NAME:
Tyson Wray
SPECIALISED GENRE OF MUSIC:
Ambient, electronic
TOP 10 ALBUMS OF THE YEAR:
1. Fuubutsushi (風物詩) SA PA
2. The Golden Age MAP.ACHE
3. Hunch Music HUNEE
4. Drippin’ For A Tripp (Tripp-A-Dubb-Mix) DJ SOTOFETT
5. Levon Vincent LEVON VINCENT
6. I Neva Seen / Parlay GALCHER LUSTWERK
7. Vin Ploile PETRE INSPIRESCU
8. Garden of Delete ONEOHTRIX POINT NEVER
9. Body Pill ANTHONY NAPLES
10. Expressions LINKWOOD
Honourable Mentions: Talk From Home SUZANNE KRAFT; Comme Ça DOMENIQUE DUMONT
TOP FIVE SINGLES OF THE YEAR:
1. Where Is Home TRAUMPRINZ (yeah, yeah I know this hasn’t technically been released yet)
2. Preyork MAP.ACHE
3. Tagularius SA PA
4. Untitled A1 ALLISANDNOT
5. Modal AGGBOROUGH
Honourable Mentions: Refugio ANTHONY NAPLES; Rare Happiness HUNEE; Portal 3 VRIL; Midnight In Peckham CHAOS IN THE CBD; Sticky Drama ONEOHTRIX POINT NEVER; Empty TREVOR DEEP JR.; All I Want SONER CATALBAS; Marien ROYER; Sorry Sequence KHOTIN; Harmony FRANCIS INFERNO ORCHESTRA; Stavros LAURENCE GUY
TOP FIVE GIGS OF THE YEAR:
1. WILLIAM BASINSKI Carriageworks, Sydney
2. THEO PARRISH Golden Plains
3. MARCELLUS PITTMAN Mercat Basement
4. KETTENKARUSSELL Shadow Electric
5. DR DUNKS Mercat Basement
Honourable Mentions: HARVEY SUTHERLAND Meredith Music Festival; SLEEP D Golden Plains; YUJA WANG Hamer Hall
HIGHLIGHT OF 2015:
‘Gronk’ became a regular staple in Australian vernacular.
LOWLIGHT OF 2015:
Actual gronks began using the term gronk as a pejorative.
A WILD PREDICTION FOR 2016:
Thom Parry stars in a short-lived sitcom on ABC 2 titled That’s Amore, which revolves around the adventures he goes on with his housemate Plucka Duck. Ratings are not so bellissimo.
NAME:
Patrick Emery
SPECIALISED GENRE OF MUSIC:
Garage/psych/rock/MOR
TOP 10 ALBUMS OF THE YEAR:
1. Sometimes I Sit and Think, And Sometimes I Just Sit COURTNEY BARNETT
2. No Cities to Love SLEATER-KINNEY
3. Seedy Jeezus SEEDY JEEZUS
4. Blast LOVE OF DIAGRAMS
5. Quarters! KING GIZZARD AND THE LIZARD WIZARD
6. Always IMMIGRANT UNION
7. Electric Glitter Boogie POWER
8. Headless PALE HEADS
9. Pylon KILLING JOKE
10. Severe MY DISCO
TOP FIVE GIGS OF THE YEAR:
1. LOS CHICOS Retreat Hotel
2. KING GIZZARD AND THE LIZARD WIZARD The Curtin
3. UV RACE The Tote
4. LAZERTITS Old Bar
5. FEEDTIME The Tote
HIGHLIGHT OF 2015:
The mixture of sanity and survival instinct that prevailed in the Coalition party room in October.
LOWLIGHT OF 2015:
Global insanity.
A WILD PREDICTION FOR 2016:
No more terrorist acts or ill-considered reactionary strategies.
