Top 10 Albums of 2021

 

Normally, I say a bunch of stuff about what think of the past year in music.  This one was good.  It was single heavy for me.  This list is not about the best ten albums, just what I listened to most.  I’ve spent most of my life, putting music as my go to for enjoyment and solace and comfort, but it isn’t working as well for me anymore.  I haven’t figured out anything else that contains its healing and inspirational powers.  There is always good music.  Seek it out and let me know what you enjoyed this year.

1.      1. Low HEY WHAT

 

Low have stayed relevant and a personal favorite since I first learned of them in 1994.  This new album in not very song oriented, and at times can be jarring or sleepy, but to me it is full of imagination and incredible depth.  The first couple of tracks remind me of being stuck in an MRI machine.  I have always thought about the repetitive clanks and rapid fire noises as musical.  And here it is.  An ode to the MRI.  The entire album though, has caused me to imagine it as a musical slash early 70s style antiseptic white room based sci-fi movie, where we realize that the things we’re supposed to worry about in the future, are here now.  Wonderful.  Masterful.

(https://lowtheband.bandcamp.com/album/hey-what)

1.    2.  Blankenberge Everything

 

Epic, dramatic, precise, powerful, awe-inspiring.  How many superlatives can I use?  His band from Saint Petersburg, Russia exceeds them all.  This album will be a favorite for the rest of my life.  There is no question.  Especially when played loud.

(https://blankenberge.bandcamp.com/album/everything)

 

2.     3.  Flyying Colours Fantasy Country

 

Australia’s Flyying Colours took some time, but finally released their best album yet early in 2021.  It includes two singles at the beginning that were released quite some time ago, the kinda groovy 70-ish “Goodtimes” and the roaring anthem “Big Mess.”  The rest of the album seems inspired by their own wonderful sound and a less isolating Movement era New Order precision. 

(https://flyyingcolours.bandcamp.com/album/fantasy-country)

 

3.     4.  Tambourina Tambourine Dream

 

Tambourina is born out of previous bands like Glowfriends and Overly Polite Tornadoes.  Continuing their lineage of dynamic indie rock.  Their thoughtful and insightful songs are catchy as hell and I love the vocal interplay.  Fantastic debut from these veterans.

(https://tambourina.bandcamp.com/)

 

4.      5. Old Moon Altars  and  Dreamer, Sleeper

 

New Hampshire’s Old Moon is already very prolific.  They keep releasing a rustic sounding version of early post-punk darkness and it is enthralling.  Both albums from this past year are amazing.

(https://oldmoon.bandcamp.com/music)

 

5.     6.  Ducks Ltd. Modern Fiction

 

This Toronto twosome create a spiky UK sound reminiscent of the stuff from the late 80s Sire Records roster.  I loved a lot of those bands, and welcome a modern band full of wit and addictive tunes.

(https://ducksltdband.bandcamp.com/album/modern-fiction)

 

6.      7. Deafheaven Infinite Granite

 

I don’t know much about Deafheaven.  From what I gather, their history has landed them in a metal / screamo category of rock.  I don’t really care for the thousands of sub categories that we create to label groups.  But whatever the case, this album is a softer edged sound with stretched out songs and spectacular musicianship.  The songs are heartfelt and enjoyable and every so often a mentalism or scream comes to the fore.  Epic.

(https://deafheavens.bandcamp.com/)

 

7.      8. Fotoform Horizons

 

Seattle’s Fotoform’s second album is a tight little pot-punk / goth nugget.  That early Cure bass line throughout is absolutely magical, but also a bit repetitive.  Whatever the case, it’s a sound that I am addicted to.  These emotional songs are quite the elixir. 

(https://fotoform.bandcamp.com/album/horizons)

 

8.     9.  Fawns of Love Innocence of Protection

 

This is the second album in a row that Fawns of Love have delved into the dance pop programming of mid 80s New Order only with dreamy angelic vocals.  I am a sucker for this.  Another enjoyale collection.

(https://fawnsoflove.bandcamp.com/album/innocence-of-protection)

 

9.      10. The High Violets B-Sides & Rarities

 

Portland legends.  I’ve loved their music for years, and seen them perform live many times, but always felt their recorded output never reflected the quality of their live sets.  This collection collects rarities, but it is also now their best album.  These songs are among their best.

(https://thehighviolets.bandcamp.com/)

 

 

 

Favorite Records of 2019

Not feeling especially nostalgic at the moment, despite reaching the end of another year - another decade.  This list is comprised of my most listened to records of this past year.  There are many other deserving releases that I'm neglecting, which is never easy for me.  Here it is nevertheless.  

Agent blå Morning Thoughts

Blankenberge More

Fawns of Love Permanent

Fresh Withdraw

Mammoth Penguins There is No FightWe Both Can’t Win

Moving Panoramas In Tune

Silver Bars Center of the CityLights

Soft Blue Shimmer Nothing HappensHere

Versus Ex Voto

Young Romance Don’t Look (2018)

Happy New Year Everyone!

Right Now

I’m not sure what is wrong with me.  It doesn’t matter how old I get and how many years pass since moving away from the small town where I grew up, every time I go through those seven “miracle” miles, I become the same angst-ridden teenager anxious to get out as fast as I can.  When I was in High School, I used to drive around that dreary town, blasting tunes as loud as I possibly could, so I could emotionally shout along to the lyrics as some sort of primal scream therapy.  I wanted so badly to get away.  I wanted so badly to start a new life full of cool adventures and worldly pursuits that the incredible music I loved so much was educating me about.  I felt trapped, like so many of us do at that age.

