Bunch of Nonsense
Music, Books and Life in the SpiritArchive for TV Girl
Best Music of 2015
1. Mind Out Wandering by Astronauts, etc.
Simple piano-based R&B pop music from Oakland with hooks galore and a healthy batch of great songs. A wonderful combination of a cool blue-eyed soul Marvin Gaye lounge vibe mixed with the gentle side of EW&F (with no horns). Love the vocal harmonies and the arrangements are spot on. By my count this album has at least 8 five star songs and the rest are not clunkers. For fans of 70s soul pop music, Marvin Gaye, Philip Bailey. Best Song: “I Know.”
2. Hello I Feel The Same by Innocence Mission
Just another in a long line of fantastic albums. Great from start to finish, love Don Peris guitar playing/chords/arrangements and loooovvveee Karen Peris voice which is one of the great joys in life to hear her sing. For fans of Karen Peris and Don Peris (as there is no one really to compare them to). Best Song: “Tom On The Boulevard”
3. Wondem by Dexter Story
Love this album, its all over the map, but its good-to-great from start to finish. Afro-beat-jazz-pop-disco with great songs featuring Yared Teshale, Dustin Warren, Miguel Atwood-Ferguson, Alsarah, Nia Andrews. Imagine Graceland with a variety of visiting vocalists. For fans of Afro-beat jazz, 70s pop-jazz, The KutiMangoes. Best Song: “Eastern Prayer.”
4. Imaginary Man by Rayland Baxter
This is pretty much a straight forward folk-pop-rock record, but its just so jam packed with so many great songs (though several are kind of similar) but they eventually will get in your head and not leave anytime soon (and his band isn’t bad either, knowing just what to play and what to leave out). For fans of Deer Tick, Ryan Adams. Best Song, “Yellow Eyes”
5. Star Wars by Wilco
This is Wilco at its most angular guitar strip down no nonsense and some of it works wonderfully, Taste the Ceiling, Magnetized, Random Name Generator and especially More… and The Joke Explained when this whole rough strip back to the basics meets a good song. Other parts of this record don’t do as well, particularly Pickled Ginger which is kind of boogie mess. For fans of Captain Beefheart, Mogwai, Tweedy. Best Song, “More…”
6. Sing My Welcome Home by Pacific Gold
A kickstarter album that I participated in and it was worth every penny and the wait. Not a bad song on this, again its re-furbished hymns and they are wonderful and moving and inspiring. The music here is on another level from their past efforts, from Abbey Road hints to lovely Beach Boys vocals. I wore this album out. I’m a fan. Here’s to their next one. For fans of Hymns, Beach Boys, Beatles and Red Mountain Music. Best Song, “Song in the Air”
7. In the Moment Remix Tape by Makaya McCraven
The jazz artist lets go with some wild and always interesting re-mixes, some of which really deliver. For fans of Makaya McCraven, 70s funk and re-mixes. Best Song,”Sticky Notes.”
8. Our First 3 EPs by TV Girl
Another batch of great songs from these guys. This is kind of patchy, but the highlights are classic TV Girl: Lizzy Come Back to Life, Laura, Easier to Cry and Melanie. Imagine Phil Spector with a turntable and a sense of humor. For fans of Breezewax, ProleteR. Best song, “Lizzy Come Back to Life.”
9. I Don’t Even Want To Know EP by Eef Barzelay
The former Clem Snide singer-songwriter seems perfectly content these days to sit around and pop out home recordings EPs every few mouths. But he’s starting to hit his stride with these, adding a little variety and little more production along the way (not just playing covers on his acoustic). This one has covers: the Zombies ‘This Will Be Our Year’and Crowded House’s ‘Don’t Dream It’s Over’ both of which work fine. But the best songs here are still farly lo-fi homemade but he’s added just the right bits to sweeten the pot. (and then there’s the title track which is a full blown electronic excursion which shockingly… really works). For fans of Clem Snide, Smog, Bonnie “Prince” Billy. Best Song, “King Of Carrot Flowers Part 1.”
10. The World Within by Moderator
22 year old Greek producer/DJ lays down some really cool vibes jazz-spoken-word-lounge, not a bad track on this. I played this a ton this year. For fans of Breezewax, Evan Awake. Best song, “Words Remain.”
11. Young Men by The Walters
The Walters pretty much avoid the sophomore slump, though this is probably not quite as good as their debut, BUT STILL, it’s good, very good in fact, doing what they do, which is a sweet power pop on the lite side. For fans of 60s pop like The Association, Beach Boys and Shoes. Best Song, “Goodbye Baby.”
