Pop Headwound

2025 // ALBUMS

noreply@blogger.com (James) — Fri, 19 Dec 2025 02:10:00 +0000

It's the music of 2025 and I was paying attention this year! Well, at least more than the past few. Not bad for a guy who's circled the sun 50 times. Only some of this list would be considered "dad rock".

The last time I was this locked in to the hippest new sounds was 2020, and 2025 rivals that year for consistently incredible new records. These past 12 months I discovered Geese, Florry, Shallowater, and Caroline - all exciting young rock bands. Jeff Tweedy put out his strongest solo album and best collection of songs (30 of them! And at least 20 are really really good!) since Ode To Joy. Wednesday keeps getting better - Bleeds tops Rat Saw God to my ears. The two best lyricists working today - Billy Woods & Ryan Davis, put out exceptional and endlessly rewarding LPs, and Woods also turned in a second great one with Elucid as Armand Hammer. But my constant go-to, more than anything else, was the brilliant, deconstructed, found sound, collage-soul of Dijon. To me, it's the best instant classic in a year that had a bunch of 'em.

Beyond these top 10, 2025 also saw cool new records from long time favorites Will Johnson, Hotline TNT, Frog Eyes, Deafheaven, Califone, Destroyer, Earl Sweatshirt, Bon Iver, Alex G, and The Men, and some new-to-me artists like Cameron Winter, Friendship, Preservation, Fust, Eli Winter, and Agriculture.

Here's the full top 30:

1. Dijon - Baby
2. Geese - Getting Killed
3. Billy Woods - Golliwog
4. Ryan Davis & The Roadhouse Band - New Threats From the Soul
5. Wednesday - Bleeds
6. Shallowater - God's Gonna Give You A Million Dollars
7. Caroline - Caroline 2
8. Jeff Tweedy - Twilight Override
9. Armand Hammer - Mercy
10. Florry - Sounds Like...

11. Cameron Winter - Heavy Metal
12. Will Johnson - Diamond City
13. Hotline TNT - Raspberry Moon
14. Frog Eyes - The Open Up
15. Friendship - Caveman Wakes Up
16. Preservation, Gabe 'Nandez - Sortilege
17. Deafheaven - Lonely People With Power
18. Fust - Big Ugly
19. Califone - The Villager's Companion
20. Eli Winter - A Trick of the Light
21. Agriculture - The Spiritual Sound
22. Destroyer - Dan's Boogie
23. Earl Sweatshirt - Live, Laugh, Love
24. The Men - Buyer Beware
25. Alex G - Headlights
26. Bon Iver - SABLE, fABLE
27. Sharp Pins - Radio DDR
28. Florist - Jellywish
29. No Joy - Bugland
30. Momma - Welcome To My Blue Sky

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Check it out over on my ALBUM WHALE site
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ALBUMS // 2024

noreply@blogger.com (James) — Sat, 22 Feb 2025 04:18:00 +0000

2024 was a year and I listened to some albums. Here's what I liked most.

ALBUMS // 2023

noreply@blogger.com (James) — Tue, 02 Jan 2024 02:49:00 +0000

I didn't listen to as much new music in 2023 as years past - much more into building a vinyl collection now. But here are the ones that I did spend time with and listen to a whole bunch.

1. Billy Woods & Kenny Segal // MAPS

2. Hotline TNT // CARTWHEEL

3. Ratboys // THE WINDOW

4. Slow Pulp // YARD

5. Yo La Tengo // THIS STUPID WORLD

6. Young Fathers // HEAVY HEAVY

7. Wednesday // RAT SAW GOD

8. Mitski // THE LAND IS INHOSPITABLE AND SO ARE WE

9. Protomartyr // FORMAL GROWTH IN THE DESERT

10. Jeff Rosenstock // HELLMODE

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And a few more that were close:

Tim Hecker // NO HIGHS
Noname // SUNDIAL
Nourished By Time // EROTIC PROBIOTIC 2
Boygenius // THE RECORD
Black Thought // GLORIOUS GAME

Good luck in 2024. It should be a doozy.

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ALBUMS // 2022

noreply@blogger.com (James) — Sat, 17 Dec 2022 02:43:00 +0000

Good night for the die-hards.

1. Alvvays / Blue Rev
2. Billy Woods / Aethiopes
3. Big Theif / Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe
4. MJ Lenderman / Boat Songs
5. Destroyer / Labyrinthitus
6. Danger Mouse & Black Thought / Cheat Codes
7. Alex G / God Save The Animals
8. KA / Languish Arts
9. The Paranoid Style / For Executive Meeting
10. Empath / Visitor
11. The Beths / Expert In A Dying Field
12. Black Country, New Road / Ants From Up There
13. Kendrick Lamar / Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers
14. Florist / Florist
15. Wilco / Cruel Country
16. Burial / Antidawn
17. Earl Sweatshirt / Sick!
18. KA / Woeful Studies
19. Beach House / Once Twice Melody
20. The Smile / A Light For Attracting Attention

ALBUMS // 2021

noreply@blogger.com (James) — Sat, 17 Dec 2022 02:14:00 +0000

Better late than never I suppose. Been compiling a list for this year and remembered that 2021 was a year we had and I never got around to it. Here's what I liked best last year.

