1. 21 Adele
Named for the age Adele was when she recorded it, this blockbuster marks the moment the perpetually brokenhearted singer reached the top of Britain’s soul-revival scene. Full of gospel-tinged pain, remorse and longing, 21 is a nuanced breakup album to give solace to the lovelorn, whether you’re the dumper or the dumpee.
2. Ceremonials Florence and the Machine
Florence Welch’s signature ethereal folk-rock sound cemented itself on her 2009 album, Lungs; on Ceremonials, her ballads sweep to new levels of wild passion on the momentum of pounding drums, lush piano, harp and Welch’s full-bodied wails. Her tales of heartache can be oddly uplifting: when she sings about darkness and demons, we know she will ultimately conquer them.
3. Watch the Throne Kanye West and Jay-Z
Booming yet complex beats, guest spots by Frank Ocean and Q-Tip (plus sampled snippets of Otis Redding and Nina Simone) and a rich spread of topics–wealth, status, religion, urban violence–create a beautifully decadent album by two of hip-hop’s finest artists: men grappling with what it means to be successful and black in America.
4. Let England Shake
PJ Harvey
The British alt-rock queen focuses here on the horrors of World War I but wraps the atrocities in such beautiful muted melodies–aided by autoharp, zither, the occasional xylophone–that at times you forget she is depicting a global cataclysm. Mythic and dreamlike, this is a daring album, featuring some of PJ Harvey’s best work to date.
5. Nostalgia, Ultra
Frank Ocean
After Def Jam shelved his record, Frank Ocean made Nostalgia, Ultra’s bleak yet intriguing R&B tracks available for free on his Tumblr. Though his default mood is morose, his mix-and-match talents are dynamic: he samples, remixes or otherwise borrows from sources ranging from the Eagles’ “Hotel California” to video-game sound effects to a Nicole Kidman monologue from Eyes Wide Shut.
6. W h o k i l l tUnE-yArDs
Merrill Garbus’ one-woman project blends R&B, folk, African beats and pop–a recipe exemplified in “Gangsta,” which uses police sirens and horns to conjure a captivating dance track. Bassist Nate Brenner’s fluid rhythms keep Garbus’ weirdness tethered to earth as her voice flies in all directions, bellowing one minute, cooing the next. A bold experiment by an artist unafraid to make it new.
7. Own Side Now
Caitlin Rose
Just 24, Caitlin Rose has a deep appreciation for vintage country, a winsome voice that at times recalls Rilo Kiley’s Jenny Lewis and a sound that crosses indie folk with classic ’50s Nashville. Best track: the surprisingly light and sweet “Shanghai Cigarettes,” in which she likens quitting smoking to stubbing out a relationship.
8. Hot Sauce Committee Part II The Beastie Boys
In less than three seconds, the synth beats of opening track “Make Some Noise” prove that these middle-aged rappers can produce rhymes with as much verve and energy as they did decades ago. This is not Maybach music; this is hip-hop Beastie Boys–style: goofy, funny and addictive.
9. Barton Hollow Civil Wars
Joy Williams and John Paul White are made for each other–or at least their voices are. On their debut album, the Nashville songwriters make harmonies so textured and compelling that the sparse arrangements seem like more than enough support. Barton Hollow is just the first act in what promises to be a long and fruitful career.
10. El Camino Black Keys
Named for the vintage Chevrolet coupe, El Camino is just as dirty and rough around the edges. From the reverb-heavy “Gold on the Ceiling” to the wailing electric riffs on “Run Right Back,” the Black Keys make good on an old garage-rock sound, while front man Dan Auerbach’s snarling yet soulful croon leaves you with goose bumps in all the right places.
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