Reckless Records 2015 Employee best of lists
RECKLESS RECORDS 2015 BEST OF LISTS
TIM QUINLAN
freddie gibbs – shadow of a doubt
kendrick lamar – to pimp a butterfly
oddisee – the good fight
jamie xx – in colour
disasterpeace – it follows (soundtrack)
drake – if you’re reading this, it’s too late
viet cong – viet cong
sun ra – to those of earth and other worlds
jim o’rourke – simple songs
earl sweatshirt – i don’t like shit, i don’t go outside
tuxedo – s/t
STEVEN RAHMAN
J.Cole – 2014 Forest Hills Drive
Cole World’s best project to date, poignant & artful. He’s shown flashes of this kind of music, but he’s never put it together this way.
Phryme – Phryme
Royce & Preem. If that was all, you know how dope it is. On top of that the soundscape is built from samples of Adrian Younge’s catalog. It’s interesting to see Premiere draw from one source like this, plus Royce is rhyming his behind off.
D’Angelo & the Vanguard – Black Messiah
Another December 2014 entry. This on the account of being D’angelo is at the very least an incredibly important record, but add to that the interesting textural decisions in these compositions, & you get a soul record that people would have claimed impossible in this day & age.
2015:
Joey Bada$$ – B4.DA.$$.
People want to call the Pro.Era movement throwback, & it’s obvious that the 90s was a major influence, Joey is a new school emcee with old school flavor. Take a listen, this will surprise you by being polished & really well structured. From a 19 year old wunderkind…
Lupe Fiasco – Tetsuo & Youth
Only Lupe could open up a record with an 8 minute BAR FEST! BARS, BARS, BARS! Just pure emceeing that makes you listen over & over. What makes this great though is the content & Lupe’s ability to write lyrically intricate raps that few can match, while maintaining a topical approach that is unique & political.
Rhiannon Giddens – Tomorrow is My Turn
This Carolina Chocolate Drops member has one of the most beautiful voices. Pure in tone with a beautiful ability to imbue emotion with a moan or a growl or a whine, she’s able to carry classic songs with gravitas, & bring them to modern listeners in an approachable way.
Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp a Butterfly
This is an avant garde approach to Hip Hop in many ways, but it’s so rooted in traditional Black music. Soul, Jazz, Funk, & Gospel all make brief appearances here to create a distinct listening experience.
Earl Sweatshirt – I Don’t Like Shit, I Don’t Go Outside
Don’t let the title scare you away. Earl’s newest record is amazingly heavy, dark, & oppressive feeling, but it’s not a sad or depressing record. It doesn’t scream of joy. Instead it’s thoughtful, lyrically dense, & enveloping.
The Internet – Ego Death
Syd tha Kid & Matt Martians are bringing the R&B band to the new millennium. Ego Death features a polished production sound which isn’t surprising given the members of this band, & the sound features references to many different artists including Pharrell & N*E*R*D*, Dwele, Jamiroquai, & even some Sade. Combined with Syd’s fey, but earnest voice, makes for one of the best R&B records of recent memory.
SiR – Seven Sundays
Beautiful soulful stuff out of Inglewood. Sometimes seems to grow out of a Curtis Mayfield tradition, amazing arrangements & harmonies in the songs & an incredible voice. A short, single listen burst of dope modern R&B.
Doomtree – All Hands
One of the best respected crews in all of Hip Hop, Doomtree makes passionate hard-hitting music. Born out of a punk aesthetic but couldn’t be more straightforward with the beats & rhymes as these are some of the most technically inclined MCs in the game. This can make you think & make you dance.
Cecile McLorin Salvant – For One To Love
I can’t do enough to sing the praises of Ms. Salvant. Her ability to sing with style, class, range & a sincerely wicked sense of humor. She’s a reminder of the great jazz-singers, Etta, Billie, Sarah… & the Aaron Diehl trio which plays with her is just about perfect for her, a great match.
Rapper Big Pooh & Nottz – Home Sweet Home
I was sure this was gonna be good, Pooh over some Nottz from VA beats, that just sounds like a great record waiting to happen, but I never expected it to be nearly PERFECT. Pooh has always been a bit underrated, but on this he shines, particularly because these beats that Nottz put together for him, are absolutely magnificent.
Oddisee – The Good Fight
Oddisee is one of my favorites doing it today,as a producer & MC, & he keeps growing in both. He’s added some melodies to his flow, & he keeps upping the difficulty with rhymes & concepts. The Good fight is just another in a long series of excellent Hip Hop records.
Clear Soul Forces – Fab Five
The nerdiest of Rap, spit with dexterity & skill unmatched. It’s the kind of Rap music that people rarely hear. Its intelligent & referential without ever feeling corny or overwrought, & the production from AML alum Nameless, helps to carry the “Back Pack Sub-Woofer Rap” to crazy heights.
Jamison Ross – Jamison
Thelonious Monk award winner, Jamison Ross’s debut is all about showing the musician’s ability to do multiple things. A genius on the drums, his ability to lead a band, & to sing were rather unknown. This record is a complete show of his talents & definitely worth the pick-up.
Honorable Mentions:
Bilal – In Another Life
Bird & the Bee – Recreational Love
Moonchild – Please Rewind
Various Artists (Mello Music Group) – Persona
Open Mike Eagle – A Special Episode Of
Metric – Pagans in Vegas
Ludacris – Ludaversal
Alessia Cara – Know-it-All
Hiatus Kaiyote – Choose Your Weapon
Quarter Street – Quarter Street
Action Bronson – Mr. Wonderful
BILLY SMITH
These eleven items in release date order were aurally exciting.
The funny part is, I haven’t seen the actual movies that
some of these soundtracks are for. Life, man.
Olafur Arnalds “Broadchurch” Score (Mercury)
Cliff Martinez “My Life Directed by Nicolas Winding Refn” (Milan)
Swervedriver “I Wasn’t Born To Lose You” (Cobraside)
Godspeed You Black Emperor “Asunder, Sweet & Other Distress”
“It Follows” Soundtrack by Disasterpeace (Milan)
Olafur Arnalds & Alice Sara Ott “The Chopin Project” (Mercury)
Faith No More “Sol Invictus” (Reclamation!)
Lou Barlow “Brace The Wave” (Joyful Noise)
Uncle Acid “The Night Creeper” (Rise Above)
Leon Bridges “Coming Home” (Columbia)
Johann Johannsson “Sicario” Score (Varese Sarabande)
DAVE HOFER
Antigama – The Insolent & live at Maryland Deathfest (Selfmadegod)
A$AP Rocky – At.Long.Last.A$AP (RCA)
Entheos – Primal EP (Self-released)
Fuck the Facts/Fistfuck – Split 10″ (Noise Salvation)
Fuck the Facts – Desire Will Rot LP (Noise Salvation)
Guilty Simpson – Detroit’s Son (Stones Throw)
Immortal Bird – Empress/Abscess (Broken Limbs)
Mr. Muthafuckin’ eXquire – Merry eX-Mas & SMD 2 mixtape (Self-released)
Mutoid Man – Bleeder & live at Reggie’s (Sargent House)
Napalm Death – Apex Predator: Easy Meat (Century Media)
Rae Sremmurd – SremmLife (EarDrummers/Interscope)
Run the Jewels – Bust No Moves 12” (Mass Appeal)
Teething – Ralph 7” (Dingleberry)
Waxahatchee – Ivy Tripp (Merge)
V/A – The Music of Grand Theft Auto V (Mass Appeal
CHARISSA TOLENTINO
Universal Togetherness Band (Numero Group compilation)
Aphex Twin – Computer Controlled Acoustic Instruments PT2 (Warp EP)
Aphex Twin – MARCHROMT30A EDIT 2B 96 (Warp 12”)
AFX – orphaned deejay selek 2006-2008 (Warp EP)
Connan Mockasin – Caramel (Reissued 2013 | Purchased 2015. Mexican Summer)
Natural Information Society & Bitchin Bajas – Automaginary (Drag City)
Wand – 1000 Days (Drag City)
Sun City Girls – Torch of the Mystics (Reissue – Abduction)
Bing & Ruth – City Lake (RVNG Intl.)
Alessandro Cortini – Risveglio (Hospital)
Maki Asakawa s/t (Honest Jon’s Records Reissue)
Disasterpeace – It Follows OST
Lizzy Mercier Descloux – Press Color (Light In the Attic)
Floating Points – Elaenia (Luaka Bop | Pluto)
Future – Dirty Sprite 2 (Epic 512725)
Tame Impala – Currents (Interscope Records)
J Dilla – Dillatronic (Vintage Vibez Music Group)
Ken Camden – Dream Memory (Kranky)
Benjamin – Arriving (Cherries Records)
Daniela Casa – Sovrapposizione Di Immagini (Finders Keepers)
Moon Duo – Shadow of the Sun (Sacred Bones Records)
Implodes – Reverser (Gilead Media)
Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp a Butterfly (Interscope | Aftermath | Top Dawg)
Arnold Dreyblatt – The Orchestra of Excited Strings “Nodal Excitation” (Drag City)
Francoise Hardy – Tous Les Garçons Et Les Filles (Light In the Attic)
PHILIP CERZA
2015 Albums I loved, in no particular order except the order they come to mind, so I guess that must mean something in its own way, or maybe not, I don’t know, I just work here:
Perpetual Motion People – Ezra Furman
No Cities To Love – Sleater-Kinney
Natalie Prass S/T
25 – Adele
Gone By The Dawn – Shannon and The Clams
Time To Go Home – Chastity Belt
Sound and Color – Alabama Shakes (See also: THUNDERBITCH)
Ivy Tripp – Waxahatchee
Sometimes I Sit and Think and Sometimes I Just Sit – Courtney Barnett
Fading Frontier – Deerhunter
Painted Shut – Hop Along
Star Wars – Wilco
I Love You Honeybear – Father John Misty
Mr. Wonderful – Action Bronson
Beat The Champ – The Mountain Goats
Something More Than Free – Jason Isbell
To Pimp A Butterfly – Kendrick Lamar
Weirdo Shrine – La Luz
Aureate Gloom – of Montreal
Ratchet – Shamir
On Your Own Love Again – Jessica Pratt
The Agent Intellect – Protomartyr
I Want To Grow Up – Colleen Green
Art Angels – Grimes
Divers – Joanna Newsom
Songs I overplayed: “Hotline Bling” “Cool For The Summer” “FourFiveSeconds” “Dimed Out” “Cubs in Five”
Movies I liked: Mad Max, Inherent Vice, Love & Mercy, Dope, Nasty Baby, Lost River, Creed
Other stuff I dug: Hunger Makes Me A Modern Girl – Carrie Brownstein, Hamilton, The Best Show, Last Week Tonight, Parks & Rec, Master of None, Broad City, Light In The Attic, finally seeing Jonathan Richman live
JAKE LINGAN
Jim O’Rourke- “Simple Songs” (Drag City)
Laurel Halo- “In Situ” (Honest Jon’s)
Wume- “Maintain” (Ehse)
Ono- “Spooks” (Moniker)
Quicksails- “Fleurs De La Lune” (Captcha)
Lizzy Mercier Descloux- “Press Color” reissue (Light In The Attic)
Expert Alterations- “You Can’t Always Be Liked” (Kanine)
Oneohtrix Point Never- “Garden of Delete” (Warp)
Sapropelic Pycnic- “See Sun Think Shadow” (Perfect Wave)
Circuit Des Yeux- “In Plain Speech” (Thrill Jockey)
When- “The Black Death” (Ideologic Organ)
HKE & t e l e p a t h- “Gateway” (Baro)
Liquid Liquid 12″ reissues (Superior Viaduct)
Beatriz Ferreyra- “GRM Works” (Recollection GRM)
AFX- “Orphaned Deejay Selek 2006 – 2008” (Warp)
Michel Redolfi- “Pacific Tubular Waves/ Immersion” (Recollection GRM)
“Ork Records: New York, New York” compilation (Numero)
Magas- “Heads Plus” (Midwich)
Led Zeppelin- “Physical Graffiti” reissue (Atlantic)
MAGAS 2015 FAVORITES
Maki Asakawa – S/T 2LP (Honest Jon’s)
Masahiko Satoh – Belladonna LP (Finders Keepers)
Patrick Cowley – Muscle Up 2LP (Dark Entries)
Second Layer – World of Rubber 2LP (Dark Entries)
Harry Pussy – S/T LP (Superior Viaduct) reissue
Sun City Girls – Torch of the Mystics LP (Abduction) reissue
DJ Clent – Last Bus to Lake Park 2LP (Duck ‘n’ Cover)
Alessandro Alessandroni – Industrial LP (Dead Cert)
Mike Broers – Stagma EP 12” (Clear)
The Velvet Underground – The Complete Matrix Tapes 4CD (Universal/Polydor)
RP Boo – Fingers, Bank Pads & Shoe Prints 2LP (Planet Mu)
Bill Orcutt & Jacob Felix Heule – Colonial Donuts LP (Palilalia)
Ron Morelli – A Gathering Together LP (Hospital)
Fit Siegel – Carmine 12” (Fit)
Jlin – Dark Energy 2LP (Planet Mu)
I.B.M. – From the Land of Rape & Honey (The Suppressed Tapes) 1995-2005 2LP (Interdimensional Transmissions)
Fingers Inc. – Another Side 3LP (Alleviated) reissue
Aaron Dilloway – Psychic Driving Tapes LP (Trilogy Tapes)
Wolf Eyes – I Am a Problem: Mind in Pieces LP (Third Man)
FP Oner – 5 2LP (Mule Musiq)
Gesloten Cirkel M1 & M2 !2”s (Murdercapital)
Moon Pool and Dead Band – MEQ 2LP (Midwich)*
Magas – Heads Plus 12” EP (Midwich)*
Viands – Temporal Relics LP (Midwich)*
Mick Travis – Face Disappears After Interrogation 12” EP (Midwich)*
*Full disclosure…I put these out!
ANGELA ZILES
Top 25
Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp A Butterfly (Top Dawg Entertainment)
Bjork – Vulnicura (One Little Indian)
Beach House – Thank Your Lucky Stars (Sub Pop)
Weedeater – Goliathan (Season of Mist)
Four Tet – Morning/Evening (Temporary Residence, Ltd)
Viet Cong – Viet Cong (Jagjaguwar)
Natural Information Society & Bitchin’ Bajas – Automaginary (Drag City)
Sun Ra and His Arkestra (Gilles Peterson presents) – To Those Of Earth And Other Worlds (Strut)
Earl Sweatshirt I Don’t Like Shit, I Don’t Go Outside (Columbia)
Tuxedo – Tuxedo (Stones Throw)
AFX (Aphex Twin) – Orphaned Deejay Selek 2006-2008 (Warp)
Disrotted- Disrotted (Diseased Audio)
Jeremih – Late Nights (Def Jam)
DJ Clent – Last Bus To Lake Park (Duck N’ Cover)
Joshua Abrams – Magneticoception (Eremite)
Leon Bridges – Coming Home (Columbia)
Ken Camden – Dream Memory (Kranky)
Goatsnake – Black Age Blues (Southern Lord)
Skull Decay – Not Titled (self-released)
Various Artists Compilations & Mississippi Records Releases:
V/A – Saigon Rock & Soul (Sublime Frequencies)
V/A – Studio One Jump Up (Soul Jazz)
V/A – I’m In A Strange Town: Blues & Gospel 1927-2967 LP (Mississippi)
Idrissa Soumaoro – Ampsa LP (Mississippi)
Norma Lyon – The Music of Norma Lyon (Little Axe)
Lum Guffin – Lum Guffin (Mississippi)
Best Song:
Chance The Rapper – Angels
Best Music Video:
Missy Elliott – WTF
(She’s back!)
Best Live Performance:
Iggy Pop at Riot Fest
MATT JENCIK
Michael Angelo S/T reissue
Big|Brave Au De La
Bjork Vulnicura
Ken Camden Dream Memory
John Carpenter Lost Themes
Circuit Des Yeux In Plain Speech
Clay Rendering Snowthorn
Disasterpeace It Follows soundtrack
Arnold Dreyblatt Orchestra of Excited Strings: Nodal Excitation reissue
Enslaved In Times
Flying Saucer Attack Instrumentals 2015
Steve Hauschildt Where All is Fled
High Aura’d/Mike Shiflet Awake LP
Lamartine Reportage reissue
Led Zeppelin reissues
Kedr Livanskiy Sgoraet 12”
Magas Heads Plus
Mariah Utakata No Hibi (reissue)
Matchess Somnaphoria
Moral And Life is… (reissue)
Steve Moore The Guest soundtrack
Morbus Chron Sweven (2014 release that I listened to more than most 2015 releases)
Fred Myrow & Malcolm Seagrave Phantasm soundtrack (reissue)
Natural Information Society & Bitchin Bajas Autoimaginary
Negative Scanner S/T
Jimmy Page Sound Tracks reissue
Jessica Pratt On Your Own Love Again
Rat Columns Fooling Around EP
SCREAM FACTORY DVD LABEL
Second Layer World of Rubber reissue
Spires That in the Sunset Rise Beasts in the Garden
Kurt Stenzel Jodorowsky’s Dune soundtrack
Tame Impala Currents
Thee Speaking Canaries Platter Base Must be Constructed of Moon Rock
Tribulation Children of the Night
Tropic of Cancer Stop Suffering EP
Kurt Vile B’lieve I’m Goin Down
Wapassou S/T reissue
Elyse Weinberg Greasepaint Smile (reissue)
Wrekmeister Harmonies Night of Your Ascension
Zombi Shape Shift
V/A Brown Acid: The First Trip
V/A Cold Waves of Color VOL. 1 & 2
V/A Ork Records: New York, New York
Scream Factory DVD/Blu-Ray label
SHOWS
Chameleons Vox
Circuit Des Yeux
Enslaved
Negative Scanner
Ride
Soulside
Tribulation
Wolf Eyes
Zombi
CHRIS W.
BEST HIP HOP / R&B ALBUMS OF 2015
1) THE WEEKND “Beauty Behind the Madness” (REPUBLIC RECORDS)
2) BIG BOI & PHANTOGRAM “Big Grams” (EPIC RECORDS)
3) SNOOP DOGG “Bush” (DOGGYSTYLE RECORDS)
4) PRINCE “HITnRUN PHASE ONE” (NPG)
5) TINASHE “Amethyst Mixtape” (SELF-RELEASED)
6) GUILTY SIMPSON “Detroit’s Son” (STONES THROW)
7) A$AP ROCKY “At.Long.Last.A$AP” (A$AP WORLDWIDE)
8) KENDRICK LAMAR “To Pimp a Butterfly” (TOP DAWG/AFTERMATH)
9) GOLDEN RULES “Golden Ticket” (LEX RECORDS)
10) ABRA “BLQ Velvet EP” (577114 RECORDS DK)
11) THE INTERNET “Ego Death” (ODD FUTURE)
12) HEMLOCK ERNST & MADLIB “Trouble Knows Me EP” (RAPPCATS)
13) KELELA “Hallucinogen EP” (WARP RECORDS)
14) GHOSTFACE KILLAH & BADBADNOTGOOD “Sour Soul” (LEX RECORDS)
15) TRAVIS SCOTT “Rodeo” (EPIC RECORDS)
HONORABLE MENTIONS
*every song released by RIHANNA throughout the year
*NIYKEE HEATON’s Soundcloud
BEST ALBUMS OF 2015 (… THE REST OF THEM ALPHABETICALLY)
ACTIVE CHILD “Mercy” (VAGRANT)
ALABAMA SHAKES “Sound + Color” (ATO RECORDS)
APHEX TWIN “Computer Controlled Acoustic Instruments Pt. 2” (WARP RECORDS)
COURTNEY BARNETT “Sometime I Sit and Think, And Sometimes I Just Sit” (MILK)
GEOFF BARROW & BEN SALISBURY “Ex Machina (soundtrack)” (BACK LOT MUSIC)
DEAN BLUNT “Babyfather EP” (SELF-RELEASED)
CHVRCHES “Every Open Eye” (GLASSNOTE ENTERTAINMENT)
MARIE DAVIDSON “Un Autre Voyage” (HOLODECK RECORDS)
DERADOORIAN “The Expanding Flower Planet” (ANTICON)
GRIMES “Art Angels” (4AD)
KACY HILL “Bloo EP” (G.O.O.D. MUSIC)
JENNY HVAL “Apocalypse, Girl” (SACRED BONES)
INVENTIONS “Maze of Woods” (TEMPORARY RESIDENCE)
JAMES PANTS “Savage” (STONES THROW)
JENNYLEE “Right On!” (ROUGH TRADE)
LANA DEL REY “Honeymoon” (INTERSCOPE)
LEWIS “Hawaiian Breeze” (FIASCO BROS. STUDIOS)
CLIFF MARTINEZ “The Knick: Season 2 (soundtrack)” (MILAN RECORDS)
ELA ORLEANS “Upper Hell” (HB RECORDINGS)
SHLOHMO “Dark Red” (TRUE PANTHER SOUNDS)
SOKO “My Dreams Dictate My Reality” (BECAUSE MUSIC)
SON LUX “Bones” (GLASSNOTE ENTERTAINMENT)
THE THE “Hyena (soundtrack)” (CINÉOLA)
UNCLE ACID & THE DEADBEATS “The Night Creeper” (RISE ABOVE RECORDS)
U.S. GIRLS “Half Free” (4AD)
WIRE “Wire” (PINK FLAG)
CHELSEA WOLFE “Abyss” (SARGENT HOUSE)
JAMIE WOON “Making Time” (POLYDOR)
ZOMES “Near Unison” (DISCHORD)
YOUNG EJECTA “The Planet EP” (DRIFTLESS)
ANTHONY ILLARDE
AMBROSE SLADE Beginnings (Morgan Blue Town LP)
BROADCAST catalog reissue (Warp LPs)
THE CITY Now That Everything’s Been Said (Light In The Attic LP)
BOB CREWE The Complete Recordings (Real Gone Music 2CD)
ROBIN GIBB Saved By The Bell: The Collected Works Of Robin Gibb 1968-1970 (Rhino 3CD)
REALLY RED Teaching You The Fear: The Complete Collection 1979-1985 (Alternative Tentacles LP)
ROYAL JESTERS English Oldies (Numero LP/CD)
SAVAGE BELIEFS Big Big Sky: A Recorded History of Savage Beliefs (Alona’s Dream LP/CD)
SEEDS Evil Hoodoo (Big Beat 10″)
EPIC SOUNDTRACKS Rise Above (Easy Action 2CD reissue)
SUN RA To Those Of Earth…And Other Worlds (Strut 2LP)
VARIOUS Back From The Grave Volumes 9 & 10 (Crypt LPs)
VARIOUS Early Pakistani Dance Music 1967-75 (Ovular LP)
DENNIS DUNAWAY Snakes! Guillotines! Electric Chairs! (Thomas Dunne Books)
BOBBY HART Psychedelic Bubble Gum (Select Books)
MeTV FM 87.7
JACOB KART
1. Mary Halvorson, Meltframe, Firehouse12.
2. Sam Prekop, The Republic, Thrill Jockey
3. Ryley Walker, Primrose Green, Dead Oceans
4. Tyondai Braxton, HIVE1, nonesuch
5. Rob Mazurek, Galactic Parables vol 1, cuneiform
6. Never Enough Hope, The Gravity of Our Commitment, Milk Factory Productions,
7. Dan Friel, Life, Thrill Jockey
8. Frank Rosaly, Malo, Utech Records
9. Josh Berman, A Dance And A Hop, Delmark
10. Nick Mazzarella, Ultraviolet, International Anthem
CHARLES TAYLOR
BEST JAZZ OF 2015
Olie Brice/Tobias Delius/Mark Sanders: Somersaults (free jazz record of the year!)
Ideal Bread: Beating The Teens
Hoodoo Blues & Roots Magic: s/t
Joshua Abrams: Magnetoception
William Parker: for those who are, still
Kirk Knuffke: Little Cross
John Russell: with…. (Emanem)
Kris Davis: Save Your Breath
Evan Parker: 3 Nights At Café Oto
ADAM CAVANAUGH
Top Ten releases of 2015
(in no particular order)
1.) Fabio Frizzi – “The Beyond” (soundtrack, reissue)
Death Waltz records
2.) Disasterpeace – “It Follows” (soundtrack)
Milan records
3.) Radioactivity – “Silent Kill”
Dirtnap records
4.) Make-Overs – “Wardrobe Malfunction”
KRNGY records
5.) Thing – “Thing”
Solid Sex Lovie Doll records
6.) John Carpenter – “Lost Themes”
Sacred Bones records
7.) Yuzo Koshiro – “Streets of Rage” (video game soundtrack)
Data Discs records
8.) Various Artists – “NES Greatest Hits Vol. 1”
Moonshake records
9.) Riz Ortolani – “Cannibal Holocaust” (soundtrack, reissue)
Death Waltz/ One Way Static/ Mondo
10.) Oppenheimer Analysis – “New Mexico” (reissue)
Minimal Wave records
HONORABLE MENTIONS
– Junichi Masuda – “Pokemon Red/Blue” (soundtrack)
Moonshake Records
– Slasher Dave – “Exorcisms”
Bellyache Records
– Disasterpeace – “FEZ” (soundtrack)
Polytron
EMILY ELHAJ
ALBUMS
Jessica Pratt – On Your Own Love Again (Drag City)
Thelma and the Sleaze – Greatest Hits Live (Self)
Erykah Badu – But You Caint Use My Phone (Self)
Flying Saucer Attack – Instrumentals (Drag City)
Itasca – Unmoored By the Wind (New Images)
Bjork – Vulnicura (One Little Indian)
Salad Boys – Metalmania (Trouble In Mind)
Broken Water – Wrought (Night People)
Courtney Barnett – Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit (Milk)
Joanne Robertson – Black Moon Days (Feeding Tube)
Tina – Sink cassette (Sophomore Lounge)
Johnny Young – II cassette (Voyager Golden)
Nest Egg – Respectable (Bathetic)
Barnett + Coloccia – Weld (Blackest Ever Black)
Moses Sumney – Mid-City Island (Self) 2014
Unknown Mortal Orchestra – Multi-Love (Jagjaguwar)
Dean Blunt – Babyfather (Self)
Xam – Tone Systems (Deep Distance)
Ryley Walker – Primrose Green (Dead Oceans)
Beach House – Depression Cherry (Sub Pop)
Charles Cohen – Brother I Prove You Wrong (Morphine)
Chaos Echoes – Transient (Nuclear War Now)
Toupée – Leg Toucher (Moniker)
Red Sea – In the Salon (Bayonet)
Lionlimb – Turnstile 7” (Bayonet)
Promised Land Sound – For Use and Delight (Paradise of Bachelors)
U.S. Girls – Half Free (4AD)
Arthur Russell – Corn (Audika)
Deerhunter – Fading Frontier (4AD)
The Cairo Gang – Goes Missing (Drag City)
Jaye Bartell – Loyalty (Sinderlyn)
Dick Diver – Melbourne, Florida (Trouble In Mind)
Floating Points – Elaenia (Pluto)
Kamasi Washington – The Epic (Brainfeeder)
V/A – Bobby Gillespie Presents: Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down (Ace Records)
V/A – Ultra High Frequencies: The Chicago Party (Numero Group)
Leon Bridges – Coming Home (Columbia)
Daniel Bachman – River (Three Lobed)
REISSUES
Promise – s/t (Got Kinda Lost)
Arvo Pärt – Passio (AJNA)
Broadcast LPs (Warp)
Spooner Oldham – Pot Luck (Light in the Attic)
Willie Nelson – Teatro (Light in The Attic)
The Wild Poppies – Heroine (Manufactured Recordings)
SHOWS
Exhibit BE featuring Dead Prez, Erykah Badu, Trombone Shorty
Laneway Festival
La Luz/ Shivas, Siberia
The Sal Show, Circle Bar
Ryley Walker/ Steve Gunn, Gasa Gasa
Swans, El Rey
Sleep/Thou, The Civic
Wume, Oval Space
Kevin Morby, The Lexington
Jenny Hval, Cafe OTO
Mayor Daley, Meatpie
Me & My Dog, Dublin
High, Siberia
Angel Olsen, Lisbon, Portugal
Thelma & The Sleaze, Turn One
Charles Bradley, Hardly Strictly Bluegrass
Kendrick Lamar, The Civic
Peaches, One Eyed Jacks
J Fernandez, Moth Club
Disappears, 100 Club
Mdou Moctar, Cafe OTO
BENJAMIN CROWELL
in alphabetical order:
Advance Base – Nephew In The Wild (Orindal)
William Basinski – Cascade (Temporary Residence)
James Blackshaw – Summoning Suns (Important)
Disasterpeace – It Follows OST (Milan)
Flying Saucer Attack – Instrumentals 2015 (Drag City)
Arthur Russell – Corn (Audika)
Silkworm – It’ll Be Cool (Touch and Go)
Kurt Stenzel – Jodorowsky’s Dune OST (Cinewax/ Light In The Attic)
Tropic Of Cancer – Stop Suffering (Blackest Ever Black)
Wrekmeister Harmonies – Night Of Your Ascension (Thrill Jockey)
ZACH CAPUTO
M3LL155X by FKA Twigs (experimental r&b)
Time To Go Home by Chastity Belt (garage rock)
Rose Mountain by Screaming Females (punk/indie rock)
Fingers, Bank Pads, and Shoe Prints by RP Boo (footwork/dance)
Zipper Down by Eagles of Death Metal (garage rock/rock n’ roll)
Death Magic by HEALTH (synthpunk/dance punk)
Asunder, Sweet and Other Distress by Godspeed You! Black Emperor (post-rock/noise rock)
To Pimp a Butterfly by Kendrick Lamar (jazz fusion/funk/hip-hop)
Lost Themes by John Carpenter (ambient/electronic)
Holding Hands With Jamie by Girl Band (post-punk/noise rock)
The Day Is My Enemy by The Prodigy (dance punk/big beat)
The Powers That B by Death Grips (experimental/noise/hip-hop/punk)
Severe by My Disco (doom metal/noise)
This Is The Sonics by The Sonics (GARAGE ROCK DAMN IT)
Dumb Flesh by Blanck Mass (electronica/noisy dance)
Garden of Delete by Oneohtrix Point Never (experimental)
i’ve always been good at true love by the ily’s (garage rock/experimental punk/lo-fi) [free digital download only]
No Cities to Love by Sleater-Kinney (post-punk/indie rock)
Fantasy Empire by Lightning Bolt (noise rock/metal)
The Epic by Kamasi Washington (jazz fusion)
Key Markets by Sleaford Mods (punk/spoken word)
Summertime ’06 by Vince Staples (hip-hop/gangster rap)
II by METZ (noise rock/punk)
CHRISTIAN KECK
In no particular order
Girlpool – When The World Was Small
Beach House – Depression Cherry
Beach House – Thank Your Lucky Stars
Myrkur – M
Tame Impala – Currents
Lightning Bolt – Fantasy Empire
Shamir – Ratchet
Drake – If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late
Circuit De Yeux – In Plain Speech
The Body & Thou – You, Whom I have Always Hated
MICHAEL FEERICK
-The Velvet Teen – All Is Illusory
-Title Fight – Hyperview
-The World is a Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid to Die – Harmlessness
-Tame Impala – Currents
-Panda Bear – Panda Bear Meets the Grim Reaper
-Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp a Butterfly
-Disasterpeace – It Follows soundtrack
-Protomartyr – The Agent Intellect
-Ought – Sun Coming Down
-Katie Dey – Asdfasdf
J DAVID CARTWRIGHT
Piper Spray: Krolorog
Wei Zhongle: Nu Trance
Oneohtrix Point Never: Garden of Delete
Julia Holter: Have You in My Wilderness
Eartheater: Metalepsis
The Body and Thou: You, Whom I Have Always Hated
Foodman: Couldwork
Tropic of Cancer: Stop Suffering
Wolf Eyes: I am a Problem: Mind in Pieces
death’s dynamic shroud.wmv: I’ll Try Living Like This
JAMES RUMSEY
Dark Ages/Vapor/Sorry State Records
https://sorrystaterecords.bandcamp.com/album/vapor
Institute/Catharsis/Sacred Bones
https://institute.bandcamp.com/
The Almighty Deacons/Beat Up the World/Ciabatta Brain Tapes
https://thedeacons.bandcamp.com/releases
Inner Alter/Volume 1/Ritual Knife
https://inneraltar.bandcamp.com/releases
Chasm/DEMO/Self Released
https://chasmbloodychasm.bandcamp.com/releases
Blind Dog/DEMO/Ciabatta Brain Tapes
https://blinddog.bandcamp.com/album/demo
Phantom Head/South of Heaven/Self Released
https://phantomhead.bandcamp.com/album/south-of-heaven
American Hate/Greatest Hits/Self Released
https://americanhate.bandcamp.com/
The Conquerors/I Don’t Know/High Dive Records
https://theeconquerors.bandcamp.com/album/i-dont-know-i-see-you
Blue Healer/MMXV Demo/Self Released
thebluehealer.bandcamp.com
THOR JORGENSON
TENEMENT – PREDATORY HEADLIGHTS
CASTLE – DOLLAR STORE GRIN
LOS CRUDOS – DOBLE LP DISCOGRAFIA
WEEDEATER – GOLIATHAN
CURREN$Y – PILOT TALK III
GAR BRANDT
Top stuff list
No particular order
Bolt Thrower: IVth Crusade
Neko Case: Truckdriver/ Gladiator/ Mule
Genesis P. Orridge: Rebellion Is Over
LCD Soundsystem: Yr Citys a Sucker
Public Image Limited: Bettie Page
Cocksure: Corporate Sting
Sam Phillips: Man Who Invented Rock N Roll
Fuzz: Fuzz II
Citizen Dick: Touch Me I’m Dick
Fuck You Pay Me: Public Disgrace
Meat Wave: Delusion Moon
Foals: What Went Down
Ghost: Meliora
Kadavar: Berlin
Sword: HIgh Country
Nurse With Wound: Sylvie & Babs
Chelsea Wolfe: Abyss
Western Star: Fireball
DVD
Salad days: A Decade of Punk In Washington DC
Friday Night Live Most Played:
Swans: Gate
Useless Eaters: Live In San Francisco
Best In Show:
Cannibal Corpse
Cattle Decapitation
At Durty Nellies: Downtown Palatine!!!!!!
Best In Store:
Insane Clown Posse
@WP
KEVIN HEIN
2015 favs-
RELEASE OF THE YEAR
Telepath- Virtual Dreams Plaza (t e l e p a t h テレパシー能力者 – 仮想夢プラザ)
(I know, I know, it’s a travesty for me to put a digital release in my top slot, but i’d be a LIAR if I said anything else did it for me like this one does.. 31 tracks, each over 31 minutes long.. resented as a colossal 16 hour album. Ambient sample regurgitation/meditations ala Caretaker, gentle dreamy cascading loops that gradually and subtly change over the course of the track. Many of them sound vaguely familiar, recalling previous dreams and memories, both real & imagined. Each track really takes you to another world- seriously check this one out folks. A physical edition is coming early 2016!
-https://telepathtelepath.bandcamp.com/album/–32
~2015 most-played, most enjoyed- in no particular order~
Auscultation- L’Etreinte Imaginaire (Simply one of the best house records i’ve ever heard.. every second of this thing grooves like a motherfucker and is perfect in every way)
2814- Birth Of A New Day (Akin to floating above the violet haze of a neon lit metropolis at night- LPs coming to Reckless soon!)
V/A- Skyward Territories (the Difference Clouds side- new levels of Akira OST vibes. Futuristic cyberpunk noir at it’s best)
Charli XCX- Sucker (Bubblegum perfection, fun cranked to 11)
Jefre Cantu Ledesma- A Year With 13 Moons (Lush chorus of the Cocteaus meets the surf of Hecker’s blistering noise)
Grimes- Art Angels (Just like audible candy, so catchy and sticky and sickly sweet. Extremely polished and well produced, good luck topping this one)
Swervedriver- I wasn’t Born To Lose You (Real rock music, and the best “reunion” album since Dino Jr’s “Beyond”)
Drake- If You’re Reading This… (never thought i’d like Drizzy.. but I couldn’t ignore the ambience behind the beats.. the masterful production really pulls the listener into new sonic worlds)
Kyle Landstra- Unshared Properties (Contemporary meditative synthesis at it’s best, the rightful heir to Steve Roach’s throne)
~Honorable Mentions~
Drawing Trees/Ant’lrd- Balanced Breakfast (soft and pleasant like a sunny spring morning)
Broadcast reissues (much needed!)
Televape- Beyond Love (Alien VHS funk submerged underwater)
Onra- Fundamentals (90s feel-good rap)
Palmbomen II- S/T (home-made analog techno)
Ryley Walker- Primrose Green (folk ripper’s best)
death’s dynamic shroud.wmv- I’ll Try Living Like This (Plunderphonic mastery- no “mash-up” artist can do it like these guys)
Journeyman Traxx- Smoke Tape (the freshest classic sounding techno jams)
Panda Bear- Panda Bear Meets The Grim Reaper (PB Skylar Spence- Prom King (Saint Pepsi Pulse Emitter- Digital Rainforest (Daryl finds the gunk knob and cranks it to the max)
Mac Demarco- Another One (just like the title)
No Joy- Everything New (new is good)
Lapalux- Lustmore (alien roomsound electronics)
Jaakko Eino Kalevi- S/T (laid back lounge pop)
Dr. Dundiff- Frenemies With Benefits (summer boombox jam)
Best Coast- California Nights (stadium sized power pop)
Steve Hauschildt- Where All Is Fled (electro-acoustic pleasantness)
Favorite label in 2015- Dream Catalogue
https://dreamcatalogue.bandcamp.com/
Say what you will about whatever “vaporwave” means.. ignore the hashtags, memes, and bad web art and just listen.. This label is installing dreams into your brain and putting out the music i’ve always wanted to hear. Very happy to announce that Reckless will be carrying Dream Catalogue tapes and LPs in 2016- keep your eyes peeled
BRIT ISHEIM
AFK – orphaned deejay selek 2006-2008
Aphex Twin – Computer Controlled Acoustic Instruments pt2
Maki Asakawa – Maki Asakawa
BADBADNOTGOOD & Ghostface Killah – Sour Soul
Björk – Vulnicura
Karen Dalton – It’s So Hard To Tell Who’s Going To Love You The Best
Death Grips – The Powers That B
(shoutout to Fashion Week)
Father John Misty – I Love You, Honeybear
Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp A Butterfly
Lightning Bolt – Fantasy Empire
MAGAS – Heads Plus
Micachu & The Shapes – Oh Baby
Moon Pool and Dead Band – MEQ
Second Layer – World Of Rubber
Kamasi Washington – The Epic
Chelsea Wolfe – Abyss
Various – In A Moment… Ghost Box
and lastly, for that special cat in your life…
Run The Jewels – Meow The Jewels
TIANA ZEROM
RAP (alphabetical order)
A$AP Rocky – At. Long. Last. ASAP (RCA)
Big Grams – Big Grams (Epic)
Blackalicious – Imani Vol 1 (OGM Recordings)
Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp A Butterfly (Interscope)
Mick Jenkins – Wave[s] (Cinematic)
POP (alphabetical order)
Alabama Shakes – Sound & Color (ATO)
Bird and the Bee – Recreational Love (Rostrum)
Charli XCX – Sucker (Atlantic)
Empress Of – Me (Terrible)
Florence + the Machine – How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful (Republic)
Holychild – The Shape of Brat Pop to Come (Glassnote Records)
Hudson Mohawke – Lantern (Warp)
Lianne La Havas – Blood (Warner Bros.)
Jamie xx – In Colour (XL)
U.S. Girls – Half Free (4AD)
EVERYTHING ELSE (alphabetical order)
Cécile McLorin Salvant – For One To Love (Mack Avenue Records)
D’Angelo and The Vanguard – Black Messiah (RCA)
Erykah Badu – But You Caint Use My Phone (Motown)
Gary Clark Jr – The Story of Sonny Boy Slim (Warner Bros.)
Hiatus Kaiyote – Choose Your Weapon (Flying Buddha)
The Internet – Ego Death (Odd Future)
Janelle Monae – Wondaland Presents: The Eephus (Epic)
Kamasi Washington – The Epic (Brainfeeder)
Kelela – Hallucinogen (Warp)
Leon Bridges – Coming Home (Columbia)
Honorable Mention
Beirut – No No No (4ad)
Eleventh Dream Day – Works for Tomorrow (Thrill Jockey)
Lion Babe – Begin (Interscope)
Lupe Fiasco – Tetsuo & Youth (1st & 15th/Atlantic
Paul Weller – Saturns Patterns (Warner)
Prince – Hit N Run: Phase One (NPG Records)
Protomartyr – Agent Intellect (Subpop)
Shamir – Ratchet (XL)
Sleater-Kinney – No Cities To Love (Sub Pop)
Swervedriver – I Wasn’t Born To Lose You (Lolipop Records)
Tame Impala – Currents (Interscope)
Tanlines – Mixed Emotions (True Panther)
Tinashe – Amethyst (self-release)
Toro Y Moi – What For? (Carpark)
Veruca Salt – Ghost Notes (El Camino)
Top 5 Singles (alphabetical order)
I don’t need to remind you about hits like 7/11 or BBHMM. Lean On was inescapable, and everybody has heard Take Me To Church and Uptown Funk. Here are my personal favorites.
Alessia Cara – Here
A$AP Rocky ft. Rod Stewart, Miguel & Mark Ronson – Everyday
Beck – Dreams
MS MR – Painted
Nicki Minaj ft. Beyonce – Feeling Myself
FAVORITE MOVIE
Ex Machina
I take it you’re familiar with Oscar Isaac from Inside Llewyn Davis by the Coen Brothers (if you haven’t seen that, just stop reading, and go watch that now). Well, here’s another film starring this talented actor. This taut sci-fi thriller is way more exciting than Gravity and The Martian and comes highly recommended!
TOM WALCZYK
Records I’ve really enjoyed in 2015
*** No Particular order***
Ought– Sun Coming Down (Constellation)
Disappears — Irreal (Kranky)
Beach slang — The Things We Do To Find People Who Like Us (Polyvinyl)
Broadcast– LP reissues (Warp)
Protomartyr– Agent Intellect (Hardly Art)
Replacements Twin Tone Years LP Box Set (Rhino)
Viet Cong– S/T (Jagjaguwar)
Melvins– Lice- All/ Egg Nog
Melvins– Bullhead/ Ozma (Boner)
Ty Segall– Ty Rex LP (Goner)
Color of Noise –(Soundtrack & Documentary)
Sleater-Kinney– No Cities To Love (Sub-Pop)
Negative Scanner– S/T (Trouble in Mind)
Timmy Organism– Heartless Heathen (Third Man)
Dead Weather– Dodge & Burn (Third Man)
CHELSEA WELCH
Best of List 2015
New Releases
Viands/ Temporal Relics (Midwich)
Patrick Cowley/ Muscle Up (Dark Entries)
Karin Krog/ Don’t Just Sing/ An Anthology 1963-1999 (Light in the Attic)
Wume/ Maintain (Ehse)
Jessica Pratt/ On Your Own Love Again (Drag City)
Wire (S/T) (Pink Flag)
Bjork/ Vulnicura (Little Indian)
Kurt Stenzel/ Jodorowsky’s Dune (Light in the Attic)
Reissues
Lizzy Mercier Descloux/ Press color (Light In the Attic)
Liquid Liquid/ (s/t)/ (Superior Viaduct)
Vega, Chilton, Vaughn/ Cubist Blues (Light in the Attic)
Mariah/ Utakata No Hibi (Palto Flats)
Laraaji/ Ambient 3: Day of Radiance (Glitterbeat)
Arthur Russell/ Corn (Audika)
Broadcast/ Catalog Reissues (Warp)
LEA BOARD
Jamie XX “In Colour”
Metz “II”
Wand “Golem”
Kendrick Lamar “To Pimp A Butterfly”
Mike Krol “Turkey”
Fuzz “II”
Car Seat Headrest “Teens of Style”
Jacco Gardner “Hypnophobia”
Tame Impala “Currents”
Kurt Vile “B’lieve I’m Goin’ Down”
OLIVE PANTER
2015 best, in no order
u.s. girls – half-free
mitski – bury me at makeout creek [2014 but late, gotta count]
girlpool – before the world was big
sufjan stevens – carrie and lowell
eskimeau – O.K.
teen – little doods
staple singers – freedom highway complete (reissue)
julia holter – have you in my wilderness
dick diver – melbourne, florida
wavves – v
sleater-kinney – no cities to love
arthur russell – corn (reissue-ish)
yo la tengo – stuff like that
shannon and the clams – gone by the dawn
SARAH FRIER
(no order whatsoever)
Courtney Barnett – Sometimes I Sit & Think…
Waxahatchee – Ivy Tripp
Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp A Butterfly
Ty Segall – Ty Rex
New Order – Music Complete
Jlin – Dark Energy
Sleater Kinney – No Cities To Love
Kurt Vile – b’lieve I’m going down
Destroyer – Poison Season
Father John Misty – I Love You Honeybear
Tame Impala – Currents
Disappears – Irreal
Mac Demarco – Another One
Mikal Cronin – MCIII
Protomartyr – The Agent Intellect
Pulp – Different Class (reissue)
RYAN SCACCIA
1. Godspeed You! Black Emperor “Asunder, Sweet and Other Distress”
2. Cloakroom “Further Out”
3. John Carpenter “Lost Themes”
4. Zombi “Shape Shift”
5. Eleventh Dream Day “Works for Tomorrow”
6. Zomes “Near Unison”
7. Uncle Acid “The Night Creeper”
8. Meatwave “Delusion Moon”
9. Sun Kil Moon “Universal Themes”
10. William Onyeabor “Atomic Bomb” (Reissue!)
EMILY BEH
Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp a Butterfly
Bjork – Vulnicura (instrumental)
Purity Ring – Another Eternity
Ezra Furman – Perpetual Motional People
Chelsea Wolfe – Abyss
LIanne La Havas – Blood
Tunde Olaniran – Transgressor
Grimes – Art Angels
Metz – II
G.L.O.S.S. – Demo
MELISSA GRUBBS
Joshua Abrams -Magnetoception
Maki Asakawa – Maki Asakawa
Broadcast (catalog reissues)
Ken Camden – Dream Memory
Neko Case (reissues)
Circuit Des Yeux – In Plain Speech
Lizzy Mercier Descloux- Press color (reissue)
Patrick Cowley – Muscle Up
Disasterpeace – It Follows soundtrack
Disappears – Irreal
Fingers Inc.- Another Side (reissue)
Francoise Hardy – catalog reissues (cds out now, lps out soon)
Implodes – Reverser
The Internet – Ego Death
Kendrick Lamar-To Pimp A Butterfly
Led Zeppelin (catalog reissues)
Liquid Liquid (reissue)
Magas- Heads Plus
Spooner Oldham – Pot Luck (reissue)
Ork Records: New York, New York compilation
Run the Jewels – Bust No Moves 12”
Second Layer – World Of Rubber (reissue)
Kurt Stenzel Jodorowsky’s Dune soundtrack
Swervedriver- I wasn’t Born To Lose You
Tame Impala- Currents
Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats- The Night Creeper
Universal Togetherness Band- Universal Togetherness Band
Mariah – Utakata No Hibi (reissue)
Kamasi Washington – The Epic
Chelsea Wolfe – Abyss
Wume – Maintain
Friends of Reckless
BRIAN CASE – Disappears
jenny hval – apocalypse, girl
adrian sherwood – sherwood at the controls: volume 1
the necks – vertigo
diät – positive energy
beach house – thank your lucky stars
sleater kinney – no cities to love
shopping – why choose
savant – artificial dance
big brave – au de la
valet – nature
girl band – holding hands with jamie
negative scanner – negative scanner
LoneLady – Hinterland
ben salisbury & geoff barrow – ex machina
colleen – captain of none
wire – wire
james murphy – remixes made with tennis data
viet cong – viet cong
metz – II
tomaga – familiar obstacles
housewives – work
föllakzoid – III
regis – manbait
BRETT ANDREW GROSSMAN
Twenty-Five Things About 2015
Faith Healer “Cosmic Troubles” (Mint)
Domenique Dumont “Comme Ça” (Antinote)
Deerhunter “Fading Frontier” (4ad)
Car Seat Headrest “Teens of Style” (Matador)
Viet Cong “Viet Cong” (Jagjaguar)
Sufjan Stevens “Carrie & Lowell” (asthmatic kitty records)
Colleen “Captain of None” (Thrill Jockey)
Destroyer “Poison Season” (Merge Records)
Girlpool “Before the World was Big” (wichita)
Inventions “Maze of Woods” (Temporary Residence)
Panda Bear “Panda Bear Meets the Grim Reaper” (Domino)
Implodes “Reverser” (Kranky)
Tame Impala “Currents” (Interscope)
Helen “Original Faces” (Kranky)
Julia Holter “Have you in my Wilderness” (Domino)
Deerhunter “Fading Frontier” (4ad)
William Basinski “Deluge”(Temporary Residence)
Lullatone “Sounds of Spring” (Self)
Joanna Newsom “Divers” (Drag City)
Veruca Salt “Ghost Notes” (El Camino Media)
Colleen Green “I want to Grow up” (Hardly Art)
In a Moment… Ghost Box Compilation
Ken Camden “Dream Memory” (Kranky)
Giovanni Di Domenico & Jim O’Rourke “Arco” (Die Schachtel)
Earl Sweatshirt “I Don’t Like Shit, I Don’t Go Outside: An Album by Earl Sweatshirt” (Columbia)
Reissues
Egisto Macchi “Il Deserto”(Cinedelic)
Musiques electroniques en France 1974 – 1984 (Replica)
Early Pakistani Dance Music From Original 7” Soundtracks 1967-1975 (Ovular)
DAVID MARTIN – Omnian Music Group/ Captured Tracks
LPs
1. Dick Diver – “Melbourne Florida” LP Trouble In Mind
2. Don Howland – “Life Is A Nightmare” 12XU
3. Meg Baird – “Don’t Weigh Down The Light” Drag City
4. Courtney Barnett – “Sometimes I Sit And Think And Sometimes I Just Sit” Mom + Pop
5. The Silence – “Hark The Silence” & S/T Drag City
6. Ryley Walker – “Primrose Green” Dead Oceans
7. Russell St Bombings – S/T Smart Guy Records
8. Carousel – “2113” TeePee
9. The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion – “Freedom Tower” Shove Records / Mom + Pop
10. Dave Rawlings Machine – “Nashville Obsolete” Acony Records
11. Drinks – “Hermits On Holiday” Birth Records
12. Circuit Des Yeux – “In Plain Speech” Thrill Jockey
13. Salad Boys – “Metalmania” Trouble In Mind
14. Protomartyr – “The Agent Intellect” Hardly Art Records
15. F ingers “Hide Before Dinner” Blackest Ever Black
16. Prinzhorn Dance School – “Home Economics” DFA
17. Ultimate Painting – “Green Lanes” Trouble In Mind
18. Deaf Wish – “Pain” Sub Pop
19. Eleventh Dream Day – “Works For Tomorrow” Thrill Jockey
20. Masami Kawaguchi – “The Mad Guitar Sings” Black Petal
21. Home Blitz – “Foremost & Fair” Richie Records
22. Kurt Vile – “Believe I’m Goin’ (Deep) Down – Matador Records
23. Yo La Tengo – “Stuff Like That There” Matador Records
24. Pole – “Wald”
25. Obnox – “Boogalou Reed” 12XU
7”s / 12”s / EP’s
1. Savoy Motel – “Souvenir Shop Rock” b/w Hot One” Official Memorabilia
2. Lower – “I’m A Lazy Son…But I’m The Only Son” Escho / Matador
3. Mac McCaughan – “Box Batteries” b/w “Whatever Light”
4. Novelist x Mumdance – “1 Sec” b/w “Shook” XL Recordings
5. Implodes – “Reverser” Gilead Media
6. S/cks – “Cut Bait” b/w “Enemies List” Mind Cure Records
7. The Gories – “Be Nice” b/w “On The Run” Third Man Records
8. Howling Hex – “Butterfly” b/w “Party Shoes” Drag City
9. Exhaustion – “Phased Out” 12XU
10. feedtime – “flatiron” b/w “stick up jack” Sup Pop
Reissues
1. Speaking Canaries – “Platter Base Must Be Constructed Of Moon Rock” Chunklet Industries
2. Thomas Jefferson Slave Apartments – “Straight To Video” Straight To Video
3. Scharpling & Wurster – “The Best of The Best Show” Numero
4. Billy Synth – “Off The Deep End” & “We Have You Surrounded” Mind Cure
5. Dean Carter – Call Of The Wild” Big Beat
6. Pack – S/T Ugly Pop
7. Youth Brigade – “First Demo” Dischord
8. Cate Le Bon -“Me Oh My” The Control Group
9. Discharge – “Toronto ’83 In The Cold Night” Ugly Pop
10. Teengenerate – “Live At Shelter” Ugly Pop
11. Stooges – “Have Some Fun: Live At Ungano’s” Rhino
12. Dead Moon – “Live At Satyricon” Voodoo Doughnuts / Mississippi Records
13. Deathwish – S/T Disclaim Records
14. B-52’s – “Live 8-24-1979” Rhino
15. V/A – “Destroy All Art” Rock ’N Roll Parasite Records
16. V/A – “We’re Loud – 90’s Cassette Punk Unknowns” Black Gladiator / Slovenly Records
17. The Girls – “Punk-Dada Pulchritude” Feeding Tube
18. Blast – “Damned Flame” b/w “Hope” Death Vault Records
19. Rema Rema “Entry / Exit” Inflammable Material / Le Coq Musique
20. 39 Clocks – “Subnarcotic” Luxury Product
21. Rolling Stones – “The Marquee Club Live in 1971” Eagle Vision
22. Steve Treatment – “All Dressed For Tomorrow” Messthetics / Munster
23. Jimi Hendrix – “Hear My Music” *& “Freedom: The Atlanta Pop Festival 1970” Dagger / Sony
24. Kim Salmon & the Surrealists – “Ya Gotta Let Me Do My Thing” Bang
25. Mars – “Mars Archives Volume One” Feeding Tube
Live shows
Savoy Motel @ Berlin & Union Pool
Sue Garner / Alan Licht / Lee Ranaldo @ Trans Pecos
Girlschool @ St Vitus
Dick Diver @ Cake Shop & Babys Allright
Gotobeds everywhere, every time
Total Control @ Music Hall Of Williamsburg
Glue @ Palisades
Salad Boys @ Palisades
Meg Baird @ Union Pool
Carousel @ The Cake Shop & The Wick
Ultimate Painting @ Rough Trade
75 Dollar Bill @ Trans Pecos & birthday parties
Eleventh Dream Day & Antietam @ Mercury Lounge
Protomartyr, Car Seat Headrest @ Santo’s Party House
Damon & Naomi / Elisa Ambrogio @ The Bell House
Dark Blue @ Rough Trade & Mercury Lounge
Deaf Wish @ Alphaville
Melvins @ Santo’s Party House
Circuit Des Yeux @ Trans Pecos & Academy Records
Connections @ Cake Shop
Obnox @ Pianos
Holly Herndon @ The Wick
SHELLY WESTERHAUSEN – Secretly Distribution
Alphabetized because I’m horrible at picking favorites:
ALL DOGS – Kicking Every Day (Salinas)
GUN OUTFIT – Dream All Over (Paradise of Bachelors)
JOHN CARPENTER – Lost Themes (Sacred Bones Records)
KURT VILE – b’lieve i’m goin down (Matador)
LA LUZ – Weirdo Shrine (Hardly Art)
OUGHT – Sun Coming Down (Constellation)
RYLEY WALKER – Primrose Green (Dead Oceans)
SHANNON AND THE CLAMS – Gone By The Dawn (Hardly Art)
SHANA CLEVELAND & THE SANDCASTLES – Oh Man, Cover the Ground (Suicide Squeeze Records)
SHOPPING – Consumer Complaints (FatCat Records)
THEE TSUNAMIS – Saturday Night Sweetheart (Magnetic South)
TORRES – Sprinter (Partisan)
ULTIMATE PAINTING – Green Lanes (Trouble In Mind)
VIET CONG – Viet Cong (Jagjaguwar)
WAXAHATCHEE – Ivy Tripp (Merge)
HENRY OWINGS – Chunklet
Pinecones (now known as Arbor Labor Union)
anything Wayne Rogers
Destroy All Art
Screature
Mutual Jerk
Honey Radar
Salad Boys
Uniform (both NY and GA iterations)
Deep in the Throat of Texas
Spray Paint
J.R. ROBINSON – Wrekmeister Harmonies
Trevor Jackson Presents: Science Fiction Dancehall Classics
Bell Witch – Four Phantoms
Lily Chao – Chinese Folk Songs
Leviathan – Scar Sighted
Rose McDowall – Cut With the Cake Knife
Sergius Golowin – Lord Krishna von Golowin
Shows:
Kevin Drumm @ Chicago Cultural Center Oct 9 2015
Fountain Sun @ Bohemian Cemetery July 2 2015
Helen Money @ Alex’s Bar Dec 10 2015
The Body / Full of Hell @ Empty Bottle Aug 2015
Books:
Karl Ove Knausgard – My Struggle
Rachel Kushner – The Flamethrowers
Frank Stafford – What About This : The Collected Poems of Frank Stafford
VINCENT TORNATORE – Lion Productions
C. Duncan “Architect” just about the only new music I listened to all year, apart from the new Bowie single, which I also thought was excellent
Television “Marquee Moon” one of the best records I’ve listened to in this or any other year; I tacked on some alternates + tracks from “Adventure” to make my own super Television mix
Wapassou “S/T” sure, it’s on Lion, but it’s one of my favorites of the year; i listen to my own releases more than anything else, since I have to shepherd them through all stages of production. Checking the masters means listening to something nine or ten times (at least).
