from Michigan<br />8. Emmylou Harris, Stumble Into Grace<br />9. Vampire Weekend, Vampire Weekend<br />10. Los Campesinos!, Hold On Now, Youngster...<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div></div></div>davidlevithanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00762768300871943772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1509734071563017124.post-73919091855955228272009-01-12T15:00:00.000-08:002009-01-28T14:51:21.838-08:00The 2007 David Music Poll results<strong>The 2007 David Music Poll Results</strong><br /><br />1. The Arcade Fire, The Neon Bible (41 votes)<br />2. Feist, The Reminder (34)<br />3. Radiohead, In Rainbows (24)<br />4. Amy Winehouse, Back to Black (21)<br />5. The Shins, Wincing the Night Away (17)<br />Lily Allen, Alright Still (17)*<br />7. The National, Boxer (16)<br />8. LCD Soundsystem, Sound of Silver (15)<br />9. M.I.A., Kala (14)<br />Spoon, Ga Ga Ga Ga (14)<br /><br /><br />Runners Up:<br />Iron & Wine, The Shepherd’s Dog (13); Peter, Bjorn, and John, Writer’s Block (12); Andrew Bird, Armchair Apocrypha (12); Soundtrack, Once (11); Bright Eyes, Cassadaga (10); Tegan and Sara, The Con (9); Modest Mouse, We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank (9); Band of Horses, Cease to Begin (9); Kanye West, Graduation (9)<br /><br /><br /><strong>My Picks</strong><br /><br />The Essentials<br /><br />1. Bloc Party, A Weekend in the City<br /><br />Bonus points go this year to albums that actually feel like albums, and this one certainly does, chronicling both the euphoria and pain of being a creature of the bright lights, big city. At first, I didn’t think it held a candle to Bloc Party’s debut, but now I like it just as much, if not more. And “I Still Remember” is hands down one of the year’s standout songs – unexpectedly sweet and nostalgic as the tunes around it grind and pulse.<br /><br />2. Tegan and Sara, The Con<br /><br />I’ve always liked Tegan and Sara, but this one just kicked them to a different level entirely, as their lyrics transcended journal-entryism and hit right on the truth. And musically, they embraced a more layered, completely transfixing sound. Pretty brilliant.<br /><br />3. The National, Boxer<br /><br />If, as one of the poll-participants states below, one is either an Alligator fan or a Boxer fan, I must put myself squarely on the Boxer side (“Mr. November” notwithstanding). There was so much hype around this record that I didn’t think it would be nearly as good as it truly is. (I know, that doesn’t give hype much credit, and in a year that hyped Arcade Fire and Feist as well, I should probably listen a little better.) I could listen to this once a day for months on end and still find new reasons to love it. (Now if only I knew what “Squalor Victoria” meant…)<br /><br />4. Patrick Wolf, The Magic Position<br /><br />Mostly, this ranking is on the strength of “Accident and Emergency” and “The Magic Position”, two of the greatest songs released this year. I hope indie success doesn’t go to Patrick Wolf’s head – I want him still on the fringe, making music like this. Poptastic at one moment, sweepingly orchestral at others – this is the direction Rufus Wainwright should have gone.<br /><br />5. Jens Lekman, Night Falls Over Kortedala<br /><br />Tied with Regina Spektor for my favorite concert of the year, Jens also squeaked in with one of the year’s better albums. It was a slow-grower for me – I’d always loved “The Opposite of Hallelujah”, but it was the sublime “A Postcard to Nina” that provided the anchor for me to start really getting into the rest of the album.<br /><br /><em><br />Best Four-or-Five-Song Albums Stuck in Full-Length Albums</em><br /><br />I feel this year was marked by a larger number of albums than usual that gave about four or five great songs and the rest were decidedly underwhelming. These include:<br /><br />Editors, An End Has a Start (“Smokers Outside the Hospital Doors” is an incredible song, but very few of the other songs on the album come close to matching it)<br /><br />Feist, The Reminder (I love the upbeat songs like “I Feel it All”, “My Moon, My Man”, and “1234” – but damned if the slow songs don’t bore me in a deep, special place)<br /><br />Rilo Kiley, Under the Blacklight (the schizo album of the year, with five really strong songs and at least three truly godawful songs)<br /><br /><br /><em>The iPod Playlist Award for Guilty Pleasures</em><br /><br />These are the albums (besides a few of the ones noted above) that I played the most, usually while walking to work, when my mind wanted nothing but pop goodness<br /><br />Kelly Clarkson, My December<br />Matt Nathanson, Some Mad Hope<br />Jimmy Eat World, Chase This Light<br /><br /><em>The Lilith ’07 Awards</em><br /><br />UK Division:<br />Kate Nash, Made of Bricks<br /><br />US Division:<br />Ingrid Michaelson, Girls and Boys<br /><br /><br /><em>Album That I Didn’t Think Would Be Nearly Essential (But Is)</em><br />Bruce Springsteen, Magic<br /><br /><em>Albums That I’m Not Surprised are Nearly Essential</em><br />The Arcade Fire, The Neon Bible<br />Spoon, Ga Ga Ga Ga<br /><br /><em>Best Soundtrack</em><br />Once<br /><br /><em>Songs of the Year</em><br />Regina Spektor, “Samson” (from last year, but I became obsessed this year)<br />Editors, “Smokers Outside the Hospital Doors”<br />Kelly Clarkson, “Sober”<br />Patrick Wolf, “Accident and Emergency” / “The Magic Position”<br />Ingrid Michaelson, “Breakable”<br />Jens Lekman, “A Postcard to Nina”<br />Ben Lee, “Is This How Love’s Supposed to Feel?”<br />Augustana, “Boston”<br />Bloc Party, “I Still Remember”<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Sarah W likes Girls and Boys</strong><br /><br />John Mayer, Continuum* (best single: Stop This Train)<br /><br /><br />Ingrid Michaelson, Girls and Boys (best single: The Way I Am)<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Jack M is Slightly Sorry</strong><br /><br />Most Essential:<br />PG Six, Slightly Sorry<br /><br />Essential:<br />Euphoria, A Gift From Euphoria<br />Kanye West, Graduation<br />Sapat, Mortise and Tenon<br />Dungen, Tio Bitar<br />Devendra Banhart, Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon (and I thought I was totally over this guy)<br />Alicia Keys, As I Am<br />The Clientele, God Save The Clientele<br />Neil Young, Live at Massey Hall<br />Sandy Bull, Still Valentine's Day<br />Tarkus, s/t<br /><br />Stuff I just discovered this year:<br />Joanna Nuisance...I mean NewsomSilver Apples<br />Koop (seriously, you gotta hear this one)<br />Michael Chapman<br />Eduardo Bort<br />Magnet, The Wicker Man soundtrack<br />Birdtree<br />Blues Control<br />Chris Darrow<br />Delivery<br />Dorothy Ashby<br />John Martyn<br /><br />The song that's been stuck in my head for the past 9 months:<br />Rihanna, Umbrella<br /><br /><br /><strong>Tara B is in the Boxer’s Corner</strong><br /><br />They might be obvious Essentials:<br />The National, Boxer<br />Andrew Bird, Armchair Apocrypha<br />LCD Soundsystem, Sound of Silver<br />Editors, An End Has a Start<br /><br /><br /><strong>Gayle Has Writer’s Block</strong><br /><br />It was kind of a tough year for me. Not a huge amount that blew me away. Here are my favorites:<br /><br />Peter, Bjorn & John, Writer's Block<br />Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova: Once: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack --probably most essential<br />New Pornographers: Challengers<br /><br /><br /><strong>Megan is Back to Black</strong><br /><br />Most Essential: Amy Winehouse, Back to Black<br /><br />Others to consider: Kanye West, Graduation<br />Tegan and Sara, The Con<br /><br /><br /><strong>Jake’s Singularly Pleased</strong><br /><br />Brannan, Half Boyfriend<br />Tegan and Sara, The Con<br />William Fitzsimmons, Please Don't Go<br />Bjork, Oceania<br />Stars, Look Up (: (: (: (: (: [still one of my favorites]<br /><br /><br /><strong>Maureen Lives in Cartoon Motion, Not Unlike Grace Kelly</strong><br /><br />#1 Mika, Life in Cartoon Motion<br /><br />The Go! Team, Proof of Youth<br />Grant Lee Phillips, Strangelet<br />Rufus Wainwright, Release the Stars<br />Modest Mouse, We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank<br /><br /><strong><br />Ben H. Doesn’t Need the Banshees</strong><br /><br />1) Siouxsie - Mantaray<br />2) Soundpool - On High<br />3) Band of Horses - Cease to Begin<br />4) Ulrich Schnauss - Goodbye<br />5) Angelo Badalamenti and David Lynch - Twin Peaks Season Two and More<br />6) Christian Death - American Inquisition<br />7) Arcade Fire - Neon Bible<br />8) Air - Pocket Symphony<br />9) Psychic TV - Hell Is Invisible... Heaven Is Her/e<br />10) Annie Lennox - Songs of Mass Destruction<br /><br />Best thing I was way late getting on the bandwagon with:<br />The entire O.C. soundtrack for all four seasons which I diligently downloaded in sequential order. Yes, I had a lot of time on my hands this summer.<br /><br />Best live performances:<br />Annie Lennox<br />Sinead O'Connor<br /><br />Best Soundtracks:<br />The Water Horse, Sinead O'Connor and James Newton Howard, particularly the track, "Angus in Training"<br />Hairspray - "Welcome to the 60s," "Without Love," "You Can't Stop the Beat," and that new song for the film, "Come So Far (Got So Far To Go)"<br /><br />Best Missing-in-action singer from the 70s/80s:<br />Paul Davis for his stellar hits "I Go Crazy," "Cool Night" and "65 Love Affair." They remind me of Rubik's Cubes and velcro sneakers and rainbow suspenders. Oh, those were the days.<br /><br />Best CDs to drive across the country to:<br />1) Indigo Girls "Rites of Passage"<br />2) Band of Horses "everything all the time"<br /><br />Best single from long ago I had never heard before but is now in my musical canon:<br />Michael Martin Murphey - "Wildfire"<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Krist Will Sleep When You’re Dead</strong><br /><strong><br /><br /><br /></strong>TOP Records of the Year (with links):<br />18. Soft Circle - Full Bloom : Somewhere between African dance and electronica, member(s?) of Black Dice make up this weirdly rhythmic music. It's one that grows on you.<br /><a title="http://www.thepunkguy.com/music/03 Stones And Trees.mp3" href="http://www.thepunkguy.com/music/03%20Stones%20And%20Trees.mp3" target="_blank">Soft Circle - Stones and Trees</a><br />17. Shellac - Excellent Italian Greyhound .<br />16. Aesop Rock - None Shall Pass ; Aesop ups and moves to my old home San Francisco and he makes his best album since Labor Days. Some of the real stand out tracks on this record are: None Shall Pass, Coffee and Getaway Car. Really liked this record.<br />15. Vampire Weekend - s/t .<br />14. Kanye West - Graduation (oops) ; His blackest album to date. I love this B side of him sampling Thom Yorke.<br /><a title="http://www.thepunkguy.com/music/14. Crs (Ft. Lupe Fiasco & Pharrell).mp3" href="http://www.thepunkguy.com/music/14.%20Crs%20(Ft.%20Lupe%20Fiasco%20&%20Pharrell).mp3" target="_blank">Kanye West - Us Placers (feat Lupe and Pharrell)</a> .<br />13. 31knots - The Days And Nights Of Everything Anywhere . This is one of those bands that I try to convince every one of my "90's midwestern emo" buddies that they would fucking love. This is exactly what at the drive in might sound like if they weren't half hispanic and didn't become the mars volta. I love this fucking band.<br /><a title="http://www.thepunkguy.com/music/04 Man Become Me.mp3" href="http://www.thepunkguy.com/music/04%20Man%20Become%20Me.mp3" target="_blank">31knots - Man Becomes Me</a> .<br />12. O'Death - Head Home . Another entry in the best of 2007 that doesn't sound like anything else on here. Southern friend punk rock with bangos, oil cans and fiddles, this band from Brooklyn puts on pretty amazing live show. With barely a tshirt between the whole band, this sweaty bluegrass meets the energy of punk band put out a great lofi record. I am really looking forward to their next release.<br />11. Pelican - City of Echoes: Once again, my favorite instru-metal band makes a dynamic new record. This time, with acoustic meets long drawn out epic songs, City of Echoes, is really a different kind of metal album for me. This is the kind of metal album I want to listen to while I work, people watch or while I sleep. (yes, sleep.) It's a great record.<br />10. Elliott Smith - New Moon . A compilation from one of my favorite artists of all time. I really love some of these tracks and the acoustic versions of the two Heatmiser songs are like a gift from god to me. The only reason this isn't higher on my list is that cause of my friend Kevin, I have heard 80 percent of the tracks before.<br /><a title="http://www.thepunkguy.com/music/12 Not Half Right.mp3" href="http://www.thepunkguy.com/music/12%20Not%20Half%20Right.mp3" target="_blank">Heatmiser - Not Half Right</a> .<br />9. A Place to Bury Strangers - s/t: A great 80's inspired record, think early New Order, Joy Division, etc, recorded in what must have been someone's ass. Really catchy dark songs, if you can get past the awful production.<br /><a title="http://www.thepunkguy.com/music/I_Know_Ill_See_You.mp3" href="http://www.thepunkguy.com/music/I_Know_Ill_See_You.mp3" target="_blank">A Place to Bury Strangers - I Know Ill See You</a> .<br />8. Radiohead - In Rainbows . something something, best band, something, self released. check it out.<br /><a title="http://www.thepunkguy.com/music/Thom Yorke - Videotape.mp3" href="http://www.thepunkguy.com/music/Thom%20Yorke%20-%20Videotape.mp3" target="_blank">Radiohead - Videotape (Live Demo)</a><br />7. LCD - Sound of Silver: <a title="http://www.thepunkguy.com/music/02-lcd_soundsystem-all_my_friends_(live_on_wxpn).mp3" href="http://www.thepunkguy.com/music/02-lcd_soundsystem-all_my_friends_(live_on_wxpn).mp3" target="_blank">LCD Soundsystem - All of my Friends (Live on WXPN) </a>.<br />6. Battles - Mirrored; This band for some reason seems to polarize people. To me this band seems to be a real musician's band. With that being said, I don't have a fucking decimeter of musical talent, however, I like Rush and Don Caballero, so I am able to fake it. Battles is the best of both worlds for me; an intricate complicated band with a bit of soul and danceability to them.<br />5. Jose Gonzalez - In Our Nature: <a title="http://www.thepunkguy.com/music/jose gonzalez - teardrop live.mp3" href="http://www.thepunkguy.com/music/jose%20gonzalez%20-%20teardrop%20live.mp3" target="_blank">Jose Gonzalez - Teardrop (Live)</a> .<br />4. Arcade Fire - Neon Bible: So what can be said about this album that hasn't already been said over and over? Ill say this that it took me a bit to really get into this record and the more I listen to it the more I like it. I think <a title="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pyp34v6Lmcc" target="_blank">THIS</a> clip, believe it or not, made me totally reevaluate this record. A friend thinks this record sounds like an old Bruce Springsteen record. I think she meant it as a compliment.<br /><a title="http://www.thepunkguy.com/music/Arcade Fire-KeepTheCarRunning(SNL-Feb24).mp3" href="http://www.thepunkguy.com/music/Arcade%20Fire-KeepTheCarRunning(SNL-Feb24).mp3" target="_blank">the Arcade Fire - keep the car running (Live on SNL)</a><br />3. Menomena - Friend and Foe: I must be into the eclectic this year cause Menomena is not really like any other release on the top of thepunkguy. 3 singers, all playing at least two instruments (not at once.) As you know I have been a proponent of this band forever and when this record came out I was more than excited and I am so glad that it exceeded my expectations. And this band finally got the attention it's due. Anyway, Friend and Foe has horns, some guitars and a tons of great melodies.<br /><a title="http://www.thepunkguy.com/music/menomena-wet-and-rusting-la-blogotheques-take-away-shows.mp3" href="http://www.thepunkguy.com/music/menomena-wet-and-rusting-la-blogotheques-take-away-shows.mp3" target="_blank">Menomena - Wet and Rusting (live from the take away show)</a> .<br />2. Beirut - the Flying Cup Club: <a title="http://www.thepunkguy.com/2006/12/11/6-months-and-i-have-learned-nothing-or-best-of-2006/" href="http://www.thepunkguy.com/2006/12/11/6-months-and-i-have-learned-nothing-or-best-of-2006/" target="_blank">Last year's number</a> 1, this year's at a comfortable number 2. The Flying Cup Club is like a 20 year old moves to Paris, engulfs himself in French music, plays tons of horns and then recruits the dude from Final Fantasy to make a record that doesn't sound like anything else released all year. Wait, that is exactly what it is. It's different, in a good way.<br /><a title="http://www.thepunkguy.com/music/nanteskexp.mp3" href="http://www.thepunkguy.com/music/nanteskexp.mp3" target="_blank">Beirut - Nantes (live on KEXP)</a> .<br />1. EL P - I'll Sleep When You're Dead: Living in New York City means finding the perfect soundtrack to walking around the city. Never in all of my almost ten years living here have I ever found a cd that felt so comfortable walking around the city. It's intricate, it's hip hop, it complicated and it's hard as fuck. I mean this record has everything for me. I really do love it and it makes New York fit just right.<br /><a title="http://www.thepunkguy.com/music/01 Tasmanian Pain Coaster.mp3" href="http://www.thepunkguy.com/music/01%20Tasmanian%20Pain%20Coaster.mp3" target="_blank">EL P - Tasmanian Pain Coaster</a> .<br /><br /><strong>Glen B is Not the Destroyer</strong><br /><br />Here's my list:<br /><br />1) Of Montreal, Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer?<br />2) Peter Bjorn & John, Writer's Block<br />3) The Shins, Wincing the Night Away<br />4) Amy Winehouse, Back To Black<br />5) Spoon, Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga<br />6) The Bird and the Bee, The Bird and the Bee<br />7) Rufus Wainwright, Release the Stars<br />8) Feist, The Reminder<br />9) Blonde Redhead, 23<br />10) Blitzen Trapper, Wild Mountain Nation<br /><br /><br /><strong><br />Alaya Defends the Criminally Under-hyped</strong><br /><br />Most essential album:<br /><br /><br />Imani Coppola, The Black and White Album (Criminally under-hyped, but she's my favorite new artist of the decade. Killer live, though she hasn't done a show in two years. Especially love "Springtime," "Woke Up White" and "In a Room.")<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Other albums:<br /><br /><br />The 1990s, Cookies<br /><br /><br />The Roches, Moonswept<br /><br /><br />Richard Thompson, Sweet Warrior (any year with one of his albums is always a good one for me)<br /><br /><br />Amy Winehouse, Back to Black (most of it, anyway)<br /><br /><br />Lily Allen, Alright, Still<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />From previous years that I just discovered:<br /><br /><br />Komeda, Kokomemedada (2004. "Blossom" is sublime.)<br /><br /><br />Saul Williams, Saul Williams (2004. "List of Demands," "Black Stacey." Great videos, too.)<br /><br /><br />The Rakes, Capture/Release (2006)<br /><br /><br />Tribalistas, Tribalistas (2002. First heard the single, Velha Infancia, in an internet cafe in Sao Paulo. Beautiful.)<br /><br /><br />Jorge Ben, Forca Bruta (A classic of his from the mid-seventies)<br /><br /><br />Doll by Doll: Gypsy Blood, Remember, Doll by Doll (these three albums from the late 70s British cult band, fronted by Jackie Leven, were just re-released this year. Amazing stuff.)<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Least essential, please-god-go-away album:<br /><br /><br />Fall Out Boy, Infinity on High (My sister loves them. I fail to understand.)<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Singles I am embarrassed to catch myself enjoying:<br /><br /><br />Finger Eleven, Paralyzer (The lyrics are *terrible*! What am I thinking?)<br /><br /><br />Feist, 1234 (I object on principle to the endless parade of female singers with breathy voices. But whatever, it's catchy.)<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Better Singles:<br /><br /><br />Gorillaz, Hong Kong (Off of D-Sides)<br /><br /><strong>Jordan Doesn’t Need Bright Eyes to Turn Around</strong><br /><br />#1: Bright Eyes, Cassadaga<br /><br />Runners-up:<br /><br />Joss Stone, Introducing Joss Stone<br /><br />CeU, CeU (with an accent over the e's that I don't know how to make)<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Iain’s Andorra Sweater</strong><br /><br /><br />Most essential of 2007<br /><br />Caribou, Andorra<br /><br />Also essential in 2007<br /><br />Von Sudenfed, Tromatic Reflexxions<br /><br />Field Music, Tones of Town<br /><br />Young Marble Giants, Colossal Youth (reissue)<br /><br />Pylon, Gyrate Plus (reissue)<br /><br /><br />Really not that many albums released in 07 that I liked. Must be getting old. Also explained by iTunes-inspired cherry-picking rather than actually buying albums any more.<br /><br /><br />Other things I liked in 2007<br /><br />Grinderman, No Pussy Blues<br /><br />Bricolage, Footsteps<br /><br />LCD Soundsystem, All My Friends<br /><br />Howling Bells, Low Happening<br /><br />The Fall, Scenario<br /><br />King Creosote, Bombshell<br /><br /><br />Old things I liked in 2007<br /><br />Can, Uphill<br /><br />Gang of Four, Damaged Goods<br /><br />Madvillain, the Red<br /><br />Ken Boothe, My Heart is Gone<br /><br />Alemayehu Eshete, Ambassel (fast)<br /><br />Ramsey Lewis Trio, The "In" Crowd<br /><br />Vordul Megilah, Handle That<br /><br />Cannibal Ox, Ox Out The cage<br /><br />Fire Engines, Big Gold Dream<br /><br />Tim Buckley, I Had A Talk With My Woman<br /><br />Scars, Horrorshow<br /><br />Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Way Out<br /><br />Treecreeper, Debris<br /><br />Sam and Dave, I Thank You<br /><br />Bob Marley, The Heathen<br /><br />New Moscow, C'mon Up<br /><br />Midlake, Roscoe<br /><br />Nina Simone, See Line Woman<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong><br />Matthue Updates a Few Times, But Finds the Architecture Lovely<br /></strong><br />10) M.I.A., Kala<br />9) SoCalled, Ghettoblaster<br />8) Tim Armstrong, A Poet's Life<br />7) Clare and the Reasons, The Movie<br />6) Siouxie, Mantaray<br />5) Marissa Nadler, Songs III: Bird on a Wire<br />4) The Matches, Decomposer<br />3) Anaïs Mitchell, The Brightness<br />2) Macromantics, Moments in Movement<br />1) Tender Forever, Wider<br /><br />i totally forgot that<br />1) Architecture in Helsinki, Places Like This came out this year. can you put that in my #1 spot? seriously, i'm desperate. it's so, so amazing.....i'll even burn you a copy for tomorrow if you want!<br /><br />And, best indispensible song off a dIspensible album: ani difranco's<br />(finally!) all-out rock version of "untouchable face," from her best-of "canon."<br /><br />Oh! and Radiohead, In Rainbows...and sticking it to the music industry!<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Jonathan V. Goes National</strong><br /><br />My Main 2007 List (Top Ten Favorite Albums of 2007)<br /><br />1. The National, BOXER<br />2. Arcade Fire, NEON BIBLE<br />3. Andrew Bird, ARMCHAIR APOCRYPHA<br />4. Magnolia Electric Company, SOJOURNER<br />5. Okkervil River, THE STAGE NAMES<br />6. Radiohead, IN RAINBOWS<br />7. Iron & Wine, THE SHEPARD’S DOG<br />8. Feist, THE REMINDER<br />9. Beirut, THE FLYING CLUB CUP<br />10. Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, 100 DAYS 100 NIGHTS<br /><br />Supplemental List (Top Ten Favorite Albums from previous years that were new to me in 2007)<br /><br />1. Roxy Music, AVALON<br />2. The Hold Steady, BOYS & GIRLS OF AMERICA<br />3. The Books, THE LEMON OF PINK<br />4. The Format, DOG PROBLEMS<br />5. Sound Team, MOVIE MONSTER<br />6. Paul Anka, ROCK SWINGS<br />7. Talk Talk, LAUGHING STOCK<br />8. Roxy Music, FLESH & BLOOD<br />9. Girl Talk, NIGHT RIPPER<br />10. Tribe, Abort<br /><br />My albums of the year are broken down into two lists. Albums that came out this year, and albums from previous years that became a part of my 2007 nonetheless. For the record, it breaks my heart to leave out so many awesome albums from the first list, in favor of brevity. (The Cribs, Modest Mouse, Spoon, New Pornographers, Great Lake Swimmers, Frog Eyes, Sunset Rubdown…the list of missing coolsmiths goes on.) The albums below are just the albums that I refuse to go without. If I could only bring an iPod shuffle’s worth of tunes with me from 2007, these would be the albums I’d draw from.<br /><br />FAVORITE NEW ALBUMS OF 2007<br /><br />1. BOXER – The National<br /><br />Spare arrangements gently offer each melody, suggesting but not insisting, understating their own force. Straightforwardly poetic lyrics resonate quietly, tenaciously. Matt Berninger's voice, too, is deceptively powerful. Its conviction alone becomes mesmerizing, at times barely singing the words.<br /><br />2. NEON BIBLE – Arcade Fire<br /><br />Inspired at least in part by John Kennedy Toole's novel, NEON BIBLE certainly takes its moniker to heart, including gospel choirs and church organs in its sound environment at every opportunity, and feeling more than a bit like religious music...for atheists, at least. (Even the choir is more Danny Elfman than Grace Church.) Don't play it until you're ready to set aside headspace, and give yourself a long while to live with what you hear. NEON BIBLE may be the gospel of modern rock, but it sure as hell ain't good news.<br /><br />3. ARMCHAIR APOCRYPHA – Andrew Bird<br /><br />If Bird's last CD seemed to swing back and forth between extremes, ARMCHAIR APOCRYPHA is as even-keeled as its title might suggest. A chamber album, if you will. Full of tunes as understated as they are ingenious, overseen by the gentlemanly demeanor of maestro Bird and the multi-faceted charms of his trusty violin...plus that ever-present whistling. A mellow epic.<br /><br />4. SOJOURNER – Magnolia Electric Company<br /><br />Each of the CDs in this box set include songs from a different recording session, all with distinctly different moods. NASHVILLE MOON, the most straightforwardly country, employs the full band, and seems quite at home with its sorrow. It feels like a lazy mosey through the valley of the shadow of death. SHOHOLA catches Molina performing alone, wielding the powerful introspection of his solo work to produce a tone that’s borderline incantational. As for BLACK RAM, it explodes with a sound that’s larger and more foreboding than what we've heard from Magnolia in years.<br /><br />5. THE STAGE NAMES – Okkervil River<br /><br />One of my favorite moany, weepy bands, has produced something close to an honest-to-goodness feel-good record. Will Scheff’s lyrical prowess remains in full force, and his lit-major litanies still steep your heart in sorrow, but this time around, the desperation is gone, and the sadness is almost sweet. Scheff is not so much hanging his head low, as bopping it to the rhythm.<br /><br />6. IN RAINBOWS – Radiohead<br /><br />Despite its forward-thinking method of distribution (as a pay-what-you-will download from the Radiohead website), IN RAINBOWS features little of the electronic experimentation of Thom Yorke's recent work. This is an album by Radiohead the band, not Radiohead the hard drive, with instrumentation by actual instruments, and songs that are compact and precise. Somewhat mellower than what we're used to from a group that's more often gone for stone-faced dystopian splendor, IN RAINBOWS finds Radiohead at their most straightforwardly human.<br /><br />7. THE SHEPARD’S DOG – Iron & Wine<br /><br />The most audacious departure yet from Sam Beam's trademark minimalism, the album embraces harmonies, vocal effects and a sprawl of instrumentation. The good news is, Beam’s not changing for its own sake. Every addition here has been carefully considered, and each element falls perfectly into place. His choices, while untraditional, are hardly without precedent in rock or alt folk--and yet Beam explores with such a sense of discovery that they feel entirely new.<br /><br />8. THE REMINDER - Feist<br />Tender without being cloying, slick without being cold—Feist’s new album will appeal to fans of frank, elegant female vocalists like Regina Spektor and Aimee Mann. Her breathy tones even recall Bjork, yet they remain more grounded, never losing that sense of gentle nuance. Gorgeous production, too: So intimate at times, it's like she's singing in your ear...and it’s safe to say that mine remained on loan to Feist for the duration of 2007.<br />9. THE FLYING CLUB CUP - Beirut<br /><br />THE FLYING CLUB CUP is one of those rare albums whose instrumental interludes do not feel like "breaks". This is not just a bunch of songs, this is music. Though it's rather solitary in spirit, even with the multitude of players keeping accordionist/frontman Zach Condon company at the carnival.<br /><br />10. 100 DAYS 100 NIGHTS – Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings<br />Yikes, this is amazing. Jones is carrying the torch for classic soul singing, and The Dap Kings offer her the kind of band backup you've been craving since the days of The Godfather. (And I don't mean Don Corleone.)<br />FAVORITE ALBUMS THAT WERE NEW (TO ME) IN 2007<br /><br />1. AVALON – Roxy Music<br /><br />AVALON is quite subdued, to be fair. Gone is the Brian Ferry of early Roxy, playing counterpoint to Eno's experimental sprawl. The smooth smoothie himself has been in the driver's seat for a while now, and the sound has rearranged itself around his voice. There's no freneticism or camp, and the lush instrumentals no longer make it sound like the album is dropping acid...they make it sound like it's getting laid. In fact, with Ferry's velvet tones finally given their opportunity to stand front-and-center, you won't hear much difference between them and the saxophone.<br /><br />2. BOYS & GIRLS OF AMERICA – The Hold Steady<br /><br />The CD is an evocation, at once sweet and spiny, of a low-rent "lost generation", misusing each other and themselves at the cost of what’s left of their youth. What Tennessee Williams was to Southern Belles, Craig Finn has become to The Hard-Partier...only he's a good deal more buoyant about it.<br /><br />3. THE LEMON OF PINK – The Books<br /><br />This is one of the most exciting things I've heard in years. So many awesomenesses come together on this CD: The tape loop experiments of Steve Reich, the deconstructed phonetics of Jean-Michael Jarre's ZOOLOOK, the use of sound for aural texture on the one hand and context on the other. Is it music? Is it a noise record? What's with the banjo? And everywhere on the tracks, laughter. Sounds of people having fun. Then all of a sudden, a fencing class. An airport terminal. It's music one moment, teleportation the next.<br /><br />4. DOG PROBLEMS – The Format<br />DOG PROBLEMS periodically lapses from gentle pop into ELO chorals, Queenly harmonies, Beatles-esuqe orchestral flourishes and borderline bombast. What separates it from the "overproduction parade" of 2006 is that, for once, the scale of this project matches its worth. These are wonderful songs, and all of a piece--even as they switch from min to max and back again like a showoff Superfriend. The band's sound is teen, I'll warn you, but fogeyism be damned, DOG PROBLEMS is truly glorious.<br />5. MOVIE MONSTER – Sound Team<br /><br />The actual sound of Sound Team is dense, with a foreboding layer of lowgrade digital fuzz that lead vocalist Matt Oliver's growl cuts through like a fashionably disheveled star entrance. The songs have relentless drive, and they never really finish, they just stop...leaving you no choice but to spin through the whole record again once they're done. Clever.<br /><br />6. ROCK SWINGS – Paul Anka<br /><br />Anka's setlist of 80s and 90s pop tunes, blown up to "swing" size with full orchestral arrangements, is loaded with daredevil selections (Bon Jovi's IT'S MY LIFE, Billy Idol's EYES WITHOUT A FACE) that you'd expect to slam head-on into the "novelty song" wall. Instead, the Ankafication proves revelatory--The Cure's LOVECATS becomes deliciously tender and moving, even Survivor's EYE OF THE TIGER stands up as a damn fine "modern standard" once stripped of its hair metal plumage.<br /><br />7. LAUGHING STOCK – Talk Talk<br /><br />It’s hard to call any of the tracks featured on LAUGHING STOCK ‘songs’ per say. The whole album, widely regarded as the English band’s best effort, represents a kind of musical continuum. Instruments drift in and out, often backed throughout by a steady percussive beat, like a stage onto which each sound passes, before disappearing just as mysteriously as it arrived. Hollis’ own voice occupies a similarly transient role, here one moment, gone the next, often for minutes at a time. The scarcity of the singing lends weight to every word.<br /><br />8. FLESH & BLOOD – Roxy Music<br /><br />If you like the cool neon glow of AVALON, you’ll find much to enjoy about its creepy kid brother. At its best, FLESH & BLOOD is the synths-a-blazin’ pop equivalent of being in a pastel-saturated 80s romantic thriller, the kind where everyone wears sunglasses at night, so they can...so they can...<br /><br />9. NIGHT RIPPER – Girl Talk<br /><br />A quixotic mash-up for the terminally attention-deficient, NIGHT RIPPER combines the work of well over a hundred different bands and rappers into a pop imbroglio. My sister's description of it is less flattering: "Every song I've ever tried to avoid hearing...at once." Smashing Pumpkins. Young Jeezy. Fleetwood Mack. 50 Cent. Elton John. Biggie Smalls. It's a suite of perpetual guilty pleasure.<br /><br />10. ABORT – Tribe<br /><br />I used to know a guy who was forever lamenting the breakup of Tribe. An under-appreciated nineties band from Boston, they only managed two albums (this one and 1993's SLEEPER) before heading off into the wild blue yonder. What's left are two CDs of solid rock, with a lead singer whose powerful vocals (and sense of drama) recall Siouxsie Sioux, backed by a "wall of sound" of ceiling-to-floor guitar growl. Think Curve, or even My Bloody Valentine. Though SLEEPER contains a few of the band's best songs, ABORT (their debut) is definitely Tribe's signature album.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Megan S Goes Ga Ga Ga Ga Over Spoon</strong><br /><br />Most essential album - Spoon, Ga Ga Ga Ga<br /><br />Other essential albums:<br />Feist, The Reminder<br />Okkervil River, The Stage Names<br />Radiohead, In Rainbows<br />Bishop Allen, The Broken String<br />Arcade Fire, Neon Bible<br /><br />Best movie soundtrack – Once<br />Best underrated sophomore album – Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Some Loud Thunder<br />Possible essential band of 2008? – Vampire Weekend<br /><br />Best Older Album Discoveries of 2007:<br />Johnny Cash, American IV<br />New Pornographers, Mass Romantic<br />Andrew Bird, The Swimming Hour<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Micol Goes By the Bible</strong><br /><br />Most essential: Arcade Fire, Neon BibleAlso essential: Peter, Bjorn & John, Writer's Block<br />You Know That Jason B’s No Good<br /><br />essential: Amy Winehouse, Back to Black (and bonus points for her track on the Mark Ronson record) Feist, the ReminderEddie Vedder, Into the Wild sdtkBand of Horses, Cease to BeginTegan & Sara, The ConRyan Adams, Easy TigerMika, Life in MotionBeirut, The Flying Club CupJustice, (that weird cross-like symbol)!!!, Myth Takes can i add something about Kate Nash and Basia Bulat kicking the asses of those Colbie/Sara girls?<br /><br /><br /><strong>Paula Checks Out Cassadaga</strong><br /><br />Here are the albums I enjoyed this year:<br /><br /><br />Bright Eyes, Cassadaga<br /><br /><br />Bloc Party, A Weekend in the City<br /><br /><br />Maria Taylor, Lynn Teeter Flower<br /><br /><br />Paramore, Riot!<br /><br /><br />Dntel, Dumb Luck<br /><br /><br />Dashboard Confessional, The Shade of Poison Trees<br /><br /><br />Feist, The Reminder<br /><br /><br />Armor for Sleep, Smile for Them<br /><br /><br />The Shins, Wincing the Night Away<br /><br /><br />Of Montreal, Hissing Fauna, Are you the Destroyer?<br /><br /><br />Modest Mouse, We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank<br /><br /><br />Rilo Kiley, Under the Blacklight<br /><br /><br />Aesop Rock, None Shall Pass<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Soundtracks:<br /><br /><br />Once, Music from the Motion Picture<br /><br /><br />Juno, Music from the Motion Picture<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Most Essential, based on the fact that I listened to it the most:<br /><br /><br />Once, Music from the Motion Picture<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Best song to sing along to in the car with your little sister:<br /><br /><br />Paramore, Misery Business Best 'I know it's an Ipod commercial but it's still a really fun song'<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Song:<br /><br /><br />Feist, 1234<br /><br /><br /><strong>Jennifer A. Needs No Reminder</strong><br />1. Feist, The Reminder<br /><br /><br />2. St. Vincent, Marry Me<br /><br /><br />3. Beirut, The Flying Cup Club<br /><br /><br />4. The used record Hugo bought me called 1920s Hot Hits (I may be paraphrasing the title)<br /><br /><br />5. R. Kelly, Double Up<br /><br /><br />6. Brisa Roche, Takes (but it exists only in France)<br /><br /><br />7. Amy Winehouse, Back to Black<br /><br /><br />8. Lily Allen, Allright, Still<br /><br /><br />9. Mika, Life in Cartoon Motion<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I didn't really buy many cds at all this year. Just did lots of illegal downloading.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Best videos<br /><br /><br />Bat for Lashes, What's a Girl To Do?<br /><br /><br />L'il Mama, My Lipgloss<br /><br /><br /><strong>Bill B, All Neon Like</strong><br /><br />Thanks for doing this! Here are my votes:<br /><br />Most Essential: Arcade Fire, Neon Bible<br />Also Essential: Andrew Bird, Armchair Apocrypha<br /><br />Thoroughly enjoyable singles:<br /><br />Feist, 1234<br />Amy Winehouse/Mark Ronson, Valerie<br />Spoon, You Got Your Cherry Bomb<br />Michael Buble, Everything<br />Andy Samberg, Iran So Far<br />Natasha Beddingfield, Love Like This<br /><br /><br /><strong><br />Darin Stands By Amy in Her Time of Need</strong><br /><br />1) Amy Winehouse – Back to Black<br />2) Modest Mouse – We were dead before the Ship even sank<br />3) Peter Bjorn and John – Writers Block<br />4) Feist - The Reminder<br />5) M.I.A. – Kala<br />6) Kanye West – Graduation<br />7) Radiohead – In Rainbows<br />8) Jay-Z – American Gangster<br />9) Arcade Fire – Neon Bible<br />10) Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs – Is, Is (EP)<br />Song of the Year: The Fratellis – "Flathead"/LCD Soundsystem – "Someone Great"<br />Biggest Disappointment – Interpol – Our Love to Admire<br /><br /><br /><strong>Reunited, and it Feels So Good to Drew</strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><br /><br />1. The Weakerthans, Reunion Tour<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Runners up (no particular order).<br /><br /><br />Gaslight Anthem, Sink or Swim<br /><br /><br />Sundowner, Four One Five Two<br /><br /><br />Bomb the Music Industry!, Get Warmer<br /><br /><br />Modest Mouse, We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank<br /><br /><br />American Steal, Destroy Their Future<br /><br /><br />Tim Barry, Rivanna Junction<br /><br /><br />Bright Eyes, Cassadaga<br /><br /><br />Emmy the Great, My Bad EP<br /><br /><br />Limbeck, Limbeck<br /><br /><br />Tegan and Sara, The Con<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />What a phenomenal year of music. God, I don't have anything witty to say.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Cindy Likes the Little Voice</strong><br /><br />Most essential:<br /><br />Bareilles, Sara. Little Voice.<br />“Gonna quit my job and move to New York/ 'Cause somebody told me that's where/ Dreamers should go/ Gonna quit my job and move to New York/ And tattoo my body with every Broadway show” from the song “Vegas.” I also love “Fairytale”: “…‘cause I don’t want the next best thing/ no no I don’t want the next best thing.”<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Sherri, not from Montreal, but Of Montreal</strong><br /><br /><br /><br />1 Of Montreal, Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer?<br /><br /><br />2 L.C.D. Soundsystem, Sound of Silver<br /><br /><br />3 Caribou, Andorra<br /><br /><br />4 Ted Leo and The Pharmacists, Living with the Living<br /><br /><br />5 Panda Bear, Person Pitch<br /><br /><br />6 The Ladybug Transistor, Can't Wait Another Day<br /><br /><br />7 Animal Collective, Strawberry Jam<br /><br /><br />8 The Go-Team, Proof of Youth<br /><br /><br />9 !!! / chk chk chk, Myth Takes<br /><br /><br />10 Imperial Teen, The Hair the TV the Baby and the Band<br /><br /><strong>Jason G., Strange Weirdo<br /></strong><br />10. Strange Weirdos - Loudon Wainwright III<br />For the last several years, Loudon has had a popular resurgence thanks to Judd Apatow. It's interested cause he made his best albums in the seventies after appearing on M*A*S*H*. Since being welcomed into the Jew Crew's inner-circle with acting roles on Undeclared and Knocked Up, his musical output has once again hit a new peak. Strange Weirdos is the soundtrack to Knocked Up, even though more than half the songs don't appear in the film. What made Loudon's early albums so great was their mix of political commentary, his sharp wit and his anti-folk mentality. Truth is, he hasn't been this sharp since his mid-seventies masterpieces (1979's A Live One is a great introduction) and it's a welcome return to form. BEST TRACKS: "Grey in L.A.", "Feel So Good", "Daughter"<br /><br />9. Wincing the Night Away - The Shins<br />The album leaked in October of 2006 and I'm still listening to it. And while The Shins haven't improved as a live act, this album is definitely an excellent step forward for them musically. Every song on this record is strong. It also keeps getting better, with the second side stronger than the first side.BEST TRACKS: "A Comet Appears", "Girl Sailor", "Turn on Me"<br /><br /><br /><br />8. The Reminder – Feist<br />Get past how overplayed "1234" has become and what you're left with is one of the best records by a female artist. It's an album that will one day be considered a classic on par with Joni Mitchell's Blue, Kate Bush's The Whole Story and Sinead O'Connor's I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got. It's a record that entices you with a warmth, but that is lyrically stinging and angry as all hell. BEST TRACKS: "1234", "My Moon My Man", The Water"<br /><br /><br /><br />7. We'll Never Turn Back - Mavis Staples<br />When I heard that Anti- Records (home to Tom Waits and Nick Cave) signed Mavis Staples I was pretty surprised. The legendary Stax superstar hasn't released anything worthy in years. Well, We'll Never Turn Back is fantastic. Ry Cooder produced this masterpiece that lets her saintly vocals shine to the heavens. The album standards and originals that deal with the civil rights movement, but while some of these tracks may be very old, it's amazing how much the album feels like it's talking about the aftermath of Katrina and the sad state of racism in America that still seems to exist. It's a powerful album. In fact, without even trying, Mavis has made her most spiritual album in decades.<br />BEST TRACKS: "My Own Eyes", "99 and 1/2", "Down in Mississippi"<br /><br /><br /><br />6. Boxer - The National<br />Alligator was a really good record, but Boxer is an excellent record. It's the type of album that you wish U2 would still make. The love/war metaphors keep bringing me back to Boy-era U2, with "Start A War" being the album's centerpiece. You can also feel a slight Springsteen influence hidden underneath some of the feedback. The more I listened to it and the most I soaked up Matt Berninger's lyrics, the more I fell in love with this album.BEST TRACKS: "Fake Empire", "Start a War", "Apartment Story", "Slow Show"<br /><br /><br /><br />5. Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer? - Of Montreal<br />Hissing Fauna is the album that Elephant 6er Kevin Barnes has been threatening to make for years. It's by far Of Montreal's most accessible album and it's also their poppiest, but it's also their most creative. By toning down some of their eccentricities and lyrical pogoing, Barnes and company are able to actually shine in a way that they have never been able to before. While Beck's Sea Change is an album about that horrible period after breaking up in which you still think you love the person, Hissing Fauna is all about seeing the emotional scars that a relationship can leave on your body. Barnes paints such a vivid picture of this troubled world, but keeps it wrapped in a surreal sense of hope and optimism. Nothing they've ever done has matched the depth and beauty and sadness and heart that is Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer?BEST TRACKS: "Heimdalsgate Like a Promethean Curse", "Suffer for Fashion", "She's a Rejecter", "The Past Is a Grotesque Animal"<br /><br /><br /><br />4. In Rainbows - Radiohead<br />Fucking A. Thom Yorke and his merry band of pranksters are the best band in the world. In Rainbows may not be the most insane or creative albums they've ever released, but it is on par with their best (Kid A, OK Computer, The Bends). While some fans have complained that they prefer the demo versions of "Nude" or "Arpeggi," the album versions of these songs are masterful. "House of Cards," a song full of metaphors about falling in love with your best friend and risking it all, is just heaven sent. "Jigsaw Falling into Place" and "Bodysnatchers" are blast and then you have an added second disc that is just as awesome as the first disc. I can go on and on, but you should know that this is worth every penny I paid for it.BEST TRACKS: "House of Cards", "Reckoner", "Jigsaw Falling into Place", "All I Need", "4 Minute Warning"<br /><br /><br /><br />3. The Con - Tegan and Sara<br />Tegan and Sara have made the musical equivalent to The Slums of Beverly Hills. It's a near-perfect coming of age album that is much more intelligent and complex than the first listening/viewing could get across. On the most basic level, the album is an ambitious step forward for the sisters. It's by far their most musically complex and adventurous album, but it's the lyrical themes and the pulsating hooks that make this album so stellar. "Floorplan" and "The Con" are two of the most powerful songs the pair have ever written. The beauty of the album is how perfect it works as a whole, from start to finish. Every song evolves into the other and it all works so perfect.BEST TRACKS: "Nineteen", "The Con", "Floorplan", "Hop On A Plane"<br /><br /><br /><br />2. Sound of Silver - LCD Soundsystem<br />Production: Perfect. Beats: Killer. Grooves: Out of this world. Lyrics: Off the hook. Album: Beyond awesome. Live: Even more beyond awesome. No album made me lose my shit more this year than LCD's Sound of Silver. Having seen James Murphy and co numerous times of the years, I never expected him to drop such a fucking amazing album. All in all, the album delivers some of the best anthems of the year. Songs like "North American Scum", "Get Innocuous!" and the absolutely brilliant "All My Friends" are enough to make this album a near tie for my number one spot, but it gets so much extra love because this album has no filler. No filler. All killer. BEST TRACKS: "North American Scum", "Get Innocuous!", "All My Friends", "Watch The Tapes", "Someone Great", "New York, I Love You but You're Bringing Me Down"<br /><br /><br /><br />1. Neon Bible - Arcade Fire<br />Forget the Springsteen and U2 comparisons, in ten years no one will remember that people said those things because this record will be standing on its own as an absolute masterpiece. Every song on this album is an absolute classic. Every song compliments the next. Every song stays inside you and gets better and better with repeat listening. It's an album that not only feels important, it is important. It's music you want to share. It's music you want to keep private. It's music you want heal, to love, to listen, to feed off, and to have sex to. It's just brilliant and in ten years when this band is headlining arenas or broken up, it's an album that people will still consider absolutely perfect. BEST TRACKS: "Windowsill", "The Well & The Lighthouse", "Keep The Car Running", "No Cars Go", "Intervention", "Ocean of Noise", "Neon Bible", "Black Mirror", "(Antichrist Television Blues)", "Black Wave / Bad Vibrations"<br /><br /><strong>Sarah: Into Beauty and Crime</strong><br /><br />My pick for most essential:<br /><br />Suzanne Vega, Beauty and Crime<br /><br />The song "Unbound" is my post-divorce anthem.<br /><br /><strong>Cat Provides Her Historical Conquests</strong><br /><br /><strong></strong><br /><br />The most essential<br />Josh Ritter: The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter (August 2007)<br /><br />The album that came completely out of nowhere, cracked me on the back of the head and knocked me on my ass<br />Rodrigo y Gabriela (October 2006, but they toured mostly in 2007)<br /><br />Other essentials<br />Radiohead: In Rainbows (October 2007)<br />Cold War Kids: Robbers and Cowards (October 2006)<br />Beirut: The Flying Club Cup (October 2007)<br />Once: Soundtrack (May 2007)<br />Modest Mouse: We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank (March 2007)<br />The Shins: Wincing the Night Away (January 2007)<br />Andrew Bird: Armchair Apocrypha (March 2007)<br />Vampire Weekend (January 2008)<br />Brandi Carlisle: The Story (April 2007)<br />M.I.A.: Kala (August 2007)<br />Lily Allen: Alright, Still (January 2007)<br /><br /><br />** I realize some may be disqualified due to release dates, but it was in 2007 that they all received the heaviest rotation on my iPod. : )<br /><br /><strong>Bryant is His Real Name, not his Stage Name</strong><br />Here are my entries:<br /><br />Most Essential Album of 2007:<br />Okkervil River, The Stage Names<br /><br />Other Essential Albums of 2007:<br />The Thrills, Teenager<br />Bloc Party, Weekend in the City<br />Spoon, Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga<br />Feist, The Reminder<br />Ryan Adams, Easy Tiger<br />Arcade Fire, Neon Bible<br /><br />Most Essential Pop Singles of 2007:<br />Beyonce, Irreplaceable<br />Carrie Underwood, Before He Cheats<br />Lil' Mama, Lip Gloss<br /><br />Essential Indie Singles of 2007:<br />Andrew Bird, Imitosis<br />Bloc Party, Song for Clay (Disappear Here)<br />Okkervil River, Plus Ones<br />Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Some Loud Thunder<br />Modest Mouse, Dashboard<br />Feist, My Moon My Man<br />Jens Lekman, A Postcard to Nina<br /><br />I'd like to think up eighteen more categories, but alas, it's time to grade some pop quizzes on Jamestown.<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Ders Tempts Our Eardrum</strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><br />In no particular order, here are my top picks of 2007: Talib Kweli, EardrumSharon Jones & The Dap Kings, 100 Days 100 NightsThe National, BoxerRadiohead, In RainbowsQueens of the Stone Age, Era VulgarisIron and Wine, The Shepard's DogMos Def, True MagicBattles, MirroredEccentric Soul: Twinights Lunar Rotation (Various Artists)Spoon, Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Annie K Goes M.I.A<br /></strong><br />Essential Albums:<br /><br />1. M.I.A., Kala<br /><br />Lupe Fiasco, The Cool<br /><br />The National, Boxer<br /><br />RJD2, The Third Hand<br /><br />The New Pornographers, Challengers<br /><br /><br /><br />Best Remix of New Song With an Old Soul: Rakim & Kanye West & Nas & KRS One, "Classic" (Better Than I've Ever Been DJ Premier Remix)<br /><br />Best Spanish Language Cover of a Song by the Band That Originally Performed It Anyway: Anything Box, Carmen – Castellano<br /><br /><br /><strong>Wani is a Rainbow Warrior<br /></strong><br /><br />Radiohead, In Rainbows (Most Essential)<br /><br />The National, Boxer<br /><br />No Age, Weirdo Rippers<br /><br />Black Kids, Wizard of Ahhs<br /><br />Neil Young, Live at Massey Hall 1971<br /><br />Hannah Montana, Hannah Montana 2: Meet Miley Cyrus (Just Kidding)<br /><br /><br /><strong>New York, Laura D. Loves You But You’re Bringing Her Down</strong><br /><br /><br />Most Essential (a tie for me):<br /><br />LCD Soundsystem, Sound of Silver Because I'm a closet electronica lover and I love the way they mix it up (including that special shout out to our hometown: New York, I Love YOu But You're Bringing Me Down--ha!)<br /><br />AND Radiohead, In Rainbows<br /><br /><br /><br />Other mentions/essentials:<br /><br />Feist, The Reminder (I think 1234 is the catchiest song of the year)<br /><br />Wilco, Sky Blue Sky<br /><br />Shout Out Louds, Our Ill Wills (blatantly appealing to my hankering for college days with The Cure, The Smiths, et al!)<br /><br />Spoon, Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga Amy Winehouse, Back to Black<br /><br /><strong>Dan P. Knows the Magic Position</strong><br /><br />It was a close call. Here are mine (in order of essentiality):<br /><br /><br />1. Patrick Wolf, The Magic Position<br />2. The National, Boxer<br />3. Lavender Diamond, Imagine Our Love<br /><br />Some extras I've listened to plenty, but which I wouldn't necessarily proclaim, "YOU MUST GET THIS RIGHT NOW," more like, "Hey, check this out when you get a chance":<br /><br />Patty Griffin, Children Running Through<br />Arcade Fire, Neon Bible<br />Foo Fighters, Echoes, Silence, Patience, and Grace<br />Annie Lennox, Songs of Mass Destruction<br />Joshua James, The Sun is Always Brighter<br /><br /><br /><strong>Nico’s Zero and X</strong><br /><br />ESSENTIAL ALBUMS<br /><br />1) Nine Inch Nails, Year Zero<br /><br />*After a super-weak “comeback” in 2005 with the With Teeth album, I wasn’t expecting much out of Trent Reznor this time around. But when NIN went on a pre-album-release tour of Europe in the early spring and mysterious YEAR ZERO songs were appearing on USB drives planted in men’s restrooms of the concert venues, when certain letters/numbers on tour shirts were highlighted to reveal secret Web sites and toll-free numbers to call for song previews, and when all sorts of crazy sh*t started happening, I was much more hopeful. This album has renewed my faith in Trent Reznor and his musical capabilities, and it’s hands-down my favorite album of 2007 (sorry, Kylie). Seriously, I’ve never heard music like this. The album goes from expertly engineered electronic cacophony that still manages to have a danceable/head-bang-able beat to the most delicate and melodic vocals of I’ve ever heard out of dear ol’ Trenty, and I’m so in love with this album it’s not even funny. It came out in April, and I STILL can’t stop listening to it. NOW ALL HE HAS TO DO IS TOUR IN THE STATES!!!!! Well, the whole thing is a concept album of what America looks like 15 years in the future, after the Religious Right has taken over and basically destroyed the world, so maybe he feels that America didn’t deserve a YEAR ZERO tour. He managed to go to South America, Asia, Australia, and Europe (twice), but there’s supposedly a YEAR ZERO sequel coming in 08, so I hope to see the new songs live then. Ugh. Sorry for the rant.<br /><br />2) Kylie Minogue, X<br /><br />*Note that this isn’t out in the US till February 08, but I had to put it on here. I nearly cried when I heard this album for the first time. When 13 leaked tracks from this album appeared in June, I was beyond excited. They were amazing, and I had high hopes for Kylie’s return-from-beating-breast-cancer album. But when I later found out that only 3 of the 13 leaked tracks made the final cut, I was worried. Turns out it was for no reason. The album is packed full of the most joyous pop music I’ve heard…um…ever. I’d say Madonna’s Confessions album comes close, but where that album is a bit more removed emotionally from the music (I just think that Madonna is all about the dance-dance-dance on that record), Kylie’s X just sucks you right in. It has some fantastic mid-tempo electro-pop numbers (“Like a Drug,” “The One”), unashamed disco throwbacks that wouldn’t sound out of place on a Daft Punk album (“In Your Arms,” “Wow”), and all sorts of fun. I can’t even put it into words. Obviously.<br /><br />3) Kosheen, Damage<br /><br />*Also only came out in Europe this year, and like Kosheen’s last album, will probably not be release here. Boo. I love this album. It fuses the drum-and-bass/techno elements from their debut album Resist and the more melodic, acoustic sounds of their sophomore album Kokopelli, and the result is quite pleasing.<br /><br />4) M.I.A., Kala<br /><br />*Oh my god. Insanity. This album is insanity, and I love every minute of it. “Bamboo Banga” is one of my favorite songs of the year.<br /><br />5) Rihanna, Good Girl Gone Bad<br /><br />*I think the best lyrics on this album is from “Breakin’ Dishes”: “I’m roastin’ marshmallows on the fi-yah / And what I’m burnin’ is yo’ attie-yah (attire)” “I’m breakin’ dishes (on your head) / All night (uh-huh) / I ain’t gon’ stop until I see police lights (uh-huh) / I’ma fight a man tonight / I’ma fight a man tonight” (repeat, repeat, dance, sing your heart out, dance, repeat, etc., blah blah blah)<br /><br />6) Nine Inch Nails, Y34RZ3R0R3M1X3D (YEAR ZERO REMIXED)<br /><br />*The Faint, Ladytron, and others have their way with YEAR ZERO, and the results are amazing. Really unique music that just blew my mind. And two NIN releases in 6 months?! Maybe sobriety ain’t such a bad thing!<br /><br /><br />ESSENTIAL SONG<br /><br />Britney Spears, “Gimme More” (how can one resist—and what a perfect opening line…and WHAT A PERFORMANCE!!!!!!!)<br /><br /><br />BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENTS<br /><br />1) Marilyn Manson: Eat Me, Drink Me.<br /><br />*More like Slay Me, Bore Me. This came out on my birthday, so I was reasonably excited. And? BOOOOO!!!! I swear, I’ve never been so bored by Manson’s music. I even passed him up on his multiple NYC-area tour stops, because I hated the new songs so much. It’d take too much room to fully express my disappointment in this guy, so I’ll stop. There’s just no UMPH to anything on this album. Well, minimal UMPH, at best. Production is uninteresting. Songs all blend together. Ok. Now I’ll stop.<br /><br />2) Bjork: Volta<br /><br />*Um…eh. Maybe I need to listen to it more, but “eh” about sums it up.<br /><br />3) Tori Amos: American Doll Posse<br /><br />*I thought we were gonna get to see “Crazy Tori” again on this album. That’s what I’d heard, anyway. She brought the “crazy” on her tour (one of the best shows I’ve ever seen by her), but did we see it on the album? No. More adult-contemporary, Top 40 wannabe bullsh*t. Leaps and bounds above Beekeeper, but still. I wanted more.<br /><br /><br />HAPPIEST NEW DISCOVERY<br /><br />Girls Aloud, The Sound of Girls Aloud – This is just the kind of unashamed Europop I’ve been craving, and Girls Aloud’s best-of album (which includes a superfun remake of the Pointer Sisters’ “Jump”) has been seeing a helluva lotta play on my Nano<br /><br /><br /><br />Wow, that was rambly.<br /><br />All in all, 07 was the best year for new music for me in a long time. I’m a happy boy.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Michael T Ceases to Begin</strong><br /><br />1: Band of Horses, "Cease to Begin"<br />2: Handsome Furs, "Plague Park"<br />3. Feist, "The Reminder"<br />4. Panda Bear, "Person Pitch"<br /><br /><br /><strong>Andrew Goes West (But Is Life Peaceful There?)</strong><br /><br /><br /><br />Most Essential:<br /><br />Lucinda Williams, West<br /><br /><br /><br />Essential:<br /><br />Elizabeth Cook, Balls<br /><br />Patty Griffin, Children Running Through<br /><br />Alison Krauss and Robert Plant, Raising Sand<br /><br />Lori McKenna, Unglamorous<br /><br />Bruce Springsteen, Music<br /><br />Kelly Willis, Translated From Love<br /><br /><br /><br />Most Essential of 2008 So Far:Various Artists, "Juno" Soundtrack<br /><br /><br /><strong>Jenny Goes Apocryphal</strong><br />1)Andrew Bird, Armchair Apocryphra (also my newest discovery this year!)<br /><br />2)Spoon, Ga Ga Ga Ga<br /><br />3)LCD Sound System, Sound of Silver<br /><br />4)Stars, In our bedroom after the war<br /><br />5)Amy Winehouse, Back to Black<br /><br />6)Arcade Fire, Neon Bible<br /><br />7)Kanye West, Graduation<br /><br />8)P.J. Harvey, White Chalk<br /><br />9)The Cat Empire, Two Shoes<br /><br />10)The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack to the movie "Once."*<br /><br /><br /><br />**Essential Single: The Decemberists, "The Apology Song." (Off of "5 songs.") (This is one of the best songs I've ever heard!)***<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Neil’s Silver Sounds</strong><br />1) LCD Soundsystem-Sound of Silver 2) Andrew Bird-Armchair Apocryphra 3) Kanye West-Graduation 4) Spoon-Ga Ga Ga Ga 5) Stars-In Our Bedroom After The War 6) Arcade Fire-Neon Bible 7) Jay-Z-American Gangster 8) The National-Boxer 9) M.I.A.-Kala 10) Art Brut-It's A Bit Complicated 11) Iron & Wine-The Shepherd's Dog 12) White Stripes-Icky Thump<br /><br /><br /><strong>Little Boxes for Jonas</strong><br /><br />Here's my number one:<br /><br />Kim Richey, Chinese Boxes<br /><br />And this year's contenders:<br /><br />Kelly Willis, Translated from Love<br />Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, Raising Sand<br />Iron & Wine, The Shepherd's Dog<br />Lucinda Williams, West<br />Ween, La Cucaracha Dash<br />Rip Rock, Hee Haw Hell<br />Bad Brains, Build a Nation<br />Son Volt, The Search<br />Jesse Malin, Glitter in the Gutter<br />John Doe, A Year in the Wilderness<br />The Smithereens, Meet the Smithereens<br />Feist, The Reminder<br /><br />Thanks to Juno for introducing me to Moldy Peaches & Kimya Dawson -- I'm voting them "Folk's best response to Punk."<br /><br />And best discovered music:<br /><br />Penelope Houston, The Pale Green Girl<br /><br />And best discovered bedroom pop:<br /><br />Carla Bruni, Quelqu'un m'a dit<br />Keren Ann, La Bibliographie De Luka Philipse<br /><br /><br /><strong>Jenny F Catches the Wave</strong><br /><br />My contribution is:<br /><br />Chris Bathgate, A Cork Tale Wave<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Brandi Lights a Fire</strong><br /><br /><br />Most essential album (though I loved them already, sealed as essential after seeing them at Judson Memorial Church):<br />Arcade Fire, Neon Bible<br /><br />New surprise:<br />Bowerbirds, Hymns for the Dark Horse<br /><br />Almost forgotten, but rediscovered:<br />The New Pornographers, Challengers<br /><br />Other essentials:<br />Spoon, Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga<br />The National, Boxer<br />Ryan Adams, Easy Tiger (he just goes and goes)<br />!!!, Myth Takes<br />Feist, The Reminder<br /><br /><br /><strong>Antonio’s Big Awakening</strong><br /><br />I am very bad when it comes to lists and such because my brain is so scattered. But I can tell you that I give a big vote to the SPRING AWAKENING cd!! (If you haven't heard it yet, go listen! go listen!) As for an awesome artist/album I've recently discovered: Loreena McKennitt, The Mask and Mirror.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Pam, Armchair Fan</strong><br /><br />My most essential album of the year:<br /><br />* Andrew Bird; Armchair Apocrypha<br /><br />Other essentials:<br />* Loney, Dear; Loney, Noir<br />* Fionn Regan; The End of History<br />* The Cribs; Men's Needs, Women's Needs, Whatever<br />* Datarock; Datarock<br />* O'death; Head Home<br />* Tim Fite, Gone Aint Gone<br />* Le Loup; The Throne of The Third Heaven of The Nations' Millenium Geneneral Assembly<br />* Luke Temple; Snowbeast<br />* The Mugs; Here Tomorrow<br />* Rufus Wainwright, Release The Stars<br />* White Rabbits, Fort Nightly<br /><br /><strong><br />Matthew U. Gives Us a Story</strong><br /><br />Most essential:<br /><br />Brandi Carlile, The Story<br /><br />Biggest disappointments:<br />Lucinda Williams, West (though with a few good songs)<br />Patty Griffin, Children Running Through (though with a few great songs)<br />Annie Lennox, Songs of Mass Destruction<br /><br />Guiltiest pleasure:<br />Mika, Life in Cartoon Motion<br /><br />Notables:<br />Aesop Rock, None Shall Pass<br />Rufus Wainwright, Release the Stars<br />Josh Ritter, The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter<br />Kelly Willis, Translated from Love<br />Nellie McKay, Obligatory Villagers<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Thu’s Feisty</strong><br /><br />1. Feist, The Reminder2. Wilco, Sky Blue Sky3. Jose Gonzalez, In Our Nature4. Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová, Once Soundtrack5. LCD Soundsystem, Sound of Silver6. Arcade Fire, Neon Bible7. Deerhoof, Friend Opportunity<br /><br /><br /><strong>e.kuo Visits the Scene of the Crimes</strong><br /><br />in no particular order:<br /><br />Radiohead-In Rainbows<br />The true followup to "OK Computer," this is the album I wish "Hail to the Theif" had been. And the initial download release reminded me of going to midnight sale CD releases in college to buy an album as soon as I could. It's amazing that that they managed to suddenly reawaken that excitement of being one of the first to hear an album along with the rest of the world, rather than finding a leak online weeks before the official date. And of course, wanting the vinyl, I shelled out for the discbox.<br /><br />Okkervil River-The Stage Names<br />Something like an indie rock version of Jackson Browne's "Running on Empty," this album bemoans the life of an indie rocker and turns the lens on itself. Commenting on the various pressures and ennui of being in a "mid-level band," Okkervil River manages not only to update Jackson Browne's portrait of being in a band in the aughts, but also puts themselves in a direct historical path, showing how the more some things change the more they stay the same.<br /><br />Rhymefest-The Man in the Mirror<br />Mark Ronson and the "Best Kept Secret" remix Michael Jackson's discography and let Rhymefest do his thing in tribute to the King of Pop. Amazingly, the album actually benefits from its skits, which, with tricky editing, take the form of studio chatter between Rhymefest and Michael Jackson as they make the album. Maybe it's because I'm a fan of MJ, but I find myself coming back to this. There seems to be such joy in the creation of it, which never ceases to put a smile on my face.<br /><br />Burial-Untrue<br />I'm not even completely clear on what dubstep is, but the dark murky soundscape of this album and the skittering beats offer themselves as the children of Massive Attack and the cousin once or twice removed of Dizzee Rascal. A fitful late night descent into a dancing darkness. Or something like that.<br /><br />Kanye West-Graduation<br />How does he do it? I'm amazed at the level of quality he's been able to sustain in the hip hop arena. I'm not even sure what to say about this other than it's more of what you've come to know and expect of Kanye while managing to exceed and rise above it. How else would he continue to be so fresh?<br /><br />Jens Lekman-Night Falls on Kortedala<br />If Okkervil River are channeling the spirit of Jackson Browne, Jens Lekman is like a Swedish Van Morrison. But instead of becoming subsumed by his 60s and 70s R&B and AM radio influences, he filters them through a sweet Swedish precision. Almost too precious by half, there's something infectious in the seemingly simple way he plays with and through his influences. It's music by a lover of music.<br /><br />Blonde Redhead-23<br />Airy, lush production propels this album foward in an almost hypnotic state. An autumnal dream-pop album, I assauged a few dark late nights with this small gem.<br /><br />Bjork-Volta<br />While perhaps not her best album, it's Bjork! And while some songs seemed to meander to the point of almost becoming lost, others reaffirmed Bjork as one of the most distinct voices in contemporary music.<br /><br />Bettye Lavette-The Scene of the Crime<br />In a year when Sharon Jones released her third soul excercise in 60s revivalism, and Amy Winehouse borrowed Jones' band to put her own brand of funk on it, I found myself returning to Bettye Lavette's Muscles Shoals-like album, recorded with the Drive-By Truckers. While not as raw as her previous outing (the fantastic "I've Got My Own Hell To Raise"), the fuller sound brings a new warmth to the proceedings and the band does great work supporting Lavette's voice, growls, and phrasing. As a side note, she'll be playing February 8th in New York as part of Lincoln Center's American Songbook presents series. And, in a move that I have long wanted and hope will become the norm, the LP comes with a free coupon to download the music as an mp3.<br /><br />Notable reissues:<br />Betty Davis-Betty Davis<br />Betty Davis-They Say I'm Different<br />Her first two albums serve thick powerful slabs of 70s funk. Married to Miles Davis (for a time) she turned him onto Jimi Hendrix and psychadelic rock, influencing "Bitches Brew" in the process. The first album features Sly and the Family Stone's rhythm session and backing vocals from the Pointer Sisters. I read someone somewhere call her the Janis Joplin of funk, an apt comparison.<br /><br /><strong><br />Dan E is Still All About the Reissues</strong><br /><br />Yes, I am still all about the reissues:1) Sly and the Family Stone / The Collection2) Pink Floyd / Piper at the Gates of Dawn3) Grandmaster's Remix Album: GZA vs. DJ MuggsYou'd be proud; I actually managed to go as recent as 2005 on the third choice, so perhaps I'm evolving. (On second thought...)<br /><br /><br /><strong>Hong Goes for the Panda Bear</strong><br /><br />Most essential:Panda Bear, Person Pitch<br /><br /><br /><br />Others essential:<br /><br />Peter Bjorn and John, Writer's Block<br /><br />LCD Soundsystem, Sounds of Silver<br /><br />UNKLE, War Stories<br /><br />Bat for Lashes, Fur and Gold<br /><br />Arcade Fire, Neon Bible<br /><br /><br /><br />Essential single:José González, Down the Line from In Our Nature<br /><br /><br /><strong>Get Margo a Pink Martini!</strong><br /><br />my vote for 2007 is:<br /><br />Pink Martini, Hey Eugene<br /><br /><br /><strong>Siobhan’s Survey Says….</strong><br /><br /><br />1. Peter, Bjorn and John - Writer's Block 2. Panda Bear - Person Pitch 3. Loney Dear - Loney, Noir 4. Night Falls Over Kortedala - Jens Lekman 5. The Shins - Wincing The Night Away 6. Taken By Trees - Taken By Trees 7. Sea And Cake - Everybody 8. Arcade Fire - Neon Bible<br /><br /><br />Coolest Album Packaging<br />Bright Eyes - Cassandra<br /><br />Best Live Show<br />M. Ward @ Town Hall<br /><br />Artist Who I Will Probably Love But Can't Seem To Convince Myself To Buy Her Records For Whatever Reason: Feist *i bet she's in the D.M.P. top five. maybe that will finally tip the scale for me.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Cassandra Knows the Cool</strong><br /><br />Most Essential:<br />Lupe Fiasco, The Cool<br /><br />Other Essentials:<br />Paramore, Riot!<br />Amy Winehouse, Back to Black<br />Common, Finding Forever<br />Jill Scott, The Real Thing: Words and Sounds Vol. 3<br />Keyshia Cole, Just Like You<br />Alicia Keys, As I Am<br />Jay-Z, American Gangster<br />Fall Out Boy, Infinity on High<br />Alice Smith, For Lovers, Dreamers & Me<br />Chrisette Michele, I Am<br />K-os, Atlantis: Hymns for Disco<br />Kelly Clarkson, My December<br />Pharoahe Monch, Desire<br />Timbaland, Presents: Shock Value<br /><br /><br /><br />What Does Elizabeth E. Looks Like Under the Blacklight?<br /><br />Well, with the state of award shows in jeopardy, I wanted to take my time with this as your list will be THE music industry event of the year (take that Grammys!).