Popdose 2012: Rob Smith’s Favorite Music of 2012
I have no preamble. Goodbye, 2012, and thanks. Father John Misty, Fear Fun (Sub Pop). After the war broke out, we headed down to the bunker—Fifties-issue, concrete walls, boxes of canned food, smells a...
View ArticlePopdose 2013: Rob Smith’s Favorite Music of 2013
If these records could talk … 1. Jason Isbell, Southeastern The last time I saw her, she was standing in a doorway, about to go inside and do something—something, that is, in addition to...
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Dw Dunphy’s Top 10 Albums Of 2014
It’s that time of year again, when music reviewers attempt to convince you that their ten favorite records either are better than your ten favorites, or serve to justify your opinion of your own taste,...
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The Vinyl Diaries: Favorite Music of 2014
Albums discussed in this column: Lydia Loveless, Somewhere Else Felice Brothers, Favorite Waitress Bob Mould, Beauty & Ruin Sturgill Simpson, Metamodern Sounds in Country Music The Hold Steady,...
View ArticleThe 2014 Music Notable Awards!
Yes, I’ve already run down my picks for the year’s standout albums, my 2014 mixtape suggestions and my ratings for new albums by artists over 50. But that’s not everything that graced our earbuds this...
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Favorite Albums Of 2014
I know, I know. List season is over. We’ve moved on to a new year. Ok, so I didn’t get it done in time for some hypothetical deadline. At least I got it done, right? One thing I have to say right up...
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The Worst 2015 Box Office Predictions Ever
I predicted every one of these would be hits. Also, “Pixels.” Sometimes I wonder, “Why doesn’t Hollywood call to ask my opinion about what kinds of movies they should be releasing? Surely I have the...
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The Vinyl Diaries: 2015—Death, Ignominy and Necessary Voices
I am ready to beat 2015 with a hammer and send it out into the streets, bleeding and bewildered, for the village hounds to devour. When, in future years, I look back upon these twelve months, I will...
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20 2015 Music Trends That Probably Weren’t Actually Trends
Notable music highlights from 2015 included the hip-hop “Hamilton;” Adele’s omnipresent “Hello;” Katy Perry’s sharks; Elvis Costello’s book soundtrack (not to mention the book); and Ryan Adams morphing...
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Best of 2015: Another Fine Year!
So it’s the time of the season, when I get into that reflective mood and begin working my way backwards over the year’s music, books, movies, etc. And 2015 was equally as rich as 2014 was, so I...
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The Vinyl Diaries: 2015—Death, Ignominy and Necessary Voices
I am ready to beat 2015 with a hammer and send it out into the streets, bleeding and bewildered, for the village hounds to devour. When, in future years, I look back upon these twelve months, I will...
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Best of 2016: An Aging Hipster’s Top Albums, EPs and Reissues
Year end album round-ups are no longer a consensus of the nation’s listening experience. We live in a hyper fragmented world — a total niche fest. I’ve read about 50 lists so far and see few if any of...
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Dw. Dunphy’s Year-End Clearance Sale!
An abnormally good year for music in an abnormal year. As we close 2016 with either a fond wave of farewell or a single-finger salute, let’s look back on some of the records that made the mania a...
View ArticleBest of 2017: Justin Vellucci’s Top Ten
Yeah, yeah, putting the final nail in the coffin of 2017 is a little premature, seeing as there’s still more than 30 days left in the year. But, I’m the music writer compiling this list, so, here you...
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Best of 2017: 10 Albums for the Buy Curious
In the age of streaming, does anyone still care about someone else’s top albums list when every album in the known universe is at your fingertips 24/7 (if you have good cell signal and a decent data...
View ArticleA Fan’s Notes: Notable Albums of 2017
In early 2015 I published a list of my favorite albums of the previous year. In my story, I chastised writers who had rushed to get their lists out early and in doing so missed the December 15, 2014...
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Thank You, Next: 18 of 2018’s Other Epic Singles
Friends, robots, Kardashians, lend me your ears. Remember the days when you didn’t rely on a streaming algorithm to turn you onto new music? That’s right, back when your parents, older siblings, radio...
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2018’s 50 Best Albums: An Apocalypse Survival Guide
While it’s safe to say most of us want to forget all about 2018, there are hundreds of incredible albums by stellar artists across the complete spectrum of genres that are worthy of soundtracking your...
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An Aging Hipster’s Top 50 Albums of 2019
As society hurdles ass over ears into the smog congested, plastic particle infested, fact contested, crap basket of incivility, we can at least take solace in the fact it was a mighty good year for new...
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An Aging Hipster’s 21 Best Albums of 2021
OK, here’s a provocative and probably unpopular opinion – 2021 was a pretty good year. Trump is out of the White House (for now), vaccinations are at least available, and we’re not in a recession,...
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