That time has come. It's half way through the year and most everyone is making their best music (so far) lists. This was actually my first ever post on the Wires & Waves blog. I feel like this, like most years, has been a really strong year for music.


Favorite Album 
Modern Vampires of The City - Vampire Weekend

This is not only my favorite album of this year so far, but one of the best albums I've heard in a very long time  (click HERE to read my review of the album). It's been over a month since this record was released, and it hasn't lost any of its luster. Today I was mowing my grandma's lawn and got really emotional listening to "Hannah Hunt". This album is great. It might be too early to say but I don't think this one will leave my top spot for the entire year.

Favorite Song
"Sex" - The 1975

Aside from every song from the Vampire Weekend album, this has been my go to song of the year (so far). It's a catchy pop rock song. There's not too much to it, but something about it keeps me coming back to it over and over and over again. Whether I'm working out or driving in the car, this song is enjoyable where ever I am.

Favorite New Band
Night Beds

The first time I heard "Even If We Try" I nearly melted to the floor. Winston Yellen, lead singer of Night Beds, swoons with one of the coolest falsettos since Justin Vernon. The album, Country Sleep, is very reminiscent of early Ryan Adams records. There's a heavy country influence infused with dream like melodies. It's an album I keep coming back to.

Best Comeback 
Justin Timberlake

I don't think I've been more excited for an album release than I was for The 20/20 Experience and it didn't disappoint at all. It had been six years since J.T. had released an album and following up Future, Sex, Love Sounds was no easy task.  The 20/20 Experience, musically, is all over the map. There's the psychedelic "Spaceship Coupe", and the soulful, "That Girl". "Mirrors" is the standout track. It's an ode to his wife and to his grandparents' relationship. It's the most boy bandish song on the album, but don't worry you can listen to it and not feel guilty for liking it. Like it should, this album makes me want to dance and I don't even like to dance. That's saying something.

Biggest Surprise 
The Shouting Matches - Grownass Man

Who knew that Justin Vernon was going to release an album this year, besides Justin Vernon himself? I don't think anyone did. One day out of the blue it just appeared. The Shouting Matches are the blues rock side project of Vernon and other Eau Claire, Wisconsin musicians. It's nothing like Bon Iver. There's no cryptic lyrics. It's straight forward and fun to listen to. By far my biggest surprise of the year so far.

Here's a playlist of the bands and songs mentioned above, plus a few others I really like this year (so far).

When I first heard about Vampire Weekend I wanted nothing to do with them. In fact the whole idea of  Vampire Weekend made me sick. Preppy Ivy Leaguers with sweaters draped over their shoulders singing about Cambridge, and Cape Cod. This was one 1% percent music. Music I wanted no part of . . . that is until a girl I had a crush on burnt me a copy (sorry for writing about old crushes, Christina). Nothing ever happened with the girl, but I fell in love with album. Researching oxford commas and getting the hell out of Walcott were all I could think about.

They continued to impress me with their second release, Contra. Now with their third album, Modern Vampires of The City, I'm speechless. Ezra Koenig and the gang have really outdone themselves. Modern Vampires is far different. The lyrics are more personal. The music is more refined. I find myself relating to the lyrics in ways that I haven't related to an album in a long time. Koening is 29 (same age as me) and with lyrics like "Wisdom's a gift, but you'd trade it for youth", and "Nobody knows what the future holds and it's bad enough just getting old" the album feels like an anthem for late twenty somethings transitioning into full adulthood.

MV is  more introspective than previous albums. Koening digs deep when questioning not only his place in the world, but his feelings about religion. "Unbelievers" explains itself in the title of the song.  Not only is the title of"Ya Hey"a shout out to Outkast, it's the Hebrew pronunciation of Jehovah (Yahweh). On "Hannah Hunt" he sings about not believing in a person of faith's words about  "hidden eyes" that can see what we're thinking.

We're almost half way through the year and this album stands out above anything I've heard. I feel like it's important  for everyone to listen to. Vampire Weekend have made something that will last. Not that you can compare the two albums, but I haven't been moved this much by an album since Bon Iver's For Emma was released in 2008. Making a third album can be really difficult for most bands, especially with all the hype that has surrounded Vampire Weekend since their first release, but they pull it off seemingly effortlessly.