Into the top 10! Here we go!
#9
Deftones
Koi No Yokan
Much has been opined about the lull that came over Deftones for several years following their monumental album "White Pony", so let's just leave that alone for now. It's been a couple years since the excellent "Diamond Eyes" signaled a return to form, and this new album proves that the angst-driven sonic malevolence that we've come to know and love from them appears to be back for good. Thank goodness for that.
There isn't a lot of variety, per se, in the sounds on this album but Chino Moreno's vocals are at their brooding best in nearly every track. The album smashes into business from the opening chord and nearly every song features powerhouse guitars with even the rare moments of relative calm convalescing into crescendos of energy giving the album massive presence from start to finish. The result is an even better record than the last, and a reaffirmation of the faith of long-time fans.
There isn't a lot of variety, per se, in the sounds on this album but Chino Moreno's vocals are at their brooding best in nearly every track. The album smashes into business from the opening chord and nearly every song features powerhouse guitars with even the rare moments of relative calm convalescing into crescendos of energy giving the album massive presence from start to finish. The result is an even better record than the last, and a reaffirmation of the faith of long-time fans.
Leathers
Tempest
Entombed
#8
Portico Quartet
Portico Quartet
I must bow to Anthony Fantano's superior virtual crate digging knowledge for this pick. If you haven't checked out his reviews on The Needle Drop, I highly recommend you do, he's the best in the biz at the moment. I examined out his best of list a week or so back and found several albums that we agreed on, and several that we didn't, but had never heard of this one before. A big thanks are in order because this is my find of the year bar none.
This isn't the first album by these London-based experimental jazz extraordinaires, but it's the first one I've heard and it's absolutely fantastic. They feature an undeniable electronic influence to the sound that incorporates little samples and synths with at times feels like a cross between Nujabes and Radiohead. Much of the album has a rhythmic ambiance interwoven with various repetitive patterns on a variety of different instruments. It's hard to account for all the truly amazing moments on this album with mere text, so you should just head straight to the music right about... now!
This isn't the first album by these London-based experimental jazz extraordinaires, but it's the first one I've heard and it's absolutely fantastic. They feature an undeniable electronic influence to the sound that incorporates little samples and synths with at times feels like a cross between Nujabes and Radiohead. Much of the album has a rhythmic ambiance interwoven with various repetitive patterns on a variety of different instruments. It's hard to account for all the truly amazing moments on this album with mere text, so you should just head straight to the music right about... now!
Ruins
Steepless
Line / Rubidium
#7
The Souljazz Orchestra
Solidarity
My favorite world music release of the year comes from Ottawa's own ensemble par excellence who should probably call themselves The AfroLatinSoulReggaeJazz Orchestra for accuracy's sake. Seriously, these cats are awesome. They combine all the best attributes of those genres into a funk-filled fusion of fantastical musicianship that makes you want to move. A lot.
This latest album is a real throwback not only in terms of the themes, but the production itself is intentionally lo-fi and gives it a really raw sound, which really just adds to the classic feel. I'd hazard a guess to say it sounds best on vinyl, which I have yet to acquire, or even better yet live. If you've ever felt yourself enchanted by the magical rhythms of Latin American or the a tropical island in the Caribbean, you will love this record. My favorite Canadian album of the year, challenged only by Montreal's Godspeed You! Black Emperor. Two thumbs way up.
This latest album is a real throwback not only in terms of the themes, but the production itself is intentionally lo-fi and gives it a really raw sound, which really just adds to the classic feel. I'd hazard a guess to say it sounds best on vinyl, which I have yet to acquire, or even better yet live. If you've ever felt yourself enchanted by the magical rhythms of Latin American or the a tropical island in the Caribbean, you will love this record. My favorite Canadian album of the year, challenged only by Montreal's Godspeed You! Black Emperor. Two thumbs way up.
Conquering Lion
Bibinay
Ya Basta
EP #3
Lindstrøm
Smalhans
For me this is the best purely electronic release of the year. Four Tet's "Pink" album is good, but is ultimately a collection of previously released singles, so it's hard for me to count it, and even still I prefer this little six track gem. Hans-Peter Lindstrøm hails from Norway and it's no surprise that his sound resembles Röyksopp, perhaps mixed with Booka Shade. It's analog synth heavy, organic and melodic thought-provoking disco pop. Just please don't ask me to pronounce the song titles.
Ęg-gęd-ōsis
Fāār-i-kāāl
Vōs-sākō-rv
Getting closer...
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