Henry Lipput's 2017 Favorites

Ten Albums, an EP, a Live Album, and a Reissue

By Henry Lipput

Last year was a good year for music, and I found a lot of new stuff to listen to (which is always a bonus). In fact, five of the ten albums (and the EP) listed below are from musicians I had never heard of until last year. I reviewed all but one of the albums (plus the EP) on this list (and my views haven't changed), so I decided to include excerpts from these reviews below (although I've added a brief statement to give a context to the review). The one album from a band that was on my best-of list last year and the reissue get new words for this post.

Once again, I would like to thank CoodDad for giving me an opportunity to share my views and the music I love. And I also want to thank him for his patience in my sometimes getting reviews to him after I've promised it last week.

By the way, at the end of this list is a Spotify playlist with my favorite songs from each of the releases. I hope you enjoy listening to it.

ALBUMS

The Magic Es, It Goes On

The Magic Es are the best British rock and roll band since the heyday of the Gallagher brothers. There. I've said it. And It Goes On is my favorite album of 2017.

In my review I wrote: "The Magic Es take this rock-and-roll stuff seriously. On their debut album, this [band] from Norwich, England, plays with a commitment -- and a sense of dynamics -- that I really like a lot. My favorite track, "One Shot," has all of this and more. Starting with a hushed, solo piano, the song slowly adds a guitar lick and cymbal tapping and then the full band comes crashing in. The lead and backing vocals really mean it when they sing: "You've got one shot / To make it what you want / Give it all you have."
 
Fallon Cush, Morning

This is the band's second album in two years with an expanded lineup and the continuing strong backing vocals of Suzy Goodwin.

In my review I wrote: "I started listening to Fallon Cush just before Bee In Your Bonnet came out, and Morning has all of the elements that I like so much about the band. First, there's the songwriting of Steve Smith. Morning shows his range and contains both rockers ('Long Shot') and ballads ('My Achilles Heel'). Then there's his singing, a bit like Dylan but with a warmth and a sense of taking the listener into his confidence ('In Your Backyard')."

The Hangabouts, Kits & Cats and Saxon Wives

With this album The Hangabouts took care of my power pop fix for 2017.

In my review I wrote: "John Lowry, Gregory Addington, and Chip Saam are The Hangabouts from Detroit (with a little help from their friends including a guest vocalist, three drummers, and mastering by The Legal Matters' Andy Reed). The acoustic guitar (not unlike George Harrison's work on 'And I Love Her') and quiet vocals on 'Sensation Overnight' are lovely. And the final track, 'Follow The Sunshine,' is a gentle number with some swell slide work by guest guitarist Ken Greene."

The Nature Strip, Beetle Bones

The third full-length album from this Australian band and the first in which the songwriters John Encarnacao and Pete Marley each contribute an equal number of songs.

In my review I wrote: "The styles and arrangements [of the songs] are as different as the subjects and include 1960s guitar jangle, psychedelica, new wave, and post-punk.

Encarnacao's 'Eyes Are Blinded' is a slow burner and another example of how The Nature Strip uses musical elements from the past to create their own sounds. Marley's 'Supermoon,' which closes the album, is a fine example of gorgeous pop craftsmanship and contains jangely guitars and a marvelous melody."

Cotton Mather, Wild Kingdom

Robert Harrison and company continue their mission to write a song based on each of the 64 hexagrams of the I Ching. At the end of 2016, the band recorded an EP with the marvelous Nicole Atkins; and 2017 saw the release of both the Wild Kingdom album and Young Life, a 6-song EP. And there is word of a new album being released in early 2018. Harrison may be the best musical magpie since Ray Davies as Cotton Mather picks and chooses from the history of rock music as evidenced in the terrific Byrds-sian riff of "Girl With A Blue Guitar" and the Elvis Costello-Get Happy! vibe of "I Volunteer."

The Jigsaw Seen, The Jigsaw Seen For The Discriminating Completest(Rarities And Singles 1989-2015)

Previously released singles, EPs, flexidiscs, and compilation album tracks originally put out on various labels. Plus they've been remastered!

