This page will be dedicated to my favourite releases of the year (in no particular order). The list will continue to be updated as the year goes on, and all of the albums that feature here will be eligible to appear on my year end list.
2020
2020 – LPs (See Top 50 Albums list here)
- A Message for Mobley by Bob Reynolds
- Formations by Hawktail
- Life On Other Planets by Moon Hooch
- Storms / Nocturnes by Tim Garland, Geoff Keezer, Joe Locke
- Bonny Light Horseman – Self Titled
- Kingdom in My Mind by the Wood Brothers
- Suite for Max Brown by Jeff Parker
- Wherein Lies the Good by The Westerlies
- Old Wow by Sam Lee
- Likewise by Frances Quinlan
- What’s New by Ian Shaw, Iain Ballamy, Jamie Safir
- UNLOCKED by Denzel Curry and Kenny Beats
- Dark Matter by Moses Boyd
- Life Goes On by Carla Bley
- From This Place by Pat Metheny
- Multiverse by Ivo Neame and Jim Hart
- 25 Trips by Sierra Hull
- You Already Know by Ted Poor
- Planet B by Jasper Høiby
- We Are Sent Here By History by Shabaka and the Ancestors
- Satin Doll by Sam Gendel
- Sean Watkins & Matt Chamberlain – Self Titled
- Big Vicious by Avishai Cohen
- Runway by Bob Reynolds
- Emergency Shelter Intake Form by Gabriel Kahane
- The New Abnormal by The Strokes
- Brother Sister by Watkins Family Hour
- Fetch the Bolt Cutters by Fiona Apple
- Songs for Pierre Chuvin by The Mountain Goats
- Live in Willisau by James Brandon Lewis and Chad Taylor
- Innocent Country 2 by Quelle Chris and Chris Keys
- The Dead Don’t Dream by Verneri Pohjola
- I Grow Tired But Dare Not Fall Asleep by Ghostpoet
- To the Earth by Dinosaur
- In Common 2 by Walter Smith III
- N O D R E A M by Jeff Rosenstock
- AuB – Self Titled
- RTJ4 by Run the Jewels
- World on the Ground by Sarah Jarosz
- Punisher by Phoebe Bridgers
- Not Our First Goat Rodeo by Stuart Duncan, Edgar Meyer, Chris Thile, Yo-Yo Ma
- Women in Music Part III by HAIM
- RoundAgain by Joshua Redman, Brad Mehldau, Christian McBride, Brian Blade
- Dinner Party by Terrace Martin, Robert Glasper, Kamasi Washington, 9th Wonder
- Lianne La Havas – Self Titled
- folklore by Taylor Swift
- SOURCE by Nubya Garcia
- Splintered Stories by The Spike Orchestra
- The Intangible Between by Orrin Evans & The Captain Black Big Band
2020 – EPs
- The Human Hands EP by Sam Reider
- Bull Frogs Croon (and Other Songs) by Aoife O’Donovan
2019
2019 – LPs (See Top 50 Albums list here)
- Stomping Off From Greenwood by Greg Ward Presents Rogue Parade
- Rosie’s 5ive by Rosie Turton
- Boomtown by Chris Bullock
- Malibu Ken by Aesop Rock and Tobacco (AKA Malibu Ken)
- Days on Earth by Mark Lockheart
- Wandering Monster – Self Titled
- Fairgrounds by Jeff Ballard
- Joys and Solitudes by Yonathan Avishai
- A Day In The Life: Impressions of Pepper by Various Artists
- Downpour by Aberdeen
- Dancer in Nowhere by Miho Hazama
- Ex Nihilo by Binker Golding and Elliot Galvin
- Rising by House of Waters
- Fyah by Theon Cross
- Circuits by Chris Potter
- The Gloaming 3 by The Gloaming
- The Gleaners by Larry Grenadier
- GREY Area by Little Simz
- Radio Mediteran by Omer Kline Trio
- Symphonic Bop by VEIN Trio
- Immigrance by Snarky Puppy
