headphonelife

[headphonelife]

Year in Review: 2016

For starters, 2016 was a shitty year for music. I’m not just talking about new music, but we lost a lot of great musicians - Bowie, Prince, and Phife Dawg to name a few. This led to a lot of people digging into dead musicians’ catalogs - WHY? - because everything new just plain sucked. Frank Ocean’s Blonde couldn’t have been more overrated, Drake has officially left rap for R&B, and Animal Collective hasn’t made an album with substance since Merriweather Post Pavilion. *sigh* I digress. Let’s talk about what I actually enjoyed from 2016.

Singles

Kanye West - “Real Friends”

“I miss tha OLD Kanye...” - that line from The Life of Pablo couldn’t be more fitting for this track. “Real Friends” truly is the old Kanye we all know and love. So many good lyrics from this song, but there’s no need to list them. Just crank this in the ride “til da wheels don’t spin”.

Radiohead - “Spectre”

Even though Sam Smith’s version was used for the Bond film, I couldn’t be prouder of Radiohead for releasing this single. It’s extremely fitting for a Bond movie, and the production is outstanding.

Tame Impala - “Beverly Laurel” 

OK, the music police will say this song actually came out years ago on the Lonerism vinyl LP, but for some reason, Tame never released this track to the digital music world. I don’t know why because it’s fucking amazing. I’m gonna go out on a limb here, but I am crowning Tame Impala as the best band of this decade. Everything they put out kills. If you’re not listening to Tame Impala, start listening.

EPs

The Strokes - Future Present Past EP

The Strokes have been making music for 15 years which is really hard for me to believe. This is their first release since leaving RCA and joining Julian Casablancas’ label, Cult Records. I think what I always dug about this band is Julian’s coarse voice, and their simplistic approach to garage rock and new wave. I know it’s a stretch but I’ve always considered them to be a better version of The Cars. When I hear old songs from The Cars such as “Let’s Go” or “Shake It Up”, it somehow reminds me of The Strokes. 

This EP is 4 tracks, but the 4th track is actually a remix, so I guess that makes 3. Whose counting though? All the songs are great, but “Oblivius” takes the cake. That chorus is the focal point, and the bridge is very Ratatat-ish (which is a good thing - love me some Ratatat).

Kendrick Lamar - untitled unmastered.

I always dug his debut album, Section.80. good kid, m.A.A.d city was gold. To Pimp a Butterfly brought him to stardom. This EP is a mashup of songs that never made the previously mentioned material. It has a mysterious presence with every single song being listed as “untitled” and if I remember correctly, it had a mysterious release. It randomly dropped on iTunes one night with no formal announcement. 

I see jiggaboos. I see styrofoams.

LPs

Radiohead - A Moon Shaped Pool

This album could be argued as Radiohead’s best. It’s extremely fluid despite all the tracks simply being listed in alphabetical order. That leads me to believe they put zero thought into what track should be first, second, etc. They just through this LP together, and it worked. 

“Burn the Witch” is a solid opener, and sets the tone for the remainder of the album. I’d like to recognize “Present Tense” as my favorite song on the record; very eerie at times, but also a very beautiful song. So much variety in percussion on that song.

Jim James - Eternally Even

I literally knew nothing about Jim James until this year (probably because I never cared for My Morning Jacket). I was sampling some music one day, and gave this a listen for two reasons: 1) I thought the cover looked cool, and 2) The man has two first names like me. 

I was blown away by the first track. It has the perfect blend of psychedelic rock and synth that will make you stare into space and completely mellow out. That’s what I love about music. At times it will my mind off the everyday bullshit known as “LIFE”.

This record was hands down my favorite album of 2016. It was the single piece of ebb and flow I look for in a record. I enjoyed it from start to finish. 

The closer, “Eternally Even” (which is also the album title), was particularly appealing to me as it sounded a lot like Pink Floyd’s “Comfortably Numb” - listen closely to those opening chords. In my opinion Jim James couldn’t have picked a better way to conclude. The song is graceful. It’s orchestral. It’s eternal.

[headphonelife]

Jamie xx: In Colour

Released May 29, 2015 - Young Turks

I can’t talk about this year’s music without mentioning In Colour. I have been a fan of Jamie xx ever since I heard his version of Gil Scott-Heron’s “NY is Killing Me”. The man has an original recipe for taking many different genres of music, sound, and dialogue, and mixing it into superior electronic music.