In my review I wrote: "On one of the covers, 'Luci Baines' by Arthur Lee and his pre-Love band The American Four, the Jigsaws take a soulful 60s single and make it woozy and spacey. My favorite track on the album is their version of The Bee Gees' 'Melody Fair.' The original was string-laden, harmony-rich, and pslightly psychedelic. But The Jigsaw Seen has turned it into a Revolver-era mashup with 'She Said, She Said' guitars and a McCartney bass line from 'Rain.' It's terrific and wouldn't have been out of place on Cotton Mather's Kontiki. It's that good."

Deal Casino, Deal Casino

The songs and performances on their full-length debut album, as the press materials like to say, range from Nick Drake to Led Zeppelin.

In my review I wrote: "Deal Casino is the sound of a band at the peak of their powers. It's as if they knew this was the right time to make the album instead of two or three years ago. With Joe P on vocals and guitar, Jozii on guitar and keys, Jon Rodney on bass, and Chris Donofrio on drums they're a world-class rock outfit."

Ron Sexsmith, The Last Rider

The singer-songwriter's singer-songwriter released his 13th album.

In my review I wrote: "It's no surprise that Sexsmith's songwriting reflects the influences of both past and current greats. He's said his songs are a combination of the folk singers and British Invasion artists he's always admired. And anyone who follows him on Twitter or has taken a look at his YouTube videos of solo acoustic covers of classics like 'Windows On The World' by Bacharach and David, 'Wedding Bell Blues' by Laura Nyro (um, dressed up as Nyro), and a great, upbeat 'But Not For Me' by the Gershwins recognizes where he's coming from and what he brings to the table (much like the Last Supper homage on the album cover)."

Son of the Velvet Rat, Dorado

Austrians now living in Joshua Tree and singing about the West with the help of the great Victoria Williams.

In my review I wrote: "Son of the Velvet Rat's new album, the fine, moody, Americana-tinged Dorado, opens with a high, lonesome harmonica. Then, frontman, songwriter, and guitarist Georg Altziebler begins to sing about seasons and endings in a voice (a blend of a very weary Tom Petty by way of Dylan and a bit of Tom Waits for good measure) of a man who's seen a lot of life."

Nick Garrie, The Moon and The Village

A mature singer-songwriter and storyteller releases his third album since 1969.

In my review I wrote: "Garrie plays a gentle, acoustic guitar on the reassuring 'I'm On Your Side:' 'Those tears you've cried / I've cried them too.' But things will get better: 'I can tell you, honey / In the morning time / You're gonna feel as right as rain / 'Cause me and Doctor Jangle's gonna fix you up/ And get you on your feet again.' I'm not sure what Doctor Jangle is supposed to be, but to me it sounds like an endorsement for the healing power of music."

EP

Adam and the Plants, Born With the Gift Of Magic

I not only got to review the EP, but I also interviewed Adam.

In my review I wrote: "The first track is 'Side Man.' The song rocks, but there's a lot of things going on as well. There's an early 60s guitar playing at one point (think of the opening to Del Shannon's 'Runaway').'Madeline' is a really cool pop song about a woman who dresses down: 'Corduroy was your finery' (What a great line!). There's some jangle-ly guitar and an excellent solo. The whole thing reminds me of the songs on Pernice Brothers' Yours, Mine & Ours album. Take it from me, that's high praise indeed."

Live Album

Various Artists, Thank You, Friends: Big Star’s Third Live … And More

In April 2016, the biggest names in indie rock performed a tribute to one of the most influential albums of the last forty years.

In my review I wrote: "To me, one of the most amazing things [Chris] Stamey and his musicians and vocalists have accomplished in the Third performance -- in addition to the great guitar playing and sympathetic vocals on 'Dream Lover' and 'Holocaust'-- is recreating the album's sense of things barely being kept together. A lot of this, astonishingly, is reproduced in the concert. A crucial element is the use of the original wind and string arrangements by Carl Marsh who conducts the orchestra. And it didn't hurt to have The Kronos Quartet as the concert's string section."

Reissue

The Beatles, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band

What can I say?

