1. Besnard Lakes - Until In Excess, Imperceptible UFO
2. Phosphorescent - Muchacho
3. Gauntlet Hair - Stills
4. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Push The Sky Away
5. Akron/Family - Sub Verses
6. Kadavar - Abra Kadavar
7. My Bloody Valentine - m b v
8. Rogue Wave - Nightingale Floors
9. Flaming Lips - The Terror
10. Uncle Acid And The Deadbeats - Mind Control
11. British Sea Power - Machineries of Joy
12. David Bowie - The Next Day
13. Dirty Beaches - Drifters/Love Is The Devil
14. Ty Segall - Sleeper
15. Ghostface Killah - Twelve Reasons To Die
16. Austra - Olympia
17. Iceage - You're Nothing
18. Windhand - Soma
19. Okkervil River - Silver Gymnasium
20. Neko Case - The Worse Things Get, The Harder I Fight, The Harder I Fight, The More I love You
Chloe Stewart
1. Wire - Change Becomes UsChloe Stewart
2. Moby - Innocents
3. Joan Jett - Unvarnished
4. Elvis Costello & The Roots - Wise Up Ghost
5. Hugh Cornwell - Totem & Taboo
6. Crocodiles - Crimes of Passion
7. Savages - Silence Yourself
8. Pere Ubu - Lady from Shanghai
9. Wymond Miles - Cut Yourself Free
10. Adam Ant - Adam Ant is the Blueblack Hussar in Marrying the Gunner's Daughter
Fox Johnson
1. Neko Case - The Worse Things Get, The Harder I Fight, The Harder I Fight, The More I Love You
2. Kavinsky - Outrun
3. Vampire Weekend - Modern Vampires of the City
4. Daft Punk - Random Access Memories
5. Jake Bugg - Jake Bugg
6. Tegan and Sara - Heartthrob
7. Laura Marling - Once I Was an Eagle
8. Charles Bradley - Victim of Love
9. Arcade Fire - Reflektor
10. Jake Bugg - Shangri La
11. Rush - The Clockwork Angels Tour
12. Justin Timberlake - 20/20 Experience (Part 1)
13. Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - Push the Sky Away
14. Bob Dylan - Another Self Portrait
Ash Redbone
1. Kurt Vile - Wakin' on a Pretty Daze
2. Steve Gunn - Time Off
3. Widowspeak - Almanac
4. Unknown Mortal Orchestra - II
5. William Onyeabor - Who is William Onyeabor?
6. Bombino - Nomad
7. Midlake - Antiphon
8. Washed Out - Paracosm
9. Savages - Silence Yourself
10. Lumerians - High Frontier
11. Quasimoto - Yessir Whatever
12. Ty Segall - Sleeper
13. Kadavar - Abra Kadavar
14. William Tyler - Impossible Truth
15. Four Tet - Beautiful Rewind
Marissa D'Elia
1. Iron Chic - The Constant One
-Part of the placement of this record at the top of my list stems from my undeniable bias with this band. Iron Chic is and has been my favorite band for the past couple of years. Their records don’t do anything radical, technically or musically speaking, but the way the songs all come together creates a feeling that you really can’t find anywhere else. That being said, The Constant One was the most ideal progression from their first LP, Not Like This, another record jam-packed with heavy choruses and chill-inducing lyrics. I can’t really find the words to describe the feeling these songs give me. A must listen for anyone who was ever a fan of Latterman and older (original) pop-punk bands.
2. Beyoncé - Beyoncé
-There are so many reasons why this album is number 2 on my list. As a marketing student, I marvel at the brand that is Beyoncé. A secret album that sold over 80,000 units in the first three hours of its release is enough reason to put this at the top at any AOTY list. With that being said, this album really surprised me. I love Beyoncé as much as the next person but I never really found that I enjoyed her records as a whole. Every single song on this is completely different from the next with perfect collaborations with Frank Ocean, Drake and Blue Ivy herself. But the most addicting aspect of this album is the strong feminist undertone to a couple of songs, especially “Flawless” which features Nigerian writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche. I had watched Adiche’s talk on “Why everyone should be a feminist” so I had heard the excerpt before but somehow the way it was paired with the music made it that much more powerful. If there was ever a time to listen to this beautiful goddess, it’s now.
