1) M.I.A. - TELL ME WHY (/\/\ /\ Y /\/\ 2010)
2) PALE SKETCHER - CAN I GO NOW (GONE MIX) (JESU: PALE SKETCHES DEMIXED 2010)
3) DEATH GRIPS - TAKYON (DEATH YON) (EXMILITARY 2011)
4) CAVE IN - SING MY LOVES (WHITE SILENCE 2011)
5) RIVAL SCHOOLS - A PARTS FOR B ACTORS (PEDALS 2011)
6) THE WAR ON DRUGS - BLACK WATER FALLS (SLAVE AMBIENT 2011)
7) THE FIELD - LOOPING STATE OF MIND (LOOPING STATE OF MIND 2011)
8) BOB MOULD - THE DESCENT (SILVER AGE 2012)
9) MELVINS - THE WAR ON WISDOM (THE BULL & THE BEES EP 2012)
10) DEAFHEAVEN - DREAM HOUSE (SUNBATHER 2013)
11) PALMS - MISSION SUNSET (S/T 2013)
12) THOSE GULLS - THE OUT (FOREVERMORE 2014)
13) RUN THE JEWELS - CLOSE YOUR EYES (AND COUNT TO FUCK) (RUN THE JEWELS 2 2014)
14) KEN mode - BLESSED (SUCCESS 2015)
15) NO JOY - MOON IN MY MOUTH (MORE FAITHFUL 2015)
16) NOTHING - THE DEAD ARE DUMB (TIRED OF TOMORROW 2016)
17) DEFTONES - (L)MIRL (GORE 2016)
18) CRYSTAL FAIRY - NECKLACE OF DIVORCE (S/T 2017)
19) NINE INCH NAILS - GOD BREAK DOWN THE DOOR (BAD WITCH 2018)
20) DREAMSHELL - YOU CAN CRY (JOYDIVISION/YOU CAN CRY SINGLE 2018)
Thursday, January 2, 2020
MY FAVOURITE RELEASES OF 2019
This website has basically become the place where I can post my favourite releases of whatever the hell year has just gone by. That's okay. Who the hell has a website anymore? Pointless waste of time. Anyways, 2019 proved to be pretty productive. It saw the inauguration of the THIS IS A DISASTER podcast and the TRY-ALL & ERROR web series. Not exactly a hot year for musical releases from yours truly, other than the BEACH SLAUGHTER EP from COASTAL PIGS. There are, however, many things in the works. 2020 should almost definitely see new releases from GREATHUNTER, HAMN, WORLD WAR 4 and, last but certainly not least, another full-length release from TSTAT. In the meantime, please enjoy this list of whatever it was that came across my radar in 2019.
1) DREAMSHELL - UNCONNECTOR "Almost certainly my favourite album that came out this year and easily the one I listened to the most. This local-to-Ottawa band are the best thing our fair city has to offer right now. Shoegazey dreampop with a rocky/grungy edge. It's weird that they aren't huge yet. They should be headling Edgefest or Somersault or something!"
2) MARK RENNER - SALT & FIREWOOD / THE PROPHET BIRD EP "I discovered this person and their music last year via a compilation that featured music originally released into totally obscurity many years ago. These 2 releases both feature brand new music from Mr. Renner. A similar vibe to his 80s stuff but much more abstract and atmospheric, with most of it being instrumental. Very artsy and very unaffected by anything contemporary."
3) HELMS ALEE - NOCTILUCA "It's getting to the point that, if this band puts something out, it's a safe bet that I'll love it. Elements of doom, elements of post rock, multiple vocalists, incredibly catchy, incredibly anthemic, doesn't overstay its welcome. Need I go on?"
4) TORCHE - ADMISSION "Same goes for these guys! If they put it out, I will enjoy! Consistently good - I like that in a band! I don't understand how they manage to be so damn catchy all the time without repeating themselves. I mean, their albums do sound the same, but it's somehow always fresh. I can't think of any other band that sounds quite like TORCHE. That's pretty cool."