NAME:
Augustus Welby
SPECIALISED GENRE OF MUSIC:
Rondog
TOP 10 ALBUMS OF THE YEAR:
1. Black Messiah D’ANGELO & THE VANGUARD
2. B’lieve I’m Goin Down KURT VILE
3. Currents TAME IMPALA
4. Morning / Evening FOUR TET
5. To Pimp A Butterfly KENDRICK LAMAR
6. Severe MY DISCO
7. Kill It Yourself JESS RIBEIRO
8. Have You In My Wilderness JULIA HOLTER
9. Elaenia FLOATING POINTS
10. M3LL155X FKA TWIGS
Honourable Mentions: Multi-Love UNKNOWN MORTAL ORCHESTRA; The Great Mixtape SAMPA THE GREAT; Songs to Play ROBERT FORSTER
TOP FIVE SINGLES OF THE YEAR:
1. Taman Shud THE DRONES
2. King Kunta KENDRICK LAMAR
3. Let It Happen TAME IMPALA
4. Blackstar DAVID BOWIE
5. I Know There’s Gonna Be (Good Times) JAMIE XX
Honourable Mentions: Never Ending Circles CHVRCHES; Silhouettes (I, II & III) FLOATING POINTS; Never Stop the Rot DAN KELLY
TOP FIVE GIGS OF THE YEAR:
1. THE DRONES Forum Theatre
2. KIRIN J CALLINAN: TERRIBLE LOVE Sugar Mountain
3. ALEX CAMERON Shadow Electric
4. JACK LADDER & THE DREAMLANDERS Howler
5. TAME IMPALA Sidney Myer Music Bowl
Honourable Mentions: MARK RONSON Margaret Court Arena; BILL CALLAHAN Sydney Opera House; RYAN ADAMS Forum Theatre
HIGHLIGHT OF 2015:
Probably Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
LOWLIGHT OF 2015:
Potentially Star Wars: The Force Awakens (written prior to its release).
A WILD PREDICTION FOR 2016:
After leaving QI, Stephen Fry becomes the first Cambridge graduate to play in the T20 Big Bash.
NAME:
Alex Watts
SPECIALISED GENRE OF MUSIC:
Pop-jazz-croon-funk-rockrockrocklove
TOP 10 ALBUMS OF THE YEAR:
1. To Pimp a Butterfly KENDRICK LAMAR
2. I Love You, Honeybear FATHER JOHN MISTY
3. Sound and Color ALABAMA SHAKES
4. Blood LIANNE LA HAVAS
5. The Great Mixtape SAMPA THE GREAT
6. Feels Like BULLY
7. The Magic Whip BLUR
8. The Epic KAMASI WASHINGTON
9. Sorry I Let It Come Between Us SASKWATCH
10. Compton DR. DRE
Honourable Mentions: Songs to Play ROBERT FORSTER; The Beyond/Where the Giants Roam THUNDERCAT; Paper Mache Dream Balloon KING GIZZARD
TOP FIVE SINGLES OF THE YEAR:
1. King Kunta KENDRICK LAMAR
2. Don’t Wanna Fight ALABAMA SHAKES
3. Pretty Pimpin KURT VILE
4. Multi-Love UNKNOWN MORTAL ORCHESTRA
5. Paper Trail$ JOEY BADA$$
Honourable Mentions: Borders MIA; Don’t Breathe Out ROOTS MANUVA; Here ALESSIA CARA
TOP FIVE GIGS OF THE YEAR:
1. FATHER JOHN MISTY Forum Theatre
2. BLUR Rod Laver Arena
3. PEEP TEMPEL Howler
4. ROBERT FORSTER Thornbury Theatre
5. WAAX Workers Club
HIGHLIGHT OF 2015:
There was a lot of genuinely exciting and interesting music being championed by the mainstream media and even triple j. It’s good to see pop music become smart again.
LOWLIGHT OF 2015:
People I trust trying to convince me to listen to Justin Bieber and Taylor Swift. It’s not OK people, calm down.
A WILD PREDICTION FOR 2016:
Traditional German Polka makes a comeback in the pop charts, bandwagon jumping begins.
NAME:
James Di Fabrizio
SPECIALISED GENRE OF MUSIC:
Americana
TOP 10 ALBUMS OF THE YEAR:
1. Choose Your Weapon HIATUS KAIYOTE
2. I Love You, Honeybear FATHER JOHN MISTY
3. To Pimp A Butterfly KENDRICK LAMAR
4. Something More Than Free JASON ISBELL
5. Goon TOBIAS JESSO JR.
6. Monterey THE MILK CARTON KIDS
7. When The Storms Would Come HOLY HOLY
8. Angeleno SAM OUTLAW
9. Sound & Colour ALABAMA SHAKES
10. Traveller CHRIS STAPLETON
Honourable Mentions: 1989 RYAN ADAMS; Deseret Canyon WILLIAM TYLER; High On Tulsa Heat JOHN MORELAND
TOP FIVE SINGLES OF THE YEAR:
1. King Kunta KENDRICK LAMAR
2. Hotline Bling DRAKE
3. Swells UP UP AWAY
4. Born Yawning BEN WRIGHT SMITH
5. Depreston COURTNEY BARNETT
Honourable Mentions: Hello Miss Lonesome MARLON WILLIAMS; Pretty Pimpin KURT
VILE; ‘Cause I’m A Man TAME IMPALA
TOP FIVE GIGS OF THE YEAR:
1. RYAN ADAMS Forum Theatre
2. HIATUS KAIYOTE Howler
3. FATHER JOHN MISTY Forum Theatre
4. LAURA MARLING Hamer Hall
5. BACK TO THE FUTURE X MSO The Plenary
HIGHLIGHT OF 2015:
Joining the team at Beat, subsequently interviewing Charles Bradley.
