Editors Note: This is a staff-sourced article. We feel this list is extremely difficult to calculate as there are too many factors at play. We allow our staff to submit their favorite choices based on personal opinions and individual tastes.
In the current era of electronic music, it is up to the artists who still possess original sounds to keep things pure. New music is always being released, original music isn’t.
This past year has seen fans’ expectations skyrocket and lean into extremes; crowds have immersed themselves into deeper pockets of niche subgenres, new categories have just been discovered, and a fresh new batch of fans have entered the scene.
Welcoming this wide-eyed and eager audience was a year of mesmerizing releases – many of which were highly coveted albums. The following list, curated by the River Beats Dance Staff, features albums that we believe stood out among the rest.
Artists listed in alphabetical order
1. Alix Perez – Entanglements
Nominated by Staff Writer Devin Dees
2. Ben Böhmer – Bloom
Nominated by Editor Sean Schmidt
3. BoggDogg – Unleashed
Nominated by Staff Writer Omid Eghbal
4. Braek – Common Factor
Nominated by Staff Writer Gregory Ross
5. Chet Porter – Everything You’ve Ever Seen
Nominated by Editor Sean Schmidt
6. Elderbrook – Another Touch
Nominated by Editor Sean Schmidt
7. Forester – Moonlight
Nominated by Editor Sean Schmidt
8. Four Tet – Three
Nominated by Staff Writer Gregory Ross
9. Fred Again.. – Ten Days
Nominated by Editor Sean Schmidt
10. Halogenix – Passions
Nominated by Staff Writer Devin Dees
11. Hoopla – Beacon
Nominated by Staff Writer Gregory Ross
12. Hudson Lee – Light Dancer
Nominated by Editor Maximilian Vanegas
13. Jerro – Chromatic
Nominated by Editor Sean Schmidt
14. John Summit – Comfort In Chaos
Nominated by Staff Writer Kelsey James
15. Rüfüs Du Sol – Inhale / Exhale
Nominated by Staff Writer Emily Mullins
16. Luttrell – Life at Full Speed
Nominated by Editor Sean Schmidt
17. Tinlicker – Cold Enough For Snow
Nominated by Editor Sean Schmidt
18. Lane 8 – Childish
Nominated by Staff Writer Kelsey James
19. Louf – Echo Point Drive
Nominated by Staff Writer Gregory Ross
20. Mickman – You Have To Start Somewhere
Nominated by Staff Writer Gregory Ross
21. Mindex – Modus Lullabitus
Nominated by Staff Writer James Church
22. Molecular – Heritage & Sound
Nominated by Staff Writer Devin Dees
23. Mr. Bill – Mechanomorphic
Nominated by Staff Writer James Church
24. Nia Archives – Silence Is Loud
Nominated by Staff Writer James Church
25. Somatoast – PLEASE INTERACT WITH MY CONTENT
Nominated by Editor Maximilian Vanegas
26. Sultan & Shepard – Endless Dawn
Nominated by Editor Sean Schmidt
27. Tourist – Memory Morning
Nominated by Staff Writer Kelsey James
28. Unglued – What on Earth
Nominated by Staff Writer Devin Dees
29. Vibe Chemistry – Balance
Nominated by Staff Writer Omid Eghbal
30. Vincent Antone – Unlimited
Nominated by Staff Writer Emily Mullins
Honorable Mention: Bread Winner – little songs
Nominated by Editor Maximilian Vanegas
Honorable Mention: Entangled Mind – Lucid Living
Nominated by Staff Writer Gregory Ross
Honorable Mention: Humandala – Happy Computer // Bad Operator
Nominated by Editor Maximilian Vanegas
Editors Note: This is a staff-sourced article. We feel this list is extremely difficult to calculate as there are too many factors at play. We allow our staff to submit their favorite choices based on personal opinions and individual tastes.
In the current era of electronic music, it is up to the artists who still possess original sounds to keep things pure. New music is always being released, original music isn’t.
This past year has seen fans’ expectations skyrocket and lean into extremes; crowds have immersed themselves into deeper pockets of niche subgenres, new categories have just been discovered, and a fresh new batch of fans have entered the scene.
Welcoming this wide-eyed and eager audience was a year of mesmerizing releases – many of which were highly coveted albums. The following list, curated by the River Beats Dance Staff, features albums that we believe stood out among the rest.
Artists listed in alphabetical order
1. Alix Perez – Entanglements
Nominated by Staff Writer Devin Dees
2. Ben Böhmer – Bloom
Nominated by Editor Sean Schmidt
3. BoggDogg – Unleashed
Nominated by Staff Writer Omid Eghbal
4. Braek – Common Factor
Nominated by Staff Writer Gregory Ross
5. Chet Porter – Everything You’ve Ever Seen
Nominated by Editor Sean Schmidt
6. Elderbrook – Another Touch
Nominated by Editor Sean Schmidt
7. Forester – Moonlight
Nominated by Editor Sean Schmidt
8. Four Tet – Three
Nominated by Staff Writer Gregory Ross
9. Fred Again.. – Ten Days
Nominated by Editor Sean Schmidt
10. Halogenix – Passions
Nominated by Staff Writer Devin Dees
11. Hoopla – Beacon
Nominated by Staff Writer Gregory Ross
12. Hudson Lee – Light Dancer
Nominated by Editor Maximilian Vanegas
13. Jerro – Chromatic
Nominated by Editor Sean Schmidt
14. John Summit – Comfort In Chaos
Nominated by Staff Writer Kelsey James
15. Rüfüs Du Sol – Inhale / Exhale
Nominated by Staff Writer Emily Mullins
16. Luttrell – Life at Full Speed
Nominated by Editor Sean Schmidt
17. Tinlicker – Cold Enough For Snow
Nominated by Editor Sean Schmidt
18. Lane 8 – Childish
Nominated by Staff Writer Kelsey James
19. Louf – Echo Point Drive
Nominated by Staff Writer Gregory Ross
20. Mickman – You Have To Start Somewhere
Nominated by Staff Writer Gregory Ross
21. Mindex – Modus Lullabitus
Nominated by Staff Writer James Church
22. Molecular – Heritage & Sound
Nominated by Staff Writer Devin Dees
23. Mr. Bill – Mechanomorphic
Nominated by Staff Writer James Church
24. Nia Archives – Silence Is Loud
Nominated by Staff Writer James Church
25. Somatoast – PLEASE INTERACT WITH MY CONTENT
Nominated by Editor Maximilian Vanegas
26. Sultan & Shepard – Endless Dawn
Nominated by Editor Sean Schmidt
27. Tourist – Memory Morning
Nominated by Staff Writer Kelsey James
28. Unglued – What on Earth
Nominated by Staff Writer Devin Dees
29. Vibe Chemistry – Balance
Nominated by Staff Writer Omid Eghbal
30. Vincent Antone – Unlimited
Nominated by Staff Writer Emily Mullins
Honorable Mention: Bread Winner – little songs
Nominated by Editor Maximilian Vanegas
Honorable Mention: Entangled Mind – Lucid Living
Nominated by Staff Writer Gregory Ross
Honorable Mention: Humandala – Happy Computer // Bad Operator
Nominated by Editor Maximilian Vanegas
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