Again this year my music buying was mostly online, free tracks from NoiseTrade, Google Play, and Amazon as well as preordering mp3s and CDs from Kickstarter and PledgeMusic.
Band | Song | Why them | |
01. | Alan Doyle | 1,2,3,4 | If Great Big Sea is no more, we’ll be sad, but Alan solo is still great. |
02. | Charli XCX & Bleachers | Rollercoaster | Bleachers released a free album, collaborating with other artists on all the songs off 2014’s Strange Desire. This was one of the best originals. |
03. | Au Pair | In Every Window | Gary Louris has a new Jayhawks album with a classic lineup coming out next year (and produced by Peter Buck), but he still found time to start another band with Django Haskins (from The Old Ceremony). |
04. | I’m With Her | Crossing Muddy Waters | Aoife O’Donovan (from Crooked Still) and Sara Watkins (from Nickel Creek) are joined by Sarah Jarosz. It sounds as good as you can imagine. |
05. | Barnstar! | Darling | Mark Erelli and the Armerding brothers with a touch of country. |
06. | Found Wandering | That Home Far Away | Their Christmas album was a must buy after one listen, and so was this. |
07. | Da Costa | I Can’t Stop It | Anthony da Costa has a power trio. ‘Nuff said. |
08. | Della Mae | Boston Town | Great song, production, and harmonies. |
09. | Cal Everett | Older Now | Former 4 Out of 5 Doctors frontman is back. |
10. | Kristin Andreassen | The Boat Song (Gondolier) | The slowest tempo of any song here (I love a pop tempo), but couldn’t get it out of my head. |
11. | Bombadil | Amy’s Friend | Delicate chamber pop, reminded me of Winterpills. |
12. | Cassidy Ford | Monster | A Todd Wright discovery and co-write. |
13. | love+war | Lost | I found them because they mashed up Sam Smith/Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers (see this for more info), but it turned out they had good songs too. |
14. | Watkins Family Hour | Steal Your Heart Away | Sara Watkins’ second appearance here, this time with her brother (and some killer pedal steel from Greg Leisz) on an amazing Fleetwood Mac cover. |
15. | Darlingside | The Ancestor | A nice Mumford/Lumineers vibe. |
16. | The Empty Pockets | Find Or Fail | A Facebook ad that worked on me. |
17. | The Sea The Sea | How Will We Know | FRFF folks making a joyful noise. |
18. | The Pine Hill Project | Sweetest Thing | Richard Shindell & Lucy Kaplansky reunite years after Cry, Cry, Cry for a new album with this fine U2 B-side cover. I also liked their cover of “Farewell To Saint Dolores”, but not as much as this one. |
19. | The Boxcar Lilies | Home | Tight harmonies from these FRFF vets. |
20. | Jamie Lawson | Wasn’t Expecting That | Ed Sheeran’s first signing to his label for obvious reasons. |
21. | Emily Hearn | Volcano | Powerful pop found via Luke Brindley. | 22. | The Lowlifes | A Spark | Matt Pond was having issues with his label and manager, so started a new band and released an album better that the other one he put out this year. | 23. | Kat Robichaud | Somebody Call The Doctor | One Doctor? Three Doctors? Five Doctors? You decide. | 24. | Michael Clem | Going Back To Llanfairpwll-gwyngyllgogerych-wyrndrobwllllanty-siliogogogoch | Eddie From Ohio singer/songwriter back with his first solo album in 10 years. |