LOWLIGHT OF 2015:
The Bureau getting cancelled, subsequently destroying my chances of seeing Charles Bradley.
A WILD PREDICTION FOR 2016:
Post-ironic-memecore saturates the airwaves, causing Shannon Noll’s That’s What I’m Talking About to score a deluxe reissue on 180 gram vinyl.
NAME:
Dan Watt
SPECIALISED GENRE OF MUSIC:
2007
TOP 10 ALBUMS OF THE YEAR:
1. Death Magic HEALTH
2. In Colour JAMIE XX
3. Lore ELDER
4. Gone Troppo DRUNK MUMS
5. If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late DRAKE
6. Beauty Behind The Madness THE WEEKND
7. Mind Renovation DORSAL FINS
8. Severe MY DISCO
9. Feels Like BULLY
10. Haha THE GARDEN
TOP FIVE SINGLES OF THE YEAR:
1. Do You Remember JARRYD JAMES
2. Loud Places JAMIE XX
3. Monday Tuesday DORSAL FINS
4. Sister Of Pearl BAIO
5. Can’t Feel My Face THE WEEKND
TOP FIVE GIGS OF THE YEAR:
1. MOGWAI Hamer Hall
2. RATATAT Meredith Music Festival
3. MIGHTY BOYS Prince of Wales
4. DUMB PUNTS Prince of Wales
5. POST PERCY Paradise Music Festival
HIGHLIGHT OF 2015:
The synchronisation of Do You Remember by Jarryd James with the University Of Western Sydney advertisement.
LOWLIGHT OF 2015:
Rap-metal not coming back.
A WILD PREDICTION FOR 2016:
Rap-metal comeback.
NAME:
Emily Kelly
SPECIALISED GENRE OF MUSIC:
Angry jams
TOP 10 ALBUMS OF THE YEAR:
1.Sometimes I Sit And Think, And Sometimes I Just Sit COURTNEY BARNETT
2. Silent Kill RADIOACTIVITY
3. Are You Satisfied? SLAVES
4. Meliora GHOST
5. Hit Your Head DRUG CHURCH
6. Brother MEAT WAVE
7. High ROYAL HEADACHE
8. California Nights BEST COAST
9. War On Women WAR ON WOMEN
10. Currents TAME IMPALA
TOP FIVE SINGLES OF THE YEAR:
1. King Kunta KENDRICK LAMAR
2. All Day KANYE WEST
3. Party Machine THE BENNIES
4. Even If It Kills Me WALKEN
5. Lover Come Back CITY AND COLOUR
NAME:
Rod Whitfield
SPECIALISED GENRE OF MUSIC:
Heavy and progressive rock and metal
TOP 10 ALBUMS OF THE YEAR:
1. Juggernaut: Alpha and Omega PERIPHERY
2. Transcension BREAKING ORBIT
3. Bloom CALIGULA’S HORSE
4. Polaris TESSERACT
5. A Dream in Static EARTHSIDE
6. Aesthesis DEAD LETTER CIRCUS
7. Now Here HUMALITY
8. Known/Learned ARCANE
9. Coma Ecliptic BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME
10. Soul Sphere BORN OF OSIRIS
Honourable Mentions: The Healing BELLUSIRA; Machine Made the Animal JERICCO; Matriarch VEIL OF MAYA
TOP FIVE SINGLES OF THE YEAR:
1. Alpha PERIPHERY
2. Mob Mentality EARTHSIDE
3. Firelight CALIGULA’S HORSE
4. In Plain Sight DEAD LETTER CIRCUS
5. Become the Light BREAKING ORBIT
TOP FIVE GIGS OF THE YEAR:
1. DEAD LETTER CIRCUS, TEN YEARS, GUARDS OF MAY The Forum
2. DEVIN TOWNSEND, PERIPHERY The Roundhouse, Sydney
3. TESSERACT, CALIGULA’S HORSE, PLINI Max Watt’s
4. HELM The Esplanade Hotel
5. BACK TO THE FUTURE X MSO The Plenary
Honourable Mentions: TWELVE FOOT NINJA The Croxton; SOUNDGARDEN Festival Hall; HALESTORM/BELLUSIRA 170 Russell
HIGHLIGHT OF 2015:
Another Hawthorn premiership, tied with Tony Abbott and Joe Hockey getting dumped on their fascist arses.
