End of the year music discussion, 2021

[RPS]

2 hours ago, Malenko said:

PUP's Morbid Stuff is cool. I like that choice. I think I've already briefly discussed Jeff Rosenstock with you here. Wasn't expecting to see him end up first though. ahah

I went through a period where I was super obsessed with his whole discography. So good. The Beauty of Breathing is such a banger of a song. 

[RPS]

On 29/11/2021 at 21:30, GoGo Yubari said:

 left me disappointed (see: Kacey Musgraves)

I am the opposite. Kacey Musgraves is definitely in the album of the year category for me. Golden Hour was happy and sad at the same time (It was even one of the songs). Kacey Musgraves does sing on Justified "If I cry just a little and laugh in the middle", but there is no happiness on this album. Except on the track There is a Light, which is a banger of a song. But every song is just full of devastating song-writing. She does not sing sad, but every song you know is meant to be about her ex-husband. I think mileage will vary depending on how sad you want to feel listen to a woman tell you about a man who took neglected her, took advantage of her and the failure of relationships. 

On 30/11/2021 at 00:26, LittleDaniel said:

Oh hell yeah, good for Self Esteem getting number in the Guardian; her album was quite good,

I felt Self Esteem was all very one note for me, but I could listen to the whole album again. It was a good. 

On 30/11/2021 at 19:19, tristy said:

I'm obsessed with Japanese Breakfast currently, so I think Jubilee (as of right now) is my favorite of the year.

I am thinking Japanese Breakfast may be my top album of the year. What a fucking amazing album. Be Sweet and Savage Good Boy are just such hard hitting songs. 

The other albums I am puttering around in my brain is Spirit of the Beehive's Entertainment, Death. It sounds like you did some mushrooms and went to the local fair of the dying town two days over and you felt too stoned. Or Magdalena Bay's Mercurial World, which is outstanding. 

[Skummy]

my Spotify stuff is always a bit skewed, because I have a playlist I put on to fall asleep to, and another that's just a handful of songs downloaded in a playlist for when I'm commuting and don't have internet access - and because they end up my most played, a lot of my Daily Mixes and so on reflect that too. 

Of the top songs, 1, 3 and 5 are all Orville Peck, 2 and 4 are Richard Thompson. That's pretty accurate, they're both artists I got into in a big way this year.

 

 

[RPS]

Pitchfork songs: 

Spoiler

20. SZA - "Good Days"
19. Faye Webster - "I Know I'm Funny haha"
18. Megan Thee Stallion - "Thot Shit"
17. Peggy Gou - "I Go"
16. Tinashe - "Bouncin"
15. Big Thief - "Little Things"
14. WizKid feat. Tems - "Essence"
13. Sofia Kourtesis - "La Perla"
12. Sharon Van Etten / Angel Olsen - "Like I Used To"
11. Japanese Breakfast - "Be Sweet"
10. Olivia Rodrigo - "deja vu"
9. Arooj Aftab - "Mohabbat"
8. Snail Mail - "Valentine"
7. Mitski - "Working for the Knife"
6. Tyler, the Creator - "Lumberjack"
5. Lana Del Rey - "White Dress"
4. Jazmine Sullivan - "Pick Up Your Feelings"
3. Low - "Days Like These"
2. Cassandra Jenkins - "Hard Drive"
1. Caroline Polachek - "Bunny Is a Rider"

Pitchfork albums

Spoiler

20. Mach-Hommy: Pray for Haiti
19. Dean Blunt: Black Metal 2
18. Grouper: Shade
17. Cassandra Jenkins: An Overview on Phenomenal Nature
16. MIKE: Disco!
15. Snail Mail: Valentine
14. Japanese Breakfast: Jubilee
13. Tirzah: Colourgrade
12. Arooj Aftab: Vulture Prince
11. Faye Webster: I Know I’m Funny haha
10. Dry Cleaning: New Long Leg
09. Playboi Carti: Whole Lotta Red
08. Mdou Moctar: Afrique Victime
07. The Weather Station: Ignorance
06. Turnstile: Glow On
05. Low: HEY WHAT
04. Floating Points / Pharoah Sanders / The London Symphony Orchestra: Promises
03. Tyler, the Creator: Call Me If You Get Lost
02. L’Rain: Fatigue
01. Jazmine Sullivan: Heaux Tales

