It appears that the internet in general has been none too kind to Belly's reunion album. Certainly, at the concert, we were encouraged to "Party like it's 1995". Nostalgia being what it is, I can see how this seems distasteful. Yet, this is a solid album with great pop tunes that are singable, and if Tanya Donelly's vocal acrobatics aren't quite what they were 23-odd years ago, there's a certain (ahem) maturity to the songwriting. .... Aw, heck, it's good. And it beat out some veryworthycontenders to be at the #5 spot on this list.
4. The Holdout - The Things That Brought Us Here
Grafton Records, 10/2018
The Holdout is basically Temper and Hold with a new guitar player, and the same urgency and manic energy. Maximumrockandroll described them as "Jawbox meets Rainer Maria" and who am I to disagree? Of course, Temper and Hold made this very list with their first album, and album #2 was my #1 album of 2016.
It's getting hard to write stuff about Landing. New Landing albums have landed on this listwithregularity. Yet, this is a band that after 20 years together, is making their most engaging, interesting, and catchy music. They continue to evolve, and I'm glad I'm along for the ride. Give a listen and see if you agree.
LP is sold out. If you want a CD, I'd suggest getting it here.
2. Pohgoh - Secret Club
New Granada Records, 09/2018
I've been on New Granada Records' email list since 1998 when I bought Pohgoh's first LP, In Memory of Bab. 2018 has seemed to be the year all the good bands are getting back together. Well, Pohgoh didn't skip a beat, and this is a great, listenable pop album. RIYL Velocity Girl, Sarge, Rainer Maria
Wikipedia tells me that this is Low's 12th album in their 24 years as a band. My ears tell me it's their best album of the twelve, and that's saying quite a lot. Three years ago, I wrote about how Low had distorted their organic sound. That was a springboard for this new sound-- My kids asked if this was actually music or just noise (boy, that's a role reversal). This is Low triply distorted, with everything washed out and thrown back together, and it's fragile, damaged, and beautiful. This is difficult music, but it's so very good.
Mud Records 03/2018. Previously released as "Castor" LP (1995), "Carnival" 7" (1997), and "Tracking Sounds Alone" LP (1998)
I've been meaning to track down Castor for several years now. Their albums have become hard to find on the internet. That's why I was pleased that Mud Records was rereleasing the whole shebang this year. This is great stuff-- out of the same scene and influences as Braid, Very Secretary, Sarge, etcetera. This is the perfect blend of math rock, indie pop, emotive hardcore, and gaze. $11 from Parasol. (Pick up a Sarge album while you're there!)
4. Penfold - Amateurs and Professionals
Milligram Records, 1999
Another band I've been meaning to track down. Noticing a trend? It's 2018 and I'm finally catching up on my 1998. This is a whiny indie band from New Jersey in the 90s and of course I love them. I want a physical copy of this, but they're stupid expensive right now. Oh well. You can buy the digital at least.
3. Copper - Drag Queen
Equal Vision Records, 1996
So I found out that Garrett Klahn was in Copper before he was in Texas Is the Reason. Then I heard this album. Great girlpop in the Velocity Girl vein, but with the same melodicism as Texas Is the Reason. Best moment: discovering the refrain (on Caption) "Your place is at the heart of my everything" provides a thrilling mirror to Texas Is the Reason's "Your place is STILL at the heart of my everything" (A Jack with One Eye)
2. The Lapse - Betrayal!
Gern Blandsten Records, 1998
Formed by Chris and Toko of The Van Pelt with Gregg Leto, also of Rye Coalition, I was anticipating this record before it came out in 1998. Then, due to some personal circumstances, I never got to hear this record until 20 years later. It was worth the wait. Although I wouldn't rate it as high as either of The Van Pelt's first two albums, it's certainly great. Anyone who is following these year-end ratings might remember the release of Van Pelt's "Imaginary Third", which was early versions of these songs. Now this record has finally taken its rightful place in my collection, and it keeps returning to the player for re-listens. The version of "The Speeding Train" on this album is cool-- more subdued, and definitely not the powerful statement of the original, but still cool.