5) CROSS DOG - HOLLOW "I've been enjoying this Peterborough-based band for a number of years now. I've listened to their albums, I've seen them live, I've even had the pleasure of sharing the stage with them a couple of times. This album, however, ups the ante like CRAZY! Every element of the band has gotten 10 times more brutal on here. A serious barn-burner."
6) KING GIZZARD AND THE LIZARD WIZARD - INFEST THE RATS' NEST "This band basically transforms its sound from album to album. On this particular release (one of 2 full-lengths put out in 2019), they are flexing their hardcore and thrash metal muscles. I like the idea of a band who normally don't play heavy music turning around and giving it a go. On here, it totally works. Still has that psych-rock edge that they are well known for."
7) FULL OF HELL - WEEPING CHOIR "As per usual, the vast majority of metal ends up boring the arse off me. Overlong, one-note rehash. FULL OF HELL are a band that I know I can count on. Their riffs are brutal, their approach is a perfect blend of old and new school and they know a thing or two about being succinct. Was sorry to hear that they got basically every bit of musical equipment ripped off while they were on tour. Hopefully they can recover."
8) SUNN O))) - LIFE METAL "I find just about all this dynamic duo's releases have something to offer, no matter how far they stray from their original formula. This album, however, is basically said original formula shining bright like 1000 suns. Pigishly-long guitar drones screaming with feedback. That's the ANDERSON / O'MALLEY trademark right there."
9) CAVE IN - FINAL TRANSMISSION "I'll admit that this album is not incredible but it very well could have been, if not for the tragic and horrifying circumstances that took bassist CALEB SCOFIELD from this earth. This album consists of work-in-progress demos intended for their next full-length release. Things definitely sound a little half-baked (for good reason, obviously) but I think that it's great that they salvaged what they could in order to get CALEB's final contributions to the band out there. I saw them earlier this year and they were fantastic. The new songs fit in right with the older ones."
10) OOZING WOUND - HIGH ANXIETY "There's something about a heavy album that comes out on the THRILL JOCKEY label that makes me sit up and pay attention. It's a sure sign that the act in question is going to be out of the ordinary. In this case, an awesome assault of thrashy hardcore, shades of VOIVOD-type progginess - a nice old-school flavour. I got a nice old-school flavour myself, so this is right up my alley."
11) GUM TAKES TOOTH - ARROW "Some cool, way-out psychedelic soundsfrom this dynamic London-based duo. This kind of stuff can be dicey on the holding-ones-interest level but I find this album constantly engaging, never boring. It gets mellow, it gets heavy, it gets abstract, it gets catchy - you get the sense that these guys are having a lot of fun in their self-indulgence. We, in turn, have fun listening to it!"
12) HAVE A NICE LIFE - SEA OF WORRY "I'd been looking forward to this album for quite awhile, having loved their last full-length THE UNNATURAL WORLD in all its TEARS FOR FEARS worshiping glory (check out the album art for proof). This one leans even more into post-punk/new wave/gothy territory, harvesting all the best respective elements. A good soundtrack for walking along the beach. Alone. At sundown. In the dead of winter. The moment after you got dumped."
13) DARKTHRONE - OLD STAR "Another 'old faithful' type band for me - if they put it out, chances are I'm gonna love it. Drummer/vocalist/lyricist/mastermind FENRIZ has made his love of metal (and music in general) well known through interviews (and Spotify playlists). You can feel that musical obsession in the songs (not to ignore the contributions of NOCTURNO CULTO, it's just FENRIZ is easily the mouthpiece of the band). Every tune is a condensed tribute to all permutations of old-school metal and hardcore."
14) DRAB MAJESTY - MODERN MIRROR "I was supposed to see them (him?) open for DEAFHEAVEN last year but I believe Canadian Customs had a different idea about that so it was not to be (actually, the whole show ended up pretty fucked - we missed UNIFORM thanks to traffic and DEAFHEAVEN's main guitar player was also denied entry into Canada, making for a very weird but memorable show on their part). Anyways, I feel like catching the live DM experience would have been quite something, based on the promo pics I've seen. Nonetheless, this album is sweet. A modern take on post-punk/new wave/death rock that is infectious as all hell."
