10 of 2015... so far.

As a way to make sure this blog doesn't gather too much dust, let me tally off my favorite albums so far of 2015, and my scores for each one. At least something to post before I get enough brain energy to post something more interesting.

1. Sufjan Stevens - Carrie and Lowell. 10/10

2. Destroyer - Poison Season. 9/10

3. Colin Stetson and Sarah Neufeld - Never Were the Way She Was 9/10

4. Holly Herndon - Platform. 9/10

5. Jlin - Dark Energy. 9/10

6. Nicolas Jaar - Pomegranates. 8/10

7. Tobias Jesso Jr. - Goon. 8/10

8. The Breathing Effect - Mars is a Very Bad Place for Love. 8/10

9. Prurient - Frozen Niagra Falls. 8/10

10. Courtney Barnett - Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit. 8/10

#MWE choices.

Started late on this, but in short I'm doing #MWE. That means I will listen to an album a day in February that I hadn't heard before and write one tweet about it. I will then put it here.

I'll pick the album that day, so no list before.

BTW I started on the 3rd, so I'll go into March to make up for it.

3rd: Ride - Nowhere

Much clearer and orchestral than most shoegaze bands back in the early 90's.

4th: Elliott Smith - Either/Or

I feel like I would enjoy this much more if I was in high school, still very pleasant.

R.I.P.

5th: Amy Winehouse - Back to Black

She undoubtedly had an amazing voice, but the production didn't blow me away. Still entertaining.


6th: Nick Drake - Pink Moon 

Another album I would have loved when I was 15, but I can still appreciate it now. Fantastic record, if short.

7th: J Dilla - Welcome to Detroit

 #JDillaDay #RIPDilla Good stuff, not as crazy as donuts though. 

8th: Mazzy Star - So Tonight That I May See

Almost put me to sleep, but in a very good way.

9th: MF DOOM - Mm... Food?

Great flow and lyrics, although the skits and production got annoying fast.

10th: Mercury Rev - Deserter's Songs

Sleepy time for Aliens is the best way I can describe this. 

11th: Wire - Pink Flag 

Awesome early punk in short bursts.

12th: Pixies - Bossanova 

Not as many memorable songs as their other releases, but still great. 

Concert Count: 2014

I went to 104 concerts in 2014. That is more concerts I have ever gone in a single year.

Let's chop that up shall we.

Venues:

Independent: 20
Great American Music Hall: 14
Bottom of the Hill: 8
The Fillmore: 8
Rickshaw Stop: 7
1015 Folsom: 5
Brick and Mortar Music Hall: 4
The Fox Theater: 4
Neck of the Woods: 3 
Slims: 3
Mezzanine: 3
The Warfield: 2
The Chapel: 2
Oakland Metro: 2
The Knockout: 2
Bill Graham Civic Auditorium: 2
Shoreline: 2
DNA Lounge: 1
Hemlock Tavern: 1
The Masonic: 1
The Regency Ballroom: 1
Elbo Room: 1
The Greek Theatre: 1
SF Jazz Center: 1
Davies Symphony Hall: 1
Mighty: 1

Festivals: 4


Won tickets: 30
Free: 3
Paid: 71

Bands I saw twice:

I The Mighty
Mutual Benefit
Majical Cloudz
Temples
Doe Eye

Bands I saw thrice:

Deafheaven

Bands I saw that broke up the same year I saw them:

The Knife
Yellow Ostrich

Any other random facts you want to know about my concert going?

TOP ALBUMS OF 2014

TOP ALBUMS OF 2014 (WIP, not in order)

Ben Frost - A U R O R A
Down Hazard - Afterparty
How to Dress Well - "What is this Heart?"
Hundred Waters - The Moon Rang Like a Bell
BadBadNotGood - BBNG3
Mac DeMarco - Salad Days
Perfect Pussy - Say Yes to Love
Run The Jewels - RTJ2
Todd Terje - It's Album Time!
Wild Beasts - Present Tense

Albums I still need to listen to that might take a spot:

Aphex Twin - Syro
White Lung - Deep Fantasy
Swans - To Be Kind
Flying Lotus - You're Dead!
Spoon - They Want My Soul
Grouper - Ruins
Pallbearer - Foundations of Burden
Pharmakon - Bestial Burden
Iceage - Plowing into the Field of Love


In the end my top 10 list will probably look much different  and be more stylized but this is just a rough draft.

2014: EVEN MORE SCORES

The Antlers - Familiars: 7/10

Sharon Van Etten - Are We There: 8/10

Hundred Waters - The Moon Rang Like a Bell: 8/10

clipping. - clppng: 6/10

How to Dress Well - "What is this Heart?": 9/10

Death Grips - Niggas on the Moon: 7/10


I'll do a post on the yung lean show next I swear.

2014: More Scores

tUnE-yArDs - Nikki Nack: 8/10

Timber Timbre - Hot Dreams: 7/10

Owen Pallett - In Conflict: 7/10

Ought - More than Any Other Day: 8/10

Lykke Li - I Never Learn: 7/10

Chromeo - White Women: 5/10

BADBADNOTGOOD - III: 9/10

Perfect Pussy - Say Yes to Love: 8/10

Young Fathers - Dead: 7/10


Albums I still need to listen to:

Swans - To Be Kind

Marissa Nadler - July

Sharon Van Etten - Are We There

La Dispute - Rooms of the House

2014 Scores #3

Todd Terje - It's Album Time: 8/10

Lindsey Stirling - Shatter Me: 7/10

The Hotelier - Home, Like Noplace Is There: 8/10

Mac DeMarco - Salad Days: 7/10

Cloud Nothings - Here and Nowhere Else: 8/10

Liars - Mess: 7/10

Kelis - FOOD: 6/10

Below: My favorite songs from these albums

2014 albums