The 6 Most Honest Albums of 2018

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Instead of listing out what I think are the "best" albums of 2018, I would rather narrow it down to the six most honest albums of the year, since that kind of music is what really interests me.

Hope you enjoy.

Jason


Amanda Shires, To The Sunset

We're often told to "let it go," or to "move on," as quickly as we can, and as far away as we can. But Shires tells stories that don't necessarily agree with those mantras. There are consequences for our actions, especially when it comes to love. "I said you're right, I'm not done with you yet," Shires sings on the opening "Parking Lot Pirouette."

Later, on "Leave it Alone":

Careful there, you're gettin' too close
What you think you're feelin' is crushin' at most
But I already know
I can't leave it alone

Has anyone described the lure of temptation so beautifully?



David Beeman, Music Epiphora

"Take all of it, I don't want anything you and I have made" Beeman sings on the opening "When I'm My Own One and Only." This is an absolutely beautiful and gut-wrenching album, filled with weird sounds that almost mask the heartache that Beeman sings of. A vulnerable masterpiece.



Meg Myers, Take Me To The Disco

There's a lot of things I could write about this relentless album, but perhaps Myers' bio describes the pain surrounding the twelve songs the best:

"Listening back to some of these songs made me realize what I was really writing about... what was underneath it all," continues Myers, who grew up in a Jehovah's Witness household before breaking free to pursue music in L.A. at the age of 19. "All of a sudden it all made sense to me and that moment of realization just overwhelmed me with a flood of tears and joy. On the surface, I thought I was writing about love loss but I've learned it goes much deeper than that. It's going back to the child in me that needed to be healed. I've always written from a true place, but in getting to know myself better, I'm now writing from an even deeper level of honesty."

Amen.



Metric, Art of Doubt

"My life is on pause, it's out of my hands," Emily Haines sings on "Now or Never Now." Isn't it funny how someone else's decisions or actions can put your life on hold? I don't know if Haines is describing just that, but that's what it meant to me. The album closes with "No Lights on the Horizon," a song that touched me somewhere deep down in my soul, perhaps a place I didn't know existed. "I'm more than able to follow through / I'm just not for everyone / I might be just for you." Thank you.



Jeff Tweedy, WARM

This is an incredibly honest album from Tweedy, who, as you probably know, is the lead singer of Wilco. I don't know if he has written so poignantly in years. Take these lyrics from "From Far Away," for example:

If I die
Don't bury me
Rattle me down
Like an old machine
Take my books
And my magazines
My photographs
Of you and me
Everything
I won't need

That really moved me, as did every song on the album -- an album that clearly deals with death. The death that has already taken place, and the death on the horizon.



Brandi Carlile, By the Way, I Forgive You

I don't know what else to say about Carlile or this album. I've interviewed her a few times for this site, I've constantly praised her live performances ... there is literally nothing else I can tell you right this second (other than to go see her live as soon as possible). So, here is what I wrote about this album earlier this year:

Forgiveness has been a hot topic for, oh, I don't know, a thousand plus years. And music has a way of forcing us to remember the reason why we chose to forgive -- that's just the way it works. "Without you around, I've been doing just fine," Brandi Carlile sings on By The Way, I Forgive You, "except for anytime I hear that song." We forgive, but we seldom forget the things that tore us apart. And in doing so, sometimes, too, we remember the moments that brought us together.

This is probably the best album Carlile has ever released, but that shouldn't come as a surprise. The truth is, she has been writing and performing at an elite level for many years now, but with the way the music business works, certain circles of people will want you to believe that she is "taking it to the next level." Ignore all of that. This album is great because it represents a natural evolution of a supremely talented artist who has been releasing "next level" albums for some time. Recognition should not represent revelation.

"To remember what comes back, when you give away your love." That's what this album is about, and those are the words Carlile sings on "Most of All." She closes with "Party of One," a kind of song you don't hear often these days because it's not going to go viral, not going top any chart on Spotify. It's not going to immediately make someone a lot of money. But like forgiveness, over time, it will prove its worth.

