17 Comments
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Dan Pal's avatar

You have some great artists in your Top Ten! I haven't really listened to any of those albums all the way through though. I think my own Ten would look different than all four of yours! It's fun to contemplate!

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

I love the year-end song lists, but have you done any for records?

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Dan Pal's avatar

Do you mean albums?

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

Yes. Apologies in advance if I missed them!

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Dan Pal's avatar

I have and I do! I will share them this year for sure!

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Lavender Sound (Max Freedman)'s avatar

‘Renaissance’ is an all-timer. I’ve been frustrated by Beyoncé recently spending her time with right-wing billionaires (she’s a billionaire too of course but you know what i mean), but even that can’t diminish my love of this album. Very much a love letter to us and it also happens to sound incredible. Endless replays.

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Sam Colt's avatar

I’m not the biggest Beyonce fan (but I respect her). I’ve listened to Lemonade probably 10 times after seeing it on the top of lists like Best Albums of the 2010s or Best Album of the Last 25 Years, and I come away thinking “yeah it’s good but Renaissance should be getting the hype that Lemonade is getting.”

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Lavender Sound (Max Freedman)'s avatar

Maybe I’m biased but i feel like Renaissance did get that level of hype! Tho maybe I’ve only been seeing that from within the queer community

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Sam Colt's avatar

It’s a Beyoncé record so it definitely will get hype lol

I meant more in the sense that, at least to music critics, Lemonade is widely seen as her best album. But Renaissance should absolutely be in that conversation.

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Steve Goldberg's avatar

I totally missed your post, Jami! The damn algorithm hid it from me! I responded to your note instead. I'll read it tonight when I get a break. Maybe with your show as the soundtrack!

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

Cool It Down is fantastic. Thought for sure that might be one that I wouldn’t enjoy as much now that a couple of years have past. Nope. Just As good as it was on Day 1. Janelle Monae, too, for that matter.

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Jen Zug's avatar

I really love Sufjan Stevens’ Javelin (2023).

I don’t know if I would categorize Alanis Morissette’s Such Pretty Forks In the Road (2020) as a favorite, but it was definitely a pandemic comfort. I was working at a transitional housing program during lockdown, and my commute to work was creepy and apocalyptic since no one else was on the road. I remember listening to this album in the car.

I also follow a band called JOSEPH, who released The Sun in 2023, which was an excellent follow up to their 2019 Good Luck Kid.

There’s probably more, but these come to mind first. ❤️

I love all the artists on your list!

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

I’m not a fan of traffic, but I hope we never go back to those empty roads.

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Sam Colt's avatar

Javelin literally gutted me the first time I listened to it. Such an incredible album.

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Jen Zug's avatar

Oh! Allison Russell!!!

Her 2021 album Outside Child has the song Joyful Motherfuckers, and 2023’s The Returner is EXCELLENT. Definitely a favorite.

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Tamara Casey's avatar

What a fun group and lots of good picks.

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The Cargo Room's avatar

Kid cudi

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