RJD's Best Albums of 2013

2013 had its ups (see the list below) and its downs (namely Megadeth's megaturd "Super Collider") when it comes to music.  Here is my "Best of 2013."  Na Zdrowie.


13. Kavinsky - "OutRun" (2/26/2013, Mercury [France])

For fans of Daft Punk, Justice, 80s Sega games

Premium cuts: Nightcall, Rampage, Testarossa Autodrive

12. Man Man - "On Oni Pond" (9/10/13, Anti- [USA])

For fans of Tim Fite, Tom Waits and circus folk

Premium cuts: Deep Cover, Head On, Paul's Grotesque

11. The Dillinger Escape Plan - "One Of Us Is The Killer" (5/14/2013, Party Smasher Inc. [USA])

For fans of Faith No More, Every Time I Die, Converge

Premium cuts: One Of Us Is The Killer, Nothing's Funny, Paranoid Shields

10. Tomahawk - "Oddfellows" (1/29/13, Ipecac [USA])

For fans of Mike Patton

Premium cuts: South Paw, Oddfellows, I.O.U.

9. Leprous - "Coal" (5/20/13, Inside Out [Norway])

For fans of Opeth, The Mars Volta, Muse

Premium cuts: The Valley, Chronic, The Cloak

8. Matt Elliott - "Only Myocardial Infarction Can Break Your Heart" (10/28/13, Ici d'ailleurs [UK/France])

For fans of Tindersticks, Gustavo Santaolalla, William Elliott Whitmore

Premium cuts: The Right To Cry, Again, Reap What You Sow

7. Parquet Courts - "Light Up Gold/Tally All The Things That You Broke" (1/15/2013,10/8/13, What's Your Rupture? [USA])

For fans of The Ramones, Chuck Mosley-era Faith No More, early Kings Of Leon

Premium cuts: Master Of My Craft, Borrowed Time, Disney P.T.

6. Earthless - "From The Ages" (10/8/13, Tee Pee Records [USA])

Isaiah Mitchell has been busy.  Last year, he helped create my second favorite song of the year; Howlin' Rain's 'Phantom In The Valley'.  This year he accomplished the same feat (see "Best Songs of 2013" list below) with his other band Earthless.  Touted as "California's loudest band", Earthless jam like they are the last rock group on the planet.  Mitchell seems to be channeling Jimi Hendrix on the tracks 'Violence Of The Red Sea' and 'From The Ages'.  Each song sounds as if it can't quit with the first two clocking in over 14 minutes and the final self-titled epic tracking 30+ minutes.  No vocals can be found on the record, but Mitchell makes his Fender Stratocaster sing. Classic, unadulterated rock.

For fans of Jimi Hendrix, The Allman Brothers Band, The Outlaws

Premium cuts: Violence Of The Red Sea, From The Ages, Uluru Rock

5. Gorguts - "Colored Sands" (9/3/12, Season In Mist [Canada])

An epic band name and one any gastroenterologist with a penchant for John Carpenter films would undoubtedly adore. The heaviest band in the world (or at least Canada) returns with their first album in 12 years.  Leading the charge, Luc Lemay has crafted a Death metal concept masterpiece about the struggle between Tibet and China.  "Colored Sands" has been getting an abundance of positive press and not only from the metal community [see The New York Times review from Sept. 2. The crossword puzzle is on the same page, 66 Across is 'fecalith'.]  Lemay has incorporated his classical music training to bring new life into music commonly associated with large hairy men and tattoo artists.  May Buddha shed his belly moshing to this terrorizing, face-melting METAL!

