My answers:

2020: Open Mike Eagle - Anime, Trauma and Divorce

Bought this one on vinyl after only a couple listens on Spotify. Fun, funny, profound, depressing, and hopeful. If you’re an alt hip-hop fan, especially one approaching their 40s or above, especially especially if you’re also as much a comic and anime nerd as a hip-hop nerd, then I cannot recommend this album enough.

Honorable mentions: Phoebe Bridgers - Punisher / Thundercat - It Is What It Is

2021: (tie) Genesis Owusu - Smiling With No Teeth / Horse Bitch - RIP Pistachio

Already cheating with two entries, both of albums kick ass in very different ways. Australian Genesis Owusu’s album SWNT is a multi-genre delight with equal parts ferocity and polish, defying classification but hitting-hard start start to finish. The red & gold limited edition vinyl of SWNT is the most expensive vinyl I own.

Horse Bitch (I dare you to tell me you’ve heard of them), on the other hand, is a small indie band from Colorado with an earlier album that doesn’t do it for me, but whose 2021 album RIP Pistachio is pure, but not blissful, fun. RIP Pistachio sounds like the day after drinking yourself numb but now your friends are over and the beer tastes good again and you start to remember that yes things are awfully stupid in the world, but maybe stupid ain’t that bad.

Honorable mentions: Remi Wolf - Juno / Silk Sonic - An Evening With Silk Sonic / Tyler, the Creator - Call Me If You Get Lost

2022: (tie) Orville Peck - Bronco / Bartees Strange - Farm to Table

I’m not a country or Western guy, but Orville Peck is a phenom of a singer and Bronco is his best effort to date. Riveting, emotional, and strong, even if it’s not something inside your normal boundaries.

A lot of what I wrote about Genesis Owusu’s Smiling With No Teeth can be applied to Bartees Strange’s Farm to Table, as it’s also a genre-defying masterpiece of dynamic and diverse musical inspirations. Tremendous guitar riffs and solos, deep lyrics, and interesting production choices round out the appeal here, adding to the sum of an excellent album.

Honorable mentions: Wet Leg - Wet Leg / The Mars Volta - The Mars Volta

2023: Codefendants - This is Crime Wave

I don’t know what to say about this one other than that it’s fucking sick. The songs are fun and rebellious but without feeling childish. It makes me remember the hopeful days of my youth while feeling very grounded in today and like we’re all adults in the room. And at a mere 33 minutes, it’s just long enough to kick the door in, blow your mind a bit, but then get out before it overstays its welcome. Easy recommendation.

Honorable mentions: Genesis Owusu - Struggler / The National - Laugh Track

I’m not gonna expand more, but as for what’s caught my attention so far this year, I’d say Black Pumas - Chronicles of a Diamond and Future Islands - People Who Aren’t There Anymore are probably top contenders so far for me.

edit: typos