Velvet Underground take your pick: Matrix Tapes box, super deluxe of third album (my personal favorite)
Pastels/Tenniscoats “Two Sunsets” new for me, although it’s several years old; bought used from Reckless!
Roxy Music ‘Mother of Pearl’ fade in after the spastic opening, the rest is stupendous
Laurence Vanay (Jacqueline Thibault) “Le Petite Fenêtre” another one of mine, beautiful stuff
Beethoven piano concerti, played by Wilhelm Kempff if only classical labels approached their catalogues the way the best reissue labels do… although at least the music gets out into the world.
Big Star returned to their catalogue after many years, glad I did
Zoot Money “Transition” cheap CD, great songs, excellent mastering… ‘Stop the Wedding’
Various “Duke Reid Treasure Chest” old o/p Heartbeat label collection, some of the purest music ever made…
the Deep “Psychedelic Moods of the Deep” 3xLP I just found out this morning that Rusty Evans (alias Marcus) died a couple of weeks ago. The person who told me about Rusty also pointed out that my label was the only one to ever issue Freak Scene (CD), Marcus (2xCD), and the Deep. I’m glad to have had a hand in promoting the legacy of one of the true greats of psychedelia. This set took a lot of twists and turns, which is why it ended up a triple LP; proud of how it came out (same with our Tin House LP+EP) even though the greater public doesn’t seem to know much about it, thanks to saturation bombing from the majors (too many LPs), the narrow focus of social media, etc. I sure wish there were more stores out there like Reckless… that’s a fact.
BRIAN FOOTE [aka leech. of kranky, peak oil, audraglint, conflict of interest]
here are my favorite 2015 releases excluding all the incredible music i am involved with in some personal capacity.
gonno ‘remember that life is beautiful’ endless flight
lief ‘taraxacum’ until my heart stops
aci edits ‘/\07’ aught
rorys world ‘trust image’ 1080p
fl0rist ‘phenomena ep’ all caps
sotofett ‘drippin for a tripp [tripp a dubb mix]’ honest jons
young thug ‘slime season’ not on label
savant ‘artificial dance’ rvng
karmelloz ‘silicon forest’ cleaning tapes
amnesia scanner ‘angels rig hook’ gum artefacts
soichi terada ‘sounds from the far east’ rush hour
mariah ‘うたかたの日々’ palto flats
fit siegel ‘carmine’ fit
j-zbel ‘how i made my mom & sis my sexbot slaves’ brothers from different mothers
peder mannerfelt ‘the swedish congo record’ archives intérieures
recycle culture ‘trapped goddess’ not on label
sun of ‘social zombies’ opal tapes
e.r. ‘qen sew’ 1432r
color plus ‘netcika’ bootleg tapes
road hog ‘on the lam’ not on label
sk kakraba ‘songs of paapieye’ awesome tapes from africa
lapti ‘v tiraj’ ГОСТ ЗВУК
plo man ’stations of the elevated’ acting press
dj haus ‘burnin up’ rinse fm
aris kindt ‘floods’ scissor & thread
jeremih ‘late nights: the album’ def jam
Stephen Sowley
2015
No order:
Diat–Positive Energy LP
Aeon Fux–I’m Gonna Beat The Fuck Out Of Terry Richardson mp3
Erykah Badu–But You Caint Use My Phone Mixtape
Joshua Abrams–Magnetoception DLP
Regis-Manbait DLP
Hungry Man–Eater LP
Courtney Barnett–Sometimes I Sit And Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit LP
Scharpling & Wurster–The Best Of The Best Show Boxset
Bjork–Vulnicura DLP
Vince Staples–Summertime ’06
Mike Krol–Turkey LP
Obnox, period.
G.L.O.S.S, period.
Bully, period.
Malportado Kids at Weenie Hut Jr’s
Aye Nako–The Blackest Eye 12″
Heather Leigh–I Abused Animal LP
Theo Parrish–American Intelligence TLP
Total Control at the Bottle
D’Angelo & The Vanguard–Black Messiah DLP
Screaming Females–Rose Mountain LP
Colonial Donuts in Oakland, CA
Mozart–The Tick cassette
Laurel Halo–In-Situ D12″
A.P. Mike–Michael Perry mp3
Eddie Palmieri at Symphony Center
Kendrick Lamar–To Pimp A Butterfly DLP
Jason Lescaleet & Kevin Drumm at Constellation
Te-Nehisi Coates–Between The World And Me
Protomartyr–The Agent Intellect LP
Missy Elliot–WTF mp3
Violence Creeps–On My Turf 7″
The Coneheads–LP1//C.C.T.V–S/T 7″
Norwood Park Po
Reckless Records 2013 Employee Best of Lists
RECKLESS RECORDS 2013 EMPLOYEE PICKS
Angela Ziles
Best Albums of 2013
Bill Orcutt – A History of Every One (Editions Mego)
Oozing Wound – Retrash (Thrill Jockey)
Joshua Abrams – Unknown Known (RogueArt)
Tropic of Cancer – Restless Idylls (Blackest Ever Black)
Chance The Rapper – Acid Rap (self-released)
White Fence – Cyclops Reap (Castle Face)
Ken Camden – Space Mirror (Kranky)
Fire! – Without Noticing (Rune Grammofon)
M.I.A. – Matangi (Interscope)
Bottomless Pit – Shade Perennial (Comedy Minus One)
Squrl – EP #1 (ATP)
My Bloody Valentine – MBV (self-released)
Justin Walter – Lullabies & Nightmares (Kranky)
James Plotkin & Paal Nilssen-Love – Death Rattle (Rune Grammofon)
Rob Mazurek Octet – Skull Sessions (Cuneiform)
Boards of Canada – Tomorrow’s Harvest (Warp)
Grouper – The Man Who Died In His Boat (Kranky)
Lionel O – Mama Said Knock Me Out (Golden Beast)
Implodes – Recurring Dream (Kranky)
Clinic – Free Reign II (Daniel Lopatin Versions) (Domino)
Josephine Foster – I’m A Dreamer (Fire)
Marissa Anderson – Galax (Mississippi)
Pissed Jeans – Honeys (Sub Pop)
Fake Limbs – Power of Patrician Upbringing (BLVD)
Haim – Days Are Gone (Rough Trade)
Le Tour – Christian Guilt (Golden Beast)
Bitchin Bajas – Bitchitronics (Drag City)
Kevin Hein – Gauze (Baro)
The Delfonics – Adrian Younge Presents (Wax Poetics)
Allen Toussaint – Songbook (Rounder)
Darkside – Psychic (Matador/Other People)
Laurel Halo – Chance of Rain (Hyperdub)
No Joy – Wait To Pleasure (Mexican Summer)
Loren Connors – Departing of a Dream (Family Vineyard)
Reissues and Compilations:
Unwound – Kid Is Gone (Numero)
V/A I Heard The Angels Singing: Electrifying Black Gospel From The Nashboro Label 1951- 1983 (Tompkins Square)
Roky Erickson – Light In The Attic Reissues
William Onyeabor – World Psychedelic Classics 5: Who Is William Onyeabor? (Luaka Bop)
Arthur Russell – Another Thought (Point)
Cleaners From Venus – Vol. 2 (Captured Tracks)
V/A New Orleans Funk Vol. 3 (Soul Jazz)
Irma Thomas – In Between Tears (Alive)
Shows:
Joshua Abrams Natural Information Society at Hideout
Swirlies at Metro
Keiji Haino at Empty Bottle
Black Sabbath at First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre
Allen Toussaint at SPACE
Rotted Tooth Fest
Ken Camden at Constellation
Bottomless Pit at Township
Le Tour and Negative Scanner at The Whistler
Metz and No Joy at Lincoln Hall
Slushy at Bric-A-Brac Records
Melvins at Double Door
Kranky 20th Anniversary Shows
Cole Cooney
1) Yo La Tengo – Fade
2) Bill Callahan – Dream River
3) Lloyd Cole & Hans Joachim Roedelius – Selected Studies Vol. 1
4) Har Mar Superstar – Bye Bye 17
5) Ken Camden – Space Mirror
6) Jagga Jazzist – Live with Britten Sonfonia
7) Lionel O – Mama Said Knock Me Out
8) Men – New Moon
9) Rhye – Woman
10) Colin Stetson – History of Warfare Vol. 3
11) Implodes – Recurring Dream
12) Shannon & the Clams – Dreams in the Rathouse
13) Boards of Canada – Tomorrow’s Harvest
14) My Bloody Valentine – MBV
Derek Medley
Atom TM – HD
Autechre – Exai /L-event
William Basinski – Nocturnes
Keith Berry – Towards the Blue Peninsula
Ken Camden – Space Mirror
Jefre Cantu-Ledesma – Music From the Headlands Center for the Arts
Ceephax Acid Crew – Cro Magnox
Jack Dangers – Bathyscaphe Trieste
Philip Glass – Visitors
Tim Hecker – Virgins
lovesliescrushing – Ghost Colored Halo
Stephen Mathieu – The Falling Rocket /Un coeur simple
Reissues:
Eduard Artimiev – Stalker /The Mirror /Solaris
François Bayle – L’Expérience Acoustique /Les couleurs de la nuit
Benge – Twenty Systems
Boards of Canada – Warp catalog
Alice Coltrane – Divine Songs
Léo Kupper – Electronic Works & Voices
Bernard Parmegiani – De Natura Sonorum
Eliane Radigue – Adnos I-III
Vangelis – Blade Runner
Iannis Xenakis – GRM Works
Dave Hofer
Artifacts – Between a Rock & a Hard Place (Artifacts) REISSUE
A$AP Ferg – Trap Lord (RCA)
A$AP Rocky – Long.Live.A$AP (RCA)
Blasted Diplomats – Blasted Diplomats (BLVD)
Botch – We are the Romans (Hydra Head) REISSUE
The Bronx – IV (ATO)
Danny Brown – Old (Fool’s Gold)
Cave In – Until Your Heart Stops (Hydra Head) REISSUE
Dillinger Escape Plan – One of Us is the Killer (Sumerian)
Discordance Axis – Jouhou (Hydra Head) REISSUE
El-P & Killer Mike – Run the Jewels (Fool’s Gold)
Ghostface Killah – Twelve Reasons to Die (original Adrian Younge mix & Apollo Brown remix) (Soul Temple)
Gigan – Multi-Dimensional Fractal Sorcery and Super Science (Willowtip)
Heliocentrics – 13 Degrees of Reality (Now Again)
Ill Bill – The Grimy Awards (Fat Beats)
Immolation – Kingdom of Conspiracy (Nuclear Blast)
Mr. Muthafuckin’ eXquire – Kismet (Self-released)
Nails – Abandon All Life (Southern Lord)
Nedelle Torrisi – Nedelle Torrisi (Self-released)
Wormed – Exodromos (Willowtip)
Mark Lux
2013 in no particular order
tv ghost ‘disconnect’
ken camden ‘space mirror’
chance ‘in search of’ (reissue)
steve gunn ‘tim off’
larry coryell ‘lift’
outer minds ‘behind the mirror’
new canyons ‘everyone is dark’
photon band ‘pur photonic matter vol. 1’
bare mutants ‘affliction’
implodes ‘recurring dream’
grateful dead ‘sunshine daydream live 1972’
we have heaven/20 guilders split 12”
jacco gardner ‘cabinet of curiosities’
daft punk ‘random access memory’
my bloody valentine ‘mbv’
dark ’round the edges’ (reissue)
peter peter/peter kyed ‘valhalla rising’ (soundtrack)
purling hiss ‘paisley montage’
labradford ‘prazision’ (reissue)
doomed to obscurity ‘pipe bomb’ 7″
strapping fieldhands ‘sitting on her whiskers’ 7″
Sarah Frier
Best of 2013 – No Order
Savages – Silence Yourself
Cave – Threace
Angel Olsen – Half Way Home
MIA – Matangi
Grant Hart – The Argument
Disappears – Era
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds – Push The Sky Away
Kurt Vile – Wakin on a Pretty Daze
Superchunk – I Hate Music
Black Angels – Indigo Meadow
Neko Case – The Worse Things Get…
Neil Young – Live At The Cellar Door
V/A – I Am The Center
Matt Jencik
Acteurs – s/t
Afflicted Man I’m Off Me ‘Ead LP reissue
Algebra Suicide Feminine SquareLP reissue
Atoms for Peace Amok
A Band Called Death documentary
Blasted Diplomats s/t
Blessure Grave Flashing
Blut Aus Nord Work Which Transforms God LP reissue
Boards of Canada Tomorrow’s Harvest
Ken Camden Space Mirror
John Carpenter The Fog (soundtrack) LP reissue
Christmas Lights S/T reissue
Circuit Des Yeux Overdue
Alice Coltrane Divine Songs LP reissue
Devo Hardcore Devo Vol. 1 & 2 reissues
Disappears Era
Dreamies (Bill Holt) Auralgraphic Entertainment LP reissue
Emerald Web Stargate Tapes 1979-1982
Kat Epple & Bob Stohl Sanctus Spiritus
Ethernet Opus 2
Fake Limbs The Power of Patrician Upbringing
Fielded Ninety Thirty Thirty
Grouper Man Who Died in His Boat
Grant Hart The Argument
Lee Hazlewood all Light in the Attic reissues
Peter Jefferies Last Great Challenge in a Dull World reissue
Jesu Every Day I Get Closer to the Light From Which I Came
Labradford Prazision (20th anniversary reissue)
Lives of Angels Elevator to Eden reissue
Magas Pspoilers tape
Medico Doktor Vibes Liter Through Dorker Vibes reissue
Joe Meek I Hear a New World LP reissue
My Bloody Valentine MBV
William Onyeabor World Psychedelic Classics 5: Who is William Onyeabor?
Polvo Siberia
Sarcofago Inri LP reissue
Tropic of Cancer Restless Idylls
Various Artists I Am the Center: Private Issue New Age Music in America
Voivod Target Earth
Neil Young Live at the Cellar Door
Shows
Absu @ Cobra Lounge
Acteurs/ Wreckmeister Harmonies @ Bohemian National Cemetery
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds @ Chicago Theater
Ken Camden/Circuit Des Yeux/Alex Barnett @ The Hideout
Come & Empty Bottle
Enslaved @ Reggie’s
Fielded @ Burlington
Goat @ Empty Bottle
Goblin @ The Metro
Grant Hart @ Danny’s
Kranky Twenty
My Bloody Valentine & The Aragon
Silver Apples @ The Owl
Colin Stetson & Schubas
Kate Ruggeri
Acteurs- S/T
Barnett + Coloccia- Retrieval
Blouse- Imperium
The Cairo Gang- Tiny Rebels
Dark- Round the Edges (reissue)
David Bowie- The Next Day
Delfonics- Adrian Younge Presents
Devo- Hardcore Vol. 1 & 2 (reissue)
Dog Man- Dream Date OST
Drexciya- Journey of the Deep Sea Dweller IV
Implodes- Recurring Dream
Janelle Monae- Electric Lady
Ken Camden- Space Mirror
Knife- Shaking the Habitual
Magas- Pspoilers Cassette
M.I.A- Matangi
My Bloody Valentine- MBV
Paul McCartney- New
Roky Erickson- Light in the Attic Reissues
Tim Hecker- Virgins
Troller- S/T
William Onyeabor- World Psychedelic Classics: Who Is William Onyeabor?
Yoko Ono- Take Me to the Land of Hell
V/A- New Orleans Funk Vol. 3
V/A- Punk 45: Kill the Hippies! Kill Yourself!
V/A- Purple Snow
shows
Kathleen Baird/Michael Zerang @ ACRE
G.W.W
Goblin
Sparks
Steven Rahman
Top 5 Hip Hop
Clear Soul Forces – Gold PP7s
Wordy, dense, & nerdy… References abound, particularly to video games, & other great fun without ever sounding too childish. Very boom-bap, & definitely for folks that like their rap music with heavy trivia included.
L’Orange & Stik Figa- The City Under the City
On Mello Music Group, Stik & L’Orange haven’t worked together often. This is the first I’ve heard of Stik since Oddisee’s Odd Seasons, & the first I’ve heard of producer L’Orange ever. The two work out really well. L’Orange has this quirky sense for samples that is perfectly complimented by Stik’s easy flow. Plus the guests on this are amazing.
Tyler the Creator- WOLF
OFWGKTA… Wolf is evolution for Tyler; a jazzier more fluid style of production under slightly less graphic lyrics. Tyler is a great big fan of Pharell & it shows in all his production, but WOLF really polishes the sound. There’s a certain maturity in WOLF that had been lacking from Tyler’s previous projects, which is not to say that the humorous, ridiculous, grotesqueness of Goblin & Bastard aren’t there, just not as prevalent.
Earl Sweatshirt- Doris
This is some of the best rapping I’ve heard in years. Lot of people saying this record lacks content, but I think the density of these rhymes supports second, third, fourth listening to catch some of the slickest wordplay & storytelling this side of Slick Rick. With a lot of the production being handled by Earl himself, this is definitely the album we were waiting for.
Chance The Rapper – Acid Rap
Bootlegging put this not- for- sale tape on the Billboard Top 100 list, & there’s no questioning why. Chance twists words into his flows using his melodic sense to create some really cool & trippy effects. The flow is often bent & syrupy, rarely fitting easily into the beat, but around it, just ahead, just behind but never off time. This is the most Chicago a rapper has sounded since Common dropped Resurrection & if you don’t believe me just check out the extended juke finish on “Good Ass Outro”
Honorable Mentions:
Vic Mensa – INNANETAPE
Tanya Morgan – Rubber Souls
Run The Jewels (Killer Mike & El-P) – Run The Jewels
J.Cole – Born Sinner
Big Sean – Hall of Fame
Dessa – Parts of Speech
Top 5 Not Hip Hop
Cecile McLorin Salvant – Womanchild
Classically trained in Opera, Salvant is a prodigiously talented singer. Very adventurous, she combines technique & style to create a very modern style of jazz that truly recognizes the masters of the genre.
Bilal – A Love Surreal
Groovy & soulful, with a strong jazz influence, A Love Surreal is alternative soul that stretches out the genre definitions without totally abandoning them. Lots of Prince in Bilal Oliver’s singing style, but something quite different in the long run…
Arctic Monkeys – AM
I love the Arctic Monkeys. Rock’n Roll with lyrics that combining irreverence with heart. It’s a very late night record, even though this record hits a lot harder than previous records.
Alice Smith – She
This record is everything I hoped it would be. After a long lay-off, Smith comes back with a record that shows off her rangy huge voice over Pop, Rock, & Soul soundscapes.
Hiatus Kaiyote – Tawk Tomahawk
Tawk Tomahawk is one of the best future-soul, alt-soul records I’ve ever heard. It takes the feeling & sounds of hip hop & translates them to a live band feeling better than anyone save the Roots.
Honorable Mentions:
Valerie June – Pushing Against a Stone
Foreign Exchange – Love in Flying Colors
Best Coast- Fade Away
Elvis Costello & the Roots- Wise Up Ghost
Eric Lipe
10. Ra Ra Riot– Beta Love
9. Daft Punk– Random Access Memories
8. Camera Obscura– Desire Lines
7. Mazzy Star– Seasons of your day
6. Midlake– Antiphon
5. William Onyeabor– World Psychedelic Classics 5 Who is William Onyeabor?
4. Savages– Silence yourself
3. Har Mar Superstar– Bye bye 17
2. Lorde– Pure Heroine
1. Lucius– Wildewoman
Kevin Hein
top picks of 2013- in no particular order
Von Pea & Aeon- Duly Noted- (total summer barbecue boom box jam. Instantly likable/relatable raps over heavy ethereal beats)
Sons Of The Morning- Speak Soon Vol 1- (Teebs + Prefuse 73)
Resonars- Greatest Songs Of.. (one-man garage pop perfection)
Ryan Chavira- Staycation (a cool breeze on a perfect day. easy, mellow, delightful instrumental pop gems)
Oneohtrix Point Never- R Plus Seven (mind melting, genre blending, synth ripping)
No Joy- Wait To Pleasure (fast fun loud pop rock from 2 badass ladies)
My Bloody Valentine- MBV (my favorite band released a new album after 22 years. happy.)
Medicine- To The Happy Few (Medicine figured if MBV put out a new album, then why not?)
Machinedrum- Vapor City (more forward thinking dance music from a genre veteran)
Ken Camden- Space Mirror (frontal lobe massage, shredding in space)
Jefre-Cantu Ledesma- Devotion (harsh hi frequency swells of static amongst lush chorus guitar)
Implodes- Recurring Dream (psychedelic pop at the bottom of a well)
Grouper- The Man Who Died In His Boat (more material from Dragging A Dead Deer..)
Villages- Sun Control (beautiful aural bliss, stretching on for miles & miles)
Goat Lightning- Sisters Crystals (morning yoga on dmt)
Drawing Trees- Meadow’s Exist (hypnotic weaving guitar tapestry)
Calidonia County- Telegraph Canyon (deathbed ambient at its finest)
Boards Of Canada- Tomorrow’s Harvest (the masters at it again, familiar sounds with a new approach: 70’s horror soundtracks/apocalyptic desolation. does not disappoint.)
Ant’lrd- Extra Domicile (warm blanket on a chilly day)
Serengeti- Firebird Logo (produced by ambient collage duo Arborist)
Odd Nosdam- T R I S H (drum-less fuzzy hip-hop)
Angel 1- Purple Haze (VHS dream)
Cave- Threace (CAVE sound like CAN now)
Tim Hecker- Virgins (ensemble performances spliced/diced to perfection)
Carcass- Surgical Steel (best soundtrack to drunk Mortal Kombat matches this year)
Dog Man- Dream Date OST (could pass as unreleased 16 bit Final Fantasy music)
Ken Camden
Grouper – Man Who Died in His Boat
Benoit Pioulard – Hymnal
Lionel O – Mama said knock me out (cs)
Barnett & Coloccia – Retrieval
Circuit Des Yeux – Overdue
Rodion G.A. – Lost Tapes
Vangelis – Sex Power reissue
Noveller – No Dreams
Tomorrow’s Achievements (Parry Music Library 1976-86)
Streetwalker – Future Visions
Kat Epple & Bob Stohl – Sanctus Spiritus
Arpad Lep
TOP TEN 2013
A HAWK AND A HACKSAW – YOU HAVE ALREADY GONE TO THE OTHER WORLD – Former Neutral Milk Hotel/Beirut musicians craft true gypsy music (trust me). Dynamic and cinematic, heavy and authentic.
KEN CAMDEN – SPACE MIRROR – Chicago musician who evokes electronic pioneers like Raymond Scott and the score to Blade Runner.
MOLLY DRAKE – MOLLY DRAKE – Haunting, self-penned songs for the piano and voice by former war-era radio singer and mother of Nick Drake.
FOREST SWORDS – ENGRAVINGS – Meditation through repetition, driven at a gangsters’ pace. Forest because it was mixed in a field instead of a studio. Swords because it cuts like the RZA.
HAR MAR SUPERSTAR – BYE BYE 17 – This is, for my money, the album of the year. Minneapolis, MN native sounds like Raphael Saadiq, looks like Revenge of the Nerds. The best soul record to come out since Amy Winehouse’s Back to Black. This is the record no one told you about that you have been looking for.
KANYE WEST – YEEZUS – It brought tears to Lou Reed’s eyes.
YOUNG FATHERS – TAPE TWO – Africa-by-way-of-Scotland psychedelic hip hop. Not your normal rhythms, the musical overlap of lifelong friends is more feels than genre.
V/A – AFTER DARK 2 – Compilation of Italians Do It Better bands. Sorry, Cliff, but Johnny Jewel is why we liked the Drive soundtrack. In fact, some of his original discarded music for the film is included on this record. Phil Spector of Neo-Italo-disco.
V/A – BARO RECORDS COMP 001 – Compilation of Chicago and Oakland ambient music. No pressure total enchantment.
V/A – STUDIO GHIBLI: KOKYO KYOKUSHU – The Czech Philharmonic performs pieces from five Studio Ghibli films, including Princess Mononoke and Spirited Away.
Tom Walcyzk
No particular order:
Disappears- Era LP (Kranky)
Jacco Gardner- Cabinet of Curiosities LP (Trouble in Mind)
Iceage- You’re Nothing (Matador)
Dirtbombs- Ooey Gooey Chewey Ka-Blooey! LP (In the Red)
Tar- 1988-1995 (Chunklet)
Black Angels- Indigo Meadow (Light in the Attic)
Mikal Cronin- MCII LP (Merge)
Acquaintances- S/T LP (File 13)
Night Beats- Sonic Bloom LP (The Reverberation Appreciation Society)
Implodes- Recurring Dream (Kranky)
Black Hollies – Somewhere Between Here and Nowhere LP + 7″ (Ernest Jennings Records)
Coachwhips- Hands On The Controls LP (Castle Face)
White Fence- Cyclops Reap LP (Castle Face)
Pamphleteers /Blasted Diplomats 12″ (BLVD)
Milk Music- Cruise Your Illusion LP (Perennial Records)
Top Shows of 2013:
Cosmic Psychos @ The Empty Bottle
Kate Nash @ Metro
Iceage @ Empty Bottle
Knapsack @ Bottom Lounge
Blake Schwarzenbach (Jawbreaker/Forgetters) @ Shubas
Brook Sinkinson Withrow
Best Albums:
Beau Wanzer – S/T (L.I.E.S.)
The-Drum – Contact (Audraglint)
Fielded – NinetyThirtyThirty (Captcha)
Anika – EP (Stones Throw)
Grouper – Man Who Died In His Boat (Kranky)
Tropic of Cancer – Restless Idylls (Blackest Ever Black)
Chelsea Wolfe – Pain is Beauty (Sargent House)
Lonnie Holley – Keeping A Record Of It (Dust-to-Digital)
William Onyeabor – Who Is William Onyeabor? (Luaka) *Reissue
Charles Bradley – Victim of Love (Dunham)
The Delfonics – Adrian Younge Presents The Delfonics (Wax Poetics)
V/A – Purple Snow (Numero)
V/A – Good God! Apocryphal Hymns (Numero)
Arthur Russell – Another Thought (Arc Light Editions) *Finally
Theo Parrish & Tony Allen – Day Like This/Feel Loved (Wildheart Recordings)
Ciara – S/T (Epic)
Best Music Videos:
Anika – In the City /by Kyle Whittington & Joe Broady
Implodes – Scattered in the Wind /by Lori Felker
Best Music Documentary Shorts:
Whateverest /Directed by Kristoffer Borgli
Real Scenes: New York /Directed by Patrick Nation
Kip McCabe
1. Neil Young “Live at the Cellar Door”
2. My Bloody Valentine “MBV”
3. Bill Callahan “Dream River”
4. Juana Molina “Wed 21”
5. William Onyeabor “World Psychedelic Classics 5: Who is William Onyeabor?”
6. Shannon Wright “In Film Sound”
7. Spring Breakers OST
8. Emerald Web “Stargate Tapes 1979-1982”
9. Ken Camden “Space Mirror”
10. Labradford “Prazision” (Reissue)
11. Devo “Hardcore Devo Vol.1 & 2” (Reissues)
12. Cliff Martinez “Only God Forgives” OST
13. Sigur Ros “Kveikur”
14. Boards of Canada “Tomorrow’s Harvest”
Courtland Green
1. Ghostface Killah – Twelve Reasons To Die
2. Al Tone Edits Volumes 1-3
3. V/A Kill Yourself Dancing
4. V/A Purple Snow
5. Express Rising
6. Bill Orcutt – History of Every One
7. Delfonics – Adrian Younge Presents The Delfonics
8. Tindersticks – Across Six Leap Years
9. Sebadoh – Defend Yourself
10. Various Artists – Punk 45: Kill The Hippies!
11. Eddie Palmieri – Doin’It in the Park
12. GZA – Liquid Swords reissue with chess set
13. Fake Limbs – The Power of Patrician Upbringing
14. Sly & The Family Stone – Higher box set
15. Devo – Hardcore Devo
16. Ken Camden – Space Mirror
17. The Cairo Gang – Tiny Rebels
18. Bob Dylan- Another Self Portrait- Bootleg Series Vol 10
19. Arthur Russell- Another Thought
20. R Kelly – Black Panties
21. Bill Callahan – Dream River
22. Frank Rosaly – Centering & Displacement
Mike Gillilan
Favorite records of 2013 in no particular order
Julia Holter – ‘Loud City Song’ (Domino)
Dead C – ‘Armed Courage’ (Ba Da Bing!)
Grouper – ‘The Man Who Died In His Boat’ (Kranky)
Dirty Beaches – ‘Drifters/Love is the Devil’ (Zoo Music)
KMFH – ‘The Boat Party’ (Wild Oats)
My Bloody Valentine – ‘m b v’ (self released)
Pillars and Tongues – ‘End-dances’ (Empty Cellar)
Iceage – ‘You’re Nothing’ (Matador)
Huerco S. – ‘Colonial Patterns’ (Software)
Tim Hecker – ‘Virgins’ (Kranky)
Kurt Vile – ‘Wakin On A Pretty Daze’ (Matador)
Potions – ‘MIDI Jazz Bass’ (Lake Paradise)
Reissues
William Onyeabor – ‘Who is William Onyeabor?’ (Luaka Bop)
D’Angelo – ‘Voodoo’ (Light in the Attic) Dec 2012
Fluxion – ‘Vibrant Forms’ (Type)
Sensations Fix – ‘Fragments of Light’ (Superior Viaduct)
Bona Dish – “The Zaragoza Tapes: 1981-1982′ (Captured Tracks)
Favorite Overlooked Record from 2012
Voices from the Lake – ‘Voices from the Lake’ (Prologue)
John Wilkinson
Ten (in no particular order)
Mount Eerie – Pre Human Ideas
Nails – Abandon All Life
Tricky – False Idols
Raspberry Bulbs – Deformed Worship
My Bloody Valentine – m b v
Merchandise – Total Nite
Kurt Vile – Walkin’ on a Pretty Daze
Iceage – You’re Nothing
Chelsea Wolfe – Pain is Beauty
Wolf Eyes – No Answer: Lower Floors
Favorite Reissue
Robbie Basho – Visions of the Country (reissue)
Dan Maloney
Albums
1.) My Bloody Valentine- MBV
2.) Julia Holter- Loud City Song
3.) Parquet Courts- Light Up Gold
4.) Deerhunter- Monomania
5.) Daft Punk- Random Access Memories
6.) Lonnie Holley- Keeping a Record of It
7.) Blasted Diplomats- Blasted Diplomats
8.) Ghostface Killah- Twelve Reasons to Die
9.) Janelle Monae- Electric Lady
10.) Paul McCartney- New
11.) Blouse- Imperium
12.) Jacco Gardner- Cabinet of Curiosities
Reissues/Compilations
1.) Bob Dylan- Another Self Portrait- Bootleg Series Vol 10
2.) William Onyeabor- Who is William Onyeabor?
3.) Roky Erickson- Light in the Attic Reissues
4.) Dark- Round the Edges
5.) Joe Meek- I Hear a New World
6.) Arthur Russell- Another Thought
7.) Devo- Hardcore Vol 1 & 2
8.) Botch- We are Romans
9.) Cave In- Until your Heart Stops
10.) Damon- Song of a Gypsy
11.) New Orleans Funk 3- Various
12.) Country Soul Sisters Vol. 2- Various
13.) To Fathom Hell Or Soar Angelic- Various
14.) Blake Foley- Cold Cold World
15.) Chris Darrow- Artist Proof
Lea Board
1. Fidlar – Fidlar
2. M.I.A. – Matangi
3. Shannon & the Clams – Dreams in the Rat House
4. Night Beats – Sonic Bloom
5. Thee Oh Sees – Floating Coffin
6. Mogwai – Les Revenants
7. Strokes – Comedown Machine
8. Daft Punk – Random Access Memories
9. Unknown Mortal Orchestra – II
10. Boardwalk – Boardwalk
Melissa Grubbs
Atoms for Peace- Amok
Beyonce- Beyonce
Blasted Diplomats – Blasted Diplomats
Bosq- 12″s
David Bowie- The Next Day
Charles Bradley – Victim of Love
Broadcast – Berberian Sound Studio
Ken Camden – Space Mirror
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds – Push The Sky Away
Alice Coltrane – Divine Songs
Kim Deal- singles
The Delfonics – Adrian Younge Presents
Disappears – Era
Roky Erickson – Light In The Attic Reissues
Fake Limbs – Power of Patrician Upbringing
Jacco Gardner- Cabinet Of Curiosities
Ghostface Killah – Twelve Reasons To Die
Lee Hazlewood- all Light In The Attic Reissues
Heliocentrics – 13 Degrees of Reality
Implodes – Recurring Dream
Jesu- Every Day I Get Closer to the Light From Which I Came
MIA – Matangi
Janelle Monae- Electric Lady
My Bloody Valentine – MBV
William Onyeabor – World Psychedelic Classics 5: Who Is William Onyeabor?
Eddie Palmieri – Doin’It in the Park
Perera Elsewhere- Everlast
Uncle Acid & the Deadbeats- Mind Control
Kurt Vile – Wakin’ on a Pretty Daze
Chelsea Wolfe – Pain is Beauty
Neil Young – Live At The Cellar Door
V/A New Orleans Funk Vol. 3
V/A Sharpies-14 Aggro Aussie Anthems From 1972 to 1979
Colin Blanton
Grouper- The man who died in his boat (kranky)
Cave- Threace (drag city)
Odd Nosdam- Trish (BARO)
Oneohtrix Point Never- R Plus Seven (warp)
Ron Berry- A Voice in the Wilderness (sanity muffin)
Moevot- Best of (sanity muffin)
Villages- sun control (sacred phrases)
Boards of Canada- tomorrow’s harvest (warp)
V/A- I am the center (light in the attic)
Kwaidan- make all the hell of dark metal bright (bathetic)
Tim Hecker- virgins (kranky)
Gar Brandt
Warm Soda “someone for you” LP
Pharaoh Overlord “#3”
Uncle Acid & the Deadbeats “Mind Control”
Glitter Wizard “Hunting Gatherers”
Aspic Tines ” ENCHANTE MADAME A.I.”
David Bowie “Next Day”
Savages “Silence Yourself”
Kronos Quartet “Aheym”
Clinic “Free Reign II”
Blasted Diplomats “S/T”
KADAVAR/AQUA NEBULA OSCILLATOR SPLIT
Amon Amarth “deceiver of the Gods”
Chelsea Wolfe “Pain is Beauty”
Dismemberment Plan “Uncanney Valley”
Fake Limbs “Power of Patrician Upbringing”
Kurt Nget
Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats-Mind Control
Hookworms-Pearl Mystic
Tribulation-Formulas Of Death
Implodes-Recurring Dream
Medicine-To The Happy Few
Watain-The Wild Hunt
My Bloody Valentine-MBV
Night Beats-Sonic Bloom
Gap Dream-Shine Your Light
Mazzy Star-Seasons Of Your Day
Noctum-Final Sacrifice
The Resonars-Greatest Songs Of…
The Verlaines-Juvenilia (Reissue)
Roky Erickson-Evil One (Reissue)
Seefeel-Quique (Reissue)
Billy Smith
some nice things of 2013:
DEPECHE MODE “Delta Machine” (Columbia)
ULFUR “White Mountain” (Western Vinyl)
YOUTH LAGOON “Wondrous Bughouse” (Fat Possum)
CHELSEA LIGHT MOVING “s/t” (Matador)
OMD “English Electric” (Bmg)
CLUTCH “Earth Rocker” (Weathermaker)
ZOLA JESUS “Versions” (Sacred Bones)
PET SHOP BOYS “Electric” (Kobalt)
CLIFF MARTINEZ “Only God Forgives (Soundtrack)” (Gaumont)
CHELSEA WOLFE “Pain Is Beauty” (Sargent House)
LORDE “Pure Heroine” (Universal)
NIRVANA “In Utero 2013 Albini mix” (Geffen)
PEARL JAM “Lightning Bolt” (Monkeywrench)
TIM & ERIC SHOW (just found out….)
ANNA VON HAUSSWOLFF “Ceremony” (Fat Possum)
CHVRCHES “Bones of What You Believe” (Goodbye)
EMIKA “Dva” (Ninja Tune)
SMALL BLACK “Limits Of Desire” (Jagjaguwar)
DESTRUCTION UNIT (Sacred Bones)
Matt Orenstein
1. Grouper – The Man Who Died In His Boat
2. William Basinski – Nocturnes
3. Implodes – Recurring Dream
4. Broadcast – Berberian Sound Studio
5. Bill Callahan – Dream River
6. My Bloody Valentine – MBV
7. Ken Camden – Space Mirror
8. The Knife – Shaking The Habitual
9. Rhye – Woman
10. Stephen Steinbrink – Arranged Waves
Chris Connelly
CINDYTALK-LIFE IS EVERYWHERE
BOWIE-THE NEXT DAY
JANELLE MONAE-ELECTRIC LADY
KANYE WEST-YEeZUS
M.I.A.-MATANGI
JULIA HOLTER-LOUD CITY SONG
CHELSEA WOLFE-PAIN IS BEAUTY
MY BLOODY VALENTINE-MBV
THEE OH SEES-FLOATING COFFIN
KEN CAMDEN-SPACE MIRROR
Emily Elhaj
2013 ALBUMS
Grouper – The Man Who Died In His Boat (Kranky)
Yo La Tengo – Fade (Matador)
Josephine Foster – I’m A Dreamer (Fire)
Asia Argento – Total Entropy (Nuun)
Neil Young – Live At The Cellar Door (Reprise)
Cindy Lee – Tatlashea (Isolated Now Waves) 2012
Power Trip – Manifest Decimation (Southern Lord)
Broadcast – Berberian Soundtrack (Warp)
My Bloody Valentine – MBV (Self-released)
Voivod – Target Earth (Century Media)
Fielded – Ninety Thirty Thirty (Captcha)
Ken Camden – Space Mirror (Kranky)
Total Control – EP (Home Loan)
Dirty Beaches – Drifters/Love Is the Devil (Zoo Music)
Streetwalker – Future Fusion (Cititrax)
Lace Curtain – DFA EP
David Bowie – The Next Day (Columbia)
Cough Cool – “29” (Bathetic)
Matt Duncan – Soft Times (Hop Hop)
The Drum – Contact (Audraglint)
Dog Man – Dream Date OST (Love Lion)
Barnett & Coloccia – Retrieval (Blackest Ever Black)
Marisa Anderson – Mercury (Mississippi/Change)
Troller – s/t (Holodeck) 2012
The Delfonics – Adrian Younge Presents (Wax Poetics)
Jacco Gardner – Cabinet of Curiosities (Trouble In Mind)
Forest Swords – Engravings (Tri Angle)
The Besnard Lakes – Until In Excess, Imperceptible UFO (Jagjaguwar)
Dean Blunt – Redeemer (Hippos In Tanks)
Acteurs – s/t (Public Information)
Kelela – Cut 4 Me (Fade to Mind)
Oozing Wound – Retrash (Thrill Jockey)
The Cairo Gang – Tiny Rebels (Empty Cellar)
Heavy Times – Fix It Alone (Hozac)
Gorguts – Colored Sands (Season of Mist)
Circuit Des Yeux – Overdue (Ba Da Bing)
Blouse – Imperium (Captured Tracks)
Félicia Atkinson – With Her Own Hands (Shelter Press)
M.I.A. – Matangi (Interscope)
Gabriel Saloman – Soldier’s Requiem (Miasmah)
7 Days Of Funk – s/t (Stones Throw)
Arve Henriksen – Places Of Worship (Rune Grammofon)
Ciara.
REISSUES
MU – s/t (Guerssen)
Vangelis – Blade Runner (Audio Fidelity)
Atheist – Piece of Time (Season of Mist)
The Walker Brothers – Nite Flights (Tizona)
Icecross – s/t (Rockadrome)
Roky Erickson – Evil One (Light in the Attic)
Twin Peaks/Eraserhead Soundtracks (Sacred Bones)
SHOWS
The Hecks/ Mayor Daley/ Miami Dolphins – Medusa, Minneapolis
Bomb Banks/ Mr. 666/ Diva 93 – Empty Bottle
Yo La Tengo – The Vic
Enslaved – Reggie’s
Guardian Alien/ Kria Brekkan – St. Ferdinand, New Orleans
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds – Chicago Theater
Black Angels – Reckless Records
Fleetwood Mac – United Center
Cave – El Marney
Pissed Jeans – Empty Bottle
Sweet Cobra – Dark Lord Day, 3 Floyd’s Brewery
Villages/ Nest Egg – Broadways, Asheville
Backyard BBQ – Ottoman Empire
Broken Water – Empty Bottle
Jody/ Inc. – Empty Bottle
Silver Apples – The Owl
Savages – Metro
Rotted Tooth Festival – Situations
Angel Olsen – Lincoln Hall
Mayor Daley, The Hecks, Larry Wish, Mar Habrine, Homebirth, XXXPRESSIONXXX – Menglekoch, Minneapolis
White Poppy/ Cindy Lee – Remington Gallery, Vancouver
Goblin – The Metro
My Bloody Valentine – Aragon Ballroom
Eyehategod – Cobra Lounge
Absu – Cobra Lounge
Guerilla Toss/ Wishfgift/ Toupee/ Blanche Blanche Blanche – Club Rectum
Kranky Twenty Festival – Empty Bottle/ Constellation/ Lincoln Hall
Pat Campbell
Wolf Eyes – No Answer – Lower Floors
Lionel O – Mama Said Knock Me Out
Circuit Des Yeux – Overdue
Heavy Times – Fix It Alone
Nate Young – Regression Vol. 3 (Other Days)
Absolutely Not – Mister Something
Thee Tsunamis – A Goodbad Man Is Hard To Find
Ken Camden – Space Mirror
Mac Blackout – Beat Off
Flesh Panthers – S/T Cassette
Tim Quinlan
1. MIA “Matangi”
2. Qwel & Maker “Beautiful Raw”
3. Chance the Rapper “Acid Rap”
4. Janelle Monae “The Electric Lady”
5. Lee Ranaldo & the Dust “Last Night on Earth”
6. Implodes “Recurring Dream”
7. Ken Camden “Space Mirror”
8. Justin Timberlake “20/20 Experience Pt. 1” NOT PT. 2!!
9. Thundercat “Apocalypse”
10. Nosaj Thing “Home”
Reilly Gill
There’s no order to these; they’re all number one!
-Ex-Cult: “Ex-Cult”
-Janelle Monae: “Electric Lady”
-Metz: “Metz”
-Jay Reatard: “Singles 06-07” Reissue
-Blouse: “Imperium”
-Chance the Rapper: “Acid Rap”
-The Snails: “Worth the Wait”
-Pure X: “Crawling up the Stairs”
-DeRobert and the Half-Truths: “I’m Tryin'”
-Wooden Shjips: “Back to Land”
-MIA: “Matangi”
-Ty Segall/Chad and the Meatbodies: “Music for a Film, Pt. 1” and “Mountain” split (45)
Dan Worland
Disappears – 2 EPs + Era
Flesh Panthers – Cassette EP
Implodes – Recurring Dream
Survival Knife – 2 7″s
Acteurs – self-titled
Jim Magas
2013 FAVORITES
ADULT. – Way Things Fall
Asia Argento – Total Entropy
Barnett & Coloccia – Retrieval LP
Basic Channel reissues
Francois Bayle – L’Experience Acoustique
Black Deer 12”s
Ken Camden – Space Mirror
Captain Beefheart – Safe As Milk mono reissue
John Carpenter – Assault on Precinct 13 reissue
Chrome – Half Machine from the Sun: The Lost Tracks ’79-80
Luciano Cilio – Dell’Universo Assente
Patrick Cowley – School Daze
Dark – Round the Edges reissue
Demdike Stare – Testpressing series
Drexciya – Journey of the Deep Sea Dweller Vol. IV
Kevin Drumm – Humid Weather
Roky Erickson – Evil One & Don’t Slander Me
Gherkin Jerks reissues
The Gories – The Shaw Tapes: Live in Detroit 5/27/88
Kyle Hall – Boat Party & Boat Party Bonus EP
Gunnar Haslam – Mimesiak
Icecross – 1. LP aka s/t
Implodes – Recurring Dream
Bob James – Rhodes Scholar LP
Raul Lovison/Francesco Messina – Prati Bagnati del Monte Analogo
Magas – Pspoilers cassette
Mainliner – Mellow Out reissue
Charles Manier – Electrocution & S/T (Nation)
Ron Morelli – Spit
Omar S. – Thank You For Letting Me Be Myself
Bill Orcutt – History of Every One LP & 13×7” boxed set
Theo Parrish – Black Jazz Signature
Raspberry Bulbs – Deformed Worship
3 Chairs – CH 07 12”
Vangelis – Blade Runner & Sex Power reissues
Velvet Underground – At the End of Cole Ave, 2nd Night
Vox Dei – La Biblia reissue
Wolf Eyes – No Answer – Lower Floors
Xenakis – GRM Works 1957-1962 LP
Nate Young – Regression LPs
Beau Wanzer – 3 L.I.E.S. 12”s
V/A – Bang the Box: the (Lost) Story of AKA Dance Music Chicago 1987-88
V/A – Sounds of Silence LP
Anthony Illarde
THE BIG BOYS – Where’s My Towel /Industry Standard (2LP reissue) (Light In The Attic)
CAPTAIN BEEFHEART – Safe As Milk (Mono LP reissue) (Sundazed)
GRANT HART – The Argument (2LP) (Domino)
THE HUMAN EXPRESSION – Love At A Psychedelic Velocity (LP + 45 reissue) (Mississippi)
HUSKER DU – Statues (2X45 reissue) (Numero)
MOONDOG – new Sound Of An Old Instrument (CD reissue) (Kopf)
MOUSE & THE TRAPS – The Fraternity Years (LP reissue) (Big Beat)
NILSSON – The RCA Albums Collection (CD box set) (Legacy)
THE SEEDS – A Web Of Sound (2CD reissue) (Big Beat)
SLY & THE FAMILY STONE – Higher (CD box set) (Legacy)
NOTHING CAN HURT ME: THE BIG STAR STORY (Magnolia Films)
SACRIFICIAL YOUTH (Regressive Films)
Whitney Mercer
Things I really liked in 2013
Darkside – Psychic
Ken Camden – Space Mirror
MIA – Matangi
William Onyeabor – Who is William Onyeabor
Lee Ranaldo & the Dust – Last Night on Earth
Body/Head – Coming Apart
The Julie Ruin – Run Fast
Typhoon – White Lighter
The Blow – The Blow
Colin Stetson – New History of Warfare Vol. 3: To See More Light
Mykki Blanco – Betty Rubble: The Initiation EP
Oddience – Slide EP
Dawn of Midi – Dysnomia
Brandy Clark – Twelve Stories
Bryan Smith
Big Boys – Where’s My Towel (re-issue)
Big Star – Nothing Can Hurt Me 2LP
Blut Aus Nord – Work Which Transforms God LP (re-issue)
Boards of Canada – Tomorrow’s Harvest
Charles Bradley – Victim of Love
Bronx (IV)
Devo – Hardcore Vol.1 (re-issue)
Endless Boogie – Long Island
Enslaved – Riitir
Hot Lunch – Hot Lunch
Iceage – You’re Nothing
Cate Le Bon – Mug Museum
Marcos Valle – all 4 LP re-issues!
