Normally, when I present these annual
best of lists, it feels like a celebration of how much great music has come
along during a given year.It is fun to
remember those early year albums, along with the fresh fire of an exciting late
year release!This strange year has been
no exception.So much great music has
come about in 2020, despite the crushing blows received by the music industry
(and so many of us) during this pandemic.This is a small portion of what teased my ears this year and, as always,
was very tough to narrow down.The
creative spirit is alive and well and though I have not found the same kind of
fire, inspiration, and solace that I normally do from music, it is still my go
to – no matter what.Something always breaks through and brings
about raw feelings and hope.As 2020
winds down, it is difficult to be too optimistic, as promise of a return to
normal life still seems so far away.At
any rate, please check out these fine artists, if you are unfamiliar, there’s a
lot of great music here.
This write-up is late. Vicious
Pastimes, the debut LP from Boston trio House of Harm was released back in early September. Unfortunately, as mentioned in my previous
post (Lonely is an Eyesore), I have
not been listening to much music recently.
However, this fine album has been the main attraction, as it has been
essentially the only album I’ve listened to over the past month or so. The energetic and urgent romanticism of these
songs is so life affirming and exciting that it is incredibly addictive and has
been important in keeping me going during the depths of this pandemic.
There is something undeniably retro
about this album, yet because of the group’s incredibly strong songwriting it
is not a hindrance.The main thing that
makes it feel retro to me is the super 80s sound of the drum machine.It’s funny, because the drum sounds on songs
recorded during the 80s are often what makes them sound dated and not as
timeless as they should be, but here on this modern recording it doesn’t bother
me and just makes me want to get up and dance.It doesn’t hurt that every song on this record could (or should be) a
single.The kind that would’ve (or
should’ve) been club hits back in the 80s.
Vicious Pastimes opens with the insanely catchy “Isolator,” which sets the stage for what
is about to come. The Peter Hook-ish bass-line propels this
mid-tempo song, while the bright keyboards sparkle and chime leading me to play
my first air keyboards in years!
Listening brings to mind visions of a dark smoky club – the stage back
lit, so that all we can see are silhouettes of the band on stage and the tops
of the bouncing/dancing oblique hair-styled heads of the audience. I can smell cloves. And is that a saxophone at the end? “Coming of Age” is even more of all of
this. Michael Rocheford’s pleading vocals match perfectly to the spacious
keyboard washes of each verse as the build into the fantastic sing along chorus. The title track is similarly incredible with its
driving beat, huge chorus, and persistent passion.
The repetitive circular guitar rhythm
sets up “Behind You,” which takes the intensity up a notch, driving the ear
worm ever deeper into your psyche. The
urgency ramps up after “The Sun Always Shines on TV” (A-Ha) – like keyboard wash that breaks in like a majestic sunrise,
before racing to its conclusion. “Against
the Night” is likely the most postpunk style song on the album. The song sounds angrier with its howling
guitar screams and off-kilter noise and a propulsive drum beat that stutters to
an uncertain finish. Another of the
darker toned songs is the excellent “Waste of Time,” which is still insanely
catchy with its broken bassline and a killer instrumental chorus with
absolutely lovely layered guitars.
House of Harm "Catch"
The first song I ever heard from
these guys was 2019s single “Catch.” This
windswept single lands in the middle of the LP like a breath of fresh air. It is so spacious and sinfully catchy it’s
really a shame that I haven’t grown sick of hearing it all over the damn place,
as it deserves to be. This is the kind
of pop perfection that the Cure used
to capture with singles like “In-Between Days” and “Just like Heaven.” The only mistake the band made for their
outdoor, near the water, video, is that they weren’t perched atop a giant cliff
overlooking the churning ocean. Speaking
of incredible singles, “Always” has that big sound that begs to have movies
written in order to incorporate its heart-wrenching romance.
House Of Harm "Always"
The album closes, but does not let
up, with the keyboard heavy “Control.”
The song energizes like a second wind.
Just when you were getting tired from so much dancing around (I sure
miss live music), this one brings you back around and leaves you wanting
more. If I haven’t made it clear, this
is one spectacular album that should be a blockbuster worldwide.