For fans of Death, Carcass, Voivod

Premium cuts: An Ocean Of Wisdom, Reduced To Silence, The Battle Of Chamdo

4. In Solitude - "Sister" (10/1/2013, Metal Blade [Sweden]) 

Pure evil; the best way to describe In Solitude and their sound.  "Sister" is the third album for the Swedish metal band.  Pelle Ahman and Co. find themselves expanding on the esthetic created with their self-titled album and 2011's master craft "The World. The Flesh. The Devil."  Comparisons to Mercyful Fate and Iron Maiden have been made in regards to their first two albums, but "Sister" continues to detail a howl entirely their own.  In Solitude have unfurled their black wings and found a niche within the metal community.  Occult themes are much more obscure and the music is less grandiose than on their previous releases, however, with the more straight forward songs like "Death Knows Where" and "Horses In The Ground" the music seems more accessible but far from safe.  Pray after listening.

For fans of Mercyful Fate, Iron Maiden, Danzig
Premium cuts: Sister, Death Knows Where, Horses In The Ground

3. Purson - "The Circle & The Blue Door" (4/30/13, Metal Blade [UK])

Occult rock has quickly become a new trend in the metal/rock community over the past couple years.  Among the top of the pack is Purson.  Rosalie Cunningham is the heart and soul of the group and she brings a mysterious, seductive quality to this British rock quintet.  Drawing upon equal parts Coven, Fleetwood Mac and Jethro Tull, a nod to the 1970s London music scene is ever so present.  Despite these obvious comparisons, Purson are able to create there own sound, in part due to the gorgeous vocals by Ms. Cunningham and the stellar supporting cast including prominent Mellotron theatrics by Sam Shove.  Included in the throwback sound are danceable funk rhythms ('Spiderwood Farm') and folk picking ('Tempest And The Tide.') This is truly another blast from the past which should be served amongst mass quantities of incense and lava lamps.

For fans of Blood Ceremony, Fleetwood Mac, Electric Wizard
Premium cuts: Spiderwood Farm, Tragic Catastrophe, Leaning On A Bear

2. Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - "Push The Sky Away/Live from KCRW" (2/19/13, 11/29/13, Bad Seeds Ltd. [UK/Australia])

Nick Cave can do no wrong.  He is like a bottle of good barleywine, only getting better with age.  The Aussie has been making music since the late 70s, however his best material has been created over the past 10 years; Abattoir Blues/The Lyre Of Orpheus (2004), Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!! (2008) and Grinderman 2 (2010).  The singer, songwriter, author, poet, screenwriter, showman, is the only performer who can put more smut into his lyrics and still come off sounding like a gentleman.  The man oozes badassery rivaling that of Charles Bronson, Chuck Norris and Snake Plissken (another John Carpenter reference) combined.  And his stage presence needs to be experienced by all music lovers.  "Push The Sky Away" continues his trajectory of creating unbelievable music as he lengthens in the tooth.  The music here is much more docile than his aforementioned albums but retains his trademark swagger.  With lyrics like "She was a catch, we were a match, I was the match that would fire up her snatch", he hasn't lost any of his Catholic appeal.  Sick bastard.  Brilliant album(s).

For fans of Tom Waits, Joy Division, Echo And The Bunnymen
Premium cuts: Jubilee Street, Wide Lovely Eyes, Mermaids

1. Sammal - "Sammal" (1/15/13, Svart Records [Finland])

I have never been a person who focuses on lyrics.  Honestly, I rarely know (or care) what the vocalist is actually saying.  For me, music has always been about the riff, the groove and the way it makes you feel.  Sammal sing entirely in their native Finnish tongue (Sammal translated means "moss") and the music is so good the words don't matter.  Bands such as Sigor Ros and Rammstein have proven a non-English album can succeed in the US.  That being said, Sammal has put together my favorite foreign language record… ever.  Sammal has a progressive rock sound which harks back to the days of Moby Grape and Genesis (Peter Gabriel era) but they also incorporate an early metal influence like that passed down from Deep Purple and Led Zeppelin.  Huge atmospheric sound, wailing guitars and anthemic keyboards can be heard throughout the album and frequently within a single song.  No need for a Finnish to English manual as the mood will be set shortly after the play button is hit. Despite the lack of Finn vernacular, I guarantee you will be singing along to songs like 'Esox Lucius' and 'Kaikki Kortit' after only a couple spins.  Enjoy the trip.  Ladies and gentleman, the best album of 2013.

