2015 Dishonorable Mentions

These aren’t the worst records that came out this year - just the most disappointing, frustrating or shameful for one reason or another. 

5--The Incredible True Story (Logic)

Logic’s record from last year “Under Pressure” showed he had potential and got me interested in what he would do next. He definitely stepped up his production on this new record - but he’s basically biting Kendrick’s style on it - especially with his flow.  And the plot on this record is absolutely stupid - I won’t go into it to much because it’s not worth writing or reading about - but in the skits between songs it’s a sci-fi thing where they’re looking for a new planet since Earth is uninhabitable.  But the songs hardly ever relate to this plot - only occasionally reference it.  Logic is a technically talented rapper and is trying REALLY hard - but just hasn’t found his own style yet and is just ripping off those have (like Drake, J Cole, and most notably Kendrick). 

4-The Epic (Kamasi Washington)

So this isn’t a terrible record - but the amount of hype that this record is getting for how good of a record it is, is completely absurd.  They are already buzzing him for the headliner at the Newport Jazz Festival and folks at Pitchfork and the Needle Drop are calling this thing the best jazz album in DECADES!  I think I heard someone say since fusion happened in the 70s (lol).  There are over 40 jazz records that came out this YEAR that are far better than this thing.  Kamasi's playing itself I have no beef with, and his arrangements on Kendrick’s “To Pimp a Butterfly” work extremely well - but the compositions on this triple album “The Epic” aren't all that interesting.  Even when they are all orchestrated up - there’s not much of substance behind it all.  It’s unnecessarily long -there is absolutely no need for this thing to be a tripple album.  It would actually make a halfway decent single disc record if he took the best cuts of this thing - changing it’s length from 173 minutes to like…45ish.  But as the title implies - he wanted to make this EPIC - and clearly some people think it is considering the hype that it’s getting.  I don’t shame Kamasi Washington for putting this out - but more just the music press for being so ill informed about the state of jazz today.  I’m happy that something in the jazz realm is gaining this kind of attention - it’s just a bummer when there is so much other jazz that deserves way more attention and isn’t getting any.  But on the bright side - I hope that this brings light to other great jazz records and artists and people who are getting into this record choose to explore more in the genre.  

3--Strangers to Ourselves (Modest Mouse)

I should start this by saying I love Modest Mouse.  Their records in the 90s are great and “The Moon and Antarctica” is one of my favorite indie rock records of all time.  Unfortunately howeever, this record is like if Modest Mouse’s record from 2007, “We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank” didn’t have any good songs on it and didn’t have Johnny Mar.  With the exception of a few good lyrics on this record, there is absolutely nothing else worth hearing.  It seems like Isaac Brock knew it wasn’t very good before he released it - promising that there next record after this one wouldn’t be an 8 year wait and more would be coming soon.  I don’t expect that record to be very good either since it’s a lot of the same recording sessions…but I hope at some point Modest Mouse will be good again... 
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2-Depression Cherry (Beach House) 

Stylistically this is a more raw record and a return to the sound of their earlier records before “Teen Dream”.  The thing is - this record really offers nothing new.  It has a few good songs - but the only reason anyone should listen to it is if you are obsessed with Beach House and need more of the same shit they’ve already put out time and time again.  

1-Thank Your Lucky Star (Beach House)

Unlike “Depression Cherry” (which came out only two months before this record) which has at least a few good songs - this record has nothing redeemable about it.  It feels uninspired and formulaic.  It’s records like this that prove why bands should go on hiatus.  They’ve figured out what “works” and have just kept pumping out the same record since 2010’s “Teen Dream” - and even though 2012’s “Bloom” was a bit richer texturally - their shit has gotten stale and they no longer have anything fresh to offer.  
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And if you want some music that is so terrible that it’s a mindfuck this year - listen to these:

*the final track on the new Miley Cyrus record, “Twinkle Song”*
-to be clear - I think there are some tracks on this record that are kind of tight - but with this one - for real, "WHAT DOES IT MEAN?!?!?!?!?"  

and

the new Pope Francis rock album “Wake Up!”

-to be clear - I think Pope Francis is a dope pope - but just not a pope that is capable of making a great rock record

And now that I've gotten that out of my system - I’ll be putting out lists of my favorite EPs, top 50 albums of the year, as well as a bunch of honorable mentions in the super near future - and in the meantime feel free to check out my top 50 from last year. 

much love,

Mike