Well... no.
Tastes evolve. We know this to be true, but most times it's tough to put any data points to it. Well here's one: Of the 100 albums ranked in my subsequent posts, only 59 of them were deemed worthy of inclusion on yearly lists at the time. 41, including multiples in the Top 20, ( and 10... and even one in the Top 5) are new entries entirely. In many cases these albums were originally discovered on lists like my own. They are a valuable resource, if you want them to be. There is so much out there to be consumed that we cannot possibly find it all on our own. Hopefully something here piques your interest enough to try it out. New favorites lurk around every corner.
I'm going to try to roll this entire list out on a schedule. Please check back each day to keep this thing rolling.
December 26: #100 - #81
December 27: #80 - #61
December 28: #60 - #41
December 29: #40 - #21
December 30: #20 - #6
December 31: #5 - #1
So now... here we go.
Year: 2011
Original Rank: Not ranked in my 2011 lists
Genre: Folk
John Paul White & Joy Williams spearheaded the folk revival with this 2011 offering. For their efforts, they were awarded two Grammys and a performance showcase on the show.
Year: 2011
Original Rank: Not ranked in my 2011 lists
Genre: Indie Electronic
This French electronic act certainly reached their commercial peak with the release of this record. "Midnight City" was Pitchfork's Song of the Year in 2011. The song charted inside the Top 5 on multiple US charts and hit #1 in places across Europe.
Year: 2014
Original Rank: 12/15 ranked on my 2014 lists
Genre: Dreampop
Atlas was a bit of a comeback for Real Estate, as it was released off a three year hiatus. Propelled by the opener "Had to Hear" and "Talking Backwards", the record was the band's most successful.
Year: 2012
Original Rank: 4/10 ranked on my 2012 lists
Genre: Rock
Fairly treated as second fiddle in the Gaslight discography, Handwritten is buoyed by such live staples as "45", the title track, and "Howl" which is a Top 5 song the band has ever recorded. This isn't The '59 Sound, but it's essential in it's own right.
Year: 2019
Original Rank: 3/25 ranked on my 2019 lists
Genre: Americana
This little known singer-songwriter from Texas delivers one of 2019's best offerings. The album's lead track, "Canyon" is among the top songs of the year. Seeing as this is his debut, I'm very excited to see where he can go next.
Year: 2015
Original Rank: Not ranked in my 2015 lists
Genre: Bluegrass
One of the most energetic live bands around, Cabinet road tested these songs for years before finally laying them down. Near the end of the record, their ode to their home will hit close for anyone else that's spent time in the Keystone State.
Year: 2011
Original Rank: 2/10 ranked on my 2011 lists
Genre: Pop-Punk
The pop-punk genre seems to convey immaturity, or at least something close to it. While that's not untrue, War Paint is The Dangerous Summer trying to grow up. It didn't work. A once promising career was ultimately derailed by interpersonal conflict, but thankfully we got this gem before the nonsense ruined everything.
Year: 2012
Original Rank: Not ranked in my 2012 lists
Genre: Folk
The Venn Diagram of critically successful Avetts and commercialy successful Avetts is pretty much just this album. In my opinion, The Carpenter is the end of the Brothers at their best, however, this record brought them their first Grammy nomination and they've continued to stack those ever since.
Year: 2013
Original Rank: 2/10 ranked on my 2013 lists
Genre: Pop-Punk
In stark contrast to The Dangerous Summer above, The Wonder Years are the gold-standard of pop-punk over the 2010s. This record is steeped in themes of transition and the general problems of the 20-something. It was the right record for the right time in my life.
Year: 2017
Original Rank: 10/25 ranked on my 2017 lists
Genre: Folk
We're not ranking songs here, but if we were, "God In Chicago", would be my top song of the decade. The centerpiece of this record is more poetry than anything else, but the way Finn writes is unparalleled when he's on. On that song, and largely on this record, he is full speed ahead with some of his best work.
Year: 2011
Original Rank: Not ranked in my 2011 lists
Genre: Country
Church's first chart-topper has moved nearly 2m units since its 2011 release. While Church has put out more critically acclaimed efforts in the years since, Chief (and its collection of Top 10 singles) set him on his course of country music superstardom.
Year: 2010
Original Rank: 6/10 ranked on my 2010 lists
Genre: Blues
Petty's first full band record in nearly 10 years found The Heartbreakers at their most adventurous. What Mojo lacked in massive hooks, it made up for in southern sensibility and the traditions of the blues.
Year: 2012
Original Rank: Not ranked in my 2012 lists
Genre: Folk
All the hallmarks of neo-folk make their way to the forefront immediately on Lonesome Dreams. While not the most original material represented on this ranking, Lord Huron's debut record is an enjoyable listen throughout.
Year: 2011
Original Rank: Honorable Mention on my 2011 lists
Genre: Indie
New York was home for Darwin Deez, but this album really burst out in the UK. "Radar Detector" went Top 5 on the British charts as the lead single, but the entire record is populated with that same infectious mix of indie sounds.
Year: 2016
Original Rank: Not ranked in my 2016 lists
Genre: Rock
The only thing that isn't vintage Truckers on American Band is the album cover. Despite eschewing long time artist Wes Freed, the band wrote a pissed off, politically charged, rock & roll record with a cover image to match the mood.
Year: 2013
Original Rank: Not ranked in my 2013 lists
Genre: Dance
Random Access Memories topped nearly every chart immaginable upon its 2013 release. The record is one of peaks and valleys, but when you've got "Get Lucky" in the center of the tracklist, you can overcome a lot of smaller shortcomings.
Year: 2017
Original Rank: 25/25 ranked on my 2017 lists
Genre: Indie
Be forewarned - in case context clues are not your thing - that this really is 50 songs long. In movie terms, this is the Boyhood of the list; one song written for each of vocalist Stephin Merritt's 50 years of life. While the quality is sometimes sporadic, it's to be expected with an undertaking as ambitious as this.
Year: 2014
Original Rank: 6/15 ranked on my 2014 lists
Genre: Indie Pop
Jack Antonoff announced himself as a megastar to be with his first release independent of previous band Fun. Pop hooks abound on this release, telegraphing his future work as the go-to producer for Taylor Swift, Lorde, and Lana Del Rey.
Year: 2016
Original Rank: 6/20 ranked on my 2016 lists
Genre: Americana
At the time, I called Shine on Rainy Day the best debut record of 2016. I've since softened on that ever so slightly, but this collection is worthy of just about any other accolade you want to toss its way.
Year: 2017
Original Rank: Not ranked in my 2017 lists
Genre: Indie
Despite barely registering in the US, Little Fictions topped charts and year-end lists across Europe. Pre-release single "Magnificent (She Says)" is both the album opener and its best all around song.
Check back tomorrow as the countdown continues with #80-#61.
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