Catfish Haven's Devastator tops Spin's year-end list of overlooked albums. George Hunter's "old-soul blues exposes other rock'n'roll kings as pretenders to the crown." The top 10:
- Catfish Haven, Devastator: Hunter's voice is "a husky amalgam of Joe Cocker's world-weary croon and Bill Medley's baritone bombast."
- El Perro Del Mar, From the Valley to the Stars: "A challenging and introspective set," but you can also "dance, dance, dance."
- Flowers Forever, Flowers Forever: Some songs "veer sharply into aggressive garage rock," while others are "part acid trip, part barroom blues."
- The Gaslight Anthem, The '59 Sound: Jersey boy Brian Fallon's "heartfelt, punk-tinged tunes" make him possibly this decade's next best thing to the Boss.
- The Helio Sequence, Keep Your Eyes Ahead: "Possibly the year's best 'headphones' album."
- Human Highway, Moody Motorcycle: "Feels like beach-side bonfire jam sessions."
- Ida Maria, Fortress Around My Heart: "Norwegian pop-punk lady's debut is riotous yet affectionate."
- Kassin +2, Futurismo: "This eclectic set—sung in Portuguese" is "equal parts chill-out and freak-out."
- Land of Talk, Some Are Lakes: "Derives fortitude from Elizabeth Powell's hyper-melodious voice and undeniable songcraft."
- The Week That Was, The Week That Was: "On par with '80s aesthetes like Tears for Fears and Crowded House."
To hear samples, click below.
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