Features

I own exactly one on this list, Joel Ross - KingMaker and I was actually considering The Raconteurs. Thanks for the list.

I did not know this until recently, Finneas is Billie Eillish's big brother, co-writer, contributor, and producer...and his solo work is good. (He's a bit Justin Timberlake-y, who I am good with.)

I agree about TTC, Frank Ocean, Brockhampton, CharliXCX, JPEGMAFIA, etc!!

Thanks for reminding audiophiles there is new music made each year.

Cheers!

Frank Ocean is playing Coachella. I can't go, but hoping he plays Outside Lands. Live Frank Ocean is a rare event!

...none of these all digital recordings reviewed here on AnalogPlanet.

...none of these all digital recordings reviewed here on AnalogPlanet.

I was surprised to see no Black Pumas on this list or Karen O/Lux Prima.

Malachi your language and review style are not what I come here for just saying. You repeatedly trash artists you do not like and generally have a negative attitude. I guess I don't have to read any of your reviews so the fact that I'm writing this means I have read them in the hopes that what I saw in you when Michael first introduced you to us was genuine brilliance. Sadly not what I was expecting so carry on I just will keep my reading to Michael's open honest and unbiased opinions on everything analog good luck.

Starting a dialog with a claim that a particular artist, and rapper at that, is the greatest living anything I guess is the calamity of being young. The greatest popular artist, IMHO, Frank Zappa has been dead a while and in his stead we've been treated to the decline of western civ. There are a number of artists like Eno, Jack White, Beck, and Jeff Beck who continue to assert that music is both timeless and evolving....it is certainly more than beat machines and stream of consciousness memes.

Nothing better can happen to you than half the reader complaining and the other half appreciating your reviews. It shows that your reviews are contemporary and relevant when people are discussing your reviews on both sides.
I like your work and I am a hardcore audiophile (from laserdisc - the best analog carrier ever, to reel to reel). I have been to Dublin in summer 2019 to see Lana del Rey and she was sensational and the audience was unforgettable cool in a positive sense. To increase your musical sense I would recommend to listen or go for some modern opera, by the way. You will be surprised how singer / composer like IGOR can resonance the same strings in our souls. Since I own already a lot of copies of the best record ever made (in my humble opinion) I share now something special with you and the analogplanet community: the best record ever done - and you have to find a original copy of 1955 and forget any later reissue - is Mozart‘s Sonata 331 by Kathryn Deguire played on the Siena Pianoforte (you can buy the original piano for $ 2.000.000 on ebay in Israel at the moment) on Esoteric Records. Mozart has the bad luck that he can be played by the stupidest artists, but not many can play Mozart in the depth of the humanity, the longing and the joy of being alive that brings you to tears. Deguire was able to do it. Listen to this record once and you know what you want from live. Besides, it will lead your way into the sound you want to hear from your hifi-rack (idler wheel turntable and tubes and output transformers). When this record sounds right anything else will, too. Keep up your good work. And don‘t push yourself. You still have a lot of lifetime to enjoy!

Nothing I like more than when someone introduces me to new music and it's actually good. Really good. Sometimes you don't realize how stale the air in your listening room is until someone comes along and opens up a window. Thanks for challenging my ears! Wish you were my next-door neighbor!

I think it was fine to list records that aren't worth our time. But multiple lists consecutively isn't helpful if we're to follow this site on regular basis. I'm glad we are getting a list of Mr. Liu with actually recommendations. I will state that I own quite a few of the records on the list, and I agree that those are some of the better records I purchased last year. I've thought about picking up a few others off the list. I'll probably pursue those records. For a lot reasons, mostly I just forget they were released and bought something else. It's good to read year end lists as a reminder of records that get forgotten about as the year passes. It give the reader a chance to pick them up before they could possible go out of press.

Greatest living musician... Look, I have been loving and collecting music for over 25 years and I'd NEVER deem to say there is just "one" Greatest, even of any particular genre! And anyone else who can claim their is in fact a "greatest" is either fooling themselves or doesn't really listen to much. Maybe I'd put together of my favorite top 10 musicians of each genre (rock, jazz, folk, classical, vocalist, experimental and so on) but even then... Better to say "one of favorites" and leave the hyperbole at the door.

But your List: I get that it's hard to keep up with what's really new or innovative, but this list makes me think that it was literally thrown together at the end of the year just to satisfy a deadline. Be honest if you haven't had (or made) the time to truly explore the cutting edge. And then for this year, find some friends who do. A good record store will always have their finger on what's new and great! You'll have fun doing it too.

Go see a couple music festivals that are know to have what "next" like the Newport Folk Festival, which is less "folk" than indie/rock/singer-songwriter focused and has the deserved rep. of being the first place to see what "will" be huge the next year or so later. Or South by Southwest... or whatever. The point is, there is actually a LOT going on and the last couple of years have been GREAT for new and interesting music!

To those of us who've been a round awhile and still really love music for all it's continuous innovation, no "Best of the Year" list should have more than about 5% of who you'd see at the Grammy's. If your list DOES more than that it's a sign that you need to get out more and expand your listening horizons. The Grammy's are nothing more than a celebration of the Business of music, and rarely about what's truly great (or lasting) and even more rarely about what's new.

IMHO, is Tool’s Fear Inoculum. Check it out if you like prog rock. You won’t be disappointed!

Many of your top 10 also made mine. GREY Area is an awesome record, most underrated of the year as far as I'm concerned. I mentioned this in another thread but I hope you give FKA Twigs' Magdalene another chance and check out Caroline Polacheck's Pang.

The greatest musical artist of all time? I've never heard or read anyone say that before. That's quite a statement, and I myself can't imagine why anyone would feel that way about him. But that's taste for ya!

bdp24 I don’t think he considers him the best ever but Henry Rollins talks about Bowie with reverence. IIRC I believe Henry thinks the first Joy Division album is his favorite of all time. Henry might be the only person with a vinyl collection close to Michael’s.

bdp24,

If you have not heard or read anyone say they believe Bowie is the greatest, perhaps expanding your social/musical circle would be an eye opener. MANY musicians and music lovers of all stripes favor Bowie over all others.

great discussion here,but Bob Dylan is the greatest living artist

In popular music I would say, of all time (up to now). Since 2004 I go to a Dylan concert every year. And every year it is a highlight. I always wonder, how people cannot go to a Dylan concert, whenever it is possible.