| 1. Otto Luening & Vladimir Ussachevsky - Tape Recorder Music |
| 2. Hugh le Cain - "Dripsody" |
| 3. Elvis Presley - "Mystery Train" |
| 4. Julie London - "Cry Me a River" |
| 5. Frank Sinatra - In the Wee Small Hours |
| 6. Bill Haley & His Comets - "Shake Rattle and Roll" |
| 7. Olivier Messiaen - "Oiseaux Exotiques" |
| 8. Fats Domino - "Ain't That a Shame" |
| 9. Chuck Berry - Maybellene |
| 10. Etta James - Dance with Me Henry (The Wallflower) |
Thursday, December 31, 2015
Sixty Year Vintage: Ten Top Artifacts from 1955
10 Year Vintage: Top Torrents and Massive MP3s of 2005
Top 50 LPs of 2005
1. Animal Collective- Feels
2. Vex'd- Degenerate
3. Burial- South London Boroughs EP
4. MIA- Arular
5. Coil- The Ape of Naples
6. The Advisory Circle- Mind How You Go EP
7. Kanye West- Late Registration
8. Lichens- The Psychic Nature of Being
9. Broadcast- Tender Buttons
10. Mountain Goats- The Sunset Tree
11. Grouper- Way Their Crept
12. Ladytron- Witching Hour
13. Jackson & His Computer Band- Smash
14. Boredoms- House of Sun/Seadrum
15. Koushik- Be With
16. Of Montreal- The Sunleandic Twins
17. The Goslings- Between the Dead
18. Anthony Rother- Art is a Technology
19. Kavinsky- Teddy Boy EP
20. Mu- Out of Breach
21. Vashti Bunyan- Lookaftering
22. Depeche Mode- Playing the Angel
23. Northern Valentine- Rusted Gate: Leopards Mouth
24. Rachel Stevens- Come and Get It
25. Boards of Canada - The Campfire Headphase
26. Mordant Music- The Tower
27. Antony and the Johnsons- I Am a Bird Now
28. Liars- Drum's Not Dead
29. Virus Syndicate- The Work-Related Illness
30. M83 - Before the Dawn Heals Us
31. Andy Stott- Replace EP
32. Goldfrapp- Supernature
33. Soulwax- Nite Versions
34. The Perceptionists- Black Dialogue
35. Venom 18- Mystery Organization
36. Daft Punk- Human After All
37. The Lickets- Fake Universe Man
38. Talib Kweli- Right About Now
39. Bibio- Fi
40. Mark Clifford and Simon Keahola- Running Taper
41. Justus Kohnchke- Schwabylon
42. The Game- The Documentary
43. Byla- Byla
44. Lawrence- The Night Will Last Forever
45. Final Fantasy- Has a Good Home
46. The Field- Things Keep Falling Down
47. Lindstrom and Prins Thomas- Lindstrom and Prins Thomas
48. Why?- Sandollars EP
49. Nine Inch Nails- With Teeth
50. My Morning Jacket- Z
Top 50 Singles of 2005
1. Animal Collective- "Grass"
2. M83 - "Don't Save Us from the Flames"
3. Burial- "Southern Comfort"
4. Amerie- "1 Thing"
5. Broadcast- "Arc of a Journey"
6. Mountain Goats- "This Year"
7. Three 6 Mafia- "Stay Fly"
8. Au Revoir Simone- "Back in Time"
9. Modeselektor- "Silikon"
10. Boards of Canada- "Dayvan Cowboy"
11. Robyn- "With Every Heartbeat"
12. Kanye West- "Crack Music"
13. Skream- "Midnight Request Line"
14. DJ Pinch & P Dutty- "War Dub"
15. Toasty- "Take It Personal"
16. Coil- "Cold Cell"
17. Of Montreal- "Wraith Pinned to the Mist"
18. Sia- "Where I Belong (Various Production Mix)"
19. D5- "Flotation Tank"
20. Ladytron- "High Rise"
21. Four Tet- "Sun Drums and Soil (Sa-Ra Creative Partners Mix)"
22. Spacek- "Rapid Rate"
23. Shackleton- "I Am Animal"
24. Clipse- "Zen"
25. Death Cab for Cutie- "I Will Follow You Into the Dark"
26. Jamie Lidell- "The City"
27. Robin Guthrie & Harold Budd- "Snowfall"
28. James Ruskin- "Return"
29. Matt Tolfrey & Craig Sylvester- "The Horn"
30. Yin Yang Twins- "Wait (The Whisper Song)"
31. Jackie O Motherfucker- "Hey! Mr. Sky"
32. Kavinsky- "Testarossa Autodrive"
33. D-1- "I Believe"
34. Missy Elliot ft Ciara & Fat Man Scoop- "Lose Control"
35. Michael Mayer- "Lovefood"
36. Rosa Mundi- "The Snow Man"
37. Fat Joe- "Safe 2 Say"
38. !!!- "Get Up"
39. Panda Bear- "Comfy in Nautica"
40. Tree Wave- "Sleep"
41. Ashanti- "Still on It"
42. British Murder Boys- "Father Loves Us"
43. The Game - "Hate it or Love It"
44. Boxcutter- "Sunshine"
45. Imogen Heap- "Hide and Seek"
46. Murderbot- "Onlyworld"
47. Hot Chip- "Over and Over"
48. DJ Godfather and Starski- "Moments"
49. The Perceptionists- "Black Dialogue"
50. Koushik- "Be With"
1. Animal Collective- Feels
2. Vex'd- Degenerate
3. Burial- South London Boroughs EP
4. MIA- Arular
5. Coil- The Ape of Naples
6. The Advisory Circle- Mind How You Go EP
7. Kanye West- Late Registration
8. Lichens- The Psychic Nature of Being
9. Broadcast- Tender Buttons
10. Mountain Goats- The Sunset Tree
11. Grouper- Way Their Crept
12. Ladytron- Witching Hour
13. Jackson & His Computer Band- Smash
14. Boredoms- House of Sun/Seadrum
15. Koushik- Be With
16. Of Montreal- The Sunleandic Twins
17. The Goslings- Between the Dead
18. Anthony Rother- Art is a Technology
19. Kavinsky- Teddy Boy EP
20. Mu- Out of Breach
21. Vashti Bunyan- Lookaftering
22. Depeche Mode- Playing the Angel
23. Northern Valentine- Rusted Gate: Leopards Mouth
24. Rachel Stevens- Come and Get It
25. Boards of Canada - The Campfire Headphase
26. Mordant Music- The Tower
27. Antony and the Johnsons- I Am a Bird Now
28. Liars- Drum's Not Dead
29. Virus Syndicate- The Work-Related Illness
30. M83 - Before the Dawn Heals Us
31. Andy Stott- Replace EP
32. Goldfrapp- Supernature
33. Soulwax- Nite Versions
34. The Perceptionists- Black Dialogue
35. Venom 18- Mystery Organization
36. Daft Punk- Human After All
37. The Lickets- Fake Universe Man
38. Talib Kweli- Right About Now
39. Bibio- Fi
40. Mark Clifford and Simon Keahola- Running Taper
41. Justus Kohnchke- Schwabylon
42. The Game- The Documentary
43. Byla- Byla
44. Lawrence- The Night Will Last Forever
45. Final Fantasy- Has a Good Home
46. The Field- Things Keep Falling Down
47. Lindstrom and Prins Thomas- Lindstrom and Prins Thomas
48. Why?- Sandollars EP
49. Nine Inch Nails- With Teeth
50. My Morning Jacket- Z
Top 50 Singles of 2005
1. Animal Collective- "Grass"
2. M83 - "Don't Save Us from the Flames"
3. Burial- "Southern Comfort"
4. Amerie- "1 Thing"
5. Broadcast- "Arc of a Journey"
6. Mountain Goats- "This Year"
7. Three 6 Mafia- "Stay Fly"
8. Au Revoir Simone- "Back in Time"
9. Modeselektor- "Silikon"
10. Boards of Canada- "Dayvan Cowboy"
11. Robyn- "With Every Heartbeat"
12. Kanye West- "Crack Music"
13. Skream- "Midnight Request Line"
14. DJ Pinch & P Dutty- "War Dub"
15. Toasty- "Take It Personal"
16. Coil- "Cold Cell"
17. Of Montreal- "Wraith Pinned to the Mist"
18. Sia- "Where I Belong (Various Production Mix)"
19. D5- "Flotation Tank"
20. Ladytron- "High Rise"
21. Four Tet- "Sun Drums and Soil (Sa-Ra Creative Partners Mix)"
22. Spacek- "Rapid Rate"
23. Shackleton- "I Am Animal"
24. Clipse- "Zen"
25. Death Cab for Cutie- "I Will Follow You Into the Dark"
26. Jamie Lidell- "The City"
27. Robin Guthrie & Harold Budd- "Snowfall"
28. James Ruskin- "Return"
29. Matt Tolfrey & Craig Sylvester- "The Horn"
30. Yin Yang Twins- "Wait (The Whisper Song)"
31. Jackie O Motherfucker- "Hey! Mr. Sky"
32. Kavinsky- "Testarossa Autodrive"
33. D-1- "I Believe"
34. Missy Elliot ft Ciara & Fat Man Scoop- "Lose Control"
35. Michael Mayer- "Lovefood"
36. Rosa Mundi- "The Snow Man"
37. Fat Joe- "Safe 2 Say"
38. !!!- "Get Up"