The 10 Best Albums of 2016

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I still love albums. I still love vinyl. But for me, 2016 was really more of a year of songs, not albums.

Except these ten.

These told a story, had a focus, had that magic that kept me listening. Rare finds. I'm happy to have found them. Hope you found a few of the same in 2016!

Jason Gonulsen
Editor, Speakers in Code

10. Kacey Musgraves - A Very Kacey Christmas

A Christmas album, you ask? Yes. Yes. Yes. One with Willie Nelson singing on "A Willie Nice Christmas" and Leon Bridges singing on "Present Without a Bow." But the star is still Musgraves, who is still doing whatever the fuck she wants, which is becoming increasingly rare in the music world, where it seems "likes" and "followers" are more important than the quality of an album. Not here. Kacey once again puts a bow on quality.

9. Neil Young + Promise of the Real - Earth

Neil Young released two albums in 2016, Earth and Peace Trail, and while the latter was solid (with some very good songs, "Peace Trail" and "Indian Givers"), it felt rushed and unfinished to a degree (and from what I have been reading in interviews, that was the intent). Not so with Earth. I'll admit it's almost impossible to capture the energy of a Neil Young + Promise of the Real show, but Earth comes very close to doing that. And its added touch of nature's mysterious sounds makes it a unique listening live album experience.

8. Wilco - Schmilco

It took me a little bit to adjust to the quieter side of Wilco -- we hadn't really experienced it in a long time. But after a few listens, I took Schmilco for what it is: less bells and whistles, more substance with words. I might not ever fully appreciate "Common Sense," but hey, they've earned the right to confuse me every now and then.

7. Courtney Marie Andrews - Honest Life

Courtney Marie Andrews has become one of my favorite songwriters, mostly because she is a writer who favors honesty over catchy bullshit. Anyone who can write songs like "Irene," "Rookie Dreaming," "Let The Good One Go," and "Only In My Mind" deserves praise. My hope is that you will take note of her extraordinary talents.

6. John Paul White - Beulah

First off -- I loved The Civil Wars. But after listening to Beulah, White's first solo effort since the dissolution of The Civil Wars, and seeing him live twice in 2016, it's very clear to me that he doesn't need Joy Williams to shine. That's not a knock on Williams, but rather a coronation of White as an elite songwriter.

5. Jim James - Eternally Even

I did not fully appreciate this solo album from Jim James, My Morning Jacket's lead singer, until I saw him perform it live, and then it hit me all at once. A cathartic, honest, and defiant album, one that makes more sense if you play it in full. Or see him live.

4. Charles Bradley - Changes

2016 has been cruel, with the loss of Sharon Jones, among many others. But we still have Charles Bradley, who performs and sings from the heart. And Changes is one of his best efforts to date -- I simply cannot stop listening to every song, especially the title track. Bradley was recently diagnosed with a cancerous stomach tumor, but we know he's fighting, and our thoughts are with him. My hope is to see him again performing and smiling in 2017.

3. Amanda Shires - My Piece Of Land

Amanda Shires pretty much has it all. She's a terrific performer, with her voice floating through the air with no other intention but finding your heart. But it's not written enough how wonderful of a songwriter she is. Her words present a mature and intelligent songwriter. In fact, this is my favorite lyrically-rich album of the year. Just listen to "Harmless" and "I Know What It's Like." I rest my case.

2. Drive-By Truckers - American Band

You already know that "What It Means" is our Song of the Year. And I'm happy to report that the rest of American Band matches that kind of musical and lyrical power. From "Ramon Casiano" to "Once They Banned Imagine" to "Darkened Flags on the Cusp of Dawn," this is my favorite DBT album to date.

1. Sturgill Simpson - A Sailor's Guide To Earth

Neil Young wrote in the liner notes of Decade, "'Heart of Gold' put me in the middle of the road. Traveling there soon became a bore so I headed for the ditch." Sturgill Simpson has taken to the sea. A Sailor's Guide To Earth is our Album of the Year because it promises no clear path, no direction home, and no easy way out. It twists, turns, and then hits you with the unthinkable, an absolutely timeless cover of Nirvana's "In Bloom." I'll be listening to this piece of work for years to come.