<br /><br />MOST ESSENTIAL<br />Rilo Kiley, Under the Blacklight<br /><br />CLOSE SECOND<br />The Shins, Wincing the Night Away<br />The Arcade Fire, Neon Bible<br />Radiohead, In Rainbows<br /><br />ESSENTIALS<br />Feist, The Reminder<br />Peter Bjorn and John, Writer’s Block<br />Matt Nathanson, Some Made Hope<br />Mika, Life in Cartoon Motion<br />Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova, Once: Music from the Motion Picture<br />Sara Barielles, Little Voice<br />The Academy Is…, Santi<br />Cold War Kids, Robbers & Cowards<br />Silversun Pickups, Carnavas<br /><br />THE I’M NOT AFRAID TO ADMIT IT, DAMMIT AWARD<br />Avril Lavigne’s “Girlfriend” was a must on my gym workout<br /><br />BECAUSE I’M SO BEHIND AWARD<br />Shiny Toy Gun’s “We Are Pilots” would have been my essential 2006 album, if I bought it in 2006…<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Brenda Winces the Night Away<br /><br />Albums:<br />1. The Shins, Wincing the Night Away<br />2. Feist, The Reminder<br />3. Radiohead, In Rainbows<br /><br />Singles:<br />1. The Editors, Smokers Outside the Hospital Doors<br />2. Bloc Party, I Still Remember<br />3. Sara Bareilles, Love Song<br /><br /><br /><br />Kevin W. Plays with Reality<br /><br />Hey, David, here goes:<br /><br />1. King Khan and the Shrines, What Is?! -- There is no reality, only King Khan. Plus, he can change from leather punk rock gear to a sequin dress during a guitar solo.<br /><br />2. The Black Lips, Good Bad Not Evil -- So, yeah, this is a lot slicker than they're past efforts, but if you're willing to forgive the fact that they've risen from the murk, you'll find that they're still as anti-social and maladjusted as ever.<br /><br />3. Harlan T. Bobo, I'm Your Man -- At first, I thought I wasn't going to like this sophomore effort, but I've found that it's exceptionally difficult to keep this out of my cd player. He alternately channels "Mutations" Beck, spoken word Lou Reed, and the straight country-rock sound of the city he calls home: Memphis.<br /><br />4. Len Price 3, Rentacrowd -- Actually, I've only heard a few tracks from this. But it's obvious all these guys want to do is write songs that sound like "The Kids are Alright." That's what I call a "good idea," and I suspect that when I finally own this thing, it will quickly occupy a loftier spot.<br /><br />POTENTIALLY GREAT ALBUM FROM A BAND THAT HAS BEEN AROUND FOR DECADES:<br />Blue Rodeo, Small Miracles<br /><br />RUMOR FOR GOOD MUSIC IN 2008:<br />I have it on good word that The Cripplers are back together and that they're going to release a new album that will be just as rollicking as the last one.<br /><br />ALBUMS FROM 2006 THAT FLEW UNDER THE RADAR (or at least my radar love):<br />Bamboo Kids, Feel Like Hell -- Whaddya know, they still have kids playing angry and loud in Brooklyn.<br />Born Liars, Exit Smiling<br />Hymns, Brother/Sister -- This is a long way from my penchant for the garage, but you've got to take it easy once in a while.<br /><br /><br /><br />Myths of Eamon’s Near Future<br /><br />Most Essential<br />Klaxons - Myths of the Near Future<br /><br />Honorable Mentions<br />LCD Soundsystem - Sound of Silver (NY I Love You, But You're Bringing Me Down...how true)<br /><br />Maps - We Can Create (bringing back shoegaze...hopefully the new MBV will be on here next year)<br /><br />Fujiya Miyagi - Transparent Things (goofy fun)<br /><br />The Good, the Bad & the Queen - The Good, the Bad & the Queen (Damon Alburn does it again)<br /><br />Jarvis Cocker - Jarvis (um, genius)<br /><br />Mark Ronson - Version (Overlook the cover of Toxic)<br /><br />Rufus Wainwright - Release the Stars (I’m so tired of you America)<br /><br />Ryan Adams - Easy Tiger (his best/most consistent since Heartbreaker)<br /><br /><br />Most Overrated<br />Feist - The Reminder (sorry…)<br /><br />Most Overplayed<br />Peter, Bjorn & John - Writer's Block (though this officially came out in 2006, and somehow I still like it. It’s like Swedish crack)<br /><br />1, 2, 3, 4, Trevor <br /><br />Here is my list of essential albums for 2007:<br /><br />1- Feist, The Reminder<br />2- Maritime, Heresy and the Hotel Choir<br />3- The Shins, Wincing the Night Away<br />4- Band of Horses, Cease to Begin<br />5- Chuck Ragan, Feast or Famine<br />6- Iron and Wine, The Shepherd’s Dog<br />7- Radiohead, In Rainbows<br />8- Explosions in the Sky, All of a Sudden I Miss Everyone<br /> 9- Stars, In Our Bedroom After the War<br />10- Interpol, Our Love to Admire<br /> - Arcade Fire, Neon Bible <br /><br /><br /><br />Ann Marie H. Plays Arcade Games<br /><br />The Arcade Fire, Neon Bible<br />Radiohead, In Rainbows<br /><br /><br /><br />Cecil’s Holding on to the Foundations<br /><br />Kate Nash / Foundations <br /><br />Feist / The Reminder<br /><br />Rufus Wainwright / Release the Stars<br /><br />Uh Huh Her / I See Red<br /><br />explosions in the sky / All of a sudden I miss everyone<br /><br /><br /><br />Kyle Hearts Conor<br /><br />Most Essential:<br />1) Bright Eyes - Cassadaga<br /><br />Other Essentials:<br />2) The Rocket Summer - Do You Feel<br />3) Hard-Fi - Once Upon A Time In The West <br />4) Stars - In Our Bedroom After The War<br />5) Feist - The Reminder<br /><br />Most Essential To Listen To Under Fear of Social Alienation and Excommunication:<br />Britney Spears - Blackout<br /><br />Most Essential Mainstream Breakout: <br />Jordin Sparks - Jordin Sparks<br /><br />Best New Discovery:<br />Brandi Carlisle - The Story<br /><br />Best Return To What They Do Best:<br />Daft Punk - Alive 2007<br /><br /><br /><br />Zac Takes a Weekend in the City<br /><br />Most Essential Album 2007:<br />Bloc Party, A Weekend the City<br /><br />#2 Most Essential Album 2007:<br />Girlyman, Joyful Sign<br /><br />#3 Most Essential Album 2007:<br />Beirut, The Flying Cup Club<br /><br />#4 Most Essential Album 2007:<br />Sara Bareilles, Little Voice<br /><br />#5 Most Essential Album 2007:<br />Wilco, Sky Blue Sky<br /><br />#6 Most Essential Album 2007:<br />Peter Bjorn & John, Writer's Block<br /><br />#7 Most Essential Album 2007:<br />Stars, In Our Bedroom After the War<br /><br />#8 Most Essential Album 2007:<br />Arcade Fire, Neon Bible<br /><br />#9 Most Essential Album 2007:<br />Iron & Wine, The Shepherd's Dog<br /><br />#10 Most Essential Album 2007:<br />The National, Boxer<br /><br /># 11 Most Essential Album 2007:<br />Jens Lekman, Night Falls Over Kortedala <br /><br />#12 Most Essential Album 2007:<br />Feist, The Reminder<br /><br />#13 Most Essential Album 2007:<br />Modest Mouse, We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank<br /><br />#14 Most Essential Album 2007:<br />LCD Soundsystem, Sound of Silver<br /><br />#15 Most Essential Album 2007:<br />!!! (Chk Chk Chk), Myth Takes<br /><br /><br />(My) Most Essential Discovery from 2006: <br />William Fitzsimmons, Goodnight<br /><br />Most Essential Postmortem Release:<br />Elliott Smith, New Moon<br /><br />Most Essential Sleepytime Album:<br />Lewis and Clarke, Blasts of Holy Birth<br /><br />Most Essential You-Wish-It-Wasn't-Essential Album:<br />Fallout Boy, Infinity on High<br /><br />Biggest Letdown 2007:<br />Rilo Kiley, Under the Blacklight<br /><br /><br /><br />Kevin K. Takes Us Through the Year<br /><br />I have decided to list my favorites this year in the order they were added to my iTunes library. <br /><br />January<br /><br />The Shins / Wincing the Night Away - The first purchase of 2007 was added two weeks early when iTunes accidentally released it before the street date!<br /><br />Of Montreal / Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer? - If the 2007 David Poll was limited to the month of January, this would have been my #1 choice.<br /><br />Field Music / Tones of the Town - The "sleeper" selection for January. I am so happy I purchased this based on the PASTE recommendation. <br /><br />February<br /><br />Patty Griffin / Children Running Through - This woman can do no wrong. <br /><br />The Broken West / I Can't Go On I'll Go On - This was one of those "leap of faith" purchases based on hearing one track. It turned out to by my "Sleeper CD of the Year."<br /><br />Peter Bjorn and John / Writer's Block - I don't watch GREY'S ANATOMY. The line in the song "Paris 2004" about drawing a wedding ring on a finger while sleeping is classic.<br /><br />March <br /><br />Arcade Fire / Neon Bible - I have discovered that there are two camps of Arcade Fire fans - those who love FUNERAL and those who love NEON BIBLE. I belong to the later. This is easily my #1 favorite CD of 2007. <br /><br />Amy Winehouse / Back to Black - Do you know how many times I watched the YouTube videos from this CD before it was released? <br /><br />Andrew Bird / Armchair Apocrypha - Seeing him in concert was the "live" music highlight of 2007. <br /><br />LCD Soundsystem / Sound of Silver - I knew I shouldn't have stopped taking cow bell lessons. This release proves that March was the best month of 2007.<br /><br />April <br /><br />Bright Eyes / Cassadaga - It took me about six months to really get into this CD. When it clicked I was hooked.<br /><br />May <br /><br />Feist / The Reminder - I picked this up the day I returned from a trip to Disney World. The perfect cure for my mouse hangover. My biggest disappointment of the year was when my wife's friends won tickets to see her in concert AND TOOK MY WIFE INSTEAD OF ME!<br /><br />Wilco / Sky Blue Sky - Is it YANKEE FOXTROT HOTEL? No. Is it still better than 90% of the crap being played on the radio? Yes!<br /><br />The National / Boxer - This would not have made my list until I had the honor of talking to Josh Jackson, editor of PASTE Magazine, one night at dinner. He encouraged me to listen to it again, because like me he wasn't a big fan until he gave it another try.<br /><br />The Avett Brothers / Emotionalism - I had a chance to see them in concert in Seattle but passed it up. Luckily I was able to make up for that mistake a few months later in Ann Arbor. If they are playing in your town, run don't walk to the show. <br /><br />June <br /><br />The White Stripes / Icky Thump - One of the only bands doing anything exciting and original on a consistent basis. <br /><br />The New Pornographers / Challengers - Through an unnamed source I was able to obtain a copy of this CD three months before the release date. The Canadian collective has become one of my top five favorite bands of all time!<br /><br />July <br /><br />Spoon / Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga - There is not a weak song on this very solid CD. What makes this statement more amazing is that each track is really different. <br /><br />Tegan and Sara / The Con - This is my youngest daughter Rachael's (age 3) favorite CD of 2007. Eat that HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL!<br /><br />August<br /><br />Okkervil River / The Stage Names - My favorite "discovery" of 2007. Easily in my top five of the year and not because HARP Magazine picked it as there #1 of the year.<br /><br />Josh Ritter / The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter - This man is the nicest guy in music. After a show he talked to my wife and I for like ten minutes and then hugged us both. <br /><br />Over the Rhine / The Trumpet Child - If you only pick it up for the track "If A Song Could Be President" it will be worth it. <br /><br />September <br /><br />Bishop Allen / The Broken String - Another CD purchased based on a PASTE Magazine review. Ended up picking up all of the EPs from 2006. <br /><br />Jens Lekman / Night Falls Over Kortedala - If you ask me tomorrow, this may be my #1 of 2007. Thank you David for introducing me to this genius!<br /><br />Nick Lowe / At My Age - Listen to it and tell me you do not think a few tracks sound like he is channeling Elvis. <br /><br />Iron and Wine / The Shepherd's Dog - He is coming to Kalamazoo in April! Forgive my excitement, but Kalamazoo is not exactly a premiere stop. <br /><br />October <br /><br />Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings / 100 Days, 100 Nights - It is hard to believe that the Dap Kings were the backing band for both this CD and the Amy Winehouse release. <br /><br />M.I.A. / Kala - She is two for two! I could listen the entire CD over and over again. Another CD in my Top Five of 2007.<br /><br />Bruce Springsteen / Magic - Believe the hype. The best Bruce has rocked since I was in middle school.<br /><br />November <br /><br />Various Artists / I'm Not There (Original Movie Soundtrack) - Being a Dylan freak I was afraid of this CD, but after listening to it one time I was a fan.<br /><br />December <br /><br />Justice / The Cross - I listen to this on my iPod when I am shoveling snow. <br /><br />Various Artists / Juno (Soundtrack) - The best Soundtrack of 2007! <br /><br /><br /><br />Billy M’s Kala-fornication<br /><br />Yay music poll...<br /> <br />Essential! = M.I.A. - Kala<br /> <br />Constant Play:<br />The Shins - Wincing the Night Away<br />Eisley - Combinations<br />Tegan & Sara - The Con<br />Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Is Is (Ep)<br /> <br />Late Discovery:<br />Joanna Newsom - Ys (2006)<br /> <br />Addictive Pop:<br />Rihana - Good Girl Gone Bad<br />Kylie Minogue - Kylie X<br /> <br />Favorite single track:<br />Bamboo Banga - M.I.A.<br />Hologram World - Tiny Masters of Today<br /> <br />Noteworthy:<br />Nine Inch Nails - Year Zero<br />Radiohead - In Rainbows<br />Patty Griffin - Children Running Through<br /> <br />Disappointing:<br />Rufus Wainwright - Release the Stars<br />Tori Amos - American Doll Posse<br /> <br /><br /><br />Michael R’s For the Bird<br /><br /> <br />Most Essential: Andrew Bird, Armchair Apocrypha<br /> <br />Also essential, though somewhat less so<br /> <br />LCD Soundsystem, Sound of Silver<br />Jens Lekman, Night Falls Over Kortedala<br />Feist, The Reminder<br /><br /><br />Gabe Rides the New Wave<br /><br />It took me a while to remember which albums came out this year, and which didn't (guess Amy Winehouse was 2006?). Anyway, here's my contribution to the Music Poll (Heath Ledger Memorial edition):<br /><br />Against Me - "New Wave" (most essential)<br /><br />Other essentials:<br /><br />Band of Horses - "Cease to Begin"<br />Arcade Fire - "Neon Bible"<br />Spoon - "Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga" (how many "ga"s in there, again?) <br />"Once" (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)<br /><br /><br />Annie M is Alright, Still<br /><br />Most Essential, 1st-place tie between:<br />Lily Allen, Alright, Still<br />The Shins, Wincing the Night Away<br /><br />Honorable mentions:<br />Feist, the Reminder<br />Sinead O’Connor, Theology<br />Amy Winehouse, Back to Black<br />Tegan & Sara, The Con<br />Lucinda Williams, West<br />Norah Jones, Not Too Late<br /><br /><br />Sophie Says Yes, Yes, Yes to Rehab<br /><br />Most Essential: <br />Amy Winehouse, Back to Black<br /> <br />Other Essentials:<br />Lily Allen, Alright Still (yes, again! It's that good, people.)<br />Spoon, Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga<br />The Pipettes, We Are The Pipettes<br /> <br />Albums I Wish I'd Bought, Because I Hear They Rule:<br />Feist, The Reminder<br />Ghostface Killah, The Big Doe Rehab<br />Okkervil River, The Stage Names<br />Band of Horses, Cease to Begin<br />Explosions in the Sky, All of a Sudden I Miss Everyone<br /> <br />Best Songs on Albums Not On My Lists:<br />"Foundations", by Kate Nash<br />"Thou Shalt Always Kill", by Dan le Sac vs. Scroobius Pip<br /> <br />Essentials Not Released in 2007:<br />The Kinks, Something Else<br /><br /><br />Erin C. Fills Her (Dean and) Britta<br /><br />I’m giving up on being cool and just going with the album with which I was truly obsessed for most of the year: Dean & Britta, Back Numbers. A close second would be Amy Winehouse, Back to Black, but I think it may have come out at the end 2006, and I cannot in good conscience support the crack addiction . . .<br /><br /><br />Kimberly Loves the Ladies<br /><br />For me, 2007 was all about the ladies:<br /> <br />1. FEIST The Reminder<br />2. AMY WINEHOUSE Back to Black<br />3. LILY ALLEN Alright, Still<br /> <br /><br />Alex Preaches for a Certain Canadian Band<br /><br />albums<br /><br />Essential: Arcade Fire "Neon Bible"<br /><br />Just about Essential: The National "Boxer"<br /><br />Runners Up:<br />Lavender Diamond "Imagine Our Love"<br />Bat for Lashes "Fur and Gold" (released 2006 in UK)<br />Los Campesinos "Sticking Fingers into Sockets" EP/mini-album <br />Lily Allen "Alright Still" (released 2006 in UK)<br />PJ Harvey "White Chalk"<br />LCD Soundsystem "Sound of Silver"<br />Pipettes "We are the Pipettes" (released 2006 in UK)<br />Vampire Weekend "Blue CD-R"<br />Calvin Harris "I Created Disco"<br />Iron & Wine "The Shepherd's Dog"<br />Deerhunter "Cryptograms"<br /><br />Essential Singles not included on my essential records above: (and singles only, non-single tracks disqualified)<br /><br />Los Campesinos "You! Me! Dancing!" (I cheated on this one since its so amazing, song of the year!)<br />Dan le Sac vs Scroobius Pip "Thou Shalt Always Kill"<br />Kate Nash "Foundations"<br />Calvin Harris "Merrymaking at My Place"<br />New Young Pony Club "Ice Cream" (technically this may be older than 07?)<br />Arctic Monkeys "Flourescent Adolescent"<br />Band of Horses "Is There a Ghost"<br />Soulsavers "Revival"<br />Black Kids "I'm Not Gonna Teach My Boyfriend How to Dance With You"<br />Justice "D.A.N.C.E."<br />Klaxons "Golden Skans"<br /><br />[Although I have to agree with P4K and say in this modern age of downloads etc "singles" is an outdated concept, "individual songs" is a better separate list to "full albums"]<br /><br /><br />Angie and Bob Pit Canadians Against Each Other<br /><br />We battled it out, but Bob won for Arcade Fire. It is most essential. The Feist is a close number two. <br /> <br />Arcade Fire. Neon Bible<br />Feist. The Reminder<br />Mika. Life in Cartoon Motion<br />The Puppini Sisters. Betcha Bottom Dollar<br /> Blue Scholars. Bayani<br />Lily Allen. Alright, Still<br />Patrick Wolf. The Magic Position<br />Brandi Carlisle. The Story<br />Sondre Lerche. Dan in Real Life (soundtrack)<br />Amy Winehouse. Back to Black<br /> <br />Elise Loves the Bible’s Verses<br /><br />Top 3 albums:<br /> <br />Arcade Fire, Neon Bible<br />Juno soundtrack<br />Spoon, Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga<br /> <br />Best single:<br />Amy Winehouse, Rehab<br /> <br />My all-time favorite song of the year is Imogen Heap's Speeding Cars--do you know that one? I don't think it's a 2007 release, but I only discovered it this year. <br /><br /><br />There Will Be Ronnie’s Picks<br /><br />This was a lousy year for soundtrack scores, except for two amazing releases:<br /> <br />Jonny Greenwood, There Will Be Blood<br />Nick Cave and Warren Ellis, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford<br /> <br />I hate to leave it at that, so here are my picks for best use of a song in a movie 2007:<br /> <br />Homer Simpson/Spider-Pig [The Simpsons Movie]<br />Antsy Pants/Vampire [Juno]<br />Engelbert Humperdinck/A Man Without Love [Romance & Cigarettes]<br />Survivor/Eye of the Tiger [Persepolis]<br />Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova/Falling Slowly [Once]<br />Three Dog Night/Easy to Be Hard [Zodiac]<br />Donovan/Hurdy Gurdy Man [Zodiac]<br />Antony & the Johnsons/Knockin' on Heaven's Door [I'm Not There]<br /> <br /><br /><br />Terra Releases the Stars<br /><br />1. Rufus Wainwright, Release the Stars<br />2. Allison Krauss & Robert Plant, Raising Sand<br /><br />Best New Discovered Artist: The National<br /><br /><br />What’s the Frequency, Joel?<br /><br />Albums: <br />PlayRadioPlay! - The Frequency<br />Feist - The Reminder<br />Colbie Caillat - Coco<br />Paramore - Misery Business<br />The Maine - The Way We Talk (EP)<br /><br />Essential Singles (though they may not have all come out this year): <br />Jesca Hoop - Summertime<br />A Rocket to the Moon - I'll Be Your Sunset Scott Simon - Umbrella (Cover) Jason Reeves - Photographs and Memories Justice - D.A.N.C.E.<br />Go Radio - I Wish It Would Snow<br /><br /><br />Flinn: The Fire This Time<br /><br />MOST ESSENTIAL: Arcade Fire, Neon Bible<br />The National, Boxer <br />Feist, The Reminder<br />Patty Griffin, Children Running Through<br />The New Pornographers, Challengers<br />Okkervil River, The Stage Names<br />Explosions In The Sky, All of a Sudden I Miss Everyone<br />Carolina Chocolate Drops, Dona Got A Ramblin' Mind<br />Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, 100 Nights and 100 Days<br />Rilo Kiley, Under The Blacklight<br />M.I.A., Kala<br />Tegan and Sara, The Con<br />Bat For Lashes, Fur and Gold<br /><br /><br />Adam R. Goes Canine with Iron & WIne<br /><br />Most essential: <br />Iron & Wine / The Shepherd’s Dog<br /><br />Other essentials:<br />Modest Mouse / We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank<br />M. Ward / Post War<br />Nick Drake / Family Tree (limited box set containing all three of his albums plus a booklet and DVD)<br /><br />The duo-auteur album I wish had been recorded but wasn’t:<br />Beth Orton and Gillian Welch<br /><br /><br />Scott T Takes it in the Shins<br /><br />Y'know, I used to be extremely strict with what I considered "essential". I'd leave off even great albums if I felt the artist had done superior work previously. No longer. Like baseball writers who suddenly decide Goose Gossage is finally a Hall of Famer after dissing him for 10 years on their ballots (even though he hasn't pitched a single inning since 1992), I'm going to start being far more lenient for no other reason than to have names on my ballot. If I took the effort to buy the CD, and I wasn't letdown, it's now "essential: in my book. So...<br /> <br />Essential Album of the Year 2007<br />The Shins - Wincing the Night Away<br /> <br />Other Essentials<br />Underworld - Oblivion with Bells<br />Freezepop - Future Future Future Perfect<br />Editors - An End Has a Start<br />The Arcade Fire - Neon Bible<br />Air - Pocket Symphony<br />Anjunabeats Vol. 5 Compilation<br /> <br />Essentials Discovered in 2007<br />Easy Access Orchestra - The Affair (brilliant lounge and space age bachelor pad music)<br /> <br /><br /><br />Brian M, Still Deluded About GNR, Goes for a Wednesday<br /><br />I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to do the list this year because it seemed so daunting...I've purchased more music this year than any year in my life, which you can imagine means endless piles of cds. BUT then I knew I couldn't punk out on tradition and it gave me a reason to go through and reduce the hundreds of discs cluttering my office. <br /><br />So here's rather long list (and this after making 3 edits...what can I say, they're all essential):<br /><br /><br />Most Essential:<br />Elvis Perkins, Ash Wednesday<br />Guns N Roses, Chinese Democracy (that came out this year, right?)<br /><br /><br />Essential:<br />Katie Jane Garside, lalleshwari lullabies in a glass wilderness <br />Richard Swift, Dressed Up for the Letdown <br />The Good The Bad & The Queen, s/t <br />Alamo Race Track, Black Cat Tom Brown <br />Menomena, Friend and Foe <br />Indigo Moss, s/t <br />Soulsavers, It's not how far you fall, it's the way you land <br />Manic Street Preachers, Send Away the Tigers <br />Yeasayer, All Hour Cymbals <br />Buffalo Killers, s/t <br />o'death, head home <br />Babyshambles, Shotters Nation <br />Kings of Leon, Because of the Times <br />Wilco, Sky Blue Sky <br />Arctic Monkeys, Favorite Worst Nightmare <br />Omar Rodriguez Lopes, Se dice bisonte, no buffalo <br />Pagoda, s/t <br />the Boggs, Forts <br />White Stripes, Icky Thump <br />Interpol, Our Love to Admire<br /><br />Essential EPs:<br />Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Is Is<br />The Nova Saints, The Draft ep<br /><br />Essential Re-issues:<br />Manic Street Preachers, Everything Must Go 10th Anniversary<br /><br /><br />Essential singles:<br />The Cool Kids, Black Mags<br />The Verve, The Thaw Sessions<br /><br /><br />and last, but not least...the oversights from last year that I only got in this calendar year:<br />Man Man, six demon bag<br />Hot Chip, The Warning<br />Morning After Girls, s/t<br />The Dolly Rocker Movement, Electric Sunshine Cold War Kids, Robbers & Cowards Black Mountain, s/t Women and Children, Paralyzed Dance Tonight Sunset Rubdown, Shut Up I'm Dreaming Black Angels, s/t Johnossi, s/t<br /> <br /><br /><br />Melissa W and her Band of Horses<br /><br />(1) Band of Horses, Cease to begin<br />Radiohead, In Rainbows<br />Merle Haggard, The Bluegrass Sessions<br />B Spears, Blackout<br /><br />2006 but I found it this year: Taylor Swift, "Taylor Swift"... I'm a sucker for country-pop.<br /><br /><br />Sarah-Maria, the Good, the Bad, and the Queen<br /><br />Best Album of the Year:<br />The Good, The Bad & The Queen, The Good, The Bad & The Queen<br /> <br />Most Essential:<br />Bright Eyes, Cassadaga<br />Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Baby 81<br />Kaiser Chiefs, Yours Truly, Angry Mob<br />Arctic Monkeys, Favorite Worst Nightmare<br />Richard Swift, Dressed Up for the Letdown<br />The Fratellis, Costello Music<br />The Magic Numbers, Those the Brokes<br />Mando Diao, Never Seen the Light of Day<br />Alamo Race Track, Black Cat John Brown<br />Elvis Perkins, Ash Wednesday<br />Soul Savers, It’s Not How Far You Fall, It’s the Way You Land<br />Interpol, Our Love to Admire<br />Klaxons, Myths of the Near Future<br />Marilyn Manson, Eat Me, Drink Me<br />The White Stripes, Icky Thump<br />Gogol Bordello, Super Taranta!<br /> <br />Shortcoming of the Year:<br />HIM, Venus Doom<br /><br /><br />Melissa M’s List, Fit for a Queen<br /><br />Super duper no. 1 best album of the year ....<br />The Good, The Bad, & The Queen. <br /><br />1) Common - Finding Forever<br />2) The White Stripes - Icky Thump<br />3) MIA - Kala<br />4) LCD Soundsystem - Sound of Silver<br />5) Kanye West - Graduation<br />6) Radiohead - In Rainbows<br />7) Amy Winehouse - Back to Black<br />8) Of Montreal - Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer?<br />9) Gogol Bordello - Super Taranta<br />10) Lupe Fiasco - The Cool <br /><br /><br />Everything’s Blue Sky for Ann Marie W<br /><br />1- wilco sky blue sky<br />2-bright eyes- cassadaga<br />3 thurston moore - trees outside the academy<br />4 iron and wine -shepherd's dog<br />5-modest mouse- we were dead....<br />6-suzanne vega- beauty and crime<br />7 pj harvey white chalk<br />8 radiohead in rainbows<br />9-interpol our love to admire<br />10-new pornographers- challengers<br /><br /><br />Abby R, Written in Neon<br /><br />Essential #1:<br />Arcade Fire, Neon Bible<br /><br />Essential Also (in no particular order, since there are all kinds of apples and oranges here that I don’t want to compare):<br />Radiohead, In Rainbows<br />Modest Mouse, We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank<br />Band of Horses, Cease to Begin<br />Lupe Fiasco, The Cool<br />Bebel Gilberto, Momento<br />Justice, Cross<br /><br /><br />Brant, National Treasure<br /><br /><br />Some 2007 Albums, Essentially:<br />The National, Boxer<br />Rilo Kiley, Under the Blacklight<br />The New Pornographers, Challengers<br />Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova, Once<br />Wilco, Sky Blue Sky<br />The Go! Team, Proof of Youth<br />Arcade Fire, Neon Bible<br />The Shins, Wincing the Night Away<br />M.I.A., Kala<br />Radiohead, In Rainbows<br /><br />Some 2007 Songs I Liked:<br />Tegan and Sara, “Back in Your Head”<br />Feist, “I Feel It All”<br />Rilo Kiley, “Breakin’ Up”<br />The National, “Apartment Story”<br />Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova, “When Your Mind’s Made Up”<br />Bat for Lashes, “What’s a Girl to Do?”<br />M.I.A., “Boyz”<br />Wilco, “Impossible Germany”<br />LCD Soundsysterm, “All My Friends”<br />Jimmy Ibbotson, “The Ballad of Monon Bell”<br /><br />Other Albums That Hit Me in 2007:<br />Graham Nash, Songs for Beginners (1971)<br />The National, Alligator (2005)<br />Ray Charles, The Genius Hits the Road (1960)<br />The Radio Dept., Lesser Matters (2004)<br />The Frank and Walters, Grand Parade (1998)<br />The Concretes, In Colour (2006)<br />Johnny Thunders, L.A.M.F. (1977)<br />Chris Bell, I Am the Cosmos (1978)<br />Band of Horses, Everything All the Time (2006)<br />John Prine, Sweet Revenge (1973)<br /><br /><br />Order Some Iron and Wine for Nick <br /><br />As usual, it's a bit early in the year to consider myself caught up with last year's releases. I still haven't heard new albums from Trembling Blue Stars, Dolorean, and a few other artists that usually rank high with me. And I haven't devoted much time to Bright Eyes, Peter Bjorn & John, and a few other albums that I'm pretty sure will grow on me. But of what I have heard (and truly listened to), these are tops:<br /><br />1. Iron & Wine, The Shepherd's Dog<br />2. Jens Lekman, Night Falls over Kortedala<br />3. The Shins, Wincing the Night Away<br />4. The Arcade Fire, Neon Bible<br />5. Peter Bjorn & John, Writer's Block<br /><br />Special award for Best Album for the Gym:<br /><br />Rihanna, Good Girl Gone Bad<br /><br />It was a really close call for #1. The Jens album has easily my favorite song or two of the year, but it also has a few songs that annoy me. The Iron & Wine album is more consistently enjoyable. The Shins also may have ranked higher, if it had come out later in the year. I've overplayed it a bit.<br /><br />Despite the gaps, I think this was a much better year than 2006!<br /><br /><br />Joe M Rides Rainbows<br /><br />this year, I was really disappointed by almost everything I bought, with the exception of a song here or there, except for:<br /> <br />Radiohead, In Rainbows (Yeah, on of the benefits of being up till 2-3:00 am with a baby is being able to download the album - I paid 7lbs - within 24 hours.) This album is fantastic, and harks back to my favs of theirs, OK Computer & Kid-A.<br />Once (Soundtrack) - Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova<br />Loved the movie, loved the soundtrack, and now am a Frames fan.<br /><br /><br />Leslie M. Feels it All<br /><br />Feist, The Reminder<br /><br />Radiohead, In Rainbows<br /><br />Amy Winehouse, Frank<br /><br /><br /><br />Patrick F’s Accidents and Emergencies<br /><br />Patrick Wolf, The Magic Position<br />MIA, Kala<br />The National, Boxer<br />Rilo Kiley, Under the Blacklight<br />The Twilight Sad, Fourteen Autumns and Fifteen Winters<br />Burial, Untrue<br />Spoon, Ga Ga Ga Ga<br />The Arcade Fire, The Neon Bible<br />Kanye West, Graduation<br />Daft Punk, Alive<br />Justice, [cross]<br />Klaxons, Myths of the Near Future<br /><br /><br />Anica Rolls Down Thunder Canyon<br /><br />Most essential: <br />Devendra Banhart, Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon<br /> <br />Also essential:<br />Radiohead, In Rainbows<br />Feist, The Reminder<br />Andrew Bird, Armchair Apocrypha<br /> <br />Expected to prove essential, once I get around to buying it:<br />The Arcade Fire, Neon Bible<br /> <br />Most essential 2006 album purchased in 2007:<br />Bonnie Prince Billy, The Letting Godavidlevithanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00762768300871943772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1509734071563017124.post-50397092479019242082009-01-09T16:22:00.000-08:002009-01-09T16:55:52.767-08:00The 2006 David Music Poll results<strong>The 2006 David Music Poll Results</strong><br /><br />1) The Decemberists, The Crane Wife (31 votes)<br />2) Belle & Sebastian, The Life Pursuit (24)<br />3) Regina Spektor, Begin to Hope (22)<br />4) Cat Power, The Greatest (20)<br />5) Dixie Chicks, Taking the Long Way Home (16)<br />6) Neko Case, Fox Confessor Brings the Flood (15)<br />TV on the Radio, Return to Cookie Mountain (14)<br />Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Show Your Bones (14)<br />9) Gnarls Barkley, St. Elsewhere (13)<br />10) Arctic Monkeys, Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not (12)<br /> Justin Timberlake, FutureSex/LoveSounds (12);<br /> Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins, Rabbit Fur Coat (12);<br /><br />Runners Up: Beck, The Information (11); The Raconteurs, The Raconteurs (11); Scissor Sisters, Ta-Da (10); Corinne Bailey Rae, Corinne Bailey Rae (10); Beirut, Gulag Orkestar (10); Snow Patrol, Eyes Open (9); M. Ward, Post-War (9); Joanna Newsom, Ys (9); Keane, Under the Iron Sea (8); John Mayer, Continuum (8); Lily Allen, Alright Still (8, only on import); Band of Horses, Everything All the Time (9); My Chemical Romance, The Black Parade (8); The Hold Steady, Boys and Girls in America (8); Bob Dylan, Modern Times (7); Thom Yorke, The Eraser (7)<br /><br />For anyone who’s counting: This year we had 106 participants in the David Music Poll. This is the second time Belle & Sebastian, the Dixie Chicks, and Cat Power have each made the top ten. <br /><br /><br /><strong>My Essential Picks</strong><br /><br />This was a hard year, with no clear “most essential,” leaving four albums that would’ve been runners-up in previous years to duke it out. Will I admit that I spent way too much time debating which one should be at the top? Only under duress. But truth: if you were standing on the downtown platform, staring at me across the way as I gazed off, making arguments in my head… odds are I was thinking “Decemberists or Snow Patrol? Regina Spektor or The Long Winters?” Strangely, after that there’s really only one essential and a few runners up. Hmm. Now I can start spending that mental energy on looking forward to the new Bloc Party and Patty Griffin and Patrick Wolf discs…<br /><br />Now, the list…<br /><br />THE ESSENTIALS<br /><br />1) Snow Patrol, Eyes Open<br /><br />Yes, last year I made a joke about not believing that Snow Patrol was my #2 album of 2005. Now what do I do? I put them on top. Yes, it repeats the phrases “eyes open” and “eyes closed” so many times it feels like an optometrist’s concept album. Yes, the romanticism is so on the sleeve it might as well be a cuff link. But you know what? It’s a damn good collection of pop songs, and it’s easily the album I’ve listened to the most this year (as my iPod count attests). I loved “Chasing Cars” before every TV show and movie preview started using it, and many of the other songs are almost as good. If you hate Coldplay, you’ll probably hate Snow Patrol. Your loss. I like my music with a good dose of humanity, and it works here.<br /><br />2) The Decemberists, The Crane Wife<br /><br />Okay, if Snow Patrol is my most essential album of the year, The Decemberists have made what is probably the best album of the year. I might not connect to it as much on an emotional level, but it certainly makes my mind pleased. I might not always understand the story, but I love the storytelling, and there are moments of such sheer beauty here that I don’t really care that the lyrics are so hyperconsciously literary. I’ve always liked the Decemberists, but this was the album that made me love them.<br /><br />3) Regina Spektor, Begin to Hope<br /><br />The total late-bloomer on this list – it wouldn’t have made it two months ago. But first “Fidelity” grabbed hold of me and wouldn’t let go, and then the rest of the album started to take shape. “Samson” and “Apres Moi” are just as good, and the whole thing is the best variation of the Aimee Mann / Natalie Merchant / Tori Amos school of songwriting that we got this year. <br /><br />4) The Long Winters, Putting the Days to Rest<br /><br />This is neck-and-neck with the others in the top four. I will freely admit that I bought the album solely because of the label (Barsuk, former home of Death Cab for Cutie) and the cool cover. What a surprise that it contained some of the best songwriting of the year. When John Roderick played “Ultimatum” solo at the 826NYC fundraiser this fall, it was one of the best concert moments I’ve had lately (the acoustic version on the Ultimatum EP is also fantastic). For fans of Death Cab, yes, but also for fans of Jackson Browne and Ted Leo.<br /><br />5) Placebo, Meds<br /><br />Not as amazing as Sleeping With Ghosts, but still a tour de force of angst, desire, challenge, and split identity, perfect for our medicated age. And when it slows down at the end, it hits a grace note of unexpected power.<br /><br />Runners up: <br />Say Hi to Your Mom, Impeccable Blahs<br />Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins, Rabbit Fur Coat<br />Damien Rice, 9<br /><br />Would have been on my essential list for ‘06 if I hadn’t bought it in ’05 as an import:<br />Editors, The Back Room<br /><br />ESSENTIAL SIX SINGLES:<br /><br />Regina Spektor, “Fidelity”<br />Snow Patrol, “Chasing Cars”<br />Damien Rice, “Rootless Tree”<br />Amy Millan, “Skinny Boy”<br />Gregory and the Hawk, “Boats and Birds”<br />Christina Aguilera, “Ain’t No Other Man” (sorry…but it’s pretty brilliantly done)<br /><br />Essential single from last year that I played over and over this year:<br />Sia, “Breathe Me”<br /><br />MISCELLANEOUS:<br /><br />Biggest Disappointment / Most Mixed Opinion: The Killers, Sam’s Town<br /><br /> The lyrics are ridiculous, the power chords a bit too powerful, the ego a little too amuck-running. But… and this is an important but… there are four or five amazing songs on here, too. (The horrendously titled “Bling” and the straightforwardly-titled “Read My Mind” are my favorites). <br /><br />Big Letdown: Beth Orton, The Comfort of Strangers<br /><br /> I still love Beth Orton. But this album was drained almost entirely of spark. <br /><br />Albums That Would Be on the Essential List If They Hadn’t Been Released Last Year:<br /><br /> Jack’s Mannequin, Everything in Transit<br /> Panic! At the Disco, whatever the Panic! At the Disco album is named<br /><br />Best 15-yr-old boy-angst albums<br /> <br /> See last category and add Dashboard Confessional’s Dusk and Summer<br /><br />My favorite concert of the year<br /><br /> Editors at Webster Hall<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>John G likes to strum</strong><br /><br />Only essential one:Old Crow Medicine Show, Big Iron World<br /><br /><br /><strong>Zehava hearts K.T.T.</strong><br /><br />At last I can finally add my two cents! Here are my purchases:<br /><br />KT Tunstall, Eye To The Telescope (LOVE IT. love it. love it. love it)<br /><br />Kelly Clarkson, Breakaway (yes, I finally gave in and bought it, and yes I do love it. Do you still respect me?)<br /><br />and lastly, Laurie Berkner, We Are...The Laurie Berkner Band (CD and DVD, if you have kids and don't know Laurie, we are you living?)<br /><br /><br /><strong>Jonathan V’s not-so-silent shout</strong><br /><br />Some of my favorite albums this year were from other years, but I'll list my favorites from 2006 first, because I don't wanna rock the boat...<br /><br />FROM 2006, JONATHAN VALUCKAS' (MR. VALUCKAS' IF YOU'RE NASTY) ESSENTIAL MUSIC:<br /><br />The Knife, SILENT SHOUT<br />The Killers, SAM'S TOWN<br />The Decemberists, CRANE WIFE<br />Belle & Sebastian, THE LIFE PURSUIT<br />Magnolia Electric Company, FADING TRAILS<br />Shearwater, PALO SANTO<br />Cat Power, THE GREATEST<br />Some By Sea, ON FIRE! (IGLOO)<br />Panic At The Disco, A FEVER YOU CAN'T SWEAT OUT<br />Jack Johnson, CURIOUS GEORGE SOUNDTRACK<br />Gnarls Barkley, ST. ELSEWHERE<br />Mastodon, BLOOD MOUNTAIN<br />Wolfmother, WOLFMOTHER<br />Arctic Monkeys, WHATEVER PEOPLE SAY I AM, THAT'S WHAT I'M NOT<br /><br />Honorable mention, the LOVE Soundtrack--I can't believe I liked it, but I did...though it doesn't really count as new music, does it?<br /><br />MUSIC FROM OTHER YEARS THAT I 'GOT INTO' DURING 2006:<br /><br />Jack's Mannequin, EVERYTHING IN TRANSIT (2005)<br />The Knife, DEEP CUTS (2002)<br />Wolf Parade, APOLOGIES TO THE QUEEN MARY (2005)<br />Mastodon, LEVIATHAN (2004)<br />Sufjan Stevens, ILLINOIS (2005)<br />Ambulance Ltd, LP (2005)<br />Polecats, THE BEST OF THE POLECATS (2005)<br />Eisley, ROOM SOUNDS (2005)<br />Rogue Wave, DESCENDED LIKE VULTURES (2005)<br /><br />SONG THAT I LISTENED TO OVER AND OVER AGAIN THIS YEAR, OBSESSIVELY, THOUGH IT WAS ACTUALLY FROM 2005:<br /><br />Wolf Parade, DEAR SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF HUNGRY GHOSTS<br /><br /><br /><strong>Are you crazy, Glenn?<br /></strong><br />1) Gnarls Barkley , St. Elsewhere<br />2) Beck, The Information<br />3) Sean Lennon, Friendly Fire<br />4) Keane, Under The Iron Sea<br />5) The Decemberists, The Crane Wife<br />6) The Raconteurs, Broken Boy Soldiers<br />7) John Legend, Once Again<br />8) Snow Patrol, Eyes Open<br />9) Lily Allen, Alright, Still<br />10) Wolfmother, Wolfmother<br /><br /><br />Gabe loves those nouveau Weimer beats…<br /><br />Most essential:The Dresden Dolls, Yes, Virginia...<br /><br />Also essential:<br />Scissor Sisters, Ta-Dah!<br />The Decemberists, The Crane Wife<br />Josh Ritter, The Animal Years ... all phenomenal.<br /><br />If I may also add... biggest disappointments:<br />The Killers, Sam's Town<br />Keane, Under the Iron Sea... both big let downs.<br /><br /><strong>One CD Only for Dan L.</strong><br /><br />Um. The Dreamgirls soundtrack?<br /><br /><br /><strong>Zach's down with the Sisters</strong><br /><br />Scissor Sisters - Ta Dah<br />Beyonce - BDay<br />Justin Timberlake - Futuresex/Lovesounds<br />Charlotte Martin - Stromata<br />Neko Case - Fox Confessor Brings The Flood<br />Emily Haines and The Soft Skeleton - Knives Don't Have Your Back<br /><br /><br /><strong>Oh! Drew!</strong><br /><br />YEEEAAAH, music.<br /><br />Okay, let us see.<br /><br />My MOST ESSENTIAL ALBUM of the year (2006) is for sure<br /><br />The Lawrence Arms - Oh! Calcutta!<br /><br />Other essential albums include...<br /><br />Regina Spektor - Begin to Hope<br />The Falcon - Unicornography<br />Moneen - The Red Tree<br />The Draft - In a Million Pieces<br /><br />So, I don't expect my pick of the year to get anywhere on your charts, but maybe Regina can pull some weight. I'm probably gonna marry her and stuff so I'll let her know if she wins the poll, she'll be excited.<br /><br /><br /><strong>I hope it’s not something too drastic, Nico…</strong><br /><strong></strong><br />If Goldfrapp's SUPERNATURE doesn't get into the top 5 or 10 this year, I'll have to...I dunno...something. I've never fallen in love with a band so quickly since Garbage.<br /><br />Top 5 Albums of '06<br />1. Goldfrapp, Supernature (MUST HAVE!!!!!!)<br />2. Muse, Black Holes and Revelations<br />3. Placebo, Meds<br />4. I AM X, The Alternative<br />5. Peaches, Impeach My Bush (yes, i'll admit, i love this album)<br /><br />Must-Have Songs of '06<br />1. Goldfrapp, "Ride a White Horse"<br />2. Dannii Minogue, "Love Fight"<br />3. Muse, "Map of the Problematique"<br />4. Peaches, "Hit It Hard"<br />5. Christina Aguilera, "Nasty Naughty Boy"--I'm sad this album didn't make it into my Top 5, but it just didn't wow me from the start like I was hoping it would...though it's still very good. :-)<br /><br />Most Hype, Least Payoff Award goes to....<br />**Christina Aguilera, Back to Basics**<br />I mean, come on! If you're gonna go on and on about going back to an old-time jazzy bluesy style, you better actually do it all the way, and do it well.<br />Take some advice from Peaches: "If you gonna do something, you better do it full-on hard-core" (See "Hit It Hard")<br /><br /><strong><br />Welcome back to music, Laura D!<br /></strong>I never usually respond to your e-mail for votes but for some reason (having my third baby?) I've found my way back to music (a bit). And so I'm here, responding cryptically after putting everyone to bed. Mostly, i'm feeling heady and nostalgic (just bought an old Joan Armatrading best of album) but a few new ones have come my way. I think these are some of the faves 'round these parts.<br />Best o Best <br />The Beatles, Love ((just because I really do think they made some damn perfect tunes and these remixes showcase all they did...though my bro-in-law, the purist, was a bit rankled)<br />Other Good 'uns<br />Corinne Bailey Rae, Corinne Bailey Rae<br />KT Tunstall, Eye to the Telescope<br />Tom Waits, Orphans, Brawlers... (old & new songs)<br />Placebo, Meds<br />Bob Dylan, Modern Times<br />John Mayer, Continuum<br />Ben Harper, Both Sides of the Gun<br /><br /><strong>Zac shows show fidelity</strong><br />MOST ESSENTIAL ALBUM OF 2006:<br />Regina Spektor, Begin to Hope<br /><br />SECOND MOST ESSENTIAL ALBUM OF 2006 which VIED FOR MOST ESSENTIAL AND VERY NEARLY WON:<br />The Decemberists, The Crane Wife<br /><br />MOST ESSENTIAL ALBUM DAVID HAS GIVEN ME:<br />The Long Winters, Putting the Days to Bed<br /><br />MOST ESSENTIAL EP:<br />The Long Winters, Ultimatum EP<br /><br />MOST ESSENTIAL "FOLLOW-UP" ALBUM:<br />Sufjan Stevens, The Avalanche- Outtakes and Extras from the Illinois Album<br /><br />MOST ESSENTIAL RE-RECORDING:<br />Regina Spektor, Samson<br /><br />MOST ESSENTIAL<br />BROADWAY-THAT-DOESN'T-SOUND-LIKE-BROADWAY:<br />Duncan Sheik, Spring Awakening<br /><br />CUTEST SONG EVER:<br />Jay Brannan, Soda Shop<br /><br />BEST MOVIE SOUNTRACK:<br />Various Artists, Shortbus Soundtrack<br /><br />and from earlier earlier in the year:<br /><br />MOST ESSENTIAL SOLO ALBUM:<br />Jenny Lewis, Rabbit fur Coat<br /><br /><br /><strong>Arthur L loves them Chicks</strong><br /><br />Most Essential: Dixie Chicks, Taking The Long WaY<br /><br /><br /><strong>Michael T, Decemberist revolutionary<br /></strong><br /><br />The Decembrists, The Crane Wife (number 1)<br /><br />Arctic Monkeys, Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not<br /><br />My Morning Jacket, Okonokos<br /><br />TV on the Radio, Return To Cookie Mountain<br /><br />Beyonce, B'Day<br /><br />Akon, Konvicted<br /><br />Yo La Tengo, I Am Not Afraid Of You And I Will Beat Your Ass<br /><br />New Pornographers, Twin Cinema (really 2005, but whatever)<br /><br /><br /><strong>Sarah L, The Fourth Chick</strong><br /><br />My SHOCKING First Choice is...1. Dixie Chicks, Taking the Long Way (I know, it's a shocking pick, but I'm predictable)2. Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Stadium Arcadium (Fantastic. Period.)3. Indigo Girls, Despite Our Differences (A return to traditional IG goodness)4. Spring Awakening Orignal Broadway Cast Album (Seriously, it's BRILLIANT!)5. Snow Patrol, Eyes Open (Especially the duet with Martha Wainwright)6. P!NK, I'm Not Dead (Pop music at its best! This replaces Kelly Clarkson for guilty pleasure of 2006) 7. Gnarls Barkley, St. Elsewhere (Genius...)8. Ludacris, Release Theory (The man is getting better with each album)9. John Mayer, Continuum (Especially the song "In Repair". He would have charted higher but he's sleeping with Jessica Simpson so I had to demote him)10. Johnny Cash, American Highway V (Recordings from the grave always get a bump in cred from me... I especially loved/was freaked out by his recording of the dance floor classic "If You Could Read My Mind". It's crazy!)<br />Honorary (?) Mention to...- Beyonce for the song "Irreplaceable". I actually paid 99 cents to have this catchy bugger in the iPod.- The Fray. For getting stuck in everyone's heads. They should be shot. Often.- Nelly Furtado. For coming back from Portuguese morality songs to slutty anthems. What's that about?- Justin Timberlake. For bringing sexy back... Naturally.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Dave B. proclaims the greatest</strong><br /><br />1. Cat Power, The Greatest<br />2. TV on the Radio, Return to Cookie Mountain<br />3. The Twilight Singers, Powder Burns<br />4. Open Season Soundtrack, Paul Westerberg<br />5. Regina Spektor, Begin to Hope<br />6. Solomon Burke, Nashville<br />7. Tom Waits, Orphans: Brawlers, Bawlers & Bastards<br />8. The Decemberists, The Crane Wife<br />9. Gnarls Barkley, St. Elsewhere<br />10. Yo La Tengo, I Am Not Afraid of You and I Will Beat Your Ass [sidebar: this also<br />wins best album title of all time]<br /><br /><br /><strong>Randy’s musical Pursuit</strong><br /> <br />Albums 2006<br />Belle and Sebastian, The Life Pursuit<br />Cat Power, The Greatest<br />The Hidden Cameras, Awoo<br />Nelly Furtado, Loose<br />Kelis, Kelis Was Here<br />Band of Horses, Everything Is Alright<br />Mates of State, Bring It Back<br />Jose Gonzalez, Veneer<br />Shiny Toy Guns, We Are Pilots<br />The Killers, Sam’s Town<br /><br />Best Song of 2006: Valentine by The Delays<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Tara A on the broken seas…</strong><br /><br />MOST ESSENTIAL: Isobel Campbell and Mark Lanegan, Battle of the Broken Seas<br />The Flaming Lips, At War with the Mystics<br />Built to Spill, You in Reverse<br />The Silversun Pickups, Carnavas<br />Belle and Sebastian, The Life Pursuit<br />The Decemberists, The Crane Wife<br />Band of Horses, Everything All the Time<br />Cat Power, The Greatest<br />Peter Bjorn and John, Writer's Block<br />Bob Dylan, Modern Times<br /><br /><br /><strong>Jason B’s hot flashes</strong><br />somehow, all that's coming to me are the women of the year...i think i'm going through menopause:<br />*Dixie Chicks, Taking the Long Way (essential)<br />Regina Spektor, Begin to Hope<br />The Decemberists, The Crane Wife<br />Goldfrapp, Supernature<br />The Hidden Cameras, Awoo<br />Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Show Your Bones<br />Lily Allen, Aliright,Still<br />The Gossip, Standing in the Way of Control<br /><br />singles: *Hot Chip, "over and over"<br />the knife, "We Share Our Mothers' Health"<br />Lily allen, "LDN"<br />cat power "living proof"<br />YYYs "Cheated Hearts"<br />Peaches, "Downtown"<br />regina spektor "fidelity"<br /><br /><br /><strong>Catherine S turns the beat around</strong><br /><br />Jonny Lang: Turn Around is an '06 winner in my book.<br /><br /><strong>Aimee’s bringing Samson back (yeah!)</strong><br /><br /><br />A Tie for Most Essential (or, at least, my favorites):<br /><br />Regina Spektor, Begin to Hope and Justin Timberlake, FutureSex/LoveSounds<br /><br />Others:<br /><br />Beyonce, B'Day ("Irreplaceable" is one of the best songs of the year, I think)<br /><br />Red Hot Chili Peppers, Stadium Arcadium (Good, classic, back-to-roots stuff)<br /><br />K.T. Tunstall, Eye to the Telescope ("Black Horse and Cherry Tree" was my writing anthem this year)<br /><br />Gnarls Barkley, St. Elsewhere (most obvious, I suppose, so I leave it last...)<br /><br /><br /><strong>Darin shows his bones</strong><br /><br />1) The Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs, Show Your Bones<br />2) Beck, The Information<br />3) Raconteurs, Broken Boy Soldiers<br />4) Ghostface Killah, Fishscale<br />5) TV On The Radio, Return to Cookie Mountain<br />6) Cat Power, The Greatest<br />7) Jon Legend, Once Again<br />8) The Clipse, Hell Hath no Fury<br />9) Gnarls Barkley, St. Elsewhere<br />10) Keane, Under the Iron Sea<br /><br /><strong>A whole new Rob</strong><br /><br />1. Jonathan Clay, A Whole New Me2. Augustana, All the Stars and Boulevards3. Hellogoodbye, Zombies! Aliens! Vampires! Dinosaurs!4. Snow Patrol, Eyes Open<br />Guilty Pleasure: Nelly Furtado, Loose (Though if I hear "Promiscuous" one more time...)<br /><br /><br /><strong>Holly brings the flood…</strong><br /><br />This year, I have only three. Am extremely dull.<br /><br />Neko Case, Fox Confessor Brings the Flood<br />The Decemberists, Crane Wife (MOST ESSENTIAL)<br />The Dresden Dolls, Yes Virginia<br /><br /><br /><strong>Katherine votes in December</strong><br /><br />The Decemberists, The Crane Wife<br /><br /><br /><strong>This year, I actually thought Brian M would get his wish of Chinese Democracy. Alas.</strong><br /><br />Well here it goes...the last list before Chinese Democracy tops the charts....for real this time.<br /><br /><br />MOST ESSENTIAL<br /><br />Mars Volta, Amputecture<br /><br /><br />ESSENTIAL ALBUMS<br />The Dears, Gang of Losers<br />Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Show Your Bones<br />Muse, Black Holes and Revelations<br />My Chemical Romance, The Black Parade<br />Arctic Monkeys, Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not<br />Decemberists, The Crane Wife<br />Placebo, Meds<br />Raconteurs, Broken Boy Soldiers<br />Sean Lennon, Friendly Fire<br />Red Hot Chili Peppers, Stadium Arcadium<br /><br />Most LIkely to be Essential Once I finally get my Hands on Them:<br />Tom Waits, Orphans<br />James Dean Bradfield, Great Western<br />Icarus Line, Black Presents<br />Babyshambles, Blinding EP<br /><br />Should Have Been on My LIst LAst Year:<br />Babyshambles, Down in Albion<br /><br />MOST ESSENTIAL OF 2007:<br />Guns N Roses, Chinese Democracy<br /><br /><br /><strong>Jack M’s into the espers</strong><br /><br />Most Essential:<br /><br />Espers II<br /><br />Kind of Essential:<br /><br />Belle and Sebastian--The Life Pursuit<br />Broadcast--The Future Crayon<br />Essex Green--Cannibal Sea<br /><br />I don't think I actually listened to any other new releases this year that I was all that crazy about. However:<br /><br />Extremely Essential Reissues:<br /><br />Soft Sounds For Gentle People IV (seriously, if this were all old stuff, it would be my Most Essential! How could you not love a compilation with bands like The Lemonade Charade, The Peppermint Trolley Company and The Cosmic<br />Brotherhood?)<br />Mark Fry--Dreaming of Alice<br />Blops (Box set)<br />Bread, Love and Dreams--Amaryllis<br />Dana Gillespie--Foolish Seasons<br />Emmanuelle Parrenin--La Maison Rouge<br />Gary Higgins--Red Hash<br />Mellow Candle--The Virgin Prophet<br />Sandy Bull--Still Valentine's Day 1969<br />Thomas and Richard Frost--Visualize<br /><br />New Discoveries:<br /><br />The Crazy World of Arthur Brown<br />Dream Babes Vol. 5: Faithful and Forever (especially the group the<br />Caravelles)<br />Fotheringay--S/T<br />Michael Chapman--Fully Qualified Survivor and Rainmaker John Barry--Ipcress File soundtrack John Martyn--London Conversation and Road to Ruin Keith Christmas--Stimulus Roy Harper--Flat Baroque and Berserk Shelagh McDonald--s/t Steve Tilston--An Acoustic Confusion Terry Collier--What Color is Love Trad Gras och Stenar The Sunshine Company--Happy Is Espers--Weed Tree EP<br /><br />Biggest Waste of $12.99:<br /><br />Brightblack Morning Light<br /><br /><br /><strong>Lay off the Terry Gross, Jarrett</strong><br /><br />i think i listened to more npr this year, my list is short this time around!<br /><br /><br />various artists, punk goes the 90's<br />cartel, chroma<br />ben kweller, ben kweller<br />blackalicious, the craft<br />clap your hands say yeah, clap your hands say yeah<br />red hot chilli peppers, stadium arcadium<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>I can vouch that Josh L is not married to a crane</strong><br /><br /><br />1) The Decemberists, The Crane Wife<br /><br />Top Ten:<br /><br />2) The Hold Steady, Boys and Girls in America<br /><br />3) Arctic Monkeys, Whatever People Say...<br />Our nation shall disdain them, for they do not speak properly.<br /><br />4) Neil Young, Living with War<br />Not a great album, song-wise, but I don't think Neil would mind being slotted in behind these bright young things. Actual protest! One-off songs, quickly done, but actual engagement! Music commenting on war and presidential lies! What, the "sexy" is back? Britney forgot her underpants? Oh, sorry...<br /><br />5) My Chemical Romance, The Black Parade<br />I don't know who they are (I only steal music and read reviews, have little pop-culture/mtvish awareness), but if they're dead serious and pretend that they're real and the 80s were fake, drop them down three spots. If they are aware that they have successfully fed Meatloaf to a hair band and then cast it in a high school music, mazel tov to the band and move them up two spots.<br /><br />6) Lily Allen, Alright Still<br />I feel bad about the grandmother's colostomy bag; but I also like misogynistic rap songs, so I guess I'll have to deal. She can keep up rhythms through entire verses using the dropped initial consonants from her fake accent--that's really impressive. See note to 3, above.<br /><br />7) Knopfler/Harris, All the Roadrunning<br /><br />8) Mountain Goats, Get Lonely<br />This is a protest vote; it's not in the top five albums by him, but I was just finding out about him last year and probably forgot to vote for The Sunset Tree. Also, given that this is pre-eminent American songwriter under 50, we should probably pay more attention...<br /><br />9) Bob Dylan, Modern Times<br />Still got it... his persona says more about life and history than most "artists" whole "ouevres." "so there."<br /><br />10) Indigo Girls, Despite Our Differences<br />Emily is, apparently, still 17 years old and gooey in love, which is starting to wear thin... but Amy picks up the slack.<br /><br />11) Jenny Lewis, Rabbit Fur Coat<br /><br />12) Joanna Newsom, Ys<br /><br />Almost made the list, but he annoys me, great fun though, the album is:<br />Springsteen, Seeger Sessions.<br /><br />Greatest song:<br />"Sons and Daughters" (The Crane Wife)<br /><br />Runners Up: "Square One" (Petty), "Everythings Just Wonderful" (Allen), "Party Pit" (Hold Steady), "Workingman's Blues #2" (Dylan), "Red light indicates doors are secure" (Arctic Monkeys), “Emily” (Newsom), and yes, yes, "Crazy."<br /><br />Honorable Mention, and greatest Teen Sex-Angst Story-Song Rock Epic since "Paradise by the Dashboard Light:" "Chillout Tent" (Boys and Girls in America). Btw, David, if you could help me name a third song in the genre, that would greatly improve the nascent essay on the subject.<br /><br />But I'm not opinionated. I'm sure I'm forgetting something that I stole and doesn't have the date in its Itunes incarnation. <br /><br /><br /><strong>Why is Lucas so defensive about his pick?<br /></strong><br />Here's my list. I am unapologetic about my Arctic Monkeys pick!<br /><br />1. Regina Spektor, Begin to Hope<br />2. Arctic Monkeys, Whatever People Say I Am...<br />3. Justin Timberlake, FutureSex/LoveSounds<br />4. The Decemberists, The Crane Wife<br />5. Rhymefest, Blue Collar<br />6. John Mayer, Continuum<br />7. Guster, Ganging Up on the Sun<br />8. Belle & Sebastian, The Life Pursuit<br />9. Mark Knopfler and Emmylou Harris, All the Roadrunning<br />10. Be Your Own Pet, Be Your Own Pet<br /><br /><br /><strong>David L (not the one who makes the poll) is on sabbatical</strong><br /><br />I feel very strongly about one album. Otherwise, I pretty much took the year off in terms of following the music biz. I look forward to discovering some good (maybe great) albums from this year in the near future - perhaps through the survey. Without further ado,<br /><br />Essential Album: The Eraser by Thom Yorke<br /><br />My bet for overall winner of the survey is Return to Cookie Mt. by TV on the Radio.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Food & Liquor: Essential to Cassandra</strong><br /><br />Most Essential:<br />Lupe Fiasco, Food & Liquor<br /><br />Other Essentials:<br />Justin Timberlake, FutureSex/LoveSounds<br />The Roots, Game TheoryMy Chemical Romance, The Black Parade<br />Lil Wayne, Dedication 2: Gangsta Grillz<br />Panic! At the Disco, A Fever You Can't Sweat Out (released 4th quarter 2005, but still very essential in 2006)<br />Corinne Bailey Rae, Corinne Bailey Rae<br />John Legend, Once Again<br />Evanescence, The Open Door<br />Nas, Hip Hop Is Dead<br /><br /><br /><strong>Siobhan’s on the band-wagon</strong><br /><br />1. Band of Horses, Everything All The Time<br />2. Belle and Sebastian, Life Pursuit<br />3. Essex Green, Cannibal Sea<br />4. Suburban Kids With Biblical Names, 3<br />5. Islands, Return to the Sea<br />6. Human Television, Look At Who You're Talking To<br /><br />CATEGORY Essential 2006 Album for Marathon Training:Futureheads, News and Tributes<br />CATEGORY Best Use of Song for 2006 Theatircal Trailer:New Order, Age of Cosent - for MARIE ANTOINETTE<br />CATEGORY Best 2006 Song To Dance Around Your Room, Alone, To: Suburban Kids With Biblical Names - Loop Duplicate My Heart<br /><br /><br /><strong>Rebecca B puts her records on</strong><br />so very essential:1) Corinne Bailey Rae2) Ringside (a little Tom Petty, a little Brian Adams . . . you know exactly who this guy's influences were)3) Israel Kamakawinwo'ole - Somewhere over the Rainbow / What a Wonderful World4) the Fray (possibly under the "Mcdreamy" influence on this one)5) the Network (landon brasseur insists that i include - agreed)remembering when essentials:1) Rod Stewart - Still the Same2) Billy Holiday - Lady Sings the Blues3) Boz Scaggs - Silk Degrees 4) John Lennon's Plastic Ono Bandstill stuck on Cesaria Evora <br /><br /><strong>Alex cares about former child stars</strong><br /><br />Please find my list below. write a letter to myself to complain that Jenny Lewis should have a much higher ranking. I mean, c'mon! She was in "The Wizard"!<br /><br />1) The Decemberists, The Crane Wife<br />2) M. Ward, Post-War<br />3) Comets on Fire, Avatar<br />4) Jenny Lewis with the Watson Twins, Rabbit Fur Coat<br />5) The Black Keys, Magic Potion<br />6) The Hold Steady, Boys and Girls in America<br />7) Bob Dylan, Modern Times<br />8) Belle & Sebastian, Life's Pursuit<br />9) Cat Power, The Greatest<br />10) Sonic Youth, Rather Ripped<br /><br /><br /><strong>Erin D, on the continuum</strong><br /><br />SO here are my opinions solely based on what is on my desk at work 1. John Mayer, Continuum 2. The Decemberists, The Crane Wife 3. Scissor Sisters, Ta Dah 4. Beck, The Information 5. Ray LaMontagne, Till The Sun Turns Black 6. Cat Stevens (Yusalf Islam), Another Cup of Coffee this is not a exhaustive recitiation of what I thought was good, but off the top of my head it is!<br /><br /><br /><strong>Karen A and her very British-sounding choice</strong><br /><br />Most essential:Bernard Fanning, Tea & SympathyAlso essential:Bruce Springsteen, We Shall Overcome—The Seeger SessionsRed Hot Chili Peppers, Stadium ArcadiumRodrigo y Gabriela, Rodrigo y GabrielaEssential re-discovery of 80’s Hair Band single: Def Leppard, “Animal”<br /><br /><br /><strong>Jim H likes the growly guy</strong><br /><br />Orphans - Tom WaitsThat's it for me!<br /><br /><br /><strong>Under the influence of Joel</strong><br /><br />Albums: (*s are best of the best)<br /><br />Under the Influence of Giants, "Under the Influence of Giants"<br />*Hellogoodbye, "Zombies! Aliens! Vampires! Dinosaurs!"<br />*Angels and Airwaves, "We Don't Need to Whisper"<br />Corrinne Baily Rae, "Corrine Baily Rae"<br />Head Automatica, "Popoganda"<br />*Mew, "And the Glass Handed Kites"<br />Secondhand Serenade, "Maybe"<br />Lady Sovereign, "Public Warning"<br />Basement Jaxx, "Crazy Itch Radio"<br />The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, "Red Jumpsuit Apparatus"<br />*This Providence, "Our Worlds Divorce"<br />Regina Spektor, "Begin to Hope"<br />Joanna Newsom, "Ys"<br />Scissor Sisters, "Ta-dah"<br />The Raconteurs, "Broken Boy Soldiers"<br />Matt Costa, "Songs We Sing"<br />Brett Dennen, "So Much More"<br />*Boys Like Girls, "Boys Like Girls"<br /><br /><br />Singles:<br /><br />*Under the Influence of Giants, "Mama's Room"<br />*Boys Like Girls, "Hero/Heroine"<br />*Hellogoodbye, "Here (In Your Arms)"<br />KT Tunstall, "Suddenly I See"<br />Belle & Sebastian, "White Collar Boy"<br />Starsailor, "In the Crossfire"<br />Matt Costa, "Yellow Taxi"<br />Brett Dennen, "Ain't No Reason"<br />Secondhand Serenade, "Maybe"<br />Corrinne Baily Rae, "Girl, Put Your Records On"<br />Scissor Sisters, "I Don't Feel Like Dancing"<br />Augustana, "Boston"<br />Dirty Pretty Things, "Deadwood"<br />Plain White T's, "Hey There Delilah"<br />Beyonce, "Irreplacable"<br />*This Providence, "My Beautiful Rescue"<br />Mary J Blige, "Enough Cryin"<br />Mellowdrone, "Oh My"<br />Mew, "Comforting Sounds" "Apocolypto" "Shespider"<br />*Regina Spektor, "Fidelity"<br />Ben Kweller, "Sundress"<br />*The Scene Aesthetic, "Beauty in the Breakdown"<br />Say Anything, "Wow, I Can Get Sexual Too"<br /><br /><br />Whatever people say Ryan M is, they’ll be right if they say he likes the Arctic Monkeys<br />1. The Arctic Monkeys, Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not2. Thom Yorke, The Eraser3. TV on the Radio, Return to Cookie Mountain4. The Raconteurs, Broken Boy Soldiers5. The Decemberists, The Crane Wife<br /><br /><br /><strong>Patrick Fisher’s list goes down in history</strong><br /><br />01. Lily Allen, Alright Still<br />02. Margot and the Nuclear So and So's, The Dust of Retreat<br />03. Cat Power, The Greatest<br />04. The Knife, Silent Shout<br />05. Belle and Sebastian, The Life Pursuit<br />06. The Decemberists, The Crane Wife<br />07. The Long Blondes, Someone to Drive You Home<br />08. Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Show Your Bones<br />09. Regina Spektor, Begin to Hope<br />10. Neko Case, Fox Confessor Brings the Floods<br /><br />Okay, and I took your advice and made an essential singles list, because, while music was a little disappointing to me this year, there were some bomb-ass singles.<br /><br />01. Hot Chip, Boys from School<br />02. Lily Allen, Smile<br />03. Nelly Furtado feat. Timbaland, Promiscuous<br />04. Belle and Sebastian, White Collar Boy<br />05. Camera Obscura, Lloyd, I'm Ready to Be Heartbroken<br />06. Cat Power, Lived in Bars<br />07. The Knife, Like a Pen<br />08. Gnarls Barkley, Crazy<br />09. Cursive, Dorothy at Forty<br />10. Justin Timberlake, Lovestoned<br />11. Mates of State, Fraud in the 80's<br />12. Regina Spektor, Better<br />13. Tilly and the Wall, Lost Girls<br />14. Voxtrot, Mothers, Sisters, Daughters and Wives<br />15. Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Cheated Hearts<br /><br />And a category I made up myself: Bands and Artists I Think Will Be on Next Year's Best of List<br /><br />01. Bloc Party<br />02. Bright Eyes<br />03. Arcade Fire<br />04. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah<br />05. Postal Service<br />06. The Shins<br />07. The Faint<br />08. Spoon<br />09. Interpol<br />10. Modest Mouse<br />11. Rilo Kiley<br /><br /><br /><strong>Elise’s modern times</strong><br /><br /> My top-three albums of 2006:<br /><br />1) Bob Dylan, Modern Times<br />2) Corinne Bailey Rae, Corinne Bailey Rae<br />3) The Fray, How to Save a Life (except I'm vaguely worried this is from last year; if it is, maybe Shawn Colvin's These Four Walls).<br /><br />Favorite single of the year: Snow Patrol's "Chasing Cars." I know, I know, it's totally sappy and repetitive and it's on the radio all the time. But I like it. <br /><br /><br /><strong>The Decemberists are in with Flinn</strong><br /><br />Most Essential: The Decemberists, The Crane Wife<br /><br />Others: Dixie Chicks, Taking The Long WayNeko Case, Fox Confessor Brings The FloodThe Beatles, LoveJenny Lewis and the Watson Twins, Rabbit Fur CoatBand of Horses, Everything All The Time Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Show Your Bones<br /><br /><br /><strong>Pete I, Indie Pop Nerd Extraordinaire</strong><br /><br />It turns out that, despite my best efforts to be a music snob, I'm becoming more of an indie pop nerd every year. This is my very honest list of stuff I couldn't stop listening to.<br /><br />Top 10:<br /><br />1. Band of Horses, Everything All the Time<br />2. Mates of State, Bring it Back<br />3. The Decemberists, The Crane Wife<br />4. The Long Winters, Putting the Days to Bed<br />5. Neko Case, Fox Confessor Brings the Flood<br />6. M. Ward, Post-War<br />7. Tapes N Tapes, The Loon<br />8. Built to Spill, You in Reverse<br />9. Centro-matic, Fort Recovery<br />10. Casiotone for the Painfully Alone, Etiquette<br /><br />Honorable mentions: Cat Power, The Greatest (which will probably win by popular vote, me thinks), Margot and the Nuclear So and So's, The Dust of Retreat (great album, bad band name) and Nina Nastasia, On Leaving (just really good singer/songwriter stuff).<br /><br />Best Album That Isn't Really an Album:<br />Voxtrot, Mothers, Sisters, Daughters and Wives EP<br /><br />Best Album That I'm Never in the Mood to Listen to:<br />Eef Barclay, Bitter Honey<br /><br />Best Album with Gender Ambiguous Lead Vocals:<br />Silversun Pickups, Carnavas<br /><br />Best Album by an Artist I Was so Sure I Hated That I Deleted Her From My Hard Drive Last Year<br />Joanna Newson, Ys<br /><br /><br /><strong>Coe gives some singer a reprieve</strong><br /><br />The most essential:<br /><br /> Corinne Bailey Rae, Corinne Bailey Rae<br /><br /> Runners up:<br /> Anna Nalick, Wreck of the Day<br /> Ani Difranco, Reprieve<br /><br /><br /><strong>Wani returns to cookie mountain</strong><br /><br /> TV on the Radio- Return to Cookie Mountain(Most Essential!)<br /> (the rest... in no particular order)<br /> Sonic Youth-Rather Ripped<br /> Cat Power-The Greatest<br /> OOIOO-Taiga<br /> Boris-Pink<br /> Ornette Coleman-Sound Grammar<br /><br /><br /><strong>Matthew U and his pretty little picks</strong><br /><br />Just under the wire, here are my picks. As usual, most of my purchases this year weren't from this year--I guess I'm not exactly an "early adopter." <br /><br />Most essential: <br />Nellie McKay, Pretty Little Head -- a mix of genres (and attitudes) that somehow doesn't come out sounding just mixed up<br /><br />Other essentials:<br />Rhett Miller, The Believer -- Same feel as his debut, and that's all for the best<br />Belle & Sebastian, The Life Pursuit -- ok, perhaps also nothing new here, but it feels less mopey than recent attempts<br />Pet Shop Boys, Fundamental -- does this date me at this point? maybe a guilty pleasure, but I find myself listening to this album over and over<br /><br />Best discovery from last year:<br />Brandi Carlile, Brandi Carlile -- If this had been released in the same year that I bought it, it would have been #1; very strong--great voice, great lyrics, solid band<br /><br />The rest, not worth mentioning...<br /><br /><br /><strong>Josh V, bringing and pursuing</strong><br /><br />I'm not sure I'd vote either of these "most essential," but I would put them in my "essential" category:<br /><br />Neko Case, Fox Confessor Brings the Flood Belle and Sebastian, The Life Pursuit<br /><br />(...it's occurring to me that most of the music I bought in 2006 isn't actually from 2006...)<br /><br />As for faves from previous years that didn't make the top-tens, I'd have to include:<br />The Shins, Chutes Too Narrow (2003)<br />Wilco, Summerteeth (1999)<br /><br /><br /><strong>Michael R is tied between a rabbit and a crane</strong><br /><br />I'm tied between:<br /><br /> Jenny Lewis and The Watson Twins, Rabbit Fur Coat<br /><br /> The Decemberists, The Crane Wife<br /><br />One was the essential New Orleans album, the other the essential Chicago album. (Note: this is a reference to where Michael was living, not the sound of the records.)<br /><br />I would also add: <br /><br /> Sufjan Stevens, The Avalanche<br /><br /> Belle and Sebastian, The Life Pursuit <br /><br />For 'somewhat less essential but still good'<br /><br /><br /><strong>Jeff rocks out</strong><br />Best Mainstream Metal Album of 2006: Mastodon "Blood Mountain"<br />Best Metal Cartoon of 2006: Metalacalypse<br />Best Album Worth Waiting For and thinking it was going to come out but then it gets continuously pushed back but then finally released of 2006: Clipse "Hell Hath No Fury"<br />Best Reinvention Album of 2006: Liars "Drums Not Dead"<br />Best Album by Someone I Played a Show with and couldn't believe I played a show with of 2006: Ghostface Killah "Fishscale" (Lupe Fiasco played, too, but I'm a little suspect of his album...it can't touch Ghostface)<br />Best Ambient Metal Album of 2006: Jesu "Silver"<br />Best Hopeful Musical Moment of 2006: Jeff Mangum from Neutral Milk Hotel appearing on-stage performing with Of Montreal at Bowery Ballroom (though it sucked that he was with Of Montreal and that there was no perfoming of any Neutral Milk Hotel songs)<br />Best Album of 2006 period: The Melvins " A Senile Animal"<br />Best Song by someone not taking credit for his part in the Super Bowl fiasco and let Ms. Jackson take all the blame herself of 2006: Justin Timberlake My Love<br /><br /><br /><strong>OK Elizabeth E, go</strong><br /><br />I had virtually a three-way tie for Most Essential Album of the Year, but the winner, in the end is:<br /><br />Ok Go, Oh No<br /><br />Runner ups:<br />Snow Patrol, Eyes Open<br />Gomez, How We Operate<br /><br />The others:<br />Belle and Sebastian, The Life Pursuit<br />Jack’s Mannequin, Everything in Transit<br />Keane, Under the Iron Sea<br />Muse, Black Holes and Revelations<br />My Chemical Romance, The Black Parade (this one surprised me!)<br /><br />Could possibly be my favorite new artist of 2007 if other songs are as good as the debut single:<br />Lily Allen – “Smile” was my second favorite video of last year, and yes, probably because it is all about getting revenge on cheating ex-boyfriend. (Favorite video, of course, was Ok Go’s brilliant “Here it Goes Again.”)