39. Panda Bear- "Comfy in Nautica"
40. Tree Wave- "Sleep"
41. Ashanti- "Still on It"
42. British Murder Boys- "Father Loves Us"
43. The Game - "Hate it or Love It"
44. Boxcutter- "Sunshine"
45. Imogen Heap- "Hide and Seek"
46. Murderbot- "Onlyworld"
47. Hot Chip- "Over and Over"
48. DJ Godfather and Starski- "Moments"
49. The Perceptionists- "Black Dialogue"
50. Koushik- "Be With"
20 Year Vintage: Tunes and CeeDees of the Year 1995
Top 50 Singles of the Year of our lord 1995
1. Bjork - "Hyperballad"
2. Underworld- "Born Slippy (.NUXX Mix)"
3. Slowdive- "Blue Skied n' Clear"
4. PJ Harvey- "Down by the Water"
5. Pulp- "Common People"
6. David Bowie- "The Motel"
7. Nicolette- "No Government"
8. Tricky vs the Gravediggaz- "Tonite is a Special Nite"
9. Low- "Transmission"
10. Saukrates- "Father Time"
11. New Order- "Confusion (Pump Panel Reconstruction mix)"
12. Smashing Pumpkins- "1979"
13. Autechre- "Second Bad Vilbell"
14. Windy and Carl- "Emerald"
15. Mariah Carey- "Fantasy"
16. Todd Edwards- "Saved My Life"
17. PFM- "One and Only"
18. Perceptrons- "Contempt"
19. Claude Young- "Wind Up"
20. Plaid - "Angry Dolphin"
21. Oasis- "Some Might Say"
22. The Cenubites - "How the Fuck you Get a Deal"
23. Sonic Youth- "The Diamond Sea"
24. Total feat Notorious B.I.G.- "Can't You See"
25. Garbage- "Supervixen"
26. Parris Mitchell feat Waxmaster- "Ghetto Shout Out"
27. Fatboy Slim- "Santa Cruz"
28. Folk Implosion- "Natural One"
29. Daft Punk- "Da Funk"
30. Aphex Twin- "Ventolin"
31. T-Power - "Police State"
32. Blur - "The Universal"
33. I-F- "I Do Because I Couldn't Care Less"
34. Fret- "Stuck"
35. Smokin Beats- "Time Are Chargin'"
36. The Chemical Brothers- "Leave Home"
37. Green Velvet- "Flash"
38. Ghost Town DJ's- "My Boo"
39. Shake- "Get a Feeling"
40. Thomas Bangalter- "Ventura"
41. Ministry- "The Fall"
42. Mojave 3- "You're Beautiful"
43. The Infinity Project- "Feeling Very Weird"
44. Radiohead- "Planet Telex"
45. Adina Howard- "Freak Like Me"
46. Facemob- "Among the Walking Dead"
47. Nightmares on Wax- "Rise"
48. Roots Manuva- "Next Type of Motion"
49. The Apples in Stereo- "Tidal Wave"
50. Marilyn Manson- "Down in the Park"
Top 50 Albums of the Year of our sweet Satan 1995
1. Bjork- Post
2. Carl Craig- Landcruising
3. Seefeel- Succour
4. Nine Inch Nails- Further Down the Spiral
5. A Guy Called Gerald- Black Secret Technology
6. Oval- 94 Diskont
7. Hum- You'd Prefer an Astronaut
8. The Cenubites- The Cenubites
9. Autechre- Tri Repetae
10. Elecktroids- Electroworld
11. Mr. Bungle- Disco Volante
12. PJ Harvey- To Bring You My Love
13. Download- Furnace
14. Plug- Rebuilt Kev EP
15. David Bowie- 1.Outside
16. Boards of Canada - Twoism
17. Pharcyde- Labcabincalifornia
18. Mercury Rev- See You on the Other Side
19. Slowdive - Pygmoelian
20. Smashing Pumpkins- Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness
21. Techno Animal- Re-Entry
22. Drexciya- Aquatic Invasion
23. Dopplereffekt- Fascist State
24. Mouse on Mars- Iahori Tahiti
25. Pulp- Different Class
26. Yo La Tengo - Electr-o-Pura
27. Tricky- Maquinequaye
28. The Advent- Elements of Life
29. Ol' Dirty Bastard- Return to the 36 Chambers
30. Flying Saucer Attack- Furthur
31. DJ Shadow - What Does Your Soul Look Like EP
32. Prick- Prick
33. Aghast- Hexerei Im Zweilicht Der Finsternis
34. Oasis- Whats the Story Morning Glory?
35. The Chemical Brothers- Exit Planet Dust
36. Massive Attack vs Mad Professor- No Protection
37. Swans- The Great Annhilator
38. ElpH vs Coil- Worship the Glitch
39. Ladbradford- A Stable Reference
40. Garbage- Garbage
41. Disjecta- Looking for Snags
42. Microstoria- Innit Ding
43. The Flaming Lips- Clouds Taste Metallic
44. Tarnation- Gentle Creatures
45. Foetus- Gash
46. Radiohead- The Bends
47. Low- Long Division
48. Scorn- Ellipsis
49. Dirty Three- Dirty Three
50. Monster Magnet- Dopes to Infinity
1. Bjork - "Hyperballad"
2. Underworld- "Born Slippy (.NUXX Mix)"
3. Slowdive- "Blue Skied n' Clear"
4. PJ Harvey- "Down by the Water"
5. Pulp- "Common People"
6. David Bowie- "The Motel"
7. Nicolette- "No Government"
8. Tricky vs the Gravediggaz- "Tonite is a Special Nite"
9. Low- "Transmission"
10. Saukrates- "Father Time"
11. New Order- "Confusion (Pump Panel Reconstruction mix)"
12. Smashing Pumpkins- "1979"
13. Autechre- "Second Bad Vilbell"
14. Windy and Carl- "Emerald"
15. Mariah Carey- "Fantasy"
16. Todd Edwards- "Saved My Life"
17. PFM- "One and Only"
18. Perceptrons- "Contempt"
19. Claude Young- "Wind Up"
20. Plaid - "Angry Dolphin"
21. Oasis- "Some Might Say"
22. The Cenubites - "How the Fuck you Get a Deal"
23. Sonic Youth- "The Diamond Sea"
24. Total feat Notorious B.I.G.- "Can't You See"
25. Garbage- "Supervixen"
26. Parris Mitchell feat Waxmaster- "Ghetto Shout Out"
27. Fatboy Slim- "Santa Cruz"
28. Folk Implosion- "Natural One"
29. Daft Punk- "Da Funk"
30. Aphex Twin- "Ventolin"
31. T-Power - "Police State"
32. Blur - "The Universal"
33. I-F- "I Do Because I Couldn't Care Less"
34. Fret- "Stuck"
35. Smokin Beats- "Time Are Chargin'"
36. The Chemical Brothers- "Leave Home"
37. Green Velvet- "Flash"
38. Ghost Town DJ's- "My Boo"
39. Shake- "Get a Feeling"
40. Thomas Bangalter- "Ventura"
41. Ministry- "The Fall"
42. Mojave 3- "You're Beautiful"
43. The Infinity Project- "Feeling Very Weird"
44. Radiohead- "Planet Telex"
45. Adina Howard- "Freak Like Me"
46. Facemob- "Among the Walking Dead"
47. Nightmares on Wax- "Rise"
48. Roots Manuva- "Next Type of Motion"
49. The Apples in Stereo- "Tidal Wave"
50. Marilyn Manson- "Down in the Park"
