January
Albums
Honourable Mentions: Total Strife Forever - East India Youth, Sun Structures - Temples, Fuck Off Get Free... - Thee Silver Mt. Zion...
5. Dirty Gold - Angel Haze
A momentous crossover to the mainstream for Angel Haze; one which she almost pulls off. Although not as concise and hard-hitting as her debut mixtape, the ambition, instrumentally and structurally, is impressive.
4. Rave Tapes - Mogwai
The Glaswegian Godfathers of post-rock return with a record which compounds their unfaltering consistency. Not a massive leap forward, but atmospheric, unsettling and even terrifying.
3. Beyonce - Beyonce
A delicately understated release from arguably the biggest pop star of the last decade. Intelligent and immaculately crafted, but it still has time for at least two gargantuan love anthems.
2. In the Silence - Asgeir
A thought-provoking, pretty, particularly Icelandic amalgamation of James Blake and Bon Iver. The perfect revision music. You'll love it.
1. Transgender Dysphoria Blues - Against Me!
It's smart punk, but it's also one of the most emotionally charged, deeply personal rock albums I've heard in years. A haunting, ferocious expose of social castigation.
Songs
10. Sun Structures - Temples
9. Deep Sea Diver - Angel Haze
8. Drinking with the Jocks - Against Me!
7. Remurdered - Mogwai
6. Dripping Down - East India Youth
5. Boss Ass Bitch (Remix) - Nicki Minaj
4. Higher - Asgeir
3. Transgender Dysphoria Blues - Against Me!
2. XO - Beyonce
1. Head in the Snow - Asgeir
February
Albums
Honourable Mentions: Little Red - Katy B, Dead - Young Fathers, Blank Project - Nenah Cherry
5. Oxymoron - Schoolboy Q
It's not quite Habits And Contradictions, but it's damn close. The best Hip-Hop album of the year so far; a razor sharp wit supplemented by excellent production.
4. Burn Your Fire For No Witness - Angel Olsen
A country-rock album with a troubled, tender soul, and a reservedly vulnerable heart. As grungey as it is touching.
3. St. Vincent - St. Vincent
Although, in my opinion, not as good as Cruel Mercy, this is still a fantastic dose of pop-mediated social commentary. Catchy and lyrically wonderful, it is immensely difficult to fault it technically.
2. Benji - Sun Kil Moon
Magnificently unpretentious; Kozalek doesn't recount elaborate metaphors or abstruse allegories, just anecdotes. We grasp significance in what we take from each track, only abled by his achingly emotive drawl.
1. Present Tense - Wild Beasts
The Line Of Best Fit deems it to be the 'most intelligent, involving and profound record since OK Computer'. A controversially bold claim for any major music site, for me especially considering OK Computer is my 2nd favourite album. The staggering quality of Present Tense means I genuinely debate with myself whether The Line of Best Fit could be right.
Songs
10. RIP Kevin Miller - Isaiah Rashad
9. Mecca - Wild Beasts
8. Weightless - Neneh Cherry
7. Man of the Year - Schoolboy Q
6. Digital Witness - St. Vincent
5. Dance Slow Decades - Angel Olsen
4. Carissa - Sun Kil Moon
3. Get Up - Young Fathers
2. Ben's My Friend - Sun Kil Moon
1. A Dog's Life - Wild Beasts
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