All the other music sites can tell you what to listen to, but they never tell you what to eat while listening. The bastards at Pitchfork want you to stare at a blank wall with an empty stomach while listening to the newest Bladee album. Over here at Disko Disko, we do things a little differently. We want not just to satisfy you artistically but also to make you physically nourished. If you end up doing any of these food and album pairings you can take a photo for proof. Tag us on Instagram, and you’ll be entered into a raffle to win a 25-dollar Visa gift card!

30. MGMT - Loss of Life

Carrion

It may have flown under the radar but MGMT’s 5th LP was one of the most interesting albums of last year. It's a strange psychedelic soft rock record about aging and dying. What better to pair that with than rich raw carrion (the decaying flesh of a dead animal)?

Imagine sneaking away from fathers house, putting your headphones in, and pressing play on this album as you enter the woods late one night. You feel a strong sense of melancholy while "Mother Nature" plays. The line “Holding onto love like a stone” makes your heart sink as you journey deeper into nature. Eventually, you come across a rotting coyote with its entrails spilling out onto the grass. You drop to your hands and knees and sink your teeth into it just as the slow lumbering drum machine of "Nothing Changes" starts. The somber and dreamy guitars kick in and the verse begins as the raw meat goes down your throat. The sax solo plays as you wonder if you can ever feel better. Maybe this is all there is? You leave the woods as the final track loops back into the first. When you exit you feel the meat settling in your stomach and in this moment you find a glimmer of hope that you will be reborn. Maybe not today, but one day…

29. JPEGMAFIA - I LAY DOWN MY LIFE FOR YOU

Blue Raspberry Warhead

Ever since his 2018 breakout album, Veteran, JPEGMAFIA has been an artist I’ve considered one of the most interesting figures in hip hop. His off-the-wall production samples everything from Sly and the Family Stone to Bryan Cox's dialogue from Succession. The lyrics are very online, which sounds annoying in theory, but they are actually quite funny and self-aware in practice. Similar to blue raspberry warheads he’s initially childish and abrasive but the more time you spend with it the sweeter it gets.

28. Confidence Man - 3 AM (La La La)

Vodka Soda

Nobody is eating food while listening to Confidence Man. You’re chugging vodka sodas at the club while the beat takes hold of you. No thoughts, head empty, dancing to Euro House.

27. Brijean - Macro

Charcuterie Board

Brijean makes perfect wallpaper music. That may sound like an insult but it’s actually a huge compliment. Their brand of smooth and dreamy chill background music is the perfect thing for an adult dinner party that will add to the experience without distracting anyone. Trust me, Brijean is the absolute best thing to put on if you want to eat fancy cheese and crackers.

26. Fat Dog - WOOF.

Chili Cheese Dog

The Windmill Club out of Brixton London has been churning out great bands over the last couple of years. Groups like Black Midi, Black Country New Road, Squid, Shame, Yard Act, and Fat White Family all got their start there. The newest band from the Windmill scene to blow up is Fat Dog. An in-your-face group that sounds like if Viagra Boys was on Eurovision. It’s stupid as hell dance-punk that’s a whole lot of fun. I think Sonic the Hedgehog's favorite food is an appropriate pairing for a band this fierce and goofy.

25. Hinds - VIVA HINDS

A bottle of red wine that you drink by yourself at a house party

The 4th LP from Madrid-based rock duo Hinds is a warm melodic record that goes down very smoothly. It’s full of catchy jangly pop-rock songs that are filled to the brim with youthful energy. "Boom Boom Back", their collab with Beck, is the type of song where on the first listen you learn the chorus and are singing along by the end. I picture this album playing in a coming-of-age movie when the quirky protagonist shows up to a summer house party with a bottle of red wine. It’s not for sharing though, they carry it with them throughout the night and then finish it before moving on to more drinks. It’s fun, sexy, and a sign that they’re living their life to the fullest.

24. The Cure - Songs of a Lost World

Steak Frites

I love that Robert Smith has never changed. He’s 65 and still dresses exactly the same as he did 40 years ago. His newest album, Songs Of A Lost World, is their first since 2008 and it really sounds like his goth ass hasn’t aged a day, except for the lyrics which are all about aging. For a band this classic you need to eat something classic: Steak frites and a nice red wine.

