Contributor Christian Ortmann's Top 5 Albums of the Decade
Christian H Ortmann is an aspiring Philadelphian and music industry person raised in Bridgewater, New Jersey. He has been a dear friend of Philly Live for a few years now. The following list emphasized the ability of music to articulate abstract, yet very human emotions. In doing this, they proved to be resonant and everlasting imprints on the mind and timestamps of an array of moments and feelings over the past decade.
Twin Fantasy - Car Seat Headrest (2018)
If you could look back at the knee-jerk write up I did about this album, my immediate reaction was more of indifference than adoration. I grew into it very rapidly after the fact. Revisiting what was already an incredible achievement for one 19 year old college student and updating it to become a fully realized rock behemoth brings the endearing story of Will Toledo and Car Seat Headrest full circle.
Helplessness Blues - Fleet Foxes (2011)
When the 2000’s were coming to a close, the landscape of music felt like every indie band was shooting for a spot on an Apple commercial. After that, a new brand of gentrified folk music (Spotify would go on later to coin the term for this genre “stop and holler”) had its moment in the spotlight. Fleet Foxes were like the godfather of these bands. Coordinating pitch perfect harmonies over baroque arrangements, Helplessness Blues does not succeed for cashing in on a trend like many of its contemporaries, but rather it stands out in every dimension. Unique instrumentation, abstract songwriting, fantastical lyricism with catchy motives abound.
Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming - M83 (2011)
To call Anthony Gonzalez of M83 merely a musician would be a supreme disservice to his body of work. He is a composer, builder of worlds, and a visionary. The hit single “Midnight City” became a household melody and rightfully so, it is a grandiose synth-pop banger. In truth I am more partial to subsequent singles like Reunion, OK Pal, and Steve McQueen which are all criminally underrated. The first time I ever heard New Map I think I got chills. This album is dotted with shorter interlude type tracks but even those are beautifully swelling and emotive movements.
Art Angels - Grimes (2015)
In 2015, Grimes achieved pop enlightenment in the follow up to her already highly regarded breakthrough album Visions. Grimes took her time and refined her craft even further. Enlisting an expansive arsenal of ableton and a variety of live instrumentation, a sound that was rich, pristine, and weird in all the right places. Front to back this album is unbelievably catchy and when the soundscapes aren’t lush, they are dark and industrial.
Benji - Sun Kil Moon (2014)
This album was a gut punch. I mean this album ended and I felt empty inside the first time I ever heard it. Not every track on this album is a sparsely arranged autobiographic folk song but that is the vibe by and large. Singer Mark Kozelek recounts most of his upbringing, sharing many moments that are both traumatic and character building. This man has been through a lot and Benji is only the tip of the iceberg. Kozelek would go on to delve further into his signature brand of unfiltered speak singing with the many subsequent releases with Sun Kil Moon and his own name.