Ye Wei Blog aka Wild Taste: December 2015

Tis the season to dish about your favorite music of the year so I wanted to share my favorite music, plus videos, music-related books and movies. I know it sounds like showing off here (truth be known, I 'own' some of it via streaming) but a list like this is something I like to share so that other people might latch onto some lesser known titles I love or rethink so better known stuff they didn't like at first (which happens to me)- to help with that, I have Spotify playlists set up for the albums and singles and a YouTube playlist set up for the videos but web links to get you to the artist/label pages to hear or see everything else. Also, admittedly when you start slogging this this much stuff, lists like this just help to remember what the hell you liked in the first place.

As much as I love to find this many good songs/singles this year, I'm a little disappointed with the overall quality of albums this year even if I've found almost 100 of them that I'd recommend. Again, I wonder if this is symptomatic of an age when the album's been dismantled and devalued by downloads, streaming and access to any song as a single. Mind you, I'm not a fogy who pines for some mythical 'good old days'- I found the same problem in 2014 but thought that the few years before that (2013, 2012, 2011) held lots more satisfying goodies. Maybe those were 'the good old days.'

As usual, my thanks to these sites, stores and mailing lists for helping to turn me onto a lot of great music I wouldn't have known about otherwise:

ALBUMS

Sleater-Kinney No Cities To Love (Sub Pop)
Miguel Wildheart (Bystorm/RCA)
Pops Staples Don't Lose This (Anti-)
Lightning Bolt Fantasy Empire (Thrill Jockey)
Lyrics Born Real People (Mobile Home Recordings)
Bjork Tri Angle Records Birthday DJ Set (soundcloud)
Courtney Barnett Sometimes I Sit And Think, And Sometimes I Just Sit (Mom + Pop)
The Go! Team The Scene Between (Memphis Industries)
Alchemist and Oh No Alchemist and Oh No Present Welcome to Los Santos (Mass Appeal)
Young Fathers White Men Are Black Men Too (Big Dada)
Shamir Ratchet (XL)
The Chills Silver Bullets (Fire)
Omar Souleyman Bahdeni Nami (Monkeytown)
White Reaper White Reaper Does It Again (Polyvinyl)
Radical Dads Universal Coolers (Old Flame)
Seinabo Sey For Madeleine (Virgin)
Battles La Di Da Di (Warp)
Tinariwen Live In Paris (Anti-)
Boytoy Grackle (PaperCup)
Tal National Zoy Zoy (Fat Cat)
Kamasi Washington The Epic (Brainfeeder)
The Fireworks Switch Me On (Shelflife)
Tribu Baharu Pal Mas Exigente Bailador (Tambora)
Thee Oh Sees Mutilator Defeated At Last (Castle Face)
SK Simeon and Yaw Faso Maskya EP (Big Dada)
Pete Rock Petestrumentals 2 (Mello Music)
Joanna Gruesome Peanut Butter (Slumberland)
J. Cole Hollywood Cole (no label)
Jason James Jason James (New West)
The Souljazz Orchestra Resistance (Strut)
Gilligan Moss Ceremonial (Caroline)
Ginkgoa Ginkgoa (Sony/ATV)
Annie Girl and The Flight Bodies (United For Opportunity)
The Worriers Imaginary Life (Don Giovanni)