- Trust in the Lifeforce of the Deep Mystery by The Comet Is Coming
- Ancestral Recall by Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah
- My Finest Work Yet by Andrew Bird
- Come What May by Joshua Redman Quartet
- CABLES by Bill Laurance
- Hiding Places by billy woods and Kenny Segal
- Guns by Quelle Chris
- BEAT MUSIC! BEAT MUSIC! BEAT MUSIC! by Mark Guiliana
- Ventura by Anderson .Paak
- Rule of 3 by Vasen
- Modern Times by Elliot Galvin
- In League With Dragons by The Mountain Goats
- Ninety Degrees Gravity by Trish Clowes
- Father of the Bride by Vampire Weekend
- there is no Other by Rhiannon Giddens
- Scott Ave by YAYennings Quartet
- Finding Gabriel by Brad Mehldau
- A Page From by Caitlin Sullivan
- Taller by Jamie Cullum
- The Long Game by Liam Noble
- Devotion by Dave Douglas
- Elftet by Jonny Mansfield
- Antidote by Chick Corea and the Spanish Heart Band
- Pale Cicada by Makeunder
- Bandana by Freddie Gibbs and Madlib
- Work Songs by Timo Andres
- Four X.it by Nate Wood
- Djesse Vol. 2 by Jacob Collier
- Stepping Back, Jumping In by Laura Jurd
- Blume by Nerija
- The Dots by ALASKALASKA
- Rearrange My Heart by Che Apalache
- i,i by Bon Iver
- 365, Vol.2 by Aidan O’Rourke and Kit Downes
- Who Are You Now by Madison Cunningham
- Hope by Kevin Hays and Lionel Loueke
- Like the River Loves the Sea by Joan Shelley
- Sonero: the Music of Ismael Rivera by Miguel Zenon
- Fanm d’Ayiti by Nathalie Joachim with Spektral Quartet
- All My Heroes are Cornballs by JPEGMAFIA
- Golden Valley Is Now by Reid Anderson, Dave King, Craig Taborn
- Turn to Clear View by Joe Armon-Jones
- It’s Morning by Led Bib
- Sun on Sand by Joshua Redman and Brooklyn Rider
- SuperBigmouth by Chris Lightcap
- Good Hope by Dave Holland, Zakir Hussain and Chris Potter
- Fly or Die II: bird dogs of paradise by Jaimie Branch
- Polyhymnia by Yazz Ahmed
- 2020 by Richard Dawson
- Gulgoleth by Sam Eastmond
- There Existed an Addiction to Blood by clipping.
- Chapters by Kneebody
- Activate Infinity by The Bad Plus
- Dreamlife of Debris by Kit Downes
- Ad Astra (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) by Max Richter, Lorne Balfe
- Oak and the Ghost by Nathan Schram
- JOY by AKA Trio
- Utica Box by Dan Weiss Trio Plus 1
2019 – EPs
- Sungazer vol.2 by Sungazer
- Human by Dodie
- For the Sake of the Rhyme by Madison Cunningham
- Live Sesh and Xtra Songs by Louis Cole
- By Fire by Kneebody
- Trio by Laura Jurd
- Fatal Flower Garden by Sam Amidon
- Wonderbloom by Becca Stevens
2018
2018 – LPs (See Top 50 Albums list here)
- Sovereign nose of (y)our arrogant face by Scallops Hotel
- POST- by Jeff Rosenstock
- Never Stop II by The Bad Plus
- I Can Feel You Creep Into My Private Life by Tune-Yards
- Obsidian by Kit Downes
- The Great Nostalgist by Danny Fox Trio
- The Influencing Machine by Elliot Galvin
- Modern Lore by Julian Lage
- Broken Stay Open Sky by Red River Dialect
- One Drop Of Truth by The Wood Brothers
- Too Hot To Sleep by Sam Reider
- TWIO by Walter Smith III
- Thought You Knew by Snowpoet
- See You Around by I’m With Her
- Twin Fantasy by Car Seat Headrest
- Romaria by Andy Sheppard Quartet
- We Are by Alina Engibaryan