LOWLIGHT OF 2015:
The Liberal Party still being in power, with or without Abbott.
A WILD PREDICTION FOR 2016:
Marriage equality becoming a reality in Australia.
NAME:
Kelsey Berry
SPECIALISED GENRE OF MUSIC:
Indie rock
TOP 10 ALBUMS OF THE YEAR:
1. I Love You, Honeybear FATHER JOHN MISTY
2. B’lieve I’m Goin Down KURT VILE
3. The Positions GANG OF YOUTHS
4. White Men Are Black Men Too YOUNG FATHERS
5. High ROYAL HEADACHE
6. Currents TAME IMPALA
7. The Most Lamentable Tragedy TITUS ANDRONICUS
8. Sound & Color ALABAMA SHAKES
9. The Magic Whip BLUR
10. Wildheart MIGUEL
Honourable Mentions: To Pimp A Butterfly KENDRICK LAMAR; 1989 RYAN ADAMS; Carrie & Lowell SUFJAN STEVENS
TOP FIVE SINGLES OF THE YEAR:
1. Lay Down DMA’S
2. I Know There’s Gonna Be (Good Times) JAMIE XX FT. YOUNG THUG & POPCAAN
3. Take Your Medicine PALACE OF THE KING
4. Like Soda VIOLENT SOHO
5. Sorry JUSTIN BIEBER
Honourable Mentions: Flesh Without Blood GRIMES; Grinder GARY CLARK JR.; Too Much Time Together SAN CISCO
TOP FIVE GIGS OF THE YEAR:
1. FATHER JOHN MISTY Forum Theatre
2. GYPSY & THE CAT, THE HARPOONS, DORSAL FINS Former Royal Women’s Hospital
3. FLEETWOOD MAC Rod Laver Arena
4. HOZIER Palais Theatre
5. NELLY, B.O.B, LUPE FIASCO Sidney Myer Music Bowl
Honourable Mentions: VILLAGE PEOPLE Melbourne Zoo; TV ON THE RADIO Forum Theatre; SAM SMITH Rod Laver Arena
HIGHLIGHT OF 2015:
Graduating from uni.
LOWLIGHT OF 2015:
Eating a family box of KFC by myself.
A WILD PREDICTION FOR 2016:
Shannon Noll will represent Australia at Eurovision and subsequently become a huge sensation in Germany.
NAME:
Bronius Zumeris
SPECIALISED GENRE OF MUSIC:
Moody blues
TOP 9 ALBUMS OF THE YEAR:
1. Tuxedo TUXEDO
2. Music In Exile SONGHOY BLUES
3. Algiers ALGIERS
4. The Golden Voyager KWASI
5. Volume l & ll STREETS OF LAREDO
6. Royal Albert Hall EELS
7. Teens Of Style CAR SEAT HEADREST
8. Songs To Play ROBERT FORSTER
9. Junto Revisited BASEMENT K
TOP FIVE GIGS OF THE YEAR:
1. JACK LADDER & THE DREAMLANDERS Howler
2. BLACK CAB Corner Hotel
3. JOHN CALE Hamer Hall
4. ROBERT FORSTER Thornbury Theatre
5. THE FALL Melbourne Festival
HIGHLIGHT OF 2015:
The Fall still exist.
LOWLIGHT OF 2015:
Black Cab are denied due recognition.
A WILD PREDICTION FOR 2016:
Paternity tests show that Jack Ladder is the son of Billy Field.
NAME:
David James Young
SPECIALISED GENRE OF MUSIC:
I just found out about PBR&B. I’m taking it.
TOP 10 ALBUMS OF THE YEAR:
1. Sometimes I Sit And Think, And Sometimes I Just Sit COURTNEY BARNETT
2. To Pimp A Butterfly KENDRICK LAMAR
3. Highlife MAKING
4. Sprained Ankle JULIEN BAKER
5. Something More Than Free JASON ISBELL
6. No Cities To Love SLEATER-KINNEY
7. High ROYAL HEADACHE
8. Multi-Love UNKNOWN MORTAL ORCHESTRA
9. Peripheral Vision TURNOVER
10. Beat The Champ THE MOUNTAIN GOATS
Honourable Mentions: Every Open Eye CHVRCHES; Hyperview TITLE FIGHT; Ivy Tripp WAXAHATCHEE
TOP FIVE SINGLES OF THE YEAR:
1. Top Heavy SWEATER SEASON
2. Multi-Love UNKNOWN MORTAL ORCHESTRA
3. King Kunta KENDRICK LAMAR
4. Heavenly ADVENTURES
5. Foolish ALPINE
Honourable Mentions: What Do You Mean? JUSTIN BIEBER; Depreston COURTNEY BARNETT; Pretty Pimpin’ KURT VILE
HIGHLIGHT OF 2015:
The bucket list tick-offs: Blur, Mew and American Football.
