ILM's 2022 End of Year Tracks & Albums Poll / VOTING THREAD

lol kate bush!!! hell yeah i gotta new #1 for my ballot!

(jk, not #1 tho i'm still gonna vote for it!)

Voted

Is Kate Bush really on there? Lol

fave part of these polls is always catching up on bobbins I missed.

current love: "True Romance (Maja Edit)" - Bella Boo

roz otm, that one was new to me and will be getting a vote.

No One dies from Love Guess I'll be the first

many artists might not make it high or into the top 77 at all due to vote splitting by the looks of it.
― ✖✖✖ (Moka), Wednesday, January 4, 2023 6:40 PM (yesterday) bookmarkflaglink

You could consider it an achievement in itself to get points for different tracks in a single year, that's something we could seriously count (for example top 10 artists, adding up all track votes). In the end I'm not a fan of the idea of artificially reducing a consistent album with various highlights to a one-track "critics" pick, that's BS. Imo, the track vote is also to see how differently some of the best albums resonated at personal level. And sometimes, several tracks really deserve a vote.

To add a controversial opinion, another phenomenon that contributes to vote splitting is also how wide and hopeful ILM is to get very niche picks represented and to produce the hidden gem. As we say in French, we're all "pulling the blanket", meaning something common is torn apart by personal interests.

I guess it's also a question of how much overlap you're prepare to see between the album poll and the track poll. For me it's natural to see a lot, but some might see them as two unconnected hemispheres of music.

Couple of Tracks stans from me

Plastic Estate - Antique Days

Saw these supporting Real Lies and they were real good. Young Cardiff based band making 80s influenced new wave/synth pop

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yx-eKkRjYx4

Skin on Skin - Burn Dem Bridges

Techno & drill, together at last

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhJFEMy-u-k

Sorry to lament: I forgot to nominate so my album of the year is not on there. It is Solace by Held By Trees. I like it almost as much as "Spirit of Eden" and "Laughing Stock". Gorgeous stuff flying under the radar.

I just noticed (while voting) that Miranda Lambert’s Palomino was nominated, but no tracks from it(!) (I had forgotten it came out in 2022)

― Wet Legume (morrisp), Wednesday, January 4, 2023 7:34 PM (yesterday) bookmarkflaglink

What's your favorite track? I almost nominated "I'll Be Lovin' You" but decided it was unlikely to make the cut and prioritized artists who didn't have any noms yet.

I'll stan for our local-artist-made-good. This Adeem album is really good.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FEFSL_dwwg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fM9BP_1ONFk

Bonus track, here's an interview with them I just published today: https://compassknox.com/2023/01/05/revelry-with-a-cause/

so this wasn't even my nom, but burna boy's "it's plenty" just popped up and this is the shit i'm here for and i want everyone to vote for it. holy smokes, pretty significant jam.

What's your favorite track? I almost nominated "I'll Be Lovin' You" but decided it was unlikely to make the cut and prioritized artists who didn't have any noms yet.

I guess it's tricky; my favorite tracks were probably nominated in 2021 via their Marfa Tapes versions (I'd have to check).

As for albums, BAD MODE is unbelievably one of Hikaru Utada's best in a legendary career - just funky, funny, sweet, beautiful, human. What a joy and a surprise that she would put out a masterpiece in 2022. And a great starter for anyone who hasn't checked out the discography.

forks, I just noticed you put the wrong "Korobela" in the tracks playlist, an older Kabza De Small track by that title.

it's supposed to be this one: *DJ Sumbody ft. Drip Gogo & The Lowkeys – Korobela* (and a gorgeous track it is too, people, if I may so myself)

trusting the final batch of noms will get there eventually as well. it's a hermit's job, I'm well aware. merci beaucoup!

One of my favourite discoveries of the year is Double Virgo - theyre Dean Blunt affiliated (on his World Music label). They have a darkly narcotic late night indie strum vibe. Actual information about them is thin on the ground but I loved their album 'Foolish Narratives' and their NTS mix which is worth a listen on Youtube too. I nominated this on the tracks poll. So dead eyed and malevolent. Love it

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1YYWSRNySs

Even better is this track which I also nominated. Its from their side project bar italia (basically Double Virgo and a female singer). Reminds me of stuff like Insides or Woodbine

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5mTSmNKoDE

Forgot to nom Omar S - can’t explain R&B mix :(

want to bring to attention a lesser known braxe + falcon track on the EP

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCN3aM9Oi3s

okay what the actual fuck is this shabason + krgovich?

the whole album is unbelievably good. legitimate blue nile revival.🔥

I listen to like 5 new albums a year so I never nominate but I would have nominated "I Am So Happy With My Little Dog" from that album

heyo!!

OK I did nominate the album even if I misspelled Krgovich on the thread (Ctrl+F panic a moment ago). Moka put up "In The Middle Of The Day" as the only track nom from it, so at least it won't get split. I could've put up "Childhood McDonald's" just for

The pancakes, the Playplace
Grimace's Face
Doo, doo, do, doo, do

I'm stopping just short of pasting the album description from https://shabasonandkrgovich.bandcamp.com/album/at-scaramouche which is one of my favourite things about this. Picked it up on vinyl in the big city last week and was a little let down this wasn't part of the package lol

Starting to play catchup in earnest now, with a goal of better informing an Albums vote and even having a Tracks vote. January the bessst

some pitches:

Mabe Fratti - Se Ve Desde Aquí: I'm just catching up with JF and Nabozo and everyone else who was repping Mabe Fratti in previous polls. This album is really excellent. Singer/composer/cellist who writes knotty but inviting song arrangements...the lazy Julia Holter comparisons write themselves. I mean it as a huge compliment though!
Cheba Wahida - Jrouli: dream raï, twirlers and bangers

Hyolyn - Over you: a better CRJ song than anything CRJ released this year
Javiera Mena - Sombra: ridiculous Italo stomper complete with lion sound effects and unnecessary guitars; Radiorama would be proud

I discovered the Shabason + Krgovich via Sean saidthegramophone’s eoy list and loved it. Great album for this season.