.
1. Fiddlehead / Between the Richness
2. KA / A Martyr's Reward
3. Cassandra Jenkins / An Overview of Phenomenal Nature
4. Bo Jackson / Boldy James & The Alchemist
5. Dinosaur Jr. / Sweep It Into Space
6. Low / Hey What
7. Tyler the Creator / CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST
8. Armand Hammer & The Alchemist / Haram
9. Floating Points & Pharaoh Sanders / Promises (ft. The London Symphony Orchestra)
10. Sons of Kemet / Black To The Future
11. Damien Jurado / The Monster Who Hated Pennsylvania
12. The Weather Station / Ignorance
13. Iceage / Seek Shelter
14. The War on Drugs / I Can't Live Here Anymore
15. Spirit of the Beehive / Entertainment, Death
16. Dry Cleaning / New Long Leg
17. Jazmine Sullivan / Heaux Tales
18. Jeff Parker / For Folks
19. The Hold Steady / Open Door Policy
20. Guided by Voices / Earth Man Blues

ALBUMS // 2020

noreply@blogger.com (James) — Tue, 15 Dec 2020 03:08:00 +0000

If you're reading this right now I'm very curious as to what led you here. I mean, PHW has been mostly on permanent snooze-control for about 6 years except for the annual year-old reflections, so there are not many avenues leading to this site anymore. But thanks for finding it somehow! And I genuinely hope you find some new shit to check out here. As awful as 2020's overall rep will deservedly be, it wasn't all bad. There were some silver linings; some flashes of normalcy peaking thru the buttstorm. One of those was the relentless stream of fantastic new music that never let up all year even as the world shut down. The other was plenty of time at home to soak it all in. (side note: I would bet somebody else's money that this is the first time my year end list has ever had 3 albums made by Jeffs). Anyway, here are my favorites of this decade of a year we've all suffered thru:

50. BACKXWASH | God Has Nothing To Do With This Leave Him Out Of It

49. KEIYAA | Forever, Ya Girl

48. JEFF PARKER | Suite for Max Brown

47. RON MILES | Rainbow Signs

46. NANA GRIZOL | South Somewhere Else

45. KAATAYRA | Toda Historia pela Frente

44. BARTEES STRANGE | Live Forever

43. HELENA DELAND | Someone New

42. NO AGE | Goons Be Gone

41. JEFF TWEEDY | Love Is The King

40. ADULKT LIFE | Book of Curses

39. CHARLI XCX | how i'm feeling now

38. KELLY LEE OWENS | Inner Song

37. DEHD | Flower of Deception

36. NATION OF LANGUAGE | Introduction, Presence

35. DESTROYER | Have We Met

34. THE FLAMING LIPS | American Head

33. SAULT | untitled (Rise)

32. EMPTY COUNTRY | Empty Country

31. LOMELDA | Hannah

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30. ARMAND HAMMER | Shrines

29. PORRIDGE RADIO | Every Bad

28. TAYLOR SWIFT | Folklore

27. BOLDY JAMES & STERLING TOLES | Manger On McNichols

26. EMMA RUTH RUNDLE & THOU | May Our Chambers Be Full

25. CHUBBY & THE GANG | Speed Kills

24. PERFUME GENIUS | Set My Heart On Fire Immediately

23. YVES TUMOR | Heaven To A Tortured Mind

22. RUN THE JEWELS | RTJ4

21. THE MICROPHONES | Microphones in 2020

20. DEERHOOF | Future Teenage Cave Artists

19. JAY ELECTRONICA | Act II: The Patents of Nobility (The Turn)

18. BONNY LIGHT HORSEMAN | Bonny Light Horseman

17. BOLDY JAMES & THE ALCHEMIST | The Price of Tea In China

16. TURIA | Degen van Licht

15. SHABAKA & THE ANCESTORS | We Are Sent Here By History

14. KA | Descendants of Cain

13. SAULT | untitled (Black Is)

12. THE STROKES | The New Abnormal

11. ADRIANNE LENKER | songs/instrumentals

10. AMBROSE AKINMUSIRE | on the tender spot of every calloused moment

9. FREDDIE GIBBS & THE ALCHEMIST | Alfredo

8. PROTOMARTYR | Ultimate Success Today

7. SUMAC | May You Be Held

6. PHOEBE BRIDGERS | Punisher

5. DOGLEG | Melee

4. JAY ELECTRONICA | A Written Testimony

3. WAXAHATCHEE | SAINT CLOUD

2. JEFF ROSENSTOCK | N O D R E A M

1. FIONA APPLE | Fetch the Bolt Cutters

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SONGS // 2020

noreply@blogger.com (James) — Mon, 14 Dec 2020 04:03:00 +0000

There is little I can add to the 2020 conversation that hasn't been said already and with far more poingancy. But it's a real good thing that songs were here for us this year. Most of the artists on this list are not making a lot of money from music under the best of circumstances. If you happen upon this list I hope you find a few new songs to love and I hope you still remember them and the people who wrote and performed them when the world gets back on its feet.

