Henry Lipput's Top 5 Albums of 2014

Never Too Late

2014 is over, but I'm still discovering plenty of stuff that I missed during the year. Our friend Henry Lipput gives us his five favorite albums of the year; and, of course, adds to my own growing list of stuff to check out.

More Pop for Now People:  My Top Five from 2014

By Henry Lipput

2014 was a good year for indie pop music.  So, even though there are only five albums listed below, it was in many ways an embarrassment of riches.

In descending order, here are my five favorite albums from 2014:

The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart, Days of Abandon
In May of last year, The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart released their  terrific third album. Between their previous release and Days of Abandon the group lost two of its founding members -- a keyboard player and a bass player. But they’ve added a new bass player -- and, more importantly -- Jen Goma on vocals and Kelly Pratt on horns. The new album opens with the lovely “Art Smock” (their version of The Kinks’ “Do You Remember Walter”) and then kicks off the pop with “Simple And Sure.” There’s a terrific burst of guitar by lead singer and songwriter Kip Berman in “Beautiful You,” and the jangle in “Masokissed” has Johnny Marr’s fingerprints and guitar licks all over it. Goma’s wonderful lead vocals add new colors to the band’s songs, and Pratt’s horns add just the right shadings.

Louise Goffin, Songs from the Mine
On Songs from the Mine, Goffin and her co-writers, co-producers, and musicians have put together an album of pure pop pleasure. Her small, sweet 2002 album Sometimes a Circle was also full of wonderful melodies and grownup lyrics (for example, "What a Waste of a Perfectly Good Hotel Room").  Her new disc has ballads, up-tempo numbers, and, with “We Belong Together,” she’s got a song that Jagger and Richards wished they had written. The quiet, tuneful, and lovely songs include “Main Street Parade” (a happy sounding lost-love song with a ukulele as lead instrument). “Everybody But You,” and “Here Where You Are Loved.”

Liam Hayes, Korp Sole Roller
Hayes has been around since the 90s, recording under the band name Plush as well as his own name. He had a cameo in the movie High Fidelity in which he played the wonderful “Soaring And Boring” while John Cusack told us why he’s getting such a bad rap. Korp Sole Roller is available as a download on Bandcamp and includes songs that were part of the A Glimpse into the Mind of Charles Swan III soundtrack. The songs on Korp Sole Roller, like “A Glimpse Inside,” “Cried A Thousand Times,” and “Rock And Roll” are wonderful examples of piano-based melancholy pop that recall the best work of Emitt Rhodes and Harry Nilsson. A new album is due early this year.

Justin Currie, Lower Reaches
As songwriter, bass player, and lead singer for the Glasgow, Scotland, band Del Amitri, Currie has also been around since the 90s. He’s got a great voice that works for both rockers and ballads. For his Lower Reaches album he traveled to Austin, Texas, to work with producer Mike McCarthy, an arrangement previously used by Craig Finn of The Hold Steady resulting in 2012’s marvelous Clear Heart, Full Eyes. Currie's voice sounds great on every song but the backing doesn’t always fit the song. The exceptions are “Bend To My Will” and “Against My Conscience,” both of which could be Del Amitri songs. The songs that work best have the simplest arrangements like “Falsetto“ “Pricilla,” and the beautiful “Little Stars.“

Kalle Mattson, Someday, The Moon Will Be Gold
Take the voice of Conor Oberst from Bright Eyes, the horns from Elvis Perkins, and the lyrical bent and acoustic guitar of Bob Dylan. Put it all in a musical blender, and you might end up with Kalle Mattson. This release from Kalle Mattson certainly has its own sound but there are things that I hear that remind me of other artists I enjoy. Hailing from Ontario, the band’s new album is a primer to how to make excellent use of dynamics. The opening song, “An American Dream,” starts big with a full bank of horns and the band playing alongside. “Darkness” follows, with a the picking of an acoustic guitar and plaintive vocal and the horns return. It’s a wonderful sound and makes the album a continuously interesting listen. The gorgeous ballad “Amelie” references the album’s title in the lyrics and closes the disc.

Happy New Year!

The Little Dickman / CoolDad Music Holiday Benefit capped off a great 2014.

Thanks for an Amazing 2014

Just a little note to say thanks again and to wish you a peaceful and productive 2015. I might complain a lot. That's just a personality flaw of mine. Looking back, though, 2014 was a flat-out amazing year for me and for CoolDad Music.

Head on over to the CoolDad Music Instagram where I'll continue to post some #BestOf2014 memories throughout the evening.

And don't forget, our great friends in The Battery Electric are over at Asbury Lanes tonight opening for The Detroit Cobras. Lots of our other buds are playing the Dark City Entertainment 90s show at Wonder Bar.

I'll be home with the family enjoying a nice meal and playing some 2014 vinyl. Those of you who are Buffy The Vampire Slayer fans may remember that, in the Buffyverse, demons and monsters stayed in and didn't do any monster-y stuff on Halloween. That's me on New Year's Eve every year, and I love it.

Be safe. Hug and kiss your friends and family. Keep stopping by here to see what's up and to say hi.

Onward and upward in 2015!

I'll see you at a show.

Peace.

Guest List: Brent Bergholm's (The Battery Electric / The Hsu-Nami) Top Ten Songs (That He Heard) Of 2014

So Says Thor! So Says the God of Thunder!

Brent Bergholm, guitarist for The Battery Electric and The Hsu-Nami, just couldn't let all these lists from Alex Rosen, Amy Dickman, Corrina, Corrina, etc. fly by without chiming in as well. We're lucky he did because Brent's got a taste in music that spans genres, and it really plays well into my whole "These lists are recommendations of stuff you may not otherwise have heard" theme.

Brent had kind of an up and down year in 2014, but I think things ended on a big up note for him. He toured with his bands, and The Battery Electric finished recording their next LP over at Little Eden Studios with Pete Steinkopf. Brent also won "Top Guitarist" at the 2014 Asbury Music Awards.

Late in the year, though, Brent and The Battery Electric became victims of theft when all of Brent's gear and all of the band's merch were stolen following a gig in Brooklyn. It was a stealth move; so, thankfully, nobody was hurt. Still a blow, though.

Then Brent's friends and fans rallied around him, lending equipment and helping to raise funds to get him playing again. By the time this is all over, thanks to the generosity of our local music community, Brent will probably have an even better rig with which to blow out everyone's eardrums.

Check out the 10 songs, in just under the wire, that pushed all the right buttons for Brent Bergholm in 2014.

My Top Ten Songs of 2014

by Brent Övar Bergholm

Most of the songs on this list haven't come out in 2014. That's not ot because I have anything against new music. It's mostly because I am out of touch and discover tunes when they hit me the right way. I also spend most of my time playing with some of my favorite local bands. They, rather than top 40, tend to take over my eardrums.  Anyways, here is a list of songs that have hit me the most in 2014. They're either old, new, or from bands I see a lot.