The Lame Drivers Chosen Era (Jigsaw)
Gonno Remember The Life Is Beautiful (Endless Flight)
Takami Nakamoto Opacity (HIM Media, 2014)
Baba Commandant And The Mandingo Band Juguya (Sublime Frequencies)
Total Babes Heydays (Wichita)
Haiku Salut Etch And Etch Deep (How Does It Feel To be Loved?)
Africans With Mainframes Commission Number 3 (Bio Rhythm Holland)
Wolfgang Voigt Rückverzauberung 10 / Nationalpark (Profan)
Diet Cig Overeasy (Father Daughter)
Beans on Toast The Grand Scheme of Things (Xtra Mile)
Sharon Jones and The Dap-Kings It's a Holiday Soul Party (Daptone)
207 and Kodin 6 Block EP (Macabre Unit)
Sauna Youth Distractions (Upset the Rhythm)
Bully Feels Like (Columbia)
Rocket From the Tombs Black Album (Fire)
Lizzo Big Grrrl Small World (BGSW)
Czarface Every Hero Needs A Villain (Brick)
Nigel Hall Ladies and Gentlemen... Nigel Hall (Feel Music Group)
Physical Therapy Hit the Breaks (Liberation Technologies)
No Fun How I Spent My Bummer Vacation (Concrete Jungle)
Abba Gargando Abba Gargando (Sahelsounds)
Wilco Star Wars (wilcoworld.net)
Bassekou Kouyate and Ngoni Ba Ba Power (Glitterbeat)
Knife Pleats Hat Bark Beach (Jigsaw)
Jonah Considine Golden Flu (Nein)
Daveed Diggs Small Things To A Giant (Deathbomb Arc)
The Deslondes The Deslondes (New West)
Ezra Furman Perpetual Motion People (Bella Union)
DJ Sandji 100% Balani Showby (Sahelsounds)
Spook School Try To Be Hopeful (Fortuna Pop)
Downtown Boys Full Communism (Don Giovanni)
Lilacs and Champagne Midnight Features Vol. 2: Made Flesh (Temporary Residence)
quttinirpaaq Dead September (Rural Isolation Project)
Pins Wild Nights (Bella Union)
Scarecrow Left Behind (Do or Die)
Giant Sand Heartbreak Pass (New West)
Various Artists Nouakchott Wedding Songs (Sahelsounds)
Baba Zula 34 Oto Sanayi (Rainbow 45/Lila Records)
Ancient Methods Turn Ice Realities Into Fire Dreams (Hands)
Eek Kahraba (Nashazphone)
Dog Party Vol. 4 (Asian Man)
Wildhoney Your Face Sideways (Top Shelf)
Youth Worship LP1 (Self Harm)
All Dogs Kicking Every Day (Salinas)
Mal Blum You Look A Lot Like Me (Don Giovanni)
DMX Krew RAM Expansion (LAST KNOWN TRAJECTORY)
J. Rocc "Petestrumentals 2" Mix (Mello Music)
Second Storey and Appleblim Second Storey and Appleblim present ALSO (R and S)
Blawan Hanging Out The Birds (Ternesc)
Daniel Mahoney and Various Artists Sunblind Almost Motorcrash (Spork)
Los Bonsais Nordeste (Elefant)
Ctrls Users (Token Belgium)
DJ BC/The Beastles Ill Submarine (no label)
Ursula 1000 Voyeur (Ursala 1000)
Verma Mul.Apin (Trouble In Mind)
Kid 606 Recollected Ambient Works Vol. 1: Bored Of Excitement (Tigerbeat6)
Count Basie Orchestra A Very Swingin' Basie Christmas! (Concord)
The Atom Age Hot Shame (Asian Man)
Sabine Liebner Scelsi: Suite 9 and 10 per pianoforte (Wergo)
Inventions Maz of Woods (Temporary Residence)
Jefre Cantu-Ledesma A Year With 13 Moons (Mexican Summer)
White Rainbow 21 Exoticism ESCAP (Leaving)
Novelist x Mumdance 1 Sec (XL)
Marky Lyken and Emma Dove Mirror Lands (Time Released Sound)

You can hear most of these albums through this Spotify playlist.

