OK. So if it’s not clear yet, it will become so soon: I’m a huge fan of the record label Fake Four Inc. Two of their albums made it on to my best of 2010 list and they provide a home to a number of my favorite artists. Even the musicians on Fake Four who I’m not exactly familiar with I assume to be good because of their presence on the label. The consistency of releases is solid enough as to generate that kind of trust. And that makes me hopeful for the future of the Indie Label as an institution to a certain extent. I’m planning on beginning a series of posts that feature my favorite records from my favorite labels, but that’s still in the planning stages. Right now, I want to draw your attention to this poster:
Looks juicy don’t it? If I didn’t need to be in town for something important the night of and after, I would hop a plane down to this shindig in a heartbeat. In terms of this shit being bananas, these bananas are in pajamas and they’re bouncing down the motherfucking stairs. None of my friends live in LA, so nobody I know is going to this show, but that doesn’t mean I’m not gonna celebrate in my own way.
Friends. For your listening pleasure I have put together a playlist for you to get your groove on to that features some of the best cuts from the Fake Four Fest artists. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do and I hope that, if the beat moves you, you stand up… if you wanna get down.
Tracklist:
01: 400 on the BPM by K-The-I???
02: Keep It Cool by M!c King
03: Intimidated By Silence by Cars & Trains
04: Half Mast by Ceschi Ramos
05: Run by Dark Time Sunshine
06: The Case Of William Smith by Astronautalis
07: Slow Years by Blue Sky Black Death
08: Longshots by Sole And The Skyrider Band
09: Elevated by Myka 9
10: Sunset Sandwich by Awol One & Factor
11: The Fall Of Captain E.O. by Ceschi & Factor
12: Stand Up (feat. Aesop Rock) by Awol One, Myka 9 And Factor
Massive Attack are the O.G. of Trip-Hop. Practically having invented the genre in the 90’s, the band’s melding of Hip-Hop influenced delivery with electronica backed beats has become something of an institution of reliable synthetic music. While the group’s line-up has had slight shifts over their two decades+ of existence (Tricky was a member once upon a time,) the core duo of Robert Del Naja and Grant Marshall has remained intact and they continue to produce heady albums of chilled out soundscapes that put their imitators to shame. Heligoland is their first album in 7 years and the first to feature the core duo working together again since 1998’s dark opus of Mezzanine. While their previous album, 100th Window was good, it’s failing was that it shed what warmth there was in Mezzanine for an icy, almost crystalline sound that communicated a void of human contact, probably due to the fact that Del Naja produced the album without the help of Marshall.
Heligoland is far from the cold loneliness of 100th Window and is, in a way, the opposite side of the coin from Mezzanine: where that album was a shadowy series of corridors, Heligoland might as well be broad daylight, filled with the light of the sun and warm breezes rather than the artificial heat of Mezzanine. Heligoland is, in fact, Massive Attack’s most organic sounding album since Blue Lines, their debut. I could fault this album for not being able to top Mezzanine, but really, I wasn’t expecting it to do so. Does it stand up on it’s own though? Certainly. Over the course of 10 songs, Massive Attack creates an engagingly trippy album that is abound with catchy sytnhs and gorgeous vocals.
Heligoland is Massive Attack’s most guest heavy album to date, featuring vocal contributions from the likes of Tunde Adebimpe (of TV on the Radio fame,) Martina Topley-Bird, and even Gorillaz mastermind Damon Albarn on the mournful “Saturday Come Slow.” However, despite the plethora of famous folks guesting on this album, the two best songs come from the core Massive Attack camp. The first of these two is the drivingly bass powered “Girl I Love You” which features the incomparable Reggae singer Horace Andy, Massive attack’s oldest and most reliable vocalist. While not an official member of the band, Andy has been singing with Massive Attack on every album since the beginning and he’s still their most effective voice. The song features a rumbling bass line backed by deep, resonant big band horn blasts that give the song a decidedly epic feel.