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the release of this album, Giles Martin (son of the legendary Beatles' producer, George Martin) and his engineers remixed Sgt. Pepper. Using the Beatles-approved mono mix and notes made during the initial work, they've used the original non-"bounced-down" tracks to remix the disc. I can't explain this nearly as well as Martin does in this NPR interview made just before the remix was released late last Spring. What's so special? Well, the Beatles really rock and the backing vocals are a joy to hear. Lennon's on "She's Leaving Home" especially, as well as his sitting-right-next-to-him lead vocal on "A Day In The Life." The CD versions are great; but if, like me, you grew up with the record, the vinyl is amazing.

Playlist

Matt Chrystal's Show of 2017: Birdcloud / Ex-Girlfriends / Little Vicious at The Saint, 7/3/17

Birdcloud

3rd of July, Asbury Park

By Matt Chrystal

Hey, remember the time Birdcloud came to town? If you were there, then it's probably something you will never forget... or at least something that you can never unsee. Summer is all but a distant memory now, but the visions of Birdcloud still fill my head like the plumes of blue smoke that filled the Saint on that sweaty July evening.

Here we are at the end of the year, and I'm feeling nostalgic for all those good times had throughout this crazy year. "Best Of" lists are coming out fast and furious; and, for me, the good times don't get any better than Birdloud bringing their own unique brand of country, rock, and twisted humor to the good ole Garden State. It was The Show of the Year, in my humble opinion.

Picture it. Asbury Park. July 3rd. 2017.

It was a 90 degree day, and the night was about to get even hotter inside The Saint. Little Dickman Records had been celebrating their five year anniversary in style by putting on a terrific series of summer shows and had booked one hell of a pre-Independence Day party that would rock the city by the seashore like a tidal wave. The evening saw the successful pairing of the Nashville based, indie-rock powerhouse duo of Birdcloud with Brooklyn punks, Ex-Girlfriends. Asbury Park's Little Vicious were also along for the raucous ride.

It was a "holiday weekend," but it was still a Monday night. It could have gone either way. People could come ready to party or it could be one of those off nights in between the weekend and the actual holiday. Luckily, it was the former. Little Dickman Records went above and beyond to promote this show as a "must-see" night of rock n roll. And, hot damn, were they right on about this one.

The whole night had a big feel about it. Little Vicious, a two piece rock band and recent transplant to Asbury Park by way of Fort Collins, CO, kicked things off with an epic set filled with post-punk swagger that felt like they were taking on a stadium instead of a Jersey shore nightclub. Ex-girlfriends put on a fun, loose, energetic set and were joined on stage by their former tourmates, Jasmin Kaset and Makenzie Green of Birdcloud for a few spirited numbers. The party vibes were in full swing.

Little Vicious

Ex-Girlfriends and Birdcloud

Then came time for Birdcloud.

I have been to a lot of shows this year. I seen some stuff.
But this… this was different.

They were fun. They were funny. They were provocative. They were ridiculous. They were self-deprecating. They were self-indulgent. They were genius. They were empowering. They were uber-talented. They were mesmerizing. They were intimidating. They were comedy. They were performance art. They were rock n roll. They were everything.

And they were wearing adult diapers.

And they did not give a fuck.

They fed off the energy from the crowd; but they were putting on an unapologetic, mind-melting assault on the senses and having a damn good time doing it. And if you were enjoying it, too… well then good for you.

I was enjoying every crazy second of it.

There were larger than life cardboard cut outs of the band in the background, smoke machines that would fill the room, pauses for shots, beers, and reapplications of lipstick. There were jokes, stories, and -- of course -- songs that could make a truck-driver blush and send any conservatives heading for the door. There was mandolin madness, gooey guitar goodness, and a harmonica solo that was simply unforgettable.

Harp solo

Mackenzie wore a bedazzled neck brace, and I am still not sure whether she actually needed or if it was just a prop used to punctuate some of her punchlines. All I do know is that Birdcloud had the crowd eating out of their hands throughout the entire set. There were moments of pure joy, frenzy, and of shock and awe peppered in.

