Best Of

 5. Blondie - Ghosts Of Download Debbie Harry & company haven’t sounded this energized since bursting back onto the scene 15 years ago with No Exit. And even though I prefer their previous efforts, Panic Of Girls (2011) and The Curse Of Blondie (2003), there are still some gems to be found on this one. The best of the lot is the infectious Miss Guy-assisted “Rave,” which made both the fans and clubs proud, despite the record company blowing it and not choosing it as a single. Here’s an important tip: skip the misguided cover of Frankie Goes To Hollywood’s…

 Banner Pilot – Souvenir Though not as immediately memorable as their earlier work, these Minneapolis punks have greater lasting power on their most diverse album to date. If outfits like Jawbreaker, Against Me, Alkaline Trio, or Dillinger Four are in your interests, Souvenir should be, too.  Various Artists – While No One Was Looking: Toasting 20 Years Of Bloodshot Records The list of artists on this compilation is nothing short of mouthwatering, and the concept of the artists covering songs from the early days of Bloodshot Records is clever. Four of the best songs from the first Ryan Adams album are…

It’s 2014, and music has become more accessible than ever; but the constant availability means that the album experience can get lost in the shuffle. Not at the Daily Vault, where we’re bringing you the deep cuts, the discs you can immerse yourself in and get carried away. These were some of my favorite collections of songs, featuring a lot of debuts juxtaposed against some old favorites. There’s straight-up rock ‘n’ roll, there’s a pop crooner who I predict will stand the test of time, and some new indies to get you excited. So come on in and take a…

This was probably the toughest best-of list I've made since I started keeping up with new music. Unlike my previous lists, few records immediately jumped out at me as obvious frontrunners for my top spots. But some years are just like that. Nonetheless, I still discovered a lot of great music this year. Here's to 2014! 10. The Flaming Lips – 7 Skies H3 After nearly three years, The Flaming Lips finally succumbed to pressure and edited their infamous 24-hour song “7 Skies H3” down for a standard record release. Unsurprisingly, having 24 hours of material to pull from means that…

Joining this site has been one of the most eye-opening experiences of my writing career. Being able to access all of this great music has just been mesmerizing, and this year has also been a year that some great records have come out. Enough of my yakkin’! Enjoy the list.  10. The Dead Milkmen – Pretty Music For Pretty People The album that contains some of the most biting tracks the Milkmen have ever recorded. In a day and age where musicians take themselves so damn seriously, it’s great to know the Milkmen are still out there, pissing people off! Highlights:…

For me, 2014 was the Year of the Late-Inning Rally. As in, during the first half it felt like nothing caught my interest at all (well, not nothing… there was Elbow). But the second half was a whole other story, as album after album appeared that convinced me to sit up and take notice. So, in the end, not half bad—or, since I’m an optimist by nature: half good. Best Miles Davis-King Crimson CrossoverLevin Brothers – Levin BrothersDrawing on a century’s worth of musical mastery between them, brothers Pete Levin (Miles Davis, Gil Evans, Freddie Hubbard) and Tony Levin (King…

Despite railing on a semi-regular basis against the tyranny of genres in music, I spent an awful lot of 2013 within the confines of just two of them, and the two could hardly have been more different—progressive rock and Americana. But as the saying goes, if you’re going to dig, shouldn’t you mine where the gold is?  Best One I Missed Last Year (I Do That A Lot)Gary Clark Jr. – Blak And Blu I prefer this title for this award to the leading alternative: Jason Is Slow Sometimes. Gary Clark’s major-label debut is a blazing inferno of blues-infused psychedelic…

The year 2013 is finally at an end so as always it is time for a massive article of year-end shenanigans. I bumped my favourites list up to 20 albums this time around and wrote mini-reviews for all of them. It seems like these lists just get longer every year. Enjoy! 20. The Beach Boys – Made In California Another year, another archival release from The Beach Boys. This box set is kind of a mess. Throwing classic hits alongside obscure rarities ensures that this set as a whole won't fully satisfy both casual and hardcore fans. However, aside from…

I think I could more easily make a list of the Top Ten Albums I Was Disappointed With this year than the ten I enjoyed. Of course, there was still truly great music released in 2013, but many of my most anticipated discs fell really short. With new albums from Banner Pilot, Against Me, Beck and a shelved Johnny Cash recording that is resurfacing, 2014 looks promising...  The Front Bottoms - Talon Of The Hawk One of New Jersey's finest, the quirky, clever, and funny indie rock here is as adventurous as it is memorable. You'll see this one on…

 10. Alison Moyet - The Minutes A fantastic blend of electro-pop and soulful vocals. Highlights: “Apple Kisses,” “Changeling,” “Filigree,” “Remind Yourself.”9. Donna Summer - Love To Love You Donna The first posthumous release for the late disco queen is all killer and no filler.  Essentially it is a remix album, but these songs have been more reinvented than simply remixed, such is the quality of work carried out here. Giorgio Moroder came out of semi-retirement to join the fun and all of the selected DJs/producers have far exceeded my humble expectations, so much so that it sounds like a whole…