Another year of artists that I'm just discovering. Here are the best:
Anderson .Paak:
the new Superman of black urban music, Paak has literally been every where, on every project and delivered a stunning soul album all by himself in the process. I look forward to what further feats he'll give us next year! and now the rest in no particular order...
Mitski:
four albums in and she's now really started to take off. DVSN:
Canadian horn dogs Daniel Daley & Nineten85 are picking up the pieces where The Weeknd once trod. Bayonne:
Roger Sellers doing nuanced electronica the way Animal Collective should.Hamilton Leithauser + Rostam:
nothing like two young pros teaming up for an exciting venture. Gallant:
how quick critics have forgotten about him, but dude's album remains silk. Lemon Demon:
Neil Cicierega is not a household name but mark my words, he's the new Kevin Barnes (Of Montreal)--you heard it here first. The Frightnrs:
many years ago Marlon James noted how Jamaicans had abandoned ska and rock steady...and here, out of a tragic A.L.S diagnosis, comes a band that's taken up the mantle. St. Lenox:
the brainchild of Andrew Choi, producing a debut that works like an earnest yet stellar history lesson. St. Lucia:
though he released his debut three years ago, Jean-Philip Grobler really caught my attention with the pop candy "Home", one of the standout songs of the year.