23. Fake Fruit - Mucho Mistrust

Al Pastor Taco (from a taco truck)

Mucho Mistrust is a collection of nervy angular post-punk and rock songs with a wry sense of humor from Oakland-based trio Fake Fruit. I think this would sound great while chowing down on Al pastor tacos (with freshly squeezed lime) from a taco truck late at night.

22. Mount Eerie - Night Palace

Gas Station Sandwich

Phil Eleverum is a mother fucker that's never gonna be happy. He’s been making music since the mid 90’s and every single one of his songs is a total bummer. His newest record Night Palace is a 26-song epic that has everything from soft acoustic songs to loud punk songs to a 12-minute spoken word monologue over ambient noise. The tracks do stand on their own but they’re even stronger when you’re comparing and contrasting them in this girthy record. Take a walk alone on a rainy night and put this on. If you get hungry you can stop at the only place close to you, a gas station. Grab a day-old egg salad sandwich and eat it while you finish your walk. It tastes awful and might make you sick but that only adds to the experience.

21. English Teacher - This Could Be Texas

Baked beans on toast or whatever British people eat

English Teacher is a UK-based post-punk / art rock band that won the prestigious Polaris Prize last year. They make clever music that is sure to satisfy anyone hungry for a sound similar to Black Country, New Road. Unfortunately, they’re not from Texas despite the name of the album. So these British fucks get to eat British food. Beans on toast, I think? I’m not gonna bother looking up what those damn limeys like to eat. If you don’t respect my culture then I won't respect yours.

20. Ducks LTD - Harms Way

Red, White, and Blue Snow Cone

Harms Way is a delightful album of airy power-pop, Indie-rock, and jangle-pop songs. They sound sorta like Real Estate but with more pep in their step. I discovered this album over the summer and whenever I hear it it takes me back to those hot nights sitting on my trampoline with friends. Full disclosure: I never had a snow cone while listening but I'm sure it would fit.

19. Jessica Pratt - Here In The Pitch

Salad of some sort. Something that features fruit, but doesn’t make fruit the star of the show.

Jessica Pratt sounds like someone doing an over-the-top impression of a 60’s singer. It’s truly unreal how angelic and distinctive her voice is and it’s only elevated by the tasteful bosa nova instrumentals. I think this would go great with a salad that has some fruit in it BUT NOT A FRUIT SALAD. Perhaps mixed berry and walnut? You can decide.

18. Being Dead - EELS

Boy Scouts popcorn tub that's a mix of cheese, regular, and caramel corn

Being Dead, the Austin-based indie rock trio is a band that sounds like it’s being held together by chewing gum and is on the verge of collapsing at any moment. "Rock ‘N Roll Hurts" is the best example where at one point the music drops and the band claps along as the vocalist laughs through the lyrics. Another highlight on the record is "Van Goes" which is an unfortunately relatable song about not having enough time to make art because you’re forced to work a dead-end job. They’re young, fresh, and all over the place in a way that’s really interesting. I think this album would go great with a handful of every type, a popcorn suicide if you will, from a Boy Scouts multipopcorn tin.

17. Iglooghost - Tidal Memory Exo

Monster Energy Juice: Mango Loco

The enormously talented and tragically late musician Sophie had a quote about electronic music where she talked about how it’s wonderful that you’re able to make unique sounds that you couldn’t make with any practical instruments and fine-tune it to be exactly how you want. This sentiment is incredibly apparent when listening to Tidal Memory Exo which is an unhinged otherworldly record that sounds like Figrin D’an and the Modal Nodes doing a high-energy DJ set. Iglooghost is working on another plane, and we might never be able to reach it, but chugging something as artificial and high energy as Monster Energy Juice: Mango Locos might help us get there.