For fans of all things 70s ROCK.
Premium cuts: Esox Lucius, Kaikki Kortit, Lehtipuiden Alle

Best songs of 2013:

1. Matt Elliott - "The Right To Cry" (the best song of the past 5+ years!)
2. Earthless - "Violence Of The Red Sea" (easily the second best song of the past 5+ years. Rivaling only the #1 on this list!)

3. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - "Jubilee Street"
4. Ghost B.C. - "Ghuleh/Zombie Queen"
5. Sammal - "Esox Lucius"
6. Parquet Courts - "Master Of My Craft/Borrowed Time"

7. Man Man - "Head On"

8. Kurt Vile - "Wakin On A Pretty Day"

9. Purson - " Spiderwood Farm"

10. Tomahawk - "South Paw"

11. In Solitude - "Sister"

12. Jake Bugg - "What Doesn't Kill You"
13. Clutch - "D.C. Sound Attack!"

Best in Metal 2013!

Be prepared for a face melting (in alphabetical order.)

Black Metal - Inquisition "Obscure Verses For The Multiverse"

Dark Metal - In Solitude "Sister"

Death Metal - Carcass "Surgical Steel"

Foreign Language Metal - Kvelertak "Meir"

Jam Metal - Earthless "From The Ages"

Live Metal - High On Fire "Spitting Fire Live Vol. 1"

Math Metal - The Dillinger Escape Plan "One Of Us Is The Killer"

Punk Metal - Mutoid Man "Helium Head"

Occult Metal - Purson "The Circle & The Blue Door"

Sludge Metal - Anciients "Heart Of Oak"

Technical Metal - Gorguts "Colored Sands"

Deserted Island Material

Enjoy hypothetical questions?  I do (about as much as lists.)

Well, if you were to be stranded on a deserted island with a Discman®, portable speakers, a lifetime supply of AA batteries and only 5 albums, which would you choose?

After much (...some) debating, here are the 5 albums I would be happy to spin for eternity (or at least until I can no longer survive isolated in a hunter/gatherer scenario.)

[As a side note; these do not necessarily represent my favorite albums.  Nor are they in any particular order.  Just a bunch of "classic" albums with a good mix of diversity.  And no "Greatest Hits" albums... that's just cheating.]


The Heavy

The Epic

The Funk

The Folk

The Female

How about your island?

New Music Tuesday

Anticipating...

or

Hmmm???

[Hallelujah, It's Tight Like That!]

He's Gone Home

Alvin Lee R.I.P.

Thank you for all the iconic music and the most epic performance at Woodstock!  You will forever be remembered.

Gnarly Album Covers: Best of 2012

In the age of digital media, previously important items are becoming lost in the realm of music.  Albums are no longer collectables amongst most of the younger generation and "singles" have certainly become king.  Of course many of your "audiophiles" and vinyl collectors will insist on purchasing physical media (\m/ \m/), that fact of the matter is electronic means of acquiring music will now and forever be the largest and most lucrative method.  As a result, I fear people, and possibly the musicians themselves, will no longer appreciate the significance of album art.

The album cover has always been very important to me and to the music itself.  In particular, metal bands like Iron Maiden and Megadeth have relied heavily on their covers to entice new listeners and introduce them to their catalog (in all its devastating glory!)  That being said, I have commonly purchased CDs and records based solely on an album cover that had caught my eye.   Eventhough more often than not I have sold these albums back to a local record store, others have proved to be exceptional.  I cringe at a time when artists release their music without this memorable element.  Until that time comes...

Enjoy my favorite album covers of 2012.