3. Kelsi Grammar - Being Petty
-The best band you’ve never heard of. That’s really it. This EP slays just as hard as their full-length from 2012. If you aren’t listening to this band you are screwing your entire life up. Gritty. Angsty. Vocals that don’t sound like every other band you listen to.
4. The National - Trouble Will Find Me
-This record is so sad. The National are so sad. I’m so sad. I recently put in on in a car ride with someone who had never listened before and their first reaction was that it sounded like something gloomy from the 80s. I love this because it’s that album you go out of your way to buy the 180 gram vinyl and then put it on and lay in bed all day questioning every decision you’ve ever made.
5. Drake - Nothing Was the Same
6. Marietta - Summer Death
7. Balance and Composure - The Things We Think We’re Missing
8. Iron Chic - Spooky Action EP
9. Old Gray - An Autobiography
Ash Redbone
1. Kurt Vile - Wakin' on a Pretty Daze
2. Steve Gunn - Time Off
3. Widowspeak - Almanac
4. Unknown Mortal Orchestra - II
5. William Onyeabor - Who is William Onyeabor?
6. Bombino - Nomad
7. Midlake - Antiphon
8. Washed Out - Paracosm
9. Savages - Silence Yourself
10. Lumerians - High Frontier
11. Quasimoto - Yessir Whatever
12. Ty Segall - Sleeper
13. Kadavar - Abra Kadavar
14. William Tyler - Impossible Truth
15. Four Tet - Beautiful Rewind
Marissa D'Elia
1. Iron Chic - The Constant One
-Part of the placement of this record at the top of my list stems from my undeniable bias with this band. Iron Chic is and has been my favorite band for the past couple of years. Their records don’t do anything radical, technically or musically speaking, but the way the songs all come together creates a feeling that you really can’t find anywhere else. That being said, The Constant One was the most ideal progression from their first LP, Not Like This, another record jam-packed with heavy choruses and chill-inducing lyrics. I can’t really find the words to describe the feeling these songs give me. A must listen for anyone who was ever a fan of Latterman and older (original) pop-punk bands.
2. Beyoncé - Beyoncé
-There are so many reasons why this album is number 2 on my list. As a marketing student, I marvel at the brand that is Beyoncé. A secret album that sold over 80,000 units in the first three hours of its release is enough reason to put this at the top at any AOTY list. With that being said, this album really surprised me. I love Beyoncé as much as the next person but I never really found that I enjoyed her records as a whole. Every single song on this is completely different from the next with perfect collaborations with Frank Ocean, Drake and Blue Ivy herself. But the most addicting aspect of this album is the strong feminist undertone to a couple of songs, especially “Flawless” which features Nigerian writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche. I had watched Adiche’s talk on “Why everyone should be a feminist” so I had heard the excerpt before but somehow the way it was paired with the music made it that much more powerful. If there was ever a time to listen to this beautiful goddess, it’s now.
3. Kelsi Grammar - Being Petty
-The best band you’ve never heard of. That’s really it. This EP slays just as hard as their full-length from 2012. If you aren’t listening to this band you are screwing your entire life up. Gritty. Angsty. Vocals that don’t sound like every other band you listen to.
4. The National - Trouble Will Find Me
-This record is so sad. The National are so sad. I’m so sad. I recently put in on in a car ride with someone who had never listened before and their first reaction was that it sounded like something gloomy from the 80s. I love this because it’s that album you go out of your way to buy the 180 gram vinyl and then put it on and lay in bed all day questioning every decision you’ve ever made.
