Top 10 Records of 2011.
I have to be honest, I
haven’t listened to much new music this year, so I’m a little out of the loop
when it comes to the DIY punk zeitgeist. Apologies if that means I’ve missed any
classics (feel free to let me know). Also, I’ve only included one UK based
band, just to mix it up a bit. Anyway, enough introducing. Here’s a list of
stuff I’ve liked that came out this year (at least I think it all came out this
year)! It’s not in any particular order!
Full
disclosure. I’ve known Joe (the drummer in this London-based band) since he was
born (several weeks prematurely, I might add). He’s from Pity Me, Durham and
he’s one of my absolute favourite human beings. I have this theory that the
reason he was so desperate to get into the world early was so that he could get
on with worshiping Satan and practicing his black metal drumming as soon as
possible. And thank the Devil he did, because honestly, he is absolutely fucking
sick. And not in a session drummer, everything runs like clockwork kind of way,
but in a “What the fuck is he doing? Oh Jesus! My face is melting! This is
amazing!” kind of way. The band also features members of Fall of Efrafa and
Plague Mass, and they play ace, dark, heavy punk rock. Totally amazing! Can’t
wait for them to start touring!
You,
like me, probably heard lots of people raving about this online when it came
out, which is always a little annoying when you don’t know what they are
talking about. Like being on the outside of an in-joke. Well, I’m glad they
raved, because this is great! A refreshing break from what can be a pretty
samey genre. Good samples too. At least, I assume they’re samples. It might
just be one of the band talking in a sample-esque way. Let’s face it; I’m
already way out of my depth here. Who cares? This record is super cool.
This
lot are just great. You’ve got to see them live (you probably already have
though). They just have something very special about them, and get that balance
between what I (and no one else in the world would ever) call ‘biker riffs’,
and chaotic hardcore just right. I could watch their drummer all day. But I’ve
talked enough about bloody drummers.
These
Ottawan’s have been around for a while, but this is their first release on
Dirtnap, which, once you’ve heard them, will be surprising. Maybe it’s because
they’re Canadian that it took so long for them to hook up, but they are an absolutely perfect fit. As far as
garage punk, power-pop goes, they do everything right, but stay just the right
side of seeming too derivative.
I
picked up this tape when I was in Columbus Ohio, staying at Amanda’s (who plays bass) house whilst Onsind was on
tour. I know! Get me, eh? Humblebrag or what? Anyway, it’s really, really good,
delicate pop music. Lovely, lo-fi, poetic stuff. Well worth downloading! I’ve listened
to this a lot this year.
Just
thought I’d throw in some (semi) contemporary power violence for good measure.
I try to stay posi, and eat my greens etc. But sometimes, you just need a band
like this to get you through the walk through town. Br00tal. I think this originally came out in 2009, but
it was rereleased this year by an Australian label called ‘Blackasfuck’, so I
think it counts.
Another
Dirtnap release (sorry). But this is great. It’s like the Cure or something.
It’s way less angry than their previous stuff, instead they’ve opted for a kind
of atmospheric, spacey kind of thing. I really like it. Plus my friend JC is
going through a weird Goth phase at the minute, so this is a useful compromise.
This
is a beautiful album, by a very talented bunch of people. I’m not a hugely
talented musician, I make no bones about it; I play to my strengths and I rarely
feel self-conscious about my flaws. Yet whenever I see or hear Laura Stevenson
sing and play I feel waves of embarrassment at my musical inadequacy. But once
I get over that, I could listen to this on repeat all day.
I’m
chuffed that Mike Park has given them some the backing they deserve by
releasing this album through Asian Man. They really are amazing folks, with
great politics and a super positive attitude. Musically they fit into that
whole post-latterman, pop-punk scene which has admittedly spawned a lot of
bands who took the sound and aesthetic of the long island DIY scene, whilst
conveniently ignoring the ethic. These chaps do it proper! Great stuff.
David
Combs is the Charles Dickens of folk punk. Or something. No seriously, he’s an
amazing story teller and songwriter, and this album says so much, in such a
nuanced and interesting way, that it was always bound to be a favourite of mine
It’s basically a withering critique of contemporary Western gender roles and
how oppressive constructions of masculinity and femininity serve to alienate
and punish those who don’t fit in. Can’t say that about many albums. It covers
topics as difficult as domestic violence, self-harm, suicide and mental
illness. It’s at times deeply personal and difficult to listen to (as in ‘The
Mamas and The Papas’), but the whole thing is absolutely beautiful. And the
backing band is Nana Grizol. What more could you possibly ask for? I get confused
when I think about how overlooked Spoonboy (and his pop punk band The Max
Levine Ensemble) are in the UK compared to the US. Come on UK punks! Put down
the Iron Chic LP for a minute and listen to this stuff! It’s amazing!
That’s
all from me.
Love
Nathan.
It's not a phase.
ReplyDelete