Top 5 Records 2014

5. Weird Al Yankovic - Mandatory Fun

Weird Al Yankovic - Mandatory Fun

RCA Records

Released: July 15, 2014

Weird Al must have a painting in his attic of himself looking REALLY ugly, because the dude doesn't seem to age. He's also just as funny now as he was when I was a kid.

This album beat out a lot of worthy competition for the #5 spot, just because it is so darn fun... and I had "Foil" stuck in my head for about half the year.

4. Braid - No Coast

Braid - No Coast

Top Shelf Records

Released: July 8, 2014

Another classic 90s band reunites for a new album. This one is aaalmost as good as the old stuff. Bob Nanna has always been the crooner, and Chris Broach the shouter, but Chris does his share of crooning on this album. The rhythms are still tight and angular, if a little more polished and soft-edged than 15 years ago.

I discovered my 3 and 5 year olds awake at 6 AM cranking this album in their room and dancing. It's a good album for that.

3. Temper and Hold - self-titled

Temper and Hold

Grafton Records

Released: September, 2014

This one took me by surprise. When I talked with Andi Camp at her show at Possum House last January, she mentioned she was working on a new project. I assumed it was some more shimmery piano pop like she has been making off and on for the last few years. Instead, I got this CD in the mail. Beautifully packaged, as has been the tradition with Andi's releases, this one hit my stereo hard.

Instead of twinkly piano pop, I have angry, angular rock that seems more at home in 1995 than 2015. Not that that's a bad thing. Andi Camp has switched back to bass, and the sound hearkens back to her first bands, Stella, and Ribbon fix. Stop-start post-rock rhythms, unexpected guitar figures, and Andi's keening wail make for a heart-stopping 8 songs. Pick this up today. You will love it.

if that embed doesn't work, here's the link to hear some songs. And here's a link to buy the CD.

 2. Man... or Astro-Man? - Defcon 5...4...3...2...1

Man...or Astro-Man? - Defcon 5...4...3...2...1

WARM Recordings

Released: May, 2013

Just like Braid, Man or Astro-Man reunite and release an album that stacks up with the best releases of their prime. This album doesn't just sound like their 90s output, it sounds like a natural continuation of the direction of their last few albums. It's as if the intervening 10 years never happened.

One difference is that there are more and more vocal tracks on this album. At least half the songs have vocals, which, again, continues MOAM's transition from a purely instrumental surf band to something better and stranger. For fans of the surf rock, Defcon 5 and Defcon 1 bookend the album with classic surf. Everything in the middle is great, too. The album was recorded by Steve Albini, which makes my ears and heart glow as well.

..and yes, this album was released LAST year, but I'm not such a high-profile journalist or rich enough to pick up EVERYTHING in its production year, so this counts. Besides, I meant to get this at their show in Eugene last summer, but their Van...or Astro-Van? broke down causing them to cancel the show and leaving me with nothing but a bad pun. So I caught them in Eugene this summer, and I'm certainly glad I did.

 1. The Lowest Pair - 36¢

The Lowest Pair - 36¢
Team Love Records

Released: May, 2014

Ahhh -- this was first place by a mile. This album has received more plays on our turntable and all our CD players than any two albums this year. The Lowest Pair is a banjo duo featuring Kendl Winter (who has records on K records) that I happened to see at Level B Theatre Pub here in town. I came in late, and I was blown away-- this was perfect music. Two banjos, or banjo and guitar, sparse harmonies. Perfect, heartaching songs. My wife mentioned that Kendl and Palmer have voices similar to Kenny and Dolly, and that may be why I like them so much. Whatever the reason, the entire family agrees with this album. Even the kids love it. Why don't you give a listen yourself?

 

 

Top 5 New Discoveries 2014

Without further ado, the best 5 albums that I've heard this year that aren't new:

5. Kye Alfred Hillig - Aurora (2012)

Kye Alfred Hillig - Aurora

Self-released

Released: April 8, 2012

Former frontman of Destruction Island, winner of my best new discovery LAST year, Kye Alfred Hillig has been incredibly prolific since going solo in 2012. He's released 4 albums in the last 3 years, including two in 2014 alone. For my money, though, the best is his first, Aurora, released in 2012.

