tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35742665805279040562023-11-15T10:40:47.203-08:00Other People's WordsAn interview blog by David Levithandavidlevithanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00762768300871943772noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574266580527904056.post-67399356155833166492016-02-07T10:14:00.001-08:002016-02-07T10:14:16.312-08:00The 2015 David Music Poll Results<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The 2015 David
Music Poll Results<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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1)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sufjan
Stevens, Carrie and Lowell<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(35 votes)<o:p></o:p></div>
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2) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Adele, 25<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(34 votes)<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b><o:p></o:p></div>
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3)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Original Cast
Album, Hamilton (32 votes)<o:p></o:p></div>
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4)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Beach House,
Depression Cherry<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(15 votes)<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>CHVRCHES,
Every Open Eye (15 votes)<o:p></o:p></div>
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6)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Grimes, Art
Angel (15votes)<o:p></o:p></div>
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7)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Courtney
Barnett, Sometimes I Sit… (14 votes) <o:p></o:p></div>
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8)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Carly Rae
Jepsen, Emotion (13 votes)<o:p></o:p></div>
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9)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kendrick
Lamar, To Pimp a Butterfly<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(12 votes)<o:p></o:p></div>
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10)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Years &
Years, Communion<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(10 votes)<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryan Adams,
1989 (10 votes)<o:p></o:p></div>
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Runners Up:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">With 9 votes:</i> Florence + the Machine,
How Big How Blue How Beautiful; Sleater-Kinney, No Cities Left to Lose;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">With 8
votes:</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jamie xx, In Colour; Lana Del
Rey, Honeymoon; The Weekend, Beauty Behind the Madness; Beach House, Thank Your
Lucky Stars<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Notes:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was
the most competitive top three we’ve ever had in the music poll, almost resulting
in our first tie in seventeen years. (The tie was broken with the last ballot
in.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s also the first time that a
cast album has appeared in the top three.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(In a weaker year for Adele or Sufjan Stevens, Hamilton would have walked
away with it.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both Adele and Stevens
are previous winners, as is Ryan Adams, who slips into the tenth spot with his
cover album of last year’s number 1. (Is he readying his version of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">25 </i>as we speak?)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Other past winners didn’t fare as well – The
Decemberists eked out four votes, Coldplay not a single one (although, in
fairness, their album came out in December).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And if you’d told me a couple years ago that Carly Rae Jepsen would have
one of the most acclaimed albums of the year, I would have been somewhat
surprised (great as “Call Me Maybe” was).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>CHVRCHES also managed to get only one vote short of their debut album
for their second effort, which is no small feat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And Beach House is, I believe, the first band
to have two albums hit the poll in the same year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This year there were 89 voters in the poll,
up from 86 last year. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Now, the individual Lists:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Sufjan is my
beloved (aka my list)<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Let me just state for the record that this year I had no
trouble whatsoever filling a list of essentials – it was a really good music
year, with a great mix of old favorites and new faces.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And my winner was such a winner, hands down.<o:p></o:p></div>
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1)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sufjan Stevens,
Carrie & Lowell<o:p></o:p></div>
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So beautiful and so depressing, so depressing and so
beautiful at the same time, and as a result it will stand, I think, as one of
my favorite albums of all time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have
listened to it over a hundred times, I’m sure, and I’m still figuring it
out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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2)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>CHVRCHES, Every
Open Eye<o:p></o:p></div>
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Beating the sophomore slump by amplifying what was great
about the first album, and feeling more comfortable in your own creative
skin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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3)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Years &
Years, Communion<o:p></o:p></div>
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Beyond the fact that every interview I read with Olly
Alexander makes me love him more, this had the best single of the year (“King”)
on it, as well as other practically perfect pop songs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do all of the album tracks live up to the
singles?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nope.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Does that matter?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not really.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Here’s hoping they take a page from CHVRCHES with album two, and perfect
what they do rather than trying to do something different.<o:p></o:p></div>
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4)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryn Weaver, The
Fool<o:p></o:p></div>
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A genuine surprise for me, and one that stuck on my
headphones far longer than most other albums this year – I’ve probably listened
to “Pierre” a hundred times, because it always makes me happy with its
escapade.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A fantastic intersection of
singer-songwriter and pop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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5)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Brandi Carlile,
The Firewatcher’s Daughter<o:p></o:p></div>
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One of the best live shows I saw all year was Brandi
Carlile at Newport.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But even on album,
these songs have a fire to them that makes this, I think, her best album to
date.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If she isn’t my generation’s Bonnie
Raitt, I don’t know who is.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Runners Up:<o:p></o:p></div>
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Courtney Barnett’s Sometimes I Sit Around and Think…;
Carly Rae Jepsen’s Emotion (no one-hit wonder, she – this one’s just a wonder);
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>James Bay, The Chaos and the Calm<o:p></o:p></div>
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Favorite songs:<o:p></o:p></div>
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Years & Years, “King”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Ryn Weaver, “Pierre”<o:p></o:p></div>
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JD McPherson, “Let the Good Times Roll”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Matt Nathanson, “Bill Murray”<o:p></o:p></div>
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The Decemberists, “Make You Better” (an incredible song
on an unexceptional album)<o:p></o:p></div>
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Courtney Barnett, “Nobody Cares If You Don’t Go to the
Party”<o:p></o:p></div>
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CHVRCHES, “Leave a Trace” and “Clearest Blue”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Justin Bieber, “What Do You Mean?” (daft lyrics, amazing
arrangement)<o:p></o:p></div>
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The Bear’s Den, “Above the Clouds of Pompeii” <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Chris K Has This
Cross to Bear<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">As always, I'll be
tickled if anyone else picks of my choices.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Album of the Year:
Tau Cross, s/t<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">2. Satan's Wrath, <i>Die
Evil</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">3. The Hell, <i>Brutopia</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">4. Clutch, <i>Psychic
Warfare</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">5. High On Fire, <i>Luminiferous</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">6. Exgenesis, <i>Aphotic
Veil</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">7. Black Fast, <i>Terms
of Surrender</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">8. Bonehunter, <i>Evil
Triumphs Again</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">9. Vampire, <i>Cimmerian
Shade </i>EP<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">10. Enforcer, <i>From
Beyond</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">11. Frosthelm, <i>The
Endless Winter</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">12. Sigh, <i>Graveward</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">13. Ensiferum, <i>One
Man Army</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Best Non-Metal
Release of 2015: Fidlar, <i>Too</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Guilty Pleasure Pop
Song of the Year: Elle King, "Ex's and Ohs"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">How Big, Andrew H. How Beautiful!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Most Essential Album
(tie):<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Hamilton Original
Cast Recording<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Florence and the Machine;
How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Other Essential
Albums:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Sleater-Kinney, No
Cities to Love<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Troye Sivan, Blue
Neighbourhood<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Scott D, In Living Colour<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">1. Sufjan
Stevens, Carrie & Lowell<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">2. Jamie xx,
In Colour<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Hello, Anna Q<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Adele 25.
Nothing else comes close. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Actually there's an
album called Traveller by Chris Stapleton I really like but I wasn't sure how
country would fare on your list, and one called Beautiful Monster by Sky-pony
that I thought might be too obscure. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Hello, Fiona S<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">David Bowie,
Blackstar<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">(ed. note: This is a 2016 album)</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Adele, 25<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Lin-Manuel Miranda
et al, Hamilton the Musical<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Blake N Goes Hollywood<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">All I do with albums
anymore is very quickly sort through them to glean the best couple songs. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">My favorites:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">1) U2
"Songs of Innocence", yes the one you were trying to remove from your
iPhone. It's good! (if you like U2) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">(ed. note: This is a 2014 album)</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">2) Lana Del
Rey "Hollywood"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">3) Courtney
Barnett "Sometimes I Sit…" <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">It's all about the
singles these days. My favorites: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">1) Cloud
Nothings "Hey Cool Kid" <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">2) Cage the Elephant
"Cigarette Dreams" <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">3) Major Lazer
"Lean On"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">4) Coldplay "Magic" <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">5) DNCE "Cake
By the Ocean"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">6) U2 "Iris" <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">7) Lana Del
Rey "High by the Beach" <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">8) Courtney
Barnett "Nobody Really Cares if you go to the party" <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">9) Jeremih ft.