The problem is, I still feel trapped, and somehow it all becomes amplified when I drive through that terrible town.  I revert back to cranking the volume on the stereo to blistering levels.  There is no loud that is loud enough!  I think this is part of the reason why I like many of the bands I do.  When I was that restless teenager, I developed a fondness for screeching feedback, atonal tunings, and explosive instrumental drama combined with doom-laden and nihilistic lyrics.  These things were like a defensive shield to keep people away – a warm cocoon of noise to keep me safe.

Luckily, I don’t return very often, and when I do it’s mainly to pass through.  That’s when the windows go down, the volume goes up, and my imagination seethes with images of the streets ripping apart behind me from the sonic waves of epic noise emanating from my shitty car stereo system.  I can almost see the poor passersby bracing themselves to stay upright – showing concern as their teeth rattle to the brink of shattering.  Meanwhile, the automobiles around me are swerving uncontrollably from the rippling roadway and their windows crackling under the intense pressure.

The last time I drove through that dreadful coastal town, I had just started playing the Blankenberge album More.  The first few songs are absolutely breathtaking with their sheer insistency, drama, and yes, passages of explosive sound.  These are songs that for me bring a huge well of emotions surging to the surface simply from the music alone.  The reality is that instead of the handsome dude in the sweet ride cruising through town with a destructively powerful sound system playing music that is literally too cool and powerful for anyone to handle, I’m a fat older guy, on the verge of damaging the speakers of my 15 year old car, that cannot handle the volume of the distorted music playing that no one around will notice at all.

Like I said before, I’m not sure what is wrong with me.  Other than some family medical issues, which would’ve occurred no matter where we would’ve been located, my upbringing was pretty stable and generally happy.  I have a handful of really great friends from that town that I cherish, along with a lot of fun experiences to remember.  It’s the reminder that when passing through that town, I’m really no different than that teenager was.  Just a lot older, less healthy, and a lot more easily frustrated and confounded by everything.  It makes me want to break everything apart and start from scratch.

More

Blankenberge

More

(self-released)

I’ve mentioned it here before, but I have never been very fond of the term ‘shoegaze.’  It was originally intended as a slight – relegating bands that use effects pedals for their guitars and eschew grandstanding front men to some kind of irrelevancy.  Whatever.  And nowadays, people who are fans of dreamy guitar pop have mostly come to accept and embrace the term.  I have tried, but the sticking point with me is not the original insult so much as that the term is the complete opposite of how one would describe the music being created.  If you really lose yourself into the powerful wash of the music being performed, who cares if the singer is making a spectacle of himself?

Blankenberge, from Saint Petersburg, Russia, are a perfect example of what I’m talking about.  Their second LP (I’ve got to check out the first!), More, is so musically dramatic that it evokes visions of spectacular vistas, of the heavens parting to expose a brilliant sunrise, of things like the big solar eclipse from a couple of summers ago.  This is music that makes one look skyward and feel the immensity of our world and beyond.  This five piece create music that is urgent, vivid, epic, and brimming with an electricity that sends shivers down one’s spine.

The first three songs are vital.  “Islands” is a perfect introduction.  The slow ride cymbal tap, the low buzz of strummed feedback combined with atmospheric high end notes generate a fairly typical shoegaze base, but then the song explodes with a swell of energy and emotion that is simply breathtaking.  Yana Gusselnikova’s vocals are barely there (similar to Isa Holliday from Slow Crush) as she spells out a story of unrequited love.  She’s lying in wait.  Hoping for a chance.  We’ve all had these feelings.  It’s every day.  It’s silly, yet when you are in the midst of those feelings it is overwhelming, it is just about the only thing on your mind.  “Islands” captures that urgency in spades.  Next up is the unrelenting unstoppable driving force that is “Look Around.”   Wow.  The rhythm section of drummer Sergey Vorontsov (those drums fills are like a machine gun) and bassist Dmitriy Marakiv lock into a tight interconnected pulse for the twin guitars of Daniil Levshin and Daian Aizlotov to paint over with what sounds like a warning beacon.  We don’t know what the warning is for but we’d better make haste.  The warning must be for the tidal wave of noise that washes over us during the majestic and powerful chorus.  Absolutely stunning.  Next up is the stuttering and chiming “Right Now.”  This is one of those songs where the lyrics and music synch up in an intriguing way.  The words urge us to be inspired.  To go out and do the things we always wanted to do.  “Let’s get loud right now!”  The indication is that we are holding ourselves back.  That we are wrapped in self-imposed binders doing what we think we have to do, as opposed what we want to do.  Musically, this song matches this fitful image.  The song is teaming with life, but it keeps building and building looking for release.  There is a burst of escape that is glorious, but despite its intentions that song concludes with what sounds like a vicious internal battle.  It is not so easy to break free of our inhibitions and doubts.

After that intense opening, Blankenberge take a breather with the title track “More.”  It’s a dreamy rumination on the beauty of nature, but also a warning against humankind’s endless greed.  The second half of the album is more deliberate overall.  The songs stretch out and find solace in their surroundings.  The stunning instrumental “Waves” feels like it could go on forever, while the surprising and well placed saxophone adds an added touch of beauty to the lovely “Until the Sun Shines.”  The album finishes with “Fest,” an epic if there ever was one.  The significance of celebrating has never felt so important.  The song brings a poignancy to the proceedings with its depth, and it feels like a triumph – something to celebrate.

This is an album to celebrate!  It’s endlessly exciting to encounter music this alive and this remarkable.  Please give this a listen.

(https://blankenberge.bandcamp.com/)

Blankenberge "Look Around"