Agalloch - The Serpent and the Sphere (2014)

When I heard Agalloch were trying out a space theme rather than their traditional nature/winter theme, I was very excited. "Marrow of the Spirit" was great but it showed signs of a band aging and starting to run out of ideas. A change was indeed in order. Unfortunately though, it seems Agalloch's musical abilities were not up to par for this change. Much of this album feels tedious, repetitive, and downright boring. Take the opener "Birth and Death of the Pillars of Creation" for example. It's probably the first time they've Agalloch have attempted a straight-up doom metal song and I have to applaud them for that but it could have been so much stronger by either cutting it in half or adding more variation. The song kinda plods along and I find it difficult to emotionally connect with it in any way. The same goes for "Plateau of the Ages." It's 12.5 minute long metal instrumental whose most interesting feature is perhaps the cool drum beat. Every time I listen to it I think about Agalloch's other metal instrumental, "The Hawthorne Passage,"and how much better it is. Then take "Dark Matter Gods." That song has so much potential but it far too repetitive and unnecessarily long to stand anywhere near Agalloch's best songs. On the plus side, you have "Vales Beyond Dimensions" which features an excellent dark, doomy lead melody that fits the space theme perfectly. Then there's the lead single "Celestial Effigy" which is the most dynamic, progressive track on the album. It's the kind of song that keeps your attention throughout. "Astral Dialogue" is not only one of the most aggressive songs Agalloch have penned, but it's also my favorite song on the album. It's a perfect blend of doom and black metal, and it features the unique songwriting the band are famous for, something sorely lacking elsewhere on "The Serpent and the Sphere." Another positive feature is the lyrics which are fantastic as ever. As for the acoustic interludes, they unfortunately all sound basically the same and are very stale and uninteresting. There is absolutely no comparison between them and the songs on "The White" EP or the glorious "Odal" on "The Mantle." Simply put, this is Agalloch's weakest album but it certainly does have a number of redeeming factors that make it worth listening to. You can hear the seeds of better songs throughout, but those better songs never materialize. If you're expecting something on the level of the first three albums then prepare to be disappointed. I suspect though that this one's a grower so my opinion might very well change later on.
7.5/10

Bibio - Silver Wilkinson (2013)

For folk enthusiasts such as myself, the electronic world doesn't often mingle with our beloved genre and when it does we tend to shy away from it and deride it as "impure." However, on this album the mingling is done so well that it's not at all difficult to just go with the flow and think of the ambient sounds as an extension of the folk. It's folk for the modern age, as it were, and above all it's beautiful music. Where this record goes wrong (and this doesn't really detract from the quality all that much) is its lack of consistency and coherency in some parts. This is especially the case with "You" which sounds completely out of place on the record. Of course, I don't think every track should sound the same, but there should have been a bit more commonality between them to make for a smoother flowing album. Otherwise, this is a great album; both folk and electronic fans will most likely find something to enjoy on it as I did.
8.5/10

 

Vali - Forlatt (2004)

If you're into dark/neofolk such as Death in June, Sol Invictus, or Ulver's masterful Kveldssanger then this is something you can't miss. The compositions are all gorgeous and flow so smoothly that you're likely to get lost in them. It's a no-frills folk album that gets right to the point and will astound you with its beauty. I've only listened to it once, but it's already one of my top folk albums of all time.
9.5/10

Blackmore's Night - Dancer and the Moon (2013)

Many people have been clamoring for Ritchie Blackmore to return to his hard rock roots and he kinda does that on this album. His work is, unsurprisingly, fantastic especially on the last track "Carry On Jon" which, of course, pays tribute to the late and great keyboardist Jon Lord. And then there's Ritchie's wife Candice who performs marvelously per usual with her voice well-suited to Ritchie's gentle folk melodies. However, one thing does drag this album down somewhat. Having two versions of the same song on it. I wouldn't mind if they kept one of the versions as a bonus track, but they don't and it clutters up the album somewhat. Besides that, "Dancer and the Moon" is a really enjoyable, beautiful album that will probably end up as my folk album of the year.
9/10

 

Gallowbraid - Ashen Eidolon (2010)

This pretty much blew me away on the first listen. If you're an Agalloch fan, you MUST check this out. That's not a request, it's an order. Even though it's technically an EP, it has the feel of an album and to be honest, I like this even more than Agalloch's most recent work "Marrow of the Spirit" (though that one is still quite excellent). I sincerely hope this talented fellow makes another album. Stunning stuff.
9.5/10

 

Beirut - The Rip Tide (2011)

Yet another excellent indie band I discovered, Beirut skillfully boil down intricate folk and classical sections into a pop format. The songs are all very catchy and many of them are quite beautiful. The atmosphere is warm and the music is delightfully upbeat. Overall, it's just a pleasure to listen to especially with its no-frills, almost minimalistic approach which really helps bring all the musical elements (especially the brass sections) into focus. If you want to hear the baroque pop stylings of bands like Arcade Fire combined with the mellow acoustics of Bon Iver then this is your band.
9/10

 

Grizzly Bear - Shields (2012)

After initially not being that impressed with this album, I decided to give it another chance and found it to be much better the second the time around. Their music strongly resembles that of Radiohead and even that of late-era Beatles, but with a psych-folk twist. It's a very beautiful and lush affair with a very eclectic and quirky sound. While I'm not a huge fan of indie in general, this band is a notable exception. Definitely one of the best indie releases of last year.
9/10

 