<br /><br />Favorite first line of a song:<br />Shiny Toy Guns, Le Disko – “Hello little boys, little toys…”<br /><br />The stop making me wait award goes to:<br />K. Clarkson – oh Kelly, where is thy new album? I’m patiently waiting for SUBG – the sequel!<br /><br /><br /><strong>Elana eyes the telescope</strong><br /><br />Essential album --<br />K.T. Tunstall, Eye to the Telescope<br /><br />Essential single --<br />Sandi Thom, I Wish I Was a Punk Rocker (With Flowers in My Hair)<br />Son Volt, Windfall (an old song from their 1995 album, Trace, but I just discovered it)<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Nouvelle Veronica</strong><br /><br />(no particular order)<br /><br />Nouvelle Vague, Bande à Part<br />Dixie Chicks, Taking The Long Way<br />KT Tunstall, Eye to the Telescope<br />Justin Timberlake, FutureSex/LoveSounds<br />High School Musical - the soundtrack<br />Corrine Bailey Rae, Corrine Bailey Rae<br />The Veronicas, The Secret Life of ... (okay, this is only because of their name ... )<br /><br /><strong>Sheila Marie forces herself to choose (and they’re all from 2006)</strong><br /><br />This is hard :) I love all kinds of music and it's so hard to choose!<br />Okay, here is my stab at it...(I hope they're all actually from 2006!)<br /><br />Neko Case, Fox Confessor Brings the Flood<br />Gnarls Barkley, St. Elsewhere<br />The Hold Steady, Boys and Girls in America<br />Scissor Sisters, Ta-Dah<br />Diana Krall, From This Moment On<br /><br />Guilty Pleasure - Justin Timberlake, Future Sex/Love Sounds<br />Do Broadway cast recordings count? Spring Awakening gets my vote.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Wendy had infant twins this year, so her hands have been full…</strong><br /><br />I only bought one CD this year (I don't get out much!), but I think it's really rockin':<br /><br />Daughtry by Chris Daughtry<br /><br /><br /><strong>Thu brings it back</strong><br /><br />most essential album of 2006:Mates of State, Bring It Back<br /><br />other essentials:<br />Guster, Ganging Up On the Sun<br />John Mayer, Continuum<br />Yo La Tengo, I Am Not Afraid of You and I Will Beat Your Ass<br />TV on the Radio, Return to Cookie Mountain<br />Various Artists, The Last Kiss Soundtrack (the movie may have been underwhelming but the soundtrack still lived up to expectations)<br />Band of Horses, Everything All the Time<br />Snow Patrol, Eyes Open<br /><br /><br /><strong>E.ko, Night Ripper</strong><br /><br />sorry for the delay. this was a hard year for me to come up with my favorite albums. these are probably the ones that struck me most when i heard them or that i found myself listening to over and over again. <br />we'll see how this holds up over time and with respect to other's. in alphabetical order:<br /><br />Alias & Tarsier-Brookland/Oaklyn<br />Alif Tree-French Cuisine<br />Asobi Seksu-Citrus<br />Beirut-Gulag Orkestar<br />Damien Rice-9<br />Girl Talk-Night Ripper<br />Joanna Newsom-Ys<br />Johann Johannson-IBM 1401 A User's Manual Max Richter-Songs from Before Tom Tom Waits-Orphans<br /><br />my favorite tracks from this year were:<br />Justin Timberlake, "My Love"<br />Regina Specktor, "Fidelity"<br />Say Hi To Your Mom, "These Fangs"<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Sarah-Maria tells us about the racounteurs</strong><br /><br />most essential<br />Raconteurs, Broken Boy Soldiers<br />My Chemical Romance, The Black Parade<br /><br />very essential<br />The Dears, Gang of Losers<br />Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Show Your Bones<br />Muse, Black Holes and Revelations<br />Arctic Monkeys, Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not<br />Decemberists, The Crane Wife<br />Placebo, Meds<br />Sean Lennon, Friendly Fire<br />Johnossi, Johnossi<br />Neko Case, Fox Confessor Brings The Flood<br />Madrugada, Live At Tralfamadore<br />The Sounds, Dying To Say This To You<br />Jenny Lewis With The Watson Twins, Rabbit Fur Coat<br /><br />most important discovery of 2006<br />Kaizer's Orchestra<br /><br />hopefully part of this list will be the following, which i just got my hands on today<br />The Magic Numbers, Those The Brokes<br />The Divine Comedy, Victory For The Comic Muse<br /><br />most essential of 2007<br />The Good, The Bad & The Queen<br />The White Stripes<br /><br /><br /><strong>Sarah S. and her variable essentials</strong><br /><br />I think this is the first time I have managed to send in a list. I cannot choose an essential album. Mood dictates these things. But in no particular order, here they are:<br />The Decemberists, Crane Wife<br />Beirut, Gulag Orkestar<br />Cat Power, The Greatest (reissue? maybe not her greatest? but this was MY year for cat power)<br />Belle and Sebastian, The Life Pursuit (you keep thinking, maybe this one will suck. then it doesn't)<br />Regina Spektor, Begin to Hope<br />Arctic Monkeys, Whatever People Say I Am...<br /><br />Not from this year (what is this, five years old?), but the live show pushed me over and it actually made me cry, so: Flaming Lips, Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots<br /><br />Also a major essential in my house, frequently requested by the under six set: School House Rocks, Grammar Rock. lolly lolly lolly we got your adverbs here! indubitably.<br /><br /><br /><strong>David O. scissors for the Sisters</strong><br /><br />Most Essential seems to me to be Ta-Dah by the Scissor Sisters.<br /><br />But in the effort to try and do something a little more interesting I also nominate Elton John's "Captain and the Kid" with its hot, hot, hot song "And the House Fell Down."<br /><br />And my much cooler LA boyfriend Buck says the honor of Most Essential is Beck's new CD whatever that is. But Buck is pretty confident he's right.<br /><br /><strong>Martha O’s Greatest hits</strong><br /><br />Hello david, i wasn't sure how many to put but here is my list. Looking forward to seeing the others.<br /><br />ESSENTIAL= Cat Power- The Greatest<br />Owen- At Home With Owen<br />Built To Spill- You In Reverse<br />Sufjan Stevens- Songs For Christmas<br />Camera Obscura- Let's Get Out Of This Country Mountain Goats- Get Lonely BEST SOUNDTRACK= marie antoinette!<br /><br />i'm sure there are others but i can't remember them...if i think of them later i'll email you.<br /><br /><strong>Leslie, ward of the music poll<br /></strong><br /><br />Here's my list:<br /><br />M. Ward, Post-War<br /><br />The Hold Steady, Boys and Girls in America<br /><br />Yo La Tengo, I Am Not Afraid Of You And I Will Beat Your Ass<br /><br />Cat Power, The Greatest<br /><br />TV On the Radio, Return to Cookie Mountain<br /><br />Tom Waits, Orphans<br /><br /><br /><strong>Jordan joins the Black Parade</strong><br /><strong></strong><br />My Chemical Romance, The Black Parade<br /><br />Elvis Costello and Allen Toussaint, The River in Reverse<br /><br />Michael Franti and Spearhead, Yell Fire!<br /><br /><br />Overall, I think it was a crummy year for pop music. But these three, at least, strike me as standouts.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Dan P must say something</strong><br /><br />I didn't think this past year warranted anything essential. <br /><br />But if I must say something (and I must),<br /><br />I'm going to go with my favorite instead:<br /><br />Dixie Chicks, Taking the Long Way.<br /><br />That's the one I keep listening to. And I feel I should give it up for alt-country because I have a feeling everyone is going to vote for alt-rock or alt-folk.<br /><br />Oh what the hell, I'll also throw in<br /><br />Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Show your bones.<br /><br />And I also just got<br /><br />Boston, Boston<br /><br />It rocks.<br /><br /><strong>Jackie Q love the funny little frog</strong><br />1. Belle And Sebastian, The Life Pursuit2. Scissor Sisters,Ta Dah3. Girl Talk, Night Ripper4. Neko Case, Fox Confessor Brings the Floor5. The Beatles, Love6. Marie Antoinette, Soundtrack7. Gwen Stefani, The Sweet Escape8. Camera Obscura, Let's Get Out of This Country9. Matisyahu, Youth10. Yeah Yeah Yeah's, Show Your Bones11. Stereolab, Fab Four Suture12. Justin Timberlake, FutureSex / LoveSounds And FYI... Best Concerts1. Gorillaz, @ The Apollo2. Madonna, Confessions Tour @ Madison Square Garden3. Belle and Sebastian, Live from Battery Park July 4th Best Music DVD..Gorillaz, Demon Days Live from Manchester Most Anticipated Album for 2007..The Shins, Wincing The Night Away <br /><br /><strong>Ronnie leads us to the Fountain</strong><br /><strong></strong><br />My favorite soundtracks this year (so far) in no particular order<br /><br />Clint Mansell, The Fountain<br />Nick Cave and Warren Ellis, The Proposition<br />Various Artists, Miami Vice<br />Javier Navarrete, Pan's Labyrinth<br />Tom Tykwer & Johnny Kilmek & Reinhold Heil, Perfume<br />Various Artists, Prairie Home Companion [highlight: "The Day Is Short" by Jearlyn Steele]<br />Various Artists, Children of Men [highlight: "Running the World" by Jarvis Cocker]<br />Mychael Danna & Devotchka, Little Miss Sunshine<br />Susumu Hirasawa, Paprika [highlight: "Meditational Field"]<br />Sukhwinder Singh, Sapna Awasthi featuring Panjabi MC; "Chaiyya Chaiyya Bollywood Joint" from Inside Man<br /><br /><strong>Patrick Flanery goes with the eraser</strong><br /><strong></strong><br />Has been a year of rediscovery rather than new discovery!<br /><br /><br />Most Essential: Thom Yorke, The Eraser<br /><br />All my others were albums from past years! Fiona Apple, Gorillaz, Sufjan...<br /><br /><strong>Ruth gives one to the animals</strong><br /><br />Josh Ritter, The Animal Years<br /><br />Brandi lets go<br /><br />Most essential:<br />Bonnie Prince Billy, The Letting Go<br /><br />Other essentials:<br />Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Show Your Bones<br />Beck, The Information<br />Neko Case, Fox Confessor Brings the Flood<br /><br /><strong>Erin married a music editor, so now she “pays more attention to these things”</strong><br /><br /><br />Most Essential:<br />The Raconteurs, Broken Boy Soldiers<br /><br />Essential:<br />Belle & Sebastian, The Life Pursuit<br />Hot Chip, The Warning<br />Mates of State, Bring It Back<br />The Rakes, Capture/Release<br />Babydayliner, Critics Pass Away<br /><br /><strong>Dan Feder, boy in America</strong><br /><br />The Hold Steady, Boys and Girls in America (most essential)<br />TV on the Radio, Return to Cookie Mountain<br />Justin Timberlake, Futuresex/Lovesounds<br />Pearl Jam, Pearl Jam<br />The Futureheads, News and Tributes<br />Arctic Monkeys, Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not<br />Paul Westerberg, Songs from Open Season<br />Art Brut, Bang Bang Rock and Roll<br />Beyonce, B'Day<br /><br />Biggest music discovery from previous years: The Action, Action Packed and Rolled Gold<br /><br />That took me way, way too long.<br /><br /><strong>Annmarie N’s seder songs</strong><br />1. The Black Angels, Passover<br />2. Brightblack Morning Light, Brightblack Morning Light<br />3. Stevenson Ranch Davidians, Psalms, Hymns, & Spiritual Songs<br />4. Smog, Rock Bottom Riser (EP)<br />5. Espers, II<br />6. Mariee Sioux, A Bundled Bundle of Bundles<br />7. Pink Mountaintops, Axis of Evol<br />8. Asteroid #4, An Amazing Dream<br />9. Joanna Newsom, Ys<br />10. Vetiver, To Find Me Gone<br /><br />Most essential single: The Warlocks, Red Camera / Isolation 7"<br />Close second: The Morning After Girls, Shadows Evolve<br /><br />Best nostalgia trip: Jarvis Cocker, Jarvis<br /><br />Best argument for being a raging completist: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Howl Sessions<br /><br />I can't believe I still haven't listened to:<br />Primal Scream, Riot City Blues<br />Sarabeth Tucek, Sarabeth Tucek<br /><br /><br /><strong>Annie gives some props to the ringleader of the tormentors</strong><br /><br />Most Essential:<br />Morrissey, Ringleader of the Tormentors<br /><br />Most Essential Protest Albums:<br />Dixie Chicks, Taking the Long Way<br />Neil Young, Living with War<br /><br />Most Essential Song that Should Sweep the Nation:<br />Neil Young, "Let's Impeach the President"!!!!<br /><br />Most Essential Broadway Cast Album:<br />Harry Connick Jr, The Pajama Game<br /><br />Most Anticipated Broadway Cast Album release:<br />High Fidelity (so underrated and killed before its time...)<br /><br />Runners-up in no particular order:<br />Grey's Anatomy Vol 2 soundtrack<br />Snow Patrol, Eyes Open<br />Nellie McKay, Pretty Little Head<br />Pink, I'm Not Dead<br />Beck, The Information<br />KT Tunstall, Eye to the Telescope<br />Roseanne Cash, Black Cadillac<br />John Mayer, Continuum<br />Cat Power, The Greatest<br />Camera Obscura, Let's Get Out of This Country<br />Say Anything...Is a Real Boy<br />M. Ward, Post-War<br />Keane, Under the Iron Sea<br />The Last Kiss soundtrack<br />(for old times' sake) The O.C. Vol 6 soundtrack<br />Scissor Sisters, Ta-Dah<br /><br />Best New Discovery:<br />Motion City Soundtrack, Commit This to Memory (2005)<br />Clap Your Hands Say Yeah (thanks for the recommendation on last year's list, everyone!)<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>AnnMarie H conducts the Orkestar</strong><br /><br />Er, I'm generally not good at this sort of thing, but here are two albums from 2006 that I thought were really great:<br /><br />Beirut, Gulag Orkestar<br />Gnarls Barkley, St. Elsewhere<br /><br /><br /><strong>Benjamin has his opinions</strong><br /><br />Matt forwarded you message about the music poll to me, so now you have to listen to my opinions. Don't worry, I won't be waxing poetic or anything; this simple list will suffice. (Unless someone should somehow want explanations or something; in that case, I will be happy to tell them why I'm right and they're dumb.)<br /><br />Most Essential: The Secret Machines, Ten Silver Drops<br /><br />The Rest of the Top Ten:<br />2. TV on the Radio, Return to Cookie Mountain (the closest second possible)<br />3. Cut Chemist, The Audience's Listening<br />4. The M's, Future Women<br />5. Beck, The Information<br />6. Wolfmother (album is self-titled)<br />7. The Flaming Lips, At War With the Mystics<br />8. Built to Spill, You in Reverse<br />9. Figurines, Skeleton<br />10. Midlake, The Trials of Van Occupanther<br /><br />There. Take that.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Amalia heads to Beirut</strong><br /><br />here is my master list.<br />& let me tell you, it is so 2006.<br /><br />Beirut, The Gulag Orkestar<br />The Raconteurs, Broken Boy Soldiers<br />TV on the Radio, Return to Cookie Mountain<br />Islands, Return to the Sea<br />Camera Obscura, Let's Get Out of this Country<br />Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Show Your Bones<br />Flaming Lips, At War with the Mystics<br />Justin Timberlake, FutureSex/LoveSounds<br />Beck, The Information<br /><br /><br /><strong>Springtime didn’t kill Cecil</strong><br /><br />Jolie Holland, Springtime Can Kill You<br />Girls From Hawaii, From Here to There<br />Joanna Newsom, Ys<br />Sean Hayes, Big Black Hole and The Little Baby Star<br /><br />songs:<br />Not Ready to Make Nice by the Dixie Chicks<br />And I am Telling you sung by Jennifer Hudson<br /><br /><br /><strong>Iain gets points just for listening to a band called Spank Rock</strong><br /><br />My musical year has been entirely front room and train-based. Gigs don't happen any more, and domestic listening is usually curtailed by demands for The Smartest Giant In Town or Okey-Cokey to be played. Arrival of Kid B (Evie, aww) in February further focussed musical consumption opportunities. That said, I seem to have managed to listen to a fair bit of new stuff, largely thanks to iPod (am on my fifth, absurdly) and proliferation of websites carrying lists of interesting music.<br /><br />Album of the Year<br /><br />King Creosote, KC Rules OK (err, was actually first released in 05, I think, but disappeared without trace and was reissued properly this year. If that doesn't count, please promote Fantan Mojah to AotY)<br /><br /><br />Other Nice Albums<br /><br />Spank Rock, Yoyoyoyo<br /><br />Bob Dylan, Modern Times<br /><br />Joanna Newsom, Ys (was all standing by to hate it, too)<br /><br />Bonnie Prince Billy, The Letting Go<br /><br />Beirut, Gulag Orkester<br /><br />Ghostface Killah, Fishscale<br /><br />J Dilla, Donuts<br /><br />CSS, Cansei de ser Sexy<br /><br />Fantan Mojah, Hail The King<br /><br />PJ Harvey, Peel Sessions<br /><br /><br /><br />Songs I liked this year, from various years<br /><br />Tinariwen, Amassakouil 'N' Tenere<br /><br />Ken Boothe, Can't You See<br /><br />Jaylib, The Red<br /><br />Katzenjammers, Cars<br /><br />Lyme and Cybelle, Follow Me<br /><br />Chris Clark, Love's Gone Bad<br /><br />Dexys Midnight Runners, Show Me<br /><br />Fire Engines, Eveything's Roses<br /><br />Gong, Tried So Hard<br /><br />The Creation, Making Time<br /><br />The Good The Bad and The Queen, Herculean (they need a new name for that band, damn)<br /><br />The Young Knives, Loughborough Suicide<br /><br />Lori and the Chameleons, Touch<br /><br />Data Panik, Cubis (I Love You)<br /><br /><br />Things for 07, please<br /><br />New Fall album<br /><br />Proper reissue of Fire Engines and Scars back catalogue<br /><br />Incarceration of Pete Doherty<br /><br />Long overdue dissolution of Oasis, REM. They can't need the money<br /><br />The Good the Bad and the Queen. Could be great. Or not<br /><br />Definitive Basement Tapes release<br /><br /><br /><strong>Live, from Costa Rica, it’s…Jeffrey</strong><br /><br />It will not be difficult for me to avoid the temptation to include a slew of latin pop music in the list below. Quite simply, other than the odd Alejandro Sanz song which crops up on the radio, it generally sucks.<br /><br />1. Roseanne Cash, Black Cadillac<br />2. Sara Gazarek, Yours (this may well have been late 2005, not sure)<br />3. Susan Tedeschi, Hope and Desire (again, a late 2005 release)<br />4. Johnny Cash, American V (and I promise to you that barring some strange miracle-work by Rick Rubin, this will be his last nomination to your music poll)<br /><br /><br /><strong>Who knew that Jimi Hendrix sang in Japanese, Dan?</strong><br /><br />Jimi Hendrix, Live at the Fillmore East (Japanese edition)<br /><br /><br /><strong>Blake is keen on Keane</strong><br /><br />Top Albums:<br /><br />Keane, Under the Iron Sea (favorite of the year)<br />Raconteurs, Raconteurs<br />Ladytron, Witching Hour<br />Depeche Mode, Precious<br />Hard Fi, Stars of CCTV<br />Mastadon, Throne of Blood<br />Wolf Parade, Apologies to the Queen Mary<br />Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins, Rabbit Fur coat<br />AFI, December Undeground<br />Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Bone of the Golden Lion (so much better than first one)<br /><br /><br />Favorite singles:<br />Black Parade by My Chemical Romance<br />Miss Murder by AFI<br />Precious by Depeche Mode<br />Crystal Ball by Keane<br />Heard to Beat by Hard Fi<br /><br /><br />Recent Discovery of past band i thought sucked:<br />The Libertines, all of<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Jack L, holding back the years</strong><br /><br /><br />Okay, so it seems I'm a couple years behind on my music taste because almost everything I've "discovered" this year has turned out to be from 2004 or earlier...<br /><br />2007:<br />Regina Spektor, Begin to Hope<br />Duncan Sheik, Spring Awakening<br />Dixie Chicks, Taking the Long Road<br /><br />Previous years:<br />Deb Talan, Something Burning<br />Pink Martini, Hang On Little Tomato<br />Girlyman, Little Star<br />The Story, Angel in the House<br />Imogen Heap, Speak for Yourself<br />Madeline Peyroux, Careless Love<br />Jem, Finally Woken<br /><br />Most effortlessy catchy though shamelessly plastic celebrity single:<br />Stars are Blind<br /><br />Most shockingly disappointing sample of "The Lonely Goatherd:"<br />Gwen Stefani, Wind it Up<br /><br /><br /><strong>Gabe G’s on the case</strong><br /><br />Most essential album of the year:<br /><br />NEKO CASE -- "Fox Confessor Brings the Flood"<br /><br /><br />Top 5 runner-ups:<br /><br />YEAH YEAH YEAHS -- "Show Your Bones"<br /><br />CAT POWER -- "The Greatest"<br /><br />REGINA SPEKTOR -- "Begin to Hope"<br /><br />THE HOLD STEADY -- "Boys and Girls in America"<br /><br />THE KILLERS -- "Sam’s Town"<br /><br /><br />Essential YouTube clip: Chris Funk from "The Decemberists" shredding against Stephen Colbert<br /><br />Essential haunting Thom Yorke song: "Analyse"<br /><br />Essential documentary about an essential artist that I didn't know much about before watching it: "The Devil and Daniel Johnston"<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Corinne, down(loading) with the singles</strong><br /><br />I don't buy albums, only songs (and the fact that they are new to me, doesn't make them new)<br /><br />If you like Fiona Apple, do you know:<br />1) Anna Nalick (Breathe, Catalyst, Wreck of the Day)<br />2) Rachael Yamagat (Reason Why)<br />3) Dar Williams (I'll Miss You Till I Meet You)<br /><br />If you like Coldplay, do you know:<br />1) Hoobastank - (If I were You, The Reason)<br />2) Hem (Half Acre)<br />3) Frou Frou (Breathe In)<br />4) Ich + Ich (The whole album)<br />5) Jem (Maybe I'm Amazed)<br />6) Morsheeba (The Sea)<br />7) The Thrills (Not for All the Love in the World)<br />8) The Verve<br />9) Waterlillies (Tempted, Never Get Enough)<br /><br />More Eurotrashy:<br />1) ATB - Extasy<br />2) Blue October - (Believe)<br />3) Fotonovella - (Cascada & Mirabella)<br />4) Dalida - (Besame Mucho)<br />5) In-Grid (In Tango)<br />6) Kaskade (Be Still)<br />7) Lucas Prata (I Think I am Falling in Love, Feel The Love Again, More Than Words Can Say)<br />8) Mylene Farmer/Seal (Les Mots)<br />9) Robert Miles (Children)<br />10) Robi Draco Rosa (Mas et Mas)<br /><br />More Alternative<br />1) Beborn Beton - (Deeper than the Usual Feeling)<br />2) Weave(Als Ob, To Hell and Back)<br />3) Wolfsheim (Find You're Here)<br />4) Motorcycle (As the Rush Comes)<br />5) Mesh (Crash)<br />6) Gomez (How we Operate)<br />7) Covenant (We Stand Alone, Like Tears in Rain)<br /><br /><br /><strong>Angie and Bob: a his-n’-hers list</strong><br /><br />Most Essential Album:<br /><br />Bob: The Scissor Sisters, Ta-dah!<br />Angie: Soundtrack, Marie Antoinette<br /><br />Other essential albums, our combined list:<br /><br />Gnarls Barkley, St. Elsewhere<br />TV on the Radio, Return to Cookie Mountain<br />Sondre Lerche and the Faces Down Quartet, Duper Sessions<br />Corinne Bailey Rae, Corinne Bailey Rae<br />The Decemberists, The Crane Wife<br /><br />Single of note (because we are and because the godkids know all the words): "White and Nerdy" by Weird Al Yankovic, Straight Outta Lynwood.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Anton and his gang of losers</strong><br /><br />Like last year, I feel like I just didn’t have as much time as I used to for exploring new music. In fact, there’s still some stuff I’ve heard good things about that I need to sample ¾ so I don’t feel right offering my essential albums of 2006. All I can do is comment on what I’ve heard…<br /><br />MY MOST ESSENTIAL ALBUM OF 2006:<br /><br />THE DEARS ¾ Gang of Losers<br />Their last album, No Cities Left, was my favorite discovery of 2004 ¾ so it was no surprise I’d be all over their follow-up. While it didn’t blow me away upon first listening, I’ve discovered it’s taken over me upon repeated plays. Murray Lightburn’s soulful singing can be inspiring and heartbreaking at the same time. I just saw them live last week, so I’m still high about that too.<br /><br />OTHER ESSENTIAL ALBUMS OF 2006:<br /><br />THE STROKES ¾ First Impressions of Earth<br />I thought their first album was fun and different, but grew bored with it quickly. Their sophomore album, Room on Fire, proved to be more of the same and even less inspired. The third time’s definitely the charm, though ¾ and First Impressions leaves lasting ones. It’s been a year already and I’m still impressed. Despite mixed reviews, it’s their most mature work, and definitely the direction I hope they continue to take.<br /><br />BECK ¾ The Information<br />I keep expecting to not be into Beck’s style of music, but he keeps winning me over with new directions. Even when he goes back to his roots and older sound, it’s still fresh. I’m never bored with Beck. My only regret was downloading this album off iTunes, and not getting the do-it-yourself album cover.<br /><br />MORRISSEY ¾ Ringleader of the Tormentors<br />OK, it wasn’t his greatest. But even Moz’s lesser albums are far better than most of what’s out there. “Life in a Pigsty” wasn’t quite the epic people said it was, but it was still quite good nonetheless. And “I Will See You in Far Off Places” is a phenomenal opening track.<br />As usual, his collection of B-Sides for the singles were even better than the actual album itself. “Ganglord” is the best Moz track since Vaulhall and I’s “Speedway,” and that’s really saying something. “Christian Dior” and his covers of “Human Being” and “A Song From Under the Floorboards” were tops too. “Sweetie Pie” can be completely ignored, however.<br /><br />RICHARD BUTLER ¾ Richard Butler<br />My “mellow” album of the year. But this isn’t elevator music, or adult contemporary. It’s just soothing, good-for-the-soul music. I’ve always been a follower of Richard Butler, from his Psychedelic Furs days to Love Spit Love (a great, totally underrated band). I was afraid at first this album would be too “soft” an approach, but it’s like Butler’s voice has finally become comfortable with the songs he’s singing. A truly beautiful record.<br /><br />THE BEATLES ¾ Love<br />I think it’s probably been 20 years since I’ve listened to a full Beatles album. I had absolutely NO intention of getting this, but when my boyfriend got it and started playing it, I remembered how much I actually loved the Beatles growing up without even realizing it. Their music still sounds contemporary, even today ¾ and the new spin on their most famous tracks makes it all the more fresher.<br /><br />ALMOST, BUT NOT QUITE:<br /><br />MUSE ¾ Black Holes and Revelations<br />It’s only here because I haven’t listened to it all enough yet, but it should probably be above with the Essentials. Muse is far from “typical” of the bands I generally like, and that’s probably why I’m digging them so much. The tunes here are catchy, original and unexpected.<br /><br />THE DECEMBERISTS ¾ The Crane Wife<br />Don’t get me wrong, this is a wonderful and beautiful album. If my list above was a top ten, this would have been in it. But I just don’t get the unbelievable raves this gets. It’s ok. Pleasant. Nothing revolutionary. I guess I’ve been distancing myself from this style of music and others of its ilk (every other band, it seems). I just want something… more.<br /><br />BADLY DRAWN BOY ¾ Born in the U.K.<br />Once an absolute favorite, and someone I expected amazing things from. Now just another “ok” musician. I get about as excited with BDB as I do with Coldplay. Listenable, definitely ¾ but nothing to write home about.<br /><br />KEANE ¾ Under The Iron Sea<br />I appreciated the new sound of “Is it Any Wonder?” (even though the opening sounds like U2), but this is pretty much more of the same. “Nothing in My Way” sounds like it could have been on the first album, but it’s my favorite anyway.<br /><br />SCISSOR SISTERS ¾ Ta-Dah<br />Still not quite my thing, but darn fun anyway. Looking more forward to their concert in March than listening to the full album again.<br /><br />HAVEN’T LISTENED TO ENOUGH TO FORM A GOOD OPINION:<br /><br />BEN KWELLER ¾ Ben Kweller<br />I’m sure it’s nothing new, but his songs are catchy and well-constructed. I can’t get enough of “Sundress.”<br /><br />KASABIAN ¾ Empire<br />Their first album was a lovely surprise, and I’m expecting good things from this one.<br /><br />MOST OVER-HYPED:<br /><br />ARTIC MONKEYS ¾ Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not<br />Sorry, I find them really annoying. Even the title’s annoying.<br /><br />THOM YORKE ¾ The Eraser<br />Cold and alienating. While some songs were ok mixed in with others during shuffle mode, listening to the entire album made me very uncomfortable and nervous.<br /><br />MOST DISAPPOINTING:<br /><br />THE KILLERS ¾ Sam’s Town<br />After one of the best debut’s in a decade with Hot Fuss, the Killers unfortunately discover Bruce Springsteen and decide to use him as an inspiration. While the cheesy stadium epics have grown on me a bit over time, this is still a sad and unfortunate direction for one of the most promising bands in a long time.<br /><br />MY TOP TEN SONGS:<br /><br />MORRISSEY ¾ “Ganglord”<br />THE DEARS ¾ “Ballad of Human Kindness”<br />THE STROKES ¾ “Razorblade”<br />BEN KWELLER ¾ “Sundress”<br />RICHARD BUTLER ¾ “Broken Aeroplanes”<br />KEANE ¾ “Nothing in My Way”<br />BECK ¾”Think I’m in Love”<br />ARCADE FIRE ¾”Intervention”<br />U2 & GREEN DAY ¾ “The Saints are Coming”<br />MODEST MOUSE ¾ “Dashboard” (I heard it in 2006, so I’m counting it – hah!)<br /><br />LOOKING FORWARD TO IN 2007:<br /><br />BLOC PARTY<br />ARCADE FIRE<br />BROKEN SOCIAL SCENE<br /><br /><br /><strong>Kimberly gives us the information (fitting for a librarian)</strong><br /><br />Beck, The Information<br />Gnarls Barkley, St. Elsewhere<br />John Mayer, Continuum<br />Audioslave, Revelations<br />Sting, Songs from the Labyrinth (I love the fact that Sting can just decide to make an entire CD of lute music and old English lyrics and he knows that no one will buy it, but he doesn't care.)<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Sean M’s sweet escape</strong><br /><br />Essential Album:<br />1) Gwen Stefani, The Sweet Escape – On Gwen’s first solo outing, she was a bit like a teenager at the mall with her mom’s credit card, trying on several different musical styles to see what fit. Now, on the follow-up, she’s put that fashion sense of hers to work and determined the two pop genres that best suit her assets: ‘Hollaback’-style hip-hop cheerleader dance beats, and ‘80’s new-wave balladry. She alternates effortlessly between the two for the first half of the album, before the electronic soundscapes start to intrude on each other and meld together. But the thing that unifies the album throughout is Gwen’s post-modern narrative persona. Whether she’s addressing personal topics like marital issues with her husband and the birth of her first child, recapping her career trajectory, or even giving props toThe Sound of Music (on two separate tracks), she’s able to inhabit her songs with a unique hip-pop sensibility like no other artist today. Smart, fun, quirky and affecting, The Sweet Escape is the sound of Gwen dishing on what it’s like to be Gwen.<br /><br />Essential Top Ten, The Rest:<br />2) The Feeling, Twelve Stops From Home – If the Scissor Sisters were British, and idolized ELO and Crowded House rather than the Bee Gees and Elton John. Yearning, catchy ‘70’s- and ‘80’s-inspired pop-rock brilliance.3) Justin Timberlake, FutureSex/LoveSounds – Justin and Timbaland bring out the best in each other, resulting in the year’s most sonically adventurous #1 pop record.<br />4) Dixie Chicks, Taking The Long Way – Indignation and twang never sounded so righteous. Right on.<br />5) Cat Power, The Greatest – The quiet, simple production lets each amazing song speak for itself. Lovely.6) Nelly Furtado, Loose – Producer of the year Timbaland’s other genius hit-making collaboration, allowing Nelly to shake off a few of her idiosyncrasies and embrace these slammin’ pop hooks.7) The Killers, Sam’s Town – Not as unified in concept as Hot Fuss, true. But the best songs (‘Bones,’ ‘Read My Mind’ and ‘When You Were Young’) give indication that the band should have life in them long after the New Wave revival has ended.<br />8) Keane, Under The Iron Sea – Swooning and soaring, Keane’s second album expands on their intimate debut with a welcome dash of bombast.9) Snow Patrol, Eyes Open – Almost makes me want to start watching “Gray’s Anatomy.”<br />10) Fergie, The Dutchess – Surprisingly diverse, frothy and fun, and so much better than I’d dared to hope. “Fergalicious,” indeed.<br />Essential Runners-Up:<br />Kelis, Kelis Was HereBasement Jaxx, Crazy Itch Radio<br />Sufjan Stevens, The AvalancheMuse, Black Holes And RevelationsWe Are Scientists, With Love And SqualorHot Chip, The WarningBeyoncé, B’Day<br />The Rapture, Pieces Of The People We LoveScissor Sisters, Ta-DahNouvelle Vague, Bande A PartEssential Guilty Pleasure:<br />Paris Hilton, ParisEssential Introduction:<br />The Pipettes, Meet The Pipettes<br /><br />Essential Retrospective:<br />Tori Amos, A Piano: The Collection<br /><br />Essential Soundtrack:<br />Dreamgirls: Music from the Motion Picture [2-CD Deluxe Edition]<br /><br />Essential Incidental Soundtrack:<br />Marie Antoinette: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack<br />Essential Remix Album:<br />Goldfrapp, We Are Glitter<br />Essential Singles:<br />Rihanna, ‘S.O.S.’<br />Gnarls Barkley, ‘Crazy’Christina Aguilera, ‘Ain’t No Other Man’Scissor Sisters, ‘I Don’t Feel Like Dancing’Justin Timberlake, ‘SexyBack’Cassie, ‘Me & U’<br />Nelly Furtado, ‘Maneater’<br />The Feeling, ‘Never Be Lonely’Mary J. Blige, ‘Be Without You’<br />Kanye West feat. Lupe Fiasco, ‘Touch The Sky’<br />The Modern, ‘Industry’Beyoncé feat. Jay-Z, ‘Déjà Vu’<br />Madonna, ‘Get Together’Prince, ‘Black Sweat’<br />Natasha Bedingfield, ‘Unwritten’<br />Fergie, ‘Fergalicious’<br />Corinne Bailey Rae, ‘Put Your Records On’<br />Essential B-Side-that-should-have-been-an-A-Side:<br />Peaches, ‘Hanky Code’Essential Ironic Alt Cover of a Pop Song:<br />The Gossip, ‘Are U That Somebody?’<br />Essential Post-Ironic Pop Cover of an Alt Song:<br />Sugababes, ‘I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor’<br /><br /><br /><strong>Matthue grapples with Spektor’s spectre</strong><br /><br />it's brief this year:<br /><br />Most:<br />1) Regina Spektor, Begin to Hope<br /><br />And, of course:<br />2) Ani Difranco, Reprieve<br />3) Supersystem, A Million Microphones<br />4) Macromantics, Moments in Movement<br />5) Bouncing Souls, The Gold Record<br />6) Moshav, Misplaced<br />7) Alan Jay Sufrin, Folky American Pop e.p.<br />8) Nelly Furtado, Loose<br />9) Mos Def, True Magic<br />10) CocoRosie, Noah's Ark<br /><br /><br /><strong>Alistair, new radio star (congrats!)</strong><br />Well, I find myself in a bit of an ego quandry, 2006 being the year in which I laid hands on my very own I-made-it-in-a-real-recording-studio-with-an-engineer-and-mics-and-lots-of-wires-and-buttons-and-everything cd. I don't anticipate that our little record will change the course of human events, but it did give me a live version of my all-time favorite cinematic cliche: struggling musician hears own song on radio and dances wildly in street. So, to heck with humility:<br />Most Essential: Bashful Mountain Broadcasters, Bashful Mountain Broadcasters<br />Now all of those picks with banjos that I always send, in no particular order because they are all fantastic:<br />Chris Thile and the How To Grow A Band: How To Grow A Woman From The Ground<br />Old Crow Medicine Show, Big Iron World<br />Abigail Washburn and the Sparrow Quartet (self-titled EP)<br />And finally, a couple of 2006 discoveries that I wish I'd know about all along:<br />Stars, Heart and Set Yourself on Fire<br />E.C. and Orna Ball, E.C. and Orna Ball and the Friendly Gospel Singers<br /><br /><br /><strong>Norah F, sonic slacker</strong><br /><br />I’ve been a little bit ( or a lot a bit) of a slacker with new music this year but here is my slim selection:Belle and Sebastian The Life Pursuit (of course)Sonic Youth Rather Ripped (my heroes)Regina Spektor Begin to Hope (my new obsession)And for my wild card:Christina Aguilera Back to Basics<br /><br /><strong>Francesco’s fergielicious</strong><br /><br />Quintessential Album of the YearOkay, here’s the deal. Naysayers beware:The Dutchess/FergieLike, I know she pees all over herself and is sorta a skank but I really and truly am delighted by this album, each and every time I listen to it. It’s like this perfect combination of pop and doo-wop-ey and lame but likable reggae and silliness. Look, anyone who can write sing and pull off the lyrics “I’ll be up at the gym, workin’ on my fitness” is alright by me... Except for “Mary Jane Shoes.” I mean. Even a duchess makes mistakes.Creepy-Deepy Album of the YearSt. Elsewhere/Gnarls BarkleyWeird and creepy and totally cool and just out there and smart.I Was Raised in Jersey, After All, AlbumBlack Holes and Revelations/MuseLOVE it. Every head-banging second of it! It’s sort of Pink Floyd-ey, sort of sometimes Fischerspooner, sorta Metallica. So good.Easy Like Sunday Mornin’ PickTwelve Steps from Home/The FeelingJust lovely. Like a cold, sunny Sunday morning walk through the West Village or Notting Hill with a perfect cup of coffee. And no work tomorrow.Fart in a Mitten PickParis/Paris HiltonI mean, at least she spent money on robots that made her sounds good.The Album I Meant to Buy All Year LongA Fever You Can’t Sweat Out/Panic! at the Disco Soundtracks, or, And I am Tellin You that Sometimes Life Feels Like One Night Only, aka, Pink Converses and Wigs:DreamgirlsDuh, I know. But it’s fantastic. And we cannot overlook “I am Changing”Marie AntoinetteNone of it was new or shocking but to get it all in one place was really delightful. And “Hong Kong Garden” is just perfect. I’d forgotten. Thank you, Sofia.Playlist of the year:It’s all music that my dad listened to when I was growing up and I heard one song at a bar one night and then it was like a whole new world: A new song would pop into my little head every five minutes. So, here it is, a mixture of lotsa country, some groovy Paul Simon, some jazz. But without this playlist, I would have had very little to listen to. (See below for reasoning as to why.)Last Thing I Needed First Thing This Morning 4:21 Willie Nelson He Stopped Loving Her Today 3:17 George Jones Late in the Evening 3:54 Paul Simon Lay, Lady, Lay 3:18 Bob Dylan East Bound and Down 2:48 Jerry Reed Smoke, Smoke, Smoke That Cigarette 3:13 Leroy Van Dyke Love A Rainy Night 3:11 Eddie Rabbitt I Believe In You 4:07 Don Williams Always On My Mind 3:33 Willie Nelson Don't Ever Get Tired Of Hurting Me 2:24 George Jones Ruby Don't Take Your Love To Town 2:54 Kenny Rogers Take This Job And Shove It 2:34 Johnny Paycheck Good Hearted Woman 2:56 Waylon Jennings & Willie Nelson For The Good Times 3:48 Roy Price Lovesick Blues 3:01 Hank Williams The Devil Went Down to Georgia 3:35 The Charlie Daniels Band Big Mamou 4:48 Hank Williams, Jr. Family Tradition 4:00 Hank Williams, Jr. All Night Long (All Night) 6:22 Lionel Richie Me And Julio Down By The Schoolyard 2:43 Paul Simon Let's Go Dancin' (Ooh La, La, La) 4:00 Kool & The Gang Sea Of Love 3:05 The Honeydrippers Where Are You? 3:15 Mildred Bailey & Her Orchestra Hearts 4:19 Marty Balin There Is No Greater Love 2:59 Billie Holiday I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter 2:58 Willie Nelson Otherwise, I call this The Year of the Letdown. Here’s why:Sam’s Town/The KillersI mean, here’s the deal. It’s a good album. It rocks, it rolls, it sounds like the boys we know and love. But it’s just missing something for me. Like, there’s no operatic arc like Hot Fuss had, there’s so much less hunger here and I miss it. I miss you, Killers. I miss you.Loose/Nelly FurtadoI think I liked her better when she was like a bird. And I HATE Promiscuous. HATE. But I do love me some Maneater.Sweet Escape /Gwen StefaniIt’s good. Yummy is delicious but there’s an eh factor that just kinda makes me sad.FutureSex/LoveSounds /J.TiHe’s sexy, so even the things that I don’t like about it are made up by the fact that he’s sexy. Ta-Da!/Scissor SistersGood. Absolutely. But just not as good as the first. There’s something about the Elton John thing that’s just getting slightly annoying.Show Your Bones/Yeah Yeah YeahsI just didn’t get it. I dunno. It just didn’t make any sense to me. And I treasured Fever to Tell.Bande A Part/Nouvelle VagueIt’s a great album but there’s this thing of like, “Didn’t they already make this exact album?” It’s just too similar.<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Brant’s post-war, pro-cat list</strong><br /><br />My Essential Album of 2006<br />M. Ward, Post-War<br /><br />My Other Essential Albums of 2006<br />Cat Power, The Greatest<br />Mates of State, Bring It Back<br />Jenny Lewis & the Watson Twins, Rabbit Fur Coat<br />Belle & Sebastian, The Life Pursuit<br />The Strokes, First Impressions of Earth<br />Lambchop, Damaged<br />Arctic Monkeys, Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not<br />Yo La Tengo, I Am Not Afraid of You and I Will Beat Your Ass<br /><br />More Albums I Enjoyed in 2006<br />Bob Dylan, Modern Times<br />Beth Orton, The Comfort of Strangers<br />J Dilla, Donuts<br />Beck, The Information<br />Midlake, Trials of Van Occupanther<br />The Gothic Archies, Tragic Treasury<br />The Decemberists, The Crane Wife<br />Camera Obscura, Let’s Get Out of This Country<br />Phoenix, It’s Never Been Like That<br />Gnarls Barkley, St. Elsewhere<br />Art Brut, Bang Bang Rock & Roll<br />The Knife, Silent Shout<br />The Dears, Gang of Losers<br />Postell, The Good Thief<br />Wolfmother, Wolfmother<br />Thom Yorke, The Eraser<br />Gotan Project, Lunatico<br />Mojave 3, Puzzles Like You<br />Pernice Brothers, Live a Little<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Scott trances into the tri-state</strong><br /><br />I think I missed my deadline. Again, I only picked up maybe a half dozen albums that came out in 2006. Nearly all from artists I already owned. And all solid, but none what I would consider superior. The only stand out was a trance record.<br /><br />Above & Beyond, Tri-StateOops, I did forget one. I thought it was older for some reason.<br /><br />Keane, Under the Iron Sea<br /><br />right. that's it. i mean it.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Sarah Z flamencos into our graces</strong><br /><br />There’s no real order here, but I guess I’m most excited about Martirio’s new album. It came out right before the new year and I’m kind of obsessed with anything that has flamenco influences right now.Martirio, Primavera en Nueva York Arizona, Welcome Back Dear Children Ratatat, ClassicsJoanna Newsom, YsBeirut, Gulag OrkestarVoxtrot, Mothers Sisters Daughters<br /><br /><br /><strong>Cindy helps swing the pendulum</strong><br /><br />Most Essential Album of 2006<br /><br />Indigo Girls, Despite Our Differences<br /><br />Listening to “Pendulum Swinger” following the 2006 Election was a very happy feeling.<br /><br />Biggest Discovery from Previous Years: Album<br /><br />Janis Ian, Folk is the New Black (2005)<br /><br />Several of the songs on this album, including “Danger Danger” and “The Great Divide” show that we need to move in a different direction…and I hope we are. <br /><br />Biggest Discovery from Previous Years: Single Song<br /><br />Fiona Apple, “Extraordinary Machine.”<br /><br />Yeah, I see now that this made top ten album last year but I’ve been reading books. I’ve seen the quote from this song in Jen Hubert’s sig file and now I know the source and it is a new mantra.<br /><br />Best Boxed Set from Previous Years:<br /><br />Girl Group Sounds: Lost & Found. “One Kiss Can Lead to Another” boxed in a black and white hat box with pink lettering.<br /><br />A four disk set that I am still exploring. This and the Janis Ian were purchased at Easy Street Records in Seattle during ALA. A great moment was playing “I’d Much Rather Be with the Girls” by Donna Lynn in the car on the way to the airport with Angie and Lynn, lamenting the end of the time together but celebrating the fun we’d had. While we listened to the girl groups of the 50s and 60s, Lynn shared with us her memory of hearing the Beatles for the first time and how it shook everything she knew about music going from the popular girl groups to the sound of the boys’ British Invasion.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Kevin says it’s in no particular order, but I seem to think it is</strong><br /><br /><br />Here is my Top 25(in no particular order):<br />Alexi Murdoch - Time Without Consequence<br />Arctic Monkeys - Whatever People Say What I Am, That's What I'm Not<br />Belle & Sebastian - The Life Pursuit<br />Ben Kweller - Ben Kweller<br />Bob Dylan - Modern Times<br />The Decemberists - The Crane Wife<br />Destroyer - Destroyer's Rubies<br />Dixie Chicks - Taking the Long Way<br />The Flaming Lips - At War with the Mystics<br />Gnarls Barkley - St. Elsewhere<br />The Gossip - Standing in the Way of Control<br />The Hold Steady - Boys and Girls in America<br />Jenny Lewis and The Watson Twins - Rabbit Fur Coat<br />Josh Ritter - The Animal Years<br />Justin Timberlake - FutureSex/LoveSounds<br />Lupe Fiasco - Lupe Fiasco's Food and Liquor<br />M. Ward - Post War<br />Mark Knopfler & Emmylou Harris - All the Roadrunning<br />The Mountain Goats - Get Lonely<br />Neko Case - Fox Confessor Brings the Flood<br />Nellie McKay - Pretty Little Head<br />Regina Spektor - Begin to Hope<br />Solomon Burke - Nashville<br />TV on the Radio - Return to Cookie Mountain<br />Van Hunt - On the Jungle Floor<br /><br />Just Missed the Cut:<br />Band of Horses - Everything All The Time<br />Beck - The Information<br />Built to Spill - You in Reverse<br />Camera Obscura - Let's Get Out of This Country<br />The Duhks - Migration<br />Joseph Arthur - Nuclear Daydream<br />The Lost Winters - Putting the Days to Bed (Only owned for less than a week, but so far SO GOOD!)<br />The Raconteurs - Broken Boy Soldiers<br />The Roots - Game Theory<br />Vienna Teng - Dreaming Through the Noise<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Lauren brings us some Light</strong><br /><br />Here are some of my favorites from the past year:<br /><br />Favorite Album of 2006:<br />Brightblack Morning Light, s/t<br /><br />Essential Reissues:<br />John, the Wolf King of L.A.<br /> The first solo album from John Phillips of the Mamas and the Papas -- beautiful, country-tinged songs from the early '70s.<br />Delta 5, Singles and Sessions 1979-1981<br /> Bouncy post-punk from the UK.<br />Josef K, Entomology<br /> Scottish post-punk from the early '80s.<br /><br />Best Local:<br />Beirut, Gulag Orkestar<br />Psychic Ills, Dins<br /><br />Best of the rest:<br />Cat Power, The Greatest<br />Joanna Newsom, Ys<br />Bonnie "Prince" Billy, The Letting Go<br /><br /><strong><br />Terra waits for no orphan</strong><br /><br />Most essential: Tom Waits, Orphans<br />Second most essential: Gnarls Barkley, St. Elsewhere<br /><br />COOLEST DOWNLOAD EVER: DJ Earworm, various mashups<br />OLD BUT ESSENTIAL: Suzanne Vega, Retrospective<br />BEST NEW DISCOVERY: Plus/Minus, Let's Build a Fire BETTER LATE THAN NEVER: Lucksmiths, Warmer Corners<br /><br /><br /><strong>Sean K left New York but stayed with Thom Yorke<br /></strong><br />Here are my thoughts on best of 2006:Thom Yorke, The EraserConsidering that I buy most of my music from ITunes now, that's the only album from which I purchased multiple tracks that I can recall.For best new find from prior years, I'd sayJohnny Cash, Sixteen Biggest Hits(I finally watched "Walk the Line" recently.)<br />Andrew takes the long way<br /><br />Most Essential:<br />Dixie Chicks, Taking The Long Way<br /><br />Essential When Writing Papers:<br />Shawn Colvin, These Four Walls<br /><br />Essential When Grading Papers:<br />Beth Orton, Comfort of Strangers<br /><br />Essential When Doing Research for Papers:<br />Tom Petty, Highway Companion<br /><br />Pleasantly Surprised at its Essentialness:<br />Vince Gill, These Days<br /><br />Most Essential as Voted on by my 8th Graders:<br />Cast of High School Musical, High School Musical<br />Teddy Geiger, Underage Thinking<br />Fergie, The Dutchess<br /><br /><br /><strong>Kevin W leads with a coup</strong><br /><br />Okay, here goes:<br /><br />1. The Coup, Pick a Bigger Weapon.With the song "I Love Boosters," I think Boots became my favorite MC of all time.<br /><br />2. The Paybacks, Love, Not Reason. They'll probably never quite match the glory of Knock Loud, but I can't think of a living band that could. And as long as Wendy Case keeps growling out those vocals like she does on "Shotgunn," they'll always make my list.<br /><br />3. The Reigning Sound, Live at Maxwell's. This makes two live albums in a row for these guys, but they're so good, they catch a break -- and Greg Cartwright's repertoire is getting mighty impressive.<br /><br />4. The Exploding Hearts, Shattered. Okay, the obligatory "outtakes from dead guys" inclusion -- but there really are some gems left here, particularly the title track.<br /><br />5. King Khan & BBQ, What's for Dinner?<br /><br />6. I'll always reserve a spot for a new Drive-by Truckers album, in this case A Blessing and a Curse -- it's just that I haven't actually listened to it yet, so I can't put it higher.<br /><br />Essential Album from the Past:<br />Johnny Thunders and the Heartbreakers, L.A.M.F. (the lost '77 mixes). I got this a little wary, after having been burned by breathless reviews of Thunders' solo album So Alone, which, in the end, was just okay and sounded like a junkie barely holding on. L.A.M.F. is the goodies, though, the quick rush before the inevitable implosion. "Born Too Loose," "Chinese Rocks" and "One Track Mind" are as good as rock can ever get. Might be one of the top 10 in my entire collection.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Nick stopped paying attention halfway through</strong><br /><br />I haven't been so hot about keeping up with new music for the last 6 months or so. You'll probably notice that all my faves are from the first half of 2006. With any luck I'll catch up, and next year I'll have a whole separate list of things I SHOULD have been listening to in 2006, but for now... <br /><br />Belle and Sebastian, The Life Pursuit<br />2. The Editors, The Back Room <br />3. Nelly Furtado, Loose<br />4. She Wants Revenge, She Wants Revenge <br /><br />Bonus! Thanks to the pop mix--favorite single from an album I have no interest in: The Fray, Over My Head (Cable Car)<br /><br /><br /><strong>Cary Loves Him Some Neko</strong><br /><br />Neko Case, Fox Confessor Brings the Flood<br /><br /><br /><strong>It’s Never Too Late, Michael S!</strong><br /><br />Cripes. I see I am too late to weigh in on this. Really, though, I would have cast my ballot for Regina Spektor's "Begin to Hope," with noteworthy mentions to Joanna Newsom's "Ys" and the Cardigans' "Super Extra Gravity."<br /><br /><br /><strong>Sophie’s Hard Work Pays Off</strong><br /><br />Ack, Ack, Ack. I was late last year, and I'm late AGAIN. And I even kept a running list throughout 2006 of what to include. Gah.<br /><br />Essential Albums:<br />Lily Allen, Alright Still (my #1 essential album of the year -- okay, so I had to get it as an import but I say it counts!)<br />Jenny Lewis & The Watson Twins, Rabbit Fur Coat<br />Belle & Sebastian, The Life Pursuit<br />Neko Case, Fox Confessor Brings The Flood<br />Smoosh, Free to Stay<br />Cat Power, The Greatest<br /><br />Essential Singles:<br />Gnarls Barkley, Crazy (obviously, the #1 essential song of 2006 -- the Hey Ya of the year)<br />Justin Timberlake, SexyBack<br />The Spinto Band, Oh, Mandy<br />Sean Paul, Temperature<br />Rihanna, SOS<br />Gwen Stefani, Wind it Up<br />Fergie, Fergalicious<br />Lily Allen, Smile<br />Belle & Sebastian, The White Collar Boy<br />Neko Case, Maybe Sparrow<br />Christina Aguilera, Ain't No Other Man<br /><br /><strong>Paula Mc, 30 Seconds from Deadline…<br /></strong><br />My essential albums of 2006.<br /><br />Artist/Album<br /><br />30 Seconds to Mars/ A Beautiful Lie<br /><br />A.F.I./ Decemberunderground<br /><br />Destroyer/ Destroyer's Rubies<br /><br />Ex-Boyfriends/ Dear John<br /><br />Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins/ Rabbit Fur Coat<br /><br />Justin Timberlake/ Future Sex/Love Sounds (guilty pleasure)<br /><br />The Sounds/ Dying to Say This to You<br /><br />Sountrack/ The Science of Sleep<br /><br />Yeah Yeah Yeahs/ Show Your Bones<br /><br />Most essential album....Sountrack/ The Science of Sleep<br /><br />Single I can't get enough of: Ex-Boyfriends- Him for Me<br /><br /><br /><strong>I think this is Jason G...</strong><br /><br />10. Tom WaitsOrphans: Brawlers, Bawlers, and Bastards After Johnny Cash died, Lost Highway released the stellar Unearthed. The box set contained four discs worth of recordings Johnny had done with Rick Rubin, that for one reason or another, never made it onto one of the American albums. Lost Highway easily could have released these songs on four separate albums, each a year or two a part, and dragging the posthomus albums on for a long time. Instead, they boxed everything except for what would become this year's American V. Which bring us to Tom Waits. Orphans is his Unearthed. Orphans comprises three albums worth of material that never made it onto his previous albums, and even though they didn't fit on his previous records, the songs are still all amazing. This guy just shits out brilliance.....<br />9. Band of HorsesEverything All The Time It's never a good sign when the co-songwriter of a band gets fired within a month of their debut album drops. What may have been a very bad start of the year for Band of Horses, should not reflect poorly on remaining songwriter, singer, and, let's admit it, indie pin-up of the year Ben Bridwell. This year saw the band play some amazing shows and release one of the most inspiring albums of the year. Everything All The Time is full of great lyrics, songwriting, guitar-licks, and the kind of atmosphere that makes an indie-boy want to lay in the park with headphones on all day long......DOWNLOAD: The Great Salt Lake <<a href="http://www.subpop.com/scripts/main/download.php?url=/downloads/free/The_Great_Salt_Lake376.mp3&mid=376">http://www.subpop.com/scripts/main/download.php?url=/downloads/free/The_Great_Salt_Lake376.mp3&mid=376</a>><br />8.The Thermals The Body, The Blood, The Machine I can go and on praising this record. And I will in a moment, but first I want to say that if this record was released in 1994, it would have sold four million copies. But it wasn't, so here we are. Unjustly, this album never reached the masses and it should have considering how MASSIVE it is. The Thermals broke out this year with this sonicly brutal and lyrically intelligent record. The concept is harsh on religion, government, and culture. When people like Neil Young say no one is making protest music anymore, they're ignoring this album. From the opening track to the final notes, and every track is a standout, this is The Thermals call to action. Now what's with Sub Pop band's and salt.......DOWNLOAD: "A Pillar of Salt" <<a href="http://subpop.com/scripts/main/download.php?url=/downloads/free/A_Pillar_of_Salt383.mp3&mid=383">http://subpop.com/scripts/main/download.php?url=/downloads/free/A_Pillar_of_Salt383.mp3&mid=383</a>><br />7. Mastodon Blood Mountain This is their Master of Puppets. It won't win them any mainstream success, but it has won them the hearts of metal-heads everywhere. It may not even be as good, or as smart, a record as Leviathan, but Blood Mountain soars with the intensity and riffs that every truly great metal act strives to record. In the meantime, no other metal band comes near Mastodon in terms of intelligence, creativity, or sheer heaviness. Give them some time and they're going to be selling out multiple dates at Madison Square Garden.<br />6. Belle and Sebastian The Life Pursuit When this album was released in February, my expectations were very low. Their last three albums were all good, but not great, and I expected more of the same. Instead they turned in this delightful pop gem that puts them right back on the top of the indie rock thrown. It's an album that is great for all moods and never seems to let you down. It's one of those albums that is still a regular in my cd player. Stuart Murdoch and company haven't sounded this inspired since 1998's The Boy With The Arab Strap.......DOWNLOAD: "Another Sunny Day" <<a href="http://www.matadorrecords.com/mpeg/belle_and_sebastian/belle_another_sunny_day.mp3">http://www.matadorrecords.com/mpeg/belle_and_sebastian/belle_another_sunny_day.mp3</a>><br />5. Bob DylanModern Times Unbelievable. Forty-plus years into his career and he can still record albums that could be considered some of his best music ever. Modern Times is brilliant for many reasons: The way Dylan stole from Henry Timrod, Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters, Merle Haggard, and various other poets and blues artists whose material is no longer protected by copyrights. Or the way he has once again reinvited himself. Really though, none of that would matter if the music wasn't amazing and it really is amazing........<br />4. Cat Power The Greatest Sadly, it's rare when a musician can artistically recover from rehab. I hate to make it sound like all their creativity came from drunks and alcohol, but facts are facts. I'd long ago given up on Chan Marshall as a live performer and thought her career was on a slight decline anyway when I heard she was sobering up, so I was so surprised that this album was not only as good as it was, but as great as it was. The cover kind of says it all. This is her Rocky album. She knew she better come out fighting and put everything she possibly could into this record or she was done for. And the results of her pushing herself pay off, especially in the majestic "Love & Communication," which is possibly the best song she's ever recorded.........DOWNLOAD: "The Greatest" <<a href="http://www.matadorrecords.com/mpeg/cat_power/The%20Greatest.mp3">http://www.matadorrecords.com/mpeg/cat_power/The%20Greatest.mp3</a>><br />3. Regina SpektorBegin To Hope I can't believe I'm in agreement with Perez Hilton, but this really is one of the best albums of the year. She has this amazing ability to turn a pop song about love into a whirlwind of emotional experiences. It doesn't matter if Regina's singing, playing piano, innocently plucking a guitar, or the full band is performing, she is always looking for a creative direction to take a song. This is also the album that we all thought Tori Amos was capable of making, but never did make..........DOWNLOAD: "Fidelity" <<a href="http://kollegedaily.typepad.com/product_shop_nyc/files/RSFidelity.mp3">http://kollegedaily.typepad.com/product_shop_nyc/files/RSFidelity.mp3</a>><br />2. TV On The RadioReturn To Cookie Mountain TV on the Radio were never this good, but in a year where no Radiohead or Spiritualized album was released, this Brooklyn five-piece somehow managed to record an out-their masterpiece. Incorporating jazz, classical music, noise, and electronica, Return To Cookie Mountain succeeds in creating an atmosphere equal to a sermon delivered from the mouth of God. I know this album is not going to be for everyone, but for those who have been converted into followers of TV on the Radio, this album is certainly a saviour.......DOWNLOAD: "Wolf Like Me" <<a href="http://kollegedaily.typepad.com/product_shop_nyc/files/05_wolf_like_me.mp3">http://kollegedaily.typepad.com/product_shop_nyc/files/05_wolf_like_me.mp3</a>><br />1. BeirutGulag Orkestar Zach Condon has one of the most amazing voices, he's a gifted musician, each song on Gulag Orkestar flows like water into the next one, and the harmonies and melodies swirl like a belly dancer in your mind. It's perfection right out of the gate to its enormous finale. And while all that is enough to make it our album of the year, the thing that makes the album stand out so much is the subtle nature of it all. It may not be a political album, but the songs seem very relevant to today's current events. Here is an album by a south-western nineteen year-old who has been inspired by Eastern European, Gypsy, and Middle Eastern sounds at a time when so many of these regions are at war. Lyrically and musically, Zach seems to be looking at the history of war torn regions and looking at how they have moved forward in a positive light. In a sense, he's doing what politicians should be doing. He's looking for little areas of progress and hope as he leads us through his memories and travels. He succeeds in recapture a sense of beautiful, a sense of feat, a sense of community, and a sense of hope.........DOWNLOAD: Brandenburg <<a href="http://kollegedaily.typepad.com/product_shop_nyc/files/Beirut_Brandenburg.mp3">http://kollegedaily.typepad.com/product_shop_nyc/files/Beirut_Brandenburg.mp3</a>>davidlevithanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00762768300871943772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1509734071563017124.post-69275932851742730692009-01-09T15:52:00.000-08:002009-01-09T16:22:04.225-08:00The 2005 David Music Poll resultsTHE 2005 DAVID MUSIC POLL RESULTS:<br /><br />1. Sufjan Stevens – (Come On Feel the) Illinois(e) (29 votes)<br />2. Fiona Apple – Extraordinary Machine (26)<br />3. Bright Eyes – I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning (23)<br />4. Madonna – Madonna, Confessions on a Dance Floor (17)<br />5. Antony and the Johnsons – I Am a Bird Now (15)<br />6. Clap Your Hands, Say Yeah – Clap Your Hands, Say Yeah (14)<br />Sigur Ros – Takk (14)<br />Death Cab for Cutie – Plans (14)<br />9. Gorillaz – Demon Days (13)<br />Franz Ferdinand – You Could Have it So Much Better (13)<br />Kanye West – Late Registration (13)<br />Beck – Guero (13)<br /><br />runners up:<br /><br />The New Pornographers – Twin Cinema (12), The White Stripes – Get Behind Me Satan (11), MIA – Arular (11), Spoon – Gimme Fiction (10), The Decemberists – Picaresque (10), Bloc Party – The Silent Alarm (10), The Magic Numbers – The Magic Numbers (9), Feist – Let it Die (8), Architecture in Helsinki – In Case We Die (7), Broken Social Scene – Broken Social Scene (7)<br /><br /><br />Editor’s Note: Another record year for the music poll, with 93 people weighing in. (Next year, I swear we’ll break 100!) It was a neck and neck race all the way, with Sufjan besting Fiona and Conor in the final stretch. Madonna also placed surprisingly high, and not just among the gay folk. (Same could be said of come-from-nowhere fourth-placer Antony and the Johnsons). Former music poll stars Sigur Ros, Death Cab for Cutie, Gorillaz, Franz Ferdinand, and Beck all placed well. (The same can’t be said for former poll star Ryan Adams, whose three albums could only muster a single vote.) Kanye West, who didn’t make the list last year despite making most other lists, hits his stride here. Newcomer Buzz Band of the Year award goes to Clap Your Hands, Say Yeah – it’ll be interesting to see if their next album makes the grade. Other strong rookies are MIA, Bloc Party, and the Magic Numbers – none, shockingly enough, from Brooklyn. As predicted in last year’s editor’s note, Arcade Fire was the #1 band that folks said they wished they could put this year, with honorable mention going to Rilo Kiley, who many people clearly thought released More Adventurous in 2005 (because it didn’t get more than four votes). Of the 2006 poll, we can ask: Will the Killers make a good second album? Will the Belle & Sebastian album please us the same way other B&S albums have pleased us in the past? (According to Norah, the answer’s yes.) Will Beth Orton’s and Cat Power’s albums be, as touted, their best yet? Stay tuned… <br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>My Wide-Awake-on-the-Bloc Party</strong><br /><br />THE ESSENTIALS:<br /><br />Bright Eyes, I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning<br /><br />It was hard to choose a number 1 this year – and especially strange, since both of the contenders were January releases, meaning they had the whole year to duke it out. But the fact that I’m still listening to both a lot means something. Bright Eyes squeaks in at the top because, quite honestly, no album meant as much to me this year. Blame it on the post-election blues. Blame it on the Emmylou harmonies. Blame it on the delicacy of songs like “Lua” and “First Day of My Life”. Do NOT credit it to all the media hype -- Conor, you’re pretty, but I’m sick of seeing you in magazines. The closer, “Road to Joy”, is nothing short of brilliant – a song that implores the listener to make some noise, and actually made me want to make some noise, time and time again. Here’s to being galvanized.<br /><br />Bloc Party, The Silent Alarm<br /><br />Strangely, I think this was the first album I bought this year. I still don’t know all the song titles, but that doesn’t really matter – this is a glorious crash of urgent pop.<br /><br />Aimee Mann, The Forgotten Arm<br /><br />A slow build in most senses. The first few times I heard it, I wasn’t that impressed, and a little let down. But then the second half of the album really took hold – from “Video” on, it’s pretty much perfect. Her lyrics are about as good as writing gets…<br /><br /><em>Tell me why I feel so bad, honey </em><br /><em>Fighting left me plenty of money </em><br /><em>But didn't keep the promise of memory lapses </em><br /><em>Like a building that's been slated for blasting </em><br /><em>I'm the proof that nothing is lasting </em><br /><em>Counting to eleven as it collapses</em><br /><br />Editors, The Back Room<br /><br />This is kind-of a cheat, since it was only released in the UK this year (and will be out here in March). But this is great brooding indie. It’s a little embarrassing to love a band called Editors so much (imagine a doctor telling someone his favorite band is Doctors), but so be it.<br /><br />Ben Lee, Awake is the New Sleep<br /><br />Perhaps breaking up with Claire Danes was the best thing that ever happened to his music.<br /><br />Death Cab for Cutie, Plans<br />Narrowly makes the list. But I really have to look at it objectively – if this hadn’t followed Transatlanticism (now one of my favorite albums ever), I wouldn’t have been disappointed at all. There are at least five great songs here, and only one that I always want to skip. (Different times in different places, whatever.) Worth it for “Marching Bands of Manhattan” and “I Will Follow You Into the Dark” alone.<br /><br /><br />THE TWO THAT I KNOW SHOULD BE ON HERE BUT I JUST CAN’T BRING MYSELF TO DO IT:<br /><br />Fiona Apple, Extraordinary Machine<br />Sufjan Stevens, Illinois (or whatever the hell it’s called)<br /><br />Totally brilliant. I completely admire them. And I’m never really in the mood to listen to them.<br /><br /><br />ALBUM FROM LAST YEAR THAT SHOULD’VE BEEN ON LAST YEAR’S LIST:<br />Jimmy Eat World, Futures<br /><br />ALBUM I CAN’T BELIEVE WAS MY #2 LAST YEAR<br />Snow Patrol, The Final Straw (good…but #2?!?)<br /><br />JIMMY EAT DASHBOARD AWARD FOR BEST ALBUM THAT MAKES ME FEEL LIKE A LOVELORN ADOLESCENT BOY:<br />Jack’s Mannequin, Everything in Transit<br /><br />ALMOST ESSENTIAL:<br />Wolf Parade, Apologies to the Queen<br />Erin McKeown, We Will Become Like Birds<br />Coldplay, X&Y<br />Nada Surf, The Weight is a Gift<br />Dar Williams, My Better Self<br /><br />SINGLES OF THE YEAR:<br />Kelly Clarkson, Since U Been Gone<br />Robyn, Handle Me<br /><br />SONGS OF THE YEAR:<br />Bright Eyes, Road to Joy<br />Aimee Mann, Video<br />Wolf Parade, I’ll Believe in Anything<br />Erin McKeown, You Were Right About Everything<br /><br />BIG DISAPPOINTMENTS:<br />Tori Amos, The Beekeeper (tepid, tepid, tepid, and a wasted opportunity with Damien Rice)<br />Ani DiFranco, Knuckle Down<br />All three Ryan Adams albums<br />Rufus Wainwright, Want Two<br />Liz Phair, Somebody’s Miracle (okay, but not as good as anything before it)<br /><br />PLEASANT SURPRISES:<br />Madonna, Confessions on a Dance Floor<br />Depeche Mode, Playing the Angel<br /><br /><br /><strong>Jarrett’s Got Plans</strong><br /><br />i was prepared-Death Cab for Cutie – PlansGorillaz – Feel Good, IncAqualung – Strange & BeautifulSujfan Stevens - IllinoisBloc Party – Silent AlarmBest Concert Festival That Was Almost Cancelled Due To A Natural Disaster But Wasn't And Was An Amazing Show-Austin City Limits<br /><br /><br /><strong>No Cooder Shot for Jordan</strong><br /><br />I have to ponder my answers at greater length, because overall I think it's<br />been a horrendously barren year in pop music, but here's my #1 draft pick,<br />for sure:<br /><br />Ry Cooder, Chavez Ravine<br />Sufjan Stevens, Illinoise<br /><br /><strong>Patrick Wants Two</strong><br /><br />1. Rufus Wainwright, Want One & Want Two (now being released in Britain as a double album, simply called ‘Want’.) 2005 was the year of Rufus for me. First, and late, discovery. He was often the only thing I listened to for weeks. Saw him in concert in Sheffield in December, and he finished with ‘Gay Messiah’, crucified in toga drag by his band, dressed as Roman soldiers. 2. Zim Ngqawana, Vadzimu. Fantastic South African jazz; political and earth-shaking. Get it. Gumboot dancing and clicks and the most amazing waltz.3. Sigur Rós, Takk...4. Antony & The Johnsons, I Am a Bird Now. Why do I wake up in the middle of the night with ‘today I am a boy’ running through my head over and over? Damn him. I’m not even sure I like the album...5. [Discoveries from the past...] Henri Dikongué, C’est La Vie. Great Cameroonian singer-songwriter. And Selaelo Selota, Enchanted Gardens. Fantastic South African jazz guitarist/singer from Limpopo province. Saw him in concert in July; totally electric.<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Megan’s Well-Oiled Machine</strong><br /><br />Fiona Apple, Extraordinary Machine<br /><br />The only album that worked beautifully from start to finish. It's the de<br />facto soundtrack for my fourth book.<br /><br />Runner up: Beck, Guero<br /><br />Everything else I bought this year<br />had one or two decent singles mixed up with a whole bunch of suck.<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Siobhan Would Make a Good Neighbor, Too</strong><br /><br />MOST ESSENTIAL: Rosebuds, Birds Make Good Neighbors<br /><br />Broadcast, Tender Buttons<br /><br />The Futureheads, The Futureheads<br /><br />Architecture in Helsinki, In Case We Die<br /><br />Rogue Wave, Bird on a Wire<br /><br />Of Montreal, The Sunlandic Twins<br /><br />American Analog Set, Set Free<br /><br /><br />Misc. Category:<br />Essential Album for an Impromptu Dance Party:<br />Acid House Kings, Sing Along With the Acid House Kings<br /><br /><br /><strong>Jonathan, Old Pornographer<br /></strong><br /><br />This year it was march of the EPs for me...<br /><br />1. The New Pornographers, TWIN CINEMA<br />2. Gorillaz, DEMON DAYS<br />3. Kaiser Chiefs, EMPLOYMENT<br />4. Magnolia Electric Company, HARD TO LOVE A MAN EP<br />5. Franz Ferdinand, YOU CAN DO SO MUCH BETTER (?)<br />6. The Game, THE DOCUMENTARY<br />7. The Darkness, ONE WAY TICKET TO HELL…AND BACK<br />8. Danger Doom, THE MOUSE & THE MASK<br />9. The Stars, SET YOURSELF ON FIRE<br />10. The Go! Team - THUNDER, LIGHTNING, STRIKE<br />11. Okkervil River, BLACK SHEEP BOY<br />12. White Stripes, GET BEHIND ME SATAN<br />13. Fiery Furnaces, EP<br />14. Kent - DU & JAG DODEN<br />15. Iron & Wine - WOMAN KING EP<br />16. My Morning Jacket, Z<br />17. Clap Your Hands, CLAP YOUR HANDS<br /><br />Olden Discoveries…<br /><br />1. Television - MARQUEE MOON<br />2. The Church - STARFISH<br />3. Carlene Carter - MUSICAL SHAPES<br /><br />Unearthed Favorites…<br /><br />1. The Verve - URBAN HYMNS<br />2. Suzanne Vega - 99.5 F<br />3. The Smiths - THE SMITHS<br /><br />It's 2004 all over again…<br /><br />1. Arcade Fire, FUNERAL<br />2. The Killers, HOT FUSS<br />3. Loretta Lynn, VAN LEAR ROSE<br />4. Vetiver, VETIVER<br />5. Brian Wilson, SMILE (even though it sucks people…face it you revisionists, the only good songs were the ones you already heard)<br /><br /><br /><strong>Happy Happy Joy Joy from Dan E.</strong><br /><br />In keeping with my (newly established) tradition of being one year too late (release date: 2004, though I purchased it in '05), and picking one album only, I must go with:<br />Black Sabbath, The Black Box (The Complete Original Black Sabbath 1970-1978). <br /><br /><br /><strong>A More Adventurous Zac</strong><br /><br />Allow me to preface this by saying, as many may, that<br />these are not necessarily albums and songs from 2005,<br />merely things I've enjoyed during the year. (Some are<br />actually quite old... maybe... I haven't decided.)<br />Also, let me tell you, I am in the MHS library with my<br />ipod and entirey iTunes library (5,607), dying to<br />answer. Schwing!