Our hosts love great music. We polled Trivia Mafia hosts on their favorite sounds of the year and heard names like Lizzo, The 1975, Harry Styles, and Beyoncé. Patrick loves Kiss the Tiger. Keith loves the Dropkick Murphys. Host Mia of Arts + Rec - Uptown introduced me to The Beths, who are just fantastic, thanks Mia. — Co-Owner Chuck
Sophie’s Picks
I wish I had a better music vocabulary so I could do Orville Peck’s sophomore album, “Bronco,” justice. Without it, though, I’ll just say that Orville Peck has a gorgeous voice that hits you right in the chest, and he uses it to devastating effect across 15 tracks that are overwhelmingly aching, lonely, and just a little bit hopeful. It’s a triumphant return for an artist who was on the verge of quitting the music industry, and it makes me very happy to know that there’s still more to come from country music’s most mysterious gay cowboy. Standout tracks: “C’mon Baby, Cry” and “Curse of the Blackened Eye.” — Editor Sophie
Greg’s Picks
This year saw a pop-star showdown between the U.S. and Canada, as Taylor Swift and Carly Rae Jepsen both released immaculate albums on the fateful day of October 21. Hashtags were flung and fancams were forged across the battlefield of TikTok. Both albums have a broad range of confectionary pop, with Taylor leaning occasionally toward country while Carly explores disco and even a bit of beach rock. Personally, Carly has definitely stayed on top of my top-played, but both albums shine and sparkle. Ruby likes the bonus tracks from Taylor, and I like the bonus tracks from Carly. These are both full-play albums in their extended forms, both entirely worth the trip. Let them play while you do that wavy thing with your hand out the window (once it’s a little warmer). And if you’d prefer to leave the intracontinental pop squabble behind, check out Sigrid! She’s a Norwegian pop star whose adapted ballad “Home To You” gets numerous plays during the Christmas season. Her new album is called “How to Let Go,” and it’s also great! — Events Specialist Greg
Brenna’s Picks
My favorite releases this year came from Beyoncé (I’m not going to clubs, but “Renaissance” is great background for working or cleaning house), Sylvan Esso, Rina Sawayama, Black Thought & Danger Mouse, Wet Leg, Beabadoobee, Florence + the Machine (“Free” is the best song of this year, fight me) – and Carly Rae Jepsen collaborated with Rufus Wainwright, what a treat. — Vice President Brenna
Ira’s Picks
I couldn't pick a single favorite album this year, so here are quick-hits on my top five:
Bacao Rhythm and Steel Band, “Expansions”: I thought I didn’t like steel drums until Bacao blasted my brain with this masterpiece of instrumental funk originals and covers so inventive they might just as well be originals. “Les Fleurs” is perfection.
Marlowe, “Marlowe Three”: There isn’t a producer I like better than L’Orange, and L’Orange is never better than when he teams with rapper Solemn Brigham to make wry, buoyant, film noir-inspired albums under their “Marlowe” moniker.
Automatic, “Excess”: Energetic yet haunting indie art-pop from an L.A. trio steeped in New Wave and electronica influences, like Kraftwerk meets Blondie on a B-52s bender.
Little Simz, “NO THANK YOU”: The U.K.’s finest MC keeps expanding her parameters on a deeply personal, musically adventurous seventh album that sounds just as earnest and urgent as her first.
Adrian Quesada, “Jaguar Sound”: A bold, boisterous blend of brassy horns, gurgling organs, and head-bobbing percussion that checks every box on my instrumental psych-funk checklist. — Editor Ira
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