I’m making a quick post on my favorite records of (basically) Q1 2014. Let me know if links are busted or anything.

Albums that I want to marry

Sun Kil Moon – Benji

It took a few listens and some devotion of attention before this album really clicked with me, but it’s easily my favorite record of the year at this point.

Sun Kil Moon – Carissa
Sun Kil Moon – I Watched The Film The Song Remains The Same

EMA – The Future’s Void

Erika Anderson is one of my favorite artists working today, and I can’t properly articulate my affection for her first full-length solo album, Past Life Martyred Saints. I thought that this followup was going to be an unfortunate change of direction after listening to the two lead singles, but I was so very, very incorrect.

EMA – Solace (not my tumblr)
EMA – Satellites

Wild Beasts – Present Tense

Present Tense is kind of a thematic shift for Wild Beasts, from unbridled hedonism to something resembling real emotion and commitment. It’s also built almost entirely on electronics, but this doesn’t alter their sound as much as one might expect. It probably lacks the immediacy of any of their other records, but there’s some great stuff here.

Wild Beasts – Wanderlust
Wild Beasts – Palace

Albums that I've enjoyed

• Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra – Fuck Off Get Free We Pour Light on Everything (weird experimental indie rock. Shares members with Godspeed You! Black Emperor)

• Indian – From All Purity (noise metal)

• MurmuR – self titled (black metal)

• Have A Nice Life – The Unnatural World (ambient/experimental/post-punk/etc)

• Helms Alee – Sleepwalking Sailors (post hardcore)

• Angel Olsen – Burn Your Fire For No Witness (singer songwriter)

• Woods of Desolation – As the Stars (sparkly black metal)

• La Dispute – Rooms of the House (post hardcore. Not nearly as good as their last record but really, what is)

• Big Ups – Eighteen Hours of Static (punk)

• Liars – Mess (electronic. I don’t dig it as much as I did WIXIW)

• Timber Timbre – Hot Dreams (future David Lynch film score)