5. The Minus 5 - Plascent Folk
From the album "Stroke Manor"
Yep Rock Records, 06/2019
After suffering from a massive stroke, music legend (who has worked with every band you like) Scott McCaughey set out to regain his mind and songwriting ability. This was a struggle for someone who at first had trouble stringing words together.
The result is quite amazing. Aside from having some of the best packaging I've ever seen on an LP, the songs are futuristic and forward-looking, with McCaughey experimenting with vocal effects, autotune, and other weirdness.
The winner from the album, though, is the opening track-- a lone pastoral strummer to start out an album of lo-fi rock. This song reminds me of Syd Barrett's solo LPs -- not just because of the unexpected tunesmithing, but because it's the sound of a shattered mind-- the words are all there, and they sound like they should make sense, but they just don't. Aw, give it a listen. It's fun.
4. Mineral - Aurora
From the 2-song EP / book "One Day When We are Young - Mineral at 25"
Self-Released, 01/2019
After being broken up for years and years, Mineral returns. (this would be exciting, except for this is the same story as 4 of 5 of my favorite new albums for this year.)
On the turntable, this is one of those songs that doesn't sound right at 33 or 45 RPM (turns out 45 is the right answer), but despite the unsettling beginning, Mineral reminds us what made them special as a band. Not just the emotive wailing vocals, but drums and bass that propel the song, and a guitar equally shimmery and squalling. This will only be disappointing if Mineral only leaves us with two more songs after a lifetime of waiting.
3. Weird Al Yankovic - The Biggest Ball of Twine in Minnesota
From the album "UHF - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack and Other Stuff"
Scotti Bros Records, 06/1989
To shore up my cred, I saw UHF in the theater (at Vancouver Mall cinemas, with Jon and Erik Phister) in 1989. I was 11, which is the ideal age to be a Weird Al fan. I didn't, however, get the UHF soundtrack, which, if I remember correctly, didn't see wide release, and this song wasn't actually in the movie.
Anyway, fast forward to spring 2019, and the Carmichael family is on a road trip. For reasons I don't understand, we had forgotten to pack our usual satchel full o' road trip CDs / Slim Whitman tapes, so we shared the goodness of youtube with my 8 and 9 year old kids (not quite at the 11-year old sweet spot, but approaching)
Lo and behold, from the speakers came this glorious huge majestic sphere of a song, capturing the joys and insanity of family road trips, all in a supersized, nearly 7-minute packaging. We had arrived. We bought a few souvenirs, and I've got a funny kind of feeling we'll be back next year.
2. Fred Thomas - House Show, Late December
From the album "Aftering"
Polyvinyl Records, 09/2018
Speaking of longish epics, this Fred Thomas track captures so much in familiar scenes and feelings. Fred used to be [in] Saturday Looks Good to Me and City Center.
1. Lil' Nas X featuring Billy Ray Cyrus - Old Town Road [Remix]
single
Self-Released.
Original released 12/2018
Remix released 04/2019
If you had told me anytime between 1993 and 2018 that Billy Ray Cyrus would feature on my favorite song of the year, I would have punched you. I may still, but Lil' Nas X is dynamite. This song is amazing. Nine Inch Nails? Banjo? Country? Rap? Infinitely quotable lyrics? Oh yes.
God Bless Lil' Nas X.
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