1. Sarge - The Glass Intact
Mud Records, 1998
From the first few minutes of hearing this album, I knew this was going to be in my life for a long time. That first day, I immediately bought all the Sarge albums I could find online, and I love them. Sarge comes from the aforementioned 90s Urbana IL scene with Braid, Castor, Very Secretary, Days in December, etcetera etcetera. I knew of Sarge back in the 90s. I even have a split 7" with Elizabeth Elmore on it, but apparently I had missed actually hearing this band.
This is so good. The perfect mixture of Velocity Girl and Braid. Poppy hooks, clever lyrics, catchy choruses. I love this band and I love this album.
Guess what? As of the time of this writing, you can buy this LP for $11 from Parasol! That's 90s prices! (Pick up the Castor discography while you're there!)
(Five songs, newly encountered by me this year, that didn't qualify for either of the other top 5 lists)
5. Casey Neill and the Norway Rats - Siphoners
From the album "Subterrene"
Incident Records, 03/2018
This catchy number has been in my head for weeks, conjuring up visions of a max headroom-eque dystopian future. Recorded with an all-star portland cast (members of every famous band you care about). This whole album is fabulous.
4. 44 Long - Everybody Has a Way
From the album "Hangover Heights, Part 2"
In Music We Trust Records, 06/2006
I had the privelege of meeting and seeing Brian Berg play in the few months before his unfortunate and untimely passing in 2015. He was truly a gifted, world-class songwriter. As I work my way through his back catalog, this song sticks out (and sticks in my ears) as particularly catchy, insightful, and timeless. Brian left a hole in this world when he left.
3. David Byrne - I Dance Like This
From the album "American Utopia"
Todo Mundo Records, 03/2018
The show was a spectacle. One of the greatest concerts I've seen. The songs are maybe one or two notches below Byrne's peak with Talking Heads in the 80s, but he's still my favorite vocalist in rock music. This song is in turns funny, ironic, and touching. "If I could dance better... I would." A good metaphor for life. I also like the subtle electronic flourishes and samples. I included the live video because it was so fun to watch. I don't think the sound is so good for the live video, though.
2. They Might Be Giants - Last Wave [demo]
From 2018 Dial-a-Song, compiled on the album "My Murdered Remains"
Idlewild Recordings, 12/2018
[non-demo version on 2017's "I Like Fun" album]
As a fancy radio deejay, I got a hookup to download (and broadcast) They Might Be Giants' weekly Dial-a-Song tracks this year. I was listening to this one and I thought it was quirky and catchy-- one of the best TMBG songs I'd heard in years, so I went to the internet to find out about it, and the all-wise internet directed me to the above video. So, now YOU need to watch the video.
Go ahead, I'll wait.
They Might Be Giants out-BLR'd Bad Lip Reading. I love the synthy guitar solos. I love the lyrics
I'm so tired of waiting / My heart is cold / The sky is dark / I'm curled up in the ashes /
We die alone / We die afraid / We live in terror / Naked and alone / We die
...Antlers!
1. Afghan Whigs - Demon in Profile
From the album "In Spades"
Sub Pop Records 05/2017
I probably should've had this song on my last year's list, but as of year-end, I still hadn't heard the whole album and I was hopeful that the whole album would be as good as this song. Sadly, it wasn't, but this song. THIS SONG. One of the best Afghan Whigs songs ever written, 25 years past their heyday. Also this video. Har Mar Superstar is hilarious and amazing, and having him stand in for Greg Dulli is perfect. I really wanted to see him open for Afghan Whigs this year, but it wasn't in the cards for me. The rest of the video is chilling and disturbing, but in a super cool way. Check it out.
Boy, I've been doing this for a while now. Blogger was passe` when I started and now it's downright ancient. Oh well.
So for the second time, I'm releasing my best-of-the-year list with an asterisk. A disclaimer.
The following was the best album of the year for me. It's my band's album, and it was a labor of love. It may not be the best album of the year objectively, but it's my favorite because I worked so hard on it, and I make music that I like, not that would please anybody else.
So...
Kalaloch - Pacific Shores
Heather House Records 08/2018
This is our new album. I hope you like it. Please give it a listen for free on Spotify or Bandcamp or whatever. It's free to download, but we made pretty colored vinyl and CD versions if you're old-fashioned like me. Thanks for listening.
