1) Rhett Miller, “A lifetime of riding by night” / Whether fronting the legends we call Old 97s, or on his superlative solo joints, Miller remains one of the great songwriter-companions of my lifetime. His latest might or might not be his best, but it is his most beautiful—if that distinction makes sense—forming a soft, sublime collection of melodies and well-earned observations.
2) Flock of Dimes, “The Life You Save” / Speaking of beautiful records, Jenn Wasner’s latest as Flock of Dimes contains some of the most subtly wondrous arrangements you’ll hear this year. This is a sound bath for the patient and willing.
3) Jay Som, “Belong” / Whether collaborating with the likes of Jim Adkins and Hayley Williams or forging alone, Melina Duterte’s first record in six years is full of pop and rock glories.
4) Madi Diaz, “Fatal Optimist” / Diaz’s spare, largely acoustic set drives home emotional truths with soft but true hammers.
5) Catherine Lacey, “Certain American States” / Motivated by my love for Lacey’s “Biography of X,” I tore through this 2018 story collection and found something like a crescendoing piece of symphonic music; all the nuance and narrative detail swells to suffuse a collection that starts well and finishes so very strong.