Album Premiere | JPhono1 - Time In The Chevron

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Photo by Agatha Donkar

It's with great pleasure today that Speakers In Code is sharing Time In The Chevron, the new album from Chapel Hill rockers JPhono1. JPhono1 is the non de plume and often solo outlet of John Harrison, a veteran North Carolina rocker with dozens of projects in his past and at the present, and Time In The Chevron is the first full-band release under that name; it's just as deliciously layered and shivery and complex as all JPhono1 tunes that have come before.


Below, we're streaming the entire album in advance of the April 1 release on PotLuck Foundation. North Carolina residents are lucky enough to be able to catch JPhono1 at the dates below (including a Carrboro date where they share a release show with Speakers friends and favorites Some Army, who are releasing their own long awaited full length), and everyone else can (and should) just enjoy the record.

Catch up further with JPhono1 via Facebook, and please enjoy the heck out of this record, because I certainly am.

JPhono1 North Carolina Shows:
Apr 8 - Carrboro NC - Cats Cradle Back Room - w/ Some Army and No Eyes
Apr 9 - Wilmington NC - Bourgie Nights - w/ Some Army and Sean Thomas Gerard
Apr 16 - Winston Salem NC - Phuzz Phest

The 35 Best Albums of 2014

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We hope you're enjoying our Best Of lists for 2014.

Let's refresh what we've posted so far:

-- The 20 Best Sad Bastard Songs of 2014 

-- The 150 Best Songs of 2014

Today, we're excited to reveal another list: The 35 Best Albums of 2014. What this really means is that these were our favorites (ie, we didn't listen to everything). We fully realize there are many, many more worthy ones out there. But our hope is that you'll find one or two new albums below.

Happy Holidays!

--Speakers in Code


35. Grace Weber, The Refinery

Grace Weber could sing the phone book on the streets of Brooklyn and make a profit. "Till I Hurt You" remains one of our favorite songs of 2014, and The Refinery is the work of a budding artist. Jason Gonulsen



34. Michael Cera, true that

Real-life goofball Michael Cera released a great record of lo-fi goodies earlier this year and I promise it isn't what you expect. Much of the album is comprised of understated solo piano tracks, but Cera sprinkles in a few covers and original songs with vocals occasionally to liven things up. It's surprisingly moving stuff, and one of the least pretentious, most affecting things I've heard all year. Dylan Newcity

33. Old 97s, Most Messed Up

Rhett Miller drops the f-bomb upwards of 50 times on the 97s' most recent studio album, and every single one of them makes me giggle and grin like a 12 year old boy. They also put on one of the best, if not the best set I saw this year, playing to a tiny and raucous crowd in the desert of West Texas, tearing through most of this record and proving that Rhett Miller dropping f-bombs in person is greater than Rhett Miller dropping f-bombs in the studio. And in record opener "Longer Than You've Been Alive", the band gives one of the most astute commentaries on the life of a musician: we've been doing this longer than you've been alive / 20 good years of about 25. The 97s will never be an arena band, and I wouldn't want them to be; Most Messed Up just shows how great clubs have been and will still be for what they want to do. Agatha Donkar



32. Blondfire, Young Heart

A feel-good pop/rock album that never stumbles mainly because Blondfire is led by Eris Driscoll, who has charisma and can sing. If you ever get to see this band live, don't hesitate. Jason Gonulsen



31. Aphex Twin, Syro

After some cryptic promotion and lots of speculation, Aphex Twin's first studio album in thirteen years, Syro, did not disappoint. Replete with the squelchy TB-303 bass tones and frenetic drumming, it's everything you've always loved about Aphex Twin, but slightly updated for 2014. Dylan Newcity



