Procrastinating

Taking what will more than likely become a much longer break from mixing than planned to write this. 5 albums that I've heard this year that blew me the fuck away. Actually took a while for me to think of new music I've heard that really stuck with me. These are in no specific order!

Floor- Self titled

Yeah I know. You've all been into Cavity, Torche, Floor, etc.. for years now. Well I'm new to it. So it's extra awesome for me. This album was the heaviest and yet catchiest thing my ears have ever heard. There are parts to this album that I just do not comprehend. All the speaker blowing lows and there's no bass player? Saw this band live. Louder and tighter than the records. Also I was super into how low to the ground the drummer sits and plays. Looked like a midget playing a giants drum set. After getting into this band, Woods got me into the many surrounding bands of Floor and they always seem to pop up on any playlist I make on my Spotify.

Four Tet- Rounds

I'm fairly certain I stumbled onto this band on the "related artists" section of my Spotify. All the bands coming up were way off from what the band I was listening to sounded like. I heard this album a few months back and I specifically remember getting really high, turning my phone off and listening to this album a few times all the way through with headphones. It was my soundtrack for a solid week. Couldn't turn it off. Good stuff.

Efterklang- Tripper

Probably my most prized discovery this year. Again, not too sure how I found out about this album but I am fucking glad I did. I honestly can't really get too into everything released, but the track "doppelganger" is PERFECT. Shut your blinds and minds off and listen to this album. Or don't.. whatever.

Yelloh

Fuck yes! Sadly, they have no full length to listen to repeatedly. Local bands and friends Yelloh grab everyone in the rooms attention. Doesn't matter what you're doing in the room, or what kind of music you're generally into. My band has had the luxury of sharing the stage/loft with these guys numerous times. Weird, inspiring music by guys cooler than you. There's a chemistry with these guys that I don't even see in national bands. I'd love to see what they'd be capable of doing if they weren't sucked into the vortex of working full time jobs and could take a few solid months off and just play and record music. I'd also like to see their drummer Dan fuck a kitten. But that's another story entirely.

Clint Mansell- The Fountain soundtrack

This album just about broke my dick right off when I heard it. That analogy is really accurate actually. I heard this when I was only listening to bands like Floor, Converge, Trash Talk.. loud heavy bands. I heard this and it made me feel (more) like a fucking space case. Front to back this album blew me away. The instruments and arrangements used don't seem like something I'd normally get too sucked into. But it's weird and melodic enough that I couldn't get enough of it. I think it's a little bit of a bummer he seems to only focus on soundtrack work, because i'd love to see this guy collaborate and work in a more live setting. "Stay with Me" could be played during the apocalypse and I would do nothing but sit stare and listen.



More 5 album review things coming soon. But hopefully not because I need to finish this bands album.

-Novak

Album of the Year

 

For those familiar with my musical tastes, this comes as no surprise to see a Bowie album up here. My favorite part about this album is how it splits itself from a "traditional" formula to instrumental. Often times I skip right to the instrumental tracks and loop them for the entire night. I could easily turn this into a 30 paragraph ass kiss and bore anyone (which if you're reading this, you are fucking BORED. you're probably sick of eating boogers and watching netflix) so i'll try and keep this rather short so I don't keep you too long.

From a musician already building a following around being an "outcast", this album took it into an entirely different atmosphere. After up and leaving America to move to west berlin to write his "new musical language"- you can hear what I feel is music and emotions that truly stood as his own. New is only new until it's old. Same reason why the same bullshit that's been out for 10 years isn't "alternative music." This is why I respect bowie so much. Staying unique. Granted Brian Eno was a huge helping hand in the second half of the album, the sounds and style they land on is simply amazing.

Tracks like "Subterraneans" give me visions of places no music has ever or will ever give me. That track could easily fool you as something credible today. 1977! When most bands were out on tour with rock n roll - consisting of uppers, hookers, and loud guitars.. david bowie couldn't have been doing more of the opposite.

I can't help but get an image of what must have been going through his head during the writing process. From the interviews i had seen of him during this era, he wanted to escape the coke capital of the world, the constant fame and entourage built around his Ziggy fame, his own drug habits and ways - and wanted to disappear. for the people in his daily life to be unable to point him out as anything other than a local. To walk to the store and shop in almost complete secrecy. And in doing so, i hear a sound where he wrote in that same mindset. Writing for no one. Impressing everyone. A decision i couldn't see going over well with record labels. getting popular with a specific image and sound and doing a 180 just to satisfy the desire to get the sounds out of your head? Must have been an extremely therapeutic process. Certainly bringing his most inventive sounds to light.

Being yourself musical. Something not only popular musicians and bands shutter at attempting, but people in general. Yeah i know. your new girlfriend REALLY likes your new tattoos, shitty attitude, and beard. I know the dorks at record labels LOVE your postal service sounding band.. but just be yourself. Scary thought when you have nothing to offer, isn't it? Who cares if it's weird, who cares if the music you're writing doesn't catch the fancy of some cock slurping moron, who only works with bank accounts and radio stations. Write music you would find interesting if you stumbled upon it at a record store. Be a person you'd be interested in meeting yourself.

I feel like this veered away from having anything to do with music. This album is some powerful stuff to me. Definitely not an album i'd play in my car to show someone unfamiliar to it. If you haven't heard it i suggest you buy the record, download it.. or however you listen to music. lay in bed with headphones and listen to it. turn off your phone, close your blinds, log out of facebook and just fucking listen.

-Matt