15) LOW DOSE - S/T "This is basically FIGHT AMP with a new vocalist. Well, on paper, that's what it is. In actual fact, it's like a super heavy, noise-rocking, doom-grunge take on BIKINI KILL. Or something to that effect. Either way, it rips."
16) TEENAGE WRIST - COUNTING FLIES EP "These guys are young and having fun, which in turn makes me feel old and dull. I can't help but enjoy these tunes though, especially since they are steeped in 90s alt-rock vibes. Some good rocking shoegaze right here."
17) FILMMAKER - THE LOVE MARKET "Sometimes that Youtube sidebar just gives you the straight up goods, which is exactly how I came across this Colombian gent and his dark take on synthwave. He released no less than 4 full-lengths this year so it was really a crapshoot as to which one is the 'best' (they're all basically of equal quality). I guess this one is just a cut above, maybe only down to the artwork? It's sweet stuff, either way. For the old-school industrial/EBM fan."
18) ARTILECT - RHYTHM SEEKER EP "Every now and then, I get to wondering 'Hmm...what's up with drum n bass these days?'. It certainly set my head on fire back in the days when it....set everyone elses on fire, basically. Mid to late 90s I'm talking, when discovering the likes of APHEX TWIN, SQUAREPUSHER, and the like were enough to believe that music had truly been reinvented. Anyways, I certainly haven't lost my taste for that particular brand of techno but, for some reason, have made no effort to keep up (seems like the kind of thing where you're either all in or you just get left behind). Anyways, I did a little clicking around on Youtube and came across the Manchester - based ARTILECT and his take on DnB which is basically everything I want from the genre. Nice one."
19) PRIMITIVE MAN - SPLIT MMXIX "2 songs from the power-trio that is PRIMITIVE MAN on this split release with HELL (one track from them). These guys just cruuuuuuush eeeeeeverything with their super grim, sludgy take on doom metal. I saw them perform last year and it was like a tiny corner of Hell (not the band) had opened up. And then I got to go home, which is good. Better than being in Hell, probably."
20) HAWKEYES - LAST LIGHT OF FUTURE FAILURE "Some fantastic psychedelic sounds from this Kitchener/Waterloo based guitarmy. Less on the doom metal side of things, this time out. Not so much a worshiping of all things riff-based. Rather, a focus on creating some lush, textured soundscapes. An aural treat, through and through."
21) PINKISH BLACK - CONCEPT UNIFICATION "I've given this band a try over the years and, for whatever reason, nothing ever really stuck. Progressive/post-metal delivered by a drums/synth duo certainly seems like a great idea (to me, at least). This time out, it really clicked for me. A lot of it sounds like a soundtrack to a movie that does not exist but one that I really wish did. Some hypnotic, dystopian stuff, right here."
22) MYTHOLOGEN - ANTISOCIAL BACKGROUND MUSIC 2017 - 2019 "I know very little about this artist, other than I believe it's the product of one person and said person is Swedish. However this came across my radar, I'm glad it did. As far as electronic music goes, it ticks a lot of my boxes. Weirdo ambient techno that is sometimes super dense and noisy and sometimes minimal and super chill."
23) PET BRICK - I "A friend of mine recommended this band with no real disclaimer at all. It was only after a few very enjoyable listens and a little research that I realized the drummer in this experimental duo is none other than IGOR CAVALERA (former drummer of SEPULTURA). That is so cool! I've always thought he was a huge cut above most of his contemporaries. The fact that he has branched out into such unlikely sonic territory is, while not totally surprising, still very exciting. Anyways, famous drummer or no, this is some very enjoyable wacked-out experimental noise type stuff. I'm hugely interested in someone bringing a metal background to such non-metal music."
24) DEAD SEA APES - THE FREE TERRITORY "For me, this Manchester outfit is becoming a band to watch. They usually tend to go with an 'everything-but-the-kitchen-sink' approach on their albums, as far as pulling from different brands of 'heavy' music (doom, post-punk, psych, drone, hardcore, etc). This one leans heavily on the drone/doom thing, which is a-okay by me. Some long-form guitar droning on here. A very spacious, sometimes ambient take on feedback."