flo rida "Tonight Belongs to You" <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">10) Mark
Farina "Dream Machine" <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">My best retro-find
discovery of 2015, was the band Hospitality. Their first album
"Hospitality" from 2012 was probably my favorite album of 2015.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">The National also
finally caught up to me this year. They are hard to get into! But
so worth it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jackie D Hears the
Lord<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Albums of 2015:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">1. Lord Huron,
Strange Trails (SOOOOO good)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">2. Sunflower Bean,
Show Me Your Seven Secrets<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">"The album
didn't quite do it for me but I couldn't stop listening to the song" of
2015:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">1. The Bright Light
Social Hour, Sweet Madelene<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">As usual, most of
the new stuff I added to my collection was not from 2015. Here are some lists
that are not exactly in order.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Top albums I
discovered in 2015:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">1. The Black Keys,
El Camino (Ironically I listened to this album the year it came out and it did
nothing for me, this year it was an 100% perfect soundtrack to the novel I was
writing)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">2. The Horrors,
Luminous<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">3. Magazine, Real
Life<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">4. The Cars, The
Cars<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">5. Lord Huron,
Lonesome Dreams<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">6. The Horrors,
Skying<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Top songs I
discovered in 2015:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">1. David Bowie,
Dodo/1984 (2003 Remastered)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">2. Squeeze, Take Me
I'm Yours<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">3. The Chieftains,
Shady Grove<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">4. Vashti Bunyan,
Train Song<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">5. Piero Piccioni,
Once and Again-Instrumental (From "La volpe dalla coda di velluto")<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">6. John Denver, I'd
Rather be a Cowboy (Lady's Chains)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">7. The Kinks,
Superman<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">8. Wolf Alice,
Moaning Lisa Smile<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">9. The Fall, Psykick
Dance Hall<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">10. Animotion, I
Want You<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jen S. is Not
Going to Lose Her Shot<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Does the cast
recording for Hamilton count? If so, that's my vote!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">(If not, then:
Adele, 25)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Aaron H Gets So
Emotional<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Carly Rae
Jepsen, E•MO•TION<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Stephen B’s High
Art<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Oh man, I listened
to so little new music this year, but I think I’d have been happy if <i>Art
Angels </i>was the only album released in 2015. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">1. Grimes, <i>Art
Angels</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">2. Sleater-Kinney, <i>No
Cities to Love</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">3. Disasterpiece, <i>It
Follows</i> Original Soundtrack<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">4. Deafheaven, <i>New
Bermuda</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">5. Major Lazer, <i>Peace
Is the Mission</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">6. Florence and the
Machine, <i>How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">7. Sufjan
Stevens, <i>Carrie & Lowell</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">8. Frank Carter
& The Rattlesnakes, <i>Blossom</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">9. Titus Andronicus,
<i>The Most Lamentable Tragedy</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">10. Lil’ BUB, <i>Science
& Magic </i>/ Run the Jewels, <i>Meow the Jewels </i>[cat-related tie]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">My biggest letdown
was <i>To Pimp a Butterfly</i> by Kendrick Lamar. It topped most year-end
lists but I could hardly make it through the overlong track listing once. His
first album is still one of the best rap albums of a generation, but all I can
think of regarding <i>TPAB</i> is that he needed someone to bring him
back down to Earth. The album is overflowing with conflicting ideas and sounds,
barely anything makes it above the noise. Kanye can do over-the-top and make it
work—Kendrick still seems to be figuring that out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">My best
(re)discovery was Hole. Courtney Love has become such a pop-culture punchline
in recent years (and who can really blame her after living out a tragedy on the
world stage?), but <i>Live Through This</i> has to be one of the best
albums of the 90s, hands down. I’m not a big Nirvana guy, but I could listen to
the first few Hole albums endlessly, and I’m sad to think of the Courtney we
missed out on thanks to drugs and the paparazzi. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">My favorite single
of 2015, aside from Grimes’s first two tracks off of <i>Art Angels</i>, is “To
Ü” by Jack Ü (the unholy producing duo of Diplo and Skrillex) featuring
AlunaGeorge. I’m no EDM expert and Diplo acts like the worst man baby in the
world, but it’s a gorgeous love song and the video features a really diverse
range of couples. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">I made it through
the entire year without hearing “Hello” by Adele, “Hotline Bling” by Drake, or
anything off of Carly Rae Jepsen’s <i>E•MO•TION</i>. I wasn’t trying—I
just don’t listen to the radio. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Alex L + Alexander H<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Looking at all these
albums I have written, I realize what a terribly typical white boy I am...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Most Listened to and
Loved (forgive me, David):<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Original Broadway
Cast, Hamilton<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Also loved: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Florence and The
Machine, How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful,'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Chvrches, Every
Open Eye<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Lana Del Rey,
Honeymoon<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Sleater Kinney, No
Cities To Love<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Album By a YouTuber
I Unexpectedly Liked A Lot:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Troye Sivan, Blue
Neighbourhood<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Album That Made Me
Contemplate Mortality:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Sufjan Stevens,
Carrie and Lowell<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Roberto R’s True Grimes<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Grimes, Art Angels
– DUHHHHHHHH<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Rotem M Feels the Burr<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Does Hamilton
Original Broadway Cast Soundtrack count? :)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Aimee F’s Got Recycled Bad Blood<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">In the spirit of TWO
SUMMERS, I’m gonna go with just my top TWO picks for all :).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">The albums I
listened to the most on a loop and provided lots of inspiration:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Ryan Adams, 1989</span><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Various Artists, Hamilton Original Broadway Cast Recording</span><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">And my top two
singles:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Adele, Hello</span><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Fetty Wap, Trap Queens</span><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">And top two older
singles I discovered this year:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: JA;">James Vincent McMorrow, Higher Love</span><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Franz Ferdinand, Fresh Strawberries<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Terra M, Rebel
Rebel<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Easy for me this
time:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Madonna, Rebel Heart<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Chvrches, Every
Open Eye<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Dan P’s Deep Dive<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Here are my
essential picks:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">1) Joanna Newsom,
Divers<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">2) Sufjan Stevens,
Carrie and Lowell<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">3) Patty Griffin,
Servant of Love<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">4) Belle and
Sebastian, Girls in Peacetime Want to Dance<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">5) Florence and the
Machine, How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Favorite New Singles
on Repeat:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">1) Years &
Years, Eyes Shut<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">2) Madonna, Ghosttown<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Favorite Discoveries
from the Recent Past:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">First Aid Kit, Stay
Gold <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Woodkid, The Golden
Age<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Raina T’s Vitals
Statistics<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Tough tough tough,
David!! Almost all my essential albums were from previous years. Alas:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">2015 most
essential album of the year</span></b><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Mutemath, Vitals<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">2015 other
essential albums</span></b><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">The Royal
Concept, Smile<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Glen
Hansard, Didn't He Ramble<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Half Moon
Run, Sun Leads Me On<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">2015 best singles</span></b><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Mutemath, 'Joy
Rides' <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Glen
Hansard, 'Grace Beneath the Pines' <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">The Royal
Concept, 'Higher Than Love' <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Great Good Fine
OK, 'Take It Or Leave It' <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Half Moon
Run, 'Trust'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Windowspeak, 'Narrows'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">big discoveries
from previous years</span></b><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Bleachers, Strange
Desire, 2014<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Young the Giant,
Mind Over Matter, 2014<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Midnight Faces, The
Fire is Gone, 2014<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Civil Twilight, Holy
Weather, 2012<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Two Door Cinema
Club, Beacon, 2012<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Paper Route, The
Peace of Wild Things, 2012<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Paper Route,
Absence, 2009<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">For Bryant P, There’s No Holding Back the Years<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Most Essential
Albums:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">1. Years &
Years, Communion<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">2. EL VY, Return to
the Moon<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">3. Troye Sivan, Blue
Neighbourhood<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">4. Lana del Rey,
Honeymoon<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">5. Grimes, Art
Angels<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Melissa W’s Happy Burr-Day<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Music discovery has
not been my strength this year, but I will say that my entire household is
obsessed with this one:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Various Artists, Hamilton Original
Broadway Cast Recording<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">June, 4, is quite
taken with Leslie Odom, Jr. as Aaron Burr, and keeps asking to see pictures of
both the man and the actor. She's been known to be caught in her room saying to
her Beanie Boos, "Pardon me, are you Aaron Burr, sir?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Hello, Paige H<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">#1 Album*: Adele, 25<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Runners Up: Mumford
& Sons, Wilder Mind<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Cam, Untamed<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">*but, the Hamilton
Soundtrack is easily my most-played album of the year (do Broadway cast albums
count??)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Favorite singles:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">James Bay, Hold Back
the River<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Missy Elliott ft.
Pharrell Williams, WTF (Where They From)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Halsey, New
Americana<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">David Guetta ft.
Sia, Bang my Head<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Rachel Platten,
Fight Song<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Megan B Shakes it Out<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Thanks! I always
enjoy participating and seeing what other people post. It's so hard every year,
but I think I've got a solid top ten albums.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">1. Alabama Shakes,
Sound & Color<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">2. Leon Bridges,
Coming Home<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">3. Courtney Barrett,
Sometimes I Sit and Think, And Sometimes I Just Sit<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">4. Halsey, Badlands<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">5. Mumford and Sons,
Wilder Mind<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">6. Lana del Rey,
Honeymoon<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">7. Joanna Newsome,
Divers<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">8. Father John
Misty, I Love You Honeybear<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">9. Bjork, Vulnicara<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">10. Sufjan Stevens,
Carrie & Lowell<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">10. Frank Turner,
Positive Songs for Negative People<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Okay, yeah, that's
11. Oh well. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Samantha M Awakens the Force of Wilco<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">1. Wilco, Star Wars<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">2. Israel Nash,
Israel Nash's Silver Season<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">3. Courtney
Barnett, Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Crissa’s Even with Stevens<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Here are my
favorites of 2015:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">--best album:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Sufjan Stevens, Carrie
& Lowell<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">--essential albums:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Father John Misty, I
Love You, Honeybear<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Kurt Vile, b’lieve
I’m goin down<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Tame Impala,
Currents<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Jamie xx, In Colour<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Purity Ring, Another
Eternity<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">CHVRCHES, Every Open
Eye<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Beach House,
Depression Cherry<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">--favorite track:
Tame Impala, Let It Happen<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Steven M Flies
High<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Here's my list:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">1. Noel Gallagher's
High Flying Birds, Chasing Yesterday<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">2. Paul Weller,
Saturns Pattern<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">3. Jason Isbell,
Something More Than Free <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">4. Courtney Barnett,
Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I just Sit<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">5. Pokey LaFarge,
Something in the Water<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">6. Jim O'Rourke,
Simple Songs<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">7. Tame Impala,
Currents<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">8. Royce Wood
Junior, The Ashen Tang<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">9. My Morning
Jacket, The Waterfall<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">10. Torres,
Sprinter<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Jinny W’s Magnum Opus<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">First place:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">JERUSALEM STRING
QUARTET. BEETHOVEN, Opus 18 Quartets.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Harmonia Mundi, 2
disc set.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Including Ori Kam,
viola hottie.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Second place: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">THE PALANCE/WOLFF
PROJECT, PART 1: REFLECTING FORWARD. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Contemporary jazz,
available at <a href="http://www.cdbaby.com/"><span style="color: windowtext;">www.cdbaby.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Alluring, jaunty,
serious, will jostle your neurons<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Third place:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">CHRISTIAN TETZLAFF,
TANJA TETZLAFF, LARS VOGT. BRAHMS: THE PIANO TRIOS: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Ondine, 2 disc set.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Includes some of
the most passionate music of the 19th century.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Ellen D’s Sweet Home Alabama<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">I had to think about
mine for a few days, but here’s my list:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">1. Alabama Shakes,
Sound & Color<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">2. Rubblebucket,
Survival Sounds<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">3. Justin Bieber,
Purpose <— I’m not proud of this one…but it is what it is…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">4. Father John
Misty, I Love You Honeybear<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">5. Lupe Fiasco-
Tetsuo & Youth<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"> Elle
King – Love Stuff <— fun fact: I went to college with Elle (but she dropped
out)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"> Adele-
25<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">*I know there are
three 5th place albums…but it was hard to choose…all three were played over and
over equal amounts of time!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Jonathan V’s Great Depression<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Jonathan's Albums
of the Year<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Beach House – DEPRESSION CHERRY<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Father John Misty – I LOVE YOU, HONEYBEAR<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Grimes – ART ANGELS<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Jamie XX – IN COLOUR<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Editors – IN DREAM<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Neon Indian – VEGA INTL NIGHT SCHOOL<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Oneohtrix Point Never – GARDEN OF DELETE<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">8<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Kendrick Lamar – TO PIMP A BUTTERFLY<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">9<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Lower Dens – ESCAPE FROM EVIL<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">10<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Nero –
BETWEEN II WORLDS<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Jonathan's Tracks
of Year<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Nero, The Thrill<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Pictureplane, Riot Porn <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Miike Snow, My Heart is Full <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">A$AP Rocky, Excuse Me<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Mutemath, Used To<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Chvrches, Never Ending Circles<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Grimes, World Princess II<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">8<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Oneohtrix Point Never, No Good<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">9<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Beach House, Space Song <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">The
Wombats, Emoticons<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jeff Z Tells Us to