Bernard Parmegiani – De Natura Sonorum (re-issue)
Power Trip – Manifest Decimation
Satyricon – s/t
Scientists – s/t ( re-issue)
Martin Sorrondeguy – Get Shot (Book)
Voivod – Target Earth
Wire – Change Becomes Us
Charles Taylor
Best Jazz of 2013
Jason Robinson: Tiresian Symmetry
Living By Lanterns: Old Myth/New Science
Woody Shaw: Complete Columbia Albums
Ivo Perelman: The Edge
Sophie Agnel: Meteo
Nate Wooley: Throne Of Friendship
Atomic: There’s A Hole In The Mountain
Mary Halvorsen: Illusionary Sea
Sun Ra: Continuation
William Parker: Wood Flute Songs
Chris Wilkus
MY FAVORITE HIP HOP/R&B ALBUMS OF 2013
15) Express Rising “Express Rising 2” (Reissue) (NUMERO GROUP)
14) The Lonely Island “The Wack Album” (UNIVERSAL REPUBLIC)
13) Cocaine 80s “The Flower of Life EP” (SELF-RELEASED)
12) Perera Elsewhere “Everlast” (FRIENDS OF FRIENDS)
11) Tyler, the Creator “Wolf” (ODD FUTURE/SONY)
10) Willis Earl Beal “Nobody Knows.” (XL RECORDINGS)
9) Danny Brown “Old” (FOOL’S GOLD RECORDS)
8) Beyoncé “BEYONCÉ” (COLUMBIA RECORDS)
7) R. Kelly “Black Panties” (RCA RECORDS)
6) Zebra Katz “DRKLNG EP” (ZEBRA TRACKZ)
5) The Weeknd “Kiss Land” (REPUBLIC/XO)
4) Ghostface Killah “Twelve Reasons to Die” (SOUL TEMPLE RECORDS)
3) Earl Sweatshirt “Doris” (COLUMBIA RECORDS)
2) Chance the Rapper “Acid Rap” (SELF-RELEASED)
1) Kanye West “Yeezus” (ROC-A-FELLA/DEF JAM)
(the rest of…) MY FAVORITE ALBUMS OF 2013
20) Emika “DVA” (NINJA TUNE)
19) Umberto “Confrontations” (NOT NOT FUN)
18) Zomes “Time Was” (THRILL JOCKEY)
17) Wire “Change Becomes Us” (PINK FLAG)
16) Matthew E. White “Outer Face EP” (DOMINO RECORDINGS)
15) Ken Camden “Space Mirror” (KRANKY)
14) Juana Molina “Wed 21″ (CRAMMED DISCS)
13) DARKSIDE ” Psychic” (MATADOR RECORDS)
12) Ahnnu “Battered Sphinx” (NNA TAPES)
11) Mike Patton “The Place Beyond the Pines” (Soundtrack) (MILAN RECORDS)
10) Burial “Rival Dealer EP” (HYPERDUB)
9) Kölsch “1977” (KOMPAKT)
8) David Lynch “The Big Dream” (SACRED BONES RECORDS)
7) L. Pierre “The Island Come True” (MELODIC)
6) Disappears “Era” (KRANKY)
5) James Blake “Overgrown” (ATLAS RECORDS/A&M)
4) Majical Cloudz “Impersonator” (MATADOR RECORDS)
3) Tricky “False Idols” (K7)
2) Girls Names “The New Life” (SLUMBERLAND RECORDS)
1) Dean Blunt “The Redeemer” (HIPPOS IN TANKS)
HONORABLE MENTIONS & STRONG CONTENDERS
Chelsea Wolfe “Pain is Beauty” (SARGENT HOUSE)
Cliff Martinez “Only God Forgives” (Soundtrack) (MILAN RECORDS)
Colin Stetson “New History Warfare, Vol. 3: To See More Light” (CONSTELLATION)
Dirty Beaches “Drifters/ Love Is the Devil” (ZOO MUSIC)
Implodes “Recurring Dream” (KRANKY)
Oneohtrix Point Never “R Plus Seven” (WARP RECORDS)
Salem “G O O D B Y E” (BANDCAMP)
The Stranger “Watching Dead Empires In Decay” (MODERN LOVE)
Tropic of Cancer “Restless Idylls” (BLACKEST EVER BLACK)
Zomby “With Love” (4AD)
…the end…
Friends of Reckless
Stephen Sowley (Fake Limbs/Studio Manager @ Electrical Audio)
Audio2013: Shelf It (For Nanny & Sputnik. Alphabetical Order)
Full-On:
The Book-Burners—People’s Songs LP
Bottomless Pit—Shade Perennial LP
Dead C.—Armed Courage LP
Ghostface—Twelve Deadly Venoms/Brown Tape LPs
Tim Hecker—Virgins DLP
Implodes—Recurring Dream LP
Iron Lung—White Glove Test DLP
Martha’s Vineyard Ferries—Mass Grave LP
Maxamillion Dunbar—House Of Woo DLP
No Statik—Unity And Fragmentation DLP
Omar S—Thank You For Letting Me Be Myself 4×12”
Bill Orcutt & Chris Corsano—The Raw & The Cooked LP//Bill Orcutt-History of Everyone LP//25 Songs Box
Pissed Jeans—Honeys LP
Run The Jewels—S/T LP
Society Nurse—s/t LP
Kurt Vile—Wakin On A Pretty Daze LP
Wire-Change Becomes Us DLP
Shannon Wright—In Film Sound LP
Reissues:
Breeders—LSXX boxset
Devo—Hardcore Devo Vol. 1 & 2 DLPs
DJ Screw—All Screwed Up DLP
Fluxion—Vibrant Forms DLP
Medico Doktor Vibes—Liter Through Dorker Vibes LP
Arthur Russell—First Thought, Best Thought DLP
Internet:
Action Bronson & Party Supplies—Blue Chips 2 mixtape
Live From The Barrage
Andrew Mason—Hardley Working
Mr. Muthafuckin Xquire—Kismit mixtape
Primes-Millions
Tom Scharpling—Frankie Teardrop Sound Collage
Split Feet-demos
Singles:
Curmudgeon—Amygdala 12”
Kim Deal—Are You Mine? 7”
Demdike Stare—Test Pressing twelve inches
Diat-Everyday 7”
Good Throb—S/T 7”//Culture Vulture 7”
Jack Buck—Soft 7”
Permanent Ruin—Hell is Real 7”
Repos—Live Munitions 12”//Rejoice In Ruin 7”
Yi—Punk Memories 7”
Mike Venutolo-Mantovani (Matador Records)
14 for ’13
1. ovlov – am (Exploding In Sound)
2. Brother JT – The Sveltness Of Boogitude (Thrill Jockey)
3. Rhye – Woman (Loma Vista)
4. Yo La Tengo – Fade (Matador)
5. Marnie Stern – The Chronicles Of Marnia (Kill Rock Stars)
6. Anna Calvi – One Breath (Domino)
7. Charles Waters Quartet – Chroma Colossus: 13 Visions Of The City (Amish)
8. The Brooklyn What – Hot Wine (self-released)
9. Joel RL Phelps & The Downer Trio – Gala (12XU)
10. Stephen Malkmus And Friends – Ege Bamyasi Record Store Day Exclusive (Matador)
11. King Khan And The Shrines – Idle No More (Merge)
12. Queens Of The Stone Age – …Like Clockwork (Matador)
13. Potty Mouth – Hell Bent (Old Flame)
14. Washed Out – Paracosm (Sub Pop)
Brett Grossman (ex-Reckless)
My Bloody Valentine m.b.v. (Self)
Lucky Dragons “Publicity Reform” (Escho)
Purple Pilgrims /Gary War “Split Album” (Upset the Rhythm)
The Humble Bee “Henrietta” (Other Ideas)
Eluvium “Nightmare Ending” (Temporary Residence)
Deerhunter “Monomania” (4ad)
Destroyer “Five Spanish Songs” (Merge/Dead Ocean)
Ken Camden “Space Mirror” (Kranky)
Youth Lagoon “Wondrous Bughouse” (Fat Possum)
Earl Sweatshirt “Doris” (Tan Cressida)
Califone “Stitches” (Dead Oceans)
Oneohtrix Point Never “R plus 7” (Warp)
Widowspeak “Almanac” /”The Swamps” (Captured Tracks)
Kelley Stoltz “Double Exposure” (Thirdman Records)
Crystal Stilts “Nature Noir” (Sacred Bones)
Grouper “The Man who Died in His Boat (Kranky)
Coma Cinema “Posthumous Release” (Fork & Spoon)
Neko Case “The Worse Things Get, the Harder I Fight, the Harder I Fight, the More I Love You” (Anti)
Dan Friel “Total Folklore” (Thrill Jockey)
Devendra Banhart “Mala” (Nonesuch)
Implodes “Recurring Dream” (Kranky)
Brian Grainger /Orick “Children Of The Hill” (Attack Nine)
Julianna Barwick “Nepenthe” (Dead Oceans)
Bare Mutants “Affliction” (In The Red)
White Fence “Cyclops Reap” (Castle Face)
Magik Markers “Surrender to the Fantasy” (Drag City)
Kurt Vile “Walkin on A Pretty Daze” (Matador)
Colleen “The Weighing of the Heart” (Second Language Music)
Joane Skyler “Orz” (Reckno)
Justin Walter “Lullabies and Nightmares (Kranky)
Bruce Russel /Roy Montgomery: Split (Grapefruit)
Atoms for Peace “Amok” (XL)
Jackson Scott “Melbourne” (Fat Possum)
Then:
Bbc Radiophonic Workshop – BBC Radiophonic Music by David Cain, John Baker, Delia Derbyshire (Music on Vinyl)
William Basinski “Disintegration Loops” Boxset (Temporary Residence)
Big Star “Nothing Can Hurt Me” (Omnivore Recordings)
Kat Epple & Bob Strohl “Sanctus Spiritus” (Dead Cert)
Edward Artemiev “Solaris” (Superior Viaduct)
Various “I am the Center: Private Issue New Age Music in America 1950-1990 (Light in the Attic)
Utrillo Kushner (Revolver Distribution)
MASTON – Shadows LP (Trouble In Mind)
MAMMATUS – Heady Mental LP (Spiritual Pajamas)
MAMMANE SANI – La Musique Electronique du Niger LP (Sahel Sounds /Mississippi)
MICHAEL BEACH – Golden Theft LP (Spectacular Commodity /Twin Lakes)
KELLY STOLTZ – Double Exposure LP (Third Man)
ZACHARY CALE – Blue Rider LP (All Hands Electric)
NEW BUMS – Slim Volume 7″ (New Bums Industries)
PRAIRIE CAT – Got Nothin’ 7″ (Triple Crown Audio Recordings)
V/A – Ecstasy of Gold Vol. 1 – 23 Killer Bullets from the Spaghetti West (Semi-Automatic)
V/A – Ecstasy of Gold Vol. 2 – 22 Killer Bullets from the Spaghetti West (Semi-Automatic)
V/A – Ecstasy of Gold Vol. 3 – 25 Killer Bullets from the Spaghetti West (Semi-Automatic)
V/A – Ecstasy of Gold Vol. 4 – 25 Killer Bullets from the Spaghetti West (Semi-Automatic)
Goblin – Live at the Warfield San Francisco, CA. October 20th 2013
Adam Reach (Carrot Top Distribution)
Rodan “Fifteen Quiet Years” (Quarterstick)
Implodes “Recurring Dream” (Kranky)
Survival Knife “Traces of Me” b/w “Name That Tune” (Sub Pop)
Tar “1998-1995″ (Chunklet)
Disappears “Kone” (self-released)
Man…Or Astro-Man? “Defcon 5…4…3…2…1″ (Chunklet)
Girls Against Boys “The Ghost List” (self-released)
Cuntz “Solid Mates” (Homeless)
Unwound “Kid Is Gone” (Numero Group)
Shannon Wright “In Film Sound” (Vicious Circle)
Montibus Communitas “Haci Aquellos Bosques de Immensidad” (Trouble In Mind)
Carlton Melton “Always Even” (Agitated)
Obits “Bed & Bugs” (Sub Pop)
All Pigs Must Die “Nothing Violates This Nature” (Southern Lord)
Coliseum “Sister Faith” (Temporary Residence)
Federation X “We Do What We Must” (Molasses Manifesto /Recess)
Exhaustion “Future Eaters” (Aarght)
Bardo Pond “Peace On Venus” (Fire)
Old Baby “Love Hangover” (Karate Body)
Taking Pictures “2113″ (Say Hello To Never)
Big Business “Battlefields Forever” (Gold Metal)
Crooks on Tape “Fingerprint” (Misra)
Martha’s Vineyard Ferries “Mass Grave” (Kiam)
Aaron Aites (Director of Until the Light Takes Us/99%: The Occupy Wall Street Collaborative Film)
Paavoharju – Joko Sinä Tulet Tänne Alas Tai Minä Nousen Sinne
Boris – Präparat
Darkthrone – The Underground Resistance
Demdike Stare – Test Pressings Series
Forest Swords – Engravings
Fuck Buttons – Slow Focus
Laurel Halo – Chance Of Rain/Behind The Green Door
The Haxan Cloak – Excavation
Tim Hecker – Virgins
Magik Markers – Surrender To The Fantasy
My Bloody Valentine – MBV
Thee Oh Sees – Floating Coffin
The Stranger – Watching Dead Empires In Decay
Reckless Records 2011 staff best-of lists
Dan Worland
Disappears – Guider
Implodes – Black Earth
Eternals – Approaching The Energy Field
Obits – Moody, Standard & Poor
Yuck – s/t
White Wires – White Wires II
Night Beats – s/t
Death Ships – Circumstantial Chemistry
Sloan – The Double Cross
crooked fingers – Breaks In The Armor
Mannequin Men – s/t
Arpad Lep
2011 baker’s dozen
Bitchin Bajas – Water Wrackets
Clams Casino – Rainforest
The Eternals – Approaching the Energy Field
A Hawk & A Hacksaw – Cervantine
Implodes – Black Earth
Little Dragon – Ritual Union
The Rentals – Resilience
Spank Rock – Everything Is Boring and Everyone Is a F—ing Liar
Ssssnake – Hostile Snakeover
The Stepkids – S/T
Tune-Yards – W H O K I L L
A Winged Victory For The Sullen – S/T
&
Throbbing Gristle – Second Annual Report (2011 Edition)
Dave Hofer
-in no order-
JAM OF THE YEAR:
Chris Brown feat. Twista & Lil’ Wayne – Look at Me Now (remix)
Everything else . . .
Gigan – Quasi-Hallucinogenic Sonic Landscapes
Random Axe – Random Axe
Fuck the Facts – Die Miserable
Madlib & Frank Nitt – Madlib Medicine Show #9: Channel 85 Presents Nittyville
Brutal Truth – End Time
Beach Boys – Smile Sessions
Bongripper – Sex Tape b/w Snuff Film (7″)
Noisear – Subvert the DominantParadigm
Exhumed – All Guts, No Glory
Decapitated – Carnival Is Forever
Natural Yogurt Band – Tuck In With the Natural Yogurt Band
Gridlink – Orphan
Harpoon – Deception Among Birds
Vakill – Armor of God
Blasted Diplomats – Unreleased Shit
Origin – Entity
Shabazz Palaces – Black Up
Putridity – Degenerating Anthropophagical Euphoria
Sarah Frier
WILD FLAG – WILD FLAG
RED BARKED TREE – WIRE
C’MON – LOW
ONLY IN DREAMS – DUM DUM GIRLS
SMOKE RING FOR MY HALO – KURT VILE
HELPLESSNESS BLUES – FLEET FOXES
SLAVE AMBIENT – WAR ON DRUGS
SMILE SESSIONS – BEACH BOYS
SKYING – HORRORS
BECOMING A JACKAL – VILLAGERS
MY FAVORITE INTERNET THINGS:
ROOKIEMAG.COM,
THE BEST SHOW ON WFMU,
DRUNK HISTORY &
OCCUPYTOGETHER.COM
Billy Smith
Foo Fighters “Wasting Light”
J. Mascis “Several Shades Of Why”
Soundgarden “Live On I-5″
Mumford & Sons “Sigh No More”
Beastie Boys “Hot Sauce Committee Part Two”
Urge Overkill “Rock and Roll Submarine”
Bon Iver “Bon Iver, Bon Iver”
Caretaker “An Empty Bliss Beyond This World”
Winged Victory For The Sullen “s/t”
Washed Out “Within & Without”
Mason Jennings “Minnesota”
Office of Future Plans s/t (Dischord)
Sigur Ros “Inni”
Pearl Jam “Twenty” DVD
Muhly: Seeing Is Believing/ Gould; Aurora Orchestra
”Two Souls” Mikhail Simonyan/ Jarvi; London Sym Orch
Ives: Four Sonatas/ Hilary Hahn/ Valentina Lisitsa
Gar Brandt
New releases
1. Horrors “skying”
2. Tom Waits “Bad As Me”
3. Washed Out “within & without”
4. Brian Eno “Drums Between the Bells”
5. David Lynch “Crazy Clown TIme”
6. Chris Connelly “”Artificial Madness”
7. Indian “guiltless”
8. Death Ships “Circumstantial Chemistry”
9. Mannequin Men “Mannequin Men”
10. Tame Impala “Innerspeaker”
11. Implodes “Black Earth”
12. Willie Nelson “Remember Me”
13. War On Drugs “Slave Ambient”
14. Black Cobra “Invernal”
Best Live Record
Sweet Cobra “Live at Dark Lord Day 2011)
Best Reckless Wicker Park in-store
Kurt Vile
Best Wicker Park in-store comedian
Hannibal Buress
Best Wicker Park in-store book reading/signing
Patton Oswalt
Best DJ set at a craft fair
Matt Jencik
CHRIS CONNELLY
LULU-LOU REED/METALLICA
LET ENGLAND SHAKE-PJ HARVEY
SLAVE AMBIENT-THE WAR ON DRUGS
BLACK EARTH-IMPLODES
CIRCUMSTANTIAL CHEMISTRY-DEATH SHIPS
LAST SUMMER-ELEANOR FRIEDBERGER
ZOLA JESUS-CANATUS
RED BARKED TREE-WIRE
DOA REISSUE-THROBBING GRISTLE
2ND ANNUAL REPORT REISSUE-THROBBING GRISTLE
Emily Elhaj
The Best Albums of 2011 (in no particular order)
Krallice – Diotima (Profound Lore)
Brain Idea – Cosmos Factory (Mexican Summer)
Craft –Void (Southern Lord)
Kate Bush – 50 Words For Snow (Anti/ Fish People)
Yuck – Yuck (Fat Possum)
Dirty Beaches – Badlands (Zoo Music)
Pure X – Pleasure (Acephale)
Belong – Common Era (Kranky)
Caretaker – An Empty Bliss Beyond This World (History Always Favours the Winners)
Ga’an – Ga’an / Black Equus (Captcha)
Wishgift – Folk Twain 12” (Sophomore Lounge)
Disappears – Guider (Kranky)
Bitchin Bajas – Water Wrackets (Kallistei)
Telebossa – s/t (Staubgold)
Harold Budd – In the Mist (Darla)
Oneohtrix Point Never – Replica (Software)
Burzum – Fallen (Back on Black)
Fielded – White Death 7 (Sophomore Lounge)
Merchandise – (Strange Songs) In the Dark (Drugged Conscience/Katorga Works)
Julian Lynch – Terra (Underwater Peoples)
John Maus – We Must Become the Pitiless Censors of Ourselves (Upset the Rhythm)
Geffika – II cassette (Love Lion)
Bjork – Biophilia (One Little Indian)
Sleep Over – Forever (Hippos in Tanks)
Marisa Anderson – Golden Hour (Mississippi)
Anna Calvi – Anna Calvi (Domino)
Bleached – Think of You/You Take Time 7 (Art Fag)
Bloodiest – Descent (Relapse)
Grouper – AIA: Dream Loss/ AIA: Alien Observer (Grouper)
Alex Barnett/ Fielded split (Nihilist)
Broken Water – Peripheral Star (Perennial)
Deathspell Omega – Diabolus Absconditus/Mass Grave Aesthetics (Norma Evangelium Diaboli)
Angels in America – Narrow Road to the Interior (Ehse)
Wolves In the Throne Room – Celestial Lineage (Southern Lord)
Holy Other – With U 12” (Tri Angle)
Clams Casino – Rainforest 12” (Tri Angle)
Absu – Abzu (Candlelight)
Caethua – The Summer Is Over Before It’s Begun (Water Wing)
Broken Water – Whet (Night People) 2010
No Joy – Ghost (Mexican Summer) 2010
Anika – Anika (Stones Throw) 2010
—
Beach Boys – Smile Sessions (Reissue) (Capitol)
Ramases – Space Hymns (Reissue) (Mexican Summer)
Enslaved – Yggdrasill (Reissue) (Peaceville)
You – Electric Day/ Time Code (Reissues) (Bureau B)
Angel Olsen – Strange Cacti EP (Reissue) (Bathetic)
Craig Leon – Nommos (Reissue)
Talk Talk – Spirit of Eden/ Laughing Stock (Reissue) (Ba Da Bing)
Mark Hollis – Mark Hollis (Reissue) (Ba Da Bing)
(So many) Performances
Big Freedia – Beauty Bar, Chicago
Valis/ oOoOO – Berlin, Chicago
Burial Hex/ Oakeater – Reuben’s Palace
Absu/ Immortal – the Bottom Lounge
Lee Relvas/ Ancestral Diet/ Ono/ Tabou/ Mayor Daley – Situations
Thou – Albion House
Mars – Dragon’s Den, New Orleans
Cacaw/ Supersonic Piss/ Mayor Daley – White Lightning Warehouse, Iowa City
Broken Water – Fair Grinds, New Orleans
Anna Calvi – Schubas
Zath/ Fielded/ Verma – the Hideout
Zath – the Dustbowl (x2)
Zath – the Empty Bottle
Alex Barnett/ Brain Idea/ Implodes – Lincoln Hall
Motorhead – the Congress
Tinsel Teeth/ Cacaw – Crown Liquors
US Girls/ Noveller/ Talk Normal – the Empty Bottle
Brett Naucke/ Alex Barnett/ Streetwalker – S Blue Island
Joan of Arc/ Implodes Tour
Angels in America/ Fielded – Mortville
Enslaved/ Alcest – the Bottom Lounge
Kurt Vile/ Yuck – Pitchfork Festival
John Maus/ Geneva Jacuzzi – the Empty Bottle
Dusk Variations: Chicago Counterpoint: A Steve Reich Celebration featuring Eighth Blackbird and Third Coast Percussion – Millennium Park
Stevie Nicks – Rosemont Theatre
Brain Idea/ Zath – Mortville
Ken Camden/ Winged Victory for the Sullen – Lincoln Hall
Angels in America/ Angel Olsen/ Bill Orcutt – Cropped Out Festival, Louisville, Kentucky
Danava/ Thrones – the Empty Bottle
Hoax/ Culo/ Crazy Spirit – W Huron
Oozing Wound/ Psychic Steel – the Empty Bottle
Meeting the Raincoats & Steve Shelly
Reckless Records In-store Performances
Raw Nerve
Bleached
Thou
Dirty Beaches
Labels
Hippos In Tanks
Sacred Bones
Dust to Digital
Type
Kranky
Tri Angle
Mike Gillilan
Records and music I enjoyed from 2011 in no order:
– Skúli Sverrisson – Sería II (12 Tónar)
– Cass McCombs – Wit’s End (Domino)
– Sidi Touré – Sahel Folk (Thrill Jockey)
– Grouper – A I A: Alien Observer (Yellowelectric)
– Kurt Vile – Smoke Ring For My Halo (Matador)
– Michael Gordon – Timber (Cantaloupe)
– Luke Temple – Don’t Act Like You Don’t Care (Western Vinyl)
– Ricardo Villalobos & Max Loderbauer – Re: ECM (ECM)
– Oneohtrix Point Never – Replica (Mexican Summer)
Reissues that excited me:
– Talk Talk – Laughing Stock (Ba Da Bing!)
– Mark Hollis – Mark Hollis (Ba Da Bing!)
– Van Dyke Parks – Arrangements, Vol. 1 (Bananastan)
– The Beach Boys – The Smile Sessions (Capitol)
Shows that rocked my face:
– Cross Record – All of them!
– Zath @ Dustbowl
– Omar Souleyman @ Empty Bottle
– Grouper @ Empty Bottle
– Streetwalker @ Rueben’s Palace
– K. Serra @ room under the Double Door
Matt Jencik
Absu – Abzu
Aluk Todolo – Ordre 10”
Beach Boys – Smile Sessions
Belong – Common Era
Bitch Magnet – reissues
Brain Idea – Cosmos Factory
Burzum – Fallen
Can – Tago Mago: 40th anniversary edition
Circle of Ouroborus – Eleven Fingers
Chris Connelly – Artificial Madness
Craft – Void
Dead Reptile Shrine – Sun of Circles and Wood
Deathspell Omega – Diabolus Absconditus/Mass Grave Aesthetics
Enslaved – Sleeping Gods (free digital e.p. Download it here: http://www.preemtiv.com/emails/enslaved/
Enslaved – Thorn 7”
Fugazi – Live Series downloads
Ga’an – Black Equus
Harald Grosskopf – S/T (reissue)
Grouper – AIA: Alien Observer
Grouper – AIA: Dream Loss
PJ Harvey – Let England Shake
Tim Hecker – Ravedeath, 1972
Higuma – Pacific Fog Dreams
Horseback – Gorgon Tongue/ Impale Golden Horn/ Forbidden Planet
Mannequin Men – S/T
Kim Jung Mi – Now (reissue)
Oneohtrix Point Never – Replica
Peaking Lights – 936
Pink Floyd – Dark Side of the Moon (live disc from reissue)
Radiohead – King of Limbs
Radiohead – Butcher/Supercollider 12”
Ride for Revenge – Under the Eye
Spacemen 3 – Transparent Radiation 12” (reissue)
Starfuckers – Metallic Diseases LP (reissue)
Talk Talk – Laughing Stock LP (reissue)
Television – Live at the Old Waldorf LP (reissue)
Kurt Vile – Smoke Ring for My Halo
A Winged Victory for the Sullen – S/T
V/A – Those Shocking Shaking Days
Shows
Ken Camden/ A Winged Victory for the Sullen – Lincoln Hall
Danzig Legacy – Congress theater
Enslaved – Bottom Lounge
Immortal/Absu – Bottom Lounge
Mayor Daley – Happy Dog
Mayhem – Reggies
Kurt Vile & the Violators – Subterranean
Kurt Vile: acoustic in-store – Reckless Records Milwaukee Ave
Neil Young/ Bert Jansch (RIP) – Chicago Theater
Chris Connelly – Hideout
Implodes tour with Joan of Arc
Jim Magas
Wolfgang Voigt – Kafkatrax
Andy Stott – We Stay Together / Passed Me By
Implodes – Black Earth
Bill Orcutt – How the Thing Sings + tour 7″s
Danava – Hemisphere of Shadows
Various Artists – Reckless “Lifers” RSD 2011 cassette
Nate Young – Regression
Mutant Beat Dance – Another World 12″
Don Gere – Werewolves on Wheels OST
Throbbing Gristle reissues
Theo Parrish – Uget (Ugly Edits)
I Teoremi – s/t
Erkin Koray – Mechul – Singles & Rarities
Sog 12″s on Profan & Kompakt
Various Artists: Gene Hunt Presents Chicago Dance Tracks
Michael Yonkers & the Blind Shake – Period
Endless Boogie – 20 Minute Jam Getting Out of the City
Moon Duo – Mazes
Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (game)
Steve Rahman
The Roots – undun
Wale – Ambition
J.Cole – Cole World: The Sideline Story
Oddisee – Rock Creek Park
Phonte – Charity Starts at Home
Blueprint – Adventures in Counter Culture
Jay & Kanye – Watch The Throne
Yuck – Yuck
The Cool Kids – When Fish Ride Bicycles
Foreign Exchange – Dear Friends: An Evening w/…
Angela Ziles
V/A- Motown”s Mowest Story (Light In The Attic)
Blouse- S/T (Captured Tracks)
Ringo DeathStarr- Colour Trip (Sonic Unyon)
Iceage- New Brigade (What’s Your Rupture)
Colin Stetson- New History Warfare Vol. 2: Judges (Constellation)
A Winged Victory For The Sullen- S/T (Kranky)
The Men- Leave Home (Sacred Bones)
TV Ghost- Mass Dream (In The Red)
Danava- Hemisphere of Shadows (Kemado)
The War on Drugs- Slave Ambient (Secretly Canadian)
Fire! With Jim O’Rourke- Unreleased? (Rune Grammofon)
Total Control- Henge Beat (Fuse Group)
Dylan Posa
Best albums of 2011
Tori Amos – Night Of Hunters
Anthrax – Worship Music
Beastie Boys – Hot Sauce Committee Pt. 2
The Body & Braveyoung – Nothing Passes
Cake – Showroom Of Compassion
Dead Rider – Raw Dents
DJ Shadow – The Less You Know The Better
Foo Fighters – Wasting Light
Ghost – Opus Eponymous
PJ Harvey – Let England Shake
Havok – Time Is Up
Liturgy – Aesthethica
Low – C’Mon
My Violent Ego – One Day You’ll Laugh…
Radiohead – King Of Limbs
The Roots – undun
Sloan – The Double Cross
St. Vincent – Strange Mercy
Colin Stetson – New History Warfare Vol. 2
Wilco – The Whole Love
Best reissues of 2011
Beach Boys – Smile Sessions
Dug Dug’s – s/t
His Name Is Alive – King Of Sweet LP
Human Switchboard – Who’s Landing In My Hangar anthology
Bill Orcutt – New Way To Pay Old Debts CD
Pale Saints – The Comforts Of Madness LP
V/A – Motown’s Mowest Story
Biggest waste of an ex-This Heat member: About Group
Best shipment box of 2011: 9/12/11 Carrot Top box
Michelle Hodges
total abuse – prison sweat
sqrm – rodeo
raspberry bulbs – nature tries again
bone awl – bowing heads
brian eno – panic of looking
total control – henge beat
ice age – new brigade
bastard noise – skulldozer
7″s:
vile gash – deluded
hoax – s/t
ropes – s/t
raw nerve – midnight
population – s/t
manipulation – 2
divine right – pray for me
double negative – hardcore confusion vol. 1 + 2
neo cons – s/t
no comment – common senseless (reissue)
no comment – downsided (reissue)
school jerks – control
screaming dead – children of the boneyard stones
sea of shit – s/t
Steve Shoup
BEST OF 2011
Absu – Abzu
Bloodiest – Descent
Brain Idea – Cosmos Factory
Burzum – Fallen
Circle Of Ouroborus – Eleven Fingers
Craft – Void
Dead Moon – reissues
Deathspell Omega – Diabolus Absconditus
Faith – Subject To Change reissue
Fielded – White Death 7″
Fielded / Alex Barnett – split LP
Ga’an – Black Equus
Ga’an – Ga’an
Harold Grosskopf – Synthesist reissue
Grouper – Alien Observer
Grouper – Dream Loss
Tim Hecker – Ravedeath
Iceage – New Brigade
Implodes – Black Earth
Leather – Sterile 7″ & Wretch 7″
Louvin Brothers – Satan Is Real reissue
Lungfish – Unanimous Hour reissue
The Men – Leave Home
Morbid Angel – Covenant reissue
No Comment – 7″ reissues
Doris Norton – Personal Computer
Reatards – Teenage Hate reissue
SQRM – Rodeo
Television – Live At The Old Waldorf
Throbbing Gristle – reissues
Truth & Janey – No Rest For The Wicked reissue
Void – Complete Sessions
You – Electric Day reissue
You – Timecode reissue
v/a Boddie Recording Company: Cleveland, Ohio
v/a Those Shocking Shaking Days
LIVE SHOWS:
Absu & Immortal
The Body
Cave
Enslaved
Hoax
Leather
Mayor Daley
Melvins
Reigning Sound
Samhain & Misfits
Scratch Acid
Swans
Wire
X
Zath
FILMS:
Drive by Nicolas Winding Refn
Tabloid by Errol Morris
Whitney Mercer
Ga’an – “Black Equus”
High Places – “Original Colors”
Tim Hecker – “Ravedeath, 1972”
Typhoon – “A New Kind of House”
Fugazi – LIVE ARCHIVES
Cacaw – “Rat Skin Robes” cassette
Bad Drugs – “Raw Powder”
Belong – “Common Era”
Implodes – “Black Earth”
Kurt Vile – “Smoke Ring For My Halo”
Wild Flag – “Wild Flag”
Thurston Moore – “Demolished Thoughts”
PJ Harvey – “Let England Shake”
v/a – “i listen to the wind that obliterates my traces ” (dust to digital)
v/a – “Those Shocking Shaking Days: Indonesian Hard, Psychedelic, Progressive Rock”
Anthony Illarde
Alice Cooper – Old School Box Set (Universal)
Blind Shake – Seriousness (Learning Curve)
Jim Ford – Harlan County (Reissue, Light In The Attic)
Good Weather For An Airstrike – A Winter / A Summer (Sonic Reverie)
Government Issue – Boycott Stabb Complete Session (Dischord)
KD Lang & The Siss Boom Bang – Sing It Loud (Nonesuch)
Implodes – Black Earth (Kranky)
Left banke – Left Banke Too (Reissue, Sundazed)
Leopards – Kansas City Slickers (Reissue, Sing Sing)
Mickey – Rock & Roll Dreamer (Hozac)
Stepkids – The Stepkids (Stones Throw)
Jim Sullivan – U.F.O. (Reissue, Light In The Attic)
Thee Oh Sees – Castlemania (In The Red)
Void – Sessions 1981-1983 (Dischord)
White Mystery – Blood & Venom (White Mystery)
and a film:
Errol Morris – Tabloid
Dan Maloney
Best Records of 2011
1.) Kurt Vile: Smoke Ring For My Halo
2.) Cass McCombs: Wit’s End
3.) War On Drugs: Slave Ambient
4.) Destroyer: Kaputt
5.) Thee Oh Sees: Carrion Crawler/ The Dream
6.) Tom Waits: Bad As Me
7.) Anna Calvi: Anna Calvi
8.) William Elliott Whitmore: Field Songs
9.) Desertshore: Drawing of Threes
10.) Stepkids: Stepkids
11.) Leyland Kirby: Eager to Tear Apart the Stars
12.) PJ Harvey: Let England Shake
13.) Ty Segall: Goodbye Bread
14.) Peaking Lights: 936
Reissues:
1.) Louvin Brothers: Satan Is Real
2.) Beach Boys: Smile
3.) Jim Sullivan: UFO
4.) Paul McCartney II
5.) Jim Ford: Harlan County
6.) Mickey Newbury (Drag City Vinyl Reissues)
7.) Boddie Recording Company Box (V/A)
8.) Social Climbers: Social Climbers
9.) Delta Swamp Rock (V/A)
10.) Michael Chapman: Fully Qualified Survivor
Favorite Local Releases
1.) Chris Connelly: Artificial Madness
2.) Mannequin Men: Mannequin Men
3.) Radar Eyes: Best Friends
4.) T’Bone: Mount Trashmore
5.) Implodes: Black Earth
6.) Apteka: Gargoyle Days
7.) Laureates: Spells
8.) Bloodiest: Descent
Favorite Chicago Area Poster Artists in 2011
1.)Ryan Duggan
2.) Ethan D’Ercole
3.) Rick Leech
4.) Josh Davis (Deadmeat Designs)
5.) Alana Bailey
Courtland Green
1. STONE COAL WHITE
2. CULT CARGO: SALSA BORICUA DE CHICAGO
3. EAST OF UNDERGROUND
4. BODDIE RECORDING COMPANY
5. McCARTNEY II
6. TRUE SOUL: DEEP SOUNDS FROM THE LEFT OF STAX
7. BEACH BOYS “SMILE SESSIONS”
8. DINOSAUR L “24-24 MUSIC”
9. WILLIE WRIGHT “TELLING THE TRUTH”
10. OMAR SOULEYMAN “HAFLAT GHARBIA
11. HAYVANLAR ALEMI “GUARANA SUPERPOWER”
12. BILL ORCUTT “HOW THE THING SINGS”
13. MEATY ORGE & CRUSHCON “SWORD”
14. LAWRENCE PETERS OUTFIT “WHAT YOU BEEN MISSIN'”
15. SUPEREGO
16.
BEST SHOW ON WFMU
Luc Rogers
(In no order)
1. Racebannon “Six Sik Sisters”
2. Indian “Guiltless”
3. Bloodiest
4. Iceage “New Brigade”
5. The Men “Leave Home”
6. Cursed “Last Session” 7″
7. Tim Hecker “Ravedeath 1972”
8. Nirvana “Nevermind” reissue (no shame)
Cole Cooney
1) Fleetwood Mac – Rumours 45 RPM reissue: I’ll take any reason to put Rumours on a year-end best of list. Best record of always.
2) Bill Callahan – Apocalypse: His best record since “A River Ain’t Too Much to Love” shows a fine example of Bill doing what he does- well-timed, minimal arrangements and the dense lyricism that alternates between sardonic and piercingly poignant, all with that familiar stoic baritone delivery.
3) Implodes – Black Earth: With comparisons ranging from Can to My Bloody Valentine, these dudes summon a haze you can’t (nor want to) escape.
4) Black Angels – Phosgene Nightmare 10″: A mellow, melancholic display of their talents works surprisingly as well as, and sometimes better than, their heavier material.
5) Kurt Vile – Smoke Ring for My Halo: This album is a stoney sleeper hit. It’s feel-good with bedraggled depth and shimmer.
6) Heavy Times – Jacker: Short spurts of fuzzy garage with hooks for days. All killer.
Laura Deutsch
SQRM – Rodeo
SQRM – White Saints 7”
HOAX – s/t 7”
Implodes – Black Earth
Ga’an – Ga’an/Black Equus
Fielded – White Death 7”
Geffika – II cassette
Alex Barnett/Fielded split
Brain Idea – Cosmos Factory
Marisa Anderson – Golden Hour
Zombi – Escape Velocity
Cacaw – Rat Skin Robes
Void – Sessions 1981-1983
Monopoly Star Child Searchers – Bamboo for Two
Julian Lynch – Terra
Shows:
Mayor Daley/White Hills/Cave– Empty Bottle
Mayor Daley/Bad Drugs/High Castle – Empty Bottle
Hoax/Raw Nerve/The Ropes/Salvation – Water Works
Hoax/Crazy Spirit/Culo – W Huron
Hume – Treasure Town
Monopoly Star Child Searchers/Dolphins Into The Future – Glowsticks
Raw Nerve – Record Store Day – Reckless Broadway
Fielded – Reuben’s Palace
Ga’an/Pillars & Tongues/Axis: Sova/Ancient Ocean – Empty Bottle
Implodes – Empty Bottle
Alex Barnett/Brain Idea/Implodes – Lincoln Hall
Brain Idea / Zath – Mortville
Zath – Dust Bowl
Cacaw/Liturgy/Dope Body/Spanyurd – Empty Bottle
Oozing Wound/Pyschic Steel – Empty Bottle
Lauren Jobe
1. Shin Joong Hyun “Beautiful Rivers and Mountains” (cd/lp) (light in the attic)
2. Pussy “Invasion” (cd) (rockadrome)
3. Black Tusk “Set the Dial” (cd/lp) (relapse)
4. Caretaker “Empty Bliss Beyond This World” (cd/lp) (History Always Favours The Winners)
5. Bloodiest “Descent” (cd) (relapse)
6. Dirty Beaches “Badlands” (cd/lp) (zoo music)
7. Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats “Bloodlust” (cd/lp) (rise above records)
8. Various Artist “True Soul: Volume 1” (cd/lp) (Now-Again Records)
9. Jim Ford “Harlan County” (cd/lp) (light in the attic)
10. Rodd Keith “My Pipe Yellow Dream” (lp) (Roaratorio)
Kate Ruggeri
NO PARTICULAR ORDER:
Social Climbers – S/T
V/A – Those Shocking Shaking Days
Mannequin Men – S/T
Bill Orcutt – How The Thing Sings
Implodes – Black Earth
PJ Harvey – Let England Shake
Alvarius B – Baroque Primitiva
Beach Boys – Smile Sessions
Kurt Vile – Smoke Ring For My Halo
Illuminati Congo – All Eye See
Stone Coal White – S/T
Lijadu Sisters – Danger
Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings – Soul Time!
Bill Callahan – Apocalypse
Cosmic Relief – Dekalb EP
Madlib & Frank Nitt – Madlib Medicine Show #9: Channel 85 Presents
I MISS YOU PETER FALK
Rebecca Crawford
Autumn “Synthesize” (awesome minimal wave re-issue)
Davila 666 “Tan Bajo”
Fathers Children “Who’s Gonna Save the World”
The Feelies “Here Before”
Shin JoongHyun “Beautiful Rivers & Mountains: The Psychedelic Rock Sound of South Korea’s Shin JoongHyun 1958-1974″
The Soft Moon “S/T”
The Soft Moon
“Total Decay EP”
V/A: “Those Shocking, Shaking Days. Indonesian Hard Psychedelic, Progressive Rock and Funk: 1970-1978″
The War on Drugs “Slave Ambient”
Kevin Hein
Full lengths, in no particular order..
HTRK- Work (Work, Work)- Distorted 808 beats, deep bass grooves, and a drugged-up sounding female vocalist create music that is depressingly pretty.
The Caretaker- An Empty Bliss Beyond This World- Leyland Kirby is at it again, sampling and reprocessing old 78 records into his own creation. While his last record focused on repetition, this one dives into slightly different territory by focusing on abrupt starts and stops and the space between them.
Leyland Kirby- Eager To Tear Apart The Stars- Not released under his usual Caretaker moniker, this record is less about his reprocessed 78’s shtick, focusing more on his own minimal ambient compositions. More subdued, but still beautiful.
Tim Hecker- Ravedeath, 1972-Shimmering, icy, glacial drones. One can easily get lost in it’s layers, and every listening experience seems to be different.
Ringo Deathstarr- Colour Trip- Comes off sounding like a mixture of My Bloody Valentine and The Jesus and Mary Chain, this album blends the 90s shoegaze aesthetic with modern production techniques. Noise pop at its catchiest.
Ringo Deathstarr- Sparkler- A compilation of their pre-Colour Trip EPs, more catchy noise pop in the vein of Jesus and Mary Chain.
My Violent Ego- Some Day You’ll Laugh At The Sad Saga That Was..- A compilation of hard-to-find EPs by a duo who create shimmering ethereal pop in the vein of My Bloody Valentine. Haunting female vocals over swirling, warping guitars.
Cold Cave- Cherish The Light Years- Extremely catchy 80’s New Order-esque synth-pop. These riffs will get stuck in your head for days.
Jamie XX and Gil Scott Heron- We’re New Here- Jamie XX remixes Gil Scott Heron’s last album (RIP) in its entirety, surpassing the original.
Sepalcure- Sepalcure- Full length debut from the duo of Machinedrum and Praveen/Braile. Generally less organic sounding than the preceding EPs, this record is aimed at the dance floor.
Wagon Christ- Toomorow- Another classic-sounding mash of samples from Luke Vibert’s long-running Wagon Christ moniker.
Laurel Halo- Hour Logic- Synth-worship from the biggest babe of the Hippos In Tanks crew.
Daedelus- Bespoke- Monome master Daedelus presents us with his version of a pop record. The old-timey samples are still here, amidst a clustered production of dusty drum rolls and heavy bass, but this time featuring a guest vocalist on almost every track.
FaltyDL- You Stand Uncertain- New York producer Drew Lustman attempts to create a “timeless” electronic record by combining all of his influences in one bucket. Boards of Canada-esque detuned analog synths,90s rave stabs, jungle/D’n’B breaks, and UK Garage drum patterns shine through amidstdusty layered samples. This is the sound of a producer who has been working hard honing his craft, and has developed an instantly recognizable sound which deserves more attention.
Machinedrum- Room(s)- Electronic veteran machinedrum has mastered almost all genres of dance music and decides to crank up the BPM to the 160 range. This release brings footwork/juke music to a new level, going heavy on auto-tuned vocal samples with hints of UK Garage drum patterns. He’s still using the same chord progressions and scales, but the beats are more forward thinking.
Oneohtrix Point Never- Replica- Daniel Lopatin bought $100 worth of 80’s TV commercial compilation DVDs for sampling, and this is the result. Weird, repetitive sound clips swim amongst his trademark Juno 60 synth-drones.
Martyn- Ghost People- A fine addition to Flying Lotus’s Brainfeeder crew, Martyn tries his hand at techno. Sounding entirely different from his previous releases, the unfolding layers of repetition are still here, but pack a harder punch.
Zomby- Dedication- This second full length (as well as debut on 4AD) from this masked london producer sounds less like an album and more like a collection of songs, but no one’s complaining here. Minimal 8-bit blips and bleeps over dark, brooding beats.
EPs
Zomby- Nothing- Zomby revisits hislove of the 90’s rave sound originally explored onWhere Were You In ’92, combining it with the minimal production aesthetic displayed on his DedicationLP.
Burial- Street Halo EP- The master returns to work (finally) and gives us another three track teaser of his trademark crackle-y dark textures over broken UK Garage beats. Before you knock or dismiss this man’s music, remember that Burial’s output is made entirely by cutting and pasting samples by ear, no sequencer or grid involved.
Blawan- Bohla EP- Blawan takes his tribal pounding bass groove to the next level by throwing in a Roland TB-303. Neo-acid house at its best.
FaltyDL- Mean Streets Part 1 EP- FaltyDL expands on the genre-bending sound established on You Stand Uncertain. This man has established a sound, and this release sounds so undeniably FaltyDL.
Machinedrum- Sacred Frequency EP- A teaser for his Room(s) LP, this EP contains more future-juke tracks that don’t appear on the full-length.
Sepalcure- Fleur EP- A beautiful collage of samples, each layer unfolding like a flower to reveal new timbres and patterns. Earthy organic textures, female vocal samples, and dusty neon synths float in and fold over a cluster of woodblocks, bells, and metallic clanks. Heavily influenced by the current crop of future garage producers, Fleur takes off where the Sepalcure EP left off, managing to be forward thinking while still evoking a certain nostalgia.
12″s
Burial/Four Tet/Thom Yorke- Ego/Mirror 12″- Burial and Four Tet collaborate once again, this time with Thom joining the fray. The result sounds exactly like what you would expect.
Phon.O- Slavemode/Abbey Road 12″- UK Garage beats over huge trance-y sounding synths.
Objekt- Objekt #2- Surpassing his first EP, Objekt continues perfecting the genre of “future garage”/bass music, building slow and erupting with synths.
Daedelus- Tailor Made 12″- The Tokimonsta and Floating Points remixes surpass the original song.
Lando Kal- Further/Time Out 12″- Newcomer Lando Kal gives us a slab of chopped vocal samples and smooth synths over a bed of shuffled futuristic house.
George Fitzgerald- Don’t You 12″- A member of Scuba’s Hotflush crew and protege of producer Joy Orbison. Infectious, repetitious future bass music.
Falty DL- Hip Love 12″- More broken UKGarage shuffle from NY’s future garage master FaltyDL.
Falty DL- Jack Your Job/Make It Difficult 12”- FaltyDL makes 90’s feel-good house tunes.
Bryan Smith
Absu – Abzu
Beach Boys – Smile Sessions 2lp
Bitch Magnet deluxe re-issue
Chris Connelly – Artificial Madness
Craft – Void
Dead Moon LP re-issues
Deathspell Omega – Diabolus Absconditus
Mark Hollis – s/t LP re-issue
Talk Talk – Laughing Stock LP re-issue
Television – Live At The Old Waldorf (2LP, RSD 2011)
Void – Sessions 1981-1983
Various Artists – Guitar Music From The Western Sahel
Various – Those Shocking Shaking Days 3lp
Melissa Grubbs
anna calvi – s.t.
beach boys- smile sessions
belong – common era
can- tago mago (40th anniversary edition)
chris connelly- artificial madness
darondo- listen to my song
pj harvey- let england shake
howlin wolf- this is howlin wolf’s new album… (reissue)
implodes- black earth
lefte bank- lefte bank too (reissue)
lijadu sisters – danger
radiohead – king of limbs
raphael saadiq- stone rollin’
Michi Sarmiento y su Combo Bravo 1967-77- Aqui Los Bravos!
stone coal white- s.t.
talk talk- (reissue)
ebo taylor – life stories (reissue)
television – live at the old waldorf
kurt vile- smoke ring for my halo
a winged victory for the sullen s.t.
v/a- boddie recording company
v/a- cult cargo: salsa boricua de chicago
v/a- Motown”s Mowest Story
v/a- soweta tropicalia comps & 12″s
v/a -soundways 45s (andre tanker/ colombia set, etc they were all good!)
v/a-those shocking shaking days
v/a- true soul: vol.1
bonus:
game of thrones!
Mark Lux
in no particular order 2011/LUX
yes ‘fly from here’
hebden/ reid/ mats ‘live @ south bank’
shin jun hung ‘beautiful rivers & mountains’
implodes ‘black earth’
loudon wainwright ’40 odd years’
danava ‘hemisphere of shadows’
mannequin men s/t
brain idea ‘cosmos factory’
vee dee s/t
lawrence peters outfit s/t
v/a ‘those shocking shaking days’
group inerene ‘guitars from agadaz vol 4’
belong ‘common era’
tim hecker ‘dropped pianos’
stepkidsV
little dragon ‘ritual union’
grimble grumble ‘september sun’
Beth Klacko
BEST OF 2011.
No order
Beastie Boys – Hot Sauce Committee Pt 2
LFO – Frequencies (Reissue)
Kurt Vile – Smoke Ring For My Halo
Can – Tago Mago (Reissue)
Washed Out – Within and Without
Oneohtrix Point Never – Replica
Tim Hecker – Ravedeath
Ty Segall – Goodbye Bread
Cave – Neverendless
The Horrors – Skying
Charles Bradley – Dreaming
Alela Diane – Wild Divine
John Maus – We Must Become Pitiless Censors of Ourselves
Friends of Reckless
Erika Hendrix
Alvarius B – Baroque Primitiva
Dirty Beaches – Badlands
Dirty Beaches/Ela Orleans (split) – Double Feature
Disappears – Guider
Grouper – A I A : Alien Observer
Grouper – A I A : Dream Loss
Tim Hecker – Ravedeath, 1972
Implodes – Black Earth
Kurt Vile – Smoke Ring For My Halo
Moon Duo – Mazes
Bill Orcutt – How the Thing Sings
Thee Oh Sees – Castlemania
A Winged Victory for the Sullen – s/t
Yuck – Yuck
Brett Andrew Grossman
Papercuts “Fading Parade”
Danger Mouse & Daniele Luppi “ROME”
Peaking Lights “936”
Dum Dum Girls “Only in Dreams”
Oneohtrix Point Never “Replica”
Radiohead “TKOL RMX 1234567” / “King of Limbs”
Belong “Common Era”
Ducktails “Ducktails III: Arcade Dynamics”
Fleet Foxes “Helplessness Blues”
Panda Bear “Tomboy”
Implodes “Black Earth”
Coma Cinema “Blue Suicide”
White Fence “…Is Growing Faith”
Woods “Sun and Shade”
Beirut “The Rip Tide”
Tropic of Cancer “The End of All Things”
Real Estate “Days”
Youth Lagoon “The Year of Hibernation”
Grouper “A I A : Alien Observer”
Kurt Vile “Smoke Ring For My Halo”
Baths “Pop Music / False B Sides”
Trouble Books & Mark Mcguire “Song For Reinier Lucassen’s Sphinx”
Tape “Revelationes”
M83 “Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming”
Taylor Brode (Sacred Bones Records, ex-Reckless employee)
Alphabetical as always, this does not include anything on Sacred Bones because that would just be cheating. I didn’t have a lot of time to listen to a lot of albums other than the 23 we released this year but the few that got through to me (3 LP’s in total), really deeply got through.
Cold Cave Cherish the Light Years (Matador)
I give zero fucks about people judging me for loving this band. Wes Eisold has been cutting his heart out and letting his audience crawl inside the hole remaining since we were both teenagers (well since he was a teenager, and I was in my early 20’s), and we are all the better for it. His courage in writing openly about his own psychological shortcomings have in-numerous times given me the courage to acknowledge and address my own. Their live set up which has been stripped down to remove all ironic blonde “goth” women now includes only the other essential songwriter Dominick Fernow, and fantastic drummer Alex Garcia-Rivera. The new line-up allows Wes and Dom the public freedom to become exactly the kind of Pet Shop Boys they have always privately wanted to be. Trust me it’s working for them. I threw my underwear at them every night on stage for an entire week this summer and would do it all again in a heartbeat. This band grows light years with each release and I simply could.not.be.more.proud. of them. If you have never seen them you should do yourself a favor next year, and make sure to bring delicates to toss c/o Taylor & Christiana.
E.M.A Past Life Martyred Saints (Souterrain Transmissions)
I have been a huge fan of Erika’s since she was in Gowns, i was at Touch and Go, and I heard the song White Like Heaven. On her 1st solo effort she manages to take all the rawness of that song and add a layer of sexual realness to it so thick it has an aftertaste. Her lyrics touch on everything from narcotic addiction to abusive relationships to eternal love so real it carries through to the next life. Her sense of timing, hook and ability to both create and release tension (sometimes simultaneously) is simply unparalleled in modern music. My boyfriend and I are both recovering addicts and had difficult childhoods (to say the least); we have an extra closet at home where all of our skeletons hang out together actually. We’ve both been working in music since we were teens and we argue vehemently over who’s good and who sucks. Needless to say this album is a household favorite, and the only thing we argue over is who has listened to which track on repeat more times in a row.
Iceage New Brigade (Escho/ Dias)
In an effort to keep up the mystery I am going to attempt to translate this into the band’s native tongue. To put it bluntly: no other punk album has changed me so singularly in the last decade as these four kids’ has. I am not going to bore you with the details of how we came into each others’ lives, instead I am just going to speak in the abstract. This record is about three things: faith, loyalty, and trust. What these young men and their extended family in Denmark have re-taught me in the last year is that if you have faith, loyalty and trust you do not need anything else. Sleep, food, clean clothes, money, etc. –it is all meaningless if you do not have amazing friends in your life. This is not business; this is love.
Stephen Sowley (ex-Reckless employee, Studio manager at Electrical Audio)
No order. 2011: Shelf It.
Bill Orcutt—How The Thing Sings // Tour 7”s (Ill Bill keeps going; I don’t want to know of a world without him)
V/A—Boddie Recording Company: Cleveland, Ohio // Local Customs: Pressed At Boddie (Numero culls the ghosts of a lost DIY era)
The band Leather (Philly behemoths take an archeological dig through your past embarrassments. Full Frontal Jock Shaming. MORE NOW)
Implodes—Black Earth (the dreamiest band in Chicago that refuses to make eye contact with you)
The band Raw Nerve (if they’ve done anything, they’ve proven how Trad H.C. Bobby Hill really was.)
Slices—Modern Bride 7” (the victory anthems for when Roethlisberger blows his knee out.)
Fantasia In Best Show Minor DVD (chump steam rolling in visual form)
Tim Hecker—Ravedeath 1972 (Key People, Blur Shit, Art School)
The band Wild Flag (Men: move to the back, put the phone down, and stop trying so hard)
Andy Stott—We Stay Together // Passed Me By (wherein Richie Hawtin meets Wolf Eyes and they burn your house down…slowly)
Byron Coley—C’est la Guerre: early writings 1978—1983 (Gather round, it’s xmas and dad’s gonna tell us about the war)
Kurt Vile—Smoke Ring For My Halo // So Outta Reach (Shroom Tea Franks, Ganja Peanut Chew, Spuds McKenzie Poster sold separately)
The comedian Eddie Pepitone (Blue Collar Life Coach, Bitter Buddah…hating the things you can’t stand to live without.)
Void—Sessions 1981—1983 (Finally)
The band Population (Nepotism. Drink it up, Gothdrips)
Peaking Lights—936 (Lovers Rock for your resin stained walkman)
True Radical Miracle—Cockroaches (reissue LP) (Watch your summer vacation go down the toilet in the other direction)
Iceage—Youth Brigade (prison tattoos, unnecessary drama, and primal urgency get every number cruncher with a live-journal way too wet.)
Swans live (your band sucked compared to this…sorry boutcha.)
Total Control—Henge Beat (imagine the guys that refer to this as “friend rock.” I want to see their lists!)
Bjork—Crystalline 12” (1 out of 10 ain’t so bad, I guess)
Psychic Paramount—Psychic Paramount II (Repeat, repeat, repeat until maximum health and efficiency)
Sandwell District–Feed-Forward (free dinner with me for whomever bootlegs the vinyl for this and/or convinces these pricks to repress it.)