1. Valient Thorr, "Torn Apart" (2014)

These guys are my heroes.  They are the Ramones mixed with southern rock and Motörhead. True southern gentlemen that have a sound all their own. Battery Electric actually played the house where Valient Thorr filmed their music video. Our experience wasn't much different than theirs. Enjoy.



2. Mastodon, "Motherload"

These guys are the modern day kings of prog rock and metal. Every riff and song they write is amazing.  Also, there's a tinge of country in everything they do. Love these guys, especially Brent Hinds. He is my favorite guitar player out there these days. These dudes are from Atlanta, a city known for their wild ass strip clubs. I think it's cool they got some local flavor in there.



3. King Khan and the Shrines, "Born to Die" (2014)

Loved this guy the second I heard The King Khan and BBQ Show and saw him with the Shrines. He is the Indian James Brown from Canada who gets the crowd moving. He is also legit out of his mind. I talked to him for 20 minutes when they played the Lanes a few years ago, and it was the weirdest conversation I ever had. Truly brilliant and psychedelic as fuck. If this doesn't get you dancing then you might as well be dead.



4. Off! "Red White and Black" (2014)

I love Black Flag, and Keith Morris was my favorite Black Flag singer. So anything with him up front is great. But this might just trump BF and Circle Jerks. Takes the spirit; updates it; and kicks you in the mouth. Plus their music videos are funny as hell with great celebrity cameos. Shows just how many people this guy influenced. Good Juice had by all.



5. Mark Ronson, "Uptown Funk Ft. Bruno Mars" (2014)

I love funk. Especially seventies funk that inspired the hip hop era (namely G-Funk) that came after it. Zap and Roger, Parliament Funkadelic, The Ohio Players, Rick James, and especially Gap Band. This song is a true tribute to all those bands and mimics them perfectly. Bruno Mars is also the best pop talent out there today. The second I heard that classic Gap Band (Snare Kick, Snare Kick, Snare Kick, Snare Kick) fill I was sold. If you guys have no idea what I am talking about, him me up. I will assist you in the ways of your FunkUCation.



6. Hot Blood, "Class Warfare" (2014)

I have known Alex since he was 16. I know his love of punk rock. Shit Runs DEEP. I remember when I first heard Hot Blood play this song at Red Bank Rehearsal. I knew they had a classic on their hands (sans blood). Perfect punk rock tune complete with crowd participation break down. Thumbs up guys. Y'all rule.



7. The Vansaders, "In Relvery" (2014)

Doug Zambon is one of the best songwriters I've ever met. We hang out all the time and get into lots of trouble. He might come across as rough around the edges when you meet him. But when you hear him sing, he turns into a different person. A sensitive spirit with a heart of gold and a knack for writing catchy choruses. This is the song that stands out to me the most on Stuck in New York City. Might not be everybody's favorite, or Doug's for that matter, but it's mine.



8. Beach House, "Lazuli"

Not sure how I heard this song. I think it might have been from that Vice documentary about that cat "Lil BUB". Ya know, the one who looks like a bag of bones without a jaw and is cute as a button. Yeah, that one. Anyways, I like to listen to this song before I go to sleep. It has a very longing and lonely mood to it. Helped me through some tough times this year. Great tune to help get over a break up.



9. Corrina Corrina, "Denim Jacket"

I've known these dudes (namely Matt and Deaglan) since they were around 12 years old. I taught Matt guitar for about 10 years, so I've got a good idea of what kind of taste in music he has. I even remember when Matt first jumped behind the kit to play "Whipping Post" with Deaglan during a summer camp I was running. I got roots with these kids, so it's cool to see what good songwriters these guys have become. I have always been a fan of their band and it's rad that they are out there hitting the pavement. They write great music and it's great to see them grow. Why did I pick this song? Scroll through my facebook feed. I dig denim. #NuffSaid. Can't wait for their next one!



10. Elvis Presley, "American Trilogy" (Aloha from Hawaii 1973)

No list of mine can be complete without the King. He was on the top of his game and revolutionized the game by having a satellite feed of his concert in Hawaii. He had the best live band, "TCB," ever made. TCB stands for Taking Care of Business and that's what they did every night. The Memphis Mafia were backstage getting him fresh towels, drugs, ladies, and roughing up the riff raff. Long live the King, baby. The King of Rock N Roll! Have Mercy....

My Favorite Albums of 2014, Part II (The Final Part)

Cymbals Eat Guitars have the great honor of being on this list, too!

Number No-Number to Number I Don't Know

So I brainstormed out this list of favorite albums, and -- by some Christmas miracle -- it came out to exactly thirty records. It could have been longer, I guess; but I felt like thirty was a good stopping point.

Check through the reviews that appeared here or at Speak Into My Good Eye throughout the year to see some of the other albums I enjoyed. The contributors here and I only write about the things that move us, so every album or EP mentioned here this year deserves your attention.

With that, here's the next and final bunch of albums on my year-end list.

Happy, happy. Merry, merry.

Peace.

White Lung, Deep Fantasy

I came to this one late in the year, and I'm sorry I went six months without really having this in my rotation. It's easy, cliché, and unavoidable to compare the vocal delivery of lead singer, Mish Way, to Courtney Love's; but that would be an over-simplification. The Vancouver band bring a power and intensity on the 20-or-so minute Deep Fantasy that's not for the faint of heart, and I can't imagine hearing this band on big, corporate radio in any era.

Favorite tracks: "Drown with the Monster," "Face Down," "Just for You"



Dead Stars, Slumber

Fuzzy pop. Poppy fuzz. Whatever this is, I like it. On Slumber, Brooklyn's Dead Stars take the drone, the noise, and the "glide guitar" of shoegaze and employ them all in the creation of amazingly catchy pop songs. This one was definitely one of the two or three albums in my "Most Listened To Album of 2014" competition.

Favorite tracks: "Someone Else," "Walking Away," "Wasted"



Cymbals Eat Guitars, LOSE

LOSE is about loss -- the loss of a friend, the loss of youth, the loss of innocence, and the fact that life can sometimes be seen as just an accumulation of losses. Joe D'Agostino and the band have created, probably, their most accessible record; and it contains some of D'Agostino's most deeply personal lyrics. I saw the band twice live this year, and watching D'Agostino deliver these songs in person gives them even more weight.

Favorite tracks: "Jackson," "Warning," "Chambers"



Bob Mould, Beauty and Ruin

One of the times that I saw Cymbals Eat Guitars was when they opened for Bob Mould at Bowery Ballroom. With Beauty and Ruin, Mould continues his return to the raging power pop sounds of Sugar. I've seen criticisms of the record noting that Mould has done much of this before. That may be true, but it works exceedingly well for me here, and the songs stand up to the rest of Mould's catalog during his blistering live set.

