Power, Bremerton
Zoo [hardcore, Twelve Gauge]
Another record
Perry always played in the room and in the car when we went to get
groceries and such. We saw them play with Sabertooth Zombie and Verse
in Pawtucket. The toilets at the venue were gross. There was a van
outside that sold grilled cheese. I'm still sorta mad that I only had
like ten bucks and they made me choose between buying merch and
buying a grilled cheese (I chose grilled cheese) (but also I stole a
sticker). There were a bunch of high school dicks in the pit throwing
punches, which is why I ate my grilled cheese alone in the corner.
William Tyler, Impossible
Truth [ambient/guitar, Merge]
Another contender for favorite album of
2013. Tyler is from Nashville but this album reminds me of the
desert. But a pretty desert that doesn't totally suck to walk
through. Parts of Nevada or Arizona maybe. A good ole American
desert. It makes me nostalgic for the western-style ranch childhood I
never had. “The Geography of Nowhere” is not only a good song but
also a good book I bought because I thought the song was good.
Tim Hecker, Virgins
[ambient/electronic, Kranky]
“Virgin” is one of the best insults
to throw out when you are pretending to be a big stupid bro. I call
all my friends at college “virgins” or sometimes “virgin
perverts” when we are pretending to be big stupid bros. Bros are so
anthropologically fascinating. This album aurally explores the
concept of virginity. Innocence coupled with inevitable corruption.
Bell-like keyboards and harps combine in harmony with harsh noise.
One and the same. Tim Hecker sounds like a real fucking virgin pervert.
Bill Callahan, Dream River
[indie/folk, Drag City]
Over the last year and a half Bill
Callahan (aka Smog) has slowly become one of my favorite songwriters.
I dozed off to him once in a Jersey shore beach house with Gingy, Ingrid, Hannah and Hannah's friend Molly, but that was a different album. This
album is more of the same, in the best way possible. Simple chord
progressions, dispassionate baritone, dark irony, etc. I read an
interview with Callahan where he talked about having insomnia and
wandering his hometown streets at like 4am. I do that sometimes, but
not in NH because there are bears.
Forest Swords, Engravings
[ambient/experimental, Tri Angle]
One time the night before my Sociology
final I had insomnia and decided to wander campus for an hour or two
while listening to this album on repeat on my iPod. I ended up in GHH
and played Nintendo 3DS for an hour and watched the sunrise. Then I
ate breakfast (s/o to waffles) and took a nap until my final. My
professor was reading Morrissey's autobiography during our exam. I
aced it.
Hoax, Hoax [hardcore,
self-released]
If someone asked me what the punkest thing I listened to was, I'd probably say Hoax. Jesse Sanes hates
himself for having the audacity to exist. He regularly makes a point
of bleeding from his head during live shows. Google dat shit.
Nihilistic brutality is directed at himself as much as it is directed
at modern society (or whatever). A high point in Mass hardcore,
though the band will probs break up next year. “Drive” has a
ridiculous breakdown.
KEN Mode, Entrench
[hardcore/metal, Season of Mist]
KEN Mode is one of those bands that
combine heavy riffs, hardcore attitude and the right amount of melody
in just the right way to make me want to punch and kick stuff and not
feel wicked lame about it. “Your Heartwarming Story Makes Me Sick”
is a good song but the name is bad and dumb.
Mammoth Grinder, Underworlds
[metal, 20 Buck Spin]
This band sounds like they should be
named Mammoth Grinder. Listen to them and see that I am right. The
name reminds me of a giant Neolithic sausage machine, but not in a
funny way. I remember I listened to this album on Youtube after my
Macbook shat itself and I had to live in the library. I came back to
the apartment and Perry was playing it in his room. “Oh shit,
dude”s were exchanged. Then Tom also was really into that album
that same day.
Windhand, Soma [metal/stoner
metal, Relapse]
This is Windhand's first full release.
I discovered them after they did a hella good split with Cough. I
listened to a lot of stoner/sludge/doom metal this year, but I think
this was the only album that was actually from 2013. I still need to
get stoned and listen to this tho.
Kanye West, Yeezus [hip
hop/god, Def Jam]
My first experience with Yeezus
was when I was incredibly stoned at a lake house Lydia was getting
paid to sit. We were watching SNL when Kanye performed “Black Skinhead”. I was legitimately mesmerized. I spent the entire song
glued to the television set (figuratively). There was also a wicked
creepy dog that totally wanted Andrew's dick. Also a hot tub. Anyway,
aside from maybe 808s and Heartbreak, I always find Kanye albums uneven. I adored most of Dark Fantasy, but I
loathed “Runaway” and “Blame Game”. I can't really say that
was the case with Yeezus cause I only really listened to it
through like twice. Don't really have any thoughts on it. Some tracks
I loved but never really made a point of listening to on a regular
basis. But I feel like if I don't include Yeezus on my
year-end list Kanye will somehow send me a passive-aggressive email.
And I don't want that (or do I??).
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