100. Try To Be On My Side Now | 2nd Grade

99. After the Rain | Jeff Parker

98. Turned to String | No Age

97. Both of Us | Jayda G

96. Look To | Ratboys

95. O Castigo Vem A Cavalo | Kaatraya

94. Chinatown | Bleachers (ft. Bruce Springsteen)

93. Pommelhorse | Armand Hammer (ft. Curly Castro)

92. Hvnli | KeiyaA

91. Country Pride | Aduklt Life

90. Lucky | Ganser

89. Sweeter | Leon Bridges (ft. Terrace Martin)

88. Black Magic | backxwash

87. Drown | Teenage Halloween

86. Give/Take | Porridge Radio

85. Grace | The Soft Pink Truth

84. Gospel For A New Century | Yves Tumor

83. Middle America | Pure X

82. Little Boy | Sault

81. It's Too Late to Look At The Blossoms | Dave Harrington & Kenny Wollesen

80. Interstellar Love | Thundercat

79. WAP | Cardi B. (ft. Megan Thee Stallion)

78. Scottie Beam | Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist (ft. Rick Ross)

77. Hunger For A Way Out | Sweeping Promises

76. Undone | Lande Hekt

75. Yankee and the Brave (Ep. 4) | Run the Jewels

74. I Don't Love Me Anymore | Oneohtrix Point Never

73. A Robin or A Wren | Jeff Tweedy

72. Crash | Nilufir Yanya

71. Pta | The Lawrence Arms

70. Cue Synthesizer | Destroyer

69. two reverse | Adrianne Lenker

68. Describe | Perfume Genius

67. Enemy | Charli XCX

66. Jangle Manifesto | Nana Grizol

65. All My Best Shit | SPICE

64. Night | Kelly Lee Owens

63. Giant Slide | Boldy James & The Alchemist

62. Delete Forever | Grimes

61. Someone New | Helena Deland

60. Garden Song | Phoebe Bridgers

59. Party With The Kids Who Want To Party With You | Bad Moves

58. The Mission's End | Jason Molina

57. Shiny Suit Theory | Jay Electronica (ft. The Dream)

56. Boomer | Bartees Strange

55. Ghosts | Bruce Springsteen

54. Got Flicked (The Rebirth) | Boldy James & Sterling Toles

53. Rock and Roll | Trace Mountains

52. People I've been sad | Christine and the Queens

51. Dora | Tierra Whack

50. The Valley | Emma Ruth Rundle & Thou

49. It's Infinite | Lomelda

48. Ohio Tpke | Jeff Rosenstock

47. Savage remix | Megan Thee Stallion (ft. Beyonce)

46. Wildfires | Sault

45. Levitating | Dua Lipa

44. Thought vs. Everybody | Black Thought

43. Loner | Dehd

42. Future Teenage Cave Artists | Deerhoof

41. Starfall | Salem

40. Walking In The Snow | Run the Jewels

39. You 'n Me Sellin' Weed | The Flaming Lips

38. Guilty Conscience | 070 Shake

37. St. Cloud | Waxahatchee

36. Qadir | Nick Hakim

35. Marian | Empty Country

34. Rush & Fever | Nation of Language

33. Black Parade | Beyonce

32. Seminal Art | Cafe Racer

31. Born Confused | Porridge Radio

30. Ossifrage | Turia

29. Deep In Love | Bonny Light Horseman

28. Kyoto | Phoebe Bridgers

27. Consumed | Sumac

26. At The Door | The Strokes

25. Ender | Dogleg

24. For Her | Fiona Apple

23. Song 33 | Noname

22. Grenfell Forever | Chubby & the Gang

21. Home | Caribou

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20. Little Kid | I Thought That You'd Been Raptured

19. Jazmine Sullivan | Lost One

18. Frank Ocean | Dear April

17. Weather Station | Tried To Tell You

16. Charli XCX | Detonate

15. Perfume Genius | On The Floor

14. Ka | Old Justice

13. Taylor Swift | Peace

12. John Prine | I Remember Everything

11. Adrianne Lenker | Dragon Eyes

10. Phoebe Bridgers | I Know The End

9. Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist (ft. Tyler, the Creator) | Something To Rap About

8. Protomartyr | Processed By The Boys

7. Waxahatchee | Can't Do Much

6. Grimes | Idoru

5. Dogleg | Kawasaki Backflip

4. Jay Electronica | APIDTA

3. Haim | The Steps

2. Fiona Apple | I Want You To Love Me

1. Jeff Rosenstock | No Dream

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ALBUMS of the DECADE | 2010-2019

noreply@blogger.com (James) — Sat, 07 Dec 2019 23:52:00 +0000

The end of another decade is upon us, and it was a goddamn weird one. At least in America. Though PHW has been dormant for most of the decade, I poke my head out every once in a while to shout into the void. Here are my favorite records of the past 520 weeks:

1. WAXAHATCHEE / Out In The Storm (2017)

Not Katie Crutchfield's most critically revered album, but the one that resonated most with me. She blasted her music into high definition on this one and blew me away.