After nearly 7 years on the air, it's time for The Chandelier Swing to move on to greater things. The last broadcast for The Chandelier Swing (was/will be) September 28, 2018.
These top 20 were broadcast on air as one of the final Chandelier Swing broadcasts on August 17, 2018.
These are my top 20 songs of 90s indie rock. Not necessarily bands or albums. One song per band. Release date has to be between 1990 and 1999.
My complaint with this list is, in coming up with the best-of-the-best-of-the-best, it smoothed out a lot of the eclecticism that made the 90s so interesting. So, to make this list complete, maybe play some Stereolab, and Sonic Youth, and Dub Narcotic, and Low, and Wesley Willis, and....
20. Jimmy Eat World - Christmas Card / Untitled
Source: Jimmy Eat World / Blueprint split 7", Abridged Records 1996.
Also available on Singles CD, Big Wheel Recreation, 2000
Jimmy were always better on 7" than on their full-lengths, and this is long before they jumped the shark. These two songs (always together. always) show why this band used to matter, if only for a brief period of time.
19. Texas Is the Reason - Nickel Wound
Source: Do You Know Who You Are?, Revelation Records, 1996
One of my faves. Just good rock music. Always picks me up when I'm down.
18. Radiohead - Climbing Up the Walls
Source: OK Computer. Capitol Records, 1997
The only Major Label entry in here. What a great, creepy song.
17. Hum - Diffuse
Source: Feast of the Sybarites comp, Lotuspool records, 1993 as well as reissues of the Electra 2000 album (Cargo Records, etc., 1997 onwards)
Such an epic song.
16. The Stella Brass - Fine Day for the Lake
Source: Figure Eights and Heart Shapes 7", Culvert Records 1997
From a posthumous 7" from this amazing SLC band. (this video is a pretty poor audio quality rip). I love everything about this song except for the 2 minute flanged drum solo opening.
15. Mineral - February (March Version)
Source: February 7", Caulfield Records, 1997
Also available on 1994-1998: The Complete Collection, Arena Rock Recording Co., 2014
Hard to pick a favorite Mineral song, but I think this one wins. "I think I finally know what they mean when they talk about joy"
14. Braid - Killing a Camera
Source: Frame and Canvas LP, Polyvinyl Records, 1998
Also hard to pick a Braid song, but this one is certainly catchy enough. Love the last verse.
13. Seven Storey Mountain - Incomplete
Source: A Million Miles Away: The Emo Diaries Vol.2, Deep Elm Records, 1998
Also available on Conservatory compilation online.
Also available for purchase here:
https://sevenstoreymountain.bandcamp.com/album/conservatory
7SM's Lance Lammers is a genuinely nice guy, but I think he's taken a prince-like stance towards digital music, so it's tough for me to link you this awesome song. It's got a chorus that's about 14 stories tall.
12. Secret Stars: Whisper:Eye
Source: TSS LP, Shrimper Records, 1995
Delicate as an eylash. Pulling on the heartstrings with just the basics: vocals, guitar.
11. Rodan - The Everyday World of Bodies
Source: Rusty LP, Quarterstick Records, 1994
Sometimes less isn't more. Sometimes More is More. Jeff Mueller, Tara Jane O'Neil, Jason Noble, Kevin Coultas, and 12 minutes of tension and release.
10. Pohgoh - Friend X
Source: What's Mine Is Yours: The Emo Diairies Vol. 1, Deep Elm Records, 1997
Also available on "All Along" Discography LP, New Granada Records, 2014
Sad song, powerful vocals, timeless feels.
9. Juno - All Your Friends Are Comedians
Source: This Is the Way it Goes and Goes and Goes... CD, DeSoto Records, 1999
A criminally underrated, powerful band. Plus, these guys helped me break into my car when I locked my keys in it after a show.
8. Slint - Good Morning, Captain
Source: Spiderland LP, Touch and Go Records, 1991
I MISS YOU!