- Veteran by Jpegmafia
- Animal Image by Verneri Pohjola and Mika Kallio
- Traveling Pulse (Live) by Cloudmakers Five
- We Out Here – Various Artists
- Return To Mind by Eyolf Dale
- After The Fall (Live) by Keith Jarrett, Gary Peacock and Jack DeJohnette
- Ravensburg by Mathias Eick
- Hummingbird by Helge Lien and Knut Hen
- Cocoa Sugar by Young Fathers
- After Bach by Brad Mehldau
- Moksha by Ivo Neame
- Criss Cross by Alcyona Mick and Tori Freestone
- Returnings by Jakob Bro
- Czarface Meets Metal Face by Czarface and MF DOOM
- Code Girl by Mary Halvorson
- Bark Your Head Off, Dog by Hop Along
- Currents, Constellations by The Nels Cline 4
- Rise and Rise Again by Shake Stew
- Swagism by Ghost-Note
- Sun Go Nova by Denmark Vessey
- Motel Bouquet by Caitlin Canty
- Dirty Computer by Janelle Monae
- Disco Erosion by Shatner’s Bassoon
- Starebaby by Dan Weiss
- Wonder Trail by Dinosaur
- Starting Today by Joe Armon-Jones
- Unless by Hawktail
- Quartet by Bob Reynolds
- (((echo chamber))) by MC Paul Barman
- Seymour Reads the Constitution! by Brad Mehldau Trio
- Still Dreaming by Joshua Redman
- Enemy – Self Titled
- The Return by Kamaal Williams
- DAYTONA by Pusha T
- ye by Kanye West
- Weather Walker by Tim Garland
- KIDS SEE GHOSTS – Self Titled
- Shelter by Olivia Chaney
- Alive in the East? by Binker and Moses
- Juniper by Slowly Rolling Camera
- Nocturnes and Visions by Huw Warren
- Stranger Fruit by Zeal and Ardor
- Ordinary Corrupt Human Love by Deafheaven
- Lamp Lit Prose by Dirty Projectors
- Seven Sisters by Don Kipper
- All Ashore by Punch Brothers
- Tonadas by Julian Argüelles
- Time by Louis Cole
- Swimming by Mac Miller
- Be the Cowboy by Mitski
- Third Journey by Mike Marshall and Caterina Lichtenberg
- Book of Travellers by Gabriel Kahane
- Joy as an Act of Resistance by Idles
- Big Red Machine by Big Red Machine
- Ask For Chaos by Gilad Hekselman
- Temporary Kings by Mark Turner and Ethan Iverson
- Room 25 by Noname
- We Are All by Phronesis
- Bristopia by Get the Blessing
- Fluid World Building 101 With Shaman Bambu by Dustin Wong
- The Window by Cécile McLorin Salvant
- The Journey by Lionel Loueke
- The Dream Thief by Shai Maestro
- 8 Songs by Linan Dorin’s 1000 Boats
- Blow. by Donny McCaslin
- Passport by Huntertones
- Where the River Goes by Wolfgang Muthspiel
- THINK:PEACE by Clarence Clarity
- The Seasons by Ben Wendel
- Short Stories by Fabled
- Little Big by Aaron Parks
- 12 Little Spells by Esperanza Spalding
- Here If You Listen by David Crosby
- Pieces of a Man by Mick Jenkins
- Long Ago and Far Away by Charlie Haden and Brad Mehldau
- 13th Floor by Eric Harland Voyager
- In the Corners of Clouds by Satori
- Mad Skillet by John Medeski’s Mad Skillet
- Oxnard by Anderson .Paak
- Van Diemen’s Land by Sam Lee and notes inégales
- Some Rap Songs by Earl Sweatshirt
2018 – EPs
- When We Are by Nubya Garcia
- The Fearless Fliers – Self Titled
- Point of Departure by Trichotomy
- Light It Up by Moonhooch
- Darkworld Gleaming by Twig Twig
- What Happens When I Try to Relax by Open Mike Eagle
- FM! by Vince Staples
2017
2017 – LPs (See Top 50 Albums list here)
- RTJ3 by Run the Jewels
- My Iris by Trish Clowes