12. Season of Violence or Mourning, Protest, And The Birth Of Bishop Killborne by American Spirit
An album that swings wide in styles and quality, from folk songs to rock to reverb-heavy dream-rock. When it works, it really nails it: Are You Listening To Me?, All Night and My Motives are the standouts and they are certainly a unique mix with the lush group vocals and wall of sound. For fans of My Morning Jacket and Cosmic Rough Riders. Best song, “All Night.”
13. Philadelphia Summer of ’64 by Various Artists
An album made up of four artists (Stainless Steele, Sigmund Washington, MoGiLLaH and Josh Hey) paying tribute to Jazz made by Yusef Lateef, John Coltrane and Stan Getz back in the Summer of 1964. For fans of lounge jazz versions inspired by the music of Yusef Lateef, John Coltrane and Stan Getz. Best Song, “Naima.”
14. 1000 Palms by Surfer Blood
For a lot of fans, this was a bit of same-old same-old and maybe it was, but its best songs were so darn good, its hard not to get pulled in. Maybe this doesn’t break a lot of new ground, but I like what Surfer Blood does and so its all fine with me. For fans of Best Coast and Mikal Cronin. Best Song, “Dorian.”
15. It’s All True by Diners
Sometimes the best music is the simplest. This Phoenix, Arizona band is not re-writing pop music, but simply revisiting it in 2 minute (or less) songs, with nice and memorable hooks. For fans of Summer Salt, Delta Haymax, Best Coast. Best Song, “Only You.”
Other Favorite Tracks:
- Geronimo vs. Buffalo Bill by KOGNITIF
- Special Stage by Breezewax
- Harlem (BORNS x Tommy English Remix) by Cathedrals
- Outdoors by Adjamån
- The Mystery Of Man by Gilles Peterson Presents: Sonzeira
- Manastra by Summer Salt
- Forget Their Names by Sleepy Holler
- Many Moons by Logan Taylor
- Daydream by Santa Fe
- Airport Bar by Martin Courtney
- Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me by Christa Wells
- Bees and Bamboo by Shy Layers
- Aberrant Life-signs by Blameful Isles
- Lazy River Mind by Sleep Good
- Bullets by Wild Child
- Where Would We Be? by Via Tania
- Way Down by Jack Lion
- Yum Yum by Sun Hop Fat
- Lavos by Talkie
- Arrive and Leave by Waterstrider
best music of 2013
1. Ghost On Ghost by Iron and Wine
A lot of critics didn’t really love this record and claimed Iron & Wine’s best days were behind it (him?), but I don’t get their complaints and just played this a ton, with by my count at least six five star songs (and the rest aren’t clunkers either), starting off with the wonderful ‘Baby Center Stage’ and ending forty minutes later with ‘The Desert Babbler.’ Sam is playing around with all kinds of stuff here, touches of jazz, folk, country… and the harmonies are killer. I’m sold. Best Song: “Baby Center Stage.”
2. Pythons by Surfer Blood
Again, not loved by critics and some fans, but I don’t know what they are listening to, maybe dreaming of past glories or wishing the band would be someone they are not. I suppose some of this is similar to past songs, but when the songs are this good, who cares? All I know is this is classic Surfer Blood music (kind of a mash of prom music and 90’s noise) with plenty of the goods, i.e. great songs and hooks all day long. Best Song: “Gravity.”