Top 50 Albums of the Year of our sweet Satan 1995
1. Bjork- Post
2. Carl Craig- Landcruising
3. Seefeel- Succour
4. Nine Inch Nails- Further Down the Spiral
5. A Guy Called Gerald- Black Secret Technology
6. Oval- 94 Diskont
7. Hum- You'd Prefer an Astronaut
8. The Cenubites- The Cenubites
9. Autechre- Tri Repetae
10. Elecktroids- Electroworld
11. Mr. Bungle- Disco Volante
12. PJ Harvey- To Bring You My Love
13. Download- Furnace
14. Plug- Rebuilt Kev EP
15. David Bowie- 1.Outside
16. Boards of Canada - Twoism
17. Pharcyde- Labcabincalifornia
18. Mercury Rev- See You on the Other Side
19. Slowdive - Pygmoelian
20. Smashing Pumpkins- Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness
21. Techno Animal- Re-Entry
22. Drexciya- Aquatic Invasion
23. Dopplereffekt- Fascist State
24. Mouse on Mars- Iahori Tahiti
25. Pulp- Different Class
26. Yo La Tengo - Electr-o-Pura
27. Tricky- Maquinequaye
28. The Advent- Elements of Life
29. Ol' Dirty Bastard- Return to the 36 Chambers
30. Flying Saucer Attack- Furthur
31. DJ Shadow - What Does Your Soul Look Like EP
32. Prick- Prick
33. Aghast- Hexerei Im Zweilicht Der Finsternis
34. Oasis- Whats the Story Morning Glory?
35. The Chemical Brothers- Exit Planet Dust
36. Massive Attack vs Mad Professor- No Protection
37. Swans- The Great Annhilator
38. ElpH vs Coil- Worship the Glitch
39. Ladbradford- A Stable Reference
40. Garbage- Garbage
41. Disjecta- Looking for Snags
42. Microstoria- Innit Ding
43. The Flaming Lips- Clouds Taste Metallic
44. Tarnation- Gentle Creatures
45. Foetus- Gash
46. Radiohead- The Bends
47. Low- Long Division
48. Scorn- Ellipsis
49. Dirty Three- Dirty Three
50. Monster Magnet- Dopes to Infinity
Wednesday, December 30, 2015
30 Year Vintage: Cuts and Big Ones from 1985
Singles of the year 1985
1. Pet Shop Boys- "West End Girls"
2. Model 500- "Night Drive (Thru Babylon)"
3. The Jesus and Mary Chain- "Just Like Honey"
4. The Revolting Cocks- "No Devotion"
5. The Smiths- "The Boy With the Thorn in his Side"
6. The Cocteau Twins- "Rococo"
7. The Replacements- "Bastards of Young"
8. Death Comet Crew feat Rammellzee- "Exterior Street"
9. JM Silk- "Music is the Key"
10. Prince and the Revolution- "Pop Life"
11. New Order- "The Perfect Kiss"
12. Nu Shooz- "I Can't Wait"
13. Opal- "Soul Giver"
14. Double D & Steinski- "Lesson 3 (History of Hip-Hop)"
15. The Book of Love- "I Touch Roses"
16. Husker Du- "New Day Rising"
17. Shop Assistants- "Safety Net"
18. Ministry- "Over the Shoulder"
19. The Durutti Column- "Silence"
20. World Domination Enterprises- "Asbestos Lead Asbestos"
21. The Cure- "Inbetween Days"
22. Severed Heads- "We Have Come to Bless This House"
23. Cybotron- "R-9 (Instrumental)"
24. Depeche Mode- "Shake the Disease"
25. Mantronix- "Bassline"
26. LL Cool J- "I Need a Beat"
27. Slaughter Joe- "I'll Follow You Down"
28. Barrington Levy- "Under Mi Sensi"
29. Dead Can Dance- "Enigma of the Absolute"
30. Mr Fingers- "Mysteries of Love"
31. REM - "Driver 8"
32. Stacey Q- "Shy Girl"
33. Tackhead- "Whats My Mission Now"
34. Weird Al Yankovich- "Dare To Be Stupid"
35. Tears for Fears- "Head Over Heels"
36. Doug E Fresh- "La Di Da Di"
37. The Dream Academy- "Life in a Northern Town"
38. Jamie Principle - "Waiting on My Angel"
39. Beastie Boys- "Rock Hard"
40. Level 42- "Something About You"
41. For Against- "Autocrat"
42. Wayne Smith- "Under Mi Sleng Teng"
43. a-Ha- "The Sun Always Shines on TV"
44. Dramarama - "Anything, Anything"
45. Robert Palmer - "I Didn't Mean to Turn You On"
46. Meat Puppets- "Two Rivers"
47. Miami Sound Machine- "Conga"
48. Til Tuesday- "Voices Carry"
49. Talking Heads- "Road to Nowhere"
50. Phil Collins- "Take Me Home"
49. Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam- "Can you Feel the Beat"
50. Psychic TV- "Godstar"
1. Pet Shop Boys- "West End Girls"
2. Model 500- "Night Drive (Thru Babylon)"
3. The Jesus and Mary Chain- "Just Like Honey"
4. The Revolting Cocks- "No Devotion"
5. The Smiths- "The Boy With the Thorn in his Side"
6. The Cocteau Twins- "Rococo"
7. The Replacements- "Bastards of Young"
8. Death Comet Crew feat Rammellzee- "Exterior Street"
9. JM Silk- "Music is the Key"
10. Prince and the Revolution- "Pop Life"
11. New Order- "The Perfect Kiss"
12. Nu Shooz- "I Can't Wait"
13. Opal- "Soul Giver"
14. Double D & Steinski- "Lesson 3 (History of Hip-Hop)"
15. The Book of Love- "I Touch Roses"
16. Husker Du- "New Day Rising"
17. Shop Assistants- "Safety Net"
18. Ministry- "Over the Shoulder"
19. The Durutti Column- "Silence"
20. World Domination Enterprises- "Asbestos Lead Asbestos"
21. The Cure- "Inbetween Days"
22. Severed Heads- "We Have Come to Bless This House"
23. Cybotron- "R-9 (Instrumental)"
24. Depeche Mode- "Shake the Disease"
25. Mantronix- "Bassline"
26. LL Cool J- "I Need a Beat"
27. Slaughter Joe- "I'll Follow You Down"
28. Barrington Levy- "Under Mi Sensi"
29. Dead Can Dance- "Enigma of the Absolute"
30. Mr Fingers- "Mysteries of Love"
31. REM - "Driver 8"
32. Stacey Q- "Shy Girl"
33. Tackhead- "Whats My Mission Now"
34. Weird Al Yankovich- "Dare To Be Stupid"
35. Tears for Fears- "Head Over Heels"
36. Doug E Fresh- "La Di Da Di"
37. The Dream Academy- "Life in a Northern Town"
38. Jamie Principle - "Waiting on My Angel"
39. Beastie Boys- "Rock Hard"
40. Level 42- "Something About You"
41. For Against- "Autocrat"
42. Wayne Smith- "Under Mi Sleng Teng"
43. a-Ha- "The Sun Always Shines on TV"
44. Dramarama - "Anything, Anything"
45. Robert Palmer - "I Didn't Mean to Turn You On"
46. Meat Puppets- "Two Rivers"