NME Songs

Spoiler

20. Berwyn – ‘I’d Rather Die Than Be Deported’
19. PinkPantheress – ‘Just For Me’
18. Silk Sonic – ‘Smokin Out The Window’
17. Caroline Polacheck – ‘Bunny Is A Rider’
16. Doja Cat featuring SZA – ‘Kiss Me More’
15. Wolf Alice – ‘Smile’
14. Griff – ‘Black Hole’
13. The Weeknd – ‘Take My Breath’
12. Foals – ‘Wake Me Up’
11. Charli XCX – ‘Good Ones’
10. BTS – ‘Butter’
09. Little Simz – ‘Introvert’
08. Billie Eilish – ‘Happier Than Ever’
07. CHVRCHES featuring Robert Smith – ‘How Not To Drown’
06. Lorde – ‘Solar Power’
05. Lil Nas X – ‘MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)’
04. Sam Fender – ‘Seventeen Going Under’
03. Wet Leg – ‘Chaise Longue’
02. Self Esteem – ‘I Do This All The Time’
01. Olivia Rodrigo – ‘Good 4 U’

Rolling Stone songs

Spoiler

20. Snail Mail - "Ben Franklin"
19. Brothers Osborne - "Younger Me"
18. Bo Burnham - "All Eyes on Me"
17. Megan Thee Stallion - "Thot Shit"
16. BTS - "Butter"
15. Japanese Breakfast - "Be Sweet"
14. Morgan Wade - "Wilder Days"
13. Polo G - "Rapstar"
12. Wet Leg - "Wet Dream"
11. Muna feat. Phoebe Bridgers - "Silk Chiffon"
10. Noname - "Rainforest"
9. Adele - "I Drink Wine"
8. Rauw Alejandro - "Todo de Ti"
7. Billie Eilish - "Happier Than Ever"
6. Silk Sonic - "Leave the Door Open"
5. Lucy Dacus - "VBS"
4. Lil Nas X - "Montero (Call Me By Your Name)"
3. Olivia Rodrigo - "Drivers License"
2. Taylor Swift - "All Too Well (10 Minute Version)"
1. Wizkid feat. Tems - "Essence"

Rolling Stone album

Spoiler

20. Leon Bridges, 'Gold-Diggers Sound'
19. Arlo Parks, 'Collapsed in Sunbeams'
18. Halsey, 'If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power'
17. Tems, 'If Orange Was a Place'
16. Low, 'Hey What'
15. Billie Eilish, 'Happier Than Ever'
14. Polo G, 'Hall of Fame'
13. Morgan Wade, 'Reckless'
12. PinkPantheress, 'To Hell With It'
11. Playboi Carti, 'Whole Lotta Red'
10. Japanese Breakfast, 'Jubilee'
09. C. Tangana, 'El Madrileño'
08. Turnstile, 'Glow On'
07. Jazmine Sullivan, 'Heaux Tales'
06. Lil Nas X, 'Montero'
05. Lucy Dacus, 'Home Video'
04. Tyler, the Creator, 'Call Me If You Get Lost'
03. Rauw Alejandro, 'Vice Versa'
02. Adele, '30'
01. Olivia Rodrigo, 'Sour'

 

[DFF]

No mention of Lordi's disco album. Shocking. Haha

[Skummy]

working my way through the 2021 releases list, filling in some of the blanks I'd missed, and it's good to see Self Esteem's album from October making some of the top album lists, because listening to it now it's fantastic. Just very cool, well-polished pop music, from the former singer of Slow Club;

 

[MalaCloudy Black]

Oh, you know what I think is a good shout for one of the best rock/metal albums of 2021? Turnstile's GLOW ON. After it came out I listened to it a bunch and it's still an album I can go back and listen to and there's not really any songs I dislike or want to skip. 

[Malenko]

2 hours ago, The Redeemer CLDY said:

Oh, you know what I think is a good shout for one of the best rock/metal albums of 2021? Turnstile's GLOW ON. After it came out I listened to it a bunch and it's still an album I can go back and listen to and there's not really any songs I dislike or want to skip. 

Named it in a couple threads, I think. It seems we have a few end of the year music threads.

[RPS]

Would anyone be down to make a list of their top 10 favorite songs and share it here? I want to discover the lesser known stuff this year. I would follow suit as well. 

 

[Roster Depth Sicko No. 2]

Yes, absolutely! I haven't really thought about anything from an End of Year perspective but I'll sit down and do my albums/songs this evening. Need to actually think about it haha.