Dean Whitmore (Sub Pop Records)
Bakers 10 records both new & reissued that I bought & liked a lot this year. Alphabetically:
Mahmoud Ahmed – Jeguol Naw Betwa (Mississippi)
Bloodloss – Lost My Head for Drink (Dirty Knobby)
Broken Water – Peripheral Star (Perennial)
Condiminum – Warm Home 12″ (Condominium)
Cruddy – Negative World (12xU)
Fungus Brains – Ron Pistos Real World (Load)
L’orchestre Kanaga De Mopti – Kanaga De Mopti (Kindred Spirits)
Shabazz Palaces – Black Up (Sub Pop)
Shin Joong Hyun – Beautiful Rivers & Mountains (Light in the Attic)
Sonskull – Wiped Clean (Perennial)
Total Control – Henge Beat (Iron Lung)
Records from last year that hooked me this year:
Hype Williams – Find Out What Happens (De Stijl)
Kemialliset Ystavat – Ullakkopalo (Fonal)
No Balls – Less (Who Can You Trust/Streaks)
Something that I just got & think I am going to totally love end of ’11 & beyond:
Opika Pende Africa at 78 RPM Box
Other great stuff:
Camping w/ Cassidy
Tour w/ Uzi Rash
Getting rid of cable TV.
Squire Park
Living in a house again / playing records late etc.
Riding bike & ditching car.
Sloop Tavern.
20/20 Cycle
Getting to know Vancouver
Lopez & Shaw Islands
Mike Venutolo-Mantovani (Matador Records)
1.Brain F≠ – Sleep Rough (Grave Mistake)
2. Crooked Fingers – Breaks In The Armor (Merge)
3. The Shrine – Featherheads 7″ (Eliminator Records)
4.Mark Sultan – Whatever I Want (In The Red)
5. Mark Sultan – Whenever I Want (In The Red)
6. Mastodon – Live At The Aragon (WBR RSD Exclusive)
7. Wild Flag – S/T (Merge)
8. Crisis Of Conformity – Fistfight In The Parking Lot 7″ (Drag City)
9.Reigning Sound – Abdication… For Your Love EP (Scion A/V)
10. Total Babes – S/T (Old Flame)
WHITE MYSTERY: Miss Alex White & Francis S.K. White
(http://www.whitemysteryband.com)
Thee Oh Sees: Carrion Crawler (In The Red)
Heavy Times: Jacker (HoZac)
Cave: Neverendless (Drag City)
Night Beats S/T (Trouble in Mind)
Joe Wetteroth (BRAIN IDEA)
1. Cave, Neverendless
2. Grateful Dead, Europe ’72 Vol. 2
3. Fucked Up, David Comes To Life
4. Heavy Times, Jacker
5. James Ferraro, Far Side Virtual
**also started collecting Dead Bootlegs so that i can fulfill my 2012 new year resolution of listening to one live Grateful Dead set a day
from that particular day of the year. an idea given to me by Cooper
from Cave.
Ben Scott (BRAIN IDEA)
In no particular order
James Ferraro- Far Side Virtual
Destroyer- Kaputt
Jay-Z and Kanye- Watch the throne
Cave- Neverendless
Heavy Times- Jacker
Oneohtrixpointnever- Replica
Omar S.-It can be done, but only i can do it
Tyler The Creator- Bastard
Kurt VIle- Smoke ring for my halo
Azari and III
Real Estate- Days
YES- CLOSE 2 THE EDGE
Widowspeak- S/T
Todd Curtis (Music Direct)
new stuff i listened to the most this year:
true widow – as high as… (kemado)
bats – free all monsters (flying nun)
absu – abzu (candlelight)
pj harvey – let england shake (vagrant)
seapony – go with me (hardly art)
inquisition – ominous doctrines of the perpetual mystical macrocosm (hell’s headbangers)
ice age – new brigade (dais)
violeta vil – toronjil ep (discoteca oceano)
lorelle meets the obsolete – on welfare (captcha)
chancha via circuito – rio arriba (zzk)
reissues:
v/a – cartagena! (soundway)
voivod – to the death ’84 (alternative tentacles)
sisters of mercy – first and last and always (mobile fidelity silver)
dug dug’s – s/t (lion productions)
dead brain cells – s/t & universe (war on music)
lee perry – return of pipecock jackxon (honest jon’s)
blossom toes – we are ever so clean (sunbeam)
above ground – gone aiwa (siltbreeze)
junior kimbrough with the soul blues boys – do the rump (klimpt)
television personalities – they could have been bigger than the beatles (1972)
Pete Klockau (Bloodshot Records)
In no particular order…
THE JIM JONES REVIEW- “Burning Your House Down” (Punk Rock Blues)
“Explosive” is probably the best word to use here- it’s like if Little Richard were a demonic hellion fronting
a band of ex-convicts playing to earn back their freedom. This thing smokes… their show at Schuba’s (with
Kid Congo Powers) was pretty damned incredible, too.
DEX ROMWEBER DUO- “Is That You In The Blue” (Bloodshot)
Not to toot our own horn (though I will here), Dex & his sister Sara turn in their second phenomenal
record as the Dex Romweber Duo. I love(d) me some Flat Duo Jets… but dare I say this is (gulp)… even better?!
I dare you to listen to his version of “Brazil” and tell me this album doesn’t do anything for you.
JC BROOKS & THE UPTOWN SOUND- “Want More” (Bloodshot)
A local favorite, not only local to Chicago, but local to my adopted neighborhood Uptown. Our little neighborhood that
could has been in the news for so many shitty reasons this year, it’s great to see some local boys make good.
Oh, and this record kicks 10 kinds of ass (count ’em!) Speaking of ass, if “Want More” doesn’t make
you shake yours, it must be broke.
KID CONGO POWERS- “Gorilla Rose” (In The Red)
Ex Cramp, Bad Seed, and Gun Clubber makes his third record of weirdo glammy gutter garage noir
and makes it all seem so easy to pull off. Extra props to In The Red for also releasing a limited edition LP
of Kid & his band playing live at a prom in the Southern California suburbs this year.
JACK OBLIVIAN- “Rat City” (Fat Possum)
This is Jack O’s fourth record with the Tennessee Tearjerkers, and I’ll be good god damned if they
don’t keep getting better and better. “Rat City” is every bit as gritty and sinister sounding as that title
would have you think. Who would’ve thought back when the Oblivians were kicking my high school
ass with “Soul Food” and “Popular Favorites” that (between Jack O and Greg Cartwright’s multiple and
meritus projects) they’d still be tickling my ear drums in exactly the right way 15 years later?
JERRY SUN- “Exotic Sounds” (Dionysus)
I am an admitted Exotica and Lounge junkie. Unfortunately most of the new stuff that turns up is hokey and, frankly,
awful. Thank god for Dionysus who are still out there finding exotica master tapes from the original era. Much
like last year’s Beachcomber Trio “Live at Kahiki Supper Club” LP, this one gets a special spot next to the hi fi.
JD MCPHERSON- “Signs & Signifiers” (Hi-Style)
His voice swings from Wilson Pickett to Big Sandy to everything in between. It’s timeless, with production so
authentically vintage sounding you’d swear this was some lost Hi Records or King 45 from the late 1950’s. It’s
nice to know there are still people out there able to make vintage sounds fresh again.
TONY CHRISTIE- “Now’s the Time” (Acid Jazz)
60’s British lounge singer Tony Christie was dormant for many years, but unlike Tom Jones (who returned with
an album of gospel folk songs last year), Mr. Christie stuck to what he did (does) best and made one catchy-
and-fun-as-all-shit album of vintage brassy lounge-pop. This album sounds like all the songs you like by Neil Diamond
with a healthy dose of classic Sinatra. When you go to Las Vegas and want to see a show, this is what you want to
see… or at least it’s what I want to see. The key here is that there is nothing remotely hokey or ironic about this
album- the whole package is just GOOD.
HAYES CARLL- “Kmag Yoyo” (Lost Highway)
Hayes continues to prove he’s one of the finest songwriters going these days. From open to close, the
lyrics are clever, the songwriting is tight, and it is exceedingly enjoyable throughout.
THE BLACK SWANS- “Don’t Blame the Stars” (Misra)
This record is a joy to listen to- I am biased as I have had a copy for some time now. But I am so
glad to finally see this immensely enjoyable album get released. Totally contemporary, occasionally
absurdist lyrics, but wrapped in a warm analog package that sounds like it could’ve been made this
year, or could be some lost gentle country-folk masterpiece from a bygone era.
Some reissues I never thought I would see:
MR GASSER & THE WEIRDOS- “Surfink”, “Hotrod Hootenany” & “Rods & Ratfinks” (Sundazed)
Ed “Big Daddy” Roth surf novelty records? Yes, please!
JIM FORD- “Harlan County” reissue (Light in the Attic)
I’ve loved this record for years- so glad to see it finally get a full-on reissue. This is the absolute
funkiest white dude you will ever hear (Tony Joe White and Dennis Coffey… watch yourselves…)
YMA SUMAC- “Miracles” (Omni)
The “Incan Princess'” bizzaro rock record from the early 1970’s… Les Baxter (Exotica and soundtrack king of
the 1960’s) wrote and produced this album, adding another layer of weirdness to the proceedings.
VARIOUS ARTISTS- “Delta Swamp Rock” Vol. 1 thru 3 (Soul Jazz)
All three of these comps are excellent. The title gives you an idea of what to expect- country music from
that weird-and-awesome crossroad in the mid 1970’s where country got funky and soulful.
Jim Magas
Wolfgang Voigt – Freiland Klaviermusik
Les Rallizes Denudes – Heavier Than a Death In the Family
Les Rallizes Denudes – Blind Baby Has Its Mother’s Eyes
Bill Orcutt – Way Down South
Endless Boogie – Full House Head
Speed, Glue & Shinki – s/t
Scientists – This Is My Happy Hour
VA – Ecstatic Music of the Jemaa El Fna
VA – Saigon Rock & Soul: Vietnamese Classic Tracks 1968-1974
Omar Souleyman – Jazeera Nights: Folk & Pop Sounds of Syria
Dadawah – Peace And Love
Bang – Bullets boxset
Moebius – Blue Moon OST
Kevin Drumm – Necro Acoustic 5CD box
My Solid Ground – s/t
Umberto – Prophesy of the Black Widow
Goblin – Zombi
Virgo – s/t
Chris & Cosey reissues
Brainbombs – Burning Hell
Omar Khorshid – Guitar El Chark
Anthony “Shake” Shakir – Frictionalism
Negative Approach – s/t 7″
Vulcan – Meet Your Ghost
Chris Connelly – How This Ends
Syl Johnson – Complete Mythology 6LP box
Other great things: The Gories reunion at Empty Bottle, Louie CK, Omar Souleyman at Grant Park, my daughter entering pre-school, the continuing proliferation of outstanding craft beers and playing with the Violent ARP Band.
Emily Elhaj
LADY GAGA
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS WINNING THE SUPER BOWL
Beach House – Teen Dream (Sub Pop)
Etienne Jaumet – Night Music (Domino)
Best Coast – Crazy For You (Mexican Summer)
Magik Markers/Sic Alps – Tour Only 12″ (Yik Yak Records)
Sylvester Anfang II – Commune Cassetten (Blackest Rainbow)
Ken Camden – Lethargy & Repercussions (Kranky)
Mulatu Astatke – Mulatu Steps Ahead (Strut)
Blessure Grave – Judged By 12, Carried By 6 (Release the Bats)
Sun Araw – On Patrol (Not Not Fun)
Caribou – Swim (Merge)
Erykah Badu – New Amerykah Part Two: Return of the Ankh (Universal Motown)
Phil Cohran – Armageddon (Katalyst)
Pantha du Prince – Black Noise (Rough Trade)
Cacaw – Cacaw (Permanent)
Dum Dum Girls – Blissed Out (cass) (Art Fag)
Fielded – Terrageist (Catholic Tapes)
Janelle Monae – The Archandroid (Bad Boy)
Geffika – Geffika (cass) (Love Lion)
Emeralds – Does it Look I’m Here? (Editions Mego)
Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti – Before Today (4AD)
Amen Dunes – Murder Dull Mind EP (Sacred Bones)
Wild Nothing – Gemini (Captured Tracks)
Oneohtrix Point Never – Returnal (Editions Mego)
Julian Lynch – Mare (Olde English Spelling Bee)
The Dream – Love King (Def Jam)
Best Coast – Sun Was High (So Was I) 45 (Art Fag)
High Confessions – Turning Lead Into Gold… (Relapse)
Dirty Beaches – True Blue/Sweet 17 45 (Zoo Music)
Purple Rhinestone Eagle – The Great Return (Stank House/Love Lion)
Blut Aus Nord – What Once Was… Liber I (Debemur Morti)
Angel Olsen – Lady of the Waterpark (cass) (Love Lion)
Tinsel Teeth – Trash As The Trophy (Load)
Dead C – Patience (Badabing)
Brain Idea – Survival Scrolls (Permanent)
Games – That We Play (Hippos In Tanks)
Burzum – Belus (Back on Black)
Sleep Over – Outer Limits 45 (Forest Family)
Deathspell Omega – Paracletus (Norma Evangelium Diaboli)
(((SHOWS)))
Thrones – Empty Bottle
Best Coast – Empty Bottle/Pitchfork/Metro
Sleep/Ga’an – Logan Square Auditorium
Joan Jett – 7/11 Parking Lot
Omar Souleyman – Grant Park
Solvent – Home Sweet Home, New York
Enslaved – House of Blues
Cacaw – Ball Hall
John Wiese – MCA (Wire Festival)
Julian Lynch – Gravity Records, North Carolina
Cropped Out Festival, Louisville, Kentucky
Riccardo Muti at Millennium Park
Dave Hofer
BEST OF 2010 (no order):
Big Boi – Sir Lucious Left Foot
Decrepit Birth – Polarity
Aeon – Path of Fire
Primate – demos
Blacastan – Blac Sabbath
Fuck the Facts – Unnamed EP
Bongripper – Satan Worshipping Doom
Angel Eyes – Midwestern
Drake – Thank Me Later
Puerto Muerto – Drumming for Pistols
Sleepy Sun – Fever
Guilty Simpson – OJ Simpson
Whitefield Brothers – Earthology
Cephalic Carnage – Misled By Certainty
Centarus – Pulse
Nails – Unsilent Death
Cardiac Arrest – Haven for the Insane
Muzzler/Harpoon – Split 7″
Kate Ruggeri
Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti – Before Today
Big Boi – Sir Lucious Left Foot: Son of Chico Dusty
Brain Idea – Survival Scrolls
The Dream – Love King
Flying Lotus – Cosmogramma
Gregory Isaacs – All I Have is Love
Group Doueh – Beatte Harab
Group Inerane – Guitars From Agadez, Vol. 3
Lee Perry – Sound System Scratch
Neil Young – Le Noise
Sun City Girls – Funeral Mariachi
Sun Araw – On Patrol / Off Duty EP
Dan Maloney
Ariel Pink & The Haunted Graffiti: Before Today
Field Music : (Measure)
Gil Scott Heron : I’ m New Here
Javelin : No Mas
Tallest Man On Earth: Wild Hunt
Robert Plant: Band of Joy
Beach House: Teen Dream
Tame Impala: Inner Speaker
Deerhunter: Halcyon Digest
Secret Sisters: S/t
Sun Kil Moon: Admiral Fell Promises
Neil Young: Le Noise
Reissues
Bruce Springsteen: The Promise
Anibal Velasquez & Su Conjunto: Mambo Loco
Syl Johnson: Complete Mythology
Jim Sullivan: UFO
Kris Kristofferson: Please Don’t Tell Me How The Story Ends (Publishing Demos)
Ride: Nowhere
Slowdive: Soulvaki & Blue Day
Robert Wyatt: Shleep
Dadawah: Peace & Love
Bridget St John: 4 Men With Beards Reissues
Pastor T.L Barrett: Like A Ship
Libby Zanders
In no particular order:
Love Lion cassette label
Pastor T.L. Barrett and the Youth for Christ Choir “Like A Ship… (Without A Sail)” reissue LP
Brain Idea “The Survival Scrolls” LP
Eddy Current Suppression Ring “Rush to Relax” LP
Burzum “Belus” LP
Los Saicos “Demolicion!” 7″ box set
Heavy Times “Dead” LP
Kris Kristofferson “Please Don’t Tell Me How the Story Ends: the Publishing Demos 68-72” LP
Pissed Jeans “Sam Kinison Woman” 7″
Mississippi Records still killin’ it- Check out their tape series!
Tandoori Knights “Bucketful” 7″
Lady Gaga taking over the country
Beyonce “Why Don’t You Love Me” music video
Sleep at the Logan Square Auditorium
Implodes at the Empty Bottle
extra photos of Bruce Springsteen from Darkness on the Edge of Town sessions
touch & go book
Katie Kapuza
Into the Great Wide Yonder- Trentemoller
Ay Ay Ay- Matias Aguayo
Black Noise- Pantha Du Prince
U Don’t Like Me- Diplo & Lil Jon
A Sufi & A Killer- Gonjasufi
Strange Weather Isn’t It- !!!
Mercy- Sweet Cobra
Dust- Ellen Allien
Madlib Medicine Show #4- Madlib
Where Did the Night Fall- Unkle
DJ Kicks- Apparat
Modeselektion Vol. 1- Modeselektor
Blood of Heroes- Blood of Heroes
Caroline Yohanon
(in no order)
dungen “skit i allt”
beach house “teen dream”
whitefield brothers “earthology”
Javelin “no mas”
black keys “brothers”
the liminanas “the liminanas”
sade “soldier of love”
lcd soundsystem “this is happening”
chicago thrash ensemble “chicago thrash ensemble ep”
field music “field music”
tame impala “innerspeaker”
thee oh sees “warm slime”
tallest man on earth “the wild hunt”
robert plant “band of joy”
mgmt “congratulations”
baths “cerulean”
black angels “phosphene dream”
sleigh bells “treats”
yeasayer “odd blood”
twin sister “color your life”
mulatu astatke “mulatu steps ahead”
peed glue & shinki “speed glue & shinki” (reissue)
various artists “pomegranates”
best shows
the violent arp band @ empty bottle
dungen @ lincoln hall
Billy Smith
2010 best of looks mostly mellow
Peter Gabriel “Scratch My Back” (Real World)
Loscil “Endless Falls” (Kranky)
Jonsi “Go” (XL)
S O U N D G A R D E N is B A C K
Johann Johannsson “Fordlandia” (4AD)
Olafur Arnalds “And They Escaped The Weight” (Erased Tapes)
Superchunk “Majesty Shredding” (Merge)
Swans “My Father Will Guide Me Up a Rope to the Sky” (Young God)
Posies “Blood/ Candy” (Rykodisc)
Local H “Local H’s Awesome Mix Tape # 1 (G&P)
Michelle Hodges
best coast – crazy for you
merchandise – (strange songs) in the dark
jack rose – luck in the valley
detachments – s/t
anika – s/t
scientists – this is my happy hour
swans – my father will guide me up a rope to the sky
death in june – peaceful snow
daily void – eclipse of 1453 ep
bastard noise – a culture of monsters
total abuse – mutt
drunkdriver – s/t
slices – cruising
raw nerve – s/t
sick/tired – highlife
double negative – daydream nation
manipulation – violence 7″
low threat profile – s/t 7″
mens interest – more war 7″
leather – anchorite 7″
vile gash – s/t 7″
veins – s/t 7″
vaccine – human hatred 7″
sea of shit/ socially retarded split 7″
raspberry bulbs – dust in the fallen face cs
population – demo cs
skrapyard – demo cs
vinyl reissues:
the fall – wonderful and frightening world of the fall
crisis – hymns of faith
les rallizes denudes – heavier than a death in the family
black tambourine – s/t
hoover – the lurid traversal of route 7
ride – nowhere
galaxie 500 (all of them)
spacemen 3 (all of them)
wake – harmony
shows:
swans @ bottom lounge
dropdead & double negative @ treasure town
the clean @ bottom lounge
bastard noise @ ronny’s
Matt Jencik
Agalloch “Marrow of the Spirit”
Aguaturbia LP reissues
Alcest “Ecaille De Lune”
Anika “s/t”
Autopsy LP reissues
Blut Aus Nord “What Once Was…Liber I”
Brain Idea “Survival Scrolls”
Jane Birkin “Di Doo Dah” reissue
Burzum “Belus”
Ken Camden “Lethargy & Repurcussions” LP
Chris Connelly “Ed Royal” book
Deathspell Omega “Paracletus”
Deuter “D” LP reissue
Deux “Decadence” LP reissue
Disappears “Lux”
Drudkh “Handful of Stars”
Enslaved “Axioma Ethica Odini”
Fielded “Terrageist”
Furze “Reaper Subconscious Guide”
Katatonia “Dance of December Souls” LP reissue
Les Rallizes Denudes LP reissues
Liars “Sisterworld”
Love Cry Want “s/t” LP reissue
Nachtmystium “Addicts: Black Meddle Part Two”
Orkustra “Adventures in Experimental Electronic Orchestra”
from the San Francisco Psychedelic Underground”
Parasites of the Western World LP reissue
Parson Sound LP boxset
Armando Piazza “Suan” reissue
Ramleh “Hole in the Heart”
Ride for Revenge “Wisdom of the Few”
Triptykon “Eparistera Daimones”
Until the Light Takes Us 2XDVD
Voivod “Negatron”/”Phobos” LP reissue
Yellow Swans “Going Places”
Neil Young “Le Noise”
V/A Saigon Rock & Soul: Vietnamese Classic Tracks 1968-1974
V/A Secret Museum of Mankind Vol. 1 LP reissue
Live shows
Alcest @ Reggie’s
Brain Idea @ The Hideout
The Clean/ Mannequin Men @ Bottom Lounge
Enslaved @ House of Blues
Entombed @ Reggie’s
Guided by Voices @ Riviera
Iggy & the Stooges @ Riviera
eyehategod/ Nachtmystium @ Empty Bottle
Omar Souleyman @ Grant Park
Sleep @ Logan Square Auditorium
Sunn O)))/Boris at ATP NY
Triptykon @ Bottom Lounge
Erika Hendrix
Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti: Before Today (4AD)
Best Coast: “Something in the Way” [7”] (Post Present Medium)
Das Racist: Shut Up, Dude (digital mixtape)
Deerhunter: Halcyon Digest (4AD)
Disappears: Lux (Kranky)
Dum Dum Girls: I Will Be (Sub Pop)
Hallo Gallo: “Blinkgurtel” [7”] (Vampire Blues)
Hunx and his Punx: Gay Singles (True Panther)
Moderne: Moderne 1980-81 (Minimal Wave)
Moon Duo: Escape (Woodsist)
Munly & the Lupercalians: Petr & the Wulf (Alternative Tentacles)
Newsom, Joanna: Have One on Me (Drag City)
Olsen, Angel: Strange Cacti (Bathetic) [tape]
Swans: My Father Will Guide Me Up a Rope to the Sky (Young God)
Teengirl Fantasy: 4AM (Thrill Jockey)
Thee Oh Sees: Warm Slime (In the Red)
Umberto: Prophesy of the Black Widow (Not Not Fun)
The Vaselines: Sex with an X (Sub Pop)
Yellow Swans: Going Places
Zola Jesus: Stridulum EP (Sacred Bones)
Various artists: Minimal Wave Tapes, Vol. 1 (Stones Throw)
Honorable mentions:
Beach House: Teen Dream (Sub Pop); Future Islands: In Evening Air
(Thrill Jockey); Grinderman: Grinderman 2 (Anti-); LA Vampires & Zola
Jesus: LA Vampires Meets Zola Jesus (Not Not Fun);Lynch, Julian: Mare
(Old English Spelling Bee); Sadier, Laetitia: The Trip (Drag City)
Reissues/compilations/box sets::
Black Tambourine: Complete Recordings (Slumberland)
Deux: Decadence (Minimal Wave)
Neu!: Neu! reissues/Neu! box set
Orange Juice: Coals to Newcastle (Domino)
Slim Cessna’s Auto Club: Buried Behind the Barn (Alternative
Tentacles; originally released in 2004 as a CD-R)
Melissa Grubbs
Alcest- Ecaille De Lune
Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti – Before Today
Erykah Badu – New Amerykah Part Two: Return of the Ankh
Ken Camden – Lethargy & Repercussions
Phil Cohran- Zulu 45s 7” boxset
Deux “Decadence” LP reissue
Enslaved “Axioma Ethica Odini”
Grinderman- 2
Group Inerane- Guitars From Agadez Vol. 3
High Confessions – Turning Lead Into Gold…
Syl Johnson- Complete Mythology
Omar Khorshid – Guitar El Chark
Les Rallizes Denudes (reissues)
Liars- Sisterworld
Janelle Monae- The Archandroid
Parson Sound LP boxset
Pastor T.L. Barrett “Like a Ship Without a Sail”
PNS & ZAVALA- Canciones Modernas
Mark Ronson- Bang Bang 12″ (with Q-Tip! Best guilty pleasure 12″ in a while!)
Sade- Soldier of Love
Gil Scott Heron- I’m New Here
Sylvester Anfang II – Commune Cassetten
Umberto – Prophesy of the Black Widow
Anibal Y Su Conjunto Velasquez- Mambo Loco
Various Artists- Cloud Cuckooland
Various Artists- Cumbia Beat Vol.1 1966-1976: Experimental Guitar-Driven Tropical
Various Artists: Ecstatic Music of the Jemaa El Fna
Various Artists – Pomegranates
Various Artists – Saigon Rock & Soul: Vietnamese Classic Tracks 1968-1974
Whitfield Brothers- Earthology
Robert Wyatt- Shleep (vinyl reissue)
Neil Young- Le Noise
Ethan D’Ercole
SYL JOHNSON BOX
PHIL COHRAN 7″ BOX
MANNEQUIN MEN- HOBBY GIRL/ SEE SAW (HOZAC)
MANNEQUIN MEN/ JACK OBLIVIAN SPLIT 7″ (VICE)
HIGH CONFESSIONS- TURNING LEAD INTO GOLD (RELAPSE)
(DUTCH) OUTSIDERS- AFRAID OF THE DARK (PSEUDONYM)
THEE OH SEES- WARM SLIME (IN THE RED)
ENDTABLES- S/T (DRAG CITY)
CHICAGO THRASH ENSEMBLE- S/T (PLASTIC AIRLINES)
BEDFELLOWS- LIVE AT THE HIDEOUT (IMPORT ONLY)
SMALL FACES- ALL OR NOTHING (DVD)
ARIEL PINK- BEFORE TODAY (4AD)
Robbie Hamilton
Disappears “Lux”
Besnard Lakes “Besnard Lakes Are The Roaring Night”
David Vandervelde “Summertime Hits”
Ariel Pink “Before Today”
Swans “My Father Will Guide Me Up A Rope To The Sky”
Movie of the year:
“I’m Still Here”, Directed by Casey Affleck
Sarah Frier
1. Brothers – The Black Keys
2. Phosphorescent Dream – The Black Angels
3. Majesty Shredding – Superchunk
4. Before Today – Ariel Pink
5. Square Shells EP – Kurt Vile
6. Band of Joy – Robert Plant
7. I Learned the Hard Way – Sharon Jones
8. Expo 86 – Wolf Parade
9. Teen Dream – Beach House
10. Le Noise – Neil Young
11. This is Happening – LCD Soundsystem
12. Go – Jonsi
13. Transference – Spoon
You made this year funny awards: Kristin Wiig, The Best Show on WFMU, David Cross, Tina Fey & the hometown heroes at The Beat Kitchen’s Chicago Underground Comedy. Go to there.
Ken Camden
Group Inerane – Guitars From Agadez Vol. 3
Fielded – Terrageist
Jonas Reinhardt – Powers of Audition
Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti – Before Today
Brain Idea – Survival Scrolls
Disappears – Lux
Brian Mcbride – The Effective Disconnect
Sylvester Anfang II – Commune Cassetten
Alex Barnett – Section 1-3 (cassettes)
Geffika – Geffika (cassette)
Reissues
Slava Ranko – Arctic Hysteria
Daphne Oram – Oramics
Dwarr – Animals
Snowy Red – Right to Die
Deux – Decadence
Steve Shoup
Artificial Peace – Complete Sessions
Autopsy – reissues
Beherit – Engram
Bitchin Bajas – Tones/Zones
Blut Aus Nord – What Once Was… Liber I
The Body – All The Waters Of The Earth Turn To Blood
Brain Idea – The Survival Scrolls
Burzum – Belus
Cacaw – Cacaw
Ken Camden – Lethargy & Repercussions
Can – Peel Sessions
Cave – Pure Moods
Crisis – Hymns Of Faith
Daily Void – Eclipse Of 1453
Deathspell Omega – Paracletus
Drudkh – Handful Of Stars
Dwarr – Animals
Emeralds – Does It Look Like I’m Here?
Fielded – Terrageist
Ga’an – Call Of The Black Equus
Geffika – Geffika
Goblin – Roller reissue
Heavy Times – Dead
Omar Khorshid – Guitar El Chark
Leather – Anchorite 7″
Les Rallizes Denudes – Blind Baby Has Its Mother’s Eyes
Les Rallizes Denudes – Heavier Than A Death In The Family
Lungfish – Pass & Stow reissue
Ozzie – The Parabolic Rock 1975-1982
Parasites Of The Western World reissue
Parson Sound box set
Pissed Jeans – Sam Kinison Woman 7″
Plastic People Of The Universe – Magical Nights
Psychic Steel – Ofsteme
Ride – Nowhere reissue
Rorschach – Remain Sedate/Protestant reissue
Section 25 – Always Now reissue
Snowy Red – Right To Die
Spacemen 3 – reissues
Steel Pole Bath Tub – Unlistenable
Wipers – Out Takes
Neil Young – Le Noise
SHOWS:
Bastard Noise
The Body
The Clean
Harvey Milk
Negative Approach
Bill Orcutt
Pissed Jeans
Sleep
Swans
Thrones
… and far too many Chicago bands to list here
Kip McCabe
Chicago Backhawks winning the Stanley Fucking Cup!
Meshuggah “Alive”
Shipping News “One Less Heart to Fear”
Bottomless Pit “Blood Under the Bridge”
Melvins “The Bride Screamed Murder”
The Books “The Way Out”
Andrew Bird “Useless Creatures”
Dungen “Skit I Allt”
Neil Young “Le Noise’
Dan Worland
Disappears – Lux
Tyler Jon Tyler – s/t + both 45s
Night Beats – H-Bomb EP
Midwest Beat – At The Gates
Eddy Current Suppression Ring – Rush To Relax
Spoon – Transference
1900s – Return of the Century
Courtland Green
JOSHUA ABRAMS “NATURAL INFORMATION”
SADE “SOLDIER OF LOVE”
ANIBAL VELASQUEZ Y SU CONJUNTO “MAMBO LOCO”
MEATY OGRE & CRUSHCON 7 “SWORD”
PNS & ZAVALA “CANCIONES MODERNAS”
ROBERT WYATT “FOR THE GHOSTS WITHIN”
BILL ORCUTT “WAY DOWN SOUTH”
SYL JOHNSON “COMPLETE MYTHOLOGY”
GIL SCOTT-HERON “I’M NEW HERE”
GREGORY ISAACS “ALL I HAVE IS LOVE”
WHITEFIELD BROTHERS “EARTHOLOGY”
V/A “ECSTATIC MUSIC OF THE JEMAA EL FNA”
PASTOR T.L. BARRETT “LIKE A SHIP WITHOUT A SAIL”
V/A “REAL SOUND OF CHICAGO”
FUMIO HAYASAKA & MASARU SATO “AKIRA KUROSAWA’S MOVIE
SOUNDTRACKS”
PARSON SOUND “PARSON SOUND” boxset
Gar Brandtt
NO particular order except number one is #1.
LCD Soundsystem “This is Happening”
Books “The Way Out”
Grinderman “2”
Lustmord “Dark Places of the Earth”
Holy Fuck “Latin”
Doomstar! “Rainbow Bloodsucker”
National “High Violet”
Perseus Noble S/T
Health “disco2”
Les Savy Fav “Root For Ruin”11. Altar Eagle “Mechanical Garden”
Band of Horses “Infinite Arms”
Deerhunter “Halcyon Digest”
Robert Plant “Band of Joy”
Swans “My Father Will Guide Me Up a Rope to the Sky”
Stereolab “Not Music”
New to Me (Reissues and Remasters)
David Bowie “Station to Station”
Amanaz “Africa”
Neu! “Boxset”
Syl Johnson “Complete Mythology
Lauren Kornman
1. Various Artists “Minimal Wave Tapes, Volume One” (cd/lp) (minimal wave)
2. Los Saicos “¡Demolición! – The Complete Recordings” (cd) (Munster)
3. Omar Khorshid “Guitar El Chark” (lp) (Sublime Frequencies)
4. Deux “Decadence” (lp) (minimal wave)
5. Various Artists “Cumbia Beat Vol. 1: Experimental Guitar Driven Tropical
Sounds From Peru 1966-1976 (vampi soul)
6. Bruce Haack “Farad: The Electric Voice” (lp/cd) (Stones Throw)
7. Dara Puspita “1966-1968” (cd) (Sublime Frequencies)
8. Pastor T.L. Barrett: “Like a Ship (Without a Sail)” (lp/cd) (Light In The Attic)
9. Various Artists “Saigon Rock & Soul: Vietnamese Classic Tracks 1968-1974” (lp)
(Sublime Frequencies)
10. Syl Johnson “Complete Mythology” (lp/cd) (Numero Group)
11. Various Artists “Vol 1: Wave The Ocean, Wave The Sea – Field
Recordings 1959-1960” (lp) (Mississippi Records)
12. Various Artists “Vol 2: Worried Now, Won’t Be Worried Long – Field
Recordings From Alan Lomax’s “Southern Journey”,1959-1960″
(lp) (Mississippi Records)
13. Various Artists “Vol 3: I’ll Meet You On That Other Shore – Field
Recordings From Alan Lomax’s “Southern Journey”, 1959-1960″
(lp) (Mississippi Records)
14. Various Artists “Vol 4: I’ll Be So Glad When The Sun Goes Down –
Field Recordings From Alan Lomax’s “Southern Journey”,
1959-1960″ (lp) (Mississippi Records)
15. Various Artists “Psych Funk Sa-Re-Ga!” (lp/cd) (Stones Throw)
Dylan Posa
ANIMAL COLLECTIVE – FALL BE KIND EP
BEAK – S/T
Best New Records Of 2010 (in no order)
THE MAJOR LABEL SUCCESSES (against all odds)
=========================
ERYKAH BADU ‘NEW AMERYKAH PT.2’ – a little mellower than Part One,
but good tunes nonetheless
FLAMING LIPS ‘DARK SIDE OF THE MOON’ – a seemingly bad idea actually
works, and is (dare I say) improved on in some spots
DEVO ‘SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE’ – haters will hate, but the new
songs are just as good as the old. Nostalgia is for squares.
ROOTS ‘HOW I GOT OVER’ – another brilliant concoction from the
hardest working band in show business
ELVIS COSTELLO ‘NATIONAL RANSOM’ – brilliant trawl through the
record collection, but in a good way
LITTLE BIGS THAT COULD (the Indies that feel like Majors)
======================
GIL SCOTT-HERON ‘I’M NEW HERE’ – a brilliant and thoughtful return
from a true original
TED LEO ‘BRUTALISM BRICKS’ – not one of his best, but still pretty
strong
BOOKS ‘THE WAY OUT’ – incredible constructions of pop collage
NEW PORNOGRAPHERS ‘TOGETHER’ – better and better
SMALL PLEASURES WITH GOOD DISTRO (I wish we sold more of these)
================================
MIDLAKE ‘COURAGE OF OTHERS’ – gorgeous uk folk/rock that sucks you in
FIELD MUSIC ‘MEASURE’ – ork/prog/pop genius
JAGA JAZZIST ‘ONE ARMED BANDIT’ – closest thing to a new ’70s Zappa
record you can get (and that’s a good thing)
LOCRIAN ‘TERRITORIES’ – their most fully-realized statement yet
DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN ‘OPTION PARALYSIS’ – unfuckingbelievable
KAYO DOT ‘COYOTE’ – creeeepy
HARVEY MILK ‘SMALL TURN OF HUMAN KINDNESS’ – what can you say about
this band: perfect in every way, like a dinosaur.
BASTARD NOISE ‘CULTURE OF MONSTERS’ – I’m loving the dense punk
construction of these songs
HIGH CONFESSIONS ‘TURNING LEAD INTO GOLD’ – totally compelling and
seriously one of the best records I’ve heard in the last 10 years
MEGAFAUN ‘HERETOFORE’ – these guys combined UK folk and American
avant-garde tendencies to create an interesting amalgam
BAD PLUS ‘NEVER STOP’ – another batch of knotty “loud jazz”
compositions (too bad the vinyl is pressed so quietly)
CALLERS ‘LIFE OF LOVE’ – like Beefheart combined with Bacharach
GREYMACHINE ‘DISCONNECTED’ – came out last year but the vinyl finally
arrived in 2010. Godflesh for the aughts…
MARNIE STERN ‘S/T’ – guitar pyrotechnics plus indie rock
WOLF PEOPLE ‘STEEPLE’ – possibly the most slept-on record of 2010,
considering how much people loved Dungen
GLASSER ‘RING’ – cooler than Zola Jesus and Kate Bush combined
CIRCLE OF ANIMALS ‘DESTROY THE LIGHT’ – High Confessionals have some
Killing Joke love
WEEKEND ‘SPORTS’ – a late entry in the list, this one caught us all
by surprise
Best Reissues Of 2010 (in no order)
WEEZER ‘PINKERTON’ – Anything to do with this record gets an automatic
“Best” whatever.
ELVIS COSTELLO ‘LIVE AT HOLLYWOOD HIGH’
EMBRYO ’40’
WITCH ‘LAZY BONES II’ – In a glut of Afrorock reissues, this one
had some of the most compelling songwriting and playing.
EINSTURZENDE NEUBAUTEN ‘HAUS DER LUGE’ – One of their most accessible
and beautiful records, finally spiffed up for CD.
JIMI HENDRIX ‘WEST COAST SEATTLE BOY’ – an excellent collection
of, amazingly, unheard material.
Jason Verhagen
1. DEVO “SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE” (WARNER BROS)
2. SAIGON ROCK & SOUL 1968-1975 “VARIOUS ARTISTS” (SUBLIME FREQ.)
3. KOES PLUS “DHEG DHEG PLAS. VOL.2″ (SUBLIME FREQ.)
4. CHARANJIT SIGNH “TEN RAGAS TO A DISCO BEAT” (BOMBAY CONNECTION)
5. CHICAGO TRASH ENSEMBLE “12” (SELF-RELEASED)
6. TRANS AM “THING” (THRILL JOCKEY)
7. DARA PUSPITA “1966-1968” (SUBLIME FREQ.)
8. M.I.A. “MAYA” (XL RECORDS)
9. ARIEL PINK’S HAUNTED GRAFFITI “BEFORE TODAY” (4AD)
10.PAUL COLLINS “KING OF POWER-POP” (ALIVE REC.)
TOP CONCERTS OF 2010
1. BUZZCOCKS
2. P.I.L.
3. OMAR SOLEYMAN
4. RIOT FEST (CIRCLE JERKS,CRO-MAGS,N.A.,OFF)
5. DEVO
Angela Ziles
Best of 2010 List
Electric Wizard- Black Masses
Balam Acab- See Birds
Harvey Milk- S/T
Mount Kimbie- Crooks & Lovers
The Besnard Lakes- The Besnard Lakes Are The Roaring Night
The Daily Void- The Eclipse of 1453
Deux- Decadence
White Hills & Gnod- Gnod Drop Out With White Hills II
Date Psalms- Of Psalms
Phil Cohran & Legacy- African Skies
Anika- S/T
The Warlocks- Rise & Fall, EPs & Rarities
James Blackshaw- All Is Falling
Psychedelic Aliens- Psycho African Beat
Umberto- Prophecy Of The Black Widow
Arp, Anthony Moore- Frkwys Vol. 3
Lee “Scratch” Perry- Sound System Scratch Lee Perry’s Dub Plate Mixes
Mark Lux
ken camden lethargy & repercussions
steel pole bathtub unlistenable
ariel pink before today
plastic people of the universe magical nights
seu jorge & almaz
sun city girls funeral mariachi
pippo spera a buen perto
junip fields
bruce springsteen the promise
disappears ‘me’
dwarr animals
group inerane guitars from agadez vol. 3
running/loose dudes split 7″
chris & cosey heartbeat reissue
mount carmel
jonas reinhardt powers of audition
Laura Deutsch
Flowers-Corsano Duo
The Four Aims
VHF
This album just might be the greatest thing I’ve come across in the last few years. After being a fan of Chris Corsano’s for many years, I got to see the duo live in Massachusetts and was blown away. On this album, Corsano is as skilled and quick as ever while Mick Flowers soars with an intense, rhythm-driven performance on the organ and tanpura. While these two musicians are undeniably talented on their own right, it is beyond clear (to me) that Corsano and Flowers bring out the best in one an other when playing together in this duo.
Michael Hurley
Armchair Boogie
Mississippi Records
Hurley’s voice on this album reminds me of every back road in the northeast.
Bill Nace, Paul Flaherty
An Airless Field
Ecstatic Peace!
I had been waiting to get my hands on this album and finally picked it up when Nace played at Enemy earlier this year. Nace creates a layered and grounding sediment for Flaherty to jump off from in his ever-weird ways. The sound remains cool and piercing throughout, keeping the listener on their toes. There’s even a dog barking in the background at the end of side one! Probably confused as shit as to what was going on when this doozie was recorded!
Irma Thomas
Wish Someone Would Care
Imperial
I was introduced to “Break-a-Way” on a mixtape earlier this year and promptly sought out this album. It’s very east to fall in love with the crackle in Irma’s voice.
Neil Young
On the Beach
Warner Bros
His best eight songs. His best album. Period.
Fat Worm of Error
Broods
Ecstatic Peace! / Open Mouth
Weirdest of the weird. The vocals punch through the mountain of sound from somewhere that, although LOUD, always seems like it’s making its way up from underground. Each song leaves the listener trying to figure out just how it makes such perfect sense.
Chairmen of the Board
Give me Just a Little More Time
Invictus
General Johnson’s strained high notes hit hard! “Patches” and the group’s rendition of “Come Together” rule.
The Band
Stage Fright
Capitol
Levon Helm’s subdued, gravely singing is just dreamy.
The Stranglers
La Folie
Liberty
There’s something super elegant and super creepy about this album, and the harpsichord on “Golden Brown” is one of the best things ever.
Ike & Tina Turner
ANYTHING
I had really never listened to Ike and Tina before very recently and now I can’t get enough. I know I’m late to the game but the more I hear the more I like. It feels like there’s just an infinite amount of awesomeness to uncover. The Ikettes rule for that matter too!
Daniel Morris
9 things I remember liking in 2010,
in very particular order:
1. Jeremy Jay – Splash
2. Katy Perry –Teenage Dream
3. Purple Rhinestone Eagle –The Great Return
4. Aziz Ansari –Intimate Moments For A Sensual Evening
5. Bruce Springsteen –The Promise
6. Apple Records Box Set
7. ok, those Beatles remasters sound awesome too
8. Thee Oh Sees –Warm Slime
9. Janelle Monae –The Archandroid
Chris Connelly
1: Baalstrom sing omega – Current 93
2:Absolute dissent – killing joke
3:Swanlight – Antony & the johnsons
4:Up here in the clouds – Cindytalk
5:Destroy the light – Circle of Animals
6:My father will guide me up a rope..-Swans
7:Night work – Scissor sisters
8:Station to Station (reissue) – David Bowie
9:Kill City (reissue) Iggy pop & james williamson
10:Public image limited -live, june 2010, Chicago
Colman Cooney
ALPHABETICALLY:
Beach House – Teen Dream
Black Angels – Phosphene Dream
The Books – The Way Out
Bottomless Pit – Blood Under the Bridge
Califone – All My Friends Are Funeral Singers
Ken Camden – Lethargy and Repercussions
Fang Island – Fang Island
Group Inerane – Guitars from Agadez vol. 3
Harlem – Hippies
Heavy Times – No Plans 7″
Jonas Reinhardt – Powers of Audition
Kings Go Forth – Outsiders Are Back
Ted Leo & the Pharmacists – Brutalist Bricks
Liars – Sisterworld
Getatchew Mekuria & the Ex – Moa Anbessa
Menomena – Mines
Midlake – Courage of Others
Gil Scott Heron – I’m New Here
Soft Pack – Soft Pack
Superchunk – Majesty Shredding
Luc Rogers
1. Pissed Jeans – Sam Kinison Woman 7″: The Allentown foursome’s combination of witty lyrics, non-traditional song structures, and stellar, nearly cosmic sounds have worked well for them in the last few years. Recently hush on any forthcoming album; instead we were presented with this two-song slab of perfection. Both noisy as fuck and toast worthy, these little numbers not only satiate the PJ fans but offer a perfect introduction to those unfamiliar in that “Sam Kinison Woman” could’ve easily fit on any of their records while “The L Word” demonstrates perfectly their penchant for simple humor (“Love is a word/I use to describe/The way I feel inside/I love this pie”) and not giving a single fuck.
2. The Walkmen – Lisbon: The years have been good for these Walkmen. Unfairly lumped in with the early 00s Brooklyn rebirth, Hamilton & co. have only grown more distinct and distant from their press-adopted brethren. Their worship of classic songwriters such as Roy Orbison and Harry Nilsson not only help with their singular sound but also give it a timeless feel. Interviews regularly find them listing their favorite Sun Studio recordings, ones they studied on finding the perfect sound for this album, their penchant for using the greatest of vintage equipment for sound and not kitsch, and their very un-rock star quality of a semi-quiet life. In addition, Hamilton’s voice has grown far from the Dylan-worshipping days of A Hundred Miles Off and has really found itself a perfect place in their both sparse and soaring sounds.
3. Watain – Lawless Darkness: In an interview posted on a metal website last year, “e,” Watain’s outspoken vocalist, proclaimed that the world has merely seen 20% of what black metal is truly capable of and he has taken it upon himself to show the other 80%. Whether or not that has been done (I say hell no) it is truly wonderful to sit and listen to something as powerful and all encompassing as Lawless Darkness. Their masterful songwriting abilities, first truly showcased on 2007’s Sworn to the Dark, separate these heathens from most of the other black metal bands currently active in that it offers an accessibility to people that wouldn’t normally listen to something such as this. An underlying melody permeates every song without sacrificing any of the intended result of punishing blast beats and all out classic Swedish metal blasphemy. While club owners may truly hate their use of real blood onstage (and their decision to try and kill pigeons for the use of their blood before a Canadian show) it cannot be denied that while it may seem ridiculous and over the top to most of the world it is life to these guys. The near silliness of their antics combined with the brilliance of the actual music only adds to what makes metal both the most enjoyable and brushed off genres today.
4. Candy Cane/Oranssi Pazuzu – Split: While the USA is deservedly gaining more notoriety in the black metal scene Europe will forever remain the best. Finnish avant-garde black metallers Candy Cane (best name ever) and Oranssi Pazuzu teamed up to release this split to a surprisingly hush audience. Candy Cane combine the power of traditional black metal with fancy studio tricks and the addition of beautiful instruments like xylophone and piano to create something instantly memorable and terribly frightening. With song titles such as “16061978” and “10091989” making them hard to remember (obvious referral to dates of some sort of significance) the music contained therein is certainly not so. Oranssi Pazuzu offer a less WTF approach to black metal albeit nonetheless interesting and haunting. A cloudier sound reminiscent of France’s Deathspell Omega is instantly recognizable despite its much more listenability to the general public. With psych breakdowns galore these newbies (formed in 2007) will hopefully gain momentum and fans in the coming years.
5. Rose Kemp – Golden Shroud: On her last two albums, UK songstress Kemp showcased singular songwriting styles combining voice and guitar with heavier, Sonic Youth-y explosions (most notably “Violence” from her debut Handful of Hurricanes). Then out of nowhere comes her three song follow up to 2008’s Unholy Majesty, an album that was already teeming with noticeable darkness. For Golden Shroud Miss Kemp has gone full-on doom metal without sacrificing her vocal prowess (clean into growl into all out belting with astonishing quickness) and lyricism. While only three songs it is definitely a full length at 30+ minutes and it is in its entirety that one needs to sit and ingest completely. There are a lot of things to discern here, all of them rewarding in their own capacity.
6. Superchunk – No Pocky for Kitty/On the Mouth re-releases: Classic masters of DIY, Superchunk introduce themselves to a new generation with the re-releases of two of their best albums (with Foolish hopefully coming sometime) remastered and on fancy pants 180 gram vinyl for the first time. Not all-pop nor all-punk, and certainly not pop punk
Rebecca Crawford
Limananas
Deux “Decadence”
Superimposers “Sunshine Pops”
Circuit 7
Snowy Red “Right to Die”
Aerial Pink “Before Today”
Devo “Something for Everybody”
Steve Rahman
THE ROOTS – HOW I GOT OVER
JOHN LEGEND & THE ROOTS – WAKE UP!
BEST COAST – CRAZY FOR YOU
CORINNE BAILEY RAE – THE SEA
BLACK MILK – ALBUM OF THE YEAR
SKYZOO & ILLMIND – LIVE FROM THE TAPE DECK
TIM KASHER – GAME OF MONOGAMY
FOREIGN EXCHANGE – AUTHENTICITY
VON PEA – PEA’S GOTTA HAVE IT
BILAL – AIRTIGHT’S REVENGE
Whitney Mercer
in no fancy order
Fielded – Terrageist
Cacaw – Cacaw
Best Coast – Crazy For You
Tallest Man On Earth – Wild Hunt
Liminanas – Liminanas
Heavy Times – Dead
LCD Soundsystem – This Is Happening
Black Keys – Brothers
Charlotte Gainsbourg -IRM
Pigeon John – Dragonslayer
Janelle Monae – The ArchAndroid
Buke and Gass – Riposte
Owen Pallett – Heartland
Frightened Rabbit – Winter of Mixed Drinks
Anthony Illarde
ARTICLES OF FAITH
New Normal Catastrophe (Alternative Tentacles)
Live at Riot Fest 10/09 AAA
TRISTRAM CARY
It’s Time For Tristram Cary (Trunk)
DA
Exclamation Point (Factory 25)
DIRTY BEACHES
True Blue/Sweet 17 (Zoo 7″)
Omon Ra II / Dirty Beaches (Split CS)
EDDY CURRENT SUPPRESSION RING
Rush To Relax (Goner)
FUCKIN’ FLYIN’ A-HEADS
Swiss Cheese Back 7” (De Stijl 7″ reissue 2010)
BRUCE HAACK
Farad – The Electric Voice (Stones Throw)
LAZY SMOKE
Corridor of Faces (Jackpot vinyl reissue 2010)
MONKEES
The Birds, the Bees & the Monkees Box Set (Rhino Handmade)
Head Box Set (Rhino Handmade)
SYL JOHNSON
Complete Mythology Box Set (Numero Group)
SHARON JONES & THE DAP-KINGS
I Learned the Hard Way (Daptone)
BRUNO MARS
Doo-Wops & Hooligans (Elektra)
ARIEL PINK’S HAUNTED GRAFFITI
Before Today (4AD)
SUN RA
Strange Worlds In My Mind: Space Poetry Vol 1 (Norton)
Sub-Dwellers: Space Poetry Vol 2
Outer Darkness: Space Poetry Vol 3
SUPERIMPOSERS
Sunshine Pops (Wonderfulsound)
TUTU & THE PIRATES
Sub-Urban Insult Rock For The Anti-Lectual 1977-1979 (Factory 25)
FRANK ZAPPA
Greasy Love Songs (Zappa)
VARIOUS ARTISTS
My Friend Rain [Soundtrack] (Sublime Frequencies)
Pomegranates – Persian Pop, Funk, Folk & Psych of the 60s & 70s (Finders Keepers)
Turkish Freakout: Psych Folk Singles 1969-80 (Bouzouki Joe)
DVD/FILM
The Short Films of Al Jarnow: Celestial Navigations (Numero Group)
Who Is Harry Nilsson (And Why Is Everybody Talkin’ About Him?) (D: John Scheinfeld)
BOOKS
Husker Du: The Story of the Noise-Pop Pioneers Who Launched Modern Rock (Andrew Earles)
Spray Paint the Walls: The Story of Black Flag (Stevie Chick)
Touch & Go:The Complete Hardcore Punk Zine 79-83 (Tesco Vee & Dave Stimson)
Charles Taylor
Midlake: The Courage Of Others
Mike Patton: Mondo Cane
Paul Weller: Wake Up The Nation
Tunng: …And Then We Saw Land
Groundhogs: The Liberty Years
Radio Massacre International: Time & Motion
Satoko Fujii: Desert Ship
Atomic: Theatre Tilters
Tyshawn Sorey: Koan
Aki Takase: A Week Went By
Decoy: Vol.1 Spirit
Anthony Braxton: 19 Standards (Quartet)
Parker/Guy/Lytton/Evans: Scenes In The House Of Music
Vandermark 5: The Horse Jumps And The Ship Is Gone
Chris Wilkus
BEST HIP HOP/R&B ALBUMS OF 2010
1) KANYE WEST “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy” (Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam)
2) LIL’ B “Rain In England” (Weird Forest)
3) PRINCE “20Ten” (NPG Records)
4) BIG BOI “Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty” (Purple Ribbon/Def Jam)
5) KIDZ IN THE HALL “Land of Make Believe” (Duck Down)
BEST ALBUMS OF 2010 (NON HIP-HOP)
1) ELUVIUM “Similes” (Temporary Residence)
2) MELVINS “The Bride Screamed Murder” (Ipecac Recordings)
3) JULIAN LYNCH “Mare” (Olde English Spelling Bee)
4) INDIAN JEWELRY “Totaled” (We Are Free)
5) ACTIVE CHILD “Curtis Lane EP” (Filter/Merok)
6) UMBERTO “From the Grave” (Sonic Meditations)
7) VILLA NAH “Origin” (Keys of Life)
8) BLANK DOGS “Land and Fixed” (Captured Tracks)
9) COCONUTS “Coconuts EP” (No Quarter)
10) THE SUPERIMPOSERS “Sunshine Pops!” (Wonderfulsound)
11) SQUAREPUSHER PRESENTS “Shobaleader One: D’demonstrator” (Warp Records)
12) MATTHEW DEAR “Black City” (Ghostly)
13) LCD SOUNDSYSTEM “This Is Happening” (Virgin/Parlophone/DFA)
14) HOT CHIP “One Life Stand” (Astralwerks)
15) BITCHIN BAJAS “Tones / Zones” (Important Records)
16) BRIAN ENO “Small Craft On a Milk Sea” (Warp Records)
17) HAROLD BUDD & CLIVE WRIGHT “Little Windows” (Darla Records)
18) KEN CAMDEN “Lethargy & Repercussions” (Kranky)
19) CHARLOTTE GAINSBOURG “IRM” (Because Music/Elektra)
20) ZOLA JESUS “Stridulum EP” (Sacred Bones)
21) THE DURUTTI COLUMN “A Paean to Wilson” (Kookydisc)
22) THE BOOKS “The Way Out” (Temporary Residence)
23) FUTURE ISLANDS “In Evening Air” (Thrill Jockey)
24) SLEEP IN “Carnival” (Enemies List Home Recordings)
25) WHITE RING “Black Earth That Made Me” (Disaro)
26) THE SOFT MOON “The Soft Moon” (Captured Tracks)
27)GONJASUFI “A Sufi and a Killer” (Warp Records)
28) MÜHR “Shepherd/Blood” (Self-Released)
29) HEAVY HAWAII “HH” (Art Fag Recordings)
30)LAKE RADIO “Planet Earth About to Be Recycled”
Brett Grossman
34 Records/ 12 Months
The New Pornographers- Together (Matador)
Deerhunter- Halcyon Digest (4ad)
Casino Versus Japan- Night on Tape (Attack 9)
Eluvium – Similes (Temporary Residence)
Ian Hawgood – Slow Films in Low Light (Home Normal)
Ursula Bogner- Recordings 1969-1988 (Faitiche)
Julian Lynch – Mare (Olde English Spelling Bee)
Joanna Newsom – Have One On Me (Drag City)
Four Tet – There Is Love in You (Domino)
White Fence- White Fence (Woodsist)
Beach House – Teen Dream (Sub Pop)
Tape & Bill Wells – Fugue (Immune)
Ducktails / Dracula Lewis “Split 12” (No Fun)
Broken Bells- Broken Bells (Sony)
James Murphy- Greenberg Soundtrack (Virgin)
Liars- Sisterworld (Mute)
Ken Camden- Lethargy & Repercussion (Kranky)
Woods- At Echo Lake (Woodsist)
Frog Eyes- Paul’s Tomb: A Triumph (Dead Oceans)
Sparklehorse & Danger Mouse- Dark Knight of the Soul (Capitol)
Sleigh Bells – Treats (Mom & Pop Music)
Wolf Parade – Expo 86 (Sub Pop)
Various Artists- Stroke: Songs for Chris Knox (Merge)
The Books- The Way Out (Temporary Residence)
Caribou- Swim (Merge)
Best Coast- Crazy for You (Mexican Summer)
Here We Go Magic- Pigeons (Secretly Canadian)
Altar Eagle- Mechanical Gardens (Type)
Land of Talk – Cloak and Cipher (Saddle Creek)
Keith Fullerton Whitman – Generator (Root Strata)
No Age- Everything In Between (Sub Pop)
Gonjasufi- A Sufi And A Killer (Warp)
Coma Cinema- Blue Suicide (Wonder Beard)
Catherine Christer Hennix- The Electric Harpsichord- Reissue (Die Schachtel)
Friends of Reckless
Aaron Aites: Director of “Until the Light Takes”
in no particular order
Sun Araw: On Patrol / Off Duty
Digital Mystikz: Return II Space
Salem: King Night
Natural Snow Buildings: The Centauri Agent
Swans: My Father Will Guide Me Up A Rope To The Sky
Marnie Stern: Marnie Stern
Demdike Stare: Liberation Through Hearing / Forest Of Evil / Voices Of Dust
The Advisory Circle: Mind How You Go (Revised Edition)
Burzum: Belus
The Dead C: Patience
Mike Venutolo-Mantovani: Matador Records
10.Superchunk – Majesty Shredding (Merge)
9. Belle and Sebastian – Write About Love (Matador)
8. Happy Birthday – Happy Birthday (Sub Pop)
7. Pantha du Prince – Black Noise (Rough Trade)
6. Fucked Up – Couple Tracks: Singles 2001-2009 (Matador)
5. The Parting Gifts – Strychnine Dandelion (In The Red)
4. Titus Andronicus – The Monitor (XL Recordings)
3. Dylan LeBlanc – Pauper’s Field (Rough Trade)
2. Black Breath – Heavy Breathing (Southern Lord)
1. Sharon Van Etten – Epic (Ba Da Bing)
Brian Case (ex-employee, member of DISAPPEARS, THE PONYS)
Lower Dens –Twin Hand Movement
Easily my most listened to album this year.Initially I picked this up because I thought a friend of mine was in it, turned out he recorded it.So good, hope to do some shows together at some point.