- Chris Thile & Brad Mehldau – Self Titled
- Godspeed by Morten Schantz
- Known-Unknown by Trichotomy
- Memories are Now by Jesca Hoop
- Drunk by Thundercat
- The Iceberg by Oddisee
- Mount Royal by Julian Lage and Chris Eldridge
- The Roc by Daniel Herskedal
- The Traveller’s Tale: The Brass Project Live! by John Warren/John Surman
- Dirty Projectors – Self Titled
- Universal Favorite by Noam Pikelny
- Anti-Hero by Kneebody
- Semper Femina by Laura Marling
- Guitar Band by Bob Reynolds
- Regina by Becca Stevens
- Golijov: Azul by The Knights
- The Behemoth by Phronesis
- First Dance on Second Avenue by She’koyokh
- Petite Afrique by Somi
- Brutalism by IDLES
- Pure Comedy by Father John Misty
- ALL-AMERIKKKAN BADA$$ by Joey Bada$$
- Migration Blues by Eric Bibb
- What Now by Sylvan Esso
- The Imperfect Sea by Penguin Cafe
- Powerplant by Girlpool
- Cross-Platform Interchange by Misha Mullov-Abbado
- Fly or Die by Jaimie Branch
- Relaxer by Alt-J
- Strange Circles by Bokanté
- A Place I’ll Always Go by Palehound
- Nightfall by Quercus
- The Underside of Power by Algiers
- over the carnage rose a voice prophetic Mixtape by Scallops Hotel
- 4:44 by Jay-Z
- Saluting Sgt. Pepper by Django Bates
- GT Ultra by Guerilla Toss
- Every Valley by Public Service Broadcasting
- Queen of Hearts by Offa Rex
- Known Unknowns by billy woods
- Flower Boy by Tyler the Creator
- Riser by Rob Luft
- Dark Matter by Randy Newman
- Thrēq by FORQ
- Who Told You To Think??!!?!?!?! by Milo
- Fever Dream by Everything Everything
- Villains by Queens of the Stone Age
- Hit The Ground Running by Newton Faulkner
- Brewed by Väsen
- Hindsight by Bob Reynolds
- Dark Days + Canapés by Ghostpoet
- Instinct by Malija
- TRYPNOTYX by Victor Wooten, Dennis Chambers, Bob Franceschini
- Brick Body Kids Still Daydream by Open Mike Eagle
- Gathering by Josh Ritter
- Luciferian Towers by Godspeed You! Black Emperor
- Laila’s Wisdom by Rapsody
- Aromanticism by Moses Sumney
- Sky Trails by David Crosby
- Strangers by The Young’Uns
- Circle of Chimes by Marius Neset
- A Meeting of Spirits by Gary Husband
- Jersey by Mark Guiliana Jazz Quartet
- 1970 by Avishai Cohen
- Echolocations: River by Andrew Bird
- Setembro by Mário Laginha, Julian Argüelles and Helge Andreas Norbakken
- MASSEDUCTION by St. Vincent
- Loafer’s Hollow by Mostly Other People Do The Killing
- Echo In The Valley by Béla Fleck and Abigail Washburn
- Irreversible Entanglements – Self Titled
- Rome by Armand Hammer
- Shadow Work by Mammal Hands
- The Dreamer Is The Dream by Chris Potter
- Small Town by Bill Frisell and Thomas Morgan
- The Way Is Read by The Staves and yMusic
2017 – EPs
- Not the Actual Events by Nine Inch Nails
- Ruler Rebel by Christian Scott aTunde Adjua
- Drive 2 Meet U by Turnip King
- City Live by Stuart McCallum
- Joshua Tree by Moon Hooch
- Drive It Like It’s Stolen by Injury Reserve
2016
2016 – LPs (See Top 50 Albums List Here)
- Blackstar by David Bowie
- Malibu by Anderson.Paak
- In The Magic Hour by Aoife O’Donovan
- Paradise by Pop. 1280
- Weighted Mind by Sierra Hull
- Arts&Leisure by Walter Martin
- Into the Silence by Avishai Cohen
