Albums-
The Green E.P.- Bibio
This is the modern version of variations on a theme.
Electronic and folk scientist Bibio dedicated an EP to tracks that complemented
“Dye the water green” off of his last album. He doesn’t just succeed he also argues
that EPs can be more than just a random collection of songs, closer to demos
than actual albums. He’s made a deeply cohesive and tranquil record and one of
the finest EPs made in years.
Rave Tapes- Mogwai
Mogwai have been augmenting their sound with electronics
over the years but this seems like the final step across the genre label of
post-rock and into more ambient sounds. Not that there isn’t great guitar work
here, it’s just that Mogwai make some gorgeous sounds here without the
Explosions in the sky amp melting they used to use.
Black Santa rides the fire train- MONOLITHS.
The dangerous youths that make up MONOLITHS. decided to make
a proper covers album, ranging from Death Grips to The National. It’s a weird,
weird, mix but it works surprisingly well, from the mathy Botch cover to the insane
white boy rap of “No Love” Black Santa
Rides the fire train ends up being the best free download bandcamp find of
the month.
Fuck off get free we pour light on everything- Thee silver
Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra
Somewhere between folk, punk, and a full on Opera “Fuck off
get free we pour light on everything” is a massive album (three songs here
clock in at over 10 minutes). It’s apocalypse obsessed record with a faint
shimmering of hope in the shouted choruses and the amazing drum work.
Transgender Dysphoria Blues- Against me!
I wasn’t one who shouted “SELL OUTS!” when Against me! went
to a major label, after all “New Wave” is my favorite album by them, but it is
nice to hear the Florida rockers dabble in their folk-punk roots. With lead
singer Tom Gabel becoming Laura Jane Grace the lyrics focus on her inner
struggles. There’s a cool moment when you realize you’re singing along with “Like
they see any other girl/They just see a faggot” and you know this isn’t just an
important album, it’s a damn good one as well.
Songs-
Ben’s my friend/I watched the film “the song remains the
same”- Sun Kil Moon
Sun Kil Moon has slowly been releasing songs from his upcoming
album Benji and I can say, without a
doubt, that it is my most anticipated album of this year. “Ben’s my friend” and
“I watched the film ‘the song remains the same’” are easily the best two songs
released so far this year. They serve as great bookmarks for January, as “Ben”
was released at the start of the New Year and “Song remains” closed out the
month.
“Ben” is, musically, one of the airiest songs in Sun Kil Moon’s collection with, light guitar, soft “ba-ba-bah”s, and some beautiful sax. Still it doesn’t completely alleviate the somberness of Mark Kozelek as he deals with his “middle aged thing,” “sports bar shit,” and his dad flirting with “girls Panera bread.” The Ben in the title is Ben Gibbard of Death Cab for Cuite and The postal service who’s been friends with Kozelek for over a decade. Kozelek wonders about Ben’s success and worries about seeing The postal service live and calls Gibbard up instead and skips the show. Through the painstaking small details it all ends on a sweet note “Ben’s my friend and I know he gets it.”
“Song Remains” starts with Kozelek sitting in a movie
theatre as a kid, entranced by Jimmy Page’s stance. That’s only the start
though as he uses that Zep film as a tool to trace memories of friends, family,
and music in stunning detail. He remembers a few years that were filled with
death, his manager when he was on the 4AD label, and a playground fight.
Kozelek story telling is often at its best when he deadpans his tales but he
delivers a swooning and brilliant performance here along with his weaving and
winding guitar. It’s truly hard to not get a bit teary eyed during the ten
minute long song and man; if this is how the year starts we are in for some
truly mind-blowing music.
Stay happy there- La Dispute
La Dispute had one of the most emotional potent albums made
in years with 2011’s Wildlife and it
seems like the new record will just has devastating. Jordan Dreyer has always
had one of the most powerful voices in hardcore and when he compares a
crumbling relationship to wolves hunting deer it doesn’t sound overblown, it
makes perfect crushing sense.
Bela Lugosi’s dead- Chvrches
This shouldn’t have worked, yet Chvrches proved they’re not
a half bad cover band. The trio give a catchier electronic vibe to Bauhaus’
gothic classic. Shame Halloween is so far away ‘cause this is goddamn
excellent.
Everyday robots- Damon Albarn
And of course Damon Albarn continues to be one of the most
brilliant voices in pop. Like a more downtempo Gorillaz “Everyday Robots”
creeps along at a strange pace as Albarn muses about technology and employs one
of his prettiest coos. If the rest of the album is like this, Albarn might have
another huge winner on his hands.
Cannibal- Silversun Pickups
Sucks that Silversun decided to tack this on to a singles
collection rather than a full on new album. Neck
of the woods had some intriguing electronic influences and “Cannibal” seems
to be part of the next logical step. The thrashing chorus is made even better
by the sliding guitars and the 8-bit backgrounds.
Driver- Perfect Pussy
Perfect Pussy has been making waves as one of the grittier
punk bands out right now, and “Driver” might be their best song yet. Taking a
page from Melt Banana, the song clocks in at under a minute and is propelled by
manic high pitched howling and slashing guitars.
Be mean- Tweens
Dirt filled surf-punk that rolls like a female fronted
Wavves. The lyrics seem to come from Florence Welche’s “Kiss with a fist” as
the chorus vocals demand that a certain boyfriend drop the sweetness and be a
bit more…well…mean.
Step- Vampire weekend ft. Danny Brown, Heems, Despot
The original “Step” was a homage to hip-hop crew Souls of Mischief’s
“Step to my girl” so it makes sense that the remix would hit up some of the
Vampire’s rapper friends. Brown lays down a surprising sweet verse (until he
starts threatening a dude who keeps flirting with his girl), Heems remembers a
college sweetheart, but Despot undoubtedly has the best bars. “I'll tie your
kicks together if you ever try to step to her/Must be why you trippin' when I
ask you, "Why you stressin' her?" Passing notes and texting her, I'm
'bout to shoot the messenger!”
Blue eyed Hexe- Pixies
So the series of EPs that The Pixies have been putting out
hasn’t been gaining fantastic praise, oh well, it doesn’t mean they can’t throw
down a great song or two. “Blue eyed Hexe” is a straight up rock n’ roll tune,
abet with Frank Black’s screeching vocals making the song even more fiery.
Digital Witness- St. Vincent
With the second song off of her self-titled album released
it’s pretty clear that Annie Clark is going to be 5 for 5 on excellent albums. Appropriately
“Digital Witness” takes off from Clark’s last project with David Byrne. Catchy
horns, Clark’s always fantastic voice, and surreal lyrics…man I can’t wait for
the album.
