Archive for January, 2009
Another year of heaviness. I gotta snap out of that. Maybe.
- Helms Alee – Night Terrors. A few years ago my favorite record was Autolux Future Perfect. This is like that. Burly, but hooky and pretty. Like Autolux it’s all there: tones, production, songs. Really nice.
- Young Widows – Old Wounds. Mathy noise rock. Cool production, great record.
- 2 Foot Yard – Borrowed Arms. Smart and musical, as expected.
- Akimbo – Jersey Shores. I love a good side project. Which this record isn’t, technically, but it feels like one given how it was made and how it came out. Total ass kickage.
- Torche – Meanderthal. Yeah, this record is on pretty much every other top 10 list this year. I prefer the In Return EP, but this one’s pretty great too. Heavy / hooky.
- Baroness – Red Album. Yeah, 2007. But I listened to it like crazy this year. Riffs, followed by additional riffs, interspersed by jams.
- KEN Mode – Mennonite. I just found out that this record exists. The band released it themselves with little fanfare. It’s not as consistent as Reprisal (which blew my mind) but it still rules.
- Made Out of Babies – The Ruiner. Spastic, heavy, weird, good.
- Elbow – The Seldom Seen Kid. I love these guys. They’re like a British Radiohead. No, wait. Anyway, they made another really nice record. And they produce themselves. Respect.
- Leatherback – H is for Hospital. My friend Sean made this record in February. I admit that my take on it is colored by knowing Sean, but so what? Like I said a few months ago, “it’s a mostly instrumental wide-eyed take on King Crimson and lo-fi pop, and I really love it”. It’s free, go get it.
- Cursed – III: Architects Of Troubled Sleep. Distorted distortion. Yes.
Honorable mentions:
- Black Elk – Always A Six, Never A Nine
- Clouds – We Are Above You
- Kaki King – Dreaming of Revenge
- Portishead – Third
- Black Ships – Omens
- Wetnurse – Invisible City
- Meshuggah – ObZen