However, It is the final song on the album that takes home the prize for best overall track. “Atlas Air” features the cool, narcotized vocals of Robert Del Naja, Massive Attack co-founder and primary vocalist/programmer, over a progressively growing and morphing beat, which while beginning simply enough with just alternating stomping percussion, slowly becomes, through it’s seven+ minute length, a transcendental blitz of grooving, rhythmic synth lines that will have you tapping your foot and nodding your whole body in no time. To wrap up, if you’re a fan of Trip-Hop you need this record. If you like electronic music, you need this record. If you like Massive Attack, don’t expect a better piece than Mezzanine, but still cop this record. That’s all.
Top Tracks: “Girl I Love You” & “Atlas Air.”
19: Harvey Milk
Album: A Small Turn Of Human Kindness
Genre: Sludge Metal
Label: Hydra Head
Brief preface: This is likely the most challenging album I’ll be covering on the Top 20 list. It is not easy or light listening and if you are afraid of the dark void that eats away at your soul every day, pushing you ever closer to the edge of this mortal coil, then you should probably stop reading now. However. If you like Sludge Metal, the dark void that eats away at your soul every day and my writing, then by all means, keep reading.
Athens, Georgia’s Harvey Milk are no stranger to tackling subjects of misery and mortality in their music. The Sludge Metal trio’s previous work, Life… The Best Game In Town dealt closely with the fear of death and it’s inevitability, all the while creating slamming noise-ridden Sludge music, which they’ve become famous for. But the odd truth of Life… is that Creston Spires, Harvey Milk’s unassuming looking front man, considers it to be their worst work to date. Now, personally, I find that Life… is a truly excellent album and also the album that got me into the band. But that aside, Life… is Harvey Milk’s pop album. The songs are contained to themselves, they have noticeable hooks, even rough melodies at times and all of them feature blistering guitar solos that cause the listener to keep in mind Harvey Milk’s classic rock roots. A Small Turn Of Human Kindness on the other hand, is about as far from pop in structure and sound as the band’s sound is from the sound of Athens, Georgia’s most well known musical export: R.E.M.
A Small Turn Of Human Kindness clocks in at roughly 37 minutes in length, features seven tracks all of which are less individual songs and more individual movements in the overall composition of the piece. The album flows together so seamlessly that it is hard to tell where tracks end and begin, and while none of the tracks can really stand on their own, when experienced as a whole, the albums arch and execution becomes more powerful than anything the band has constructed before. Whereas Life… was a sturdy collection of Harvey Milk’s various styles and ranges, A Small Turn focuses into one truncated path, that of the slow tempoed, grinding engine that is their forte. The music has taken on an intensely minimalistic approach, with the dirge-like chords and molasses paced drumming dragging through the album like a body through the muck. That, coupled with Creston Spires’ anguished vocals, makes for a truly harrowing listening. All to drive the concept of the album home.
The band has always had a sense of humor about themselves before now, and rightly so: Metal is an inherently ridiculous genre sometimes. But on A Small Turn, all humor and self-deprecation is abandoned in favor of lyrics and atmosphere so bleak and colorless that this might as well be a Black Metal album. It’s not melodramatic or campy kind of seriousness; it’s grim and stone-faced, like there’s been a death in the family. Appropriate too, as the albums story is that of the events leading up to a suicide. The six tracks prior to the finale all build upon each other, revealing new turns and shifts in the grim story until we reach the brutal conclusion of “I Did Not Call Out” in which, amid devastating crashing riffs, Spires’ wounded water buffalo cries describes the suicide itself and how he has done nothing to prevent it.
Sonically speaking, this is a horror movie of the first rate. Not a loony monster movie or something from the Saw series, but a tale of the darkest parts of the human condition, which leaves you feeling cold and alone. Like Nine Inch Nails’ suicide opera, The Downward Spiral before it, this album is grimy, scary and perfectly constructed. It is free of irony and utterly disturbing to listen to. It’s also one of the finest things Harvey Milk has ever set to record and one of the best Metal albums from last year. I’d be extremely gentle with this album. It is not for the feint of heart. But if you’re a fan of challenging Sludge music, then you’ll like this as I do.