In Colour starts off with a bang. “Gosh” is an adrenaline rush of high tempo bass and drums that sounds like a Prodigy record. “Oh my gosh” is repeated over and over. By the time you hear the sirens and synths sneaking into the latter part of the song, all you think is, “oh my gosh...this track kills”. If there is one song that gets me going in the morning, it’s this one. 

“Sleep Sound” defines ambient. It’s a very well done beat backed by female vocals. Jamie fits the female “oh, oh, oh” right into the track. “SeeSaw” features Romy from The XX. The drums are outstanding, and so are the vocals. It’s the one track on the album that has lyrics everyone can relate to; a relationship that has its highs and lows...”On a seesaw up and down...up and down with you”.

“Obvs” is one track that doesn’t get enough recognition. I love this song. The steel drums are an instrument that Jamie xx works into a lot of his singles. They are the staple to this song. I think what I love most is that the steel drums are playing sixteenth notes, but it sounds like triplets based on the 3 note progression (music dork alert).

Those first 4 songs are amazing. If I had to rate all songs on the album, those 4 would be my top picks. In Colour has some filler tracks along the way like, “Just Saying”, “Hold Tight”, and “The Rest Is Noise”. The one tune that stands out would be “The Rest Is Noise”. The progression is on point. Jamie adds in piece, after piece, and creates a unique musical collaboration. He features piano in the middle, toms, and even some female humming that you might not even notice.

Two more songs that need to be mentioned are, “Loud Places” and “Girl”. “Loud Places” was a favorite amongst DJs. Jamie released a remix album for the song which features 5 remixes including one by John Talabot. “Girl” is a great closer to the album. The bass line drives the entire song. I always picture a slow motion entrance into a dark club scene. “Girl” should be played while you and your squad enter the building. 

As I mentioned earlier, In Colour has been in every one of my music discussions this year. I know 2015 has not ended, but I would like to crown it as album of the year. Jamie xx had so much hype centered around his first LP release, and he more than exceeded my expectations. I had the opportunity to see him live this year and I would highly recommend it. He is a true DJ who will spin vinyl, consisting of new and old music. When the timing is write, he will mix in and drop his original content.

[headphonelife]

Destroyer: Kaputt

Released Jan 25, 2011 - Merge Records

With the release of his 2015 LP Poison Season, his eleventh studio album, I thought it was about time I write a review for Destroyer’s Kaputt. Dan Bejar is the mastermind behind Destroyer, and don’t let the name fool you, his music sounds nothing like the Kiss record. Maybe it’s my love for Bowie, or The Smiths, but his music sounds closely similar. It had me hooked right away.

Now let me be clear, if you can’t stand a man with a feminine voice singing over soft jazzy tunes, then this record is not for you. Bejar’s voice is extremely distinct. It’s something that really stands out in his music. It may take some getting used to, but you will grow to appreciate it. He rarely sings verse, chorus, verse - he’s reciting poetry majority of the time.

As for the music, the first four tracks flow perfectly. “Chinatown” is a gloomy, melancholic opener that paves the way for the rest of the album. It’s soft rock, backed with female vocals, piano, saxophone, trumpet, and any other instruments that are featured on 87.7 FM Chicago. “Blue Eyes” is more upbeat but keeps the same theme. It’s Bejar mixed with brass and jazz. “Savage Night At The Opera” sounds so 80′s it’s hard to believe this music came out in 2011. Reminds me a lot of New Order - the bass line and electric drum kit drive this tune from start to finish.

“Suicide Demo for Kara Walker” gets its own paragraph. This is the most prominent track on the album. It’s the second longest track, and clocks in around 8 and a half minutes. The intro is very entrancing with a mix of synth, guitar, piano, and flute. It’s executed perfectly and makes me appreciate the musicianship of the band. Bejar’s voice chimes in at 2 and a half minutes, and takes this track into overdrive. This is another song which sounds a lot like poetry rather than music. The part that I would consider his chorus will become embedded in your head, “Now that you got it all...wrong...you got it all...backwards girl. Enter through the exit, and exit through the entrance when you can”.