Look Into the Abyss<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Ohhhh fun!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">1. Chelsea Wolfe-
Abyss<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">2. Chvrches- Every
Open Eye<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">3. Sufjan Stevens-
Carrie and Lowell<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">4. Julien Baker-
Sprained Ankle<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">5. Beach House-
Depression Cherry<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">6. Ryan Adams- 1989<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">7. Grimes- Art
Angels<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">8. Jason Isbell-
Something More Than Free<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">New discovery:
Daughter<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Hello, Paul G<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">I am old and listen
to old music, so the only new ones I can think of from 2015 are:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Adele, 25<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Straight Outta
Compton soundtrack<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Prokofiev:
Symphonies # 4 and 5, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">The Grand Budapest
Hotel soundtrack (released 2014 but I listened to it 2,900 times in 2015)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">These, charting due
to recent deaths, I listen to too:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">The Best of Bowie<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Eagles Greatest Hits<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Please forgive my
lameness. (That’s not an album name. That’s me apologizing.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Jessica S’s Badlands Self<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">1. Original Broadway
Cast, Hamilton<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">2. Halsey, Badlands<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">3. Florence + the
Machine, How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Elisa L’s
Mythologies<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Here are some of my
2015 favorites:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Cheatahs,
Mythologies<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Julia Holter, Have
You in My Wilderness<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Beach House, Thank
Your Lucky Stars AND Depression Cherry<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Jessica Pratt, On
Your Own Love Again<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Kendrick Lamar, To
Pimp a Butterfly<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Kelley Stoltz, In
Triangle Time<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Like Everyone, emily
d’s Working for the Weeknd<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">My tie for the top
two:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Adele, 25; The
Weeknd, Beauty Behind the Madness<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">In no particular
order, other favorites:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Brandi Carlile, The
Firewatcher's Daughter<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Halsey, Badlands<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Julien Baker,
Sprained Ankle<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">CHVRCHES, Every Open
Eye<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Ryan Adams, 1989<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Ashley Monroe, The
Blade<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Sleater-Kinney, No
Cities to Love<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Carly Rae Jepsen,
E-MO-TION<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Best Coast,
California Nights<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Courtney Barnett,
Something I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Beach House,
Depression Cherry<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Justin Bieber,
Purpose (I find myself shocked to be including this but it's got some great
tracks)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Alabama Shakes,
Sound & Color<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Marie A’s
Honeymoon Period<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">I'm going to skew
this poll terribly, because my specialty is listening to albums only 8 other
people have heard. ;-)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Lana Del Rey,
Honeymoon<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Also obsessed with
the Max Richter soundtrack to the HBO series The Leftovers. Holy crap, is that
an awesome piece of artistry. Modern classical. An absolute revelation. I'm
writing a dystopian I hope will touch on themes similar to The Handmaid's Tale
(but, you know, totally unworthy of claiming to), and this album takes me there
Every. Damn. Time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Sometimes Lena R
Sits and Listens to Courtney Barnett<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Courtney Barnett -
Sometimes I sit and think, and sometimes I just sit<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Disclosure - Caracal<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Death Cab for Cutie
- Kintsugi<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Chris Cornell -
Higher Truth<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Kurt Vile - b'lieve
i'm goin down<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Kendrick Lamar - To
Pimp a Butterfly<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Adele - 25<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Bowie- Black Star - <i>wait
- does that count??? (ed. note: Next year)</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Michael B Parties
Like It’s 1989<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Greatest Records of
2015<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">1. 1989 - Ryan Adams<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">2. Sheezus - Lily
Allen<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">3. Zella Day -
Kicker<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">4. Chris Stapleton -
Traveller<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">5. Hamilton<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">6. Royal Blood -
Royal Blood<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">7. Leon Bridges -
Coming Home<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">8. Carly Rae Jepsen
- e.mo.tion<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">9. The Weekend -
Beauty Behind the Madness<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">10. Adele - 25<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Courtney S’s
Founding Father Fabulousness<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">My album of the year
is (predictably) Hamilton!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Also love the Adele
single, Hello. Haven't listened to the rest of the<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">album yet because
I've been so busy with Hamilton.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Tim F Loves Hamilton Like You Do<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">1) Lin-Manuel
Miranda, HAMILTON <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">2) Various artists,
50 SHADES OF GREY soundtrack<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Most-listened-to not
released in 2015:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Thomas Newman,
AMERICAN BEAUTY soundtrack<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">David A Knows What
He Loves<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">MOST ESSENTIAL ALBUM
OF THE YEAR<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Sufjan Stevens,
Carrie and Lowell<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">TEN HONORABLE
MENTIONS<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">1. Sufjan Stevens,
Carrie and Lowell<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">2. Sufjan Stevens,
Carrie and Lowell<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">3. Sufjan Stevens,
Carrie and Lowell<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">4. Sufjan Stevens,
Carrie and Lowell<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">5. Sufjan Stevens,
Carrie and Lowell<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">6. Sufjan Stevens,
Carrie and Lowell<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">7. Sufjan Stevens,
Carrie and Lowell<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">8. Sufjan Stevens,
Carrie and Lowell<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">9. Sufjan Stevens,
Carrie and Lowell<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">10. Sufjan Stevens,
Carrie and Lowell<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">I Love Your List,
Billy M, But You Caint Use My Phone<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Top of my list:
Sufjan Stevens, Carrie & Lowell<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">(Late contender:
Erykah Badu, But You Caint Use My Phone)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Top tier favorites:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Brandi Carlile, The
Firewatcher's Daughter<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Courtney Barnett,
Sometimes I Sit and Think, And Sometimes I Just Sit<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Elle King, Love
Stuff<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Adele, 25<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Pop:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Years & Years,
Communion<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Marina and The
Diamonds, FROOT<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Carly Rae Jepsen,
E•MO•TION<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Tiffany S’s Capitol List<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Albums<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">1) Hamilton Original
Cast Recording<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">2) Misterwives - Our
Own House<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">3) Of Monsters and
Men, Beneath the Skin<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">4) Ryan Adams, 1989<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">5) Halsey, Badlands<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">6) Mumford and Sons,
Wilder Minds<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">7) Adele, 25<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Elizabeth E Takes
Me to Chvrch<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">MOST ESSENTIAL<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">CHVRCHES, Every Open
Eye - it was a close race with Adele, but this album brought me the most joy<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">OTHER ESSENTIALS<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Adele, 25<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Misterwives, Our Own
House<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Halsey, Badlands<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Years & Years,
Communion<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Of Monsters and Men,
Beneath the Skin<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Florence and the
Machine, How Big, How Bold, How Beautiful<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Sufjan Stevens,
Carrie & Lowell<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lance R Spies,
with his Every Eye…<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">CHVRCHES, Every Open
Eye <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">runner-up <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">First-Aid Kit, Stay
Gold <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">(ed.
note:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is from 2014, albeit still
great)<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">HAMILTON <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">(ed.
note:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You are just jumping on the
bandwagon, Lance.)<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">HAMILTON <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">HAMILTON <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">HAMILTON <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">HAMILTON <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">(i haven't actually
heard the Hamilton soundtrack yet, I JUST KNOW IM GOING TO LOVE IT)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Carol L’s Carrie Diary<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">How fun! Here are
some picks:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Sufjan Stevens,
Carrie & Lowell (no contest!)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Joanna Newsom, Divers
(… but this is a close second)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Bjork, Vulnicura<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Beirut, No No No<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">The Decemberists,
What a Terrible World, What a Beautiful World<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Best song: Fourth of
July, Sufjan Stevens; Divers, Joanna Newsom<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Best live: Sufjan
Stevens, Carrie & Lowell tour<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Best tour costume: <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=bjork+governors+ball&espv=2&biw=1374&bih=978&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiB5vzMvs_KAhVLWD4KHX_kAO8Q_AUICCgD"><span style="color: windowtext;">Bjork</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Best use of music in
TV: Please Like Me<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Best use of music
in film: Mommy, dir. Xavier Dolan (technically a 2014 movie, but with a 2015 US
release date)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Andrea R’s Wild Heart<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Miguel, Wildheart<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Adele, 25<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Kendrick Lamar, To
Pimp a Butterfly<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">FKA Twigs, M3LL155X<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Grimes, Art Angels<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">The Weeknd, Beauty
Behind the Madness<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Hello, Jill S<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Adele, 25<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">The Weekend, Beauty
Behind the Madness<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Florence and the
Machine, How Big How Blue How Beautiful<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Lauren S Hits the Dopamine Hard<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Here's my list for
2015:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">1. Third Eye Blind,
Dopamine<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">2. Vance Joy, Dream
Your Life Away<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">3. Adele, 25<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">4. Ryan Adams, 1989<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">5. Lord Huron,
Strange Trails<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">6. Mumford &
Sons, Wilder Mind<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">7. Of Monsters and
Men, Beneath the Skin<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">8. Joy Williams,
VENUS<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Favorite Singles:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">1. X Ambassadors,
Renegades<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">2. Banners, Shine a
Light<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">3. Cloves, Don't You
Wait<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">4. Vance Joy, Snaggletooth<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Nick E Searches High and Finds Lowell<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">This is the first
time in years I’ve had a list of albums I didn’t just like but absolutely
loved. It’s difficult to rank them, but I’ll try!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">1. Sufjan Stevens,
Carrie & Lowell<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">This one edges the
others out because it feels the most like a cohesive album to me. The whole
thing’s great, and I sometimes forget which song is which, but only because
they all work so well as a part of the whole. It’s also the most emotionally
affecting album I’ve experienced in a while.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">2. Chvrches, Every
Open Eye<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Tons of fun,
reminiscent of my favorite 80s music but still fresh, and just when you think
you’ve got a handle on the band’s formula, they’ll throw in a track that
changes everything up. Also the lyrics are nebulous in a way that I find pretty
engaging – I could make a pretty good case that “Playing Dead” is not a love
song but is actually about when you’re at a crowded concert and the person in
front of you keeps stepping back into your personal space. (This is why I hate
ponytails.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">3. Years and Years,
Communion<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">In a less stellar
year, this could easily have been my #1. Lots of fun. Diminished somewhat,
perhaps, by the fact that so much of the album was released in advance; the
album was pretty familiar to me by the time it finally dropped. Of all the
groups listed here, I’m most excited to see what these guys do next.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">4. Beach House,
Thank Your Lucky Stars<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">I do, Beach House. I
do.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">5. Beach House,
Depression Cherry<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Two Beach House
albums in a single year was a great treat. Most of the other albums on my list
are here in part for their lyrics, but I enjoy Beach House entirely for the
sounds, which tend to fade into the background in a way I enjoy. I don’t know
what any of these songs are about after dozens of listens, and I really only
have a vague sense of liking “Lucky Stars” a little more than “Cherry.” I just
like having these albums on whether I’m actively listening or not.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Scott T’s Full Disclosure<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Essential Album of
2015<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Disclosure - Caracal<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">I was on a Drum
& Bass kick for much of 2015. Two essential D&B albums I came
across (that I doubt anyone in this poll will have interest in)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Nelver - Black &
White (2014)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Breakshift - All the
Dreams You Never Had (2011)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Some Top Songs of
2015<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Artist - Song<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Ratatat - Cream on
Cone<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">East India Youth -
Turn Away<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Amason - Duvan<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Icky Blossoms - In
Folds<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Lower Dens -
To Die in L.A.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">RAC - Back of the
Car<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">FFS - Call Girl<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Disclosure -
Nocturnal<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Best Coast -
California Nights<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Freezepop - Phantoms<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Silence Groove -
Reflection<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Napoleon - Moogie
Wonderland<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Where it Happens for Caleb H<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Top Five Albums:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">1. Lin-Manuel
Miranda, Hamilton<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Best Song: The Room
Where it Happens<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">2. Tobyfox,
Undertale OST<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Best Song:
Megalovania<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">3. Twenty One
Pilots, Blurryface<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Best Song: Ride<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">4. Sufjan Stevens,
Carrie and Lowell<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Best Song: The Only
Thing<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">5. Courtney Barnett,
Sometimes I Sit and Think and Sometimes I Just Sit<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Best Song: Elevator
Operator<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Best Discovery of
Old Album: Django Django, Django Django<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Not-A-Real-Album
Honorable Mention: Every Song in Steven Universe<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Saved-My-Life
Single: Janelle Monae, Dance Apocalyptic<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Favorite Music
Video At This Second: Miike Snow, Genghis Khan<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Jon S thinks Grimes is an Angel!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">I didn’t have much
trouble picking my favorites this year because there weren’t a whole lot of
them. But I wouldn’t say it was a disappointing year for music, because the
ones I loved, I REALLY loved. Especially my top two, <i>Art Angels</i> by
Grimes and <i>Sore</i> by Dilly Dally.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">1. Grimes, <i>Art
Angels</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">2. Dilly Dally, <i>Sore</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">3. Courtney Barnett,
<i>Sometimes I Sit and Think and Sometimes I Just Sit</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">4. Dan Friel, <i>Life</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">5. CHVRCHES, <i>Every
Open Eye</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">6. Jamie XX, <i>In
Colour</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">7. Saintseneca, <i>Such
Things</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">8. Waxahatchee, <i>Ivy
Tripp</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">9.