Favorite tracks: "I Don't Know You Anymore," "Hey Mr. Grey," "Fix It"



The Everymen, Givin' Up on Free Jazz

It feels like The Everymen were on tour for this record pretty much all year. Take some New Jersey musical ingredients -- The Misfits, The Shirelles, Bruce -- mix them all together into a rock and roll stew, and you've got Givin' Up on Free Jazz. That's what The Everymen let loose on the rest of the country for almost all of 2014. They're a band that puts on a balls-to-the-wall live show, who's not afraid to rhyme "Lodi" with "Bon-Jovye" in a song called "NJHC," and who can make a Springsteen deep cut like "Ain't Good Enough for You" their own.

Favorite tracks: "A Girl Named Lou Pt. 2," "Spain," "Fingers Crossed"



Black Wine, Yell Boss

The product of a democratic, "no core" approach, Yell Boss includes moments of power pop, hard rock, even a snippet from an English folk song. Taken together, it's a cohesive whole delivered by a band where no single person takes the lead for more than a song. It also includes a great cover of The Guess Who's "No Time," which is awesome.

Favorite tracks: "Breaking Down," "No Reason," "Rime"



Those Mockingbirds, Penny the Dreadful

Penny the Dreadful is accessible but challenging rock music. It's the kind of rock music that, if it were to take over the commercial alt rock airwaves, would make the world a much better place. The songs here contain, in places, a gothic darkness that's the product of honest-to-goodness good songwriting rather than the posturing of some image-conscious faux rock band. And the band prove their chops at every live show.

Favorite tracks: "A Ballad from Hell," "How to Rob a Bank," "S.A.L.T."



Wreaths, Wreaths

Wreaths' self-titled debut LP worms its way around your brain with elements of psych-rock, space rock, krautrock, shoegaze, and blues. The band use repetition to achieve something like a hypnotic effect on several of the songs and you can almost see the mist from the fog machine floating out from your speakers.

Favorite tracks: "Coke Straw," "Ruby," "Piedmont Aire"



brick mower, Teenage Graceland

This is pop punk. It's music that's the product of a DIY approach. It gives you something to grab onto to make you want to keep coming back. Guitarist / vocalist Eric Truchan sounds like he's spent some time listening to indie greats like Malkmus and Martsch, and that's a big part of what made this New Brunswick / Keansburg band's record a goto album for me for much of the spring and summer.

Favorite tracks: "Georgia Glass," "Shitty Parade," "Sugar Teeth"



Nude Beach, 77

It takes guts in 2014 to make a double-album rooted in the sounds of Tom Petty, Big Star, and Bruce Springsteen aimed at an indie / punk audience. It takes talent to pull it off. Nude Beach pull it off on 77. The only thing missing from this record is a cassette release so that I can play it in the tape deck of my 1980 Tercel.

Favorite tracks: "See My Way," "I Can't Keep the Tears from Falling," "Changes"



Fear of Men, Loom

Dark, literary lyrics. Jangling guitars. Post-punk bass. There's lots from this Brighton, UK quartet that I love. It's a Smiths meets The Sundays kind of thing, and Jess Weiss's vocals fly and float over the chiming guitars. I wear black on the outside...

Favorite tracks: "Alta / Waterfall," "Seer," "Luna"



Perfect Pussy, Say Yes to Love

Perfect Pussy are a polarizing band. CoolMom doesn't get them. Ben Greenberg of The Men wrote kind of a nasty review about them. You can't hear the lyrics. It's barely music. But I love Meredith Graves's rage and emotion. It's a rage that's not coming from a testosterone filled, chest-beating place, but it is white hot and just as real.

Favorite tracks: "Driver," "Interference Fits," "Dig"



Chris Brown, Anchor

Brown sings of growing up with his hometown of Asbury Park with an honesty and conviction that's hard to miss. He's grown into the role of folk-punk troubadour, but you can hear the punk / hardcore history shining through; and Anchor contains plenty of moments to raise your fist and sing along.

Favorite tracks: "16," "When We Were Kids," "When the Lights Went Out"



The Vansaders, Stuck in New York City

Maybe rough up some of the smooth edges that The Gaslight Anthem have acquired over the years. Throw in a little country twang and some rock and roll grit. This record is full of punk-country-rock booze-soaked anthems delivered straight from the gut of frontman Doug Zambon. It came out early this year, so there's a chance you'll miss it when looking back at 2014. Don't.

Favorite tracks: "End of the Line," "Bullet," "Moving Home"



J. Mascis, Tied to a Star

I had to put this one on here, right? I mean, J. Mascis. My hero. My idol. He comes out from behind the distortion and fuzz here to show us that, yes, there are pop / country songs hiding behind all that Dinosaur Jr. noise. A great follow-up to his solo debut, Several Shades of Why, from a couple years ago; and it can more than hold me over until the next Dinosaur Jr. release.

Favorite tracks: "Every Morning," "Wide Awake," "Come Down"

Guest List(s): Corrina, Corrina Give Us Four, Four, Four Posts In One!

Corrina, Corrina at Red Bank Rehearsal Studios on Thanksgiving Eve

Essay Question

I asked the guys in Corrina, Corrina if they'd like to do a year-end list for the site this year. They said sure. They must have still been in end-of-semester exam mode because they gave me four full-on lists, one from each member.

Corrina, Corrina had a big year in 2014, releasing their first full-length, American Short Stories, on Little Dickman Records. Three of the four members graduated from high school and joined new bassist, Kyle Donovan, at Rowan University. So the band lives to fight another day.

School's out now for winter break, and Corrina, Corrina have promised some new songs and some new recorded material in the not-too-distant future. For now, check out each member's take on 2014.

Deaglan

My Favorite Songs of 2014

5. PUP, “Guilt Trip”

PUP is a straight up, kick-ya-in-the-dick rock band. The opener of their self-titled debut, “Guilt Trip,” has everything anyone would want in a song. Kinda freaky timing, SICK guitar lines and a SICKER guitar solo, gang vocals, harmonies / guitarmonies, hella distortion and feedback, and a crazy sing along chorus. If that doesn't convince you that this is one of the best songs ever, nothing will. Long live PUP. Shouts out to the other 30 kids that went out and saw them at the Lanes this past summer.

4. Against Me!, “Transgender Dysphoria Blues”

Probably the most important song to come out this year off the most important album to come out this year is its the title track. Against Me! telling it how it is. Heartbreaking yet up-lifting. Seriously, so so so so so important. Laura Jane Grace is a badass. 