3. Antiphon by Midlake
All Midlake fans were fairly shocked when word came that principle songwriter and lead vocalist Tim Smith had left the band. I was probably not alone in thinking ‘well that was that.’ That is, until today with the release of Antiphon! Shocking. Amazing. Stunning. And really really great. Imagine if Caravan mixed Byrds harmonies and XTC and then stretched it all out into a late night “Low Spark” era Traffic vibe. All I can say is, wow! Best Song: Antiphon
4. Falling Bough Wisdom Teeth by Kiev
a tasty brew of funk jazz rock which sounds like a terrible idea in 2013, but these guys make it work with taste, great vocals and just the right dose of all-of-the-above. Best song: Ariah Being
Forty years down the road, this is a stunning work of intelligence, bite and power. “I found a haystack in a needle.” Best Song Forward in Reverse
A cool mess of Beach Boys, Raspberries and 90’s distortion, which again kind of sounds like a bad idea, but Mikal pulls it off and then some with great songs. Best Song: Weight
9. All The Times We Had by Ivan & Alyosha
Sweet vocals layered over looping guitars. It’s a familiar formula right now, but Ivan & Alyosha rise above the pack with superior songs. Best Song: The Fold
10. Until In Excess, Imperceptible UFO by The Besnard Lakes
This Canadian Beach Boy obsessed band really knows how to stack up piles of sweet noise. Imagine Pet Sounds, plus Phil Specter times 20 meets My Bloody Valentine. Best Song: The Specter
11. Pacific Gold EP by Pacific Gold
Actual a kickstarter little mini release with their full album coming in March. These guys mix heavenly Beach Boys vocals with old hymns (and Lou Reed) and the result is consistently great. Best Song: Father Winter
12. Feed The Lions Ep by ProleteR
This French hip hop sampler takes old records (a lot of Duke Ellington, wise choice) and re-works them in a funky stew. Moby did this back in the 90’s but its still very good when it works. Best Song: It Don’t Mean A Thing
13. The Wilderness by K.S. Roads
Rhoads doesn’t record very often, but when he does he goes BIG. This can only be described as epic-pop, he throws in everything but the kitchen sink, (strings? yes, background-singers? yes choir? yes) but somehow it isn’t over worked, the arrangements are truly classic pop, just bigger than most. This isn’t as good as his best parts of his last album, but its very very good. The Wilderness, If You Want Love, Invincible Fortress and Harvest are great songs. For fans of Paul Simon and maybe Phil Spector. Best Song: “The Wilderness.”
14. Happies by Kid Mountain
This is what I call playful lo-fi (similar artist would be Mutual Benefit and Sleep Good), but the best songs here (Laughing All Your Laughs Out, Vermont, Kinda Strange, Parashootin) are really great and ones I’ve all but worn out this year. Clearly this is the very antithesis of KS Rhoads. Best Song: “Parashootin.”
15. Eight by Radar Bros
These guys are building quite a great catalog, this being their eighth album of California-soul hippy pop-rock. When it all comes together with the right song, I just love their cool vibe. For fans of Mother Hips, Beulah, Grandaddy, Earlimart. Best Song: “Angler’s Life.”
16. Debris by Roman Candle
Okay the obvious, this has its moments, but is definitely not up to the level of their last release, 2009’s ‘Oh Tall Tree in the Ear’ which was a modern masterpiece and my favorite album of that year by a landslide. This is definitely an attempt to do something different and that can sometimes be good and should never be discouraged, but some of this works better than others. End of the Street and Small Time are great songs in fact I see that I played ‘Small Time’ more than any song this year. Best Song: “Small Time.”
17. Internal Sounds by The Sadies
The Sadies are just so cool. A very consistent band which doesn’t stray too far from what they do but when what they do is this great, who’s complaining? Just another great album of Sadies music by the Sadies and their massive guitars. There’s no one quite like them and yet their influences, particularly to the late great Byrds is huge. For fans of late period Byrds, Mother Hips, Johnny Cash. Best Song: “Story 19.”
18. Denison Witmer by Denison Witmer
A very solid set of tunes from this gentle acoustic artist who has such a nice light touch. For fans of Innocence Mission, Don Peris. Best Song: “Keep Moving Brother, Keep Moving Sister”
19. B Room by Dr. Dog
This release is kind of spotty and definitely not up to their past great heights, but the high points here are quite good, The Truth, Too Weak To Ramble, Long Way Down, Broken Heart… and good Dr. Dog is always a good thing and always welcome in my book. Best Song: “The Truth”
20. You’re Always On My Mind by A Great Big Pile of Leaves
Okay if these guys couldn’t get on the radio, then there’s no hope, it’s all hopeless and corrupt. I mean ‘Snack Attack’ is a hit single waiting to happen. Sweet rich vocals, great songs, big full arrangements, expertly put together. Best Song: “Ambiversion.”
Other Favorite Tracks:
- I’ll Always Be in Your Heart by Blum
- Difference A Day Makes by Jim Guthrie
- The Dream’s In The Ditch by Deer Tick
- Lost It To Trying by Son Lux
- Don’t Call Me by Kratos Himself
- 62 Moments Ft Ettin & Manu by Kill Emil
- Leave The Light On by Broken Anchor
- Chameleons by Photo Ops
- Talking In Your Sleep by Tony Dekker
- Dilla Esq by Kevin Hayden Trio
- Devoted to You by Bonnie “Prince” Billy
- Humdrum Blues by The Growlers
- One Less Bird by Silver Trees
- American Dream by On and On
- Before We Run by Yo La Tengo
- 1904 by Tallest Man On Earth
- Obsidian by Steve Dawson
- Wanted You in August by Night Beds
- Sunchasers by IceWater
- Don’t Give Up by Washed Out
Bunch of Nonsense 