47. Miami Sound Machine- "Conga"
48. Til Tuesday- "Voices Carry"
49. Talking Heads- "Road to Nowhere"
50. Phil Collins- "Take Me Home"
49. Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam- "Can you Feel the Beat"
50. Psychic TV- "Godstar"
Albums of the Year 1985
1. The Cure- The Head on the Door
2. Sheila Chandra- The Struggle
3. Husker Du- Flip Your Wig
4. Big Black- Racer-X EP
5. The Cocteau Twins- Aikea-Guinea
6. Opal- Northern Line EP
7. The Jesus and Mary Chain- Psychocandy
8. Einsturzende Neubaten- Halber Mensch
9. The Dukes of the Stratosfear- 25 o clock
10. Front 242- No Comment
11. New Order- Low-Life
12. Sonic Youth- Bad Moon Rising
13. Schoolly D- Schoolly D
14. Mark Stewart- As the Veneer of Democracy Starts to Fade
15. Dead Can Dance- Spleen and Ideal
16. Big Boys- No Matter How Long the Line At the Cafeteria is, There's Always a Seat
17. The Fall- This Nation's Saving Grace
18. Nico - Camera Obscura
19. The Blackouts- Lost Souls Club EP
20. Cabaret Voltaire- The Covenant, The Sword, and the Arm of the Lord
21. Psychic TV- Themes 2
22. The Velvet Underground- VU
23. Chris & Cosey- Techno Primitv
24. Prefab Sprout- Steve McQueen
25. Skinny Puppy- Bites
26. LL Cool J- Radio
27. Prince- Around the World
28. The Smiths- Meat is Murder
29. Severed Heads- City Slab Horror
30. A-HA- Hunting High and Low
Tuesday, December 29, 2015
40 Year Vintage: Top Albums and Singles of 1975
Singles of 1975
1. 10cc- "I'm Not in Love"
2. Brian Eno- "Another Green World"
3. Minnie Riperton- "Inside My Love"
4. Neu!- "Seeland"
5. Black Sabbath- "Symptom of the Universe"
6. Heart- "Crazy On You"
7. ABBA- "SOS"
8. Roxy Music- "Love is the Drug"
9. Demis Roussos- "Midnight is the Time I Need You"
10. Bobby Moore- "(Call Me Your) Anything Man"
11. Pere Ubu- "Heart of Darkness"
12. Barbara Steisand - "Shake Me Wake Me (long version)"
13. Silver Convention- "Fly Robin Fly"
14. Curtis Mayfield- "Billy Jack"
15. David Bowie- "Win"
16. Donna Summer- "Love to Love You, Baby"
17. The Blackbyrds- "Rock Creek Park"
18. Camille Yarbough- "Take Yo' Praise"
19. Kraftwerk- "Ohm Sweet Ohm"
20. Elvin Bishop- "Fooled Around and Fell in Love"
21. Bobby Moore- "Call Me Your Anything Man (Tom Moulton Mix)"
22. Fleetwood Mac- "Rhiannon"
23. The Bee Gees- "Jive Talkin"
24. Queen- "Bohemian Rhapsody"
25. Earth Wind and Fire- "Shining Star"
26. Cortex- "Huit Octobre 1971"
27. The Doobie Brothers- "I Cheat the Hangman"
28. Boney M- "Do You Wanna Bump"
29. War- "Low Rider"
30. Led Zeppelin- "Kashmir"
31. George & Gwen Mcrae- "The Rub"
32. The Isley Brothers- "Fight the Power"
33. Isaac Hayes- "Feel Like Makin Love"
34. Janis Ian- "At Seventeen"
35. KC and the Sunshine Band- "Get Down Tonight"
36. The Chi-Lites- "Go Away Dream"
37. Ted Nugent - "Stranglehold"
38. Herbie Hancock- "Hang Up Your Hang Ups"
39. The Rubettes- "I Can Do It"
40. Sly Stone- "I Get High on You"
Albums of 1975
1. Brian Eno- Another Green World
2. Neu!- Neu! '75
3. Miles Davis- Agharta
4. Harmonia- Deluxe
5. Lou Reed- Metal Machine Music
6. David Bowie- Young Americans
7. Heart- Dreamboat Annie
8. Kraftwerk- Radioactivity
9. Don Cherry- Brown Rice
10. KC and the Sunshine Band- KC and the Sunshine Band
11. Edgar Froese- Ypsilon in Malaysian Pale
12. Aerosmith- Toys in the Attic
13. Camille Yarbough- The Iron Pot Cooker
14. Lee Scratch Perry- Revolution Dub
15. Donna Summer- Love to Love You, Baby
16. Can- Landed
17. Elvin Bishop- Struttin My Stuff
18. Einzelganger- Einzelganger
19. Black Sabbath- Sabotage
20. Human Arts Ensemble- Under the Sun
21. The Dictators- Go Girl Crazy
22. Sparks - Indiscreet
23. The Bee Gees- Main Course
24. Lyman Woodward Organization- Saturday Night Special
25. Patti Smith- Horses
1. 10cc- "I'm Not in Love"
2. Brian Eno- "Another Green World"
3. Minnie Riperton- "Inside My Love"
4. Neu!- "Seeland"
5. Black Sabbath- "Symptom of the Universe"
6. Heart- "Crazy On You"
7. ABBA- "SOS"
8. Roxy Music- "Love is the Drug"
9. Demis Roussos- "Midnight is the Time I Need You"
10. Bobby Moore- "(Call Me Your) Anything Man"
11. Pere Ubu- "Heart of Darkness"
12. Barbara Steisand - "Shake Me Wake Me (long version)"
13. Silver Convention- "Fly Robin Fly"
14. Curtis Mayfield- "Billy Jack"
15. David Bowie- "Win"
16. Donna Summer- "Love to Love You, Baby"
17. The Blackbyrds- "Rock Creek Park"
18. Camille Yarbough- "Take Yo' Praise"
19. Kraftwerk- "Ohm Sweet Ohm"
20. Elvin Bishop- "Fooled Around and Fell in Love"
21. Bobby Moore- "Call Me Your Anything Man (Tom Moulton Mix)"
22. Fleetwood Mac- "Rhiannon"
23. The Bee Gees- "Jive Talkin"
24. Queen- "Bohemian Rhapsody"
25. Earth Wind and Fire- "Shining Star"
26. Cortex- "Huit Octobre 1971"
27. The Doobie Brothers- "I Cheat the Hangman"
28. Boney M- "Do You Wanna Bump"
29. War- "Low Rider"
30. Led Zeppelin- "Kashmir"
31. George & Gwen Mcrae- "The Rub"
32. The Isley Brothers- "Fight the Power"
33. Isaac Hayes- "Feel Like Makin Love"
34. Janis Ian- "At Seventeen"
35. KC and the Sunshine Band- "Get Down Tonight"
36. The Chi-Lites- "Go Away Dream"
37. Ted Nugent - "Stranglehold"
38. Herbie Hancock- "Hang Up Your Hang Ups"
39. The Rubettes- "I Can Do It"
40. Sly Stone- "I Get High on You"
Albums of 1975
1. Brian Eno- Another Green World
2. Neu!- Neu! '75
3. Miles Davis- Agharta
4. Harmonia- Deluxe
5. Lou Reed- Metal Machine Music
6. David Bowie- Young Americans
7. Heart- Dreamboat Annie
8. Kraftwerk- Radioactivity
9. Don Cherry- Brown Rice
10. KC and the Sunshine Band- KC and the Sunshine Band
11. Edgar Froese- Ypsilon in Malaysian Pale