3.  Ryan Adams, “My Wrecking Ball”

I’ve been a huge Ryan Adams fan since my introduction to him during freshman year of high school with his debut solo album Heartbreaker. His self titled release this year was a favorite of mine, and this song really stood out to me. This album was my go to “walking to class” album when it was released, and this song always blew me away every time I listened to it. Ryan Adams has one of the most effortless voices in music, and it really shines through on this track. I want him to sing me to sleep every night.

2.  Cloud Nothings, “I’m Not Part of Me”

This song became an instant favorite as soon as it was released as a single. I enjoyed Cloud Nothings’ previous release, Attack on Memory, but this song seemed to do it for me more than their previous hit, “Stay Useless.” I absolutely love how the bass drops out throughout the song, the floor tom verses vs the cymbal choruses, and that guitar tone. Damn. It's flawless. 

1.  Beach Slang, “Filthy Luck”

Beach Slang have to be the best band to come out of 2014. All of their songs are just absolute anthems. I remember hearing this on “Jaded Punk” the day it came out, when it was just a single. I must have replayed that fifty times that day. Beach Slang just keep getting better, but it will be hard to top this song. 

Other songs I absolutely adored: Radiator Hospital, “Fireworks,” Allison Crutchfield, “Supermoon,” Bob Mould, “I Dont Know You Anymore,” Smith Street Band, “Surrender,” The Lawrence Arms, “Seventeener (17th & 37th),” Eagulls, “Tough Luck,” Diarrhea Planet, “Heat Wave,” Mikey Erg, “You’ve Never Heard ‘My Aim is True,’” Chain and The Gang, “Never Been Properly Loved”

Thanks, CoolDad. Happy Festivus!

Matt

My Top 5 Favorite Songs From Local Bands of 2014

5.  Teenage Halloween, “Comic Book Love Song”

Teenage Halloween have recently taken the local New Jersey scene by storm, and with a song like this, there’s good reason. It wasn't until I experienced this song live at the Red Bank Rehearsal Studios, when it was upgraded to a full band delivery from its former acoustic recording, that I absolutely fell in love with it. Screaming “Little Johnny Robinson was saved by Rock’N’Roll” with the 9 other kids made that a song that I never wanna miss live. Super excited to hear it on the new Teenage Halloween album being released at some point in time probably / maybe / I think. 

4.  Black Flamingos, “Devil’s Punch Bowl”

This is the surf jazz /spy /sci-fi / spaghetti western song I’ve been waiting for my entire life. Black Flamingos have a special place in my heart because I first met frontman Rob when I started playing guitar back in 2009 and one day he played every single vocal part to a Beach Boys song on guitar and I think I might’ve cried in the bathroom shortly after. Fast-forward to a couple of months ago when I caught Black Flamingos at The Brighton Bar and they absolutely blew me away. Such technical bass, guitar, and drum parts all working together to make a song that makes me wish I was in a tuxedo every time I heard it. Check out the live version of this song to see its raw amazingness. 

3.  Hot Blood, “Class Warfare” 

What needs to be said about this song other than, THIS IS A WARRRRRRRRRR!!!!! Nothing. Literally nothing. This song is an anthem for all who just want to get their anger out with some aggressive moshing. I can’t think of a Hot Blood set where my favorite part wasn’t chanting “They’ve got the power, but we’ve got the numbers” with all my friends and familiar faces surrounding the microphone, only to be interrupted by a blood curdling scream from Mat Kiley, which sends the room erupting in a swarm of sweaty human bodies. Awesome rhythm section, anthemic lyrics, killer song. 

2.  The Vansaders, “Bullet”

This song, this damn song, is one of my favorite songs ever. I was just recently introduced to The Vansaders, and my God, I’m glad I was. From the powerful instrumental opening, to Doug Zambon’s first vocals, the fast-paced rhythm section pushing the song, to the incredibly awesome group vocals, nothing about this song could be any better. This album is a must-listen and I hope to see more from this band for years to come. There are two types of people in the world: people who love The Vansaders, and people that are wrong. 

1.  The Battery Electric, “Heathen”

Okay I know what you’re thinking: “Matt that song wasn’t released yet.” “Matt you’re biased because Brent was your guitar teacher and you’ve known him for almost a decade.” “Matt you play drums. Your opinion doesn't matter.” Well listen up, fictional jerk, because I’m about to justify why “Heathen” is my, and should be your, favorite song of the year.

If you are part of the Asbury Park scene, wear denim, have facial hair, or have ever said the word pimp, you know The Battery Electric. They are the most rock and roll band I have ever met, and their party powers would give Andrew WK a run for his money. “Heathen,” while not having been released yet, is without a doubt one of the best songs this band has ever written. It has rad vocals by frontman Ron Santee, punchy-as-hell guitar from my guitar idol Brent “Thor God of Rock” Bergholm, and mega-hunk rhythm from bassist Alex Rosen and drummer Kevin Troeller. The falsetto backup vocals sung by the band and the crowd are really the icing on this sexy cake of hunk-rock. This is without a doubt the most fun, energetic, and pimp-tastic song that has come from a local band this year, and I seriously can’t wait for their new album to be released. #RockPimps

Kyle

My Top 3 Small Releases of 2014

First off, I would like to send a HUUUUUGE thank you to CoolDad for asking us to do this. This is mega-cool. Now, onto the good stuff. As resident "New Guy" of Corrina, Corrina I realize that not many people in the area know me or what I'm into. So, here are three of my favorite small releases from the past year.

The Moms, Buy American

I'm from north Jersey (*boo* *hiss* yeah, I get it). We don't have as much of a local music community as the Asbury Park area, but we can produce some pretty solid bands. One of those bands is The Moms, hailing from New Brunswick. I had the pleasure of hearing them for the first time a little over two years ago at a back yard show in Clark, NJ, and I've been hooked ever since. Buy American, their debut full-length album, released by Paper + Plastick, is solid gold from end to end. This trio does an unbelievable job of pouring everything they have into a song. Their punchy, distorted chords are paired beautifully with surprisingly melodic yells. I have a feeling that these guys are going somewhere big.

Donovan Wolfington, Scary Stories You Tell in the Dark

At five songs, and a total running time of about eleven minutes, Donovan Wolfington (which is a fantastic name, by the way) managed to cram about 10 different genres of music into this EP. Transitioning from party punk into noise-pop and back into 90s grunge, often in the same song, it is hard to keep track of when one song ends and another begins. Of the five members in the band, three of them share singing duties and they come together wonderfully with lyrics that perfectly express the top-of-the-world mindset of a 21 year old college student: "And I still do whatever I want whenever I damn-well please and I mean everything I say, always."