5. Drake - Nothing Was the Same
6. Marietta - Summer Death
7. Balance and Composure - The Things We Think We’re Missing
8. Iron Chic - Spooky Action EP
9. Old Gray - An Autobiography
Dan Khan
1. Dirty Beaches - Drifters/Love is the Devil
2. Baths - Obsidian
3. Arcade Fire - Reflektor
4. My Bloody Valentine - m b v
5. Phosphorescent - Muchacho
6. Washed Out - Paracosm
7. Jagwar Ma - Howlin’
8. Fuck Buttons - Slow Focus
9. Deerhunter - Monomania
10. The Besnard Lakes - Until in Excess, Imperceptible UFO
11. Atoms for Peace - Amok
12. Kanye West - Yeezus
13). Eleanor Friedberger - Personal Record
14. Wire - Change Becomes Us
15. Neko Case - The Worse Things Get, The Higher I Fight, The Harder I fight, The More I love You
16. Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds - Push the Sky Away
17. Cults - Static
18. Justin Timberlake - The 20/20 Experience (Part 1)
19. Smith Westerns - Soft Will
20. Janelle Monae - The Electric Lady
Honorable Mentions:
The National - Trouble Will Find me
Sigur Ros - Kveikur
Black Joe Lewis - Electric Slave
Daft Punk - Random Access Memories
Paul McCartney - New
David Bowie - The Next Day
Beck - Song Reader
Elias Ianacone
1. Drug Church - Paul Walker
2. Deafheaven - Sunbather
3. Nails - Abandon All Life
4. Wives - Wifes EP
5. Anciients - Heart of Oak
6. Full of Hell - Rudiments of Mutilation
7. Pissed Jeans - Honeys
8. Diarrhea Planet - I'm Rich Beyond Your Wildest Dreams
9. Fuzz - Fuzz
10. All Pigs Must Die - Nothing Violates This Nature
11. (alternate) Besnard Lakes - Until In Excess, Imperceptible UFO
Ashley Tryba
1. My Bloody Valentine - mbv
2. Kurt Vile - Wakin' on A Pretty Daze
3. Pissed Jeans - Honeys
4. Motorhead - Aftershock
5. Mazzy Star - Seasons of Your Day
6. Black Sabbath - 13
7. Sigur Ros - Kveikur
8. Black Flag - What the...
9. Dr. Dog - B-Room
10. Meat Puppets - Rat Farm
3. Arcade Fire - Reflektor
4. My Bloody Valentine - m b v
5. Phosphorescent - Muchacho
6. Washed Out - Paracosm
7. Jagwar Ma - Howlin’
8. Fuck Buttons - Slow Focus
9. Deerhunter - Monomania
10. The Besnard Lakes - Until in Excess, Imperceptible UFO
11. Atoms for Peace - Amok
12. Kanye West - Yeezus
13). Eleanor Friedberger - Personal Record
14. Wire - Change Becomes Us
15. Neko Case - The Worse Things Get, The Higher I Fight, The Harder I fight, The More I love You
16. Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds - Push the Sky Away
17. Cults - Static
18. Justin Timberlake - The 20/20 Experience (Part 1)
19. Smith Westerns - Soft Will
20. Janelle Monae - The Electric Lady
Honorable Mentions:
The National - Trouble Will Find me
Sigur Ros - Kveikur
Black Joe Lewis - Electric Slave
Daft Punk - Random Access Memories
Paul McCartney - New
David Bowie - The Next Day
Beck - Song Reader
Elias Ianacone
1. Drug Church - Paul Walker
2. Deafheaven - Sunbather
3. Nails - Abandon All Life
4. Wives - Wifes EP
5. Anciients - Heart of Oak
6. Full of Hell - Rudiments of Mutilation
7. Pissed Jeans - Honeys
8. Diarrhea Planet - I'm Rich Beyond Your Wildest Dreams
9. Fuzz - Fuzz
10. All Pigs Must Die - Nothing Violates This Nature
11. (alternate) Besnard Lakes - Until In Excess, Imperceptible UFO
Ashley Tryba
1. My Bloody Valentine - mbv
2. Kurt Vile - Wakin' on A Pretty Daze
3. Pissed Jeans - Honeys
4. Motorhead - Aftershock
5. Mazzy Star - Seasons of Your Day
6. Black Sabbath - 13
7. Sigur Ros - Kveikur
8. Black Flag - What the...
9. Dr. Dog - B-Room
10. Meat Puppets - Rat Farm
Beccah Ulm
1. Xenia Rubinos - Magic Trix
2. Arcade Fire - Reflektor
3. Neko Case - The Worse Things Get, The Higher I Fight, The Harder I Fight, The More I love You
4. The Knife - Shaking the Habitual
5. Beyoncé - Beyoncé
6. Lady Gaga - Artpop
7. Colleen Green - Sock It To Me
8. Mannequin Pussy - Gypsy Pervert
9. Blouse - Imperium
6. Lady Gaga - Artpop
7. Colleen Green - Sock It To Me
8. Mannequin Pussy - Gypsy Pervert
9. Blouse - Imperium
Lucas Mangum
1. David Bowie - The Next Day
2. Fall Out Boy - Save Rock n Roll
3. Panic at the Disco - Too Rare to Live, Too Weird to Die!
4. Justin Timberlake - The 20/20 Experience (Part 1)
5. Avenged Sevenfold - Hail to the King
6. Black Veil Brides - Wretched & Divine
7. Bastille - Bad Blood
8. Knife Party - Haunted House EP
9. Skinny Puppy - Weapon
10. Arcade Fire - Reflektor
11. Lady Gaga - Artpop
Tim Earle
1. Paramore - Paramore
2. I the Mighty - Satori
3. Kanye West - Yeezus
4. The Wonder Years - The Greatest Generation
5. Eminem - The Marshall Mathers LP 2
6. HAIM - HAIM
7. Vampire Weekend - Modern Vampires of the City
8. Fall Out Boy - PAX AM Days
Noah Lyons
1. MIA - Matangi
2. Chelsea Wolfe - Pain Is Beauty
3. David Lynch - The Big Dream
4. Moby - Innocents
Blair Elliot
1.Goat - Live Ballroom Ritual
2. Blood Ceremony - Eldritch Dark
3. Neko Case - The Worse Things Get, The Higher I Fight, The Harder I Fight, The More I love You
4. Purson - The Circle & The Blue Door
5. The Black Angels - Indigo Meadow
6. Lumerians - High Frontier
7. Bombino - Nomad
8. Lee Ranaldo & The Dust - Last Night On Earth
9. Midlake - Antiphon
10. Wooden Shjips - Back On land
11. Kadavar - Abra Kadavar
12. Blues Pills - Devil Man EP
13. Night Beats - Sonic Bloom
14. Sigur Ros - Kveikur
15. Chelsea Wolfe - Pain Is Beauty
16. Mount Moriah - Miracle Temple
17. True Widow - Circumambulation
18. Mudhoney - Vanishing Point
19. Black Sabbath - 13
20. Charles Bradley - Victim of Love
21. Savages - Silence Yourself
22. Fuzz - Fuzz
23. Anciients - Heart of Oak
24. Besnard Lakes - Until In Excess, Imperceptible UFO
Noah Lyons
1. MIA - Matangi
2. Chelsea Wolfe - Pain Is Beauty
3. David Lynch - The Big Dream
4. Moby - Innocents
Blair Elliot
1.Goat - Live Ballroom Ritual
2. Blood Ceremony - Eldritch Dark
3. Neko Case - The Worse Things Get, The Higher I Fight, The Harder I Fight, The More I love You
4. Purson - The Circle & The Blue Door
5. The Black Angels - Indigo Meadow
6. Lumerians - High Frontier
7. Bombino - Nomad
8. Lee Ranaldo & The Dust - Last Night On Earth
9. Midlake - Antiphon
10. Wooden Shjips - Back On land
11. Kadavar - Abra Kadavar
12. Blues Pills - Devil Man EP
13. Night Beats - Sonic Bloom
14. Sigur Ros - Kveikur
15. Chelsea Wolfe - Pain Is Beauty
16. Mount Moriah - Miracle Temple
17. True Widow - Circumambulation
18. Mudhoney - Vanishing Point
19. Black Sabbath - 13
20. Charles Bradley - Victim of Love
21. Savages - Silence Yourself
22. Fuzz - Fuzz
23. Anciients - Heart of Oak
24. Besnard Lakes - Until In Excess, Imperceptible UFO