2. FRANK OCEAN / Blond (2016)

A staggering work of genius from Frank, whose subtle melodies and raw emotion gradually revealed themselves to me to the point where I can hardly go a week without listening.

3. GINNELS / Plumes (2013)

This is cheating because it's a compilation compiled from a handful of releases but whatever - this is the greatest collection of buzzing, ramshackle indie-pop of the decade by a city mile.

4. TITUS ANDRONICUS / The Monitor (2010)

Though shrouded in Civil War imagery and blood & guts bravado, The Monitor is simply another rock record about a girl who's gone. Patrick Stickles makes us rally around his monumental gloom; shout along with his despondency. After 10,000 years, it's still us against them.

5. KENDRICK LAMAR / To Pimp A Butterfly (2015)

Kendrick Lamar tapped into the heart of a tumultuous American decade more vividly than any other artist, and nowhere is his presence more vital than this magnum opus. As if Bringing It All Back Home and It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back got together and birthed a savior.

6. DESTROYER / Kaputt (2011)

Dan Bejar's sound + vision was never greater these past 10 years than on Kaputt - an unstoppable album overflowing with enigmatic lyrics and an 80s sheen.

7. THE WAR ON DRUGS / A Deeper Understanding (2017)

Few mine the history of rock & roll as gorgeously or in such a forward-thinking manner as Adam Granduciel. This is his masterstroke - 10 towering songs that throw off electric sparks.

8. VAMPIRE WEEKEND - Modern Vampires of the City (2013)

This is a great band at the height of their powers - young enough to resonate but wiser than their first two records. I played "Step" for a few of my 8th graders once and they were floored, played "Ya Hey" for my own children when they were toddlers and it became a sing-along. This record has something for everyone, and still manages to be everything all at once.

9. PROTOMARTYR / Under Color of Official Right (2014)

Welcome to the brutal world of Protomartyr, the decade's most underrated rock band. These songs seethe, bristle, and snarl. Loud guitars and a singer who means it.

10. TIM HECKER / Ravedeath, 1972 (2011)

There were countless late nights over the past 9 years where the lights went off, the headphones went on, and for 50+ transportive minutes time and space didn't exist.

