Jess Casebeer’s Top 10 Pacific Northwest Albums of 2015

1. Lemolo
Red Right Return
independently released

I’ve made the pointed, well-researched observation before that there are more reverb-soaked indie/dream pop bands in Seattle than there are trees. Due to the overabundance of Beach House runoff bands in the Emerald City, it can be easy for just any project with that general sound to get lost in the crowd.

Given my admitted bias towards this sort of music, you can imagine just how dumbfounded I was the first time I listened to Meagan “Lemolo“ Grandall’s latest record, Red Right Return, and my jaw hit the floor like a cartoon character.

It’s not only without a doubt the best dream pop album we’ve gotten this year, it’s the sort of album that jumps out at you as being instantly unforgettable even before the end of your first listen through. Lemolo is a damn amazing display of what a modern dream pop outfit is capable of.

An album that isn’t too caught up in its own dreamy aesthetic to put forth good, memorable songs, Red Right Return is a beautifully textured pop album with a heavy emphasis on subtleties and strong songwriting. Making the album even better are Meagan’s gorgeous, poignant vocals, which do wonders to sell these moody, airy songs.

The recording and production on this album are amazing. While it sounds good in any context, you aren’t getting the full scope of Red Right Return unless you listen to this album with a good pair of headphones. The drums on this album pound and have a lot of impact, the guitars have a fantastic tone to them, and Meagan’s vocals ring amazingly clear and resonant in the mix. There’s a lot of detail to be found in every song, and the way it all comes together is just breathtaking.

I can’t praise this album enough. Thanks a lot, Meagan Grandall, now I have to listen to every Seattle-based dream pop band I come across just in the hopes that they’ll be as emotionally touching as Red Right Return.