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| Cheaters. |
Number Whatever to Number I'm Not Sure
This is the second and final part of my annual Favorite Albums list. I've kept it to 30 total; but if you click on that little "Album Reviews" tab up above, you'll see every record that got a mention on this blog in 2016. My M.O. is that I only really tell you about stuff I like; so, in a way, any one of them could have made this list. These just happen to be the ones with which I spent the most time.
So, with that out of the way, let's just keep it going...
dollys, low year
Cheaters. dollys are cheaters. I think I gave them credit for most of this album back at the end of 2015, but they did put two new singles out on the last day of the year that rounded out this 2016 compilation. And, you know what? The collection is so good that I really don't have any trouble mentioning it again.
dollys songs sit somewhere between twee and retro. They're 2- and 3-minute pop songs, but that masks an underlying complexity and attention to detail that elevate everything dollys do a notch above just "pop."
Favorite tracks: "I Know," "Cornerstones," "How Charming," "Imitator"
Giant Peach, Tarantula
This early-2016 album of noisy, fuzzy pop songs brings together the disparate songwriting influences of Frances Chang and Mike Naideau. There are definite differences between the two, but their styles mesh extremely well together on a record that draws upon some of my favorite sounds in a way that keeps things fresh and interesting.
Favorite tracks: "Deserted," "Spike," "Invisible Ceiling"
A Tribe Called Quest, We got it from here... Thank You 4 Your Service
One, quick scan of this list; and you can tell that I'm no student of hip-hop. Lots of my friends raved about this one, so I let it rip during a drive back from one of CoolDaughter #1's swim meets. I was hooked. It amazes me that an act who hadn't put out anything in 18 years could come roaring back at the top of their game with a record that was almost perfect for its moment. We got it from here... is topical and political. The loss of Phife Dawg hangs over the whole album without weighing it down. It's kind of a masterpiece actually and has had the effect of making me think I need to start more deeply exploring music that's only been in my peripheral vision up to now.
Favorite tracks: "The Space Program," "We the People...," "Solid Wall of Sound," "Black Spasmodic"
Exmaid, Neurotic Fantasies
Miranda Taylor (Black Wine, Full Of Fancy, Hunchback, Noun, ...) recorded Neurotic Fantasies as a solo effort, but she has since assembled a live band in which she's backed by Philadelphia's Psychic Teens. The five songs on Neurotic Fantasies range from psych rock to post punk to a traditional Scottish folk song. The EP swings between heaviness and dreaminess, self-confidence and self-doubt. I guess you could say it's almost neurotic in that way.
Favorite tracks: "Sports," "Catholic School"
YJY, The Same Noise
On their second EP, YJY, hone in thematically and sonically for a more cohesive collection than their (no less enjoyable) debut. Jangly guitars, a sense of wishing for something more, and a biting sense of humor all make this one an addictive listen.
Favorite tracks: "Through Being Hip," "Evergreens"
The Battery Electric, Lose Control / Got Your Soul
On two EPs, The Battery Electric deconstruct their sound into its constituent elements: the punk and garage rock of bands like The MC5 and The Stooges and the soul of Sam Cooke. Paul Ritchie recorded both EPs and everything sounds absolutely great. Our brothers in The Battery Electric show their versatility while still proving they can rock with the best of them.
Favorite tracks: "Lose Control," "Modern Girls," "Maybe"
Angel Olsen, My Woman
I remember saying, "Oh, this is going to be an important record this year" and listening to it out of a sense of almost obligation. I also remember being totally floored. Olsen trades in a bit of her folk rock / alt country for something dreamier on parts of this album, employing synths and some vocal embellishments. Through it all, though, is her amazing, otherworldly voice. Songs about love, lovers, womanhood. The album is hypnotic, and it is so easy to lose yourself in the longer tracks.
Favorite tracks: "Intern," "Shut Up Kiss Me," "Sister"
Mrs. Magician, Bermuda
I credit Dentist for turning me onto this San Diego band. Honestly, I'm not sure how I'd missed them up until recently. Mrs. Magician's sound slots really nicely into stuff I absolutely love. It's beachy, surfy, sometimes aggressive pop. The songwriting is clever, and there's definitely a classic 60s California vibe that runs through this one. I ended up seeing this band live three times in 2016, and each one was an absolute blast.
