It’s that time of year again. Where I spend a solid four days trying to work out (read: obsessing over) what my favorite songs of the year are, and by extension, what said songs say about the year I’ve just had.
Hopefully, the actual list will be out sometime this week, but my staff (of one) is a little behind this year…just like every other year. As always, I hope you enjoy reading and listening to this list as much as I enjoy creating it. It was an incredible year of music, and I appreciate getting the chance to share it with you all.
Pure Bathing Culture: “Ivory Coast”
WHAT: The lovely, lazy single from Daniel Hindman and Sarah Versprille of Vetiver’s self-titled debut EP.
WHERE: Portland, OR
WHY: I’m a sucker for dreamy, languid guitar pop, and few did it better this year than thees indie-pop vets.
Schoolboy Q x A$AP Rocky: “Hands on the Wheel”
WHAT: The second most famous Black Hippy’s ode to “weed and brews.”
WHERE: Los Angeles, CA (with a little help from that pretty muthafucka from Harlem)
WHY: That sample. While I wasn’t as high on Q’s debut LP as many, I can’t deny his ubiquitous breakout single. Definitely one of the earworms of the year.
Julia Holter: “In The Same Room”
WHAT: The standout from the Nite Jewel-collaborator’s brilliant 2nd LP, Extasis.
WHERE: Los Angeles, CA
WHY: Oft compared to Beach House’s lo-fi early work, but she has much more in common with hyper-experimental artists like Grouper and Julianna Barwick — without really sounding like either. Though her music isn’t particularly accessible at first glance, if you give it some time, her dusty sound will wriggle its way into your heart.
