We've got another list-maker returning from last year. Justin Bornemann, guitarist for Dentist, is back to let us in on his top 3 albums of 2014. It's not a long list, but Justin gives us some really detailed insights -- from the perspective of a musician -- on what's so special about these records.
Dentist are another great, local band who had a big year. They released their self-titled debut album back in May and have been playing shows in support of that record ever since. Justin and the band ventured out of Asbury Park this year to play shows in New York, Philly, Delaware, and Baltimore, making friends along the way. They've brought some of those friends back to Asbury Park for a few shows that have given us all a glimpse of what the rest of the Mid-Atlantic has to offer.
The band recently announced that they will be part of the "Vinyl Heart" compilation featuring other popular locals (and CDM favorites) Smalltalk, Seaside Caves, and Trans Charger Metropolis. The comp will be out in time for Valentine's Day, and the bands are planning a release show for February 13th at Asbury Lanes. There's an Indiegogo campaign running for the release right now, which you can check out here.
Let's get to Justin's list. *SPOILER ALERT* There's an album on here that now has two votes from our panel.
My Top 3 Albums of 2014
by Justin Bornemann
Alvvays, Alvvays
I’ll usually say I like an album if I enjoy most of the songs, but every so often a record comes along where I can get behind every moment. Alvvays's self-titled record is an album that is completely filled with great melodies and hooks on every song.
The production and feel definitely remind me of Best Coast and Beach House with the layers of reverb and female vocals, but this record manages to build on those influences while standing on its own as something really great. While I love a vocal that’s soaked in reverb, it’s almost a shame because the lyrics on this record are really strong but can be hard to understand at times. I’m not complaining, though. I’m more of an overall aesthetic of a song kind of guy, as opposed to a words are the most important part of a song kind of guy, so I’d still like Alvvays if their lyrics were bad; but the vocals on this record definitely give Alvvays an edge over a lot of their contemporaries.
At the end of the day, though, I’m a sucker for really good pop song-writing with a slightly lo-fi feel, and this album totally delivers on that kind of thing. If that’s your bag too, you should definitely check out this record.
Against Me!, Transgender Dysphoria Blues
I got into Against Me! after hearing As the Eternal Cowboy, which is still my favorite Against Me! record, and have been paying attention to what they put out ever since. I got really excited when New Wave came out a while back and enjoyed it at the time; but now, when I listen to it, I’m kinda like, “eh, it’s ok.” I feel like that about all of their other records aside from As the Eternal Cowboy, to tell you the truth, but I got into this band again after the release of Transgender Dysphoria Blues.
This album is filled with angst and is back to the straight-up punk sound that I like about Against Me!. Transgender Dysphoria Blues is both catchy and interesting lyrically too. The major theme is about the alienation experienced by a transgender and the desire to be seen as a woman. What I like most about this record, though, is the energy contained in many of the songs that gets me excited about listening to music.
Granted, I have a few gripes. “Osama Bin Laden as the Crucified Christ” is pretty weird and not my kind of thing musically. Aside from that song, my only other problem is that the songs about death, while very good, are a bit of a bummer. I wish "Dead Friend" and "Two Coffins for Sleep" weren’t right next to each other. Don’t get me wrong they’re good songs. I don’t know. That’s just my opinion, and I don’t want to detract from how good this record is.
Overall, this album rules and should definitely be checked out because every song except one is great and it's totally on par with their best work.
Cloud Nothings, Here and Nowhere Else
I’m eclectic. I’m not lying; it’s really true. I can totally get into slow songs that are filled with melancholy, atmosphere, and mood; but I really am a sucker for fast songs with high energy and for great chord progressions and melodies. I also gravitate towards certain types of production.
Here and Nowhere Else is a record that was not hard for me to like. It’s definitely the kind of thing I would be into, just like their last record; but they have really improved between the two albums. They are writing amazing music at this point.
I love the tempo shifts that some of the songs have. These tempo jumps come across as the product of a band that can’t contain their energy. Cloud Nothings manage to do it in a way that sounds not only natural but also hard for any other band to copy while not sounding amateurish. The drumming on this record is notable and worth mentioning. It gets so chaotic and intense at some points and makes me wish I were good at playing the drums.
I’d highly recommend this record to anyone who likes 90’s style indie-rock with a punk feel.
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