In this album, Kye gives us 11 more of his folk-songs-as-character-studies, but keeps the arrangements always fresh and different so the songs don't sound the same. At times, he's got a full-band, multiple guitar approach (see "cloaked figure"), but when he needs to (see "trapdoor"), he can dial the other instruments back and deliver an emotional punch to the gut.

Mr. Hillig played a very fun solo show at the Possum House in January of last year, and we hope to have him back for another visit to his native Salem.



...and if that bandcamp embed isn't working, listen to the album AND DOWNLOAD IT FOR FREE here.


4. The Thermals - More Parts Per Million (2003)

The Thermals - More Parts Per Million

Sub Pop Records

Released: March 4, 2003

I saw the Thermals back in the day when this album was new. They put on a great show. I saw them again in 2014 at Level B here in Salem, and they STILL put on a great show. So why didn't I own any of their albums? I fixed that, and picked this one up. This is their first album, and it was supposedly recorded for $60. I can imagine the band picking up their instruments, hitting record, and rocking through the entire 28 minutes of the album non-stop. The band is that tight, and they sound that good.

3. Goldcard - self-titled (2003)

Goldcard - Self-titled

Off Records

Released: 2003

So, Mick from the radio show Northwest Notes came to my house one evening this spring with a CD-R. "You HAVE to listen to this". Goldcard is the solo project of Charlie Campbell, guitar player and one of the songwriters from the band Pond. This album is stuff that was meant for the never-happened 4th Pond album, and some solo stuff. It's FANTASTIC. Within a week I promptly ordered a physical copy (because I'm a nerd) and was rewarded by getting free stuff from the label, and really intriguing liner notes. Goldcard has an interesting story, which you should read about, but I'm not going to try to duplicate it. Suffice it to say, this was worth the visit. Listen to Mick. He knows....

2. Superchunk - (tie) Foolish (1994) / Here's Where the Strings Come In (1995)

Superchunk - Foolish / Here's Where the Strings Come In
Merge Records

Released: 1994/1995

I feel a little ...erm.. foolish... posting this, as I do a radio show of 90s indie rock, and I think Superchunk is probably the most quintessential 90s indie band, but I'm still catching up to all the thousands of good 90s releases, okay? Anyway, I saw Superchunk back in 2001, and they were of course amazing, and I've been aware of these records and songs for a long time, but I finally scraped together the dough to pick them up. 

I'd always thought of Superchunk as a solid, if boring, outfit, but these songs are varied, and pack a real emotional punch. I miss the days when all it took was a RAT pedal and some raw emotions to make good music. These are great singalongs, and I can see where The Thermals got a lot of their influence. Anyway I can't say anything really new about these records other than if you don't for some reason have them in your collection, you need them.

I remember loving this video on 120 minutes, and I've spent years racking my brain to remember what band or song it was... now I know. This is what I picture when I think of punk rock in its truest sense:

1. Kraftwerk - Trans Europe Express (1977)

Kraftwerk - Trans-Europe Express
Capitol / Kling Klang Recordds

Released: 1977

German robot music so futuristic it sounds current. Synthesizers were a radical thing in the 70s. This album certainly prefigures everything from electronica to hip hop to electroclash to whatever's on the radio today. The rhythms are so perfect, it's hard to imagine they're not being played by machines, but then again, it's hard to imagine machines making something so transcendent.

Although I was exposed to Kraftwerk in high school, I finally caved and bought this album this year (my wife thought I was buying a Rammstein album), and discovered what an experience this album is end-to-end. This is (IMO) unquestionably the apex of Kraftwerk's career. I've been listening to other kraftwerk albums on youtube, and some are quite good, but none are as good as this:

Top 5 Miscellaneous Songs 2014

"Miscellaneous Songs" -- songs that aren't on albums in one of the other top 5 lists. "2014" - encountered by me in 2014, regardless of release year.

