Top 50 Albums of the Year Part 1 of 5: Pop

So another year is coming to an end, and that means best music lists will be popping up everywhere including Killing Sasquatch. I'm going to do it a little differently. I'll have 4 categories of great music then a top 15 list at the end.

So to start it off is the world renown genre of pop. Pop music is music that everyone can enjoy, no matter where you are from. It always has a catchy beat with lyrics and themes that embodies people's emotions. I feel like these albums have not only embraced those ideas, but pushed popular music into a great direction. This list is alphabetical order.

Alexander - Alexander

Alexander - Awake My Body by tosbagasırtı

The Antlers - Burst Apart

The Antlers - I Don't Want Love by Transgressive Records

Atlas Sound - Parallax

Atlas Sound - Terra Incognita by stopshakehoneygo

Big Troubles - Romantic Comedy

Big Troubles - Misery by Slumberland Records

Cults - Cults

Cults - Go Outside by underhisempire2

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. - It's A Corporate World

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. - Morning Thought by Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.

Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues

Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues by subpop

Gauntlet Hair - Gauntlet Hair

Gauntlet Hair - Top Bunk by felixnicklas

Hooray For Earth - True Loves

Hooray for Earth - True Loves by memphisindustries

Jared Mees & The Grown Children - Only Good Thoughts Can Stay

Hungry Like A Tiger by Jared Mees And TGC

M83 - Hurry Up, We're Dreaming

M83 - Wait by Reike

Portugal. The Man - In the Mountain In the Cloud

Portugal. The Man- So American by MMMusic

Starfucker - Reptilians

Bury Us Alive by starfucker_usa

Youth Lagoon - The Year of Hibernation

Cannons by Youth Lagoon

The Half Year Review

So it's July now, which means half of this year is over already. So here is the best of all the new releases this year, in no particular order.
Definitely one of the best hip-hop albums I have heard this year is Shabazz Palaces' Black Up. It's some of the most creative music I've heard. These guys challenge modern day hip-hop. Though not everyone will enjoy it, you must acknowledge the fact that it's something that you don't hear very often.

Starfucker's album, Reptilians, is another great album that was released in March. It is one of my favorite electro-pop albums of all time. They do a great job of mixing synth keyboards and acoustic guitar with the vocals. It's just a really good dance party all on one disc.

The best instrumental album is by far the new Explosions In The Sky. The whole album is a soundscape of guitars and more guitars and some keys too. This is a must own album, especially if you like intricate guitar work. Check out the first track, "Last Known Surroundings" from their sixth album Take Care, Take Care, Take Care.
And of course May saw the release of Fleet Foxes' second album, Helplessness Blues. This is a great vocal album, I would like to hear more drum influence, but I feel like they focused on harmonization and acoustic guitars, which sounds amazing!

Another great release this year was The Antlers'  Burst Apart. There's something about Peter Silberman's vocals that makes me want to love everything. Plus the music is really good too, there's more electric guitar than their last album, Hospice. 

My favorite album this year is a tie between Jeff The Brotherhood's We Are The Champions, and Starfucker's Reptilians. I haven't been able to not listen to either of them, and every time I hear a song from them I want to listen to the rest of the album.
All of these albums are must buy! They are so good. Check my other posts for more great albums from the first half of the year.
The second half of the year has some great stuff in store. Washed Out is coming out with his debut full length, new Neon Indian, The Shins, Modest Mouse(?), Blink-182, No Doubt, Muse, and so much more.