[Roster Depth Sicko No. 2]

Okay I'm caveating the below in the following two ways:

1. They aren't ranked, because I'm a coward.

2. The "Top Songs" are the "Top Songs That Don't Feature On The Albums" because, for my taste, the albums are all bangers.

 

TOP 10 ALBUMS:

Spoiler

Trash Boat - Don't You Feel Amazing?

This album snuck up on me a bit, the band hadn't garnered my interest with any of their earlier releases (bar a Linkin Park cover on a compilation album but that was more because it was Linkin Park) but the album has leant into their pop punk elements and amplified them really well. Bad Entertainment, Synthetic Sympathy, and Cannibal are three of my favourites to pick a few standouts. If you forced me to pick a top album from this list of ten, this album is definitely in with a shout at being it, it just grows on me with every listen.

 

Pale Waves - Who Am I?

Again, another band I'd never listened to before this year, but it's absolute pop brilliance. They've shed the goth aesthetic and put out a genuinely great pop album that explores the singer's coming out and you can really feel the emotion come through. It's not something I'm ever going to truly understand but lyrically it's just so well told. Change, She's My Religion, You Don't Own Me, and Odd Ones Out are probably my top picks.

 

Royal Blood - Typhoons

I had this marked as my album of the year before it was even announced, but I didn't find myself coming back to it as much as I expected given the strength of the second half of the year. Fantastic third album that fills out their already massive sound with some electronic elements, Oblivion, Mad Visions, and Boilermaker all hit hard. Mike's bass work is really strong on this one.

 

Don Broco - Amazing Things

I fell in love with lead single Manchester Super Reds No. 1 Fan when it came out (it was my top song on Spotify for the year) and the album added some other great tracks around it that bring in all of their silliness and lyricism and attitude into some genuine arena-filling anthems. Endorphins and How Are You Done With Existing are probably my next two favourites.

 

Foo Fighters - Medicine at Midnight

I debated whether or not I liked this enough to put it in the top ten but it probably just about makes it. Making a Fire continues their penchant for good opening tracks, whilst Waiting on a War and Cloudspotter are ready-made festival anthems. Side note though; Shame Shame, which they made the lead single, is one of the worst tracks I heard all year.

 

Normandie - Dark and Beautiful Secrets

I love Sweden from a musical perspective, take any band from Sweden and I'll probably find something I like by them. More electro-tinged rock that just gets the balance right and creates a wonderful sonic experience. Babylon, Jericho, and Holy Water my standout three.

 

Vistas - What Were You Hoping To Find?

The best new indie band the UK has generated in recent years, destined for superstardom. Dayglow, Stuck In Your Head, and the title track are all top quality.

 

The Maine - XOXO: Love & Anxiety in Real Time

They don't miss often for me, one I need to be in the right mood for but they're great at what they do. Sticky, Lips, and High Forever my top three.

 

Mason Hill - Against The Wall

Great rock debut with a promise of bigger things to come. Against the Wall, DNA, and Find My Way lay the foundations for a bright future for these guys.

 

Taylor Swift - Red (Taylor's Version)

RIP Jake Gyllenhaal, nuff said. Loving her work in taking back her music so far.

You can probably tell which is my top cut from the length of those descriptions

 

TOP 10 SONGS:

Spoiler

Limp Bizkit - Dad Vibes

It's Limp Bizkit in 2021, get on board while you still can.

 

Arkells - One Thing I Know

My favourite Canadian export with another banger of a single, I implore all the Brits to check them out.

 

Boston Manor - Algorithm

I fell in love with Boston Manor over lockdown last year and I think this is one of their best tracks to date.

 

Biffy Clyro - A Hunger In Your Haunt

One of Britain's best rock bands doing what they do best, enough said.

 

Black Honey - Beaches

Super fun track from an upcoming band, hoping to see it live on some decent size stages in the coming years.

 

Foals - Wake Me Up

Another band I totally fell for through lockdown, the first taste from their next album is a rousing track to get yourself dancing.

 

Bowling for Soup ft. Hanson - Where's The Love?

You thought Limp Bizkit was weird? Fucking Hanson, mate. Pop punk banger.

 

Royal Republic - RATA-TATA

More pure fun from my favourite Swedes. Hoping for a new album in 2022.

 

Amyl & The Sniffers - Hertz

Great little punk track from a female-fronted Aussie band. Their album nearly made the top ten list, it's great fun.