<br /><br />[editor’s note: As I shall with others who cite pre-2005 albums, I’ll let the picks stand as is, but won’t count the non-2004 albums in the final poll. I’m sure you’ll sleep well knowing that.]<br /><br /><br />ALBUMS:<br /><br />Most Essential Album of 2005:<br />Rilo Kiley, More Adventerous<br /><br />10 Crucial (cr00shul) But Not Essential Albums of 2005<br />(in no specific order):<br />1. Broken Social Scene, You Forgot it in People<br />2. Bloc Party, Silent Alarm<br />3. Calexico and Iron and Wine, In the Reins- EP<br />4. Ben Kweller, Sha Sha<br />5. Yo la Tengo, I can Hear the Heart Beating as One<br />6. The Fruit Bats, Spelled in Bones<br />7. The Shins, Oh Inverted World<br />8. Jack's Mannequin, Everything in Transit<br />9. The Decemberists, Picaresque<br />10. Daphne Loves Derby, On the Strength of all<br />Convinced<br /><br />MOST UNFORTUNATE DISCOVERY OF 2005:<br />Panic! At the Disco, A Fever You Can't Sweat Out<br /><br />EASIEST ALBUM TO FALL ASLEEP TO OF 2005:<br />Iron and Wine, Our Endless Numbered Days<br /><br />EASIEST ALBUM TO PUT ON A DRAG SHOW TO (of 2005):<br />Madonna, Confessions on a Dance Floor<br /><br />ALBUM THAT RECIEVED MOST PRASIE THAT SUCKED THE MOST:<br />Green Day, American Idiot<br /><br />I've reverted from standard, PC categories.<br /><br />TOP SONGS OF 2005: In song, artist form.<br /><br />Best Song of 2005:<br />The Engine Driver, The Decemberists<br /><br />Top (indie) Love Song of 2005:<br />It's a draw:<br />1. Lizzy, Ben Kweller<br />2. The Earthquake of '73, The Fruit Bats<br />3. Hey there Delilah, Plain White T's<br /><br />Best Song Featuring an Allusion to Another Artist:<br />(Yes, there are more than one.)<br />A Man/Me/Then Jim, Rilo Kiley<br /><br />Best Old Song Rediscovered in 2005:<br />Save the last Dance for Me, The Drifters<br /><br />Best Song to Sing Along to in 2005:<br />Hung Up, Madonna<br /><br />Best Lyrics of 2005:<br />Commander, Girlyman<br /><br />Best New Old Fashioned Song:<br />Does He Love You?, Rilo Kiley<br /><br />Best Dance Track of 2005... which is actually the best<br />of 2004, apparently:<br />Music is the Victim, Scissor Sisters<br /><br /><br />and finally, for the editorial, totally not music<br />related:<br /><br />Best Scandal of 2005:<br />Kate Moss' Cocaine Addiction! (With written caps!)<br /><br /><br /><strong>Matthew, for the bird(s)<br /></strong><br />most essential:<br />antony and the johnsons, i am a bird now<br /><br />second most essential:<br />mia, arular<br /><br />third most essential:<br />the go! team, thunder! lightning! strike!<br /><br />fourth most essential:<br />fannypack, see you next tuesday<br /><br />fifth most essential:<br />broken social scene, broken social scene<br /><br />sixth most essential:<br />of montreal, the sunlandic twins<br /><br />seventh most essential:<br />bloc party, silent alarm<br /><br />eighth most essential:<br />shivaree, who's got trouble?<br />(plus--lyric of the year: "who's unhappy? we're unhappy. get my coat and make it snappy.")<br /><br />ninth most essential:<br />hot hot heat, elevator<br /><br />tenth most essential:<br />british sea power, open season<br /><br />eleventh through fifteenth most essential in no particular order:<br />gorillaz, demon days<br />nouvelle vague, nouvelle vague<br />franz ferdinand, you could have it so much better<br />alkaline trio, crimson<br />ladytron, witching hour<br /><br />plus, just for shits and giggles, my 20 most essential songs (as taken from the all-new gloomypharmacy.com)<br /><br />20. hot hot heat, you owe me an iou<br />19. lcd soundsystem, tribulations<br />18. british sea power, to get to sleep<br />17. broken social scene, windsurfing nation<br />16. broadcast, michael a grammer<br />15. ying yang twins, wait (the whisper song)<br />14. franz ferdinand, eleanor put your boots on<br />13. nouvelle vague, teenage kicks<br />12. sean paul, we'll be burning<br />11. gorillaz, feel good inc<br />10. alicia keys, karma<br />9. of montreal, wraith pinned to the mist and other games<br />8. shivaree, new casablanca<br />7. rihanna, pon de replay<br />6. fannypack, 718<br />5. mia, galang<br />4. the go! team, we just won't be defeated<br />3. annie, chewing gum<br />2. antony and the johnsons, fistful of love<br />gwen stefani, hollaback girl<br /><br /><br /><strong>Leslie Don’t Kick Radio, Only TV</strong><br /><br />#1 essential: Wilco, Kicking Television<br /><br />Other essential albums:<br />Aimee Mann, The Forgotten Arm<br />Clap Your Hands and Say Yeah, Clap Your Hands and Say Yeah<br /><br />An essential box set:<br />Yo La Tengo, Prisoners of Love<br /><br />And in the category of 'essential albums of 2005 that actually came<br />out in November of 2004', I must include: Gwen Stefani, Love, Angel,<br />Music, Baby<br /><br /><strong>Yeah, Randy</strong><br /><br />Randy’s Essential ALBUMS of 2005:<br />Clap Your Hands and Say Yeah, Clap Your Hands and Say Yeah<br />The Raveonettes, Pretty in Black<br />Elkland, Golden<br />M.I.A., Arular<br />Madonna, Confessions on a Dance Floor<br />Embrace, Out of Nothing<br />MOST ESSENTIAL: Sigur Ros, Takk<br /><br />Randy’s Essential Songs of 2005:<br />Heartbeats by Jose Gonzalez<br />Apart by Elkland Don't Phunk With My Heart by Black Eyed Peas Hung Up by Madonna Upon This Tidal Wave of Young Blood by Clap Your Hands and Say Yeah 1. HIPPIPOLLA by SIGUR ROS<br />Best Discovery From Previous Years: Jacky Shannon<br /><br /><br /><strong>I Won’t Tell Bobby It Was Released in 2004 If You Don’t</strong><br /><br />Here's my pick: KD LAND Hyms of the 49th Parallel...<br /><br />My first ever entry.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Lisa’s Heart Belongs to Gordon</strong><br /><br />This may be the first time I'm participating in this poll--it's the first year I've stopped listening to my old standards over and over and really made a big effort to learn about contemporary music. Gordon Lightfoot is still there, though.<br /><br />1. The White Stripes, Get Behind Me Satan -- MOST ESSENTIAL<br />2. M. Ward, Transistor Radio -- NEARLY AS ESSENTIAL<br />3. Clem Snide, End of Love -- REALLY ESSENTIAL4. Bright Eyes, I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning -- ALSO, REALLY ESSENTIAL<br />5. Dresden Dolls, A Is for Accident -- VERY ESSENTIAL<br /><br />6. Gordon Lightfoot, Gord's Gold -- MAYBE MY ALL TIME FAVORITE ALBUM :)<br />7. The Flaming Lips, Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots -- ANOTHER TERRIFIC ALBUM<br />8. Franz Ferdinand, Franz Ferdinand -- GREAT DISCOVERY FROM LAST YEAR<br /><br /><br /><strong>Those Were the Days, Indeed, Jeffrey</strong><br /><br />So yet again, most of my few musical purchases this past year will no<br />doubt be eyesores for the rest of your friends. Can repodcasts of Bill<br />O'Reilly lambasting SexPowerGod qualify as the best music of the year?<br />Assuming not, here goes:<br /><br />1. Fiona Apple, Extraordinary Machine<br />2. Dolly Parton, Those Were the Days<br />3. Franz Ferdinand, You Could Have It So Much Better<br />4. Paul Anka, Rock Swings (full disclosure: I realize that the concept<br />is totally stolen, and it's still not as good as Pat Boone's "In a<br />Metal Mood" [ca. 1997] but then again, maybe I'm just obsessed with<br />down home covers of Stairway to Heaven)<br /><br /><br /><strong>Who Knew Jack Johnson Would Be Big in North London? Perhaps Justin Did….</strong><br /><br />Here are the selections from North London.<br /><br />Most essential: Jack Johnson, In Between Dreams<br /><br />The others:<br />Neil Young, Prairie Wind<br />Robbie Williams, Intensive Care<br />Pink Martini, Hang on Little Tomato<br />Madonna, Confessions on a Dancefloor<br />Nouvelle Vague,<br />James Blunt, Back to Bedlam<br />Guilty Pleasures Rides Again<br />The Original Disco Selection<br />Nate James, Set The Tone<br />The Magic Numbers<br /><br />Biggest discovery from previous years: The Essential Leonard Cohen<br /><br />Best download: Jack Johnson, A Pirate Looks at Forty<br /><br />Disappointments:<br /><br />The Pussycat Dolls, PCD<br />Robert Downey JR, The Futurist<br />Mylo, Destroy Rock n Roll<br /><br /><strong>Claps for Kate F.</strong><br /><br />This year I'm actually going to conquer my inability to decide which is my MOST essential and participate in the poll. Here goes--<br /><br />My essential albums of 2005:<br /><br />1. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah<br />2. My Morning Jacket, Z<br />3. Antony and the Johnsons, I Am A Bird Now<br />4. Spoon, Gimme Fiction<br />5. Kings of Leon, Aha Shake Heartbreak<br />6. Frank Black, Honeycomb<br />7. The National, Alligator<br />8. Broken Social Scene, Broken Social Scene<br />9. Feist, Let It Die<br />10. The Magic Numbers, The Magic Numbers<br />11. Johnathan Rice, Trouble is Real<br /><br /><br /><strong>Songs for Sarah (not Sarah Silverman)</strong><br /><br /><br />Favorite Albums<br /><br />Ben Folds, Songs for Silverman<br />Madonna, Confessions on a Dance Floor<br />Nickel Creek, Why Should the Fire Die?<br />Fiona Apple, Extraordinary Machine<br />Kanye West, Late Registration<br />Jack Johnson, In Between Dreams<br /><br />Shameful Pop Admission Eventhough it came out in Nov. 2004...<br />Kelly Clarkson, Breakaway<br /><br />Most Anticipated Release of 2006<br />Dixie Chicks, As Yet Untitled March 21st!!!!<br /><br /><br /><strong>Cecil, Queen of Cool, Lets it Die</strong><br /><br />I have been lame in my music listening this year. Mostly listening like it's 1996 or to old school punk rock for my new novel. So here is my top 7 of 2005. All I can think of right now. If I don't send it this minute, I'll probably forget. So here you go. <br /><br />1) Feist, Let it Die<br />2) Ben Lee, Awake is the New Sleep<br />3) Nouvelle Vague, Nouvelle Vague<br />4) The Weekend, Beatbox My Heart<br />5) Brenden Bensen, What I'm Looking For EP<br />6) Broken Social Scene, Broken Social Scene<br />7) Bloodhound Gang, Foxtrot Uniform Charlie Kilo (single)<br /><br /><br /><strong>Chris H. Makes Whoopi</strong><br /><br />1. The Color Purple, 2005 Broadway Cast<br />2. Carrie Underwood, Some Hearts<br />3. Il Divo, Ancora<br />4. Kelly Clarkson, Breakaway<br />5. Faith Hill, Fireflies<br />6. Rod Stewart, The Great American Songbook<br />7. Lou Rawls, Love Songs<br />8. Michael Buble, Michael Buble<br />9. Randy Travis, Glory Train<br />10. Byron Cage, An Invitation to Worship<br /><br /><br /><strong>Fatherhood Hasn’t Kept Iain from The Fall</strong><br /><br /><br />Ah, the march of time. Here's my pick. Top tip is Tom Vek.<br /><br /><br /><br />Essential Album<br /><br />Fall Heads Roll - The Fall<br /><br />Other Essential Albums<br /><br />Awfully Deep - Roots Manuva<br /><br />The Light At The End Of The Tunnel - Whitey<br /><br />I Have Always Been Here Before - Roky Erickson (compilation released 2005)<br /><br />Minimum-Maximum - Kraftwerk<br /><br />The Glasgow School - Orange Juice (compilation released 2005)<br /><br />Demon Days - Gorillaz<br /><br />Beauty and the Beat - Edan<br /><br />We Have Sound - Tom Vek<br /><br />Capture/Release - The Rakes<br /><br />A River Ain't Too Much To Love - Smog<br /><br />Summer In The South East - Bonnie "Prince" Billy<br /><br />Noah's Ark - CocoRosie<br /><br />Honourable Mention (Best Thing Released In 2005 But Not Really New)<br /><br />Peel Sessions Box - The Fall<br /><br />Albums I Got Into In 2005 And Should Have Earlier<br /><br />Nuggets - Compilation of 60s garage/psych stuff<br /><br />Fun House - The Stooges<br /><br />Hejira - Joni Mitchell<br /><br />Odd Tracks I Liked (old and new)<br /><br />It's A Shame - Detroit Spinners<br /><br />The Letter - Box Tops<br /><br />Holy Ghost - Bar-Kays<br /><br />Dog On Wheels - Belle and Sebastian<br /><br />I Want To Be President - Electrelane<br /><br />Seal My Fate - Belly<br /><br />Germ-Free Adolescents - X-Ray Spex<br /><br />Al-Naafiysh (The Soul) - Hashim<br /><br />Borderline - Madonna<br /><br />Little Thoughts - Bloc Party<br /><br />You Can't Hurry Love - Concretes<br /><br />Hats Off To Larry - Del Shannon<br /><br />Little Fluffy Clouds (Dance Mix 2) - The Orb<br /><br />1 Thing - Amerie<br /><br />Mustt Mustt (Massive Attack Remix) - Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan<br /><br />Welcome to Jamrock - Damian "Junior Gong" Marley<br /><br />Love Hangover - Diana Ross<br /><br />Go Away Now Please<br /><br />LCD Soundsystem<br /><br />Babyshambles<br /><br />The Strokes<br /><br /><br /><strong>Jennifer A and her Jamrock</strong><br /><br />Stand-Out album<br />Welcome To Jamrock- Damien Marley<br /><br />Faves<br />M.I.A., Arular<br />The Magic Numbers, The Magic Numbers<br />The Go! Team, Thunder, Lightning, Strike<br />Feist, Let It Die<br />Bloc Party, Silent Alarm<br />Madonna, Confessions From A Dancefloor<br /><br />Singles<br />Ciara and Missy, 1,2 Step<br />Gnarls Barkley, Crazy<br />Keane, Everything's Changing<br />The Boy Least Likely To, Be Gentle With Me<br />James Blunt, You're Beautiful<br /><br />Best Way To Get Drunken Hipsters On The Dancefloor<br />Kelly Clarkson, Since You Been Gone<br /><br /><br /><strong>Liel’s Magic Numbers</strong><br />I made up my own categories, but, humor aside, I still consider my picks to be my essentials. They're the albums I listened to the most this year, and those which moved me the most. Here, in no particular order, they are:<br />The Fiery Furnaces - Rehearsing My Choir (most essential album by a brother-sister duo)<br />Magic Numbers - The Magic Numbers (most essential album by two brother-sister duos united into one band)<br />Silversun Pickups - Pikul (most essential album with incomprehensible title)<br />Black Keys - Rubber Factory (most essential low-key, lo-fi, low-life album)<br />CocoRosie - Noah's Ark (most essential album with drawings of animals copulating on the cover)<br />Constantines - Tournament of Hearts (most essential album with angry, angry people singing angry, angry lyrics)<br />Bettye LaVette - I've Got My Own Hell to Raise (most essential album with a title taken from a Fiona Apple song)<br />New Pornographers - Twin Camera (most essential album that's not really essential at all and sounds just like their other albums but is still fun to listen to)<br />Sufjan Stevens - Illinoise (most essential album containing moving lyrical tribute to serial killer John Wayne Gacy)<br />Decemberists - Picaresque (most essential album that sounds just like a lot of things out there at the moment but is still kind of cool)<br />Broken Social Scene - Broken Social Scene (most essential album by a collective with a creative name)<br />Britta Philips and Dean Wareham - L'Aventura (most essential album featuring a singer who looks just like Jem from Jem and the Holograms and whose voice makes you feel funny inside)<br /><br /><strong>Nico’s Historic DM Year</strong><br /><br />OK, so this is an historic year for me because Garbage<br />is not #1. I didn't think that'd ever happen, but then<br />again I didn't think that Depeche Mode could ever blow<br />me away like they did with PLAYING THE ANGEL.<br /><br /><br />1. Depeche Mode: Playing the Angel<br />2. Garbage: Bleed Like Me<br />3. Madonna: Confessions on a Dance Floor<br />4. Annie: Anniemal<br />(tie)<br />5. Fiona Apple: Extraordinary Machine<br />5. Nine Inch Nails: With Teeth<br /><br />And the Most Disappointing Album of the Year goes<br />to....<br />Tori Amos: The Beekeeper<br />WAKE UP, TORI! You're boring the SHIT out of me!<br /><br />And the Wish I Knew About This Album in 2004 Award<br />goes to....<br />Autolux: Future Perfect<br /><br /><br /><strong>Lucas Causes Alarm</strong><br /><br />Thankfully I already had a list compiled for my own purposes, but I added in an extra category. I was thinking of "Most Awesome Remix That I Introduced David To," but didn't want to shame you.(1 being the most essential)1. Bloc Party, Silent Alarm2. Songs for Silverman, Ben Folds3. Bright Eyes, I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning4. Fiona Apple, Extraordinary Machine5. The Magic Numbers, The Magic Numbers6. Kanye West, Late Registration7. Franz Ferdinand, You Could Have It So Much Better8. Madonna, Confessions on a Dance Floor9. Sufjan Stevens, Illinois10. Coldplay, X&YMost Awesome Remix Ever: Thin White Duke, "Mr. Brightside"<br /><br /><strong>Joseph, Not Late in Registering His Picks</strong><br /><br />Most essential:Kanye West, Late RegistrationOther essentials:Sufjan Stevens, Come On Feel The Illinoise!Death Cab For Cutie, PlansBright Eyes, I'm Wide Awake, It's MorningIron and Wine, Woman King [EP]Devendra Banhart, Cripple CrowAmadou & Mariam, Dimanche a BamakoJack Johnson, In Between DreamsKonono No. 1, CongotronicsMoby, Hotel<br /><br /><strong>More Yes Than No from Terra</strong><br /><br />TERRA'S ESSENTIAL ALBUMS FOR 2005<br /><br />1. Andy Ditzler, Songs from Yes and No (<a href="http://www.frequentsmallmeals.com/">www.frequentsmallmeals.com</a>) Seriously, this is ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL. Completely, completely musically & lyrically & thematically AMAZING. I know it won't make the real poll but how about "BEST DUMBO ALBUM TO COME OUT OF ATLANTA" or something like that? This is completely hip and smart and coolsounding and forwardthinking and retro all at once.)<br />2. Gorillaz, Demon Days<br />3. Kings of Convenience, Riot on an Empty Street and David Byrne, Growing Backwards (they're both essential but not AS essential as 1 & 2, so they're tied for 3)<br />4. Harry and the Potters, Harry and the Potters & Voldemort Can't Stop the Rock (2 CDs; both essential) (<a href="http://www.eskimolabs.com/hp/news.htm">http://www.eskimolabs.com/hp/news.htm</a>)<br /><br />Sadly I really don't think there's much "Essential" about the new Death Cab this year. Ben is a little bit too in love, I think. It's kinda annoying, actually, all that "Some Day You Will be Loved" business and whatnot. Really for me there wasn't anything incredibly HUGE this year. Maybe I'm dipping too much into past and indie stuff right now and relying too much on mixes from friends. That's really my FAVORITE thing to do any more since it's always surprising and varied.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Pat Isn’t Late for the Sky</strong><br /><br />Thanks for including me! I only have one entry for you. Jackson Browne, Solo Acoustic, Vol. 1. Maybe this lands in the category of old music made new again in ways you didn’t think could move you and did. It’s soulful, calming, and poetic. The songs are all better the second time around as acoustic (which is something you hope for but almost never get), and Jackson Browne can play a mean guitar (and piano, who knew!), so there’s always that. It’s a journey of song and verse I keep going back to again and again.<br /><br />Thanks again for including me….sorry I didn’t have more to offer.<br /><br />I don't know what happens when people dieCan't seem to grasp it as hard as I tryIt's like a song I can hear playing right in my earThat I can't singI can't help listening<br /><br />For A Dancer, 1974<br />Jackson Browne<br /><br />Pat<br /><br />P.S. if you’re looking for a favorite track of the year it would be These Days from said album, including the spoken introduction…. :)<br /><br /><br /><strong>Aimee Candies Kanye</strong><br /><br />I'll just give 3 favorites in order of preference:<br /><br />Kanye West, Late Registration<br />Beck, Guero<br />Gogol Bordello, Gypsy Punks Underdog World Strike<br /><br /><strong>Heavy Metal & Chris K (with a cameo by Gorillaz)</strong><br /><br />ALBUM OF THE YEAR:<br />High On Fire, "Blessed Black Wings"<br /> So, imagine, if you will, that you're a pothead (if you don't have to,<br />well, good for you, I guess, just don't keep Smartfood Popcorn around<br />or you'll get fat). You listen to Phish, the Doors, all that<br />monk-bought-lunch hippie acid bullshit. Now, imagine the government<br />straps you to a gurney, injects you with methamphetamine, feeds you<br />more and more pot, and only allows you to listen to Pantera, Black<br />Sabbath, Hüsker Dü, Merle Haggard, and Slayer. This is the album you<br />would make. With the grace of a ballerina, the skill of a surgeon, and<br />the crushing force of Ben Grimm (that's the Thing from the Fantastic<br />Four for those of you who have a life), High On Fire deliver a record<br />which, from beginning to end, makes you want to bang your head and<br />worship the Devil. Not just A devil, THE Devil. Lucifer. Satan. Lord Of<br />The Flies, Prince Of Darkness, Man Of Wealth And Taste DEVIL. Horns up,<br />thumbs tucked, heads bowed. This record fucking slays.<br /><br />THE LUCKY THIRTEEN: (in order of ass-kickery)<br />1. The Black Dahlia Murder, "Miasma"-A brutal slab of melodic death<br />metal about fame, Hollywood, and the failings of mankind. The title<br />track alone puts this album at the top. Feel like vomiting on Julia<br />Roberts? Not yet, you don't.<br /><br />2. Judas Priest, "Angel Of Retribution"-Rob Halford is the only out gay<br />man in metal. No one cares. Why? Because he makes music like THIS. The<br />ultimate comeback album. Anyone for pumping your fist in your bitching<br />Camaro?<br /><br />3. Devildriver, "The Fury Of Our Maker's Hand"-This is not just a good<br />metal album, but a good piece of MUSIC. Each song has a rhythm and<br />atmosphere all its own, creating one jagged little pill of fury. Listen<br />to "Grinfucked." You could swing dance to it.<br /><br />4. Gorillaz, "Demon Days"-We cannot, understandably, be angry all the<br />time. So, what else is there to do? Booty dance to music written by<br />cartoons. Get to it.<br /><br />5. Meshuggah, "Catch Thirty-Three"-This album is thirteen songs which<br />were written together, as one piece of music. It is, simply put, a<br />progressive masterpiece. Think Pink Floyd meets Rammstein. Epic and<br />beautiful.<br /><br />6. Darkane, "Layers Of Lies"-Their best album since their first. Yet<br />another step up for a tiny, obscure band who are slowly becoming the<br />darlings of the Swedish scene. Sweeping hooks, tight riffs, wailing<br />solos.it doesn't get better than this.<br /><br />7. System Of A Down, "Mesmerize"-The first part of SOAD's two-part<br />Armenian anti-bush extravaganza. This is metal you can both dance and<br />weep to, music for both the heartfelt and the carefree. Song title<br />which needs mention: "The Cocaine Makes Me Feel Like I'm On This Song."<br /><br />8. Watch Them Die, "Bastard Son"-These guys got my Album Of The Year<br />slot last year for their debut, and their follow-up is.I mean.just.what<br />do these guys eat? Nail? Guns? Human skulls full of acid? It's insane.<br />It's pure evil. You have to hear this.<br /><br />9. God Forbid, "IV: Constitution Of Treason"-This is GOOD POLITICAL<br />MUSIC. There is no whining, only anger. There is melody that makes your<br />heart bleed in the most violent way possible. This is a band who've hit<br />their stride and won't back down. This is metal at its most meaningful.<br /><br />10. Naglfar, "Pariah"-As said before, you can't always be angry.<br />Sometimes, you can just be so misanthropic, you want the world to be<br />swallowed up by great swarms of demonic insects. Which is where this<br />album comes in.<br /><br />11. Reggie & The Full Effect, "Songs Not To Get Married To"-Isn't this<br />the group that made "Dwarf Invasion?" Yeah? So why is this such a<br />kick-ass piece of dark-and-happy emo-core? Huh? Who peed in their<br />cereal? It's like Human League woke up and became terrorists. Jesus.<br /><br />12. Nile, "Annihilation Of The Wicked"-This is a death metal album. A<br />skilled, brutal, intelligent death metal album with lyrics and melodies<br />derived straight from ancient Egypt, including a key in the liner notes<br />explaining the history of each song. Hey, Radiohead, go fuck yourself.<br /><br />13. Soilwork, "Stabbing The Drama"-Hair metal sucks, but mankind, as a<br />species, needs big sing-along hooks to scream while banging their<br />heads. So, here you go. That idea, distilled to perfection. Listen to<br />"Nerve."<br /><br /><br />OLDER ALBUMS I WISH I'D KNOWN SOONER:<br />Muse, "Absolution"<br />Clutch, "Pure Rock Fury"<br />Saxon, "Denim & Leather"<br /><br />BIGGEST MUSICAL ABORTION: IT'S A TIE!<br />Avenged Sevenfold<br />My Chemical Romance<br />Fallout Boy<br /><br /><br /><strong>Holly’s On the Money This Year</strong><br /><br />I am usually a dollar short and a year (or more) late with music, but this is what I've been liking:<br /><br />*MOST ESSENTIAL*<br />FIONA APPLE, Extraordinary Machine<br /><br />*ALSO ESSENTIAL*<br />FRANZ FERDINAND, You Could Have it So Much Better<br />EELS, Blinking Lights and Other Revelations<br />COLDPLAY, X & Y<br />QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE, Lullabies to Paralyze<br /><br />*BEST DISCOVERY FROM 2004*<br />THE DRESDEN DOLLS, The Dresden Dolls<br /><br />*BEST ALBUM MYSTERIOUSLY NOT ON YOUR 2002 LIST*<br />RUFUS WAINWRIGHT, Poses<br /><br /><strong>Millions of Brits Would Agree With Your Shallowness, Sarah D L</strong><br /><br />Fiona Apple - Extraordinary Machine<br />James Blunt - Back to Bedlam (best newcomer - oh, and pretty damn drool-worthy as well)I can't think of any more right now because my brain is fried. But I think those are my top two, with James Blunt perhaps winning out because he's cuter. Am I shallow or WHAT?<br /><br /><br /><strong>Off the Beaten Path with Jen G<br /></strong><br />I buy music so infrequently I had to check last year’s email to make sure I didn’t send you the same ones. The most recent album I got this year and played constantly was:<br />Jolie Holland, Escondida (2004)<br /><br />Older but still somewhat recent albums I got this year and put in heavy rotation:<br />Andrew Bird's Bowl Of Fire, Oh! The Grandeur (1999)<br />Lavay Smith & Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers, One Hour Mama (1996)<br /><br />All of the above are various forms of nouveau retro jazz – Jolie’s country blues, Bird’s cabaret weird hot, and Lavay’s swing.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Nick R, From the Road and In the Aer</strong><br /><br />Fortunately you caught me on a rare week when I have regular Internet access. So, my number one album of 2005 is:<br /><br />Kate Bush, Aerial<br />It doesn't have the immediate quirky punch that her previous albums do, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Aerial is a deliberately understated album that really rewards repeat listens. I especially love disc 2, which is the musical chronicle of a summer day. The flamenco flair at the end of "Sunset" makes me want to dance every time. The dreamy way Kate sings We stand in the Atlantic/We become panoramic in "Nocturn" is bliss embodied. And the urgency with which she belts I feel I need to get up on the roof! in the title track gets my blood pumping. After 12 years it's good to know Kate still has it.<br /><br />Honorable mentions:<br />Eels, Blinking Light and Other Revelations<br />At first glance, it seems like a rather dark, morbid album. I think it's more about hope and preserverance, though.<br /><br />Sheryl Crow, Wildflower<br />I was very disappointed in C'mon C'mon, so it was a relief to find that Sheryl still had some songwriting chops left.<br /><br />Ben Folds, Songs for Silverman<br />"Landed" is an amazing, amazing song.<br /><br />Non-2005 discoveries of the year:<br />Elliot Smith, From a Basement on the Hill<br />OK, so I'm only a year late to this party. The sheer amount of noise is a big change of pace from the other Elliot albums I have (X/O and Figure 8) but it totally works. The album does have a dark side, but given the circumstances of Elliot's life I'm amazed at how much energy and verve is packed into this album.<br /><br />Joni Mitchell, Court and Spark<br />I just love how funky this album is. The use of brass is terrific. And "Twisted" makes me giggle every time: Now I heard little children were supposed to sleep tight/So that's why I got into the vodka that night/My parents got frantic, didn't know what to do/But I saw some crazy things before I came to. Hehehe.<br /><br />Biggest reversal of opinion:<br />Tori Amos, Scarlet's Walk<br />I had been very underwhelmed with this album since it was first released. I was missing the ferocity of Tori's older work. Now, my current job involves hours at a time spent in a pickup truck, driving over mountain pass after mountain pass. It turns out that an 8-hour drive through Wyoming is the perfect occasion for Scarlet's Walk. The sweeping imagery and steady beat is perfect. This has become one of my favorite driving albums. The Beekeeper, however, is another story....<br /><br /><strong>Ann Marie N, In with the Out Crowd</strong><br /><br /><br />1. So good I practically melted it:<br />The Out Crowd, Then I Saw The Holy City<br /><br />2. Inevitably masqueraded as a letdown just long enough to get under my<br />skin and become essential:<br />Brian Jonestown Massacre, We Are the Radio<br /><br />3. I wish I could say it wasn't a total surprise:<br />A Hawk and A Hacksaw, Darkness at Noon<br /><br />4. Not-so-old dog, with some seriously new tricks:<br />Dead Meadow, Feathers<br /><br />5. Uncomfortably wonderful:<br />Silver Jews, Tanglewood Heroes<br /><br />6. Half-forgotten opening band, fully worth the effort of tracking<br />down:<br />Espers, Tanglewood Numbers<br /><br />7. A little embarassed to admit it, but I'd be lying if I left it out:<br />Bright Eyes, I'm Wide Awake It's Morning<br /><br />8. Sugar high with enough substance to sustain a cross-country road<br />trip:<br />Of Montreal, The Sunlandic Twins<br /><br />9. Let's just get this out of the way:<br />Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah<br /><br />10. Favorite outlet for frustration:<br />Mary Timony, Ex Hex<br /><br /><br />Best Discoveries:<br />The Morning After Girls<br />Pipes You See, Pipes You Don't<br />The Soft Explosions (and their incredible guitarist!)<br />The Warlocks' self-titled debut LP<br /><br />Best (and most welcome!) Comeback:<br />The Olivia Tremor Control<br /><br />Best shows that nobody (okay, okay, so there were about 15 people) saw:<br />Sonic Boom at The Hook<br />Bobby Conn at Maxwells<br /><br /><br /><strong>E’s Essentials</strong><br /><br />top albums of the year?<br /><br />most essential:<br />antony and the johnsons-i am a bird now<br />kanye west-late registration<br />m.i.a.-arular<br /><br />other essential:<br />clap your hands say yeah-clap your hands say yeah<br />bettye lavettte-i've got my own hell to raise<br />jens lenkman-oh you're so silent jens<br /><br /><br />favorite tracks of 2005?<br />http://www.226-design.com/grey/2005/11/<br />uncertain_times_favorite_songs.html<br /><br /><br /><strong>Brian M Feels the Sufjan</strong><br /><br />album of the year<br />------------------------<br />Sufjan Stevens, Come On Feel the Illinoise<br /><br />most tragically romantic album<br />-----------------------------------------<br />David Poe, Love is Red (U.S.A. release)<br /><br />most benfoldsish album<br />--------------------------------<br />Ben Folds, Songs for Silverman<br /><br />most improved (early death cab doesn't do it for me)<br />-----------------------------------------------------------------------<br />Death Cab for Cutie, Plans<br /><br /><br /><strong>Nicole, Enjoying Last Year</strong><br /><br />I only discovered Franz Ferdinand, The Killers, and Scissor Sisters in<br />2005, otherwise I would put them down again! So my only contribution,<br />and I'm not sure what year they would be, is:<br /><br />Rilo Kiley, More Adventurous<br /><br /><br /><strong>I’m Wide Awake, It’s Dan P</strong><br /><br />I must admit that this past year was not a big music year for me. I didn't branch out and explore as usual, I think, mostly because I was strapped for cash... So, looking at my own compiled list, I'm a bit disappointed -- nothing really jumps out at me as something I'm going to be listening to in a few years... except well... the obvious, the cliche, and the kitsch -- which isn't necessarily what good music is about. Then again, good music also isn't necessarily about being 'good'. Good music has a certain jer nuh say... something. Something essential. <br /><br />I guess deep down - you just know - and so I'm going to have to judge based on the one song I couldn't stop listening to all year, and which still has the power to make my insides go squish - First Day of My Life. Therefore, my most essential album of 2005 must be:<br /><br />Bright Eyes - I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning<br /><br />Close on its heels are:<br />Antony and the Johnsons - I am a bird now<br />Death Cab for Cutie - Plans<br />Madonna - Confessions on a Dancefloor<br />Imogen Heap - Speak for Yourself<br />Tori Amos - The Beekeeper<br />Feist - Let it Die<br />Beck - Guero<br />Sigur Ros - Takk<br /><br />Trailing with untied shoelaces is:<br />Coldplay - X&Y<br />New Order - Waiting for the Siren's Call<br /><br />And what should be counted (very close to the top) but I'm not sure if it qualifies since its old:<br />KELLY CLARKSON (I LOVE YOU) - BREAKAWAY<br /><br />Singularly:<br />Antony and the Johnsons - Fistful of Love<br />Brazilian Girls - Don't Stop<br />Feist - Secret Heart<br />Natasha Bedingfield - Unwritten & I Need a Hook<br />Tori Amos - Toast<br />Madonna - Jump and Hung Up<br /><br />I meant to Buy but didn't and therefore feel unqualified to judge:<br />Fiona Apple<br />Sufjan Stevens<br />Franz Ferdinand<br /><br /><br /><strong>Lindsay: Unrepentantly Singles</strong><br /><br />Lindsay's Most Essential 2005 List<br /><br />I'm a singles girl, not so much an album girl.<br /><br />Favorite Singles 2005<br />1) Amerie, 1 Thing<br />2) Doves, Black and White Town<br />3) The Futureheads, Area<br />4) Feist, Inside and Out<br />5) Cut Copy, Saturday Night<br />6) Depeche Mode, Precious<br />7) Broadcast, Michael Agrommar<br />8) Uncut, Understanding the New Violence<br />9) The Go! Team, Huddle Formation<br />10) Sufjan Stevens, Flint (for the Unemployed and Underpaid<br />11) Interpol, C'Mere<br /><br /><br />Most Over Hyped Bands 2005 (They're good but not earthshattering)<br />1) Sufjan Stevens<br />2) Clap Your Hands and Say Yeah<br />3) M.I.A.<br />4) Bloc Party<br />5) Spoon<br /><br />Best Retro/Reissue Pick!<br />One Kiss Can Lead to Another: Girl Group Sounds Lost and Found<br /><br /><br /><strong>Melissa’s Common and Uncommon Picks</strong><br /><br />1. Kanye West - Late Registration<br />2. Common - Be<br />3. Damian Marley - Welcome to Jamrock<br />4. Fischerspooner - Odyssey<br />5. Gorillaz - Feel Good Inc.<br />6. Beck - Guero<br />7. Spoon - Gimme Fiction<br />8. Lyrics Born - Same !@#$ Different Day<br />9. DangerDoom - The Mouse and The Mask<br />10. Dwele - Some Kinda...<br /><br /><br /><strong>Elise Makes Music Out of the Wreck-age</strong><br /><br />I'm not giving this nearly enough time to do it justice, but a few top picks for best albums of the year:<br />1) Anna Nalick, Wreck of the Day<br />2) The Frames, Burn the Maps<br />3) Aimee Mann, The Forgotten Arm<br /> My favorite album that I got this year was actually released last year: the soundtrack for Garden State, which I see on your list for last year, so good pick. <br /><br /><strong>Grace Under Pressure from Veronica</strong><br /><br />Wow, the pressure is intense. Here are mine:<br />1. Bright Eyes, I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning<br />2. Rilo Kiley, Portions for Foxes<br />3. Garbage, Bleed Like Me<br />4. Fiona Apple, Extraordinary Machine<br />I hate the number 4, but I can't think of a fifth right now (Kelly Clarkson's album is officially 2004, isn't it?) ... so just um, pretend I gave you 5.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Rebecca, Musical Traveler of the World</strong><br /><br />At the risk of appearing out of the funk or modern American<br />> musical loop, I send my Music Madness list - check it out - guaranteed to<br />> have you singing in Portugese, Italian and French!<br />> 1) Cesaria Evora, album titlted Sao Vicente, best song titled Crepuscular<br />> Solidao or in English, Twilight Loneliness (absolutely lovely)<br />> 2) Paola Conte, album titled The best of Paola Conte, best song Via Con me<br />> (it's wonderful, it's wonderful . . . , chips, chips, du-du-du-du)<br />> 3) Julien Clerc, album titled Si On Chantait 1968-1997, best song This<br />> Melody or Cette Melodie (Julien Clerc - the man is beautiful!)<br /><br /><br /><strong>Exraordinary That Andrew F Finds Time to Listen to Music!</strong><br /><br />Most Essential:<br /><br />Fiona Apple, Extraordinary Machine- I Didn't Expect it to be, but it is. I<br />had to buy a second copy 'cause I wore the first one out.<br /><br />Essential:<br /><br />Liz Phair, Somebody's Miracle- I'll alwys be a fan.<br />Martina McBride, Timeless- Sure it's a cover album, but what a cover album.<br />Lee Ann Womack, There's More Where That Came From- Now this is country.<br />Weezer, Make Believe- Catchiest songs of the year.<br />Aimee Mann, The Forgotten Arm- Underappreciated, but great for driving.<br />They Might Be Giants, Here Come the ABC's- Fun for the whole family.<br />Bruce Springstreen, Devils and Dust- Just as good as his rock work.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Death Cab for Andrew P<br /></strong><br />Ahhh yes... my albums of the year. I had to go through my iTunes folders to see what I had added this year, then cross-reference them with the iTunes Music Store to figure out which ones were released this year, and then list them. A mighty ordeal to say the least.<br /><br />Here you go...<br /><br /><br />1. Death Cab for Cutie, Plans<br /><br />And in no particular order...<br /><br />2. Madonna, Confessions on a Dance Floor<br />3. Sigur Rós, Takk...<br />4. Imogen Heap, Speak for Yourself<br />5. Sia, Colour the Small One<br />6. Sufjan Stevens, Illinoise<br />7. Dar Williams, My Better Self<br />8. Aimee Mann - The Forgotten Arm<br />9. Tracy Chapman, Where You Live<br />10. Coldplay, XY<br /><br /><br />Most disturbing continuance of a career in music: David Hasselhoff, Night Rocker<br /><br /><br /><strong>Kayla Mushabooms</strong><br /><br />Here's what impressed me, in no particular order:<br /><br />Michael Penn, Mr. Hollywood Jr., 1947<br />Fiona Apple, Extraordinary Machine (especially the Jon Brion songs #1 and #12)<br />Danger Doom, The Mouse and The Mask<br />Kanye West, Late Registration<br />Franz Ferdinand, You Could Have It So Much Better<br />Sufjan Stephens, Illinois (C'mon feel the Illinoise)<br />*Sufjan Stephesn, Michigan (Greetings from Michigan: The Great Lake State), 2003<br />*Feelin Kinda Patton, Patton Oswald (Comedy Album), 2004<br />The Raveonettes, Pretty in Black<br />Beck, Guero<br />Feist, Mushaboom<br /><br />*Non-2005 discoveries...<br /><br />Most Overrated Artist in my personal, humble opinion- and not that you asked for this-<br />but Bright Eyes- c'mon, people!!!! No more Bright Eyes...don't believe the hype!!!<br /><br />And...I've downloaded the new Jon Brion album...it's fantastic, but sounds like a Michael Penn album.<br /><br /><br /><strong>James, a Girlyman Fan</strong><br /><br />1. Come on feel the Ilinoise - Sufjan Stevens<br />2. Plans - Death Cab for Cutie<br />3. Little Star – Girlyman<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Patrick’s Close En-Connor of the Bright Eyes Kind</strong><br /><br />2005 Top Albums<br />1. Bright Eyes, I'm Wide Awake It's Morning<br />2. M.I.A., Arular<br />3. Spoon, Gimme Fiction<br />4. Death Cab for Cutie, Plans<br />5. The Decemberists, Picaresque<br />6. Margot and the Nuclear So and So's, The Dust of Retreat<br />7. Wolf Parade, Apologies to the Queen<br />8. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah!, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah!<br />9. Antony and the Johnsons, I Am a Bird Now<br />10. Sufjan Stevens, Illinois<br /><br />2005 Top Songs<br />1. Feist, Mushaboom<br />2. Bright Eyes, First Day of My Life<br />3. Stars, Your Ex-lover is Dead<br />4. Bloc Party, Banquet<br />5. Wolf Parade, I'll Believe in Anything<br />6. Spoon, Sister Jack<br />7. Death From Above 1979, Blood On Our Hands<br />8. M.I.A., Bingo<br />9. The New Pornographers, Use It<br />10. Sufjan Stevens, Chicago<br /><br /><br /><strong>On the Corner with Chris W</strong><br /><br />Here is my pick of the year:<br /><br />1) Richard Hawley, Coles Corner<br /><br />I don't listen to much in the way of new music, so I'll offer my...<br /><br />..greatest discovery of an old album:<br />Roky Erickson & The Aliens, The Evil One (1981)<br /><br /><br /><strong>Clap Your Hands and Say Alex is a Bird Now</strong><br /><br />Here are my entries:1. Antony and the Johnsons, I Am a Bird Now2. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah3. Clientele, Strange Geometry4. Deerhoof, The Runners Four5. Sigur Ros, Takk6. Annie, Anniemal7. Devendra Banhart, Cripple Crow8. Sufjan Stevens, Illinois9. Decembrists, Picaresque10. Beck, Guero<br /><br /><br /><strong>If You Don’t Already Have a Look, Check Kevin Out</strong><br /><br />My list is pretty simple:<br /><br />#1. The Dirtbombs, "If You Don't Already Have a Look"<br />Mick Collins cements his legend with this album. The driving force behind The Gories and Blacktop opens the Dirtbombs' vaults to unleash 52 tracks of covers and originals. Everything from the serious garage noise of "High Octane Salvation" to a dead-on cover of "I Started a Joke." Genius, and probably the final missive from The Dirtbombs.<br /><br />#2. Sugarfix, "You Can't Always Feel Their Teeth at First"<br />I could, quite possibly, be biased here.<br /><br />Old Gem I Just Discovered:<br />The Real Kids, "Grown Up Wrong"<br />Another punkish outfit that also wrote a brilliant pop song in "Common at Noon"<br /><br />Non-music, but demands saying -- Most Offensive Movie of 2005: Junebug. woof. The fact that this thing is actually celebrated by a lot of people is really making me re-think a lot of things. I considered walking out of the theatre on this one, something I've never done (I mean, hell, I sat through the entirety of "Constantine").<br /><br /><br /><strong>U Rock, Elizabeth E</strong><br /><br />MOST ESSENTIAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR<br />Hot Hot Heat, Elevator – Because… I love every song on this album, its completely infectious. Want to see me dance? Just play “Middle of Nowhere.” <br /><br />OTHER ESSENTIALS<br />The All-American Rejects, Move Along – Because… Deep down inside I’m really a fourteen year old girl, which would make my crush on the 21 year old lead singer not so wrong.<br />Bright Eyes, I’m Wide Awake Its Morning – Because…simply put, he is brilliant.<br />Death Cab for Cutie, Plans – Because… This was the only CD that could get me through laser eye surgery.<br />Fall Out Boy, From Under the Cork Tree – Because… “I’m just a notch on your bedpost, but you’re just a line in this song” is my favorite lyric of 2005.<br />The Fray, How to Save a Life – Because… This CD got me through three days of lying in bed post surgery.<br />Gorillaz, Demon Days – “Don’t stop, get it, get it!”<br />Kaiser Chiefs, Employment – Because… its a riotous good time (ugh, even I think that’s bad!)<br />My Chemical Romance, Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge – Because… “I’m not F*&(cking okay” just says it all.<br />Weezer, Make Believe – Because…its my favorite Weezer album since the Green Album.<br /><br />THE “OKAY, I’LL ADMIT IT, DAMMIT” AWARD GOES TO…<br />Kelly Clarkson’s “Since U Been Gone” – yes, this is by far the most played song on my iPod! Want to make something of it? This song rocks and I play it loud and proud – holla!<br /><br /><strong>Gabe’s Into Twins</strong><br /><br />#1: New Pornographers, Twin Cinema<br /><br />Others:<br /><br />My Morning Jacket, Z<br />Ladytron, Witching Hour<br />Sufjan Stevens, Come On Feel the Illinois<br /><br />Coolest Comeback: Neil Diamond, 12 Songs<br />My New Discovery a Year Later: Tegan and Sarah, So Jealous<br />Not Ashamed to Say I Geeked Out For: Weezer, Make Believe<br /><br /><br /><strong>Dark Light, Not Bright Eyes, for Sarah-Maria</strong><br /><br />here's my list (can you tell i hate to make choices...)<br />can i also ask you while i'm at it to send us a pile of dirty liars?<br /><br />thanks a bunch! hope all is well in pushland and with you,<br />s-m<br /><br /><br /><br />My Top 18 in No Particular Order:<br /><br />-HIM, Dark Light<br />-Spoon, Gimme Fiction<br />-The White Stripes, Get Behind Me Satan<br />-The Magic Numbers, The Magic Numbers<br />-Cardigans, Super Extra Gravity<br />-Queens of the Stone Age,Lullabies to Paralyze<br />-John Frusciante, Curtains<br />-Gorillaz, Demon Days<br />-Starsailor, On The Outside<br />-The Turin Brakes, Jack in a Box<br />-The Tears, Here Come The Tears<br />-Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Howl<br />-Brendan Benson, The Alternative to Love<br />-The Decembrists, Picaresque<br />-I Am Kloot, Gods and Monsters<br />-The Kills, No Wow<br />-Madrugada, The Deep End<br />-Oasis, Dont Believe The Truth<br /><br /><br />2004's Guilty Pleasure that didn't catch me until 2005<br />My Chemical Romance, Three Cheers for Revenge<br /><br />2004's Non-Guilty Pleasure that didn't catch me until 2005<br />The Dears, No Cities Left<br /><br /><br /><strong>Poor Brian M’s Still Waiting for Chinese Democracy<br /></strong><br />Okay, here it goes....my last list B.C. (before Chinese Democracy)<br /><br /><br />Most Essential (there's no limiting this year, there are 3 that everyone<br />should own):<br /><br />Queenadreena, The Butcher and the Butterfly<br />Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Howl<br />The White Stripes, Get Behind Me Satan<br /><br /><br /><br />Other Essential (in no particular order):<br /><br />Spoon, Gimme Fiction<br />John Frusciante, Curtains<br />Joyzipper, Heartlight Set<br />Manic Street Preachers, God Save the Manics EP<br />Pagoda, Pagoda EP<br />Turin Brakes, Jack in a Box<br />The Kills, Now Wow<br />Kasabian, Kasabian<br />Oasis, Don't Believe the Truth<br />Magnolia Electric Co., What Comes After the Blues<br />Queens of the Stone Age, Lullabies to Paralize<br />The Magic Numbers, The Magic Numbers<br />Bonnie Prince Billy, Superwolf<br />Madrugada, The Deep End<br />I Am Kloot, Gods and Monsters<br />Mars Volta, Frances the Mute<br />Brendon Benson, Alternative to Love<br />Decemberists, Picaresque<br />Death From Above 1979, You're a Woman I'm a Machine<br />HIM, Dark Light<br /><br />Essential Re-Issues:<br />Manic Street Preachers, The Holy Bible<br />Roky Erickson, Don't Slander Me<br />Roky Erickson, Gremlins Have Pictures<br />Roky Erickson, I Have ALways Been Here Before<br /><br /><br />Most Essential Discovery from Past Years:<br />Violent Femmes, Violent Femmes<br /><br />The list is admittedly fat, but what can I say, it was a good year for music<br /><br /><br /><strong>I’m Sure Satan Would Be Willing to Get Behind You, Kimberly</strong><br /><br />Here's my top 3 of 2005 -- I figured I'd make an independent decision<br />while I have the chance:<br /><br />Jack Johnson: In Between Dreams<br />The White Stripes: Get Behind Me Satan<br />Aqualung: Strange and Beautiful<br /><br /><br /><strong>More New Porn from Michael S</strong><br /><br />I didn’t really buy as much as I might normally have done last year. And yet, and yet, my faves:<br /><br />New Pornographers, Twin Cinema<br />Ben Lee, Awake Is the New Sleep<br />Maria Taylor, 11:11<br />Fiona Apple, Extraordinary Machine<br /><br /><br /><strong>Jason’s Feeling Like a Criminal</strong><br /><br />Essential: Fiona Apple, Ex. Machine<br /><br />Devendra Banhart, Cripple Crow<br />Kings of Leon, Aha Shake Heartbreak<br />Magic Numbers, s.t.<br />Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, s.t.<br />MIA, arular<br />White Stripes, Get Behind Me Satan<br />Antigone Rising,From the Ground Up<br />Nickel Creek, Why should the fire die<br />Feist, let it die<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Architecture in Helsinki Isn’t Esoteric, Matthue, But Trans Rap Is</strong><br /><br />Most Essential: Architecture in Helsinki, In Case We Die (i swear this<br />is not just to be esoteric....they are beautiful, absolutely<br />beautiful. australians that orchestrate pop-punk songs for a 10-piece<br />percussion-and-tubas band, mixing they might be giants sensibilities<br />with le tigre choruses and a stevie wonder funk.)<br /><br />And:<br /><br />Ani Difranco, Knuckle Down<br />Brian Wilson, Smile<br />Kanye West, Late Registration<br />Bruce Springsteen, Devils and Dust<br />Morcheeba, The Antidote<br />The Plus Ones, Oh Me Of Little Faith<br /><br />Funnest Debut: Katastrophe, Let's Fuck, Then Talk About My Problems<br />-- because all transsexual rap artists should be this funny. and this<br />slick.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Josh L Pointed Out Kanye West Was Overrated Before Kanye West Posed As Jesus For Rolling Stone</strong><br />I feel like this has been a veyr good year<br />for what I think of as "David Music." (alt-pop? prog-rock?) I've been<br />reading and downloading more this year than past, so I've actually got<br />more nominees than I know what to do with. If Owen Pallett<br />releases his album themed on the schools of magic in D&D, just count<br />that as my choice for next year, no need to consult me.<br /><br />I'm puzzled over the many possible interpretations of "essential:"<br />essential to music's role in propping up my well-being, or essential to<br />music as an evolving art? The latter would steer away from<br />good-but-not-really-new, so I'll go with the former, but any of the top<br />three below could be my number one. #1 psuedo-spiritual uplift, #1<br />fun/sing along, #1 words matter too/walking to school music,<br />respectively.<br /><br />1. Sigur Rus, Takk<br />2. New Pornographers, Twin Cinema<br />3. The Hold Steady, Separation Sunday<br />4. Tori Amos, The Beekeeper (yes I like the album, but lifetime<br />achievement and the fact that it's a song cycle linked to gnostic<br />mythology have their roles)<br />5. Fiona Apple, Extraordinary Machine (I get the sense that when I just<br />play this album for a few weeks straight I will begin to think that it's<br />the greatest album ever, since this has happened--each time with much<br />delay--twice before)<br />6. The Mountain Goats, Sunset Tree (This goes here because I only<br />discovered him a few months ago, and while simultaneously absorbing 40<br />different albums I'm not sure how high this one ranks. But anyone who<br />is aware of this guy and doesn't recognize his tremendousness, well,<br />sucks.)<br /><br />I figure other people will take care of Sufjan and MIA who seem to<br />deserve their celebrations... Kanye West is overrated.<br /><br /><br /><strong>X, Y, & Matthew U</strong><br /><br />It seems I once again bought next to nothing this year as I finished up my final semesters of school and school-induced poverty. Alas. The only two cd's I can mention at all are<br /><br />Brian Eno, Another Day on Earth<br />Coldplay, X&Y<br /><br /><br /><strong>Jim, Naughty But So Rocking</strong><br /><br />Most essential:<br />Louis XIV, The Best Little Secrets Are Kept (naughty, but so rocking)<br /><br />Right on its heels:<br />Ambulance Ltd., Ambulance Ltd. (gorgeous)<br />Aqualung, Strange & Beautiful (gorgeous)<br />Brendan Benson, The Alternative to Love (heart-breaking)<br />Coldplay, X&Y (hate to admit it)<br />The Editors, The Back Room (thank you, Nick!)<br />Fiona Apple, Extraordinary Machine (brain-massagingly eclectic)<br /><br />Yes, I know they're great, but...<br />Bloc Party, Silent Alarm<br />Deathcab for Cutie, Plans<br /><br />So happy I found it (from a previous year):<br />The Stills, Logic Will Break Your Heart (2004)<br /><br />How didn't it show up on the David pool?<br />The Shins, Chutes Too Narrow (2003)<br /><br /><br /><strong>Markus’s Picks From Down Under</strong><br /><br />Here are my picks:<br /><br />Most Essential: Wolfmother; ‘Wolfmother’.<br />Essential: Daniel Johnston: Covered\Uncovered.<br />Essential Song: Wolfmother: ‘White Unicorn’.<br /><br /><br />Cary, Neither Heartless Nor a Bastard<br /><br />Oh dear! I almost missed out!<br /><br />Heartless Bastards, Stairs and Elevators<br />The Tune Stranglers, If You Ain’t right Git Right<br />Lee Fields, Problems (a re-release of an old funk record now on CD)<br /><br />Hopefully my ‘Bastards will rank. I won’t hold my breath for the others.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Francesco Loves New York, So He’s Not a Dork</strong><br /><br /><br />Herewith, the music that made me feel alive in 05; the music that helped me revive in 05; the tunes that made me not feel contrived in 05; the albums that fueled my sex drive in 05; the music that took me out of automatic drive in 05; the music that helped me to survive 05; etc.<br /><br />Can I Get a Triple Latte-Chino with that?<br />Alanis Morissette, Jagged Little Pill Acoustic<br /><br />Madonna, Confessions on a Dancefloor, with the exception of that damned song #4<br /><br />Really just Bubblegum but:<br />Annie, Anniemal<br /><br />I mean, the eyeliner still works for me:<br />Green Day, American Idiot<br /><br />It took me a while but:<br />Fiona Apple, Extraordinary Machine<br /><br />Just an automatic:<br />Franz Ferdinand, You Could Have It So Much Better<br /><br />Triptacular<br />Fischer Spooner, Odyssey<br /><br />I like it when she's more confused than this -- I mean "Tuna, rubber"? Yes, please, but:<br />Tori, The BeeKeeper<br /><br />Packed with a razor blade and some nice bubbles for a warm bath:<br />Coldplay, X&Y<br /><br />Just delicious:<br />Nouvelle Vague, Nouvelle Vague<br />She finally pulled it off:<br />Kelly Osbourne, Sleeping in the Nothing<br /><br />I wanna pull if off them:<br />The Bravery, The Bravery<br /><br />Remembrance of Things Past<br />Annie Lennox, Diva<br />TLC, CrazySexyCool<br />Deee-Lite, Dewdrops in the Garden<br /><br /><br /><strong>A Damn Interesting Year for Alex G</strong><br /><br />My, another year in music gone. Or really, just another year, gone. Music, for the most part, was much more interesting than the cinema this year. Music gave us 50 Cent (the massacre!), brought back the hefty talk/singing of Neil Diamond (where talk of Rick Rubin as producer seemed to overshadow the actual album and Diamond's talk/singing thing that he does so well), and a NIN album (I just found out about this one). Where the cinema only brought us things like a 50 Cent movie, and a few forgettable flops. Ok, so maybe I didn't listen to any of these albums mentioned above (who has the time?), but to make a sweeping generalization, music was damn interesting this year.<br /><br />Top 10<br /><br />1. Sufjan Stevens - Illinois<br />2. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - Clap Your Hands Say Yeah<br />3. M. Ward - Transistor Radio<br />4. Spoon - -Gimme Fiction<br />5. Andrew Bird - The Mysterious Production of Eggs<br />6.Devendra Banhart - Cripple Crow (Gypsy was very in this year.)<br />7. Architecture in Helsinki - In Case We Die<br />8. M.I.A. - Arular (Not sure if I loved this record, but c'mon, the weird factor is so high.)<br />9. Belle and Sebastian - Push Barman to Open Old Wounds<br />10. My Morning Jacket - Z<br /><br /><br /><strong>Annie Throws it Down</strong><br /><br />Most Essential (in no particular order):<br />Sinead O'Connor, Throw Down Your Arms<br />Kaiser Chiefs, Employment<br />the Eels, Blinking Lights and Other Revelations<br />Liz Phair, Somebody's Miracle<br />Franz Ferdinand, You Could Have It So Much Better<br /><br />Essential Soundtracks:<br />Grey's Anatomy<br />The OC Mixes 4 and 5<br /><br />Maybe Not Essential But Close to It:<br />Fiona Apple, Extraordinary Machine<br />Ben Folds, Songs for Silverman<br />Nouvelle Vague, Nouvelle Vague<br />Brazilian Girls, Brazilian Girls<br />Death Cab for Cutie, Plans<br />Imogen Heap, Speak for Yourself<br />Bettye LaVette, I've Got My Own Hell to Raise<br />Tracy Bonham, Blink the Brightest<br />Bright Eyes, I'm Wide Awake It's Morning<br />Feist, Let It Die<br />Brendon Benson, The Alternative to Love<br />Aqualung, Strange and Beautiful<br /><br /><br /><strong>Brant Sets Himself on Fire</strong><br /><br />My Essential Album of 2005<br />Stars, Set Yourself on Fire<br /><br />Runners-Up in the Order They Ran Up<br />Bright Eyes, I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning<br />Common, Be<br />Bloc Party, Silent Alarm<br />LCD Soundsystem, LCD Soundsystem<br />Annie, Anniemal<br />The Raveonettes, Pretty in Black<br />The New Pornographers, Twin Cinema<br />Kanye West, Late Registration<br />Gorillaz, Demon Days<br />Kasabian, Kasabian<br /><br /><strong>Kevin K, Guerrrrrrrrrrrrrro</strong><br /><br />Below are my Essential 15 Picks for the 2006 David Music Poll (in alphabetical order):<br /><br />- Beck / Guero<br />- Ben Lee / Awake is the New Sleep<br />- Bright Eyes / I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning<br />- Clap Your Hands and Say Yeah! / Clap Your Hands and Say Yeah!<br />- Death Cab for Cutie / Plans<br />- The Decemberists / Picaresque<br />- Franz Ferdinand / You Could Have It So Much Better<br />- Kaiser Chiefs / Employment<br />- The Kills / No Wow<br />- New Order / Waiting for the Siren's Call<br />- The New Pornographers / Twin Cinema<br />- Spoon / Gimme Fiction<br />- Stars / Set Yourself on Fire<br />- Sufjan Stevens / Come on Feel the Illinoise<br />- The White Stripes / Get Behind Me Satan<br /><br /><br /><strong>Sarah Z and the Johnsons</strong><br /><br />In order, sort of...<br />Antony and the Johnsons, I Am a Bird Now<br />Sufjan Stevens, Illinois<br />Death Cab for Cutie, Plans<br />The Decemberists, Picaresque<br />Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah<br />Bright Eyes, I'm Wide Awake It's Morning<br /><br /><strong>Chris T Spoons It</strong><br /><br />1. Spoon, Gimme Fiction<br />2. Bloc Party, Silent Alarm<br />3. The Go! Team!, Thunder Lightning Strike (US)<br />4. Fiery Furnaces, EP<br />5. Broken Social Scene, S/T<br />6. LCD Soundsystem, S/T<br />7. Sleater-Kinney, The Woods<br />8. The Hold Steady, Separation Sunday<br />9. Antony and the Johnsons, I Am a Bird Now<br />10. Bright Eyes, I'm Wide Awake It's Morning<br /><br /><br /><br />Worst Band Ever:<br />The Postal Service<br /><br /><br />Best Live Show:<br />Arcade Fire, NYC Central Park Summerstage<br /><br /><br /><strong>Beware, Coldplay Fans, of Dave B</strong><br /><br />i can't imagine anyone's list is gonna look like mine. my records of the year:<br /><br />greg dulli's amber headlights [this guy's output post-whigs is insane]<br />the foo fighters / in your honor [most ambitious record]<br />bob mould / body of song [biggest comeback after the train wreck that was 'modulate' & a career hiatus]<br />the streets / a grand don't come for free [proof that the US hasn't cornered the market on white rappers]<br />sinead o'connor / throw down your arms [like the foo & bob, ballsy as hell & welcome back]<br /><br />p.s. if anyone puts the coldplay album, i'm beating them to death w/ my shoe.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Anica’s All Takk</strong><br /><br />Most essential album of the year: <br />Sigor Ros, Takk...<br /><br />Also essential:<br />The Kings of Leon, Aha Shake Heartbreak (featuring the best song of the year, Taper Jean Girl)<br />Andrew Bird, Andrew Bird & The Mysterious Production of Eggs<br /><br />Pretty freaking great:<br />Sufjan Stevens, Illinoise<br />The Decemberists, Picaresque<br /><br />I'm also enjoying:<br />The White Stripes, Get Behind Me Satan<br />Aimee Mann, The Forgotten Arm<br /><br />That intense fling I now regret:<br />Bright Eyes, both<br /><br /><br /><strong>Thu Feels the Noise</strong><br /><br />most essential album of the year<br />Sufjan Stevens - Come on Feel the Illinoise<br /><br />other extremely essential albums (in no particular order after the first three):<br />Iron and Wine - Woman King<br />John Mayer Trio - Try!<br />Gorillaz - Demon Days<br />Bloc Party - Silent Alarm<br />Ben Lee - Awake Is the New Sleep<br />Broken Social Scene - Broken Social Scene<br />Beck - Guero<br />Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - Clap Your Hands Say Yeah<br /><br /><br /><strong>I’m Only Counting the Top Ten From Jason G</strong><br /><br />PRODUCT SHOP NYC'S THE 57 BEST ALBUMS OF 2005<br />57. I Am Kloot - Gods and Monsters<br />56. Bruce Springsteen – Devils & Dust<br />55. Mommy & Daddy – Duel At Dawn<br />54. The Decemberists - Picaresque<br />53. The New Pornographers – Twin Cinema<br />52. Mars Volta – Frances The Mute<br />51. Animal Collective - Feels<br />50. Black Mountain – Black Mountain<br />49. Fatlip – The Lonliest Punk<br />48. Broken Social Scene – Broken Social Scene<br />47. Ryan Adams & The Cardinals – Jacksonville City Nights<br />46. Franz Ferdinand – You Can Have It So Much Better With…<br />45. Shout Out Louds - Howl Howl Gaff Gaff<br />43. Laura Veirs - Years of Meteors<br />42. Tom Vek – We Have Sound<br />41. The Joggers – With A Cape And A Cane<br />40. Goldfrapp - Supernature<br />39. Beck - Guero<br />38. Devandra Banhart – Cripple Crow<br />37. My Morning Jacket - Z<br />36. The National - Alligator<br />35. DangerDoom – The Mouse And The Mask<br />34. Hold Steady – Separation Sunday<br />33. Nine Inch Nails – [With Teeth]<br />32. Fiest – Let It Die<br />31. The Go! Team – Thunder, Lightning, Strike<br />30. Sam Champion – Slow Rewind<br />29. Brendan Benson - Alternative to Love<br />28. Clap Your Hand Say Yeah – Clap Your Hands Say Yeah<br />27. Bloc Party – Silent Alarm<br />26. Sufjan Stevens - Illinois<br />25. The Babyshambles – Albion Seed<br />24. Silver Jews – Tanglewood Numbers<br />23. Andrew Bird - The Mysterious Production Of Eggs<br />22. Wolf Parade – Apologies To The Queen Mary<br />21. Stephen Malkmus – Face The Truth<br />20. Emiliana Torrini - Fisherman’s Woman<br />19. New Order – Waiting For The Sirens Call<br />18. The Magic Numbers – The Magic Numbers<br />17. Brakes – Give Blood<br />16. Sleater-Kinney – The Woods<br />15. Spoon – Gimme Fiction<br />14. Sigur Ros – Takk….<br />13. Fiona Apple - Extraordinary Machine<br />12. LCD Soundsystem – LCD Soundsystem<br />11. Youth Group – Skeleton Jar<br />10. Bright Eyes – I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning<br />9. Frank Black – Honeycomb<br />8. Paul McCartney – Chaos And Creation In The Backyard<br />7. Ryan Adams – Cold Roses<br />6. M.I.A. - Arular<br />5. The Rakes - Capture / Release<br />4. Gorillaz – Demon Days<br />3. Antony & The Johnsons – I Am Bird Now<br />2. The White Stripes – Get Behind Me Satan<br />1. Supergrass – Road To Rouen<br /><br /><br /><strong>Rachel C Heard it on the X</strong><br /><br />in no particular order:<br /><br />Los Super Seven – Heard It On The X<br />Nikka Costa – Can'tneverdidnothin'<br />Lyrics Born – Same !@#$ Different Day<br />Fiona Apple – Extraordinary Machine<br />Anthony Hamilton – Soulife<br />Belle & Sebastian – Push Barman to Open Old Wounds<br />Toshi Reagon – Have You Heard<br />The Raveonettes – Pretty In Black<br />Betty Lavette – I've Got My Own Hell To Raise<br />Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings – Naturally<br />The Duhks – The Duhks<br />Shakira – Fijación Oral - Vol. 1<br />Rihanna – Music Of The Sun<br /><br /><br /><strong>Ronnie’s Sound Tracks</strong><br /><br />Essential Soundtracks of the Year<br /><br /><br />Track 17 "The Wings" from Brokeback Mountain: composer Gustavo Santaolalla<br /> The trailer played for months before the movie opened and I cried every time this music kicked in, not knowing much about the movie. Either there was a subliminal tone that was manipulating me, or it is getting much easier to make me cry.<br /><br />Track 14 "Nirvana" from Millions: group El Bosco<br /> Same thing, I would cry like a baby when this music cued in the Millions trailer. Sue me. <br /><br />Track 19 "Coyotes" by Richard Thompson from the soundtrack "Grizzly Man" - the best song of the year<br /><br /><br /><strong>Bill’s Seeing Stars</strong><br /><br />OK, so here's mine. As you know, I'm somewhat clueless about when music comes out. Some of this might be from previous years, but I listened to the following a lot in 2005.<br /><br />1. Stars, Set Yourself on Fire<br />2. Black Eyed Peas, Monkey Business<br />3. Sigur Ros, Takk<br />4. The Bravery, The Bravery<br />5. Jack Johnson, In Between Dreams<br />6. Susan Tedeschi, Wait For Me<br /><br />The good news is, I actually bought all of these albums.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Jack M’s Strange Geometry</strong><br /><br /><br />Most essential:<br />Clientele-STrange Geometry<br /><br />Essential:<br /><br />Little Wings--Magic Wand<br />Vashti Bunyan--Lookaftering<br />6 Organs of Admittance--School of the Flower<br />Belle and Sebastian--Push Barman to Open Old Wounds (duh)<br />Shackamaxon<br />Feathers<br />Dungen--Ta Det Lungt (This was on my list for last year, but I thought I'd put it on again since it was officially released in 2005 in the US, and was on Rolling Stone's top picks of the year...Is that legal?)<br /><br />Fave Reissues:<br />Shirley Collins and Dave Graham--Old Roots, New Routes<br />Bread, Love & Dreams<br />John Martyn--Stormbreaker<br /><br />New discoveries:<br />Alice Coltrane--Ptah the El Daoud<br />Alice Coltrane--Journey in Satchadanda (sp?)<br />Pharoah Sanders--Jewels of Thought<br />Pharoah Sanders--Karma<br />Bob James--Explosions<br />Dave Burrell--Echo<br /><br />I'm sure there's more!<br /><br /><br /><strong>Michael M’s Confessions</strong><br /><br />Here's my one vote:<br /><br />Madonna / Confessions on a Dance Floor<br /><br />LOVE it! and can't even think of anything else. altho I hear the James Blunt is good.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Sean’s Hung Up</strong><br /><br />Essential Album of 2005:<br />Madonna, “Confessions On A Dance Floor” - The Queen of Clubs makes a triumphant return to the groove, looking to a familiar subject once again for inspiration. Who better than her Madgesty to school the masses in dance music history? Things kick off with the irresistible ABBA hook around which “Hung Up” gallivants, and others paid homage throughout the album include the Jacksons, S.O.S. Band, Donna Summer, Sister Sledge, Pet Shop Boys and Kylie Minogue, as well as sly references to Madonna’s own back catalog of hits (“Holiday,” “Secret”). The subject matter is familiar terrain, dancing around the topics of love, religion and enlightenment. But what’s truly compelling is the journey - each of these future-disco hits evolves and morphs into the next, to provide a swirling, pulsating DJ set (thanks to co-producer/remixer of the year, Stuart Price). The non-stop mix entices and ultimately rewards the experience of listening to the album as a whole. (But for the iPod nation, key downloads include “Hung Up,” “Sorry,” “Let It Will Be” and “Jump.”)<br />Twelve Other Essentials:<br />Tori Amos, “The Beekeeper” - Easier-listening from the faerie priestess - her lyrics are still heavy on metaphoric imagery, but it’s more focused and coherent effort overall. (download “The Power Of Orange Knickers,” "Jamaica Inn,” “Sleeps With Butterflies,” “Ireland”)<br />Antony & the Johnsons, “I Am A Bird Now” - Gorgeous and haunting. The world needs more male chanteuses. (download “Hope There’s Someone,” “You Are My Sister”)<br />Fiona Apple, “Extraordinary Machine” - Worth the wait. (download the title track, “Tymps [The Sick In The Head Song]”) The Bravery, “The Bravery” - Pre-fab post-punk? Who cares when the hits are this good? (download “An Honest Mistake,” “Swollen Summer,” “Public Service Announcement”)<br />Feist, “Let It Die” - Quirky and dreamy, with a groovy ‘70’s vibe complimenting the torchier tracks. (download the title track, “One Evening,” "Inside And Out”)<br />Franz Ferdinand, “You Could Have It So Much Better With…” - Not as novel as the first record, but the songs just might be better… or at least more well-rounded. (download “Do You Want To,” “Eleanor Put Your Boots On,” “What You Meant,” “Fade Together”)<br />Goldfrapp, “Supernature” - No one rides the hot/cold electro fence better than Allison Goldfrapp, who also brings a few new glam influences to the band’s latest. Sexy and fun. (download “Ooh La La,” “Number 1”).<br />M.I.A., “Arular” - A multi-culti, funky, freaky, retro-future hip-hop house party, and everyone’s invited - even Fred Sanford. (download “Bucky Done Gun,” “U.R.A.Q.T.”)<br />Aimee Mann, “The Forgotten Arm” - This literate, depressing and tragic concept album about a junkie boxer and his girlfriend is like an emotional hit to the gut. (download “Dear John,” “I Was Thinking I Could Clean Up For Christmas”)<br />Alanis Morissette, “Jagged Little Pill Acoustic” - A mature, thoughtful re-take on a seminal album, and most of it sounds even better today. (download “Head Over Feet,” “Ironic”)<br />Robyn, “Robyn” - The best pure pop album of the year. The Swedes know how to do it right. Seriously, this record is a joy. (download “Be Mine,” “Handle Me,” “Konichiwa Bitches” and all the rest of it)<br />Sufjan Stevens, “Illinois” - An exquisitely refracted look back at the touchstones of a Prairie State upbringing, from Superman to John Wayne Gacy to Frank Lloyd Wright, ferris wheels, the Cubs, Casimir Pulaski Day and the Santa Claus Parade. This record makes me want to laugh and cry, often at the same time. (download “Come On! Feel The Illinoise!: Part I: The World's Columbian Exposition/Part II: Carl Sandburg Visits Me In A Dream,” “The Man Of Metropolis Steals Our Hearts”)<br />A Dozen (Or So) More I Enjoyed, Admired or Otherwise Felt Deserved Acknowledgment:<br />Beck, “Guero”/“Guerolito” (download “Girl,” “Heaven Hammer (Missing) [Remix by Air],” “Clap Hands”)Bloc Party, “Silent Alarm”/“Remixed” (download “Banquet,” “Blue Light [Engineers 'Anti-Gravity' Mix]”)Coldplay, “X&Y” (download “Fix You,” “Talk”)Sheryl Crow, “Wildflower” (download “Lifetimes,” “Always On Your Side”)Fannypack, “See You Next Tuesday” (download “Nu Nu [Yeah Yeah],” “On My Lap”)Imogen Heap, “Speak For Yourself” (download “Hide And Seek”)LCD Soundsystem, “LCD Soundsystem” (download “Daft Punk Is Playing At My House,” “Tribulations”)Róisín Murphy, “Ruby Blue” (download “If We’re In Love”)New Order, “Waiting For The Sirens’ Call” (download “Jetstream,” Turn”)Sugababes, “Taller In More Ways” (download “Push The Button,” “Obsession”)Kayne West, “Late Registration” (download “Gold Digger,” “Heard ‘Em Say”)Lee Ann Womack, “There’s More Where That Came From” (download “I May Hate Myself In The Morning”)Noteworthy Debut Efforts:<br />Brazilian Girls, “Brazilian Girls” (download “Don’t Stop,” “Lazy Lover”) Elkland, “Golden” (download “Apart,” “Everybody’s Leaving”)Leela James, “A Change Is Gonna Come” (download “Music,” “Don’t Speak”) Juliet, “Random Order” (download “Avalon”)Kaiser Chiefs, “Employment” (download “Everyday I Love You Less And Less,” “Na Na Na Na Na”)Susie Suh, “Susie Suh” (download “Won’t You Come Again,” “All I Want”)Essential Soundtrack:<br />Gustavo Santaolalla/Various Artists, “Brokeback Mountain” (download Teddy Thompson & Rufus Wainwright, “King Of The Road”)Essential Reissue of Last Year’s Best Album:<br />The Killers, “Hot Fuss [Limited Edition 7” Box Set]” - Each of the eleven album tracks on 45 RPM vinyl, backed with rare b-sides, covers and remixes, including Jacques Lu Cont's amazing Thin White Duke Mix of “Mr. Brightside.”<br />Essential Single of 2005:<br />Kelly Clarkson, “Since U Been Gone” - Song of the year, without question. It’s been remixed (Jason Nevins), mashed up (DJ Earworm, Aggro1) and covered (Ted Leo), and it’s still as fresh as the first time you heard it. And “Behind These Hazel Eyes” rocked, too.