Top Tracks: Not Applicable. The nature of the album negates my ability to decide on individual tracks to single out. For your listening pleasure, I have included two of my favorite tracks from Harvey Milk’s previous album, Life… The Best Game In Town.
So 2010 totally just happened… yes, of course we’re still talking about this. I didn’t do much writing last year and didn’t cover anything music related that happened last year in my writing that I did do. So while I’m tackling other topics, I’m also going to take you back through my 20 favorite records (with additional two special prizes) of 2010 in reverse order. A lot of fantastic music was released last year and it’s given 2011 a high standard to rise to. By the by, If you think 20 records is a long list, keep in mind I was paring it down from about 50 or 60. OK. So on to criteria be in the Top 20:
The record had to be originally released in 2010. So no re-releases.
I have to have heard the record in full. If I didn’t hear it, I can’t count it now can I?
I have to have heard the record in 2010. (There is a special exception.)
Not that hard as you see. Mostly, I just had to like the record enough to listen to it multiple times and not get sick of it. This series of articles will feature two records every post counting down from 20. I hope that you find something you like in all of this. You never know, you might find something cool you missed out on. So here goes. But first, I’d like to award the special prizes.
The Best Of 2010 Pt. 0: Special Prizes.
22: BlackTusk
Album: Taste The Sin
Genre: Swamp Metal
Label: Relapse
Special Prize Awarded: Because I didn’t hear it until 2011.
Savannah, Georgia is home to a powerful trifecta of Metal bands. Baroness is likely their most well known export with Kylesa second behind them. But my favorite of the moment is a decidedly vicious trio called BlackTusk who, while sharing similar roots with their hometown brethren, traffic in a much doomier, swampy kind of Metal than either of the aforementioned bands. Taste The Sin, BlackTusk’s third LP, finds the group pummeling their way through ten aggressive thunderers that will leave you shaking in your boots or pumping your fist in the air. Whichever comes first.
BlackTusk’s particular aesthetic takes many cues from their contemporaries (High On Fire being one example,) but they also trace their style back to the Hardcore Punk of Black Flag and the more Classic Metal of bands like Motorhead. The blend of methods results in an album rife with deep, grooving riffs, beastly drumming and war crying vocals. The best example of this combination comes with the song “Way Of Horse And Bow” an anthem of horsemanship during a time of war with an utterly ferocious riff backing it up. When BlackTusk cries “Mount! Your! Steed!” you better already be in the damn saddle. The song arches nicely through speed and aggression, ending with slow, punishing Metal glory.
The other best track is the scathing betrayal tirade of “Twist The Knife” a muckier piece than “Way Of Horse And Bow” the song thrashes around while the three members of BlackTusk bellow scornful roars against the one who has betrayed them, declaring this enemy to have words of shit as they twist the knife again and again, further undercutting their reliability.
In closing, if you like Swampy, Sludgy, Hardcore influenced Metal music, then you will certainly enjoy BlackTusk’s Taste The Sin. I felt they deserved an honorary prize, because if I had heard this record last year, it certainly would have made the Top 20.
Top Tracks: “Way Of Horse And Bow” & “Twist The Knife.”
21: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
Album: VS. Redux
Genre: Northwest Hip-Hop
Label: Self-Released
Special Prize Awarded: Because it’s a Remix EP.
Last year… whoops… two years ago now, local emcee & producer duo Macklemore & Ryan Lewis dropped their debut collaboration; the impeccable VS. EP. The EP combined Macklemore’s downright wholesome, self-portrait style of rapping with Ryan Lewis’s Indie Rock sample heavy production to create one of the best local releases of 2009 and just one of the best collections of songs I’d heard all year. And one of the best parts was they released it for free. Fast forward to 2010. Macklemore and Ryan Lewis re-release the VS EP as the VS Redux, with additional remixed tracks by Jake One, Budo, P Smoov, Sabzi and Ryan Lewis himself.
The VS Redux has done quite well by them, even charting to the Top 10 on iTunes soon after it’s release. Now, the only thing that keeps this record from the Top 20 is that it is both a re-release and a remix album. But it’s still fantastic. The original seven songs from the VS. EP are all quite strong by themselves and the additional content shapes this up to one of the best Hip-Hop records in local memory.