The second half of the album is good, but those first 4 songs are gold. “Kaputt” may be the most popular song from the album - the critics and the public love it. The closer, “Bay of Pigs”, is very experimental and is sort of a let down. It’s 11 minutes of synth highs and lows that never really lead anywhere. Bejar’s speaking in the beginning is a bit draining. He makes the song more musical near the end, but it’s not his best.

With their large catalog of music, Destroyer has a ton of material to sample. I highly recommend starting with Kaputt. You can get a feel for Bejar’s style of how he recites rather sings at times. Streethawk: A Seduction, Poison Season, and Destroyer’s Rubies are all worth listening to.

My Rating: 3.5

[headphonelife]

Todd Terje: It’s Album Time

Released Apr 8, 2014 - Olsen Records

Since Jamie xx has a debut album quickly approaching, I thought I would review a man of similar background. I consider Jamie xx and Todd Terje to be similar in that they usually only release the occasional single from time to time (their music styles are actually very different). It’s nice to see both men make a stab at a well developed LP.

It’s Album Time has a rather 80′s-electro sound. The “Intro” reminds of The Who’s “Eminence Front”. It has that keyboard/synthesizer loop backed by a drum machine. When the real drums drop, the track comes to life: “Album time (it’s), Album time (it’s), Album time (it’s), Album time (it’s)”. Our album intro is followed by “Leisure Suit Preben” which again, is straight out of the 80′s. I’m pretty sure I heard this song during the opening credits of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Running Man.

“Preben Goes to Acapulco” stays with the Eminence Front style and takes us through a scene straight out of Pilotwings 64. Think of Goose riding the hang glider. For the record I like the music from Pilotwings 64 much better. “Svensk Sås” has a Latin/Samba feel to it and it’s a track I particularly like. You can tell Terje is having a ton of fun with this track. The melodies that would traditionally be brass and horns are replaced by modified voices which mock the sound of these instruments. The result is both innovative and impressive.

“Strandbar” is where the album starts to bump. This is a dancing tune, and a jazzy one at that. It makes the perfect segue into “Delorean Dynamite” which takes us back to...wait for it...the 80′s. The song title appropriately includes the word “Delorean” in it too (if you don’t know what the Delorean is, stop reading this post, and go watch Back to the Future). Jokes aside, this track has excellent progression and can be argued as one of the best songs on the album. However, “Johnny and Mary” comes along and steals the show. This song is actually a cover of Robert Palmer, but Terje makes the song into a musical masterpiece. I love this song. Calling it beautiful would be an understatement so I will label it immaculate. Hats off to Bryan Ferry on vocals.

“Alfonso Muskedunder” is a whirlwind of track that’s both massive and profound based on the timing and jazziness. The drum break is sick and a piece that I thoroughly appreciate. It’s another song with strong progression and drive. “Swing Star” is broken into two parts which I feel can both be skipped...if you have ten minutes to kill, by all means go ahead and listen to them. “Oh Joy” is another fun song with a word I have now used 3 times, progression. Very New Order-ish. 

Finally we reach the closer, “Inspector Norse”. This shit bumps. Those first few seconds suck you right in - literally. Every time I listen to this song I picture the Fonz gettin down. I think it’s a totally appropriate song for the gif below.

My Rating: 3

[headphonelife]

King Tuff: Black Moon Spell

Released Sep 23, 2014 - Sub Pop Records

King Tuff is everything that rock ‘n’ roll should be. Take the voice of T. Rex and back it up with a band like MC5, The Stooges, or Alice Cooper, and the result will be Black Moon Spell.

The LP starts off with “Black Moon Spell” and it immediately pulls you in. It makes me think of Spinal Tap because this song should only be played at 11. It’s loud, it’s in your face, and it’s shredder. This song really sets the tone for the rest of the record. “Rainbow’s Run” has that classic rock sound that I love, and “Headbanger” is like something from a Kiss album. This conclusion was reinforced when I watched the music video for “Headbanger” on Funny or Die. King Tuff and Magic Jake rock back and forth just like Ace Frehley and Gene Simmons.