11. BEACH HOUSE / Bloom (2012)

12. DEERHUNTER / Halcyon Digest (2010)

13. THE MEN / Leave Home (2011)

14. TY SEGALL BAND / Slaughterhouse (2012)

15. BEACH HOUSE / Teen Dream (2010)

16. PINEGROVE / Cardinal (2016)

17. BED WETTIN' BAD BOYS / Rot (2017)

18. BIG THIEF / Capacity (2017)

19. BON IVER / Bon Iver, Bon Iver (2011)

20. YOUNG FATHERS / Cocoa Sugar (2018)

21. DEAFHEAVEN / Sunbather

22. KENDRICK LAMAR / good kid, m.A.A.d city

23. ANGEL OLSEN / My Woman

24. BON IVER / 22, A Million

25. THE NATIONAL / Trouble Will Find Me

26. SOLANGE / A Seat At the Table

27. SPOON / They Want My Soul

28. KANYE WEST / My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

29. THE MEN / Open Your Heart

30. HALLELUJAH THE HILLS / Have You Ever Done Something Evil?

31. BEYONCE / Lemonade

32. LOW / Double Negative

33. THE TALLEST MAN ON EARTH / The Wild Hunt

34. SHABAZZ PALACES / Black Up

35. AMEN DUNES / Freedom

36. THE WALKMEN / Heaven

37. BIG THIEF / Two Hands

38. FRANK OCEAN / Channel Orange

39. THE WAR ON DRUGS / Lost In A Dream

40. DEAFHEAVEN / Ordinary Corrupt Human Love

41. WAXAHATCHEE / Ivy Tripp

42. DAMIEN JURADO / Maroqopa

43. FROG EYES / Paul’s Tomb; A Triumph

44. WILCO / Ode to Joy

45. RUN THE JEWELS | RTJ2

46. ANGEL OLSEN / Burn Your Fire For No Witness

47. EARL SWEATSHIRT / Some Rap Songs

48. JAPANDROIDS / Celebration Rock

49. SUFJAN STEVENS / Carrie & Lowell
50. FUTURE ISLANDS / In Evening Air

51. FLYING LOTUS / Cosmagramma

52. RADIOHEAD / A Moon Shaped Pool

53. GIRLS / Father, Son, And Holy Ghost

54. PHOSPHORESCENT / Muchacho

55. BIG THIEF / Masterpiece

56. PURPLE MOUNTAINS / Purple Mountains

57. THE HOTELIER / Home, Like NoPlace Is There

58. THE NATIONAL / Sleep Well Beast

59. THEE OH SEES / Putrifiers II

60. MOUNT EERIE / A Crow Looked At Me

61. ICEAGE / Beyondless

62. ARCADE FIRE / The Suburbs

63. TIRZAH / Devotion

64. PROTOMARTYR / The Agent Intellect

65. WOMEN / Public Strain

66. PUSHA T / Daytona

67. THE RADIO DEPT. / Clinging to a Scheme

68. ALVVAYS / Antisocialites

69. KELLY LEE OWENS

70. EARL SWEATSHIRT / I Don’t Like Shit, I Don’t Go Outside

71. VINCE STAPLES – Summertime ‘06

72. MOGWAI / Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will

73. WILCO / Star Wars

74. SNAIL MAIL / Lush

75. BON IVER / i,i

76. KING KRULE / The OOZ

77. D'ANGELO / Black Messiah

78. ROYAL HEADACHE / Royal Headache

79. WOODS / Bend Beyond

80. FLEET FOXES / Crack-Up

81. ICEAGE / You’re Nothing

82. LCD SOUNDSYSTEM / This Is Happening

83. BEACH HOUSE / Depression Cherry

84. NO AGE / Everything In Between

85. JOANNA NEWSOM / Have One On Me

86. KENDRICK LAMAR / DAMN.
87. GROUPER / Ruins

88. FATHER JOHN MISTY / I Love You, Honeybear

89. HAMILTON LEITHAUSER + ROSTAM / I Had A Dream That You Were Mine

90. DINOSAUR JR / Give a Glimpse Of What Yer Not

91. FKA TWIGS / Magdalene

92. WAXAHATCHEE / American Weekend

93. CAR SEAT HEADREST / Teens of Denial

94. ALISON CRUTCHFIELD / Tourist In This Town

95. BIG THIEF / UFOF

96. BEYONCE / Beyonce

97. THE HOTELIER / Goodness

98. COURTNEY BARNETT / Sometimes I Sit and Think, Sometimes I Just Sit

99. JEFF TWEEDY / Warmer
100. MOSES SUMNEY / Aromanticism

BURIAL / Rival Dealer EP

IRON & WINE / Beast Epic
SPIDER BAGS / Shake My Head

WAXAHATCHEE / Cerulean Salt

FLYING LOTUS / Until the Quiet Comes
GREAT ELK / Star Stuff
SHABAZZ PALACES / Lese Majesty

SLOW COUNTRY / The Late, Great Slow Country

BOOMGATES / Double Natural
THE TOUGH SHITS / The Tough Shit

FLASHER / Constant Image
PARQUET COURTS / Sunbathing Animal

Albums // 2019

noreply@blogger.com (James) — Sun, 01 Dec 2019 02:19:00 +0000

Here are my favorites as of 12/11/19:

1. BIG THIEF / Two Hands
2. WILCO / Ode to Joy
3. PURPLE MOUNTAINS / Purple Mountains
4. BON IVER / i, i
5. BIG THIEF / UFOF
6. FKA twigs / MAGDALENE
7. HELADO NEGRO / This Is How You Smile
8. WEYES BLOOD / Titanic Rising
9. HALLELUJAH THE HILLS - I'm You
10. JEFF TWEEDY / Warmer

11. ANGEL OLSEN / All Mirrors
12. BLACK BELT EAGLE SCOUT / At the Party With My Brown Friends
13. (SANDY) ALEX G / House of Sugar
14. THE NATIONAL / I Am Easy To Find
15. SOLANGE / When I Get Home
16. NILUFER YANYA / Miss Universe
17. VAMPIRE WEEKEND / Father of the Bride
18. JULIA JACKLIN / Crushing
19. JAMILA WOODS / LEGACY! LEGACY!
20. FLORIST / Emily Alone

Albums // 2018

noreply@blogger.com (James) — Sun, 09 Dec 2018 01:22:00 +0000

Here are my favorite records of the past 12 or so crazy, messed-up, not very good months here in the good ol' USA. From the Top 10, Tirzah has been a slow-burner over the past few weeks and with more time might've found itself higher on this list. Parquet Courts is one of the best indie-rock bands of the decade and Wide Awake! is right there with their best albums. Daytona is just dizzying and has a few of my favorite songs of the year. Like Tirzah, Flasher was a grower as the year went along., and like Daytona, Snail Mail's Lush has some of the best singles of the year - nothing consistently moved me as much as the chorus of "Full Control".

My first listen to Amen Dunes soundtracked a drunken 2-mile stumble from the train to my front door some time last spring and was one of the most transcendent first listens I've ever had. I love that Low, a band I've known and followed forever, completely inverted themselves after 25 years and dropped an album that somehow tops Things We Lost In The Fire. Ordinary Corrupt Human Love is a huge leap for Deafheaven - still devastatingly heavy as fuck but so, so beautiful. And Iceage just keeps getting better as they draw from a larger and larger palette. But for me the most surprising, interesting, and un-categorizable record of the year was Cocoa Sugar by Young Fathers. Their disparate mix of hip-hop, soul, dub, experimental, club, and rock music somehow gels into a stunningly perfect pop album.