<br />Other Essential Singles: Amerie, “1 Thing” Annie, “Heartbeat [Phones Maximo Edit]”Mariah Carey, “We Belong Together” (and the remix is even better), “Shake It Off”Ciara feat. Missy Elliott, “1, 2 Step”Missy Elliott feat. Ciara & Fat Man Scoop, “Lose Control”Fischerspooner, “Never Win”José González, “Heartbeats” Kelly Osborne, “One Word”Spoon, “I Turn My Camera On” Gwen Stefani, “Hollaback Girl,” “Cool” Rachel Stevens, “I Said Never Again (But Here We Are)”<br /><br /><strong>Jackie’s Into the Greatest White Liar</strong><br /><br />1. Madonna - Confessions on the Dancefloor2. Nic Armstrong and the Thieves - Greatest White Liar 3. Bill Ricchini - Tonight I Burn Brightly4. Fiona Apple - The Extraordinary Machine5. The Bravery - Self Titled 6.Beck - Guero7. The Go! Team - Thunder, Lightning, Strike8. New Order - Waiting For The Siren's Call 9. Architecture In Helsinki- In Case We Die10. Cut Copy - Bright Like Neon Love<br />Favorite music related book of 2005 - Just A Modern Rock Story: Belle and Sebastian<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Apologies to the Queen Mary for Amy H’s Picks</strong><br /><br />Most essential album:It's a tie between: Wolf Parade: Apologies to the Queen Mary and Architecture in Helsinki: In Case We Die (ahhh.. I'm currently obsessed with both albums, cannot stop playing them..!!!) Others that dominated my ipod playlists this year..3. Iron & Wine: Woman King EP ) ... hypnotic4. Broken Social Scene: Broken Social Scene5. Bright Eyes: I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning6. Beck: Guero (E-Pro, how can this song not make a person start dancing??)7. Sigur Ros - Takk. (actually, ALL of Sigur Ros's albums... ahhhh...)8. Nine Inch Nails: With Teeth<br /><br /><strong>Good Karma Chameleon for Steve S<br /></strong><br />Here, very quickly, in no particular are my choices for 1983, I mean 2006:New Order – Waiting for the Siren’s CallKate Bush – AerialMadonna – Confessions on a DancefloorGorillaz – Demon Days<br /><br /><br /><strong>Zach Plays the Wires</strong><br /><br />My top ten albums of 2005:<br /> 1. Patrick Wolf – Wind In The Wires<br /> 2. Metric – Live It Out<br /> 3. The Magic Numbers – The Magic Numbers<br /> 4. Billy Corgan – TheFutureEmbrace<br /> 5. Garbage – Bleed Like Me<br /> 6. Ladytron – Witching Hour<br /> 7. M.I.A. – Arular<br /> 8. The Boy Least Likely To – Best Party Ever<br /> 9. Fiona Apple – Extraordinary Machine<br /> 10. John Vanderslice – Pixel Revolt<br /> I have runner ups, too: Annie – Anniemal, and Lindsay Lohan – A Little More Personal (Raw).<br /> <br /> If you get the chance, you should scoot on over to www.pandora.com. You give it a favorite artist, or several bands/artists you like, and it works as an internet radio. It makes recommendations based on the similarities in the artists you give it. You can tell it whether or not you like the song and it responds accordingly. It's pretty awesome.<br /><br /><br /><strong>A Peek into Anton’s iTunes</strong><br /><br />To be honest, this was a weird year in music for me.<br />Not only did I buy much less than usual (sticking mostly to bands I already knew), but I also didn't always buy full albums -- and when I did, I rarely listened to them all the way through. Instead, I've been putting everything I buy in a "new music" folder on iTunes, and then listening to the whole thing on random on my iPod.<br />I found I've been enjoying new music a lot more that way -- even though there's potentially songs I've bought that I still haven't heard yet. I'm not so eager anymore to listen to everything I get and play it repeatedly until I've committed it all to memory -- instead I let myself be continually surprised. It's like listening to a really amazing radio station that ONLY plays stuff I like (which in my opinion doesn't exist).<br /><br />I know I'm too late for the poll, but in case you were curious anyway, here's my top albums of 2005 off the top of my head (that I know I listened to fully):<br /><br />DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE – “PLANS”<br />THE DOVES – “SOME CITIES”<br />NEW ORDER – “WAITING FOR THE SIREN’S CALL”<br />SPOON – “GIMME FICTION”<br />THE BRAVERY – “THE BRAVERY”<br />KASABIAN – “KASABIAN”<br />BECK – "GUERO"<br />MOBY – "HOTEL"<br />OASIS – “DON’T BELIEVE THE TRUTH”<br />FRANZ FERDINAND – "YOU COULD HAVE IT SO MUCH BETTER"<br /><br />My "favorite" changes on a daily basis, so can't really give one.<br /><br />Totally hit & miss were the new albums from:<br />NINE INCH NAILS<br />COLDPLAY<br />INXS<br />BILLY CORGAN<br />BEN FOLDS<br />DEPECHE MODE<br /><br />As for top dozen songs, some were shocking:<br />"Bitches Ain't" Shit<br />Ben Folds<br />"Do You Want To"<br />Franz Ferdinand<br />"Soul Meets Body"<br />Death Cab For Cutie<br />"Waiting for the Sirens' Call" New Order<br />"Breathe" Erasure<br />"E-Pro" Beck<br />"Melodies & Lines" Wallmark<br />"The Bucket" Kings of Leon<br />"Walk In Fire" Doves<br />"Na Na Na Na Naa" Kaiser Chiefs<br />"First Day of My Life" Bright Eyes<br />"I Summon You" Spoon<br /><br /><br /><strong>Nick E’s Feeling It<br /></strong><br />Finally, here are my music picks:<br /><br />1. Sufjan Stevens - Come On! Feel the Illinoise!<br /><br />This was a tough call for me, but I think this album is going to be a<br />favorite of mine for years--as it is, I decide on a new favorite song<br />from this record every few weeks. And who else could manage such a<br />beautiful song about a serial killer?<br /><br />2. Bloc Party – The Silent Alarm<br /><br />New Yorkers actually dance to this one. 'Nuff said.<br /><br />3. Bright Eyes - I'm Wide Awake It's Morning<br /><br />Conor's my touchstone--he's exactly my age and his music seems to<br />mature to match my changing tastes.<br /><br />4. Fischerspooner - Odyssey<br /><br />You don't need to be on drugs to enjoy this one!<br /><br />5. Madonna - Confessions on a Dance Floor<br /><br />I don't love every song on the album, but the good ones are really,<br />really good. Plus, I needed one artist on this list that I don't want<br />to have sex with.<br /><br />And a special honor to this year's best collection of previously<br />released material:<br />Jens Lekman - "Oh, You're So Silent, Jens"<br />I'm glad he's not! Silent, I mean. And yeah, I totally want to have<br />sex with him.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Billyfjan</strong><br /><br /><br />#1!!!<br /><br />Sufjan Stevens, Illinois (or whatever it's called)<br /><br />tied with:<br /><br />Bright Eyes, I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning<br /><br /><br /><br />Also:<br /><br />Metric, Live it out<br /><br />Fiona Apple, Extraordinary Machine<br /><br />Madonna, Confessions on a Dancefloor<br /><br />Imogen Heap, Speak for yourself (It's rapidly grown on me)<br /><br /><br />Could Sophie Have it So Much Better?<br /><br />Essential:<br /><br />My Morning Jacket, Z<br />Franz Ferdinand, You Could Have It So Much Better<br />New Pornographers, Twin Cinema<br />Arcade Fire, Funeral (released in 2004, but invaded my consciousness in 2005)<br /><br />Quasi-Essential:<br /><br />A Girl Called Eddy, self-titled<br />Fiona Apple, Extraordinary Machine (quasi, only because I've listened to it just once)<br /><br />Singles of the Year:<br />Annie, Chewing Gum<br />Ciara, One Two Step<br />Madonna, Hung Up<br />Franz Ferdinand, Do You Wanna?<br /><br /><br /><strong>The David L In This Poll Who Isn't Me, All Tied Up</strong><br /><br />Essential Albums of 2005: Sigur Ros, Takk... and Andrew Bird, The Mysterious Production of Eggs<br /><br />1. (tied) Sigur Ros, Takk...<br />1. (tied) Andrew Bird, The Mysterious Production of Eggs<br />3. (tied) The Kings of Leon, Aha Shake Heartbeat<br />3. (tied) Sufjan Stevens, Illinoise<br />5. The Decembrists, Picaresque<br />6. Wolf Parade, Apologies to the Queen Mary<br />7. My Morning Jacket, Z<br />8. The White Stripes, Get Behind Me Satan<br /><br />I would do a top ten, but it falls way off after #8. The next bunch, the Honorable Mentions, includes:<br /><br />Bright Eyes, I’m Wide Awake It’s Morning<br />Aimee Mann, The Forgotten Arm<br />Eels, Blinking Lights and Other Revelations<br />Twin Cinema by The New Pornographers<br /><br />Disappointing Albums with Great Songs:<br /><br />Stars, Set Yourself on Fire (Your Ex-Lover is Dead)<br />Doves, Some Cities (Snowdon)<br />Bright Eyes, Digital Ash in a Digital Urn (Arc of Time)<br />Brendan Benson, Alternative to Love (Alternative to Love)<br /><br />Let-Down Album of the Year: Death Cab for Cutie, Plans<br /><br />Still need to hear: M.I.A., Deerhoof, L.C.D. Soundsystem, Elbow, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah<br /><br />Top discovery from recent years: The Wrens, Meadowlands (2003)<br /><br /><strong><br />Norah’s Cooler Than the Rest of Us Because She’s Heard the New B&S</strong><br /><br />Belle & Sebastian The Life Pursuit (it didn’t actually come out yet, but we found it on the worldwide interweb)Beck GueroThe Go! Team Thunder, Lightning, StrikeMadonna Confessions on a Dance FloorAll the Rilo Kiley I can get my hands onSufjan Stevens Illinois (just got this but I really like it)<br /><br /><br /><strong>Angie’s Late (But Still On Time Enough) Registration, Bringing it All to a Close</strong><br /><br />In no particular order, because I am having a terrible time choosing a favorite…<br />Bright Eyes. I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning<br />Kanye West. Late Registration<br />Hypnotize. System of a Down<br />Mesmerize, System of a Down<br />Multiple artists. Live at KEXP, Vol. 1<br />Blue Scholars. Blue Scholars (released Dec 7, ’04—does that count?)<br />Jamie Lidell. Multiply<br />Decemberists. Picaresque<br />Common. Be<br />Death Cab for Cutie. Plans<br />Also,<br />John Williams. Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (for Bob, I can’t listen to it)davidlevithanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00762768300871943772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1509734071563017124.post-42971902055904795022009-01-09T14:09:00.000-08:002009-01-09T14:24:26.332-08:00The 2004 David Music Poll results<strong>THE 2004 DAVID MUSIC POLL RESULTS:</strong><br /><br />1. Franz Ferdinand, Franz Ferdinand (21 votes)<br />2. The Killers, Hot Fuss (19)<br />3. Green Day, American Idiot (17)<br /> The Arcade Fire, Funeral (17)<br /> Soundtrack, The Garden State (17)<br />6. Scissor Sisters, Scissor Sisters (16)<br />7. Elliott Smith, From the Basement on the Hill (14)<br />8. Keane, Hopes and Fears (12)<br />9. Loretta Lynn, Van Lear Rose (11)<br />10. Morrissey, You Are the Quarry (10)<br /><br />runners-up:<br /><br />Modest Mouse, Good News For People Who Like Bad News (9); Wilco, A Ghost is Born (9); The Magnetic Fields, I (8); U2, How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb (7); Snow Patrol, The Final Straw (6); Interpol, Antics (6); Brian Wilson, Smile (5); The Walkmen, Bows + Arrows (5); Gwen Stefani, Love. Angel. Music. Baby. (5); The Streets, A Grand Don’t Come For Free (5)<br /><br /><br />Editor’s note: The poll continued to grow this year, with sixty-one respondents. It was quite a tight race this year, with all of the top seven picks jockeying for position over the weeks that polls were sent in. If I were a betting man, I’d say that an extra month of people discovering The Arcade Fire might have put them on top. And that in a battle of the bands between Franz Ferdinand, Scissor Sisters, and the Killers, FF might not be a head-to-head winner. But no matter. What’s amazing, really, is that the whatever-you-want-to-call-it genre that these bands represent (Newer Wave?) is clearly at the heart of our stereos right now. And that’s a pretty good thing. Morrissey shows some staying power here, especially among devotees, and Loretta Lynn definitely owns the honky tonk crowd this year. Kayne West barely makes a showing, and Usher doesn’t appear at all – more a reflection of my sampling, I’m sure, than the country. But I prefer my sampling, thank you very much. A few surprises: in this crowd, you’d think Interpol would have polled higher; clearly, the disappointment level was high for Antics. And TV on the Radio didn’t manage to hit many radios in this crowd. Other music poll standbys who didn’t stand out this year: Patty Griffin, Bjork, Norah Jones, PJ Harvey, Rufus Wainwright, Alanis Morissette (poor Alanis garnered nary a mention). I also thought AC Newman, Rilo Kiley, and (yes) Avril Lavigne might have placed higher. (“Avril?” you might ask. But remember how high Liz Phair’s album was last year. Yeah, Liz is better. But not that far off the mark.) All things considered, this is a list that should stand the test of time (or at least the next decade). Thank you for participating, and for not succumbing to sentimentality and choosing the Ray Charles duet album.<br /><br /><br /><strong>My Killer Choices</strong><br /><br />This year was surprisingly easy for me – it was just a question of where to draw the line at the end of the list. And this is what we have:<br /><br />MOST ESSENTIAL:<br /><br />The Killers, Hot Fuss<br /><br />The most brilliant album of the year? Maybe not. But the bottom line is: far and away, I listened to this more than anything else in 2004. And I’ll still be listening to it for a good decade or so, I predict. It’s eighties music that I like better than just about anything actually made in the eighties. The first time I heard “All The Things That I’ve Done” (as Chris and Jeff can attest), I just burst out in a paroxysm of musical joy. (“I’ve got a soul/ but I’m not a soldier” – that is brilliant, as is the over the top choirness towards the end). At least five songs on this album have been my favorite at any given time. So there we have it. They’re disappointing live. I’m already sick of hearing the lead singer speak in interviews. But who cares? The album’s my keeper.<br /><br /><br />ESSENTIAL:<br /><br />Snow Patrol, The Final Straw<br /><br />I’m actually surprising myself by putting this #2. It’s really a tight race here in the essential category. But this album manages to be that strange mix: personal anthemic. And it works.<br /><br /><br />Green Day, American Idiot<br /><br />To strike a chorus you’ll probably hear a lot on this music poll: who would’ve ever thunk it? Can I separate this album from my feelings before, during, and after the hideous election of 2004? No. But the fact that I can listen to it now and still feel it articulates where we were and still are – yeah, I didn’t expect it from the Dookie guys, but thank god somebody’s growing up nowadays.<br /><br /><br />Patty Griffin, Impossible Dream<br /><br />This didn’t stay in heavy rotation nearly as long as I thought it would – but her last album is one of my favorites for any year, so that’s a hard act to follow. Some remarkable moments (“Kite”, “When It Don’t Come Easy”) and some questionable ones (it was neat to hear her parents sing “Impossible Dream” the first time … but it got very old, very quick thereafter). <br /><br /><br />Keane, Hopes and Fears<br /><br />Nothing barn-burning here – we’re talking a less rockier Coldplay. But sometimes (when I imagine my apartment is a “bedsit” instead of an apartment) it’s just the aural wallpaper I need.<br /><br /><br />The Arcade Fire, Funeral<br /><br />Slipping in here, because I think it will age well, and because it’s on an upswing on my playlist right now. Possibly the most inventive album of the year – somehow mashing up Neil Young and Bright Eyes and Franz Ferdinand and many things beyond and in between to get something genuinely thrilling. <br /><br /><br />ALMOST ESSENTIAL: Now It’s Overhead, Fall Back Open; Sarah Harmer, All of Our Names; Rilo Kiley, More Adenturous; A.C. Newman, The Slow Wonder<br /><br />MIGHT BECOME ESSENTIAL ONCE I LISTEN TO THEM MORE: Doloreon, Violence in the Snowy Fields; Iron & Wine, Our Endless Numbered Days; Elliott Smith, From the Basement On the Hill<br /><br />MORE FUN 80s REVIVALISM: The Futureheads, The Futureheads; Dogs Die in Hot Cars, Please Describe Yourself<br /><br />ALBUM THAT WILL DEFINITELY BE ON NEXT YEAR’S LIST: Bright Eyes, I’m Wide Awake It’s Morning (buy it. now.)<br /><br />GUILTY PLEASURE: Avril Lavigne, Under the Skin<br />ALBUM THAT WOULD PROBABLY BE ON THIS LIST IF I’D BOUGHT IT: Garden State soundtrack (I already had most of the songs…)<br /><br />SOME OF MY FAVORITE SONGS: Jonatha Brooke, “It Matters Now”; Rachael Yamagata, “Worn Me Down”; Sarah Harmer, “Greeting Card Aisle”; The Killers, “All These Things That I’ve Done”; Snow Patrol, “Run”<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Bill, Who is Tower Records’ Greatest Fear</strong><br /><br />I can't rate these in any order, but here's who I've enjoyed over the past year. They may not even be from 2004 for all I know:<br /><br />Frou Frou<br />The Killers<br />The Weakerthans<br />Postal Service (I see that was last year)<br />Sigur Ros<br />The Darkness (cheesey, I know)<br />Richard Ashcroft<br />Working Class Jacket<br /><br /><br /><strong>Dan, Throwback to an Earlier Age<br /></strong><br />Led Zeppelin How the West Was Won<br />A 2003 release of a show they performed at the LA Forum in 1972. Best album of '03 and '04 by far, and probably the best album for the forseeable future. (Subjectively.)<br /><br /><br /><strong>But Jason B, She’s Old Enough to Be Your Grandmother!</strong><br /><br />Van Lear Rose, Loretta Lynn<br />The Grey Album, DJ Danger Mouse/Jay-Z<br />Scissor Sisters, Scissor Sisters<br />Hot Fuss, The Killers<br />Good News For People Who Love Bad News, Modest Mouse<br />Careless Love, Madeleine Peyroux<br />Franz Ferdinand, Franz Ferdinand<br />Alphabetical, Phoenix<br /><br /><br /><strong>Is it any wonder that Wendy writes for teens?</strong><br /><br />Sad to say, my fave CD of the year was Avril Lavigne's UNDER MY SKIN. It's surprisingly excellent.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Eddie Disparages the Coldplay, But Has a Soft Spot for Shakespear’s Sister</strong><br /><br />i'm alarmed at some previous winners (Coldplay AHHHHHH), but my most essential album is KANYE WEST - College Dropout, and I'd like to also vote for<br /><br />GEORGE MICHAEL - Patience, BEASTIE BOYS - To the 5 Boroughs, THE BEAUTIFUL SOUTH - Golddiggas, Headnodders & Pholk Songs (you've GOT to hear their version of You're the One That I Want from Grease).<br /><br />My favourite rediscovered album is SHAKESPEAR'S SISTER - Hormonally Yours, which includes the epic single Stay.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Matthew L, Self-proclaimed Vegetarian Ho of Waikiki</strong><br /><br />top 10 albums:<br /><br />1. blood brothers, crimes<br />2. dresden dolls, dresden dolls<br />3. green day, american idiot<br />4. preston school of industry, monsoon<br />5. the cardigans, long gone before daylight<br />6. beastie boys, to the 5 boroughs<br />7. courtney love, mono<br />8. franz ferdinand, s/t<br />9. the magnetic fields, i<br />10. the streets, a grand don't come for free<br /><br />best design of a so-so album: lindsay lohan, speak<br />best box set: low, a lifetime of temporary relief<br />best best-of: britney spears, my prerogative<br />most upsettingly not good album: le tigre, this island<br /><br /><br /><strong>Jarrett’s Good News For People Who Like Modest Mice</strong><br /><br />1)Phantom Planet, Phantom Planet<br />2)Modest Mouse, Good News for People Who Like Bad News<br />3)Green Day, American Idiot<br />4)Kings of Convenience, Riot on an Empty Street<br />5)Ben Kweller, On My Way<br /><br />best concerts: phantom planet, ben kweller, prince, me first and the<br />gimmie gimmies<br /><br /><br /><strong>Anton is the Quarry</strong><br /><br />My most essential album of 2004 is without a doubt:<br />Morrissey -- You Are The Quarry (Deluxe Edition)<br /><br />I mean, it's the first Morrissey album in... how many years? And it just gets better with every listening! And the even the extra songs on the Deluxe Version are great!<br /><br />My other essential albums of 2004, in no particular order, are:<br />A.C. Newman -- The Slow Wonder<br />Badly Drawn Boy -- One Plus One is One<br />Ben Kweller -- On My Way<br />The Dears -- No Cities Left<br />Elliott Smith -- From a Basement On the Hill<br />Franz Ferdinand -- Franz Ferdinand<br />Keane -- Hopes and Fears<br />Snow Patrol -- Final Straw<br />Tears For Fears -- Everybody Loves a Happy Ending (lame, I know)<br /><br />And just for the hell of it, my top 10 songs of 2004:<br />The Dears -- Never Destroy Us<br />Earlimart -- Heaven Adores You<br />Elliott Smith -- Coast to Coast<br />Franz Ferdinand -- Take Me Out<br />The Killers -- All These Things That I've Done<br />Modest Mouse -- Float On<br />Morrissey -- (changes daily, but right now it's:) My Life is a Succession of People Saying Goodbye<br />R.E.M. -- Leaving New York<br />Rufus Wainwright -- Waiting For a Dream<br />Tears For Fears -- Call Me Mellow<br /><br /><br /><strong>Jen – She’s From Jersey<br /></strong><br />Most essential:<br />Various, 'Garden State' Soundtrack<br /><br />Other essential:<br />Ozomatli, Street Signs<br /><br /><br /><strong>Heavy Metal and Chris<br /></strong><br />Album Of The YearWatch Them Die, "Watch Them Die" A debut Bay area thrash band that simply made the best record I heard all year.The Other Ten Best, In No Particular OrderThe Haunted, "rEVOLVEr"Killswitch Engage, "The End Of Heartache"Slipknot, "Vol. 3: The Subliminal Verses"Pig Destroyer, "Terrifyer"Satyricon, "Volcano"3 Inches of Blood, "Advance And Conquer"Mayhem, "Chimera"The Great Deceiver, "Terra Incognito"Mastadon, "Leviathan"Probot, "Probot"Album That I Loved, Just Don't Tell AnybodyEminem, "Encore"Album That Evens Out All The MetalSoul Coughing, "Ruby Vroom"Biggest Musical MiscarraigeLinkin Park & Jay Z having the number one album in the country.Reigning Greatest Band EverSlayer, dammit.<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Patrick Has No Idea How Far NYC Has Been Penetrated</strong><br /><br />Most essential:Scissor Sisters<br /><br />I’ve been told that Scissor Sisters have failed to penetrate (ahem) even the underground market in the US, while in Britain they’re taking things by storm. Yes, they do sound like early Elton, Bowie, and a number of others, and die hard Pink Floyd fans may never forgive them the dance cover of ‘Comfortably Numb’, but can you really argue with a band that doesn’t flinch from singing ‘You gotta wrap your fuzzy in a big red bow/Ain’t no sum bitch gonna treat me like a ho’.<br /><br />Other albums:<br />Björk, Medúlla<br />Keane, Hopes and Fears<br /><br />Essential Jazz Album (also a discovery from the past):<br />Cyrus Chestnut, Revelation<br /><br /><br /><strong>Iain Hasn’t Let Fatherhood Affect His Listening Tastes (And We’re All Better For It)</strong><br /><br />Even with my faves in abeyance (Dylan, Fall, Will Oldham), it was a good year for music.<br /><br />Most essential:<br /><br />1. Electrelane, The Power Out<br /><br />Other essential ones:<br /><br />2. The Futureheads, The Futureheads<br /><br />3. The Concretes, The Concretes<br /><br />4. Shins, Chutes Too Narrow<br /><br />5. Sons and Daughters, Love The Cup<br /><br />6. Various Artists, DFA Compilation Vol 2<br /><br />7. Bloc Party, Little Thoughts<br /><br />8. Graham Coxon, Happiness In Magazines<br /><br />9. Franz Ferdinand, Franz Ferdinand<br /><br />10. The Walkmen, Bows + Arrows<br /><br />11. The Delays, Faded Seaside Glamour<br /><br />12. Ghostface, Toney Album<br /><br />No, no, no<br /><br />1. U2 album<br /><br />2. Libertines<br /><br />3. "Hey, Ya" played everywhere, all the time<br /><br /><br /><strong>Brian Has Something You Need to Hear About John Frusciante</strong><br /><br />Most Essential Release:<br /><br />Nirvana, With the Lights Out: everything on here is amazing- reminded me<br />why they are tied for my favorite band of all time.<br /><br /><br />Most Essential Recordings of Our Lifetime: (all released this year)- that<br />is not an understatement.<br /><br />John Frusciante, Inside of Emptiness<br />John Frusciante, DC EP<br />John Frusciante, The Will to Death<br />John Frusciante, A Sphere in the Heart of Silence<br />John Frusciante, Automatic Writing<br />John Frusciante, Shadows Collide with People<br /><br />The best thing I can say about these albums is that I feel more alive when<br />they are playing than when they are not.<br /><br /><br />NOW FOR THE TRADITIONAL LIST<br /><br />Most Essential Album:<br />Icarus Line, Penance Soiree (best complete rock album since Appetite for<br />Destruction)<br /><br />Other Essential Albums:<br /><br />Mojave 3, Spoon and Rafter<br />Elliot Smith, from a basement on the hill<br />Von Bondies, Pawn Shoppe Heart<br />Velvet Revolver, Contraband<br />Hollywood Rose, the roots of guns 'n roses<br />The Go, The Go<br />Sivert Hoyem, Ladies & Gentlemen of the Opposition<br />Magnolia Electric Co, Trials and Errors<br />Arcade Fire, The funeral<br /><br />Essential Album of the Past that I completely overlooked:<br /><br />mad season, Above<br /><br /><br /><strong>Michael M Takes His Mama Out</strong><br /><br />So here goes:<br /><br />1) Scissor Sisters / Self-titled album (love love love them)<br /><br />And the rest are in no real order for me:<br /><br />2) Angie Stone / Stone Love<br /><br />3) Morrissey / You are the Quarry<br /><br />4) Jill Scott / Beautifully Human<br /><br />5) Loretta Lynn / Van Lear Rose<br /><br />6) George Michael / Patience<br /><br /><br /><strong>Nico, Both Wet and Dry<br /></strong><br />The Faint: Wet from Birth (hands-down-my favorite of the year)<br />---<br />Muse: Absolution<br />Prodigy: Always Outnumbered, Never Outgunned (I wonder if anyone in America cares.... L)<br />Keane: Hopes and Dreams<br />Kylie Minogue: Body Language<br /><br />Great Songs from Not So Great Albums in 2004<br />PJ Harvey: Who the Fuck?<br />Gwen Stefani: Crash<br />Lindsay Lohan: Speak<br /><br />New Discoveries:<br />Dannii Minogue: Neon Nights (2003) - SOOOO fun<br />PJ Harvey: Dry (1991?) - WHY did it take me so long to get this album?!? It's amazing-and far better than her latest (which is not so accidentally missing from the 2004 list)<br />Kylie Minogue: Impossible Princess (1997) - By far Kylie's best album. Way different from all the others-with a Portishead-esque slow-moving, thick song; a fast beat-and-piano-driven song that starts with an Ani-like rant (why do I like this?); and 10 others that blow me away. Amazing.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Piper, A Year Late But Still Motivated</strong><br /><br />Essential album: Evanescence, Fallen.<br /><br /><br /><strong>You Mean the Cherry Things With the Popsicle Sticks, Scott?</strong><br /><br />ESSENTIAL ALBUM of 2004<br /><br />Freezepop, Fancy Ultra Fresh - Vive les 80s with this synthy pop-culture masterpiece <a href="http://www.freezepop.com/">www.freezepop.com</a><br /><br />OTHER ESSENTIALS<br /><br />Way Out West, Don't Look Back - Nick Warren puts it all together<br />DJ Tiesto, Just Be - Trancy trance at it's best<br />Monofader, Frost - Imagine Depeche Mode's new album, if they'd been frozen in time since 1987<br />Air, Talkie Walkie - back on top<br />The Killers, Hot Fuss - David, you won me over with this one. Irresistable.<br />Franz Ferdinand, Franz Ferdinand - lived up to the hype<br /><br />HONOURABLE MENTIONS<br /><br />Orbital, Blue Album - last studio recording from a defining act. superb.<br />Faithless, No Roots - The most consistently excellent artist I listen to<br />Stereolab, Margerine Eclipse - I take it back, Stereolab deserves that distinction. Another remarkable recording.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Randy, Our Canadian Correspondent</strong><br /><br />Funeral, Arcade Fire<br />Mississauga Goddamn, The Hidden Cameras<br />The Concretes, The Concretes<br />Faded Seaside Glamour, The Delays<br />Hot Fuss, The Killers<br />Set Yourself On Fire, Stars<br />This Island, Le Tigre<br />Garden State soundtrack<br />Universal Audio, The Delgados<br />You Are The Quarry, Morrissey<br /><br /><strong>Beth Is Building More Than an Atomic Bomb</strong><br /><br />For me, the choice is so obvious -- it has to be Elliott Smith's FROM A BASEMENT ON THE HILL. Runners-up are the Magnetic Fields, I, and U2, HOW TO BUILD AN ATOMIC BOMB.<br /><br />Also, these may be the only three albums I bought this year. ;-) Oh except Bjork's Medulla, but I didn't love it as much as her last few albums.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Isolation and Escapism with Pete</strong><br /><br />This was the year that I really dove headfirst into a lot of new music (many thanks to Pitchfork and SoulSeek). Considering the state of the world and our country, I felt like there were really two prevailing moods this year…isolation and boisterous escapism. Most of my picks fit into one of those categories. Narrowing it down to ten is going to be tough, not to mention picking one as the best. Here goes…<br /><br />Most Essential Album of the Year 2004<br />1. Elliott Smith, From a Basement on the Hill<br /><br />Other Essential Albums of 2004<br />2. Mirah, C’mon Miracle<br />3. AC Newman, The Slow Wonder<br />4. Richard Buckner, Dents and Shells<br />5. Rogue Wave, Out of the Shadow<br />6. Rilo Kiley, More Adventurous<br />7. Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, Shake the Sheets<br />8. The Arcade Fire, Funeral<br />9. Pinback, Summer in Abandon<br />10. Franz Ferdinand, Franz Ferdinand<br /><br />Honorable Mentions<br />The Good Life, Album of the Year<br />Jason Forrest, The Unrelenting Songs of the 1979 Post Disco Crash<br />Pedro the Lion, Achilles Heel<br />Dogs Die in Hot Cars, Please Describe Yourself<br />I Love You but I’ve Chosen Darkness, Self-titled<br />Scissor Sisters, Scissor Sisters<br />The Killers, Hot Fuss<br />The Decemberists, The Tain<br />Black Keys, Rubber Factory<br />Tilly and the Wall, Wild like Children<br /><br />Best Album by a Band That Lives within Two Blocks of Me (three way tie)<br />Interpol, Antics<br />TV on the Radio, Desperate Youth Blood Thirsty Babes<br />Metric, Old World Underground Where Are You Now?<br /><br />Best Live Show<br />Coachella (Radiohead, Flaming Lips, Pixies, Bright Eyes, Death Cab, Belle & Sebastian and so many more…107 degrees of desert heat, decent cheap food and short bathroom lines…what every music festival should be)<br /><br />Worst Musical Idea<br />Velvet Revolver<br /><br />Frontrunners for 2005<br />Bright Eyes, I’m Wide Awake It’s Morning<br />Bonnie “Prince” Billy, Superwolf<br />Spoon, ….whatever they call it, it’s going to be good<br /><br /><br /><strong>There’s No Shame in Bono, Nicole</strong><br /><br />I know who Franz Ferdinand are, though I've never listened to them, but<br />you have got me on Le Tigre. I probably should abstain, since my one<br />choice is probably appallingly mainstream, but I have been enjoying:<br /><br />U2, How to Dismantle An Atomic Bomb<br /><br /><br /><strong>Josh L Is Working On His Dissertation; Hence, the Length of This Response</strong><br /><br />Greenday, American Idiot. This is the best pop-punk thing ever, the<br />best rock "concept album" (taking that in the broadest possible sense<br />of an album where the songs are linked in some way) since, well, since<br />Greendale last year. But rock, once it gets past the Twist and simple<br />loves songs, is a medium so brilliantly suited to the sad, dystopian<br />angry-young-man coming-of-age story that it's surprising that albums<br />like these aren't more numerous. Really, it's the best thing since<br />Quadrophrenia, which is the best album of the early 70's and much<br />superior (in that it better resists the maudlin and the musical-<br />theater) to Tommy. Quadrophrenia and American Idiot. Except,<br />tellingly, St. Jimmy dies in this one,whereas Quadrophrenia ends on the<br />uplifting Love Reign O'er me, and we know the boy is going to grow up<br />to be the Who, which gives him a 3/4 chance of being old, rich, and not<br />dead in his own vomit. Sadly, I think a lot of people will not listen<br />to American Idiot because it's loud, because the lyrics are hard to<br />hear, (and less face it, not uniformly brilliant--but ununiformly<br />brilliant is still pretty good) and because the ubiquitous single, (as<br />far as I can tell; not listening to the radio or watching T.V. much may<br />hamper me here) while catchy good greenday pop-punk, sounds dumber as a<br />single than it does in context. Billie Joe has actually maintained<br />(heightened) his status as a really good rock songwriter while actually<br />moving intelligently into a higher artistic sphere. Plus, somebody<br />needed to mention that the Jesus of Suburbia is a lie.<br /><br />Others:<br />Bjork, Medulla. I like Bjork a lot. People who don't never will. <br />Also, perhaps I have been brainwashed by more knowledgeable music<br />critics, but clearly one would be recognized for doing something that<br />actually SOUNDS DIFFERENT. And it is. Cool.<br /><br />DJ Danger Mouse, Grey Album. It may seem like I'm trying to disguise<br />the fact that 50% of my CDs are "classic rock" and trying to seem<br />hipper. But this is really good; sure, I only heard it about it<br />because it got extraordinary media penetration; so sue me. No<br />intelligent person of open mind can be exposed to the Albums Black,<br />White, and Grey, and deny that rap and dj mashing (or whatever I should<br />call it) are not vibrant and important art forms. "Encore" is<br />brilliant.<br /><br />Indigo Girls, All That We Let In. I think the last two albums are<br />swinging back up, after a couple of less good ones. Unfortunately, I<br />think Amy can't hide her superiority as a songwriter anymore.<br /><br />Brian Wilson, Smile. Speaking of coming-of-age concept albums, even if<br />this one is a throwback to the David Music Poll of age -4. It's weird,<br />but sure, it bolsters the whole "Brian Wilson is one of our great<br />fallen geniuses" thing. If only he had been there to keep pop away<br />from the BeeGees and friends.<br /><br />This is cheesy, but: the Garden State soundtrack turned me on to a few<br />things I hadn't heard before, notably the Shins. I know my lack of<br />knowledge of the Shins probably exposes me as being thoroughly out of<br />touch with hip music, and New Slang is a few years old, but it was a<br />sort of song-of-the-year for me.<br /><br />Dido, White Flag. I know this is 2003, but it probably didn't leave my<br />5-CD changer for the first few months of last year. It's pretty light,<br />and poppy, and shallow, but it's really good--why can't shallowness,<br />rather than depth, be the quality that deters a full and immediate<br />appreciation? Such good, simple songs, so prettily sung, so<br />unobstrusively produced.<br /><br /><br /><strong>It’s All About the Feeling, Steve C</strong><br /><br />count me in for some perhaps unoriginal but strongly<br />felt votes:<br /><br />1. Franz Ferdinand, Franz Ferdinand. Can't seem to turn it off. Reminds me of my favorite music from high school.<br /><br />Others:<br />Evanescence, Fallen. For all its fun poppy value.<br />Black eyed peas, Elephunk. Because it makes me dance.<br />Soundtrack to garden state. Because it reminds me of a good david mix.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Ipoddess, Rachel</strong><br /><br />My picks:<br />Green Day, American Idiot<br /> I think anyone who writes (or aspires to write) YA can tune their iPods to this great album to instantly tap into the well: I beg to dream and differ from the hollow lies/this is the dawning of the rest of our lives; My shadow’s the only one that walks beside me/My shallow heart’s the only thing that’s beating.<br /><br />Le Tigre, This Island<br />Just for channeling Salt-n-Pepa so brilliantly on “Nanny Nanny Boo Boo.”<br /><br />Loretta Lynn, Van Lear Rose<br /> Girl’s still got it, and better than ever; I can even forgive her the Bush family ties.<br /><br />William Shatner, Has Been<br /> If you’d only been allowed to watch PBS and classic Trek when you were growing up, you’d feel the same about him. May his recording career be more prolific than Ashanti’s.<br /><br />Lhasa, The Living Road<br /> Makes me swoon. May she be more prolific than Shatner.<br /><br />Team America soundtrack<br /> For these lyrics: Freedom isn’t free/there’s a hefty fuckin’ fee; C’mon everybody we’ve got quiltin’ to do; and Bed Bath & Beyond…Fuck Yeah!<br /><br />Beastie Boys, To the 5 Boroughs<br /> Old boys still got it.<br /><br />Calexico, Convict Pool<br /><br />Toots & The Maytals, True Love<br /><br /><br /><strong>Bong Voyage, Jack M?</strong><br /><br />Okay, I don't know if I sent you this already, but it's changed a little bit:<br /><br />1- Devendra Banhart, Rejoicing In the Hand<br />2- Dungen, Ta Det Lungt<br />3- Espers, S/T<br />4- Little Wings, Magic Wand<br />5- Comets On Fire, Blue Cathedrals<br />6- Kings of Convenience, Riot On an Empty Street<br />7- Josephine Foster and the Supposed, All the Leaves Are Gone<br />8- PG Six, Well of Memory<br />9- No Neck Blues Band, Dutch Money<br />10- Gravenhurst, Black Holes In the Sand<br /><br />Honorable Mentions:<br />Samara Lubelski, Fleeing Skies<br />Ghost, Hypnotic Underworld<br />Yo La Tengo, Today Is the Day!<br />Brian Wilson, Smile<br /><br />Reissues:<br /><br />Vashti Bunyan, Just Another Diamond Day<br />United States of America, S/T<br />Tyrannosaurus Rex, Unicorn<br />Popul Vuh, In the Gardens of the Pharaoh<br />Popul Vuh, Affenstunde<br />Richard and Linda Thompson, I Want To See the Bright Lights Tonight<br />Simon Finn, Pass the Distance<br /><br />Best 11 Records I bought or acquired last year:<br /><br />Stan Getz, Getz Au Go Go<br />Sir Douglas Band, Texas Tornadoes<br />Tim Hardin, Tim Hardin 3<br />Flamin Groovies, Shake Some Action<br />Incredible String Band, The 5000 Spirits Or The Layers of the Onion<br />The Tony Williams Experiment, Emergency!<br />Pentangle, S/T<br />Ananda Shankar, S/T<br />Klaus Schultz, Cyborg<br />Stooges, Fun House<br />Gabor Szabo & The California Dreamers, The Wind, the Sky and Diamonds<br /><br />And a whole pile of Phase 4 records<br /><br />Album Title of the Year:<br /><br />Comets on Fire, Bong Voyage<br /><br /><br /><strong>The Only Idiot Elizabeth Voted For This Year Is…</strong><br /><br />Such good music this year! Here are my picks:<br /><br />MOST ESSENTIAL ALBUM<br />Green Day, American Idiot<br /><br />ESSENTIAL ALBUMS<br />Franz Ferdinand<br />The Killers, Hot Fuss<br />Modest Mouse, Good News for People Who Love Bad News<br />Garden State Soundtrack<br />Butterfly Boucher, Flutterby<br />Keane, Hopes and Fears<br />Yellowcard, Ocean Avenue<br />Air, Talkie Walkie<br /><br /><br /><strong>Thu’s in a State…</strong><br /><br />2004's most essential album:<br />Soundtrack, Garden State<br /><br />Other essential albums from 2004, in order of...essentialness:<br />Soundtrack, The OC Mix #2<br />Iron and Wine, Our Endless Numbered Days<br />Modest Mouse, Good News for People Who Love Bad News<br />Franz Ferdinand, Franz Ferdinand<br />Soundtrack, The OC Mix #1<br />Snow Patrol, Final Straw<br />The Killers, Hot Fuss<br />Interpol, Antics<br />Frou Frou, Details<br />The Magnetic Fields, I<br />Mirah, C'mon Miracle<br /><br />2004's most essential soundtrack to a show about a brooding bad boy and a half-jewish emo geek:<br />Soundtrack, The OC Mix #2<br /><br /><br /><strong>…As is Thu’s Best Friend</strong><br /><br />my best friend's two cents:<br />most essential:<br />Soundtrack, Garden State<br /><br />other essentials:<br />Green Day, American Idiot<br />Franz Ferdinand, Self-Titled<br />Jason Mraz, Tonight Not Again<br />The Killers, Hot Fuss<br />Modest Mouse, Good News For People Who Love Bad News<br />Soundtrack, Music From The OC: Mix 1<br />Soundtrack, Music From The OC: Mix 2<br />The Thrills, Let's Bottle Bohemia<br />Vanessa Carlton, Harmonium<br /><br /><br /><strong>Hot y Spicy Nancy M</strong><br /><br />it was a slow year in music for me (surprise surprise) but here's what's been burning holes in my cd player.<br /><br />--most essential and probably the only album on my list actually from 2004!<br /><br />Ely Guerra: Sweet and Sour, Hot Y Spicy (mexican singer extraordinaire.<br />think pj with a softer side.)<br /><br />--other essential 2004 discoveries...<br /><br />Cafe Tacuba: Tiempo Transcurrido (saw them live in 2004 and they are the kind of performers that infect a room and make you jump up and down like a ten year old. like the mexican version of beck, these guys have been around forever and they are probably tired of that comparison. this album is a few years old, but whatever, it's amazing.)<br /><br />Jovanotti: Il Quinto Mondo (italian singer who incorporates funk and rap and all sorts of weird stuff. quite honestly, i bought this album because he's hot and looked vaguely nick drake-y on the cover, but i tell you, i haven't been disappointed!)<br /><br />White Stripes: Elephant (cuz i'm real current like that...)<br /><br />Shantala: The Love Window (sanskrit chanting stuff, but i swear this woman's voice could convince even the most anti-yoga person.)<br /><br /><strong><br />Wilco’s Position Was Precarious for Justin, So The Fire Won’t Have to Wait ‘Til Next Time</strong><br /><br />Most essential album of 2004:<br />Arcade Fire, The Funeral<br /><br />Essential:<br />Wilco, A Ghost Is Born<br />Keren Ann, Not Going Anywhere<br />Keren Ann, Nolita<br />The Streets, A Grand Don’t Come for Free<br />Sympathizers, Jolly Rancher (7”)<br />Constantines, Constantines<br />The Walkmen, Bows + Arrows<br />Dub Trio, Exploring the Dangers of. . .<br />Soundtrack, The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou<br /><br />Special 2004 DVD category:<br />Galaxie 500, Don’t Let our Youth Go to Waste 1987-1991<br /><br />Discoveries:<br />Keren Ann, Le Biographie de L. Philipsen<br />The Clean, Compilation<br /><br />Special Recommendations from 2003 (since I wasn’t here last year):<br />Beulah, Yoko<br />Clientele, Violet Hour<br />Clientele, Fading Summer (7”)<br /><br /><br /><strong>Nothing Vague About Steve S’s Choices</strong><br /><br />Essentials for such completely different reasonsThe Streets / A Grand Don’t Come For FreeNouvelle Vague / Nouvelle VagueScissor Sisters / Scissor SistersMy lesser favoritesFranz Ferdinand / Franz FerdinandKeane / Hopes and FearsOmara Portuondo / Flor de AmorMylo / Destroy Rock & RollThe Donnas / Gold MedalAir / Talkie WalkieGwen Stefani / Love Angel Music Baby (Perfect as long as you skip that awful last song with Andre 3000)Songs that make multiple playlistsAnnie / Chewing GumClient / Radio (Need to get this album — probably would have been above)Robbie Williams / Radio1980 / EstelleTravis / Walking in the SunGwen Stefani / CrashKylie Minogue / I Believe in YouGoldie Lookin Chain / Roller Disco<br /><br /><br /><strong>Hello? Hello? Is Dan Out There?</strong><br /><br />Most Essential:<br /><br />Scissor Sisters, Scissor Sisters<br /><br />Other Essential:<br />The Killers, Hot Fuss<br />Ray Lamontagne, Trouble<br />Patty Griffin, Impossible Dream<br />Rachel Yamagata, Happenstance<br />Keane, Hopes and Fears<br />Snow Patrol, Final Straw<br />Loretta Lynn, Van Lear Rose<br />kd Lang, Hymns of the 49th Parallel<br /><br />Album I most wanted to listen to but couldn't find anywhere:<br />Junior Boys, Last Exit<br /><br /><br /><strong>I Can’t Wait to See This, Erin O</strong><br /><br />the young folk in my group looped me in. I nominate<br /><br />Keane, Hopes and Fears.<br /><br />This is the greatest album and if you must know, I walk along the streets of Queens singing it at the top of my lungs!<br /><br /><br /><strong>Norah’s Neither an Underachiever nor Obscura</strong><br /><br />Not all of these albums came out in 2004, but they were my 2004...My Cute Friend Sweet Princess, Kimya Dawson ( One of the most honest and amazing albums I’ve ever heard. She is truly incredible)Sonic Youth, Sonic Nurse (my heroes still going strong)The Shins, Chutes Too Narrow ( I could listen to this again and again and again)Camera Obscura, Underachievers Please Try Harder (fills my Belle and Sebastian cravings)Aisler’s Set, How I Learned to Write Backwards (ditto)Autolux, Future Perfect (dreamy Sonic Youthy for a new generation)Girlsareshort, Tigertail, Early North American, and contactkiss ( derivative and all over the place, but a lot of fun)<br /><br /><br /><strong><br />We’re Here For You, Andrew</strong><br /><br />Sadly, I have become a person so out of touch with the music scene that I rely on David's annual music poll to tell me what was good in the previous year. Therefore, I am limiting my best of 2004 to albums I actually bought last year, the sum total of which is 6:<br /><br />Essential Albums of the Year:<br /><br />Big & Rich, Horse of a Different Color<br />Green Day, American Idiot<br />Mary Chapin Carpenter: Between Here and Gone<br />Gretchen Wilson: Here for the Party<br />George Strait: 50 Number Ones<br /><br />And an essential one I missed from last year:<br />Evanescence, Fallen<br /><br /><br /><strong>The News From Kevin’s Little Corner</strong><br /><br />okay.<br /><br />honesty is that I have no concept of chronology anymore. I am vaguely aware that it is now a new "year." These are albums that I think came out last year. If not, they're albums that defined last year in my little corner of the world.<br /><br />Most essential:<br />The Exploding Hearts, Guitar Romantic: A sympathy vote, sure. But it's a great album. So what if they're ripping off The Clash. That's a better idea than most bands have. I was recently heading to a party while listening to this album, thinking that it would be kind of cool if the Hearts never recording anything else again. Just made one good album and called it quits. At the party, my friend told me they'd all been killed in a car wreck. Careful what you wish for.<br /><br />Other somewhat essential stuff<br />1. Drive-by Truckers, The Dirty South: If Patterson Hood had died in a car wreck, this would top my list. Thank God he didn't. It took me a long time to realize how brilliant this album is, but goddamn. "Putting People on the Moon" is one of the few reasons to hold out hope for America. Goddamn Reagan.<br /><br />2. Reigning Sound, Too Much Guitar<br /><br />3. The Dexateens, The Dexateens: Tuscaloosa's own. They may be the drunkest band alive. For real. They're going to be dead before a second album happens.<br /><br />4. The Avengers, The American in Me: Great, sloppy, punky re-issue.<br /><br />5. The Hell, 6 Songs<br /><br />King Khan & His Shrines, Mr. Supernatural<br /><br /><br /><strong>From Smile to Funeral with Alex G</strong><br /><br />I tried to come up with a top ten list for 2004, but only came up with 6. Here you go... <br /><br /><br /> Top 6 of 2004<br />1. Elliot Smith, From a Basement on the Hill<br />2. Brian Wilson, Smile<br />3. The Arcade Fire, Funeral<br />4. Wilco, A Ghost is Born<br />5. Modest Mouse - Good News For People Who Love Bad News<br />6. Morrissey - You are the Quarry<br /><br /> 2004's Re-issue of the Year goes to...<br />The Kinks - The Village Green Preservation Society<br /><br /><br /><strong>Wil Jason G. co? Yes, he Wil co!</strong><br /><br />15.<br />Morrissey<br />You Are The Quarry<br />Released: May 18th<br />Sir Moz came shooting back into the limelight after way to many years of tanning in Los Angeles and how glad we were to see him return. The five sold out shows at the Apollo Theatre in Harlem highlighted all that is fab (and all is flab) about the boy from Manchester with a heart so big it pours out like in spades. While many songs on this disc show Moz making the unfortunately turn towards Stingdom, the good tracks were some of the best tracks he’s written since his early solo days. And his voice still is beautiful……<br /><br />Highlights: ‘First In The Gang To Die’, ‘I Have Forgiven Jesus’, ‘Irish<br />Blood, English Heart’<br /><br />14.<br />The Fever<br />Red Bedroom<br />Released: May 18th<br />I admit that when this record came out, I was not sold on it. It was good, but didn’t shake me the way their previous singles had. This album personally came alive after seeing them play the disc straight through at their sold out Bowery Ballroom show. Now, I’ve been following these Jersey born lads since they played their first show at a loft Party in Brooklyn two years ago and in that time, they’ve grown and gotten tighter than most bands aspire. Their post-punk obsession seems more grounded in mid-eighties Duran Duran than say Gang of Four, but they work it to their advantage. It’s the high energy songs that may make you shake your ass, but it’s the slower songs that work best.<br /><br />Highlights: ‘Put It On You’, ‘Diamond Days’, ‘Artificial Heart’<br /><br />13.<br />Interpol<br />Antics<br />Released: September 28th<br />Interpol are bunch of over-rated musicians who rip off Joy Division way to much for their own good. Their first album was boring and didn’t deserve the hype it got. Their live shows have always disappointed me. That said, I can’t stop listening to this record. It has one of the best starts of any record this year. It’s kind of like Carlos’ supposed herpes infection: No matter how much you try to protect yourself from crap like this, you still get infected by its grooves. It’s contagious.<br /><br />Highlights: ‘Evil’, ‘No Exit’, ‘Slow Hands’<br /><br />12.<br />Ted Leo and The Pharmascists<br />Shakes The Sheets<br />Released: October 19th<br />I don’t really have to much to say about Ted Leo and his highly medicated Pharmascists except to say that I think they’re one of the most rocking bands out their today. There is something almost Billy Joel-esque about Ted’s ability to rock out with such constant stability. They seem to play it safe, but at the this level of safety, who cares.<br /><br />Highlights: ‘Walking To Do’, ‘Me and Mia’, ‘The One Who Got Us Out’<br /><br />11.<br />Iron & Wine<br />Our Endless Numbered Days<br />Released: March 23rd<br />Bearded men install a form of fear in me that is only paralleled by clowns. Iron & Wine fulfills one of those requirements in spades. This disc isn’t quite the leap some people where expecting from them, nothing like Elliott Smith’s transformation from Either/Or to XO, but rather it was a notch up from their previous record. The instrumentation is light and fluffy and doesn’t so much add to the songs as accompany them. The best bits are when all is silent except for his deep voice and the tender plucking of guitar strings.<br /><br />Highlights: ‘Naked As They Came’, ‘Love and Some Verses’, ‘Sunset Soon<br />Forgotten’<br /><br />10.<br />Green Day<br />American Idiot<br />Released: September 21st<br />The fact that this is a rock opera by Green Day means shit to me. The reason I like this so much is that Green Day have compiled a really smart, poppy, and powerful record that works from the first track to the last track. In order for them to stay relevant, they not only upped the ante, they upped the entire pop-punk game. This record is a long way from 924 Gilman Street, but the politics are still the same that made Operation Ivy such a potent band. Not bad for a group of snotty punks from Berkely.<br /><br />Highlights: ‘American Idiot’, ‘Jesus of Suburbia’, ‘She’s A Rebel’<br /><br />9.<br />PJ Harvey<br />Uh Huh Her<br />Released: June 8th<br />I want to fuck PJ Harvey. I want to be mentioned in one of her songs. I<br />don’t care if she curses my name. I don’t care if she burns me alive. I want to be with this woman one way or another. She continues to turn me on with Uh Huh Her. My only complaint about this record is the fact that she didn’t include the stunning title track. Otherwise, I really hope Karen O has been listening closely, because this album is like her training manual.<br /><br />Highlights: ‘Who The Fuck?’, ‘Shame’, ‘Cat On The Wall’<br /><br />8.<br />!!!<br />Louden Up Now<br />Released: June 8th<br />These guys are either a bunch of hippies on speed or music education<br />students on acid. I can’t be sure which one it is, but regardless, this is one of the best and most humorous politically inclined records released this year. These are the pups that should have made a punk rock opera. It’s what holds this record from being higher on the chart. Anyway, it makes you dance like the kids used to before Guiliani started raiding Plant Bar on Monday nights.<br /><br />Highlights: ‘Pardon My Freedom’, ‘Hello? Is This Thing On?’, ‘Dear Can’<br /><br />7.<br />The Fiery Furnaces<br />Blueberry Boat<br />Released: July 13th<br />I once got really drunk and thought I saw this girl I slept with and started screaming about how I fucked her and this and that. Turns out it I’m blind and it wasn’t the girl I thought it was and was the chick from The Fiery Furnaces. She obviously thought I was very rude and I want to apologize to her. I also want to say that I think this record is brilliant. Yeah, anyway, sorry. I do think yr really pretty though…..<br /><br />Highlights: ‘Quay Car’, ‘Straight Street’, ‘Birdie Brain’<br /><br />6.<br />Elliott Smith<br />From A Basement On A Hill<br />Released: October 19th<br />Heartbreaking. Simply fucking heartbreaking. A suicide letter from one of the most talented and fucked up voices of our generation. I hope they don’t shit on his legacy with many future releases because this was a honest swan song and would have stood up next to his other albums.<br /><br />Highlight: ‘A Fond Farwell’, ‘Let’s Get Lost’, ‘Shooting Star’<br /><br />5.<br />The Libertines<br />The Libertines<br />Released: August 31st<br />This album makes me want to get drunk, do drugs, get fucked, picked up a guitar, fuck a groupie, do more drunks, have another drink, start a fight, bite someone, knock over a grocery store, and then do it all over again the next day.<br /><br />Highlights: ‘Can’t Stand Me Now, ‘What Became of The Likely Lads’, ‘Music<br />When The Lights Go Out’<br /><br />4.<br />The Walkmen<br />Bows + Arrows<br />Released: February 3rd<br />It’s no surprise that Jonathan Fire*Eater and The Recoys both imploded<br />before they reached the level their fans felt they were capable of. They were mere children when they formed, singing dark ballads about a world they never really encountered. By the time they all made it to their mid-twenties, they had started to see the ghosts in the mirror and it shocks the two bands apart. The Walkmen’s Bows and Arrows is where they all finally create their first truly honest record. Gone are the fables of torture and love and orphans, replaced by a blistering awareness of the reality they are bound to face the rest of their life. It’s the ultimate quarter-life crisis album. It’s born out of the realization that you can’t drink, drug, and fuck until seven in the morning with waking up to pay the consequences anymore.<br />The reverb and feedback that echo every instrument and vocal are like the ringing you feel the night after you’ve been in a fist-fight. It’s a feeling only those who have actually been full-on punched in the face (either physically or mentally) will be capable of fully grasping.<br />Highlights: ‘The Rat’, ‘Little House of Savages’, ‘138th Street’<br /><br />3.<br />Blonde Redhead<br />Misery Is A Butterfly<br />Released: March 23rd<br />Amadeo, Simone, and Kazu give off more sexual chemistry than a room full of people on ecstasy. This record continues to show how much they’ve come into their own since their days of being a Sonic Youth / Unwound influenced band. With a touch of Serge Gainsberg and some Arto Lindsay, they created another masterpiece where sound clashes with breathy vocals that leave you weak in the knees.<br /><br />Highlights: ‘Doll Is Mine’, ‘Elephant Woman’, ‘Pink Love’<br /><br />2.<br />Franz Ferdinand<br />Franz Ferdinand<br />Released: March 9th<br />Franz came with so much hype attached you would of thought that The Strokes were sucking their dicks. Turns out it was just a leather boy art fag from down the blvd. Every song on this record is hot. It’s a lapdance of pleasure. It’s the best sex record of the year. No song is a particular stand out, but then again, every song is perfect. It’s kind of like a great collection of singles which is maybe what doesn’t work for me all the time.<br />I want them to expand on their sound and I think they will if they don’t implode first.<br /><br />Highlights: ‘Michael’, ‘Darts of Pleasure’, “Cheating On You’, ‘This Fire’<br /><br />1.<br />Wilco<br />A Ghost Is Born<br />Released: June 22nd<br />Wilco’s A Ghost Is Born is the reason that long players will never go out of vogue. From the day this record was leaked online it has not come close to leaving my cd player. Jeff Tweedy could easily have made Yankee Part Two, but instead he took a no wave left turn for the best. Everything is perfect about this album, from the lyrics to the sequencing to the music to the art.<br />The album works best because it is an album. It couldn’t have been made any different way or it would not have worked. It’s brilliant and it wasn’t a question about being our favorite this year.<br /><br />Highlights: ‘Company In My Back’, ‘Late Greats’, ‘Hummingbird’, ‘Handshake<br />Drugs’<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Jeff B, Firestarter</strong><br /><br />Here's my music picks for this year:<br /><br />10. Brian Wilson - Smile<br />9. Franz Ferdinand - Franz Ferdinand<br />8. Modest Mouse - Good News For People Who Love Bad News<br />7. Rogue Wave - Out of the Shadow<br />6. The Killers - Hot Fuss<br />5. Elliott Smith - From A Basement On The Hill<br />4. The Fiery Furnaces - Blueberry Boat<br />3. Styrofoam - Nothing's Lost<br />2. The Good Life - Album of the Year<br />1. The Arcade Fire - Funeral<br /><br /><br /><strong>Required Listening from Terra</strong><br /><br />Arcade Fire, Funeral -- 100% requiredKillers, Hot Fuss -- Totally necessarySoundtrack to "Lost in Translation" was so late in 2003 it shd. count for 2004.For the collector: U2's "How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb" is not the be-all-end-all album that critics have been touting, but it IS a necessary part of the U2 collection, as it reflects back on favorite standard tropes and then trumps them a little, a la "Achtung, Baby."Single of the Year: Death Cab doing U2's "Baby Please Come Home (for Christmas)" Do you also have a "best of what I bought this year" list for those of us who are filling in older titles? For example I got New Order's International this year and it is absolutely great and essential for the synthpop fan but doesn't really count for 2004 as it is 2002 copyright.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Mind the Matthue</strong><br /><br />Most Essential:<br />Loretta Lynn, Van Lear Rose -- unapologetically. I don't even like the White Stripes, but they give her something loud and strong to play against, and she STILL leaves them in the dust. She is my woman.<br /><br />Most Essential That You Haven't Heard Of:<br />Bellflur, Bellflur -- A bunch of DC-area kids who are Latino and/or Orthodox Jews and/or regular white people make music that sounds like Radiohead, only not pretentious; or the Beatles, only not with the scratchy acid trips and pseudo-zen sensibilities.<br /><br />Additionessentials:<br /><br />Courtney Love, America's Sweetheart (YES, dammit)<br />Polyphonic Spree, Together We're Heavy<br />The Roots, The Tipping Point -- It's not their best, actually it's only<br />about 10 songs, but 3 of them are more beautiful than anything you're got up your sleeve<br />Maritime, Glass Floor -- They are the reason I am not voting for Modest<br />Mouse, even though this year was the first year I liked one of their albums. But Maritime is so much better. Fat basslines, cool pop-but-not-pop sensibilities and the trippiest Alice in Wonderland take-off music video ever.<br />Ai Phoenix, The Driver Is Dead -- so beautiful. find it, david. please.<br /><br />Best Album of the Moment That Probably Doesn't Have Lasting Value, But Who Gives: Kanye West, The College Dropout<br /><br />Best Sneaky Debut: Martha Wainwright, B.M.F.A.<br /><br />Best Celebrity Crossover That Isn't Totally Embarassing: Juliette and the Licks<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>At Least One Thing in This Country Isn’t Going to Hell, Quoth Annie</strong><br /><br />Here's my list--longer than I expected, but I guess it was a year to escape into good music.<br /><br />Most Essential:<br />Tie between Garden State soundtrack and The O.C. Mix 1<br /><br />Essential (in no particular order):<br />Camera Obscura, Underachievers Please Try Harder<br />Nellie McKay, Get Away from Me<br />Rachael Yamagata, Happenstance<br />Magnetic Fields, i<br />Franz Ferdinand, Franz Ferdinand<br />Keane, Hopes & Fears<br />Rock Against Bush Vol 2 (unfortunately essential for the next 4 years)<br />Green Day, American Idiot<br />U2, How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb<br />Norah Jones, Feels Like Home<br />Jem, Finally Woken<br />Joseph Arthur, Our Shadows Will Remain<br />Jen Chapin, Linger<br />PJ Harvey, Uh-huh Her<br /><br />Broadway Cast Album of the Year:<br />Assassins revival<br /><br />Not Quite Essential but Still Worth a Listen:Everwood soundtrack<br />The O.C. Mix 2<br />Jill Sobule, Underdog Victorious<br />Tift Merritt, Tambourine<br />Queer Eye for the Straight Guy soundtrack<br />MoveOn's Future Soundtrack for America<br />Frequent Flyer: Bombay collection<br /><br />Albums from previous years that became essential:<br />Postal Service, Give Up<br />Pink, Try This<br /><br /><br /><strong>Matthew U, Poor Like Loretta</strong><br /><br />This was a particularly meager year for me in terms of CD buying as I have become a poor grad student again. Nonetheless, there were a few CDs I found that were standouts:<br /><br />Most essential (by far):<br /><br />Loretta Lynn, Van Lear Rose<br /><br />--It's on just about every list I've seen of top CDs, so this is no surprise, but this time I really do agree with the critics. The album is surprising and fresh and still moving. Loretta is somehow still in top form. Her voice still sounds great. The lyrics are as honest and unaffected as ever. And the production values are wonderful. I wonder who will be the next country legend to be revitalized by rock production values--Johnny Cash, Emmylou Harris, and Willie Nelson all had earlier CDs that were as vital as this one.<br /><br />Other honorable mentions, though not necessarily "essential," and all a bit too mellow:<br /><br />Patty Griffin, Impossible Dream<br />Madeleine Peyroux, Careless Love<br />Elliott Smith, From a Basement on a Hill<br />k.d. lang, Hymns of the 49th Parallel<br /><br /><br /><strong>Or Maybe Alex H is the Quarry</strong><br /><br />Most essential:Morrissey, You Are the QuarryRunners-up:Magnetic Fields, IPhoenix, AlphabeticalDivine Comedy, Absent FriendsLe Tigre, This IslandFranz Ferdinand, Franz FerdinandCamera Obscura, Underachievers Please Try HarderScissor Sisters, Scissor SistersElliott Smith, From a Basement on the HillGwen Stefani, Love, Angel, Music, BabyAlways lovely:Sebadoh, ReboundSerge Gainsbourg, Comic Strip<br /><br /><br /><strong>Avivsomething</strong><br /><br />Always a fun time of year:<br /><br />I'd have to say Jamie Cullum's "Twentysomething." It's<br />so mouth-droppingly good, I can't believe it's so<br />ridiculously popular. Nice to see that happening to a<br />really talented musician, rather than the usual<br />pre-packaged fare of models, dancers, and posers (and<br />this guy is NO looker). No one can say that Cullum<br />isn't freak-of-nature talented. What a joy to listen<br />to.<br /><br />I could also say the same thing about the talented<br />Norah Jones' "Feels Like Home" (which is a very close<br />second). I know that every music fan, critic, mother,<br />and grandmother is supposed to love Norah Jones, and I<br />hate being so cliche. But it really is one of those<br />albums that makes you stop what you're doing. I<br />thought that it was much better than even "Come Away<br />With Me" (which I also liked very much). I'm sure her<br />success is in no small part to her lineage and visage,<br />but fortunately she writes (and picks) good songs, has<br />a wonderful vocal whisper, and is a fantastic pianist.<br /> So it's actually deserved.<br /><br />I also liked Keren Ann's "Not Going Anywhere", even if<br />it isn't really much different from her French albums.<br /> But it's nice.<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Love Will Bring Them Together, Jackie</strong><br /><br />here is MY essential list for 2004, theres no real theme to them... just the fact that i love them all!<br />1. kasabian - self titled album 2. U2 - how to dismantle an atomic bomb3. kings of convenience - riot on an empty street4. arcade fire - funeral5. modest mouse - good news for people who love bad news6. mirah - c'mon miracle 7. magnetic fields - I 8. pedro the lion - achilles heel9. pheonix - alphabetical 10. von bondies - pawn shoppe heart11. ac newman - slow wonders12. the good life - album of the year13. ted leo and the pharmacists - shake the sheets 14. elliott smith - from a basement on the hill15. erlend oye - dj kicks<br /><br /><br /><strong>Uh Huh Josh G</strong><br /><br /><br />1. Green Day, American Idiot<br />2. PJ Harvey, Uh Huh Her<br />3. Loretta Lynn, Van Lear Rose<br />4. The Killers, Hot Fuss<br />5. Gwen Stefani, Love Angel Music Baby<br />6. Courtney Love, America's Sweetheart<br />7. Keane, Hopes and Fears<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Zac Braff Would Be Happy with Amy H’s Choices</strong><br /><br />2004 was an amazing year for music - I know this, because of my new<br />ipod and my subsequent obsession with finding new music on itunes, and<br />for one year since, I would say, college, I bought more (actually, much<br />more) than 3 cd's (in addition to all the itunes) all year...<br /><br />The Garden State Soundtrack (MY MOST ESSENTIAL; what can I say, I'm<br />obsessed with this album - maybe a cop out since it's a compilation,<br />but what a compilation!!)<br /><br />Other Essentials (in order):<br /><br />Killers -- Hot Fuss (the #2 album I'm totally obsessed with)<br />Snow Patrol -- Final Straw (#3)<br />Scissor Sisters -- Scissor Sisters (tie for #3 - the only album, ever,<br />that without fail, gets me in a good mood)<br />U2 -- How to Dismantle an Atom Bomb<br />The Arcade Fire -- Funeral<br />TV on the Radio -- Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes<br />Wilco -- A Ghost Is Born<br />Modest Mouse -- Good News For People Who Love Bad News<br />Iron & Wine -- Our Endless Numbered Days<br />Interpol -- Antics<br /><br /><br />Biggest Discovery from Previous Years:<br /><br />My Morning Jacket - absolutely amazing, grows deeper and more<br />indispensable with each listen.<br />The Stills - Logic Will Break your Heart<br />The Shins - Chutes Too Narrow<br />Maroon 5 - Songs about Jane (I know, tres overplayed by now, but<br />catchy, one must admit)<br /><br /><strong><br />The Definitive Francesco</strong><br /><br />Herewith, the music that changed my year:<br />Franz Ferdinand<br />Green Day, American Idiot<br />The Killers, Hot Fuss<br />Morrissey, You Are the Quarry<br />Nouvelle Vague<br />Scissor Sisters<br />Gwen Stefani, Love.Angel.Music.Baby.<br />Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Fever to Tell<br /> <br />From Yesteryear:<br /> Bettye Swann<br /> Dionne Warwick: The Definitive Collection<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Million Dollar Ronnie</strong><br /><br />OK, here are my essential movie soundtracks of the past year<br /><br />Essential Movie Scores<br /><br />Clint Eastwood (composer), "Million Dollar Baby"<br />Alexandre Desplat, "Birth"<br />Jon Brion, "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind"<br />Alberto Iglesias, "Bad Education"<br />Michael Giacchino, "The Incredibles"<br />Joachim Holbek, "Wilbur Wants to Kill Himself"*<br />Roque Banos--with Lydia Kavina playing the theremin--"The Machinist"*<br />*note these last two were not released on CD, so the only way to hear them is to see the movies<br /><br />Essential Compilations<br /><br />Zach Braff, "Garden State"<br />Greg Berlanti, "Everwood"<br /><br />Essential Movie Songs<br /><br />the David Bowie songs done by Seu Jorge from "The Life Aquatic"<br />the song "Angel on My Shoulder" by tomandandy, sung by Gretchen Lieberum from the movie "Mean Creek"<br /><br /><br /><strong>Markus Goes Straight From His World Tour To Our List</strong><br /><br />Just got back and this is a very BIG priority. Am somewhat at a loss (more intent on poaching), but here goes:<br /><br />MOST ESSENTIAL: Something for Kate: ‘The Official Fiction’<br />ESSENTIAL: The Datsuns: ‘Outa Sight\Outa Mind’<br />ESSENTIAL for WEIRDNESS ALONE: Joanna Newsom: ‘The Milk-Eyed Mender’.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Brant’s Bravely Brief Breakdown</strong><br /><br />My essential albums of 2004 in order of essentialness:<br /><br />Lambchop, Aw C'mon & No You C'mon<br />Ambulance Ltd, LP<br />The Go! Team, Thunder, Lightning, Strike<br />Franz Ferdinand, Franz Ferdinand<br />The Arcade Fire, Funeral<br />Kanye West, The College Dropout<br />Scissor Sisters, Scissor Sisters<br />Wilco, A Ghost Is Born<br /><br /><br /><strong>A Disconnection is Made With Billy</strong><br /><br />Disconnection, Carina Round<br /><br />Fall Back Open, Now It’s Overhead<br /><br />Wet From Birth, The Faint<br /><br />Want Two, Rufus Wainwright<br /><br />Funeral, Arcade Fire<br /><br />Kiss & Swallow, I Am X<br /><br />Seven Swans, Sufjan Stevens<br /><br />Impossible Dream, Patty Griffin<br /><br />Our Endless Numbered Days, Iron & Wine<br /><br /><br /><br />(Do The Frames count for 2005 since that’s the American release?)<br /><br /><br /><br />Older Discoveries<br /><br />Fever To Tell, Yeah Yeah Yeahs<br /><br />Greetings From Michigan: The Great Lakes State, Sufjan Stevens<br /><br />Transfiguration of Vincent, M. Ward<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Instruments? Jating Don’t Need No Stinkin’ Instruments</strong><br /><br />Hey there David. Norah forwarded your email onto me. In turn, I sent it to a friend of mine outside the company. She already responded so I thought I'd better get on the ball...esp. since today's the last day:<br /><br />1. Bjork, Medulla<br />2. Arcade Fire, Funeral<br />3. Loretta Lynn, Van Lear Rose<br />4. Mirah, C'mon Miracle<br />5. Autolux, Future Perfect<br />6. Pink Martini, Hang On Little Tomato<br />7. A Girl Called Eddy, A Girl Called Eddy<br />8. Brian Wilson, Smile<br />9. David Sedaris, Dress Your Family Up In Corduroy and Denim (can this qualify if it's not music?)<br />10. Magnetic Fields, I<br />11. The Concretes, The Concretes<br />12. Kasabian, Kasabian<br />13. Scissor Sisters, Scissor Sisters<br />14. Xiu Xiu, Fabulous Muscles<br /><br />from previous years:<br />girlsareshort, contactkiss<br />Soviet, We Are Eyes, We Are Builders<br />The Raveonettes, Chain Gang of Love<br /><br /><br /><strong>Danger, Anica! Danger!</strong><br /><br />Most essential album of 2004:<br /><br />DJ Danger Mouse, The Grey Album<br />(vocals from Jay-Z's The Black Album, music from The Beatles' White Album) <br /><br />In choosing this album over the runners-up, I gave weight to the "of 2004" qualifier. My other top picks might rank above The Grey Album on a plain old essential albums list, but this cd was of particular import to me in 2004--and I expect it to have longevity.<br /><br />Runners-up:<br /><br />Wilco, A Ghost Is Born<br />Brian Wilson, Smile<br />Simple Kid, 1<br /><br />I am glad that I bought:<br /><br />The Walkmen, Bows + Arrows<br />The Killers, Hot Fuss<br />The Streets, A Grand Don't Come for Free<br />The Roots, The Tipping Point<br /><br />Biggest disappointment:<br /><br />Loretta Lynn, Van Lear Rose<br />(great singing, great production, mediocre songs)<br /><br /><br /><strong>Jackie’s Up to Antics</strong><br /><br />Interpol, Antics Keane, Hopes and FearsGarden State SoundtrackThe Shins, Chutes Too NarrowSnow Patrol, Final StrawWilco, A Ghost Is Born<br /><br /><br /><strong>Sean. Music. List. Baby.</strong><br /><strong></strong><br />MOST ESSENTIAL ALBUM OF 2004: The Killers, Hot Fuss<br /><br />OTHER ESSENTIAL ALBUMS:<br />Gwen Stefani, Love. Angel. Music. Baby.