Spoon –Transference
Spoon get better and more popular with every release by constantly evolving.This is their best album in my opinion, one of the few bands out their pushing their fans into new territory.
Deerhunter –Halcyon Digest
Another band that succeeds by changing.At first I was on the fence with some of this but after seeing it live a few times and a few serious headphone sessions I really got the mood and aura of the recording.
Women –Public Strain
This sounds better and different every time I listen to it.I hope they didn’t break up.
Anika –Anika
Woke up with this on my ipod one morning – don’t remember how I found it but it’s easily the coolest music made in 2010.
Weekend –Sport
Like Peter Hook in a Krautrock band.Lots of layers that never layer together, it’s great.
Veronica Falls – Both singles
Kinda surprised more people aren’t all over this band – they’ll have an album our sometime 2011 that will be my favorite for the year.
Brian Eno –Small Craft on a Milk Sea
Was really suprised by this, the guys he’s collaborating with are excellent.Everything about this – label, art, music – was really thought out and tasteful.
Soft Moon –Soft Moon
This is sneaking in right at the end of the year, very impressed with this guy.
Thread Pulls –New Thoughts
Heard this on the New Noise Podcast, really sparse – lots of space, just getting into it but I like it a lot
.
Beach House –Teen Dream
What a great year for music, this record is perfect
Stephen Sowley: ex-employee, studio manager at Electrical Audio, bouncer & DJ @ Danny’s, former bingo caller, hunk
“When I was 15, a record shop employee named Brady McTigue introduced me to Throbbing Gristle, Chrome, and Big Black; he also introduced me to the culture of independent record stores. This is for him…RIP friend.”
Slices–Cruising
The Fall–Your Future Our Clutter
Rot Shit–You’re Welcome 7″
Jack Rose–Luck In The Valley
Nina Nastasia–The Outlaster
Veins–Veins 7″
Dadawah–Peace & Love (reissue)
Joshua Abrams–Natural Information
Madlib–Madlib Medicine Show: Beat Konducta In Africa
Harvey Milk–A Small Turn Of Human Kindness
Bill Orcutt–Way Down South 12″
Hannibal Burress–My Name Is Hannibal
Population–Population Demo Cassette
Bill Callahan–Rough Travel For A Rare Thing
Love Cry Want–S/T (reissue)
Double Negative–Daydream Nation
Burning Star Core–Papercuts Theater
Joe Wetteroth: BRAIN IDEA
Conformists “None Hundred”
Heavy Times “Dead”
Neil Young “Le Noise”
Heater “God and Hair”
Fielded “Terrageist”
Henry Owings: CHUNKLET
Shipping News-One Less Heart To Fear (Karate Body)
Slices-Cruising (Iron Lung)
Dum Dum Girls-I Will Be (Sub Pop)
Black Helicopter-Don’t Fuck With The Apocalypse (Ecstatic Peace!/Limited Appeal)
White Shit-Sculpted Beef (PPM) + White Shi’ite (Wantage)
Ocean-Pantheon of the Lesser (Important)
Black Bug-self titled (FDH)
Twin Stumps-Seedbed (Fan Death)
Disappears-LUX (Kranky)
Drunk Driver-Self Titled (self released)
Woven Bones-In And Out And Back Again (Hozac)
Nails-Unsilent Death (Southern Lord)
The Limiñanas-self titled (Trouble In Mind)
Grids-White Walls (Ink Blot)
Tre Orsi-Devices and Emblems (Works Progress)
Hank IV-III (Siltbreeze)
Part Chimp-Thriller (Rock Action)
A Frames-3 (SS)
Cory Rayborn: Three Lobed
“We don’t normally make lists around here, but inspiration has struck the last few days for some reason or another to put together a little a little non-definitive (and non-ordered) list of some releases that we have found ourselves listening to with substantial frequency over the course of 2010. Maybe there’s something on here that you’re not familiar with that piques your interest. – Three Lobed
1 Yellow Swans “Going Places” (Type) – This is one hell of a closing bow from Pete and Gabe. Dense, rich, and otherworldly.
2 Flying Lotus “Cosmogramma” (Warp) – If Sun Ra was given a turntable he would end up making a record like this. Deeply textured and rewards with new discoveries on each spin.
3 Jack Rose “Luck In The Valley” (Thrill Jockey) – A beautiful final album from a dearly missed friend.
4 Jenks Miller & Nicholas Szczepanik “American Gothic” (Small Doses) – Scrapes, tones and drones for the most gorgeous of all waking frightmares. Some really wonderful minimalist activity is contained within these 35 minutes.
5 Barn Owl “Ancestral Star” (Thrill Jockey) – a varied collection of transportational and enveloping imagined landscapes.
6 Bonnie “Prince” Billy & The Cairo Gang “Wonder Show of the World” (Drag City) – Emmett Kelly’s guitar playing provides a perfectly paced foil to some of BPB’s most haunting lyrical performances. “The Sounds Are Always Begging” always produces chills.
7 Rangda “Rangda” (Drag City) – Alternates between intense dual guitar shredmanship (“Waldorf Hysteria”) and hypnotic hymns (“Plain of Jars”). Hopes are already high for the next chapter of this mega-dream team’s joint explorations.
8 Group Doueh “Beatte Harab” / Group Inerane “Guitars From Agadez, Vol. 3” (Sublime Frequencies) Hisham and Alan constantly bring the goods during each of the past several years – they are out there turning over stones and going to remote locations to bring back treasures that we all need in our lives. While Sublime has brought us prior gems from both Group Doueh and Group Inerane, one would be remiss to pass
on these two latest without heaping praise upon them. The Doueh offers a plate of concise, intricate artistry as a sort of complementary collection alongside lengthier jams from last year’s “Treeg Salaam”. The Inerane record picks up right where the group’s first LP with Sublime left off – it’s a total keeper.
9 Sun City Girls “Funeral Mariachi” (Abduction) – A nice pairing with the radiantly alive “Luck In The Valley,” “Funeral Mariachi” is a somber collection of goodbyes. Ghostly and haunting.
10 Jefre Cantu-Ledesma “Love Is A Stream” (Type) – Shimmering, squelching organic guitar landscapes. The sort of jams that you will put on repeat and repeat…
11 Bottomless Pit “Blood Under The Bridge” (self-released) – As glorious as the late, great Silkworm. Anthemic greatness.
12 Endless Boogie “Full House Head” (No Quarter) – Count me fully on the side of those who adore this band, their approach and their product. “A Life Worth Leaving” is one truly splendid slice of deep fried, gravy soaked boogie
Matt Rucins: Schubas
Arcade Fire –The Suburbs
Deerhunter –Halcyon Digest
LCD Soundsystem –This Is Happening
Local Natives –Gorilla Manor
Janelle Monae –The ArchAndroid
Morning Benders –Big Echo
Robyn –Body Talk
Sharon Van Etten –Epic
Kanye West –My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
Yeasayer –Odd Blood
Dave D’estroyer: Revolver Distribution
our love will destroy the world “blue eyes are my reward” – favorite record this year, maybe next too
all things purling hiss, 3 classic records in one year? amazing.
segall / vandamme split – hilarious idea actually makes for an interesting listen
SDM cassette – pod blotz + zaimph = mind-expanding synth racket
chrisma re-issues – great for when all this minimal wave stuff starts to sound the same
stellar om source – exises cd-r & trilogy select lp & “gamers” 7″ – yes!
peter gordon + love of life orchestra – probably the most plays in the office since devon williams
shaangra electro comp on honest jon’s – impossible not to move to this
afro beat airways on analog africa – see above
anika – this year’s pleasant surprise award
death sentence: panda! – spectral arms – whoaaaaaaaaa
honestly i can’t even narrow down all the amazing music that came out this year, keep it up world
Ian Lawrence: Forced Exposure distribution
Top 10 Albums/Singles/Compilation/Reissues of 2010 (in no particular order)
ALBUMS:
Actress – Splashz (Honest Jon’s)
Sun City Girls – Funeral Mariachi (Abduction)
The Fun Years – God was like, No (Barge Recordings)
Jefre-Cantu Ledesma – Love is a Stream (Type)
Rene Hell – Porceline Opera (Type)
John Roberts – Glass Eights CD (Dial)
Deepchord present Echospace – Liumin (Modern Love)
Demdike Stare – Symbiosis/Liberation Through Hearing/Voices Of Dust LPs (Modern Love)
Thomas Fehlman – Gute Luft CD (Kompakt)
Prins Thomas – Prins Thomas CD (Full Pupp)
SINGLEs/EPs/12″/7″:
Shackleton – Man On A String Part 1 And 2/Bastard Spirit 12″ (Woe to the Septic Heart!)
Little John & Billy Boyo – What You Want To Be 12″ (Dug Out)
Balam Acab – See Birds EP (Triangle)
Mark Ernestus vs. Konono No.1 – Masikulu Dub/Masikulu Rhythm 12″ (CNG)
Eddie Hooper – Pass It On (Part 1)/Tomorrow’s Sun 12″ (Soundway)
Anthony Redrose – Electric Chair 7″ (Dug Out)
Bill Orcutt – Way Down South EP (Palilalia)
V/A – Sofritos Super Singles EPs 1 & 2 (Sofritos)
Farben – Farben 12″ (Faitiche)
Margaret Dygas – How Do You Do? (Power Shovel Audio)
REISSUES:
Mandre – 4 (Rush Hour)
Dadawah – Peace and Love (Dug OUt)
Parson Sound – Parson Sound Box LP (Subliminal Sounds)
Les Rallizes Denudes – Heavier than a Death in the Family LP (Phoenix)
Ted Lucas – Ted Lucas LP (Sebastian Says)
Michael Hurley – First Songs LP (Folkways)
The Parasites of the Western World – The Parasites Of The Western World LP (De Stijl)
Ozzie – Parabolic Rock LP (SS Records)
Alexander Robotnic – Ce N’est Q’un Début LP (Medical)
Charanjit Singh – Ten Ragas To A Disco Beat LP (Bombay Connection)
COMPILATIONS:
V/A – Pomegranates LP (Finders Keepers)
V/A – Diggin’ Down in Argentina LP (Crazy Apple Boutique)
V/A – Watch how the People Dancing LP (Honest Jon’s)
V/A – Vanity Records: Finest Selection 1978 to 1981 LP (Save Music Before Loose It)
V/A – The World Ends: Afro Rock & Psychedelia In 1970s Nigeria LPs (Soundway)
Dara Puspita – Dara Puspita 1966-1968 CD (Sublime Frequencies)
Daphne Oram – Oramics LP (Modern Love)
V/A – Soft Sounds For Gentle People 5 CD (Pet Records)
V/A – Lagos Disco Inferno LP (Academy)
v/A – Brazilian Guitar Fuzz Bananas LP (World Psychedelic Funk Classics)
Label of the Year:
Honest Jon’s
TOP 10 celebrity shoppers at Reckless in 2010 (in no order)
1.Paul Simenon
2.Glenn Danzig
3.Dan Auerbach
4.Winona Ryder
5.Keith Morris
6.Wreckless Eric
7.The Buzzcocks
8.Fred Schneider
9.Tesco Vee
10.David Cross
RECKLESS EMPLOYEE BEST OF LISTS 2009
BRYAN
Azita – How Will You? lp/cd
Built to Spill – There Is No Enemy 2lp/cd
Vee Dee – Public Mental Health System 2lp/cd
Absu – Absu 2lp/cd
Deathspell Omega/S.V.E.S.T. LP
Wolves In The Throne Room – Black Cascade 2lp/cd
Arthur Russell – Love Is Overtaking Me 2lp
Death – For The Whole World To See lp/cd
Group Bombino – Guitars from Agadez Vol.2 lp
Group Doueh – Treeg Salaam lp
Tortoise – Beacons Of Ancestorship lp/cd
Faust – Faust IV lp re-issue
Karen Dalton – It\’s So Hard To Tell Who\’s… lp re-issue
Amon Duul II – Yeti lp re-issue
KEN
Disappears – Live over the rainbow
Greg Kowalsky- Tape Chants
Sun Araw- Heavy Deeds
Group Doueh – Treeg Salaam
Bobby Beausoleil – Lucifer Rising boxset
George-Edwards group – 38:38
Pisces – Lovely Sight
Kurt Vile – Childish Prodigy
Nudge – As good as Gone
Ngozi Family – 45,000 Volts
BILLY
JONSI & ALEX \”RICEBOY SLEEPS\”
JAPANDROIDS
HAYMARKET RIOT \”ENDLESS BUMMER\”
WINDY & CARL
PEARL JAM \”BACKSPACER\”
THEM CROOKED VULTURES
REISSUES:
WHO SELL OUT MONO/ STEREO
SUNNY DAY REAL ESTATE – BOTH
ELI
1- Das Boton \”Soda Drip\”
2- Polvo \”In Prism\”
3- El Michels Affair \”Enter The 37th Chamber\”
4- Thom Yorke \”Feeling Pulled Apart By Horses\” 12\”single
5- Zombi \”Spirit Animal\”
6- Dead Weather \”Horehound\”
7- Tortoise \”Beacons Of Ancestorship\”
8- MAGAS \”Violent Arp\”
9- Flaming Lips \”Embryonic\”
10- Chandeliers \”Dirty Moves\”
MATT
Absu \”Absu\”
Beherit vinyl reissues
Big Star \”Keep an Eye on the Sky\” boxset
Blues Control \”Local Flavor\”
Blut Aus Nord \”Memoria Vetusta: Dialogue with the Stars\”
Bobby Beasoleil \”Lucifer Rising\” boxset
Circle of Ouroborus \”Tree of Knowledge\”
Circle of Ouroborus “Streams” LP reissue
Deathspell Omega/S.V.E.S.T. split
Drudkh \”Microcosmos\”
Gris \”Il Etait Une Foret\”
Group Bombino \”Volume 2: Guitars from Agadez\”
Harmonia/ Eno \”Tracks & Traces\” reissue
Immortal \”All Shall Fall\”
Magas \”Violent Arp\”
Nachtmystium \”Doomsday Derelicts\”
Ngozi Family \”45,000 Volts\”
Pisces \”Lovely Sight\”
Plustapes Reckless domination! (Mannequin Men, Blasted Diplomats, Chicago Thrash
Ensemble, Death Ships, Chris Connelly etc…)
Polvo \”In Prism\”
Ruins of Beverast \”Foulest Semen of a Sheltered Elite\”
Sixx \”Sister Devil: Demo 1991\”
Sun Araw \”Heavy Deeds\”
Sylvester Anfang II
Von \”Satanic Blood Angel\” reissue
Gareth Williams \”Flaming Tunes\”
Yoga \”Megafauna\”
Thom Yorke \”Feeling Pulled Apart by Horses\”
Neil Young \”Dreamin Man\” Live 1992
Neil Young Archives boxset
Live Shows
Absu
Enslaved
Sunn o))) \”Monoliths & Dimensions\”
Pentagram
Harvey Milk
Leonard Cohen
CHARLES
Beatles: Mono Box Set
Henry Cow: Box Set
Sunn 0))): Monoliths & Dimensions
Barry Guy: Radio Rondo
Glasgow Improvisers Orchestra: Poetics
Paul Dunmall Sun Quartet: Ancient And Future Airs
Evan Parker: The Moment’s Energy
N.E.W: Deadeye Tricksters
Marcus Strickland Trio: Idiosyncrasies
WHITNEY
Bests:
Tallest Man on Earth : Shallow Grave. Technically 2008 but I found out about this in 2009. And fell in love.
Neko Case : Middle Cyclone
The Mountain Goats : Life of the World to Come
Mirah : (A)spera
Drakkar Sauna : 20009 (Twothousandousandnine) These guys make me really happy.
Volcano Choir : Unmap
Sing Fang Bous : Clangour
Why? : Eskimo Snow
Live:
Feelies @ Pritzger Pavillion
TV show I got my whole house hooked on:
Dexter Seasons 1, 2 & 3
ETHAN
DEATH- FOR THE WHOLE WORLD TO SEE
RATIONALS – THINK RATIONAL
ORCHESTRA POLY-RHYTHMO DE COTONDU: ECHOS HYPNOTIQUES
KURT VILE: CHILDISH PRODIGY
IMPLODES- S/T
BLASTED DIPLOMATS- S/T
DEATH SHIPS- NOTES FROM THE CAP\’NS QUARTERS
MANNEQUIN MEN- PREHISTORIC SHIT
MANNEQUIN MEN- LOSER ILLUSION TOO
JT IV- COSMIC LIGHTNING
CHRIS CONNELLY- PENTLAND FIRTH HOWL LP
CHICAGO THRASH ENSEMBLE- DEMON CASSETTE
VEE-DEE-PUBLIC MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM
SNOW ANGELS
\”SEASONAL HELP\”
ANTHONY
BEE GEES: Odessa Deluxe Edition
BROADCAST: Broadcast & Focus Group Investigate Witch Cults of the Radio
GEORGE-EDWARDS GROUP: 38:38
MONKS: Black Monk Time & Early Years Deluxe Editions
YOKO ONO: Between My Head & The Sky
PISCES: Lovely Sight
TENNISCOURTS: Dig The New Sounds of the Tenniscourts
KURT VILE: Childish Prodigy
ZERO BOYS: Vicious Circle & History of the Zero Boys
V/A: G-Spots: Spacey Folk & Electro Sounds of Studio G Library
V/A: Where The Action Is: Los Angeles Nuggets Box Set V/A: You Weren\’t There: History Of Chicago Punk 1977-1984 LP/DVD
STEVE
beherit – drawing down the moon reissue
big star – keep an eye on the sky box set
box elders – alice & friends
circle of ouroborus – streams lp
citizen\’s arrest – colossus reissue
death – for the whole world to see
deathspell omega/s.v.e.s.t. split lp
faust – so far & IV lp reissues
harmonia & eno \’76 – tracks & traces
harvey milk – bob weston sessions
iron claw – s/t reissue
JT IV – cosmic lightning lp
lake of dracula – skeletal remains lp
masshysteri – var del av stan
mirrors – something that would never do
the monks – black monk time reissue
obits – i blame you
pisces – a lovely sight
pissed jeans – king of jeans
raekwon – only built 4 cuban linx part II
ratas del vaticano – s/t lp
the rats – intermittent signals reissue
the spits – IV
sun araw – heavy deeds
television personalities reissues
zero boys – vicious circle & history of reissues
v/a local customs: downriver revival
v/a mata la pena
v/a mortika
v/a oh graveyard, you can\’t always hold me
small stuff:
brain idea demo
dark ages – vicious lie 7\”
eyesight television demo
the fems – go to a party 7\” reissue
ga\’an – s/t cassette
implodes – cassette(s)
smart cops – cominciare a vivere 7\”
white meat – sculpted beef 12\”
live stuff:
carcass
der todesking
the gories & the oblivians
harvey milk
implodes
jesus lizard
killdozer
masshysteri
throbbing gristle
COURTLAND
- A ORILLAS DEL MAGDALENA: Coastal Cumbias from Colombia’s Discos Fuentes
- SYLVESTER AND THE HOT BAND – Blue Thumb Collection
- LOVE TRAIN – The Sound Of Philadelphia Box Set
- RICK POPPA HOWARD – Whithout Your Love (12\”)
- LIGHT :ON THE SOUTH SIDE
- Phil Cohran – Spanish Suite
- Mulatu Astatke & The Heliocentrics – Inspiration Information
- El Michels Affair – Enter The 37th Chamber
- Mos Def – Ecstatic
- Tortoise – Beacons Of Ancestorship
- Africa Boogaloo: The Latinization of West Africa
- Tumbele! Beguine, Afro & Latin Sounds from the French Caribbean
- Doom – Born Like This
- Bill Callahan – Sometimes I Wish We Were An Eagle
- Bonnie Prince Billy – Beware
- Death – For the Whole World To See
- String of Pearls: Jewels of the 78 RPM Era
- Omar Souleyman – Highway To Hassake
- Suarasama – Fajar Di Atas Awan
- Mayer Hawthorne – Just Aint Gonna Work Out (Heart Shaped Record)
- 24-Carat Black – Gone: The Promises of Yesterday
- Pisces – Lovely Sight
- Local Customs: Downwater Revival
DYLAN
Didn\’t find out about it until late 2008:
THE WEEK THAT WAS – S/T
BEST 25 RECORDS OF 2009
CHEER-ACCIDENT – FEAR DRAWS MISFORTUNE
Chicago\’s own finally create their prog masterpiece
MARC RIBOT – SCELSI MORNING
An underrated guitarist, and a gorgeously compelling album
BAD PLUS – FOR ALL I CARE
Vocals? It works!
SQUAREPUSHER – NUMBERS LUCENT
Not as obtuse as previous records, but still complex and genius
AZITA – HOW WILL YOU
Another set of impeccably crafted jazz-pop tunes
STORSVEIT NIX NOLTES – ROYAL FAMILY – DIVORCE
Punk-gypsy blues – nice!
ST VINCENT – ACTOR
This was certainly her year!
AKRON/FAMILY – SET EM WILD, SET EM FREE
A bold experiment in free-form rock, but consistently good
DIRTY PROJECTORS – BITTE ORCA
Another great collection of off-kilter pop; oddly popular…
YONLU – A SOCIETY IN WHICH NO TEAR IS SHED
Sadly overlooked bedroom lo-fi tragedy – look into it!
FUTURE OF THE LEFT – TRAVELS WITH MYSELF AND ANOTHER
Intense live show, and great songs
WILCO – WILCO THE ALBUM
\”Dad rock\” – ridiculous. How \’bout \”insidious AOR\”?
JOAN OF ARC – FLOWERS
A concise, consistent collection from these old-timers
DEAD WEATHER – HOREHOUND
Exciting and revolutionary in its backwards-looking vibe
GREYMACHINE – DISCONNECTED
Those of you missing Godflesh can stop immediately!
PATTERN IS MOVEMENT – ALL TOGETHER
Strange art-prog, but with a heart
PATTON OSWALT – MY WEAKNESS IS STRONG
Nerd comedy!
YO LA TENGO – POPULAR SONGS
Another strong collection of varied pursuits
POLVO – IN PRISM
They\’re back!
SHUDDER TO THINK – LIVE FROM HOME
A perfect setlist
DAVID SYLVIAN – MANAFON
An absolute stunner – think Scott Walker meets Derek Bailey
THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS – HERE COMES SCIENCE
Another batch of \”kids\” songs. Dorky geniuses
FLAMING LIPS – EMBRYONIC
Back to the old school for this psych-pop classic
DEAD MAN\’S BONES – S/T
Creepy and cool, despite the Hollywood pedigree
THEM CROOKED VULTURES – S/T
Not much fancy here, just good ol\’ rock \’n\’ roll
BEST REISSUES OF 2009
NIRVANA – BLEACH
The bonus live show is probably the best show I\’ve heard
ANTHRAX – AMONG THE LIVING
About time for this thrash masterpiece
DEATH – FOR THE WHOLE WORLD TO SEE
What a find! Great lost punk tunes
WHO – SELL OUT
A slightly flawed reissue campaign can\’t diminish the importance
PISCES – LOVELY SIGHT (REISSUE) (KIND OF)
Who doesn\’t love this lite-psych lost gem?
BEST (OR MOST INTERESTING) BUSINESS MODEL OF 2009
THIRD MAN RECORDS
KATIE
Aceyalone – Lonely Ones
Bibio- Ambivalence Avenue
Esau Mwamwaya & Radioclit – The Very Best
jj – jj no. 2
Kings of Convenience – Declaration of Dependence
Major Lazer – Guns Don\’t Kill People, Lazers Do
Moderat – Moderat
Mr. Scruff- Nice Up the Function feat. Roots Manuva
MSTRKRFT- Fist Of God
Raekwon – Only Built For Cuban Linx II
MICHELLE
new releases:
cultural decay – eight ways to start a day
13th chime – the singles: 1981-1983
subway – subway II
big pink – a brief history of love
broadcast & the focus group – investigate witch cults of the radio age
jack rose & the black twig pickers – s/t
james blackshaw – the glass bead game
pisces – a lovely sight
arthur russell – the sleeping bag sessions
marked men – ghosts
pissed jeans – king of jeans
liechtenstein – survival strategies in a modern world
pains of being pure at heart – s/t
death – for the whole world to see
jeremy jay – slow dance
vaselines – enter the vaselines
V/A – forge your own chains: heavy psychedelic ballads & dirges
1968 – 1974
V/A – local customs: downriver revival
reissues:
zero boys – vicious circle
loop – the world in your eyes
rodriguez – coming from reality
jawbox – for your own special sweetheart
vinyl reissues:
television personalities – and don\’t the kids just love it
faust – so far & IV
the rats – intermittent signals
the breeders – last splash
samuel prody – \”s/t\”
best shows:
jack rose @ the hideout
devo @ the vic
mk ultra @ the beat kitchen
faust @ the empty bottle
broadcast @ the bottom lounge
JESSICA
Best Coast tape \”Where the Boys Are\” on Blackest Rainbow
Pissed Jeans \”King of Jeans\”
Ga\’an s/t tape
Torche \”Meanderthal Demos\” tape on Rotting Chapel
Vivian Girls \”Everything Goes Wrong\”
Julian Lynch \”Orange You Glad\” LP on Olde English Spelling Bee
Om \”God is Good\”
OH YEAH and the hit single (song only) by SHAKIRA SHE WOLF
ANGELA
(in no particular order)
- Iron Age \”Sleeping Eye\”
- Ofege \”Try and Love\”
- Pisces \”Lovely Sight\”
- Greymachine \”Disconnected\”
- Pissed Jeans \”King of Jeans\”
- Oneida \”Rated O\”
- Bellini \”Precious Prize of Gravity\”
- Subway \”Subway II\”
- Jack Rose & The Black Twig Pickers s/t
- Giant Squid \”The Ichthyologist\”
- Bill Callahan \”Sometimes I Wish We Were an Eagle\”
- Nirvana \”Bleach\” Deluxe Reissue
- Oxbow \”Fuckfest\” Reissue & Remaster
CHRIS W
BEST ALBUMS OF 2009
1) DIRTY PROJECTORS \”Bitte Orca\” (Domino)
2) COLD CAVE \”Love Comes Close\” (Matador Records)
3) LIGHTNING DUST \”Infinite Light\” (Jagjaguwar)
4) ST. VINCENT \”Actor\” (4AD Records)
5) DERADOORIAN \”Mind Raft EP\” (LovePump United)
6) ANTONY & THE JOHNSONS \”The Crying Light\” (Secretly Canadian)
7) DAVID LYNCH PRESENTS \”Fox Bat Strategy: A Tribute to Dave Jaurequi\” (David Lynch Music)
8) THE DURUTTI COLUMN \”Love In the Time of Recession\” (Fulfill)
9) GRIZZLY BEAR \”Veckatimest\” (Warp Records)
10) KARL BLAU \”Zebra\” (K Records)
11) SUN ARAW \”Heavy Deeds\” (No Not Fun)
12) ANIMAL COLLECTIVE \”Merriweather Post Pavilion\” (Domino)
13) REVOLVER (France) \”Music For a While\” (101 Distribution)
14) TELEPATHE \”Dance Mother\” (IAMSOUND)
15) NUDGE \”As Good As Gone\” (Kranky)
16) OM \”God Is Good\” (Drag City)
17) THE GENTLEMAN LOSERS \”Dustland\” (City Centre Offices)
18) CINEMATIC ORCHESTRA \”Les Ailes Pourpres (soundtrack)\” (101 Distribution)
19) CLUSTER \”Qua\” (Nepenthe Music & Publishing)
20) MULATU ASTATKE & THE HELIOCENTRICS \”Inspiration Information\” (Strut Records)
*Honorable Mention: ELUVIUM \”Life Through Bombardment\” (7LP collected works) (Temporary Residence)
BEST HIP HOP ALBUMS OF 2009
1) KiD CuDi \”Man On the Moon: The End of the Day\” (Motown)
2) GET BUSY COMMITTEE \”Uzi Does It\” (Tokyo Sex Whale Records)
3) WALE \”Attention Deficit\” (Interscope/Allido Records)
4) CAM\’RON \”Crime Pays\” (Asylum Records)
5) METHOD MAN & REDMAN \”Blackout! 2\” (Def Jam)
6) APATHY \”Wanna Snuggle?\” (Traffic Entertainment)
7) PEOPLE UNDER THE STAIRS \”Carried Away\” (On Records)
8) CLUTCHY HOPKINS MEETS LORD KENJAMIN \”Music Is My Medicine\” (Ubiquity Records)
9) U-GOD \”Dopium\” (Babygrande)
10) THE LONELY ISLAND \”Incredibad\” (Universal Republic)
CONOR
Kiila – Tuota Tuota [Fonal]
Current 93 – Aleph at Hallucinatory Mountain [Dutro]
Onna – Onna 7” [Holy Mountain]
Spectrum – War Sucks 12” [Mind Expansion]
Josephine Foster – Graphic as a Star [Fire]
WHITE – WHITE [Open Note]
Marissa Nadler – Little Hells [Kemado]
Back Sheep – Kiss My Sweet Apocalypse [Invada]
Nurse With Wound – Surveillance Lounge [Dirter]
Bill Callahan – Sometimes I Wish We Were An Eagle [Drag City]
Peanut Butter Wolf – 45 Live 7” Box Set [Stones Throw]
Träd Gräs och Stener – Hemlosä Katter [Subliminal Sounds]
Bardo Pond – Gazing at Shilla [Important]
Skitliv – Skandinavisk Misantropi [Season of Mist]
Records from the past that have been addictions throughout the year:
Gene Clark – White Light [1971]
John Cale – Vintage Violence [1970]
Mike Heron – Smiling Men With Bad Reputations [1971]
Pearls Before Swine – Balaklava [1968]
Felt – Forever Breathes the Lonely Word [1986]
Rolling Stones – Let It Bleed [1969]
Graham Nash – Songs for Beginners [1971]
Roxy Music – Roxy Music [1972]
Don Cherry – Symphony for Improvisers [1966]
BadFinger – Straight up [1971]
Otherworldly Performances:
Jack Rose at the Hideout 9.24.2009
Throbbing Gristle at the Logan Square Auditorium [4.26.09 & 4.27.09]
Tony Conrad and Keiji Haino at the Empty Bottle [4.28.09]
Harvey Milk at Subterranean [7.18.09]
MAGAS
TRAXX – FAITH
BLUES CONTROL – LOCAL FLAVOR
GATEKEEPER – OPTIMUS MAXIMUS
BILL ORCUTT – A NEW WAY TO PAY OLD DEBTS
IRON CLAW – s/t
MORITZ VON OSWALD – VERTICAL ASCENT
Plustapes/Addenda: IMPLODES, BLASTED DIPLOMATS, DEATH SHIPS, CHRIS CONNELLY
LIGHTNING BOLT – EARTHLY DELIGHTS
ANDREW WK – 55 CADILLAC
BOBBY BEAUSOLEIL – LUCIFER RISING SUITE
KEVIN DRUMM – IMPISH TYRANT & IMPERIAL HORIZON
FRED BIGOT – MONO/STEREO
MAGAS – VIOLENT ARP
CONNELLY
- GRISTLEISM-THROBBING GRISTLE
- VIOLENT ARP – MAGAS
- ALEPH AT HALLUCINATORY MOUNTAIN – CURRENT 93
- REPO – BLACK DICE
- HOW WILL YOU? – AZITA
- THE ROAD – HENRY COW
- THIRD MIND SESSIONS – THROBBING GRISTLE
- L.A. TURNAROUND – BERT JANSCH
- WHITE ALBUM -THE BEATLES
10.PARADE ROOM- THESE WONDERFUL EVILS - ANTONY & THE JOHNSON \”CRYING LIGHT\”
DAN
Favorite 20 New Releases for 2009
1.) Bibio — Ambivalence Avenue (Warp)
2.) Phoenix— Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix (Glassnote)
3.) Felice Brothers– Yonder is the Clock (Team Love)
4.) Obits — I Blame You (Sub Pop)
5.) Alela Diane — To Be Still (Rough Trade)
6.) Washed Out — Life of Leisure (Mexican Summer, Vinyl Only)
7.) Kurt Vile — Childish Prodigy (Matador)
8.) Peaking Lights — Imaginary Falcons (Night People)
9.) Handsome Family — Honey Moon (Carrot Top)
10.) Horrors — Primary Colours (XL)
11.) Future of the Left — Travels With Myself and Another (4ad)
12.) Baroness— Blue Record (Relapse)
13.) Dawes — North Hills (ATO)
14.) Thee Oh Sees — Foggy Notion + Help (Boomkat + In the Red)
15.) Ducktails — Landscapes (Olde English Spelling Bee)
16.) Wilco — The Album (Nonesuch)
17.) Neko Case — Middle Cyclone (Anti)
18.) William Elliott Whitmore — Animals in the Dark (Anti)
19.) Camera Obscura — My Maudlin Career (4ad)
20.) Yim Yames — Tribute To (ATO)
Favorite 20 Reissues of the Year:
1.) Beatles — Remasters (Capitol)
2.) Red House Painters — Songs for a Blue Guitar (Plain Vinyl Reissue)
3.) Betty Padgett — S/T (LuvnHaight)
4.) Jim Ford — Big Mouth USA + Unissued Capitol Album (Bear Family Vinyl Reissues)
5.) Arthur Verocai — S/T (LuvnHaight)
6.) Karen Dalton — It\’s So Hard to Tell Who is Going to Love You the Best (Light in the Attic Vinyl Reissue)
7.) Neil Young —- Archives Box Set (Reprise)
8.) Death — For the Whole World To See (Drag City)
9.) Terry Reid— River (4MenWithBeards Vinyl Reissue)
10.) Anagram Jam — Compilation (Bmusic)
11.) Townes Van Zandt — Vinyl Reissues (Fat Possum)
12.) Big Star— Keep an Eye on the Sky Box Set (Rhino)
13.) Sunny Day Real Estate — Vinyl Reissues (Sub Pop)
14.) Jawbox — For Your Own Special Sweetheart (Desoto)
15.) 24 Carat Black — Gone Promises of Yesterday (Numero)
16.) Wayfaring Strangers — Lonesome Heroes (Numero)
17.) Loudon Wainwright III — Vinyl Reissues (Scorpio)
18.) Michael Hurley — Armchair Boogie + Parsnip Snips Vinyl Reissues (Mississippi Records)
19.) Nerves/Breakways — Live Reissues (Alive)
20.) JT IV — Cosmic Lightning Vinyl (Galactic Zoo/Drag City)
Favorite Local Underground Labels/ Releases:
1.) Plus Tapes/Addenda Records + Tapes Label (Disappears, Blasted Diplomats, Implodes, Mannequin Men, Hollows etc)
2.) Hozak Label— (White Mystery, Plastic Crimewave Sound, Smith Westerns)
3.) Numero Group Label (A true Chicago class operation)
4.) Mannequin Men — Lose your Illusion, Too (flameshovel)
5.) Cococoma — Things Are Not Alright (Goner)
6.) Cave — Psychic Psummer (Important)
7.) Canadian Rifle — Visibility Zero LP (Reissue)
8.) Galactic Zoo (comics + mixes)
9.) Coupleskate — Dont Scare the Horses (self)
10.) Vee Dee — Public Mental Health System LP (Criminal IQ)
11.) Magas — Violent Arp LP (Punch)
CHRIS D
Eternal Tapestry – Palace of the Night Skies
Group Bombino – Guitars of Agadez Vol. 2
Japandroids – Post-Nothing
Mount Eerie – Wind\’s Poem
Oneida – Rated O
Pissed Jeans – King of Jeans
Pontiak – Maker
Residual Echoes – MFI GBSP
Sonic Youth – The Eternal
Various Artists – Local Customs: Downriver Revival
JOSH
10 neko case middle cyclone
9 fuck buttons tarot sport
8 oneida rated o
7 wilco the album
6 fever ray
5 yo la tengo popular songs
4 volcano choir unmap
3 mount eerie winds poem
2 califone all my friends are funeral singers
1 flaming lips embryonic
ROBBIE
Best albums of 2009:
Fool\’s Gold -S/T
Pisces – A Lovely Sight
Flaming Lips – Embryonic
Sian Alice Group – Troubled, Shaken, Etc.
Subway – Subway II
Jarvis Cocker – Further Complications
Best artist that I just discovered this year:
Dwight Twilley
Best films of 2009 (that I\’ve seen so far!):
Funny People
Adventureland
Drag Me To Hell
Best live shows in Chicago of 2009:
Pentagram @ The Empty Bottle, June 27, 2009.
The Entrance Band @ The Hideout, July 16, 2009.
JASON
1.DEATH \”FOR THE WHOLE WORLD TO SEE\” (DRAG CITY)
2.TORTOISE \”BEACONS OF ANCESTORSHIP\” (THRILLJOCKEY)
3.YEAH YEAH YEAHS \”ITS BLITZ\” (DGC)
4.YOU WEREN\’T THERE;HISTORY OF CHICAGO PUNK 77-84 (FACTORY 25)
5.ZERO BOYS \”REISSUES\” (SEC.CANADIAN)
6.PELICAN \”WHAT WE ALL COME TO NEED\” (SOUTHERNLORD)
7.SLAYER \”WORLD PAINTED BLOOD\” (DEF-AMERICAN)
8.CONVERGE \”AXE TO FALL\” (EPITAPH)
9.MUNICIPAL WASTE \”MASSIVE AGGRESSIVE\” (EARCHE)
10.CANADIAN RIFLE \”VISIBILITY ZERO\” (RESIDUE REC.)
MELISSA
in alphabetical order:
Mulatu Astatke & the Heliocentrics- inspiration Information
Big Star- Boxed set
Broadcast- Investigate Witch Cults of the Radio
Bill Callahan- Sometimes I wish we were an Eagle
Camera Obscura- My Maudlin Career
Neko Case- Middle Cyclone
Phil Cohran- Spanish Suite
Chris Clark- Soul Sounds (reissue, first time on cd!)
Leonard Cohen- Live at the Isle of Wight
Chris Connelly- Pentland Firth Howl
Death- For the Whole World to See
El Michels Affair- Enter the 37th Chamber
Yvonne Fair- Bitch Is Black (reissue, first time on cd!)
Group Bombino- Guitars from Agadez
Mayer Hawthorne- Just Ain\’t Gonna Work Out & Maybe So Maybe No 12\”s
Implodes- Implodes (cassette)
Barbara Lynn- Here is Barbara Lynn (reissue, first time on cd!)
Magas- Violent Arp
Monks- Reissues
Ofege- Try & Love
Orchestre Poly Rythmo – Echos Hypnotiques Analog Africa vol.2
Pisces- Lovely Sight
Betty Padgett- Betty Padgett
Raveonettes- In and Out of Control
Sunn- Monoliths & Dimensions
Sylvester Anfang- Sylvester Anfang II
Thin Lizzy- Still Dangerous Live at the Tower Theatre
24-Carat Black- Gone the Promises of Yesterday
Kurt Vile- Childish Prodigy
Thom Yorke- Feeling Pulled Apart by Horses 12\”
Neil Young- Dreamin Man Live \’92
Various- Light on The South Side
Various- Mortika
Various- A Orillas Del Magdalena- Coastal Cumbias
Various- Tumbele! Biguine, Afro & Latin Sounds from the French Caribbean
Various- Fly Girls B-Boys Beware
Various- You Weren\’t There
Plus Tapes releases (blasted diplomats/ mannequin men/ death ships etc.)
SARAH
- embryonic – flaming lips
- live anthology – tom petty
- dark was the night – various artists
- childish prodigy – kurt vile
- entrance band – entrance band
- middle cyclone – neko case
- wolfgang amadeus phoenix – phoenix
- enter the 37th chamber – el michels affair
- top ranking – diplo & santogold
- ecstatic – mos def
favorite ladies of the year:
chelsea lately, stephanie meyer,
mary portas & catherine hardwicke,
charlaine harris
JACOB
Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavilion
Azita – How Will You?
Jim O\’Rourke – The Visitor
Bill Callahan – Sometimes I Wish We Were an Eagle
Alasdair Roberts – Spoils
Neko Case – Middle Cyclone
Antony and the Johnsons – The Crying Light
Atlas Sound – Logos
Wilco – Wilco (the Album)
Sufjan Stevens – The BQE
Systems Officer – Underslept
Sunny Day Real Estate – LP2 (Reissue)
V/A – New Moon OST
Bonny Billy live
CAROLINE
ANIMAL COLLECTIVE “Merriweather Post Pavillion
ANTONY & THE JOHNSONS “The Crying Light”
ATLAS SOUND “Logos”
BLAKROC “Blakroc”
CALIFONE “All My Friends Are Funeral Singers”
CAMERA OBSCURA “My Maudlin Career”
CAVE “Psychic Psummer”
NEKO CASE “Middle Cyclone”
CHANDELIERS “Dirty Moves”
DEAD WEATHER “Horehound”
THE DECEMBERISTS “The Hazards of Love”
DIRTY PROJECTORS “Bitte Orca”
DODOS “TIme to Die”
- FLORENCE & THE MACHINE “Lungs”
FRUIT BATS “The Ruminant Band”
GRIZZLY BEAR “Veckatimest” - MICACHU “Jewellery”
PHOENIX “Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix”
TAKEN BY TREES “East of Eden”
VAMPIRE WEEKEND “Vampire Weekend”
THE XX “xx”
V/A “Dark Was the Night” *favorites
Concerts: Beirut, Pitchfork Festival
Phoenix, Aragon Ballroom
CHRISTIAN
- Big Knife \”Ruff Sesh\” cassette
- Blasted Diplomats \”Blasted Diplomats\” cassette
- Chicago Thrash Ensemble \”Demon Cassette\” cassette
- Chris Connelly \”Pentland Firth Howl\” Lp
- Coupleskate \”Don\’t Scare the Horses\” CD
- Death Ships \”Notes From the Captain\’s Quarters\” cassette
- Implodes \”Implodes\” cassette
- Magas \”Violent Arp\” LP
- Mannequin Men \”Lose Your Illusion Too\” LP
- Party Downers \”party Downers\” LP
DAN W
Obits – I Blame You
Sonic Youth – The Eternal
Magic Markers – Balf Quarry
Coupleskate – Don\’t Scare The Horses
Yo La Tengo – Popular Songs
Times New Viking – Born Again Revisited
Mannequin Men – ridiculous album title
Wilco – ashes of American flags DVD (skip the crappy new CD)
Flaming Lips – Embryonic. the last album sucked. nice return to form.
Magas – Violent Arp
EMILY
Antony & The Johnsons \”Crying Light\” (Secretly Canadian)
Pains Of Being Pure At Heart \”S/T\” (Slumberland)
Abner Jay – One Man Band (Subliminal)
Wolves In The Throneroom \”Black Cascade\” (Southern Lord)
Camera Obscura – My Maudlin Career (4AD)
Lil Wayne – Rebirth (Cash Money)
Rick Ross – Deeper Than Rap (DefJam)
The Horrors – Primary Colours (XL)
Mayor Daley – Facial Expressions (Rotted Tooth Recordings)
Trad Gras Och Stenar – Homeless Cats (Subliminal Sounds)
Mount Eerie – Wind\’s Poem (P.W. Elverum & Sun)
Buffy Sainte-Marie – Running For The Drum (Appleseed)
Bobby BeauSoleil – Lucifer Rising (Boxset) (Ajna Offensive)
Vivian Girls – Everything Goes Wrong (In The Red)
Julian Lynch – Orange You Glad (Olde English Spelling Bee)
No Age – Losing Feeling EP (Sub Pop)
White Shit – Sculpted Beef EP (PPM)
Windy & Carl – Instrumentals For The Broken-Hearted (Self Released)
Grass Widow – S/T (Make A Mess)
Mason Lindahl – Serrated Man Sound (Porter Records)
Atlas Sound – Logos (Kranky/4AD)
Desire – II (Italians Do It Better)
Raekwon – Only Built 4 Cuban Linx, Pt. 2 (Ice H2O)
Rev. Louis Overstreet “An Evening with…”
Kurt Vile – God Is Saying This To You (Mexican Summer)
Q-Tip – Kamaal the Abstract (Battery)
Washed Out – Life Of Leisure (Mexican Summer)
O.W.L. – Of Wonderous Legends (Locust)
Ga\’an – S/T cassette (Self Released)
Reissues:
Stone Roses – Stone Roses (Reissue) (Sony)
Betty Davis – Nasty Gal (Reissue) (Light In The Attic)
Beherit – Drawing Down The Moon (Reissue) (Primitive Reaction)
Feelies – Crazy Rhythms/ Good Earth (Reissue) (Domino/Bar None)
DAVE
Brutal Truth – Evolution Through Revolution
Cryptacize – Mythomania
Dear Landlord – Dream Homes
Dying Fetus – Descend Into Depravity
Cannibal Corpse – Evisceration Plague
Mastodon – Crack the Skye
Norah Jones – The Fall
Burnt By The Sun – Heart Of Darkness
Triorganico – Convivencia
The Red Chord – Fed Through The Teeth Machine
Harpoon – Double Gnarly/Triple Suicide
Iron Reminders – S/T
Clutchy Hopkins Meets Lord Kenjamin – Music Is My Medicine
Resident Evil 5 (video game)
Shadow Complex (video game)
Left 4 Dead 2 (video game)
Drag Me To Hell (film)
JAMES
BARONESS \”Blue Record\”
BEATLES (Remasters)
BIBIO \”Ambivalence Avenue\”
BIG STAR \”Keep An Eye On The Sky\”
BLASTED DIPLOMATS \”S/T\” Cassette
A.A. BONDY \”When The Devil\’s Loose\”
CAMERA OBSCURA \”My Maudlin Career\”
CAVE \”Psychic Psummer\”
THE CLEAN \”Mister Pop\”
COCOCOMA \”Things Are Not Alright\”
CONVERGE \”Axe To Fall\”
DEATH \”For The Whole World To See\”
DEATH SHIPS \”Notes From The Captain\’s Quarters\” Cassette
ALELA DIANE \”To Be Still\”
DISAPPEARS \”Live Over The Rainbo\”
BOB DYLAN \”Together Through Life\” & \”Christmas In The Heart\”
FAUST \”Faust IV & So Far\” LP Reissues
THE FELICE BROTHERS \”Yonder Is The Clock\”
FUTURE OF THE LEFT \”Travels With Myself & Another\”
GIRLS \”Album\”
GROUNDHOGS (Vinyl Reissues)
HOLLOWS \”S/T\” LP
MICHAEL HURLEY \”Armchair Boogie & Parsnip Snips\”
IMPLODES \”S/T\” Cassette
BERT JANSCH (Drag City Reissues)
ABNER JAY \”True Story Of Abner Jay\”
JESUS LIZARD (Touch & Go Remasters)
MAGAS \”Violent Arp\”
MANNEQUIN MEN \”Lose Your Illusion, Too & Prehistoric Shit Vol 1\”
MY BLOODY VALENTINE \”Before Loveless\” LP
NACHTMYSTIUM \”Doomsday Derelicts\”
NIRVANA \”Bleach\” Remaster & \”Live at Reading\”
NGOZI FAMILY \”45,000 Volts\” LP
OLD FAKE \”Covers Tape\” Cassette
PISCES: \”A Lovely Sight\”
REIGNING SOUND \”Love & Curses\”
JOSEPH SPENCE \”Good Morning Mr. Walker\”
SUNNY DAY REAL ESTATE (Sub Pop Remasters)
THEE OH SEES \”Help/ Dog Poison/ Tidal Wave 45/ Ty Segall Split 45\”
13th FLOOR ELEVATORS \”Sign of the 3 Eyed Men\”
VASELINES \”Enter The Vaselines\”
VEE DEE \”Public Mental Health System\”
SCOTT WALKER \”30 Century Man\” DVD
WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM \”Black Cascade\”
NEIL YOUNG (Remasters/ Fork In the Road/ Dreamin\’ Man Live \’92 &
That Weird Boxset)
V/A: FORE YOUR OWN CHAINS- Heavy Psychedelic Ballads & Dirges \’68-\’74
V/A: TUMBELE- Biguine, Afro & Latin Sounds From The French Carribean
V/A: AFRICAN SCREAM CONTST- Raw & Psychedelic Afro Sounds From…
V/A: LOCAL CUSTOMS- Downriver Revival
DANIEL
Bat For Lashes \”Two Suns\”
Box Elders \”Alice & Friends\”
Death \”…For The Whole World To See\”
Fiery Furnaces \”I’m Going Away\”
King Khan & BBQ \”Invisible Girl\”
Niela Miller \”Songs Of Leaving\”
Pisces \”A Lovely Sight\”
Thee Oh Sees \”Help\”
Vivian girls \”Everything Goes Wrong\”
v/a \”Cazumbi: African Sixties Garage Vol. 2\”
BRETT
2009 with headphones:
Bear in Heaven \”Beast Rest Forth Mouth\” (Hometapes)
Lullatone \”Songs That Spin in Circles\” (Audio Dregs)
Devendra Banhart \”What Will We Be\” (Warner Brothers)
Clientele \”Bonfires on the Heath\” (Merge)
Tune-Yards \”Bird Brains\” (4ad)
Swan Lake \”Enemy Mine\” (Jagjaguwar)
Jay-Z \”The Blueprint 3\” (Roc Nation)
Atone \”Cet Après-Midi Là (Autres Directions In Music)
Sonic Youth \”The Eternal\” (Matador)
Shuta Hasunuma \”Pop Ooga\” (Western Vinyl)
Atlas Sound \”Logos\” (Kranky)
Grizzly Bear \”Veckatimest\” (Warp)
.tape. \”Tomavistas: (Selected Rarities 2002-2007)\” (Tomavista)
A.C. Newman \”Get Guilty\” (Matador)
Handsome Furs \”Face Control\” (Subpop)
Mos Def \”The Ecstatic\” (Downtown)
Sunset Rubdown \”Dragonslayer\” (Jagjaguwar)
My Little Airport \”Poetics — Something Between Montparnasse and Mong Kok\” (Harbor Music Type)
Animal Collective \”Merriweather Post Pavilion\” (Domino)
Doom \”Born Like This\” (Lex Records)
The Archivist \”The Keeper of the Library\” (Lacies)
Yeah Yeah Yeahs \”It\’s Blitz\” (Interscope)
Built to Spill \”There Is No Enemy\” (WEA/Reprise)
Destroyer \”Bay of Pigs\” (Merge
The Wooden Birds \”Magnolia\” (Barsuk)
The Dirty Projectors \”Bitte Orca\” (Domino)
The Lucky Dragons \”Rara Speaks\” (Moamoo)
School of Language \”Sea from Shore\” (Thrill Jockey)
Sigur Ros \”We Play Endlessly\” (EMI)
Es \”Kesämaan Lapset\” (Fonal)
Reckless Employee Top Ten lists 2008!