LOWLIGHT OF 2015:
Tie between your Hello parody and your Hotline Bling parody.
A WILD PREDICTION FOR 2016:
Albo-for-PM.
NAME:
Lachlan Kanoniuk
SPECIALISED GENRE OF MUSIC:
Stirring anthems about legendary Sydney Swans/St Kilda goalkickers.
TOP 10 ALBUMS OF THE YEAR:
1. Melbourne, Florida DICK DIVER
2. But You Caint Use My Phone ERYKAH BADU
3. DS2 FUTURE
4. Pregnant With Success JUNGLEPUSSY
5. Platform HOLLY HERNDON
6. High ROYAL HEADACHE
7. The Great Mixtape SAMPA THE GREAT
8. Emotion CARLY RAE JEPSEN
9. Elaenia FLOATING POINTS
10. Me EMPRESS OF
Honourable Mentions: Elixer TOTEMS; Drain Down LUCY CLICHE; It’s Really Something AMATEUR DANCE
TOP FIVE GIGS OF THE YEAR:
1. GEORGE CLINTON PARLIAMENT FUNKADELIC 170 Russell
2. AC/DC Etihad Stadium
3. DONNY BENET Black Bear Lodge, Brisbane
4. KYLIE MINOGUE Rod Laver Arena
5. ST VINCENT Laneway Singapore
Honourable Mentions: JAMES REYNE Melbourne Zoo; RAE SREMMURD 170 Russell; GEORGE CLINTON The Powerstation AKL
HIGHLIGHT OF 2015:
Dogs defeating Swans in Sydney.
LOWLIGHT OF 2015:
Second elimination final.
A WILD PREDICTION FOR 2016:
Same as last year, except it’s not as wild: Bob Murphy lifting the Cup.
NAME:
Thomas Brand
SPECIALISED GENRE OF MUSIC:
Noise rock
TOP 10 ALBUMS OF THE YEAR:
1. Black Messiah D’ANGELO & THE VANGUARD
2. …Is Doomed BLACK WING
3. The Most Lamentable Tragedy TITUS ANDRONICUS
4. I Love You, Honeybear FATHER JOHN MISTY
5. Sour Soul BADBADNOTGOOD & GHOSTFACE KILLAH
6. Sheltering Sky DROWNING HORSE
7. The Decline of Stupid Fucking Western Civilization JORDAAN MASON
8. Carrie & Lowell SUFJAN STEVENS
9. Viet Cong VIET CONG
10. Every Hero Needs A Villain CZARFACE
Honourable Mentions:
I Don’t Like Shit, I Don’t Go Outside EARL SWEATSHIRT; Severe MY DISCO; Jenny Death DEATH GRIPS
TOP FIVE SINGLES OF THE YEAR:
1. If I Let Him In BLACK WING
2. Dimed Out TITUS ANDRONICUS
3. Sacrifice DROWNING HORSE
4. Wish We Were PINKSHINYULTRABLAST
5. Far THE SOFT MOON
Honourable Mentions: Turned Off DEATH GRIPS; Do You Still Shower With Your DAD MEDICINE; Of Hospitals JORDAAN MASON
TOP FIVE GIGS OF THE YEAR:
1. AMERICAN FOOTBALL Max Watt’s
2. PARADISE MUSIC FESTIVAL Lake Mountain
3. ELDER & EARTHLESS Corner Hotel
4. SELF DEFENSE FAMILY The Old Bar
5. A PLACE TO BURY STRANGERS Corner Hotel
Honourable Mentions: MONO Corner Hotel, I’LLS Former Royal Women’s Hospital
HIGHLIGHT OF 2015:
#putoutyouronions
LOWLIGHT OF 2015:
Fuck-all in the way of good noise rock releases. Before you say “Ken Mode: Success,” it was a shit album by a great band.
A WILD PREDICTION FOR 2016:
I start a hip hop project called Tuberculosis, and it’s fucking infectious. First gig gets cancelled due to a coughing fit. Catch me while you still can.
