A RECAP

I have reached the halfway point on my top twenty record albums of the year 2013 (according to me). Just thought I would take a moment here and list numbers 20 through 11 before I continue later with the TOP TEN. My choices are based on originality (how fresh does it sound? to my ears?), longevity (how many times do I play it?, flow (consistency is key here) and basically I ask myself if it’s a fantastic album. Perhaps I can’t form a real emotional attachment to it or maybe it has 1 or 2 flaws that I just can’t overlook. Finally, is it an album I couldn’t possibly bring myself to part with? There’s my criteria. Anyway, here’s the halfway list:

20 ICEAGE—–YOU’RE NOTHING
19 CROCODILES—–CRIMES OF PASSION
18 TY SEGALL—–SLEEPER
17 THE FLAMING LIPS—–THE TERROR
16 THEE OH SEES—–FLOATING COFFIN
15 FUZZ—–FUZZ
14 BOMBINO—–NOMAD
13 MAZZY STAR—–SEASONS OF YOUR DAY
12 TEGAN & SARA—–HEARTTHROB
11 FOXYGEN—–WE ARE THE 21ST CENTURY AMBASSADORS OF PEACE & MAGIC

stay tuned for more later…….

FUZZ

Fuzzy wuzzy wuz a cool name to call this band!!!

Number Fifteen on my favorite albums of 2013 belongs to a band called FUZZ. It’s a self titled album. Its a surprise because I originally didn’t have it on my list until this morning. But I felt like melting my brain and giving my ears a ride with crunchy, grungy, sloppy, messy, feedback induced trio of drums and guitars. I hear a bunch of jazzy influences too. John Coltrane’s improve can be heard in these amplified instruments. Oh what a lovely treat these guys give to me. Ty Segall is in this band as lead singer and drummer. A sloppy assault to give me chills. But I am really hooked on the power, the drive and the soul of those Black Sabbath sounding riffs! Ty’s vocals certainly channel some of that Ozzy vibe too. Also, if you like the Stooges mixed with a slow stoner rock jam sound in outer space, then you’ll LOVE this. Three dudes just jamming away. I even hear the garage band elements of “The Who” in this delicious assault of guitar tidal waves and some Gar Samuelson, formerly of Megadeth, sounding drums that are tight one minute and super loose the next. It’s just so awesome. I cant get enough of this man! Fuzz buster plugged in guitars certainly play a role in the wonderful noise of harmonies and melodies that the Stooges couldn’t really provide. Its good to know that in this day and age we have this stoner rock revival going on! Here…..give it a listen dude! Party on! EXPLODE!!!!

WAY TO GO:
Charlie Moonheart
Ty Segall
Roland Cosio

Number 18 on my list…..

“Ty Segall.”
What a peculiar name.
“Sleeper” is the title of a new album
So here’s a somewhat young American musician.
He can write really cool music.
Guitarist, singer and drummer.
Ty has talent.
A California native
He has brought eight solo albums
to the musical table.
He is also a member of various side projects.

On “Sleeper,” he delivers his cult following fans something different than his usual crunching, fuzzy garage rocking sound!
He went all acoustic on this one. Psychedelic styles. Think John Lennon meets Syd Barrett in a sentimental fashion. His whole record flows in a solemn and reflective way.

I dig it
So should you
It’s nice to hear an artist unplug himself
And get all passionate in a sort of whimsical playful manner.

Give this one a listen:http://youtu.be/bgYFrpABK8U

2012….MUSIC….A Year in Review Before the Grammy’s Ruin It

A lot of great music was released this year and I got exposed to a bunch of new bands, cool new songs, albums and reunions. The end of the world is coming soon, so I better post my favorite songs, artists and records right now before we meet our demise.

The Grammy nominations are in. I can’t say I agree with any of them honestly. Sorry. I have my own personal tastes. I have picked my own list of artists/songs/records that are most definitely NOT on the Grammy list. Why oh why does this award show annoy me practically every year? Thank God I am entitled to like whatever I want to listen to. I need this soap box and it’s where I will voice my opinion.