2008 has been one of the weirdest years ever. George Bush = NO! Barack Obama = YES! Chicago Cubs = NO! Blackhawks Winter Classic = YES! Economy = NO! Reckless best of lists = YES!
So here they are, we know that you’ve been waiting for them.
RECKLESS 2008 BEST OF LISTS
CHRIS P
GROUPER “Dragging a Dead Deer up a Hill”
SPIRES THAT IN THE SUNSET RISE “Curse the Traced Bird”
DOWN IN JUNE “Covers…Death in June”
BEACH HOUSE “Devotion”
JOHN MAUS “Love is Real”
CHRISTOPHER BISSONNETTE “In Between words”
SPACEMEN 3 “DJ Tones” ep
PORTISHEAD “Third”
REISSUES
MAYO THOMPSON “Corky\’s Debt to His Father”
THE LINES “Flood Bank”
THE LINES “Memory Spand”
IRON CURTAIN “Tarantula Scream”ep
DEAD CAN DANCE reissues
VAN DUREN “Are You Serious?”
MICHELLE
in no particular order
M83 “Saturdays = Youth”
BEACH HOUSE “Devotion”
CRYSTAL STILTS “Alight of Night”
PIT ER PAT “High Time”
DEERHUNTER “Microcastle/ “Weird Era Continued”
18TH DYLE “Amorine Queen”
GROUPER “ Dragging a Dead Deer Up a Hill”
WINDY & CARL “Songs for the Broken Hearted”
WHITE MAGIC “New Egypt”
NAGISA NI TE “Yosuga”
HELENA ESPVALL & MASAKI BATOH “S/T”
WOODEN SHJIPS VOL. 1
LEGENDARY PINK DOTS “Plutonium Blonde”
JOHN MAUS “Love is Real”
JACK ROSE “ Dr. Ragtime & Pals”
KING KHAN & THE SHRINES “The Supreme Genius of…”
RODRIGUEZ “Cold Fact” reissue
FIVE OR SIX “Acting on Impulse”
MONOCHROME SET “Independent Singles Collection”
THE LINES “Flood Bank” reissue
EMILY
in no particular order
LIL WAYNE “Tha Carter III”
GROWING “All the Way”
SPIRITUALIZED “Songs in A&E”
CHAIRLIFT “Does You Inspire You”
BLACK ANGELS “Directions to See a Ghost”
BORIS “Smile”
METALLICA LP Reissues
RZA “Digi Snacks”
BRIGHTBLACK MORNING LIGHT “Motion to Rejoin”
ENSLAVED “Vertebrae”
M83 “Digital Shades Volume 1”
MOUNT EERIE/ JULIE DOIRON – Lost Wisdom (Southern)
NO AGE “Nouns”
OCEAN “Pantheon of the Lesser”
DUNGEN “4”
DEERHUNTER “Microcastle”/ “Weird Era Continued”
T-PAIN “Thr33 Ringz”
NICO MUHLY “Mothertongue”
DENNIS WILSON “Pacific Ocean Blue” reissue
VETIVER “Thing of the Past”
Q-TIP “Renaissance”
CHARLIE LOUVIN “Sings Murder Ballads & Disaster Songs”
WARMER MILKS “Soft Walks”
JASON
RUSSIAN CIRCLES \”Station”
NERVES (1975) \”One Way Ticket”
MOGWAI \”The Hawk is Howling”
LARRY NORMAN \”Rebel, Poet, Jukebox Balladeer”
EARLES & JENSEN \”Just Farr a Laugh”
THE MIDDLE CLASS \”Out of Vogue, Early Material”
COLLAPSAR \”Integers”
JEFF LOOMIS \”Zero Hour Phase”
DON CABALLERO \”Punkgasm”
DIANOGAH \”Qhnnnl”
MATT
AIDAN BAKER/TIME HECKER“Fantasma Parastasie”
BROWN JENKINS “Angel Eyes”
CIRCLE OF OUROBORUS/ SOMNIVORE split
DUNGEN “4”
ENSLAVED “Vertebrae”
FRIPP/ ENO“No Pussyfooting” reissue
GROUPER “Dragging a Dead Deer Up A Hill”
GROUPER/INCA ORE split
HELLHAMMER “Demon Entrails”
JAY REATARD “Singles 06-07”
KRALLICE “S/T”
LEVIATHAN “Massive Conspiracy Against All Life”
LIFELOVER“Konkurs”
MORKER “Hostmakter”
NACHTMYSTIUM “Assassins: Black Meddle pt. 1”
NASHEIM/ ANGANTYR split
ONE LAST WISH “1986” LP reissue
O.W.L. “Of Wondrous Legends” reissue
THE PEACE “Black Power” reissue
RADIOHEAD “In Rainbows”
RAVEN “Back to Ohio Blues”
STRID“s/t” reissue
V/A “1970\’s Algerian Proto-Rai Underground”
WEDARD “Wo Die Ewgkeit Die Zeit Beruhrt”
XASTHUR \”A Gate Through Bloodstained Mirrors” reissue
WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM “Two Hunters”
NEIL YOUNG “Sugar Mountain: Live at Canterbury House”
Live shows:
IRON MAIDEN
POLVO
RADIOHEAD
BORIS
STARS OF THE LID
NICK CAVE
MY BLOODY VALENTINE
BARACK OBAMA Acceptance Speech in Grant Park
CONNELLY
BOB DYLAN “Tell Tale Signs: Rare & Unreleased 1989-2006”
OAN AS POLICE WOMAN “To Survive”
EARLY WORM “S/T”
THESE WONDERFUL EVILS “Regine Flory”
CURRENT 93 “Nature Unveiled” reissue
LYNN JACKSON “Soft Stars”
ANTONY & THE JOHNSONS “Another World”
CAT POWER “Jukebox”
JUANA MOLINA “Un Dia”
THE SMITHS “Sound of the Smiths”
LIZ
BEACH HOUSE \”Devotion\”
JOHN MAUS \”Love is Real\”
PORTISHEAD \”Third\”
SAY HI \”The Wishes And The Glitch\”
MARNIE STERN “This is it & I am it & You are it & So is that & he is it”
IRON CURTAIN \”Desertion\”
V/A “BIPPP: French Synth Wave 1979-85”
SEBASTIEN TELLIER \”Sexuality\”
RAVEONETTES \”Lust Lust Lust\”
BLACK ANGELS \”Directions to See a Ghost\”
V/A “Messthetics #106
DUNGEN \”4\”
BRIGHTBLACK MORNING LIGHT\”Motion to Rejoin”
DEERHUNTER \”Microcastle”/ “Weird Era Continued\”
TRICKY \”Knowle West Boy”
LEE SCRATCH PERRY \”Repentance”
REISSUES
NEW ORDER “Movement”
JORGE BEN \”Forca Bruta”
U2 \”October\”
FRIPP & ENO \”No Pussyfooting\”
BILLY
CHRISTOPHER BISSONNETTE “In Between Words”
NICK CAVE & WARREN ELLIS “Assassination of Jesse James” soundtrack
NICK CAVE “Dig Lazarus Dig!!!”
JONNY GREENWOOD “There Will Be Blood” soundtrack
SIGUR ROS “Med Sud I Eryum Vid Spilum Endalaust”
NINE INCH NAILS “The Slip”
RIVERS CUOMO “Alone Part 1”
Bands that stupidly got ignored (by me) until 2008:
WINDY & CARL
UFO (how did I miss them for so long?)
SAMMY HAGAR
PROCOL HARUM
These albums had some good SONGS on them, but I didn\’t
find myself listening to the WHOLE album…
COLDPLAY “Viva La Vida”
DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE “Narrow Stairs”
RADIOHEAD “In Rainbows” (Don\’t believe the hype)
UGLYSUIT “S/T”
LCD SOUNDSYSTEM “Sound of Silver”
JUSTICE “Cross”
HOLD STEADY “Stay Positive” (slightly annoying, but catchy)
REM “Accelerate” (starts off great, then zzzzzzz)
DYLAN
NEW RECORDS
XIU XIU “Women As Lovers”
THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS “Here Come the 123s”
NEPTUNE “Gong Lake”
SIAN ALICE GROUP “59:59”
ERYKAH BADU “New Amerykah: Part One (Fourth World War)”
THE BREEDERS “Mountain Battles”
MARNIE STERN “This is it & I am it & you are it & so is that & he is it”
VIOLENCE OF THE LEFT “Curses”
FLIGHT OF THE CONCHORDS “S/T”
NEIL HAMBURGER “Sings Country Winners”
MEGAFAUN “Bury the Square”
ROOTS “Rising Down”
PORTISHEAD “Third”
ANIMAL COLLECTIVE “Water Curses”
NEW BLOODS “Secret Life”
LAST SHADOW PUPPETS “Age of the Understatement”
ERIC MATTHEWS “Imagination Stage”
PONYTAIL “Ice Cream Spiritual”
WALTER BECKER “Circus Money”
MUCCA PAZZA “Plays Well Together”
SLOAN “Parallel Play”
SIGUR ROS “Med Sud I Eryum Vid Spilum Endalaust”
FRED FRITH “To Sail to Sail”
FUCKED UP “Year of the Pig”
SPARKS “Exotic Creatures of the Deep”
ONEIDA “Preteen Weaponry”
GETATCHEW MEKURIA & THE EX “Moa Anbessa”
SBACH “S/T”
METALLICA “Death Magnetic”
DEAD SCIENCE “Villainaire”
FUCKED UP “Chemistry of Common Life”
WOMEN “S/T”
JARBOE “Mahakali”
WHITE MAGIC “New Egypt”
AC/DC “Black Ice”
SQUAREPUSHER “Only a Souvenir”
CHRIS CONNELLY “Forgiveness & Exile”
LOWDOWN BRASS BAND “S/T”
MY CANADIAN GIRLFRIEND “It Might Even Get Cold”
REISSUES
V/A “Carolina Funk”
MAYO THOMPSON “Corky\’s Debt to his Father”
GARY NUMAN “Replicas”
NICK LOWE “Jesus of Cool”
DENNIS WILSON “Pacific Ocean Blue”
VAN DUREN “Are You Serious”
VSS “Nervous Circuits”
MAGAZINE PUBLISHING EVENT OF THE YEAR
CHUNKLET
JACOB
PORTISHEAD “Third”
DEERHUNTER \”Microcastle”/ “Weird Era Continued\”
BEACH HOUSE \”Devotion\”
MICAH BLUE SMALDONE \”The Red River\”
BONNIE PRINCE BILLY \”Lie Down in the Light\”
ANIMAL COLLECTIVE \”Water Curses\”
ANTONY & THE JOHNSONS \”Another World\”
ARTHUR RUSSELL “Love is Overtaking Me”
JAMES
CONSTANTIES “Kensington Heights”
EDDY CURRENT SUPPRESSION RING “Primary Colours”
DEERHUNTER “Microcastle”/ “Weird Era Continued”
DUTCHESS & THE DUKE “She\’s The Dutchess, He\’s The Duke”
FUCKED UP “The Chemistry of Common Life”
PORTISHEAD “Third”
ERYKAH BADU “New Amerykah: Part One (Fourth World War)”
BLACK MOUNTAIN “In The Future”
SHEARWATER “Rook”
OKKERVIL RIVER “The Stand Ins”
WALKMEN “You & Me”
ONEIDA “Preeteen Weaponry”
DISAPPEARS 2008 7\”s
HOWLIN\’ RAIN “Magnificent Fiend”
BORIS “Smile”
Reissues/Live
BOB DYLAN “Tell Tale Signs: Rare & Unreleased 1989-2006”
DENNIS WILSON “Pacific Ocean Blue”
RODRIGUEZ “Cold Fact”
LARRY NORMAN “Rebel Poet, Jukebox Balladeer: Anthology”
V/A “Nigeria Disco Funk Special”
STEINSKI “What Does It All Mean? 1983-2006 Retrospective”
ARTHUR RUSSELL “Love Is Overtaking Me”
V/A “1970\’s Algerian Proto Rai Underground”
FINAL SOLUTION “Brotherman” soundtrack
THE CLEAN “Anthology”
SKIP JAMES “1931 Sessions”
IRMA THOMAS “Sings”
JOHN PHILLIPS “John The Wolf King of L.A.”
THE CLASH “Live at Shea Stadium”
THE RATS “S/T”
ROBBIE
PORTISHEAD “Third”
BEACH HOUSE “Devotion”
LEE SCRATCH PERRY “Repentance”
DUNGEN “4”
SPARKS “Exotic Creatures of the Deep”
ERIC MATTHEWS “Imagination Stage”
DAVID VANDERVELDE “Waiting for the Sunrise”
BRIGHTBLACK MORNING LIGHT “Motion to Rejoin”
JOHN MAUS “Love is Real”
BLACK MOUNTAIN “In the Future”
ERYKAH BADU “New Amerykah: Part One (Fourth World War)
SLOAN “Parallel Play”
REISSUE OF THE YEAR:
DENNIS WILSON “Pacific Ocean Blue”
BAND I JUST DISCOVERED THIS YEAR:
BADFINGER
MOVIE OF THE YEAR:
WALL-E
GAR
CLASH \”Live at Shea Stadium\”
DAVID BOWIE \”Live Santa Monica \’72\”
BLACK ANGELS \”Directions To See A Ghost\”
JAY REATARD \”Matador Singles \’08\”
CLINIC \”Do It\”
DEERHUNTER \”Microcastle\”/ “Weird Era Continued”
CHRIS CONNELLY \”Forgiveness & Exile\”
PORTISHEAD \”Third\”
FUCKED UP \”Chemistry of Common Life\”
JOHNNY FOREIGNER \”Waited Up Til It Was Light”
V/A \”Sprigs Of Time: 78\’s From The EMI Archive\”
DAN W
EDDIE CURRENT SUPPRESSION RING “Primary Colours”
DUTCHESS & THE DUKE “She\’s The Duchess, He\’s The Duke”
DISAPPEARS both 7 inches + Live Above The Rainbo CDR
TIMES NEW VIKING “Rip It Off”
CONSTANTINES “Kensington Heights”
COURTLAND
V/A “Sprigs of Time: 78s From the EMI Archive”
STEPHEN MALKMUS “ Real Emotional Trash”
V/A “1970\’s Algerian Proto-Rai Underground”
LEON WARE “Moonride”
GLADYS KNIGHT & THE PIPS “Claudine/ Pipe Dreams” soundtracks
NEIL YOUNG “Sugar Mountain: Live at Canterbury House 1968”
V/A “I Don\’t Feel At Home In This World Today”
V/A “Life Is A Problem”
GZA “Pro Tools”
GETATCHEW, EKURIA & THE EX “Moa Anbessa”
V/A “New Orleans Funk Vol. 2”
MICHAEL
DISAPPEARS 7\”s + “Live Over the Rainbo”
V/A “1970s Algerian Proto-Rai Underground”
TOUMANI DIABATE “Mande Variations”
ROOTS MANUVA “Slime & Reason”
FLYING LOTUS “Los Angeles”
BOB DYLAN “Tell Tale Signs: Rare & Unreleased 1989-2006”
DEBASHISH BHATTACHARYA “Calcutta Chronicles: Indian Slide Guitar Odyssey”
VALERIO COSI “Collected Works”
ODEAN POPE “What Went Before, Volume 1”
CHRIS CONNELLY “Forgiveness & Exile”
V/A “Give Me Love: Songs of the Brokenhearted: Baghdad, 1925-1929”
V/A “Sprigs of Time: 78s from the EMI Archives”
SIR VICTOR UWAIFO “Guitar-Boy Superstar 1970-76 “
SCOTT TUMA “Not for Nobody”
MATANA ROBERTS QUARTET “Chicago Project”
BLUES CONTROL “Puff”
Best Shows
STARS OF THE LID (Lakeshore Theater)
TOUMANI DIABATE (Logan Square Auditorium)
THE EX & GETATCHEW MEKURIA (Pritzger)
AMIR EL SAFFAR (Pritzger)
ORNETTE COLEMAN (Grant Park)
MATANA ROBERTS (Heaven Gallery)
SARAH
(NO ORDER-ALBUMS)
BLACK ANGELS “Directions to See a Ghost”
FLEET FOXES “S/T”
LINDSAY BUCKINGHAM “GIFT OF SCREWS”
DEERHUNTER “Microcastle”/ “Weird Era Continued”
DIPLO & SANTOGOLD “Top ranking”
PIT ER PAT “High Time”
ROOTS MANUVA “Slime & Reason)
PORTASTATIC “Some Small History”
V/A “Nigeria Disco Funk Special”
V/A “Rmxxology”
(NO ORDER CELEBRITIES)
TINA FEY
CHARLIE DAY
DAVE
THE BAKERTON GROUP “S/T” (Groovy instrumental boogie-rock from Clutch, but
minus their singer)
BETWEEN THE BURIED & ME “Colors” (I know this came out in 2007, but
Victory Records finally issued this on vinyl! Amazing prog-metal-hardcore)
GOJIRA “The Way of All Flesh” (Awesome, heavy, and complex metal recorded
and performed very well. Fans of Meshuggah or Lamb of God will like this)
GRIDLINK “Amber Grey” (Another band starting with \”G,\” this features Jon
Chang from Discordance Axis on vocals and most of Japan\’s Mortalized on
instruments. 12 songs in 11 minutes and completely punishing)
GUILTY SIMPSON “Ode to the Ghetto” (A nice mixture of street-level rhymes
and a sense of humor, this is another winner from Stones Throw)
HARMS WAY \”Delusion\” 7\” (Intense and scary hardcore/grind/death metal
from these Chicago lads)
THE MUZZLER /MZRCDXVL Split 7\” (Awesome split from two of the area\’s best
hardcore bands)
ORIGIN “Antithesis” (Insane and unrelenting technical death metal from
Kansas, of all places. Totally overpowering and amazing)
PORTISHEAD “Third” (Indescribable release from an indescribable band.
Other-worldly rhythms mixed with Beth Gibbons\’ airy voice make for another
winner from this band)
PUERTO MUERTO “I Was A Swallow” (Dark, post-country tunes with beautiful
male/female vocals from right here in Chicago. Very underrated music that
sounds like it\’s from Death Valley and covered in sand)
STEINWAYS “Gorilla Marketing” (Excellent pop punk in the vein of Screeching Weasel. Buy & smile.)
VENOMOUS CONCEPT “Poisoned Apple” (punk/thrash from one half of Brutal
Truth and one half of Napalm Death)
V/A “This Comp Kills Fascists” (Great hardcore compilation on Relapse, assembled by Pig Destroyer guitarist Scott Hull. Features new material from tons of killer bands, including Brutal Truth, Weekend Nachos, Spoonful of Vicodin, Agents of Satan, and like 15 more)
KIP
in no particular order
MESHUGGAH “Obzen”
MESHUGGAH “Chaosphere Reloaded” (Reissue)
JUANA MOLINA “Un Dia”
DUNGEN “4”
FRIPP/ENO “No Pussyfooting” (Reissue)
NAGISA NI TE “Yosuga”
ENSLAVED “Vertebrae”
FUCKED UP “Year of the Pig”
SEA & CAKE “Car Alarm”
NEIL YOUNG “Sugar Mountain: Live at Canterbury House 1968”
NONAGON “No Sun”
TV Series
MAD MEN “Seasons 1 and 2”
IN TREATMENT “Season 1”
BATTLESTAR GALACTICA “Season 4.0”
THE SHIELD “Season 7”
IT’S ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA “Season 4”
LOST “Season 4”
TRUE BLOOD “Season 1”
Movies
IN BRUGES
WALL-E
MAGAS
GAS “Nah Und Fern”
WOLFGANG VOIGT “Freiland Klaviermusik”
MAURIZIO “M Series”
V/A “\’70s THAI ORCHESTRA”
BASIC CHANNEL “2”
RAVEN “Back to Ohio Blues”
TRUTH & JANEY “No Rest for the Wicked”
BRAINBOMBS reissues
CHRISSY ZEBBY TEMBO & NGOZI FAMILY “My Ancestors”
YA HO WAH 13 “Penetration, An Aquarian Symphony”
ERSEN “S/T” reissue
CHRIS CONNELLY “Forgiveness & Exile”
THE PEACE “Black Power”
HUMAN BEAST “Vol. 1”
BLUE PHANTOM “Distortions”
SUCK “Time to Suck”
FREEDOM\’S CHILDREN “Astra & Galactic Vibes”
BLUE ADDICTS “S/T”
T2 “It\’ll All Work Out in Boomland” & “T2” (aka Fantasy)
STACK WADDY “S/T”
EDGAR BROUGHTON BAND reissues
MURPHY BLEND “First Loss”
Everything on STRANGE LIFE
Bonus round:
Fallout 3 (Xbox 360)
Braid (Xbox 360)
The Presidential Election
DAN
1.) PORTISHEAD “Third”
2.) NICK CAVE AND BAD SEEDS “Dig Lazarus, Dig!!!”
3.) ERYKAH BADU “New Amerykah: Part One (Fourth World War)”
4.) DEERHUNTER “Microcastle”/ “Weird Era Continued”
5.) BON IVER “For Emma Forever Ago”
6.) FLEET FOXES “S/T”
7.) THEE OH SEES “Master\’s Bedroom is Worth Spending a Night in”
8.) BLACK MOUNTAIN “In the Future”
9.) SHOPPING “S/T”
10.) VETIVER “Thing of the Past”
REISSUES
1.)MISSISSIPPI RECORDS: VARIOUS TITLES (IRMA THOMAS, “LOVE IS LOVE” etc…)
2.)RODRIGUEZ “Cold Fact”
3.)LARRY NORMAN “Rebel, Poet, Jukebox Balladeer”
4.)BOB DYLAN “Tell Tale Signs: Rare & Unreleased 1989-2006”
5.) NERVES “One Way Ticket”
6.) LOS HOLY\’S “Sueno Sicodelic” (PLUS TAPES CASSETTE)
7.) DENNIS WILSON “Pacific Ocean Blue”
8.) ARTHUR RUSSELL “Love is Overtaking Me”
9.) KAREN DALTON “Cotton Eyed Joe”
10.) REPLACEMENTS All Reissues
11.) V/A“Nigeria Rock Special: Psychedelic Afro Rock”
12.) V/A “ Summer Records Anthology”
MARK
in no particular order
BECK “ Modern Guilt”
YAHOWA 13 “Sonic Portal”
O.W.L. “Of Wondrous Legend” reissue
JONAS REINHARDT “ S/T”
BLACK ANGELS “ Directions To See a Ghost”
FRIPP/ENO “No Pussyfooting” (reissue)
DIALS “ Amoeba Amore”
CLOUDLAND CANYON “ Lie in Light”
BRIAN JONESTOWN MASSACRE “My Bloody Underground”
DENNIS WILSON “ Pacific Ocean Blue” reissue
GENESIS Rhino cd/dvd reissues
ONEIDA “ Preteen Weaponry”
DANIEL:
KEVIN AYERS \”Unfairground\”
BIG KNIFE “S/T” (cassette)
BLACK ANGELS \”Directions to See a Ghost\”
THE DIALS \”Amoeba Amore\”
ENDLESS BOOGIE \”Focus Level\”
THE FINAL SOLUTION \”Brotherman\”
Soundtrack for an never-filmed movie, unearthed by Numero, by a group with maybe the most (unintentionally,
I hope?) band name of all time.
FUCKED UP \”The Chemistry of Common Life\”
KING KHAN & THE SHRINES \”The Supreme Genius of King Khan\”
NICK LOWE \”Jesus of Cool\” [reissue]
basically the best record ever, the reissue includes all the tracks from the UK release as well as the re-titled U.S.
version \”Pure Pop for Now People\”
MUTUAL DIVORCE \”Gay for Gasoline\”
SPARKS \”Exotic Creatures of the Deep\”
VIVIAN GIRLS “S/T”
V/A \”Well Hung: Funk Rock Eruptions from Beneath Communist
Hungary Vol. 1\”
V/A \”Titan: It\’s All Pop!\”
Another Numero Group compilation, lost power-pop gems on the Titan label. A good follow-up to 2005\’s
“Yellow Pills.”
ANTHONY
JOHN BAKER
The John Baker Tapes, Volume 1: BBC Radiophonics Rare & Unreleased Workshop Recordings 1963-1969
The John Baker Tapes, Volume 2: Soundtracks, Library, Home Recordings, Electro Ads 1954-1985
Trunk CDs/LP
Trunk Records has outdone themselves! A pair of lovingly assembled 2CD sets of various cues, themes and musical beds (much of it unreleased) made for radio and television through the BBC Radiophonic Workshop. Primitive (yet futuristic) electronics and sonic manipulations that owe an obvious debt to the electroacoustic/music concrete pioneers of a decade prior, but with an added musicality and playfulness befitting its status as production music. Alongside Delia Derbyshire (who is long overdue for a similar re-examination), Baker was one of the Workshop\’s most prolific composers, and these discs represent a remarkable 30-odd years of work. If you\’re a fan of the Raymond Scott \”Manhattan Research\” package from years back, there\’s much here for you to enjoy.
CLINIC
“Do It!”
Modern avant/psych that manages to avoid the \’retro\’ tag. Familiar elements weave in and out of the mix but Abe Blackburn\’s unique vocals and the band\’s use of odd chord progressions make Clinic sound like no one else. Mildly unsettling and equally mysterious.
MITTY COLLIER
“Shades Of Mitty Collier – The Chess Singles 1961-1968”
First-ever CD collection from this Chicago gospel-influenced deep soul belter. \”I Had A Talk With My Man\” is the classic but Collier & the Chess studio band shine throughout. Classy & moving.
KING KHAN & THE SHRINES
“The Supreme Genius Of King Khan & The Shrines”
US compilation of this multi-national garage R&B outfit\’s prodigious output. Great live show to boot.
LULA CORTES & ZE RAMALHO
“Paêbirú”
Brazilian psych folk from 1975. Lots in common with Caetano Veloso and the then- relatively recent Tropicalia movement, but with a spacier, almost progressive vibe that would appeal to fans of UK acid folk stalwarts Comus or Ramases. Concept record? Of course it is.
NICK LOWE
“Jesus Of Cool” (Remastered Edition)
Expanded version of Nick Lowe\’s 1978 debut (renamed \”Pure Pop For Now People\” in the US) featuring a whopping 10 bonus tracks. The timeless pop perfection of \”Marie Provost\” and \”So It Goes\” (in all of its Thin Lizzy-esque glory) appear here, along with the original version of \”Cruel To Be Kind\” and the only partially tongue-in-cheek \”Rollers Show.\” The line between power pop and new wave has never been so blurry; never mind, they both begin here.
RODRIGUEZ
“Cold Fact”
A heavier Latino Donovan produced by Dennis Coffey. 1970 psychedelic folk rock. Awesome.
SHE & HIM
“Volume One”
Slightly flat, sometimes over-emotive, brashly charming bubblegum that matures throughout the course of the record. A sympatico collaboration between M. Ward & actress Zooey Deschanel that stood up to a summer\’s worth of repeated plays. This deserves a follow-up.
VARIOUS ARTISTS
“African Scream Contest: Raw & Psychedelic Afro Sounds From Benin & Togo 70s”
“Nigeria Rock Special: Psychedelic Afro-Rock & Fuzz Funk In 1970s Nigeria”
Complimentary collections from the Afro-Rock underground. Think Fela Kuti crossed with Hendrix, Santana or Funkadelic\’s Eddie Hazel. Not to be missed.
VARIOUS ARTISTS
“Thank You Friends: The Ardent Records Story”
The alternate/demo versions of Big Star & related material that comprise roughly half of this 2CD set ought to make this a no-brainer, but the mid 60s garage/pop/psychedelic obscurities included keep this from being merely a completist\’s archival package.
ANGELA
- ERSEN “ S/T” reissue… Addictive, choppy, and stellar Turkish rock
- RODRIGUEZ \”Cold Fact\” reissue
- PORTISHEAD \”Third\”
- KING KHAN & THE SHRINES \”Supreme Genuis of King Khan\”
- WOODEN SHJIPS \”Vol. 1\”
- RELIGIOUS KNIVES \”After Dark\”
- FLIGHT OF THE CONCHORDS “S/T”
- BRIGHTBLACK MORNING LIGHT\”Motion to Rejoin\” (not to mention a mesmerizing show at the Hideout)
- NEW ORDER \”Movement\” reissue
- WHITE MAGIC \”New Egypt\”
- PONYTAIL \”Ice Cream Spiritual\”
- DEERHOOF \”Offend Maggie\”
- NEU \”Neu! 2\” (Reissue)
- RAVEN \”Back to Ohio Blues\” (Reissue)
- DEERHUNTER \”Microcastle\”/ “Weird Era Continued”
- DAVID BOWIE “ Live Santa Monica” \’72
- DUNGEN \”4\”
- MAGNETIC FIELDS \”Distortion\”
- WOMEN “ S/T”
- ONEIDA \”Preteen Weaponry\”
- BEACH HOUSE \”Devotion\”
- GROUPER \”Dragging a Dead Deer Up a Hill\”
- JOSEPHINE FOSTER \”This Coming Gladness\”
- FUCK BUTTONS \”Street Horrrsing\”
- AWESOME COLOR \”Electric Aborigines\”
- THE BREEDERS \”Mountain Battles\”
DVD\’s:
\”The Future is Unwritten/Joe Strummer\” by Julien Temple
\”Joy Division\” by Grant Gee (amazing footage of Joy Division performances that make you wish, or in fact,
almost feel like you were there. Grant Gee keeps you enthralled the entire time.
THADDEUS
SPIRITUALIZED “Songs in A&E”
NEIL HAMBURGER “Sings Country Winners”
EARLES & JENSEN “Just Farr A Laugh” reissue
“KING OF KONG: FISTFULL OF QUARTERS”
“THE WIRE” Season 5
“IT\’S ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA” Season 4 (TACO BED!!!!)
REBBECA
BIG DIPPER \”Supercluster Anthology\”
BLACK ANGELS \”Directions to See a Ghost\”
BLACK MOUNTAIN \”In the Future\”
BRIAN JONESTOWN MASSACRE \”My Bloody Underground\”
CHEAP TIME \”S/T\”
THE CLEAN \”Compilation\”
CRYSTAL STILTS \”Alight of Night \”
DIGITAL LEATHER \”Sorceror\”
DUNGEN \”4\”
EL GUINCHO \”Alegranza\”
EL PERRO DEL MAR \”From the Valley of the Stars\”
THE NERVES “One Way Ticket”
RAVEONETTES \”Lust Lust Lust\”
JAY REATARD “Singles 06-07”
SPARKS “Exotic Creatures of the Deep”
SPIRITUALIZED \”Songs in A&E”
KEITH
A/V MURDER “Missile Command” 7\”
CIRCUS DEVILS “Ataxia”
CHRIS CONNELLY “Forgiveness & Exile”
DAVILLA 666 “S/T”
DEERHUNTER “Microcastle”/ “Weird Era Continued”
DISAPPEARS “Need” 7\” & “Old Friend” 7”
DUTCHESS & THE DUKE “Never Had a Chance” 7\”
EDDY CURRENT SUPPRESSION RING “Primary Colours”
FRANCE HAS THE BOMB “World of Mirrors” 7\”
NIGHTMARCHERS “See You in Magic”
OBITS “One Cross Apiece” 7\”
THE REPLACMENTS reissues bonus tracks
SHOPPING \”Shopping\” LP
BRYAN:
V/A “1970\’S Algerian Proto-Rai Underground”
V/A “70s Thai Orchestra”
BILL COSBY Presents Badfoot Brown & The Bunions Bradford Funeral & Marching Band CD
BLACK ANGELS “Directions To See a Ghost”
BLACK MOTH SUPER RAINBOW “Dandelion Gum”
DENNIS WILSON “Pacific Ocean Blue” reissue
DISFEAR “Live the Storm”
FESTIVAL “Come, Arrow, Come”
FUCKED UP “Chemistry of Common Life”
FUCKED UP “Year Of The Pig”
GORE “Hart Gore & Mean Man\’s Dream” reissues
LEVIATHAN “Massive Conspiracy Against All Life”
NICK CAVE & THE BAD SEEDS “Dig Lazarus Dig!!!”
NICK LOWE “Jesus Of Cool” reissue
RATS reissue
RAVEN “Back to Ohio Blues”
SEX VID “Communal Living” 12\”
WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM “Two Hunters”
STEVE:
BIRTH CONTROL \”Goin\’ To Target\” 7\”
BLACK ANGELS \”Directions To See A Ghost\”
BLACK TIME \”Double Negative\”
BORIS \”Smile\”
BOX ELDERS\”Hole in My Head\” 7\”
THE CLEAN \”Compilation\” LP Reissue
DAILY VOID\”Man/Machine\” 7\”
DANAVA \”Unonou\”
DRUNKDRIVER \”Born Pregnant\” LP
EARLES & JENSEN \”Just Farr a Laugh\”
ENSLAVED\”Vertebrae\”
FEELING OF LOVE \”Petite Tu Es Un Hit\” LP (out of print)
FUCKED UP\”The Chemistry of Common Life\”
GROUPER \”Dragging a Dead Deer Up a Hill\”
HARMONIA\”Live 1974\”
HARVEY MILK vinyl reissues
MITCH HEDBERG\”Do You Believe in Gosh?\”
LA DUSSELDORF vinyl reissues
MIDDLE CLASS “Out Of Vogue – The Early Material\”
MISSION OF BURMA reissues
NERVES \”One Way Ticket\”
RATS \”s/t\” LP reissue
RODRIGUEZ\”Cold Fact\” reissue
IRMA THOMAS \”Irma Thomas Sings\” LP
VSS \”Nervous Circuits\” reissue CD/DVD
V/A \”Fight on Your Time Ain\’t Long\”
Live:
ANIMAL LAW
BIG KNIFE
DANAVA
DUNGEN
ROKY ERICKSON
GONERFEST
HOMOSEXUALS
KING KHAN
PIERCED ARROWS
PISSED JEANS
JAY REATARD
CHARLES:
MOTORPSYCHO “Little Lucid Moments”
DEPARTMENT OF EAGLES “In Ear Park”
MARNIE STERN “This Is It & I Am It & You Are It & So Is That & He Is It”
MOVE “Lookin On” reissue
STEINSKI “What Does it All Mean?”
PLANETO IMAGINARIA “Biomasa”
SECRET CHIEFS 3 “Plays Masada Book Two”
MATTHEW HERBERT BIG BAND “There\’s Me & There\’s You”
STEVEN BERNSTEIN “Diaspora Suite”
WILLIAM PARKER “Inside Songs of Curtis Mayfield”
SUN RA “Sleeping Beauty”
SUN RA “On Jupiter”
LONDON/GLASGOW IMPROVISERS ORCHESTRAS “Separately & Together”
ANTHONY BRAXTON “Complete Arista Recordings”
SCHLIPPENBACH TRIO “Gold is Where you Find it”
JEFF:
BEACH HOUSE \”Devotion\”
BIRTH CONTROL \”Going To Target\” 7\”
BLACK ANGELS \”Directions To See A Ghost\”
CONVICTED \”Unconquered\” 7\”
CRUEL HAND \”Prying Eyes\”
DEAD CAN DANCE reissues
DIPLO & PAPER ROUTE GANGSTAZ \”Fear & Loathing In Huntsvegas\”
DOUBLE NEGATIVE Raw Energy\” 7\”
FUCKED UP \”Chemistry of Common Life\”
GROUPER \”Dragging a Dead Deer Up a Hill\”
HARMS WAY \”Delusion\” 7\”
ICEMEN 7\”
IRON CURTAIN \”Desertion 1982-1988\”
LOOP reissues
MARVELOUS DARLINGS \”I Don\’t Want to Go to the Party\” 7\”
MIDNIGHT \”Farewell to Hell\” 10\”
NEW ORDER reissues
NO AGE \”Nouns\”
OBLITERATION 7\”
SATANIC THREAT \”Into Hell\” 7\”
SEX VID \”Communal Living\” 12\”
SPACEMEN 3 \”DJ Tones\”
SUN KIL MOON \”April\”
THOUGHT CRUSADE \”Common Man\” 7\”
VIOLATION \”Devoured\”
WHITE MAGIC \”New Egypt\”
MY BLOODY VALENTINE @ Aragon
PUNCH IN THE FACE & THE REPOS respective last shows
SWERVEDRIVER @ Metro
Family Tattoo (2230 W. Belmont)
LIBBY:
AD ASTRA PER ASPERA “Danger Bird Blues” 7\”
ANNIHILATION TIME “Tales of the Ancient Age”
BIRTH CONTROL “Going to Target” 7\”
BLACK TIME “Double Negative”
DANAVA “Unonou”
DARK AGES “4 Songs” 7\”
IRMA THOMAS “Sings the New Orleans Series” LP
JAY REATARD “Singles 06-07”
PIERCED ARROWS “n My Brain/Caroline” 7\”
RATS “S/T” LP reissue
Live:
THE BARBARAS
BOX ELDERS
DAILY VOID
DANAVA
FUCKED UP
KING KHAN & THE SHRINES
Also:
BEYONCE \”Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)\” video
“Burn After Reading”
STEVE:
PAUL METZGER @ Enemy
BONNIE PRINCE BILLY “ Lie Down in the Light”
All of the T.I. singles
BOB DYLAN bootlegs on the back porch with St. Peter\’s English Ale, Scrabble & good company.
PAUL METZGER “Gedanken Splinter”
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
NEIL YOUNG “Sugar Mountain: Live at Canterbury House”
Almost everything Mississippi Records put out
The Ex with Getachew Mekuria@ LSA
EVANGELISTA- \”Hello Voyager\”
ARTHUR RUSSELL “Love is Overtaking Me”
EVANGELISTA @ South Union Arts
Reggae Night @ the Burlington
New bike & biking to the RNC (though the event itself was a horrible depressing drag- thanks republicans & St. Paul PD)
ERYKAH BADU “New Amerykah: Part One (Fourth World War)”
EARTH- \”The Bees Made Honey in the Lion\’s Skull\”
CASTRATED WARLORD- \”The Essential Castrated Warlord\”
GROUP INERANE- \”Guitars From Agadez\”
The Pit at the Pissed Jeans show at the Bottle
KATE FAGAN “I Don\’t Want to Be Too Cool” 7”
NICK CAVE “Dig Lazarus Dig!!!”
“My Winnipeg” film
That Earles & Jensen track about Garfield.
“Encounters at the End of the World” film
V/A “Wooden Guitar” (LP Reissue)
CHRIS CORSANO “Young Cricketer” (LP Reissue)
Plus Tapes
RAVEN- \”Back To Ohio Blues\” (Reissue)
Free concerts at Millennium Park
V/A “Dancehall: The Rise of Jamaican Dancehall Culture”
KAREN DALTON “Cotton Eyed Joe”
“Wild Combination” DVD
KEVIN COYNE & Siren reissues
BLACK PUS CDRs
FUN YEARS “Baby, It\’s Cold Inside”
MELISSA:
ERYKAH BADU “New Amerykah: Part One (Fourth World War)”
JORGE BEN reissues
BLACK ANGLES “Directions to See a Ghost”
NICK CAVE “Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!!”
THE CLEAN “Anthology”
CHRIS CONNELLY “Forgiveness & Exile”
DEERHUNTER “Microcastle”/ “Weird Era Continued”
DUNGEN “4”
FUCKED UP “Chemistry of Common Life”
ENSLAVED “Vertebrae”
ERSEN “S/T” reissue
GETATCHEW MEKURIA & THE EX “Moa Anbessa”
KING KHAN & THE SHRINES “The Supreme Genius of…”
GROUPER “Dragging a Dead Deer up a Hill”
GZA “Pro Tools”
HARVEY MILK LP reissues
LEVIATHAN “Massive Conspiracy Against All Life”
NICK LOWE “Jesus of Cool” reissue
THE PEACE “Black Power”reissue
JUANA MOLINA “Un Dia”
PORTISHEAD “Third”
Q-TIP “Renaissance”
RADIOHEAD “In Rainbows”
THE RATS “S/T” reissue
RAVEN “Back to Ohio Blues”
JAY REATARD “Matador Singles”
RODRIGUEZ “Cold Fact” reissue
IRMA THOMAS “Sings”
DENNIS WILSON “Pacific Ocean Blue” reissue
Neil Young “Sugar Mountain: Live at Canterbury House”
V/A “Well Hung: Funk Rock Eruptions from Beneath Communist Hungary Volume 1”
V/A “Summer Records Anthology”
V/A “Give Me Love: Songs of the Brokenhearted: Baghdad , 1925-1929”
V/A “Life is a Problem”
V/A “Springs of Time: 78\’S From the EMI Archive”
V/A “Rmxxology”
V/A “I Don\’t Feel at Home in this World Today”
V/A “1970s Algerian Proto-Rai Underground”
V/A “New Orleans Funk Vol. 2”
V/A “Nigeria Disco Funk Special”
V/A “Nigeria Rock Special”
The comps were really good this year!
KEN:
STARS OF THE LID “Carte-De-Visite”
THE PEACE “Black Power”reissue
BURNING STAR CORE “Destroyer”
CHRISTOPHER BISSONNETTE “In Between Words”
JONAS REIHARDT “S/T”
LULA CORTES & ZE RAMALHO “Paebiru”
ANIMALS & MEN “Never Bought Never Sold” reissue
V/A “Give Me Love: Songs of the Brokenhearted: Baghdad, 1925-1929”
J SPACEMAN & SUN CITY GIRLS “Mister Lonely” (soundtrack)
AMANAZ “Africa” (reissue)
MEGAN:
SIGUR ROS “Med Sud I Eryum Vid Spilum Endalaust”
MINUS THE BEAR “They Make Beer Commercials Like This” (First time ever released on vinyl)
FUCKED UP “Chemistry of Common Life”
MATES OF STATE “Rearrange Us”
SPARKS “Exotic Creatures of the Deep”
BEACH HOUSE “Devotion”
LACKTHEREOF “Your Anchor”
FLIGHT OF THE CONCHORDS “Flight of the Conchords”
Honorable Mention:
MAN MAN “Rabbit Habits “[just have to be in the mood]
DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE “Narrow Stairs”[much potential, but haven\’t been able to listen enough to judge fairly]
PORTISHEAD “Third” [the whole vinyl fiasco was a pain in the bum]
LYKKE LI “Youth Novels [i just can\’t not love the first track]
FRIENDS OF RECKLESS…
BLAKE JUDD (NACHTMYSTIUM/ BATTLE KOMMAND RECORDS)
- EARTH “The Bees Made Honey in the Lions Skull”
- GENGHIS TRON “Board up the House”
- TORCHE “Meanderthal”
- WOVEN HAND “Ten Stones”
- LEVIATHAN “Massive Conspiracy Against All Life”
ADAM REACH (Touch and Go Records, Production, lover of cats)
PORTISHEAD \”Third”
MONOTONIX \”Body Language
GUN OUTFIT \”Your Will\” 7”
DEAD MEADOW \”Old Growth\”
NODZZZ \”I Don\’t Wanna (Smoke Marijuana)\” 7\”
HIGH PLACES\”S/T\”
BLACK TAJ \”Beyonder\”
DEERHUNTER \”Microcastle/Weird Era Cont.\”
SQUAREPUSHER \”Just A Souvenir\”
RED FAVORITE\”S/T\”
BROTHER JT 3 \”Jelly Roll Gospel\”
STEPHEN SOWLEY (Electrical Audio Studio Manager, Danny\’s doorman, former Reckless Employee, DJ & Bingo MC)
HARVEY MILK “Life…The Best Game in Town”
BREEDERS “Mountain Battles”
EVANGELISTA “Hello Voyager”
“Let the Right One in” (Film)
EARTH “Bees Made Honey in the Lion\’s Skull”
KEVIN DRUMM “Imperial Distortion”
FOOD FOR ANIMALS “Belly”
“Wall-E” (Film)
IRON LUNG “Sexless/No Sex”
Basil Hayden Bourbon
GROUPER “Dragging a Dead Deer Up a Hill”
WINDY & CARL “Songs For The Broken Hearted”
DISFEAR “Live The Storm”
MY DISCO “Cancer”
THEE OH SEES (OCS) “The Masters Bedroom Is Worth Spending The Night in”
2562 “Aerial”
Roscoe\’s Chicken N\’ Waffles: Los Angeles
NAKED ON THE VAGUE “S/T”
ENSLAVED “VERTEBRAE”
SUNN O))) “Domkirke”
V/A “African Scream Contest”
MISSISSIPPI RECORDS
Soundway\’s awesome examination of \’70s Nigerian music
CHRIS CONNELLY “Concrete, Bullet Proof, Invisible and Fried: My Life as a Revolting Cock” (book)
FENNESZ “The Black Sea”
STEPHEN COLBERT “I am America, and So Can You” Audiobook Version
Little Things–
SEX VID “Nests” 7\” & “Communal Living” 12\”
MAYYORS “S/T” 7\” & “Megan\’s LOLZ” 7\”
BOTTOMLESS PIT “Congress” 12\”
NODDZ “I Don\’t Wanna (Smoke Marijuana)” 7\”
COLD CAVE “Trees Grew Emotions And Died” 12\”
MI AMI “African Rhythms” 12\”
DOUBLE NEGATIVE “S/T” 7\”
FUCKED UP “Crooked Head” 7\”
VIVIAN GIRLS “Wild Eyes” 7\”
Live Things:
EX & GETACHEW MEKURIA (Logan Square Auditorium, Chicago)
HARVEY MILK (Canadian Building, Los Angeles)
ATP NY (Kutshers, Monticello, NY)
STARS OF THE LID (Lakeshore Theater, Chicago)
DEAD C (Empty Bottle, Chicago)
SEX VID (Beat Kitchen, Chicago)
THE THING (Hideout, Chicago)
FOOD FOR ANIMALS/ MI AMI (AV Aerie, Chicago)
TAYLOR ‘s alphabetical nepotism (Touch and Go Records, sales)
ALL THE SAINTS “Fire On Corridor X”
BLANK DOGS “In a Web” 7”fans of shit gaze & glue wave take note– this is the ONLY band whose name you will ever need to know post 2008.
BLANK DOGS “Mirror Lights” Cassette
BLANK DOGS “Diana the Herald” 12”
BLANK DOGS “Two Months” 7”
BLANK DOGS “Yellow Mice Asleep” e.p.
CRYSTAL STILTS “Alight of Night”
DAN MELCHIOR UND DAS MENACE “Christmas for the Crows”
DEERHUNTER “Microcastle/ Weird Era Continued”
EDDY CURRENT SUPPRESSION RING “Primary Colours”
FUCKED UP “The Chemistry of Common Life” Seventy guitar tracks might look self-indulgent on another band. Somehow these geniuses pull it off, er should I say, continue to pull it off. i even like the pop punk song w/ the douche chills guyliner guest vocalist. Fuck it, i especially like this song.
GANG GANG DANCE “Saint Dymphna”
GUN OUTFIT “S/T” 7” This is the flannel you’ve been waiting for.
KURT VILE “Constant Hitmaker” No matter how many inches of snow and sleet are on the ground outside, playing the first track on this record is guaranteed to make you feel like you’re smoking a j-bone in the Caribbean and that you really are gonna have a functional relationship with your ex.
NAKED ON THE VAGUE “Blood Pressure Sessions”
NUDGE “Infinity Padlock” e.p. Brian Foote is the dude behind the curtain in the Wizard of Oz. He is the Wizard, or possibly Oz, whichever one of those is more enigmatic, he’s that one.
SEX VID “Communal Living” 12” If this band stopped releasing live records that sound like my cat w/ bronchitis they would pretty much be perfect.
THESE ARE POWERS “Taro Tarot” e.p.
VSS “Nervous Circuits” reissue
JEFF CAMPAGNA (Forced Exposure distribution, sales)
“I\’m quite an old-school romantic that thinks the heart and emotion of the music is what matters and that is what I listen out for, not the style. The characteristics and virtues I most cherish are when a music-maker can express an all-round character with integrity, a complete universe that thrives on its own. When it elevates above all styles.” – Björk
Top Albums
AARON DILLOWAY & C. SPENCER YEH “Thee Squid”
AIDAN BAKER AND TIM HECKER “Fantasma Parastasie”
ANGEL “Kalmuki”
APSE “Spirit”
BJ NILSEN & STILLUPPSTEYPA “Passing Out”
BORKO “Celebrating Life”
COLDPLAY ”Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends”
COLIN MELOY “Sings Live!”
DEERHUNTER “Microcastle”/”Weird Era Continued”
ELUDER “The Most Beautiful Blue”
EMILIANA TORRINI “Me and Armini”
FENNESZ “Black Sea”
FOTHERINGAY “2”
HJALTALIN “Sleepdrunk Seasons”
J SPACEMAN & MATTHEW SHIPP “Spaceshipp”
JACASZEK “Treny”
JAMES “Hey-Ma”
JASPER TX “Black Sleep”
JÓHANN JÓHANNSSON “Fordlândia”
KEVIN DRUMM “Imperial Distortion”
KOEN HOLTKAMP “Field Rituals”
LAURA VEIRS “Two Beers Veirs”
LAWRENCE ENGLISH “Kiri No Oto”
MACHINEFABRIEK “Mort Aux Vaches”
MILIEU “A Warm Wooden Hollow/Smokebuilder\’s Woodshop”
NADJA/AIDAN BAKER/LEAH BUCKAREFF “Trinitarian”
NINE INCH NAILS “Ghosts I-IV”
Ø “Oleva”
ÓLAFUR ARNALDS “Eulogy for Evolution”
OMIT “Interceptor”
PETER BRODERICK “Float”
PETAR DUNDOV “Escapements”
PHANTOM ORCHARD “Orra”
PHILIP GLASS “Music In Twelve Parts”
POCAHAUNTED “Chains”
ROD MODELL “Incense & Black Light”
RYAN ADAMS & THE CARDINALS “Cardinology”
SIGUR RÓS “Med Sud I Eryum Vid Spilum Endalaust”
SIN FANG BOUS “Clangour”
SOCCER COMMITTEE & MACHINEFABRIEK “Drawn”
SONS OF THE DRAGON “Sons Of The Dragon”
SVARTE GREINER “Man Bird Dress”
THE CURE “4:13 Dream”
THEE SILVER MT. ZION MEMORIAL ORCHESTRA & TRA-LA-LA BAND “13 Blues For Thirteen Moons”
THOM YORKE “The Eraser Remixed”
V/A “A Cleansing Ascensio”
V/A “Spire Live – Fundamentalis”
WILLITS + SAKAMOTO “Ocean Fire”
XELA “In Bocca Al Lupo”
YELLOW SWANS “Psychic Secession”
Misc picks
BJÖRK “Wanderlust” 2X12”
FM3 “Buddha Machine II
JANDEK “Manhattan Tuesday” DVD
NURSE WITH WOUND “Images/Zero Mix” Book w/ CD
PAN SONIC “Kuvaputki” DVD
Top Reissues
808 STATE “Quadrastate”
BELLE AND SEBASTIAN “The BBC Sessions”
CHRIS CORSANO “The Young Cricketer”
DAVY GRAHAM “Folk, Blues & Beyond…”
DREDD FOOLE “Kissing The Contemporary Bliss”
GAS “Nah Und Fern”
IN CAMERA “Open Air”
JADE “Fly On Strangewings”
KAREN DALTON “In My Own Time”
METALLICA “Ride the Lightning”
MICHEL CHION “Requiem”
POLE “1 2 3”
STEINSKI “What Does It All Mean? 1983-2006 Retrospective”
THE SMITHS “The Sound of the Smiths”
UNIVERS ZERO “Univers Zero”
V/A “African Scream Contest: Raw & Psychedelic Afro”
V/A “Fight On, Your Time Ain\’t Long”
V/A “Victrola Favorites: Artifacts from Bygone Days”
XHOL “Motherfuckers GmbH & Co. Kg”
YOSHI WADA “The Appointed Cloud”
Special Mention
Náttúra Concert: Reykjavik, Iceland with Ólöf Arnalds, Ghostigital, Sigur Rós and Björk (National Geographic World Music) Webcast
DRAG CITY RECORDS
MARYANNE AMACHER “ Sound Characters 2”
ERYKAH BADU “New Amerykah: Part One (Fourth World War)”
BEACH HOUSE “Devotion”
LINDSEY BUCKINGHAM “Gift of Screws”
GLEN CAMPBELL “Meet Glen Campbell”
CIRCLE X “Prehistory” reissue
THE COASTERS “ There\’s a Riot Goin\’ On: The Coasters on Atco”
DJ SHADOW & CUT CHEMIST “Hard Sell (Encore)”
JOE E “Love Got In the Way”
EARLES & JENSEN “Just Farr A Laugh Vol. 1&2: The Greatest Prank Phone Calls Ever!”
