The Top 10 Albums of 2023

These are the albums that struck me hard, dug in deep, and held firm. Albums I would tell you to listen to the loudest:

BONUS: 2023 singles! »

It’s the music, that’s what matters.

The Top 10 Albums of 2022

In the world of music, there is nothing better than an amazing album. ALL KILLER NO FILLER as my office mate says. Here’s my favorites for 2022, in no particular order:

Listen to it loud!

The Top 10 Albums of 2021

When it’s over, I still think about it. When I wake up, it plays in my head. When I need a boost, I put it on and turn the volume all the way up. There was so much incredible music made this year. Here’s my favorites, in no particular order:

BONUS: 2021 singles to get you going »

To you, I say happy listening!

The Top 10 Albums of 2020

So 2020, and then some. I too would prefer to wear a black and white skeleton outfit all day long because we’re always just running, the machines are going to rule soon enough, the trail of dead we’re leaving behind is massive, and I just wanna dance. Even though this is quite a hard life we’ve all found ourselves in. But most people gonna say what they wanna say. What am I? Is my only logical option to transform into the wind? Fetch me the bolt cutters and get me the fuck out of here!

See you all on the other side, in one form or another.

The Top 10 Albums of 2019

Go deep, look into yourself, and feel the pounding of your own heart. It’s there, at least for now. It can feel you, you can feel it. And when you give these 10 albums a listen, that heart gets ready to explode in all the best possible ways.

These albums are all so fucking good. And there are other fucking good albums that didn’t make this list. Why? Because we live in an age of so much fucking good music! I know we’re fortunate. We may not have universal healthcare, but at least we’ll be able to die a preventable death because we can’t afford treatment with a smile on our face and a beating in our heart.

The Top 10 Albums of 2018

In my past lists, male artists dominated. I even had a year where there was only one female band on my Top 10 list. That is just shameful. So this year, the year of the woman, the most punk rock thing to do is go one better. In a year of listening to more female artists than ever before, here are the albums that spoke to me in 2018, in no particular order:

This might be my favorite Top 10 list to date. And sadly, Kali Uchis, Santigold, and Haley Heynderickx didn’t quite make the cut. But damn, the year of the woman roared, rocked, soothed, inspired, motivated, intrigued, captivated, grooved, and in so many aspects opened my mind. #MuchLove

The Top 10 Albums of 2017

Music is deeply tied to my work. All day long, while I’m designing, I listen to what I consider to be the best music out there. And for the last few years I pick my Top 10 albums of the year for the KEXP countdown. This year was extra difficult. 

I had a shortlist of about 30 albums. From some of my all-time favorite bands to other artists I heard for the first time this year. It was tough getting it down to only 10.

It’s also worth noting, given the state of America and our insistence on going backwards, the music was a counter. It pushed us forward. It kept us dreaming, hoping, wondering, working. It was full of beauty, hope, outrage, unity, solidarity, and, most of all, truth.  

With that, these are the albums that spoke to me in the year 2017, in no particular order:

Also worth noting, the Arcade Fire Everything Now tour was absolutely incredible. While their album, which I liked very much, didn’t make my Top 10, their Seattle show was probably the best concert I’ve ever been to. And Valerie June on a freezing cold winter’s day in Omaha? I’m in love.