SINGLES

Beat Spacek "I Wanna Know" (Ninja Tune)
The Go! Team "The Scene Between" (Memphis Industries)
Kendrick Lamar "The Blacker The Berry" (Aftermath)
Estelle "Something Good/Devotion (Passion Interlude)" (BMG)
Iain Woods "Fiend" (Soundcloud)
Elle King "Ex's and Oh's" (RCA)
Georgia "Move Systems" (Domino)
VDP "Caffeine ft Safe Posse, Joshua McGregor and Abby Martinez" (bandcamp)
Janelle Monae And Wondaland "Hell You Talmbout" (Soundcloud)
Robyn and La Bagatelle Magique "Love Is Free (featuring Maluca)" (Konichiwa/Cherrytree/Interscope)
DJ Earworm "United State of Pop 2015 (50 Shades of Pop)" (no label)
Missy Elliott "WTF (Where They From) ft. Pharrell Williams" (Atlantic)
Van Hunt "Old Hat" (Godless-Hotspot)
Major Lazer "Too Original (feat. Elliphant and Jovi Rockwell)" (Mad Descent)
Diplo and Sleepy Tom "Be Right There" (Mad Descent)
Galantis "Peanut Butter" (Big Beat/Atlantic)
Sofi Tukker "Drinkee (Original Mix)" (HeavyRoc)
Death Team "Fucking Bitches in the Hood" (WM Sweden)
Nathaniel Rateliff and The Night Sweats "S.O.B." (Stax)
Skylar Spence "Can't You See" (Carpark)
Aliessia Cara "Here" (EP Entertainment/ Def Jam)
All Dogs "That Kind of Girl" (Salinas)
Strange Talk "When It Feels So Good" (Wind-up)
La Roux "I'm Not Your Toy" (Data Remix) (Polydor)
RoulnDoors "Arcade (Original Mix)" (Flamingo Recordings)
The Muscadettes "Honey Let Go" (PaperCup)
Cheerleader "Sunshine Of Your Youth (Plastic Plates Remix)" (Soundcloud)
Fifth Harmony feat. Kid Ink "Worth It" (Syco Music/Epic)
Lil Dicky "Bruh..." (CMSN)
Jill Scott "Closure" (Blues Babe/Atlantic)
French Horn Rebellion "Play Your Part (ft. Spencer Ludwig) [LEFTI Remix]" (Ensemble Recordings)
The She's "Cherry Red" (Empty Cellar)
Tazer x Tink "Wet Dollars" (no label)
Oddisee "That's Love" (Mello Music)
Da7 feat. Annie Bea "Dopamine Fiend" (doubleagent7)
Sports "The Washing Machine" (Father/Daughter)
The Weeknd "Can't Feel My Face" (Republic)
Logic "Young Jesus (feat. Big Lenbo)" (Def Jam)
Satchmode "Never Gonna Take You Back (Lefti Remix)" (Satchmode)
Wavves "Flamezesz" (Weed Demon/Warner Bros)
Semi Hendrix (Ras Kass and Jack Splash) "Jesus Pressed Mute" (Mello Music)
Buddy Guy "Kiss Me Quick" (Silvertone)
Sleaford Mods "Face to Faces" (Harbinger Sound)
Lil Wayne "Without You Ft. Bibi Bourelly" (Young Money)
Unknown Mortal Orchestra "Can't Keep Checking My Phone" (Jagjaguwar)
Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard "It's Only Money" (Legacy)
Sleaford Mods "I'm Shit at It" (Emotional Response)
Mikal Cronin "Gold" (Merge)
Kool Keith "Meanwhile, Back Home (feat. Open Mike Eagle)" (Mello Music)
Grimes "Kill V. Maim" (4AD)
Redman "Go Hard" (Gilla House)
Wacka Flocka "Ask Charlamagne" (Soundcloud)
Dwight Yoakum "Man of Constant Sorrow" (Warner Bros)
Rex The Dog "Sicko" (Kompakt Germany)
Satin Jackets "Shine On You feat. Esser" (Original Mix) (Eskimo Recordings)
The Yours "Public Eye/Purple" (Tenzenmen)
Basement Jaxx "Never Say Never (Halogen Remix)" (Soundcloud)
Nicki Minaj "Truffle Butter feat. Drake and Lil Wayne (Aston Shuffle Remix)"