 

Holding Absence - Afterlife

Some Welsh boys! My favourite track from a really strong second outing.

 

[Jimmy]

Black Honey are good live mate, defo worth catching em @Jeringle All The Way

[RPS]

 

My top 10 favorite songs, not in order. A mix of electronic, pop and rock. 

[DFF]

23 hours ago, RPS said:

Would anyone be down to make a list of their top 10 favorite songs and share it here? I want to discover the lesser known stuff this year. I would follow suit as well. 

 

Absolutely. Once I've finished my album play through I'll be dumping a few lists and playlists. I can do an individual song list alongside it. 

[DFF]

My Top 35 EPs & Mini-Albums of 2021

Spoiler

35 Mirzadeh – Sauna
34 Dopelord – Reality Dagger
33 Cirith Ungol – Half Past Human
32 Emma Ruth Rundle & Thou – The Helm of Sorrow
31 Ghost Moons – Generative Part I
30 Alphabet Holds Hostage – Truth in Habitual
29 Nilotika Drum Ensemble – Ejokawulida
28 Cosmo Pyke – A Piper for Janet
27 Taake & Helheim – Henholdsvis
26 Billy Nomates – Emergency Telephone
25 Beach Bunny – Blame Game
24 Terminal Sun – Metomorph
23 Machine Head – Arrows in Words from the Sky
22 Tekrar Eden – Möbius
21 Michael Woodman – Psithurism
20 The Lickerish Quartet – Threesome Vol. 2
19 Syncatto – Lost Inside
18 Korsunnuz – Negative Earth
17 Kocked Loose – A Tear in the Fabric of Life
16 Jake Mann – Baroque ‘n’ Roll
15 Poppy – Eat
14 Bodom After Midnight – Paint the Sky Red
13 Insomnium – Argent Moon
12 Umbría – The Child That Never Came Back
11 Trial – Sisters of the Moon
10 Nachtreich – Alles still
9 Lovebites – Glory, Glory to the World
8 Lowen – Unceasing Lamentations
7 Spirit Adrift – Forge Your Future
6 Enslaved – Caravans to the Outer Worlds
5 King Witch – Worship the Riffs
4 Cosmilk – Sense of Space
3 Glass Beams – Mirage
2 Mountain Caller – Chronicle: Prologue
1 Wisp – The Insomniac