FENNESZ “Black Sea”
GAS “Nah Und Fern”
GIRL TALK “Feed The Animals”
GUNS N ROSES “Chinese Democracy”
BOBBY HUTCHERSON “Head On” reissue
RYOJI IKEDA “Test Pattern”
AKIRA ISHIKAWA & COUNT BUFFALO UGANDA “Afurikan Rokku no Yoake” reissue
LIL WAYNE “Tha Carter III”
CHRIS McGREGOR “Brotherhood of Breath” reissue
GRACHAN MONCUR III “Evolution” reissue
POLE “1-2-3” reissue
PORTISHEAD “Third”
SHEARWATER “Rook”
SIC ALPS “A Long Way Around To A Shortcut”
SIC ALPS “U.S. EZ”
SPARKS “Exotic Creatures of the Deep”
STEINSKI “What Does It All Mean? 1983-2006”
GEBHARD ULLMANN “New Basement Research”
DENNIS WILSON “Pacific Ocean Blue” reissue
V/A “Bollywood Steel Guitar”
…and everything on Drag City central, natch
Employee Top Ten lists 2007
Ken
Sir Richard Bishop \”While My Guitar Violently Bleeds\”
Group Doueh \”Guitar Music From the Western Sahara\”
Chris Corsano and Mick Flower \”Radiant Mirror\”
Rafael Toral \”Space Solo 1\”
Group Inerane \”Music of Niger\”
Alex Neilson & Richard Youngs \”Electric Lotus\”
Selda -s/t Reissue
Baby Grandmothers -s/t Reissue
Henry Flynt and Nova Billy – s/t
Stars of the Lid \”And Their Refinement of the Decline\”
Magas
Sightings “Through the Panama”
Andrew WK “Close Calls With Brick Walls”
Black Dice “Load Blown”
ADULT. “Why Bother”
Chris Connelly “Episodes”
Demons “Frozen Fog”
Aaron Dilloway “Infinite Lucifer”
Blank Dogs Various 12\”s & 7\”s
Witchcraft “The Alchemist”
Prurient & Kevin Drumm “All Are Guests In The House of the Lord”
Billy
Shannon Wright \”Let In The Light\”
Shellac \”Excellent Italian Greyhound\”
Rufus Wainwright \”Release the Stars\”
Robert Plant & Allison Krauss “Raising Sand”
\”They Live By Night\” (1949) out on DVD
Foo Fighters \”Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace\”
U2 \”Joshua Tree\” 20th Anniversary reissue
White Stripes “Icky Thump”
Matt
Alcest \”Souvenirs D\’un Autre Monde\”
Amesoeurs \”Ruines Humaines\”
Baroques “s/t” LP reissue
Sir Richard Bishop \”While My Guitar Violently Bleeds\”
Bjork \”Volta\”
BlondeRedhead \”23\”
Boris w/ Michio Kurihara “Rainbow”
Circle of Ouroborus/ Urfaust split LP
Deathspell Omega \”Fas: Ite, Maledicti, in Ignem Aeternum\”
Deerhunter \”Cryptograms\”
Drudkh \”Estrangement\”
Dungen \”Tio Bitar\”
Furze \”Utd\”
Grouper \”cover the windows and walls\” lp (sadly out of print)
Pj Harvey \”White Chalk\”
Karl Hendricks Rock Band \”World Says\”
Liars s/t
Nasheim/ Angantyr split (specifically the 25 minute Nasheim song)
Peste Noire \”Lorraine Rehearsals\” LP
Radiohead \”In Rainbows\” & bonus disc
Townes Van Zandt CD reissues
Velvet Cacoon “Genevieve” LP
Watain \”Sworn to the Dark\”
Wolves in the Throne Room \”Diadem of 12 Stars\”
Robert Wyatt \”Comicopera\”
Xasthur \”Defective Epitaph\”
Neil Young \”Live at Massey Hall\”
Jason
- Bumps \”s/t”
- Pelican “City of Echoes”
- Soft Machine “Third\”
- Soft Machine “Fourth”
- Soft Machine “5”
- Fucking Champs “VI”
- Om “Pilgrimage”
- Sven Libaek \”Inner Space; Film Music\”
- Bill Dolan \”Do-Ist\”
- Trans Am \”Sex Change\”
Dave
In no particular order.
Between the Buried and Me “Colors”
Animosity “Animal”
Rager “2007 Demo”
Altered Beast “2007 Demo”
Arbiter “2007 Demo”
Exit 13 “High Life”
Machine Head “The Blackening”
Yesterday\’s New Quintet “Yesterday\’s Universe”
V/A “East of Underground” reissue
Dillinger Escape Plan “Ire Works”
Impaled “The Last Gasp”
Corpus Mortale “A New Species of Deviant”
V/A: Now-Again “RE:Sounds Vol. 1” boxset
Chicago Thrash Ensemble “Unreleased Trax Vol. 2”
A Life Once Lost “Iron Gag”
Anything with Lil\’ Wayne on it
Clipse “We Got the Remix mixtape”
Chris P
Current 93 “The Inmost Light” reissue
Camberwell Now “All\’s Well” reissue
Dirty Projectors “Rise Above”
Angels of Light “We Are Him”
Cluster “II” & “Zuckerzeit”
Vashti Bunyan “Somee Things Just Stick in Your Mind”
Robyn Hitchcock “I Wanna Go Backwards” boxset
Robert Wyatt “Comicopera”
Panda Bear “Person Pitch”
V/A “The Lost Tapes – Minimal Wave Compilation”
V/A “Do It Yourself – The Rise of the Independent Music Industry After
Punk”
Antena “Camino Del Sol” LP reissue
Lee Hazlewood “The Very Special World of…”
Om “Pilgrimage”
Pylon “Gyrate Plus”
DJ SCREW “June 27”
Keith
Black Lips “Good Bad Not Evil”
Busy Signals “s/t”
Circus Devils “Sgt. Disco”
Deerhunter “Cryptograms”
Deerhunter “Fluorecent Grey EP”
Dinosaur Jr. “Beyond”
King Khan & the Shrines “What is?!”
Les Savy Fav “Let\’s Stay Friends”
Mannequin Men “Fresh Rot”
Miss Alex White & the Red Orchestra “Space & Time”
The Ponys “Turn the Lights Out”
Shellac “Excellent Italian Greyhound”
White Savage “Destroy Your Style” 7\”
Kit
Albums!
Akron/Family “Love is Simple” – flail & shout! listen for the conch!
Pissed Jeans “Hope for Men” – smash your fist into that wall, scream
about it, repeat
Dirty Projectors “Rise Above” – sing along, i dare you
Randall of Nazareth “s/t” heavy Fahey love
Sir Richard Bishop “Polytheistic Fragments” – whoa…wait, what? see
above
King Khan & the Shrines “What is?!” – gritty old-school garage rock
DJ Screw “June 27” – i\’m sorry but if you\’re sober then forget it
Voice of the Seven Woods “s/t” – almost sounds like he\’s mad at his
guitar, but then suddenly you hear the love
White Magic “Dark Stars EP” – putting the fairy girls to shame
Compilations:
V/A “D.I.Y: Rise of the Independent Music Industry After Punk” – makes you
wish you\’d thought of it first
David Shrigley “Worried Noodles” – this man is insane, listen to how
insane he is. really.
V/A “Eccentric Soul: Twinight” – mellow dance party soundtrack
V/A “New Orleans Funk” – ass-kicking dance party soundtrack
V/A “Yellow Pills: Prefill” – sickly sweet early pop, the perfect mixtape
uplift
Reissues:
Flower Travellin\’ Band “Satori” – everyone loves this because they love
to think about what the world would be like if Ozzy was Japanese
Telegraph Avenue “s/t” – classic psych guitar swirl time warp
Boscoe “s/t” – intensly political 70s Chicago soul
German Oak “s/t” – heavy wiggy space-out good times
Lux
1 Turzi “A”
2 Big Business “Here Come the Waterworks”
3 Pissed Jeans “Hope For Men”
4 Johnny Lunchbreak “Appetizer/Soups on” (reissue)
5 True West “Hollywood Holiday Revisited”
6 Sarolta Zalatnay “s/t” reissue
7 Stephen Stills “Just Roll Tape” reissue
8 Warhammer 48k “Etheral Oracle”
9 Joni Mitchell “Shine”
10 Earthless “Rhythms from a Cosmic Sky”
11 Ophiucus “s/t” reissue
12 Vee Dee “Glimpses of Another World” (7\”)
13 Samara Lubelski “Parallel Suns”
14 La Otracina “Tonal Eclipse of the One”
15 Fucked Up “Year of the Pig”
16 Loudon Wainwright “Strange Weirdos”
Live
Neil Young
Jay Reatard
Circle
Blonde Redhead
Neko Case
Enslaved
Patti Smith
Leslie
Boris with Michio Kurihara “Rainbow”
Bill Callahan “Woke on a Whaleheart”
Chris Connelly “Episodes”
Robert Wyatt “Comicopera”
Amiina “Kurr”
Om “Pilgrimage”
Nicole Willis “Keep Reachin\’ Up”
V/A “Now-Again Re:Sound”
Feist “The Reminder”
The National “Boxer”
Caribou “Andorra”
Mannequin Men “Fresh Rot”
White magic “Dark Stars”
James
- Okkervil River “The Stage Names”
- Deerhunter “Cryptograms”
- Mannequin Men “Fresh Rot”
- Les Savy Fav “Let\’s Stay Friends”
- Dinosaur Jr. “Beyond”
- PJ Harvey “White Chalk”
- The National “Boxer”
- Phosphorescent “Pride”
- Black Lips “Good Bad Not Evil”
- Battles “Mirrored”
- The Narrator “All That To The Wall”
- Sir Richard Bishop “While My Guitar Violently Bleeds”
- Robert Wyatt “Comicopera”
- Angels of Light “We Are Him”
- King Khan & The Shrines “What Is?!”
- Henry Flynt & Nova\’ Billy “Henry Flynt & Nova\’ Billy”
- Boris w/ Michio Kurihara “Rainbow”
- Shearwater “Palo Santo: Expanded Edition”
- Lifetime “Lifetime”
- Thurston Moore “Trees Outside The Academy”
- White Magic “Dark Stars”
- Office “A Night At The Ritz”
- LCD Soundsystem “Sound of Silver”
- Kid Sister “Control” 12\”
- Scott Walker “ …And Who Shall Go To The Ball?…And What Shall Go To The Ball?”
Reissues/Live:
Neil Young “Live At Massey Hall”
Vashti Bunyan “Some Things Just Stick In Your Mind”
Sebadoh “The Freed Man”
Sonic Youth “Daydream Nation” Deluxe edition
V/A “East of Underground”
Connelly
1 Joan of Arc “Orchard Vale” soundtrack
2 Throbbing Gristle “Part Two: Endless Knot”
3 Doll by Doll “Remember\” reissue
4 Doll by Doll “Gypsy Blood” reissue
5 Pj Harvey “White Chalk”
6 Robert Wyatt “Comicopera”
7 Current 93 “Inmost Light triology”…
8 Scott Walker “And Who Shall Go to the Ball…And What Shall Go To The Ball?”
9: Wire “Read & Burn 3”
10 Pantaleimon “Mercy Oceans”
Michael
- Fred Anderson & Hamid Drake “From the River to the Ocean”
- Yesterdays Universe/Yesterday\’s New Quintet “Prepare for a New
Yesterday, Vol. 1” - Boris with Michio Kurihara “Rainbow”
- His Name is Alive “Sweet Earth Flower: A Tribute to Marion Brown”
- Chris Connelly “Episodes”
- Mannequin Men “Fresh Rot”
- Zelienople “His/Hers”
- Fog “Ditherer”
- Group Doueh “Guitar Music from the Western Sahara”
- Woods “At Rear House”
- Fred Lonberg-Holm Trio “Terminal Valentine”
- Paul Duncan “Above the Trees”
- Vieux Farka Toure “s/t”
- (((Powerhouse Sound))) “Oslo/Chicago (((Breaks)))”
- Birigwa “Birigwa” reissue
Dan M
The National “Boxer”
Okkervil River “Stage Names”
Les Savy Fav “Let’s Stay Friends”
Sonic Chicken 4 “s/t”
Grinderman “s/t”
Harlan T. Bobo “I’m Your Man”
Panda Bear “Person Pitch”
Phosphorescent “Pride”
Robert Wyatt “Comicopera”
Iron & Wine “Shepherd’s Dog”
Dylan
Benoit Pioulard “Precis”
A very pretty record with some brilliant songwriting
Wilco “Sky Blue Sky”
The AOR record they were born to make, with some truly sweet riffs.
Chris Connelly “Episodes”
Another left turn exposing the tunes to the raw naturalistic cores
Shellac “Excellent Italian Greyhound”
Short but sweet – some of the best songs of their career
Sleepytime Gorilla Museum “In Glorious Times”
Heavy and arty
Bad Plus “Prog”
A brilliant collection of \”jazz\” tunes for people who hate jazz
Ted Leo “Living With the Living”
The Elvis Costello of our generation just keeps getting better
Grinderman “s/t”
Some gritty blues without the exploitation
Charlotte Gainsbourg “5:55”
A Gainsbourg makes a record that I can stomach all the way through
Lindsey Buckingham “Under the Skin”
A beautiful pop record
Fall of Troy “Manipulator”
I sometimes like to break things, and I need a decent soundtrack
Bjork “Volta”
Great arrangements and some of the most interesting lyrics yet
Patton Oswalt “Werewolves & Lollipops”
One of my favourite observational comedians
St. Vincent “Marry Me”
Immensely hummable tunes with unorthodox arrangements
Dirty Projectors “Rise Above”
Enough about the concept – bonkers pop with the best backing vox ever
Animal Collective “Strawberry Jam”
Technology & hippies can co-exist
Akron/ Family “Love is Simple”
Sprawling freaky music has never been this tight
Qui “Love’s Miracle”
Some good back porch blues
Bylan & Jarboe “Viscera”
Truly frightening music by truly frightening people
White Magic “Dark Stars”
Uniquely freaky in a sea of mediocre \”psych\” bands
Radiohead “In Rainbows”
My only download to date, but I had to have it.
180gs (Negativland) “180G\’d to the Future”
Negativland are so ridiculous, you have to give them some credit
Japancakes “Loveless”
Country tinged cover of the MBV record reveals the songcraft
Dillinger Escape Plan “Ire Works”
Sometimes I only want to theorize about breaking things
Flight of the Conchords “Distant Future”
Very funny stuff, best stage banter ever
Reissues
Sonic Youth “Destroyed Room”
I never fell head over heels, but I really like this collection
Rhy Chatam “A Crimson Grail”
Beautiful noise
Camberwell Now “All’s Well”
I\’m always glad to see a new reissue of this art rock classic
Elliott Smith “New Moon”
A nicely done collection of odds n ends
Betty Davis reissues
To my feeble mind, nobody can touch this funk
Harvey Milk “My Love Is Higher Than Your Assessment”
Mighty and gigantic
Peter Brotzman Octet “Complete Machine Gun Sessions”
Free jazz at its apex
Bobb Trimble “Iron Curtain Innocence”
How did this freaky pop masterpiece escape my notice for so long?
Robyn Hitchcock reissues
I never realized how out there his early stuff was
Chocolate Rain “Tay Zonday”
Best song of 2007, hands down.
Also, worst internet meme of 2007
Jacob
M.I.A. “Kala”
Pj Harvey “White Chalk”
White Magic “Dark Stars”
Avey Tare & Kria Brekken- \’Pullhair Rubeye”
Panda Bear “Person Pitch”
Animal Collective “Strawberry Jam”
Fovea Hex “Neither Speak Nor Remain Silent: Allure”
Bill Callahan “Woke on a Whaleheart”
Robert Wyatt “Comicopera”
Circle “Katapult”
Courtland
- Robert Wyatt “Comicopera”
- Group Inerane “Music of Niger”
- Thelonious Monk & John Coltrane \”At Carnegie Hall\”
- Charles Mingus \”Cornell 1964\”
- Bruce Langhorne \”Hired Hand\” soundtrack
- Sir Richard Bishop \”Polytheistic Fragments\”
- Scharpling & Wurster \”Art of the Slap\”
- Sugar Minott \”Live Loving\”
- V/A \”When Rhythm Was King\”
- V/A “Respect Yourself: The Stax Records Story” DVD
- Stars of the Lid \”And Their Refinement of the Decline”
- Charalambides \”Likeness\”
- V/A “East of Underground”
- Fred Anderson & Hamid Drake \”From the River to the Ocean\”
- Nicole Mitchell \”Black Unstoppable\”
- Chris Connelly \”Episodes\”
- Lichens \”Omns\”
- Reminder \”West Side Cabin\”
- V/A “Eccentric Soul: The Outskirts of Deep City”
- Pieces of Peace “s/t”
Best Live shows:
- De La Soul at Intonation
- William Parker at Intonation
- L. Subramanian at Millennium Park
- Black Earth Ensemble at Millennium Park
Jeff
Non-HC faves of 2007 (in no real order):
She, Sir \”Who Can\’t Say Yes\”
Panda Bear \”Person Pitch\”
Brother Kite \”Moonlit Race\”
Warlocks \”Heavy Deavy Skull Lover\”
Blasphemy “Fallen Angel Of Doom\”
Ceremony \”Disappear\”
New Pornographers \”Challengers\”
V/A \”Heavy Metal\” boxset (Rhino)
Pissed Jeans\”Hope For Men\”
Besnard Lakes \”Are The Dark Horse\”
The National “Boxer”
Death breath “Let it Stink\”
Spoon \”Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga\”
Kid Sister \”Pro Nails\”
FUXA \”Commits Suicide\”
Raymond Scott Woolson \”View From Boggins Heights\”
A Place to Bury Strangers \”A Place To Bury Strangers\”
Akron/ Family \”Love Is Simple\”
Blonde Redhead \”23\”
Darkthrone \”Canadian Metal\”
Alcest \”Souvenirs D\’Un Autre Monde\”
DJ Screw \”June 27\”
Jatun “s/t”
Safeashome “Grid\”
Adam Franklin \”Bolts Of Melody\”
Naked Raygun \”What Poor Gods We Do Make\” DVD
Vice review of last Jens Lekman CD
Hardcore best of 2007 (also, in no real order):
Punch in the Face \”At War With Everybody\”
Fucked Up \”Year Of The Pig\”
Mind Piece NYC \”Demo\”
Reign Supreme \”Fuck The Weak\”
Shipwrecked \”Arctic Nights\”
Knife Fight \”Crisis\”
Violent Minds \”Eyes Of Death\”
86 Mentality \”Final Exit\”
John Joseph \”Evolution Of A Cro-Magnon\” book
Double Negative \”The Wonderful & Frightening World Of…\”
Bitter End \”Climate Of Fear\”
Rampage \”Limit Of Destruction\”
Life Trap \”Bleak Reality\”
Negative Approach/ Meatman live in Detroit 5/26/07
Steve R
(in no particular order)
Magik Markers “Boss”
Paul Metzger “Deliverance”
Panda Bear “Person Pitch”
Thurston Moore “Trees Outside the Academy”
Shit & Shine “Ladybird”
Flower-Corsano “Radiant Mirror”
Eleh “Floating Frequencies/ Intuitive Synthesis Volumes 1 & 2”
V/A “Separate But Evil” boxset
Group Doueh “Guitar Music From the Western Sahara”
Group Inerane “Music of Niger: Guitars From Agadez”
PJ Harvey “White Chalk”
Henry Flynt & Nova\’Billy “s/t”
Joanna Newsom “Joanna Newsom & the Ys Street Band EP”
Zaimph “Mirage of the Other”
Boris w/ Michio Kurihara “Rainbow”
Nina Nastasia & Jim White “You Follow Me”
Bonnie \”Prince\” Billy “Ask Forgiveness”
Wally Shoup/ Paul Flaherty/ Chris Corsano “Bounced Check”
Sir Richard Bishop “While My Guitar Violently Bleeds”
Sir Richard Bishop “Polytheistic Fragments”
Robert Wyatt “Comicopera”
Steve Ritchey (continued)
Bill Callahan “Woke On a Whaleheart”
Stars of the Lid “And Their Refinement of the Decline”
Air Conditioning “Dead Rails”
Angels of Light “We Are Him”
Karen Dalton “Cotton Eyed Joe”
V/A “Cult Cargo: Grand Bahama Goombay”
Kevin Coyne & Siren “The Dandelion Years 1969-1972”
Vashti Bunyan “Some Things Just Stick in Your Mind”
Bob Dylan “Other Side of the Mirror: Live at the Newport Folk Festival” DVD
Emily
Robert Wyatt “Comicopera”
Thurston Moore “Trees For The Academy”
Bad Brains “Build A Nation”
Wolves In The Throne Room “Diadem Of 12 Stars”
Vashti Bunyan “Some Things Just Stick in Your Mind: Singles and
Demos 1964-1967”
Amy Winehouse “Back To Black”
Anthony Joseph and The Spasm Band “Leggo De Lion”
Micheal Yonkers “Grimwood”
Ariel Pink\’s Haunted Graffiti “Scared Famous”
UGK “Underground Kingz”
Pig Destroyer “Phantom Limb”
Deerhunter “Cryptograms”
Mouthus “Saw A Halo”
PJ Harvey “White Chalk”
Dungen “Tio Bitar”
Radiohead “In Rainbows”
Melissa
In no particular order
Blonde Redhead “23”
Liars “s/t”
Alcest \”Souvenirs D\’un Autre Monde\”
Deerhunter “Cryptograms”
Pj Harvey “White Chalk”
Robert Wyatt “Comicopera”
Chris Connelly “Episodes”
Bill Callahan “Woke on a Whaleheart”
Feist “Reminder”
Grinderman “s/t”
Pissed Jeans “Hope For Men”
Selda “s/t” reissue
Betty Davis reissues
Mannequin Men “Fresh Rot”
Radiohead “In Rainbows”
Sweet Cobra “Praise”
V/A “Now Again: Resound 7\” boxset
V/A “East of Underground”
V/A “Homeschooled: Abc\’s of Kid Soul”
V/A “Eccentric Soul: Deep City Label”
Black Lips “Good Bad Not Ugly”
Om “Pilgrimage”
Witchcraft “Alchemist”
Neil Young “Live at Massey Hall”
Queens of the Stone Age “Era Vulgaris”
Common “Finding Forever” (well, about half of it)
SHOWS of 2007
Entrance @ Empty Bottle
The Blow @ Empty Bottle
Deerhunter/ Dan Deacon @ some Warehouse
Black Angels @ Empty Bottle
Enslaved @ the Pearl Room
Mika Miko @ Empty Bottle/ Reckless Records
Wolves In The Throne Room @ Empty Bottle
Bryan
Fucked Up “Year Of The Pig”
Sweet Cobra “Forever”
Career Suicide “Attempted Suicide”
Wolves In The Throne Room “Diadem Of 12 Stars”
Baroness “Red Album”
Interkosmos DVD & soundtrack by Jim Becker & Colleen Burke
Amy Winehouse “Back To Black”
Dungen “Tio Bitar”
Deathspell Omega “Fas – Ite, Maledicti, In Ignem Aeternum”
Urfaust/Circle Of Ouroborus Split LP
Built To Spill vinyl re-issues
Deathspell Omega vinyl re-issues
Code Of Honor discography CD
Mobile Fidelity record brush (new to me anyway!)
Sweet Cobra beer koozie
Daniel
NEW STUFF
- Black Lips \”Good Bad Not Evil\”
- Fiery Furnaces \”Widow City\”
- Mannequin Men \”Fresh Rot\”
- \”No Country For Old Men\” dir. by Joel & Ethan Coen
- Municipal Waste \”The Art of Partying\”
- 30 Rock (NBC)
- The Narrator \”All That to the Wall\”
- \”Superbad\” dir. by Greg Mottola
- Marnie Stern \”In Advance of the Broken Arm\”
- Tegan & Sara \”The Con\”
- Ghost \”In Stormy Nights\”
- Sunset Rubdown \”Random Spirit Lover\”
- Dungen \”Tio Bitar\”
- R. Kelly \”Double Up\”
- Bruce Springsteen \”Magic\”
- Ted Leo & The Pharmacists \”Living with the Living\”
- The 1900s \”Cold & Kind\”
- Jarvis Cocker \”Jarvis\”
19.The Besnard Lakes \”The Besnard Lakes Are The Dark Horse\” - Mekons \”Natural\”
OLD STUFF (reissues & comps): - Medicine Head \”New Bottles Old Medicine…Plus\”
- Neil Young \”Live at Massey Hall, 1971\” [CD+DVD]
- \”Three Films by Hiroshi Teshigahara (Pitfall/Woman in the Dunes/The Face
of Another)\” (Criterion DVD) - v/a \”Life, Too, Has Surface Noise: The Complete Dandelion Records Singles
Collection 1969-1972\” - Blue Oyster Cult \”Some Enchanted Evening: Deluxe Edition\” [CD+DVD]
- Wreckless Eric \”Big Smash\”
- Judee Sill \”Live In London: The BBC Recordings 1972-1973
- Kevin Coyne & Siren \”The Dandelion Years 1969-1972\”
- \”If…\” dir. by Lindsay Anderson (Criterion DVD)
- Catherine Howe \”What a Beautiful Place\”
Mica
- Battles “Mirrored”
- Amy Winehouse “Back to Black”
- Burial “Untrue”
- Bjork “Volta”
- Animal Collective “Strawberry Jam”
- Boxcutter “Glyphic”
- St. Vincent “Marry Me”
- LCD Soundsystem “Sound of Silver”
- Panda Bear “Person Pitch”
- Yeasayers “All Hour Cymbals”
Kip
(in no particular order)
Cornelius \”Sensuous\”
Feist \”Reminder\”
Battles \”Mirrored\”
Big Business \”Here Come the Waterworks\”
Cinematic Orchestra \”Ma Fleur\”
Shellac \”Excellent Italian Greyhound\”
Andrew Bird \”Armchair Apocrypha\”
Marnie Stern \”In Advance of the Broken Arm\”
Shannon Wright \”Let in the Light\”
Dungen \”Tio Bitar\”
Best week of shows ever!:
Neil Young
Sharon Jones
Enslaved
Cole
Top 10, mostly in order:
Robert Wyatt “Comicopera”
If you know anything about this album, you already know about its three parts, the foreign languages, blah blah blah. Fact is, this man clearly understands the smallest and largest details of musical composition and hasn\’t lost a step in his 40+ years of creating music. His voice sounds great and his brilliance is unrelenting. Find the picture of him in a field playing trumpet to a horse and tell me how anyone could not like this man.
Battles “Mirrored”
This was the first album of 2007 to really impress me. The musicianship is incredible and the production suits the music perfectly. There\’s a lot of fluidity and movement to this album without it buying into all the horrible dance stuff hipsters won\’t be caring about in a couple years.
Panda Bear “Person Pitch” Way better than the new Animal Collective and probably anything AC has ever done, this Panda Bear album was one of the more surprisingly good things about 2007. \”Person Pitch\” is totally unlike his previous album, for one in that it\’s overwhelmingly happy, and second in its use of loops and layering to create a really \”big\” sound. With never-ending Brian Wilson comparisons, this album came out at a perfect time for good spring/summer listening.
Spoon “Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga” & Shins “Wincing the Night Away”
Spoon and the Shins doing what they do best. These two bands were two of only a few mainstream indie bands to actually put out good albums this year. So much boring, disappointing music in an age where bands can\’t afford to be
boring or disappointing. These two albums are everything good pop music should be: instantly likeable, easy on the ears, and catchy as hell.
Do Make Say Think “You, You\’re A History In Rust”
I\’ve always liked this band, and a lot of those Constellation post-rock build-and-build-and-explode kind of bands, but the whole thing is pretty formulaic, isn\’t it? Start slow, add more instruments, build, and finally swell. I get it. Wait, there\’s singing on this record?! Ok, you win DMST.
Group Inerane “Guitars From Agandez”
I don\’t have much to say about this record other than that it\’s nuts! The guitar playing is really incredible, it\’s totally uninhibited in a way that I don\’t think westerners are capable of, and it\’s described as \”the now sound of the Tuareg Guitar Revolution.\” How could this record not be amazing?
Caribou “Andorra”
In truth, I never really paid much attention to this guy. It wasn\’t until this year, during a string of bad new releases (Rilo Kiley?), that I decided to put on \”Andorra.\” I didn\’t expect to like it as much as I did. This album provides a good mix of 60\’s psychedelia with more contemporary electronic sound and structure. And \”Melody Day\” is a great single.
Jesu “Sun Down/Sun Rise”
Out of the numerous Jesu projects in 2007, this was easily my favorite. Everything Justin Broadrick has done under the Jesu moniker sounds pretty similar, but this is the most concise. Probably most comparable to \”Silver,\” this EP provides a really spacious landscape without meandering. His vocals sound pretty redundant overall, but fortunately there isn\’t much singing on this one.
Alex Delivery “Star Destroyer”
A really good and overlooked debut from this Jagjaguwar band. I\’m surprised more people weren\’t interested in these guys with Deerhunter and No Age and all those \”experimental\” washy fuzz-rock bands making such a big splash this year. Also reminiscent of Need New Body and even Can. A really strong debut well worth a listen.
Other good albums (in no order):
Menomena “Friend & Foe”
Bill Callahan “Woke On A Whaleheart”
Efterklang “Parades”
Tunng “Good Arrows”
Deerhunter “Fluorescent Grey” & “Cryptograms”
Stars of the Lid “And the Refinement Of Their Decline”
Castanets “In the Vines”
Cole Cooney (continued again)
LCD Soundsystem “Sound of Silver”
Shearwater “Palo Santo (reissue)”
Dungen “Tio Bitar”
Charles
Kaipa “Angling Feelings”
Beardfish “Sleeping In Traffic”
St Vincent “Marry Me”
New Pornographers “Challengers”
Marnie Stern “In Advance Of the Broken Arm”
Velvet Revolver “Libertad”
Baroness “Red Album”
The Dear Hunter “Act 2”
Sieges Even “Paramount”
Jon Spencer “Jukebox Explosion”
JAZZ
John Zorn “Six Litanies For Heliogabalus”
Chris Potter “Follow The Red Line”
Erik Friedlander “Block Ice And Propane”
Miles Davis “On The Corner Sessions”
William Parker “Corn Meal Dance”
REGGAE
I Roy “Gussie Presents”
Culture “Two Sevens Clash”
Dan W
Wilco “Sky Blue Sky”
Mannequin Men “Fresh Rot”
1900s “Cold & Kind”
Spoon “Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga”
Times New Viking “present The Paisley Reich”
Thurston Moore “Trees Outside The Academy”
Watchers “Vampire Driver”
Takeovers “Bad Football”
Les Savy Fav “Lets Stay Friends”
Eternals “Heavy International”
Magik Markers “Boss”
Steve S
Big Business “Here Come the Waterworks”
Black Dice @ Lakeshore Theater
Boris w/ Michio Kurihara “Rainbow”
Danava “Where Beauty & Terror Dance” 7”
Dead C “Future Artists”
Deerhunter “Cryptograms”
Dungen “Tio Bitar”
Ghost “In Stormy Nights”
Growing “Vision Swim”
Daniel Higgs “Metempsychotic Melodies”
Mouthus “Saw a Halo”
Municipal Waste “Art of Partying”
Neurosis @ Logan Square Auditorium
Om “Pilgrimage”
Panda Bear “Person Pitch”
Pig Destroyer “Phantom Limb”
Pissed Jeans “Hope for Men”
R. Kelly “Trapped in the Closet” Chap. 13-22 premiere @ the Music Box
Sir Richard Bishop “While My Guitar Violently Bleeds”
Wooden Shjips “S/t”
Neil Young “Live at Massey Hall”
Chris R
Group Inerane “Music of Niger”
Group Doueh “Guitar Music From the Western Sahara”
Alex Neilson & Richard Youngs “Electric Lotus”
Lambsbread “Stereo Mars”
UGK “Underground Kings”
Sir Richard Bishop “While My Guitar Violently Bleeds”
Robert Wyatt “Comicopera”
Rafael Roral “Space Solo 1”
Julie Mittens “April/June”
Baby Grandmothers “s/t” (reissue)
R. Kelly “Double Up”
Angleblood “s/t”
V/A “Life is a Problem”
live shows:
Tent City “live @ the smell, LA”
Lucky Dragons “live @ Che Cafe, San Diego”
Sarah
- Battles “Mirrored”
- Panda Bear “Person Pitch”
- Neil Young “Chrome Dreams II”
- Les Savy Fav “Let’s Stay Friends”
- Spank Rock “Fabriclive 33”
- Thurston Moore “Trees Outside the Academy”
- Common “Finding Forever”
- Liars “s/t”
- V/A “Home Schooled: ABC\’s of Kid Soul”
- Stevie Nicks “Crystal Visions”
- 11.The Drive (especially album side Thursdays)
Michael A
Black Lips \”Good Bad Not Evil”
We All Together \”The Singles\”
Wild Billy Childish \”Punk Rock at the British Legion Hall”
Eux Autres \”Cold City\”
Marnie Stern \”In Advance of The Broken Arm\”
Big Business \”Here Come The Waterworks\”
Bottomless Pit\”Hammer of The Gods\”
Demon\’s Claws “Satan\’s Little Pet Pig\”
Ghostface Killah\”Big Doe Rehab\”
Caribou\”Andorra\”
Boston Chinks \”s/t\” (7\”)
Shapes & Sizes \”Split Lips, Winning Hips, A Shiner\”
Master Ace \”Take A Look Around (Deluxe Ed.)\” (reissue)
Dungen \”Tito Bitar\”
Madlib \”Vol. 3 &4/ Beat Konducta in India\”
Times New Viking \”Paisley Reich\”
Capstan Shafts \”Her Versus The Sad Cold Eventually\”
Tough & Lovely \”Teardrops\”
Holy Fuck \”LP\”
Kanye West “Graduation\”
Nervous Patterns \”Nervous Patterns\”
Deerhunter \”Cryptograms
The Takeovers “Bad Football\”
Employee Top Ten lists 2006
Brett
- Swan Lake “Beast Moans” (Jagjaguwar)
- .tape “Paintings” (spa.RK)
- Beirut “Gulag Orkestar” (Ba Da Bing)
- The Sleepy Jackson “Personality (One Was A Spider, One Was Bird)” (Astralwerks)
- Mojave 3 “Puzzles Like You” (4ad)
- Atone “un an” (Autres Directions in Music)
- Band of Horses “Everything all the Time” (Subpop)
- The Surf, The Sundried “The Surf, The Sundried (AttackNine)
- Vetiver “To Find Me Gone” (Dicristina Stair)
- Glissandro 70 “Glissandro 70” (Constellation)
11 J-live “Hear After” (Penalty) - Colleen et Les Boites a Musique “Colleen et Les Boites a Musique” (Leaf)
- Melodium “There is something in the Universe” (Autres Directions in Music)
- Sufjan Stevens “Avalanche” Asthmatic Kitty
- Bonnie Prince Billy “The Letting Go” (Drag City)
- Thom Yorke “The Eraser” (xl)
- Various Artsits “Peanut Butter Wolf presents Chrome Children (Stones Throw)
- Jim Noir “Tower of Love” Barsuk
- Liars “Drum’s Not Dead” (Mute)
- Dr. Dog “Takers and Leavers” (Park the Car)
- Shuta Hasunuma “Shuta Hasunuma” (Western Vinyl)
- Guitar “Tokyo” (Onitor)
- Frida Hyvonen “Until Death Comes” (Secretly Canadian)
- Julie Sokolo “Something about Violins” (Western Vinyl)
- Freescha “Head Warlock Double Stare” (Darla)
- Georgia Anne Muldrow “Olesi: Fragments of an Earth” (Stones Throw)
- Juana Molina “Son” (Domino)
- Le Volume Courbe “I killed my best friend” (Honest Jons)
- Wussy- “Funeral Dress” (Shake It)
- Darkel “Darkel” (Astralwerks)
- Neko Case “Fox Confessor Brings the Flood” (Anti)
- Sodastream “Reservations” (Hausmusik)
- Boris “Pink” Southern Lord
- Joana Newsom “Vs” (Drag City)
- Mason Jennings “Boneclouds” (Epic)
- Northern Picture Library “Postscript” (Ltm)
- Boats “We Made it For You” (Moteer)
- Ekhard Ehlers “Life without Fear” (Staubgold)
- Ponies in the Surf “Ponies on Fire” (Asaurus)
- Camera Obscura “Let’s Get out of this Country” (Merge)
Melissa
Sibyelle Baier “Colour Green”
Bardo Pond “Ticket Crystals”
Chris Bell “I am the Cosmos” vinyl reissue
Boris “Pink”
Neko Case “Fox Confessor Brings the Flood.”
Johnny Cash “American V: Hundred Highways”
Charalambides “Vintage Burden”
Chris Connelly box set
Circle “Sunrise” vinyl reissue
Clipse “Hell Hath No Fury”
Karen Dalton “In My Own Time” reissue
Danava “s/t”
Dead Moon “Echoes of the Past”
El Michels Affair 7″s
The Fix “At the Speed of Twisted Thought”
Fucked Up “Hidden World”
Ghostface “Fishscale”
Harvey Milk “Special Wishes”
Bert Jansch “Black Swan”
J Dilla “Donuts”
Jesu “Silver”
Josef K “Entomology”
Liars “Drum’s Not Dead”
Magas “May I Meet My Accuser”
Mastodon “Blood Mountain”
Georgia Anne Muldrow “Olesi”
Om “Conference of the Birds”
Jay Reatard “Blood Visions”
Reminder “Continuum”
Six Organs of Admittance “Sun Awakens”
Sparklehorse “Dreamt for Light Years in the Belly of a Mountain”
Sunn O)))/Boris “Altar”
Scott Walker “Drift”
Wilderness “Vessel States”
Wipers “Is This Real” vinyl reissue
Witch “s/t”
Neil Young “Living with War”
v/a “Birmingham Sound: Soul of Neal Hemphill Vol. 1”
V/A Eccentric Soul: Deep City Label
v/a “Good God! A Gospel Funk Hymnal”
TOUCH & GO FESTIVAL
Charles
Motorpsycho: Black Hole/Blank Canvas
Paul Weller: Catch Flame!
Arctic Monkeys: Whatever People Say
Karine Polward: Scribbled In Chalk
Jake Thackray: Jake In A Box
Robbie Basho: Venus In Cancer
Caetano Veloso: Ce
Chico Barque: Carioca
Marisa Monte: Infinito Particular
4th Street Orchestra: A Who Seh?
Tapper Zukie: Escape From Hell
Vandermark Five: A Discontinuous Line
Paul Lewis: Beethoven Piano Sonatas
Kip
(in no particular order)
- Meshuggah “Catch Thirty Th33”
- Melvins “A Senile Animal”
- Neko Case “Fox Confessor Brings the Flood”
- Miwon “Pale Glitter”
- Meshuggah “Nothing” Reissue
- Slayer “Christ Illusion”
- Yo La Tengo “I Am Not Afraid of You & I Will Beat Your Ass”
- Feist “Open Season”
- Juana Molina “Son”
- Bonnie Prince Billy “The Letting Go”
- Tortoise “Lazarus Taxon”
- Extra Golden “Ok-Oyot System”
- Lupe Fiasco “Food & Liquor”
- Gnarls Barkley “St. Elsewhere”
- Joanna Newsome “Ys”
Erin
DECEMBERISTS. CRANE WIFE
CAT POWER. GREATEST
WILLIAM ELLIOTT WHITMORE. HYMNS OF THE HOPELESS
THE EVENS. GET EVEN
TOM WAITS. ORPHANS
AD ASTRA PER APERA. CATAPULT CALYPSO
SUFJAN STEVES. AVALANCHE
LUPE FIASCO. FOOD AND LIQUOR
FLAMING LIPS. AT WAR WITH THE MYSTICS
GNARLES BARKLEY. ST ELSEWHERE
James
low skies > all the love i could find
white magic > dat rosa mel apibus
whitest boy alive > dreams
om > conference of birds
beach house > beach house
human television > look at who you’re talking to
sonic youth > rather ripped
califone > roots n’ crowns
bound stems > appreciation night
oxford collapse > remember the night parties
shuta hasunuma > shuta hasunuma
juana molina > son
Pete
Jay Reatard “Blood Visions”
King Khan & the BBQ Show “What’s for Dinner
Exploding Hearts “Shattered
Chad Van Gaalen “Skelliconnection
Badly Drawn Boy “Born in the UK”
Destruction Unit “Death to the Flesh”
Comets on Fire “Avatar”
Wire Reissues “Pink Flag”, “Chairs Missing”, “154”
Wipers “Is This Real” vinyl reissue
Mark
Vincent Black Shadow S/T (Baltimore one)
Danava S/T
Mammatus S/t
Brightblack morning Light S/t
Kelly Stoltz ‘Beneath the Branches’
Comets on Fire ‘Avatar’
Indian Jewelry ‘Invasive Exotics’
Battito ‘Fetus’ (Reissue)
Black Angels ‘Passover’
Karen Dalton ‘In My Own Time’ (Reissue)
Wooden Shjips ‘Shrinking Moon for you’ 10″
+WShjips ‘Dance california’ 7″
Mucca Pazza ‘A Little Marching Band’
Vetiver ‘To Find Me Gone’
Greatest Show On Earth ‘Horizons’ (Reissue
Best Show I got to play in 2006
Headlining Suoni Per Popolo Fest in Montreal
on my Birthday w/ Mammatus & Residual Echoes
2 best shows I wish I had played
1. Mucca Pazza Cd release party @ Martyrs
2. Coughs @ Wire fest
Best event that validates owning 34 Hall & Oates lps
YACHT ROCK!
Best James Barron-ism of 2006
A $125,000 Ebay bid on Velvets acetate
Honorable Mention: All Adam Sonderberg Music
that I didn’t hear (which is most of it)
Chris Connelly award for co-worker who looks
coolest on own lp in 2006: MAGAS
James
1 GHOSTFACE KILLAH- FISCHSCALE
2 MISSION OF BURMA- THE OBLITERATI
3 DANIELSON- SHIPS
4 BOB DYLAN- MODERN TIMES
5.SCOTT WALKER- THE DRIFT
6.OKKERVIL RIVER- OVERBOARD & DOWN EP
7.JOANNA NEWSOM-YS
8.THE EXPLODING HEARTS- SHATTERED
9.ONEIDA- HAPPY NEW YEAR
10.MASTODON- BLOOD MOUNTAIN
11.BONNIE “PRINCE” BILLY- THE LETTING GO
REISSUES:
HSCALE DANIEL JOHNSTON- CONTINUED STORY/HI HOW ARE YOU? + YIP! JUMP
KAREN DALTON- IT’S SO HARD TO TELL WHO’S GOING TO LOVE YOU THE BEST
JOSEF K- ENTOMOLOGY
Emily
Enslaved “Ruun”
Brightblack Morning Light “s/t”
Freescha “Head Warlock Double Stare”
Georgia Anne Muldrow “Olesi: Fragments of an
Earth”
Soulwax “Nite Versions”
Ocean “Aeolian”
Pearls & Brass “Indian Tower”
Sunn O)))/ Boris “Altar”
Juvenile “Reality Check”
J Dilla “Shining”
Harvey Milk “Special Wishes”
V/A “Trip: Curated by Jarvis Cocker & Steve
Mackey”
Danava “s/t”
White Magic “Dat Rosa Mel Apibus”
Daniel M
(in alphabetically order)
Califone – “Roots & Crowns”
Neko Case – “Fox Confessor Brings the Flood”
Cat Power – “The Greatest”
El Perro Del Mar – s/t
Electric Light Orchestra – reissues
Entrance – “Prayer of Death”
Fiery Furnaces – “Bitter Tea”
Fucked Up – “Hidden World”
The Grates – “Gravity Won’t Get You High”
Howlin Rain – s/t
Kim Jung Mi – reissues: “Wind”; s/t
Midlake – “The Trials of Van Occupanther”
Joanna Newsom – “Ys”
Office – “Q & A”
v/a – “Wayfaring Strangers: Ladies from the Canyon”
Wooden Wand & the Sky High Band – “Second Attention”
Cole
Joanna Newsom – Y’s
Califone – Roots & Crowns
Rhymefest – Blue Collar
Liars – Drum’s Not Dead
Dr. Dog – Takers and Leavers EP
Long Winters – Putting the Days to Bed
Black Angels – Passover
Lupe Fiasco – Food & Liquor
Spank Rock – YoYoYoYoYo
Jesu – Silver EP
Hot Snakes – Thunder Down Under
Roots – Game Theory
Islands – Return to the Sea
Grizzly Bear – Yellow House
Midlake – Trials of Van Occupanther
Loose Fur – Born Again in the USA
Neko Case – Fox Confessor Brings the Flood
POS – Audition
Kevin O
Eef Barzeley – Bitter Honey
Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy / Tortoise – Brave & the
Bold
Black Heart Procession – The Spell
Black Ox Orchestar – Nisht Azoy
Boris – Pink
Calexico – Garden Ruin
Johnny Cash – American V
Christine Carter – Electrice
Destroyer – Destroyer’s Rubies
Danava- s/t
Dr. Dog – Takers and Leavers ep
Junior Boys – So This is Goodbye
Matmos – The Rose Has Teeth in the Mouth…
Outkast – Idlewild
Russian Circles – Enter
Sonic Youth – Rather Ripped
Sunn 0)))/Boris – Altar
Keith Fullerton Whitman – Lisbon
Xiu Xiu – Air Force
Thom Yorke – The Eraser
Various Artists – New York Noise Vol. 3
Yo La Tengo – I Am Not Afraid of You…
Outkast – Idlewild
Scott Walker – The Drift
Best Live Shows:
- Pearls & Brass @ EB
- Danava @ EB
- Coughs & LSA
- Sword
- Jack Rose & Peter Walker & EB
- Ghostface @ H.O.B.
- Brightback Morning Light/ Lights @ EB
- Smega @ EB
Keith
HOME- SEXTEEN
MAGAS- MAY I MEET MY ACCUSER
WITCH- S/T
CHRIS CONNELLY- BOX SET
SHOPPING- IMMEDIATE CAVE 7″
SUBMARINE RACES- S/T
EUGENE MIRMAN- EN GARDE SOCIETY
THE TOUCH & GO 25TH ANNIVERSARY/ HIDEOUT 10TH ANNIVERSARY BLOCK PARTY
BLACK BEAUTIES- CATCH A BEAT
ROBERT POLLARD- FROM A COMPOUND EYE
HEADACHE CITY- S/T
Jason
1.RUSSIAN CIRCLES “ENTER”
2.ZOMBI “SURFACE TO AIR”
3.TORTOISE “LAZURUS TAXON”
4.GLENN KOTCHE “MOBILE”
5.BOARDS OF CANADA “TRANS CANADA EXPRESS”
6.DON CABALLERO “WORLD CLASS LISTENING PROBLEM”
7.DYSRHYTHMIA “BARRIERS AND PASSAGES”
8.FRED ANDERSON “TIMELESS”
9.RATATAT “CLASSICS”
Gar
- Thermals-Body the Blood da Machine
- Built To Spill-you in reverse
- Califone- Crown&roots
4.Radio 4-Enemies Like This - Mastodon-Blood Mountain
6.Eccentric Soul:deep city label
7.yo La Tengo-I Am Not Afraid Of You & I will Beat Your Ass
8.Busy Signals S/T 7″
9.Danava S/T - Steve Ritchey’s July 15th 2nd turn on the night shift @ WP
10.5 DEVO 2.0
Chris W
Aloe Blacc “SHINE THROUGH”
Cam’Ron “KILLA SEASON”
Count BassD “ACT YOUR WAIST SIZE”
The Coup “PICK A BIGGER WEAPON”
Darc Mind “SYMPTOMATIC OF A GREATER ILL”
The Game “DOCTOR’S ADVOCATE”
Ghostface Killah “FISHSCALE”
Hi-Tek “HI-TEKNOLOGY 2: THE CHIP”
J Dilla “DONUTS”
J Dilla “THE SHINING”
Lupe Fiasco “FOOD & LIQUOR”
M1 of Dead Prez “CONFIDENTIAL”
Masta Killa “MADE IN BROOKLYN”
Motion Man featuring KutMasta Kurt “PABLITO’S WAY”
OutKast “IDLEWILD”
People Under the Stairs “STEPFATHER”
Rhymefest “BLUE COLLAR”
The Roots “GAME THEORY”
Skyzoo & 9th Wonder “CLOUD 9: THE 3 DAY HIGH”
Sleepy Brown “MR. BROWN”
BEST OF 2006 (NON-HIP-HOP):
Beach House “S/T”
Beirut “GULAG ORKESTAR”
Brightblack Morning Light “S/T”
Dub Tractor “HIDEOUT”
Emily Haines “KNIVES DON’T HAVE YOUR BACK”
Freescha “HEAD WARLOCK DOUBLE STARE”
Glissandro 70 “70”
Harvey Milk “SPECIAL WISHES”
Jessica Bailiff “FEELS LIKE HOME”
Juana Molina “SON”
Orchestra Baobab “A NIGHT AT THE BAOBAB”
Radio Dept. “PET GRIEF”
Tussle “TELESCOPE MIND”
White Magic “DAT ROSA MEL APIBUS”
Nicolette
- Neko Case – Fox Confessor Brings the Flood
- Akron/Family – Meek Warrior
- The Black Angels – Passover <— break out band of the year!!!
- Joanna Newsom – Ys
- Dead Meadow – Dead Meadow (re-issue)
- Boris – Pink
- Vanishing Kids/Biography of Ferns split 7″ (on Failed Experiment)
- Brightblack Morning Light – Brightblack Morning Light (they live in teepees!!!)
- Lupe Fiasco – Food & Liquor (the leaked, bootleg version)
- Fucked Up “HIDDEN WORLD”
- Sunn O)))/Boris split – Altar
- The Sword – Age Of Winters
- Headache City – Headache City
- Darondo – Let My People Go (re-issue)
- OOIOO – Taiga
- Hollertronix #5
- The Gossip – Standing In The Way Of Control
- Witch – Witch
- Lady Sovereign – Vertically Challenged EP
- Gnarls Barkley – St. Elsewhere
- Peaches – Impeach My Bush (the inside artwork alone stands as a best of)
- Yo La Tengo – I Am Not Afraid Of You…
- Built To Spill – You In Reverse
- Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Show Your Bones
- Woodend Wand & the Sky High Band – Second Attention Favorite Compilations:
*Dead Moon – Echoes of the Past
*Broken Flowers Soundtrack
*Plague Songs
*New York Noise vol. 3
*Songs In The Key Of Z
Connelly
TINY TIM-GOD BLESS TINY TIM
SCOTT WALKER-THE DRIFT
JOSEF K-ENTOMOLOGY
CAN-FLOW MOTION
BERT JANSCH-BLACK SWAN
TOWN & COUNTRY-UP ABOVE
JOAN OF ARC-EVENTUALLY ALL AT ONCE
CURRENT 93-BLACK SHIPS THAT ATE THE SKY
SCISSOR SISTORS-TA-DAH!
Dylan
Scott Walker – The Drift
Sparks – Hello Young Lovers
Squarepusher – Hello Everything
Georgia Anne Muldrow – Olesi: Fragments Of An Earth
About – Bongo
Oneida – Happy New Year
Xiu Xiu – Air Force
Midlake – Trials Of Van Occupanther
White Magic – Dat Rosa Mel Apibus
Zombi – Surface To Air
Isobel Campbell – Milk White Sheets
Devo 2.0 – s/t
Hella – Acoustics
Dylan Posa & Three Cheers For One Dead Man – Debut 7″
Akron/Family – Meek Warrior
Thom Yorke “eraser”
Glenn Kotche “mobile”
Jazkamer “metal music machine”
Jesu “Silver”
Bryan
Boris/Sunn O))) ? Altar
Built To Spill ? You In Reverse
Craft ? Fuck The Universe
Danava ? Danava
Extra Golden ? Ok-Oyot System
Fucked Up ? Hidden World
Joanna Newsom ? Ys
Juana Molina ? Son
Mastodon ? Blood Mountain
Scott Walker ? Drift
Re-Issues:
Code Of Honor ? Complete Studio Recordings 1982-1984
Fix ? At the Speed of Twisted Thought
Karen Dalton ? In My Own Time
Lake of Dracula ? Skeletal Remains
Motorhead ? Another Perfect Day 2CD
Negative Trend ? s/t 4 song e.p.
Pretenders ? s/t 2CD
This Heat ? Out of Cold Storage
Tortoise ? A Lazarus Taxon
Trouble ? Psalm 9 & Skull
Matt
sibyelle baier “colour green”
chris bell “i am the cosmos” vin yl reissue
rhys chatam “die donnergotter”
craft “fuck the universe”
danava “s/t”
dead moon “echoes of the past”
dissection “storm of the light’s bane” vinyl reissue
drudkh “blood in our wells”
enslaved “ruun”
harvey milk “special wishes”
heresi “psalm II: Infusco Ignis”
daniel higgs “ancestral songs”
jesu “silver”
leviathan “blind wound”
major stars “syntoptikon”
mastodon “blood mountain”
joanna newsom “ys”
om “conference of the birds”
jay reatard “blood visions”
ruins of beverast “unlock the shrine” lp
serena-maneesh s/t
striborg “embittered darkness/isle de morts”
velvet cacoon “genevieve”
wilderness “vessel states”
witch st
xasthur “sublimianl genocide”
thom yorke “eraser”
neil young “living with war”
neil young & crazy horse “live at the fillmore east)
best live shows:
brian jonestown massacre
dead meadow
bert jansch
liars
melvins
radiohead
sunn o)))
tom waits
touch & go fest
Dave
- Lawrence Arms, Oh! Calcutta! (Fat)
- Clipse, Hell Hath No Fury (Re-Up)
- Frightmare, Bringing Back the Bloodshed (Razorback)
- Cretin, Freakery (Relapse)
- Rager, 2006 demo (self-released)
- The Muzzler, 2006 demo (self-released)
- Grenade Vs. Freight Train, Structural Psychisos (Duckphone)
- Lair of the Minotaur, The Ultimate Destroyer (Southern Lord)
- The Steinways, Missed the Boat (Cold Feet)
- Dim Mak, Knives of Ice (Willowtip)
- Cannibal Corpse, Kill (Metal Blade)
- Mr. Lif, Mo’ Mega (Def Jux)
- Kashmere Stage Band, Texas Thunder Soul 1968-1974 (Now Again/Fat Beats)
- V/A, Good God! A Gospel Funk Hymnal (Numero Group
Stephen
J Dilla-Donuts
Carla Bozulich-Evangelista
Pissed Jeans–Don’t Need Smoke to Make Myself Disappear 7″
DC Snipers–Missile Sunset
Harvey Milk–Special Wishes
The Melvins–A Senile Animal
Xasthur–Subliminal Genoicde
Ghostface–Fishscale
Sonic Youth–Rather Ripped
Clipse–Hell Hath No Fury
Fucked Up–Hidden World
Enslaved–Ruun
Jazkammer–Metal Music Machine
Growing–Color Wheel
Matmos–The Rose Has Teeth In The Mouth of The Beast
Scott Walker–Drift
Mission Of Burma–Obliteratti
Mika Miko–C.Y.S.L.A.B.F
Brightblack Morning Light–S/T
Fireball–S/t 12″
Reminder: Continuum
Live Heat:
Touch & Go 25th Anniversary–Hideout Chicago
Tom Waits–Chicago Theatre
Jack Rose–Empty Bottle, Chicago
Tortoise–Empty Bottle, Chicago
The Dicks/Pissed Jeans–North Six Brooklyn, NY
Chunklet 13th Anniversary–40 Watt Athens, GA.
