Where are all the 'good' new albums these days?

Rocker · February 2017

As in, what recent album will usurp albums like Aja, Harvest, Solid Air, Moon Safari, Oxygen, Still got the Blues, Metallica, Ace of Spades, Wish you were here, Folk Singer, Live at Leeds, Live in Europe, Rumours etc. etc. etc,

If you hear a track on the radio from any of these and hundreds of other albums from the past, you immediately recognize the song and usually can name the album it was on.

Has there been a 'recent' (that is in the last decade) album that merits being included in the above list (which is in no way comprehensive and which can easily be expanded)? I can't think of one. Can you?

EricTheWeary · February 2017

Presumably you recognise them because they've been around so long so that can't work for new music

The album as a leading force in popular music stopped to a large degree probably twenty years ago. I'm sure people have favourites from recent years but I don't really think in terms of albums any more for anything that's new to me.

guitarfishbay · February 2017

Too many to list.

not_the_dj · February 2017

Rocker said:

If you hear a track on the radio from any of these and hundreds of other albums from the past, you immediately recognize the song and usually can name the album it was on.

That's from your perspective. I doubt if many teenagers these days would immediately recognise tracks from the albums you've listed. Just like you wouldn't recognise what they're into.

Dopesick · February 2017

Shitloads of great - and I do mean 'great' - albums out there from this millennium alone. Problem is (well, it's far from a problem) that there is so much new music being released these days and it is so easily attainable that the mere notion of an album selling like hot cakes is a thing of the past.

But yeah...so many good albums out there, and not enough critical accolades to go round.

Teetonetal · February 2017

What defines greatness in music? Popular appeal? Sales? Press? Longevity? is your list really great or just what is perceived by a certain age group as great?

RocknRollDave · February 2017

I've been around long enough to have seen albums that were greeted with an ambivalent response initially elevated to "classic" over time, so I shall reserve judgement on today's albums until they have had time to ripen.

Rocker · February 2017

@Dopesick, good reply with reasoned argument. Could you name a few albums that might appeal to me (aging rocker/guitar & bass player/golfer of sorts). An album or two that can be bought in Tower Records or similar. Thanks

EricTheWeary · February 2017

RocknRollDave said:

I've been around long enough to have seen albums that were greeted with an ambivalent response initially elevated to "classic" over time, so I shall reserve judgement on today's albums until they have had time to ripen.

I watched that documentary about Bat Out of Hell and the problems getting it released and the poor response. Google says it has sold 43 million copies so far.

dindude · February 2017

I agree with the comment that there's just too much around and too easily accessible - it makes it impossible to get your arms around.

It's a bit like when we only had 4 TV channels to chose from, you could appreciate and/or critique every TV show - good luck trying that now if you still want to hold down a job.

MagicPigDetective · February 2017

How about Lost in a Dream by The War on Drugs?

Winny_Pooh · February 2017

Loads, most you probably won't like but still probable future classics.

Black Keys - El Camino
Beck - Sea change
The National - High violet
Wilco - sky blue sky
Future Islands - singles
The war on drugs - lost in the dream
Half moon run - Dark Eyes
Father John Misty - Fear Fun
Edward Sharpe & the magnetic zeros
Feist - the reminder
Little Dragon - Ritual unions
Fever Ray

Because of the way music is made and bought now very few albums will have the same combination of sales and acclaim as they may have before digital everything.

bbill335 · February 2017

Most recent ground-shaker for me is Ty Segall's Emotional Mugger.

dindude · February 2017

If I were to stand at what I think are truely brilliant albums start to finish of the last 5 years that id put up with anything else I'd say:

Wolf Alice - My Love is Cool
Chvrches - The Bones of what you Believe
Ben Howard - I Forget Where we Were
Everything Everything - Cough Cough
John Mayer - Born and Raised

Im sure there's many more but these are the ones off the top of my head that get mucho airplay.

Moss · February 2017

I'd say that there's more good music coming out now than ever before, mainly thanks to the internet

This was my top 20 from last year:
Kate Tempest - Let Them Chaos
Glass Animals - How To Be A Human Being
Pinkshinyultrablast - Grandfeathered
Yak - Alas Salvation
Fews - Means
King Gizzard And The Lizard Wizard - Nonagon Infinity
David Bowie - Blackstar
Roosevelt - Roosevelt
Mogwai - Atomic
The Julie Ruin - Hit Reset
Radiohead - A Moon Shaped Pool
Whitney - Light Upon The Lake
Daughter - Not To Disappear
NZCA LINES - Infinite Summer
Sunflower Bean - Human Ceremony
The Avalanches - Wildflower
Telegram - Operator
S U R V I V E - RR7349
65daysofstatic - No Man's Sky - Music for an Infinite Universe
Teleman - Brilliant Sanity

Big ones from recent years (probably something for most people here):
Father John Misty - I Love You Honeybear
LCD Soundsystem - Sound of Silver/This Is Happening
Todd Terje - It's Album Time
Public Service Broadcasting - The Race For Space
The Twilight Sad - Fourteen Autumns and Fifteen Winters
Caribou - Swim
Jon Hopkins - Immunity
The last 4 National albums

I'd put most of the last list above some of the stuff on your list - I'd say most of the acclaim is down to nostalgia (not saying that some of them aren't great, just not significantly better than modern albums)

fretmeister · February 2017

Just because I'm listening at the moment,

I can always recognise Skindred. Very distinctive.

RocknRollDave · February 2017

I know it's all subjective and all but Jesus wept I can't stand Kate Tempest's stuff

Reverend · February 2017

Rocker said:

@Dopesick, good reply with reasoned argument. Could you name a few albums that might appeal to me (aging rocker/guitar & bass player/golfer of sorts). An album or two that can be bought in Tower Records or similar. Thanks

Try bands like Horisont, Graveyard, Witchcraft, The Devil's Blood, Dead Lord, Corsair, The Want, Mothership, Mos Generator, Stone Axe, Gentleman's Pistols, Firebird and Grand Magus.

EricTheWeary · February 2017

Based on what @rocker has posted in the past I'd suggest Black Star Riders (Scott Gorham's post Thin Lizzy project), Rival Sons ( 21st century Led Zep) and Bros Landreth (slightly over exposed modern southern rockers) all of whom probably have albums (made in the last couple of years)available in Tower Records.

Lebarque · February 2017

The landscape's changed. Many people (including me) just pick and choose their favourite tracks on Spotify, iTunes etc. rather than buying/streaming whole albums. Thus avoiding album filler tracks! Some artists are releasing albums bit by bit now, rather than as a whole. John Mayer and Ryan Adams are currently doing it.

Grumpyrocker · February 2017

I bought more fantastic metal albums in the last few years than I did when I was younger. There's plenty of fantastic new music out there - but it's not on the radio.

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Where are all the 'good' new albums these days?

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