5. Pallbearer - "Sorrow And Extinction"

4. Céu - "Caravana Sereia Bloom"

3. Matt Elliott - "The Broken Man"

2. Angel Witch - "As Above, So Below"

1. Chromatics - "Kill For Love"

Best of 2012 - ZH Version

I have to admit that this past year in music was fairly uninspiring for me. There were a lot of albums I liked, few that I loved. Very few that I liked from start to finish without throw-away tracks. It was definitely more of a mix tape year for me. Nevertheless, here are the best of the bunch and the ones in heaviest rotation for me. I hope for good things in 2013 and I know there are a few promising releases on the horizon.


10. The Heavy - The Glorious Dead

I don't really know what the popular consensus is on these guys and I feel like this is kind of a guilty pleasure sort of pick, but I don't care because I really enjoy listening to this album. With the exception of Big Bad Wolf (which would have been really good as an instrumental), I find myself listening to and singing along with this disc over and over again during my commute home. There's definitely a Black Keys vibe which makes it an obvious pick, but again, I don't care. I like it. It's fun. Screw you, hipsters.


9. Jack White - Blunderbuss

I had high hopes for this one, and in the end, I think they were too high. Don't get me wrong, I think this is a great album, well crafted, well produced, appropriately varied. I just feel like it's not very memorable. I don't see myself choosing to put this album on over any of the White Stripes ones. That being said, the guy's still a genius. Trash Tongue Talker, Love Interruption and I'm Shakin' are among the year's best songs. I also love his marketing scheme. He used the same template he used for the White Stripes' ever-present red and white motif and built a new black and blue brand in his own name, complete with the classic "III" logo and alternating all-male and all-female touring bands. This dude is a showman and he knows how to do it right. I really enjoyed seeing him this last summer and I think his live show made the album sparkle a little more. I expect his next solo effort to be mind-blowing.


8. Menomena - Moms

This is another one I was probably too excited about. I like everything these guys have done, but I was always less impressed with the tracks built off Brent Knopf's ideas. Then he quit the band. Perfect, I thought, I love this band and now the only part of it I don't care for is gone. It's like distilling the band down to a potent and extremely satisfying Menomena extract. Unfortunately, this one didn't quite hit the mark as I'd expected. I'm afraid that he took with him not only the blah synth based meanderings, but also some important part of the song creation process. Several of these songs lack the depth and layers I love from Friend and Foe and Mines. I've described their unique songwriting process on this blog previously so I won't go into it again, but it seems they've also ditched that innovative method on this album. Still (by now you've probably picked up on a theme in this post), this album has some really awesome songs. Plumage, Capsule and Skintercourse are outstanding and some of my favorite tracks they've ever recorded. I got to see them play live three times this fall and you can be sure I'll catch them again next time they come back home for a show.


7. Django Django - Django Django

Sir RJD introduced me to these guys when he came to visit in September and I've been hooked ever since. I think he summarized it well on his list so I won't go into great detail, but Default and Love's Dart are particularly noteworthy and this album played a lot in my house over the last few months of the year.


6. Air - Le Voyage Dans La Lune

This is probably the only album I loved from the first track to the last, probably because it's concept nature makes it one continuous piece. It's actually a score for the movie of the same name. The movie was from the dawn of filmmaking (it's the one featured in the movie Hugo) and it's silent. These guys decided it needed some music behind it and this is what they came up with. They screened the film here many months back with the soundtrack and I regrettably missed it, but I have a feeling it's pretty impressive. The album stands alone quite well and has a proggy, 2001 A Space Odyssey feel at times. I think it was the first album I bought in 2012 and one of the best.


5. The Tallest Man on Earth - There's No Leaving Now

It's pretty much a given that any time TTMOE or WEW releases an album, it's going to be in my top five of the year. Again, RJD has summarized this album nicely and it's more of the same from a rare folk talent. I hope he keeps making records for a long, long time and, after missing him play free shows in Portland several times in years past, I'm glad that I finally got to see him perform live for the first time.


