“Bearded man sings songs, violates banjo.” An apt description of Mike Savino on the Tall Tall Trees Bandcamp page. Both of these tracks are from The Seasonal EP, which Savino released in December with production assistance from Kishi Bashi.

Here’s a collection of great new songs, each of which deserve their own special attention but are getting lumped together instead.

Here it is: Run the Mill’s first year in review. We put together our favorite songs and albums on Spotify playlists as well as a random collection of highlights from the year in music. Hope you enjoy.

Songs of the Year (In order)

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Albums of the year (No order)

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Favorite musical moment (tie)

War on Drugs – Suffering

The breakdown at 2:50 is gut-wrenching. More than any other album this year, the ideas driving Lost in a Dream are impeccably matched by the sounds. Suffering is a prime example. It’s a slow-burn until halfway through when you’re ripped out of the daze by this devastating chord.

Perfume Genius – Fool

The minute long howl tapers off, the song goes quiet, and then… that fingersnap.

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Biggest feel good moment 

Future Islands performance of Seasons on Letterman

It’s a fantastic song that got a hard-working band the attention they deserve (and catapulted Samuel Herring to be in the running for best frontman on the planet). All because of some goofy late-night dancing.

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Biggest Guilty Pleasure

Nick Jonas – Jealous

I was going to say Taylor Swift, but I feel no guilt listening to Taylor Swift. I think the answer has to be Nick Jonas’ Jealous. This song was maximum guilty and maximum pleasure. It’s the kind of song that can ruin your sense of self-worth and shame you in to turning your Spotify on private mode. If you told me two years a go I would listen to a Jonas Brother song as many times as I did this year, I would have imagined my life took a sharp turn for the worse.

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Most overlooked album

Blake Mills – Heigh Ho

Heigh Ho is dynamic, vibrant and features consistently compelling song-writing. Unworthy is a good introduction, highlighting what Blake is capable of with a guitar and his voice.

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Favorite Album Art

If you’re an Alt-J fan and don’t know Glass Animals yet, check them out.

Favorite TV soundtrack

Transparent

Along with being my favorite TV show of the year, Transparent has great music. Neil Young, Bob Dylan, the Cave Singers, Bill Callahan and more. The opening credits also have some beautiful piano from Dustin O’Hallloran. Only blemish is the inclusion of “Somebody that I used to know,” a song that had no business being played in 2014.

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Favorite album review

Pitchfork’s end of the year review of Run The Jewels, their number one album. 

In his review of the spectacular Run the Jewels 2, Jeff Weis of Pitchfork draws on the current racial unrest in America to show why this album is so important and timely. It’s lavishly hyperbolic, but fittingly so given the album’s content.

“This is volume for the voiceless, a silver bullet for the wolves, and a redistribution of sovereignty. It’s venom to immobilize cheaply uniformed imposters, flatulent greedheads, and cynical buffoons perverting the truth on cable news. When institutions lacked authority and insurrection seemed permanently imminent, El-P and Killer Mike hurled 11 grenades, offering redemption through untrammeled rage. If justice remained elusive, retaliation could be had as fast as closing your eyes and counting to fuck.”

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Favorite music video

Spoon – Do You

All I will say is watch until the end.

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Prettiest song of the year

Angel Olsen – May as Well

Isn’t this song just lovely?

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Weirdest song of the year

Ariel Pink – Plastic Raincoats in the Pig Parade

Mannequins are so afraid
Don’t be afraid to show your stripes
Because the mannequins is always right
Plastic raincoats in the pig parade
All over the world
Cocaine bank got the Portobello Girl
It’s a Tokyo night when you feel alright
The Arkansas moon’s gonna shine tonight
All over the world we’re gonna do it right
So wear your plastic raincoats in the pig parade
Cause the mannequins is so afraid

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According to my roommate Jake, RAC released the greatest song of all time this year. I would be remiss if I didn’t at least mention it.

From the album Range Anxiety, out January 27th on Merge Records.

It’s been a long day, and stumbling upon this gem was exactly what the doctor ordered. An all time great song covered to perfection.

Also, in the spirit of long days, this song has recently become my go-to office anthem: