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20. Quaker City Night Hawks – El Astronauta
Liberty Bell 7
Something To Burn
A formula that seems to grab my attention consists of raucous Rock and Roll that tips the hat to a mix of past genres, but creates something ragged and interesting along the way. Quaker City Night Hawks’ El Astronauta is pulled from that rule, but pushes boundaries with confidence. This Blues-tinged, Southern-boogie rock is a high-charged night out, but the instrument and vocal dynamics feel like the next morning’s reflection.
19. Angel Olsen – My Woman
Shut Up Kiss Me
Not Gonna Kill You
With a unique voice both sultry and fiery, Angel Olsen croons and swaggers through a set of lush, indie folk-rock. My Woman sort of defies genre, challenging the singer/songwriter brood and sauntering about rowdy compositions. The subject matter here is relationships, and there are opulent raw emotions on both sparse, layered numbers and raging exhibitions. The deftness with which she blurs these lines and alters her vocal delivery is awesome.
18. Ages and Ages – Something to Ruin
They Want More
Something To Ruin
Something to Ruin seems to be loosely about the changing culture and corporate interests in the band’s hometown of Portland, OR. There are several weighty subjects covered, but you may never know it from the delightful bounce of this lightly experimental rock. As with 2014’s extremely solid Divisionary, band leader Tim Perry writes engaging tunes comprising of acoustic and electric characteristics, joyous vocals, and pulsating walls of sound.
17. Diarrhea Planet – Turn To Gold
Life Pass
Hot Topic
This Nashville band digs late 70s power pop-rock, pseudo hair metal, and their home town’s alternative roots movement. It’s Cheap Trick meets Neutral Milk Hotel. It’s serious musician chops meets warped personality, as evidenced by an absurdly awesome band name. All 2016 album Turn To Gold does is rock hard with tight playing and a twisted sense of how a rock album should sound. Most of the songs scatter wild, breakdown passages among the fist-pumping shredding.
16. Sturgill Simpson – A Sailor’s Guide to Earth
Welcome To Earth (Pollywog)
Call To Arms
I casually enjoyed listening to A Sailor’s Guide to Earth until some lyrics caught my attention – then I really embraced the stormy sea stories. The sea is a metaphor for life’s struggles and navigating it are the lessons meant for Sturgill’s first born son. The album’s loose concept resonates strongly with me now, and I take great pleasure in not only the message of seeking love, but also advising when to call bullshit in a sensationalized world. The core guide, though, is to treasure each moment – which also applies to the varied soundscapes on this alternative country gem.
25 -> 21 15 -> 11