—

My Top 150 Albums of 2021

Spoiler

150 Loscil – Clara
149 Holy Death Trio – Introducing…
148 Lordi – Loirdiversity: Abracadavar
147 A.A. Williams – Songs from Isolation
146 Radio Supernova – Takaisin
145 Kungens män – Den nya skivan
144 God Is an Astronaut – Ghost Tapes #10
143 Clouds Taste Satanic – Cloud Covered
142 Evile – Hell Unleashed
141 Robots of the Ancient World – Mystic Goddess
140 Bell Orchestre – House Music
139 Light the Torch – You Will Be the Death of Me
138 LLNN – Unmaker
137 Urne – Seprent & Spirit
136 Low Orbit – Crater Creator
135 Black Spell – The Purple Skull
134 Mogwai – As the Love Continues
133 Hannah Peel – Fir Wave
132 Khemmis – Deceiver
131 Fluisteraars – Gegrepen door de geest der zielsontluiking
130 The Murlocs – Bittersweet Demons
129 Darkthrone – Eternal Hails…..
128 Alfa Mist – Bring Backs
127 The Dropkick Murphys – Turn Up that Dial
126 Four Stroke Baron – Classics
125 Beige Banquet – Beta
124 Viagra Boys – Welfare Jazz
123 Wardruna – Kvitravn
122 Carsten Dahl Trinity – Mirrors Within
121 Grima – Rotten Garden
120 Steve Hackett – Under a Mediterranean Sky
119 Crystal Viper – The Cult
118 Boss Keloid – Family the Smiling Thrush
117 Inglorious – We Will Ride
116 Blackmore’s Night – Nature’s Light
115 Thunder – All the Right Noises
114 Acid Mammoth – Caravan
113 Wode – Burn in Many Mirrors
112 Greenleaf – Echoes From a Mass
111 Mythic Sunship – Wildfire
110 Succumb – XXI
109 Scale the Summit – Subjects
108 Azmari – Samā’ī
107 Sur Austru – Obârşie
106 Negură Bunget – Zău
105 Orden Ogan – Final Days
104 The Hyena Kill – A Disconnect
103 Mare Cognitum – Solar Paroxysm
102 Dominik Strycharski Core – Symfonia Fabryki Ursus
101 Dordeduh – Har
100 Iron Maiden – Senjutsu
99 Teramaze – And the Beauty They Perceive
98 Kal-El – Dark Majesty
97 High Reeper & Hippie Death Cult – Doom Sessions Vol. 5
96 Brainstorm – Wall of Skulls
95 Japanese Breakfast – Jubilee
94 Keygen Church – ░█░█░░█░█░█░
93 Cynic – Ascension Codes
92 Powerwolf – Call of the Wild
91 Vexed – Culling Culture
90 Amenra – De doorn
89 Poppy – Flux
88 Crystal Coffin – The Starway Eternal
87 The Wildhearts – 21st Century Love Songs
86 Sleep Token – This Place Will Become Your Tomb
85 Ghost Bath – Self Loather
84 Feuerschwanz – Memento Mori
83 Gojira – Fortitude
82 Wheel – Resident Human
81 Herzel – Le dernier rempart
80 Primitai – Violence in the Skies
79 Bewitcher – Cursed Be Thy Kingdom
78 Lucid Sins – Cursed!
77 Fear Factory – Aggression Continuum
76 Hedvig Mollestad Trio – Ding Dong. You’re Dead.
75 møl – Diorama
74 Syncatto – A Place to Breathe
73 Konom – Konom
72 Steven Wilson – The Future Bites
71 The Pretty Reckless – Death by Rock and Roll
70 YO NO SE – Terraform
69 Derya Yıldırım & Grup Şimşek – DOST 1
68 Violet Cold – Empire of Love
67 Spiritbox – Eternal Blue
66 Alastor – Onwards and Downwards
65 Metalite – A Virtual World
64 Squid – Bright Green Field
63 Silver Talon – Decadence and Decay
62 Turnstile – Glow On
61 Hedvig Mollestad – Tempest Revisited
60 Liquid Tension Experiment – Liquid Tension Experiment 3
59 Godspeed You! Black Emperor – G_d’s Pee AT STATE’S END!
58 Noctule – Wretched Abyss
57 Hippie Death Cult – Circle of Days
56 Superlynx – Electric Temple
55 Stellar Death – Fragments of Light
54 Black Country, New Road – For the First Time
53 Anna B Savage – A Common Turn
52 Psychedelic Porn Crumpets – Shyga! the Sunlight Mound
51 The Vintage Caravan – Monuments
50 Subterranean Masquerade – Mountain Fever
49 Dunbarrow – Dunbarrow III
48 Wizardthrone – Hypercube Necrodimensions
47 VOLA – Witness
46 Apostle of Solitude – Until the Darkness Goes
45 Daxma – Unmarked Boxes
44 Bossk – Migration
43 Hollywood Burns – The Age of the Saucers
42 Aephanemer – A Dream of Wilderness
41 Kadavar & Elder – ELDOVAR – A Story of Darkness & Light
40 Cavs – Cavs
39 Devil Sold His Soul – Loss
38 Dream Theater – A View from the Top of the World
37 The Darkness – Motorheart
36 Floating Points, Pharaoh Sanders & The London Symphony Orchestra – Promises
35 Robohands – Shapes
34 Iotunn – Access All Worlds
33 Others by No One – Book II: Where Stories Come From
32 King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard – L.W.
31 Significant Point – Into the Storm
30 Æthĕrĭa Conscĭentĭa – Corrupted Pillars of Vanity
29 King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard – Butterfly 3000
28 Spellling – The Turning Wheel
27 Motorpsycho – Kingdom of Oblivion
26 Midnight Odyssey – Biolume Part 2: The Golden Orb
25 Weedpecker – IV: The Stream of Forgotten Thoughts
24 Der Weg einer Freiheit – Noktvrn
23 Mastodon – Hushed and Grim
22 Year of No Light – Consolamentum
21 Public Service Broadcasting – Bright Magic
20 Mdou Moctar – Afrique Victime
19 Helloween – Helloween
18 Domkraft – Seeds
17 Kauan – Ice Fleet
16 Chez Kane – Chez Kane
15 Clouds – Despărțire
14 Cory Wong & Dirty Loops – Turbo
13 Stormkeep – Tales of Othertime
12 King Buffalo – Acheron
11 Five the Hierophant – Through Aureate Void
10 Diagonal – 4
9 Dvne – Etemen Ænka
8 Soen – Imperial
7 Work, Money, Death – The Space in Which the Uncontrollable Unknown Resides, Can be the Place from Which Creation Arises
6 Musk Ox – Inheritence
5 Green Lung – Black Harvest
4 Ethereal Shroud – Trisagion
3 Delving – Hirschbrunnen
2 King Buffalo – The Burden of Restlessness
1 Windfaerer – Breath of Elder Dawns

 

[GoGo Yubari]

Here's Kool 2021 Jamz, a playlist of some songs I liked from this year. Track listing behind the spoiler cut.