5. Eric Lovre - Knucklehead City (2014)

Eric Lovre - Knucklehead City

Midnight Son

self-released

Released October 4, 2014

Eric Lovre, former guitar whiz for northwest legends the Dharma Bums, and a good personal friend of mine....cranks out a great new organ/guitar stomper about our hometown, the dreary Salem, Oregon. Catchy and singable for sure. The version on the record features the late Mike Davis from the legendary MC5 on the bass guitar. Apparently, it's his last recorded appearance. Pick up the album, Midnight Son, at your local record store.

I couldn't find anything to embed, but I did discover that you can listen to the full song on Myspace (!) but only if you login.... Oh well, get the album.

4. The Van Pelt - Three People Wide at All Times (2014)

The Van Pelt - Three People Wide at All Times

Imaginary Third

La Castanya Records
Released April 19, 2014

Recorded in 1997, released in 2014. Woo! 90s time capsule! The Van Pelt broke up during the sessions for their third album, and some of them reformed as The Lapse and rerecorded and released most of these songs. For my money, the Van Pelt versions sound fresher and more fun. Nowhere is this found more than this track. HUGE guitar sound. A sister to the legendary "The Speeding Train".

[note: bandcamp embeds seem to be not working today. Hear it HERE on bandcamp]


3. Damien Jurado - Now You're Swimming (2004)

Damien Jurado - Now You're Swimming

Holding His Breath

Acuarela Records
Released 2004

Discovered this 10-year-old Damien Jurado EP with a FANTASTIC 764-HERO cover. First of all, thanks to Damien Jurado, you can actually understand John Atkins' lyrics, and they're pretty good. What really makes this version, though, is the arrangement. Damien's quiet, calm delivery in the verses, with another track of him shouting the same words buried in the mix... just gives the whole thing a menace and creep factor missing in the original.


2. Modest Mouse - White Lies, Yellow Teeth (2014)

Modest Mouse - White Lies, Yellow Teeth

White Lies, Yellow Teeth / Buttons to Push the Buttons 7"

Glacial Pace Recordings

Released November 4, 2014

Modest Mouse re-released their first two albums on vinyl in 2014, and released two bonus 7"s of extra material. I think this song is the best of the bunch, although all 4 songs are very, very good. White Lies, Yellow Teeth was recorded for the Long Drive album, although for my money, it would've sounded at home on Moon and Antarctica. Maybe it's because they ended up recycling some of the lyrics into "Willful Suspension of Disbelief". Either way, it's a great song. Shout-out to their new song "Lampshades on Fire"-- I chose "White Lies" over "Lampshades" because I think everyone in the world is hearing "Lampshades" right now, and I don't need to add my voice.

1. Whiskey Priest - Fill (2014)

Noah Hall and Whiskey Priest - Fill

Almost Satisfied

Raven's Flight Creative

Released May 3, 2014

While the album just narrowly missed my top 5 (sorry!), this standout track could not be ignored. Whiskey Priest (Noah Hall) delivered his second solo album in 2014, and this is far and away my favorite song on it. I've included a live video from the album release show, but I think the EQ on the video removes all of the really fun drums that were going on. Anyway, a beautiful song with just a hint of menace. Buy the album.

Landmark Albums: 1995

Fifth in a series of influential albums. Aired 7/11/2014


(in no particular order other than the order I'm played them on the radio)

Radiohead - The Bends

More mature but somehow less ambitious than its predecessor. In the images, lyrics, liner notes, and more esoteric sounds, Radiohead's future direction is predicted. The songs, however, are still straight-ahead guitar rock.

Sunny Day Real Estate - Sunny Day Real Estate

Dense and enigmatic. Enigk-matic? Both the album and Sunny Day were over too quickly. I bought this album on its release date, and I'm still unraveling this ball of yarn.

Hum - You'd Prefer an Astronaut

Some beautiful and powerful songs and sounds. Stands in the shadow of its successor, though.