16. Christopher Owen’s - I Wanna Run Barefoot Through Your Hair

Microwave Popcorn

Christopher Owens had a pretty rough decade. After leaving the band Girls: Owens survived a motorcycle crash, separated from his fiance, was homeless for a while, and had his former band member Chet “JR” White pass away. He’s finally back with his first record in 9 years and it’s just as good as his earlier work. These songs of love and despair are so earnest and meaningful, none so more than the epic closer "Do You Need A Friend". This song ends with Owen’s singing “If you really wanna know I’m barely making it through the day/people come and people go but the loneliness is always the same”. Every time he repeats the line it hits a little harder. I get it, Chris, me too…

15. Jack White - No Name

Really Good Cheese Pizza

Former White Stripes frontman and weirdo vampire Jack White is back with his best music in ages. No frills, just good old-fashioned rock and roll. It’s something you know and love done well, which is why I think really good cheese pizza would go with this best.

This album might be higher on my list but I caught him for his tour last fall where he announced the shows a couple of days beforehand and played at tiny venues. I saw him at The Mohawk here in Austin, and while it was a great show, it was incredibly crowded and he didn’t do an encore. Maybe this is a lame normie opinion but if I’m paying 125 dollars you better do an encore because I want to hear "Seven Nation Army" and "Fell In Love With A Girl". PLAY THE HITS JACK!

14. Fabiana Palladino - Fabiana Palladino

Gelato

Fabiana Palladino’s self-titled debut album is a throwback to R&B and sophisti-pop of the 80’s. It’s sensual and lush with incredible production from the great Jai Paul. Imagine putting this on while you eat gelato with your lover. They miss their mouth and the gelato slowly dribbles down their chin and onto their voluptuous chest. They reach to wipe it up but you stop them. “That’s my job,” you say as you lean forward and run your tongue along -

EDITORS NOTE: There were 7 more paragraphs that the team at Disko Disko decided were too sexually explicit to be put into this article. You get the idea…

13. The Last Dinner Party - Prelude to Ecstasy

Finger Sandwiches

Everyone loves to talk shit about Nepo babies and industry plants, and The Last Dinner Party was a big part of that conversation in music circles when this album came out last year. To be completely honest, I’ve never felt that sort of jealousy because my father invented stuffed crust pizza and I’m set for life from that. Money is of no concern to me. Regardless of whatever weird discourse there is about this band you have to admit that these rich little British ladies are absolutely spitting. The Last Dinner Party sounds like ABBA if they went to art school. This record is chocked full of awesome baroque pop songs that are both horny and depressed, namely the track "Nothing Matters" which became a Tik tok hit.

12. Fontaines DC - Romance

A cheeky pint of Guinness

This was an easy one. Obviously, we’re pairing Fontaines DC with a pint of Guinness. These Irish lads have been quietly becoming one of the best acts in modern rock music since their 2019 debut. Their latest album Romance contains some of the greatest songs they’ve ever written and some of the absolute best tracks of the year. The highlight amongst these is the final track on the record, "Favourite", which is a sentimental, beautiful, and timeless song. It sounds like something The Cure or The Smiths would have written at their height and makes me feel nostalgic even though it only came out a year ago.

11. Tapir! - The Pilgrim, Their God and The King of My Decrepit Mountain

I don’t quite know how to explain it because I ate the meal at a restaurant where you dine in the dark

This record is like a puzzle I haven’t quite deciphered yet but I’m happy just playing with the pieces. The Pilgrim, Their God and The King of My Decrepit Mountain is an indie folk concept album about an adventurer on an epic journey in a mysterious land. It’s an inventive and bold record with unique production from the odd drum machine on "On A Grassy Knoll", to the Erik Satie interpretation on "Gymnopedie", to the triumphant and emotional closer "Mountain Song". I think the best pairing would be something elaborate like one of those restaurants where you eat with all the lights off and it’s supposed to heighten your sense of taste supposedly. This sort of restaurant was featured in season 3 episode 12 of FX’s The League.

10. Doechii - Alligator Bites Never Heal

Chili's triple dipper

Alligator Bites Never Heal is easily one of the most fun records of last year. Doechii is a breath of fresh air in rap music and every song on this is brimming with theatrical personality. Moments like the third verse on "Denial Is A River" where she goes: “I mean fuck, I like pills, I like drugs / I like gettin' money, I like strippers, I like to fuck / I like day-drinkin' and day parties and Hollywood / I like doin' Hollywood shit, snort it, probably would (yeah)” is one of the most thrilling moments in music all year. Maybe seeing it written out doesn’t convey why it’s great but you’ll get it once you listen. Her voice on that is like butter and I replayed that song over and over again when I first heard it. Outside of the songs themselves, Doechii has also shown herself to be a tremendous performer with her killer Tiny Desk, her incredible Colbert performance, and her showstopping Grammy performance.