Posture & The Grizzly, Busch Hymns

I am absolutely in love with this band. Posture & The Grizzly is the side project of a few members of Connecticut-based emo band, The World is a Beautiful Place and I Am No Longer Afraid to Die. Quite the mouthful. Posture is more like TWIABP's pissed off little brother. This album is jam packed with eight beautiful, bite-sized, in your face punk songs. Although this is probably the most aggressive sounding selection from my list, I feel that the lyrics are the most heartfelt. The album's closing track, "Jordan Michael's Space Jam,” is my personal favorite. After seven energy filled songs, none of which were much over two minutes long, the eighth track starts with a much slower pace and ends in a refrain that begs to be shouted until your lungs collapse.

Honorable Mention: Head North / A Will Away, Split EP

I strongly encourage everyone to check out The Mayflower Collective. They're a DIY label started by members of local NJ bands Cross Town Train and On Your Marks. They're doing an awesome thing for the local scene and should be acknowledged for it. 

Brian

My Top 10 Albums of 2014

Beach Slang, Who Would Ever Want Anything So Broken? 

I fell in love with this record immediately. It is a perfect combination of everything I love. There’s a real dreamy 80s/90s vibe throughout. I hear a lot of Replacements, Hüsker Dü, and Jawbreaker in the band; but the songs are still completely their own. The four songs really just sound like Beach Slang. Frontman, Jim Snyder, can do no wrong. As a long time fan of his old band, Weston, I got into Beach Slang very early on; and I’m really glad to see that they’re getting a lot of attention and doing some awesome tours. This is the best thing to come out this year. Best thing to come out in 1996… Weston, Got Beat Up. Peep it. 

PUP, PUP

I’m so happy I heard this band. This band has everything. Huge gang vocals and catchy choruses, accompanied by fuzzed out guitars ripping freaky solos. Imagine what Weezer would sound like if J. Mascis joined as a guitar player. Then multiply how awesome that would be by ten and you’re almost getting close to understanding how magnificent PUP is. I was able to catch them at the Lanes earlier this year and was blown away. They closed with a Beastie Boys cover, and the singer dove into the crowd off the monitor. They really looked like they enjoyed what they were doing. This has become my favorite LP of the year.

Against Me!, Transgender Dysphoria Blues

This is the most important album to come out in a long time. I’ve loved Against Me! since I was really just a little kid. My older cousin showed me some of their music when I was in the 6^th or 7^th grade. I loved their early records but I really couldn’t get into their newer material like White Crosses. But a year or two ago, when Laura Jane Grace came out as a transgender woman, Against Me! totally changed, and they went back to making amazing music again. This is the most personal record I think I’ve ever heard. Really something special. I was lucky to have seen them play some of these songs at the Pony earlier this year. 

The Menzingers, Rented World

The Menzingers are my favorite current band. Everything they do is perfect to me. Their 2012 record, On The Impossible Past, is one of the best melodic punk records of the past ten years and one of my favorite albums of all time. Rented World, lacks some of what made On The Impossible Past great, but it’s the same band, and it’s really goddamn good. I’d say out of all the bands my band rips off on a daily basis, this is the band we rip off the most. This is the record that had the most plays for me this year. 

Joyce Manor, Never Hungover Again

This year Joyce Manor saw their biggest commercial success with Never Hungover Again. The kids love it. Because it totally rips. Okay, maybe it doesn’t “rip.”  It’s just kind of nice music to listen to driving around. The songs are quite a bit more poppy than the songs on the band’s other releases. Basically, Joyce Manor trim away all the fat, and what you get on this record are hooks. Hook after hook. In less than 20 minutes, this record does more for me than any hour-long shoegaze bullshit. 

The Lawrence Arms, Metropole

I grew up on the Epitaph and Fat Wreck rosters, so the return of The Lawrence Arms was the most exciting thing to happen for me this year. This year, eight years after their last album Oh! Calcutta!, they released Metropole and it is exactly what I needed. It’s the same old Larry Arms singing really great punk songs, reminding me that they are one of my favorite bands ever. If my band rips off The Menzingers more than any other band, we’re probably just unsuccessfully trying to rip off The Lawrence Arms. 

Restorations, LP3

Restorations put out consistently amazing records. This one is still relatively new but I’ve given it a lot of plays. Actually according to my Spotify, their song “Separate Songs” is my most played song this year. This may not have topped their 2013 release LP2 for me, but I totally think “Separate Songs” is their best song, and probably my favorite song of the year. 

Cheap Girls, Famous Graves

Cheap Girls could never put out a record that doesn’t make my year-end list. It’s actually pretty hard to talk about a Cheap Girls record. You can’t really compare their records to each other because they’re all so similar aside from slight differences in production. All I can say is that this record is great. I love it, and the song “Knock Me Over” really rules. 

Alex G, DSU

I had to include Alex G because he just impressed the hell out of me with DSU. This is a really soft, melodic, lo-fi, mostly acoustic record with 13 really perfect songs. In retrospect I’m pretty pissed I missed him at the Wunder Loft because I didn’t feel like driving in the rain. Alex G is only a college student, and the stuff he’s doing has me really excited about the direction music is headed.

The Hotelier, Home, Like No Place Is There

Wow. So this one is sort of “emo.” For a while that was a word used to describe something bad, and then more recently it was a word used to describe something good, and even more recently I sense it is starting to become a word to describe something bad again. Well, there is nothing bad about this record. So much emotion is packed into every chord and every lyric. This record sounds like it took a lot of hard work. The songs are crafted perfectly. One of the best newer bands. Totally worth a listen. #EmoRevival2014

Records I had all the reason but no time to write about: Chumped, The Smith Street Band, Hard Girls, Radiator Hospital, Bob Mould, Caves, Single Mothers, Allison Crutchfield, Antarctigo Vespucci, Little Big League, LVL Up, Cayetana, Modern Baseball, Sorority Noise, The Holy Mess, Andrew Jackson Jihad

My Favorite Albums of 2014, Part I

Beach Slang are kicking up their heels over their inclusion here, I'm sure.

Number Nothing to Number Whatever

Just in time for Christmas, here's the first half of my list of favorite albums of 2014. These are just the ones I heard and with which I spent some significant time. Based on the submissions I've been getting from guests so far, I missed quite a bit this year. I'll have to catch up over the holiday break.

The thing that strikes me about my own list this year is the relative absence of most of the "BIG" indie albums of the year. I could include them for street cred or to seem like I'm in the know on these sorts of things, but I just spend so much more time now with the great albums by some of our local bands here or with stuff I just stumbled on somehow. Two years ago, this list would've included much of what you hear on Sirius XMU -- and some of that stuff is here for sure -- but I'll let them tell you about it for the most part.

These are the sounds that moved me for one reason or another this year, presented here in the order that I typed them up. There's no number 1 or top whatever. Just my brainstormed list to recap my listening year.

I've already got the second half primed and ready; but I didn't want to hit you with too much awesomeness all at once, so here's Part I.

