Top 15 Albums

Discovered while on a memorable car ride on a beautiful late-spring day in Japan, this album laid a foundation that would shape my musical landscape for years to come.

Originally, I found this album via a poor review and I went into my listen with very low expectations. There couldn’t have been a better way to have approached an album of this superb quality. No two songs are alike, no one song is predictable, and the whole album oozes creativity and brilliance. Sometimes you think you can’t possibly find better music than you already know, and then sometimes you listen to an album like this and everything changes.

I can thank Spotify and its algorithm for turning me on to only one of the tracks ("Haunt / A Light", to be specific) by Seoul, a mysterious trio hailing from Montreal. They aren't around anymore and it makes me wonder what could have been. A combination of quirky electro funk and indie pop littered with mumblecore lyrics, I Become A Shade taps into things we can all relate to: longing to fit in, yearning to get out, breaking up, moving on, and remembering it all throughout, however painful that may be. I mourn what the world lost since the end of Seoul but I'm forever grateful for their one magnificent gift they left us with.

Takk... is less of a musical album and more of an experience. Sigur Rós has a mysterious ability to tap into places within the heart that you haven't been in a long while... or perhaps you didn't know they existed. Sung in a made-up language, Hopelandic, this masterpiece is meant to be heard in its entirety. It captures the vastness and sad beauty of the Icelandic landscape, but also those dark yet beautiful places that only dreamers could know.

A nostalgia bomb from my angsty, all-for-naught-romance era high school days. I definitely fell in love with more intense lyrical songwriting thanks to this album.

The triumphant work that introduced me to house music and my love of funky grooves and sampled chaos. I’m hard pressed to find a better example of electronic perfection and influence.

Nothing quite like a night drive while listening to Dive by Tycho. I can’t imagine a better soundtrack to my college years, or a better album to randomly start playing in a cafe.

Something gentle and fierce all at once… like a quiet drive through a snow storm. This EP is a touching, stripped-down offering from the group I like to refer to as the “New Old Boys from Texas”. The Rescue serves as a musical chronicle of the band's eight day misadventure while on tour early in their career. Their van breaks down and, low on funds, they are forced to figure things out with what little resources they have. Whether you choose to imagine exactly what they went through or you choose your own adventure, listening to this mostly instrumental record will definitely take you on a journey.

Sometimes it can be hard to explain why certain electronic albums are better than others. To some, all of the different artists and genres may run together. Others might dismiss electronic music as too artificial. I also wonder what would make me choose an electronic album over something more organics. Roosevelt's self-titled debut is a perfect example of a record that has more than enough soul and personality to stand out from most other artists in the same genre. Cutting guitar riffs, funky bass lines, and studio drums tie together all of the spacey synths and winding leads. Roosevelt's effortlessly cool vocals are icing on the cake. It's a truly enjoyable album that will drag you to the dance floor and have you moving all night long.

I’m hard pressed to name more than a handful of rap or hip hop artists that I like… but Igor by Tyler, The Creator keeps me coming back again and again. Undisputed for me… for now.

The last live concert I saw before Covid did not disappoint. Friendly Fires has been in my rotation since 2008 and they just keep getting better and better, culminating in their most recent offering. Perpetually outdoing themselves.

An album that truly kept me guessing on my first listen. From the jammiest funk to the tenderest ballads, this album has something special woven through each track.

Concept albums fascinate me to no end. And with a clear narrative to follow combined with fast pacing and infectious energy, this album is a treat from end to end.

Okay, you got me. I'm a little bit of a hipster when it comes to a lot of the music I have in my rotation. I was aware of Tame Impala before I moved to L.A. but a choice few of my coworkers couldn't help but play one of Kevin Parker's records each day at our cafe. Kevin's multi-instrumentality cannot be ignored and his vision for creating a truly memorable soundscape is the envy of many budding musicians since his foray into the spotlight. Currents might be one of the greatest indie records ever produced. If it's not, then you have to admit it's more catchy and replay-able than a majority of music put out these days. Sure, that's a hill I'm willing to die on.

It's hard to suggest an album with such a black cloud hanging over it. The conviction of Lostprophets' front man tainted the band's greatest contribution to rock, Start Something. It's a shame as the albums is one of the tightest, most cohesive rock records I've ever heard. Every track has undeniable energy and a big sound that never fails to impress me. Lots of memories are tied to this album for me and I don't want to let one bad apple spoil this incredible album.