Kinda blown away by Shabason + Krgovich! Reminds me of a cross between Jim O'Rourke and the aforementioned Blue Nile.

Like, this might be my new #1.

okay, the playlists should be fully updated with everything on the nomination thread (and i threw in y'all's edits and late additions in the name of good will). If there's anything that you're not seeing on the list that's available on Spotify in the US, flag it here and I'll fix.

As is my yearly process, I'm trying to thoroughly listen (at least three times per track) to everything in the singles pile. With past faves included, I'm about 320 tracks in. I'll likely try to do capsule reviews as in past years if there's time. Suffice it to say, lots to like.

Oh, and it's worth mentioning Joseph Shabason's connection to Destroyer, having been the sax player on "Kaputt."

for anyone seeking a novelty track: am i the only person who enjoyed the Finneas/Billie Eilish tracks from the Pixar period piece Turning Red? They ghostwrote songs for a fake Backstreet-style boy band named 4*Town (with 5 members of course) and there's a few solid hits on the soundtrack. This is the obvious stand-out.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQQRjFzB8gY

At Thanksgiving, an extended family member mentioned that those songs were done by Eilish & Finneas… I said, “I don’t think that’s right!,” like a condescending know-it-all. Then I looked it up. Egg on my face!

Lol, I have a colleague from Vancouver (Krgovich is from there) who has a passion for her dog (and animal wellbeing in general) and it was her birthday two days ago. Good excuse for discretely sharing music nerdship. If you add "Feel You", there's already a good beginning of a list.

None of my nominations are on Spotify but they may have been blocked by the local magnate along with the results of last nights match

My nominated track is not on the spreadsheet:

Tramhaus - I Don't Sweat

A shame, because it's one of the best Dutch songs of 2022.

My nominated track is not on the spreadsheet:

Tramhaus - I Don't Sweat

A shame, because it's one of the best Dutch songs of 2022.

― ArchCarrier, Friday, 6 January 2023 10:48 (one hour ago) bookmarkflaglink

I don't see this on the nominations thread :(

Damn, you're right. I probably meant to and forgot about it.

really cool that ya'll dig that shabason + krgovich - and thank you maffew for the word! i already rec'd it to a non-ilm friend and they were also taken aback by how great it is.

in other news, i'll be voting for the sofie birch album.

nicholas krgovich also plays on the new dear nora album from this year that is also great

which one? (re:sofie) i love both albums she put out this year but maybe Languoria a bit more than Holotropica

ephemeral and enthusiastic thank yous by proxy to ilm - you guys rule

Some brief campaigning for some of my noms (the ones that I think would have more mass ILM appeal):

Nikki Nair - Renormalization Support Group
Some of these EP tracks on are in the tracks poll too, I think this is the best possibility for a consensus dance pick that's not mired in '90s traditionalism. It's definitely got one foot in dance music history and electro-ish energy, but with so much fun inventiveness.

Hudson Mohawke - Cry Sugar
Similarly, this is Hud Mo's dance record and I think it's wildly underrated.

DOMi & JD Beck - NOT TiGHT
While admittedly I haven't gone back to it as much as their videos (which says something about their appeal and place in the social media-based instrumentalist world), I think this may come to be viewed as a sort of landmark record, as one of the most mainstream releases so far by the new generation of 'jazz' musicians who were both born of the Youtube algorithm and came to prominence through it. Also I can't overstate how great and influential JD Beck is for a 19 year old.

DJ Plead - Quick EP
Another hugely appealing collection of leftfield dance tracks, continuing to iterate on his darbuka/percussion sample-based style.

Tony Rolando - Breakin' is a Memory
Beau Sorenson - Indifference Will Devour You
Two 'ambient' electronic records where each track is totally distinct and engaging.

And for new discoveries, I'm really enjoying Lucretia Dalt (very unique and beguiling record) and Carla Dal Forno (Peaking Lights-ish minimal Aussie dub), and Ezra Furman.

Also will be voting for the Florist record. It's gotten a ton of play on weekend mornings, and even though I can't remember a single song from it, I keep coming back to the sound (weirdly the Shlohmo-esque instrumental interludes stay in my head more than the songs, or maybe that's not weird for me).

which one? (re:sofie) i love both albums she put out this year but maybe Languoria a bit more than Holotropica

― gman59, Friday, January 6, 2023 8:23 AM

shit, i didn't realize there was more than one! i was referring to holotropica, but definitely checking out the other as well. thanks for the word!

also thank you jordan! i need more stuff to fill out my albums ballot and you are helping!

Yeah, Sofie Birch has made 9 albums since 2019. And they're generally good!

np. spoiler but i voted for both of those Birch albums

Oh man, I almost forgot about the Caterina Barbieri album (Spirit Exit) too.

I don't think I was familiar with Sofie Birch but I'm listening now and it's lovely.

idk where to start really. very little ever permeates.

try letting this into your heart though, if you can - epic autechre-obsessed TFS-adjacentish post-punk flameout beyond compare, y'know, the stuff i like. also the guy who made it was a singles jukebox contributor if that counts for anything