NAME:
Lee Spencer-Michaelsen
SPECIALISED GENRE OF MUSIC:
Psych rock
TOP 10 ALBUMS OF THE YEAR:
1. Golem WAND
2. Sometimes I Sit and Think, And Sometimes I Just Sit COURTNEY BARNETT
3.Geodesic Dome Piece THE BLANK TAPES
4. I Love You, Honeybear FATHER JOHN MISTY
5. Untethered Moon BUILT TO SPILL
6. Biomass BATPISS
7. Feels Like BULLY
8. Magnifique RATATAT
9. Dodge and Burn THE DEAD WEATHER
10. II FUZZ
Honourable Mentions: Gone Troppo DRUNK MUMS; Mutilator Defeated at Last THEE OH SEES; Fantasy Empire LIGHTNING BOLT
TOP FIVE SINGLES OF THE YEAR:
1.Pretty Pimpin KURT VILE
2. More… WILCO
3. Cream On Chrome RATATAT
4. Lonesome Street BLUR
5. Spit You Out METZ
Honourable Mentions: Flowers LEON BRIDGES; Aqua Profunda! COURTNEY BARNETT; The Way You’d Love Her MAC DEMARCO
TOP FIVE GIGS OF THE YEAR:
1. THE SWORD Austin Psych Fest
2. TUMBLEWEED Corner Hotel
3. COURTNEY BARNETT Stubb’s BBQ, Texas
4. THE METERS New Orleans Jazz Fest
5. FLEETWOOD MAC A Day on the Green
HIGHLIGHT OF 2015:
Crowdsurfing without a crowd.
LOWLIGHT OF 2015:
My Village People childhood dreams being diarrhoeaed on at Golden Plains.
A WILD PREDICTION FOR 2016:
Ty Segall will form another band.
NAME:
Nick Mason
SPECIALISED GENRE OF MUSIC:
Guilty pleasures.
TOP 10 ALBUMS OF THE YEAR:
1. Cathedrals PLAYWRITE
2. Attitude City NINJA SEX PARTY
3. Recreational Love THE BIRD AND THE BEE
4. Hope Is Just A State of Mind LITTLE COMETS
5. Besides POMPLAMOOSE
6. Jr Jr JR JR
7. Jackrabbit SAN FERMIN
8. Every Open Eye CHVRCHES
9. Grand Romantic NATE RUESS
10. Noonia NOONIE BAO
Honourable Mentions: Man It Feels Like Space Again POND; Best of Requested Cover Songs LOTTE KESTNER
TOP FIVE SINGLES OF THE YEAR:
1. Emily SAN FERMIN
2. Regret EVERYTHING EVERYTHING
3. Back To The Stars THE LANDING
4. Postcard #29 JENS LEKMAN
5. Here ALESSIA CARA
Honourable Mentions: Bombastic BONNIE MCKEE; Sweet Nothing GABRIELLE APLIN
TOP FIVE GIGS OF THE YEAR:
1. PLAYWRITE Shadow Electric
2. TAYLOR SWIFT AAMI Park
3. NEIL FINN Melbourne Recital Centre
4. DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE 170 Russell
5. TRIPOD Hamer Hall
Honourable Mentions: TONY BESSELINK 170 Russell; EVERYTHING EVERYTHING Corner Hotel
HIGHLIGHT OF 2015:
Hawthorn winning their third consecutive premiership.
LOWLIGHT OF 2015:
For all the talk and positive steps taken, there’s still no marriage equality in Australia.
A WILD PREDICTION FOR 2016:
Four-thorn.
NAME:
Alex Darling
SPECIALISED GENRE OF MUSIC:
Rock and bloody roll
TOP 10 ALBUMS OF THE YEAR:
1. Sometimes I Sit And Think, And Sometimes I Just Sit Courtney Barnett
2. Currents TAME IMPALA
3. Coming Home LEON BRIDGES
4. Raise A Little Hell THE ANSWER
5. Chasing Yesterday NOEL GALLAGHER
6. Last Of Our Kind THE DARKNESS
7. Aesthesis Dead Letter Circus
8. Into The Wild Life Halestorm
9. Happy People Peace
10. Drones Muse
Honourable Mentions: 1989 RYAN ADAMS; St Cecilia EP FOO FIGHTERS; Ghost Notes VERUCA SALT
TOP FIVE SINGLES OF THE YEAR:
1. Psycho MUSE
2. Pedestrian At Best COURTNEY BARNETT
3. The Dissident SLASH FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY AND THE CONSPIRATORS
4. Uptown Funk MARK RONSON WITH BRUNO MARS
5. Can’t Feel My Face THE WEEKND
HIGHLIGHT OF 2015:
U2’s shows with Patti Smith and Eagles of Death Metal – proof that nothing can stop or silence live music, and that musicians know how to observe tragedy.
LOWLIGHT OF 2015:
Reclaim Australia appropriating Jimmy Barnes, John Farnham and Mark Seymour.
