10. Sun Coming Down- Ought

In the three years since they’ve formed, Ought have shown exponential growth, steady persistence and a keen ear for how to shape the tones and tugs of post-punk. Their sophomore full-length, Sun Coming Down, sees them stand face to face with anxiety and resolution, throwing punches as best they can to fight the demons of life. They manage to do all of that in only eight songs. Be it the godawful pain of enduring the mundane monotony of suburbia on “Beautiful Blue Sky” or the snarky wordplay of “The Combo”, Ought are once again on the top of their game. As for all those The Fall comparisons and Life Without Buildings production similarities? To say the least, they’re well deserved.

-Nina Corcoran

9. Foil Deer- Speedy Ortiz*

In a year packed with albums making important statements through personal-as-political songwriting, Speedy Ortiz’s Foil Deer stands out by pulling away from individual experiences in favor of a broader scope. The head-on mentality of tracks like “Raising the Skate” is decidedly punk, but its nuanced, sometimes obscure lyrics leave space for discussion while exploring feminism and social dynamics. Sometimes it swaggers, too, but it’s all out of necessity; now and then you have to build yourself up a bit before squaring off against established forces.
At the same time, the album marks an important shift in the group’s sound, trading previous LP Major Arcana’s could’ve-been-recorded-live feel for noticeably more complex, polished studio production. It’s no small risk for any DIY-rooted band, but even the more unexpected choices (retro keyboard on “The Graduates,” nearly everything about R&B-infused “Puffer”) come through to emphasize a tone or theme. Foil Deer is both flashier and more political than many of this year’s rock releases, and its creative strength brings out how well the two qualities can complement one another: just because it’s shiny doesn’t mean it isn’t serious.

-Karen Muller

8. You’re Better Than This- Pile*

You’re Better Than This is one of the most emotionally earnest records to come out this year. From the first track, we’re thrown into a tumultuous world of gritty, dark, haunting, but ultimately relatable songs. “Mr. Fish” does a complete 180 on us: it’s a twisted, lethargic number that builds to a breaking point. “#2 Hit Single” continues that trend: swerving up and down, racing ahead and pulling it all back, with speeding guitars, pounding drums and careful yet powerful vocals.

We’ve covered Pile a lot here at Allston Pudding, and it’s for very good reasons: Rick Maguire, Matt Becker, Matt Connery and Kris Kuss are talented musicians and humble performers. There are few souls in Allston who have missed one of their frequent hometown shows, and their presence in the indie music scene here has made a substantial impact on the culture. Pile isn’t afraid to be bold. They’ll write an instrumental track called “Fuck the Police” and plop it right in the middle of an album. They’ll include a hidden track at the end and completely blow it out of the water with soaring guitars and unabashedly powerful percussion that ends with the line “Perfect, first try.” You’re Better Than This was near perfect the first time I listened to it, and continues to be so on every listen since.

-Deanna Archetto

7. OK– Eskimeaux

Not just an okay album, Eskimeaux’s O.K. is exceptional. Gabrielle Smith’s lyrics evoke an existential darkness, layered on top of bubblegum – in that it’s addictive – instrumentation. On “Broken Necks,” the final line is powerful and resonant: “Nothing in the world is holier than friendship.” And on “I Admit I’m Scared,” Smith sings “If I had a dime for every time I’m freaking out / We could fly around the world or just get out of your parents’ house.”
O.K. is a wondrous pop record, one that seeps into the consciousness with every repeat play. It offers catharsis; it is a warm blanket on a cold night.

-Jeremy Stanley

6. Dry Food- Palehound*

Despite the fact that you won’t know how to, listen to Palehound’s “Cinnamon,” and you will want to dance to it. The same goes for crying, swaying and playing along to the rest of this debut album by Boston’s fuzz-rock pride and joy.
To anyone who saw Palehound live before this album released, these were the songs we had on our minds but not on our laptops. The collection of highly-personal tracks swings from hard-driving to ethereally honest in a way unlike anything else. When things get quick, Ellen Kempner’s guitar steps up, leaving the spotlight on her voice for slower sections of the album. This draws the listener in with catchiness and traps them there to hear the hard feelings. It’s an experience similar to watching cute-yet-dark cartoons or reading Dr. Seuss and then realizing we all grow up someday. Hard, necessary stuff, Dry Food satisfies a special kind of craving.

-Becca DeGregorio