Like almost every other year there is so much good music I don’t have the time, or cash, to get it all. Most of my old favorites didn’t let me down. Most of the new favorites sound like old favorites. How many are going to break barriers and change music? I’m guessing none. I’m just glad that I still like it loud.
My biggest musical disappointment was the closing of my favorite music venue, Maxwell’s. 95% of the time I became a fan of the opening act. They knew how to put a bill together. Luckily I was able to be there for closing day. Bittersweet fun.
Anyway…
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1) The Ex & Brass Unbound – ENORMOUS DOOR. With a four piece horn section they manage to make even more of a racket. Not sure if they are capable of making a bad record.
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2) The Bevis Frond – WHITE NUMBERS. Ya know, the first disc is so great that I haven’t listened to disc 2, yet. They hadn’t made a record in 7 years when “The Leaving of London” came out in 2011. Didn’t think he could surpass that. OK, I’m playing disc 2 now. Sounds great. I haven’t gotten to the 45 minute closer yet. Even if that tanks, disc 1 is an hour long jewel.
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3 ) Alasdair Roberts & Friends – WONDER WORKING STONE. “Religion that rose from the sewers of Rome.” That’s comedy.This is the kind of record that Richard Thompson should be making. If they ever remake “The Wicker Man…” oh damn.
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4) Neko Case – THE WORSE THINGS GET…As much as I have liked her last couple of records, I was getting worried that she was was getting stuck sonically. You could say that her sound hasn’t really altered, but her conversational poetry, and her voice, matter more. I don’t think she should be recording with The Dead C. The musicians here are all tops, providing a cushion for her angst.
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5) Spider Bags – SINGLES. Just got into these guys. Punky twangy Westergbergyyyyyy. God, I’m glad I don’t do this for a living. These guys are funny, raucous and melodic.
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6) Richard Buckner – SURROUNDED. My fave since, um “Since.” He’s made some damn good ones since “Since,”…ok, I’ll stop. Just a guy in a room, some great songs and that voice. His vocals seem to have gotten lighter and more expressive. I’ve seen him do some of these songs twice and they have already become some of my faves.
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7) Jacco Gardner – CABINET OF CURIOSITIES. He’s got a mellotron and he knows how to use it. Another throwback kid caught going through the psych collection of his elders. Good job. A bit of Syd, maybe some Zombies. Also found out he is a Billy Nichols fan, which makes sense if you have ever heard “Would You Believe.”
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8) The Mallard – FINDING MEANING IN DEFERENCE. Did they revive Martin Hannett to produce this? Some of the guitars have a Joy Division feel. I have no idea what Greer McGettrick is singing, but I like sinking into the woozy claustrophobia her voice and melodies provide. Phrases repeat and work their way into my ear, like the bug in that “Night Gallery” episode…
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9) Fuzz – FUZZ. Ty Segall and friends sludge it up real good.
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10) Thee Oh Sees – FLOATING COFFIN. I read that this is their 15th record. Jeezus. They are going on hiatus, as of this writing. May as well go out on a high note. Another great collection of dark psych.
11) Night Beats – SONIC BLOOM.
12) Wau Y Los Arrrghs!!! – TODO ROTO
13) Oblivians – DESPERATION
14 )Kurt Vile – WALKIN’ ON A PRETTY DAZE
15) The Dirtbombs – OOEY GOOEY CHEWY KA – BLOOEY!
16) John Paul Keith – MEMPHIS CIRCA 3 AM
17) Black Joe Lewis – ELECTRIC SLAVE
18) Howe Gelb – THE COINCIDENTALIST
19) Sun City Girls – EYE MOHINI
20) Mikal Cronin – MCII
And: Barrance Whitfield and the Savages – DIG THY SAVAGE SOUL / Yo La Tengo – FADE / The Black Hollies – SOMEWHERE BETWEEN HERE AND NOEWHERE / The Sadies – INTERNAL SOUNDS / Shannon and the Clams – DREAMS IN THE RATHOUSE / Superchunk – I HATE MUSIC / Liquor Store – IN THE GARDEN / Diarrhea Planet – I”M RICH BEYOND YOUR WILDEST DREAMS / Endless Boogie – LONG ISLAND
Reissues/Vaults – Bunch o’ Roky Erickson / Breeders – LAST SPLASH DELUXE / Bob Dylan – ANOTHER SELF PORTRAIT / Hawkwind – SPACE RITUAL / Neil Young – CELLAR DOOR
Movies – THE ACT OF KILLING / SHORT TERM 12 / THE HUNT / CRYSTAL FAIRY / IN A WORLD / BARBARA / SOMETHING IN THE AIR / BEHIND THE CANDELABRA / A HIJACKING / HER / BEFORE MIDNIGHT / THE PLACE BEYOND THE PINES / ERRORS OF THE HUMAN BODY / AMERICAN MARY / UPSTREAM COLORS / SIGHTSEERS / BIG STAR – NOTHING CAN HURT ME / REVENGE OF THE MEKONS / LORE
Best performances in films that may have flown beneath the radar:
Brie Larson – SHORT TERM 12
Gaby Hoffman – CRYSTAL FAIRY
Amy Acker – MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING.
Katherine Isabelle – AMERICAN MARY
Mads Mikkelsen – THE HUNT
Tired, cold and hungry. And up against deadline. Lots of music I couldn’t stand. Ask me in person.