A WILD PREDICTION FOR 2016:
Noel Gallagher says something nice about someone.
NAME:
Hannah Joyner
SPECIALISED GENRE OF MUSIC:
Rap/hip hop and indie
TOP 10 ALBUMS OF THE YEAR:
1. Honeymoon LANA DEL REY
2. To Pimp A Butterfly KENDRICK LAMAR
3. Art Angels GRIMES
4. I Love You, Honeybear FATHER JOHN MISTY
5. Noctunes WILLIS EARL BEAL
6. B’lieve I’m Goin Down KURT VILE
7. Fading Frontier DEERHUNTER
8. No One Deserves You CRAYON FIELDS
9. At. Long. Last. A$AP A$AP ROCKY
10. B4.Da.$$ JOEY BADA$$
Honourable Mentions: Escape From Evil LOWER DENS; Rub PEACHES; Better This Way BIG K.R.I.T
TOP FIVE SINGLES OF THE YEAR:
1. High By The Beach LANA DEL REY
2. Hotline Bling (Remix) ERYKAH BADU
3. WTF (Where They From) MISSY ELLIOTT FT. PHARRELL
4. Ui Yia Uia NO ZU
5. Snakeskin DEERHUNTER
Honourable Mentions: Pretty Pimpin KURT VILE; Buffalo TYLER, THE CREATOR
TOP FIVE GIGS OF THE YEAR:
1. AZEALIA BANKS Prince Bandroom
2. FATHER JOHN MISTY Forum Theatre
3. JOHNNY MARR Forum Theatre
4. BRITISH INDIA, SCOTDRAKULA, BARO AND FLYYING COLOURS Gasometer Hotel
5. B.I.G K.R.I.T Max Watt’s
Honourable Mentions: PATTI SMITH’S HORSES Melbourne Town Hall
HIGHLIGHT OF 2015:
Dee Barnes’ compelling article for Gawker about the N.W.A biopic Straight Outta Compton.
LOWLIGHT OF 2015:
Seeing The Brian Jonestown Massacre at Melbourne Town Hall for MMW but not being able to concentrate due to the shooting at Le Bataclan the day before.
A WILD PREDICTION FOR 2016:
Foreseeing an epidemic of cafés in Australia named after Biggie and Tupac, the ATO includes East Side and West Side checkboxes on tax forms for those declaring profit losses.
NAME:
Gloria Brancatisano
TOP 10 ALBUMS OF THE YEAR:
1. That’s The Spirit BRING ME THE HORIZON
2. Dogs At Bay BAD//DREEMS
3. Mercy Mountain MOSES GUNN COLLECTIVE
4. Life’s Not Out To Get You NECK DEEP
5. American Candy THE MAINE
6. The Story So Far THE STORY SO FAR
7. Shake Shiver ART OF SLEEPING
8. Ire PARKWAY DRIVE
9. No Closer To Heaven THE WONDER YEARS
10. Abandoned DEFEATER
Honourable Mentions: Skydancer IN HEARTS WAKE; Node NORTHLANE; Summer Of Doom PHILADELPHIA GRAND JURY
TOP FIVE SINGLES OF THE YEAR:
1. Never Be MEG MAC
2. Chivalry MACHINE AGE
3. Monday MATT CORBY
4. T-Shirt Weather CIRCA WAVES
5. I’m A Bright Shining Star FOUR YEAR STRONG
Honourable Mentions: Ugh! THE 1975; The Hedonist FOREIGN/NATIONAL; Why Don’t You Stay MORGAN BAIN
TOP FIVE GIGS OF THE YEAR:
1. ARCHITECTS 170 Russell
2. YOU ME AT SIX Max Watt’s
3. AMITY AFFLICTION/A DAY TO REMEMBER Rod Laver Arena
4. KISSCHASY Corner Hotel
5. THE MAINE Corner Hotel
Honourable Mentions: THE STORY SO FAR/MAN OVERBOARD Max Watt’s; REAL FRIENDS Evelyn Hotel; YELLOWCARD/MAYDAY PARADE Margaret Court Arena
HIGHLIGHT OF 2015:
Nostalgia overload. So many moments 14-year-old Gloria would have cried over.
LOWLIGHT OF 2015:
Turning 23 and still loving things 14-year-old Gloria loved.
A WILD PREDICTION FOR 2016:
Chocolate Rain.