Almost all of the tracks on here are two minutes long and jump around from genres like southern hip hop and boom bap to R&B. If you like a little bit of everything then obviously you should pair this with the triple dipper from Chilis.

9. Father John Misty - Mahashmashana

IPA and overpriced smashburger

The worst most pretentious guy you know probably loves Father John Misty, and he is unfortunately absolutely right in this one specific instance. Misty’s 2017 album Pure Comedy was a witty and moving record that felt very of the moment when it was released shortly after the start of the first Trump Presidency. His newest record Mahashmashana came out right after this last election and also feels very fitting for the second trump term. Across its 8 bleakly funny and spiritual songs Josh Tillman sings his heart out and enters new ground from his previous work. "I Guess Time Just Makes Fools Of Us All" is essentially a disco song, and "Screamland" is an Imagine Dragons song (but actually really good). His music is like getting an IPA and an overpriced Smashburger at an annoyingly hip food truck. Sure, maybe people will scoff at you for liking it but it’s pretty damn good.

8. Friko - Where We’ve Been, Where We Go From Here

Cheap beer and accurately priced hamburger

Chicago-based duo Friko was not on my radar whatsoever, but their debut album hit me instantly and is undoubtedly one of the best rock albums of the year. They’re a deeply earnest band and the vocals are incredibly emotional and fragile in a way that reminds me of Radiohead and Arcade Fire. There’s no pretending how you feel. This is a heart-on-your-sleeves record of catchy rock songs and devastating ballads. Put it on with the boys and try not to cry while scarfing down a bag of burgers from your hometown burger shop and a 24-pack of Modelo.

7. MJ Lenderman - Manning Fireworks

Happy Meal

I picked a happy meal for MJ Lenderman not just because of the line in "She’s Leaving You" where he sings “We sat under a half mast McDonalds flag”, but because It’s junky and childish in a deeply nostalgic and American way. MJ Lenderman's lyrics are like a magic trick: he can say something so stupid, ironic, and bro-y and make it weirdly genuine and meaningful. Nobody else is making music about Rip Torn in Men In Black. He’s a fresh voice following in the footsteps of artists like Silver Jews, Wilco, and Neil Young and I’m so excited to see what he does next. If you want to read something more in-depth about MJ Lenderman then you should check out Alicia’s wonderful article.

6. Various Artists - I Saw The TV Glow (Soundtrack)

Dino nuggets and HRT

The trans arthouse horror film by Jane Schoenbrun, I Saw The TV Glow, is easily my favorite movie from last year. I watched it the day after a devastating breakup and it struck me to my core in a way very few films do. It tells the story of an isolated (probably autistic) teenager stuck in the suburbs who is obsessed with a television show called The Pink Opaque. It goes to places I don't want to spoil but it was very impactful to me and I can (and probably will) write about it more at length in the future.

The soundtrack is 15 songs made specifically for the movie by artists picked by Jane Schoenbrun. It’s really rare to get a full original soundtrack these days and it’s even rarer for it to actually be this good (Barbie is the only other recent example I can think of and even that has some filler). These 15 tracks capture the loneliness of the suburbs and the crushing emptiness of nostalgia present in the film. It opens with the haunting glitched-out cover of "Anthems of a Seventeen-Year-Old Girl" by Yeule which in my opinion surpasses the original. From there, we have "Another Season" by Frances Quinlan which is an emotionally brutal indie rock track about reuniting with an ex. the line “I do think of my idea of you often” always hurts, even on the 100th listen. Other highlights include "Claw Machine" by Sloppy Jane and Phoebe Bridgers, "Photograph" by Drab Majesty, and Caroline Polacheck's transcendent "Starburned and Unkissed".

If you’re too scared to take the next step you can just reminisce about your childhood and pair this album with some Dino nuggets, but If you want to become the woman you were always meant to be then maybe get started on Hormone Replacement Therapy.

