At the beginning of this year, I finally found a streaming service I liked in Apple Music. So I decided, hell, I might as well use it. So every week I would choose a brand new album to listen to and briefly review. You can read them all here. There were some bangers, and there were some clunkers. So I figured, hey, let’s celebrate the best of the best of what I heard this year. So without further ado…
Welcome to the Inaugural Bacon Awards! Why call a music award a Bacon? Well, because we’re answering the question, “Who’s bringing home the Bacon?” But anyways, let’s get started.
We’re doing this Grammys style, so let’s get the lesser categories out of the way first.
Best Music Book – Bob Dylan: Mixing Up the Medicine by Mark Davidson and Parker Fishel
If you are interested in Bob Dylan’s creative process at all, then this is the book for you. Made in conjunction with the Bob Dylan Center and Bob Dylan Archive in Tulsa, this book features never before seen lyric sheets, writing, photos, etc. accompanied by essays that do a good job of analyzing and walking through what you’re looking at.
Best Music Film – Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour, directed by Sam Wrench
There were a couple other contenders, but I mean, come on. The Eras Tour has been a global phenomenon, and the film shows exactly why. It’s an incredible show, and even if you don’t know the songs, you know the songs. Taylor has been an inescapable force for almost twenty years now, for better or worse. Her songs are just a part of the public consciousness now.
Most Ambitious Release – “Now and Then” by The Beatles
This one is obvious. Recorded in three different decades, and only now finally finished thanks to Peter Jackson’s AI audio technology. It’s awesome hearing John’s voice again.
Most “What the Fuck” Release – “Now and Then” music video, directed by Peter Jackson
Doesn’t fit the tone of the song at all, and features the most underbaked visual effects I’ve seen outside of a Marvel movie.
Best Archival Release – Bob Dylan The Bootleg Series Vol. 17: Fragments – Time Out of Mind Sessions (1996-1997)
I already did a full review on this (HERE), so I’ll keep this brief. The Bootleg Series still reigns supreme in the world of archival releases. Whatever team curates these needs to curate every box set. The song selection and the overall presentation is always so good.
Best Live Release – Joni Mitchell Joni Mitchell at Newport
To see Joni Mitchell come back after her aneurysm in 2015 has been awe inspiring. It’s something that I don’t think anybody thought they would ever see. But she did it. She beat the odds like she has so many time before. An immovable force in both life and art.
And now, for the main events. Each of these will have four runners up in the category, but only one will be given the coveted Bacon.
Best Song of the Year:
5. Margo Price “Malibu (feat. Jonathon Wilson & Buck Meek)”
Such a cool vibe on this song. So much atmosphere. Very Bobbie Gentry sounding.
4. Olivia Rodrigo “all-american bitch”
I actually like this song better than “bad idea right?” The sarcasm and satire is so great on this one, and such a cool 90s soft-loud-soft sound.
3. Joni Mitchell “Summertime (Live at the Newport Folk Festival)”
As mentioned above, this whole album is great. But this cover of “Summertime” is a showstopper, and deserves a place on this list even if it isn’t a “new” song.
2. Boygenius “Satanist”
Cool chords and funny words. I love this song.
1. Lana Del Rey “A&W”
This one might surprise you if you’ve read along this year, because I gave her new album a not-so-positive review. But honestly, it’s grown on me over the year. And I loved this song even from the first listen. It was the highlight for me, and still is. The production is great on this one, too.
Best Album of the Year:
This album shocked me because I really wasn’t expecting anything from this album. But I’ll be damned, this album is one of my most listened to this year. Great storytelling. Both satirical and sincere at the same time. It’s great.
4. Wilco Cousin
Wilco revisiting their Yankee Hotel Foxtrot and A Ghost Is Born sound. Enough said.
3. Jen Cloher I Am the River, the River Is Me
This album stunned me. The songwriting is great, and everything is written from such a gut wrenchingly personal standpoint. It’s amazing.
2. Janelle Monáe The Age of Pleasure
The dirty computer from Kansas City made one of the best and most cohesive albums of the year. I love when I’m listening an album and can tell the artist is on top of their game and having fun, and this radiates that energy. Absolute bangers all around. She just gets better.
What can I write that hasn’t already been written about this album. Simply put, it’s great and lives up to the hype. It’s cool, awkward, funny, and heartbreaking all at the same time. And the band’s chemistry sucks you in immediately. It sounds like three friends making a record. Everything just comes together so nicely on this album. I could go on forever about it, so I’ll shut up now. But go and listen to this album if you haven’t.
Thank you for coming to the Inaugural Bacon Awards. Now, an announcement regarding next years weekly mini reviews:
I’m changing the rating system. At first I wanted to avoid a scaled rating system, but only having a “MUST HEAR” badge is really kind of limiting. I feel pressured to give any album that’s good the “MUST HEAR” stamp just to get the point across that it’s good. So I’m introducing a five point ranking system. How novel, I know. But I think it will improve the accuracy of the reviews.
Goodnight. See you next year. Same place, same time, same Bacon.