The strongest of the Remixes is probably Ryan Lewis’s tormentingly gorgeous remix of “Otherside” Macklemore’s painful tale of his drug addiction (he’s now over two years sober.) This version of the song does away with the Red Hot Chili Peppers bass sample and builds a more live band arrangement with an additional chorus provided by local singer-songwriter Fences, which serves to add to the haunting loneliness of the song. In severe contrast, P Smoov of Mad Rad and Fresh Espresso comes in to add some much needed levity with his decidedly lighthearted remix of “Irish Celebration” which takes Mack’s send up of his Irish heritage and turns it from a more refined barroom cheer along to a mad dance spectacle. After “Otherside,” though, the break is much needed.
Jake One contributes a solid remix of “Crew Cuts,” Budo turns “The End” into an even more beautiful song, but my favorite song from the EP is without a doubt Sabzi of The Blue Scholars reinvented version of Macklemore’s “The Town” possibly the most heartfelt song I’ve ever heard about Seattle and the history of it’s Hip-Hop scene. Not many pieces of music have ever moved me to tears, but “The Town” comes damn close. If you are a fan of Hip-Hop or want to hear one of the best artists local to Seattle, then get thee to whatever music outlet you use and cop the VS. Redux. You will not be disappointed.
Top Tracks: "Otherside (Feat. Fences) [Ryan Lewis Remix]" & "The Town (Sabzi Remix)"
Onry Ozzborn has been prolific these past few years. From 2008 to last year he’s released at least an album a year, but usually more. From The Gigantics epic Die Already to the trippy psychedelia of Dark Time Sunshine’s debut album Vessel, the man has kept up a consistent quality of work and productivity that puts other acts in local Hip-Hop to shame. That being said, he also seems to stay out of the spotlight that usual shines on the big names in Seattle Hip-Hop while remaining their equal, if not their better.
At the end of 2010 Onry dropped his sixth solo album, NO HOAX, for free download via Fake Four Inc. The album is a solid release on it’s own but it’s also designed to get people prepared for Hold On For Dear Life, purported to be Onry’s last solo album. What this means I don’t know for sure. Is he retiring entirely? Probably not considering he seems to be at the top of his game right now. Hopefully it simply means more collaborations in the future. But nonetheless, it makes me nervous/excited to hear this record. For your listening pleasure: “The Needle” off of NO HOAX. The song is Onry’s send up to Seattle and it’s music scene. Good stuff.
-Mogwai-
Of the pretentiously titled Post-Rock genre, Mogwai is one of the bands I am least familiar with. The Scottish band is known for down tempo, guitar-fueled instrumental rock that works like watching an ocean storm with lots of crests and waves ebbing and flowing throughout their music. In terms of the Mogwai I’ve heard, it’s pretty transcendental stuff. That being said, they’ve got a new album coming out on Sub Pop on February 15th, the brilliantly christened Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will. The two songs I’ve heard from it so far are both excellent, the decidedly rockist “San Pedro” being good, but the slower and space-fuzzed “Rano Pano” is certainly my favorite of the two. If the rest of the album is as consistent as these two tracks, then it should be worth your time and another feather in Sub Pop’s cap. If you want to hear “Rano Pano” just scroll down.
-Twilight Singers-
For a very long time, I wasn’t really into Greg Dulli’s stuff. I can take or leave The Afghan Whigs, but goddamn if the Twilight Singers have not become one of my favorite bands as of late. And just in time to find out that Dynamite Steps, their newest album, will be released by Sub Pop on February 15th of this year (yes, the same day as Mogwai. I’m so frickin’ excited.) Greg Dulli’s dark tales of misplaced love, desperate confessions and life after the sun sets on a shady city are backed by smoky, piano and electronic laced Rock that proves that you don’t have to be confined to 12 bars to sing the blues. If this new record is half as good as Powder Burns then it’s going to be a doozy. Damn. Sub Pop’s doing something right this year. For your listening pleasure: I’ve got a cut off Dynamite Steps called “On The Corner.” Hope you like it.