5. Magdalena Bay - Imaginal Disk

The Substance

I didn’t think that synth-pop duo Magdalena Bay could surpass their masterful 2021 album Mercurial World, but they did. Imaginal Disk is a dizzying psychedelic sci-fi concept album about a human who has a duplicate that’s a better version of themselves, so obviously listen to this when you’re on The Substance. "Image", "Death and Romance", and "That’s My Floor" are all clear highlights for being pop bangers with intricate production, but there’s a lot of weirder stuff too for people who think they’re too good for pop music. "Tunnel Vision" features an intense and nutty prog breakdown in the second half, and "She Looks Like Me" has these pulsing percussion sounds that are really bold and alien. It’s a record that has everything and really rewards repeat listens!

You can absolutely fall deep into this album and study the lyrics and share your fan theories on Reddit, but it also works when you’re not analyzing it at all. It’s just really incredible forward-thinking pop music that’s deeply addictive and fun.

4. Charli XCX - Brat

Cocaine and Poppers

What is there to say about Brat that hasn’t already been said? If you want a deeper analysis you can read Andrew's piece for this site about how this album made him gay or something like that. I’ll be honest, I didn’t actually read it. As someone who’s been a Charli fan for a decade, it’s nice to see her finally getting her flowers. Her last album Crash was a bit of a letdown because it felt like Charli was sanding off her edges. On Brat she’s unabashedly herself warts and all. The lyrics show Charli to be messy, complicated, and human In a vulnerable way that pop artists rarely are, but it’s not a sad album. It’s club bangers about being psychotically jealous or about feeling guilty about being a bad friend. Do a line, bust out the poppers, and dance your ass off to Brat. Birth control is optional because what’s really the point of your career in the grand scheme of the universe?

3. Vampire Weekend - Only God Was Above Us

Chicken Biryani (level 1 spicy)

This might be a controversial opinion amongst NPR donors, but I think Vampire Weekends 5th LP is their best album yet. Only God Was Above Us is a perfectly produced record of indie rock songs about struggling to survive in a dystopian police state. It came out last spring but feels more apt for this spring with you know… everything going on.

Every element of this album is immaculate from the fuzzed-out guitar tones in "Classical" to the intricate piano on "Connect". It's astonishing to hear on a good stereo and even better live. I was lucky enough to catch them twice on the tour for this and both shows were incredible and gave me a much greater appreciation for the band. If you relate to lyrics like “I’m a gentle man, I refuse to show my gentleness” then chicken biryani might be the dish for you, just don’t make it too spicy.

2. Adrianne Lenker - Bright Future

GORP

Adrianne Lenker, lead vocalist of Big Thief, sees the world differently than the rest of us. She finds poetry and meaning in everything around her and her songs are little windows into her world. There's warmth and compassion in even the most harrowing lyrics, none more so evident than on the song "Sadness As A Gift" where she looks back on a relationship that didn’t last but was meaningful, or on "Vampire Empire" which is about a toxic person you just can’t stop loving. There's an optimism in these sad songs which makes them so much more effective than songs wallowing in misery. "Donut Seam" has Lenker comparing her dying relationship to the earth being destroyed by climate change. “This whole world is dying, don’t it seem like a good time for swimming, before all the water disappears” is the chorus at the beginning, and by the end, it turns into “now our love is dying, don’t it seem like a good time for kissing, one more kiss to last the years”.

This record was made without her or any of the band members listening to the playback. They just played the songs in the moment and felt the music and after the fact went back to figure out which take was best (there's a fantastic episode of Song Exploder where she talks about this). I saw Adrianne Lenker play acoustic last summer and It was a magical experience and honestly one of the best concerts I’ve ever been to. There was not a dry eye in the house, you could literally hear the crying from the crowd in surround sound. A record this personal and earthy deserves a snack to match. Homemade GORP (good old raisins and peanuts), or trail mix to laymen.

