KCRW's Top 30: Damon Albarn reappears, plus new goods from Spoon, Nilüfer Yanya, and more

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The nearer Damon Albarn to the top of the chart, more pure the music flows. Photo by Steve Gullick.

We’re fresh off of what will now be unofficially referred to as “Damon Albarn Week” at KCRW. The endlessly innovative force behind Blur, Gorillaz, and myriad other artistic endeavors released a stunner of a solo album, “The Nearer the Fountain, More Pure the Stream Flows,” late last year. Albarn told us all about it when he stopped by Anne’s Backyard for an exclusive conversation of cosmic proportions.

Love for that chat, and anticipation of a show at LA’s Walt Disney Concert Hall no doubt propelled KCRW’s DJs to revisit this gem of an album en masse, landing it at the number one spot. As for the rest of the chart, you’ll find it to be squarely facing the future. Big Thief, Spoon, ​​and Nilüfer Yanya are all here to remind us how anxiously we’re awaiting their new albums.

Check out the full rundown of KCRW’s Top 30 Albums chart and our Top 30 Spotify playlist below.