On Friday night I’ll be posting my annual Top Ten Records Of The Year (So Far) list. I’ve been penning these for a while now, and it provides readers with a good indicator of a) what I’m listening to these days and b) early favorites vying for the #1 spot on my year-end Top 100 list.
This year I’ve decided to extend the list a little further by providing five “honorable mentions” that just missed cracking the top ten (albums released between Jan. 1, 2013 and Jun. 15th, 2013). So here they are, with some sound clips where applicable. Enjoy, and stay tuned for Friday’s Top Ten.
Honorable Mention
15. Skagos – Anarchic (The Flenser) – This was an Ian recommendation that I ignored for a while because I was too busy falling in love with the new albums by A Story Of Rats and Deafheaven to take note of it. Is this black metal duo named after the mythical island not-yet explored in the A Song Of Ice And Fire series? Perhaps? I kind of hope so? Either way this record (two 30+ minute tracks that are made up of four and two movements respectively) has found its way into my life more and more as time has worn on. The “A side” (there’s no vinyl issue at the moment so I’m going based on the notion that each track is a side) starts off with six beautiful moments of tense ambient build-up before blasting off into atmospheric white noise territory, bolstered by propulsive drums and guttural vocals. The lyrics are totally nihilistic too — at least those I can discern — which only ups my appreciation for the music. Yeah, we’re doomed. Might as well just accept it. Issued on CD so far by the fine folks at The Flenser, who have gone from being not even on my radar to a MUST CHECK DAILY to see what they’re cooking up next.
14. Kurt Vile – Walkin On A Pretty Daze (Matador) – When Smoke Ring For My Halo was introduced to me in 2011 I’d already formed my opinion on Kurt Vile, which was that he was a wannabe Elliott Smith recording for Matador in an era where Matador had lost any shred of significance in the independent music landscape. This was all supposition based on reviews I’d read. I never bothered to listen to the record. Then one of my co-workers played it for me and I couldn’t get enough of it. Hell, I plugged the entire album into my iPod the last time I ran a full marathon. So although Walkin On A Pretty Daze hasn’t moved me as much as the last record did, it’s still really good. It has no less than five GREAT songs on it, which for a pop/rock record is really impressive considering how little I listen to these days.
13. Purling Hiss – Water On Mars (Drag City) – Purling Hiss was an AZ recommendation following…was it SXSW a few years ago? I was sent a copy of their CDr and told to listen immediately, and I loved what I heard. I’ve been picking up all subsequent releases ever since, and I think Water On Mars is the best thing they’ve recorded since the Lounge Lizards 12″ a few years ago. Much like the aforementioned Kurt Vile record, and the new one by The Men that you’re going to read about on Friday, it’s decidedly POPPY for my tastes, but I really like it. It’s records like this that make me want to slap fey indie poppers across the face and shout, “SEE GUYS!? YOUR MUSIC DOESN’T HAVE TO BE SO FUCKING WUSSY, EVEN IN 2013 YOU CAN STILL ROCK AND WRITE HOOKS!” Try getting stuck behind an accident on the 210-East listening to this album and NOT being perfectly fine with it.
12. Jamie Stewart/Eugene S. Robinson – Sal Mineo (Aagoo Records) – Holy shit, guys. When I heard about this one it sounded too good to be true. Jamie Stewart (Xiu Xiu) and Eugene S. Robinson (Oxbow) collaborating with one another. The result is one of the weirdest albums I’ve heard in some time, and I dig it. It’s really fucking dark and haunting and pretty and creepy all at the same time. It’s about as good as an Oxbow/Xiu Xiu mashup could be. How else can I describe it? Like the musical equivalent of a Gaspar Noe film? The music varies from super-minimalist to borderline unlistenable (in a good way!), and Robinson’s vocal delivery of those otherworldly stories/lyrics are perfect. At times it sounds like the skeleton of an Oxbow record void of that group’s thunderous/violent instrumentation, or a Xiu Xiu record without Stewart’s unmistakable wail, but I’m fine with it. These guys are a natural fit together, and the end result is something captivating and at times horrifying. [Listen to “The Primary Bell” [MP3]]
11. Pan American – Cloud Room, Glass Room (Kranky) – It’s been four years since the last proper studio album from Mark Nelson (ex-Labradford guitarist/singer). Now the project is officially a duo, with Steven Hess (Haptic, Locrian, etc.) in tow for this newest release. And, oh yeah, former Labradord member Bobby Donne provides some bass, meaning this is pretty much the closest thing I’ll ever get to a new Labradford record (I just realized it’s been 12 YEARS since Fixed::Context). It’s got all the minimalist ambient guitar I love, but with static-y, incongruous techno and dub elements sprinkled throughout. The compositions are always controlled, never veering off too far into noise territory, and consistently inviting/warm/relaxing. In the same way that Labradford used to be. I never got the “post-rock” tag for that band — they were always more experimental in my mind — but one couldn’t describe Cloud Room, Glass Room in such a way. It’s definitely ambient/experimental. And it’s brilliant. [Listen to “Project For An Apartment Building” [MP3]]
