Beach House – 7
Fantastic band. Fantastic record. For me, this is easily the biggest departure from Beach House’s traditional sound and I love it. Gone are the reverb-soaked, three-note guitar patterns and simple hooks, in are the huge drum beats and full frontal synths. This is a really grandiose and dark record, thanks to the production of Sonic Boom from Spacemen 3, who also produced the deceptively great Congratulations from MGMT.
Father John Misty – God’s Favourite Customer
Incredible songwriter and lyricist. This is probably my favourite Father John record so far. A perfect blend of great songwriting and production. Check out ‘Hangout at the Gallows’ and ‘The Songwriter’ (probably the most beautiful song I’ve heard this year).
Kali Uchis – Isolation
This is a really, really fun, diverse record, with some really tight pop. It features one of my favourite songs of the year ‘After the Storm’, which features a verse from Tyler the Creator and is backed by BadBadNotGood. The record also features a tasty little collab with Kevin Parker.
Pusha T – Daytona
It’s weird when you listen to a record to hear the producer rather than the artist, but Pusha T’s Daytona is easily the best Kanye record of this year. He produced the record for Pusha T and it feels like College Dropout/Late Registration in 2018 – classic soul samples over crisp modern beats. It’s refreshing to hear what is essentially a Kanye record with some classic hip hop phrasing over the top. Although, in classic Kanye fashion, his one and only verse is a show-stealer.
Kamasi Washington – Heaven and Earth
The opener, “Fists of Fury” sounds like the best Bond theme that never was. Incredible solos, masterful compositions and an all-round great listen.
MGMT – Little Dark Age
Easily the best work these guys have done in years. A perfect blend of the simple pop of Oracular Spectacular and the weirdness of Congratulations. ‘She Works Out Too Much’ is the most fun track I’ve heard in years, while ‘Hand It Over’ is another gorgeous anthemic MGMT album closer.
Unknown Mortal Orchestra – Sex and Food
I absolutely love every single thing these guys do, so it was a no brainer that they’d be in my top ten. The most tastefully rifftastic record of the year. Killer melodies, beautiful harmonies and delicious grooves. What more could you want?
Courtney Barnett – Tell Me How You Really Feel
Rock music for quite a while now has felt like a bit of a joke to me as nobody in that genre really has much say, but Courtney Barnett has definitely been a major exception. This record features some of her most thematically resonant music and has some real fire behind it. ‘Nameless, Faceless’ is probably the most important song released this year. It paints a really clear picture of the horrifying disparity between men and everyone else feeling safe in Western, particularly Australian society. Sadly as the year has worn on, the song’s relevance has only increased.
Jon Hopkins – Singularity
This has been my multi-purpose record of the year. I do anything and everything to it. I play it at work, dance around to it, run to it, lie down and listen to it. A really beautiful blend of ambient bliss and acid-house beats.
U.S. Girls – In A Poem Unlimited
Meghan Remy rocks. I get the strongest ABBA vibes I’ve felt from an artist in a long time – I don’t care what you say ABBA are incredible. Strong melodies, slick grooves, phat synths and delicious bass lines.
‘POLLEN’ TOUR DATES
Friday August 3 at Rocket Bar, Adelaide
Saturday August 11 at The Grace Darling, Melbourne
Friday August 17 at Botany View Hotel, Sydney
Friday August 24 at Netherworld, Brisbane
Saturday August 25 at Miami Marketta, Gold Coast
Sunday August 26 at Shark Bar, Gold Coast
Saturday September 1 at Crown & Anchor Hotel, Adelaide