Grammy Award Shows only care about the Top 40 artists. The lesser known ones deserve more attention too. Mainstream music is fine and all but I get frustrated with artists like Taylor Swift, Miley Cirus and Kanye West. People adore them and I don’t know why. They’re a bunch of phonies and drama queens.

Talent is important. Song writing skills are important. Being able to play an instrument of some sort would also be of help. What about singing talent? Singing from your heart man! Seems like a lot of the songs coming out nowadays have singers employing voice synthesizers. What is with those stupid things? I hate those! Sing like you have a pair or just stop!

Anyway, I want to focus on the artists this year that made a difference for me. Those catchy songs that really made me pay attention (NO it was NOT that song, “Call Me Maybe” by Carly Rae Jespen? Whatever…..bubble gum pop music that’s only purpose is to “sell out” and just sound hip, fun and catchy. That’s just not what I am into.

So…..I have it kind of split into 2 categories here:

One are my favorite songs and the other are my favorite records to come out this year.

Let me begin with the tunes!

So here are my 5 favorite tunes from 2012 (and why)

Gotye…..Easy Way Out
(This Australian artist was new to my ears this year and I found myself really digging this tune. It reminds me of a Beck-style tune that packs a punch in like 2 minutes)
Now, Now…..Prehistoric
(grungy, pretty and rocking like I haven’t heard from a band in awhile. Also they’re a great trio from Minneapolis. I like it when girls play lead guitar and vocals and actually have a strong presence)
Yuck…..Chew
(They’re a British band and they’re pretty unique. This track is a single that’s not a part of an album. It packs quite a punch! 90’s style garage punk in a Smashing Pumpkins meets Dinosaur Jr fashion)
Neil Young and Crazy Horse…..Walk Like A Giant
(When these veteran musicians jam together, amazing guitar riffs and magic noise happens, and this is quite an earthquake of a song from Psychedelic Pill and I think that it can stand the test of time. Go Neil!
Dinosaur Jr…..Watch The Corners (This is an amazing song. A chugging metal crunch. J Mascis comes up with massive guitar riffs that rattle your teeth but can still fill it in with a great melody and an almost folk kinda feeling despite your throbbing eardrums. Always unique. Love it)

NOW IT’S TIME FOR MY FIVE FAVORITE ALBUMS OF THE YEAR 2012

5…..Twins by Ty Segall
(Great melodies, grungy, edgy, 60’s elements, excellent with headphones. I happened to stumble upon this a few months ago and was just blown away)

4…..Synthetica by Metric
(An Indie, electro, pop band. Great lead singer named Emily and a fun kind of 70’s and new wave sound. It’s pretty original, experimental and all the songs are catchy and don’t all sound the same like some bands (Muse….ahem!) Plus as a bonus, Lou Reed appears on one of the tracks called Wanderlust! Explosive fun for sure!

3…..Koi No Yokan by Deftones
( I first heard these guys about 7 years ago with a record called White Pony. It was good and had a Tool kind of sound but faster and more of an Alice in Chains sound. But this new one is wonderful. Type O Negative has an album called October Rust that has this eternal Autumn sound to it. The Deftones make this album a “mixed trip hop with thrash, melodic vocals with crushing reverb, and yes, pretty with ugly.” But for them it evokes a sense of eternal darkness.)

2…..End of Daze by Dum Dum Girls
(I am so addicted to this EP. Soooo much happens in this awesome 18 minutes. Pure joy. Almost makes me cry. These ladies just rock it out. However, it’s so soft and pretty. I keep listening to this one over and over and over again. It’s so dreamy and it shines like a dirty penny held up to the sun)

1…..Celebration Rock by Japandroids
(My favorite record of the year 2012. I don’t care what anyone says about this but it friggin rules! 2 guys only. A drummer and a guitarist. They just kill it! Drinking anthems mixed with the Husker Du type of melodies and patterns. The album begins and ends with the sound of fireworks. I listen to them when I go for a jog in the morning. It makes me feel alive. It’s a garage band that sounds BIG and proof that 2 twenty something guys from Canada can perform shock therapy on your mood!)

Well that’s it….have a nice day!