For the Record With GG and Adam

Phoebe Bridgers' darkly self-aware songs, touched with humor and interesting production, are the perfect note to go out on for our last podcast of 2017. We discuss her debut LP, "Stranger in the Alps," in episode #75 of For the Record.

For this episode, we take a look at the albums released in 2017 that we really enjoyed, but didn't do as a standalone podcast for one reason or another. We discuss this year's releases from the Dirty Projectors, A Giant Dog, Feist, Spoon, The War on Drugs

The National are back with their 7th studio record, "Sleep Well Beast," and we discuss it in depth on episode #73 of "For the Record." For all the episodes, visit ForTheRecordPodcast.com.

Toronto's Weaves got a lot of attention for their experimental debut record last year, and they're back with a sophomore LP that's more pop-oriented and accessible, but no less interesting.

It's been seven years since Wolf Parade released their last LP and subsequently went on an indefinite hiatus. Each member spent time on various side projects, but they're back together and sound more cohesive than ever.

Ted Leo (minus the Pharmacists) is back with a vengeance with his first solo record in 7 years, which explores new territory, both musically and emotionally. We discuss it in depth in episode #70 of "For the Record."

The second coming of LCD Soundsystem has been controversial because of the band's much-ballyhooed breakup less than a decade ago, but "American Dream" makes us forget all that and just be grateful for their return.

Filthy Friends is a supergroup made up of Corin Tucker of Sleater-Kinney, Peter Buck of R.E.M., Scott McCaughey of the Minus 5 and the Young Fresh Fellows, Kurt Bloch of the Fastbacks, and Bill Rieflin of King Crimson and many other bands.

With "Saturday Night," Tim Darcy, the lead singer of Montreal band Ought, has released a solo album that feels like he has combined equal parts Lou Reed, Neutral Milk Hotel, and 1960s psychedelia, to create a sound that's wholly his own.

Canadian collective Broken Social Scene had been on a multi-year hiatus, but are finally back with their first record in 7 years, "Hug of Thunder." We discuss it in-depth in episode #66 of "For the Record."

Ratboys' second record, "GN," is sweet on the surface but has a depth and complexity to it that rewards repeated listens. We discuss it in-depth on episode #65 of "For the Record."

Recording under the moniker Jay Som, Oakland's own Melina Duterte produced "Everybody Works" in her own home, playing all of the instruments herself. The result sounds more like a full band.

The Mountain Goats' 16th studio album, "Goths," is neither a goth record, nor a record about being goth, but a complex and beautiful album about looking back on the intensity and passions of your youth with the perspective of adulthood.

Girlpool's second full-length record marks a major change in style for the band, as the onetime duo adds a drummer, noisier guitars, and lowers their vocals in the mix. We discuss it in depth in episode #62 of "For the Record."

Aimee Mann has had a long and impressive career as a singer-songwriter, but her new, stripped-down record, "Mental Illness," which includes collaboration from Jonathan Coulton, Ted Leo, and John Roderick, may be one of her best records yet.

Sweet Spirit are probably the best band in Austin, Texas -- live music capital of the world -- and they're definitely the best band we saw at the South by Southwest music conference this year. We discuss their new LP in depth in episode #60.

In Episode #59 of For the Record, we discuss the debut LP from Diet Cig, "Swear I'm Good at This." The energetic duo makes charming indie pop that documents a sometimes-tough transition between the teen years and adulthood.

As we do once a year, we break format to talk about our favorites from SXSW this year: Lizzo, Sweet Spirit, L.A. Salami, Weaves, Lisa Prank, Lee Bains III and the Glory Fires, and CHAI.

Landlady's engaging live performance is what first attracted us to the band, and their third LP, "The World is a Loud Place," really delivers that energy to the listener. We discuss it in-depth in episode #57 of "For the Record."

Ty Segall's prolific psych-glam-garage rock output makes it seem a bit intimidating to find an entry point into his catalog, but his second self-titled LP provides a great opportunity.

Greg Laswell's "Everyone Thinks I Dodged a Bullet" is a great breakup album for a stormy winter day. We discuss it in depth on episode #55 of "For the Record."

Hannah Georgas is a Canadian singer-songwriter who has made a beautiful, introspective pop album that rewards repeated listens.

We review our favorite records of 2016, in no particular order: Car Seat Headrest, Lucy Dacus, Okkervil River, Mitski, Thao & The Get Down Stay Down, A Giant Dog, and Eleanor Friedberger.

Three different songwriters/vocalists each bring their own style to New York band LVL UP's Sub Pop debut, "Return to Love." We discuss it in-depth in episode #52 of "For the Record."

Angel Olsen's breakout record "Burn Your Fire For No Witness" set fans up to expect more of her powerful retro-folk this time around, and Olsen instead subverts expectations and delivers a new sound that showcases her creativity and range.