Madeon "Imperium (Dillon Francis Remix)"(Soundcloud)
Blood Orange "Do You See My Skin Through The Flames" (Soundcloud)
Nihils "Help Our Souls (Urban Contact Remix)" (Epic Amsterdam)
Jamie Woon "Sharpness" (Polydor)
Prinzhorn Dance School "Reign (Shit Robot mix)" (DFA)
Giant Sand "Man on a String" (New West)
The Prodigy "Ibiza" (featuring Sleaford Mods) (Three Six Zero Music/Warner Bros. Records)
James McMurtry "How'm I Gonna Find You Now" (Complicated Game)
Miguel "coffee" (RCA)
New Order "Plastic" (Mute)
Semi Hendrix (Ras Kass and Jack Splash) "Sex Pistol (feat. CeeLo Green)" (Mello Music)
The Vaccines "Handsome" (Columbia)
Public Image Ltd "Double Trouble" (PiL Official)
Flo Rida "Gdfr (Feat. Sage The Gemini and Lookas)" (Poe Boy/Atlantic)
The Jamming Nachos "It Could Have Been Me" (bandcamp)
Ashley Monroe "I Buried Your Love" (Warner Bros)
Dillon Francis and Skrillex "Bun Up the Dance" (Columbia)
Hanni El Khatib x Freddie Gibbs “Satin Black” (Converse Music)
The Maghreban "Green Apple" (No Label)
Night Crime "Black Beauty (Night Crime Remix)" (Soundcloud)
Mandy Rain "Thirsty" (Mandyland)
Jupiter "One o Six (A.N.D.Y. Remix)" (Grand Blanc)
Gabrielle Aplin "Light Up the Dark" (Parlophone)
St Germain "Real Blues" (Primitive)
The Cash Box Kings "Download Blues" (Blind Pig)
Paul Kelly "Keep on Coming Back for More (featuring Clairy Browne)" (CEN)
Ryley Walker "Primrose Green" (Dead Oceans)
Not the 1s "What's He Talkin About (prod. Monster Rally)" (Gold Robot)
Rich Homie Quan "Flex (OohOohOoh)" (no label)
Rihanna "Stay (20syl X Fashawn Version)" (Soundcloud)
Populous feat. Digi G'Alessio "Quad Boogie (Ckrono and Slesh Remix)" (Folk Wisdom)
Kacey Musgraves "Family Is Family" (Mercury)
Leon Bridges "Smooth Sailin'" (Columbia)
Jameston Thieves "Bonampak Original Mix"" (Play Me)
Mumdance and Logos "Dance Energy (89 Mix)" (Tectonic)
Jess Glynne "Hold My Hand"(Atlantic)
A Place To Bury Strangers "We've Come so Far" (Dead Oceans)
Dubioza kolektiv "Free.mp3 (The Pirate Bay Song)" (Dubioza kolektiv)
Beans on Toast "God Is A Cartoonist" (Xtra Mile)
Green Buzzard "Slow It Down Now" (Mom + Pop)
Georgia Anne Muldrow "Arkansas" (Mello Music Group)
Vince Staples "Loca" (Def Jam)
Remi "Aviation (Disco Weed)" (House of Beige, 2014)
Beach Slang "Bad Art and Weirdo Ideas" (Polyvinyl)
Blur "I Broadcast" (Parlophone)
Throwing Snow "Lumen" (Houndstooth)
Kathryn Calder "Take A Little Time" (File Under: Music)
Low Cut Connie "Back In School" (Ardent)
Keith Richards "Blues in the Morning" (Universal)
Pins "Hybrid Moments" (Bella Union)
Cam "Country Ain't Never Been Pretty" (Arista Nashville)
U/V Light "Semaphone" (Medical)
Martin Solveig and GTA "Intoxicated" (Spinnin')
Fidlar "Drone" (Mom + Pop)
Richard Thompson "No Peace No End" (Fantasy)
Young Summer "Severing Ties (Avec Sans Remix)" (Soundcloud)
Jay Z "Roc Boys (Matoma Remix)" (Soundcloud)
JD McPherson "Bossy" (Rounder)
A$AP Rocky "L$D" (RCA)
Django Django "Shake and Tremble" (Ribbon Music)
Not Waving "Get Serious" (Diagonal)
Shura "White Light [Gabe Gurnsey Factory Floor Remix]" (Soundcloud)