12. Aerosmith- Toys in the Attic
13. Camille Yarbough- The Iron Pot Cooker
14. Lee Scratch Perry- Revolution Dub
15. Donna Summer- Love to Love You, Baby
16. Can- Landed
17. Elvin Bishop- Struttin My Stuff
18. Einzelganger- Einzelganger
19. Black Sabbath- Sabotage
20. Human Arts Ensemble- Under the Sun
21. The Dictators- Go Girl Crazy
22. Sparks - Indiscreet
23. The Bee Gees- Main Course
24. Lyman Woodward Organization- Saturday Night Special
25. Patti Smith- Horses
Sunday, December 27, 2015
50 Year Vintage: Top LPs & Single tracks of 1965
Top 15 Albums of 1965:
1. The Kinks- Kinkdom
2. The Beatles- Rubber Soul
3. Nina Simone- I Put a Spell on You
4. Vince Guaraldi- A Charlie Brown Christmas
5. The Who- My Generation
6. Marianne Faithfull- Go Away to My World
7. Bert Jansch- It Don't Bother Me
8. Antoine Duhamel- Pierrot Le Fou
9. Bob Dylan- Highway 61 Revisited
10. Unit 4 + 2- 1st Album
11. The Supremes- More Hits by the Supremes
12. Jackson C. Frank- Jackson C. Frank
13. John Coltrane- A Love Supreme
14. Jimmy Smith- Organ Grinder Swing
15. The Beach Boys- The Beach Boys Today!
Top 30 Tracks of 1965
1. Nina Simone- Sinnerman
2. The Kinks- See My Friends
3. The Who- The Kids Are Alright
4. Stevie Wonder- Uptight (Everything's Alright)
5. The Beatles- Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)
6. Vladimir Ussachevsky- Of Wood and Brass
7. The Miracles- The Tracks of My Tears
8. The Zombies- The Way I Feel Inside
9. Loretta Lynn- Everybody Wants to Go To Heaven
10. Guy Marchand- La Passionata
11. Bert Jansch- Needle of Death
12. Pete Seeger- Bourgeois Blues
13. The Rolling Stones- Play With Fire
14. The Pleasure Seekers- What a Way to Die
15. Terry Riley- Birds of Paradise
16. The Vogues- Five O Clock World
17. Jackie Deshannon- What the World Needs Now Is Love
18. The Righteous Brothers- You've Lost That Loving Feeling
19. Gloria Jones- Heartbeat
20. Kim and Grim- You Don't Love Me
21. Frank Sinatra- It Was a Very Good Year
22. The Shangri-Las- Out in the Streets
23. Steve Reich- It's Gonna Rain
24. Irma Thomas- I'm Gonna Cry Til My Eyes Run Dry
25. The Byrds- Turn! Turn! Turn!
26. Sylvie Vartan- I Made My Choice
27. The Young Senators- Jungle
28. The Mamas and the Papas- California Dreamin
29. James Brown and the Famous Flames- Papas Got a Brand New Bag
30. The Bobby Fuller Four- I Fought the Law
Monday, December 21, 2015
Sunday, December 20, 2015
Extended Play 2015
Short-Players of the Year
1. Lotic- Heterocetera (Tri Angle)
2. Rizzla- Iron Cages (Fade to Mind)
3. FKA Twigs- M3LL155X (Young Turks)
4. Angel Ho- Ascension (Halycon Veil)
5. Wave Racer- Flash Drive (Future Classic)
6. Kamixlo- Demonico (Codes)
7. DJ Paypal- Sold Out (Brainfeeder)
8. Cakes Da Killa- #IMF (Mishka)
9. Deadboy- White Magick (Local Action)
10. 813- Body Race EP (Hyperboloid)
11. WWWings- Blessed (TAR)
12. Rabit- Baptizm (Tri Angle)
13. SPF666- Scorpion Cache (Club Chemtrail)
14. Cassini- Fermi (Tessier-Ashpool)
15. Boxcutter- Vatic Dreams (Kinnego)
16. Phekz- Off (Mordant Music)
17. DJ Orange Julius- Some Pulp (TAR)
18. Saga- Treachery (Bandcamp)
19. Why Be- SnipeStreet (Halycon Veil)
20. Angels Dust- Slow Tapes (Hit + Run)
Saturday, December 19, 2015
2015th Annual Edition
Album of the yearz:
1. Kendrick Lamar- To Pimp a Butterfly (Top Dawg)
2. Jlin- Dark Energy (Planet Mu)
3. Dawn Richard- Blackheart (Our Dawn)
4. Oneohtrix Point Never- Garden of Delete (Warp)
5. Rustie- Evenifudontbelieve (Warp)
6. Palmboben II- S/T (Beats in Space)
7. Holly Herndon- Platform (4AD)
8. Vince Staples- Summertime 06 (Def Jam)
9. Dialect- Gowanus Drifts (1080p)
10. Xosar- Let Go (Opal Tapes)
11. Various Artists- NON Worldwide Compilation (NON)
12. High Wolf- Growing Wild (Leaving)
13. Prurient- Frozen Niagra Falls (Profound Lore)
14. Earl Sweatshirt- I Don't Like Shit I Don't Go Outside (Columbia)
15. Emily Hall- Folie A Deux (Bedroom Community)
16. Dylan Stark- Heartland (Civil Music)
17. Bernholz- Consequences 4 (Anti-Ghost Moon Ray)
18. Brian Reitzell- Hannibal Season 3 sdtrk (iTunes)
19. Cat's Eyes- Duke of Burgundy OST (Raf/Caroline)
20. Arca- Mutant (Mute)
21. J.G. Biberkopf- Ecologies (Knives)
22. Strategy- Noise Tape Self (Further)
23. Haunter- Ablesigh, 1993 (Not on Label)
24. Ekoplekz- Reflekzionz (Planet Mu)
25. Robert AA Lowe and Ariel Kalma- We Know Each Other Somehow (RVNG Intl)
26. Zachey Force Funk- Chrome Steel Tiger (Hit + Run)
27. Jam City - Dream a Garden (Night Slugs)
28. Jonas Reinhardt- Palace Savant (Further)
29. Drake- If You're Reading This It's too Late (Cash Money)
30. Kuedo- Assertion of a Surrounding Presence (Knives)
31. Son Of- Social Zombies (Opal Tapes)
32. Jay Rock- 90059 (Top Dawg)
33. M.E.S.H.- Piteous Gate (PAN)
34. Ventila- For Human Consumption (Astro Nautico)
35. L'Orange and Kool Keith- Time? Astonishing (Mello)
36. Hanz- Reducer (Tri Angle)
37. Algiers- Algiers (Matador)
38. Michael Vallera- Distance (Opal Tapes)
39. Emika- DREI (Emika)
40. Marie Davidson- Un Autre Voyage (Holodeck)
1. Kendrick Lamar- To Pimp a Butterfly (Top Dawg)
2. Jlin- Dark Energy (Planet Mu)
3. Dawn Richard- Blackheart (Our Dawn)
4. Oneohtrix Point Never- Garden of Delete (Warp)
5. Rustie- Evenifudontbelieve (Warp)
6. Palmboben II- S/T (Beats in Space)
7. Holly Herndon- Platform (4AD)
8. Vince Staples- Summertime 06 (Def Jam)
9. Dialect- Gowanus Drifts (1080p)
10. Xosar- Let Go (Opal Tapes)
11. Various Artists- NON Worldwide Compilation (NON)
12. High Wolf- Growing Wild (Leaving)
13. Prurient- Frozen Niagra Falls (Profound Lore)