NAME:
Alexander Crowden
SPECIALISED GENRE OF MUSIC:
Indie/alternative
TOP 10 ALBUMS OF THE YEAR:
1. Kintsugi DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE
2. Nothing Touches Me BRITISH INDIA
3. English Graffiti THE VACCINES
4. Feels Like BULLY
5. Summer of Doom PHILADELPHIA GRAND JURY
6. Glitterbug THE WOMBATS
7. Hoops THE RUBENS
8. California Nights BEST COAST
9. Off the Edge of the Earth and Into Forever, Forever ART VS SCIENCE
10. Dope Machines THE AIRBORNE TOXIC EVENT
Honourable Mentions: A Head Full of Dreams COLDPLAY; Panic Stations MOTION CITY SOUNDTRACK; + – MEW
TOP FIVE SINGLES OF THE YEAR:
1. ‘Cause I’m A Man TAME IMPALA
2. Give Me a Try THE WOMBATS
3. Do You Remember? JARRYD JAMES
4. Suddenly BRITISH INDIA
5. Foolish ALPINE
Honourable Mentions: Hotline Bling DRAKE; Hoops THE RUBENS; Snow SAN CISCO
TOP FIVE GIGS OF THE YEAR:
1. CATFISH & THE BOTTLEMEN The Hi-Fi
2. DEATHCAB FOR CUTIE 170 Russell
3. MOTION CITY SOUNDTRACK 170 Russell
4. ROBBIE WILLIAMS Rod Laver Arena
5. MEW Max Watt’s
Honourable Mentions: ANDREW MCMAHON IN THE WILDERNESS 170 Russell; THE VACCINES Corner Hotel; THE WOMBATS Shebeen
HIGHLIGHT OF 2015:
Getting off the dole.
A WILD PREDICTION FOR 2016:
The Rolling Stones finally hang it up.
NAME:
Nick Hilton
SPECIALISED GENRE OF MUSIC:
Slacker guitar twang’n’roll
TOP 10 ALBUMS OF THE YEAR:
1. 1989 RYAN ADAMS
2. The Magic Whip BLUR
3. Come Back, All Is Forgiven CUSTARD
4. Girls In Peacetime Want To Dance BELLE & SEBASTIAN
5. Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit COURTNEY BARNETT
6. Untethered Moon BUILT TO SPILL
7. Edge Of The Sun CALEXICO
8. Currents TAME IMPALA
9. Man It Feels Like Space Again POND
10. Star Wars WILCO
TOP FIVE GIGS OF THE YEAR:
1. OUT ON THE WEEKEND Seaworks
2. BLUR Rod Laver Arena
3. BEACH BOYS Palais Theatre
4. TAYLOR SWIFT AAMI Park
5. AC/DC Etihad Stadium
HIGHLIGHT OF 2015:
Netflix and HBO at work.
LOWLIGHT OF 2015:
True Detective.
A WILD PREDICTION FOR 2016:
Bernie Sanders beats Trump and world peace breaks out almost immediately.
NAME:
The Sideman
SPECIALISED GENRE OF MUSIC:
Oddball disco
TOP 10 ALBUMS OF THE YEAR:
1. Have You In My Wilderness JULIA HOLTER
2. Carrie & Lowell SUFJAN STEVENS
3. Depression Cherry BEACH HOUSE
4. Half Free U.S. GIRLS
5. Y Dydd Olaf GWENNO
6. Primrose Green RYLER WALKER
7. Paradise Goulash PRINS THOMAS
8. Vulnicura BJORK
9. Sometimes I Sit And Think, And Sometimes I Just Sit COURTNEY BARNETT
10. Moonlust THE HOLYDRUG COUPLE
Honourable Mentions: Epic KAMASI WASHINGTON; Divers JOANNA NEWSOM; Currents TAME IMPALA
TOP FIVE SINGLES OF THE YEAR:
1. It’s Time For Fun GOAT
2. Sapokanikan JOANNA NEWSOM
3. 1000 Days WAND
4. Window Shades U.S. GIRLS
5. Sticky Hulks THEE OH SEES
Honourable Mentions: Blackstar DAVID BOWIE; Let It Happen TAME IMPALA; Depreston COURTNEY BARNETT
TOP FIVE GIGS OF THE YEAR:
1. GOAT/ KING GIZZARD & THE LIZARD WIZZARD The Croxton
2. THE CLEAN Corner Hotel
3. TOUMANI and SIDIKI DIABATE Hamer Hall
4. TIM HECKER Howler
5. PERFUME GENIUS Corner Hotel
Honourable Mentions: BLACK LIPS Hi-Fi; BLUR Rod Laver Arena; NENEH CHERRY Hamer Hall
HIGHLIGHT OF 2015:
Boxing training (at last).
LOWLIGHT OF 2015:
My beloved pet dog is nearly 12-years-old.
A WILD PREDICTION FOR 2016:
Even more music frenzy next year.