30. Kate Tucker & the Sons of Sweden, The Shape the Color the Feel

The songs glimmer and sparkle, and we love how it ends with "Blue Hotel," "The State I'm In," and "Island of the Misfit." Kate Tucker deserves your immediate attention. Jason Gonulsen



29. Birdy, Fire Within

Fire Within was released in Europe in 2013, but didn't see its U.S. release until this year, so we're including it here. You might know her cover of Bon Iver's "Skinny Love," but she'll be a superstar because of songs like "Wings" and "Words As Weapons." Birdy is a special talent. Jason Gonulsen



28. Alexz Johnson, Let 'Em Eat Cake

Sexy, smoky, and smooth -- that's how Alexz Johnson sings, and we simply cannot get enough. Let 'Em Eat Cake is an infectious pop record with standouts like "Heart Like That," "Cologne," "I Will Fall In Love," and the terrific title track. Hear this woman sing and you'll be hooked. Jason Gonulsen



27. Delta Spirit, Into The Wide

This is a deep album, lyrically and musically, from the opening "Push It" to the cathartic "The Wreck." "For My Enemy" remains my favorite track, especially when I'm on the highway, my mind is free, and the music is loud. Jason Gonulsen



26. Ex Hex, Rips

The only bands I saw more than twice in 2014 were Caleb Caudle and Ex Hex, who are about as far apart as can be, musically, and that didn't matter to me. Rips, the Merge Records debut from the latest project from grown-up Riot Grrrl Mary Timony, is short and to the point, but it ain't sweet: it rips and roars and screams and shreds guitars and bass and drums as hard as it can. It's awesome. 10 pts. Agatha Donkar



25. Charli XCX, SUCKER

You know her because she co-wrote "Fancy" and "I Love It," but you should know her because of SUCKER and songs like "Boom Clap" and "Break the Rules." And she's brash: the opening title track exclaims, "Fuck you, sucker!" Jason Gonulsen



24. Gemma Hayes, Bones + Longing

Gemma Hayes is one of my favorite songwriters of the last few years, and Bones + Longing doesn't disappoint. The opening one-two punch of "Laughter" and "Dreamt You Were Fine" will lure you in and convince you to stay on the ride. Jason Gonulsen



23. Thom Yorke, Tomorrow's Modern Boxes

Thom Yorke is always up to something interesting. This time he released a solo album via BitTorrent completely unannounced as an "experiment to see if the mechanics of the system (BitTorrent) are something that the general public can get its head around." That description is exciting because it hints at the release of more music, but it belittles how beautiful this album is. All sorts of textural atmospherics underlie Thom's signature yowl and excite the senses in ways that his most recent project, Atoms For Peace, never has. It's great to hear the development of a fantastic solo artist, but this also raises my anticipation for the new Radiohead album to monumental heights. Dylan Newcity

22. Spoon

"Do you run when it's just getting good?" Britt Daniel sings on "Do You," They Want My Soul's standout track. Spoon isn't running away, and it's already pretty damn good. Jason Gonulsen



21. Cold War Kids, Hold My Home

Nathan Willett's voice remains Cold War Kids' finest weapon, especially on the opening "All This Could Be Yours." This is a consistently spectacular album that rocks. Jason Gonulsen



20. Taylor Swift, 1989

Okay, don't close the tab just because you hit this entry. This is a glorious, complete pop record, and sometimes, you guys, we just need glorious complete pop records. There's always going to be blowback against Tay Tay and the music she's making and the life she's living, but most of it is going to come from people who didn't listen to her albums. 1989 makes me happy to be alive, and sometimes that's all you want from a glorious, complete pop record. Agatha Donkar

19. Banks, Goddess

There is something dark and mysterious surrounding the songs on Goddess. There's also superb songwriting ("Beggin For Thread," "Goddess," "Alibi," "This is What it Feels Like") that make it rise above from being just another dose of alternative pop. Banks is for real. Jason Gonulsen



18. Collin Herring, Some Knives

This explodes out of the gate with "Psychopaths" and doesn't let up with the title track and "Covered Up." "I mean this, you can't keep showing your face around here," Herring sings on the latter. But we'll be happy around these parts if Herring keeps showing up on our Best Of lists. Jason Gonulsen