25) LOW SUN - NEW / SHINY "This twin-brother duo from Toronto have come a long way from their super sludgy days as SHAHMAN. The last (first) LOW SUN release was steeped in 90s slocore. This one stays there but adds a little upbeat energy to the mix. Really catchy and fun but still super weird and unsettling."
26) THE STILT HOMES - SPRING MIX "Got to share the stage with this Kingston-based trio a little over a year ago and I thought they were so great. It's that familiar, endearingly bad 'we-can-barely-play' take on indie rock (which used to be one of the many banes of my existence) but with undeniably pleasant and catchy melodies running through all the songs. I've always been a huge believer in 'it's not how good you can play, as long as you've got the songs.' These guys are a perfect illustration of that. All that said, they can definitely play their instruments, I don't mean to suggest otherwise."
27) DEATH STICKS - SOON THE TROUBLES WILL BE OVER "Another solid release of noise-rock weirdness from this Ottawa-based duo. I managed to miss every performance of theirs this year which is unforgivable on my part because seeing them is just as fun as listening to them. I often take for granted the fact that super-talented people are making music a stone's throw from my house. But, I do enjoy said house and all within, so...."
28) TERMINAL CHEESECAKE - LE SACRE DU LIÉVRE "I don't remember how this came to my attention but it seems like it had to be a JOHN WESTHAVER / FRIDAY MORNING CAR-TUNES recommendation which makes perfect sense since they are an experimental band from the 80s/90s who recently reformed and are still putting out quality shit, apparently. The more I look into this band, the bigger my homework assignment gets as their family tree seems massive and hugely interesting. Anyways, in and of itself, this album is a sweet slab of experimental noise with super fuzzy bass and pulsing drums pushing the whole thing along."
29) BOTFLY - TRUTH IN NUMBERS "A 2-song single from this Halifax-based noise-rock trio. Tense, aggro, sometimes metallic, sometimes sludgey as all get-out. Dig it!"
30) BIG BRAVE - A GAZE AMONG THEM "If BLONDE REDHEAD were a sludge/doom band, this is what it would sound like. Is that not enough to put a hook in you? Then you are silly. A silly, silly person. This stuff crawls along at such a satisfying snail's pace, leaving plenty of room for the riffs and the vocals to ring out gorgeously. They've been over there in Montreal doing their thing for years now, and here I sit, oblivious. Who's silly now?"
HONOURABLE MENTIONS: MINORS, BIG BUSINESS, DEVIL MASTER, BARONESS, DOWNLOAD, BRUTUS, SPURN, MORE PAIN, YOUNG GODS, INTER ARMA, GUIDED BY VOICES (3 full-lengths released this year!), THE GREAT SABATINI, CREEPING DEATH, GREYS, SABBATH ASSEMBLY
I feel like I missed out on a lot of really good stuff this year. My ability to constantly stay on top of new releases is definitely slipping. It's like a full-time job, in a way. I tell myself I'm gonna make an effort, then just end up listening to OZMA or TOO DARK PARK for the 50 millionth time. We all have our all-time faves, right? Anyways, I'll be going through everyone elses' end-of-year lists and see what I missed (as per usual). But oh man, that new TOOL album, right? BWAAAAHHH!!!! What a joke. I forced myself to sit through the entire thing once. Unreal. To think they were my very favourite band, once upon a time (in 1994). Anyways, happy new year!
1) DREAMSHELL - UNCONNECTOR "Almost certainly my favourite album that came out this year and easily the one I listened to the most. This local-to-Ottawa band are the best thing our fair city has to offer right now. Shoegazey dreampop with a rocky/grungy edge. It's weird that they aren't huge yet. They should be headling Edgefest or Somersault or something!"
2) MARK RENNER - SALT & FIREWOOD / THE PROPHET BIRD EP "I discovered this person and their music last year via a compilation that featured music originally released into totally obscurity many years ago. These 2 releases both feature brand new music from Mr. Renner. A similar vibe to his 80s stuff but much more abstract and atmospheric, with most of it being instrumental. Very artsy and very unaffected by anything contemporary."
