Eric Fine Poop 2015


Brothers and sisters, we survived another year on this planet. The best thing I can say about 2015 is that it is behind us. No looking back from here – blue skies ahead.

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1. The Decemberists – What A Terrible World, What A Beautiful World If I’m to be completely honest (no more musical skeletons in the closet) this is my most listened to album of the year. Am I going soft? Maybe. Do I feel like I missed the boat on them first time around? Definitely. And after playing catalog catch-up, I think this record reigns supreme.

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2. Sufjan Stevens – Carrie & Lowell I feel guilty liking this so much. To gain so much from one man’s pain. I hope making this album was fulfilling for him, because it definitely gave me great satisfaction.

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3. Ryley Walker – Primrose Green My friends, please put down what you are doing now and give this a listen. Part Tim Buckley, part Leo Kottke with the depth of Nick Drake, and a serious edge.

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4. Jason Isbell – Something More Than Free Another great campfire, sing-along classic. He’s the current alt-country champ.

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5. Kamasi Washington – The Epic It is a rare year when I can find some new jazz music that sticks with me enough to get repeated listens. This massive double album gets better with each listen.

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6. Josh Rouse – The Embers of Time Extremely happy to have him back in my life. Reminds me how much I loved his earlier LPs and how much I missed him.

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7. Father John Misty – I Love You, Honeybear There are definitely records that I am happy jumping on the bandwagon, and this is one of them.

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8. Wilco – Star Wars I was so ready to write this one off. It showed up out of nowhere, is not nearly as polished as any of their previous efforts… but then completely grows on you. As always, pop hooks under the surface, you just have to work a bit harder to find them. Still my favorite band.

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9. The Brighter Side: A 25th Anniversary Tribute to Uncle Tupelo’s No Depression A true masterpiece. Each interpretation is respectful yet completely unique. A true reminder of how great and timeless the original is.

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10. Tobias Jesso Jr. – Goon I’m such a sucker for 70’s pop. Even more impressive knowing this is from someone born in the 80’s. This album is so visual – it is a soundtrack in the making.

11. Leon Bridges – Coming Home Is it so wrong to emulate your heroes? Sam Cooke & Otis comes to mind. I’ll place my bets on him as the new sound of r&b.
12. Richard Thompson – Still Let me see. One of my favorite guitarists puts out a new record. And you ask one of my favorite musicians to produce. You can’t go wrong, right? And you would be correct. RT’s strongest release in years, Tweedy’s influence can be heard all over the place.
13. Car Seat Headrest – Teens of Style Matador Records does it again finding a diamond in the rough in likes of Will Toledo, and letting it be. Robert Pollard should be very proud if this is what his legacy sounds like.
14. The Arcs – Yours, Dreamily – That guys from the Black Keys really knows how to keep busy. I dig this record – loose, airy, spacey and bluesy.
15. Yo La Tengo – Stuff Like That There Remind me the last time I threw on a Yo La Tengo record. Yeah, me neither. Big mistake. This record makes me all warm and fuzzy inside – exactly what you want from them.
16. Courtney Barnett – Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit Me too. Playful and melodic. Who could ask for anything more.
17. Calexico – Edge of the Sun Like a lost Dylan record, sung and performed on the road.
18. Bhi Bhiman – Rhythm & Reason I’m Moving to Brussels. That’s right, I said it. Sorta like Cornershop meets Jack Johnson. Laid back, kinda worldly.
19 & 20. Beach House – Thank Your Lucky Stars & Depression Cherry How lucky are we – 2 great releases in 1 year.

Reissues

As always, when you get to be my age, there is never any shortage of great albums that get reissued with an extra track or two. In some cases, there may not even be anything new, but that doesn’t matter. There are only so many hours in the day and to get a helping hand reminding me to listen to something I loved at one time or another is all right by me.

Van Morrison – Astral Weeks; Bob Dylan – The Cutting Edge 1965-1966: The Bootleg Series Volume 12; The Velvet Underground – Loaded: Reloaded 45th Anniversary Edition; Yo La Tengo – Extra Painful; Miles Davis – Miles Davis at Newport: 1955-1975 – The Bootleg Series, Vol. 4; Led Zeppelin – Houses of The Holy & Physical Graffiti; Bruce Springsteen – The River

That’s it. 2015 was a hard year, but I do feel wiser from it. Thankfully I have my rock. She may not really like me all the time, but I know the truth. I’m a project she gets to work on year round – who could ask for a better situation. Thank you.

Eric Fine
NYC