1. Cindy Lee - Diamond Jubilee

Chicken Fried Steak at a diner in a small town

Diamond Jubilee is a 32-song 2-hour hypnagogic pop epic from Patrick Flegel, who was formerly the frontman of the band Women. Cindy Lee is Patrick’s drag persona and it offers a more ethereal and nostalgic sound compared to his prior work. Diamond Jubilee, Cindy Lee’s haunting lo-fi masterpiece, draws inspiration from pop music of the 50s 60s, and 70s as well as the slacker rock of the 90s to create a wholly unique record. It’s an incredibly powerful sound that feels like the soundtrack to life in a small town in the middle of nowhere.

Most songs on here are about yearning for a love that is now gone (or maybe never was). All I Want is a prime example of this type of song. Every time I listen and the drums kick in at the start of the second chorus I get chills over my entire body. “Through my window, A silver moon / An open suitcase, In an empty room / All I've got Is the truth, All I want Is you. These lyrics are so simple but the picture they paint is incredibly vivid. Other highlights on the album include Dracula which sounds like a Halcyon Digest-era Deerhunter song with lyrics about living a solitary existence (like Dracula). We’ve also got the dreamy and dreary Government Cheque about barely subsiding on federal funds without love. I could go down every single track on here and talk about why they’re great and my favorites would change every time. That’s the beauty of a record this long. You find new things to appreciate every listen. While more upbeat tracks like Flesh and Blood might be your favorite initially, there are so many sleepers like "Don’t Tell Me I’m Wrong" that really shine on the 5th or 6th or 20th listen.

I heard about this when it came out, but I didn’t get into this record until late last year because I was one of the dumbasses who put it off because it wasn’t on Spotify. Once I finally heard the album I became completely obsessed and listened to all 2 hours of this every day, sometimes twice a day, for months. It was the perfect accompaniment on cold rainy walks or driving home from work at night. It's so evocative and makes me feel like I’m half asleep listening to a collection of oldies on a crappy record player one room over.

Diamond Jubilee transports me to a crappy diner in a small town. One of those sad places with just a couple of buildings and a gas station. The place that people drive through on a road trip and think to themselves “How could anyone live in a place like this?”, but you do, you’ve always lived here. You’ve had a rough day so you get dinner at the local diner, the only restaurant in town. You know the waitress, Mona, and she doesn’t even ask what you want to eat because she already knows. She brings you chicken fried steak with mashed potatoes and corn niblets. You cut off a piece of the chicken fried steak and put a little bit of the mashed potatoes with gravy and corn on it so you get everything in one big bite. It’s warm, delicious, and full of sodium. You make small talk with Mona as a distraction from thinking about her, it doesn’t fully work but you’re able to distract yourself for a little while.

After the meal you walk home feeling all the feelings you tried to shove down plus the weight of a hearty meal. You listen to Diamond Jubilee in your headphones. It doesn’t make you feel better but it does make you feel seen…

Album honorable mentions

In alphabetical order

Amen Dunes - Death Jokes

Beth Gibbons - Lives Outgrown

Brittany Howard - What Now

Cameron Winter - Heavy Metal

Caribou - Honey

Crumb - AMAMA

Future Islands - People Who Aren’t There Anymore

Geordie Greep - The New Sound

High Vis - Guided Tour

Joanna Wang - Hotel La Rut

Kendrick Lamar - GNX

Kim Gordon - The Collective

Mannequin Pussy - I Got Heaven

Michael Kiwanuka - Small Changes

Nala Sinephro - Endlessness

Nap Eyes - The Neon Gate

Nick Cave - Wild God

Nicolas Jaar - Piedras 1 and 2

Remi Wolf - Big Ideas

The Marias - Submarine

Trent Reznor - Challengers [MIXED]

Zach Bryan - The Great American Bar Scene

Food honorable mentions

Not in alphabetical order

Wendy's frosty that you dip fries into

Mango

Baklava

Brisket but it’s kind of dry

Chip (singular)

Caniac combo: no cole slaw extra fries with a Diet Coke for the drink

Breaded Tilapia

Jordan Almonds

Corn on the cob with holders that look like little corn cobs

Blueberry French Toast

Foie Gras

Latkes

A bowl of Peanut M&M’s and Reese’s Pieces mixed together

Peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

Lime Jello

Yogurt covered raisins

Gummy Worms