Best Albums of the Year so far.

[eagles69]

The new Marling is ok, I find her live at EOTR rather flat and boring.

The new St. Vincent however is fantastic.

[eagles69]

Thank you 4 the tip-off what a gr8 album. Heard of St vincent but never really listened to her but this album is awesome so getting back catalogue also. Laura Marlng starts off so bland so by the time it improves I have switched it off or not in the mood to listen to the better songs at the end of the album will persevere.

[ljsawyer]

New Richmond Fontaine is very disappointing for me, taking the idea of a concept album one step too far. It worked on Post To Wire but I really would have just preferred an album of 12 or 13 classic RF songs. I don't really like any of the narrative tracks bar the first one and there are some irritatingly cheesy moments. It's not bad, but it's no Winnemucca or Thirteen Cities

[wolfamongwolves]

bon iver bon iver

gang gang dance eye contact

josh t pearson last of the country gentlemen

panda bear tomboy

toro y moi underneath the pine

shabazz palaces black up

[MattL80]

1. The new Beirut gets better and better with each listen and gives me wonderful memories of a Friday night just a couple of weeks ago...I was so pleased that they played Port of Call at EOTR. It's a wonderful little song that makes me happy in the way Elephant Gun does. It's a brilliant album closer and live with the sousaphone etc it was magical. God, they were good!

2. Starting to get into Richmond Fontaine's The High Country now. It's classic RF, with a narrative that pretty much demands the album be played in running order (like Post to Wire). the addition of significant female vocal for counterpoint is great too. Willy V really is a genius!

3. Just CAN'T WAIT for the new Lanterns on the Lake LP (coming on vinyl, 19 September). Despite having a personal 'problem' with generally not liking female vocalists (Miss Gudmundsdottir excepted, clearly!), I can see this record, and thus this band, becoming a bit of a fav...

Ben

[eagles69]

Wow what a gr8 day found a website streaming not just Elliot Brood's new album but also Dan Mangan the website is called Exclaim.ca both sound gr8 and both welcome back to the EOTR anytime

[killyourtv]

Am enjoying the Wooden Shjips "West" more than is healthy - like the live show, consume in small quantities.

Anyone who saw the Fall in the mid-eighties will notice similarities (refer also to Hawkwind thread elsewhere !)

[Nigey_boy]

Hands down best so far is:

LANTERNS ON THE LAKE - Gracious Tide, Take Me Home

all buttons hit

[perfectpassion]

Just got Slow Club's Paradise, whilst not album of the year the Sheffield duo's second lp is very enjoyable and maybe they could be booked for NDH....

Edited September 22, 2011 by perfectpassion

[riverlodge]

for me so far, off the top of my head, probably just about in order:

let england shake - absolute class, not a single week when i haven't had this on in six months and not a single week when it hasn't got even better

smother - love the maturity they now have, just wish i hadn't loaned the cd to a mate

slave ambient - great to have the boys back, even without KV. seems bigger is better (quote ripped from the quietus btw, before i'm accused)

burst apart - still epic, slightly less emotional, brilliance

the english riviera - sunny sunny sunny

wondervisions - weird, scratchy and compellingly beautiful

i want that you are always happy - yeah, okay a big pop single on it but some stunning stuff

c'mon - more depth the more you listen

tamer animals - totally coherent, wondeful soundscape (i wasnt bribed to include it)

departing - yeah, a bit simple but hey, great hooks

near misses for eotr bands okkervil river, kurt vile, white denim, tuneyards and lanterns on the lake. i also fully expect annie clark (wish i could go to RFH), and just possibly girls, to be in the list come end of year.

[subject to change within days]

[5co77ie]

New Richmond Fontaine is very disappointing for me, taking the idea of a concept album one step too far. It worked on Post To Wire but I really would have just preferred an album of 12 or 13 classic RF songs. I don't really like any of the narrative tracks bar the first one and there are some irritatingly cheesy moments. It's not bad, but it's no Winnemucca or Thirteen Cities

[GTG]

Feist - Metals - stunning!

Nick Lowe - The Old Magic - lovely!

[baroquepop]

Tamer Animals will at the very least be in my year's top ten

...and I never thought I'd say this... I think Tori Amos's 'song cycle' Night of Hunters will also feature.

[killyourtv]

Why is Tori Amos such a surprise ! Actually taking longer than usual to make an impression, no stand-out songs yet.

Reminds me will soon be able to dig out my favourite Tori, Midwinter Graces for a few weeks rotation play.

[baroquepop]

Why is Tori Amos such a surprise ! Actually taking longer than usual to make an impression, no stand-out songs yet.

Reminds me will soon be able to dig out my favourite Tori, Midwinter Graces for a few weeks rotation play.

[Yokel Again]

Laura Marling's album isn't quite doing it for me so far. The Muse is pretty, well, hmmmmm. It gets better towards the end abit, but not very instant. Still, sometimes great albums take some persistence, just hope this one is worth it.

She was dull at EOTR though (not helped by The Boom Boom Boom Boom Big Top).

[eagles69]

Another album to throw into the mix is the new Dum Dum Girls album after a few listens loving it very much. Such a good year for albums, when it comes to December will hopefully have an album that stands out from the rest, but I love the fact that their is so many contenders on my list.

[riverlodge]

Laura Marling's album isn't quite doing it for me so far. The Muse is pretty, well, hmmmmm. It gets better towards the end abit, but not very instant. Still, sometimes great albums take some persistence, just hope this one is worth it.

She was dull at EOTR though (not helped by The Boom Boom Boom Boom Big Top).

[RedRockRick]

Kurt's job was to drown out Laura Marling. Hats off for a job well done. Listened to a couple of songs towards the end of her set whilst in a toilet: sounded OK; she sounded less good when I got outside.

P.S. Blinding Richmond Fontaine show at the Scala on Tuesday. After getting home from that, and then watching the taped footie, no willpower or energy to trek out again for The Wilderness of Manitoba yesterday.

[GTG]

Well, I enjoyed the Marling EOTR set and I'm still enjoying the album, but compared to Feist ......

[paulwa]

Blown away by Jonathan Wilson's "Gentle Spirit" album... very laid back and reminiscent of Crosby, Stills, Nash AND YOUNG!

[Phildo]

I'm currently very much loving June Tabor and the Oysterband's "Ragged Kingdom". Utterly sublime. Reckon they'd be prime EOTR fdder, too.

[GTG]

What a year this is turning out to be! 3 new contenders, all fairly predictable for me though it's good that none have let me down. I gather Ms Bush has a NEW album out next month too!!

Dan Mangan - Oh Fortune

Sounded a tad overproduced to begin with (that first track is real kitchen sink stuff!) and took a while to untangle the songs but I've lived with it over the weekend and have decided it's a great record. Strangely, despite snappy titles like 'If I Am Dead' and 'Regarding Death And Dying' there isn't anything that moved my like 'Basket' or that one about his mother sawing off her own legs.

Jonny Kearney & Lucy Farrell - Kite

Lovely songs, beautifully performed with great splodges of colour from various Unthanks. Gorgeous, though I'm a bit perplexed as to what they've done to Jonny's voice - can they Autotune accents out?!? End Of The Road 2012 essential.

Lisa Hannigan - Passenger

Had this on repeat at work all morning and am totally in love with it (and Lisa, of course). Well up to the standards set by 'Sea Sew' and the songs and arrangements may be even stronger. For my money, the video for the first single, 'Knots' is one of the best of the year, too.

[Nigey_boy]

Feists Metals album is very very good!!!

[killyourtv]

Very predictable maybe, but the Ryan Adams is very lovely - nearly as good as the Doug Paisley !