3) HELMS ALEE - NOCTILUCA "It's getting to the point that, if this band puts something out, it's a safe bet that I'll love it. Elements of doom, elements of post rock, multiple vocalists, incredibly catchy, incredibly anthemic, doesn't overstay its welcome. Need I go on?"
4) TORCHE - ADMISSION "Same goes for these guys! If they put it out, I will enjoy! Consistently good - I like that in a band! I don't understand how they manage to be so damn catchy all the time without repeating themselves. I mean, their albums do sound the same, but it's somehow always fresh. I can't think of any other band that sounds quite like TORCHE. That's pretty cool."
5) CROSS DOG - HOLLOW "I've been enjoying this Peterborough-based band for a number of years now. I've listened to their albums, I've seen them live, I've even had the pleasure of sharing the stage with them a couple of times. This album, however, ups the ante like CRAZY! Every element of the band has gotten 10 times more brutal on here. A serious barn-burner."
6) KING GIZZARD AND THE LIZARD WIZARD - INFEST THE RATS' NEST "This band basically transforms its sound from album to album. On this particular release (one of 2 full-lengths put out in 2019), they are flexing their hardcore and thrash metal muscles. I like the idea of a band who normally don't play heavy music turning around and giving it a go. On here, it totally works. Still has that psych-rock edge that they are well known for."
7) FULL OF HELL - WEEPING CHOIR "As per usual, the vast majority of metal ends up boring the arse off me. Overlong, one-note rehash. FULL OF HELL are a band that I know I can count on. Their riffs are brutal, their approach is a perfect blend of old and new school and they know a thing or two about being succinct. Was sorry to hear that they got basically every bit of musical equipment ripped off while they were on tour. Hopefully they can recover."
8) SUNN O))) - LIFE METAL "I find just about all this dynamic duo's releases have something to offer, no matter how far they stray from their original formula. This album, however, is basically said original formula shining bright like 1000 suns. Pigishly-long guitar drones screaming with feedback. That's the ANDERSON / O'MALLEY trademark right there."
9) CAVE IN - FINAL TRANSMISSION "I'll admit that this album is not incredible but it very well could have been, if not for the tragic and horrifying circumstances that took bassist CALEB SCOFIELD from this earth. This album consists of work-in-progress demos intended for their next full-length release. Things definitely sound a little half-baked (for good reason, obviously) but I think that it's great that they salvaged what they could in order to get CALEB's final contributions to the band out there. I saw them earlier this year and they were fantastic. The new songs fit in right with the older ones."
10) OOZING WOUND - HIGH ANXIETY "There's something about a heavy album that comes out on the THRILL JOCKEY label that makes me sit up and pay attention. It's a sure sign that the act in question is going to be out of the ordinary. In this case, an awesome assault of thrashy hardcore, shades of VOIVOD-type progginess - a nice old-school flavour. I got a nice old-school flavour myself, so this is right up my alley."
11) GUM TAKES TOOTH - ARROW "Some cool, way-out psychedelic soundsfrom this dynamic London-based duo. This kind of stuff can be dicey on the holding-ones-interest level but I find this album constantly engaging, never boring. It gets mellow, it gets heavy, it gets abstract, it gets catchy - you get the sense that these guys are having a lot of fun in their self-indulgence. We, in turn, have fun listening to it!"
12) HAVE A NICE LIFE - SEA OF WORRY "I'd been looking forward to this album for quite awhile, having loved their last full-length THE UNNATURAL WORLD in all its TEARS FOR FEARS worshiping glory (check out the album art for proof). This one leans even more into post-punk/new wave/gothy territory, harvesting all the best respective elements. A good soundtrack for walking along the beach. Alone. At sundown. In the dead of winter. The moment after you got dumped."
13) DARKTHRONE - OLD STAR "Another 'old faithful' type band for me - if they put it out, chances are I'm gonna love it. Drummer/vocalist/lyricist/mastermind FENRIZ has made his love of metal (and music in general) well known through interviews (and Spotify playlists). You can feel that musical obsession in the songs (not to ignore the contributions of NOCTURNO CULTO, it's just FENRIZ is easily the mouthpiece of the band). Every tune is a condensed tribute to all permutations of old-school metal and hardcore."
