15. Weezer – Everything Will Be Alright In The End
Most surprisingly awesome album of the year belongs to veteran rockers Weezer. Not that I haven’t enjoyed prior releases, but this one just wasn’t on my radar, and I found myself spinning it throughout the year. Rivers Cuomo continues his knack for power pop featuring hard rock riffs, sounding immediate and slacker simultaneously. This album sounds like classic Weezer just enough, but contains decidedly more accomplished musicianship and creativity, evident initially on meaty, riff-heavy opener “Ain’t Got Nobody“. “I’ve Had It Up To Here” and “The British Are Coming” feature scorching guitar and a Talking Heads-ish syncopation. Further ingenuity saturates “Cleopatra“, which starts with a folksy acoustic and breaks open with a pseudo-metal riff. Satisfying part of the fan base, and no doubt themselves, we get the guitar virtuosity of the 3 track progressive rock suite to end this buoyant album.
Weezer – Cleopatra
14. Sharon Van Etten – Are We There
Ethereal, emotional, and gorgeous, Are We There is a confrontation with the present and a journey to the road ahead. Sharon Van Etten’s sultry voice has the most authentic way of sounding concurrently fragile and tough, broken and hopeful. The songs are slow burning with cascading melodies and lush arrangements of guitar and omnichord. The beautiful ascension of “Afraid of Nothing” gives way to the awesome dynamics of “Taking Chances“. Tracks such as “Your Love Is Killing Me” and “Our Love” are modern, swirling updates to late-night lounge vibes. Giving this album depth are cogent commentary like “Everyone is crazy with their own life lies in existential, you ever want to find your way out, Turn into yourself again and reach on out, to become your true self”, featured on “You Know Me Well“. Really enjoyed this truly compelling piece of work.
Sharon Van Etten – Taking Chances
13. Old Crow Medicine Show – Remedy
Old Crow Medicine Show’s live show is a celebratory bluegrass affair, and I’ve been a fan of many songs in the past….but I don’t remember having this strong of reaction to new material before. It feels like they focused on crafting a stronger effort this time around, and together with a slightly more serious edge, this amazing set of songs delivers. Slightly more serious…. This is a banjo/fiddle/upright bass stomping good time . “8 Dogs 8 Banjos” moves along at a frenzied pace with hollers to “hot coffee, sweet tea…corn whiskey, dirt weed”. Classic folk permeates “Sweet Amarillo“, not surprising considering it’s a co-write with Bob Dylan. Dylan sent them this unfinished song which continues the relationship born from OCMS’s rework and staple release of “Wagon Wheel“. Some wonderful commentary about politics, lies, hate, and fear “That humankind will never learn the lessons of the last three thousand years” enhances the melodic boogie of “Mean Enough World“. Dealing with loss, possibly to war, is the subject of the sentimental and lovely “Dearly Departed Friend“. Elsewhere, “Brave Boys” has punk rock energy via fiddle and “Shit Creek” brings bluesy mountain funk to the forefront. Remedy excels with its tight arrangements and accomplished playing, but thankfully doesn’t stray too far from the dirt road and backwoods.
Old Crow Medicine Show – Mean Enough World
12. Hiss Golden Messenger – Lateness of Dancers
M.C. Taylor’s songwriting is a tight, melodic exercise in R&B and Americana. These songs are acoustic guitar based with lap steel slide, electric guitar, and piano embellishments. I’m a huge fan of his gravelly croon and how he weaves beauty and grit around a bouncy melody in “Saturday’s Song“. He’s often deeply thoughtful in his lyrics about every man’s struggles and questions, preferring to let the past go on “Day O Day (A Love So Free)“. The funky blues of “I’m A Raven (Shake Children)” provides another avenue for expression as does the outstanding rootsy blues-rock of “Southern Grammar“. This cohesive album has an easy graceful groove that provides many serene listens.
Hiss Golden Messenger – Saturday’s Song
11. Robert Plant – lullaby and… The Ceaseless Roar
Somewhat serenely, Robert Plant has been putting together a prolific solo career over at least the past decade, in no small part to his voice still being an amazing instrument. lullaby and… continues the skillful craft of blending worldly psychedelia, classic folk-blues, and dense rhythms. In other terms, the Zeppelin front man has grown extremely comfortable creating music steeped in influences he’s always been enamored with. “Little Maggie” sets the tone with its Celtic-folk and layered instrumentation, and “Rainbow” continues the swirling vibe. Plant gets bluesy on the Tom Waits-ish “Turn It Up” and tender on “A Stolen Kiss“. It’s amazing to hear an artist create fresh entries into the visceral rock world he had a part in creating, with only the slightest nod to the past. The album contains magnificent individual songs, but it’s cohesiveness, interesting dynamics, and warm production make it truly great.
Robert Plant – Rainbow