There is an amazing chemistry between Kaset and Green that is undeniable and a magnetism about them that is undisputable. I had become so engrossed with the performance that, for that brief moment when Mak tore off her neckbrace, finished her beer, and bowed before the audience in one fluid, grandiose gesture, I can only assume that it must have been akin to what the disciples felt when they witnessed Jesus walk on water.

It was a gosh darn miracle!

Birdcloud

Birdcloud was the perfect combination of calculated trainwreck and well-oiled machine.
A little bit country. A little bit rock n roll. A whole lotta fucking fun!

Thank you Birdcloud.

Y’all come back soon now, ya hear.

Ken Geiger's 2017 Recap

Ken enjoying The Dillinger Escape Plan

In a Nutshell

By Ken Geiger

[CoolDad Note: In a year when I really needed it, our great contributors stepped up to fill in some of what would have been some long, empty spaces here. Ken did some great work and expanded our coverage to places -- important places if you're talking about independent, underground music -- it had never been, and I can't thank him or our other contributors enough.]

2017 was a great year for music, in my opinion. I have continued to expand the almighty KPG empire to places I never thought were possible. So many shows, a short tour and many new friends along the way; hopefully that trend can continue in 2018. I want to thank anybody who helped me attain that success.

Lastly, I just wanted to thank Jim for another year of letting me conduct interviews and ramble on about music that I love. He has been a huge supporter of me writing for his site since the beginning. I truly believe that the power of music is greater than any of us can imagine. Whether it is meeting someone new at a live show or talking about albums online with people halfway across the world, music continues to help me bridge new connections in this strange world. The fact that I am able to write about my interests and have people react to them positively is great. I am keeping in short this time -- no long explanations for each album or live band. If you want those, you can personally message me. Everything is up to interpretation in this world!

11 BEST ALBUMS (because 10 is NOT enough)

Full Of Hell- Trumpeting Ecstasy
Melvins- A Walk with Love & Death
Run the Jewels- Run the Jewels 3
Pissed Jeans- Why Love Now
Queens of the Stone Age- Villains
Godflesh- Post Self
Father John Misty- Pure Comedy
Aaron Dilloway- The Gag File
Nine Inch Nails- Add Violence [EP]
Melkbelly- Nothing Valley
Jesu & Sun Kil Moon- 30 Seconds to the Decline of Planet Earth

11 BEST LIVE ACTS

Melvins
The Dillinger Escape Plan (night 2 of their 3 final show run, specifically)
Amenra
Aaron Dilloway
Full Of Hell
Limbs Bin
The Jesus Lizard
Pinback
Sun Kil Moon
Run The Jewels
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds

If your 2017 sucked, check out some of these things. There is still time for you to look back on the year fondly!

Some Favorite Videos of 2017

"Motel Chronicles"

Saturday Movies

I remember when we first got cable back in the days of that loud, clacky, analog cable box. The big videos on MTV around the time were Greg Kihn's "Jeopardy," The Police's "Every Breath You Take," Scandal's "The Warrior," stuff like that. When nothing else was on TV, it was always cool to switch to MTV and just watch videos. Those days are gone, but now we have YouTube.

I do love music videos. As a blogger, it's always nice when there's a video to go along with a song you're gonna share. And, all of the artistic energy it takes to combine music and images and filmmaking has always amazed me. I've tried my hand at a couple of videos, but none of those hold a candle to things done by real pros or people more creative than I am.

Today, I'm sharing a few of the videos that I really enjoyed from the past year. There are tons of other great high-, low-, and everything-in-between-budget ones out there that I still haven't seen; and you can feel free to point me to those. This list happens to contain several by friends of the site or bands I've listened to a lot this year. I had the honor of premiering several of the clips, which is always cool.

So, here are some of my favorites presented in roughly chronological order. Have a look at these and let me know which ones were your personal favorites from 2017.