<br />Scissor Sisters, S/T<br />Franz Ferdinand, S/T<br />Loretta Lynn, Van Lear Rose<br />Green Day, American Idiot<br />Rilo Kiley, More Adventurous<br />Keane, Hopes and Fears<br />Morrissey, You Are The Quarry<br />Jem, Finally Woken<br /><br />ESSENTIAL SOUNDTRACK: Various Artists, "Garden State"<br /><br />ESSENTIAL COMPILATION: Erlend Øye, DJ Kicks<br /><br />PRODUCER OF THE YEAR: Kanye West<br /><br />ESSENTIAL SINGLES/DOWNLOADS OF 2004:<br />Air, "Cherry Blossom Girl"<br />Beck feat. Jay-Z & Pharrell Williams, "Frontin' on Debra" [DJ Reset Mash-Up]<br />Britney Spears, "Toxic"<br />Cherie, "I'm Ready"<br />Emma, "Maybe"<br />Jamelia, "Superstar"<br />Janet Jackson, "I Want You"<br />JC Chasez, "All Day Long I Dream About Sex"<br />Kelly Clarkson, "Since U Been Gone"<br />The Killers, "Somebody Told Me [Insider Remix]<br />Maroon 5, "This Love"<br />Nina Sky feat. Jabba, "Move Ya Body"<br />The Postal Service, "Against All Odds"<br />Samantha Ronson, "Built This Way"<br />Snoop Dogg feat. Pharrell, "Drop It Like It's Hot"<br /><br /><br /><strong>The David L Who Isn’t Me and Isn’t My Best Friend David L Offers Some Bows and Arrows</strong><br /><br />Essential:<br /><br />1. The Walkmen, Bows and Arrows<br />- Infectious, frenetic, complex, rocking out rock by this New York band which looks like a bunch of disaffected preppies. This sophmore effort not only equals but surpasses their exceptional debut, "Everyone Who Pretended to Like Me Is Gone." "The Rat" and "Little House of Savages," both frenzied, intense, and smartly bitter, are two of the best songs of the year. A true classic.<br /><br />2. Wilco, A Ghost is Born<br />- By now, Wilco is pretty much the #1 American band for musical legitimacy, audacity, and staying power. This album will only add to their reputation. Not a revolutionary development from "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot," also a great album, but a sensible and gratifying next step. The 15 minutes of noise is a distressing sign of burgeoning pretentiousness.<br /><br />3. Sondre Lerche, Two Way Monologue<br />- Lovely, Beatles-esque songs, great instrumentation, this Norweigan kid could become huge. Songwriting is somewhat like that of Jason Falkner, who has never been recognized to the extent he should be.<br /><br />4. Simple Kid, 1<br />- Simple Kid can sound flippant and silly. Do not dismiss him. His songs are as memorable and crafitly written as almost anyting out there. His sense for irony is unmatched. Damn fun (and smart).<br /><br />5. U2, How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb<br />- 25 years later, the boys can still write soaring, original anthems like no one else.<br /><br />6. Graham Coxon, Happiness in Magazines<br />- The other guy from Blur. Great melodies, rocks out, not too snarky (as Blur was so often wont to be). Listen to "Freakin' Out." When will this come out in the States? Thank god for MP3s.<br /><br />7. The Futureheads<br />- Crazy energy, crazy fun, lead singer is pale as a corpse and has bad teeth. Check out the song "Meantime." Very upbeat, very witty.<br /><br />8. Norah Jones, Feels Like Home<br />- It's rare that a songwriter can achieve such broad appeal with such genuine talent. She is not much of an innovator, but the combination of her fine sense of melody and her seductive and deeply emotive voice renders her one of the foremost talents of the day.<br /><br />9. Franz Ferdinand<br />- Retro, updated 80's Rock. Solid straight through. Good melodies, good harmonies. Fun and tight.<br /><br />10. The Streets, A Grand Don't Come for Free<br />- Anyone would have to give Mike Skinner props for taking rap to a completely new place, even if there are still serious questions about how significant his depressive, apathetic, crassly material prose poems on being a poor, English pothead really are. The production is maybe too slick, though the hooks can be a guilty pleasure.<br /><br />Not Quite:<br /><br />Mum, Summer Make Good<br />- Ethereal, pretty Icelandic rock, just a little too ethereal, a little too spacey, a little too much like Sigur Ros and doesn't come close to reaching the same heights).<br /><br />The Killers, Hot Fuss<br /> - Very catchy and fun but no staying power.<br /><br />The Roots, Tipping Point<br />- Always smart, too cerebral, needs some hooks. No "Things Fall Apart," no guests that equal Mos Def, Jill Scott, and Erykah Badu on that album.<br /><br />Loretta Lynn, Van Lear Rose<br />- Great singing, great production thanks to Jack White, songs are mostly good, never great, sometimes weak.<br /><br />Mos Def, New Danger<br />- Doesn't come close to the classic "Black on Both Sides," a politically charged, lyrically dizzying, emotionally complex, even environmentally conscious album. Here Mos is just a good voice throwing out raps that don't suck. Another career going the way of Q-Tip.<br /><br />The Hives, Tyrannosaurus Hives<br />- Insane energy. Then what?<br /><br />The Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs<br />- One hot (though simple and repetitive) song. Maybe they have the goods. Jury is out.<br /><br />Wimpiest album of the year:<br /><br />Keane, Hopes and Fears<br /><br /><br /><strong>A Drumroll for Sarah-Maria…</strong><br /><br />drumroll please, here it is:<br /><br /><br />Top Ten (well, I’m doing a Top Eleven, as their might be a 2003 release in here somewhere, also, I love The Divine Comedy, but this album is only on<br />ere because 2004 was a very bad year record-wise)<br /><br />#1:John Frusciante – everything released this year (see Brian’s list for titles)<br /><br />Rest of Top Eleven in no particular order:<br />Elliott Smith – From a Basement on the Hill<br />Interpol – Antics<br />Bjork – Medulla<br />Sivert Höyem – Ladies & Gentlemen of the Opposition<br />The Cardigans - Long Gone Before Daylight<br />The Divine Comedy – Absent Friends<br />Franz Ferdinand – Franz Ferdinand<br />The Go – The Go<br />The Von Bondies – Pawn Shoppe Heart<br />Nick Cave – Abattoir Blues / The Lyre of Orpheus<br /><br /><br />Honorable Mentions to 3 band I thought I didn’t really like (anymore)<br />Morrissey – You Are The Quarry<br />Green Day – American Idiot<br />The Vines – Highly Evolved<br /><br /><br /><strong>Nick Makes a Fuss</strong><br /><br />Most Essential:<br />The Killers, Hot Fuss<br /><br />Also Essential:<br />Jens Lekman, When I Said I Wanted To Be Your Dog<br />The Magnetic Fields, I<br />Scissor Sisters, Scissor Sisters<br /><br />Nearly Essential:<br />The Faint, Wet from Birth<br />Dolorean, Violence in the Snowy Fields<br />The Arcade Fire, Funeral<br />Division of Laura Lee, Das Not Compute<br />A.C. Newman, The Slow Wonder<br /><br />Biggest Letdown:<br />Interpol, Anticsdavidlevithanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00762768300871943772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1509734071563017124.post-77807272948311284332009-01-09T06:25:00.000-08:002009-01-09T06:36:48.775-08:00The 2003 David Music Poll results<strong>THE 2003 David Music Poll RESULTS:</strong><br /><br />1. The Postal Service, Give Up (15)<br />2. Outkast, Speakerboxxx/The Love Below (14)<br />3. Liz Phair, Liz Phair (12)<br />4. Belle & Sebastian, Dear Catastrophe Waitress (11)<br />5. The White Stripes, Elephant (10)<br />6. Damien Rice, O (7)<br />Radiohead, Hail to the Thief (7)<br />8. Death Cab for Cutie, Transatlanticism (6)<br />Cat Power, You Are Free (6)<br />Placebo, Sleeping with Ghosts (6)<br />The New Pornographers, Electric Version (6)<br />The Strokes, Room on Fire (6)<br /><br />five votes: Lucinda Williams, World Without Tears; The Shins, Chutes to Narrow; The Drive-by Truckers, Decoration Day<br /><br />four votes: Nelly Furtado, Folklore; Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Fever to Tell; the Ravonettes, Chain Gang of Love<br /><br />three votes: Johnny Cash, Unearthed; Sun Kil Moon, Ghosts of the Great Highway; The Books, The Lemon of Pink; Muse, Absolution; Soundtrack, Lost in Translation; Rufus Wainwright, Want One; Madonna, American Life<br /><br />editor’s note: There were forty-five respondents to this year’s music poll, an all-time high. I went into it virtually sure that the White Stripes would dominate. How wrong I was! In the early returns, it looked like Outkast would garner a surprise win. But The Postal Service came from behind and (pardon the pun) delivered. And Liz Phair showed that for all the people who hate the new album, there are at least two who love it.<br /><br /><br />INDIVIDUAL LISTS:<br /><br /><br /><strong>David Picks a Band Who’s Name Will Sound Very Strange To Those Who Haven’t Heard the Band</strong><br /><br />Most Essential:<br /><br />Death Cab for Cutie, Transatlanticism<br /><br />This was a very close call for me; some days I’m Death Cab for Cutie, some days I’m Postal Service. But when push came to shove (and I didn’t allow myself a tie), Transatlanticism won out. Because it is an album I know I will be listening to for the rest of my life. Because the song “Transatlanticism” sweeps me up every time I hear it with the force of its simplicity. Because “Passenger Seat”, the song after, is the novel I dream of writing. Every detail perfect. The first time I heard it, I actually cried on the PATH train. It caught me so unaware. And was so effortlessly beautiful. And the rest of the album is almost as good as this one-two punch. Nothing Death Cab for Cutie recorded before hit me nearly as strong. Proving that Mr. Gibbard learned a lot from his other band …<br /><br />Essential:<br /><br />The Postal Service, Give Up<br /><br />…The Postal Service. I’ve listened to this all year and I’m still not at all tired of it. “I’ve been thinking it’s a sign / that the freckles of our eyes are mirror images / and when we kiss they’re perfectly aligned” (from “Such Great Heights”) and “I want in life in every word / to the extent that it’s absurd” (from “Clark Gable”) are two of my favorite lines of the year. The blend of whimsy, heart, and aural cinematography creates an album that its futile to resist.<br /><br />Liz Phair, Liz Phair<br /><br />Yes, it’s pop. So fucking what? The lyrics are still sharp (as anyone who’s been stuck humming “H.W.C” in the halls of their workplace can attest) and her thin voice can still hit where it needs to. All told, this album is the one I’ve played the most this year (as my poor summer intern attested when he revealed that he knew all the lyrics at the end of the summer). Sometimes I just want to listen to an album and feel like a 15-yr-old girl.<br /><br />Dashboard Confessional, A Mark, A Mission, A Brand, A Scar<br /><br />. . . And sometimes I want to listen to an album and feel like a 15-yr-old boy. (See also: Blink-182). Deep? Nah. Sincere and catchy? Absolutely. And I like the Smiths riff every now and then. A surprise that hasn’t left my headphones.<br /><br />Dar Williams, The Beauty of the Rain<br /><br />Another album I couldn’t stop listening to. At first I thought it might be overproduced, because I was used to the sparer concert versions of the songs. But eventually I got used to the production and grew to love it. Contains some of her strongest songs – “The Beauty of the Rain”, “Mercy of the Fallen”, “Closer to You” … my favorite still changes on every listen.<br /><br />Placebo, Sleeping with Ghosts<br /><br />Grabs hold and doesn’t let go, whether it’s feverish or haunting. I never expected to like Placebo so much, but this album really did it for me.<br /><br />Nada Surf, Let Go<br /><br />Nada Surf? The “Popular” band? It took a lot of good reviews for me to purchase this, and I’m damn glad I did. “Blonde on Blonde” is easily one of the best radio songs involving a radio ever. And “Killian Red” is downright epic. Beautiful, passionate, thoughtful music to soundtrack long drives and long nights.<br /><br /><br />Recently Bought and Might Prove to Be Essential:<br /><br />Sun Kil Moon, Ghosts of the Great Highway<br />Jeff Buckley, Live at Sin-E<br />The Weakerthans, Reconstruction Site<br /><br />Bought Last Year on Import, So Don’t Know if it Counts as Essential This Year:<br /><br />Damien Rice, O (who, along with Julia Fordham, gave one of the two best shows of the year.)<br /><br />Almost Essential:<br /><br />Erin McKeown, Grand; Rufus Wainwright, Want One; Tegan and Sara, If It Were You; Howie Day, Stop All the World Now<br /><br />Artist Who I Feel I Neglected in the Past But Now Am a Genuine Fan Of:<br />Ben Folds<br /><br />Artists Who May Have Jumped the Shark:<br />Ryan Adams – not one, not two, but three substandard releases<br />Radiohead – I feel bad about this, since I’ve barely listened to Hail to the Thief. Then again, there must have been a reason for that. Maybe it’s a late bloomer.<br />Travis – proving that, unfortunately, one way of delineating yourself from Coldplay is to make a crap album<br /><br />New Artists to Keep an Eye On:<br />Josh Ritter, the Fiery Furnaces, Joss Stone<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Rachel C, Pod Princess</strong><br /><br />My life was all about the iPod this year, so I must confess I don’t think I bought many albums that were released in 2003 as I was too busy downloading albums pre-then to my computer!<br /><br />But here are the few faves I can come up with:<br /><br />The Waifs, Up All Night<br /><br />Deacon John, Deacon John’s Jump Blues<br /><br />OutKast, Speakerboxxx/The Love Below<br /><br />(I refuse to be shamed into not admitting this) Kelly Clarkson, Thankful – and yeah, I voted for her from the beginning! Clay too!<br /><br />And it’s all about my girl, Beyonce, Dangerously In Love.<br /><br />Two singles I loved were “Take Me Away” by FeFe Dobson and “Powerless” by Nelly Furtado.<br /><br />That’s all I can think of. I know everyone loved Fountains of Wayne and I like ‘em okay, but faves, no. Still have not heard new Lucinda Williams album.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Patrick Has One Choice for the Year, and it is…</strong><br /><br />Radiohead, Hail to the Thief<br /><br /><br /><strong>Jeffrey, Who Nightly Says Hello to Dolly</strong><br /><br />Oh jeebas. I feel as if I've been elected into a cult here. But maybe<br />it's like a superhero cult. One in which we battle booger-bots.<br /><br />I thought the White Stripes were the fabulous Crest product used to<br />whiten teeth and fund bad housewife country music demographic studies?<br /><br /><br />Most Essential: Johnny Cash, Unearthed/American Recordings [box set]<br /><br />Essential:<br />various artists, Livin' Lovin' & Losin': a Tribute to the Louvin Brothers<br />Doc Watson/Earl Scruggs/Ricky Skaggs, The Three Pickers<br />Roseanne Cash, Rules of Travel<br />June Carter Cash, Wildwood Flower<br /><br />Most essential Greatest Hits album of 2003: Dolly Parton, Ultimate Dolly Parton<br /><br />Super swell sophomore album: Dido, Life for Rent<br /><br />Holy crap why did I spend my money on this I've been duped: Dolly Parton, For God & Country<br /><br />I know... I'm a one-horse barn here. But at least you can't call me pokey.<br /><br /><strong><br />Sarah, Dixie Chick Fan Extraordinaire</strong><br /><br />The first is understandable - I do have diagnosed Celebrity Worship Syndrome...<br /><br />Top of The World Live, The Dixie Chicks<br /><br />Most Surprising:<br /><br />Hotel Paper, Michelle Branch<br /><br />Most Nostalgically Re-mastered:<br /><br />Let it Be...Naked, The Beatles<br /><br />Most Surprisingly Different:<br /><br />Folklore, Nelly Furtado<br /><br />Most Soothing:<br /><br />Afterglow, Sarah McLachlan<br /><br />Most Head Bobbing:<br /><br />Speakerboxxx and The Love Below, Outkast<br /><br />Most Pre-Bed Time Airplay:<br /><br />Life For Rent, Dido<br /><br />Most Authentic:<br /><br />Alison Krauss & Union Station Live, Alison Krauss & Union Station<br /><br />I WILL STOP NOW OR I WILL NEVER STOP!!!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Chris, Who Slays Me</strong><br /><br />The Album of the Year: Anthrax, "We've Come For You All"<br /><br />The Other Ten Essentials:<br />1. Dimmu Borgir, "Death Cult Armageddon"<br />2. The Sounds, "Living In America"<br />3. Cradle of Filth, "Damnation And A Day"<br />4. Lamb of God, "As The Palaces Burn"<br />6. AFI, "Sing The Sorrow"<br />7. Strapping Young Lad, "SYL"<br />8. Arch Enemy, "Anthems of Rebellion"<br />9. The Haunted, "One Kill Wonder"<br />10. Chimaira, "The Impossibility of Reason"<br /><br />Almost Essential:<br />The Brimstones, "Spend Eternity With..."; Marilyn Manson, "The Golden Age of Grotesque"; Me First & The Gimme Gimmes, "Take A Break"; Zyklon, "Aeon"; Dropkick Murphys, "Blackout"; Naglfar, "Sheol"; Type O Negative, "Life Is Killing Me"; Children of Bodom, "Hate Crew Deathroll"; The Crown, "Possessed 13"<br /><br />Worst Album:<br />Metallica, "St. Anger"<br /><br />Favorite Albums That I've Only Discovered In 2003 And Kicked Myself For Not Discovering Earlier:<br />The Babylon Whores, "Death Of The West"; H.I.M., "Razorblade Romance"; Tenacious D, "s/t"; Stabbing Westward, "Darkest Days"; The World/Inferno Friendship Society, "The True Story of the Bridgewater Astral League"; Iron Maiden, "Powerslave"; Emperor, "In The Nightside Eclipse"<br /><br />Band That Made Me Hate Everything Musical: Coldplay<br /><br />Best Band EVER: Slayer<br /><br /><br /><strong>Iain, Our London Correspondant</strong><br /><br />Most Essential Album of the Year:<br /><br />Josh Rouse, 1972<br /><br />Essential Albums of the Year:<br /><br />Songs:Ohia, The Magnolia Electric Co<br /><br />Franz Ferdinand, The Album I Made Up Out Of Their EP ("Darts of Pleasure") and Downloads and Stuff<br /><br />The Fall, The Real New Fall LP<br /><br />Kraftwerk, Tour de France Soundtracks<br /><br />British Sea Power, Decline of British Sea Power<br /><br />Dizzee Rascal, Boy In Da Corner<br /><br />The Bug, Pressure<br /><br />Worlds of Possiblity: Domino Records Compilation<br /><br />Almost Essential:<br /><br />Blur, Think Tank<br /><br />RZA, Birth of a Prince<br /><br />Bonnie "Prince" Billy, Master and Everyone<br /><br />(Smog), Supper<br /><br />Four Tet, Rounds<br /><br />Manitoba, Up In Flames<br /><br />Good Singles, Album Tracks:<br /><br />Beyonce, Crazy In Love; Panjabi MC, Mundian To Bach Ke; Bits of Gillian Welch's Album<br /><br />Old Stuff I Enjoyed This Year:<br /><br />Talking Heads, More Songs About Buildings and Food<br /><br />Stevie Wonder, Music Of My Mind<br /><br />Velvet Underground, VU<br /><br />Can, Tago Mago; Ege Bamyasi<br /><br />Dexys, Searching For The Young Soul Rebels<br /><br />GZA, Liquid Swords<br /><br />John Cale<br /><br />Echo and the Bunnymen reissues<br /><br />Old Scottish Indie: Fire Engines, Orange Juice, Shop Assistants, Josef K<br /><br />Thing From a Couple of Years Ago That People Really Should Check Out:<br /><br />Amalgamated Sons of Rest, Amalgamated Sons of Rest<br /><br />Things For 2004:<br /><br />Franz Ferdinand achieve world domination<br /><br />REM split: they're making me wonder if I was wrong to like their old stuff<br /><br />Wu-Tang Clan make a proper record<br /><br />Bob Dylan autobiography published: exceptionally good or exceptionally bad<br /><br />Strokes backlash: lame second album, first one wearing poorly<br /><br />Will Oldham does fewer "projects" and just makes another great album<br /><br /><br /><strong>Jack, Who Warned Us<br /></strong><br />Okay. But don't say I didn't warn you...<br /><br />10-Fern Knight--7 Years of Severed Limbs<br />9-Graves--Love! Love! Love!<br />8-Ladybug Transistor--s/t<br />7-Postal Service--Give Up<br />6-Ponys--Shishimumu<br />5-Manitoba--Up In Flames<br />4-Clientele--Violet Hour<br />3-Essex Green--Long Goodbye<br />2-Broadcast--Ha Ha Sound<br />1-B&S--Dear Catastrophe Waitress (no surpises here, right?)<br /><br />Honorable Mention: Bjorn Olsson "UPA", Gorkys Zygotic Mynci "Sleep/Holiday", Isobel Campbell "Amorino", Outkast "Speakerboxx/Love Below", Yo La Tengo "Summer Sun"<br />Top 10 reissues, in no particular order:<br /><br />Joyce, "Nelson Angelo e Joyce"<br />Linda Perhacs, "Parallelograms"<br />Pearls Before Swine, "Jewels Were the Stars"<br />Comets On Fire, "Comets On Fire"<br />Bruce Palmer, "Cycle Is Complete"<br />Aerovons, "Resurrection"<br />Free Design, "Kites Are Fun"<br />Incredible String Band, "Hangman's Beautiful Daughter"<br />Felt, "Forever Breathes A Lonely Word"<br />Felt, "Crumbling the Antiseptic Beauty"<br /><br />Top 5 most intriguing albums introduced to me by working at Teen Central that would totally crack my punk rock credibility if word got out:<br /><br />Justin Timberlake--Justified<br />Linkin Park--Meteora<br />Pink--Mizzundastood<br />Coldplay--Rush of Blood to the Head<br />Good Charlotte--Young and the Hopeless<br /><br />A bunch of random songs that weren't included on any album that I know of, but were really great:<br />Hey That's My Only Necktie--Ponys<br />No Fly--Charlene<br />Love On the March--Belle and Sebastian<br />Needle of Death, Today Is the Day (EP version), Nuclear War--Yo La Tengo<br />the whole Greg Weeks EP<br /><br /><br /><strong>Nico, Who Sleeps With Something Other Than a Ghost</strong><br /><br />In order:<br /><br />Placebo, Sleeping with Ghosts **MOST ESSENTIAL, obviously**<br />Radiohead, Hail to the Thief<br />Britney Spears, In the Zone<br />Madonna, American Life<br />Marilyn Manson, The Golden Age of Grotesque<br /><br />ok! off to class i go!<br /><br /><br /><strong>Aviv Has Something to Say</strong><br /><br />I know that you'll probably disagree, but I'd like to<br />nominate the White Stripes for "most overrated,<br />overhyped band."<br /><br />Yeah, they've got attitude, and cool videos. But the<br />music ain't anything that hasn't been done before, and<br />Jack is so full of himself that he's insufferable.<br /><br />But what do I know. I'm an old man. <:) <strong>Nancy, Who Knows What She Likes and Listens To It Repeatedly</strong><br /><br />i did nothing all year but listen to these five albums on<br />obsessive-compulsive repeat:<br /><br />death cab for cutie: transatlanticism<br />postal service: give up<br />alvin ailey revelations cd<br />krishna das: breath of the heart<br />folksongs for the afterlife: put danger back in your life<br /><br /><br /><strong>Matthew E., Who Put A LOT of Thought Into This</strong><br /><br />Most Essential (a tie!)<br /><br />Sun Kil Moon, Ghosts of the Great Highway<br />Every song on this album could be the best song on any Red House Painters album.<br /><br />The Books, The Lemon of Pink<br />There is no way to describe this album. It also gets the best album title of the year.<br /><br />Essential<br /><br />The Unicorns, Who Will Cut Our Hair When We're Gone?<br />Broken Social Scene, You Forgot it in People<br />The Black Keys, Thickfreakness<br />Outkast, Speakerboxxx/The Love Below<br />The Rapture, Echoes<br />The Postal Service, Give Up<br />The White Stripes, Elephant<br />The Fiery Furnaces, Gallowsbird's Bark<br />The Shins, Chutes Too Narrow<br />The Decemberists, Her Majesty<br /><br /><br />Almost Essential (honorable mention)<br /><br />Whirlwind Heat, Do Rabbits Wonder?<br />Aesop Rock, Bazooka Tooth<br />The American Analog Set, Promise of Love<br />The New Pornographers, Electric Version<br />Radiohead, Hail to the Thief<br />Grandaddy, Sumday<br /><br /><br /><strong>Don’t Give Up, Jarrett!</strong><br /><br />Most Essential Album of the Year:<br />The Postal Service, Give Up<br /><br />Essential Albums of the Year:<br />Outkast Speakerboxx/The Love Below<br />Fountains of Wayne, Welcome Intserstae Managers<br />Pete Yorn, Day I Forgot<br />Strokes, Room on Fire<br />Damien Rice, O<br />Zykos, Comedy Horn<br /><br /><br />Maybe I'll buy these bands' albums, but maybe I'll be sick of the front single before I get around to it:<br />The Darkness, Jet<br /><br />Songs that I play really loud on the radio but do not own the albums to:<br />anything Justin Timberlake<br />Beyonce, Crazy in Love<br />Kellis, Milkshake<br />50 Cent, In Da Club<br /><br />Looking ahead, new albums by old favorites that I want to buy in 2004:<br />Stereophonics, Phantom Planet<br /><br /><br /><strong>Jen G and Her Story, Which We Can Only Sympathize With</strong><br /><br />I don't think I'm hip enough to respond, but honestly what I've listened to new in the last year are the Bend It Like Beckham soundtrack and that Nirvana greatest hits CD (very useful for getting through post-breakup bitterness).<br /><br />I'd like to add Jack Johnson's On and On, but unfortunately I only got to listen to it for 2 hours. I bought it in a pit stop in a rental car on a drive from Boston to New Hampshire and liked it a lot, but once I got to New Hampshire it disappeared (I think my friend's friend will find it in his driveway once the snow melts in the spring). I'm writing this off to karma because the rental car had a Susan Tedeschi CD in the player when I got it. The universe giveth and the universe taketh away.<br /><br />Right now I'm listening to an acoustic CD that I bought at a house concert this fall by Adam + Kris, who are out of Portland:<br />http://www.sweetjuice.com/adam_n_kris.asp<br />There's a GenX love song on it called 'Mose Isley Station' with lines like "Yesterday my thoughts were on the dark side and I don't know what's wrong anymore....I'd drop it all and go back to my family, if only these droids would let me..."<br />Here are the lyrics to a couple of other songs on it:<br />http://www.sweetjuice.com/music.asp#corrodedangels<br />http://www.sweetjuice.com/music.asp#theapple<br /><br /><br /><strong>Annmarie’s Musical Massacre</strong><br /><br />> Most Essential Album of the Year:<br />The Brian Jonestown Massacre, ...And This is Our Music<br /><br />> Essential Albums of the Year:<br />Dead Meadow - Shivering King and Others<br />Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Take Them On, On Your Own<br />The High Dials, A New Devotion<br />Outkast, Speakerboxxx/The Love Below<br />Lilys, Precollection<br />The Capitol Years, Pussyfootin'<br /><br />> Almost Essential:<br />The White Stripes, Elephant; The Strokes, Room on Fire; The Dandy Warhols, Welcome to the Monkey House; Radiohead, Hail to the Thief<br /><br />> Will Probably Grow to Be Essential:<br />British Sea Power, The Decline of British Sea Power<br />Beth Gibbons and Rustin Man, Out of Season<br /><br />> Should've Been On Last Year's List:<br />Mary Timony, The Golden Dove<br /><br />> Because I'm Embarrassed by the Lack of New Artists On My<br />> Essentials List, I Feel I Should Mention Bands and Singers New to<br />> Me This Year That I Really Like:<br />Television Personalities, The Telescopes, West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band<br /><br />...and in a related category, Most Essential Reissues/Comps:<br />The Telescopes, As Approved by the Committee<br />Brian Jonestown Massacre, Spacegirl and Other Favorites<br />Spacemen 3, Forged Prescriptions<br /><br />> Songs of the Year:<br />The White Stripes, "Seven Nation Army"; Brian Jonestown Massacre, "When Jokers Attack" and "Tschusse"; Outkast, "Hey Ya!"; Beth Gibbons and Rustin Man, "Mysteries"; Dead Meadow, "Good Moanin'"; The Capitol Years, "There's a Bridge"<br /><br /><br /><strong>Brian M, Slave to Axl</strong><br /><br />Most Essential Album of the Year<br />The Mars Volta, de-loused in the comatorium<br /><br />Essential Albums of the Year (and it was a good one for Rock fans)<br />The White Stripes, Elephant<br />Kings of Leon, Youth and YOung Manhood<br />Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Fever to Tell<br />The Kills, Keep on Your Mean Side<br />The Coral, Magic and Medicine<br />Iron & Wine, The Sea and the Rhythm (EP, but there is full lenght out too which I have to get still)<br />Natural History, Beat Beat Heartbeat<br />A.R.E. Weapons, self-titled<br />Rapture, Echoes (it takes nerve to name your album after one of the best albums ever, but it lives up to the name)<br />The Occasion, 7 Songs<br />Blur, Think Tank<br /><br />Almost Essential (if only because Iron & Wine did the same thing, only better)<br />Bonnie Prince Billy, Master and Everyone<br />Sun Kill Moon, Ghost of the Great Highway<br /><br />Recent Discoveries of Essential Albums from Our Past<br />Nikki Sudden & Rowlands Howard, Kiss You Kidnapped Charabanc<br />Jethro Tull, Stand Up<br />Iggy & the Stooges, Year of the Iquana<br />Captain Beefheart, Safe as Milk<br /><br />Song of the YEar<br />White Stripes, Hardest Button to Button<br /><br />Essential Album of 2004 (just because it's become a tradition with me, something like a Birthday)<br />Guns N Roses, Chinese Democracy<br /><br /><br /><strong>Matthue, Candy to our Ears</strong><br /><br />Most Essential: The Roots, Phrenology<br /><br />Top 5: Liz Phair, eponymous; Black-Eyed Peas, Elephunk; Mates of State, Team Boo; Andre 3000's half of Outkast, The Love Below<br /><br />Almost Essential: Bouncing Souls, Anchors Aweigh; Eve, Eve-olution<br /><br />Best Ear Candy: Nelly Furtado, Folklore<br /><br />Best Random Investment: Pansy Division, That's Entertainment<br /><br /><br /><strong>Billy Delivers</strong><br /><br />most essential 2003:<br />Postal Service, "Give Up"<br /><br />essential:<br />Ani DiFranco, "Evolve"<br />Placebo, "Sleeping with Ghosts"<br />Outkast, "The Love Below" (don't care about the other one)<br />Radiohead, "Hail to the Thief"<br />Damien Rice, "O"<br />Liz Phair, "Liz Phair"<br /><br />almost essential:<br />Rufus Wainwright, "Want One"<br />Mona Lisa Smile Soundtrack<br />Dar Williams, "Beauty of the Rain"<br /><br /><br /><strong>Matthew U, Full of Old Favorites</strong><br /><br />Looking over my favorites this year, i see that i'm becoming very predictable in my tastes. My list is almost entirely old favorites with new albums. But here they are anyway:<br /><br />Most Essential Album of the Year:<br />Emmylou Harris, Stumble into Grace<br /><br />Other Essential Albums:<br />Annie Lennox, Bare<br />Lucinda Williams, World Without Tears<br />Dar Williams, The Beauty of the Rain<br />Gillian Welch, Soul Journey<br />Roseanne Cash, Rules of Travel<br /><br />New Discovery of the Year (just because everything else is so obvious...):<br />Venus Hum, Big Beautiful Sky<br /><br />Blast from the Past finally purchased this year:<br />Johnny Cash, Love*God*Murder boxed set<br /><br /><br /><strong>Matthew L Presents His Catastrophe</strong><br /><br />here's my top 10 cds of 2003 (as of right now--it could change by the time i get home from work):<br /><br /><br />10. mahi mahi, he no wa (they're from providence, so don't think it's bad that you don't know who they are)<br /><br />9. yo la tengo, summer sun<br /><br />8. kristin hersh, the grotto<br /><br />6. the raveonettes, chain gang of love<br /><br />6. britta phillips and dean wareham, l'avventura<br /><br />5. various artists, wig in a box<br /><br />4. the postal service, give up<br /><br />3. the alkaline trio, good mourning<br /><br />2. ladytron, softcore jukebox<br /><br />1. belle and sebastian, dear catastrophe waitress<br /><br /><br /><br />and the runners-up are:<br /><br /><br /><br />15. hot hot heat, make up the breakdown<br /><br />14. the new pornographers, electric version<br /><br />13. sondre lerche, don't be shallow (ep)<br /><br />12. black rebel motorcycle club, take them on on your own<br /><br />11. cat power, you are free<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />and my top 10 songs of the year are:<br /><br />10. can't hold us down, christina aguilera ft. lil kim<br /><br />9. hey ya, outkast<br /><br />8. magic stick, lil kim & 50 cent<br /><br />7. milkshake, kelis<br /><br />6. yes u can, jewel<br /><br />5. little eyes, yo la tengo<br /><br />4. piazza new york catcher, belle and sebastian<br /><br />3. cry me a river, justin timberlake<br /><br />2. crazy in love, beyonce ft jay-z<br /><br />1. good woman, cat power<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Sarah-Maria’s Thoughts Don’t Tank</strong><br /><br />Most Essential Album of the Year:<br />Blur, Think Tank<br /><br />Super-close runner-up:<br />The White Stripes, Elephant<br /><br />Essential Albums of the Year:<br />HIM, Love Metal<br />The Cardigans, Long Gone Before Daylight<br />Placebo, Sleeping with Ghosts<br />The Coral, Magic & Medicine<br />Clearlake, Cedars<br />Muse, Absolution<br />Starsailor, Silence is Easy<br /><br />Would probably be on the list if I could get my hands on a record player or finally would be able to download it:<br />Damon Albarn, Democrazy<br /><br />Almost Essential:<br />The Strokes, Room on Fire<br />Kings of Leon, Youth and YOung Manhood<br />Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Fever to Tell<br />The Kills, Keep on Your Mean Side<br /><br />Will Probably Grow to Be Essential:<br />The Occasion, 7 Songs<br /><br />Will be on 2004 list:<br />The Divine Comedy, Absent Friends<br /><br />Songs of the Year:<br />Blur, Ambulance<br />The White Stripes, Hardest Button to Button<br /><br /><br /><strong>Rachel, Who’s Been Too Busy to Invest in Much Music<br /><br /></strong>Anyway, here are a couple of oldies but goodies that I find essential this year:<br />Jack Johnson, Brushfire Fairytales<br />Norah Jones, Come Away With Me (I know it was on last year's list but whatevs..I still love it)<br />Outkast , Speakerboxxxx (new one but will never make your top 10!)<br /><br /><br /><strong>Andrew Luvs the L’s</strong><br /><br />Lots of L's in this year's List. Hmmmm...<br /><br />Most Essential Album<br /><br />Liz Phair- Liz Phair<br /><br />Essential Albums<br /><br />Lucinda Williams- World Without Tears<br />Shelby Lynne- Identity Crisis<br />Patty Loveless- On Your Way Home<br />Elvis Costello- North<br /><br /><br /><strong>Markus, Our Australian Representative</strong><br /><br />Most Essential Album of the Year:<br />Pete Murray, Feeler<br /><br />Essential Albums of the Year:<br />Veruca Salt, Resolver (I think it came out in 2003); Neil Young, Greendale ; White Stripes, Elephant<br /><br />Almost Essential:<br />Dido, Life for Rent<br /><br />Will Probably Grow to Be Essential:<br />Queens of the Stoneage, Songs for the Deaf ; Dandy Warhols, Welcome to the Monkeyhouse<br /><br />Should’ve Been On Last Year’s List:<br />Johnny Cash, When the Man Comes Around<br /><br />Songs of the Year:<br />Pete Murray, Feeler / So Beautiful ; Veruca Salt, Officially Dead<br /><br /><br /><strong>Pete, Who Has Diagnosed a Very Serious New Ailment</strong><br /><br />My selections are below. This is all going to make a great coffee table book someday. Thanks for the diversion!<br /><br />Top 10 Essential Albums of the Year – 2003<br /><br />1 – The Shins, Chutes Too Narrow<br />2 – The Postal Service, Give Up<br />3 – M. Ward, The Transconfiguration of Vincent<br />4 – The New Pornographers, Electric Version<br />5 – The Books, The Lemon of Pink<br />6 - Death Cab for Cutie, Transatlanticism<br />7 - Cat Power, You Are Free<br />8 - Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, Hearts of Oak<br />9 - Radiohead, Hail to the Thief<br />10 - My Morning Jacket, It Still Moves<br /><br />Almost Essential:<br />The Decemberists, Castaways and Cutouts<br />Songs: Ohia, Magnolia Electric Company<br />The Wrens, Meadowlands<br />Sufjan Stevens, Greetings from Michigan: The Great Lakes State<br />Steven Malkmus, Pig Lib<br />White Stripes, Elephant<br />Mates of State, Team Boo<br /><br />Best Guilty Pleasure Albums:<br />Damien Rice, O<br />Fountains of Wayne, Welcome Interstate Managers<br />Beyonce, Dangerously in Love (sue me!)<br /><br />Best Singles:<br />REM, Bad Day<br />Fountains of Wayne, Stacey’s Mom<br />Death Cab for Cutie, The Sound of Settling<br />New Pornographers, Miss Teen Wordpower<br />The Postal Service, The District Sleeps Alone<br />Damien Rice, Eskimo<br /><br />Best Live Performances:<br />Elliott Smith, North Six<br />Damien Rice, Warsaw<br />Clem Snide/Califone, Bowery Ballroom<br />Apollo Sunshine, Mercury Lounge<br />Death Cab for Cutie/Mates of State, Bowery Ballroom<br /><br />Biggest Disappointment:<br />Belle and Sebastian, Dear Catastrophe Waitress (not bad, just disappointing)<br />Edie Brickell, Volcano (I still love her though)<br />Any Wilco spin-off<br /><br />Most Tired Trend of 2003:<br />Superfluous Lesbian Kissing (keep your porno clichés out of my trashy pop music please...I much prefer the snakes and tear away clothing)<br /><br />Best Emerging Trend (tie):<br />Bands Against Bush (http://www.babnyc.org/)<br />Violent Trucker Hat Backlash<br /><br />Most Troubling New Psychological Problem:<br />iPod Separation Anxiety (aka, the feeling you get before a long subway ride home at 3am without your iPod)<br /><br /><br /><strong>Jason G Explains it All to You</strong><br /><br /><br />1. Hail to the thief - Radiohead -<br /><br />2. Ghosts of the Great Highway - Sun Kil Moon<br /><br />3. Pig Lib – Stephen Malkmus<br /><br />4. Room On Fire - The Strokes<br /><br />5. NY: The Next Wave - Various Artists<br /><br />6. The Work of Director Spike Jonze DVD<br /><br />7. Think Tank - Blur<br /><br />8. Phantom Power - Super Furry Animals<br /><br />9. Fever To Tell - Yeah Yeah Yeahs<br /><br />10. The Coral - The Coral<br /><br /><br /><br />TOP FIVE SONGS OF 2003<br />5. Coma Girl - Joe Strummer<br />4. Danger (High Voltage) - Electric Six<br />3. Move Your Feet - Junior Senior<br />2. United States of Whatever - Liam Lynch<br />1. Hey Ya - Outkast<br /><br /><br /><br />The Top Ten Explained: I want to apologize to The White Stripes for leaving Elephant off the list. The fact is I kept bumping it until it fell off. See I really dig the album, but it's not De Stijl for me and well it's a great record still so they're getting an honorable mention. I really tried to stick with the records that I personally listen to the most this year. This is my list and not a critics list. Bless The White Stripes, but this year they didn't make my top ten. Of course, next week, I'll probably bang my head against a wall for leaving them off. I also want to give a shout out to The New Pornopraphers for Electric Version, The Rapture's Echoes (definitely not top ten but good none-the-less), The Music's The Music (much better live than on disc), Rufus Wainright's Want One, Missy E's This Is Not A Test, The Fever's Pink On Pink, Cat Power's You Are Free, The Postal Service's Give Up, and Iggy Pop's Skull Ring. These are all some kick ass records that I dig but well, they just weren't on my mind while I was making this list. So, yeah, that's my disclaimer and now here's that top ten album list....<br /><br /><br />10. The Coral - The Coral<br />For a band that seems to be based around the principals of using crystal meth and acid to unhealthy proportions, they sure make some killer music. It's the sound of Strawberry Fields Forever being played three times to fast by a bunch of Lee Maver's obsessed fans. These mersey beaters have stiched to together a sail that digs into so many aspects of british pop music that it's hard for you not to get caught in the wind and be driven to a sea of pleasure.<br />Highlights: Dreaming of You, Skeleton Key, Spanish Main<br /><br /><br />9. Fever To Tell - Yeah Yeah Yeahs<br />First off, this album is a bit of disappointment. It had to be. It would be next to impossible to try and capture the frantic energy of any of those early Brownies, Mighty Robot, or Tiswas shows on tape. The fact is Karen's hypersexuality, Nick's hair, and Brian's drumming (which really make's every song as killer as they are) are just to big to put onto an album. Yet, the album rocks. It rocks like any 12 year-old sugar addict singing into a hairbrush and dancing in front of her mirror to an older siblings Motley Crue record rocks. The album's absolute peek is when it strays to 'Maps' the future wedding song to a million hipsters.<br />Highlights: Maps, Date With the Night, Tick<br /><br /><br />8. Phantom Power - Super Furry Animals<br />The Super Furry Animals have worn many hats in there time, and while I will always be partial to their earlier, dancier sound, they were their new wookie outfits rather well. Phantom Power seems to have been created by the warmth of the sun that starts shining from the first song to the last. I'd say that at points the album does wonder off to some hippie territory, but spend a day outdoors with this record in the spring and everything will feel quite nice.<br />Highlights: Hello Sunshine, Golden Retriever, Valet Parking<br /><br /><br />7. Think Tank - Blur<br />I really miss Graham, but I got to give credit to Damon, Alex, and Dave, they really put together a great record with Think Tank. It's funny to think that at one point Blur was at war with Oasis for best band in the UK. While the dumb left casualties, and both bands now have different line-ups, I think its safe to say that Blur have easily outshined the Gallaghers. This album has made it clear that Damon is a terrific songwriter who can brace numerous types of landscapes. In fact, I think it's safe to say that Damon is the Bob Ross of pop music. His music is always safe and beautiful, but just when you think the canvas is done he'll add a happy little tree or a swoosh of water which makes it that much better.<br />Highlights: Battery In My Leg, Ambulance, We've Got A File On You<br /><br /><br />6. The Work of Director Spike Jonze DVD<br />First off, let's just acknowledge that all the videos on this were made before 2003, but I really don't give a fuck. This compilation is brilliant and its one of the best mix albums put out this year. Every video is so entertaining and cool looking. Every song is great. All the bonus material is hysterical. Jesus, Spike is just cool-as-fuck. He's an amazing director and this anthology of his work makes for a killer mix cd. It's crazy to realize that he's directed video's for everyone from Dinasour Jr to the Breeders to Notorious B.I.G. to Bjork. To watch Spike direct his former wife Sofia Coppola as a ballet dancer is classic in The Chemical Brother's 'Elektrobank' video. The whole director series are worth buying but this one stands ahead of the rest by far.<br />Highlights: Fat Lip's 'What's Up Fat Lip?', Notorious B.I.G.'s 'Skys The Limit',MC 900ft Jesus's 'If I Only Had A Brain', Chemical Brother's 'Elektrobank'<br /><br /><br />5. NY: The Next Wave - Various Artists<br />Whether you think that the music scene in New York is getting better or worse, I feel its fair to say thatKanine Records has put together a could-be classic compilation of New York's best bands that may one day stand as a reminder of the cities current, vibrant music scene. Although a bunch of these bands have gone out and gotten major labels, lord knows that it's only a matter of time until a majority of the other bands get picked up as well. What I really dig about this set is that it just shows how much damn fine bands there is right now in New York besides the bands you can now read about in every national magazine.<br />Highlights: Mommy & Daddy's 'Take It', The Fever's 'Labor of Love', Elefant's 'Bookie', Sea Ray's 'Revelry'<br /><br /><br />4. Room On Fire - The Strokes<br />God damnit, I hate that this is so high on my list, but the fact is I still listen to it all the time. What Ever Happened? is a great leadoff song, Under Control is a single of the year, and The End Has No End could be a killer theme song for Corey Feldman's comeback movie. Every song is a single, and every song can fit on mix tape. The only thing that keeps this from being an undeniable classic is the exclusion of the new track featuring Regina Spektor 'Postmodern Girl', which is the first song that really breaks out of The Strokes Sound (tm) and is a signal that these boys will be around for a long, long time.<br />Highlights: The End Has No End, Whatever Happened?, Under Control<br /><br /><br />3. Pig Lib – Stephen Malkmus<br />The day after my first car accident, I had tickets to see Pavement and Guided By Voices at the Roseland. I was in no mood to go but my friends forced me to go. I was still in a pissed off mood throughout GBV's set, but when Pavement went on, my entire body felt different. I fel overjoyed and at ease and it was one of those shows where you wish the band would never leave the stage. So yes, I dig Pavement and if this Stephen's return to a more Pavement-esque sound, I'm all cool with that. Its nice to hear Stephen sing so poeticly about eating a girl out. It's the equivilant of having the word blowjob turn up in the Sunday New York Times crossword.<br />Highlights: Venessa From Queens, 1% of One, (Do Not Feed The) Oysters<br /><br /><br />2. Ghosts of the Great Highway - Sun Kil Moon<br />Two years ago, a girl I was interested in told me she was going to see Mark Kozelek's other band, Red House Painters, at the Bowery Ballroom and asked me to join her. I had to work late and told her I'd try and make it. I ended up getting to the venue only find out it was sold out. The doorman took pity on me and let me in just as the show was starting. I couldn't find the girl and stopped looking after a little while. The songs were so beautiful and Mark was just brilliant and as he continued on with his two hour plus show I got increasingly sad that I wasn't watching it with the girl. After an hour and half of the show, I cut my way through the middle of the crowd in another attempt to find her, when I finally found her as she was wandering the crowd for me. The second we finally were next to each other I asked her to be my girlfriend. If a good relationship is something that continues to build and grow into something even more beautiful, Sun Kil Moon is Mark's perfect new beginning from his previous band. It's a gorgeous record that deserves to be a classic.<br />Highlights: Carry Me Ohio, Duk Koo Kim, Gentle Moon<br /><br /><br />1. Hail To The Thief – Radiohead<br />If pop music was a science, Radiohead would have been a one-hit wonder. The fact that we ever heard from them after 'Creep' defies all the logic behind pop music. After their debut they came out with three back-to-back brilliant albums (The Bends, OK Computer, and my personal favorite Kid A), they followed up with Amnesiac and then defied logic again by releasing a great live record. Which brings us to Hail To The Thief, another masterpiece that gets better and better everytime I listen to it. It amazes me how everything they do feels like an event; from the day Johnny Greenwood leaked it online, to the day it went onsale, to the Beacon Theatre show, to the stunning two night stand at Madison Square Garden where they played virtually every song off the album, they've proved to me that its another jewel in their crown as the kings of modern music. The lyrics spin the perfect mix of politics, fear, cubicle living, and fatherhood into fourteen brilliant songs. The album hasn't left my album rotation since it came out and it probably won't until their next record comes out.<br />Highlights: Wolf At The Door, 2+2=5, Sail To The Moon<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Kevin, Prisoner on the Chain Gang of Love</strong><br /><br />Okay. I had a difficult time with this because most of the bands I've had an eye on made good records, but not as good as their previous one -- see: The Dirtbombs, The Drive-By Truckers, and The Go. Anyhoo, here goes:<br /><br />MOST ESSENTIAL ALBUMS OF 2003<br />1. The Drive-By Truckers, Decoration Day -- they still got it, but let's hope they continue giving us more "Sink Hole" than "Outfit."<br />2. The Dirtbombs, Dangerous Magical Noise -- Mick Collins is the coolest guy on the planet. Not even a close second.<br />3. Cat Power, You Are Free -- nothing risky, but everything good.<br />4. The Black Keys, Thickfreakness<br />5. The Raveonettes, Chain Gang of Love<br />7. The Go, Go<br />8. Lucinda Williams, World Without Tears<br />9. The White Stripes, Elephant<br />10. The Voltaire Brothers, I Sing the Booty Electric -- have I mentioned that Mick Collins is the coolest guy on the planet? (plus, on this one, a cameo by Reverend Minister Doctor Overseer Jamaal Shabazz X.)<br /><br />MOST ESSENTIAL RE-ISSUES OF 2003:<br />1. Neil Young, On the Beach -- holy christ, this is good.<br />2. Blacktop, I've Got a Baaaad Feelin' About This -- yet ANOTHER Mick Collins project<br />3. The Coup, Steal This Double Album (originally released only a few years ago as "Steal This Album")<br />4. Andrew Hill, Passing Ships -- the never-ending brilliance of hard bop continues<br />5. Waylon Jennings, Lonesome On'ry and Mean<br /><br />ALBUM THAT'S PROBABLY GOOD BUT I HAVEN'T LISTENED TO:<br />Sam Roberts, We Were Born in a Flame<br /><br />BEST LIVE ALBUM:<br />Sugarfix, Sugarfix Live at the Chukker (yo! they brought the venue more dough than Cat Power. Of course, Sugarfix is content to be paid in booze.)<br /><br />2002 ALBUM I MISSED LAST YEAR<br />Ko and the Knockouts, Ko and the Knockouts -- the guiltiest of pleasures<br /><br />FEEL-GOOD HIT, SUMMER 2003<br />Randy, "We're All F***ed Up More or Less"<br /><br />FEEL-GOOD HIT, WINTER 2003<br />The Dirtbombs, "I'm Through With White Girls"<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Joan, Absolved by All But the Die-Hard Dashboard Fans</strong><br /><br /><br />01. Muse - Absolution<br />02. Vendetta Red - Between the Never and the Now<br />03. The Strokes - Room on Fire<br />04. AFI - Sing the Sorrow<br />05. Placebo - Sleeping With Ghosts<br />06. Kinesis - Handshakes for Bullets<br />07. The White Stripes - Elephant<br />08. Alkaline Trio - Good Mourning<br />09. Mogwai - Happy Songs for Happy People<br />10. The Distillers - Coral Fang<br />11. The Cooper Temple Clause - Bring in the Fire and Let the Flames<br />Get Loose<br />12. Stellastarr* - Stellastarr*<br />13. The Stratford 4 - Love and Distortion<br />14. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Fever to Tell<br />15. Kill Hannah - Kill Hannah<br />16. Thursday - War All the Time<br />17. The Star Spangles - Bazooka!<br />18. The Raveonettes - Chain Gang of Love<br />19. Electric Six - Fire<br />20. The Darkness - Permission to Land<br /><br /><br />Oh, and dishonourable mention? The albums that pissed me off? Here<br />you go:<br />01. Dashboard Confessional - A Mark, A Mission, A Brand, A Scar. --<br />I really liked the earlier stuff. I dig the acoustic vibe on<br />those... Somebody needs to get this guy away from his full band. I<br />hate this lots.<br /><br />02. Brand New - Deja Entendu -- Hey, jerks, don't release a single<br />that's amazing... and an album that sounds nothing like it. I hate<br />you.<br /><br />03. Ima Robot - Ima Robot -- I want my money back. This has been<br />done, better, by about seven thousand other bands.<br /><br />04. Travis - whatever that album is called. There's only one good<br />song on it, and it's "Love Will Come Through," which was available<br />for download months and months before the album. That was worth the<br />$1.50. The album, however, is boring and trite, and really, Travis<br />shouldn't try to have a complex meaning or politics. Yawn<br /><br /><br /><strong>Francesco, Smart with Whips and Fannypacks</strong><br /><br />Most Essential:<br />The Polyphonic Spree, The Beginning Stages of...<br /><br />Fantastically Essential:<br />Fannypack, So Stylistic<br /><br />Biggest Discovery from Previous Years (great category):<br />Liz Phair, Whipsmart<br /><br /><strong><br />Brant Puts It All In Perspective</strong><br /><br />I acquired twenty-six newly released albums in 2003. Here they are in the order of how essential they are to me, and to put it all in perspective, I’ve guessed where these albums might rank on a list of my top 2,500 most essential albums of all-time:<br /><br />The New Pornographers, Electric Version (239)<br />Cat Power, You Are Free (257)<br />Belle and Sebastian, Dear Catastrophe Waitress (342)<br />Drive-by Truckers, Decoration Day (353)<br />The White Stripes, Elephant (405)<br />The Strokes, Room on Fire (471)<br />The Shins, Chutes Too Narrow (501)<br />Paul Westerberg, Come Feel Me Tremble (502)<br />Outkast, The Love Below/Speakerboxxx (543/547)<br />Yo La Tengo, Summer Sun (557)<br />Mojave 3, Spoon & Rafter (604)<br />Zwan, Mary Star of the Sea (724)<br />Ryan Adams, Love Is Hell, Pts. 1 & 2 (724-tie)<br />The Raveonettes, Chain Gang of Love (815)<br />Clem Snide, Soft Spot (946)<br />Isobell Campbell, Amorino (998)<br />Grandpaboy, Dead Man Shake (1,011)<br />Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy, Master and Everyone (1,023)<br />Lucinda Williams, World Without Tears (1,251)<br />Ryan Adams, lloR n kcoR (1,254)<br />Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks, Pig Lib (1,532)<br />Blur, Think Tank (1,600)<br />Liz Phair, Liz Phair (1,697)<br />Quasi, Hot Shit (1,814)<br />Johnny Marr & the Healers, Boomslang (2,048)<br />Radiohead, Hail to the Thief (2,357, or maybe 2,351)<br /><br />Previously released albums I finally picked up in 2003:<br />The Kinks, Are the Village Green Preservation Society (241)<br />Blondie, Parallel Lines (303)<br />Spoon, Kill the Moonlight & Girls Can Tell (316 & 365)<br />T. Rex, The Slider (420)<br />The Paybacks, Knock Loud (456)<br />The Exploding Hearts, Guitar Romantic (501)<br />…and too many others, but I’ll stop at #503, which is obviously U2’s Actung Baby, which I purchased in Auburn, Alabama in November of 1991.<br /><br />Also of note, 2003 was the year I finally quit depending on my tapes, LPs, and compilations for my Beatles and Led Zeppelin needs. I acquired the complete recordings (on CD) of both bands. Many of the albums in these two collections would rank very high on my all-time list. The Beatles’ Revolver would, for example, be #1. –Brant<br /><br /><br /><strong>Jim Decorates Our List</strong><br /><br />2003 Drive-by Truckers, Decoration Day<br />2003 Clem Snide, Soft Spot<br />2003 Weakerthans, Reconstruction Site<br />2003 Belle & Sebastian, Dear Catastrophe Waitress (I can’t figure out<br />why everyone hates this album.)<br />2003 Outkast, Speakerboxxx/Love Below (overrated, but good.)<br />2003 Lucinda Williams, World Without Tears<br /><br />Biggest disappointment: Liz Phair (she and Ryan Adams should be hosting<br />Access Hollywood)<br />Most unfortunate band break-up: Urban Hog Wranglers.<br />Best music writing (though originally published in 2001): Paul Tough’s<br />“City Still Breathing: Listening to the Weakerthans.” (see<br />http://www.geist.com/issues/45/tough.html )<br />2003 Told-You-So: Radiohead sucks. I’ve been saying it since the<br />Clinton Administration.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Alistair’s Nashville Pickin’</strong><br /><br />Okay, here comes the 2003 Nashville bluegrass quota. I swear, I do listen to other music (although I did think the Postal Service delivered the mail, until your email). It's just that, if I'm going to be honest about the "essential" qualifier, these days it's probably going to involve an acoustic guitar and at least one mandolin, fiddle, or banjo. All in the name of diversity, my friend. I do like that new Jason Mraz video. You know, the one with the dancing riot squad and the mutable plot line.<br /><br />Most Essential Album of the Year:<br /><br />Tim O'Brien, Traveler<br /><br />Essential Albums of the Year:<br /><br />1.Wayfaring Strangers, This Train (a crazy mix of bluegrass, gospel, jazz, klezmer, dixieland, and some of the best female vocals around that -- even crazier -- works so well it left me laughing out loud in amazed glee)<br />2. Gillian Welch, Soul Journey (not as earth-shaking as Time (The Revelator), but Gillian and David can do little wrong in my book, and "One Little Song" is a brilliant ode to the creative existential crisis)<br />3. Bryan Sutton, Bluegrass Guitar (Bryan Sutton is one of those machine gun bluegrass guitar guys who can play more notes per second than should be humanly possible, but on this record, he stops showing off and takes the time to play some gorgeous instrumentals, full of depth and surprise. Even better, he chose a ridiculously talented guy who used to work at the sewage treatment plant in Mountain View, Arkansas -- and who had not, and has not, made it big -- to play fiddle on the record, and he blew it away. I like that.)<br />4. Chris Thile and Mike Marshall, Into the Cauldron (Two musical geniouses hang out and make a record. What else need be said?)<br />Hilary Hahn, Bach Concertos (Honorary fiddle player -- and I stand by my previous statement that Bach and bluegrass are just a flat seventh away from each other)<br /><br />Most Essential Live Shows of 2003:<br /><br />1. Tim O'Brien Band, Bela Fleck, John Prine, Beth Neilsen Chapman, Concert for Peace, Belcourt Theatre, Nashville, Tennessee<br />2. Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, Soul Journey album release concert, Belcourt Theatre, Nashville, Tennessee<br />3. Hot Rize reunion concert, Merlefest, Wilkesboro, North Carolina (and every other act at Merlefest, for that matter)<br />4. Old Crow Medicine Show: any show at the Station Inn, Nashville, Tennessee<br />5. Five old guys I don't know standing around in a horse barn tearing it up at the Full Moon Pickin' Party, Percy Warner State Park, Nashville, Tennessee<br /><br />Thank you, and good night.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Josh Is Free</strong><br /><br />Weak year. Short list. As follows...<br /><br />Most Essential Album of the Year:<br />Cat Power, You Are Free<br /><br />Essential Albums of the Year:<br />The White Stripes, Elephant<br />OutKast, Speakerboxx/The Love Below<br />A Perfect Circle, Thirteenth Step<br />Johnny Cash, Unearthed<br />Radiohead, Hail to the Thief<br /><br />Should've Been On Last Year's List:<br />Vienna Teng, Waking Hour<br /><br />Songs of the Year:<br />OutKast, "Hey Ya"<br />Kelis, "Milkshake"<br />Coldplay, "Clocks"<br />The "Smells Like Teen Spirit"/"Bootylicious" mash-up MP3<br />Beyonce, "Crazy in Love"<br />Lumidee, "Never Leave You (Uh Ooh Uh Ooh)"<br /><br /><br /><strong>Matthew Kasts the First Cohen</strong><br /><br />Best record:<br />"The Love Below/Speakerboxxx" - Outkast<br /><br />Runners-up:<br />"Electric Version" - New Pornographers<br />"Elephant" - The White Stripes<br /><br />Others worth mentioning:<br />"Give Up" - The Postal Service<br />"Team Boo" - Mates of State<br />"Avenue Q" - Original Cast Recording<br /><br />Best song:<br />"Hey-Ya!" - Outkast<br /><br /><br /><strong>The Everlasting Scott</strong><br /><br />Most Essential Album of 2003<br /><br />Bent, The Everlasting Blink - better than their first<br /><br />Other Essential 2003 Albums<br /><br />Lost In Translation Soundtrack - perfect fit with the film, or without<br />Moby, 18 B-Sides CD/DVD - Ok, a 3rd essential Moby album in 5 years? Ridiculous. But this is a strong 13 track record, with 30 extra songs on the DVD, also a 70+ minute DJ mix by Moby AND a full-length live concert AND all the videos from 18 AND extra comedy bits that I haven't even seen yet ALL for the price of a regular CD which makes it ESSENTIAL on value alone. Everyone should support artists who think this creatively and package stuff for the fans benefit.<br /><br />Other Essential Albums Discovered in 2003<br /><br />Cirrus, Counterfeit (2002) - 3rd full-length release is a groove laden masterpiece<br />Royksopp, Melody A.M. (2002) - Scandinavian due with lucious electronics and brilliant pop singles, extra kudos for bonus videos on second disc which are genius<br /><br />Underword, AHundredDaysOff (2002) - 4th full-length (first sans Darren Emerson) was my most pleasant surprise of the year<br /><br />Kudos to Dandy Warhols and Massive Attack who had excellent releases in 2003, but not the best work by either.<br /><br />Steve’s Tasty Folklore<br /><br />Very quick and incomplete.<br /><br />No particular order. I just really enjoy listening to all of these complete albums...<br />Kelis / Tasty<br />Nelly Furtado / Folklore<br />Supergrass / Life On Other Planets<br />Blur / Think Tank<br />Belle & Sebastian / Dear Catastrophe Waitress<br />Basement Jaxx / Kish Kash<br />Junior Senior / d-d-don't son't stop the beat<br />The Thrills / So Much for the City<br />and two girl pop groups - both surprisingly good<br />Sugababes / Three<br />Girls Aloud / Sound of the Underground<br /><br />Rediscovered<br />XTC / Skylarking<br />Lene Lovich / Flex<br />Talking Heads / Fear of Music<br /><br />Best songs<br />Kelis / Flashback and Milkshake<br />Pet Shop Boys / Miracles and Flambouyant<br />Belle & Sebastian / Piazza, New York Catcher<br />Blur / Sweet Song<br />Junior Senior / Move Your Feet<br /><br /><br /><strong>Elizabeth Needs to Get Off Her Tush and Break More Careers</strong><br /><br />Look at me, waiting until the last minute! Well, I felt the pressure, knowing that my picks would make or break many careers, but, alas, I decided to stop being such a wimp and make a decision already!! Here it is (drumrolll, please!)<br /><br />Most Essential Album:<br />Belle and Sebastrian, Dear Catastrophe Waitress<br /><br />Other Essential Albums:<br />Joss Stone, Soul Sessions<br />White Stripes, Elephant<br />Maroon 5, Songs about Jane<br />The Strokes, Room on Fire<br />Nelly Furtado, Folklore<br />Jason Mraz, Waiting for My Rocket to Come<br />Life for Rent, Dido<br /><br />I feel like I should add the category - albums that I think would be essential if I got off my lazy tush and bought them already (but that would be just way too many albums to list!).<br /><br /><br /><strong>Annie’s Extraordinary, If You Really Get to Know Her</strong><br /><br />Most Essential<br />Liz Phair , Liz Phair<br /><br />Essential<br />Fountains of Wayne, Interstate Managers<br />Lucinda Williams, World Without Tears<br />Sinead O'Connor, She Who Dwells...<br />Dolly Parton and others, Just Because I'm a Woman<br /><br />Other Highlights<br />Leona Naess, Leona Naess<br />Erasure, Other People's Songs<br />Nelly Furtado, Folklore<br />Joss Stone, Soul Sessions<br /><br />Broadway Cast Album Highlights<br />Avenue Q<br />Wicked<br /><br /><br /><strong>The District Sleeps With Dan Tonight</strong><br /><br /><br />Most Essential: The Postal Service, Give Up<br /><br />Other Essential Albums:<br />Nelly Furtado, Folklore<br />Liz Phair, Liz Phair<br />Rufus Wainwright, Want One<br />Fischerspooner, #1<br />Damien Rice, O<br />Belle & Sebastian, Dear Catastrophe Waitress<br />Madonna, American Life<br />Sarah McLachlan, Afterglow<br /><br />Songs I skip forward to:<br />Howie Day, Collide<br />Nelly Furtado, Try<br />Madonna, Nothing Fails<br /><br />Best Song, Worst Lyrics:<br />Damien Rice, Eskimo<br /><br />Best Song without Lyrics:<br />Fischerspooner, Ersatz<br /><br />Album I had every intention of loving, but just didn't<br />cut it:<br />Radiohead, Hail to the Chief<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Sean Presents His List</strong><br /><br />Essential Album:<br />Richard X, Presents His X Factor Vol. 1<br /><br />Other Essential Albums:<br />Mark Ronson, Here Comes The Fuzz<br />FannyPack, So Stylistic<br />Alicia Keys, The Diary Of Alicia Keys<br />Kelis, Tasty<br />Basement Jaxx, Kish Kash<br />Venus Hum, Big Beautiful Sky<br />The Postal Service, Give Up<br />Liz Phair, Liz Phair<br />Mandy Moore, Coverage<br /><br />Essential Import:<br />Kylie Minogue, Body Language (U.S. release in February)<br /><br />Will Probably Grow to Be Essential:<br />Sarah McLachlan, Afterglow<br />Annie Lennox, Bare<br />Rufus Wainwright, Want One<br /><br />Best Excuse for a Compilation:<br />Tori Amos, Tales of a Librarian<br /><br />Best Extreme Makeover:<br />Varios Artists, Verve Remixed 2<br /><br />Most Underrated Album:<br />Madonna, American Life<br /><br />Biggest Disappointment:<br />Peaches, Fatherf*cker<br /><br />Song of the Year:<br />Beyonce, "Crazy In Love"<br /><br />Runners-Up:<br />Kelis, "Milkshake"<br />Kelly Rowland, "Can't Nobody"<br />JC Chasez, "Blowin' Me Up (With Her Love)"<br />Monica, "So Gone"<br />Lumidee, "Never Leave You - Uh Ooh, Uh Oooh!"<br />Outkast, "Hey Ya"<br /><br />Cover Version of the Year (Tie):<br />Tiga, "Hot In Herre"<br />No Doubt, "It's My Life"<br />Remix of the Year:<br />Duncan Sheik, "On A High" [Gabriel & Dresden's Love From Humboldt Vocal]<br /><br />Mash-Up of the Year:<br />Dannii Minogue vs. Madonna, "Don't Wanna Lose This Groove" [Bootleg Mix]<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Tanuja Gives Us a Barely Free Minute</strong><br /><br />eek don't think i can as am getting ready to leave:<br />cat power--you are free comes to mind as fabulous fabulous<br />yeah yeah yeahs i really liked yes yes yes<br />sheryl crow c'mon c'mon too<br />the last moloko album<br />okay and this is by far my favorite though it's not 'new'--the anthology<br />double album of all the b52s songs, naked on the moon? or something on the moon? i never remember these titles since theyre all in my ipod.<br />ooh, and am liking the darkness a lot!<br />last blondie is cool too.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Beth Is Just Like Honey</strong><br /><br />Oops, I really am a shirker! Here are my picks...<br /><br />Soundtrack, Lost in Translation<br />Liz Phair, Liz Phair<br /><br />And I think those were the only new albums I bought this year. ;-)<br /><br /><strong><br />I Need Terra So Much Closer</strong><br /><br />Most Essential Album of 2003:<br />Death Cab for Cutie, Transatlanticism (was there any doubt?)<br /><br />2nd Most Essential Album of 2003:<br />The Postal Service, Give Up<br /><br />Other Albums that I got in 2003 That are Very Essential:<br />Lost in Translation Soundtrack<br />John Mayer, Heavier Things<br />John Mayer, Room for Squares<br />Rufus Wainwright, Want One<br />Johnny Cash, Solitary Man<br />Coldplay, Parachutes (Yes I am behind the times but this just goes to show how very essential the album is, right? That it's still essential even after the newer album has made the Most Essential list??)<br /><br /><br />[Note to self: THERE ARE NO WOMEN ON YOUR LIST THIS YEAR!!]<br /><br />PS: The White Stripes will never be essential to me.<br /><br />A Surprise Discovery in 2003 That is, Essentially, Worth Noting:<br />The soundtrack for The Postman. It has this adorable sweet music but, more importantly, a bunch of cool people like Ralph Fiennes, Glenn Close and, yes, Wesley Snipes reading Pablo Neruda poems.<br /><br />And there's no point in me being embarrassed about there being no new artists on my list because that would mean, essentially, being completely embarrassed about my entire existence and that's just not helpful to anyone.<br /><br />And I'm not naming any essential songs. That's private and besides for me it really fluxuates a lot.<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Fiona Plays Phair</strong><br /><br />here are some of the things that helped me get through the year--in no particular order (and, personally, I think it's an eclectic selection not a schizophrenic one . . . just for the record):<br /><br /><br />1. Liz Phair, Liz Phair--she may have gone "pop" as some people claim<br /><br />2. Jason Mraz, Waiting for My Rocket to Come-it may be fluff, but it’s feel good fun.<br /><br />3. John Mayer, Heavier Things<br /><br />4. Lyle Lovett, Smile-I’ve had a Lyle Lovett obsession for a while. These are covers of old movie songs-standards sung with style.<br /><br />5. Johnny Cash, American IV: The Man Comes Around - The man will always be a national treasure.<br /><br />6. Evanescence, Fallen-okay, friends tell me that The White Stripes album is more challenging and that this is really pop . . . guess I’m just not in to being overly challenged right now.<br /><br />7. The Boy From Oz--the Soundtrack (Hugh Jackman . . . he can sing and he's hot . . . yeah, I'm pathetic. Seriously, the music is ridiculously catchy and how often do you get to hear Liza and Judy impressions? Makes me laugh a lot.)<br /><br />8. Master and Commander-Soundtrack-not just my Russell fixation!-some gorgeous classical music and some wonderful traditionals. Great music to listen to when you’re relaxing.<br /><br />9. The Lord of the Rings-trilogy soundtracks by Howard Shore-music that really captures the mood of the films without being intrusive or overwhelming.<br /><br />10. Mozart’s Don Giovanni (Bryn Terfel, Renee Fleming, and many more). I’m going to see the opera in March and wanted to reacquaint myself with it. Powerful, powerful singing. And just to throw something really different into the mix.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Jason, Free at Last from the Shackles of the Music Biz</strong><br /><br />damien rice - o<br />rufus - want<br />postal service - give up<br />madonna - american life<br />new pornographers - electric version<br />NOT the newest Travis<br />"milkshake"<br /><br />I promise, this year I'll have more for you now that I'm out of the music<br />business and can enjoy music.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Kristin, Latest But Not Least</strong><br /><br />Most Essential of 2003:<br /><br />Zwan, Mary Star of the Sea<br />It’s like new nostalgia. I was instantly hooked.<br />Gotan Project, La Revancha del Tango<br />Subtle and sultry. Perfect for home and office alike.<br /><br />Also essential (I must thank Brant Rumble, who made it all possible):<br />The New Pornographers, Electric Version<br />Mojave 3, Spoon & Rafter<br />Yo La Tengo, Summer Sun<br />Blur, Think Tank<br />The White Stripes, Elephant<br />Paul Westerberg, Come Feel Me Tremble<br />Clem Snide, Soft Spot<br />The Strokes, Room on Fire<br />The Shins, Chutes Too Narrow<br />Cat Power, You Are Free<br />Belle and Sebastian, Dear Catastrophe Waitress<br />Drive-by Truckers, Decoration Day<br />Outkast, The Love Below/Speakerboxxx<br />The Raveonettes, Chain Gang of Love<br /><br />New old fascinations (also thanks to B. Rumble):<br />The Kinks, Are the Village Green Preservation Society<br />Spoon, Kill the Moonlight<br />T. Rex, The Sliderdavidlevithanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00762768300871943772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1509734071563017124.post-66043606847696412522009-01-09T06:16:00.000-08:002009-01-09T06:25:19.775-08:00The 2002 David Music Poll Results<strong>The 2002 David Music Poll Results!</strong><br /><br />1. Coldplay, A Rush of Blood to the Head (14)<br />2. Norah Jones, Come Away With Me (10)<br />3. Patty Griffin, 1000 Kisses (9)<br /> Aimee Mann, Lost in Space (8)<br />5. The Flaming Lips, Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots (8)<br />6. Beth Orton, Daybreaker (7)<br />Beck, Sea Change (7)<br />Bruce Springsteen, The Rising (7)<br />9. Sneaker Pimps, Bloodsport (6)<br />Dixie Chicks, Home (6)<br />Tori Amos, Scarlet’s Walk (6)<br /><br /><br />Honorable Mention: <br /><br />5 votes: Alanis Morrisette, Under Rug Swept; Wilco, Yankee Foxtrot Hotel; Sheryl Crow, C’mon C’mon; Badly Drawn Boy, About a Boy soundtrack<br /><br />4 votes: Sigur Ros, ( ); Drive-by Truckers, Southern Rock Opera; The Streets, Original Pirate Material; Soundtrack, I am Sam<br /><br /><br /><strong>My Picks</strong><br /><br />Most Essential Album of the Year:<br />Patty Griffin, 1000 Kisses<br /><br />Essential Albums of the Year:<br />Coldplay, A Rush of Blood to the Head<br />Aimee Mann, Lost in Space<br />Beth Orton, Daybreaker<br />Alanis Morissette, Under Rug Swept<br />Ani DiFranco, So Much Shouting, So Much Laughter<br />Rhett Miller, The Instigator<br /><br />Almost Essential:<br />Badly Drawn Boy, About a Boy Soundtrack; Duncan Sheik, Daylight; Tori Amos, Scarlet’s Walk; Sigur Ros, ( ); Elvis Costello, When I Was Cruel<br /><br />Will Probably Grow to Be Essential:<br />Philip Glass, The Hours<br /><br />Should’ve Been On Last Year’s List:<br />The Strokes, Is This It<br /><br />Because I’m Embarrassed by the Lack of New Artists On My Essentials List, I Feel I Should Mention Bands and Singers New to Me This Year That I Really Like: <br />Leaves, Frou Frou, Idlewild, Andy Stochansky, Lamb, Hooverphonic<br /><br />Songs of the Year:<br />Coldplay, “The Scientist”; Bright Eyes, “Lover I Don’t Have to Love”; Patty Griffin, “Rain” and “Be Careful”; Duncan Sheik, “On a High”; Vanessa Carlton, “A Thousand Miles”<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Beth, Hot to Foxtrot</strong><br /><br />most essential:<br />Wilco, Yankee Hotel Foxtrot<br /><br />most essential soundtrack:<br />Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Once More, With Feeling<br /><br />other good stuff:<br />Beck, Sea Change<br />Norah Jones, Come Away With Me<br />Sheryl Crow, Come On Come On<br /><br /><br /><strong>Chris, He’s a Heavy Metal God</strong><br /><br />MOST ESSENTIAL ALBUM: Murderdolls, "Beyond The Valley Of The Murderdolls"ESSENTIAL ALBUMS OF 2002:Darkane, "Expanding Senses"The Crown, "Crowned In Terror"Soilwork, "Natural Born Chaos"Nekromantix, "Return of the Loving Dead"Shadows Fall, "The Art of Balance"Flogging Molly, "Drunken Lullabies"Down, "II: A Bustle In Your Hedgerow..."Nile, "In Their Darkened Shrines"David Bowie, "Heathen"RUNNERS UP: The Residents, "Petting Zoo"; Voltaire, "Boo Hoo"; Cannibal Corpes, "Gore Obsessed"; The Berzerker, "Dissimulate"ALBUMS I SHOULD'VE OWNED BEFORE THIS YEAR 'CAUSE THEY ROCK SO DAMNED HARD: Strapping Young Lad, "City"; Children Of Bodom, "Follow The Reaper"; Johnny Cash, "Live In Folsom Prison"BEST DAVID-GOT-ME-INTO-IT SONGS: The Tams, "Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy"; Muse, "Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want"BESTEST ARTIST EVER EVER: Slayer<br /><br /><br /><strong>Kristen, Feliz with Felicity</strong><br /><br />Absolutely most essential:<br /><br />Various Artists, Felicity: Senior Year (do I lose all credibility/coolness—if I had any to begin with—for even suggesting that?)