Pinkshinyultrablast, <i>Everything Else Matters</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">10. Diet Cig, <i>Over
Easy</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Will W Hits the Beach<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<u style="text-underline: #191919;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Albums</span></u><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">1. Beach House, <i>Thank
Your Lucky Stars </i>and <i>Depression Cherry</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">2. Sufjan Stevens, <i>Carrie
and Lowell</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">3. Courtney Barnett,
<i>Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">4. Grimes, <i>Art
Angels </i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<u style="text-underline: #191919;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Songs</span></u><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Girlpool,
"Before the World Was Big" <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Beach House,
"Sparks"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Joanna Newsom,
"Anecdotes"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Grimes, "Belly
of the Beat"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Sufjan Stevens,
"The Only Thing"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Courtney Barnett,
"Depreston"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Beach House,
"All Your Yeahs"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Carly Rae Jepsen,
"Your Type"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">CHVRCHES,
"Leave a Trace" <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Tobias Jesso Jr.,
"Hollywood" <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">John A Cries Foal<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">1. Foals, What Went
Down<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">2. Tame Impala,
Currents<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">3. Viet Cong, Viet
Cong<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">4. Metz, II<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">5. Father John
Misty, I Love You, Honey Bear<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">6. Deerhunter:
Fading Frontier <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">7. The Decemberists,
What a Terrible World, What a Beautiful World <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">8. Torche, Restarter<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">9. Chvrches, Every
Open Eye<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">10. Wavves &
Cloud Nothings, No Life for Me<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Brian M Cries Uncle<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Well, it was another
year of great music. Here's my 2¢<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">1. Uncle Acid, The
Night Creeper<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">2, Blur, The Magic
Whip<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">3. Ryley Walker,
Primrose Green<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">4. Blood Warrior,
Letter Ghost<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">5. The Decemberists,
What A Terrible World...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">6. Jose Gonzalez,
Vestiges & Claws<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">7. The Brian
Jonestown Masscre, Mini Album Thingy Wingy (aka Pish)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">8. Jordaan Mason,
Decline of Stupid Fucking Western Civilization<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">9. Kurt Cobain,
Montage of Heck<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">10. Marilyn Manon,
The Pale Emperor<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">11. Big Blood,
Double Days I & II<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">12. Belle and
Sebastian, Girls in Peacetime Want to Dance<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">13. Death and
Valnilla, To Where the Wild Things Are<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">14. Bjork, Vulnicura<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Normally, I'm not a
fan of Live albums, but this year there were many great ones. So here's my
favorites, as a bonus:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">The White Stripes,
Under Amazonian Lights<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Ryan Adams, Live at
Carnegie Hall<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Edward Sharpe &
The Magnetic Zeros, Live in No Particular Order<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">The Legendary Pink
Dots, Come Out From the Shadows 4<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Placebo, MTV
Unplugged<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">The Rolling Stones,
The Marquee Club Live in 1972<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Dr. Dog, Live at a
Flamingo Hotel<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Belle and
Sebastian, Live 2015<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Sarah Maria V Whips it Good<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">1. Blur, The Magic
Whip<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">2. Placebo, MTV
Unplugged<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">3. Bjork, Vulnicura<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Brant R Shows Some Style<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
My Essential Albums of 2015:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
Car Seat Headrest/Teens of Style<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
Destroyer/Poison Season<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
Mac DeMarco/Another One<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
Beach House/Depression Cherry<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
Beach House/Thank Your Lucky Stars<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
Elvis Depressedly/New Alhambra<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
Alabama Shakes/Sound & Color<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
Jamie xx/In Colour<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
Mac McCaughan/Non-Believers<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
Kendrick Lamar/To Pimp a Butterfly<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
Tame Impala/Currents<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
Shamir/Ratchet<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
Sufjan Stevens/Carrie & Lowell<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sheer Mag/II 7" [EP]<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Some of My Essential Tracks of 2015:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yes I'm Changing/Tame Impala<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What Do You Mean?/Justin Bieber<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Run Away with Me/Carly Rae Jepsen<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Natalie Wood/TV Girl<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On the Regular/Shamir<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
REALiTi/Grimes<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Pass the Vibes/Donnie Trumpet<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Fan the Flames/Sheer Mag<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Something Soon/Car Seat Headrest<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Only Do/Mac McCaughan<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
All Your Yeahs/Beach House<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Can We Still Be Friends/Tobias Jesso Jr.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Don't Wanna Fight/Alabama Shakes<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Young/Frankie Cosmos<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Wastes of Time/Elvis Depressedly<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hard 2 Wait/iji<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Times Square/Destroyer<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Debbie Downer/Courtney Barnett<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ong Ong/Blur<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
While the Song Remains the Same/Noel Gallagher<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Play for Today/Belle and Sebastian<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Without Me/Mac DeMarco<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Albums It Took Me Until 2015 to Find Essential:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
James Carr/You Got My Mind Messed Up [1967]<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Neko Case/Fox Confessor Brings the Flood [2006]<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Christopher Cross/Christopher Cross [1979]<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Donovan/What's Bin Did and What's Bin Hid [1965]<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ducktails/The Flower Lane [2013]<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Daryl Hall and John Oates/Abandoned Luncheonette [1973]<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hefner/Dead Media [2001]<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hollywood Brats/Hollywood Brats [1973]<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Carole King/Music [1971]<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart/Belong [2011]<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Rubinoos/The Rubinoos [1977]<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Paul Siebel/Woodsmoke And Oranges [1970]<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Starbuck/Moonlight Feels Right [1976]<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Supertramp/Breakfast in America [1979]<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Maggie S Lists All the Kings<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">As ever, my list is
singles, not albums. And it's songs I found this year, not necessarily songs
released this year.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">1. Nieves -
"Winter"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">2. Raury -
"God's Whisper"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">3. The Chemical
Brothers feat Miguel & Lorde - "This is Not a Game"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">4. Manicanparty -
"You Are My Soul"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">5. Inner Oceans -
"I Don't Mind"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">6. Christine and the
Queens - "No Harm is Done" <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">7. Cold War Kids -
"First"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">8. SAFIA -
"Counting Sheep"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">9. Ra Ra Riot &
Rostam - "Water"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">10. Editors -
"All the Kings"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">11. AWOLNATION -
"Jailbreak"*<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">12. Brighton -
"Forest Fire"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">*This song struck me
so hard as I was driving to Kansas that I actually had to pull over by the side
of the road because I was not able to listen to it and drive at the same time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Christopher P Will Always Be the King of Hayne<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">1. Emile Hayne, We
Fall<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">2. Chvrches, Every
Open Eye<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">3. Ben Folds, So
There<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">4. Marina and the
Diamonds, Froot<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">5. Little Boots,
Working Girl<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">6. Monarchy, Abnocto<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">7. Rebecca Ferguson,
Lady Sings The Blues<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">8. Hawksley Workman,
Old Cheetah<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">9. Lana Del Rey,
Honeymoon<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">10. Patty Griffin,
Servant Of Love<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Joe M’s Visions of Joanna<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Queens reigned
supreme this year. The year saw the heaviest rotation and most moments of
musical enlightenment from these two albums. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Joanna Newsom,
Divers<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Courtney Barnett,
Sometimes I Sit and Think and Sometimes I Just Sit<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Top tracks:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Courtney Barnett,
Pedestrian at Best<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Shamir, On the
Regular<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Chance the Rapper,
Sunday Candy<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Kurt Vile, Pretty
Pimpin'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Kendrick Lamar, King
Kunta<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Best music video:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Chance the Rapper,
Sunday Candy<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Hello, Corey W<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">1. Adele, 25<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">2. Sufjan Stevens,
Carrie and Lowell ( I know, but I’m going for sing-along-ability this year and
Adele nailed that.) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">3. Of Monsters and
Men, Beneath the Skin<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">4. The Weeknd,
Beauty Behind the Madness <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Coe B’s Treasury Department<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Here is my top album
of 2015:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">1. Hamilton
(Broadway Cast Album)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Runners up (in no
particular order)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">* Halsey
(Badlands) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">I love writing to
her music!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">* Kendrick Lamar (To
Pimp a Butterfly)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Lyrics, lyrics,
lyrics! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">* Grimes (Art Angel)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Another nice artist
to write to. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">* Grace Acladna
(Songs of the Subconscious)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">She’s a new artist
with just a 4-song EP right now. Glad I “discovered” her in 2015. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">* Alessia Cara
(Know-It-All)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Cute, fun, pop
music.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">* Lianne La Havas
(Blood) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">I love her voice and
her jazzy vibe!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">* The Weekend
(Beauty Behind the Madness) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">My niece got me into
him, but now I have to admit, he’s my guilty pleasure… and my ringtone! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Suf’s Up for Joseph H <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Here's my list for
2015:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Sufjan Stevens:
Carrie & Lowell <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Joanna Newsom:
Divers<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Jamie XX: In Colour<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Grimes: Art Angels<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Disclosure: Caracal<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Beach House:
Depression Cherry<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Father John Misty:
'I Love You, Honeybear'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Kevin K Finds Some Cities to Love<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">The year started off
very strong but tailed off about mid-year. I found that lots of albums had some
great singles, but not too many great albums.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Top Ten Best Albums<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"> 1. No
Cities to Love – Sleater-Kinney<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"> 2.
Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit – Courtney Barnett<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"> 3.
Ratchet - Shamir<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"> 4.
Poison Season – Destroyer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"> 5. Back
On Top - The Front Bottoms<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"> 6.
Glitterbug – The Wombats<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"> 7.
Another Eternity – Purity Ring<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"> 8.
Music Complete – New Order<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"> 9.