Corrina, Corrina, American Short Stories

I thought I heard The Replacements filtered through a couple decades worth of their descendants when I first heard this record. Corrina, Corrina confirmed their love of the Mats in an interview I did with them, and Deaglan Howlett’s impassioned vocal on the band’s live cover of “Can’t Hardly Wait” sealed it. Corrina, Corrina aren’t Replacements or Gaslight Anthem imitators, though. They’re a surprisingly mature young band with an ear for great rock and roll.

Favorite tracks: “Sea Song,” “The Art of Racing,” “Denim Jacket”



Cloud Nothings, Here and Nowhere Else

Dylan Baldi tries to shake off some of the things that are dragging him down by thrashing his way through Cloud Nothings’ by now patented brand of pop punk. “I’m learning how to be here and nowhere else,” he sings; but it’s a painful and loud growing process.

Favorite tracks: “Now Hear In,” “Psychic Trauma,” “I’m Not Part of Me”



Smalltalk, I / II / III

When I heard Smalltalk’s first EP, it took me back to my days driving up and down the Jersey Shore, listening to WHTG in the late 80s. The band have continued that sound through two follow-ups with nods to The Smiths, The Wedding Present, and The Jesus and Mary Chain. If you didn’t know these people were from Neptune City, you might think they were from Manchester.

Favorite tracks: “Go Love,” “The Last Ones,” “Spellbound”



Overlake, Sighs

I like to imagine that Overlake and I share a love of things like Hal Hartley movies, My Bloody Valentine, and Dinosaur Jr. I’d love to talk to them about this. Sighs combines quiet moments with explosions of sound so effortlessly, it’s hard to believe that this is the Jersey City trio’s debut.

Favorite tracks: “Disappearing,” “Fell Too Far,” “Our Sky”



Screaming Females, Live at The Hideout

One criticism often leveled at Screaming Females’ studio albums is that they don’t capture the raw power and energy of the band’s live shows. Well, those people can’t complain about this one. Live at The Hideout captures the band performing at the Chicago venue over two nights. You can close your eyes, and it almost feels like you’re right there in the crowd. Almost.

Favorite tracks: “Leave It All Up to Me,” “It All Means Nothing,” “Boyfriend”



Dentist, Dentist

This Asbury Park five-piece delivers reverb- and hook-laden surf / dream pop that’s sweet and dark at the same time. I keep hearing comparisons to acts like Best Coast and The Drums, but there’s something straightforward and honest in Dentist that I don’t get from those bigger acts. And I love the tone of Justin Bornemann’s guitar.

Favorite tracks: “Bird in the Cage,” “No Matter,” “Koko B. Ware”



Sink Tapes, Touchdown Buffalo

New Brunswick’s Sink Tapes are prolific. I think in the time it took me to write this they’ve released another album. I’m not kidding. Touchdown Buffalo is 11 short studies in lo-fi dream pop calling on influences like The Jesus and Mary Chain, The Replacements, and The Wrens. When I first heard Ariel Pink’s brilliant “Put Your Number in my Phone,” I said, “That sounds like Sink Tapes.”

Favorite tracks: “Small Thought,” “Vegas Hotel Yoga Spa,” “Dishes in the Dark”



Single Mothers, Negative Qualities

“Townies” in the college town of London, Ontario, Single Mothers express the frustration that comes with having to deal with a bunch of know-it-all interlopers most of the time. Straightforward hardcore has its own aggression and rage, but there’s something more cutting and angry, I think, in the snark and sarcasm of Drew Thomson’s lyrics. Kind of like that person who knows just what to say to cut you to the bone.

Favorite tracks: “Half-Lit,” “Marbles,” “Patricide”



Cayetana, Nervous Like Me

Oh, this record. How I love it. Augusta Koch’s voice just sells the whole thing. And something about Cayetana’s backstory of starting a band before they even knew how to play instruments – especially when you listen to Allegra Anka’s bass throughout the record -- just captures the romance of punk.

Favorite tracks: “Scott Get the Van, I’m Moving,” “Hot Dad Calendar,” “South Philly”



Beach Slang, Who Would Ever Want Anything So Broken? / Cheap Thrills on a Dead End Street

Big hat tip to Scotch LaRock for turning us all onto these two 7-inches. James Alex goes for broke on every song combining the melodrama of Psychedelic Furs with the edge of The Replacements. Bliss.

Favorite tracks: “All Fuzzed Out,” “American Girls and French Kisses,” “Filthy Luck”



ROMP, Sorry, Not Sorry

This four-song EP from New Brunswick’s ROMP caught me by surprise. Well, single “Portrait” did anyway. After hearing that one, with its crescendo of early 90s alt-pop made ready for a New Brunswick basement, I couldn’t wait for the rest. Pop, punk, DIY. Trust me. It’s tight.

Favorite tracks: Well, it’s only 4 songs, so “Drive,” “If Your Head Gets Any Bigger You’ll Float Away,” “Portrait,” “Sorry, Not Sorry”



Mumblr, Full of Snakes

Race, jealousy, insecurity. Philly’s Mumblr deal with some pretty big issues on Full of Snakes, as well as the difficulties of dealing with all of these things while you transition from youth to adulthood. I saw my younger self in some of these songs and didn’t always like it. Everything comes wrapped in some classic indie / punk sounds, though, and I found myself unable to turn away.

Favorite tracks: “Got It,” “Sober,” “Greyhound Station”



The Men, Tomorrow’s Hits

With each successive album, The Men have evolved from noise / sludge / shoegaze punk to garage pop. Tomorrow’s Hits ranges from Big Star-style pristine pop to raucous garage rock / punk. The band claim that they’re just making songs without any regard to genre or overall sound, so make of that what you will. But go back and listen to the last 4 albums by The Men and tell me you don’t detect a method to the madness.

Favorite tracks: “Get What You Give,” “Another Night,” “Pearly Gates”



Hot Blood, No Kings

There’s a positive message peeking out from behind the rage, the four letter words, and the barrage of guitar noise. Hot Blood stick up for the little guy while calling out the hypocrites, dicks, and overrated bands of the world. It’s not just blind fury. No Kings reminds us that change is there for the taking. “They” got the power, for now. But “We" got the numbers.

Favorite tracks: “You Can’t Hold Us Down,” “Real Bad Case,” “Class Warfare”



Eternal Summers, The Drop Beneath

Eternal Summers bring a little more edge – and volume – to the sound that captured me on 2012’s brilliant Correct Behavior. The Doug Gillard-produced The Drop Beneath has kind of an early-90s 4AD feel to it, reminding me on some tracks of Throwing Muses or even Belly.

