Sound Guardian Redux: Hiatus Over

Wow. You go a whole month without writing anything and you start going a little crazy.

Or is that just me?

Doesn’t matter. Chaos has erupted in the world and you know what? Music soldiers forward. So what if we’re going to all die in a blazing fireball of green radioactive particles, the next three months promise to provide you with eight new albums all of which could be considered good soundtracks to the coming Armageddon. I’m am joking you know. But seriously. I’ve been so swamped I haven’t been able to sit down long enough to catch my breath let alone write. But I am not going to let this blog sink into (even more) obscurity yet. I mean, after all, music curation is even more important now than ever and as sugary sweet Pop creatures with about as much substance as candy canes quickly devour the world, Sound Guardian Redux will remain a bastion for music with soul, if not necessarily Soul music.

A few things need to be dealt with first.

1. So for a while I was going back through my favorite albums from 2010, because I didn’t get a chance to write about them last year. Now though, I’m getting a little bored with the project, mainly because I feel I could address these albums and artists in a different, or even more effective fashion. So I’m discontinuing that series of articles. I’ll probably find a way to bring attention to the remaining albums and artists in a different way and I’ll post the last one of the series I wrote before I got bored with it, but that will be it. In the mean time, here’s the complete list of favorite albums from 2010.

20. Heligoland by Massive Attack

19. A Small Turn Of Human Kindness by Harvey Milk

18. Fences by Fences

17. The One Man Band Broke Up by Ceschi Ramos

16. How To Destroy Angels by How To Destroy Angels

15. Toward A Damaged Horizon by Sleepy Eyes Of Death

14. Brothers by The Black Keys

13. Sisterworld by Liars

12. Fallen House, Sunken City by B. Dolan

11. Tapestry Of Webs by Past Lives

10. They Can’t Hurt You If You Don’t Believe In Them by Post Harbor

9. Diamond Eyes by Deftones

8. Transit Transit by Autolux

7. Option Paralysis by The Dillinger Escape Plan

6. Heavy Breathing by Black Breath

5. This Is Happening by LCD Soundsystem

4. The Lonely Forest EP by The Lonely Forest

3. Grinderman 2 by Grinderman

2. Vessel by Dark Time Sunshine

1. My Father Will Guide Me Up A Rope To The Sky by Swans

2. My posting hasn’t been happening because I haven’t been writing at all. Part of my original intention for the blog was to write shorter pieces more frequently. That hasn’t been happening. For a while it was working fine, but I’m thinking I’m going to try shortening the pieces a bit more if I can, in order to start posting again with a little more frequency. We’ll see how it goes.

3. I’m not sure what format my writing is going to take, but I’m getting annoyed with trying to bracket things certain ways because it sometimes makes it difficult to decide which kind of writing to apply to which piece of music. Or it is for me anyways (option paralysis…) Like I said, things are probably going to be different from now on and we’ll see how it goes.

4. If you’ve made it this far then, you get to read about more things I’m looking forward to in the coming year. Enjoy!

-TV on the Radio-

Confining TV on the Radio to one genre is an impossible task. Are they Neo-Soul? Indie Funk? Electronic Rock? Neo-Indie-Soulful-Funktronica- Rock? Who knows, they do it all so well it doesn’t even matter what kind of music they’re performing, if they’re doing it, it’s going to be solid. After taking a year off to work on various solo projects (such as Kype Malone’s fantastic Rain Machine and Dave Sitek’s sadly forgettable Maximum Balloon,) TV on the Radio have reconvened to record and release their new album, Nine Types Of Light, which will hit the streets on April 12^th this year and quite frankly, I couldn’t ask for a better birthday gift. SHAZAM!

Considering TVOTR’s (OFFICIAL ACRONYM!) track record of albums that seemingly cater to everyone in the Indie circuit’s sonic needs, while maintaining their sterling sense of integrity and artistic vision, in one go, this new album has a lot to live up to. But considering the decompressing chill atmosphere of the album’s first single, “Will Do,” we probably don’t have much to fear about being let down.

-Bill Callahan-

There’s something intrinsically mysterious about Bill Callahan. He gives off a similar outsider feeling that you get from fellow Drag City Folkster Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy and their mutual reclusive forefather Jandek. Callahan’s almost detached baritone doesn’t constantly fill up space like some of his contemporaries, but rather seems to mirror the minimalist nature of his music. He is a man of few words, and yet, Callahan is an impeccable storyteller. Couple that with his ability to channel the wonder of being lost in the wilderness into a simple Folk song, and you’ve got the recipe that has driven his last few records.

On April 5^th, Callahan will unleash Apocalypse onto the unsuspecting world, his third album under his own name since dropping the Smog moniker. New music from Callahan usually means good times, and even though Apocalypse only boasts seven new songs, leading single “Baby’s Breath” is an indicator of a solid album.

-Krallice-

On April 26^th the sky will black out. The planets will fall out of orbit and crash into each other. Cities will tremble and 100,000,000 ghosts will rise up from the ground and torment the living. There will be pandemonium and chaos and those in the know will pay homage by heading to their local record store and picking up their copy of Krallice’s third album Diotima. Because if the world is going to spiral into temporal limbo and red lightning is going to crack down from the sky, then we’re going to need to Blackest of Black Metal to listen to while we fend for ourselves in the wreckage of the 3^rd dimension.