Big Bliss, "High Ideal"



The RockNRoll HiFives, "(You Got Me) Tongue Tied"



Lowlight, "Motel Chronicles"



Fruit & Flowers, "Subway Surfer"



A Giant Dog, "Bendover"



Sharkmuffin, "Factory"



Deal Casino, "My Gun"



Damfino, "Visit to the Women's Planet"



Wetbrain, "Pirouettes"



Avery Mandeville, "Blood"



Japanese Breakfast, "The Body Is a Blade"



Julian Fulton, "Howl"

Matt Chrystal's Top 7 Missed Shows in 2017 (Complete with Accompanying Lame Excuses)

From The Onion

Regrets? I’ve Had a Few

By Matt Chrystal

2017 may be the first time in thirty nine years that I may have to admit that I was starting to "feel older." In 2017, I got prescription glasses so I could read the fine print. I went to the chiropractor once per week for herniated discs in my neck and back. I went to physical therapy for arthritis in my hip. I finally experienced a hangover lasting for more than a couple hours, and I even plucked a few more white hairs out of my beard.

But none of those things are what made me feel any older. That was all just normal maintenance to keep this party machine running. I started feeling "old" because, for the first time in my life, I skipped out on going to concerts that I really wanted to see and even went as far as to make up extremely lame excuses to justify my poor decisions.

Times done changed.

On a whim in 2000, I flew solo to Indianapolis and hitchhiked to Deer Creek Music Center to see a night of Bob Dylan with Phil Lesh & Friends, followed by three nights of Phish. I went simply because I was afraid to miss out on it. It was all about the music and the experience, man!

In 2017, I found myself missing shows that were less than twenty minutes from my house for myriad lame excuses ranging from trying to conserve my energy to falling into a food coma.

Here are my top seven shows that I missed out on seeing in 2017 because of lame excuses.

Check them out while I go and rethink some of my life choices…

7. Deer Tick & Friends -- Newport Blues Café (Newport, RI) -- July 30th

I was lucky enough to score one ticket to the last night of Deer Tick's Newport Folk Fest after-party shows. These annual gigs are legendary for the intimate setting, raucous party vibes, offbeat song selections, cover tunes, and guests galore. The plan was to hit the last day of Newport Folk Fest and then the afterparty. That morning, I started dreading the mere four hour drive. I emailed the ticket to a friend and watched the webcast that night on my phone.

Billy Bragg, Elvis Perkin,s and Nicole Atkins were special guests. They covered the Beatles, Dylan, Led zeppelin, the Stooges, and Leadbelly and ran through most of the yet to be released albums. Holy shite!

Yeah, sure. It was cool to watch on a 4.7inch screen, but I coulda been there, man! I shoulda been there!

6. Nicole Atkins & Low Cut Connie -- The Wonder Bar (Asbury Park, NJ) -- Nov. 25th 

Yes, I am aware I cannot possibly make it to every show that I want to go to; but I at least pride myself on knowing what's going on and knowing what I am missing out on (Ya know. So I can make a year-end list about it). Somehow, I completely missed out on this show. I either completely forgot about it or it just slipped under my radar. Nicole Atkins and Low Cut Connie both put out stellar releases this year, and seeing them tear the house down in Asbury Park would have been pretty sweet...

Low Cut Connie

Pretty sweet indeed, had I only known about it. I knew nothing about the show until I saw CoolDad post some shots online from the show. Man, I am really slipping in my old age. [CoolDad Note: I almost bailed on this one because of back pain. It was freaking fantastic, Matt!]

Nicole Atkins

5. Kurt Vile & Courtney Barnett -- Loews Theater (Jersey City, NJ) -- Nov. 6th

This pairing piqued my curiosity from the moment I heard the announcement that Vile and Barnett would be collaborating on an album followed by a supporting tour.

Then I heard the record.

Lotta Sea Lice left me feeling disappointed (I even wrote an unpublished review, to which CoolDad famously commented, "If posted, this would be, by far, the most negative thing ever put up on the site"… hahah score!). [CoolDad Note: It did call the album "pedestrian at best," which was pretty damn clever.]