Bon Iver - Bon Iver, Bon Iver (2011)

Well, I finally listened to this one and it was pretty good. For a folk album, it's very eclectic in that incorporates elements of baroque pop and electronica. Some of the songs such as the last one could do without all the synths, and I think that the first half of the record is much better than the second half. However, it's still very enjoyable and I would certainly listen to it again to take more of the nuances. I feel like it's a grower and one that needs repeated listens to fully comprehend.
8.5/10

 

Isbells - Isbells (2009)

This is definitely one of the best folk albums I've ever heard. It's fairly similar to The Tallest Man on Earth, but it adds an extra layer of depth to the music that makes even more emotional and beautiful. It's a rather dark affair which is what makes it so what gives it its haunting beauty. It's just an amazing album, and I recommend it to all folk-lovers.
9.5/10

 

The Tallest Man on Earth - There's No Leaving Now (2012)

Folk musician Kristian Matsson's Bob Dylan-esque voice and gentle, beautiful playing on this album is superb and, in my book, jettisons him into the folk hall of fame along with Iron and Wine. In fact, this album reminds quite a bit of Iron and Wine's debut album with it minimalistic approach although it's not quite as "country-esque" as that one. It's gripping, emotional songwriting that quite readily evokes feelings of nostalgia and sheer admiration. This one is a keeper.
9/10

Hexvessel - No Holier Temple (2012)

This is a lush, exotic trip through the Finnish occult universe that makes you feel like you're actually participating in some arcane ritual as the vocalists narrate the events. The songs meander their way through forbidden, unseen territory as if exploring the depths of a buried past. Overall, it's an excellent psych folk album that conveys a real sense of mystery and spirituality inside a captivating musical package.
9/10

 

Message to Bears - Folding Leaves (2012)

This is a very beautiful collection of songs that, interestingly enough, meld post-rock with folk. It's quite a brilliant combination and it's done with much skill. Some of the songs could use a bit more development though, but overall it's a strong album and one that fans of both genres should enjoy.
8.5/10

 

Tusmorke - Underjordisk Tusmorke (2012)

When it comes to retro prog-folk, you can't find much better than this. It's a gorgeous piece of art that brings to mind Jethro Tull and others. If this wonderful Norwegian band doesn't become more well-known, I think it will be a severe loss to the prog world. Without a doubt, this is yet another underground prog gem.

9.5/10

Xanthrochroid - Blessed He with Boils (2012)

If you want epic metal then you've got it with these extremely talented Californian upstarts. There's influences and similarities from many awesome bands including Opeth, Emperor, Moonsorrow, Wintersun, Ne Obliviscaris, and Dimmu Borgir. Hell, they even recorded a cover of Wintersun's "Land of Snow and Sorrow." Plus, the harsh vocals sound just like Ihsahn which is a big plus. This is an extremely dense record to say the least, and it's just amazing. The folk and classical interludes are superb, and the atmosphere is just exquisite. This is yet another sleeper hit. Oh and the band name is really cool too. In short, this band shows an incredible amount of promise and I can't wait for their next release.
9.5/10

Dordeduh - Dar De Duh (2012)

Yeah I know, it's pretty funny to say the band name with the album name, but the music itself is no laughing matter. In fact, it's very good, atmospheric black metal mixed with a big portion of folk and post-rock. The band consists of ex-members of Negura Bunget, and they do a terrific job outside of their former band. In a year full of great black metal releases, this one really stands out for its musical uniqueness alone, not to mention the superb proggy songwriting.
9.5/10

Eluveitie - Helvetios (2012)

And speaking of Eluveitie, their latest album is just fantastic. It's their most solid record to date. While there's not much in the way of innovation, the band have honed their style to make a consistent, highly enjoyable product. This is certainly one of my favorite death metal albums of this year.
9.5/10

 

Krampus - Survival of the Fittest (2012)

Like Eluveitie, Krampus mix folk with melodic death metal. They do a pretty good job of it, but the album feels rather stagnant at times. Nonetheless, it's pretty enjoyable and the electronic elements are a nice twist. Fans of Eluveitie won't be disappointed.
8.5/10

 

Aeternam - Moongod (2012)

This is a great Oriental death metal album that heavily reminiscent of Melechesh, and to a lesser extent Orphaned Land and Nile. Lots of heavy riffs, Middle Eastern melodies, and very catchy clean singing. The vocals bear a strong resemblance to those of Nergal from Behemoth. The lyrics are pretty interesting in that they seem to promote an anti-Islam/pro-pagan view although the band members are probably anti-religion period. Anyways, no matter what your beliefs are, if you like this style you'll definitely like this band.
9/10

Iron and Wine - Kiss Each Other Clean (2011)

This is a pretty radical departure from Sam Beam's earlier work, although folk elements are definitely still present. If anything, this album's style is much closer to baroque pop a la Arcade Fire than to traditional folk. There even some funk, gospel, and (gasp) electronic elements! But that's just fine because it's a phenomenal album nonetheless. It shows Beam's refusal to repeat his albums and his eagerness to experiment with and develop his sound.
9/10

 

Iron and Wine - Our Endless Numbered Days (2004)

Sam Beam's second album features more complex structures than his first, but also marks a slight drop in quality for me. The focus away from atmospherics and toward songwriting put Beam in a rather new position, and it seems he was trying to get his bearings in this new musical mode. Of course it's still a great album, and t easily qualifies as another of my favorite folk albums. It's just that I prefer his first and third ones more.
9/10