25 -> 21 15 -> 11
20. Queens of the Stone Age – Villains
Feet Don’t Fail Me
The Evil Has Landed
I’m always stoked for new Queens of the Stone Age music. There’s enough body of work at this point that you know a few things: it’s going to rock, there are going to be some inventive guitar riffs, and some surprising production elements are going to surface. On Villains, Josh Homme and band opt for a beat-heavy clamor and his vocals sound more full of swagger than ever before. “Feet Don’t Fail Me” opens the album with rumbling discord before the assault arrives. Later, “Head Like a Haunted House” and “The Evil Has Landed” feature more warped instrumentation and left-turn syncopation.
19. Horse Thief – Trials & Truths
Another Youth
Empire
“Another Youth” opens Trials & Truths with a driving psych-folk passage that sounds like an updated Americana version of The Byrds. The song rises and falls numerous times over a continuous guitar line and fractured vocal phrasings. A warbling synth kicks off the expansive “Empire” and is taken over by it’s captivating chorus. Pedal steel and alternative country vibes can be heard throughout the album, balanced by gritty sections like the refrain in “Evil’s Rising”. An easily enjoyable listen with solid songwriting and melody.
18. Waxahatchee – Out In The Storm
Never Been Wrong
Sparks Fly
The continuation of a project by the extremely talented Katie Crutchfield, Waxahatchee delivers a more aggressive, guitar-oriented affair this time out. The crunch of album opener “Never Been Wrong” and “Silver” owe something to the ’90s indie scene, and it wasn’t surprising when I read it was co-produced by John Agnello (Sonic Youth, Dinosaur Jr.). Her vulnerable but passionate voice resonates on musings about relationships on the almost-triumphant “Sparks Fly” and fuzzed-out churn of “Hear You”.
17. The War On Drugs – A Deeper Understanding
Holding On
Nothing To Find
Songwriter and seriously awesome guitarist Adam Granduciel follows up 2014’s Lost In The Dream, one of my favorites (#4) that year, with the extravagant A Deeper Understanding. It soars and deconstructs repeatedly – lingering on each – sometimes within the same song. Heavy synths drive “Holding On” while sweeping guitar riffs carry tunes such as “Pain” and the lively “Nothing To Find”. This is an album to get lost in and works best as a cohesive statement. At over an hour and more synths than I usually prefer, it’s repetition does challenge the listener. But there are enough fantastic moments to solidify it as another album worth repeated listens.
16. Old 97’s – Graveyard Whistling
I Don’t Wanna Die In This Town
Good With God
I’m never really expecting Old 97’s to reinvent themselves, but when the songwriting and performances are this tight, it doesn’t matter. There are nuances to each release, and the results are always consistently stellar. There is a darker sound and theme here – as introduced on opener “I Don’t Wanna Die In This Town” with its muscular guitar riffs and delay effects. “Good With God” deploys this vibe as well with some astounding vocal interplay from frontman Rhett Miller and guest Brandi Carlile. There’s more depth throughout Graveyard Whistling, but first and foremost, Old 97’s know how to have a good time on tunes like the barroom “Irish Whiskey Pretty Girls” and ferocious “Drinkin’ Song”. More impressive alt-country and well-crafted rock and roll from these generational stalwarts.
25 -> 21 15 -> 11