- Family Dinner Vol. 2 by Snarky Puppy
- Weaving by Jonathan Wires
- Commontime by Field Music
- When You Walk A Long Distance You Are Tired by Mothers
- SVIIB by School of Seven Bells
- Before A Million Universes by Big Ups
- Aftersun by Bill Laurance
- Emily’s D+Evolution by Esperanza Spalding
- Paradise by The Wood Brothers
- untitled unmastered by Kendrick Lamar
- Post Pop Depression by Iggy Pop
- Feelin Kinda Free by The Drones
- Mi Wo by Ytamo
- Hella Personal Film Festival by Open Mike Eagle and Paul White
- A Cosmic Rhythm With Each Stroke by Vijay Iyer and Wadada Leo Smith
- The Wilderness by Explosions in the Sky
- The Peace and Truce of Future of the Left by Future of the Left
- Man Made Object by GoGo Penguin
- Parallax by Phronesis
- What to Fear by Sean Watkins
- LEMONADE by Beyoncé
- Nonagon Infinity by King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard
- Culcha Vulcha by Snarky Puppy
- Take Me To The Alley by Gregory Porter
- The Colour In Anything by James Blake
- Hearts Broken, Heads Turned by Jarlath Henderson
- The Source by Afro Celt Sound System
- A Moon Shaped Pool by Radiohead
- Bottomless Pit by Death Grips
- The Odd Tape by Oddisee
- Teens of Denial by Car Seat Headrest
- Spark and Echo by Mark Lettieri
- Good Times Will Come Again by Megson
- Floa by Mammal Hands
- Good Luck and Do Your Best by Gold Panda
- One by Tim Garland
- Save Yourself by Elucid
- Blues and Ballads by The Brad Mehldau Trio
- Revolve & Rotate by Luke Daniels
- Red Sky by Moon Hooch
- Wolf Valley by Eyolf Dale
- Sing Me Home by Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble
- The Dreaming Room by Laura Mvula
- Undercurrent by Sarah Jarosz
- Young in All the Wrong Ways by Sara Watkins
- Puberty 2 by Mitski
- The Magic by Deerhoof
- In My Room by Jacob Collier
- IV by BADBADNOTGOOD
- Fellow Creatures by Jasper Høiby
- Punch by Elliot Galvin Trio
- Telefone by Noname
- House of Waters – Self Titled
- Blonde by Frank Ocean
- It’s Hard by The Bad Plus
- How to be a Human Being by Glass Animals
- Splendor and Misery by clipping.
- Nearness by Joshua Redman and Brad Mehldau
- Laika by Turnip King
- Preoccupations – Self Titled
- Together, As One by Dinosaur
- Spacebound Apes by Neil Cowly Trio
- The Healing Component by Mick Jenkins
- Agartha by Oddarrang
- The Randy Newman Songbook, Vol. 3 by Randy Newman
- Atrocity Exhibition by Danny Brown
- 22, A Million by Bon Iver
- Beyond Now by Donny McCaslin
- WORRY. by Jeff Rosenstock
- Lighthouse by David Crosby
- Beyond the Fleeting Gales by Crying
- The Westerlies – Self Titled
- Black America Again by Common
- Wild Hog by The Furrow Collective
- A Thousand Cranes by Çiğdem Aslan
- We Got It From Here… Thank You 4 Your Service by A Tribe Called Quest
- “Awaken, My Love!” by Childish Gambino
2016 – EPs
- I Talk to Strangers EP by I Talk to Strangers
- Ritual Spirit EP by Massive Attack
- Little Grids by IGLOOGHOST
- Alwasta by Oddisee
- Prima Donna by Vince Staples
And for those who want even more to listen to, here is a link to my top 30 albums from 2015:
https://healthymusicobsession.com/2015/12/15/the-best-of-2015-top-30-albums-of-the-year/
Healthy Music Obsession 