Sound & Color – Alabama Shakes<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"> 10. All Your
Favorite Bands – Dawes<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Best Songs of the
Year<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"> *
A New Wave - Sleater–Kinney<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"> *
On The Regular - Ratchet<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"> *
Dream Lover – Destroyer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"> *
Don’t Wanna Fight – Alabama Shakes<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"> *
All Your Favorite Bands – Dawes<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"> *
Flood on the Floor – Purity Ring<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"> *
I Remember – Bully<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"> *
Look At Your Life – Death<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"> *
Huarache Lights – Hot Chip<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"> *
Should Have Know Better – Sufjan Stevens<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"> *
King Kunta – Kendrick Lamar<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"> *
Make You Better – The Decembrists<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"> *
Lifted Up (1985) - Passion Pit<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"> *
Dreams – Beck<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"> *
The Legend of Che Guerrero – The Mountain Goats<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"> *
Aqua Profunda! - Courtney Barnett<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"> *
America – First Aid Kit<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"> *
Getting Ready to Get Down – Josh Ritter<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"> *
Shock n Awe – The Go Rounds<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"> *
This Is Not a Party – The Wombats<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"> *
Random Name Generator – Wilco<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"> *
Monday (Overtime I Turn Around) - The Bottle Rockets<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"> *
Pretty Pimpin – Kurt Vile<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"> *
Knee Me On The Fire Escape – Rhett Miller<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"> *
Cough It Out - The Front Bottoms<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"> *
Biscuits – Kacey Musgraves<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"> *
S.O.B. - Nathaniel Ratliff & The Night Sweats<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"> *
Bad Blood – Ryan Adams<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"> *
Number One – Tuxedo<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 25.0pt; mso-list: l5 level1 lfo6; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Singularity
– New Order<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Andy P Takes Communion<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Years & Years,
Communion<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Florence and the
Machine, How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Adele, 25<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Not sure how
helpful that is. I doubt there’s a place for podcasts or NPR’s Marketplace on
the list… :)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Dean B Carries On<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">I've got a top 6
this year and a link to my Best of 2015 Spotify mix. Hope that gets me in
the door!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">2015 mix:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"><a href="https://open.spotify.com/user/deanbabin/playlist/3FQUJ6BJXmcnqKAfF58Vt0"><span style="color: windowtext;">https://open.spotify.com/user/deanbabin/playlist/3FQUJ6BJXmcnqKAfF58Vt0</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Favorite Albums:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">1. Sufjan Stevens,
Carrie & Lowell<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">2. Wilco, Star Wars<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">3. Beach House,
Thank Your Lucky Stars / Depression Cherry<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">4. Ben Folds, So
There<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">5. Nathaniel
Rateliff and the Night Sweats<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">6. Ryan Adams, 1989<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Favorite TV Shows:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">- Detectorists<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">- Better Call Saul<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">- Last Man on Earth<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Ronnie A’s Sound Tracks<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Best soundtracks
2015<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Hamilton</span></i><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Love & Mercy</span></i><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">, for its re-creation of “God Only Knows” and
“Good Vibrations”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Craig Armstrong, <i>Far
from the Madding Crowd</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Carter Burwell, <i>Carol</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Carter Burwell, <i>Mr.
Holmes</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Michael Brook, <i>Brooklyn</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Amy Winehouse, <i>Amy</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Anne Dudley, <i>Poldark</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Ben Salisbury and
Geoff Barrow, <i>Ex Machina<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-language: JA;">David G’s Tame (but
Current) List<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">This isn't how I
expected my year to turn out, but it is exactly that. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Tame Impala, Currents<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Troye Sivan, Blue
Neighbourhood<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Holly Miranda, Holly
Miranda<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Bjork, Vulnicura<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Joanna Newsom,
Divers<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">D'Angelo, Black
Messiah<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Wolf Alice, My Love
is Cool<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Kamasi Washington,
The Epic<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Wilco, Star Wars<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">FFS, FFS<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Joel P Plays Pretend<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">10 best EPs or LPs
to play start to finish<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Seinabo Sey,
“Pretend”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Purity Ring, “Begin
Again”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">The Japanese House,
“Clean” or “Pools to Bathe In”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Years & Years,
“Real”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">MNEK, “Small Talk”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Oh Wonder, “Oh
Wonder”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Adele, “25”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Carly Rae Jepsen,
“Emotion”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">CHRVCHES, “Every
Open Eye”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Disclosure,
“Caracal”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Full list with
singles:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"><a href="https://medium.com/@joelcifer/the-best-music-i-came-across-in-2015-fc1c32e88ec5#.1k35y9yr5"><span style="color: windowtext;">https://medium.com/@joelcifer/the-best-music-i-came-across-in-2015-fc1c32e88ec5#.1k35y9yr5</span></a> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">It’s Not Hard Out
Here for a Pimp on Giles G’s List<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Here's my little
list<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">1. Kendrick
Lamar - To Pimp A Butterfly<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">2. Blur - The
Magic Whip<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">3. Courtney
Barnett - Sometimes I Sit And Think<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">4. Dr. Dre -
Compton<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">5. Sufjan
Stevens - Carrie + Lowell<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">6. Jamie XX -
In Colour<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">7. The Weeknd
- Beauty Behind The Madness<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">8. Leon
Bridges - Coming Home<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">9. Vince
Staples - Summertime '06<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">10. Kamasi
Washington - Epic<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Special mention for
D'Angelo, who is inclusion this year slightly confused by the release of his
album at the very end of '14. It was certainly one of the best albums of
last year. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Phil B Votes for Hamilton<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">#1 Album of the
Year: Hamilton Soundtrack -- a transcendental hip hop album. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">#2 Album of the
Year: Kendrick Lamar -- To Pimp a Butterfly<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Hello, Cassandra P<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Adele, 25<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Miguel, Wildheart<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Puff Daddy & the
Family, MMM<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Erykah Badu, But You
Cain't Use My Phone<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Drake & Future,
What Time to Be Alive<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Drake, If You're
Reading This It's Too Late<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Amy Winehouse &
Antonio Pinto, Amy: The Original Soundtrack<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Zach F’s 10-Dollar Choice<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Most Essential Album
2015:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Hamilton Original
Broadway Cast Recording<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Runners up:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Bjork, Vulnicura<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">The Arcs, Yours
Dreamily<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Speedy Ortiz, Foil
Deer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Punch Brothers, The
Phosphorescent Blues<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Singles:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Heartless Bastards,
Gates of Dawn<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Speedy Ortiz,
Raising the Skate<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Tame Impala, Let it
Happen<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Courtney Barnett,
Pedestrian at Best<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Django Django, First
Light<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Jose Gonzalez, Leaf
Off / The Cave<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Hello, Eamon T<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Adele, 25<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Ryan Adams, 1989<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">New Order, Music
Complete<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Beach House, Depression
Cherry/Thank Your Lucky Stars<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">David Bowie,
Blackstar<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Sleater-Kinney, No
Cities To Love<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Blur, The Magic Whip<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Disclosure, Caracal<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Lana del Rey,
Honeymoon<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Florence and the
Machine, How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Carly Rae Jepsen,
E•MO•TION<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Kari L’s Great Shakes<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Honestly I listened
to a lot of old soul, but in between that there was also:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Alabama Shakes,
Sound and Color<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Sleater-Kinney, No
Cities To Love<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">The Decemberists,
What a Terrible World What a Beautiful World<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Beirut, No, No, No<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Holly Golightly,
Slowtown Now!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Beach House,
Depression Cherry<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Leon Bridges, Coming
Home<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Soundtrack: The
Diary of A Teenage Girl<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Songs:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Hate Street Dialogue
w/Rodriguez, The Wanderings of Avenir<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Spectre, Radiohead<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Drew L’s Favorite Tragedy<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Just going with my
top record this year:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Titus Andronicus,
The Most Lamentable Tragedy<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Teri Y Shows His Emotion<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Lot's of fun singles
in 2015, but only two whole albums really stuck with me all year.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Carly Rae Jepsen,
Emotion<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Marina and the
Diamonds, Froot<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Eugene K’s Up Late Nights Thinking of This List<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Jeremih, Late
Nights: The Album<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">If Prince and Drake
had a kid, I feel like his name would be Jeremih. Fetty could be a distant
cousin.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Drake, If you’re
reading this it’s too late<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Was it possible to
escape Drake in 2015? There is no escape velocity (not that I’m even looking
to).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Marian Hill, Sway<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">From the cello(?)
notes and the simple swing HIll lends to the proceedings I was hooked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Fetty Wap, Fetty Wap<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Who knew that the
twisting vocal lines Fetty Wap wraps around the sparse productions could
support an entire album (and would wrap themselves so tightly around my
eardrums)? I want to make an allusion to Joni Mitchell, but Fetty’s melodic
lines aren’t really as far out there.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Justin Bieber,
Purpose<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">If everything on
this album were as good as the first three singles, it’d top this list; as it
is, I don’t actually know what’s on this other than those singles but that's
enough for a mention.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Original Broadway
Cast, Hamilton<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Suddenly Hamilton
was everywhere. Early in the year I tried (and failed) and tried (and failed)
to get tickets to this at the Public. Then I did the same after the transition
to Broadway. As luck would have it, a friend had extra tickets and I didn’t
give up my shot. From Lin-Manuel’s assured performance at the White House all
those years ago to this must have been an amazing journey. A mix of musical
forms, the Broadway tunes work best for me (tho nothing tops that first
performance all those years ago in front of the 44th president of the United
States.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Jen H. S. Gives Lin a Win<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">#1 Hamilton Broadway
Cast Recording (of course)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Blue Neighborhood:
Troye Sivan<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">1989: Ryan Adams<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Paper Gods: Duran
Duran<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">No Place in Heaven:
Mika<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Kiddo: Tove Stryke<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">The Desired Effect:
Brandon Flowers<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Sound & Color:
Alabama Shakes<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Vamala: Champs<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Our Own House:
MisterWives<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Hello, Danielle P<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">My list remains
unapologetically popular and half the songs may have been discovered from the
CW or during Teen Wolf. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Album:<b> </b></span><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Adele,
25 <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Singles:</span><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">1)Adele, Hello<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">2)Drake, Hotline
Bling<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">3)Little Big Town,
Girl Crush<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">4)One Direction,
Perfect<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">5)Iggy Azelia, Rita
Ora, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">6)Selena Gomez, Same
Old Love<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">7)Dierks Bentley,
Riser <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">8)Nikki Minaj, Pills
and Potions<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">9)And The World was
Gone, Snow Ghosts<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">10) Florence and The
Machine, Ship to Wreck<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Still on Repeat from last year --</span><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Album: Taylor Swift,
1989<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Singles: Damien
RIce, Colour Me In<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Ed Sheeran, I see
Fire<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ben L’s a Chelsea
Girl<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Ranked my top 5; the
rest in no particular order (and truly all over the place)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">1. Chelsea Wolfe,
Abyss<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">2. Kelela,
Hallucinogen<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">3. Kacey Musgraves,
Pageant Material<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">4. Years &
Years, Communion <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">5. Carly Rae Jepsen,
Emotion<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Tinashe,
Amethyst <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">FKA Twigs, M3LL155X<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Grimes, Art Angels<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Purity Ring, Another
Eternity <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Speedy Ortiz, Foil
Deer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Shamir, Ratchet<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Shlohmo, Dark Red<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">The Weeknd, Beauty
Behind the Madness<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Troye Sivan, Blue
Neighborhood<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Jazmine Sullivan,
Reality Show<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Jamie xx, In Colour<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Justin Bieber,
Purpose<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">The Soft Moon,
Deeper<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">PWR BTTM, Ugly
Cherries<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Leila S’s Caught
the Glitterbug<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"> I am terrible
at knowing which year albums actually come out in. But I'm pretty sure the
Wombats' GLITTERBUG came out in 2015, in which case it was my favorite album of
the year. (Also my favorite show of the year.) The other essential albums of
the year that's immediately coming to my mind are EVERYTHING'S COMING UP ROSES,
by Night Terrors of 1927; and GIRLS IN PEACETIME WANT TO DANCE, by Belle &
Sebastian. And my single of the year is either "Give Me a Try," by
the Wombats, or "Clearest Blue," by CHVRCHES. There were loads of other
songs and albums I loved this year, but for all I know they were from 2014 or
even some other, indeterminate year in the past.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Hello, Alicia G<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Album of the year:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">1. ADELE 25<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">
(Song of the year: "Hello" - duh!)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">2. Kamasi Washington
"The Epic"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">3. The Weekend -
"Beauty Behind the Madness"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">4. Kendrick Lamar
"To Pimp a Butterfly"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">5. FKA Twigs
"M3LL155X"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The Only Thing for
Jeffrey W<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">In no particular
order aside from the top two:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">1.