4. Japandroids - Celebration Rock

It took me a while to get into these guys. They had heaps of praise piled on them after Post Nothing came out a few years ago. I got that album, but I didn't quite see the brilliance, or maybe I didn't give a chance. This one by the Vancouver BC twosome grabbed me rather quickly and grew with each subsequent listen. It's short and sweet and is pure energy from top to bottom. Another great show I saw this year, their set at the Wonder Ballroom was their first back on the west coast and they showed very much love to their brethren to the south by playing the entire album plus most of Post Nothing and many early single and EP tracks.


3. Grizzly Bear - Shields; Daniel Rossen - Silent Hour/Golden Mile

I was treated twice this year by Daniel Rossen, so I decided to lump these two albums together at number three. Not only did we get the usual melodic perfection of a new Grizzly Bear album, but DR decided to issue an EP of the songs he wrote that didn't make it onto Shields. A big Department of Eagles fan, I say the more Rossen the better and I'm always moved by his songs. It's pretty incredible that the songs on Silent Hour didn't make the final cut because they're all excellent. There is an unmistakable George Harrison sound on this disc that keeps me coming back. Golden Mile is a great track that I hesitate to call the highlight, because really the album is solid all the way through. Favorite songs on the Grizzly Bear album change every time I listen to it (this happens to me with every GB album) but right now I'd say Sleeping Ute, A Simple Answer and Gun-Shy stand out.


2. The Evens - The Odds

I've found in recent years that some of my favorite albums end up being ones I didn't expect. They're from artists I don't know who make music I don't typically seek out. But there's always something I was craving that I wasn't aware of and these albums reach me at the exact right time. Last year the album was from Tune-Yards. This year it's The Evens. Their slightly produced baritone guitar, drums and tag team vocals set up scratched an itch I didn't know I had. I've never been a big Fugazi fan, but this slowed down, stripped down approach to punk works well. The songs are infectious and I couldn't ever seem to stay away very long. The whole album is really good, but check out King of Kings, Sooner or Later, Broken Finger and Architects Sleep to get started. This is one band whose back catalog I can't wait to dive into.


1. Fiona Apple - The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than the Driver of the Screw and Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do

This album came out in early summer and I said after the first listen that it was the best of the year to that point. It became the benchmark against which all other albums of 2012 were judged. She writes incredibly catchy songs and pours so much soul into them vocally that they're just plain fun to listen to. And her voice is really what it's about. Accompanied by only her keyboard and percussion you can literally feel the emotion on tracks like Every Single Night and Daredevil. She took her time for this release and its flawlessness shows. I think the reason this one rose so high on my list was again the Tune-Yard effect. I think this album and Whokill share a lot of similarities and if I never get to fulfill my dream of seeing WEW and TTMOE play a double bill together I think seeing Merrill and Fiona would be the next best thing.



Despite my negativity about the year that was in music, this is a solid list. I was lucky enough to see four of the above bands perform live and will plan to see a fifth (Django Django) in March. I don't get to see and hear as much live music as I once did, but I am grateful every day that these heroes of mine (superheroes, really) are still traveling around the world to let their fans experience their brilliance live. The definite highlight of my year musically was attending MFNW with RJD. We packed in three days of live shows, catching some of our all time favorites while also discovering some new surprises (I predict Tango Alpha Tango will officially arrive in 2013). Thanks for sharing a great weekend and I hope we can do it again sooner than later.

Below, in sticking with the format, I've included my best of list for 2012, an album I've titled 2012 in Rearview. Enjoy.

2012 in Rearview

1. Astronomic Club - Air
2. Elephant - Tame Impala
3. Default - Django Django
4. Sooner or Later - The Evens
5. Plumage - Menomena
6. A Simple Answer - Grizzly Bear
7. Black Cloud - Tango Alpha Tango
8. Who - David Byrne & St. Vincent
9. Daredevil - Fiona Apple
10. The Lonesome Road - The Heavy
11. About To Die - Dirty Projectors
12. Little Brother - The Tallest Man On Earth
13. Trash Tongue Talker - Jack White
14. Hold On - Alabama Shakes
15. The House That Heaven Built - Japandroids
16. To Break Into - Tu Fawning