1. Young Fathers / Cocoa Sugar

2. Deafheaven / Ordinary Corrupt Human Love

3. Low / Double Negative

4. Earl Sweatshirt / Some Rap Songs

5. Amen Dunes / Freedom

6. Iceage / Beyondless

7. Snail Mail / Lush

8. Pusha T / Daytona

9. Flasher / Constant Image

10. Tirzah / Devotion

11. Beach House / 7

12. Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers, Lucy Dacus / boygenius EP

13. Mitski / Be the Cowboy

14. Spiritualized / … And Nothing Hurt

15. Jeff Tweedy / WARM

16. Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever / Hope Downs

17. Parquet Courts / Wide Awake!

18. Big Red Machine

19. Father John Misty / God’s Favourite Customer

20. John Prine / The Tree of Forgiveness

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2017 // Albums

noreply@blogger.com (James) — Fri, 12 Jan 2018 18:05:00 +0000

1. Waxahatchee – Out in the Storm

2. The War On Drugs – A Deeper Understanding

3. Bed Wettin’ Bad Boys – Rot

4. Big Thief – Capacity

5. The National – Sleep Well Beast

6. King Krule – The OOZ

7. Kendrick Lamar – DAMN.

8. The New Pornographers – Whiteout Conditions

9. Craig Finn – We All Want the Same Things

10. Allison Crutchfield – Tourist in this Town

11. Fleet Foxes – Crack-Up

12. Iron & Wine – Beast Epic

13. Alvvays - Antisocialites

14. Kelly Lee Owens – s/t

15. Destroyer – ken

16. Sandy (Alex G) - Rocket

17. Protomartyr – Relatives in Descent

18. Hater – You Tried

19. Spoon – Hot Thoughts

20. The Rural Alberta Advantage – The Wild

Favorite Albums of 2015 / 2016

noreply@blogger.com (James) — Sat, 24 Dec 2016 19:57:00 +0000

2015 - Albums

1. Waxahatchee // Ivy Tripp

After that awesome album the rest are in no particular order:

The Tallest Man on Earth // Dark Bird is Home

Sufjan Stevens // Carrie & Lowell

Viet Cong // s/t

Thee Oh Sees // Mutilator Defeated at Last

Courtney Barnett // Sometimes I Sit and Think, Sometimes I Just Sit

Father John Misty // I Love You, Honeybear

Protomartyr // The Agent Intellect

Roadside Graves // Acne/Ears

Salad Boys // Metalmania

2016 - Albums

1. Pinegrove // Cardinal

2. Angel Olsen // My Woman

3. Car Seat Headrest // Teens of Denial

4. Hamilton Leithauser + Rostam // I Had A Dream That You Were Mine

5. Hallelujah the Hills // A Band Is Something to Figure Out

6. Mitski // Puberty 2

7. Bon Iver // 22, A Million

8. Cymbals Eat Guitars // Pretty Years

9. Dinosaur Jr. // Give A Glimpse of What Yer Not

10. Parquet Courts // Human Performance

2016 - Songs

1. Pinegrove - "Old Friends"

2. Bon Iver - "29 #Stratford APTS"

3. Dinosaur Jr. - "Knocked Around"

4. Car Seat Headrest - "Unforgiving Girl (She's Not An)"

5. Cymbals Eat Guitars - "Finally"

6. Hallelujah the Hills - "I'm In the Phone Book, I'm On the Planet, I'm Dying Slowly"

7. Lambchop - "In Care of 8675309"

8. Angel Olsen - "Not Gonna Kill You"

9. Mitski - "I Bet On Losing Dogs"

10. The Avalanches - "Because I'm Me"

11. Radiohead - "True Love Waits"

12. Hamilton Leithauser + Rostam - "1000 Times"

2014 // Favorite Records

noreply@blogger.com (James) — Wed, 31 Dec 2014 03:26:00 +0000

It’s become way too hard (and not as fulfilling) to try to maintain Pop Headwound as I get older. Music is still there, and it still echoes around my car and my headphones and my living room and it is still affecting me in the same ways it always has. In some ways it affects me even more (there’s nothing like hearing your 3 year old try to sing along to Spoon songs). These are the records released in 2014 that are resonating with me most right now.

1- Hallelujah the Hills // Have You Ever Done Something Evil?
2- The War on Drugs // Lost in the Dream
3- Protomartyr // Under Color of Official Right
4- Spoon // They Want My Soul
5- Parquet Courts // Sunbathing Animal
6- The Hotelier // Home, Like Noplace Is There
7- Sun Kil Moon // Benji
8- Angel Olson // Burn Your Fire for No Witness
9- Future Islands // Singles
10- The Men // Tomorrow’s Hits

11- Ought // More Than Any Other Day
12- Cymbals Eat Guitars // LOSE
13- Alvvays // Alvvays
14- Great Elk // Star Stuff
15- Hamilton Leithauser // Black Hours
16- Spider Bags // Frozen Letter
17- Ty Segall // Manipulator
18- Cloud Nothings // Here and Nowhere Else
19- Bry Webb // Free Will
20- James Vincent McMorrow // Post Tropical
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Phosphorescent - "Ya Hey" (Vampire Weekend cover)

noreply@blogger.com (James) — Fri, 24 Jan 2014 02:35:00 +0000

Another Phosphorescent cover, this time a stunning version of VW's Modern Vampires of the City standout. This dude could sing a take-out menu and have it break yr heart.