Sufjan Stevens, Carrie & Lowell<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">2.
Adele, 25<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">3.
Grimes, Art Angels<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">4.
Carly Rae Jepsen, E•MO•TION<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">5.
Sleater-Kinney, No Cities to Love<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">6.
Chvrches, Every Open Eye<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">7.
Hamilton Broadway Cast Recording<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Dash G Flies Like
a Butterfly…<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Looks like I sent
the list myself like an idiot. Here's my list. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">1. Kendrick Lamar,
To Pimp a Butterfly <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">2. Kamasi
Washington, The Epic <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">3. Homeshake,
Midnight Snack <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">4. Jamie xx, In
Colour<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">5. Vince
Staples, Summertime '06<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">6. Tame Impala,
Currents<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">7. Drake, If You're
Reading This It's Too Late<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">8. Adele, 25<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">9. A$AP Rocky,
At. Long. Last. ASAP<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">10. FKA twigs,
M3LL155X<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Honorary Mentions<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">- Tobias Jesso Jr.,
Goon <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">- Chvrches, Every
Open Eye<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">- Earl Sweatshirt, I
Don't Like Shit, I Don't Go Outside<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Bill C Carries
That Load<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">1. Sufjan
Stevens, Carrie & Lowell<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">2. Brandi
Carlile, Firewatchers Daughter<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">3. Adele, 25<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">4. Oh Wonder,
Oh Wonder<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">5. Justin Bieber,
Purpose<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Susan V’s Grateful Playlist<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">I know I am too late
and most of my albums aren’t even from 2015, but I am submitting anyway!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">The Grateful Dead,
American Beauty (I heard “Ripple” playing over the speakers of Blue Ribbon
Bakery while at lunch with Cece Bell in the spring and then who should be
playing in SF over the ALA weekend??? The Dead were the soundtrack to a
very exciting year for Cece, EL DEAFO, and me.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Future Islands,
Singles (Tamar and I took a road trip to the Osheaga Music Festival in Montreal
in August, where we had the best time eating poutine and sitting in beautiful
Parc Jean Drapeau. We were totally blown away by Samuel T. Herring’s
devil-summoning voice and dance moves.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Straight Up,
Badfinger (Got it on vinyl recently and it just makes me very happy)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Nathaniel Rateliff
& the Night Sweats, same (Music for the honky tonk Mississippi girl I am
deep inside)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">LP1, FKA Twigs (Cannot
get enough of her kooky style)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Lawrence U Doesn’t Keep His Music at Bay<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">1. Chaos and the
Calm - James Bay<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">2. Dopamine - Børns<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">3. Our Own House -
Misterwives<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">4. Depression Cherry
- Beach House<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">5. Blue Neighborhood
- Troye Sivan<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">6. 25 - Adele<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">7. Higher Than Here
- James Morrison<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">8. Time - Mikky Ekko<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">9. Title - Meghan
Trainor<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">10, VHS - X
Ambassadors <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Benjy A’s Got the
Ghosts and the Struts<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Ghosts in My Head
by Andrew Watt and Have You Heard by The Struts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Lucas K Really Really Really Really Really Likes…<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;">Carly Rae Jepsen,
Emotion<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #1e3f10; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Kristin E Ends Our Poll With
Another One<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #1e3f10; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Mac
DeMarco, Another One<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #1e3f10; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Car
Seat Headrest, Teens of Style<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #1e3f10; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Sufjan
Stevens, Carrie & Lowell<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #1e3f10; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Yo La
Tengo, Stuff Like That There<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #1e3f10; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Blur,
The Magic Whip<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #1e3f10; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Beach
House, Thank Your Lucky Stars<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #1e3f10; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Shamir,
The Ratchet<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #1e3f10; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Grimes,
Art Angels<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #1e3f10; mso-fareast-language: JA;">And
because I don't live alone:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #1e3f10; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Imagine
Dragons, Smoke + Mirrors<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #1e3f10; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Fall
Out Boy, American Psycho<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #1e3f10; mso-fareast-language: JA;">And
because I don't know the whole album but still have ears:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="color: #1e3f10; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Carly
Rae Jepsen, "Run Away With Me"</span><span style="mso-fareast-language: JA;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
davidlevithanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00762768300871943772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574266580527904056.post-73625723390186468122010-08-13T07:44:00.000-07:002010-08-13T07:50:12.027-07:00Cecil Castellucci's Rose Sees RedI love Cecil Castellucci’s writing because it’s fearless without being invulnerable, brave without any hint of bravado. Cecil keeps it real, and knows that people always have stories inside that worry them, buoy them, and conflict them. Her new novel, <em>Rose Sees Red</em>, is a beautiful evocation of profound vulnerability in a deeply uncertain world. Her main character, Rose, is recovering from the defection of a best friend and a massive insecurity about her own talent as a dancer, which is compounded by the fact that she’s going to one of the most prestigious arts high schools in the country. <em>Rose Sees Red</em> is full of all the things that make high school what it is: love, fear, passion, conversation, doubt. And it’s set against the backdrop of world tensions, as Rose befriends Yrena, a Soviet teenager, and takes her on a crazy last night in New York City. Whether you’re a teenager or not, Rose’s need to figure things out is completely relatable . . . and marvelously told. Here, Cecil and I talk a little about the book…<br /><br /><br />DL: Like Rose, you were a student at the High School for Performing Arts in New York City in the 80s. What was that like?<br /><br />CC: Going to the High School of Performing Arts was an amazing experience. It was a place where you could truly be yourself and were allowed to grow and learn and be very serious about art. I remember that the first day of school, as I rolled up to the old building (we moved to what is now LaGuardia High School in 1984) I found out that Ethel Merman had died. Everyone was upset about it. And I was so happy that people even knew who she was. And also, I thought it was a good omen. Fame, the first movie (ie. the good one) had come out a few years before I started, and I had loved that movie. I actually used to pretend play that I was going to PA with my friend Cindy in 7th grade. She thought we were joking. But I was dead serious. I was going to go there. I always thought that I was going to be a movie director (I don’t think writing is that far off from that.) And I thought going to a school for drama would be the best way to be an actors’ director. Theater just made me fall more fiercely in love with stories. <br /><br />DL: Are any of the characters in the book drawn from people you knew back then?<br /><br />CC: Oh! Yeah! I mean, everyone is tweaked and reinvented and of course they are not really those real people at all. But since this is the closest I’ve ever come to writing something that is a reinvention and very-far-away-yet-near to my own experience in high school, I definitely started off with models. Caleb is totally modeled on the boy that I was in love with in high school. (I don’t care if he knows it!) (I love(d) you DH!) But of course, it’s not him at all! As far as I know, he has no musical talent and is not a triplet and definitely didn’t live on Staten Island.<br /> Maurice is kind of a mix of a bunch of people that I knew both in the drama department (which I was in) and the dance department. When I was in high school, Chaz Bono was a dear friend. (He gave me the nickname Cecil. Thanks Chaz!) And I thought making Maurice’s mom someone super famous, like Cher, would be cool, because there were a lot of people whose parents were famous at something or another. Most people didn’t care about that, but some people did. <br /> As for Callisto and Caitlin, they are a mix of every wonderful friend I had in high school. (Shout out to you amazing besties in high achool! I hope you gals are doing well!) Also, there was a girl -- I can’t remember her name -- who dressed up as David Bowie. She was older than me, but I was so fascinated by her. Daisy is not one specific person; she’s every horrible friend I’ve ever had. I think that people that knew me back then will recognize the people as real, and if they say, “Oh this is me!” it probably is true, as in, a part of them is in that particular character. But it’s not just them, it’s a bunch of them. And together they make up my reinvented character. I mean, Rose is not me at all, and yet of course she comes from me. <br /><br />DL: How is Rose different from the way you were? And also, if you weren’t dressing up as David Bowie, what was your high school style?<br /><br />CC: Well, I had no trouble making friends! I was not shy or anything in high school. I was loud and proud and silly and made my mark. And while I had your usual bout of teen angst, and the typical run in with mean girls, I wasn’t as messed up as Rose was. Nor did I ever have a friend (at that time) who was as manipulative and controlling as Daisy was to Rose. Also, while Rose has a passion for dance, I have a passion for stories. Also, I imagine that she’s taller than me. My style totally grew as I became more informed by New Wave and Punk Rock and alternative culture in general. Mostly I loved vintage clothes and I often wore cocktail dresses to school. I also was obsessed with the 1940s, so I wore a snood all the time. (That’s a hairnet.) (My dad thought it was the ugliest thing ever.) And I had cat eye glasses with rhinestones. I even wore gloves on occasion. I guarantee you though, that I was not the craziest dresser in school. But I always looked fabulous.<br /><br />DL: Have any of your high school friends read the book?<br /><br />CC: I just did a book launch and had a bunch of people from high school do the reading with me. I had originally just given them the chapter that they were reading from, but at the party I gave them all a copy. I can’t wait to hear what they think! I think they are going to feel very warm and fuzzy about it. <br /><br />DL: I know that you are a person who’s explored many, many forms of artistic expression – from punk rock to graphic novels to picture books to opera to YA novels (and more). Have you ever danced ballet? <br /><br />CC: I did dance ballet! I was quite serious about it from the time I was four to twelve. Then I quit. It was a very hard thing for me to quit because I loved dancing so much. But I was small and I didn’t have the right body and my boobs were getting big. I think that I wanted to make Rose a dancer because it was something that was such a huge part of my life and yet it is now just this atrophied thing that I used to do. And I think it’s nice to have these other artistic things about ourselves inform our work. It’s like, rediscovering a favorite childhood food. <br /><br />DL: What does the title <em>Rose Sees Red </em>mean to you?