17. Caroline Rose, I Will Not Be Afraid

When you combine Caroline Rose's songwriting talent and work ethic, what you get is an album like I Will Not Be Afraid, which suggests that she is something undeniably special. Jason Gonulsen



16. Strand of Oaks, HEAL

"I don't wanna start all over again," Timothy Showalter sings on the opening "Goshen '97." It's a shot of whiskey and espresso all in one, jump starting an album that never quits. I still can't get enough of "Shut In," "JM," and "Pymouth." Jason Gonulsen



15. Tweedy, Sukierae

Jeff Tweedy of Wilco formed a duo with his son, Spencer, on drums. The result? A terrific collection of songs that can't be stuffed into one genre. Still in awe of "Nobody Dies Anymore." Read our interview with Jeff Tweedy here. Jason Gonulsen




14. Ryan Adams, Ryan Adams

Everyone has their favorite Ryan Adams album: Heartbreaker, Gold, Cold Roses, Love is Hell, Easy Tiger -- there are so many from which to choose. And here's another, which rocks from the opening "Gimme Something Good." Jason Gonulsen



13. Matthew Ryan, Boxers

For Boxers, Matthew Ryan decided to plug in and fuzz up his sound with the help of Gaslight Anthem guitarist Brian Fallon. We're rewarded with songs like "Then She Threw Me Like A Hand Grenade," "We Are Libertines," and the title track, which asks, "how do you say goodbye to a dream that just won't die?" Jason Gonulsen



12. The War on Drugs, Lost in a Dream

Take this one on your next road trip, and don't skip or shuffle. There's a reason why "Red Eyes" is second and "In Reverse" is last. Jason Gonulsen



11. BBNG, III

This trio of young lads from Toronto craft delectable hip-hop/jazz instrumentals. Improvisation features heavily into their music and bolsters a sense of spontaneity and stylistic cohesion on the album. Since releasing III the group have put out a few rap collaboration tracks, and their future is looking promising as we head into 2015. Dylan Newcity



10. Cory Branan, The No-Hit Wonder

Branan's second record for my beloved Bloodshot Records combines Branan's signature tongue-in-cheek bitter-but-not-quite lyrics with a variety of sounds -- mostly bigger, broader, more layered than his previous guitar-centric solo sound -- that punch up his already sharp songwriting into musical pieces that are even more suited to that lyrical sharpness than ever before. They range from country rockers to New Orleans horn laced crooners, and the startling lovely and acoustically stark "The Meantime Blues" that comes near the end of the record shouldn't work, but might be the highlight of the album. Branan tours pretty relentlessly, and I can't wait to hear the songs from this one live next year. 15 pts Agatha Donkar



9. Lucinda Williams, Down Where The Spirit Meets The Bone

Lucinda Williams refuses to slow down, and this double-album flows effortlessly from one song to the next. "Compassion," "Stand Right By Each Other," and "When I Look At The World" are among some of the best songs she's ever written. What a treasure. Jason Gonulsen

8. Ben Howard, I Forget Where We Were

Deep, dark, and thoughtful. Just the kind we like here at SiC. You've probably heard "I Forget Where We Were" and "End of the Affair," but spend some time with "Conrad," too. Jason Gonulsen



7. Jenny Lewis, The Voyager

"I never thought I would ever be here," sings Jenny Lewis on "Head Underwater," our song of the year at Speakers in Code. Lewis shines throughout with songs like "She's Like Me," "Just One of the Guys," "Love U Forever," and "Late Bloomer." The Voyager just doesn't get old. Jason Gonulsen



6. Sylvan Esso, Sylvan Esso

We are Sylvan Esso fanatics here at SiC and their debut album set the bar high when it came out early this year. The infectious synth-pop produced by Amelia Meath and Nick Sanborn is potent stuff, and I warn that even a cursory listen could result in full blown Sylvan Esso addiction. Dylan Newcity