<br /><br />Next:<br />Bruce Springsteen, The Rising (and I have never before been able to tolerate a BS album)<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Joan, Who Has the World in Her Arms and Her I to the Sky</strong><br /><br />MOST ESSENTIAL: JJ72, I To Sky<br /><br />ESSENTIAL ALBUMS OF 2002: <br />Idlewild, The Remote Part Easyworld, This is Where I Stand Thursday, Full Collapse The Faint, Danse MacabreSigur Ros, ( ) Interpol, Turn on the Bright LightsMcLusky, McLusky Do DallasSoviet, We are Eyes, We are BuildersLadytron, Light and Magic<br /><br />VERY CLOSE TO ESSENTIAL:<br />Supergrass, Life on Other Planets; Halo, Lunatic Ride; Aqualung, Strange & Beautiful; Lemon Jelly, Lost Horizons; The Libertines, Up the Bracket; Ikara Colt, Chat and Business; Hot Hot Heat, Make Up The Breakdown; Doves, The Last Broadcast; Elf Power, Nothing's Going to Happen; The Flaming Lips, Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, Feeder, Comfort in Sound<br /><br />TWO ALBUMS FROM LAST YEAR (2001) THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ON MY LIST:<br />Dashboard Confessional, The Places You Have Come to Fear the Most; The White Stripes, White Blood Cells.<br />SONGS OF THE YEAR (Singles, Non-Album)<br />My Vitriol, "Moodswings"; Ash, "Envy"; JJ72, "Wicked Game" (Chris Issac cover); Electric Six featuring Jack White, Danger! High Voltage!; Kinesis, "And They Obey"<br /><br /><strong>Nico, To Whom Music’s Just a Bloodsport</strong><br /><br />My essential albums of 2002:<br />Tori Amos, Scarlet’s Walk<br />Sneaker Pimps, Bloodsport (released in the US in 2002)<br />I’m sorry, but I can’t think of ANY other essentials from 2002. It was a dry year compared to 2001 (Garbage, Placebo, Kosheen, No Doubt, etc..all of which I find essential!)<br /><br /><strong>Sean, Back to His Roots</strong><br /><strong></strong><br />The Roots, Phrenology<br /><br /><strong>Jim, And His Operatic Choices</strong><br /><br />Most Essential Album<br />Drive-by Truckers, Southern Rock Opera<br /><br />Other Essential Albums<br />(I want to underscore the distance between the most essential album and<br />the rest of these.)<br />Steve Earle, Jerusalem<br />Bruce Springsteen, The Rising<br />Bob Dylan, Live 1977<br /><br />Biggest Disappointment:<br />Billy Bragg, England, Half English<br /><br />Strokes-like over-hyped super-sucker's album of the year:<br />Wilco, Yankee Hotel Foxtrot<br /><br />Live Show of the Year:<br />Steve Earle, Georgia Theater, Athens, Georgia, November.<br /><br />Most Unfortunate Band Break-up of the Year:<br />Star Room Boys<br /><br />Book of the Year:<br />Kevin Waltman, Nowhere Fast.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Fiona, Stepping Into Lyle’s House</strong><br /><br />Kind of an odd list I realized . . . but here you go:<br /><br />MOST ESSENTIAL: Bruce Springsteen, The Rising<br /><br />ESSENTIAL (in no particular order):<br />Bon Jovi, Crossroad<br />Dixie Chicks, Home<br />Lyle Lovett, Step into this House (been out for a few years, but must listen)<br />Soundtrack, I am Sam<br /><br />NOT ESSENTIAL BUT ONES I REACH FOR:<br />Sheryl Crow, C'mon C'mon<br />U2, Best of 1990-2000<br /><br />WILL IN ALL LIKELIHOOD ESSENTIAL:<br />Steve Earle, Jerusalem<br /><br /><br /><strong>Mark, Who Shockingly Did Not Include the Episode II Soundtrack</strong><br /><br />Not in any order:<br /><br />Joseph Arthur - Redemption's son<br />Remy Zero - The Golden Hum (maybe came out late 2001)<br />Midnight Oil - Capricornia - their finest album in a decade.<br />(Unfortunately, they just broke up.)<br />Elvis - when I was cruel<br />Neil Finn- One Nil<br /><br />Things I've heard recently with potential:<br />Hooverphonic - Jackie Cane<br />Beth Gibbons and Rusta man (The lady from Portishead)<br />Aimee Mann - Lost in Space<br />The new Chantal Kreviazuk - kinda cheesey and overproduced - I just got it.<br />We'll see.<br />Kenna<br /><br />Crap. Remy Zero is 2001 - doesn't count, does it?<br /><br />I am very picky, maybe very set in my ways of what music I like. But<br />mostly, I don't like anything that's popular - rap metal, rap, metal, etc.<br />I think part of the problem with the music industry is that a lot of the<br />music out there is BAD, and we don't want to admit it.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Kevin, In For His Sugarfix</strong><br /><br />Most Essential Album of 2002: The Paybacks -- Knock Loud. This album is<br />enough to give you a habit or break you of one. Goddamn. These vocals make<br />Chrissie Hynde sound like bubble gum.<br /><br />Almost essential albums from 2002:<br />Coldplay - Rush of Blood to the Head<br />Beth Orton -- Daybreaker (I've only listened to this album twice, so it's<br />placement on any list could fluctuate. However, like the captain behind the<br />counter said, "It's Beth)<br /><br />2002 albums I bet would be essential if I weren't on a fixed income:<br />Blackalicious -- Blazing Arrow<br />Steve Earle -- Jerusalem<br /><br />Album from 2001 I've learned is essential: The Drive-By Truckers -- Southern<br />Rock Opera (the band that's more than just a parlor game!)<br /><br />Album from 2000 I've learned is essential: Dead Prez -- Let's Get Free (who<br />knew socialism could bounce like this ... besides Giesen)<br /><br /><br />Older albums that would be essential in any year:<br />Sam Cooke -- Live at the Harlem Square Club (One Night Stand). This is one of<br />the best albums in my entire collection. The first time I heard this version<br />of "Bring it On Home To Me" I had to pull my car off the highway. Seriously<br />... this is a whole different world of Sam.<br /><br />Duke Ellington w/ Mahalia Jackson -- Black, Brown and Beige.<br /><br />The Mighty Diamonds -- Right Time<br /><br />Band to watch out for in 2003: Sugarfix. Word is, they've worked up some<br />timely covers of "The Kids are All Right" and "Peace, Love and<br />Understanding." No joke. <br /><br /><br /><strong>Annie Has Room for Squares</strong><br /><br />I can't believe my list is so long but I guess it was a good year for music. It was hard to pick the most essential, but I'll go with ...<br /><br />Most Essential:<br />John Mayer, Room for Squares<br /><br />Essential or close to it (in no particular order):<br />Soundtrack, I Am Sam<br />Norah Jones, Come Away with Me<br />Beck, Sea Change<br />the Eels, Souljacker<br />Duncan Sheik, Daylight<br />Sheryl Crow, C'mon, C'mon<br />Bruce Springsteen, The Rising<br />Moby, 18<br />Kim Richey, Rise<br />Alanis Morissette, Under Rug Swept<br />Kasey Chambers, Barricades & Brickwalls<br />Beth Orton, Daybreaker<br />Eva Cassidy, Imagine<br />Cast Album, Hairspray<br /><br />From years past that became essential:<br />Ben Folds, Rockin' the Suburbs<br />Leona Naess, Comatized<br />Pink, Mizunderstood<br />And even though the Internet-pirated version of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer "Once More with Feeling" episode topped my list last year, I have to give a shout-out to the official soundtrack since the bonus tracks are great and it hasn't left the immediate vicinity of my CD player since it came out!<br /><br /><br /><strong>Brian, Still Awaiting Chinese Democracy</strong><br /><br />It has been a strange year for music, for me. I bought less (around 250 cds rather than the norm 500+) but I don't think I bought any I didn't like. I've become focused.<br /><br />MOST ESSENTIAL (and MOST SURPRISING for me to put on a list)<br /><br />Red Hot Chili Peppers, By the Way (got it for free, wasn't expecting anything, couldn't stop listening to it)<br /><br /><br />ALMOST MOST ESSENTIAL (and equally surprising)<br />Oasis, Heathen Chemistry<br />Queens of the Stone Age, Songs for the Deaf<br /><br /><br />OTHER ESSENTIAL ALBUMS OF 2002<br /><br />Spoon, Kill the Moonlight<br />Interpol, Turn on the Bright Lights (YAY! Paul!)<br />Cooper Temple Clause, See This Through and Leave<br />Norah Jones, (sorry don't know the name)<br />graham coxon, Kiss of the Morning<br />the Datsuns, the Datsuns<br />Dan Sullivan, Artic Night (Nad Navillus is what it's filed under in unknowing record stores)<br />Madragada, Grit (every time I go to Swissland, my favorite Norweigian band comes through with a new album!)<br />Haven, Between the Senses (who were the Stone Roses again?)<br />Von Bondies, Lack of Communication<br /><br /><br />MOST LIKELY TO BECOME ESSENTIAL<br /><br />the Coral (only heard one song, and it rules. Will be buying the album shortly)<br />the Beatings (same)<br /><br />MOST ESSENTIAL RETURN OF HARDCORE<br />Against Me, Reinventing Axl Rose (and not just because of the name, but it don't hurt)<br /><br />MOST ESSENTIAL FROM PREVIOUS YEARS THAT I JUST DISCOVERED<br />AC/DC, High Voltage<br />Gun Club, Fire of Love<br />Iggy & the Stooges, Year of the Iquana (part of the Iquana Chronicles on BOMP)<br /><br />MOST ESSENTIAL RE-ISSUE<br />Earth, Sunn Amps and Smashed Guitars (song 4 sung by Kurt)<br /><br />MOST ESSENTIAL SONG<br />Nirvana, You Know You're Right (WOW, 17 bootlegs, and still a song I haven't heard! treats)<br /><br />PREDICTIONS for MOST ESSENTIAL OF 2003 (it's gonna be a great year!)<br /><br />White Stripes, Elephant<br />Whirlwind Heat<br />Nirvan Box Set<br />the Project (Izzy, Slash, Duff and Matt with singer tk)<br />Guns N Roses, Chinese Democracy (2003??? or did I, in a bizarre twist of irony, witness the death of my favorite band? only time will tell)<br /><br />for the record....Ryan Adams is wimp! No one has the right to bash Jack White like that. Jack White is the 2nd coming of Elvis! Viva La White Strips!!<br /><br /><br /><strong>Scott, Sneaker Pimpin’</strong><br /><br /><br />Most Essential Album of 2003<br /><br />Sneaker Pimps, Bloodsport - Still improving with every new release<br /><br />Other Essential Albums of 2003<br /><br />Moby, 18 - I'm very stingy with the "essential" status. "Play" was a<br />no-brainer in 1999 but this album is so similar, would someone really need<br />to have both? In the end I decided Moby's album is as culturally relevant<br />as his forefather's tome "Moby Dick". It is virtually ubiquitous and for<br />good reason. People should own it.<br /><br />Dirty Vegas, Dirty Vegas - In many ways, this album is artistically<br />underwhelming. But it stayed in my CD player nearly all year. Kudos for<br />morphing one song into a Pink Floyd cover.<br /><br />Other Essential Albums discovered in 2003 (as my CD purchasing habits<br />change, this is where all the albums turn up. Years after their release)<br /><br />Avalanches, Since I Left You - My favorite album of the current millenium.<br />(2000)<br /><br />Bongos, Numbers With Wings - The best 80s album you never heard. (1983)<br /><br />Broadcast, The Music Made By People (2000)<br /><br />Daft Punk, Discovery - Groovy through and through (2001)<br /><br />Fantastic Plastic Machine, Fantastic Plastic Machine - Frenetic and catchy<br />(1998)<br /><br />Ladytron, 604 - Good, clean synth fun from a band with modern sensibilities<br />and 80s equipment (2001)<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Laura, Blood Rushing to Her Head</strong><br /><br />Ii don't often buy albums in the year they come out, but this year I'd have to say that Coldplay's Rush of Blood to the Head was a must-have. I think the only other new one I got was Ani's So Much Shouting, So Much Laughter and that should be on there too.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Pete, Sucker For a Good List</strong><br /><br />I'm a sucker for a good list (or writing a bad one) so here ya go...<br /><br />Most Essential Album or 2002 - 1. Spoon "Kill the Moonlight"<br /><br />OTHER ESSENTIAL ALBUMS OF 2002 (in order of my preference on Monday morning):<br /><br />2. Flaming Lips "Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots"<br />3. Wilco "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot"<br />4. Paul Westerberg "Stereo"<br />5. Badly Drawn Boy "About a Boy soundtrack"<br />6. Neko Case "Blacklisted"<br />7. White Stripes "White Blood Cells"<br />8. Beth Gibbons and Rustin Man "Out of Season"<br />9. Queens of the Stone Age "Songs for the Deaf"<br />10. Kasey Chambers "Barricades and Brick Walls"<br /><br /><br />SEMI-HONORABLE MENTIONS/GUILTY PLEASURES - Elvis Costello "When I Was Cruel," Coldplay "A Rush of Blood to the Head," Ani DiFranco "So Much Shouting, So Much Laughter," Aimee Mann "Lost in Space," Ryan Adams "Demolition"<br /><br />BEST SONGS - White Stripes "Fell in Love with a Girl," Spoon "The Way We Get By" and Badly Drawn Boy "Something to Talk About."<br /><br />ALBUM THAT SHOULD'VE CHANGED MY LIFE TWO YEARS AGO - Flaming Lips "The Soft Bulletin"<br /><br />BEST ALBUM THAT PROBABLY WOULD'VE MADE MY LIST IF I GOT AROUND TO BUYING IT - Sleater Kinney "One Beat"<br /><br />BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENTS - Belle and Sebastian "Storytelling soundtrack", Norah Jones "Come Away with Me" (pales in comparison to everything else she's done...blame the record industry spit shine for this tepid reflection of a great new artist), Wilco's various live performances and side projects, New York's downtown jazz scene selling out to the hip-hop clones and the "comeback of rock and roll" turning into a Gap ad.<br /><br />WORST TREND IN MUSIC - Skinny girls with exposed navels singing about how much they hate skinny girls with exposed navels (Inda Arie, Christina Aguilera, Avril Lavigne, etc.). <br /><br /><br /><strong>Nancy H, Not a Teen, But Still Imperial</strong><br /><br />I seem to have acquired only a couple of albums last year that came out last year (Imperial<br />Teen, On and Soundtrack, Monsoon Wedding (note correct formatting), both ofwhich I would consider essential. Song of the Year: Imperial Teen, "Baby"). Instead, 2002 appears to be the year that I went backwards and picked up mostly older stuff: Harry Belafonte, Elvis Costello, the Delfonics, Artie Shaw, Ella, Blondie, essential Bruce that I didn't own, etc. Which makes me<br />feel slightly less-than-musically-inclined--I'll have to work through that on my own. <br /><br /><br /><strong>Nancy M, Red Hot and Riotous</strong><br /><br />gosh, i hardly listen to current stuff.<br />but here's what i listened to a hell of a lot last year. <br /><br />satie. popular piano works: ok, so i live in a cave. i had never hear of<br />this french composer until this year. his stuff<br />soothes my soul.<br /><br />india arie. voyage to india: sounds the same as her last album...but dammit<br />i liked the last album.<br /><br />mana. revolucion de amor: i'm a sucker for music in spanish and for bands<br />that infuse their politics in their music. viva la revolucion!<br /><br />red hot and riot. tribute album to fela kuti: i'm just starting to learn<br />what an amazing person fela kuti was.<br /><br />norah jones. come away with me: i listen to this at work all day on repeat.<br />nothing makes me feel as good.<br /><br />moreno veloso. music typewriter: this probably came out two years ago. he's<br />the son of the famous brazilian singer caetano veloso. he steps away from<br />the father and creates his own beautiful thang.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Dan, Can’t Get Enough of Kisses</strong><br /><br />Most Essential:<br />Patti Griffin, 1000 Kisses<br />Other Essential:<br />Coldplay, A Rush of Blood to the Head<br />Ryan Adams, Demolition<br />Tori Amos, Scarlet’s Walk<br />Beck, Sea Change<br />Frou Frou, The Details<br />Sigur Ros, ( )<br />Michele Branch, The Spirit Room<br />Aimee Mann, Lost in Space<br />The Streets, Original Pirate Material<br /><br /><strong>Andrew, Whose Family Welcomed Twins This Year</strong><br /><br />Sadly, sadly, sadly, I only managed to buy two albums this year that had nothing to do with the Wiggles, so I will have to go with those:<br />Aimee Mann- Lost in Space Dixie Chicks- Home<br /><br /><br /><strong>Elizabeth, Nothin’ Cold ‘bout Her Play</strong><br /><br />MOST ESSENTIAL: Coldplay, A Rush of Blood to the Head<br /><br />ESSENTIAL ALBUMS (and no, I’m not on the Grammy committee for Best New Artist...)<br />Sheryl Crow, C’mon, C’mon<br />Norah Jones, Come Away with Me<br />John Mayer, Room for Squares<br />Avril Lavigne, Let Go (I’m not 14, its just a fun album!)<br />No Doubt, Rock Steady<br />Bruce Springsteen, The Rising<br />Wilco, Yankee Hotel Foxtrot<br /><br />And a special HONORABLE MENTION to David’s Pop 2002 CD, just for keeping such good company with me while I’m at the gym!<br /><br /><br /><strong>Marty’s friend Howard, and His Famous Top Ten</strong><br /><br />Coldplay -- A Rush of Blood to the Head<br />Bruce Springsteen -- The Rising <br />Wilco -- Yankee Hotel Foxtrot<br />Damien Rice -- O and Adrian Crowley -- When You are Here You are Family<br />Songs: Ohia -- Didn't it Rain and Jesse Sykes & The Sweet Hereafter -- Reckless Burning<br />Elvis Costello -- When I Was Cruel and Aimee Mann -- Lost in Space<br />Red Hot Chili Peppers -- By the Way<br />Beck - Sea Change<br /><br />Additions<br />Audioslave - Audioslave. <br />Robin Holcomb - The Big Time. <br />Sleater Kinney - One Beat. The Coral - The Coral. Bright Eyes - Lifted. <br />Brendan Benson - Lapalco.<br />Quixotic - Mortal Mirror. <br /><br /><strong>Lindsay, Who Battles the Pink Robots Daily</strong><br /><br />MOST ESSENTIAL: The Flaming Lips, Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots<br />><br />> ESSENTIAL ALBUMS OF 2001:<br />><br />> Tom Waits, Alice<br />> Eminem, The Eminem Show<br />> Andrew W.K., I Get Wet<br />> Joey Ramone, Don't Worry About Me<br />> The White Stripes, White Blood Cells<br />> Peaches, The Teaches of Peaches<br />> Sigur Ros, ( )<br />> Black Heart Procession - Amore Del Tropico<br />The Shins, Oh, Inverted World!<br /><br />Ø SONGS OF THE YEAR: "Miles Away" - Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs, "Out on the Tracks"- The Rapture, "So Sexual"-The Faint, "Without Me" - Eminem, "Personal Jesus" - Johnny Cash<br /><br /><br /><strong>Matt Cohen, Original Pirate Material</strong><br /><br />Essential record of the year:<br />The Streets, Original Pirate Material<br /><br />Other pretty essential records:<br />Badly Drawn Boy, About a Boy, Have You Fed the Fish? (in that order)<br />Alison Moyet, Hometime<br />Sondre Lerche, Faces Down<br />Bjork, Family Tree<br />Missy Elliott, Under Construction<br />The Polyphonic Spree, The Beginning Stages of?<br />No Doubt, Rock Steady<br />The Hives, Veni, Vidi, Vicious (which shows that apparently a record is released when Americans hear it)<br /><br />Songs of the year:<br />Eminem – “Lose Yourself”<br />The Streets – “It’s Too Late”<br />Badly Drawn Boy – “Silent Sigh,” “All Possibilities” (in that order)<br />Josh Rouse - "Nothing Gives Me Pleasure"<br />Tori Amos – “Taxi Ride"<br />Missy Elliott – “Work It””<br />Alison Moyet – “If You Don’t Come Back to Me”<br /><br />Overrated records of the year:<br />Sigur Ros, ( )<br />Beck, Sea Change<br />Coldplay, A Rush of Blood to the Head<br /><br />Underrated record of the year:<br />No Doubt, Rock Steady<br /><br />Non-rated record of the year:<br />Alison Moyet, Hometime<br /><br />Most essentially inconsequential record by an out-of-touch madman:<br />Peter Gabriel, Up<br /><br />Most essentially inconsequential record by an out-of-touch madwoman:<br />Shania Twain, Up! (I don?t really know if that?s true ?it just worked)<br /><br /><br /><strong>Joe, Who Is Not Sam, But Likes Jack</strong><br /><br />Most essential: Jack Johnson, Brushfire Fairytales<br /><br />Others (in no order):<br />Norah Jones, Come Away With Me<br />Scarlett's Walk, Tori Amos<br />Silk Road Journeys, Yo Yo Ma<br />I Am Sam Soundtrack, Various ( A close second to Essential Album)<br /><br /><br /><strong>Ronnie, Soundtrack Queen<br /></strong><br />My essential movie soundtracks from 2002 in alphabetical order:<br /><br />Mychael Danna, Ararat<br />Krishna Levy and the cast of 8 Women, 8 Women<br />Elmer Bernstein, Far From Heaven<br />Brian Tyler, Frailty<br />Elliot Goldenthal, Frida<br />Various Artists, Man Without a Past<br />Alberto Iglesias, Talk to Her<br />Jocelyn Pook, Time Out<br />Terence Blanchard, 25th Hour<br />Michelle DiBucci, Wendigo<br /><br />My most essential movie soundtrack from 2002: The score from the 1992 movie Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights by Ryuichi Sakamoto, never released in this country, but purchased just this year through the fabulousness of ebay<br /><br />Also, a soundtrack from last year that became most essential this year: Michael Andrews/Gary Jules, Donnie Darko<br /><br />And finally, from the soundtrack of Punch-Drunk Love, a nod to Paul Thomas Anderson for bringing attention to the underappreciated Harry Nilsson and his song "He Needs Me," originally from Robert Altman's Popeye and sung by actress Shelley Duvall <br /><br /><strong><br />Dawn, Who May Have Been the One Who Beat Up Moby</strong><br /><br /><br />MOST ESSENTIAL: Eminem, The Eminem Show<br /><br />ESSENTIAL ALBUMS OF 2002:<br />Aimee Mann, Lost in Space<br />Alanis Morrissette, Under Rug Swept<br />Tori Amos, Scarlett's Walk<br />Beth Orton, Daybreaker<br />Patty Griffin, 1000 Kisses<br /><br />VERY CLOSE TO ESSENTIAL:<br />Ani Difranco, the live album (can't remember the name right now)<br />Nelly, Nellyville<br />Jay-Z, The Blueprint 2<br /><br /><strong><br />Brant, Who Put A Lot of Thought Into This, So PAY ATTENTION</strong><br /><br />The only essential album of 2002:<br />---------------------------------<br /><br />Drive-by Truckers, Southern Rock Opera -- technically released<br />independently, via the web, in 2001, but re-released by Lost Highway in<br />2002. Buy this album. You'll learn some things. It's about growing up in<br />Alabama. And, yes, I grew up in Alabama. And, no, this wasn't my<br />experience. But, yes, it's precisely like I don't remember it. One of the<br />things that you'll learn is how to interpret whatever the hell it is I just<br />said. That's the duality of the Southern thang.<br /><br /><br />Albums of 2002 that may one day make my essential list if they don't fuck it<br />up for themselves:<br /><br />Ryan Adams, Demolition -- He's not the second coming of Gram Parsons, but he might be that of John "Cougar" Mellancamp, and that's a good thing, whether you<br />like it or not.<br /><br />Badly Drawn Boy, About a Boy AND Have You Fed the Fish? -- combine the best<br />tracks of these two 2002 albums and you have an album for the ages, and<br />thanks to today's technology, that's is easy to do.<br /><br />The Flaming Lips, Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots -- I like this album for<br />approximately the same reason I love Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, and<br />Mercury Rev's Deserter's Songs.<br /><br />The Reindeer Section, Son of Evil Reindeer -- if you can't have a proper<br />Belle & Sebastian album, then you might as well take a great one from a<br />Scottish supergroup that includes members of Belle & Sebastian. Know what<br />I'm sayin'?<br /><br /><br />Other solid albums of 2002:<br />---------------------------<br />Beck, Sea Change<br />Neil Finn, One All<br />Aimee Mann, Lost in Space<br />Weezer, Maladroit<br />Paul Westerberg, Stereo/Mono<br /><br /><br />Eh, decent -- good, maybe even:<br />-------------------------------<br />Interpol, Turn on the Bright Lights<br />Beth Orton, Daybreaker<br />Phantom Planet, The Guest<br />Ted Barnes, Short Scenes<br /><br /><br />Albums of 2002 that sound good, but I haven't really absorbed yet:<br />------------------------------------------------------------------<br />Mali Music, Afel Bocoum, Damon Albarn, Toumani Oiabite, and Friends<br />Steve Earle, Jerusalem<br />Sigur Ros, ( )<br />Bruce Springsteen, The Rising<br />The Streets, Original Pirate Material<br /><br /><br />Best non-album of 2002, the promotion of which provided me with my best<br />concert experience of 2002, except, of course, for how I got screwed out of<br />getting paid back for one of the tickets I bought, which I was spiritually<br />paid back for when Stevie Jackson took the high vocals on their cover of<br />"Stayin' Alive":<br />---------------------------------------------------------------<br />Belle & Sebastian, Storytelling<br /><br /><br />Best Album of 2002 that isn't really a regular album, and that I don't<br />really think of as being of 2002:<br />----------------------------------------------------------------------------<br />Bob Dylan, Live 1975, The Rolling Thunder Revue<br /><br /><br />Disappointing, yes, but remember what Jesse said:<br />-------------------------------------------------<br />Billy Bragg, English, Half English<br />The Breeders, Title tk<br />Oasis, Heathen Chemistry<br /><br />Album from a previous year (2001) that became essential to me in 2002:<br />----------------------------------------------------------------------<br />Japancakes, The Sleepy Strange -- First, Matt Simpson (friend) urges me to<br />download one of the songs (track 5, "Soft n Ez"). I dig it, but don't act<br />on it. Then Jim Giesen (another friend) urges John Strange (brother-in-law<br />and friend) to purchase the album based on its title, The Sleepy Strange,<br />because, of course, Strange's last name is Strange, and therefore he ought<br />to have The Sleepy Strange. That's grade-A Jim Giesen logic. And, it works<br />in practice. Strange and my sister (Meredith) come to visit, and Strange<br />urges me (Brant) to buy the album. I purchase it online directly from the<br />Athens-based record company (Kindercore). The price is very reasonable, but<br />they take forever to ship AND they charge me twice. After a series of<br />emails, a customer service representative (Jason) kindly uncharges the<br />second charge. Since then, I've enjoyed the disc quite a bit. As with The<br />Velvet Underground's "Ride into the Sun" or The Smiths' "Oscillating<br />Wildly," logic would dictate that this is great music awaiting great lyrics.<br />That, if Lou Reed, Morrissey, or the dude from Japancakes with the best<br />voice, respectively, started singing about love and loss, this music would<br />ascend. But, the more you listen, the more you realize that, no, these<br />recordings are the way they ought to be, which places Japancakes in the fine<br />company of Sterling Morrison and Johnny Marr. (Amen.)<br /><br /><br />And, finally, here's to all the albums of 2002 that I didn't get a chance to<br />know.... <br /><br /><br /><strong>Tanuja, Not Confused Here</strong><br /><br />essential albums of 2002:sheryl crow's latestpaul oakenfeldcoldplaybecklunapinksleater kinneynorah jonesstevie nicksalanismost essential: sheryl crow<br /><br /><br /><strong>Joy, Conor Makes Her Eyes Shine Bright<br /></strong><br />MOST ESSENTIAL: Bright Eyes, Lifted or The Story is in the Soil, Keep Your Ear to the Ground<br /><br />ESSENTIAL ALBUMS OF 2002:<br />Joseph Arthur, Redemption’s Son<br />Aimee Mann, Lost In Space<br />Indigo Girls, Become You<br />Norah Jones, Come Away With Me<br />The White Stripes, White Blood Cells (this was released in January, 02)<br />Coldplay, A Rush of Blood to the Head<br />Patty Griffin, 1,000 Ghosts<br />Y Tu Mama Tambien Soundtrack<br /><br />THE ALBUM FROM LAST YEAR THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ON MY LIST BECAUSE IT’S BECOME QUITE ESSENTIAL: The Strokes, Is This It<br /><br />SONG OF THE YEAR: Bright Eyes “Lover I Don’t Have to Love” (hands down, no contest)<br /><br /><br /><strong>Jason G, Sounding Like a Man Listening Gracefully</strong><br />1. Kazaa - The Mix cd of the year!<br />2. Johnny Cash / American IV: The Man Comes Around - The sound of a man dying gracefully. This album will be remembered as a legends eulogy.<br />3. The Flaming Lips / Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots - If only bowie was still this inventive.<br />4. Yanqui U.X.O / Godspeed You Black Emperor - If Beethoven was a black panther...<br />5. The Walkmen / Everyone Who Pretended to Like Me Is Gone - They make miss Jonathan Fire*Eater so much, but aren't they still so great.<br />6. the Rapture / House of Jealous Lovers (single) - One song that could have been on an album twelve times and still wouldn't be overplayed.<br />7. Beck / Sea Changes - An album about those couple of days right after a relationship ends with someone you really cared about and your not angry with them or mad at them or sad about it, but just.....and of course its released two days after you break up with someone....<br />8. Weezer / Maladroit - inside, I'm a always going to be dork rock weezer fanatic and I'm not afraid to admit.<br />9. Oasis / Heathen Chemistry - I can't stand derivative rip off music (see ryan adams) but somehow I still love these blokes. Maybe I just haven't gotten over the brilliance of Definitely Maybe.<br />10. Yeah Yeah Yeahs / self titled ep - Any album that makes you hard has to be good.<br />11. Queens of the Stone Age / Songs for the deaf - I don't have enough synonyms for heavy.<br />12. Coldplay / A Rush of Blood To The Head - We all wanted it to be the Bends, it isn't, but its still a beautiful record.<br />13. Andrew W.K. / I Get Wet - What was probably playing on John Benders headphones as he left saturday detention and threw his fist into the air triumphantly<br /><br /><strong>Alistair, A Chick Living in Dixie</strong><br />Caveat: I bought almost no new music this year. In fact, I bought very little music at all this year. Lots of mixes from friends, lots of revisiting old favorites. So this is a limited sampling.<br />MOST ESSENTIAL: Dixie Chicks, Home<br />ESSENTIAL ALBUMS OF 2001:<br />Hot Rize, So Long of a JourneyAlison Krauss & Union Station, LiveVarious Artists, Sunday Morning Mix (compiled by my friend, Avery, for me)David Grier & Chris Thile, 3-disc bootleg from a house concert played at some very lucky person's home<br />VERY CLOSE TO ESSENTIAL:<br />Nickel Creek, This Side <br />THE TWO ALBUMS FROM (MANY YEARS AGO)THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ON MY LIST BECAUSE THEY'VE BECOME QUITE ESSENTIAL:<br />Tim O'Brien & Darrell Scott, Real Timeanything by Doc Watson<br />SONGS OF THE YEAR:<br />Dixie Chicks, "Long Time Gone" (Darrell Scott, songwriter)<br /><br /><strong>Kristin, In Stereo AND Mono<br /></strong><br />No most essential, but many essentially appealing albums (a few from staple<br />artists who offer up exceptionally strong songs even if the album does not<br />rank as their best):<br /><br />The Flaming Lips, Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots<br />Ryan Adams, Demolition<br />Badly Drawn Boy, About a Boy<br />Beck, Sea Change<br />Neil Finn, One All<br />Aimee Mann, Lost in Space<br />Weezer, Maladroit<br />Paul Westerberg, Stereo/Mono<br />Beth Orton, Daybreaker<br />The Reindeer Section, Son of Evil Reindeer<br /><br />In the Sunday morning slot:<br />Sigur Ros, ()<br />Ted Barnes, Short Scenes<br /><br />Departures from my usual listening genres:<br />Drive-by Truckers, Southern Rock Opera<br />Afel Bocoum, Damon Albarn, Toumani Oiabite, and Friends, Mali Music<br /><br />In the name of neo-nostalgia:<br />Interpol, Turn on the Bright Lights<br /><br />For the sake of its singles:<br />Phantom Planet, The Guest<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Jason B, Who Was In Fact Fashionably Late Answering This Poll (But His Answers Make Up for It)<br /></strong><br />1) Linda Thompson – fashionably late // Royksopp – Melody A.M. (essential-ist tie)<br />3) The Kills – Black Rooster ep<br />4) Dixie Chicks – home<br />5) Badly Drawn Boy – About a Boy sdtk<br />“Me Too” Records of the Year (sincerely): Coldplay, Norah Jones, White Stripes, Flaming Lips, Wilco (“Being into Coldplay is like banging that fat chick next door, or having an uncle that doesn't like minorities... it's just not something you go out of your way to publicize.” – buddyhead.com)<br />“I shouldn’t like this record but I do”-ist record of the year: Taking Back Sunday - Tell All Your Friends<br />Elizabeth Taylor-ist looking punk chick: Kelly Osbourne<br />Bat Mitzvah girl-ist sounding name: Avril Levigne<br />Makes me wanna say “Ah-shit-y”: Ashanti<br />If I was a better person I would have found more enjoyment in 2002 releases by: Beck, Aimee Mann, Queens of the Stone Age<br />Next year I think I’ll say “My find from 2002 was”: Soundtrack of Our Lives – Behind the Music<br />Crackhead-ist record: The Polyphonic Spree - The Beginning Stages Of The Polyphonic Spree<br />Singles: “lose yourself,” “(oops) Oh my,” “the rising,” “just like a pill”<br />And thievery corporation at irving plaza fucking ruled, btw.<br /><br /><strong>Terra and Simon, The Punk and Her Musically-Savvy Boyfriend</strong><br /><br />Here we go! I’m going to be a punk and piggyback on my more usically-savvy boyfriend, because my faves of 2002 were mostly old albums that I got or was listening to with more fervor (for example David Gray’s FIRST album, not his new one . . .), but I definitely enthusiastically second “Come Away With Me” by Norah Jones (star, star, star, star), Tom Waits’ “Alice” (multiple stars) and the Mum album. Will also throw in another couple:<br /><br />Mr. Deeds Soundtrack (for most surprising soundtrack)<br /><br />Verve/Unmixed (the unmixed version of the popular “mixed) – Simon would have added this one too I think as we listen to it all the time and find it a royal treat.<br /><br /><br />-----Original Message-----<br /><br /><br />Here’s my list. I resist making “best of the year” lists because I so<br />rarely discover a favorite album the very year it was released. There<br />were albums released this year by artists I really like (Low, etc.) but<br />that aren’t really my favorites. The temptation is to put them on the<br />list to honor my past love for them. So, my point is that the past and<br />future conspire to make my list at best a benign embarrassment and at<br />worst a pigeon hole that I’m forever jammed into.<br />But in the spirit of friendship I begrudgingly present:<br /><br />Simon’s Favorite Albums of 2002<br /><br />Mum, Finally We Are No One<br />Tom Waits, Alice<br />Flaming Lips, Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots<br />Nurse With Wound, Man With Woman Face<br />The Streets, Original Pirate Material<br />Badly Drawn Boy, Have You Fed the Fish?<br />Norah Jones, Come Away With Me<br />Sigur Ros, ()<br />The Doves, The Last Broadcast<br />DJ Shadow, Private Press<br /><br /><br /><strong>Steve, Deserving a Little Respect</strong><br /><br />Tied for most Essential:<br />Coldplay / A Rush of Blood to the Head<br />Alison Moyet / Hometime<br /><br />Other Essentials:<br />Badly Drawn Boy / Have You Fed the Fish?<br />Sophie Ellis Bextor / Read My Lips<br />Pet Shop Boys / Release<br />Kylie Minogue / Fever<br />Ladytron / Light & Magic<br />The Flaming Lips / Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots<br /><br />Best ofs:<br />Pulp / Hits<br />Lighthouse Family / Greatest Hits<br />Steps / The Last Dance (how gay am I?)<br />Madness / Our House, the Original Songs<br /><br />Dusted Offs:<br />Dexy’s Midnight Runners / Searching for the Young Soul Rebels<br />The Blue Nile / Walk Across the Rooftops<br />Talk Talk / Spirit of Eden<br /><br />Songs:<br />Pet Shop Boys / Sexy Northerner<br />Coldplay / The Scientist<br />Finally / Kings of Tomorrow<br />Moony / Dove (I'll be Loving You)<br />Starsailor / Poor Misguided Fool<br />Pink / Just Like a Pill + Don’t Let Me Get Me<br /><br /><br /><strong>Matthew, Driftless</strong><br /><br />MOST ESSENTIAL:<br />Patty Griffin, 1000 Kisses<br />Various Artists, Going Driftless--An Artists' Tribute to Greg Brown<br /><br />ESSENTIAL ALBUMS:<br />The Flatlanders, Now Again<br />Beth Orton, Daybreaker<br />Nanci Griffith, Winter Marquee<br />Kim Richey, Rise<br />Indigo Girls, Become You<br /><br />BEST SONGS:<br />Dayna Kurtz, Love Gets in the Way<br />Patty Griffin, Long Ride Home<br />Beth Orton, Concrete Sky<br />Linda Thompson, Dear Old Man of Mine<br /><br />ALBUM FROM LAST YEAR THAT HAS JUST ENTERED MY OWN PRIVATE LIST:<br />Lynn Miles, Unravel<br /><br /><br /><strong>Billy, Yearbreaker</strong><br /><br />sneakerpimps -- bloodsport<br />tori amos -- scarlett's walk<br />beth orton -- daybreaker<br />patty griffin -- 1000 kisses<br />aimee mann -- lost in space<br />ed harcourt -- here be monsters<br />philip glass -- The Hours<br />i am sam (soundtrack)<br />ani difranco -- so much shouting, so much laughter<br />alanis morissette -- under rug swept<br />coldplay -- a rush of blood to the headdavidlevithanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00762768300871943772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1509734071563017124.post-53553702923745740852009-01-09T06:12:00.000-08:002009-01-09T06:16:19.382-08:00The 2001 David Music Poll Results<strong>The 2001 David Music Poll</strong><br /><br />Ryan Adams, Gold (13)<br />The Strokes, Is this it (12)<br />Weezer, The Green Album (9)<br />Bjork, Vespertine (8)<br />Lucinda Williams, Essence (8)<br />Soundtrack, Moulin Rouge (7)<br />The White Stripes, White Blood Cells (6)<br />Soundtrack, O Brother Where Art Thou (6)<br />Gillian Welch, Time The Revelator (5)<br />Bob Dylan, Love and Theft (5)<br /><br />Dolly Parton, Little Sparrow (4)<br />Ani DiFranco, Revelling/Reckoning (4)<br />Daft Punk – Discovery (4)<br />Nelly Furtado, Whoa Nelly (4)<br />Unofficial Soundtrack, Buffy: The Musical Episode(4)<br /><br />Travis, The Invisible Band (3)<br />Rufus Wainwright, Poses (3)<br />Shea Seger, The May Street Project (3)<br />Radiohead, Amnesiac (3)<br />Bonnie "Prince" Billy, Ease down the road (3)<br />Fugazi, The Argument (3)<br />Spiritualized, Let It All Come Down(3)<br />Stephen Malkmus, Stephen Malkmus (3)<br />Whiskeytown – Pneumonia (3)<br /><br />Ben Folds, Rockin’ the Suburbs (2)<br />Maxwell, Now (2)<br />Le Tigre, Feminist Sweepstakes (2)<br />Missy Elliot, So Addictive (2)<br />Aphex Twin, Drunqks (2)<br />Ivy - Long Distance (2)<br />Chris Clark - Clarence Park (2)<br />Faithless, Outrospective (2)<br />Soundtrack, Songcatcher (2)<br />Lucy Kaplansky, Every Single Day (2)<br />Allison Krauss & Union Station, New Favorite (2)<br />Mary J. Blige, No More Drama (2)<br />Rainer Maria, A Better Version of Me (2)<br />Death Cab For Cutie, Photo Album (2)<br />REM, Reveal (2)<br />Chris Thile, Not All Who Wander Are Lost (2)<br />Suzanne Vega, Songs in Red and Gray (2)<br />Jay-Z: The Blueprint (2)<br />Guided by Voices, Isolation Drills (2)<br /><br />Elbow, Asleep in the Back<br />Mary Chapin Carpenter, Time*Sex*Love<br />Various Artists, A Tribute to Heroes<br />Sigur Ros, Agaetus Bj<br />Soundtrack, Traffic<br />Craig David, Born To Do It<br />Madonna, GHV2<br />Usher, 8701<br />Angie Stone, Mahogany Soul<br />Ian Brown, Music of the Spheres<br />Super Furry Animals, Rings around the world<br />Ol' Dirty Bastard, Greatest Hits<br />New Order, Get Ready<br />Velvet Underground, Bootleg Series<br />Royskopp, Melody AM<br />Blonde Redhead, Melodic Citronique<br />Bouncing Souls, How I spent My Summer Vacation<br />Rival Schools, United by Fate<br />Preston School of Industry - All this sounds gas<br />Clinic - Internal Wrangler<br />Prefuse 73 - vocal studies & uprock narratives<br />Moldy Peaches - Moldy Peaches<br />Gorky's Zygotic Mynci - introducing<br />Stereolab, Sound-Dust"<br />Various, Poet: A Tribute to Townes Van Zandt<br />Shawn Colvin, Whole New You<br />Manu Chao,: Esperanza<br />Baaba Maal, Nomad Soul<br />Krishna Das, Pilgrim Heart<br />Jill Scott, Experience<br />WAH!, Hidden in the Name<br />Ours, distorted lullabies<br />Flickerstick, Welcoming home the astronauts<br />creeper lagoon, take back the universe and give me yesterday<br />Tom McRae, Tom McRae<br />shuggie otis, inspiration information (reissue from '74)<br />Train, Drops of Jupiter<br />HIM, Shadow & Brilliant Highlights<br />Madrugada, The Nightly Desiese<br />Hope Sandavoll & the Warm Inventions,: bavarian fruit bread<br />Beachwood Sparks, Once We Were Trees<br />Built to Spill, Ancient Melodies of the Future<br />John Frusciante, To Record Only Water for Ten Days<br />The Von Bondies: lack of communication<br />Guns 'N Roses: It's Time for Democray<br />The Hives, Your New Favourite Band<br />Nickel Creek, Nickel Creek<br />Rhoda Vincent, The Storm Still Rages<br />Alana Davis, Fortune Cookie<br />The Drive-by Truckers, Southern Rock Opera<br />Jay Farrar, Sebastapol<br />The Star Room Boys, This World Just Won't Leave You Alone<br />Unwound, leaves turn inside youpinback, blue screen life<br />Sparklehorse, It’s a Wonderful Life<br />Tori Amos, Strange Little Girls<br />Badmarsh & Shri, Signs<br />Groove Armada, Goodbye Country (Hello Nightclub)<br />Stevie Nicks, Trouble in Shangri-la<br />A Camp, A Camp<br />Basement Jaxx, Rooty<br />Nitin Sawhney, Broken Skin<br />Fireballs of Freedom, Total Fucking Blowout<br />The Detroit Cobras, Love,Life,and Leaving<br />Infinite Love Songs, Maximilian Hecker<br />Cast Album, Urinetown<br />Cast Album, The Full Monty<br />Sean Watkins -- Let It Fall<br />Ron Sexsmith, Blue Boy<br />Gorillaz, Gorillaz<br />Soundtrack, The Devil's Backbone (Javier Navarrete)<br />Soundtrack, The Conversation (David Shire)<br />Soundtrack, Amelie (Yann Tiersen)<br />Soundtrack, Ghost World (various)<br />Soundtrack, Happy Accidents (various)<br />Soundtrack, Monster's Ball (Asche & Spencer)<br />Soundtrack, Session 9 (Climax Golden Twins)<br />Soundtrack, The Man Who Wasn't There (Carter Burwell)<br />Dar Williams- Out There Live<br />Alicia Keys- Songs in A Minor<br />Eve- Scorpion<br />Avalanches, Since I Left You Neil Finn, One Nil<br />Pete Yorn, Music for the Morning After<br />Jim O'Rourke, Insignificance<br />Kirsty MacColl, Tropical Brainstorm<br /><br /><br /><strong>My picks<br /></strong><br />MOST ESSENTIAL: Ryan Adams, Gold<br /><br />ESSENTIAL ALBUMS OF 2001:<br /><br />Soundtrack, Moulin Rouge<br />Mary Chapin Carpenter, Time*Sex*Love<br />Bjork, Vespertine<br />Travis, The Invisible Band<br />Rufus Wainwright, Poses<br />Elbow, Asleep in the Back<br />Ben Folds, Rockin’ the Suburbs<br />Various Artists, A Tribute to Heroes<br />Shea Seger, The May Street Project<br /><br />VERY CLOSE TO ESSENTIAL: Weezer, The Green Album; Duncan Sheik, Phantom Moon; Suzanne Vega, Songs in Red and Grey; Thea Gilmore, Rules for Jokers; Leona Naess, I Tried to Rock You But You Only Roll; Sigur Ros, Agaetis Byrjun; New Order, Get Ready; Tom McRae, Tom McRae<br /><br />THE TWO ALBUMS FROM LAST YEAR THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ON MY LIST BECAUSE THEY’VE BECOME QUITE ESSENTIAL: Coldplay, Parachutes; U2, All That You Can’t Leave Behind<br /><br />SONGS OF THE YEAR: Ryan Adams, “New York, New York” and “Harder Now That It’s Over”; Lemon Jelly, “The Staunton Lick”; Lucinda Williams, “Essence”; Suzanne Vega, “Soap and Water”<br /><br /><br /><strong>Patrick, Who Liked Radiohead Even Before He Resided in Oxford</strong><br /><br />-- MOST ESSENTIAL ALBUM OF 2001 Radiohead - Amnesiac - simply the best. Fuck the naysayers. -- ESSENTIAL ALBUMS OF 2001 Travis - The Invisible Band - catchy and happy and anyone who can slip Che Guevara into a song without making it political has got to be a genius... Sigur Ros - Agaetis Byrjun (sp?) - bloody bloody brilliant. They're a close second for Most Essential Radiohead - I Might Be Wrong (Live Recordings) - way too short but god it's lovely Traffic Soundtrack (was that 2001?) - just good background music and there's a dearth of that around this year. -- ALBUMS FROM PREVIOUS YEARS THAT BECAME ESSENTIAL TO ME IN 2001<br /> Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here Badly Drawn Boy - Hour of Bewilderbeast Pulp - This is Hardcore - Even though Jarvis is trying to sound like Roger Waters - but who else can say, "I am not Jesus but I have the same initials."? Travis - Good Feeling Ian Bostridge - The English Songbook - if you don't know him he's the best tenor around - pure and clean and very intelligent renderings - also look for his Schubert and Schumann lieder. Glenn Gould - Goldberg Variations - I know, I know... but a classic's a classic. Aimee Mann - Bachelor #2<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Michael, Born to Do It?</strong><br /><br />Most Essential:<br /><br />MAXWELL / NOW<br /><br />Essential:<br /><br />Craig David / Born To Do It<br />Travis / Invisible Band<br />Madonna / GHV2 (don't laugh - it's So essential)<br />Usher / 8701 (best when purchased for $5 on the street)<br />Angie Stone / Mahogany Soul<br /><br />Also Essential, but perhaps 2000, not 2001:<br /><br />Jill Scott / Who is Jill Scott?<br />Toni Braxton / The Heat<br /><br />Became Essential in 2001:<br /><br />MAXWELL / EMBRYA<br />The Carpenters (some best of)<br /><br /><br /><strong>Iain, who was not impressed by the White Stripes</strong><br /><br />MOST ESSENTIAL ALBUM OF 2001 (By a country mile, how predictable).<br /><br />Ease down the road - Bonnie "Prince" Billy.<br /><br />ESSENTIAL ALBUMS OF 2001<br /><br />Music of the Spheres - Ian Brown<br />Rings around the world - Super Furry Animals<br />Greatest Hits - Ol' Dirty Bastard<br />Love and Theft - Bob Dylan<br />Get Ready - New Order (for about a week)<br />Is this it - Strokes (for as long as it took to dig out Marquee Moon)<br />Bootleg Series - Velvet Underground<br />Melody AM - Royskopp<br /><br />ESSENTIAL ALBUMS FROM OTHER YEARS<br /><br />Neu 2 - Neu<br />Marquee Moon - Television (see above)<br />Metal Box/Second Edition - PiL<br />Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) - Wu-Tang Clan<br />Grotesque (After the Gramme) - the Fall<br />Til Shiloh - Buju Banton<br /><br /><br /><strong>Yes, Jeannie, it was last year, but we shall note your opinion</strong><br /><br />I do have a vote for most essential album: U2, All That You Can't Leave Behind. I guess technically it came out at the very end of 2000, but if the Grammys can count it as 2001, so can I.<br /><br /><strong>Jason G. – Don’t Hate Him Because He Saw Bjork in an Intimate Venue</strong><br /><br />Top 15 Albums of 2001 (as of 1/8/02, changes daily)<br /><br />1. Bjork - Vespertine Her voice is from heaven, but she must have made a deal with Lucifer to have created the music. Brilliant<br />2. Fugazi - The Argument To label them as a hardcore band is an insult. An important, powerful masterpiece.<br />3. Weezer - The Green Album Less than 30 minutes long, but has rocked me for the last year.<br />4. The Strokes - Is This It Less than 30 minutes long, but has rocked me for the last year also. 5. Radiohead - Amnesiac<br />6. Spiritualized - Let It All Come Down Jason Pierce's creates symphonies that make you believe you can talk to jesus on heroin.<br />7. Le Tigre - Feminist Sweepstakes Political Disco Punk Rock Karoake rules!<br />8. Missy Elliot - So Addictive Her beats are so dope and "Get Ur Freak On" is the best song of the year.<br />9. Stephen Malkmus - Stephen Malkmus I have a soft spot for Pavement.<br />10. Aphex Twin - Drunqks A modern age John Cale.<br />11. Outkast - Stankonia One of the only hip-hop acts that I wouldn't compare to an 80's hair metal act.<br />12. Blonde Redhead - Melodic Citronique Who knew they could sound even better in French and Italian.<br />13. White Stripes - White Blood Cells "Hotel Yorba" makes me go crazy.<br />14. Bouncing Souls - How I spent My Summer Vacation A personal favorite for days I want to regress. i love 80s obsessed punks.<br />15. Rival Schools - United by Fate Third great band from Walter, who fronted two bands I loved growing up (Gorilla Biscuits, Quicksand)<br /><br />The Rediscovering The Magic Award for old albums I became obessed with this year goes to:<br />(tie)<br />Iggy Pop & The Stooges - Raw Power<br />Television - Marquee Moon<br /><br />Concert of the Year:<br />Bjork<br />May 22nd / First Show<br />Riverside Church, Harlem, NY<br />Setlist<br />01. Unravel02. Undo03. All is Full of Love04. Pagan Poetry05. Cocoon06. Aurora07. Generous Palmstroke08. It's Not Up to You<br /><br /><br /><strong>Matt, who has access to every record released this year (or at least a list containing them)</strong><br /><br />-- MOST ESSENTIAL ALBUM OF 2001 The Strokes - Is this it<br /><br />-- ESSENTIAL ALBUMS OF 2001<br />Preston School of Industry - All this sounds gas<br />Stephen Malkmus - the arrogant bastard's self titled album<br />Clinic - Internal Wrangler<br />The White Stripes - White Blood Cells<br />Daft Punk - Discovery<br />Prefuse 73 - vocal studies & uprock narratives<br />Aphex Twin - Drukqs<br />Ivy - Long Distance<br /><br />-- ALBUMS FROM PREVIOUS YEARS THAT BECAME ESSENTIAL TO ME IN 2001<br />Gang of Four - Brief History of the 20th Century<br />Blur - 13<br />Blur - Leisure<br />Mission of Burma - Vs.<br />Mission of Burma - Signals, Calls and Marches<br /><br /><br /><strong>The Gospel According to Stieg (I’m not quite sure what kind of rap star he’ll make)</strong><br /><br />-- MOST ESSENTIAL ALBUM OF 2001<br /><br />for me<br />Mr Bungle - California<br />but that is 1999 or so<br />...<br />from 2001<br />Chris Clark - Clarence Park<br /><br />-- ESSENTIAL ALBUMS OF 2001<br /><br />Moldy Peaches - Moldy Peaches<br />Gorky's Zygotic Mynci - introducing<br /><br /><br />-- ALBUMS FROM PREVIOUS YEARS THAT BECAME ESSENTIAL TO ME IN 2001<br /><br />Bogdan Raczynski - Boku Mo Wakoran<br />Mr Bungle - California<br />another welsh punk band<br />Bluegrass Cardinals - some tape i picked up at a junk store that i have<br />listened to for unsaid amounts of time<br /><br />-- ESSENTIAL 'AMATEUR' MUSICIANS OF 2001<br /><br />*Ian Jarvis AKA Velvet Johnson : co-worker at MOTOPHOTO who aspired to be a<br />rap star<br /><br />*Nullsleep : gameboys akimbo , NYC comrad<br />http://www.nullsleep.com/<br /><br />*Goldenshower : Brazilian sample saturation with maimi vice synth<br />orientation<br />http://goldenshower.gs/<br /><br />*Rolemodel : gameboy tracker _developer_ , amiga programmer extrodinair<br />http://rolemodel.spoiledbrat.net/<br /><br />*Micromusic.net : still the best source for bedroom musicians making video<br />game music<br /><a href="http://www.micromusic.net/">http://www.micromusic.net/</a><br /><br /><br /><strong>Scott, Keeping it Short and Sweet</strong><br /><br />Most Essential Album of 2001<br /><br />Faithless "Outrospective"<br /><br />Other Essential Albums of 2001<br /><br />Ivy "Long Distance"<br />Stereolab "Sound-Dust"<br /><br />Essential Albums Determined to be Essential in 2001<br /><br />Low "Secret Name"<br />Love Spirals Downwards "Ardor"<br /><br /><br /><strong>Steve A., the Songcatching Revelator</strong><br /><br />MOST ESSENTIAL ALBUM OF 2001--<br /><br />(Sorry!) 1. TIE: Gillian Welch, "Time The Revelator" and Various, "Songcatcher"<br /><br />ESSENTIAL ALBUMS OF 2001--<br /><br />3. Various, "Oh Brother Where Art Thou"<br />4. Dolly Parton, "Little Sparrow"<br />5. Lucy Kaplansky, "Every Single Day"<br />6. Ryan Adams, "Gold"<br />7. Lucinda Williams, "Essence"<br />8. Allison Krauss, "New Favorite"<br />9. Various, "Poet: A Tribute to Townes Van Zandt"<br />10. Shawn Colvin, "Whole New You"<br /><br />ALBUMS FROM PREVIOUS YEARS THAT BECAME ESSENTIAL TO ME IN 2001--<br /><br />1. Patty Griffin, "Flaming Red" AND "Living With Ghosts"<br />3. Sarah Harmer, "You Were Here"<br />4. Cry Cry Cry, "Cry Cry Cry"<br />5. Various, "Bleecker Street: Greenwich Village in the 60s"<br />6. Melissa Ferrick, "Skinnier, Faster, Live At The BPC"<br />7. Nick Drake, "Pink Moon"<br /><br /><strong>Nancy – She’s Got Nomad Soul</strong><br /><br />MOST ESSENTIAL:<br />Manu Chao: Esperanza---everyone who walked into my office and heard this<br />album loved it...except ellen mccrum. Not sure if this came out in 2001 but<br />dammit this album makes me happier than any other!<br /><br />OTHER ESSENTIAL ALBUMS<br />Baaba Maal: Nomad Soul---great great world music.<br />Krishna Das: Pilgrim Heart--i think this guy is from long island but he sings devotional songs in Sanskrit and they are amazing.<br />PJ Harvey: Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea---every song on this album is a gem. (ed. Note: this came out last year)<br />Best of Elvis Costello--made me realize how much i love him. great great songwriter!<br />Mary J. Blige: No More Drama---mary just speaks to me.<br />Ani DiFranco: Revelling/Reckoning---ani's best album yet. soft and introspective and contains no single song that you just have to skip!<br />Jill Scott: Experience 826+---just bought this the other day but it makes the list cuz jill scott is just divine...and this album brings me one step closer to seeing her live.<br />WAH! Hidden in the Name----Another devotional singer in Sanskrit. this cd is hard to find but this woman's ethereal voice makes it all worth it. <a href="http://photos.msn.com/support/worldwide.aspx">http://photos.msn.com/support/worldwide.aspx</a><br /><br /><br /><strong>Suzanne, who is not a musical doofus</strong><br /><br />I am feeling a bit like a music doofus at the moment....I find myself listening to our local NPR or 80's station all the time. Recent CD favorites in our household are: "High Fidelity" soundtrack and the soundtrack to "O Brother Where Art Thou?" other than that I am always a Bruce Springsteen girl (The Bruce Springsteen Live Box Set is in both of our cars)..though I'm not from New Jersey, he has always hit a chord for me.<br /><br /><strong>Jason B, who parses the Essential and the Indisputable</strong><br /><br />my essential albums: Rainer Maria - "A Better Version of Me" & The White Stripes - "white blood cells" (though isn't The Strokes the indisputable record of the year?)<br /><br />also:<br />ours - distorted lullabies<br />ryan adams - gold<br />Flickerstick - Welcoming home the astronauts (guilty pleasure much? why yes..)<br />creeper lagoon - take back the universe and give me yesterday<br />Tom McRae - Tom McRae<br />shuggie otis - inspiration information (reissue from '74)<br /><br />and of 2000's stuff, Jill Scott became an essential record in 2001.<br /><br />and for the record, if i could do it all again, i'd spend even more time with: avalanches, rufus wainwright, gorillaz, idlewild, lucinda williams, sigur ros, whiskeytown, kings of convenience, starsailor, and the shins.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Duryan, who knows what she likes</strong><br /><br />1) O Brother Where Art Thou - the best collection of the year. (Most Essential)<br />2) Blue Skies - the Ella Fitzgerald greatest hits album - rereleased by Verve. (Album that became Essential)<br />3) Drops of Jupiter - Train - proving they were not a one hit/album wonder. (Essential)<br />4) Mad Season - Matchbox 20 - need I say more? (Essential or became Essential - just know I bought it this year)<br /><br /><br /><strong>We’re ready for this, Brian</strong><br /><br />Alright, you ready for this....<br /><br />MOST ESSENTIAL:<br />The White Stripes: White Blood Cells<br /><br />ESSENTIAL ALBUMS OF 2001:<br />The Strokes: Is this It (import version- NYC Cops is worth it.)<br />HIM: Shadow & Brilliant Highlights (import only- Finland)<br />Madrugada: The Nightly Desiese (import only-Norway)<br />Fugazi: The Argument (their best yet)<br />Hope Sandavoll & the Warm Inventions: bavarian fruit bread (long, long overdue Mazzy Star)<br />Beachwood Sparks: Once We Were Trees<br />Ryan Adams: Gold<br />Spiritualized<br />Built to Spill: Ancient Melodies of the Future<br />John Frusciante: To Record Only Water for Ten Days (hey, he got new teeth!)<br />Bonie Prince Billy: ease on down the road<br />The Von Bondies: lack of communication<br />Guns 'N Roses: It's Time for Democray (bootleg of the New Years concert includes the future Top 10 hit "Chinese Democracy")<br />The Hives: your new favourite band (HOLY SHIT! the HIVES!)<br /><br />Three albums that are essential because of the artist:<br />* Langley School's Music Project: Songs of Innocence and Despair ('70s Candian gradeschoolers singing poprock covers of Bowie, Eagles, Beach Boys and more. Incredibly off-key and beautiful)<br /><br />* Tangerine Awkestra: The Aliens Stole My Mother (concept jazz album written, composed, and recorded by kids ages 2-9 from Brooklyn. Includes the prophetic The Aliens Blow Up the Empire State Building).<br /><br />* Bob Dylan: Love and Theft- if it was anyone else, would anyone care. Yeah it's great, but let's admit it folks, it's forgetable stacked up to the rest.)<br /><br />ALBUMS FROM PREVIOUS THAT BECAME ESSENTIAL<br /><br />Jetro Tull: Aqualung (not sure how I ever lived without it)<br />Hanoi Rocks: Kill City Kills (original L.A. rock via Finland)<br />Marty Frye: Dreaming of ALice (soft folk pyschedlia circa 1967)<br />Pattie Smith: Horses<br />Nagisa Ne Ti: On the Love Beach (Japense rockers ala Ghost)<br />'Igginbottom: Igginbottom's Wrench- ('60s working class Brits record the only listenable jazz/pyschedic fusion album and it's amazing.)<br />Grace Slick & the Great Society<br /><br /><br /><strong>William Art Here</strong><br /><br />-- MOST ESSENTIAL ALBUM OF 2001 “O Brother Where Art Thou”<br /><br />Websters dictionary states that in strict usage, the word “essential” is “…applicable to that which constitutes the absolute essence or the fundamental nature of a thing and therefore must be present for the thing to exist.” I’m not too sure what any of that means, but I could vote for nothing other than “O Brother…” It is not necessarily my “favorite” album of the year, but I do think that it is the most “important” or “essential.” <br /><br /><br />-- ESSENTIAL ALBUMS OF 2001<br /> “Little Sparrow” Dolly Parton <br /> “Time (the Revelator)” Gillian Welch (tied for my favorite album of the year)<br /><br /> “Nickel Creek” Nickel Creek (too many instrumental tracks, but the best debut album of the year regardless)<br /> “Gold” Ryan Adams (makes me wanna go drink whiskey…in a good way, that is)<br /> “The Storm Still Rages” Rhonda Vincent (she sings the hell outta some boot-stompin’ bluegrass tunes)<br /> “Essence” Lucinda Williams (whereas “Car Wheels” burned, this one smolders)<br /> “Every Single Day” Lucy Kaplansky (I like her live better, but this is still another step up for her in album production)<br /> “Discovery” Daft Punk (big fun--sans repetition--on the dancefloor)<br /> “Fortune Cookie” Alana Davis (possibly a one-note effort, but consistently solid and beautifully sung) <br /> “Whoa, Nelly” Nelly Furtado (easily the best of the teen queens!)<br /> <br /><br />-- ALBUMS FROM PREVIOUS YEARS THAT BECAME ESSENTIAL TO ME IN 2001<br /> “Stuff” Holly McNarland (kick ass!!!)<br />“Haunted” Poe (tortured but never a downer)<br />“You Were Here” Sarah Harmer (why did I not find her sooner?!?!)<br />“Stories from the City…” PJ Harvey (always a fan of PJ, but this one rivals her “To Bring You My Love”)<br />“Lovers Rock” Sade (the soundtrack to a rainy, lazy Sunday)<br /><br /><strong>Jim Throws Down the Gauntlet</strong><br /><br />MOST ESSENTIAL<br />Bob Dylan, Love & Theft<br /><br /> OTHER 2001 ALBUMS OF NOTE:<br />Ryan Adams - Gold<br />The Drive-by Truckers - Southern Rock Opera<br />Jay Farrar - Sebastapol<br />REM - Reveal<br />The Star Room Boys - This World Just Won't Leave You Alone<br />Weezer - (Green Album)<br />Gillian Welch - Time (the Revelator)<br />Whiskeytown - Pneumonia<br />Lucinda Williams - Essence<br /><br />ALBUMS FROM 2001 I STILL HOPE TO FIND ESSENTIAL BUT HAVEN'T HAD TIME TO<br />Stephen Malkmus - Stephen Malkmus<br />Clem Snide- - Ghosts of Fashion<br /><br />OLDER ALBUMS I LEARNED ARE ESSENTIAL IN 2001<br />Tom Petty - Damn the Torpedoes<br />White Stripes - De Stijl<br />Neil Young - Everybody Knows This is Nowhere<br /><br />FUCK THESE ALBUMS (AND ALL YOU CHUMPS THAT LOVE 'EM)<br />The Strokes - Is This It?<br />Royal Tenenbaums Soundtrack<br /><br /><br /><strong>Death Cab for Brendan</strong><br /><br />Most Essential Album of 2001Death Cab For Cutie -- Photo Album<br />essential albums of 2001<br />unwound -- leaves turn inside youpinback -- blue screen lifefugazi -- the argumentstephen malkmus -- stephen malkmus<br /><br />albums from previous years that became essential to me in 2001<br />q and not u -- no kill no beep beep (2000)versus -- the stars are insane (1994)johnny cash -- American III: Solitary Man (2000)<br /><br />Elizabeth’s Gift is Her Song<br /><br />Most Essential Album: Moulin Rouge soundtrack - just for the sheer amount of times I've listened to it!<br />Other Essential Albums: Weezer; Ben Folds, Rockin' the Suburbs; Ryan Adams, Gold; Best of Blur<br /><br /><br /><strong>Tanuja’s Strange Little Girls and Strange Big Guys</strong><br /><br />-- MOST ESSENTIAL ALBUM OF 2001<br />Sparklehorse/It's a Wonderful Life--hands down my number one!!!! any<br />sparklehorse, in fact--but this one has some wonderful collabs with pj<br />harvey, nina persson, tom waits.<br /><br />-- ESSENTIAL ALBUMS OF 2001<br />Tori Amos/Strange Little Girls<br />The Strokes/Is This It<br />Nelly Furtado/Whoa Nelly<br />U2/All That You Can't Leave Behind<br />Badmarsh & Shri/Signs<br />Shea Seger/The May Street Project<br />Bjork/Vespertine<br />Groove Armada/Goodbye Country (Hello Nightclub)<br />Stevie Nicks/Trouble in Shangri-la<br />A Camp/A Camp (nina persson--the cardigans singer--solo venture, produced by<br />mark linkhaus, aka sparklehorse)<br />Basement Jaxx/Rooty<br />Daft Punk/One More Time (?)<br />Nitin Sawhney/Broken Skin<br />Ani DiFranco/Reckoning/Reveling<br /><br /><br />ALBUMS FROM PREVIOUS YEARS THAT BECAME ESSENTIAL TO ME IN 2001<br />Sparklehorse/Birds of Pain<br />Madonna/Music<br />Beth Orton/Central Reservation<br />The Rough Guide to Bhangra<br />The The/Naked Self<br />No Doubt/Return of Saturn<br />The Cardigans/First Band on the Moon<br />PJ Harvey/Songs from the City...<br />Henri Salvador/(the last one)<br />Serge Gainsbourg (anything)<br /><br /><br /><strong>David R, who wants to tip the scales toward country/folk</strong><br /><br />-- MOST ESSENTIAL ALBUM OF 2001<br /><br />LITTLE SPARROW--Dolly Parton<br /><br /><br />-- ESSENTIAL ALBUMS OF 2001<br /><br />ESSENSE--Lucinda Williams<br /><br />RED DIRT GIRL--Emmylou Harris (Not a thoroughly perfect album, but there are<br />enough goodies on it to make it essential. Emmylou's song, "Red Dirt Girl"<br />will go down as one of the few greats she's written.)<br /><br />-- ALBUMS FROM PREVIOUS YEARS THAT BECAME ESSENTIAL TO ME IN 2001<br /><br />NICKEL CREEK--Nickel Creek<br />THE ESSENTIAL STEVE EARLE-- Steve Earle<br />THE GRASS IS BLUE -- Dolly<br /><br /><br /><strong>Kevin, giving a Tuscaloosa musical perspective that is in no way biased</strong><br /><br />Most Essential album of 2001: The Demo Tape by Hathcock. That's the band I'm in. Okay, so we're not set on the name Hathcock. And there's no demo tape yet. But we rock the hell out of Weezer's "Surf Wax America," The Outfield's "Your Love" and Van Halen's "Dance the Night Away." And we were formed in 2001, so that has to count for something.<br /><br />Essential Albums of 2001<br />1) Weezer -- Weezer. Essential for anyone who hit the ground with a brand new sound lookin' for romance.<br />2) Is This It -- The Strokes.<br />3) Stankonia -- Outkast. Technically a 2000 release, but essential in 2001 for anyone, anywhere who likes to bounce.<br />4) Total Fucking Blowout -- Fireballs of Freedom. Handle with caution. Essential, though, for anyone who wants to piss off the person who lives below them.<br />5) Love, Life and Leaving -- The Detroit Cobras.<br />6) Doobie Brothers Greatest Hits (as seen on tv) -- Hey, it WAS released in 2001, and having "Takin' it to the Streets" and "What a Fool Believes" is absolutely essential for those days when you're just not sure you can make it to tomorrow (which is pretty much every day for most people I know). Michael McDonald is a god, an absolute god.<br /><br />Albums from previous years that became essential in 2001:<br />1) Song For My Father (1964) -- Horace Silver. A truly perfect work of jazz.<br />2) Mink, Rat or Rabbit (1999) -- The Detroit Cobras. Imagine Chrissy Hynde singing lead for The Clash in a seedy bar doing all old soul covers.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Andrew, whose daughter has damn fine taste</strong><br /><br />MOST ESSENTIAL ALBUM OF 2001: Lucinda Williams, Essence<br /><br />ESSENTIAL ALBUM OF 2001: Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Musical (Okay, not really an album, but you can download it off the net, and it is an amazing piece for a first try at a musical. I already know two couples playing "Under Your Spell" at their weddings.)<br /><br />ALBUM FROM PREVIOUS YEAR THAT BECAME ESSENTIAL TO ME IN 2001: Mary Chapin Carpenter: Come on, Come on (One of my essential albums of the 90s, it gained deeper essentialness this year when I realized that my baby daughter will listen to it quietly and enthusiastically for long periods of time. Wohoo! The kid's got taste.)<br /><br /><br /><strong>Diff’rent Strokes to Rule Brant’s World</strong><br /><br />MOST ESSENTIAL ALBUM OF 2001<br />The Strokes' Is This It<br /><br />OTHER ESSENTIAL ALBUMS OF 2001<br />Weezer's Weezer<br />Ryan Adams' Gold<br />Bob Dylan's Love and Theft<br />R.E.M.'s Reveal<br />Lucinda Williams' Essence<br />The White Stripes' White Blood Cells<br /><br />MOST ESSENTIAL UNSANCTIONED CATEGORIES OF 2001<br />Most Essential Bonus Disc of 2001: Ryan Adams' Side 4<br />Most Essential Supergroup of 2001: Gorillaz<br />Most Essential Album of 2001 Not Technically Released Until 2002: Star Room<br />Boys' The World Just Won't Leave You Alone<br />Most Essential Icelandic Releases of 2001: Bjork's Vespertine, Damon Albarn<br />and Einar Orn's 101Reykjavik Soundtrack, and Sigur Ros' Agaetis Byrjun<br />Most Essential Multiple Artists Cover Albums of 2001: Good Rockin' Tonight:<br />A Tribute to Sun Records and Timeless: A Tribute to Hank Williams<br />Most Essential Single Artist Cover Album of 2001: Tori Amos' Strange Little<br />Girls<br />Most Essential Soundtrack of 2001: The Royal Tenenbaums<br />Most Essential Reissue of 2001: Shuggie Otis' Inspiration Information<br />Most Essential Blues Album of 2001: Buddy Guy's Sweet Tea<br />Most Essential Album of 2001 sold only on the artist's website and that I<br />haven't ordered yet: Drive-by Truckers' Southern Rock Opera<br /><br />MOST ESSENTIAL ALBUM OF 2001 NOT TECHNICALLY RELEASED UNTIL 2002<br />Star Room Boys' The World Just Won't Leave You Alone<br /><br />ALBUMS FROM PREVIOUS YEARS THAT BECAME ESSENTIAL TO ME IN 2001<br />Johnny Cash at San Quentin<br />Ray Charles' Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music<br />Curtis Mayfield's Superfly<br />Junior Murvin's Police and Thieves<br />Tom Petty's Damn the Torpedoes<br />Every early Rolling Stones album<br />Linda Ronstadt's Heart Like a Wheel<br />Roxy Music's Siren<br />Bruce Springsteen's Darkness on the Edge of Town<br />The White Stripes' DeStijl<br /><br />TWO MORE CATEGORIES OF 2001<br />Album of 2001 most like the album that everyone seemed to think was the most<br />essential album of 2000: Radiohead's Amnesiac<br />Best failed album of 2001: Ian Brown's Music of the Spheres. This guy has<br />got the ambition; if he could get three extremely talented musicians to hone<br />it, he'd have a pretty good band.<br /><br />APOLOGIES TO ALL THE 2001 ALBUMS I DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO LISTEN TO, OR<br />HAVEN'T GOTTEN INTO YET BUT ONE DAY WILL<br /><br /><br /><strong>Some Inspiration, Some Information from Matt</strong><br /><br />Most essential record of the year:<br />'Inspiration Information' - Shuggie Otis (it's the<br />first time it's on cd, so I'm guessing that counts?)<br /><br />Other essential records of the year:<br />'Infinite Love Songs' - Maximilian Hecker<br />'Discovery' - Daft Punk<br />'Innocence & Despair' - The Langley Schools Music<br />Project (another first time on cd)<br />'Vespertine' - Bjork<br />'Pneumonia' – Whiskeytown<br /><br /><strong>Annie, Under a Spell</strong><br /><br />Most Essential Album:<br />the "Buffy" musical soundtrack :)<br /><br />Other Essential Albums (that mostly came out before 2001, I think):<br />U2 "All That You Can't Leave Behind"<br />Madonna "Music"<br />the Eels "Daisies of the Galaxy"<br />"Moulin Rouge" soundtrack<br />"High Fidelity" soundtrack<br />"Full Monty" cast album<br />"Urinetown" cast album<br />"As Seen on TV" compilation<br />Sarah Harmer "You Were Here"<br />Ryan Adams "Gold"<br />Kirsty MacColl, “Tropical Brainstorm”<br />Nelly Furtado, “Whoa Nelly!”<br /><br /><br /><strong>And now for something completely different, a word from Julia</strong><br /><br />I'm sorry to say that I was beyond lame this year and didn't buy anything new.....just stocked up on my classical (gasp!) music....Debussy is really great to listen to when you just want to relax.......and of course the odd selections by Omar Faruk Tekbelek (say that 10 times fast....) who if you ever get a chance to catch live is mind blowing....he's a master of every middle eastern instrument known to man and has this raw spine tingling voice....totally amazing.....(but i guess that's the belly dancer in me talking....)....that's all i got!..... j.<br /><br /><strong>In interest of full disclosure, it must be said that Alistair is in love with Chris Thile</strong><br />>-- MOST ESSENTIAL ALBUM OF 2001<br /><br />Chris Thile -- Not All Who Wander Are Lost<br /><br />>-- ESSENTIAL ALBUMS OF 2001<br /><br />Gillian Welch & David Rawlings -- Time (The Revelator)<br /><br />Alison Krauss -- New Favorite<br /><br />Sean Watkins -- Let It Fall<br /><br />Various Artists -- Down From the Mountain (actually, it's the film that's essential, not the soundtrack)<br /><br />>-- ALBUMS FROM PREVIOUS YEARS THAT BECAME ESSENTIAL TO ME IN 2001<br /><br />Hot Rize -- Untold Stories<br /><br />John Hartford -- Aereoplane and Morning Bugle<br /><br />Bela Fleck -- Tales from the Acoustic Planet: The Bluegrass Sessions<br /><br /><br /><strong>Whoa, Jenny!</strong><br /><br />Most Essential Album of 2001: Weezer. (2001)<br /><br />Essential Albums of 2001: Ron Sexsmith: Blue Boy, Le Tigre: Feminist Sweepstakes, Madonna: Music, The Strokes: Is This it?, Gorillaz: Gorillaz, Suzanne Vega: Songs in Red and Gray, and Fatboy Slim: Halfway between the Gutter and the Stars.<br /><br />Previous Years: Red House Painters: Retrospective AND Songs for a Blue Guitar, Lucinda Williams: Car Wheels on a Gravel road, Weezer: pinkerton<br /><br />New Category: Artist that I like that I also feel embarrassed about for liking: Nelly Furtado. (That bird song is so catchy as is her other song about "turning out the light.")<br /><br /><strong>Christopher C Strikes a Pose</strong><br /><br />Most Essential Album: Rufus Wainwright, "Poses" I have never quite<br />listened to one musician so successfully capable of adopting so many<br />different musical styles and "voices" in one album before, and continue<br />to be genuinely stunned by "Poses." At once joyous, melancholy,<br />hopeful and wistful, this album has been close to hand since its<br />release. I love the fact that he wears his heart and his sexuality on<br />his sleeve, and I have yet to find a contemporary artist who moves me<br />as much and as deeply as Rufus does.<br /><br />Other Essential Albums: "Moulin Rouge" soundtrack Who in their right<br />mind would not feel a thrill when listening to Ewan McGregor's<br />rendition of "Your Song?" Despite my obvious and hopeless crush on Mr.<br />McGregor, his ability to make old love songs sound new and full of<br />sincerity is one of the main reasons to purchase this disc. It's as<br />frenetically eclectic as the film, has a Rufus Wainwright single, and<br />is a cut above the typical movie soundtrack...<br /><br />Dusty Springfield, "Simply Dusty" I came across this 4 disc boxed set<br />when I was in London last year and snatched it up on the spot. I have<br />yet to see it in any US store, but if you are a Dusty devotee and ever<br />come across it, don't hesitate. Camp associations aside, Dusty had one<br />of those voices that positively spilled over with emotions - from<br />belting out 60s pop standards to her later, edgier work, she remains<br />Britain's geratest, and most complicated, female singers. I've been a<br />fan since childhood, when my mom introduced me to her music, and all<br />that husky-voiced longing swept over me and I just though, oh yes, this<br />lady GETS what it's all about...