Phosphorescent - "Tomorrow Is A Long Time" (Dylan cover)

noreply@blogger.com (James) — Wed, 22 Jan 2014 18:16:00 +0000

Matthew Houck turns in a gorgeously true-to-the-original version of one of Dylan's greatest love songs. To appear on a freakin' Starbucks CD for cryin out loud. --------------------------------------------

The Men - "Pearly Gates"

noreply@blogger.com (James) — Sun, 12 Jan 2014 04:28:00 +0000

The Men’s Tomorrow’s Hits will be released February 4th through Sacred Bones Records. It will be the band's 4th record in 4 years, and that doesn't even include their self-released 2010 debut (that I have never heard). Sounds like the boys have discovered saxophones here on "Pearly Gates", but the inclusion of horns does little to keep this one from sounding as if it's about to derail at any moment. --------------------------------

Protomartyr - "Scum, Rise"

noreply@blogger.com (James) — Sat, 11 Jan 2014 03:48:00 +0000

Hey so I’ve been spinnin’ the holy hell out of No Passion All Technique, the 2013 record by Detroit garage/punk warriors Protomartyr, since hearing about it a few weeks back. Hardly Art announced today that the band will soon follow it up with Under Cover of Official Right. “Scum, Rise” is the typically heavy-hitting first glimpse.

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Day Ravies

noreply@blogger.com (James) — Thu, 09 Jan 2014 04:53:00 +0000

Day Ravies is a Sydney based band that mix equal parts otherworldly shoegaze with stirring indie-pop. Their debut Tussle is filled with great songs and the long lost art of loud guitars. Here’s the song “Double Act”, go to the band’s bandcamp to hear the rest. One of (the/last) year’s best records. Check it out:

Eat Skull III

noreply@blogger.com (James) — Sat, 28 Dec 2013 03:28:00 +0000

Missed out on the super-damaged psyche of Eat Skull and completely regret it now. This is killer. ------------------------------------------------------------------------

ALBUMS of the YEAR - 2013

noreply@blogger.com (James) — Mon, 23 Dec 2013 04:37:00 +0000

In a year that was filled with a multitude of great releases from well-established veterans, my favorite record of the year, by a country mile, is a “best of” collection by Ginnels – the work of a previously unsigned Dublin-based songwriter named Mark Chester. Ginnels have released a string of worthy albums over the past few years, and Spanish label Tenorio Cotobade collected 14 killer tracks from those and released them as Plumes. The breezy jangle and unforgettable melodies make it the year’s catchiest record, but the fuzzed-out frayed edges make it relentlessly replayable. Obviously, I can’t recommend it highly enough.

Elsewhere: Justin Vernon has tricks up his sleeve, this time with his terrific Volcano Choir side project. Reflektor might have been a tad over-praised when it dropped but it’s tremendous nonetheless. Trouble Will Find Me found The National turning off autopilot (High Violet was kind of a drag, IMO) and churning out some of their best songs since Boxer. New Moon might not be as loud as previous records from The Men, but it’s every bit as raw and exciting. And holy crap you guys, Burial just continues to fucking dazzle.

Also, lots of old faves returned to form this year: Phosphorescent came back with their best since 2007’s Pride, Califone since 2006’s Roots & Crowns, Yo La Tengo since 2000’s And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside-Out, and My Bloody Valentine with their best since 1980-whatever’s Isn’t Anything. That last one was a joke. Best ever records from Vampire Weekend, Jason Isbell, and Iceage. And lots of strong records from bands just getting onto my radar too like Deafheaven, Hiss Golden Messenger, Wooden Shjips, and Majical Cloudz. 2013, you were solid.

