Since January 1st of this year, RREVERB’s staff received over 650 albums in all genres, from a wide variety of labels (majors to independents). It’s quite a task (but a fun one!) to try to find the best albums and turn the spotlight on these gems. Here are the top 10 albums that I, Nicolas Pelletier, in all subjectivity, find the best among the ones that came out in the first four months of 2015. Check ‘em out and enjoy. Hope you like them too! 1. THE HELIO SEQUENCE The Helio Sequence (Sub Pop Records) Their perfect blend of dreamy vocals and upbeat guitars makes me relax without getting sleepy. They have the same musical qualities than bands like Grizzly Bear or Travis with strong melodic songwriting abilities. It’s tough not to let go when transported by 80s style songs like Red Shifting. (more) 2. WAND Golem (In The Red Records) What a great stoner rock album “Golem” is! The LA based band Wand has the ability to create slow, thick and heavy stoner rock on one song (like the opener Unexplored Map) and then throw an energic song that punches you in the face like a heavy-weight boxer would (the excellent Self Hypnosis in 3 Days). This band can do it all. 3. AERO FLYNN Aero Flynn (Ooh La La Records) The type of album that sounds like Thom Yorke, The National, Joseph Arthur and Alexandre Désilets hung out together and recorded some songs. The type of album that keeps the listener on the edge of its seat, as you never know where the band is going to go. (more) 4. VILLAGERS Darling Arithmetic (Domino Records) OK, so maybe this album from Villagers, fronted by Conor O’Brien, isn’t too original. Maybe its going to be very popular. Its way more intimate folk than indie rock. But who cares. It’s so beautiful that I just couldn’t avoid it in this short list of albums I’ve listen over and over. Just listen to this guy singing. (more) 5. TIRE LE COYOTE Panorama (La Tribu) Lorsque Benoit Pinette ouvre la bouche, tout le monde se tait. Le dernier qui m’a fait cet effet aussi puissamment venait de la même région que Pinette : l’Abitibi-Témiscamingue lui aussi : un certain Richard Desjardins. La voix de Pinette est particulière, mais la façon que ses vers percent le silence imposent le respect. (plus) 6. FAUVE Vieux Frères – partie 2 (Warner France) Il faut être fort pour écouter Fauve. La détresse, la dépression, la grisaille, la procrastination, la solitude. On y nage dans l’univers d’un poète des temps modernes, qui y décrit son mal-être, sa survie dans un monde froid et tordu. On y sent l’apocalypse sociale, et suivons le parcours d’un seul individu dans cette vie complexe, décevante et brutale. L’amour avec un grand A de ces grands sensibles y est, ou n’y est plus. Mais l’intensité du sentiment y est encore. On sent la beauté, puis sa perte. (plus) 7. BOOGAT Neo-Reconquista (Maisonnette / Bonsound) Cet album n’est pas encore sorti : il vous faudra patienter encore quelques jours avant de le savourer! J’ai eu la chance de l’écouter en primeur et il est excellent. Boogat devient notre Manu Chao avec une musique riche, captivante, parfois sombre mais toujours intéressante. 8. ALOA INPUT Mars Etc. (Morr Music) This German band has every ingredient to become indie rock darlings, like Animal Collective or Why?. They have catchy songs, ingenious arrangements, and a very nice blend of soft and upbeat moments. (more) 9. J.D. MCPHERSON Let the Good Times Roll (Rounder Records) This Oklahoma singer and guitarist does a magnificent job at recreating the early stages of rock’n’roll in a cool way. J.D. McPherson resuscitates good old 50’s rock à la Eddie Cochran or Carl Perkins. No, rock’n’roll will never die! 10. KENDRICK LAMAR To Pimp A Butterfly (Top Dawg Entertainment) OK, back in 2012, when everybody was drooling on Kendrick Lamar’s “Good kid, m.A.A.d city” album, I didn’t get it. Many swore it was the album of the year. I didn’t get passed the 2nd listening. But, two years later, I don’t know if Lamar changed or if I did, but I cant stop listening to his new album, especially this groovy hit song, King Kunta. Réagissez à cet article / Comment this article commentaires / comments