14. Earl Sweatshirt- I Don't Like Shit I Don't Go Outside (Columbia)
15. Emily Hall- Folie A Deux (Bedroom Community)
16. Dylan Stark- Heartland (Civil Music)
17. Bernholz- Consequences 4 (Anti-Ghost Moon Ray)
18. Brian Reitzell- Hannibal Season 3 sdtrk (iTunes)
19. Cat's Eyes- Duke of Burgundy OST (Raf/Caroline)
20. Arca- Mutant (Mute)
21. J.G. Biberkopf- Ecologies (Knives)
22. Strategy- Noise Tape Self (Further)
23. Haunter- Ablesigh, 1993 (Not on Label)
24. Ekoplekz- Reflekzionz (Planet Mu)
25. Robert AA Lowe and Ariel Kalma- We Know Each Other Somehow (RVNG Intl)
26. Zachey Force Funk- Chrome Steel Tiger (Hit + Run)
27. Jam City - Dream a Garden (Night Slugs)
28. Jonas Reinhardt- Palace Savant (Further)
29. Drake- If You're Reading This It's too Late (Cash Money)
30. Kuedo- Assertion of a Surrounding Presence (Knives)
31. Son Of- Social Zombies (Opal Tapes)
32. Jay Rock- 90059 (Top Dawg)
33. M.E.S.H.- Piteous Gate (PAN)
34. Ventila- For Human Consumption (Astro Nautico)
35. L'Orange and Kool Keith- Time? Astonishing (Mello)
36. Hanz- Reducer (Tri Angle)
37. Algiers- Algiers (Matador)
38. Michael Vallera- Distance (Opal Tapes)
39. Emika- DREI (Emika)
40. Marie Davidson- Un Autre Voyage (Holodeck)
Thursday, December 17, 2015
2015 Re-New
Aphex Twin Soundcloud uploads
Ministry- Trax Box
Patrick Cowley- Muscle Up
Savant- Artificial Dance2015 Visual Component
Some other stuff I enjoyed in 2015, relatively in order:
Films:
Ex Machina
Inside Out
Map to the Stars
Mockingjay Pt 2
The Duke of Burgundy
TV:
Mr Robot
Hannibal
Hannibal
Fargo
The Americans
Broad City
Rick and Morty
Mad Men
Orange is the New Black
The Eric Andre Show
Jessica Jones
Wet Hot American Summer First Day of Camp
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
Tuesday, December 15, 2015
Monday, December 14, 2015
100 songs in 10 Brackets: The Best of 2015
MAXIMALIST CLUB edition
813-Damn Yeah
Dux Content- Snow Globe
Grandtheft- Hold On
Kasbo- World Away
Nice Feelings- Fresh
Panda Bear- Come To Your Senses (Danny L. Harle Mix)
Popcorn_10- Dennis
Pusher- Basic
Rustie- First Myth
Sophie- Just Like We Never Said Goodbye
Dylan Stark- Shelter
Wave Racer- Flash Drive
BRUTALLY DARK TECHNO
edition
Certain Creatures- An Allegory for the Dispassionate
Drew McDowall- Hypnotic Congress
Florian Kupfer- Explora (Slave)
Inhalants- Soft Opener
Ital- Syndrome
Kamikaze Space Programme ft Emika- Choke
M/R- Just Say No
Michael Vallera- Dream Lense
Perc- Gob
Truss- Kymin Lee
Xosar- Evocation
HOUSIN’ edition
DJJ- Just a Lil
Keita Saino- Onion Slice
Romare- Love Song
Wwy Brix- plea
MOSTLY NEON & FOOTWORKIN’ CLUB Edition
Alfred English- Maroon 6
B.R.E.E.D- Dimension
Cassini- Fermi
Death Grips- Death Grips 2.0
DJ Orange Julius ft DJ Mastercard- Gangs
DJ Paypal- With Uuuuuuu
DJ Taye- Hood Twins
Ghost Mutt- Oh Baby Oh Boy
Na Nguzu- Ectasy Cut
Nozinja- Baby Do U Feel Me
Rizzla ft. Odie Myrtil- Iron Cages
Foley Grime
Edition
Angel-Ho- Yah Cunt
Gremino- Dystopicity
Kali Musta- La Telenovela (Sudanim mix)
Lotic- Surrender
SPF666- Scorpion Cache (mike G mix)
Tarquin- Lost My Marbles
Wasted Fates- Free Like El Chapo
Why Be- Deeq
WWWings- Delerium
POP/R&B Edition
Dawn Richards- Adderall/Sold
Giorgio Moroder ft Kylie Minogue- Right Here Right Now
Jeremih ft. J-Cole – Planes
Kanye West ft Paul McCartney- Only One
The Internet feat Kaytandra- Girl
Miguel- Coffee (fucking)
Rihanna- Bitch Better Have My Money (GTA mix)
Rytmeklubben- Girlfriend
The Weeknd- Can’t Feel My Face
HIP-HOP Edition
Big Sean feat Drake, Kanye West- Blessings
Danny Brown & Clams Casino- Worth It
Drake- Know Yourself
Earl Sweatshirt- Grief
Falcons ft GoldLink & Chaz French- Aquafina
Father- Look at My Wrist
Jay Rock/Black Hippy- Vice City
Kendrick Lamar- Alright
Little Simz- Dead Body
Oddisee- CounterClockwise
Rick Ross & Gunplay- Scuffed Timbs
RL Grime ft Big Sean- Kingpin (Salva mix)
Travis Scott- Antidote
Vince Staples- Norf Norf
POST-ROCK/ART-POP
edition
Amnesia Scanner- AS Angels Rig Hook
Blanck Mass- Dead Format
Chino Amobi- Non Shall Rise Above
FKA Twigs- Figure 8
Holly Herndon- Morning Sun
Jam City- Dream 15
J.G. Biberkopf- Waters
Kaoss Edge- Looking Glass
Kelela- Rewind
Magic Fades- Ecco (Vektroid mix)
Oneohtrix Point Never- Sticky Drama
INDIE POP & INDIE PROPER edition
Algiers- Blood
Chromatics- I Can Never Be Myself When You’re Around
Destroyer- Dream Lover
Gazelle Twin- Love and Mercy
Hudson Mohawke ft Antony- Indian Steps
Japanese Wallpaper- Arrival
Kero Kero Bonito- Picture This
Kitty- Second Life
Nadastrom ft. Nina Kinert- House Shoes
Sexwitch- Helelyos
A Sunny Day in Glasgow- In Love With the Useless
Zackey Force Funk- Firefly
WEIGHTLESS & AMBIENT edition
Jefre Cantu-Ledesma- Love without Love
Dark0- The Past
Deadboy- White Moon Gardens
F Ingers- Tantrum Time
Iglew- Regalia
SETH- Meth Face
Steve Hauschildt- Sundialed
The "Meh"st of 2015
Middlebrow Subjects of Critical Adoration:
"Trap Queen"
Future
Courtney Barnett
Jamie XX
Carly Rae Jepsen
Tame Impala
Adele
Beach House
Father John Misty
"Divers"
"Trap Queen"
Future
Courtney Barnett
Jamie XX
Carly Rae Jepsen
Tame Impala
Adele
Beach House
Father John Misty
"Divers"
unpublished singles going steadies
Sia- “Alive”
Throughout this song, I kept thinking that it reminded me of the MOR-leaning tunes that have defined Rihanna’s late career. Now, I see on the Wikipedia page