1. Ginnels - Plumes

2. Volcano Choir - Repave

3. Phosphorescent - Muchacho

4. Vampire Weekend - Modern Vampires of the City

5. Deafheaven - Sunbather

6. Day Ravies - Tussle

7. Frog Eyes - Carey’s Cold Spring

8. Iceage - You’re Nothing

9. Majical Cloudz - Impersonator

10. Califone - Stitches

11. Yo La Tengo - Fade

12. The Men - New Moon

13. Jason Isbell - Southeastern

14. Eat Skull - III

15. Hiss Golden Messenger - Haw

16. Hookworms – Pearl Mystic

17. Protomartyr - All Talent No Passion

18. The Stevens – A History of Hygeine

19. Burial - Rival Dealer EP

20. My Bloody Valentine - mbv

21. Arcade Fire - Reflektor

22. Connections - Private Airplane

23. The National - Trouble Will Find Me

24. Wooden Shjips - Back to Land

25. Kurt Vile - Wakin’ On A Pretty Daze

SONGS of the YEAR - 2013

noreply@blogger.com (James) — Wed, 18 Dec 2013 03:18:00 +0000

1. Volcano Choir – “Byegone”

2. Ginnels – “Bateau”

3. Phosphorescent – “Song for Zula”

4. The National – “Graceless”

5. Vampire Weekend – “Step”

6. Deafheaven – “Dream House”

7. Autre Ne Veut – “Play by Play”

8. Youth Lagoon – “Mute”

9. Beyonce – “XO”

10. Iceage – “Morals”

11. Califone – “Movie Music Kills A Kiss”

12. Yo La Tengo – “Ohm”

13. Jason Isbell – “Relatively Easy”

14. Arcade Fire – “Awful Sound (Oh Eurydice)”

15. Hiss Golden Messenger - “What Shall Be (Shall Be Enough)”

16. Courtney Barnett – “Avant Gardner”

17. Earl Sweatshirt – “Chum”

18. Burial – “Come Down To Us”

19. Blood Orange – “Time Will Tell”

20. The Men – “Electric”

21. Night Beds – “Ramona”

22. Haim – “The Wire”

23. California X – “Lemmy’s World”

24. Deerhunter – “Pensacola”

25. Kanye West – “New Slaves”

26. Caitlin Rose – “Only A Clown”

27. Connections – “On Your Mind”

28. Mariah Carey/Miguel – “#Beautiful”

29. Mikal Cronin – “Weight”

30. Kurt Vile – “Girl Called Alex”

31. Frog Eyes – “Seven Daughters”

32. Camera Obscura – “Do It Again”

33. Chvrches – “Recover”

34. Rhye – “Open”

35. My Bloody Valentine – “Who Sees You”

36. Okkervil River – “White”

37. Feather Beds – “Airbrushed”

38. Wooden Shjips – “Back to Land”

39. Mutual Benefit – “Advanced Falconry”

40. Gregory Alan Isakov – “St. Valentine”

41. Neko Case – “City Swans”

42. No Age – “I Won’t Be Your Generator”

43. Frightened Rabbit – “Acts of Man”

44. The Strokes – “Tap Out”

45. Free Time – “Nothin’ But Nice”

46. Tim Hecker – “Amps, Drugs, Harmonium”

47. Theo Verney – “Dead N’ Bones”

48. The Mantles – Don’t Cross Town”

49. Scot Drakula – “Ain’t Scared”

50. Camperdown & Out – “Down and Out”

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Pop Headwound Has Moved!

noreply@blogger.com (James) — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 05:34:00 +0000

So go ahead and update your links. Go to: http://www.popheadwound.com/.

Check it out and let me know what you think. See you over there...

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[mp3] Dirty Beaches - "Lord Knows Best"

noreply@blogger.com (James) — Sat, 08 Jan 2011 04:56:00 +0000

“Lord Knows Best” is distant, decaying soul music by way of Montreal’s Dirty Beaches, the recording project of Alex Zhang Hungtai. The song made its way around the blogs earlier this week, but tonight I’m finally falling under its haunting spell as it just repeats in my headphones over and over (and over and over). It comes from Badlands, a mini-LP to be released by Zoo Music in March that is suddenly something I desperately want to hear more of.

MP3 :: Lord Knows Best

(from Badlands. Info here)

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[video] Pandit - "Pack Your Bags"

noreply@blogger.com (James) — Sat, 08 Jan 2011 04:53:00 +0000

Pandit - Pack Your Bags from Tyler T Williams on Vimeo.

Here’s a new video, which made its debut today over at Stereogum, for Pandit’s heartbroken “Pack Your Bags”. The track leads off their upcoming full length debut, Eternity Spin, and this appropriately somber string of visuals was directed by Tyler T. Williams. Just in case you missed it a few weeks ago, check out the shimmering dream-pop of “Artichoke” below, also from Eternity Spin.

MP3 :: Artichoke

(from Eternity Spin. Info here)

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[mp3] Kurt Vile - "Jesus Fever"

noreply@blogger.com (James) — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 02:59:00 +0000

After we got the breezy, West Coast indie-folk flavored “In My Time” last year, Matador has released another teaser mp3 from Kurt Vile’s upcoming Smoke Ring For My Halo. After the sharp sonic contrasts that marked Vile’s last full length, 2009’s excellent Childish Prodigy, I thought the next new Vile track to surface would either find him rocking out behind a wall of guitar noise or stripping things down to a back to basics lo-fi folk song – try to show another side to the man’s talent. Instead “Jesus Fever” surprises because of its similar melodic and sonic structure to “In My Time” – it’s practically a dead ringer actually. And that’s fine – Vile proves quite adept at this kind of laid back, chiming sound that would have fit right in on AM radio in the early 70’s. And by the way, that’s the updated album art up there. Neil Young anyone?

MP3 :: Jesus Fever

(from Smoke Ring For My Halo. Info here)

Previously:

MP3 :: Kurt Vile – “In My Time”

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