"Magic Mirror” is when I finally said, “Damn...these guys can rock....”. This song will keep you in engaged from the opening chord. It’s dark, heavy, and exhibits a badass guitar solo. After “Magic Mirror” they segue into “Madness” which resembles chants from Queen’s “We Will Rock You” - four to the the floor, power chords, and poppy, anthem-style lyrics. The song is super cheesy, but I’d been lying if I said I did not love it. You’ll be singing it later.

“Eyes of the Muse” is another jam straight out of the 70′s. King Tuff can certainly play guitar, and he knows how to create a good hook. If you listened to as much classic rock as I did over these years, you’ll certainly enjoy this track. 

“Staircase of Diamonds” has taken the position of my favorite song on the record. It starts out really sappy. It’s packed full of teenage love song lyrics such as, “Above the stars, to venus and mars, where she sends me”. I quickly thought this song would be total shit. Plus, it’s all acoustic guitar in the beginning, and this is not the King Tuff I want. After the short intro, they hit the distortion pedals, and the Marshall stacks come to life. It’s another dark, and heavy tune that takes you down the road of psychedelia. It finishes with a massive guitar solo that is surrounded by loads of distortion and echo. If it were up to me, I would have closed out the record with this song. It has the best progression on the album.

To reflect, this record took a little time to grow on me, but it was the classic rock heaviness that won me over. If you enjoy straight up rock ‘n’ roll, then you’ll certainly enjoy King Tuff’s, Black Moon Spell.

My Rating: 4.5

[headphonelife]

King Tuff - “Madness”

This looks like fun.

[headphonelife]

Parquet Courts: Sunbathing Animal

Released Jun 3, 2014 - What’s Your Rupture? / Mom and Pop

Simple. Scrappy. Silly.

Parquet Courts is a group of four who don’t sound like they put much thought into their music. Regardless, the end result is gold.

“Bodies made of slugs and guts...bodies made of slugs and guts...”. Sunbathing Animal kicks off with “Bodies”, a jam that can be summed up into the 3 adjectives I listed above. While we’re on the topic, the ENTIRE record can be summed up into something simple, scrappy, and silly. With riffs that sound like they’re straight out of a high school punk show, and lyrics that may or may not be made up on the spot, why would anyone want to listen to these guys? I’ll tell you why. This music is relatable. It reminds me of how I used to play in my younger years, and all the music I used to listen to. Everyone always wants to play loud and fast - see “Sunbathing Animal”. Everyone wants to have a slow jam - see “Instant Disassembly”. Everyone wants that stand out single - see “Black and White”. Everyone wants to be on Letterman - see “Bodies Made Of”. OK that last sentence was a stretch, but you get the point. 

Parquet Courts know how to rock, and they know how to make a record. They don’t stick to one style on Sunbathing Animal - they give you variety. If you jump straight to the self-titled track, “Sunbathing Animal”, you’ll think you’re listening to something from an OFF! record. While that track completely shreds, the rest of their library is just as good. Take “Always Back In Town” for example, a track where the the same riff is played throughout the entire song (primarily). It almost makes me think they threw this song on the record as an album filler. It’s actually one of my favorite tracks. Two verses get played, and right where a guitar solo would be inserted, they just continue with the same riff for 10 bars. Why the fuck not?

I think what I appreciate most about Parquet Courts is their simplicity. Yes, they have the scrappiness and silliness I mentioned at the beginning, but the simplicity is what rises above all. Keep it simple, and they will listen. 

My Rating: 4.5

[headphonelife]

Panda Bear: Panda Bear Meets the Grim Reaper

Released Jan 12, 2015 - Domino Recording Company 

Noah Lennox is a true composer. He’s the back bone to Animal Collective, and arguably the most talented in the group. I am at the point where I feel his solo work as Panda Bear is even better than Animal Collective’s huge library of music.  

His follow up to 2011′s Tomboy does not fall short. Panda Bear Meets the Grim Reaper had an enormous buzz surrounding its release. The Mr Noah - EP which came out in Fall of 2014 only gave a taste of what was on the horizon.

The record opens up with “Sequential Circuits”, which in true Panda Bear fashion, includes layers upon layers of his voice. The first line states, “Get just what you need”. When I stop and think, these songs are exactly what I need. They send me into my own world where I can meditate, reflect, and focus.

