My Decade in Music So Far: Jillian Mapes

This week, Pitchfork shared lists featuring the best albums and tracks of the decade so far. We asked Pitchfork writers and editors to share a favorite song and album that didn't make the list, along with a music highlight and their personal Top 10s or 20s. Check back for more installments of My Decade in Music So Far.

Father John Misty: Fear Fun [Sub Pop]

I had my mind made up by the time the first Fear Fun single, “Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings,” arrived in early 2012: I Cannot With Father John Misty. I covered enough music festivals the preceding summer to have not had the luxury of avoiding the breezy mundaneness of Fleet Foxes that, to make matters worse, everyone just swoons over. I thought, here is more overly earnest folk-rock from a member of the band, and he’s had the clever idea to put cynic dream-girl Aubrey Plaza in the video. Pass. I caught up with the album, J. Tillman’s eighth, the following year and kicked myself for going so long without closing track “Everyman Needs a Companion” in my life. Tillman’s got a goofster side that makes his style of music instantly more enjoyable, even if it peeks through minimally on Fear Fun. It’s kind of like how Mac DeMarco makes schmaltzy love songs cool simply by being the turd he is, underneath it all. Anyway, by now everyone and their brother has heard Fear Fun, but if—like me—you didn’t give Tillman a chance because of his involvement in Fleet Foxes, reconsider.

Big Black Delta: "Side of the Road" [Masters of Bates]

I tend to not trust dance music that’s too sweet without a hint of sour. When I heard “Side of the Road,” I was immediately gripped by how darkly abrasive—in a Depeche Mode kind of a way—it was while still maintaining its euphoric high. The vocoder is not exactly an uncommon instrument, but there was something about the way it’s used here that always reminds me of ELO’s Jeff Lynne calling from the future.

Musical Highlight of the Last Five Years: Standing sidestage at Arcade Fire’s Austin City Limits taping in 2011 and having my terrible dance moves immortalized in the episode (I’m the girl in glasses, a rainbow-spotted dress and Converse, holla). Then Win Butler shoving his mic in my hand as he walked offstage, and taking it home as a souvenir despite it not being his to give away (yeah, that was ACL’s gear).

Favorite Albums of 2010-2014:

1. Beach House: Teen Dream
2. The National: High Violet
3. Kanye West: My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
4. Fiona Apple: The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than the Driver of the Screw and Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do
5. Arcade Fire: The Suburbs
6. Kendrick Lamar: good kid, m.A.A.d city
7. St. Vincent: Strange Mercy
8. Father John Misty: Fear Fun
9. Disclosure: Settle
10. Beyoncé: Beyoncé
11. Frank Ocean: Channel Orange
12. Drake: Nothing Was the Same
13. Charli XCX: True Romance
14. Jay Z / Kanye West: Watch the Throne
15. Girls: Father, Son, Holy Ghost
16. Sun Kil Moon: Benji
17. Tame Impala: Lonerism
18. Feist: Metals
19. Telekinesis: 12 Desperate Straight Lines
20. The Black Keys: Brothers

Favorite Tracks of 2010-2014:

1. Kanye West: "Monster" [ft. Justin Vernon, Rick Ross, Jay Z, and Nicki Minaj]
2. Robyn: "Dancing on My Own"
3. Beyoncé: "Countdown"
4. Katy B: "On a Mission"
5. Phosphorescent: "Song for Zula"
6. M83: "Midnight City"
7. Kendrick Lamar: "Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe"
8. Fiona Apple: "Valentine"
9. Solange: "Losing You"
10. Tame Impala: "Elephant"
11. St. Vincent: "Cheerleader"
12. Neko Case: "Man"
13. Janelle Monáe: "PrimeTime" [ft. Miguel]
14. James Blake: "Retrograde"
15. Ciara: "Body Party"
16. Vampire Weekend: "Don't Lie"
17. Sky Ferreira: "I Blame Myself"
18. Charli XCX: "You (Ha Ha Ha)"
19. The National: "England"
20. Arcade Fire: "Rococo"