7. Jeremy Enigk - Carnival
Source: Return of the Frog Queen LP, Sub Pop Records, 1996
Sunny Day Real Estate implodes at the height of their mystique and popularity, and singer Jeremy Enigk constructs a strange masterpiece out of acoustic guitar and orchestra. Unexpected, unprecedented, unparalleled, unequaled.
6. Halo Benders - Virginia Reel Around the Fountain
Source: The Rebels Not In CD, K Records, 1998
For some reason, this song stands taller than anything Doug Martsch or Calvin Johnson ever did with their respective 90s bands, and is better than the sum of all of them. Throw in an obscure Smith's reference, and whatever Calvin's doing, and it's the epitome of cool.
5. Modest Mouse - Cowboy Dan
Source: The Lonesome Crowded West LP, Up Records, 1997
A soundscape as lush and stirring as anything Built to Spill ever created, but twisted. Cowboy Dan inhabits a world of exurban existential angst that taps a nerve, at least with me.
4. June of 44 - Of Information and Belief
Source: Four Great Points LP, Quarterstick Records, 1998
A hypnotic 7/8 groove. This is the greatest place on earth.
3. The Van Pelt - The Speeding Train
Source: The Van Pelt EP, Gern Blandsten Records, 1997.
Also available on Imaginary Third LP, La Castanya Records, 2014
This song feels... like the aspirations of a generation. "Do not be afraid to let it take you."
A cool band from portland that played at Possum House this year. 6 tasty shoegazy treats. 3 of them are covers you might recognize.
(Vinyl appears to be sold out. Get it on Cassette or digital on Bandcamp)
4. Brides - For Charles EP
[Hex Tapes, 2017]
Local Salem goodness (they played that show with Tender Age). Sounds like the start of something good.
(buy the download on bandcamp or pick up a physical copy at a show.)
3. Eyelids - Or
[Jealous Butcher Records, 2017]
Eyelids are from Portland, and they've played in, or played with folks who played in every great band in the world. This album was recorded by Peter Buck of REM, who seems underwhelmed in the above video. It's great, perfect power pop. Check out their other releases, too.
After more than 10 years broken up, 90s darlings-turned-00s stalwarts release another great album. I saw them on tour and they looked happier than I've ever seen them. I take that as a good sign.
With a song title like "The Long Wait Is Over", Jeremy Enigk is right. It's been a long time since his last album ('09? Can't remember) Anyways, This is Jeremy's best solo record this century. Although nothing can top the orchestra-meets-primitivism of Return of the Frog Queen or his stuff with Sunny Day Real Estate, this is still great stuff. He kickstarted this on PledgeMusic, and it seemed as if it would never be completed, but like the song says, "It's worth it." Shoutout to playing a song live in 1997 and not recording or releasing it until 2017. Looks like he's selling the extra LPs through Bandcamp.
Finally acquired Helium's debut EP. Mary Timony's songwriting is spot on and idiosyncratic as always, if a little unrefined from her later stuff. Still golden.
(buy the compilation LP that contains this at Matador, or pick it the original EP up cheap on Amazon)
4. Autopilot Is for Lovers - To the Wolves
[Bladen County Records, 2009]
Saw these guys with Builders and the Butchers (their drummer plays in that band also) and really enjoyed them. Was pleasantly surprised by their album, which is twelve slabs of auditory goodness.
(buy the download on bandcamp or pick up a physical copy at a show.)
3. Cursive - The Difference Between Houses and Homes (lost songs and loose ends 1995-2001)
[Saddle Creek Records, 2005]
Cursive made my #3 spot last year with another early album that I missed the first time around. This collection mines the earliest recordings of the Omaha band, and I think they're their best. Folks on the internet complain that the songs from the "Dispenser" 7" are rerecorded (disappointingly) for this compilation, but since I haven't heard the originals, they sound awesome to me.
Guy Picciotto's band between Rites of Spring and Fugazi (okay, RoS and Happy Go Licky). I discovered this band in 2015, and it took me 2 years to buy the album. It was worth it. Punk energy with an emotional delivery without being weepy. Post-punky soaring guitars. Makes me wonder what the 90s would have sounded like if One Last Wish was the influential band and Rites of Spring the footnote. I think I may like this even more than Rites of Spring.