14) DRAB MAJESTY - MODERN MIRROR "I was supposed to see them (him?) open for DEAFHEAVEN last year but I believe Canadian Customs had a different idea about that so it was not to be (actually, the whole show ended up pretty fucked - we missed UNIFORM thanks to traffic and DEAFHEAVEN's main guitar player was also denied entry into Canada, making for a very weird but memorable show on their part). Anyways, I feel like catching the live DM experience would have been quite something, based on the promo pics I've seen. Nonetheless, this album is sweet. A modern take on post-punk/new wave/death rock that is infectious as all hell."
15) LOW DOSE - S/T "This is basically FIGHT AMP with a new vocalist. Well, on paper, that's what it is. In actual fact, it's like a super heavy, noise-rocking, doom-grunge take on BIKINI KILL. Or something to that effect. Either way, it rips."
16) TEENAGE WRIST - COUNTING FLIES EP "These guys are young and having fun, which in turn makes me feel old and dull. I can't help but enjoy these tunes though, especially since they are steeped in 90s alt-rock vibes. Some good rocking shoegaze right here."
17) FILMMAKER - THE LOVE MARKET "Sometimes that Youtube sidebar just gives you the straight up goods, which is exactly how I came across this Colombian gent and his dark take on synthwave. He released no less than 4 full-lengths this year so it was really a crapshoot as to which one is the 'best' (they're all basically of equal quality). I guess this one is just a cut above, maybe only down to the artwork? It's sweet stuff, either way. For the old-school industrial/EBM fan."
18) ARTILECT - RHYTHM SEEKER EP "Every now and then, I get to wondering 'Hmm...what's up with drum n bass these days?'. It certainly set my head on fire back in the days when it....set everyone elses on fire, basically. Mid to late 90s I'm talking, when discovering the likes of APHEX TWIN, SQUAREPUSHER, and the like were enough to believe that music had truly been reinvented. Anyways, I certainly haven't lost my taste for that particular brand of techno but, for some reason, have made no effort to keep up (seems like the kind of thing where you're either all in or you just get left behind). Anyways, I did a little clicking around on Youtube and came across the Manchester - based ARTILECT and his take on DnB which is basically everything I want from the genre. Nice one."
19) PRIMITIVE MAN - SPLIT MMXIX "2 songs from the power-trio that is PRIMITIVE MAN on this split release with HELL (one track from them). These guys just cruuuuuuush eeeeeeverything with their super grim, sludgy take on doom metal. I saw them perform last year and it was like a tiny corner of Hell (not the band) had opened up. And then I got to go home, which is good. Better than being in Hell, probably."
20) HAWKEYES - LAST LIGHT OF FUTURE FAILURE "Some fantastic psychedelic sounds from this Kitchener/Waterloo based guitarmy. Less on the doom metal side of things, this time out. Not so much a worshiping of all things riff-based. Rather, a focus on creating some lush, textured soundscapes. An aural treat, through and through."
21) PINKISH BLACK - CONCEPT UNIFICATION "I've given this band a try over the years and, for whatever reason, nothing ever really stuck. Progressive/post-metal delivered by a drums/synth duo certainly seems like a great idea (to me, at least). This time out, it really clicked for me. A lot of it sounds like a soundtrack to a movie that does not exist but one that I really wish did. Some hypnotic, dystopian stuff, right here."
22) MYTHOLOGEN - ANTISOCIAL BACKGROUND MUSIC 2017 - 2019 "I know very little about this artist, other than I believe it's the product of one person and said person is Swedish. However this came across my radar, I'm glad it did. As far as electronic music goes, it ticks a lot of my boxes. Weirdo ambient techno that is sometimes super dense and noisy and sometimes minimal and super chill."