The Secret Stars - TSS

Fragile and minimal. Recorded on 4-track with one track broken. Heartwrenching. Beautiful.

Low - Long Division

Low hit their stride. Slow and minimal. Piercing.

June of 44 - Engine Takes to the Water

It's the nautical indifference. So dark, the compass becomes weight.

Special Mention / Guilty Pleasure: Alice in Chains - Alice in Chains

This album was revolutionary because Grunge was dead. Passe` by 1995. Alice in Chains didn't care. They went ahead and made the last great grunge album.

Thirty Ought Six - Hag Seed

You know it's a solid album when the Jeremy Enigk guest spot is one of the weakest songs.

Hush Harbor - Hush Harbor EP

5 of Hush Harbor's total of 6 recorded songs. John Atkins would later found 764-HERO and other bands, but never write 5 songs as good as these.

Landmark Albums: 1994

Fourth in a series of influential albums. Aired 3/21/2014



I've made this list 50% longer, and took a 3 hour slot to play all these on the radio. 1994 was a good year. Also, as a general note, 1994 is really the first year that Indie Rock (as such) was truly a separate entity and sound from Alternative. Again, all labels are subjective, but you will see a lot less mainstream music on these lists going forward from 1994.

(in no particular order other than the order I'm played them on the radio)

Built to Spill - There's Nothing Wrong with Love

Every song a pop classic. Subtle string touches, vocal harmonies. Near perfect.

Sebadoh - Bakesale

Lou Barlow and Jason Loewenstein really hit their songwriting stride on this album.

Shellac - At Action Park

Noise and perfect sound, fetishized. Baseball and Canada, fetishized. A first full-length album. Essential.

 

Low - I Could Live in Hope

 

 In 1994, it was very punk to play slowly and beautifully.

 

Sunny Day Real Estate - Diary

Without hyperbole, the best music to ever come from Seattle. Nothing sounds quite like Sunny Day, even the bands who try.

 

Christie Front Drive - self-titled EP

To be clear, since Christie Front Drive has many self-titled releases, this is their first, 6-song 12", released in 1994. And it's amazing.

Evergreen [CA] - Seven Songs

In the same vein as Sunny Day and Christie Front Drive. There are multiple bands named Evergreen. This is the one from San Diego. and this release is on Anomaly / Whaleboy records. Legend has it there are only a handful of these in existence. Sadly, I only have a dubbed copy.



Guilty Pleasure / Special Mention: Stone Temple Pilots - Purple

A perfect, solid rock album that's stood the test of time. Who knew?

Brainiac - Bonsai Superstar

20 years ahead of their time. I can't listen to Enon because Brainiac was so much better.

Pavement - Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain

Sublimely perfect in the way only Pavement could be. If you went to college in the 90s, you get it. If you didn't, you never will.

 

Guided by Voices - Bee Thousand

 The Hi-water mark of Lo-Fi. GBV's songwriting at its best. 

Starflyer 59 - Starflyer 59 [Silver]

The innovative first album of SF59's two perfect albums. Noisier, slower, more languid than anything else at the time.

Rodan - Rusty

A flawed album, but Rodan's legacy is taller than their recorded output. Rodan are the reason that other bands picked up Slint's sound and called it Post-rock.

Halo Benders - God Don't Make No Junk

The concept still doesn't make sense. Calvin from Beat Happening, Doug from Built to Spill, Steve from Pell Mell, Northwest rock royalty all, but very different. All mixed up together, making the strangest, most interesting pop you can imagine.

Landmark Albums: 1993

Third in a series of influential albums.


I'm getting behind in posting these on the site, but oh well. Aired 1/24/2014

(in no particular order other than the order I'm played them on the radio)

Fugazi - In on the Kill Taker

Fugazi's high water mark.

 

 Nirvana - In Utero

Nirvana, meet Steve Albini. Galvanizing for the mainstream and the underground.