Spoiler

1. "Wet Dream" by Wet Leg

2. "Guided by Angels" by Amyl and the Sniffers

3. "Get Lost in the Music" by Ambar Lucid

4. "Loretta" by Ginger Root

5. "Leave the Door Open" by Silk Sonic

6. "London Gangs" by SAULT

7. "Both All the Time" by Faye Webster

8. "This Enchanted" by Hatchie

9. "You're Not Special, Babe" by Orla Gartland

10. "Paprika" by Japanese Breakfast

11. "Holiday" by Confidence Man

12. "Another Day in America" by Kali Uchis (feat. Ozuna)

13. "keep lookin' up" by Kacey Musgraves

14. "Working for the Knife" by Mitski

15. "Always Together With You" by Spiritualized

16. "Road Back Home" by Blue Wednesday

17. "Chaise Longue" by Wet Leg (live on Later)

Here's a Spotify version missing the SAULT track and using the studio "Chaise Longue."

A couple of these songs I only heard for the first time in the last week, but I do like it as a playlist overall.

Here's what the 2020 playlist was. Returning artists from that year on this one are Faye Webster, Confidence Man, and Blue Wednesday.

I'd also be interested in making a playlist of songs that were new to me in 2021 but who knows where I'll find the time.

[RPS]

This is a banger of a playlist @GoGo Yubari. 

[METALMAN]

Okay here are some albums what I liked this year. I've added a bunch of interesting looking stuff to my list of stuff I want to listen to from the end of year countdowns so I'll probably have a more fully formed idea of 2021 this time next year though. Not a vintage year from what I've heard though. Nothing strikes me as being really classic.

I liked Ignorance by the Weather Station

I don't live here anymore by the War on Drugs (it basically sounds exactly the same as everything else they've ever done but I'm okay with that)

The Solution is Restless by Tony Allen and a bunch of others

There Is No End by Tony Allen.

Endless Arcade by Teenage Fanclub

Daddy's Home by St Vincent

McCartney Threeimagined by Paul McCartney and a bunch of others

PinkPantheress

Barn by Neil Young and Crazy Horse

As The Love Continues by Mogwai

Mussorgsky: Unorthodox Music by Claire Booth and Christopher Glynn

XXXX by Michael Wollny and a bunch of others (this one is probably my favourite)

KG0516 by Karol G

Senjutsu by Iron Maiden

This is This by Grouplove

Fortitude by Gojira - this was my other favourite

On All Fours by Goat Girl

Wink by Chai

Shock Power of Love by Burial

the live Bruce Springsteen one

 

[Gorka]

On 29/12/2021 at 14:24, RPS said:

Would anyone be down to make a list of their top 10 favorite songs and share it here? I want to discover the lesser known stuff this year. I would follow suit as well. 

 

On another site, I posted my top ten songs as:

• Injury Reserve - Knees
• Japanese Breakfast - Posing in Bondage
• Black Midi - John L
• Black Country, New Road - Track X
• Squid - G.S.K
• IDLES - Car Crash
• For Those I Love - Birthday/The Pain
• Silk Sonic - Leave the Door Open
• Wolf Alice - Play the Greatest Hits
• Ohtis - Schatze

And an honourable mentions to:

• Yves Tumor - Jackie
• Parquet Courts - Marathon of Anger
• Beach House - Superstar
• Lucid Express - Ado
• Lost Girls - Real Life
• Turnstile - Mystery
• Dry Cleaning - Unsmart Lady
• Water From Your Eyes - My Love's
• Viagra Boys - In Spite of Ourselves
• Jane Inc - Gem
• Snapped Ankles - Forest of Your Problems

[RPS]

The Weather Stations album Ignorance is breathtaking. I'm not sure if it's my AOTY but I'm getting there.