23) PET BRICK - I "A friend of mine recommended this band with no real disclaimer at all. It was only after a few very enjoyable listens and a little research that I realized the drummer in this experimental duo is none other than IGOR CAVALERA (former drummer of SEPULTURA). That is so cool! I've always thought he was a huge cut above most of his contemporaries. The fact that he has branched out into such unlikely sonic territory is, while not totally surprising, still very exciting. Anyways, famous drummer or no, this is some very enjoyable wacked-out experimental noise type stuff. I'm hugely interested in someone bringing a metal background to such non-metal music."
24) DEAD SEA APES - THE FREE TERRITORY "For me, this Manchester outfit is becoming a band to watch. They usually tend to go with an 'everything-but-the-kitchen-sink' approach on their albums, as far as pulling from different brands of 'heavy' music (doom, post-punk, psych, drone, hardcore, etc). This one leans heavily on the drone/doom thing, which is a-okay by me. Some long-form guitar droning on here. A very spacious, sometimes ambient take on feedback."
25) LOW SUN - NEW / SHINY "This twin-brother duo from Toronto have come a long way from their super sludgy days as SHAHMAN. The last (first) LOW SUN release was steeped in 90s slocore. This one stays there but adds a little upbeat energy to the mix. Really catchy and fun but still super weird and unsettling."
26) THE STILT HOMES - SPRING MIX "Got to share the stage with this Kingston-based trio a little over a year ago and I thought they were so great. It's that familiar, endearingly bad 'we-can-barely-play' take on indie rock (which used to be one of the many banes of my existence) but with undeniably pleasant and catchy melodies running through all the songs. I've always been a huge believer in 'it's not how good you can play, as long as you've got the songs.' These guys are a perfect illustration of that. All that said, they can definitely play their instruments, I don't mean to suggest otherwise."
27) DEATH STICKS - SOON THE TROUBLES WILL BE OVER "Another solid release of noise-rock weirdness from this Ottawa-based duo. I managed to miss every performance of theirs this year which is unforgivable on my part because seeing them is just as fun as listening to them. I often take for granted the fact that super-talented people are making music a stone's throw from my house. But, I do enjoy said house and all within, so...."
28) TERMINAL CHEESECAKE - LE SACRE DU LIÉVRE "I don't remember how this came to my attention but it seems like it had to be a JOHN WESTHAVER / FRIDAY MORNING CAR-TUNES recommendation which makes perfect sense since they are an experimental band from the 80s/90s who recently reformed and are still putting out quality shit, apparently. The more I look into this band, the bigger my homework assignment gets as their family tree seems massive and hugely interesting. Anyways, in and of itself, this album is a sweet slab of experimental noise with super fuzzy bass and pulsing drums pushing the whole thing along."
29) BOTFLY - TRUTH IN NUMBERS "A 2-song single from this Halifax-based noise-rock trio. Tense, aggro, sometimes metallic, sometimes sludgey as all get-out. Dig it!"
30) BIG BRAVE - A GAZE AMONG THEM "If BLONDE REDHEAD were a sludge/doom band, this is what it would sound like. Is that not enough to put a hook in you? Then you are silly. A silly, silly person. This stuff crawls along at such a satisfying snail's pace, leaving plenty of room for the riffs and the vocals to ring out gorgeously. They've been over there in Montreal doing their thing for years now, and here I sit, oblivious. Who's silly now?"
HONOURABLE MENTIONS: MINORS, BIG BUSINESS, DEVIL MASTER, BARONESS, DOWNLOAD, BRUTUS, SPURN, MORE PAIN, YOUNG GODS, INTER ARMA, GUIDED BY VOICES (3 full-lengths released this year!), THE GREAT SABATINI, CREEPING DEATH, GREYS, SABBATH ASSEMBLY
I feel like I missed out on a lot of really good stuff this year. My ability to constantly stay on top of new releases is definitely slipping. It's like a full-time job, in a way. I tell myself I'm gonna make an effort, then just end up listening to OZMA or TOO DARK PARK for the 50 millionth time. We all have our all-time faves, right? Anyways, I'll be going through everyone elses' end-of-year lists and see what I missed (as per usual). But oh man, that new TOOL album, right? BWAAAAHHH!!!! What a joke. I forced myself to sit through the entire thing once. Unreal. To think they were my very favourite band, once upon a time (in 1994). Anyways, happy new year!
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