5. Brooke Fraser, Brutal Romantic

Perhaps no artist took a bigger chance with his or her sound as Brooke Fraser did with Brutal Romantic. While some of her fans were probably waiting for another "Arithmetic" or "Albertine," Fraser switched courses and delivered a pop masterpiece filled with beats and hooks. There isn't a bad song on here, but start with "Psychosocial," "Start a War," or "Kings and Queens." If you liked Lorde's debut album, you'll love Brutal Romantic. Jason Gonulsen



4. Caleb Caudle, Paint Another Layer On My Heart

One of the simplest, most beautiful records of 2014, Winston-Salem's Caudle absolutely knocked it out of the park with Paint Another Layer On My Heart. It's full of heartbreakingly honest songs mostly about distance and love and long distance love, and "Trade All The Lights" and "How'd You Learn" are fighting for my favorite song of 2014. The single lyric, from early in album opener "How'd You Learn", of home doesn't share you with the places you've been made me cry so hard the first time I listened to Paint Another Layer that I ended up listening to nothing but the first minute of that song, over and over, for about the first 15 minutes of my experience with it. I finally listened to the rest of it, though, and it's all just as brilliant as that line. 20 pts Agatha Donkar



3. Sharon Van Etten, Are We There

A perfect example of an artist not having to change her sound drastically to make a wave. "I need you to be afraid of nothing," Sharon Van Etten sings on the opening song. Kudos to her for standing tall. "Tarifa" is a masterpiece. Jason Gonulsen



2. Damien Rice, My Favourite Faded Fantasy

It took eight freaking years to deliver, but I would wait eight more for another Damien Rice album like this. This was made to be played from start to finish, but listen closely to how it ends with "Trust and True" and "Long Long Way." Jason Gonulsen



1. Noah Gundersen, Ledges

I want to learn how to love
Not just the feeling

Remember what Jim Valvano said? There are three things we should do every day: laugh, think, and cry. Noah Gundersen's  Ledges hasn't made me laugh, but I can't tell you how many times it's made me think and cry, and that's why it's our album of the year. "Once you had me, you don't have me anymore," Gundersen sings on "Cigarettes." I still crave Ledges. Jason Gonulsen

Our Most Anticipated Albums of 2013 (Quarter 2)

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It's April, so that means it's time to look forward to a new batch of albums. We highly recommend these, and we hope you play them loud on your turntable, or in your car with the windows rolled down. And maybe when you're done, you can blast "Free Bird" and fly away. Happy Spring!

4/2
Generationals, Heza
Rilo Kiley, Rkives
Hem, Departure and Farewell

4/9
Dawes, Stories Don't End

4/16
Flaming Lips, The Terror
Steve Earle, The Low Highway
Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Mosquito
Iron & Wine, Ghost On Ghost
Jessie Ware, Devotion
Nora Jane Struthers & The Party Line, Carnival

4/23
Junip, Junip
Kid Cudi, Indicud
Phoenix, Bankrupt!
Young Galaxy, Ultramarine
Oberhofer, Notalgia

4/30
Akron/Family, Sub Verses
!!!, THR!!!ER
Jessica Campbell, The Anchor & The Sail

5/7
Patty Griffin, American Kid
Courtney Jaye, Love and Forgiveness
Deerhunter, Monomania
Little Boots, Nocturnes
Savages, Silence Yourself

5/14
Snowden, No One In Control
Wampire, Curiosity

5/21
The National, Trouble Will Find Me
Daft Punk, Random Access Memories

5/28
Laura Marling, Once I Was An Eagle

6/4
Houndmouth, From the Hills Below the City
Camera Obscura, Desire Lines
Portugal. The Man, Evil Friends
Rogue Wave, Nightingale Floors
Eleanor Friedberger, Personal Record

6/11
Emily Wells, Mama Acoustic Recordings
Surfer Blood, Pythons

6/18
Sigur Rós, Kveikur

6/25
Rose Windows, The Sun Dogs
Treetop Flyers, The Mountain Moves