Favorite tracks: "Eyes All Over Town," "Forgiveness," "Reborn Boys"
Bob Mould, Patch the Sky
This is Bob Mould's third album since returning to the rock / power pop sounds of Sugar with Silver Age in 2012. He's been on a roll. I find him to be at his best when he sounds angular, edgy, and angry; and that's all here. And it's so beautifully loud. CoolMom and I had one of our best nights out in a long time when we caught this tour at Webster Hall. At 55 years old, Bob Mould is still making music that can rattle the dust from the rafters.
Favorite tracks: "Voices in My Head," "The End of Things," "Lucifer and God"
Tele Novella, House of Souls
I put this one with High Waisted's On Ludlow as one of the records I became kind of obsessed with this year. I discovered it when I received a PR email about the band's video for "Even Steven" right around Halloween. The song was a nice fit for a Halloween playlist, and I went deeper into Tele Novella's macabre surf pop. The Austin band blend darkness with elements of twee (think Belle & Sebastian, Hospitality, etc.) into a pretty intoxicating mix.
Favorite tracks: "Sacramento," "Heavy Balloon," "Bull Sees Red," "Even Steven"
Fascinations Grand Chorus, Actor / Actress
I love that the title of this 4-song EP is Actor / Actress because there's this cool sense of contrivance in what Fascinations Grand Chorus are doing with their sound. Stephanie Cupo and Andrew Pierce are meticulous about their aesthetic, which calls to mind 60s girl groups. That sound, though, has made its way through 50 years' worth of permutations -- from early punk to surf rock and more -- and Actor / Actress displays vestigial traces of all of that.
Favorite tracks: "When You Make Up Your Mind," "Can't Make Everyone Happy"
Yawn Mower, Get to the Boat
The garage pop duo of Biff Swenson and Mike Chick don't take themselves too seriously. The five songs on this EP cover commuting, a typical day in Asbury Park, and the 24-hour news cycle. There's even an appearance from Chick's dog (Helicopter Jones for those of you wondering about that reference). This one is just fun and it rocks.
Favorite tracks: "Ride the Subway," "Convenience Store"
Car Seat Headrest, Teens of Denial
I came to this one late in the year, which is kind of surprising. What I'd heard from Car Seat Headrest up to that point sounded like it was rooted in lots of the classic, slackery indie rock that I love so much. At South By Southwest in March, I chased these guys all around trying to catch a set but only managed to take in one from a very un-CoolDad-like vantage point at the rear. Listening to Teens of Denial, I just found myself continually saying, "If I were a songwriter, this is the kind of songwriter I'd want to be." Will Toledo speaks to me in a voice that I could hear as my own, and that is an amazing feeling.
Favorite tracks: "Fill in the Blank," "(Joe Gets Kicked out of School for Using) Drugs with Friends (But Says This Isn't a Problem)," "Drunk Drivers / Killer Whales"
GayGuy / StraightGuy, Shut Your Mouth and Eat Your Cake
The Asbury Park guitar / drum duo could draw comparisons to bands like The White Stripes or The Black Keys just because of their configuration. That wouldn't be accurate, though. I mean, there are a few blues-y moments on the band's debut; but there are also elements of grunge, classic rock, and even metal. Bob Paulos and Nick Cucci test the limits of what two people can do in terms of volume and raw power.
Favorite tracks: "Nashville," "Sinking Ship," "Surf Puck"
The Rock n' Roll HiFives, The Beat, The Sound, The Dragon's Roar
This family is an inspiration to me. I'm not kidding. When the CoolFamily and I went on vacation in August, the best part about it was just doing stuff together for ten straight days. That makes me believe that sharing your love of music as a family, and then making records, and then playing shows and going on tour must be an amazing experience for all involved. And the music on this EP is absolutely great. It's punk. It's power pop. It's rock and roll. And it's all delivered with emotion and conviction as The Rock n' Roll HiFives bring you along with them on their little journey.
Favorite tracks: "El Sueño," "(You Got Me) Tongue Tied," "Glass Towns"
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