for this song that the tune was actually written for Rihanna, who rejected it. I kept thinking that its middling verses and its big dramatic chorus bluster would make it a huge hit, and now I see that it was written by Adele, the queen of transforming such bland histrionics into unavoidable smashes. It all makes sense now. If you want your pop music to make sense and reaffirm bygone “survivor” tropes from 10 years previous, then here’s the track for you. Sia is alive, as in she is present. Let’s stop being present and be future. Let’s stop making sense.
[3/10]
Animal Collective- “Floridada”
Around Centipede Hz, people had overdosed on the collective, which is understandable. It was not their strongest LP, but neither was the previous record which won them profound accolades for essentially arriving at the right moment in history. That moment correlated with an explosion of weird tapes and assorted digitrash posing as pop to flood the overground in waves of chills and thrills. The ramifications of that flood are still being felt today in the most challenging and essential releases of 2015, so this critic in particular at least owes Animal Collective a great deal of gratitude for their contribution the sonic haze. That said, “Floridada” sounds as much of a sunny-side parody of A.C. as you could get. It screams “zany” from every angles from its sing-songiness to its “Florida Man”-isms on over to its Sufaris sample. They’ve sure leaned in to their inner hippy quite a bit. Maybe I’m just bitter because this is so off-season. I’ll let it slide for now. The rest of the album better spike the rest of all this goddamned sunshine with the bitter wine of melancholy though.
[6/10]
Zibra- “Wasted Days”
In the spirit of our era, there are two potential readings of this music video; living for the love of the common people or mocking them in their delight. The chord progression is similar enough to The American Authors’s “The Best Day of My Life” that it could even substitute as a lazy inversion of it, complete with obnoxious hooted hook. “Best Days” vs. “Wasted Days”. Does the band care? Is there any intentionality behind this other than for the song to grind itself into you? If in 6 months this is playing at a pub just like the own depicted, will the mission have come full circle? Whether or not we all fall down, time will tell.
[5/10]
Wolf Alice- “Freazy”
Swirls of fluffy lite-psychedelia that is catchy as sin. Begrudgingly, I’m sold. I trust that the cassingle is still available in Earth Traders next to the Manic Panic? Or should I just call 1-800-MUSIC-NOW?
[6/10]
Lana Del Rey- “High By the Beach”
Born to Die’s string swells were designed to crawl up your legs and creep into your feels, but Lana Del Rey has since forgone them in an attempt to modernize her retro pop malaise. In dropping the emotional guidance of her cinemascope purview, she’s revealed her bourgie range to be way closer to Miss Kittin’s than, say, Blossom Dearie. To those of use for whom Lana is not the goddess but also not the antichrist, “High By the Beach” may be the perfect place to situate her vaguely disaffected tonality. It doesn’t offer much, but it doesn’t demand much. All it wants to do is get high by the beach, get high by the beach and maybe spout out the most dispassionate use of “bad motherfucker” ever captured on record. How you feel about this will depend on your perception of the value in half-decent M.O.R., which has always been Del Rey’s core strength. Has there been any better M.O.R. than “Summertime Sadness” since “Rhiannon”? “High By the Beach” is not of that caliber, but surely of the canon. I always saw Born to Die, along with Miley Cyrus’s “We Can’t Stop” video and maybe Harmony Korine’s Spring Breakers, representing a Verhoeven-esque cultural shift, a desire to break free from hegemony, to teeter into neoliberal critique but with only the limited vocabulary of the hedonic economy of desire to convey this conflicted stance. She may not be the feminist icon we’re looking for, but there’s still much she can teach us about our failures. Revolution is hard. It lacks the appeal of getting high by the beach, getting high by the beach, getting high. No one captures the tragedy of being so blissfully useless better. [5/10]
COMA- “Lore”
This sounds exactly like the softened, numbed, and generally lifeless thing you could expect from a once-vibrant label pushing 15. Are those tech-house hangers-on really freaking for new releases with muffled bass and dry, dull indie singers diluting the mix or do they secretly just go back to the original Rex the Dog records like everybody else? It’s that type of archeological inquiry that most strikes me since there’s little else of interest to latch onto here. I suppose this would be halfway pleasant if left as an instrumental. Swap the mollies for some Percocet and couch yourself in the waiting room for 5 minutes before Mr. Voigt will be right out to see you. [3/10]
Throughout this song, I kept thinking that it reminded me of the MOR-leaning tunes that have defined Rihanna’s late career. Now, I see on the Wikipedia page
for this song that the tune was actually written for Rihanna, who rejected it. I kept thinking that its middling verses and its big dramatic chorus bluster would make it a huge hit, and now I see that it was written by Adele, the queen of transforming such bland histrionics into unavoidable smashes. It all makes sense now. If you want your pop music to make sense and reaffirm bygone “survivor” tropes from 10 years previous, then here’s the track for you. Sia is alive, as in she is present. Let’s stop being present and be future. Let’s stop making sense.