<br /><br />CC: To me, it means three things. One: Rose gets a spine about having been so cruelly treated by Daisy. Two: She sees Yrena, a Communist, and begins to understand what that means in the world. And three: She becomes aware about politics and angry about stuff like nuclear arms, and is now going to begin to be an awakened, engaged person.<br /><br />DL: One of the things I love about the book is that while it is set in a different time, so many of the themes carry over to our own time. Obviously, there are the perennials – love, loss, friendship – that don’t change very much. But I specifically wanted to ask about how you think the societal fear in the early 1980s – fear of the bomb, fear of Russia – relates to the societal fear today. Writing about then, did it make you see now any differently?<br /><br />CC: I don’t know about you, but I read and hear the news every day and it all feels the same. I remember being so very frightened about nuclear bombs when I was growing up, and, quite honestly, I feel just as frightened today. I think that every generation deals with their scares, whatever they are, and I don’t see much difference between then and now. Now we might not fear Russia, or Communism, but there are many things that we do fear. I don’t see it differently today; it actually feels very much the same. My feeling is that fear of the other and their different ways is always misguided. People are people. And people really do have the desire to live, to love, and to have some kind of glorious journey in this world. I truly believe that we all truly want good for everyone. Writing this book just made me love the world even more. And ache to have everyone get along.<br /><br />DL: At the end of the book, there’s a big No Nukes rally. Is this based on a real rally?<br /><br />CC: There was a No Nukes rally in New York City on June 12, 1982 that was the biggest demonstration in American History. It took place in Central Park. I remember everyone talking about it. The rally that I mention is exactly this rally, but for the story as I was telling it, it made more sense for Rose to still be at the beginning of her school year rather than at the end. So I moved the rally to October for fictional purposes. <br /><br />DL: Of course, I’m always interested in soundtracks. So I have to ask – while you were writing the book, did you go back and listen to the music you listened to in high school?<br /><br />CC: Of course! I made myself a playlist of popular songs that were kind of on mainstream rock radio in 1982. My feeling was that Rose hadn’t discovered New Wave or Punk yet (or David Bowie) since she was so under Daisy’s spell. But I also wanted to pick songs that sort of had to do with the tone and temperature of the story. I listened to this music on constant rotate. It was fun to listen to all these songs again. If I had to pick an “A side” for this book, I’d say it’s Kids in America. And the “B side” would be Rehumanise Yourself.<br /><br />Here’s the playlist:<br /><br />Omegaman The Police <br />I Know What Boys Like The Waitresses <br />Spirits in the Material World The Police <br />The Tide Is High Blondie <br />Kids In America Kim Wilde <br />Queen of Hearts Juice Newton <br />Leather and Lace Stevie Nicks & Don Henley <br />Tainted Love (7" Single) Soft Cell <br />Start Me Up The Rolling Stones <br />There's No Tomorrow Squeeze <br />Rehumanise Yourself The Police <br />We Got the Beat The Go-Go's <br />Crimson and Clover Joan Jett & The Blackhearts <br />Stop Draggin' My Heart Around Stevie Nicks & Tom Petty <br />I Love Rock 'N Roll Joan Jett & The Blackhearts <br />Invisible Sun The Police <br />There's No Tomorrow Squeeze <br />Super Freak Rick James <br />Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic The Police <br />Girls on Film Duran Duran <br />Shake It Up The Cars <br />Open Arms Journey <br />Centerfold The J. Geils Band <br /><br />DL: That’s an awesome playlist. Now, the requisite last question: What are you working on now?<br /><br />CC: I am working on a new YA novel for you! It’s called <em>First Day on Earth</em> and I am super excited about it. It’s my first book with a boy as the main character, so I’m in new territory! I also have a hybrid novel / graphic YA novel that I’m working on. It’s going to be an interesting experiment. Every alternating chapter is either prose or graphic novel. I’m very excited about that. And then, oh, well, you know, about one million other things! I like projects! <br /><br /><br />And now, an excerpt from <em>Rose Sees Red</em>:<br /><br /><br />I was black inside and so I took everything black.<br /> Toast.<br /> Coffee.<br /> Clothes.<br /> Heart.<br /> It was the end of October, and a few leaves were still clinging onto the trees, all bright yellow, red, and orange. These leaves were suckers, I thought, tricking themselves into thinking that this fall would be different, that they wouldn’t have to let go and turn brown and make room for snow.<br /> That’s what I had done. Before I was black, I was like them. I had tricked myself, at the end of summer, into thinking that starting high school would somehow make everything different. That I would be reinvented. That I would find my true friends. But it was almost Halloween and I was still lonely and friendless, and that made me see everything with a dark point of view.<br /> Everyone in my family could tell I had a black cloud over me. I wore it like an extra sweater. <br /> “We’re worried about you, Rose,” my mom said across the table while I barely ate my toast.<br /> She said it all the time, and every time it made my chest tighten. I felt bad that she was worried, but there wasn’t anything I could do about it but mumble that I was doing just fine.<br /> “What?” she said. “I can’t hear you.”<br /> “I’m fine,” I said again. But I knew she was unconvinced.<br /> My dad dealt with it by sinking deeper behind his New York Times. My brother Todd tried to make jokes, but he seemed to be the only one who ever laughed. <br /> Maybe he just wasn’t funny.<br /> “Come on, let’s rock and roll,” Todd said this time, grabbing an extra banana for the walk down to the bus stop. <br /> “Have a good day at school,” Mom said. As I passed her to leave, she squeezed my shoulder. She wanted to give me a little encouragement, but I couldn’t let anything in. <br /> “Rose,” she said, pulling me back into the kitchen. She put the palm of her hand on my face and cupped it.<br /> Her hand was warm and I could feel something. I could feel that she was trying to send me some love. <br /> In science class, Mrs. Merrick said that in outer space if you move one inch, you could end up a million miles out of your way. <br /> And that’s what had happened to me.<br /> “Mom,” I said, shaking her off.<br /> It was a good thing, my mother’s warm hand on my face. Standing at the front door with the cold nip in the air, I could still feel it<br /> As soon as I got outside, I motioned at the two men in suits who always hung out on the street corner in front of our house. They were like overgrown, well-dressed delinquents. <br /> “What do you think -- KGB or CIA?” I asked Todd.<br /> It was no secret that our neighborhood in Riverdale was crawling with KGB and CIA agents. <br /> You’d think the Bronx would be the farthest thing away from the Cold War, but across the street from us was the Soviet apartment compound.<br /> Here, on a daily basis, I was reminded that the world was acting like a couple of stupid kids on a playground. Only they were messing with the whole world.<br /> “You can tell who’s who by their eyebrows,” Todd said, his usual goofy self. But then he stopped dead in his tracks, like he always did whenever the girl next door walked down her front steps. <br /> She was a vision. I’ll give him that. Her legs were impossibly long and lean, and when she walked, it looked as though she were gliding. Her steps were so impossibly sure of itself. Regal.<br /> “Oh my <em>Goddess</em>,” Todd said. <br /> Todd really did think that the girl next door was a Goddess. He had even rolled up a Deity that looked just like her to use as a Non-Player Character in the Dungeons and Dragons game he ran in our garage every Friday night. <br /> I swear he wanted to bow to her. <br /> I didn’t say anything, though. I waited for him because I knew he always waited for me no matter how much I dragged my feet, or gave him dirty looks, or lived under the black cloud. Every morning he still walked me down the hill to the bus stop.<br /> He did it out of love. He did it out of a brotherly sense of chivalry. We both knew that if he didn’t go with me I would have to stand at the bus stop alone, and even if we didn’t talk to each other, I must admit that it was a comfort to have him there.<br /> “They have a school in the Soviet compound,” Todd said, and he pointed over to the large white apartment building down the street on Fieldston Road. “That’s where she’s going to school. She doesn’t have to live in the compound because her dad’s a Communist bigwig. That’s why they get to be in the townhouse next door.”<br /> Todd’s obsession with the girl next door knew no bounds. One could even say that he spied on her, because he accumulated what information he had and told it to me whenever he was reminded of her existence.<br /> “She’s sixteen. From Kiev. She just got her hair cut. She speaks French as well as she speaks English. She’s a ballet dancer like you. She likes strawberry ice cream. She listens to The Police.”<br /> My room looked out into hers – the townhouses we lived in shared a garden path. I’d seen her brush her hair, read a book, talk on the phone. I’d noticed that we had the same ballet poster hanging on our wall. I had never seen her pull down the shades, have friends over, or sit at her desk. Or. Or. Or…<br /> Just last year, half the neighborhood had been emptied of those with special privileges, because a bunch of them turned out to be bona fide Soviet spies, caught in the act of stealing state secrets. But not our neighbors. They seemed to be the only ones who hadn’t been deported. She was as Soviet and Communist as they come.<br /> “Yrena,” Todd said. “Isn’t that a beautiful name? Like a poem?”<br /> I had reached my limit. I punched Todd hard in the shoulder to snap him out of his stupor. <br /> “Ow,” he said. <br /> “Put your eyes back in your skull,” I told him. “You are setting back US-Soviet relations fifty years with your tongue wagging around like that. You are going to cause Armageddon with your leering.” <br /> He ignored me.<br /> “Okay, but Rose. Be honest. Do I look okay?”<br /> I gave him the once over. With his overgrown mutton chops, he looked like a soulful sheepdog -- not at all like someone who could cause any trouble.<br /> But, I thought, he was also a sack of hormones. Todd was all thick glasses and wiry John Lennon glasses, skinny skin skin with a sunken chest. And a little too shiny. But he didn’t need to know that. He just needed to know that he was letting his adolescent boy hang out a little too much.<br /> I kind of softened.<br /> “You look like you always do,” I said.<br /> He seemed relieved, and I realized (at least a little) that my brother was a good guy -- even when he said dumb things.<br /> “Russian girls are hot,” he said now. “James Bond agrees with me. Just watch <em>From Russia With Love</em>.”<br /> As the girl next door got to the bottom of her front steps, she noticed me and Todd, like she always did when we left our buildings at the same time. There had been many mornings that fall where we all walked out our houses at exactly the same time. That particular day happened to be the one when everything fell right into place. At the time, I thought it was just a coincidence. But it wasn’t.davidlevithanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00762768300871943772noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574266580527904056.post-53701001838310597122009-05-14T16:00:00.000-07:002009-05-14T16:02:55.112-07:00Siobhan Vivian's Same DifferenceI’ve known Siobhan Vivian since our New School days, and have been utterly thrilled to see her bloom into such a fantastic author. She started with A LITTLE FRIENDLY ADVICE, which earned raves, but has topped it with her new novel, SAME DIFFERENCE. It’s the story of a girl, Emily, who makes some big choices about who she wants to be and who she wants to be with (both friendwise and romantically) over the course of an arty summer. I’m totally biased, since I edited it, but I can’t stop recommending it.<br /><br />When I edit a book, I try not to ask too many questions about what’s going on, since the reader won’t have the author’s explanation when he or she is reading, and I have to be putting myself in his or her place. So it’s fun now that the book is out to be able to ask Siobhan all about it.<br /><br />Q: I know Emily’s summer in SAME DIFFERENCE is based on a certain part in your own life. Can you talk a little about where the book comes from?<br /><br />A: During the summer before my senior year of high school, I decided to escape yet another typical summer in NJ and take art classes in Philadelphia. I had a great group of friends in Jersey who had known me since kindergarten, and while that was nice and comforting, it also didn’t give me many chances for change. Life was feeling stagnant, and I had a real itch to reinvent myself someplace new and exciting, where I had no history. SAME DIFFERENCE was born of that experience.