-Saul Williams-
I feel we should close with something special. And I can’t think of anything more special than a new Saul Williams album. Saul being one of the two guys I credit with getting me into Hip-Hop, whenever he drops something new it’s a sign of good things to come. It’s going to be difficult to top the sheer levels of awesomeness he achieved with The Inevitable Rise and Liberation of NiggyTardust! But the first single to be released from the new album, “Explain My Heart,” is a nice indication of a solid album. Admittedly, it showcases Saul singing more than rapping, but that’s ok as his singing voice has always been good and seems to be getting better overtime. The vocals on this track even sound a bit like TV on the Radio harmonies.
The album doesn’t have a set release date yet, so we’re going to have to wait in the cold for a little. But there is not reason not to pick it up when it comes out. Even if you think you don’t like Hip-Hop, Saul will change your mind, just like he changed mine. Added bonus: the album’s name is Volcanic Sunlight. I’m ready. For your listening pleasure: “Explain My Heart.”
And that, ladies and gentlemen, wraps up our two parter on what I’m looking forward to in 2011. Of course, there’s a lot more set to happen out there, more bands making more music that even I don’t know about, but hopefully I’ve given you something to look forward to as well. Until next time. Cheers!
So. 2010 totally happened… I know right? I was there too. In terms of the world we still appear to be here. In terms of music a lot fucking happened. But that’s not what we’re here to gander about at this moment in time. We are here to gander about 2011 and how there’s a lot of stuff that’s coming down the pipeline. Good shit too. For today’s post (incidentally our first non-administrative post,) I’m going to take you through a tour of some things I’m most excited about this coming year. Musically speaking, there’s a lot to look forward to. And hey! If you’re new to this blog you will want to check out the media player at the bottom of the post. Ya’ see, my friends, once you’ve finished reading about all this great sounding music, your ears may find themselves thirsty to actually hear it. Well, look no further than the media player! There I have assembled a selection of songs for your ears to drink in. Is your brain happy at the thought of it? Good. It should be. Get thee to reading!
-The Lonely Forest-
The Lonely Forest have fucking superpowers when it comes to writing music. It doesn’t seem to matter who you are, how old or young, where you come from or what you normally listen to. You (yes, You) are destined to like The Lonely Forest. I don’t know why. Is it the blend of powerful guitars and indie rock sensibility? Is it John Van Deusen’s beautifully honest and poetic lyrics? Is it the overwhelming sense of hope and wonder their songs generate? It’s probably all of these things. Their most recent release is their Self-Titled E.P., which is pointing in the direction of their next full-length album, Arrows, due out sometime in this next year. No release date as of yet, but the very anticipation of it’s existence is exciting.
For your listening pleasure, I have included “Turn Off This Song And Go Outside” form their Self-Titled E.P. The song is ironically named seeing as how I have never, not once been inspired to turn it off while listening to it. My guess is that you will feel the same.
-Fresh Espresso-
Seattle’s suavest Party Hip-Hop band Fresh Espresso (the core duo of which features P Smoov of Mad Rad and Rik Rude) are quite possibly set to replace the Blue Scholars as Seattle’s premier Hip-Hop act entirely. All they need to do is release a superior collection of songs to their now borderline debut album, Glamour. But if the new songs they’ve been playing the last two times I saw them are any indication, the new album (as of yet untitled and unset for release date) is going to be quite solid. Seeing as how Mad Rad’s sophomore album failed to surpass the quality of their debut, the title of Seattle’s Best Party Band is also up for grabs. Champagne Champagne could grab it I suppose, but it would not surprise me if Fresh Espresso snapped up both previously mentioned crown and scepter in one fell swoop.
For your listening pleasure: Fresh Espresso’s contribution to the 4 The Love Of Music Compilation, “Sunglasses On.” “I’m an awful boyfriend/I’m an awesome drug fiend.”
