Rob Sheffield’s Top 10 Albums
The Hold Steady, ‘Open Door Policy’: A new peak for God’s favorite Brooklyn bar band.
Lucy Dacus, ‘Home Video’: If you ever wondered if Lucy Dacus could stretch the emotional intensity of “Night Shift” into a whole album.
PinkPantheress, ‘To Hell With It’: Of all the year’s many Nineties time-travel trips, nothing hits weirder than Gen Z’s crush on drum and bass.
Taylor Swift, ‘Red (Taylor’s Version)’: You can’t get rid of it, because you remember it.
Adele, ’30’: “I don’t want to live in chaos” — Adele, have you met yourself? She wouldn’t last a weekend anywhere else.
Jazmine Sullivan, ‘Heaux Tales’: Breakup songs that draw blood.
Mdou Moctar, ‘Afrique Victim’: The late, great Greg Tate described his band Burnt Sugar as “drowning the room in the music of African ascent.
Bachelor, ‘Doomin’ Sun’: The indie-rock superhero duo of the year, starring two of the sharpest songwriters around.
Olivia Rodrigo, ‘Sour’:Stand firm in your refusal to enjoy your youth, Olivia.
Adult Mom, ‘Driver’: Adult Mom’s Stevie Knipe has been out here for years as one of indie rock’s great bedroom storytellers.