Radiohead - Pablo Honey

Mass-marketed one-hit wonder for the alternative nation. Deeper listening reveals a layered, nuanced album buried in layers of guitar noise. The first, and maybe even the best? Them's fightin' words.

Catherine Wheel - Chrome

Catherine Wheel's best album. Pop songs buried under vast guitar soundscapes. Plus, some rocking.

Hum - Electra 2000

Drop-D fuzz science pop. A glimpse of what's to come. Definitive version includes "Winder" as a bonus track.

Smashing Pumkins - Siamese Dream

Same approach as Pablo Honey, Chrome, and Electra 2000, but done on a grander scale.

Afghan Whigs - Gentlemen

Darkly cinematic. Grunge angst meets soul longing.

The Breeders - Last Splash

Technically, this is the guilty pleasure album for the day, but in 1993, the mainstream and the underground were so mixed up that this was a big hit. Certainly as deserving as anything else on the list.

Built to Spill - Ultimate Alternative Wavers

Indie rock takes its first shambling, irony-laden steps away from the Alternative Nation mainstream.

The Spinanes - Manos

Doing less with more. Shimmering, sexy sounds from guitar, vocals, drums.

Top 5 Records 2013

5. Norman - Into the Eventyr

Norman - Into the Eventyr

Hey Amigo! Records

Released: November 2013

Corvallis/Portland heroes Norman bring you a northwest-centric record in every sense of the word. They even released their own signature beer through Calapooia Brewing with this record.

Don't let the promotion blind you to the fact that this is a really solid rock album by a really rock solid band. This Norman album is a little more straight-up-rock than their past two, but singer Eric Nordby has already assured me there's more strangeness lurking in the minds of the Normans.

4. Landing - II

Landing - II

Vast Arc Hues Records

Released: August 2013

Landing won top spot on my best albums of 2012, and they're back for more with three different EPs in 2013. If this list were ten entries long, it might have three landing EPs on it. As it stands, I picked II-- a cassette-only tour release that follows the trajectory of their 2012 self-titled album. More beats, more drones, denser and more claustrophobic.

 

This is dance music on drugs or drug music on dancing. Either way, it's perfect.


3. The Builders and the Butchers - Western Medicine

The Builders and the Butchers - Western Medicine

Badman Recording Company

Released: June 2013

Another record that placed higher than I thought, simply because of replayability. This one keeps returning to the player. It's a perfect soundtrack for diggin' graves or driving across a lonely desert (only one of which I've actually done while listening to this album).

It's 60 minutes of relentless, single-minded death songs. Buy it now on CD or LP from Badman.


2. Low - The Invisible Way

Low - The Invisible Way

Sub Pop Records

Released: March 19, 2013

So, when a band is, of, ahem, a certain age....   Okay, so Low has been a band for 20 years. This album is their "All That You Can't Leave Behind". It's Low finding themselves comfortable in their own skins (for maybe the first time), embracing all that they are, forgetting about what they aren't, and making a record from their hearts.

This is a simple, beautiful, Low album. It's Low all grown-up, and after 20 years, that's not a bad thing. You can order it from Sub Pop. Or, it's probably in your record store.


1. Typhoon - White Lighter

Typhoon - White Lighter

Roll Call Records

Released: August 2013

Typhoon is probably the best band making music today. They're better than me. They're probably better than you. Once you get over that, the amazingness becomes easier to take in.

The scary thing is, these guys are from little ol' Salem, Oregon. They could be you and me. They are you and me. Their show at the loading dock of the Marion-Polk Food Share was one I'll remember forever. Yet, they're just a bunch of local kids doing the best they can.

OK. enough gushing. This album is (IMO) not quite up to the standards they set with Hunger and Thirst and A New Kind of House. I think the production is mostly to blame. There's more hardline compression on the sound, making it more difficult for small sounds to pop into and out of the audio picture. I realize pointing mics at 13 musicians and getting it to sound like anything is a miracle in itself, but it's one that they managed to capture on tape twice (with H&T and ANKOH). The recording on this album feels more forced and rushed, and it shows.

Oh well. still the best thing going, right?