Favorite tracks: “A Burial,” “Gouge,” “The Drop Beneath”

Guest List: Allyson Dwyer's Favorite Pop of 2014

Allyson Dwyer at Asbury Lanes in August. She wants you to have a peaceful holiday season.

Top of the Pops

by Allyson Dwyer

This is Allyson Dwyer. You may remember me from such CoolDad Music posts as that Taylor Swift review and that time I heard Slowdive in person between people's personal conversations at Terminal 5.

I generally feel like I have no authority on what's considered good in the fight for best rock / indie / punk album of the year, but I do know I love pop albums, pop stars, and good bops. Here's some stuff I genuinely loved and will probably listen to more than the last Arcade Fire album in my lifetime:

Charli XCX, Sucker

This is on the list automatically because of "Boom Clap," which is honestly the best pop song of the year. I know it didn't get much radio play, which is a shame because it's short, sweetly sugary, adorable, and I never get sick of it. It's pure, bubbly pop and doesn't take a lot of commitment outside of sounding and feeling good. That's the mark of a perfect pop song for me. Sucker has gotten pretty much high praise from most musical outlets, so I'll let you dig into that yourself.



Sia, "Chandelier"

This song reminds me that it was a pretty good year for pop-writing. "Chandelier" is anything but generic. It really commands the radio when it's on. It has my favorite lyrics of any mainstream hit ever. I mean, they're heartbreaking. It's a heartbreaking yet uplifting song, and the image it conjures up really hits a nerve in me.



Lorde, "Yellow Flicker Beat"

This is just a song, not even an album. Lorde didn't release an album this year despite "Team" being on the radio a lot (no complaints there). This track, recorded at the Lakehouse Recording Studio in Asbury Park (yaaas!!) and appearing on the new Hunger Games soundtrack, is a show-stopper. I used to actively not like Lorde, but now I am a full-on stan. She is a powerhouse and she amazes me with the way she challenges pop music with her intelligent production / lyrics. I mean, how awesome is the line, “But I got my fingers laced together and I made a little prison / And I’m locking up everyone who ever laid a finger on me?"



Taylor Swift, 1989

Looking back on what I said about 1989, I don't think it's as strong as I remember it being. I've been visiting it less and less, but when "Blank Space" plays on the radio I get excited and sing along (not "Shake It Off," though, that song can shove off.). There are so many solid, good songs on 1989 that I don't mind having it in my rotation, and so it's firmly one of the best pop albums of the year. If "Style" were to come on, I would get excited. That tells me this is a good album.



Mariah Carey, Me. I Am Mariah...The Elusive Chanteuse

I'm going there. The Elusive Chanteuse, Mimi herself, is a national treasure, whether totally ignoring the existence of Ariana Grande, or forgetting her own lyrics on stage, this is the woman who gave us such amazing songs as (the good) "Shake It Off," "Honey” and "Dreamlover."

She deserves some recognition for giving us a new album of high pitched notes. It's a shame there was barely any promo for this album because songs like "Make It Look Good," "Money," and "Meteorite" could have easily been big comeback hits.

Lana Del Rey, Ultraviolence

I feel like listening to Lana Del Rey is like a rebellious act, because she gets so much unnecessary hate for being seen as manufactured. My big answer to that is, "Who gives a shit?" Ultraviolence is a daring pop album because it's nothing like her previous star-making album Born To Die, but it still has all the classic Lana Del Rey themes: drugs, L.A., rich daddies and old America.

Produced by Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys, it's a moody album -- slow motion rock mixed with Phil Spector wall of sound type stuff -- with one of my favorite lyrics this year: “Well my boyfriend's pretty cool / but he's not as cool as me.” The most pop-sounding song on the album is the catchy "Florida Kilos," which was written by Harmony Korine. If you loved Nicole Atkins's Slow Phaser (another favorite of mine), you may like this album as a pop companion.



Beyoncé, Beyoncé

I am so confused: Is this considered a 2013 or 2014 album? I want to say 2014 since the songs off this album dominated the year, but let's be real. The best songs on Beyoncé aren't even the radio hits. This album isn't just a huge success. It's a well-curated complete album, one that isn't about the singles. As a whole, I can listen to it (mostly, if you remove Jay-Z's verse from "Drunk in Love" and take out "Pretty Hurts" as the opener) from start to finish, which is hard to do in this day.

Tracks like "Haunted," "Blow," "Mine," "Rocket," "Blue" and "***Flawless" are not just pop songs. They are heart-stopping moments on an album with a vision. I honestly believe this is the pop record of the decade. The recently released "7/11" off the re-packaged album is also a really fun single, and the "***Flawless" remix featuring Nicki Minaj is up there with best songs of the year for me.



Azealia Banks, Broke With Expensive Taste

This is the best rap album of the year. I don't follow every rapper, not even well enough to make this claim, but I have no reservations calling Azealia Banks's long-awaited debut album one of the best rap debuts ever. Despite her ability to say amazingly smart, insightful things (see: calling out Itchy Areola...I mean, Iggy Azalea) just to mess it all up again (see: the rest of her Twitter), her vision as a musician can't be denied. The album truly bends all genres, from latin and salsa to club and house, to punk, to industrial, in perfect execution. There's even the tongue-in-cheek, retro-inspired collaboration with Ariel Pink, "Nude Beach A Go-Go."

Oh, and her lyrics, mixed with her flow, are just breath-taking, absolutely beautiful. Banks said herself that album closer, "Miss Camaraderie," is the song she was born to make. I am really excited to hear her future albums.

And... my favorite album of 2014:

FKA twigs, LP1

Is this considered a pop album? At the rate twigs is blowing up, I would say she is going to be mainstream real soon (unless hardcore Twilight fans have something to say about it). Either way, I have no reservation in saying this was the album I listened to the most this year, and not just because Pitchfork told me to.

This is a gorgeous, ground-breaking album that I believe has no definable genre. It just contains the music it does in order to create the most gravitating tracks. It's daring, subtle, quiet, moody, sad, self-reflective. If you don't know who twigs is, you will by these songs. I call it the spiritual successor to my favorite album of all time, Vespertine (by my queen, Björk). Intimate tracks that are explored through experimental beats. Personal favorite tracks include "Lights On," "Pendulum," "Video Girl" and "Give Up."



Favorite non-pop albums include releases from Beach Slang, Perfect Pussy, Black Wine, PUJOL, Ex Hex and Priests in case you thought I was super lame from this post. Happy 2015!

Guest List: ROMP's Top 10 Tightest Things of 2014

ROMP at The Saint in November.

ROMP Is Tight

"Tight" can mean a lot of things slangily: emotionally close (Joe and I are tight), cheap or stingy (Lend me a dollar, man. Don't be so tight.), drunk (I don't know. I think you were a little tight when you called me last night.).