Krallice is tied for my favorite U.S.B.M. (That’s United States Black Metal) band, due in large part to it being one of the projects of hyper tech guitarist Mick Barr. They’ve got a sense of progressiveness to their music that most Black Metal bands simply fail to achieve or out right reject and this is what makes them interesting to listen to. Krallice is not for the feint of heart though and if you’re not already a Metal fan or one of those creepy people who live in their basement and only listen to Black Metal, you should probably skip this next track. If you’re feeling adventuresome though, check “The Clearing.” It’s 12:05 long.

-Explosions In The Sky-

Austin, Texas’s Instrumental Rock quartet Explosions In The Sky have finally returned to gift us a new album, Take Care, Take Care, Take Care which hits the street on April 26^th. But from the sounds of their newest song “Trembling Hands,” things might be a little different this go around. The song has a much more straightforward structure than their usual long-form work, and it even feels kind of like there could be a singing part to it that went missing at some point.

The song actually does use vocals; the first time the band has used them since Those Who Tell The Truth Shall Die, Those Who Tell The Truth Shall Live Forever. But unlike the spoken word piece used on that album, the vocals here are simple rhythmic loop that serves to add the propellant feel of them song. “Trembling Hands” is only 3:30 long, making it one of the shorter pieces in the Explosions cannon, but the song might be a serious exception to the rest of the album, being the lead single. Regardless, if you’re into uplifting Instrumental Rock, this album will probably be for you.

-Boris-

AWWWWWW YEAH. Japanese Doom Metal Experimentalists Boris have returned and on May 25^th they aren’t releasing one, but two albums to amplifier worship your socks off. The 16^th and 17^th album by the group respectively, Boris has never failed to deliver the goods when it comes to the loud and the heavy and I have no doubt that May 25^th will be the most Metal day of the year because of it. But the two albums are markedly different from each other. One is called Heavy Rocks, which is also the title of Boris’ 2002 album and, well, here’s the quote that explains why they’ve got the same title: “it’s fitting that the group’s new album sharing the same title and very similar artwork to that disc, this year’s Heavy Rocks seeks to redefine “heavy” music in a culmination of the band’s tireless efforts over the past two decades.”

While I don’t think the band has a need to “redefine heavy” at this point (they already did so with 2005’s album Pink,) if they think they can find new ways to blow my eardrums, I say go for it. But wait! What about the other album? Attention Please is going to be something worth paying attention to indeed as it is the first Boris album to feature incongruously tiny guitarist Wata on lead vocals for the entire album. Boris has shifted sounds a lot over the years but I’ve never heard them play anything like “Hope” the promo track from Attention Please. Because it sounds almost like a Pop Rock song. Now, Boris has proven that they can pretty much do anything that they set their minds to, but the contrast between “Hope” and “Riot Sugar” the thunderous promo track from Heavy Rocks, is startling.

I have no doubt that both records will be good, but I have no idea what form Attention Please will take. And that is kind of exciting.

-Battles-

For those of you who though Battles would sound less like evil mechanical elves coming to dismantle your brain after Tyondai Braxton (son of Avant-Garde 60’s Polar Bear, Anthony Braxton) left the band to focus on his solo music, “Ice Cream” the first promo off Gloss Drop, their sophomore album and first without Braxton, should prove you wrong. The Electronic Math Rock dementia induced by 2007’s Mirrored sounds like it’s going to be followed up splendidly when Gloss Drop hits the street on June 7^th. And in order to replace the bizarre vocal antics of Braxton, the band has enlisted the help of a few guest vocalists on this new album, including Electronic Godfather Gary Numan (that track is obligated to be awesome) and Boredoms mastermind Yamataka Eye (that track is obligated to be insane.) But until June 7^th we’ve only got “Ice Cream” which features Matias Aguayo on vocals, chopped and popped in supremely Battles fashion. Get ready.

-Shabazz Palaces-

Seattle’s most reclusive and enigmatic Hip-Hop act Shabazz Palaces signed to Sup Pop last year and on May 31^st the local label will release their debut full-length album, Black Up. While there are defiantly warmer and more inviting Hip-Hop acts around the emerald city, few have ever risen to a place of such high regard as Shabazz have in their relatively short existence. And seemingly without much effort too. They’ve only played a handful of shows around town and have yet to really tour, but despite that, they landed a record deal with Sub Pop, no mean feat.

But Ishmael Butler (the genius behind the veil) has been in this game a long time, and his previous group Digable Planets even won a Grammy back in a time when that kind of meant something. But unlike the jazzified cool of Digable Planets, Shabazz Palaces traffic in a heavy brand of introspective, afro-centric Shoegazy Hip-Hop that serves as a platform for Butler’s chill-as-you-please abstractions. Black Up’s leading single, the impressively titled “An Echo From The Hosts That Profess Infinitum” shows the continued development of the Shabazz sound and that Butler doesn’t give a shit for conventions, he’s happy doing whatever he pleases. When Black Up hits the record stores, get thee there and cop it. And remember. The beat will always save us.

Right. That’s the forecast. Interesting weather ahead. Until next time. Cheers.

Tracklist:

01: "Will Do" by TV on the Radio

02: "Baby's Breath" by Bill Callahan

03: "The Clearing" by Krallice

04: "Trembling Hands" by Explosions In The Sky

05: "Riot Sugar" by Boris

06: "Hope" by Boris

07: "Ice Cream" by Battles

08: "An Echo From The Hosts That Profess Infinitum" by Shabazz Palaces

What I'm Looking Forward To: In 2011 Pt. 2.

Picking up right where we left off…

-Onry Ozzborn-

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 15^th, 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 15^th 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!

Inaugural Post: What I'm Looking Forward To: In 2011 Pt. 1.

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 25^th, 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.

To be Continued…