The Basics released their fourth studio album The Age Of Entitlement in 2015. It's an album that showcases the evolution of their sound and is the closest we've come to new songs from Wally De Backer while waiting for that new Gotye album. Wally, Kris and Tim take turns singing lead on tracks, and also showcase their beautiful harmonies. This album is also more politically themed with songs such as "What Ever Happened To The Working Class?," "Time Poor" and "Tunaomba Saidia." My favorite song off the album is "A Coward's Prayer" as it sounds like a Crowded House track.
Beck's 2017 album Colors was a the return to the energetic and danceable Beck albums of old with songs such as "Colors," "Seventh Heaven," "I'm So Free," "Square One" and my favorite track "Dreams." Beck and his producer Greg Kurstin played nearly every instrument on each track, and it's a fun album to listen to from start to finish.
After a 12 year hiatus Blur reunited with producer Stephen Street for the release of their eighth studio album The Magic Whip in 2015. This album was a return to the original line up with guitarist Graham Coxton back in the band. The songs originated from Blur being stuck in Hong Kong for a week after a Japanese festival was cancelled in 2013. Nothing happened with the songs for over a year, but thankfully they went back to work on them and The Magic Whip was released to broad critical acclaim. It's a very cohesive album that carries its Hong Kong and Asian influence throughout, especially on tracks like "New World Towers," "Ice Cream Man," "Ghost Ship" and "Pyongyang." My favorite song is the otherworldly "Thought I Was A Spaceman."
Melbourne's Crayon Fields released their third album No One Deserves You in 2015 after a six year hiatus. It's an album that is as dreamy as their previous releases, with the jangly guitar pop and songwriting of lead singer Geoffrey O'Connor. I don't think there is a dud song on the album, with my favorite track being "Somewhere Good," which is a bit of a motivating song if you are going through tough times.
Fleet Foxes released their third album Crack-Up in 2017 after a six year break in-between albums. The release contains many epic and shifting soundscapes in the extended tracks such as "I Am All That I Need / Arroyo Seco / Thumbprint Scar" and "Third Of My / Odaigahara," as well as the band's famous harmonies. My favorite song is "On Another Ocean (January / June)" especially as it kicks into the guitar part around half way through the song.
Grizzly Bear's fourth album Shields was released in 2012 and was a collaborative songwriting effort by the band with bassist Chris Taylor in the producer chair. While a couple songs came from a failed first attempt at recording in Marfa, Texas, the bulk of the album was recorded in singer Ed Droste's grandmother's house in Cape Cod. As with their previous albums both Ed and Daniel Rossen took turns on lead vocals, with my favorite track being the atmospheric and urgent "Yet Again."
Dan Kelly always brings a unique and humorous take on life through his songs, and his second solo album, 2015's Leisure Panic!, is no different. It covers a wide range of topics and Australian themes with songs such as "Melbourne vs Sydney," "Gold Coast Man," "Baby Bonus" and "National Park and Wildlife." My favorite is the epic opening track "On The Run" with its extended jam.
Trixie Mattel (aka Brian Firkus) is not only one of my favorite drag queens, but also an extremely talented musician and songwriter. Her first album Two Birds was released in 2017 and features country and folk songs inspired by Trixie's rural Wisconsin roots. There are humorous and upbeat tracks like "Mama Don't Make Me Put On The Dress Again" and "Bluegrass," but also some sad ones about lost love, with my favorite being the touching "I'll Wear Your Ring."
Olympia's 2016 debut album Self Talk is an atmospheric collection of songs that ambitiously touch on different themes and styles. Despite this, it still manages to feel like a cohesive album. Her layered and ethereal vocals feature throughout, with my favorite track being the moody "Different Cities."
RVG's debut album A Quality Of Mercy was released in 2017 and reminded me of many of my favorite 80's alternative bands with its sound. Romy Vager sings with a sense of urgency and writes lyrics on a variety of topics, including the unique love song "IBM" which includes a sample of a dial up modem. My favorite track is the jangly guitar filled "Cause And Effect."
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