In the context of New Brunswick band ROMP (twitter.com/rompistight, facebook.com/rompistight, rompistight.bandcamp.com), though, I think we'll go with "very good, excellent, cool, awesome."

OK. Maybe drunk, but I don't know them well enough to say.

What I can say is that ROMP and their 2014 EP, Sorry, Not Sorry, are two of my favorite discoveries of 2014. They're a punk pop (pop punk?) foursome fully committed to DIY and to playing every basement in New Brunswick. They're tight. So tight, in fact, that Texas cassette imprint, Funeral Sounds, is putting out Sorry, Not Sorry as a split with the Red Hands EP from Belmar's Toy Cars.

Being experts in tightness (and branding, obviously), ROMP give us the definitive list of Top 10 Tightest (as in coolest, most excellent, most awesome... ...drunkest?) Things of 2014.

You can catch ROMP tomorrow, Christmas Eve Eve, just over the border in Warwick, NY, when they play "Bands, Billiards, and Booze" with Pigeon and Books. at Village Billiards.

Top 10 Tightest Things of 2014

by ROMP

Tightest Music Video: Pup, "Reservoir"



Pup have been on their game with music videos. Every single one they have put out has been awesome. This one in particular is especially great because of all of the action and adrenaline. It’s pretty dope when that cymbal goes through his chest. Check it out. Check out all their music videos. Fall in love with Pup.

Tightest Food: Cinco de Mayo (New Brunswick)



Where else can you get a burrito the size of your forearm for 6 bucks? This is a must hit spot in New Brunswick, especially since it’s open late. They even serve cactus and have free chips. Please take advantage of the BYOB policy. Magic Hat #9 is recommended. We wrote a song about this place. Just saying.

Tightest Song: Girlpool, "Jane"



First of all, this entire album is amazing. But this song in particular is one of my favorites. It could be because I just love hearing about girls not taking shit from anyone, especially men. Jane sounds like a rad chick and I would definitely be her friend if she were real. Aside from that, the high pitched screaming and funky guitar parts are irresistible. I could listen to this song ten times in a row and still want to hear it again.

Tightest Artist: Professor Caveman

This kid is ridiculous. He oozes pure creative energy and we are soaked. Just look at this shirt he made. Have you seen his guitar?

He also happened to do the art on our tape release with Toy Cars on Funeral Sounds. If you get a chance, you should peep his new EP too because he’s one of our favorite musicians as well.

Tightest YouTube Video: Reggae Shark



Ok, If you listen to this every morning when you wake up, we assure you that your life will be better. Reggae Shark is real.

Tightest Venue: Your Unfinished Basement

Madison Square Garden, PNC Arts Center, Starland Ballroom: All dope places! But can you share a 30 of PBR with the crowd at these venues? Can you play a guitar solo leaning on a hot water heater while getting punched in the ear? Can you get in for free if you tell the door-bro you’re super poor and give him a hit of your funny cigarette? We’ll choose the basement, because the basement has chosen us.

Any pic from here is great. Jason Renna is the photographer:

Tightest Fight



Andy Rydell definitely had it coming. How is he going to wear those name brand circus clothes and not expect to get his lights knocked out? If you are into high school brawls, this is your vid.

Tightest Guitar Pedal: Electro Harmonix Soul Food

Ok Luke our bassist recommended this thing to me and the price had me like, “nah this thing sucks” but for real I can never find a reason to turn this overdrive off. It’s a clone of the Klon Centaur for like 1/bazillionth of the price. If you play light you can get loud cleans, if you play heavy you can get some real dirty nasty. It can do anything from clean boost, to treble boost, to just straight up dirt. Get in there.

Tightest Album: Makthaverskan, II



This album was the soundtrack to my winter. I had it on constant repeat. The lyrics and spinny melodies were the perfect combination to get me addicted. I just picked up this record at Princeton Record Exchange (favorite hang spot). When I saw that it was in there, I was so excited and surprised because they are an international band; but I guess it makes sense because they did a US release of this album with Run For Cover this year. Nevertheless, I bought it in a heartbeat. I’m hoping they come to the states this year. I’d probably sell my left arm to go to that show.

Tightest Illuminati Propaganda Examination of a Female Fronted Twee Band: "Frankie Cosmos Reptilian Proof"



Reptilians are real. And Frankie is definitely one of them.  If you don’t believe this, I feel sorry for you *heavy breathing*. Everyone knows ROMP is anti-Illuminati, so this was eye-opening for us.

PS we love you Frankie :) (even if you are a lizard)

Guest List: Justin Bornemann (Dentist) Gives Us His Top 3 Albums of 2014

Quality Over Quantity

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.

      

Guest List: Little Dickman Co-Honcho, Amy Dickman, Gives Us Her Top 5 Albums of 2014

...Non-Little Dickman, That Is

OK. The lists are gonna start coming fast and furiously now. Next up is Amy Dickman. Along with Chris Yaniak, Amy heads up Asbury Park's own Little Dickman Records.

Amy and Chris have turned the label into a real force in the Asbury Park music scene. Not only is Little Dickman home to great bands like The Battery Electric, Hot Blood, Corrina, Corrina, TV Tramps, The Off White, Inspecter 7, Pretty Blue Ribbon, and -- of course -- Wolfcock; but they also put on a ton of shows that spotlight up and coming bands in the area. They've got one this Sunday, as a matter of fact, over at Six Ten Bangs. Little Dickman bands and artists are all over the nominations for this week's Asbury Music Awards, and the holiday benefit we held this past Sunday would never have happened without Little Dickman Records.

Congratulations on a great year, Amy and Chris.

So, with all of that, here are Amy's Top 5 (Non-Little Dickman) albums of 2014. Don't worry. I'll have some Little Dickman albums on my own list.

My Top 5 Albums of 2014

by Amy Dickman

2014 was a good year and a crazy year here at Little Dickman Records, our second year in business. We released 4 really excellent albums by really exceptional bands. It's a small number I know, but we are purposely very careful not to bite off more than we can chew, especially when we are still finding our own groove in this business.

I still can't believe I have the pleasure of working with these unbelievable people. They are all my idols. So, since I think it may be too biased to state that my favorite albums were TV Tramps' Rip It Up!, Hot Blood's No Kings, Corrina, Corrina's American Short Stories, and The Off White's debut EP (which were all, hands down, my actual favorites this year); I would like to take a moment to peek my head up out of my own world of listening to and supporting these incredible, local bands and more to state my top five albums of 2014.

These are full albums. I can listen to them all over and over again for a period of time until I get so sick of them I don't listen to them again for many years.

1.  Ty Segall, Manipulator
2.  The Brian Jonestown Massacre, Revelation
3.  King Tuff, Black Moon Spell
4.  The Blind Shake, Breakfast of Failures
5.  St. Vincent, St. Vincent

Boom, thx for reading!