The end of the year brings about countless "best of" lists that often focus on the few albums and artists that have gathered widespread acclaim. While artists like Frank Ocean, Tame Impala, Grizzly Bear and Beach House certainly deserve all the attention they'll receive when looking back on the year that was in music, there were some solid LP's that may go overlooked as we focus on the major releases.
DIIV- Oshin
The Brooklyn quartet's debut album spans 13 tracks of reverb heavy, post-punk influenced jangly-pop with a sound similar to bands like Lotus Plaza, Wild Nothing, Real Estate, and Beach Fossils. Taking a minimal yet highly atmospheric approach to their songwriting, Oshin may not blow you away after an initial listen, but the dream-like production throughout will bring you back craving its undeniable bliss.
Jessie Ware - Devotion
In a year that has seen the release of groundbreaking R&B from artists like Frank Ocean, Miguel, and How To Dress Well, the soulful London singer Jessie Ware's debut is just as striking. An undoubtedly sophisticated pop record, Devotion features incredibly crisp, smooth production that subtly draws in the listener coupled perfectly with a strong female vocal presence working together to deliver a striking sound.
Melody's Echo Chamber - Melody's Echo Chamber
While Tame Impala's mastermind, Kevin Parker, will receive endless praise this year for his band's sophomore release, Lonerism, the production work he contributed to Parisian singer Melody Prochet's debut album under the name Melody's Echo Chamber would be a crime to miss. The pop sensibilities of the singer paired with the expansive sound of Parker's production is easy to get lost in and is highly reminiscent of bands like Stereolab and Broadcast. From a sonic standpoint, the album is one of the most intriguing debuts in recent memory and pushes the dream-pop genre forward while looking back and giving a nod to its undeniable influences.
Joey Bada$$ - 1999
In one of the strongest overall years for hip-hop in recent memory, Brooklyn native, Joey Bada$$, released a seemingly out of nowhere debut entitled 1999 that rehashes the sounds of early 90's New York hip hop with boom-bap production and energy filled rhymes. While it may be easy to write off this debut as merely the sum of its all too obvious influences, the style is so perfectly executed that its easy to see why the 17 year old New Yorker was drawn in by these sounds in the first place. This record more than anything, hints at incredible promise for a teenage rapper with the ability to bring gritty, raw energy back into hip hop without sacrificing the smooth flow that first made hip hop such a crossover success.
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That Diiv track is sensational. Check out a track by Baron called "Lead the Storm". I think you'd dig it
I would hardly say Jessie Wares album has been overlooked. It has had loads of attention from critics, it was a UK top 5 album and was nominated for the Mercury Music Prize!