[3/10]
Animal Collective- “Floridada”
Around Centipede Hz, people had overdosed on the collective, which is understandable. It was not their strongest LP, but neither was the previous record which won them profound accolades for essentially arriving at the right moment in history. That moment correlated with an explosion of weird tapes and assorted digitrash posing as pop to flood the overground in waves of chills and thrills. The ramifications of that flood are still being felt today in the most challenging and essential releases of 2015, so this critic in particular at least owes Animal Collective a great deal of gratitude for their contribution the sonic haze. That said, “Floridada” sounds as much of a sunny-side parody of A.C. as you could get. It screams “zany” from every angles from its sing-songiness to its “Florida Man”-isms on over to its Sufaris sample. They’ve sure leaned in to their inner hippy quite a bit. Maybe I’m just bitter because this is so off-season. I’ll let it slide for now. The rest of the album better spike the rest of all this goddamned sunshine with the bitter wine of melancholy though.
[6/10]
Zibra- “Wasted Days”
In the spirit of our era, there are two potential readings of this music video; living for the love of the common people or mocking them in their delight. The chord progression is similar enough to The American Authors’s “The Best Day of My Life” that it could even substitute as a lazy inversion of it, complete with obnoxious hooted hook. “Best Days” vs. “Wasted Days”. Does the band care? Is there any intentionality behind this other than for the song to grind itself into you? If in 6 months this is playing at a pub just like the own depicted, will the mission have come full circle? Whether or not we all fall down, time will tell.
[5/10]
Wolf Alice- “Freazy”
Swirls of fluffy lite-psychedelia that is catchy as sin. Begrudgingly, I’m sold. I trust that the cassingle is still available in Earth Traders next to the Manic Panic? Or should I just call 1-800-MUSIC-NOW?
[6/10]
Lana Del Rey- “High By the Beach”
Born to Die’s string swells were designed to crawl up your legs and creep into your feels, but Lana Del Rey has since forgone them in an attempt to modernize her retro pop malaise. In dropping the emotional guidance of her cinemascope purview, she’s revealed her bourgie range to be way closer to Miss Kittin’s than, say, Blossom Dearie. To those of use for whom Lana is not the goddess but also not the antichrist, “High By the Beach” may be the perfect place to situate her vaguely disaffected tonality. It doesn’t offer much, but it doesn’t demand much. All it wants to do is get high by the beach, get high by the beach and maybe spout out the most dispassionate use of “bad motherfucker” ever captured on record. How you feel about this will depend on your perception of the value in half-decent M.O.R., which has always been Del Rey’s core strength. Has there been any better M.O.R. than “Summertime Sadness” since “Rhiannon”? “High By the Beach” is not of that caliber, but surely of the canon. I always saw Born to Die, along with Miley Cyrus’s “We Can’t Stop” video and maybe Harmony Korine’s Spring Breakers, representing a Verhoeven-esque cultural shift, a desire to break free from hegemony, to teeter into neoliberal critique but with only the limited vocabulary of the hedonic economy of desire to convey this conflicted stance. She may not be the feminist icon we’re looking for, but there’s still much she can teach us about our failures. Revolution is hard. It lacks the appeal of getting high by the beach, getting high by the beach, getting high. No one captures the tragedy of being so blissfully useless better. [5/10]
COMA- “Lore”
This sounds exactly like the softened, numbed, and generally lifeless thing you could expect from a once-vibrant label pushing 15. Are those tech-house hangers-on really freaking for new releases with muffled bass and dry, dull indie singers diluting the mix or do they secretly just go back to the original Rex the Dog records like everybody else? It’s that type of archeological inquiry that most strikes me since there’s little else of interest to latch onto here. I suppose this would be halfway pleasant if left as an instrumental. Swap the mollies for some Percocet and couch yourself in the waiting room for 5 minutes before Mr. Voigt will be right out to see you. [3/10]
Monday, December 7, 2015
Loving 2015 is Complicated
Here, there and around the web.
I have entries on some PopMatters lists.
On the Albums of 2015 list, I sing praise to:
Dawn Richard
Jlin
Kendrick Lamar
Over on the Singles of 2015, I write of:
Rizzla's "Iron Cages"
and
Algiers' "Blood"
Elsewhere, some singles reviews of
Hudson Mohawke feat Antony
and
M. Ward
I'll throw up my own personal lists in a bit when
it's closer to the actual year end
and
you're way sick of lists
I have entries on some PopMatters lists.
On the Albums of 2015 list, I sing praise to:
Dawn Richard
Jlin
Kendrick Lamar
Over on the Singles of 2015, I write of:
Rizzla's "Iron Cages"
and
Algiers' "Blood"
Elsewhere, some singles reviews of
Hudson Mohawke feat Antony
and
M. Ward
I'll throw up my own personal lists in a bit when
it's closer to the actual year end
and
you're way sick of lists
Thursday, December 3, 2015
Secular Posthumanism
True to its impulsive nature EVENIFUDONTBELIEVEME is a moment-based music, not a reflexive music. It’s not for nothing that the track titled “4Eva” is only two minutes long, a vocoder enunciation of its title looped through the entire duration. EVENIFUDONTBELIEVEME’s fullness, perhaps its most defining quality, doesn’t allow any existential dilemma to permeate in its midst, which may seem to headier types a tad anti-intellectual. Indeed, Rustie’s stadium ambitions ride parallax to a recent history ripe with douchery. As dubstep crossed over into the mainstream in the years following the purple sound, a wind-up menagerie of anonymous tinkerers have concocted tracks whose core audience has been a salivating series of alphas eternally “waiting for the drop”. When Rustie composes himself in this manner, as he does on in the accelerated drum roll crescendos of nearly every track of his latest, one can see him creating an altar of the self on the dancefloor, arms raised in faux messiah pose like Tiesto, Deadmau5, or Zach Effron in that ill-fated EDM movie.
As the skittering drums tense up on intro to “Big Catzz”, one could even be forgiven for thinking that the album was being interrupted by a YouTube trailer for the next Michael Bay thriller. It’s only when the alien phasing on those sinewaves bursts in that you realize this is not the spectacle society itself, but its substitute, something that takes the exhilaration those dizzying edits are supposed to reproduce and actually attempts to introduce it. It’s less prescriptive medicine and more like getting high, less mandatory fun than elective recreation.
Part of what distinguishes rave music from indie is the difference between community music and personal music, which has long been what much of the indie community resents about dance music, the way it broadly reconciles for an audience rather than dismisses its larger audience in favor of individuation. In the culture wars, it’s clear the latter has won, with multiple platforms bragging about how personalized their selections are, perfect for tuning out the environment in earbud isolation. Rustie, for better or worse, screams out how rad it is from every orifice and begs the whole club to synch to this perpetuity in unison.
This is no doubt extreme music, no less so than Merzbow or Napalm Death, but just facing in the direction of euphoria. Rustie’s recent admission that he falls asleep to happy hardcore music seems to confirm this. So, the question is how many pixie sticks can you eat before you puke? How amped can you get before you’re just depleted? Is hi-end the new bass? How does it feel to live inside a Lisa Frank coloring book?
- from my review of Rustie's EVENIFUDONTBELIEVE
Wednesday, December 2, 2015
Apropos of Sanders:
Once, he escorted Norman Thomas (Princeton, 1905) back from a lecture. “What was your greatest achievement?” Ralph asked of the famous socialist and six-time presidential candidate. “Having the Democrats steal my agenda,” Thomas replied.
-Mark Green, How Ralph Nader Changed America, The Nation
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