Comedians Of Comedy–LSA, Chicago
Pissed Jeans/Binges–Nihilist Chicago
Sunn O)))/Boris–LSA Chicago
Oren Ambarchi–Reckless In-Store
Thrones–Reckless In-Store
Neil Michael Haggerty–Schuba’s Chicago
Carla Bozulich–Schuba’s Chicago
Everything All The Time:
Adult Swim
Yearling
The Best Show on WFMU
Sheer Magic
Kranky
Mayor Aspirin
Scalpels
Chris Corsano
Burning Star Core
The Entire Reckless Staff.
St. Viateur Bagel, Montreal
Steve R
VA- GOOD GOD !: A GOSPEL FUNK HYMNAL (NUMERO GROUP)
VA- INNATURE (BARGE RECORDINGS)
VA- ELEGY BOX (LAST VISIBLE DOG)
JOANNA NEWSOM- YS (DRAG CITY)
ROBERT POLLARD- MOON (MERGE)
J DILLA- DONUTS (STONES THROW)
KAREN DALTON-IT’S SO HARD TO TELL WHO’S GONING TO LOVE YOU THE BEST
(MEGAPHONE & IN MY OWN TIME (A LIGHT IN THE ATTIC)
MAJOR STARS- SYNOPTIKON (TWISTED VILLAGE/ IMPORTANT RECORDS)
KUUPU- YOKEHRA (DEKODER)
ESPERS- II (DRAG CITY)
DEATH UNIT- ONLY DEATH IS CERTAIN (HOSPITAL PRODUCTIONS)
PAUL FLARHERTY- WHIRL OF NOTHINGNESS (FAMILY VINEYARD)
FLAHERTY/ CORSANO- BELOVED MUSIC (FAMILY VINEYARD)
SUNBURNED HAND OF THE MAN- THE MYLAR TANTRUM (3LOBED)
CARLA BOZULICH- EVANGELISTA (CONSTELLATION)
JOSEPHINE FOSTER- A WOLF IN SHEEPS CLOTHING (LOCUST)
RICHARD YOUNGS- SAPPHIE & ADVENT (BOTH ON JAGJAGUWAR)
PAUL METZGER- S/T ( MUTANT MUSIC), FOUR IMPROVISATIONS ON MODIFIED GUITAR &
BANJO (TREEHOUSE) & SPLIT LP W/ CHRIS CORSANO & BEN CHASNEY (RORATORIO)
WOLF EYES-HUMAN ANIMAL (SUB POP)
MAGAS- MAY I MEET MY ACCUSER (IMAGINARY CONFLICT)
COMETS ON FIRE- AVATAR (SUB POP)
BORIS- PINK (SOUTHERN LORD)
NINA NASTASIA- ON LEAVING (FAT CAT)
HOWLIN’ RAIN- S/T (BIRDMAN)
GEOFF MULLEN- THIRTYSXTRLLNMNFSTNS (ENTSCHULDIGEN)
PLUS AMAZING SHOWS BY VASHTI BUNYAN, SMEGMA, JOANNA NEWSOM, TOM WAITS, CARLA
BOZULICH AND A BUNCH MORE
courtland
- CEDRIC BROOKS “LIGHT OF SABA”
- CHARALAMBIDES “VINTAGE BURDEN”
- REMINDER “CONTINUUM”
- SEBADOH III
- BODUF SONGS “LION DEVOURS THE SUN”
- BRUCE LANGHORNE “HIRED HAND” (SOUNDTRACK)
- EL MICHELS AFFAIR “SHAOLIN SERIES VOL. 1 c.R.E.A.M. b/w GLACIERS OF ICE” (7″)
- HOWLING HEX “1-2-3”
- HOWLING HEX “NIGHTCLUB VERSION OF THE ETERNAL”
- VA “GOOD GOD! A GOSPEL FUNK HYMNAL”
- J DILLA “DONUTS”
- VA “ECCENTRIC SOUL: DEEP CITY LABEL”
- BLIGHT “DETROIT: DREAM IS DEAD”
- BLACK MERDA “BLACK MERDA”
- MINUTEMEN “WE JAM ECONO” (DVD)
- GHOSTFACE KILLAH “FISHSCALE”
- OPAL
Chris R
major stars- synoptikon
coughs- secret passage
birchville cat motel- our love will destroy the world
flaherty/corsano- full bottle
josephine foster- a wolf in sheep’s clothing
lambsbread- return to the harbor
smegma- live @ empty bottle
graveyards w/ spencer yeh- live @ delaware, ohio
various artists- messthetics greatest hits
soft machine- middle earth masters
charlambides- vintage burden
REENCARNACION “888 metal”
sandy bull “st. valentine’s day”
Dan W
TIMES NEW VIKING “Dig Yourself” Extreme lo-fi pop clamour. Kind of like when GBV were underground & mysterious, except with girl singing.
SONIC YOUTH “Rather Ripped” Ding Dong the witch is dead! Jim O’Rourke is out of the band & SY is no longer boring.
PLAGUE BRINGER “As The Ghosts Collect, The Corpses Rest” I cant keep track of all the metal sub-genres, but I’m pretty sure these 2 Chicago psychos have 3 or 4 of them mastered on this disc.
MAGAS “May I Meet My Accuser” Magas rules the electro-rock wasteland.
1900’s “Plume Delivery” Comparisons to Belle & Sebastian abound, but 1900’s are actually better, especially when the girls take over.
RYE COALITION “Chariots On Fire” itunes only EP features the handful of good songs from the otherwise avoidable Curses full-length.
BONNIE PRINCE BILLY “The Letting Go” Because what the hell was with that Tortoise thing?
LORD FYRE “Destruction At 2013” Whipped out solo joint from John Wilkes Booze frontman.
YO LA TENGO “I Am Not Afraid Of You & I Will Beat Your Ass” Perhaps past their prime, but this is better than the last album.
DETACHMENT KIT “+” Curiously self-released.
Kim
jesu – silver
reminder – continuum
tortoise – a lazarus taxon
boduf songs – lion devours the sun
sparklehorse – dreamt for light years…
six organs of admittance – sun awakens
georgia anne muldrow – olesi: fragments of an earth
charalambides – vintage burden
black merda – black merda (reissue)
eddie hazel – game, dames and guitar thangs (reissue)
Jim Magas
- MAGAS: May I Meet My Accuser (Imaginary Conflict/Wwilko)
- LAKE OF DRACULA: Skeletal Remains (Savage Land)
- DANAVA: s/t (Kemado)
- WITCHCRAFT: Firewood (Rise Above)
- LES GEORGES LENINGRAD: Sangue Puro (Tomlab)
- THIS HEAT: Out of Cold Storage (ReR)
- HARMONIA: Musik Von (Lilith) reissue
- TROUBLE: Psalm 9 (Escapi Music) reissue
- OKAMI (Capcom/Clover Studio) video game
- CLIPSE: Hell Hath No Fury (Re-Up Records)
Taylor
Fucked Up Hidden World (Jade Tree/ Deranged)- Dear H/C Scene, Can we make
a collective New Years Resolution? Can we stop crucifying our peers when
they succeed at their craft? Can we finally stop calling people sell outs
because they sign to indie labels that have reputable distribution? Can
we all stop being punk fascists and learn to embrace each other and all
our differences? I mean isn’t that why we all became “punks” in the first
place, cause we were different? Ok, ok I know i’m on a hippy tangent right
now. Forgive me, I am getting old and my horizons are broadening. Things
like street cred have become less important while actual song writing has
become more important. And speaking of song writing, this album slays in a
thousand different ways. I am ok with epic, progressive h/c music and I am
elated that this band is next leveling this entire genre. You should be
too.
Mika Miko C.Y.S.L.A.B.F (Kill Rock Stars/ PPM)- Kinda like if Kathleen
Hannah was a skate punk that occasionally cut loose and said things like
“fuck it guys, let’s take some E and read each other’s auras.” These
ladies are my great white hope for the future o’ feminist punk. What’s
even more rad is that they never even have to reference feminism. I heard
they learned how to play by covering Crass songs. Their sense of punk
history however seems to extend far beyond the usual anarcho-political
fair, in fact if i had to guess I’d say at least one of them is the
illegitimate daughter of Ari Up. Coolest kids ever born post 1980.
Snowden Anti Anti (Jade Tree/ Stickfigure)- >- Like Interpol but without
all the posturing, eyeliner, and std’s. Fill in the Postcard/ Rough
Trade/ Creation records roster artist’s name here___ if you need a frame
of reference. This record deserves to be heard even though they are not
epically reinventing the wheel. It’s catchy to the point of being
compelling, and it’s really honest in kind of a humbling way.
Deftones Saturday Night Wrist (Maverick)- Chino Moreno et al. could record
themselves pulling bong hits and dropping nickels in a tin can and i would
think it was the best record of the year. However an epic “wtf” for “Pink
Cellphones” not getting cut from this record. Kinda no excuse for that
pile. And yes, i’m bummed i’m still this emo too.
The Black Heart Procession The Spell (Touch and Go)- This list is biased
and I am jaded, or maybe the other way around. Whateves. If you missed
this now is the time to ask for it for xmas. There are drums and rock
songs on this record so it may surprise you a bit.
Wilderness Vessel States (Jagjaguar)- This is my favorite band in the
entire universe. I am not exaggerating. I never exaggerate.
Daughters Hell Songs (Hyrdahead)- I think this might be the final nail in
the coffin of Load. Parts of this make the hair on the back of my
neckstand up. If Clive Barker was smart he would do a pro-bono feature
fulllength for this album. No fuck that, Gregg Araki should actually do
it.
Liars Drums Not Dead (Mute)- Ok, I kinda think this album wasn’t as good
as They Were Wrong?. However, “The Other Side of Mt. Heart Attack” is so
good that it parlays the record into one of the best albums of all time.Q:
can a single make an album? A: yes, it can. Side note: I do not condone
or endorse the purchasing of singles off Itunes (or any digital music
website) unless it is a Billboard Top 200 pop band. You should buy this
record cause the whole thing is worth listening to and owning.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs Show Your Bones (Interscope)- Ok so I’m putting both these
bands on here?yeah yeah yeah “so trendy’ you’re thinking. But here’s the
thing…Sometimes bands sell lots of records and have tons of fans because
they are actually good. (maybe 20% of the time even). The B side of this
album is completely charming. Not in a coherent, well structured, planned
way, but in a moments of each song could get stuck in your head for days
way. The A side– not so memorable. Either way, Karen’s gonna turn
allowing yourself to be vulnerable into a “do” for 2007.
Pissed Jeans I Don’t Need Smoke To Make Myself Disappear (Sub Pop)– Is
this the wrong speed? Does it matter? Could I love this band anymore?
Maybe. No. And no, respectively.
Mastodon Blood Mountain (Relapse)/ Daughters Hell Songs (Hydrahead)-
Thisis a tie because I have only heard part of the Mastodon record once
but it fucking blew my mind. Who knows though, there could have been like
some real clunkers there that I just haven’t gotten a chance to hear yet.
For the most part though, I’m down for any band that can play all 16
subgenres of metal perfectly within one song while never sounding the
least bit
pretentious. As far as the creepy mustached substitute gym teacher squad
goes, if Clive Barker was smart he would do a pro-bono feature full length
Hell Songs. Wait, no fuck that, Gregg Araki should do it and Crispin
Glover’s cast from “What Is It?'” should star in it. This record is light
years ahead of their last full length mostly because they no longer sound
like mini-Locusts, both the vocals and the song structures have traded
white-belt grindmo for nauseating weirdcore.
Kevin
Bardo Pond “ticket crystals”
Espers “II”
Scott Walker “the drift”
Major Stars “black road” 7″
Arthur Russell “another thought” (reissue)
Boduf Songs “lion devours the sun”
Danava “s/t”
J Dilla “donuts”
v/a “good god! gospel funk”
Broadcast “future crayon
Billy
SUNN/BORIS – ALTAR (SOUTHERN LORD)
VARIOUS ARTISTS – AMERICAN HARDCORE soundtrack (RHINO)
The Raconteurs ? Broken Boy Soldiers
Culture Kids (http://myspace.com/culturekidss)
EARTH – reissues (subpop)
The Fix – At the Speed of Twisted Thought (Touch and Go)
Depeche Mode – Playing the Angel
Steve Turner – New Wave Punk Asshole
Pearl Jam – s/t
Welcome – Sirs (comes out domestically in Feb 2007 on FatCat)
Amazing Stories season one DVD
Dungeons and Dragons complete animated series DVD
Employee Top Ten lists 2005!
Brett
vaguely ordered but sort-of not)
- Clientele “strange geometry” merge
- Canyon Country “there’s a forest in the fire” attack 9
- Sufjan Stevens “come on feel the illinoise” asthmatic kitty
- Destroyer “notorious lightning and other works” merge
- Great Lakes Swimmers “great lake swimmer” misra
- Fiona Apple “extraordinary machine” epic
- Andrew Bird “mysterious production of eggs” righteous babe
- Remote viewer “let your heart draw the line” city centre
- New Pornographers “twin cinema” matador
- The Occasional Keepers “beauty of the empty vessel” ltm
- Love as Laughter “laughter’s fifth” subpop
- Kallikak Family “May 23rd, 2007” tell-all
- Various Artists “childish music” staubgold
- Akron/ Family “Akron/ Family” young god
- White Stripes “get behind me satan” v2
- Colleen “golden morning breaks” leaf
- Lucksmiths “warmer corners” matinee
- Keren Ann “nolita” blue note
- Edan “beauty & beat” lewis
- A Sides “hello hello” prison jazz
- Animal Collective “feels” fat cat
- Nils Okland “bris” rune grammofon
- Devendra Banhart “cripple crow” xl
- Yann Tiersen and Shannon Wright “yann tiersen and shannon wright” ici d’ailleurs
- Liam Singer “the empty heart of the chameleon” tell-all
- Peggy Honeywell “faint humms” galaxia7
- Parker and Lily “lows lows” warm electronic
- M.I.A. “arular” xl
- Fruit Bats “spelled in bones” subpop
- catsinsinks.com
Stephen
(in no order).
Six Organs of Admittance–School Of The Flower (Plus the ozone tearing live show at Empty Bottle).
Henry Grimes/Fred Anderson/Marshall Allen–Hothouse March 11.
Sunn O)))–Black One
We Jam Econo: The Story Of The Minutemen
Mike Jones–Still Tippin’ 12″
Finally Getting to See SLINT perform “Washer” while the images of snow flakes fell around the room.
Konono No. 1–Congotronics & the split w/ Dead C.
Tony Conrad–Behind a White Sheet, 11/3/05 Empty Bottle
Lightning Bolt–Hypermagic Mountain
Earth–Hex: Or Printing In The Infernal Method
Amerie–One Thing 12″
High On Fire–Blessed Black Wings
Magik Markers–I Trust My Guitar, Etc.
Boduf Songs–S/T
Gang Gang Dance–God’s Money
A-Frames–Black Forest
Danger Doom–Mouse & Mask (plus the inkling that the
Doom/Ghostface collaborations might be the best thing to happen to rap since “36 Chambers”)
4 Shellac Shows In Chicago within the Course of a Month!
The Rediscovery of the Brazillian Post-Punk Scene (“Sexual Life Of The Savages” compilation/ As Mercenarias anthology)
Whitehouse–11/5/05 Empty Bottle
The Re-Opening of Hot Dougs.
Ciara–Oh 12″
Boredoms–Logan Square Auditorium 5/21/05
Oren Ambrachi–Grapes From The Estate.
Scharpling & Wurster–Hippie Justice//Patton Oswalt-222′ (tie)
Moondog–The Viking of Sixth Avenue
fm3’s Buddah Machine
Oneida–The Wedding Album
Jan Jelinek–Kosmischer Pitch.
Taking Pictures–Unreleased S/T Album
Jesu–Jesu
Lau Nau–Kutarha
Dinosaur Jr. in all their slaying reunited glory
v/a- Tropicalia! Comp. on Soul Jazz
The Idea of the South, whilst trapped in the North.
Dave:
top 10 of 2005, no order.
Curl Up and Die – the one above all, the end of all that is
Between the Buried and Me – alaska
Defleshed – reclaim the beat
Slim Thug – already platinum
the Dream Is Dead – hail the new pawn
Misery Index – dissent
Clipse – we got it for cheap vol. 1 and 2 mixtapes
R. Kelly – trapped in the closet, all chapters
A Life Once Lost – hunter
Crowbar – life’s blood for the downtrodden
top 6 worst things about 2005
- still no new Clipse record
- Defleshed breaking up
- RIP dimebag
- only two EP’s, two LP’s, and one live record from Bright Eyes
- Judas Priest live
- Big L still dead
Matt:
as mercenarias “beginning of the end of the world”
devendra banhart “cripple crow”
blut aus nord “work which transforms god”
comus “first utterance” reissue
dead meadow “feathers”
deathspell omega “kenose”
dungen reissues
dungen: best live band on the planet
edan “beauty & the beat”
elyse s/t reissue
enslaved “isa” (2004 release that bled into most of 2005 for me)
evens s/t
fuchsia s/t reissue
gris gris “for the season”
guided by voices “briefcase 2” abriged
roy harper
gary higgins “red hash”
randy holden “population II” vinyl reissue
jesu s/t
lurker of chalice
brian mcbride “when the detail lost its freedom”
kim jung mi “now” reissue
om “variations on a theme”
geraldo pino & the heart beats “afro soco soul live”
twilight
xasthur “nocturnal poisoning” vinyl reissue
witchcraft “firewood”
neil young “archive pathfinder” bootleg
MAGAS TOP 10 of 2005:
NEW:
QUINTRON & MISS PUSSYCAT: Swamp Tech/Electric Swamp (Tigerbeat6)
KAP BAMBINO: Neutral EP (Wwilko)
GENDERS: There’s Something In the Treats (Tigerbeat6)
BLACK DICE: Broken Ear Record (DFA/Astralwerks)
ADULT.: Gimmie Trouble (Thrill Jockey)
GD LUXXE: Make (Tigerbeat6)
ELECTRONICAT: Voodoo Man (Disko B)
CANDEE HANK: Brandy Cramps (Wwilko)
SOUNDS OF THE INDIAN SNAKE CHARMER (Hanson)
EASY ACTION: Friends of Rock And Roll (Reptilian)
OLD:
VA: NO NEW YORK (Lilith)
CELTIC FROST: Morbid Tales (Earmark)
CELTIC FROST: To Mega Therion (Earmark)
ENNIO MORRICONE: Crime & Dissonance (Ipecac)
GEORGE BRIGMAN: Jungle Rot (Bona Fide)
GEORGE BRIGMAN: I Can Hear the Ants Dancin’ (Bona Fide)
STOOGES: Funhouse (Rhino)
STOOGES: Stooges (Rhino)
ENNIO MORRICONE: Crime & Dissonance (Ipecac)
VA: Big Gundown: Reggae Inspired by Spaghetti Westerns (Earmark)
Taylor:
top ten albums….. in no particular order
Cass Mccombs “Prefection'” (Monitor)
Japanther “Master of Pigeons” (Menlopar)
Low “Great Destroyer” (Sub Pop)
Animal Collective “Feels” (Fat Cat)
The Accused “Oh Martha” (Condar)
Celebration “S/T” (4AD)
Dead Science “Frost Giant” (Absolutely Kosher)
Dead Meadow “Feathers” (Matador)
Devendra Banhart “Cripple Crow” (XL)
Nine Inch Nails “With Teeth” (Nothing)
top ten shows….. also in no particular order
Wives/ This Moment in Black History/ Business Lady @ Cal’s
Battletorn/ Wolf & Cub/ Raise the Red Lantern @ Needle House
Slint @ Park West
Mastodon/ Sweet Cobra @ Bottom Lounge
Kylesa/ Coliseum/ Torche @ Beat Kitchen
Danzig/ Mortiis @ HOB
Selfish/ Hellshock @ Ice Factory
Carbonas/ Pedestrians @ Beat Kitchen
Navies/ Scalpels/ Scalpers/ Ten Ton @ Needle House
Dungen @ the Bottle
LUX–
In No particular order things of 2005:
Boris Sun Baked Snow Cave
White Rock ‘Tar Pit’
Double Leopards ‘Out of one….’
Robert Wyatt & Friends live 1974
Lurker Of Chalice S/T
Gris Gris ‘For the Season’
Up Tight ‘W/ Makoto’
Tar Pet ‘Artist revealed is Taralie Dawn’
Endless Boogie ‘White’
Vashti Bunyan ‘Lookaftering’
Skullflower ‘Orange Canyon Mind’
Jon:
Lurker of Chalice – S/T
Sunn O))) – Black One
King Kong – directed by Peter Jackson
Curb Your Enthusiasm – Season 4 DVD
Thundercats – Season 1 DVD
Necrophagist – Epitaph
Animal Collective – Feels
Slint reunion
Kim:
a not-in-order-at-all list of releases that i can remember enjoying this year
books – lost and safe
lou barlow – emoh
jesu – jesu
marc hellner – marriages
growing – his return
badgerlore – stories for owls
akron/family – akron/family
brian mcbride – when the detail lost its freedom
oneida- the wedding
earth – hex: or the printing in the infernal method
lichens – psychic nature of being
six organs of admittance – school of the flower
moondog – viking of sixth avenue (reissue)
gary higgins – red hash (reissue)
danger doom – mouse and the mask
cult cargo: belize city boil up – various artists
Kip’s best of 2005 in no specific order with the exception of pick #1
- Meshuggah “Catch Thirty Thr33”
- Antony & the Johnsons “I am a Bird Now”
- Low “The Great Destroyer”
- Books “Lost & Safe”
- Danger Doom “The Mouse & The Mask”
- Pit Er Pat “Shakey”
- Common “Be”
- Four Tet “Everything Ecstatic”
- Dungen -reissues
Best Video Games of 2005
- GOD OF WAR
- We Love Katamari
Highlights of 2005
- Hockey…bout fuckin time
- Slint -Parkwest
- Low -Metro
Best TV
Arrested Development
Extras
The Shield
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Six Feet Under
Chris W.
TOP 15 INDIES of 2005 (alphabetically)
Antony & the Johnsons “I Am a Bird Now”
Bochum Welt “Elan”
Books “Lost & Safe”
Brian Eno “Another Day On Earth”
Espers “The Weed Tree”
Field Music “s/t”
Flotation Toy Warning “Bluffer’s Guide to the Flight Deck”
Harold Budd & Robin Guthrie “Mysterious Skin (soundtrack)”
Jóhann Jóhannsson “Dis (soundtrack)”
Lump200 “Dizzyland”
Michael Andrews “Me and You and Everyone We Know (soundtrack)”
Mugison “Mugimama, Is this Monkey Music?”
Porn Sword Tobacco “Explains Freedom”
Seu Jorge “Life Aquatic Studio Sessions”
Songs of Green Pheasant “s/t”
TOP 15 HIP HOP of 2005 (alphabetically)
Common “Be”
Cool Calm Pete “Lost”
Danger Doom “Mouse and the Mask”
Dwight Trible & the Life Force Trio “Love Is the Answer”
Edan “Beauty & the Beat”
Emanon “Waiting Room”
Fatlip “The Loneliest Punk”
Kanye West “Late Registration”
Koushik “Be With”
Little Brother “The Minstrel Show”
One.Be.Lo “S.O.N.O.G.R.A.M.”
Percy Miracles aka Phonte “The Ladies Champ EP”
Platinum Pied Pipers “Triple P”
R. Kelly “TP.3 Reloaded”
Steve Spacek “Space Shift”
honorable mention: all releases by SA-RA CREATIVE PARTNERS
12″ Single of the year: Aloe Blacc “Want Me”
Jason:
10 good albums
- David Axelrod “The Edge: 1966-1970” (EMI)
- Various Artists “Night Train to Nashville” Vol.1&2 1945-1970 (Lost Highway)
- Negativland “No Business” (Seeland)
- Daniel Lanois “Belladonna” (Anti)
- Ennio Morricone “Crime and Dissonance” (Ipecac)
- Steve Reid “Spirit Walk” (Soul Jazz)
- Chris Connelly “Live” (Self)
- Moondog “Viking of 6th Avenue .” (Honest Jons)
- Tristeza “a colores” (Good Looking)
10.Team America “Soundtrack” (Warner)
Cortland:
Scharpling & Wurster- Hippy Justice
Primeridian- All Day NIghter
V.A.- Caltone Special
Konono No. 1- Congotronics
Revolutionaries- Earthquake Dub
Brian McBride- When The Detail Lost Its Freedom
Lichens -Psychic Nature Of Being
Ennio Morricone – Crime & Dissonance
V.A. -Midwest Funk
J.C. Davis -New Day
Smog- A River Aint Too Much To Love
V.A.- Loves A Real Thing
Marc Hellner- Marriages
Thelonious Monk & John Coltrane at Carnagie Hall
Six Organs Of Admittance- School of the Flower
Holli
In no particular order…
andrew bird – mysterious production of eggs
sharon jones & the dap kings – naturally
super furry animals – lovekraft
elbow – leaders of the free world
common – be
devendra banhart – cripple crow
books – lost & safe
lightning bolt – hyper magic mountain
gary higgins – red hash (reissue)
tim buckley – dream letter (i know it came out in 1990, but it’s my favorite album this year.
Bryan:
Albums of 1973 most played (by me) in 2005:
Stooges – Raw Power
Alice Cooper – Billion Dollar Babies
Blue Oyster Cult – Tyranny & Mutation
Roxy Music – For Your Pleasure
Roxy Music – Stranded
New York Dolls – New York Dolls
Mott the Hoople – Mott
Sweet – Sweet
Pink Fairies – Kings of Oblivion
Nazareth – Razamanaz
ZZ Top – Tres Hombres
Stevie Wonder – Innervisions
Todd Rundgren – A Wizard/A True Star
David Bowie – Alladin Sane
T.Rex – Tanx
Hawkwind – Space Ritual
Faces – Ooh La La
Led Zeppelin – Houses of the Holy
Daniel–
best record of 2005 that came out in 2004:
1a. dungen – “ta det lugnt”
top 10 of 2005:
- r. kelly – tp3 reloaded”
- fiery furnaces – “ep”
- sufjan stevens – “illinois “
- magnolia electric co. – “what comes after the blues”
- skygreen leopards – “life & love in sparrow’s meadow”
- mannequin men – “showbiz witch”
- witchcraft – “firewood”
- tegan & sara – “so jealous”
- of montreal – “the sunlandic twins”
- v/a – “the third unheard: connecticut hip-hop 1979-1983”
11-20 (in alphabetical order):
angels of light – “sing other people”
devendra banhart – “cripple crow”
crooked fingers – “dignity & shame”
fruit bats – “spelled in bones”
lungfish – “feral hymns”
paul mccartney – “chaos & creation in the backyard”
new black – “time attack”
pit er pat – “shakey”
ween – “shinola vol. 1”
wolf parade – “apologies to the queen mary
KEITH
in no particular order
All Night Fox-Howling Hex
Arrested Development-the television show
On Your Video 7″-Tyrades
Man Made-Teenage Fanclub
Shock of Being-Make Believe
Shinola-Ween
Dinosaur, You’re Living All Over Me & Bug (reissues)-Dinosaur Jr.
Celebration Castle- the Ponys
For the Season-Gris Gris
Such Triumph- The Narrator
The Electrifying Conclusion DVD-Guided By Voices
Evan:
- Has a Good Home -by- Final Fantasy
Owen Pallett is better known for the string arrangement contributions for the Arcade Fire and the Hidden Cameras. Creative control can lead to an amazing orchestral pop tracks that even topple the talented Andrew Bird. - Twin Cinema -by- The New Pornographers
Yeap, they had 14 more for us, they are beyond heavenly. Wtf. - The Wedding -by- Oneida
This ‘notorious’ album has people praising or bashing it.. The facts: I haven’t rocked harder to a stand alone hit as I do with “Lavender” Lastly, there is something for everyone in this collage of silk and filth. - Feels -by- Animal Collective
Why this was dubbed as their rock album is above me. Yeah kids it starts out pumped, and then ventures differently than “Sung Tongs” and it’s light-years beyond “Here Comes an Indian” but these critters are sonically consistent even on a more accessible plane. This indie-tribal sustenance gets my feels revved. - A River Ain’t Too Much to Love -by- Smog
Shadowed by the Supper’s masterpiece status. However country noir never sounded so goddamn perfect. - Lost & Safe -by- The Books
Man, this one took awhile to love. But now we are in a long term relationship, I’ve become a better listener.
(Btw: Tomlab is on fire!) - “Git” -by- Skeletons and The Girl-Faced Boys
Universal fusion is spice that Skeletons cooks my ears with. Mostly electronic, but this album can be sold at whole foods. You can own it too, if you can handle an automatic overdose of bizarre vibrant soul. - Arular -by- M.I.A.
Wtf is she telling me?
You know I never open the lyric book for Arular, but I sing along anyways, and like everyone else does; I’ve been dancing and singing to this all year long. - In Case We Die -by- Architecture in Helsinki
Silly things are adorable, refreshing, bombastic, splendid, feverish in a sassy way, outstanding, terrific, comforting,
up hailing to the community, easy-hearted, hard to criticize, wondrous, and globally quintessential. - The Sunset Tree AND Come, Come to the Sunset Tree -by- The Mountain Goats
Without a doubt, no other album this year was rightfully loved by the people in my life and me. From 18 year old helpless hipster siblings to 40+ year old breast cancer survivors, The Sunset Tree major mass appeal, and will never receive it. John Darnielle’s voice and lyrics doesn’t escape your head, it will leave you speechless, awake and with an exposed curetted soul. Seriously! THEN he releases a LP spin-off of the album in his traditional unrefined style, with equally essential b-sides.
Honorable Mentions:
Howling Hex – You Can’t Beat Tomorrow- front to back amazing, although I’ve only heard it once.
The Fruit Bats – Spelled in Bones- feel good album of the year, snag some vulva with this stuff.
Wolf Parade – Apologies to Queen Mary- this year’s Arcade Fire, yes it is, sorry and congratulations.
XXL – Ciautistico!- a Xiu Xiu collaboration worth owning, thank god since La Foret shattered my gaydar.
The Standard – Albatross- unheralded “piano’s gonna make you cry, bitch” band from Portland
Andrew Bird -?blah blah blah Eggs- it wore off but only after a good season of addiction.
Caribou – Milk of Human Kindness- does a body good.
DAN
SORRY, BUT TRY AS I MIGHT, I CAN ONLY COME UP WITH 5
RECORDS THAT I REALLY LIKED FROM ’05??.
CONSTANTINES – TOURNAMENT OF HEARTS
CROOKED FINGERS – DIGNITY & SHAME
RESPLENDENT – I AM FREE/AM I FREE?
SPOON – GIMME FICTION
THE JOHN WILKES BOOZE – TELESCOPIC EYES GLANCE THE FUTURE SICK
GAR
RAKES-“RAKES”
ANTONY & THE JOHNSON’S-“I AM A BIRD NOW”
SPOON-“GIMME FICTION”
ONEIDA-“WEDDING”
SHARON JONES & THE DAP KINGS-“NATURALLY”
FIERY FURNACES-“10 SONG EP”
FIERY FURNACES-“REHEARSING MY CHOIR”
HIGH ON FIRE- “OH BLESSED BLACK WINGS”
BROKEN SOCIAL SCENE-“BROKEN SOCIAL SCENE”
“CULT CARGO BELIZE CITY BOIL UP”
MESHUGGAH-“CATCH THIRTY THR33”
BOOKS-“LOST & SAFE”
PREFUSE 73-“READS THE BOOKS”
REISSUES
XRAY SPEX-“ANTHOLOGY”
101ERS-“ELGIN AVENUE BREAKDOWN: REVISITED”
CHRIS C:
1.ROBERT WYATT AND FRIENDS AT THE BLOOMSBURY THEATRE
2.ONEIDA-THE WEDDING
3.PAULA FRAZER-LEAVE THE SAD THINGS BEHIND
4.DAVID BOWIE-STAGE (REISSUE)
5.GANG GANG DANCE-GOD’S MONEY
6.101’ERS-ELGIN AVENUE BREAKDOWN
7.STOOGES-HEAVY LIQUID BOX SET
8.COMUS-SONG TO COMUS
9.KEVIN COYNE-A DAY IN CHICAGO
10.CHRIS CONNELLY-LOUNGE AX,BOTTLE,ELSEWHERE
STEVE
new stuff (in no particular order)
Lau Nau- Kuutarha
Magik Markers- I Trust My Guitar Etc.
Gang Gang Dance – God’s Money
Sunburned Hand of the Man- Wedlock
Sunn O)))- Black One
Espers- Weed Tree
Angels of Light- Sing Other People
Josephine Foster- Hazel Eyes, I Will Lead You
Earth- Hex: Or Printing in the Infernal Method
Smog- A River Ain’t Too Much To Love
Rova:: Orkestrova- Electric Ascension
Jennifer Gentle- Valende
Lightning Bolt- Hypermagic Mountain
Double Leopards- Out of One, Through One
Single of the year
Major Stars- Black Road 7″
Music related book
Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop By Jeff Chang
Reissues (In no particular order)
Vashti Bunyan- Just Another Diamond Day
Gary Higgins- Red Hash
VA- Cult Cargo:Belize City Boil UP
Henry Flynt- Purified By The Fire
Stooges- S/T
Stooges- Funhouse
Fern Jones- Glory Road
Bob Dylan- Bootleg Series Vol. 7
V/A- American Primitive Vol. 2
Sunn 0)))- Grimm Robe Demos
Evie Sands- Any Way That You Want Me
Matt B:
Eno and Cluster – Begegnungen I & II reissues
Flaming Lips – Fearless Freaks dir. by Bradley Beesley
Pigeon John – Sings the Blues
We Love Katamari
Ennio Morricone – Crime & Dissonance
Youth of the Beast (dir. by Seijun Suzuki)
The Mountain Goats – The Sunset Tree
Chocolate Watch Band – Melts in Your Brain…Not on Your Wrist: Complete Recordings 1965-1967
The Perceptionists – Black Dialogue
Prefuse 73 – Reads the Books
Nicolette:
Here’s my best of list, in the form of a top ten. Yeow!
- Animal Collective – Feels
- Boredoms – Seadrum/House of Sun
- Angels of Light/Akron Family – Angels of Light/Akron Family
- The Books – Lost and Safe
- Wolf Parade – Apologies To The Queen Mary
- Danger Doom – The Mouse and The Mask
- Four Tet – Everything Ecstatic
- Clap Your Hands Say Yeah – Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
- Lightning Bolt – Hypermagic Mountain
- Broken Social Scene – Broken Social Scene
Emily
Top 10 List in no particular order:
- Lil’ Wayne – Tha Carter Vol. 2
- Broadcast ? Tender Buttons
- Animal Collective – Feels
- Devendra Banhart ? Cripple Crow
- Dungen ? Ta Det Lung
- Haitian Voodoo ? Spirits of Life (Soul Jazz)
- Chrysler ? Failures and Sparks
- Diplo ? Florida (with bonus DVD)
- Pg. 99 ? Document #8
- Nola Exposed ? (DVD-NC-17)
CHARLES:
rock:
dungen: tad det lugnt
magic numbers
HAL
super furry animals: love kraft
Colosseum II: Strange New Flesh (reissue)
Nickel Creek: Why Should The Fire Die?
world/folk:
milton nascimento: pieta
john tams: the reckoning
reggae:
prince fari: silver and gold
trojan dub rarities box set
jazz:
john zorn: electric masada
aaron alexander: midrash mish mosh
nguyen le: walking on the tiger’s tail
metheny/coleman: song x reissue
jaga/jazzist; what we must
classical:
mcaslan: britten violin concerto
schermerhorn: villa-lobos complete bachianas brasileiras
Employee Top Ten lists 2004!
Brett:
- Ac Newman “slow wonder” (matador)
- Vetiver “vetiver” (di cristina)
- Rogue Wave “out of the shadow” (subpop)
- Eluvium “an accidental memory in the case of death” (temporary residence)
- Lullatone “little songs about raindrops” (audio dregs)
- Sodastream “a minor revival” (microindie)
- Casino vs. Japan “hitori + kaiso: 1998-2001” (attack nine)
- Ponys “laced with romance” (in the red)
- Destroyer “your blues” (merge)
- M’s “M’s” (brilliante)
- Will Oldham “seafarers music” (drag city)
- Clientele “ariadne” (acuarela)
- Various Artists “Radio India: Eternal Dream of Sound (Sublime Frequencies)
- Ekkhard Ehlers “Plays” (Staubgold)
- Walkmen “bows and arrows” (record collection)
- Auburn Lull “cast from the platform” (darla)
- Harry Partch “Harry Partch Collection vol.1 and 2” (new world)
- Iron and Wine “our endless numbered days” (subpop)
- Papa M “five” and “six” (drag city)
- Prince Po “slickness”
- SCTV vol.1 and vol.2 DVDs
- Arrested Development season 1 DVD
- Floorbirds “the sea of language around us” (barcode press)
- Wilco- ” a ghost is born” (nonesuch)
- Growing- “soul of the rainbow and harmony of light” (kranky)
Stephen:
- Madvillain–Madvillainy//MF Doom–MM…Food
- Sunn O)))–White 2
- Growing–Soul Of the Rainbow & Harmony of Light
- Mastodon–Leviathan
- TV On The Radio–Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes
- Melvins–Neither Here Nor There/ Pigs of The Roman Empire
- 90 Day Men–Panda Park
- Liars–They Were Wrong So We Drowned
- Fennesz–Venice
- Coco Rosie–La Mansion Mon Reverie
- The EX–Turn
- Tim Hecker–Mirages
- Throbbing Gristle–TG + Box
- Chris Connelly–Night Of Your Life/ Everyoned–Everyoned
- Tom Waits–Real Gone
- Albert Ayler–Holy Ghost Box
- John Fahey–Great Santa Barbra Oil Slick
- Joanna Newsom–Milk Eyed Mender
- Beans–Shock City Maverick
- Sonic Youth–Sonic Nurse
- Devendra Banhart–Rejoicing In The Hands/ Nino Rojo
- Jimmy Edgar–Access Rhythm/ Bounce Make Model
- !!!–Louden Up Now
- Radian–Juxtaposition
- Fall–The Real New Fall LP
- Mission Of Burma–OnOffOn
- Coachwhips–Bangers Vs. Fuckers
- V/A–Midwest Funk: Funk 45s from Tornado Alley
- V/A–Third Unheard: Connecticut Hip-Hop
- V/A–DFA Records Compilation #2
Finally, The ONE album Pitchfork was completely right about:
Dungen–Ta Det Lungt STAGE (In No Order)
Taking Pictures, Borbetomagus, Pixies, Shellac, Beans, MF Doom, Sunn O))), Wolf Eyes, Oxbow, Scalpels, Ten Ton, Lydia Lunch, Watchers, Stella Comedy Show, Growing, Hot Snakes, Melvins, Mike Watt, Everyoned, Million Tongues Fest, White Light, Fucking Warewolves, Tyrades, Khanate, The EX, Sally Timms & Jon Langford, Plastic Crimewave, Psychic TV, Brent Gutzeit/ TV Pow, Christian Brandt.
Reissues: Arthur Russell, Homosexuals, Simon Finn, Vashti Bunyan, Basil Kirchin, Pavement; Revenant Vinyl Pressings, John Cale’s NY experience in a big wooden box, Goatsnake–1 CD, Talking Heads–Name Of This Band Is Talking Heads, and CAN finally sounding right on CD.
Goodnight: John Peel, ODB, Rodney Dangerfield, Captain Kangaroo, Jhonn Balance, Elvin Jones, and Robert Quine.
Melissa:
dungen “ta det lungt”
hot snakes “audit in progress”
gris gris “s.t.”
tom waits “real gone”
rtx “transmaniacon”
madvillain “madvillainy”
mastodon “leviathan”
nick cave “abattoir blues/lyre of orpheus”
tv on the radio “desperate youth, blood thirsty babes”
single minded pros “from now on”
missy elliott/can mash up
disco inferno reissues
pavement “crooked rain” reissue
brian wilson “smile”
ataxia “automatic writing” (well, half of it)
mf doom “mm food”
shawnna “worth tha weight”
liars “they were wrong so we drowned”
sunn o))) “white 2”
espers “s.t.”
wire dvd
Gar:
NEW RELEASES IN ORDER OF HEARING THEM
- LIARS “THERE’S ALWAYS ROOM ON THE BROOM”
- PAPA M “HOLE OF BURNING ALMS”
- TV ON THE RADIO “DESPERATE YOUTH BLOOD THIRSTY BABES”
- SWEET COBRA “PRAISE”
- MASTADON “LEVIATHAN”
- SOVIETTES “SOVIETES II”
- ATARI STAR “PRAYER & PRETEND”
- GASOLINE FIGHT “USELESS PIECE OF WEAPONRY”
- FIERY FURNACES “BLUEBERRY BOAT”
- CALIFONE “HERON KING BLUES”
BEST COVER:_ XBXRX “WE HATE THE PRESIDENT” 7″
WORST COVER:___BONNIE PRINCE BILLY “”GREATEST PALACE MUSIC”
BEST ALBUM NAME IT’S A TIE
- MCLUSKY “DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ME AND YOU IS I’M NOT ON FIRE”
- MIRAH “C’MON MIRACLE”
Emily:
People making good music:
Josephine Foster & the Supposed
Plastic Crimewave Sound
Comets on Fire
The Coughs
Panixville
Electralane
John Cale
A-Frames
RTX
Whaler
Born Heller
Keith:
my top 10. In no particular order.
The Braves “Love and Mercy”
Vee Dee “Further”
Nick Cave “Abattior Blues/Lyre of Orpheus”
Hot Snakes “Audit in Progress”
Ponys “Laced with Romance”
Liars “They Were Wrong So We Drowned”
Soft Pink Truth “Do You Want New Wave or Do You Want the Soft Pink Truth
Reigning Sound “Too Much Guitar”
Arrested Development DVD Season 1
Cheap Trick “Essential Cheap Trick”
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Dave:
- madvillain – madvilliany
- deicide – scars of the crucifix
- cannibal corpse – the wretched spawn
- kanye west – the college dropout
- brian wilson – smile
- pig destroyer – terrifyer
- the killer – better judged by 12 than carried by 6
- meshuggah – i
- lamb of god – ashes of the wake
- mastodon – leviathan
- necrophagist – epitaph
- anata – under a stone with no inscription
- decapitated – the negation
- single minded pros – from now on
- tower of rome – all is lost, all is lost, all is yet to be found
dave’s top 5 things i bought this year NOT fom this year. no order.
- miles davis – get up with it
- rorschach – protestant
- dj jazzy jeff and the fresh prince – he’s the dj & i’m the rapper
- anthrax – among the living
- neil young – on the beach
Ryan:
the year in music 2004 —not such a good one.
- pavement – crooked rain reissue
- elliott smith – from a basement on the hill
- iron & wine – our endless numbered days
- jolie holland – escondida
- arcade fire – funeral
- decemberists – the tain
- wilco – a ghost is born
- modest mouse – good news for people who love bad news
- kanye west – the college dropout
- the narrator – youth city fire
- animal collective – sung tongs
- brian wilson – smile
- jesse sykes & the sweet hereafter – oh, my girl
- califone – heron king blues
- where will you be on Christmas day compilation of early music.
James:
In 2004, I listened to:
Walkmen “Bows & Arrows”
Dungen “Ta Det Lungst”
Liars “They Were Wrong so We Drowned”
Gris Gris “Gris Gris”
Animal Collective “Sung Tongs”
Vetiver “Vetiver”
Jon Brion “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind”
Growing “Soul of the Rainbow & Harmony of Light”
Arcade Fire “Funeral”
Modest Mouse “Good News for People Who Love Bad News”
Wolf Parade “EP 2”
Pavement “Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain: LA’s Desert Origins”
Race “If You Can”
Ted Leo “Shake the Sheets”
Nirvana “With the Lights Out”
Low Skies “I Have Been to Beautiful Places”
Elliott Smith “From a Basement on a Hill”
Wilco “A Ghost is Born”
Iron & Wine “Our Endless Numbered Days”
Xiu Xiu “Fabulous Muscles”
Matt:
ariel pink’s haunted graffiti “doldrums”
ataxia “automatic writing”
disco infero “d.i. go pop” reissue
dungen “ta det lungt”
enslaved “vikingligr/ hordane’s land” reissue
john fahey “great santa barbara oil slick”
gris gris “s/t”
hot snakes “audit in progress”
liars “they were wrong so we drowned”
madvillain “madvillainy”
mastodon “leviathan”
joanna newsom “milk eyed mender”
brian wilson “smile”
best show of 2004
the ex & the empty bottle 09/04
Dan:
DEERHOOF – Milkman
WILCO – A Ghost Is Born
LES SAVY FAV – Inches
DETACHMENT KIT – Of This Blood
CALIFONE – Heron King Blues
ETERNALS – Rawar Style
CLYDE FEDERAL – Sensitive Skin/Please Be Real
HOT SNAKES – Audit In Progress
NEW BLACK – New Black
MADVILLAIN Madvilainy
Jason:
heres top 10 cds I listened to more than twice in 2004
tortoise “its all around you” (thrill jockey)
bobby Conn “the Homeland” (thrill jockey)
Moog “Motion Picture Soundtrack” (hollywood Records)
Brown Bunny “Motion Picture Sountrack” (Japanese Import)
Battles EP 1, 2, 3, (various labels, dim mak, monitor…)
Nervous Cop “s/t” (5rc Records)
Turing Machine “Zwei” (French Kiss)
Textual “Highsight Sunglasses” (Stiff Slack)
Claudia Quintet “I, Claudia” (cuneiform)
McNeal & Niles “Re-issue” (chocolate Ind.)
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Magas:
This One Goes Up to 11
WOLF EYES: Dead Hills (Sub Pop)
BLURT: Best of Blurt Vol. 1 (Salamander)
SOUNDHACK: Soundkit EP (Soundhack)
LES GEORGES LENINGRAD: Sur Les Traces de Black Eskimo (Alien8)
CRIME: San Francisco’s Still Doomed (Swami)
RA-X: The Overthrow EP (Angelmaker)
TAMION 12-INCH: Let’s Suffer (Ersatz Audio)
GD LUXXE: From Zero and Infinity (Ersatz Audio)
SIGHTINGS: Arrive In Gold (Load)
ERRORSMITH: Near Disco Dawn (Errorsmith)
THEO PARRISH: Ugly Edits 6-8 EPs (Sound Signature)
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steve r.
NEW STUFF
1.devendra banhart-rejoicing in hands
2.joanna newsome- milk-eyed mender
3.John Wilkes Booze- Five pillars of Soul
4.liars- they were wrong so we drowned
5.Noxagt- Iron Point
6.Josephine Foster & the Supposed- all the leaves are gone
7.Animal Collective- sung tongs
8.comets on fire- blue cathedral
9.espers-s/t
- wolf eyes- burned mind
OLD STUFF
- Arthur Russell- World of Arthur Russell
2.henry flynt and the insurrections- I don’t wanna - Albert Ayler- holy ghost
4.kenneth patchen- reads with jazz in canada
5.pavement crooked rain crooked rain - tyrannosaurus rex- reissues
7.john fahey- great san bernadino oil slick - arthur russell- world of echo
9.six organs of admittance- for octavio paz
10.ramon sender- worldfood
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Connelly:
IN NO ORDER….
1:JOHN CALE AT THE DOUBLE DOOR
2:COUNTRY ON THE CLICK-THE FALL
3:ROBERT WYATT-FREE WILL AND TESTAMENT
4:SCOTT WALKER-VIDEO ANTHOLOGY
5:SYDNEY & JACK BRISTOW
6:”MY MAMA NEVER TAUGHT ME HOW TO COOK”-ANNETTE PEACOCK
7:V/A-“GLITTERBEST-20 PRE PUNK N’ TERRACE STOMPERS”
8:ROGER MCGUINN “CARDIFF ROSE”
9:ART BEARS “HOPES & FEARS”
10:DAVID BOWIE LIVE IN MILWAUKEE
Mark Y:
Adem-Homesongs
Ty-Upwards (domestic)
Branches Branches
Animal Collective-sung tongs
S-Puking and Crying
Arcade Fire funeral
Fiery furnaces – blueberry boat
Killers -hot fuss
Sonic Youth- sonic nurse
Iron and Wine – our endless numbered days
Dungen – ta det lugnt
Blonde Redhead – misery is a butterfly
Pinback – summer in abaddon
Low Skies – I Have Been to Beautiful Places.
Kanye West – the College Dropout
Vetiver Vetiver
Phoenix Alphabetical
Domenico + 2 – sincerely hot
Devendra Banhart – rejoicing in the hands
Electrelane – the power out
Joanna Newsom -milk-eyed mender
K-O S – joyful rebellion
Walkmen – bows and arrows
Sondre Lerche – two way monologue
Juana Molina – Tres Cosas
90daymen panda park
outhud- streetdad
Sleeper from late 2k3: department of eagles – whitey on the moon uk
My top 10 Clearchannel favorites (also in no particular order):
Fabulous – “breathe”
Jadakiss – “why” (non-remix version)
Kanye West feat. Syleena Johnson (co-written by Lauryn Hill) – “all falls down”
Ja Rule feat. R. Kelly & Ashanti “wonderful”
Coheed and Cambria “A Favor House Atlantic”
Interpol “Narc”
Christina Milian “Dip it Low”
Usher and Alicia Keys “My Boo”
N.O.R.E. feat. Daddy Yankee, Nina Sky, Gem Star & Big Mato “oye mi canto”
Jo-Jo “Baby It’s You”
Evan:
top eight albums i’m taking with me
to Iraq when drafted, that are of 2004
8 Dungen: Ta Det Lught
7 Tracy and the Plastics: Culture for Pigeon
6 Antennas Erupt! : MAgical Energy
5 The Lesser Birds of Paradise : String of Bees
4 Midlake: Bamnan + Slivercork
3 Animal Collective: Sung Tongs
2 The Robot Ate Me: On Vacation
1 Xiu Xiu: Fabulous Muscles
*and in that microsecond before my body dissolves into warm nuclear mist, i will wish i had taken “How To dismantle An Atomic Bomb” for reference. Then again, i rather die w/ pride.
Billy
top 2004
SUNN O))) – WHITE 2
WRANGLER BRUTES
NIRVANA BOX
GROWING – SOUL OF THE RAINBOW
MASTODON – LEVIATHAN
BOOKS LIE – compilation
SILVER MT ZION – this is our punk rock
HELLA – 2004? i dunno.
and the NIRVANA box again. why not ?
PENTAGRAM – human hurricane
Taylor:
Top 10 Shows i Saw This Year…….
(in no particular order)
Animal Collective w/ Black Dice- @ empty bottle
Hit Me Back w/ Reaccion- @ the Needle House
Wrangler Brutes- @ the Albion House
Year Future- @ Fireside
TV on the Radio- @ Metro
Artimus Pyle w/ the Tyrades- @ El Colibri
Fucked Up, Tras de Nada, Punch in the Face- @ El Colibri
Skinny Puppy- @ the Vic
Arcade Fire- @ the bottle
Non Fiktion Noise w/ No Slogan- house on 18th & Morgan
Top 10 Records That Weren’t on That List…..
(also in no particular order)
Electrelane “Power Out”
Xiu Xiu “Fabulous Muscles”
Brian Jonestown Massacre “Tepid Peppermint Wonderland”
Dungen “Ta Det Lugnt”
Liars “They Were Wrong So We Drowned”
Modest Mouse “Good News for People Who Love Bad News”
90 Day Men “Panda Park”
Devendra Banhart “Nino Rojo”
Grimble Grumble “Leaves Leader”
Elliot Smith “From a Basement on the Hill”
Chris R:
best of 2004, in no order:
animal collective- sung tongs, but even better live @ empty bottle
tower recordings- the galaxies’ incredibly sensual transmission field of the…
ariel pink- the doldrums & house arrest
coughs- fright makes right
michael yonkers- it’s only yonkers
aufgehoben- anno fauve
bobby beausoleil- lucifer rising (soundtrack)
gris gris- s/t
liars- they were wrong so we drowned
hall of fame- paradise now
homosexuals- astral glamour
bunnybrains- box the bunny
henry flynt & the insurections- i don’t wanna
deerhoof- milkman
urinals- negative capability
wolf eyes & smegma- beast
growing- soul of the rainbow & harmony of light
black dice – ‘creature comforts’
Lux:
Gris Gris s/t
Comets on Fire ‘Blue Cathedral’
Rogue Wave ‘Out of the Shadow’
tower Recordings ‘Galaxies Incredible…’
Hall of Fame ‘Paradise Now’
Calexico ‘Heron King Blues’
Vibracathedral Orchestra (ECLIPSE)
Josephine Foster & the Supposed ‘All the Leaves are gone’
Oneida ‘Secret Wars’
Samara Lubelski ‘Fleeting Skies’
Ghost ‘Hypnotic Underworld’
Growing ‘Soul of the Rainbow’
No Doctors ‘Erp Saints (ep)’
Reissues:
Fleetwood Mac ‘Tusk’ & ‘Rumours’
Bobby Beausoleil ‘Lucifer Rising (soundtrack)’