“Mr Noah” follows the first song, and picks up the pace. The head will start bobbing, and you’ll find yourself repeating the hook over and over. It was a great single to release prior to the album. “Crosswords” is light and upbeat. From a vocals stand point, it is one of my favorite tracks to sing along with. It reminds me so much of Animal Collective because the lyrics will not change very much. The same sentences will be repeated over and over.

The three songs that crowd up the middle of this record can all be viewed as “the best song” on the album. “Boys Latin” highlights Panda Bear’s rich innovation. His voice is mixed into an echo that results in the vocals becoming the lead musical instrument. To be blunt, it’s fucking brilliant. If you get a chance, check out the music video; very psychedelic. “Come To Your Senses” is another head bobber which you’ll find yourself singing along to. Another song with very few lyrics which will be repeated over and over. You can’t stop yourself from joining in. “Tropic of Cancer” is my favorite song on the record. I loved it from the moment I heard it. It gave me the same beautiful feeling I felt from Tomboy’s “Last Night at the Jetty” (if you’re not familiar, please listen). The blend of the wind, harp, and piano make this song extremely soothing and pleasant to listen to. On the contrary, the official video is a giant bowl of “what the hell did I just watch?”. 

“Lonely Wanderer” is about as beautiful as its predecessor, “Tropic of Cancer”. The piano is so graceful, and Noah’s voice is backed by electric waves that keep your interest. This is another elegant tune that will only increase your love of the album. “Selfish Gene” at first listen had me asking, “what year is it?”. It sounds like it’s off of New Order’s Power, Corruption & Lies. After further review, I started to appreciate the lyrics, and how catchy they were. His production is superb. Sometimes electronic can be viewed as mixed up crap, but "Selfish Gene” turns out so clean.

While the album includes 13 songs from start to finish, I only chose to speak about the 8 above. This is mainly due to the powerful impact each of them had on me. I’d also like to point out that I thoroughly appreciate an album that flows well from one song to the next, and PBMGR does exactly that. This is a stellar record from beginning to end.

My Rating: 5

[headphonelife]

Built To Spill: Untethered Moon

Released Apr 18, 2015 - Warner Bros. Records

There is nothing untethered about this record.  Built To Spill is still fastened to their same great sound.  They have a tendency to create some amazing jam ballads that I love (see “Some Other Song” & “So”).  They also know how to kick off a record with a massive opener.  The opening track “All Our Songs” is up their with Keep It Like A Secret’s “The Plan” and You in Reverse’s “Goin’ Against Your Mind”.  

This is a group with a very long tenure that still knows how to rock.  I’m really looking forward to seeing them at the Metro Chicago on  5/30/2015.

My Rating: 4

[headphonelife]

Father John Misty: I Love You, Honeybear

Released Feb 10, 2015 - Sub Pop Records 

Josh Tillman, better known as Father John Misty, is a true musician.  The vocals, the lyrics, and instrumentation are on point throughout his sophomore album.  

There is one common theme on this album: Love.  Almost every song is about being with the one you love.

Turn on “When You’re Smiling and Astride Me”, and take it to the bedroom.

My rating (1 = poor, 5 = excellent): 4.5         

[headphonelife]

Father John Misty: Fear Fun

Released May 1, 2012 - Sub Pop Records

Father John Misty is an extremely talented artist.  His debut album is a must have for any music library.  It's hard to pick a favorite song, but I thought I would point out some of my favorite lyrics: "Smoke everything in sight with every girl I've ever loved."

"Oh pour me another drink, and punch me in the face.  You can call me, Nancy."

"Someone's gotta help me dig." - nothing special about this line, but you will find yourself chanting it from time to time.

His follow up to Fear Fun comes out February 10th and is entitled, "I Love You, Honeybear".  Super bummed I'm out of town when he comes to play at the Vic Theatre.  Regardless, I will see this man perform live before I die.

My Rating: (1 = poor, 5 = excellent): 5

[headphonelife]

Fine tuned alt rock.  Plug in the cans, turn the volume to ten, and rock out.

[headphonelife]

When someone tells you your favorite band sucks...

[headphonelife]

Mark Arm and @JMascis w/ a couple of awesome King Tuff records in the Sub Pop warehouse where Mark reigns as king. Photo by @otisserie. (at Sub Pop HQ)

Pick up King Tuff’s new record, Black Moon Spell (held by J).