<br /><br />Q: So what are some of the wildest – or least characteristic – things you ended up doing that summer?<br /><br />A: Aside from going to every single hardcore show that was advertised in the free City Paper, I cut my hair super short, bought an entirely new wardrobe from the local thrift store, and would sit in the window of my dorm room, smoking cigarettes (illegal!) and talking to the people who walked by about their lives.<br /><br />Q: Are you still in touch with anyone from then?<br /><br />A: Yes, lots of people, actually…including my two professors, my roommate, and a bunch of other girls and boys. I made life long friends there, for sure.<br /><br />Q: Both of your books explore all of the ins and outs of female friendships in high school. I’m wondering what your best-friend experiences were in high school, and how they echo with you now.<br /><br />A: I’ve been lucky to have a lot of close girlfriends during my life. Back in high school, I tended to be the kind of girl who fell in love with her friends…not in a romantic sense, but I was always personally attracted to girls who were already the kinds of people I wanted to be—cool, smart, into skateboarding, in a band. I basically collected cool people. Also, my friends were all different sorts of people. Never from one group, or one kind of person. And the friendships themselves were varied, too. Some girls were high maintenance, some you could talk to once a year and feel like no time has passed. I think because I’ve had friendships with so many different types of girls, it’s given me endless dynamics to explore as a writer.<br /><br />Q: Do you feel friendship-related heartbreak is different from romance-related heartbreak, or is it really the same feeling?<br /><br />A: For me, losing a good friend was always more painful than losing a boy. I guess because I always felt boys were expendable. That is to say…I never, EVER had a problem finding a new cute boy to fall in love with. : ) But finding a friend who will really listen to? Who you can trust to have your back no matter what? Who you intimately connect with? Those relationships seem much more precious and rare. I still mourn a few close friendships that I’ve lost. But I definitely couldn’t name every single boy I’ve loved in my lifetime.<br />Q: If you could make up with one of those lost friends, who would it be? When did you last see her/him?<br /><br />A: I last saw my friend Marisa out in the neighborhood where I grew up, about a month ago. It was very awkward, running into each other, because we hadn’t seen each other / spoken for about 5 years. Our lives went in two very different directions, and we were definitely strangers. But there was a nice undercurrent running through our small talk, and part of me hoped that we might reconnect. But we didn’t, not beyond that night anyway. I think maybe the differences between us + time lost became insurmountable.<br /><br />Q: A lot of Emily’s discoveries in SAME DIFFERENCE have to do with works of art – whether they’re ones she’s seeing in a museum, ones created by her fellow students, or (ultimate) ones she’s creating herself. Are there any works of art that you feel have opened you up in the same way?<br /><br />A: Absolutely. In fact, the two scenes where Emily views Marcel Duchamp’s The Waterfall are pretty much moment-by-moment my experience in the Philadelphia Museum of Art.<br /><br />Q: Do you have any postcards or posters or photographs up over the place where you write? (Up until last week, I had all these random postcards send to me by random friends from random places… as well as a poster of Snoopy being frustrated while writing his novel. I never noticed them…until now, when they’re gone.)<br /><br />A: I sure do. My favorite little piece of inspiration is this vintage felt flag I found at a thrift store in Brooklyn. It’s from an old New Jersey theme park that I remember going to as a kid. It was called The Land of Make Believe. I like to imagine that’s where my office is.<br /><br />Q: What do you think you’d be doing if you couldn’t write?<br /><br />A: I’ve allllllways wanted to be in a band. Lead singer, natch.<br /><br />Q: Without giving too much away, one of the sweetest things about the love story in SAME DIFFERENCE is how genuine it feels, incorporating all the moments of doubt and miscommunication as well as the more swoony moments of serendipity. If you don’t mind sharing it, I’m wondering what the best date you’ve ever been on is . . . and what the worse one was.<br /><br />A: Best date was when my old boyfriend and I drove up the coast of California at midnight, lay in the desert on a blanket, and watched a meteor shower.<br /><br />And the worst date? Uh. I actually mention that one in my first book, A LITTLE FRIENDLY ADVICE. I ended up kissing a boy who had a runny nose. *barfs*<br /><br />Q: One of my favorite scenes in the book is the concert scene. Can you talk a little bit about where that came from? (It seems so completely wild in the book – and, of course, the scenes that seem the most random in books are usually the ones that are most grounded in truth.)<br /><br />A: Another true moment in the life of Siobhan! That scene was based on a date I had in college, when this super punk rock boy named Mike took me on a date to see a GWAR show. We were totally making out in the crowd as we were being sprayed with fake blood. The scene is the book isn’t quite as gruesome, but Mike and I had a mutual love of zombies (we actually met in a Horror Film class), and thought that would be a nice nod to our all-too-brief romance.<br /><br />Q: It’s too bad the romance was all-to-brief, because that would’ve been one helluva theme for a wedding. You and I are both friends with a lot of writers who dabble in the supernatural with their writing. Have you ever been tempted to throw in a zombie (or a vampire or a ghost or a faerie)?<br /><br />A: I took a literature class in undergrad that focused on Magical Realism. and I loved every single thing we read. I’ve always wanted to write a story that had some magical element present, but one that didn’t seem completely abnormal or freaky to the rest of the world-within-the-story. A hard-core idea has yet to crystallize, but I’m keeping my fingers crossed. And lighting a candle.<br /><br />Q: You’re an author, you’ve been a grad student in writing for children at the New School, and now you’re teaching – so you’ve really seen literature from all sides. What are some of the books that mean the most to you?<br /><br />A: Ooh baby. Well, I absolutely love BLANKETS by Craig Thompson – that’s a book I’d recommend to anyone! Other personal favs include PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER, anything by Melissa Bank, and RABBIT RUN by the late, great John Updike.<br /><br />Q: Because we’re both avid music fans, I feel I have to end by asking you to make a ten-song mix for the readers here. What’s the tracklist?<br /><br />A: I’m going to tailor this one specifically to songs I listened to while typing SAME DIFFERENCE. Here goes!<br /><br />1. When You’re Away by BEARS (Chapter One)<br />2. It’s 5! by ARCHITECTURE IN HELSINKI (Chapter Four)<br />3. Same Old City by VELOCITY GIRL (Chapter Eight)<br />4. Tuff Luff by THE UNICORNS (Chapter Ten)<br />5. Great Lengths by THE LUCKSMITHS (Chapter Thirteen)<br />6. Other Side by BEAT HAPPENING (Chapter Fourteen)<br />7. Rain by BISHOP ALLEN (Chapter Fifteen)<br />8. There is a Light That Never Goes Out by THE SMITHS (Chapter Sixteen)<br />9. A-Punk by VAMPIRE WEEKEND (Chapter Twenty)<br />10. Loop Duplicate My Heart by SUBURBAN KIDS WITH BIBILICAL NAMES (Chapter Forty-One)<br /><br />Check out the iMix at <a title="http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewIMix?id=" href="http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewIMix?id=312439722">http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewIMix?id=312439722</a><br /><br /><br /><br />And now, an excerpt from SAME DIFFERENCE:<br /><br /><br />Mr. Frank holds a hand high, calling for everyone’s attention. “We’re about to enter the Duchamp gallery.”<br /><br />“This is the best freaking part of this whole museum!” Fiona says, bouncing up and down. She pulls Robyn’s arm and Robyn pulls Adrian’s arm as they weave through the crowd.<br /><br />I’m almost the last one in the gallery. I don’t know exactly what I expect with that kind of buildup, but I’m curious to know what someone like Fiona finds inspiring. I’m almost the last one in the room. All the spotlights in the room are pointed at three pedestals. There’s bicycle wheel perched on a stool. A white porcelain urinal. Something metal and spiky that looks like a coat rack. I double-check that the walls around me are white, that there are no paintings hanging up. That this is really the stuff I should be looking at.<br /><br />This gallery looks like the curbs of Blossom Manor on heavy trash day.<br /><br />Mr. Frank steps forward now. “These pieces are some of the most important in the history of art. The Readymades were constructed between 1913 and 1917, and were a sensation at the Armory Show in New York. And see how modern, how artistically striking they still are today.”<br /><br />Is this art Mr. Frank would value, considering how intent he is on making his students make perfect, calculated drawings?<br /><br />“Would anyone like to explain their thoughts?” I watch as Mr. Frank’s eyes settle on me. “Emily, what is your response to these pieces?”<br /><br />My ears fill with the imagined voices of Meg and Rick, making fun of this kind of art. How Rick could go to Home Depot and buy a white toilet and put it on a block and call it art. I shift my feet. I look down into the ripped blank sketchbook pages in my hands, hoping an answer will appear.<br /><br />“Emily? Do you feel like this art is meaningful?”<br /><br />I don’t know what to say. I definitely don’t want to look stupid in front of everyone. My heart pounds. I search the crowd. And there’s Fiona, looking right at me, waiting to hear what I have to say about her favorite pieces in the whole museum.<br /><br />“I’m sorry” is all I can manage. “I don’t get it.”<br /><br />Mr. Frank laughs, amused. “But that’s the point, don’t you think?” A few other chuckles come from the crowd.<br /><br />I shake my head. “Wait. What’s the point? That I don’t get it?”<br /><br />“Exactly.”<br /><br />“Well… what’s the point of us not getting it?” I ask.<br /><br />Mr. Frank’s grin spreads even wider across his face. “Duchamp was playing right into this kind of thinking about art, questioning the notion of what can be classified as art. Thank you, Emily, for illustrating my point so beautifully.”<br /><br />My face burns. Mr. Frank is basically making fun of the fact that I don’t know anything. That’s probably why he called on me in the first place. When I meet eyes with Yates, his gaze falls to the floor, no doubt wondering why he ever spent his money on a cup of coffee for me.<br /><br />The attention shifts off me, and I take the opportunity to step backward into a dark doorway. I prop myself up against the wall and wait for the students to move to another section. The rest of my energy is spent fighting back tears.<br /><br />The cool shadows of this room are a stark contrast from all the brightly lit galleries we’ve circled through. Nothing’s hanging on the walls in this space. Have I stepped into somewhere I shouldn’t be?<br /><br />I turn my head to the side and stare down the long dark corridor.<br /><br />At the other end is a huge barn door, made of rustic, splintered wood. Big black metal hinges bolt it to the wall. Light streams through two small knotty holes, just at eye level, tempting me to come closer.<br /><br />I take a few steps but then I stop. It’s hard to explain the feelings that suddenly overwhelm me. My hands get sweaty and my heart races. It’s like I’m at home alone, and I’ve just heard a noise in the basement that and I have to decide whether or not to explore. Even though I know there’s nothing to be afraid of, I still can’t will myself to move forward. I’m still scared.<br /><br />“This is my favorite piece in the whole museum.” Someone struts past me. Fiona.<br /><br />She walks straight up to the barn door and presses her face to the wood. “It’s called The Waterfall. Duchamp didn’t tell anyone about it. Not his assistants, or the museum directors. He didn’t want to spoil the surprise. It took me like three times before I had the guts to look.”<br /><br />She stands there for a few seconds, taking in whatever she’s seeing. Then she pulls away and spins to face me. “It sucks, though. As soon as you know what’s behind the door, it changes the whole experience. Once you see it, you can never go back.”<br /><br />I still don’t have quite a hold of myself, and I’m sure it’s obvious. But Fiona looks at me with this sort of delighted smile, like she’s relishing my discomfort. I’m afraid she’s going to stand here and watch me sweat it out, but then Robyn and Adrian crane their heads around the wall. “You coming?” Robyn asks.<br /><br />“Yeah,” Fiona says. And then she walks right past me like I’m not even there, like I’ve turned invisible.davidlevithanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00762768300871943772noreply@blogger.com5