Album of the Year Retrospective: 2011-2021

In the spirit of "list season," this look back at a decade's worth of Album of the Year selections reaches back into the text origins of this channel in anticipation of the announcement of 2022's Album of the Year.

Relevant links: Dr.Spin's patreon

Dedicated reviews on these albums: Helplessness Blues Clockwork Angels Give Up Stories Don't End Beauty Pill Describes Things As They Are Love Lost for Blood Lust Turns Remedies Pohja Konn Trophy Promises

Favorite Albums of 2022 Part 1: #'s 20-11

 Part 1 of a two part series revealing my favorite albums of 2022!

Here's the 2022 Favorites Spotify playlist:

2022 Album Roundup Series; November Showcase

Happy Thanksgiving! Here's some great music to accompany your family feast, including music from:

Death's Dynamic Shroud - Darklife (2022) Lunatic Soul - Through Shaded Woods (2021) Frank Ocean - Channel Orange (2012) Absolutely Free - Aftertouch (2021) Lizzo - 'Cuz I Love You (2019) Wet Leg - Wet Leg (2020)

Post on Lunatic Soul's Fractured

2022 Album Eliminations: Tier 6 Part 3

The final tier of the year before finals!  This set was actually pretty straightforward for me, with one exception: Lindsey Buckingham VS. Snail Mail.  Valentine really took its lumps this year: It was eliminated in Tier I when it ended up in a showdown with Cynic.  Unfair, really, which is why it got a second chance at life in Tier 5 and knocked out a lot of serious contenders, not the least of which was black midi!

But for the first time, Snail Mail ran up against an adversary writing in a similar style, and Lindsey Buckingham is, in my opinion, an overlooked genius.  And even in the twilight of his career, he still has it.  The b-side tracks on the album have the elegance of pre-Revolver Beatles, never mind the fact that he just burns it as a guitarist.  Snail Mail put up a fight, but the judges rule for Buckingham.

Eastman Jazz Ensemble - Live! VS. DOMi & JD Beck - NOT TiGHT
DOMi & JD Beck - NOT TiGHT

E

David Bowie - Scary Monsters (& Super Creeps) VS. Porcupine Tree - CLOSURE/CONTINUATION
Porcupine Tree - CLOSURE/CONTINUATION



Skhivosani - დამწვრისები VS.Goro Yamaguchi - Kinkoryu Shakuhachi
Goro Yamaguchi - Kinkoryu Shakuhachi

Watch Yamaguchi play HERE
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Avalanche Kaito - Avalanche Kaito VS. Soul Glo - Diaspora Problems
Avalanche Kaito - Avalanche Kaito

E

Sault - Air VS. Afrorack - The Afrorack
Sault - Air

Snail Mail - Valentine VS. Lindsey Buckingham - Lindsey Buckingham
Lindsey Buckingham - Lindsey Buckingham

This will be the last elimination post for 2022.  For the next month, I will be sorting through the finals bracket and come up with my Top 20.

The 2022 Top 20 Elimination Bracket will be composed of:

- The Mid-Year Top 12

- A similarly derived Fall Top 12

- 6 saved albums from the Spring

- 6 saved albums from the Fall

- All 6 November albums

Basically, I am going to listen to all the best music from this year for the next month.  Could be worse!

Bobgoblin's 12-Point Master Plan: Never Sell Out

A look back at a relatively obscure classic from 1998, The 12-Point Master Plan by Bobgoblin.

Relevant links: Text post on Bobgoblin's Love Lost for Blood Lust, my 2016 Album of the Year

2022 Album Roundup Series: October Showcase

Music I have had in rotation during October, including albums by:

Lindsey Buckingham - Lindsey Buckingham (2022) DOMi & JD Beck - NOT TiGHT (2022) Afrorack - The Afrorack (2022) Soul Glo - Diaspora Problems (2022) Skhivosani - დამწვრისები (2022) David Bowie - Scary Monsters (& Super Creeps) (1980)

Post on Hama's Houmeissa Post on Venetian Snares Traditional Synthesizer Music Post on Living Colour's Vivid Post on Fishbone's In Your Face

2022 Album Eliminations: Tier 6 Part 2

 

A couple of contentious decisions here, some of which probably run counter to all logic.  For example, earlier this year, I dismissed the Eastman Jazz Ensemble.  A return to the album, however, revealed a level of excitement in the recording that I didn’t remember from before.  That, along with a certain sense of personal connection with contemporary big band recordings that I have not felt in a while, edged it over the clear genius of Relaxin’.

The second, and the hardest, choice I had was with the black midi VS. Snail Mail showdown.  I have not connected with Hellfire in the same way as I have black midi’s previous recordings, but I still have the sense that I still just don’t quite "get it".  Like LIVE!, Valentine was eliminated in January and got a fresh start in the 5^th tier showdown, and with its return came a greater appreciation of Snail Mail’s unique songwriting strengths.  It really spoke to me at a time I still found myself confused by black midi, so I let Valentine pass.  Hellfire received a coveted Fall Save, though, and will return in the playoffs. 

Eastman Jazz Ensemble – LIVE! VS. Miles Davis – Relaxin’

Eastman Jazz Ensemble – LIVE!

Paul Slavens – Alphabet Girls V. 2 VS. Colleen Green – Cool

Paul Slavens – Alphabet Girls V. 2

 

Kate Bush – The Hounds of Love VS. Vanishing Twin – Ookii Gekkou

Kate Bush – The Hounds of Love

 

Bali Gamelan Sound – Otonan, Gender Wayang VS. Limina – Hidden Spaces

Limina – Hidden Spaces

 

black midi – Hellfire VS. Snail Mail – Valentine

Snail Mail – Valentine

 

Bjorn Riis – Everything to Everyone VS. Cardiacs – On Land and In the Sea

Bjorn Riis – Everything to Everyone