-Gang Of Four-
Post-Punk Revival is one thing, but unearthing is another all together. I joke of course. Gang Of Four, for those who don’t know, were one of the first wave of Post-Punk bands in the late 70’s and early 80’s, (a movement of music that would eventually be dubbed New Wave.) Known for their bitingly political lyrics and their angular Guitar/Bass/Drum sound, Gang Of Four one of the landmark bands of their era. Without them, many bands, from Bloc Party to Death From above 1979, would never have existed. What’s amazing is that Jon King and Andy Gill, the core duo behind Gang OF Four, are still together and making music with a changing guard of rhythm section.
This year, on January 25th, they are releasing their first album of new material in who knows how long. It’s called Content and I’m looking forward to it quite a bit. Will it be as groundbreaking as their classic Entertainment! album? Probably not. But will it be good? My guess is yes. For your listening pleasure: the rerecorded version of “Damaged Goods,” Gang Of Four’s classic song of mixed metaphors examining love, lust and consumerism.
-Monotonix-
Israeli Garage Rock Wunderkind Monotonix have returned for their latest collection of frizzy-haired, wide-eyed, blood-splattered, flammable cocktail of skuzz Rock cannonballs. The one small failing of Monotonix albums so far is that their recordings have not been able to equal their live shows sheer level of mayhem (see picture for details.) But this next album could be the release that changes all that. If you like some fuzzy distortion for breakfast, coupled with howling vocals and combustive vigor like a flaming stallion on PCP all lit up like a Christmas tree, then Monotonix is for you. For your listening pleasure: A new cut off Not Yet, the upcoming album by Monotonix.
-Queens Of The Stone Age-
So last year it was announced through Josh Homme’s Rekords Rekords that Queens Of The Stone Age would be re-releasing their long out-of-print and hard to find Self-Titled debut album. This was supposed to happen in November but then it got delayed to this January, where it was delayed… again. It’s currently indefinitely delayed, but my guess is that it will be out by the end of the year, at which point Robot Rock Desert Dancing will commence. "These Aren’t The Droids You’re Looking For"… Indeed.
I am a writer. I love music. I like to write about music. Seems simple enough doesn’t it? Then why is maintaining a blasted blog so blasted difficult? Is it school? Stress? Distraction? I have no idea, but I’m going to keep trying this shit until it sticks and sticks right. The mode of my long time writing style has been exhaustively analytical and lengthy reviews. I like to talk about what I’m talking about. But now I need to try something new. I have found to my irritation that it is difficult for me to assign time to write out said lengthy reviews. Thusly, I’m going to try focusing on making shorter, punchier articles that get to the point and don’t waste time doing it. This will be an interesting challenge seeing as how I usually like to cram as much info into what I’m writing as possible and will force me to highlight the intensively important elements of whatever I’m talking about. So instead of Progressive Rock, I’m turning to Hooky Pop Music (Think Pixies instead of Pink Floyd.) In my writing style that is, I’ll still write about whatever I feel like. I’m hoping that the shorter nature of the articles will allow for a more accessible time exploring the blog. That and it might be easier on me. (Knocks on wood.)
More over, I’m not just going to do album reviews, but try to continue the radio style pieces I did a few of during the last round and also incorporate a few new ideas into the blog as well. Now, as to posting frequency. For a little while, I tried to post everyday to keep people engaged and that wore me out. I don’t know how often I’ll be posting with school on, but I’ll try to make it worth your while to check in and see what I’ve cooked up at least once a week. But don’t hate me if I can’t keep to that. This is an experiment.
In closing, I feel it is important to mention why I’m doing this and why I’ve let you in particular know about it. I love music. It helps me stay sane and gives my life color (cause my clothing doesn’t.) I love sharing music I think people will like/should hear with people most of all in some ways and I’m going to keep trying to do that on and off the computer. If you’re tagged in this note then it’s because I like you, care about you and want to share something that I get a kick out of with you. I realize I come off as a music snob at times, but ultimately I just know what I like and what I don’t. My only request of you, should you choose to accept it, is that you take a minute of your day to try what I put in front of you. You never know, you might like it. And tell me if you do. If you don’t that’s fine, maybe you’ll like the next one. Who knows? I don’t. All I know is I’m driven to do this stuff and I show no signs of giving up. So here it goes… again… Wish me luck. Thank you all for your time. Cheers.