<br /><br /><strong>Ronnie, Soundtrack Goddess (Come What May)</strong><br /><br />Okay, so here are my top ten soundtracks from 2001, in a particular order actually. Everyone should keep in mind that the "space" between my number "one" and number "two" is far more vast than can be shown.<br /><br />Moulin Rouge (Craig Armstrong et. al., with a special mention for Ewan McGregor and the goosebumps-raising moment when he starts to sing "Your Song.")<br /><br />"Once More With Feeling": the Buffy musical episode (Joss Whedon)<br />The Devil's Backbone (Javier Navarrete)<br />The Conversation--although this movie is from 1974, the soundtrack was only released for the first time this year (David Shire)<br />Amelie (Yann Tiersen)<br />Ghost World (various)<br />Happy Accidents (various)<br />Monster's Ball (Asche & Spencer)<br />Session 9 (Climax Golden Twins)<br />The Man Who Wasn't There (Carter Burwell)<br /><br /><strong>Dawn-C</strong><br /><br />>MOST ESSENTIAL ALBUM OF 2001<br />A TIE: (I couldn't decide)<br />Jay-Z: The Blueprint<br />Ani DiFranco- Revelling/Reckoning<br /><br />>ESSENTIAL ALBUMS OF 2001<br />Bjork- Vespertine<br />Dar Williams- Out There Live<br />Mary J. Blige- No More Drama<br />Missy Elliot- So Addictive<br />Rufus Wainwright- Poses<br />Suzanne Vega- Songs in Red and Gray<br />Ryan Adams- Gold<br />Alicia Keys- Songs in A Minor (I think that's the title right?)<br />Eve- Scorpion<br /><br /><strong><br />Kristin, who is (incidentally) a good woman to have along on a long road trip</strong><br /><br />Most Essential The Strokes, Is This It A good album to start a long road trip -- makes you giddy from the get-go.<br /><br />Other Essential Albums Disclaimer: I didn't have time for an intimate dissection of many of this year's releases. There's no doubting I'm slow. What I offer here is not an endorsement of whole albums, but of songs. I know it's a big difference.<br />With apologies, kje<br /><br />Ryan Adams, Gold Avalanches, Since I Left You Bjork, Vespertine Bob Dylan, Love and Theft Neil Finn, One Nil Spiritualized, Let it come down Weezer, Weezer<br />Lucinda Williams, Essence<br /><br /><br />Earlier albums for which I developed an intensified appreciation in 2001 (or had not heard previously) Fred Astaire, Starring Fred Astaire ( A Columbia Years Series Release) Balanescu Quartet, Possessed Bill Evans, Sunday at the Village Vanguard, Portrait in Jazz, Everybody Digs Bill Evans (I joined the club) Curtis Mayfield, Superfly <br />Steve Reich, City Life<br /><br />Amy, Last But Never Least<br /><br />Ok, I'm probably out of it by now due to my late submission, but I'm<br />also out of it music-wise this year, so I guess it fits.<br /><br />Here goes anyway; it's a short list because I didn't buy much that I<br />really, really liked this year:<br /><br />Most essential: Guided by Voices, Isolation Drills<br /><br />Other Essentials:<br />Ryan Adams, New York, New York<br />Pete Yorn, Music for the Morning After<br />Bjork, Vespertine<br />Whiskeytown, (can't recall the name...you know the one) (ed. Note – Pneumonia)<br />Jim O'Rourke, Insignificance (sort of...it's too short, more of an ep<br />really)<br /><br /><br />Previous Essential:<br />The Sea and Cake, Ouidavidlevithanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00762768300871943772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1509734071563017124.post-22130751083128985802009-01-09T06:05:00.000-08:002009-01-09T06:11:53.949-08:00The 2000 David Music Poll results<strong>The Big Tally</strong><br />*the essential essential, on more than one list or chosen as most essential <br /><br />Radiohead - Kid A (11 votes)<br />PJ Harvey - Songs from the City, Songs from the Sea (5)<br />Sarah Harmer - You Were Here (5)<br />Aimee Mann - Bachelor No.2 (5)<br />Yo La Tengo - And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside Out (5)<br />Sinead O'Connor - Faith and Courage (4)<br />Dandy Warhols - 13 tales from urban bohemia (4)<br />Ryan Adams – Heartbreaker (3)<br />Travis - The Man Who (3)<br />David Gray – White Ladder (3)<br />Badly Drawn Boy - Hour of the Bewilderbeast (3) <br /><br />Absinthe Blind - music for security**<br />Richard Ashcroft - Alone with Everybody**<br />At The Drive-In - relationship of command**<br />music tapes : first imaginary symphony for nomad**<br />Bright Eyes - fevers & mirrors**<br />The Unutterable - The Fall**<br />Cat Power - The Covers Record**<br />Belle & Sebastian - Fold Your Hands Child You Walk Like a Peasant**<br />Shelby Lynne- I Am Shelby Lynne**<br />Outkast—Stankonia**<br />Thievery Corporation- The Mirror Conspiracy**<br />John Williams -- SW: Episode I- The Phantom Menace Ultimate Edition and Superman**<br />Bjork – Selmasongs**<br />Fela Kuti -- catalogue (a reissue)**<br />Josh Rouse – Home**<br />Elliot Smith – Figure 8**<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Here Are My Picks, For What They’re Worth</strong><br /><br />MOST ESSENTIAL ALBUM OF 2000:<br />Radiohead, Kid A (most anticipated album ends up being the best – what are the odds?)<br /><br />ESSENTIAL ALBUMS OF 2000:<br />PJ Harvey, Songs from the City, Songs from the Sea <br />Ryan Adams, Heartbreaker (that’s Ryan, not Bryan)<br />Sarah Harmer, You Were Here (sleeper of the year – keeps moving up the list)<br />Travis, The Man Who<br />Aimee Mann, Bachelor No.2<br />Richard Ashcroft, Alone with Everybody<br /><br />ARE NOT CURRENTLY ESSENTIAL, BUT MAY BECOME SO:<br />Coldplay, Parachutes<br />Sinead O’Connor, Faith and Courage<br />Ida, Will You Find Me<br />Kings of Convenience, Kings of Convenience<br />Shelby Lynne, I am Shelby Lynne<br /><br />STARTED OFF ESSENTIAL, BUT ENDED UP ALMOST ESSENTIAL<br />Bjork, Selmasongs<br />Dar Williams, The Green World<br /><br />DEBUT OR BREAKTHROUGH ALBUMS WORTH NOTING:<br />Leona Naess, Comatized<br />Erin McKeown, Distillation<br />Richard Shindell, Somewhere Near Patterson<br />Joseph Arthur, Come Where You Are<br />Nickel Creek, Nickel Creek<br /><br />BEST DEBUT WITH THE WORST ALBUM TITLE:<br />Tegan and Sarah, This Business of Art<br /><br />ESSENTIAL ALBUMS FROM 1999 THAT ARE STILL ESSENTIAL IN 2000:<br />Beth Orton, Central Reservation<br />Fiona Apple, When the Pawn…<br />Ben Lee, Breathing Tornadoes<br />Aimee Mann, Magnolia Soundtrack<br /><br />ALBUMS FROM PREVIOUS YEARS THAT I DISCOVERED THIS YEAR:<br />Strangely, I can’t think of any. Although I have a newfound appreciation for The Get-up Kids, Sam Cooke, and Bill Withers.<br /><br />SONG OF THE YEAR:<br />Coldplay, “Yellow” <br />(runners up include Sarah Harmer, “The Basement Apartment”; Radiohead, “Idioteque”; Amanda Ghost, “Idol”)<br /><br />CONCERT OF THE YEAR:<br />PJ Harvey, Bowery Ballroom<br /><br />SOUNDTRACK OF THE YEAR (besides Selmasongs):<br />O Brother, Where Art Thou?<br /><br />GUILTY PLEASURE OF THE YEAR:<br />Vertical Horizon’s “Everything You Want” and “You’re a God” are damn good songs. <br /><br />MUSICAL THING OF THE YEAR:<br />Napster, easily<br /><br /><br /><strong>Jason Black, Who Shows Many Jeff Buckley and Nick Drake Influences</strong><br /><br />2 MOST ESSENTIAL ALBUMS OF THE YEAR:<br />Absinthe Blind - "music for security"<br />sarah harmer - "you were here"<br /><br />7 OTHER ESSENTIAL ALBUMS OF THE YEAR:<br />cursive - "Cursive's Domestica"<br />sleater-kinney - "all hands on the bad one"<br />teddy thompson - "teddy thompson"<br />chris lee - "chris lee"<br />PJ Harvey - "Songs from the city..."<br />eminem - "the marshall mathers LP"<br />shelby lynne - "i am shelby lynne"<br /><br />THE ALBUM FROM PREVIOUS YEARS THAT I DISCOVERED THIS YEAR AND PROVED TO BE ESSENTIAL: Get up Kids - "Something to Write Home About"<br /><br />9 OTHER ALBUMS WORTH NOTING FROM THIS YEAR:<br />the glands - "the glands"<br />Amy Correia - "Carnival Love"<br />Paddy Casey - "Amen (so be it)"<br />At The Drive-In - "relationship of command"<br />madonna - "music"<br />tahiti 80 - "puzzle"<br />marah - "kids in philly"<br />sinead o'connor - "Faith and Courage"<br />and (begrudgingly) travis - "the man who," david gray - "White ladder"<br /><br />12 great songs of the year, and most of them are indeed on noteworthy<br />albums...<br />Ryan Adams - "Come pick me up" (off "Heartbreaker")<br />Crooked Fingers - "A New Drink for the Old Drunk" (off "Crooked Fingers")<br />Waxwings - "Keeping the Sparks" (off "low to the ground")<br />Coldplay - "yellow" (off "parachutes)<br />Bright eyes - "Something Vague" (off "fevers and mirrors")<br />clem snide - "I Love the Unknown" (off "Your Favorite Music")<br />Kina - "girl from the gutter" (off "kina)<br />Josh Rouse - "directions" (off "home")<br />A perfect circle - "judith"<br />Death Cab for Cutie - "company calls" (off "We Have the Facts and We're<br />Voting Yes")<br />Eleni Mandell - "Pauline" (off "Thrill")<br />John Vanderslice - "Bill Gates Must Die" (also song TITLE of the year,<br />obviously; off "Mass Suicide Occult Figurines")<br /><br />1 SHOW OF THE YEAR: Modest Mouse @ Irving Plaza (worst: Badly Drawn Boy @<br />Knitting Factory)<br /><br />2 ACTS TO LOOK OUT FOR IN Y2K+1:<br />Ours (like Radiohead? like Jeff Buckley?<br />Vanessa Carlton (like Tori? Like Fiona?)<br /><br />2 ALBUMS I KNOW I SHOULD HAVE LOVED MORE BUT I JUsT DIDN'T LISTEN TO THEM AS<br />MUCH AS RECORDS AND THUS THEY DON'T MAKE MY LIST AND I WON'T APOLOGIZE FOR<br />IT:<br />Radiohead - "kid A"<br />Outkast - "stankonia"<br /><br />MY CRUSH OF THE YEAR: Beyonce Knowles, Destiny's Child.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Stieg Retlin, Man…or Astroman?</strong><br /><br />MOST ESSENTIAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR<br /><br />music tapes : first imaginary symphony for nomad<br /><br /> OTHER ESSENTIAL ALBUMS OF THE YEAR<br />[ in order , most to least most ]<br /><br />jamie lidell : muddlin gear<br />mouse on mars : Niun Niggung<br />kid koala : carpal tunnel syndrome<br />kid 606 : down with the scene<br />mira calix : one on one<br />funkstorung : post art<br />spring heel jack : oddities<br />boards of canada : in a beautiful place out in the country<br />fight club : dust brothers original score<br />3rd message : a compilation<br />dilated peoples : platform<br />marumari : wolves hollow<br />matmos : matmos<br /><br />OTHER ESSENTIAL ARTISTS OF THE YEAR [ bypassing retail // *.mp3 wise ]<br />[ in order , most to least most ]<br /><br />godspeed you black emperor [ i dont even own mp3s of theirs because they get<br />all chopped up , their tracks are too long for mp3s . saw them play , oh<br />man ]<br />olivia tremor control<br />neutral milk hotel<br />takako minekawa<br />the evolution control comittee<br />east flatbush project<br />aphex twin : melodies from mars [rejected video game sound track ! ]<br />all my sifl and olli downloads , heh heh<br /><br />[ through micromusic ]<br />[ in order , most to least most ]<br />lektrogirl<br />drx<br />comma<br />klunko<br />mikrosopht<br />bodenstandig<br /><br /> ALBUMS FROM PREVIOUS YEARS THAT I DISCOVERED THIS YEAR AND PROVED TO BE<br />ESSENTIAL<br />[damn i'm late]<br />[ in order , most to least most ]<br /><br />boards of canada : music has the right to children<br />beach boys : best of beach boys [ helllllllllllllllll yeah ]<br />plaid : restproof clockwork<br />man or astro man : Experiment Zero<br />man or astro man : Is It Man Or Astro Man?<br />funkstorung : additional productions<br />kool keith : black elvis / lost in space<br /><br /> OTHER ALBUMS WORTH NOTING FROM THIS YEAR<br /><br />8-bit rockers : [put out their first vinyl this year . and micromusic put<br />out a cd compilation at the end of the year ]<br /><br /><br />SOLID MP3 WEBSITES [ high bandwidth rules ]<br /><br />www.micromusic.net<br />[where DRX , lektrogirl and mikrosopht spend a lot of time]<br />www.metempsychosis.net<br />[ mikrosopht , comma and klunko are part of this krew . comma and klunko is<br />the same person ]<br />www.enooze.com<br />[ mikrosopht's web magazine which i am helpping with ]<br />http://www.metempsychosis.com/mikro/audio/hi/plastic flesh - arkabear.mp3<br />[ out of enooze issue six ... i wrote this track !!!! ! ! ! ! !@ @ @ !! ! ]<br /><br /><br /><strong>Brian Masino, Who, At Press Time, Is Still Waiting For Chinese Democracy</strong><br /><br />Alright, I was going to go home and check to make sure memory serves me right, BUT that's too much. I have a list and I'm going with. If I can't think of them, then they ain't that essential.<br /><br />MOST ESSENTIAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR:<br />radiohead Kid A (the only real choice, isn't it)<br /><br />OTHER ESSENTIAL ALBUMS OF THE YEAR<br /><br />Richard Ashcroft- alone with everybody<br />Cure- bloodflowers<br />At the Drive In- relationship command<br />Bright Eyes- fevers & mirrors<br />Stone Temple Pilots- No4<br />Amiee Mann- Bacholor number 2<br />Bowie at the Beeb<br />HIM- razor blade romance<br />Ryan Adams- heartbreaker<br />Queen Adreena- taxidermy<br />Placebo- blackmarket music<br />Dandy Warhols- 13 tales from urban bohemia<br /><br />ALBUMS FROM PREVIOUS YEARS THAT I DISCOVERED THIS YEAR AND PROVED TO BE ESSENTIAL<br />Essex Green- the essex green<br />Saint Etienne- good humor<br />Sunfighter- Sunfighter (old Grace Slick & Paul Kanter lp from 1970)<br />Shudder to Think- 50,000 B.C. AND pony express record<br />Fugazi- end hits (proved to be a few years ahead of everyone else as usual)<br />Stone Roses- garage flower (import, may look like a bootleg, but not. pre-1st album gems)<br />Bikini Kill- reject all american<br />Make-up- i want some AND save yourself<br /><br />AND TOO MANY MILLIONS OF OTHERS TO THINK OF<br /><br />OTHER ALBUMS WORTH NOTING FROM THIS YEAR <br />(this could mean a promising debut, an album that might prove essential over time, or particularly glaring disappointments)<br />The Makers- rock star god (sub pop new superstars)<br />Nation of Ulysses- 13 point plan to destroy america (Discord reissue)<br />L.A. Guns- shrinking violet (2000 fare from the pivital punkmetal band proves that they have evolved into a Led Zepplin groove- tremondous album).<br />Guns 'N Roses- New Year's Eve Concert set list which include 5 songs off next years most essential album "Chinese Democracy"<br />the Melvins- the crybabys (part 3 of 3 part experiment in insanity- features guest vocals from David Yow of Jesus Lizard on two completely demented songs, two tracks by Hank Williams III which is country like country ain't never been done, AND the opening song......(drum roll here)....Smells Like Teen Spirit sung by Felonious 70's teen idol superstar Leif Garret. a blockbuster in absurdity.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Iain Stansfield, Quick and Dirty</strong><br /><br />Here's a quick and dirty response.<br /><br />MOST ESSENTIAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR: The Unutterable - The Fall<br /><br />OTHER ESSENTIAL ALBUMS OF THE YEAR: Solitary Man - Johnny Cash, Sigur Ros<br />album (forgot name, something Icelandic), Songs from the City etc - PJ<br />Harvey, Ghost Dog - OST, Dongs of Sevotion - Smog <br /><br />ALBUMS FROM PREVIOUS YEARS THAT I DISCOVERED THIS YEAR AND PROVED TO BE<br />ESSENTIAL: Blur - Blur, Metal Box/Second Edition - PiL, Woman's Gotta Have<br />It - Cornershop<br /><br />OTHER ALBUMS WORTH NOTING FROM THIS YEAR: Marshall Mathers Album - Eminem<br />(liked "Stan" very much)<br /><br /><br /><strong>Jennifer MacBain, With Whom I Shared the Concert of the Year</strong><br /><br />MOST ESSENTIAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR Radiohead- Kid A<br /> <br /><br />OTHER ESSENTIAL ALBUMS OF THE YEAR P.J. Harvey- Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea; Elastica, The Menace; Badly Drawn Boy, Hour of the Bewilderbeast; The Dandy Warhols, 13 Tales From Urban Bohemia; Bratmobile, Ladies, Women, and Girls...; Sinead O'Conner, Faith and Courage. <br /><br /><br />ALBUMS FROM PREVIOUS YEARS THAT I DISCOVERED THIS YEAR AND PROVED TO BE ESSENTIAL Eliot Smith x/o; P.J. Harvey, Dry; Erykah Kidjou, Onimus; Tragic Kingdom, Return to Saturn. (it's that cool pink hair.) <br /><br /> OTHER ALBUMS WORTH NOTING FROM THIS YEAR <br />Sleater Kinney, All Hands on the Bad One; Kittie, Spit; Dido, No Angel. Travis, The Man Who (--pretty catchy songs even though several people I talked to said they sound like the Eagles,) Madonna, Music. (some of those electronic beats sound neat.)<br />(The only really lame song I can think of (from an artist I usually like,) is from Sting: I'm sorry, but I thought that Desert Rose song was boring and the video of him driving in a limo stalking some poor gypsy woman is so cliche!) <br /><br />THe end.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Scott Thomas, Who May Not Be Warhol, But Is Certainly Dandy</strong><br /><br />ESSENTIAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR<br /><br />Dandy Warhols - 13 Tales of Urban Bohemia<br /><br />OTHER ESSENTIALS<br /><br />Paul Van Dyk - Out There and Back<br />Dave Seaman - Global Underground: Buenos Aires (trance compilation)<br /><br />ESSENTIALS FROM OTHER YEARS I DISCOVERED IN 2000<br /><br />Kid Silver - Dead City Sunbeams<br />Low - Secret Name<br />Mogwai - Ten Rapid<br />Everything But The Girl - Temperamental<br /><br />ALBUMS WORTH NOTING<br /><br />Bjork - Selmasongs (I haven't seen the movie and may appreciate this more<br />when I do)<br /><br /><br /><strong>Brant Rumble, Who Loves To Be Complicated</strong><br /><br />Here is how my ballot should read finally and forever:<br /><br />MOST ESSENTIAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR<br />Badly Drawn Boy's The Hour of Bewilderbeast<br /><br />OTHER ESSENTIAL ALBUMS OF THE YEAR<br />Yo La Tengo's And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside Out<br />Cat Power's The Covers Record<br />Aimee Mann's Bachelor No. 2<br />Radiohead's Kid A<br />Belle & Sebastian's Fold Your Hands Child You Walk Like a Peasant<br /><br />ALBUM FROM PREVIOUS YEARS THAT I DISCOVERED THIS YEAR AND PROVED TO BE ESSENTIAL<br />The Star Room Boys' Why Do Lonely Men and Women Want to Break Each Other's Hearts?<br /><br />OTHER ALBUM WORTH NOTING FROM THIS YEAR <br />Oasis' Familiar to Millions -- for a live album<br />Blur's Best of -- for a compilation<br />Billy Bragg & Wilco's Mermaid Avenue, Vol II -- for a vol II of something<br />Primal Scream's Exterminator -- for a hard album to listen to<br />Mojave 3's Excuses for Travelers -- only heard it once; wish I'd heard it more<br /><br />One final note: Yo La Tengo's album could be among the best albums ever recorded ever, in my humble opinion. However, for a given year, I am inclined to concentrate on the new, or at least newer, in terms of artist, I mean. Hence, I chose the Badly Drawn Boy even though, in the long run, I think I'll prefer the Yo La Tengo. That, and I love to be complicated.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Andrew Farmer, Whose List Will Probably Look Like My Brother Adam’s Next Year</strong><br /><br /><br /> MOST ESSENTIAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR: Shelby Lynne- I Am Shelby Lynne<br /><br /> OTHER ESSENTIAL ALBUMS OF THE YEAR:<br /> Allison Moorer- The Hardest Part<br /> Aimee Mann- Bachelor #2, or the last remains of the dodo<br /> David Levithan- 90 Minutes of the 90's (Well it was to me.)<br /><br /> ALBUMS FROM PREVIOUS YEARS THAT I DISCOVERED AND PROVED TO BE ESSENTIAL<br /> Sting- Brand New Day<br /> Xena the Warrior Princess Soundtrack- Bitter Suite(No, really.)<br /><br /> OTHER ALBUMS WORTH NOTING THIS YEAR<br /> Everclear- Songs from an American Movie, Volumes 1&2<br /> Sarah Harmer- You Were Here<br /> U2- All That You Can't Leave Behind<br /><br /><br /><strong>Dawn Cerasi, Who Now Determines All That She Can’t Leave Behind</strong><br /><br />> MOST ESSENTIAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR<br /> Outkast-- Stankonia<br />> <br />> OTHER ESSENTIAL ALBUMS OF THE YEAR<br /> Moby-- Play (is that 2000?) (ed.: No)<br /> Erykah Badu – Mama’s Gun<br /> U2-- All that you can't leave behind<br /> Radiohead-- Kid A<br /> David Gray-- White Ladder<br /> Pearl Jam-- binaural<br />> <br />> ALBUMS FROM PREVIOUS YEARS THAT I DISCOVERED THIS YEAR AND PROVED TO BE<br />> ESSENTIAL<br /> Mos Def-- Black on Both Sides<br /> Outkast-- Aquemini<br /> Outkast-- Atliens<br /> The Roots-- Things Fall Apart<br /> The Roots-- Illadelph Halflife<br /> The Roots-- Do you want more?<br /> <br />> <br />> OTHER ALBUMS WORTH NOTING FROM THIS YEAR <br />> (this could mean a promising debut, an album that might prove essential over<br />> time, or particularly glaring disappointments)<br />> Dar Williams-- The Green World (is that what it's called?)<br /><br /><br /><strong>Veronica Ambrose, With Some Disturbing Soundtrack News from This Year</strong><br /><br />Because it is impossible to come up with any kind of essential soundtrack list for this tragic year in movies (yeah, yeah, my opinion, bla bla bla), I am going to list ten movie scores that are as memorable as the films they come from; music so evocative that when the movie title is mentioned one of the first things that comes to mind is the music . . . except I can only think of seven . . . and a half. And the movie can't be a musical. Here we go in no particular order:<br /><br />Jaws--John Williams<br />The Third Man--Anton Karas<br />Star Wars--John Williams<br />Psycho--Bernard Herrmann<br />Lawrence of Arabia--Maurice Jarre<br />The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly--Ennio Morricone<br />Exorcist--Michael Oldfield<br /> and<br />The Twilight Zone--Marius Constant (yeah, yeah, okay, it's not a movie score, but I defy anyone to hear the words "Twilight Zone" and not start going "dee dee dee dee dee dee dee dee")<br /><br />Alas, I can think of no more. Anyone have any suggestions?<br /><br /><br /><strong>Patrick Flanery, Who Prefers Brits over Superstars Who Marry Brits</strong><br /><br />>MOST ESSENTIAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR <br />Radiohead: Kid A <br /><br /> <br /><br />>OTHER ESSENTIAL ALBUMS OF THE YEAR <br />Bjork: Selmasongs<br />Coldplay: Parachutes<br />Travis: The Man Who<br /><br /> <br />>ALBUMS FROM PREVIOUS YEARS THAT I DISCOVERED THIS YEAR AND PROVED TO BE <br />ESSENTIAL <br /><br />Going way back...Pink Floyd's Animals, Wish You Were Here and Dark Side of the Moon. Also - Ian Brown's Golden Greats.<br /><br />>OTHER ALBUMS WORTH NOTING FROM THIS YEAR <br /><br />Madonna's Music. Make it stop.<br /><br /><strong><br />Julia Sarno, Who Knows How to Belly Dance</strong><br /><br />MOST ESSENTIAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR<br />Thievery Corporation- The Mirror Conspiracy<br /> (just can’t stop listen’ to it…..)<br /><br />OTHER ESSENTIAL ALBUMS OF THE YEAR<br />• Bebel Gilberto -Tanto Tempo<br /> (yes the daughter of the famed Joao Gilberto…a damn fine silky, sultry voice…..i put this cd on when its too hot to move in my apartment … the album is sooo chill…its like air conditioning…but better…)<br />• Superdrag- In the Valley of Dying Stars <br />(yes…sounds trite..but another cd I can’t stop listening to……some rockin’ tunes….)<br /><br /><br />ALBUMS FROM PREVIOUS YEARS THAT I DISCOVERED THIS YEAR AND PROVED TO BE ESSENTIAL<br />• Elliot Smith- XO ( yeah, yeah…..a day late and a dollar short…but I like it ;) )<br /><br />• Belly Dancing- A Compilation ( a french label put this out….and after much searching found my very own copy….a great collection of very danceable and listenable middle eastern dancing music.)<br /><br />• Curtis mayfield- SuperFly Soundtrack<br /><br />• The Velvet Underground -Loaded<br /><br /><br />OTHER ALBUMS WORTH NOTING FROM THIS YEAR<br />Joao Gilberto- Voz e Violao ( smooth brazilian sounds….)<br /><br /><br /><strong>Suzanne Fisher, Who Listens To Plenty of NPR</strong><br /><br />MOST ESSENTIAL ALBUM OF 2000:<br />Sinead O’Connor, Faith and Courage<br /><br /><br /><strong>Chris Cerasi, Who is Much More Than Dawn’s Cousin and Lucasfilm God</strong><br /><br />Most Essential Album:<br /><br />a tie:<br /><br />"SW: Episode I- The Phantom Menace Ultimate Edition",<br />John Williams (absolute perfection start to finish. <br />Williams is still the master of film scores)<br /><br />and<br /><br />"Simply Dusty", Dusty Springfield (Box set authorized<br />by Dusty before she died. Sheer bliss.)<br /><br />and<br /><br />Rhino remastered and re-released the complete score for "Superman" by<br />John Williams last year in an absolutely GORGEOUS 2 cd set. It also<br />contains unreleased and extra material. It truly is an exceptional<br />score for a period in film music that John Williams was undoubtedly<br />leader of. The romance between Clark and Lois (Flying Sequence and Can<br />You Read My Mind) is perhaps some of the greatest music ever for a<br />film, and I defy anyone not to get goosebumps during the Main Title.<br /><br />Other Essential Albums of the Year:<br /><br />Madonna, "Music"<br />Aimee Mann, "Bachelor No. 2"<br /><br />Albums from Previous Years...:<br /><br />This is an odd one to fit, as the cd was out-of-print<br />until 2000, when it was reissued with bonus material. <br />I never got to hear the original, but the reissue is<br />sublime.<br /><br />"Betty Buckley: 15th Anniversary", Betty Buckley <br />(live concert from 1984 recorded at St. Barth's<br />Cathedral, NY. She sounds incredible AND it's 90%<br />original music she wrote herself. Impressive and<br />beautiful)<br /><br />Other albums worth noting:<br /><br />"The Bedroom Tapes", Carly Simon. (Eagerly<br />anticipated but ultimately disappointing and<br />surprisingly flaccid. I can see this being listened<br />to rarely except for one or two songs.)<br /><br /><br /><strong>Matthew Loren Cohen, And His Non-Essential Albums</strong><br /><br />Disclaimer: I take essential to mean vital to own, and I haven't heard a<br />disc like that in awhile, so<br /><br />For Most Essential Album of the Year, I don't really know what to say. If<br />there is one, I haven't heard it yet. The closest I can come is Aimee Mann's<br />'Bachelor No. 2.' It's a very good album (though I don't think essential)<br />and it's even better because of Mann's self-production of it after she was<br />dropped by her label. It's also a perfect follow-up her career-resurrecting<br />soundtrack to 'Magnolia.' This may prove essential over time. It has<br />remained in my cd book since I bought it. Though that's probably because the<br />cover fell behind my bed and I haven't located it. You'd think because of<br />its bright green color that I could have already.<br /><br />Now, other essential albums obviously can't exist if one doesn't. The best<br />recordings I've heard this year are, besides the above:<br />-'Furnace Room Lullaby' by Neko Case and Her Boyfriends. Whether or not this<br />is a joke, it's rockin', movin' and infectious.<br />-'we have the facts and we're voting yes' by death cab for cutie. Melodic,<br />lyrical indie rock highlighted by '405' and a beautifully designed liner.<br />-'heartbreaker' by Ryan Adams. Even though people now think I'm a Bryan<br />Adams fan, I still think 'Come Pick Me Up' is sublime.<br />-'Rock 'N' Roll Singer' by Mark Kozelek. No Red House Painters, but more<br />heartbreakingly lovely music. It's non-essential because some songs sound a<br />bit alike and it's only seven songs long.<br />-'White Ladder' by David Gray. Despite a few duds and an inexplicable<br />whistle solo at the end of 'Sail Away,' this record manages to merge<br />acoustic folk with quiet electronics.<br />-'Will You Find Me' by Ida.<br />-The soundtrack to 'O Brother, Where Art Thou?' This IS a definitive<br />collection of roots music from one of the best films of the year.<br /><br />Most Glaring Disappointment is 'The Hour of Bewilderbeast' by Badly Drawn<br />Boy. 'The Shining,' to be sure, is a beautiful song with so-so lyrics. The<br />rest of the cd is bewilderbeasting in its seemingly-self indulgent<br />third-rate Brit-pop that is for some reason garnering wide praise. I hear<br />Mr. Boy has an ego not unlike those of the Gallagher Brothers. Many people<br />say he deserves to. I say, I hate Gallagher!<br /><br />Other disappointments:<br />-'Fold Your Hands Child You Walk Like A Peasant' by Belle & Sebastian.<br />Barring one phenomenal song, 'Don't Leave The Light On Baby,' this all<br />suddenly sounded unexciting, irrelevant and played.<br />-'The Green World' by Dar Williams. This isn't a bad cd, necessarily, just<br />an over-produced one with under-developed lyrics by someone we expect the<br />opposite from in both departments.<br />-'Painting It Red' by The Beautiful South. This double disc set of new music<br />is largely disposable. This stuff sounds phoned-in. It's gone south. Har har<br />har.<br /><br />Essential cds I got this year that were not from this year. I'd have to say<br />'World Clique' by Deee-lite. It's eleven-years-old and sounds as good as<br />new. Like that little country singer boy who's all the rage nowadays.<br /><br />Those are my picks. This is really long. This is what happens when I have<br />the flu and my phone's dead and I have no other means of distraction.<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Matthew Eckstein, Who Doesn’t Want to Play Favorites</strong><br /><br />MOST ESSENTIAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR<br /><br />i can't pick one favorite from the list below.<br /><br />OTHER ESSENTIAL ALBUMS OF THE YEAR<br /><br />Yo La Tengo - And then nothing turned itself inside-out<br />Plastilina Mosh - Juan Manuel *** <br />Ivy - Long Distance<br />Medeski, Martin, & Wood - Tonic<br />The Go-Betweens - The Friends of Rachel Worth<br />Godspeed You Black Emperor! - Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas to<br />Heaven<br />Elliott Smith - Figure 8<br /><br /><br />*** - the 2nd song on this album has a sample from "AstroSmash", my<br />favorite video game for the Intelevision (An Atari 2600 rival of the<br />early '80s). <br /><br /><br />ALBUMS FROM PREVIOUS YEARS THAT I DISCOVERED THIS YEAR AND PROVED TO BE<br />ESSENTIAL<br /><br />Beulah - When your heartstrings break.<br /><br /><br />OTHER ALBUMS WORTH NOTING FROM THIS YEAR <br /><br />most essential soundtracks:<br />Bjork - selmasongs <br />Air - The Virgin Suicides<br /><br /><br />albums I like, but they can't compete with their own hype:<br />Radiohead - Kid A<br />Richard Ashcroft - Alone with Everybody<br />Badly Drawn Boy - The hour of bewilderbeast<br /><br /><br /><strong>Kevin Waltman, For the Indiana Point of View</strong><br /><br />I live in Indiana, consequently trapping me at least 18 months behind the <br />music curve (which, incidentally, is still 12 months ahead of most of <br />Indiana). I don't know whether something's "essential" or not until Rumble <br />finally convinces me to buy it. Therefore, I submit 5 albums that, if we were <br />in a record store and your thumb stopped at the cd, I'd urge you to buy it. <br />They are listed in order of how upset I'd be if you called me a week later <br />and said you didn't like it.<br /><br />1) "Excuses for Travellers" -- Mojave3<br />2) "Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea" -- PJ Harvey<br />3) "Fold Your Hands Child, You Walk Like a Peasant" -- Belle & Sebastian<br />4) "The Covers Record" -- Cat Power<br />5) "Trillium" -- Marc Cary<br /><br />ALBUM FROM 1999 THAT I DISCOVERED THIS YEAR AND PROVED TO BE ESSENTIAL<br />"Why do Lonely Men and Women Want to Break Each Others' Hearts?" -- The Star <br />Room Boys<br /><br />OTHER ALBUMS OF NOTE FROM 2000<br />"Ecstasy" -- Lou Reed (the old boy's still got some salt left)<br />"If I Could Only Fly" -- Merle Haggard (see above)<br />"Like Water For Chocolate" -- Common (this might be a step back for him, but <br />he's still ahead of the game)<br />"The Geometrid" -- Looper<br />"I Am Shelby Lynne" -- Shelby Lynne (i have a suspicion that if i had more <br />discriminating taste, i wouldn't be caught up in this album. but i don't, and <br />i am.)<br />‘Stankonia’ – Outkast<br /><br /><br /><strong>Tricia Boczkowski, Who Shares My Addiction</strong><br /><br />My napster addiction has curtailed my album purchases, but here are some of my faves...<br /><br /><br />>MOST ESSENTIAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR <br /><br />> the Fela Kuti catalogue (a reissue)<br /><br />>OTHER ESSENTIAL ALBUMS OF THE YEAR <br /><br />> Sade, St. Germain (tourist), Bjork (gling-glo)<br /><br />>ALBUMS FROM PREVIOUS YEARS THAT I DISCOVERED THIS YEAR AND PROVED TO BE <br />>ESSENTIAL <br /><br />>Roy Ayers, Manu Chao, Jackie Mittoo, Rufus & Chaka, Mos Def, Shanks & Bigfoot, Denroy Morgan, Andrea Parker & DJ Kicks, Kid Loco, Lee Scratch Perry, King Tubby, and Augustus Pablo<br /><br /><br /><strong>Tricia’s man John’s List</strong><br /><br />Here is my man Jim's response:<br />>MOST ESSENTIAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR <br /><br />>I suppose you mean an album that came out in 2000. <br />>The W is pretty dope. I haven't heard the whole thing but it is pretty <br />>slammin, what I've heard. A sonic palate usually reserved for demo tapes. <br />>"caution" is my favorite track. <br />>I also like Mos Def. <br />>Outkast, but again, I might just be talking shit because I really don't <br />>listen to it that much. <br />> <br />>OTHER ESSENTIAL ALBUMS OF THE YEAR <br />>I'm having a lot of trouble remembering what came out. also, it usually <br />>takes me a while to get in to stuff. The Hot Boys shit is good. I'd like <br />>to hear the new PJ Harvey. I had never listened to Amee Mann except 'Til <br />>Tuesday. <br />> <br />> <br />>ALBUMS FROM PREVIOUS YEARS THAT I DISCOVERED THIS YEAR AND PROVED TO BE <br />>ESSENTIAL <br />>Pixies - I was punk, but I never listened to them. <br />>Radiohead - I always thought they were stupid, but they're OK. <br />>Porgy and Bess with Ella and Louis <br />> <br />>OTHER ALBUMS WORTH NOTING FROM THIS YEAR <br />>(this could mean a promising debut, an album that might prove essential over <br />>time, or particularly glaring disappointments) <br />> <br />>You know who I really like? <br />>Juan Atkins <br />>Underground Resistance <br />>Aphex Twin <br />>Squarepusher <br />>Evelyn King <br />>Fela <br />>The teachings of the honorable Elijah Muhammad. You better recognize. <br />>Stereolab <br />>Sun Ra <br />>Whodini - Five Minutes of Funk <br />>War - Spill the Wine (Dig that girl) <br />>U2 - Angel of Harlem <br />>The Future Sound of London - Cascade-1 <br />>The Boomtown Rats - I Don't Like Mondays <br />>The Modern Lovers - I'm Straight <br />>Prince <br />>New Order <br />>Masive Attack <br />>Madonna - Borderline <br />>Rolling Stones - Miss You <br />>soho - Hot Music <br />> <br />>That is not all. <br />> <br /><br /><strong>Kristin Earhart, Who Got Married This Year</strong><br /><br />MOST ESSENTIAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR<br /><br />Yo La Tengo<br /> And then nothing turned itself inside-out<br /><br /><br />OTHER ESSENTIAL ALBUMS OF THE YEAR<br /><br />Aimee Mann<br /> Bachelor No. 2 (or, the last remains of the dodo)<br /> <br /><br />ALBUMS THAT I'M SURE I WOULD LIKE AND POSSIBLY INCLUDE ON THIS LIST IF ONLY I'D HEARD THEM<br /><br />Mojave 3<br /> Excuses for Travellers<br /><br />Tom McRae<br /> Tom McRae<br /><br /><br />ALBUMS FROM PREVIOUS YEARS THAT I DISCOVERED THIS YEAR AND PROVED TO BE ESSENTIAL<br /><br />Duke Ellington And Coleman Hawkins<br /> Duke Ellington Meets Coleman Hawkins<br /><br /> <br />OTHER ALBUMS WORTH NOTING FROM THIS YEAR<br />(I took "essential" somewhat seriously, so the following are efforts I truly admire but might not rescue from a flaming room.)<br /><br />Radiohead<br /> Kid A<br /><br />Badly Drawn Boy<br /> The Hour of Bewilderbeast <br /><br />Björk<br /> Selmasongs<br /><br />Belle and Sebastian<br /> Legal Man (EP) <br /><br /><strong><br />Amy Leibrock, Who Got the Grail</strong><br /><br />My CD buying and listening habits were strongly curtailed in 2000 due to<br />unemployment and residency in three states (that's what you get for<br />quitting your job). Nevertheless, I was able to procure a few goodies.<br /><br />Most Essential<br />Josh Rouse--Home<br />It compels me to listen again and again, and I can't explain why. If I<br />used Chuck Klosterman's criteria, this is the disc you'd have to pay me<br />the most money to part with.<br /><br />Other Essentials<br />Luna--The Days of Our Nights<br />PJ Harvey--Stories from the City...<br />Elliot Smith--Figure 8<br />David Gray--White Ladder<br />Supreme Beings of Leisure (If I had been able to buy more, this probably<br />would be off the list, but I needed to fill it out a bit.)<br /><br />New Discovery of Old Album<br />10,000 Maniacs--The Wishing Chair<br />This came out in like 1945 or something, but it's excellent!<br /><br />Holy Grail Acquisition of 2000<br />Beth Orton--superpinkymandy<br />I acquired this invaluable gem by trading a snapshot of Beth with a guy<br />in Germany.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Nancy Mercado, Who Says “It May Be Lame, But it’s Mine”</strong><br /><br />MOST ESSENTIAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR <br />sarah harmer: you were here <br /><br />OTHER ESSENTIAL ALBUMS OF THE YEAR<br />radiohead: kid A <br />erin mckeown: distillation <br /> <br />ALBUMS FROM PREVIOUS YEARS THAT I DISCOVERED THIS YEAR AND PROVED TO BE ESSENTIAL<br /> sinead oconnor: universal mother<br /><br /><strong>My Brother Adam, Whose Life Changed a Bit in 2000</strong><br /><br /><br />MOST ESSENTIAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR - Classical Kids<br /><br />OTHER ESSENTIAL ALBUMS OF THE YEAR - The Best of Barney<br /><br />ALBUMS FROM PREVIOUS YEARS THAT I DISCOVERED THIS YEAR AND PROVED TO BE<br />ESSENTIAL - Frank Sinatra's Greatest Hits (makes drives to NJ shorter)<br /><br />OTHER ALBUMS WORTH NOTING FROM THIS YEAR - Elmo's Greatest Hits<br /><br />This has been a humorous summary of the fact that I can't even name one<br />album that came out this year. Go figure...by the way. What year was it<br />again?davidlevithanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00762768300871943772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1509734071563017124.post-69791990658666114392009-01-09T05:52:00.000-08:002009-01-09T06:04:16.349-08:00The 1999 David Music Poll results(asterisks mark number of votes in that particular category)<br /><br /><strong>MOST ESSENTIAL ALBUMS OF 1999</strong><br /><strong><br /></strong>Macy Gray – …On How Life Is******<br />Beth Orton – Central Reservation*****<br />Moby – Play*****<br />Beastie Boys – The Sounds of Silence (compilation)***<br />Fiona Apple – When the Pawn…***<br />Blur – 13***<br />Bonnie “Prince” Billy – I see a darkness***<br />Magnetic Fields – 69 Love Songs**<br />Tori Amos – To Venus and Back**<br />Ben Lee – Breathing Tornados**<br />Nine Inch Nails – The Fragile<br />Santana – Supernatural<br />Portishead – NYC Live<br />Smog – Knock Knock<br />Beulah – When Your Heartstrings Break<br />Tortoise – TNT<br />Pavement – Terror Twilight<br />Cher -- Believe<br /><br /><strong>ESSENTIAL ALBUMS OF 1999</strong><br /><br />Beck – Midnight Vultures****<br />Aimee Mann – Magnolia soundtrack***<br />Belle and Sebastian – Tigermilk (reissue)**<br />Buckcherry -- Buckcherry<br />Wilco: Summerteeth**<br />Underworld: Beaucoup Fish**<br />Gomez: Liquid Skin**<br />Olivia Tremor Control- Black Foliage**<br />Sleater-Kinney – The Hot Rock**<br />Dixie Chicks, Fly**<br />Beatles – Yellow Submarine (reissue)<br />Speedy West & Jimmy Bryant - Swingin' on the Strings<br />Soundtrack - Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels<br />Soundtrack -- Go Simpsonic with the Simpsons<br />Ricky Skaggs, Ancient Tones<br />Kim Richey – Glimmer<br />The Clash – From Here to Eternity (reissue)<br />Nine Inch Nails, The Fragile<br />Legion of Green Men, Floating in Shallow Water<br />u-ziq, Royal Astronomy<br />Tom Waits: The Mule Variations<br />Marcy Playground: Shapeshifter<br />Mark Lanegan: I'll Take Care of You<br />RL Burnside: Come On In<br />Gus Gus, This Is Normal<br />Sterolab, Cobra and Phases...<br />Underworld, Beaucoup Fish<br />John Williams, Star Wars: Episode I Soundtrack<br />Bernard Butler, Friends and Lovers<br />Suede, Headmusic<br />Robbie Williams, The Ego Has Landed<br />Wheat - Hope & Adams<br />Chemical Brothers – Surrender<br />The Beta Band – 3 Eps<br />Medal- Drop Your Weapon<br />Guns 'n Roses- Live Era '87-'93<br />Trashmonk- mona lisa overdrive<br />Verbena- Into the Pink<br />Bright Eyes, Letting off the happiness<br />American Analog Set, Golden Band<br />KleenexGirlWonder, Ponyoak<br />Essex Green, Everything is Green<br />Squarepusher : Feed Me Weird Things<br />Man...or Astro-Man? : Project Infinity<br />µ-ziq : Lunatic Harness<br />Nightmares on Wax : Carbootsoul<br />John Cage : Prelude for Meditation [i think is the one...]<br />Lyle Lovett: Live in Texas<br />Red Hot Chili Peppers: Californication<br />Get Up Kids: Red Letter Day (ep)<br />Various Artists: RETURN OF THE GRIEVOUS ANGEL: A Tribute To Gram Parsons<br />James, Millionaires<br />Old 97s, Fight Songs<br />Folk Implosion, One Part Lullaby<br /><br /><strong>FAVORITE ALBUMS OF 1998 NOT DISCOVERED UNTIL 1999</strong><br /><br />Garbage – Version 2.0**<br />Lauryn Hill – The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill**<br />Rufus Wainwright – Rufus Wainwright**<br />Tori Amos – From the Choirgirl Hotel<br />Fatboy Slim - You've Come A Long Way Baby<br />Gillian Welch - Hell Among the Yearlings<br />Lucinda Williams - Car Wheels On a Gravel Road<br />Paul Westerberg - Suicaine Gratifaction<br />Belle and Sebastian, If You're Feeling Sinister (1997, but who’s counting?)<br />Boards of Canada, Music Has the Right to Children<br />Sheryl Crow – The Globe Sessions<br />Madonna – Ray of Light<br />Squirrel Nut Zippers – Perennial Favorites<br />Faithless – Sunday, 8pm<br />Baader Mienhoff<br />Gomez – Bring it On<br />Hole – Celebrity Skin<br /><br /><br /><strong>Here are My Picks, Revised From When You Last Saw Them</strong><br /><br />MOST ESSENTIAL ALBUM OF 1999: <br />Beth Orton, Central Reservation<br /><br />ESSENTIAL ALBUMS OF 1999:<br />Ben Lee, Breathing Tornados<br />Fiona Apple, When the Pawn....<br />Aimee Mann, Magnolia soundtrack<br />Blur, 13<br />James, Millionaires<br />Tori Amos, To Venus and Back Again<br />Old 97s, Fight Songs<br />Folk Implosion, One Part Lullaby<br />Macy Gray, ...On How Life Is<br /><br />ESSENTIAL ALBUM FROM LAST YEAR THAT DIDN'T FULLY HIT ME UNTIL THIS YEAR:<br />Rufus Wainwright, Rufus Wainwright<br />Hole, Celebrity Skin<br /><br />ALBUMS FROM THIS YEAR THAT MIGHT PROVE ESSENTIAL OVER TIME:<br />Magnetic Fields, 69 Love Songs<br />Moby, Play<br /><br /><br />FIVE MOST ESSENTIAL ALBUMS OF THE 90s<br />Tori Amos, Little Earthquakes<br />Oasis, What's the Story Morning Glory<br />Jeff Buckley, Grace<br />Liz Phair, Exit to Guyville<br />Ani DiFranco, Out of Range<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Jason Black, Whose List Made Me Want to Be His Friend<br /></strong>MOST ESSENTIAL ALBUM(S) OF 1999: <br />Ben lee - breathing tornados<br />Fiona - when the pawn...<br />pavement - terror twilight<br /><br />> (other) ESSENTIAL ALBUMS OF 1999:<br />MOBY: Play<br />BETH ORTON:Central Reservation<br />LYLE LOVETT: Live in Texas<br />RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS: Californication<br />GET UP KIDS: Red Letter Day (ep)<br />MACY GRAY:On How Life Is<br />WILCO: Summer Teeth<br />BECK: Midnight Vultures<br />VARIOUS ARTISTS: RETURN OF THE GRIEVOUS ANGEL: A Tribute To Gram Parsons<br /><br />ESSENTIAL ALBUM(s) FROM LAST YEAR THAT DIDN'T FULLY HIT ME UNTIL THIS YEAR:<br />Lauryn Hill - The Miseducation...<br />Rufus Wainwright - Rufus Wainwright<br />Gomez - Bring It On<br /><br />ALBUMS FROM THIS YEAR THAT MIGHT PROVE ESSENTIAL OVER TIME:<br />The Roots - Things Fall Apart<br />cassandra wilson - traveling miles<br />flaming lips - the soft bulletin<br /><br />FIVE MOST ESSENTIAL ALBUMS OF THE 90s<br />(my favorites)<br />Jeff buckley - grace<br />freedy johnston - can you fly<br />Tori Amos - Little Earthquakes<br />REM - automatic for the people<br />liz phair - exile in guyville<br /><br />(a more objective list, considering influence, etc, yadda-yadda)<br />nirvana - nevermind<br />notorious b.i.g. - life after death<br />liz phair - exile...<br />nin - the downward spiral<br />beck – odelay<br /><br /><br /><strong>Stieg Retlin, Artist, Animator, Student of High School, and Student of Life</strong><br />>list for 1999:<br /><br /> >top essssential ALbum OF 1999:<br />Tortoise : Tnt<br /><br />><br /> top number five "essential albums" for ninteen ninty nin:<br />Tricky : Maxinquaye<br />Squarepusher : Feed Me Weird Things<br />Man...or Astro-Man? : Project Infinity<br />µ-ziq : Lunatic Harness<br />Nightmares on Wax : Carbootsoul<br />John Cage : Prelude for Meditation [i think is the one...]<br />><br /> >ESSENTIAL ALBUM FROM LAST YEAR THAT REALLY WASNT THAT ESSENTIAL BUT I<br />KINDOF HOPED IT WOULD BE , MAYBE WILL BE ESSENTIAL THIS YEAR :<br />µ-ziq : Royal Astronomy<br />In the Fishtank : Tortoise + The ex<br /><br />><br /> >ALBUMS FROM THIS YEAR THAT MIGHT PROVE ESSENTIAL OVER TIME:<br />seeing that its less than a week into '00, this list is prety limited . but<br />here goes :<br /><br />>Magnetic Fields : 69 Love Songs<br /><br />><br /> >FIVE MOST ESSENTIAL ALBUMS OF THE 1900s :<br />well hell . this list is prety much any music i've listened to , thats easy<br />[i ddidnt realy have an advanced [er,any] musical taste in<br />kindergarten...which is where i was in 1989.]<br /><br />Beck : Mellow Gold<br />Death in Vegas : Dirt<br />et cetera<br /><br /><strong>Brian Masino: I Read Them, and Wept</strong><br />Here's Mine-<br /><br />Read them and weep! Live Era was a close second to Bonnie, but Bonnie is original recordings so that's what pulled me along...<br /><br /><br /><br />MOST ESSENTIAL ALBUM OF 1999: <br />Bonnie Prince Billy- i see a darkness<br /><br />ESSENTIAL ALBUMS OF 1999:<br />Medal- Drop Your Weapon<br />Blur, 13<br />Guns 'n Roses- Live Era '87-'93<br />Trashmonk- mona lisa overdrive<br />Verbena- Into the Pink<br />Olivia Tremor Control- Black Foliage<br />Beth Orton- Central Resveration<br />Belle & Sebastian- Tigermilk (reissue)<br /><br />ESSENTIAL ALBUM FROM LAST YEAR THAT DIDN'T FULLY HIT ME UNTIL THIS YEAR:<br />Placebo- Without You I Am Nothing<br /><br /><br />FIVE MOST ESSENTIAL ALBUMS OF THE 90s :An impossible category, and I'd need months of research, but here's my gut feeling.<br />Nirvana- In Utero<br />Elliot Smith- XO<br />Neutral Milk Hotel- Aeroplane Over the Sea<br />Verve- Northen Soul<br />Spiritualized- Ladies and Gentleman you are now floating in Space<br /><br />MOST ESSENTIAL ALBUM OF ANY DECADE:I'm Adding this because you are constricting me under the limits of time and space and I'm free as bird, you bastard.<br />Rolling Stones- Exile on Mainstreet<br /><br /><br /><strong>Brian’s Friend Dan, aka the DANimal</strong><br /><br />MOST ESSENTIAL ALBUM OF 1999: <br />Beulah, When Your Heartstrings Break<br /><br />ESSENTIAL ALBUMS OF 1999:<br />Bright Eyes, Letting off the happiness<br />Olivia Tremor Control, Black FoliageBonnie Prince Billy, i see a darkness<br />American Analog Set, Golden Band<br />KleenexGirlWonder, Ponyoak<br />Essex Green, Everything is Green<br /><br />ESSENTIAL ALBUM FROM LAST YEAR THAT DIDN'T FULLY HIT ME UNTIL THIS YEAR:<br /> Baader Meinhoff<br /><br />ALBUMS FROM THIS YEAR THAT MIGHT PROVE ESSENTIAL OVER TIME:<br />Built to Spill, Keep It Like A Secret<br />Mogwai, Come On Die Young<br />Tom Waits, Mule Variations<br /><br />FIVE MOST ESSENTIAL ALBUMS OF THE 90s<br />Bob Dylan, Time Out of Mind<br />Neutral Milk Hotel, Aeroplane Over the Sea<br />Tom Waits, Bone Machine<br />Dirty Three, Ocean Songs<br />Massive Attack, blue lines<br /><br /><br /><strong>Iain Stansfield, Who’s Got High Fidelity, And Whose Opinions Do Not Reflect His Firm</strong><br /><br />Kirsty forwarded me your e-mail about essential albums. She has this riff<br />about how boys are always making lists of things and we are playing<br />into her hands with this.<br /><br />My list is as follows. I might well think better of some of these, but I'll<br />spare you any follow-ups.<br /><br />Most essential of 1999:<br /><br />Smog - Knock Knock<br /><br />Other essential albums of 1999:<br /><br />Bonnie "Prince" Billy - I See a Darkness<br />Wheat - Hope & Adams<br />Beastie Boys - Greatest hits thing (does that count?)<br />Chemical Brothers – Surrender<br />The Beta Band – 3 EPs<br /><br />Not much else last year, really<br /><br />Five most essential of 90s:<br /><br />The Fall - Code:Selfish<br />Palace Music - Viva Last Blues<br />Oasis - Definitely Maybe<br />Tim Buckley - Dream Letter (old concert, but released 1990?)<br />Bob Dylan - World Gone Wrong<br /><br />Most puzzling successes of 90s (bonus cynical category)<br /><br />Mercury Rev - Deserters' Songs<br />Manic Street Preachers, Belle and Sebastian<br /><br />90s' 20 greatest hits (bonus should-get-out-more category)<br /><br />Tindersticks - City Sickness<br />PJ Harvey - Dress<br />Blur - Jubilee<br />Smog - River Guard<br />Nirvana - Frances Farmer...<br />Happy Mondays - God's Cop<br />Supergrass - Lose It<br />Beck - Lord Only Knows<br />Will Oldham - Bolden Boke Boy<br />Pavement - Gold Sounds<br />Stone Roses - Daybreak<br />The Fall - Calendar<br />Prince - Money Don't Matter 2night<br />Stereolab - Jenny Ondioline<br />Palace Music - Cat's Blues<br />Bob Dylan - Trying to Get to Heaven<br />New Order - Regret<br />Jonathan Richman - Rodeo Wind<br />Lucinda Williams - Can't Let Go<br />Oasis - It's Good to be Free<br /><br />Worryingly comprehensive and prompt response. Either I am not busy<br />enough or I need professional help.<br /><br />The comments and opinions expressed in this e-mail are those of the<br />author. They are not made in the course of the author's employment with<br />Olswang and do not reflect the opinions of the firm.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Jenny MacBain, Who Has Since Recovered From the Flu</strong><br /><br />Ok, since i am weak and recovering from the flu, this e-mail just SHOUTed out to me to reply...i might change some of my answers by 1/31 but i wanted to brainstorm these out just in case:<br /><br />Essential Albums of 1999 (i *think* most of these came out in 1999 :)<br />Garbage- version 2.0...this album just Moves.<br />Macy Gray- On How Life Is<br />Tori Amos- Songs from the Choirgirl Hotel (was this '98? i forget- i think it's sublime...)<br />Any song by Aimee Mann<br />Moby- Play<br /><br />I'm not sure yet what the most Essential is...<br /><br />Essential 90's Albums:<br />Everything But the Girl- Amplified Heart<br />Blur- Parklife<br />P.J. Harvey- Is This Desire?<br />The Soundtrack to the movie Amateur (can we pick soundtracks?)<br />Echobelly- On<br />Harvey Danger- Where Have all the Merrymakers Gone? (really! this is a cacaphony of rough sound with intelligent lyrics! just listen.)<br />Tori Amos- Little Earthquakes<br />Mary J. Blige- Mary<br />Beck- Mutations<br /><br /><strong>Sarah Maria, Who is Swiss and Knows Her Music</strong><br /><br />Well, that's me. Although I have to say that I thought I bought tons of CDs<br />this year that were great, but they just misteriously dissappeared.<br /><br />MOST ESSENTIAL ALBUM OF 1999: <br />>Blur, 13<br />><br />> ESSENTIAL ALBUMS OF 1999:<br />Bernard Butler, Friends and Lovers<br />Gomez, Liquid Skin<br />Elliot Smith, XO (really 1998)<br />Suede, Headmusic<br />Robbie Williams, The Ego Has Landed<br /><br />> ESSENTIAL ALBUM FROM<br />1995<br /> THAT DIDN'T FULLY HIT ME UNTIL THIS YEAR:<br />McAlmont & Butler, The Sound of...<br />><br />> ALBUMS FROM THIS YEAR THAT MIGHT PROVE ESSENTIAL OVER TIME:<br />> Beck, Midnight Vultures<br /><br />><br />> FIVE MOST ESSENTIAL ALBUMS OF THE 90s<br />> Blur, 13<br />Bernard Butler, People Move On<br />Beck, Mutations<br />Sean Lennon, Into the Sun<br />The Divine Comedy, Fin de Siecle<br />><br /><strong>Scott Thomas, Who Proudly Wears His DJ’s Wanted T-shirt</strong><br /><br />MOST ESSENTIAL ALBUM OF 1999<br />Magnetic Fields, 69 Love Songs<br /><br />ESSENTIAL ALBUMS OF 1999<br />Moby, Play<br />Gus Gus, This Is Normal<br />Sterolab, Cobra and Phases...<br />Underworld, Beaucoup Fish<br />John Williams, Star Wars: Episode I Soundtrack<br /><br />ESSENTIAL ALBUM FROM LAST YEAR THAT DIDN'T FULLY HIT ME UNTIL THIS YEAR:<br />Faithless, Sunday 8pm<br /><br />ALBUMS FROM THIS YEAR THAT MIGHT PROVE ESSENTIAL OVER TIME:<br />none<br /><br />10 MOST ESSENTIAL ALBUMS OF THE 90s (I figure a decade has 10 years, it<br />should get 10 records)<br /><br />cranberries, everyone else is is doing it, so why can't we?<br /><br />given their maudlin and bombastic tendencies since, it's easy to forget how<br />perfect this first effort was.<br /><br />electronic, electronic<br /><br />the first pairing of marr and sumner was magic (and neil tennant, too!)<br /><br />bjork, debut<br /><br />a startling beginning to a tour de force solo career<br /><br />stereolab, mars audiac quintet<br /><br />the quintessential stereolab record. a wonderful vibe.<br /><br />dead can dance, into the labyrinth<br /><br />the duo even achieved commercial success with this album, mainly because it<br />captures the balance of their indivual styles.<br /><br />pale saints, in ribbons<br /><br />no one but me would have this on their list, but every once in awhile, a<br />certain group makes a certain album that hits your personal tastes right on<br />the noggin. such is this.<br /><br />underworld, second toughest in the infants<br /><br />"they have that song on trainspotting, right?" yes, and a mesmerizing full<br />album, too.<br /><br />orbital, in sides<br /><br />not as trancy as underworld or as ambient as the orb, orbital put it all<br />together here to make an electonic record worth "listening" to<br /><br />future sound of london, lifeforms<br /><br />the orb gets all the press, but this double album will take you to another<br />place without the hallucinogenic drugs. the ultimate ambient recording of<br />the 90s<br /><br />the shamen, en-tact<br /><br />the early 90s brought its own wave of "electonica finally catching on in the<br />states!" along with 808 state, the shamen was why people thought that, and<br />this album has one hook after another that stands the test of time<br /><br />honourable mention:<br /><br />enigma, MCMXC<br /><br />caught between decades and doomed to a subsequent decline into new age bins,<br />enigma's debut was way cool - even if just for the track "sadeness" which<br />despite its novelty remains as fresh as ever today<br /><br /><strong>Scott’s friend Wendell, who he will explain</strong><br /><br />my friend wendell works up in portland, maine at the alternative radio<br />station there. he is simply the greatest music connoisseur i know. in<br />breadth of taste, knowledge, live shows attended, and music collection he is<br />unsurpassed. knowing he'd probably already given 1999 some thought, i asked<br />for his picks. he'd, or course, already compiled the following:<br /><br />Wendell Gee says:<br /><br />The albums:<br /><br />1. Moby: Play<br />2. Beastie Boys: Sounds of Science (both for compilation excellence,<br />putting<br />over ten new tracks on it, and packaging excellence)<br />3. Buckcherry: Buckcherry<br />4. Wilco: Summerteeth<br />5. Underworld: Beaucoup Fish<br />6. Tom Waits: The Mule Variations<br />7. Marcy Playground: Shapeshifter<br />8. Mark Lanegan: I'll Take Care of You<br />9. RL Burnside: Come On In<br />10. Gomez: Liquid Skin<br /><br />(bubbling under: Eminem, Robyn Hitchcock, Rage Against the Machine, XTC, The<br />Donnas)<br /><br />The Singles:<br /><br />1. Len: Steal My Sunshine<br />2. Buckcherry: Lit Up<br />3. Freestylers: Here We Go<br />4. Gay Dad: Joy<br />5. Owsley: Coming Up Roses<br />6. Old 97's: Murder or a Heart Attack<br />7. XTC: I'd Like That<br />8. Wilco: Nothinsevergonnastandinmywayagain<br />9. Moby: Porcelain<br />10. Jamiroquai: Canned Heat<br /><br />(bubbling under: It's Saturday, We Haven't Turned Around, Push Upstairs,<br />Natural<br />Blues, Guerilla Radio, My Baby Got Shot, My Name Is(edit), Stolen Car)<br /><br />The big ten happenings:<br /><br />1. The death of Mark Sandman<br />2. Meeting Sting<br />3. Seeing Tom Waits in NYC<br />4. Seeing Wilco three times and hanging with them twice<br />5. The WCYY Holiday Bizarre<br />6. WCLZ as Fuller-Jeffrey AAA and the free CD's that mellowed out my<br />collection<br />nicely.<br />7. watching Alanis perform in a candle-lit room, cross-legged on the<br />floor/meeting Liz Phair and staring at the uncovered small of her back<br />throughout her interview (on the same day)<br />8. Rustic Overtones after-party 'til 4 am at my house labor day weekend<br />9. seeing and meeting Gomez in Boston<br />10. meeting BB King<br /><br /><br />Ten CD's I got around to in 1999 that came before:<br /><br />1. Rufus Wainwright-Rufus Wainwright<br />2. Tom Waits-Heartattack and Vine<br />3. Lincolnville-Black Box (local unsigned)<br />4. Portishead-live NYC<br />5. Underworld-Dubnobasswithmyheadman<br />6. Underworld-Second Toughest in the Infants<br />7. RL Burnside-A Ass Pocket of Whiskey<br />8. Rolling Stones-Beggar's Banquet<br />9. Jude-"Rick James"<br />10. A3-Exile on Coldharbour Lane<br /><br />Big Disappointments/Things that sucked<br /><br />1. Everything But the Girl's latest CD<br />2. Chemical Brothers latest CD<br />3. The Moody Blues live<br />4. Moby's singing<br />5. Natalie Merchant really wasn't very nice<br />6. Nor was Alanis<br />7. Richard Thompson does neither meet n greet nor interview<br />8. Love and Rockets break up<br />9. Son Volt's latest CD<br />10. Smashmouth live<br /><br /><br />The decade?<br />Jeff Buckley-Grace<br />Portishead-Dummy<br />Nirvana-Nevermind<br />Moby-Play<br />Morphine-Cure for Pain<br /><br />plus!<br />Tom Waits-Bone Machine<br />Wilco-Being There<br />Posies-Frosting on the Beater<br />Jellyfish-Spilt Milk<br />Gomez-Bring It On<br /><br /><br /><strong>My best friend Cary and his housemate Erika explain it all to you</strong><br /><br />MOST ESSENTIAL ALBUMS OF OF 1999<br />beastie boys, sounds of silence<br />santana, supernatural<br />squirrel nut zippers, perennial favorites (really 1998)<br />portishead, ...nyc live<br /><br />ALBUM THAT WE THOUGHT WE WOULD HATE BUT WE NOW DEVOTE A SHRINE TO:<br />fiona apple, when the pawn...<br /><br />SOME OF OUR MOST ESSENTIAL ALBUMS OF THE 90'S<br />beth orton, trailer park<br />ben harper, will to live<br />spearhead, home<br />kristin mueller trio, self titled<br />g love and special sauce, self titled<br />propellerheads, decksandrumsandrockandroll<br />beastie boys, Paul's boutique<br />ani difranco, out of range<br />bb king, blues in the bayou<br /><br />David,<br />Erica and I compiled these lists in a half hour. Please vote us for 2<br />peoples worth. we scoped out the grammys and were thoroughly bummed.<br />For a bonus.<br /><br />SOME OF THE SUCKYIST ASS SHIT OUR EARS ENDURED IN THE 90'S<br />(cultural disappointments)<br /><br />rod stewart<br />yanni<br />ricky martin<br />jimmy buffet<br />hanson<br />tool/ministry<br /><br /><strong>Brant Rumble, Who Knows His Swamp Song from His Swamp Song</strong><br /><br />No album of 1999 has proved itself essential to me...yet. Actually, Tigermilk has, but since it was recorded and released two years ago in the UK, I'm not counting it on principle. Anyway, here are the 1999 albums that I'm happy to have in my collection and which may someday prove "essential" (in alpha order):<br /><br />Beck/Midnite Vultures<br />Blur/13<br />Echo & the Bunnymen/What Are You Going to Do with Your Life<br />The Flaming Lips/The Soft Bulletin<br />James/Millionaires<br />Magnetic Fields/69 Lovesongs<br />Mojave 3/Out of Tune<br />Beth Orton/Central Reservation<br />Pavement/Terror Twilight<br />The Roots/Things Fall Apart<br />The Gram Parsons Tribute<br /><br />The album of last year that I discovered this year is Mercury Rev's Deserter's Songs, and I find it very essential.<br /><br />Here's my somewhat rough initial take on the 90s:<br />1) My Bloody Valentine/Loveless -- exhaustive production and lengthy studio time almost drove Creation into bankruptcy before Oasis was discovered. Had Oasis not been discovered, it might have been unforgivable, but as it stands, MBV turned out a piece of noisy sonic beauty.<br />2) Oasis/Definitely, Maybe -- in one of the more perfect album one, track ones of any rock band's career they told us they wanted to be rock stars, bringing truth back to rock 'n' roll.<br />3) Radiohead/The Bends -- I ignored this album initially because I thought they were a one hit wonder with Creep. Sometimes it's good to be wrong -- blame it on a black star.<br />4) Nirvana/Nevermind -- universally hailed 90s album. I won't argue.<br />5) Massive Attack/Blue Lines -- ushered in the hypnotic groove of the Bristol sound, the influence of which I think we'll be hearing for a long time in pop music.<br />6) Liz Phair/Exile in Guyville -- just some chick from the 'burbs of Chicago, but damn, Sam, thank you, mam.<br />7) Pavement/Crooked Rain Crooked Rain -- masterpiece of the indie low-fi slacker sound.<br />8) Beck/Mutations -- in the space of about two weeks, the kid genius of the 90s lays back and eases out his most cohesive and arresting work.<br />9) Mercury Rev/Deserter's Song -- my last discovery of the 90s, and it's a fairytale epic of a record.<br />10) Trainspotting/Soundtrack -- could have been to the 90s what Saturday Night Fever was to the 70s, except that it was Britpop-centric and didn't sell enough copies.<br /><br />There were a lot more records that I wanted to include. Here are some of them: Moon Safari, If You're Feeling Sinister, Post, Parklife, Boatman's Call, Exit Planet Dust, One Day It'll All Make Sense, The Carnival, Trailer Park, Screamadelica, Different Class, Going Blank Again, Endtroducing, Dusk, and Maxinquaye.<br /><br /><strong>Peter Koblish, Who Knows What He Likes</strong><br /><br />MOST ESSENTIAL ALBUM EVER! <br /><br />CHER - BELIEVE!<br />there will never be another album that has touched me and made me feel truly whole. DO YOU HEAR ME?<br /><br /><strong>Beth Dunfey, Who Loves Magnetic Fields</strong><br /><br />Most essential album of 1999:<br />Magnetic Fields, 69 Love Songs<br /><br />Other essentials:<br />Sleater Kinney, the Hot Rock<br />Aimee Mann, Magnolia soundtrack<br /><br />Of 98 that didn't hit me till 99:<br />Sheryl Crow, the Globe Sessions<br />Madonna, Ray of Light<br /><br />Of 99 that might prove essential over time:<br />Beth Orton, Central Reservation<br /><br />Essential albums of the 90s:<br />Liz Phair, Exile in Guyville<br />Elliott Smith, XO<br />Bjork, Post<br />Yo La Tengo, Fakebook<br />Magnetic Fields, Holiday<br />Sarah McLachlan, Fumbling Toward Ecstasy<br />Beck, Odelay<br /><br />Most essential albums pre-90s:<br />the Pixies, Doolittle<br />the Sundays, Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic<br />the Beatles, the White Album<br />10,000 Maniacs, In My Tribe<br />REM, Life's Rich Pageant<br /><br /><br /><strong>Sean Knowles, Who Convinced Me to Listen to NIN and Doesn’t Like Much of What 1999 Had to Offer</strong><br /><br />> MOST ESSENTIAL ALBUM OF 1999: <br />Nine Inch Nails, The Fragile<br />><br />> ESSENTIAL ALBUMS OF 1999:<br />Legion of Green Men, Floating in Shallow Water<br />u-ziq, Royal Astronomy<br /><br />> ESSENTIAL ALBUM FROM LAST YEAR THAT DIDN'T FULLY HIT<br />> ME UNTIL THIS YEAR:<br />Boards of Canada, Music Has the Right to Children<br /><br />> ALBUMS FROM THIS YEAR THAT MIGHT PROVE ESSENTIAL<br />> OVER TIME:<br />none, i was scraping the bottom of the barrel to get<br />the ones i've already listed; 1999 was generally a<br />disappointing year for music in my opinion.<br /><br />> FIVE MOST ESSENTIAL ALBUMS OF THE 90s<br />Aphex Twin, Richard D. James Album<br />Peter Gabriel, US<br />Bjork, Post<br />Autechre, Incunabula<br />Nine Inch Nails, The Downward Spiral<br /><br /><br /><strong>My friend Marty’s friend Howard, Who Usually Makes a Long List But Could Only Come Up with This for 1999 (FYI – he’s also Hillary Clinton’s spokesperson)</strong><br /><br />>Essential albums of the year:<br /><br />>Beth Orton -- Central Reservation<br />>Sleater-Kinney -- The Hot Rock<br />>Moby -- Play<br />>The Clash -- From Here to Eternity<br /><br />Andrew Farmer, Who Stood His Ground and Liked Country Music Even at a University Where It Wasn’t Considered Cool<br /><br />MOST ESSENTIAL ALBUM OF 1999:<br />Macy Gray, ...On How Life Is<br /><br />ESSENTIAL ALBUMS OF 1999:<br />Fiona Apple, When the Pawn...<br />Dixie Chicks, Fly<br />Kim Richey, Glimmer<br /><br />THE FIVE MOST ESSENTIAL ALBUMS OF THE 90S:<br />Mary Chapin Carpenter, Come On, Come On<br />Guns'N'Roses, Use Your Illusion II<br />Aimee Mann, Whatever<br />Liz Phair, Exile in Guyville<br />Matthew Sweet, Girlfriend<br /><br /><br /><strong>Judy Blundell, Who’s a Fan of Jeff Buckley But Deferred Her List to a Cool Guy From Nashville</strong><br /><br />I have turned to my coolest friend, who is friends with all the<br />alternative music people in Nashville. Because they are all musicians, they<br />puzzled over this list for weeks, and finally responded by saying it was<br />impossible, because "nothing is essential." Not only that, they couldn't<br />limit themselves to 1999. Geez. That's what I get for asking a bunch of<br />slackers who work in a warehouse during the day and play music in clubs all<br />night. <br /><br />However, they did compile the following as the most essential albums of the<br />90s. I include their notes:<br /><br />Luna, "Penthouse." (Former members of Galaxie 500 and The Chills)<br />Air, "A Moon Safari." <br />Chris Knox/The Tall Dwarf, "Yes!" (godfather of Kiwi punk rock)<br />Thee Head Coatees, "The Sisters of Slav" (London pub drunks)<br />Cat Power, "Moon Pix"<br />Smog, "The Burning Kingdom"<br />Beck, "Midnight Vultures"<br />Stereo Lab, "Dots' and Loops"<br />Urge Overkill, "Saturation."<br />Lambchop, "What Another Man Spills" (I have a feeling this was only included<br />because one of the pollsters is in this band; I think it's cheating.)<br /><br />Excuse me while I go listen to some Dinah Washington.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Alistair Newbern, Who Plays a Mean Fiddle</strong><br /><strong></strong><br />Most Essential Album of 1999<br />Alison Krauss, Forget About It<br /><br />Essential Albums of 1999<br />Dixie Chicks, Fly<br />Ricky Skaggs, Ancient Tones<br />Macy Gray, On How Life Is<br />Belle and Sebastian, If You're Feeling Sinister<br />Beck, Midnight Vultures<br /><br />Albums Recorded Before I Was Born That Became Essential in 1999<br />Richard and Linda Thompson, Pour Down Like Silver<br />Bob Dylan, Desire<br /><br /><br /><strong>Karen Hudson, The World’s Greatest Undiscovered Singer-Songwriter</strong><br /><br />OK. So I am a music lover, but not necessarily a big purchaser of cd's.<br />Record stores make me dizzy, either because its a sensory overloading<br />experience for me what with all the racks of music and things to choose from,<br />perhaps its the bad flourescent lighting, or the lousy music blaring in the<br />store chosen by a twentysomething salesclerk. (I know, I know, if its too<br />loud, I'm too old). BUT, when I DO buy a cd that I particularly like, I will<br />play it over and over, that if cd's had grooves, the poor things would be all<br />worn out by now. Thank goodness for modern technology. It enabled me to get<br />to know these albums, as I would a good friend. I would call them all<br />favorites.<br /><br />FAVORITE ALBUMS OF 1998, THAT DIDNT HIT ME TILL 1999<br />Gillian Welch- Hell Among the Yearlings<br />Lucinda Williams-Car Wheels On a Gravel Road<br />Paul Westerberg-Suicaine Gratifaction<br /><br />ESSENTIAL ALBUM OF HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE POSSIBLY MAKING IT MOST ESSENTIAL TRIBUTE ALBUM OF THE CENTURY<br />Billy Bragg/Wilco-Mermaid Avenue This was a courageous undertaking taken by<br />Bragg, who always prided himself on having something to say, and the bad boys<br />of Alt/Country Rock, Wilco. Their musical interpretations of Guthrie’s<br />melody-free lyrics, sometimes political, and sometimes goofy, captured the<br />spirit of a legend who's music spoke to everyman.<br /><br />SIX MOST FAVORITE (Essential to me) ALBUMS OF THE '90'S<br />Nirvana—Nevermind<br />Black Crowes— Southern Harmony and Musical Companion<br />Southern Culture on the Skids—Dirt Track Date<br />Johnny Cash-American Recordings<br />Sheryl Crow-Sheryl Crow<br />The Jayhawks – Tomorrow the Green Grass<br /><br />MOST ESSENTIAL ALBUM OF 1999-???? I'll get back to ya.<br /><br /><br /><strong>John Hudson, Karen’s Husband and an Okay Guy in His Own Right</strong><br /><br />Here's another opinion from the Hudson household...for what it's worth. '99<br />was actually a tough year to call...not too many new CDs/bands/artists stick<br />out in my mind...most of my fave new CDs this year were old reissues,<br />etc...anyway, here goes:<br /><br />Most essential album of 1999: Moby - "Play"<br /><br />Essential albums of 1999: Beatles "Yellow Submarine Songtrack", Beck -<br />"Midnight Vultures", Speedy West & Jimmy Bryant - "Swingin' on the Strings",<br />Soundtrack - "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels" and "Go Simpsonic with the<br />Simpsons".<br /><br />Essential albums from '98 that didn't hit me until this year: Fatboy Slim -<br />"You've Come A Long Way Baby"<br /><br />Albums that might prove essential: Moby - "Play"<br /><br />Five most essential albums of the 90s: Cosmic Psychos - "Go The Hack",<br />Everclear - "Sparkle and Fade", Southern Culture on the Skids - "Dirt Track<br />Date", Hanson Brothers - "Gross Misconduct", Urge Overkill -<br />"Saturation"...and honorable mention to Mudhoney, Alice in Chains,<br />Supersuckers, Redd Kross, Kyuss, Foo Fighters, Offspring, Morcheeba, Luna,<br />Johnny Cash and The Cramps<br /><br /><br /><strong>Dawn Cerasi, My Closest Mix-making Relationship</strong><br /><br />Favorite albums of 1999<br />Beth Orton-- Central Reservation<br />Tori Amos-- To Venus and Back<br />Macy Gray-- On How Life Is<br /><br />Favorite Albums of 1998 that I didn't discover until 1999:<br />Garbage-- Version 2.0<br />Lauryn Hill-- Miseducation of Lauryn Hill<br /><br /><br /><strong>Veronica Ambrose, Soundtrack Goddess</strong><br /><br />Okay, okay, here is my State of the Soundtrack Union for 1999 in no particular order with random thoughts thrown in at no extra charge . . .<br /><br />End of the Affair--Michael Nyman<br />Could have come from MGM fifty years ago<br /><br />Holy Smoke--Angelo Badalamenti<br />Not just for the beautiful music, but for the humorous use of two Neil Diamond songs (who knew?)<br /><br />American Beauty--Thomas Newman<br />So what if he cribs from The Player? John Williams recycles themes all the time.<br /><br />The Insider--Lisa Gerrard and Pieter Bourke<br />Gripping music without the movie<br /><br />The Cider House Rules--Rachel Portman<br />Shimmering themes reflecting the faith of the human condition (wha?)<br /><br />The Limey--Cliff Martinez<br />"Hey Mom. Hey Dad. Still a loser."<br /><br />Angela's Ashes--John Williams<br />Timeless music ruined by annoying film dialogue: ". . . My sister was sent away in a box. . . ." Yuk!<br /><br />The Straight Story--Angelo Badalamenti<br />Twin Peaks Meets the Lonesome Prairie<br /><br />Run Lola Run--Tom Tykwer/Johnny Klimek/Reinhold Heil<br />Music and images at a blistering pace<br /><br />Girl, Interrupted--Mychael Danna<br />A dirge (if you like that sort if thing. I do.)<br /><br />Being John Malkovich--Carter Burwell<br />Impishly channeling Bernard Herrmann; and for the cut on the album where he explains how he is going to score a scene<br /><br />And a nod to the unreleased . . . Twin Falls Idaho, RKO 281<br /><br />Thus Spake Veronastrutha Veronica Ambrose February 14, 2000davidlevithanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00762768300871943772noreply@blogger.com0