I am fan of Vile and Barnett separately, and Lotta Sea Lice definitely showed some signs of life. I had hopes that the live performances would flesh out the tracks and would showcase some of the chemistry that did not come through on the record. But, alas, I would not come to find out. The day of the show found me with perhaps the lamest excuse of all time. I was off from work and immersed in the world of Assassin’s Creed Black Flag for Playstation 4. A game that was at least three years old at this point; but, hey, it was new to me.

I was still iffy about Vile & Barnett after a few more listens to Lotta Sea Lice, but the show was only a few mins away from me, perhaps I should take the chance.

I decided to take to Facebook to help with my decision-making. Maybe I would get some newfound motivation. Maybe someone would want to go. I got one response. It basically said, “meh.” And that was all it took. I was that easily influenced. I sat back on the couch and continued nerding out.

4. Joe Fletcher -- Transparent Clinch Gallery (Asbury Park, NJ) , Tenth Ave Burrito (Belmar,NJ) -- Nov 18th, Rockwood Music Hall (NYC) -- Nov 22nd  

Dude! Bro!

I missed out on seeing one of the greatest songwriters of our generation three times in one weekend! I was hosting Freaksgiving Fuzzfest at the AP Brewery on 11/18, so I knew there would be no chance of checking out the gig at 10th Ave Burrito show…  I was bummed; but, hey, obligations are obligations, amirite?

But I had an idea. Maybe, just maybe, I could see Joe Fletcher perform that day anyway. I told Joe about the Supro Showcase going down earlier that day at the Transparent Clinch gallery. He sounded psyched to check it out. I ran into Danny Clinch that same afternoon, we chatted briefly and he said, "I love Joe Fletcher. If he comes, tell him to bring his guitar."

It was all happening!

Giddy with anticipation, I went for a stroll down to the boardwalk to have a beer with my buds. One beer turned into three or four, ok maybe seven; and, by the time I made the two block trek back to the gallery, I missed Mr. Fletcher doing a surprise opening set at the gallery. Grrrr!

Ah, that’s ok, I thought. I will check out his show just a few nights later in NYC.

But… his set was scheduled for midnight; and, unfortunately for me, no trains were running back to my area after 1230am. I could have driven. I could have taken Uber; but, instead, I cursed public transportation. Now that’s lame.

3. Daniel Johnston -- Town Hall (NYC) -- Oct 17th
Daniel Johnston’s brother / manager promoted this tour to be Daniel's farewell tour. But was that the truth? Was it an ominous prediction? Or was it just a marketing ploy?

At the beginning of the tour, Daniel made a statement during an interview that he did not see a reason to stop performing after this. But this was Daniel Johnston; and, given his struggles with mental health issues and recent physical health issues, there was a big possibility this could be his last rodeo. Just a few months earlier Johnston had cancelled a well-publicized gig at Asbury Park Film Fest that would have him backed by an all-star band, so I had mixed feelings about this "farewell tour."

Sure, I had a lot of anticipation; but it also seemed like a countdown to more show cancellations.
Tour started; and, miraculously, shows were not being cancelled. Sure, some gigs were cut short and others were disjointed and erratic. But that's Daniel Johnston. That is live music without a net. That is rock n roll.

So I should probably go check him out in NYC, right?!

Wrong. I spent that afternoon having some sweet backyard hangs with friends and then encountered some traffic on the way home. While sitting in the sea of brake-lights, I thought about how Eagles of Death Metal and The Battery Electric would be tearing up Asbury Park the next night. Perhaps I should just go home and save my energy for that one.

Save my energy? What? I’m 39 not 99. What was happening to me?!

I used the lame excuse of having two concerts in one weekend as my justification for miss out on seeing a show that I had been waiting for. Surely, that is something I would never find myself doing again.

2a. Drive By Truckers -- White Eagle Music Hall (Jersey City, NJ) -- Oct 5th

DBT playing just minutes from my house?! It was just a short and inexpensive uber ride away. It sounded like a blast!

Oh shite! As fate would have it… it was also the same date that The Yawpers were coming to the Saint. The Yawpers had just put out the amazing record, Boy in a Well, and they don't come through this area all that often…  so the win went to The Yawpers…  I was ok with that decision as the Yawpers killed it!

The Yawpers

And, besides, Patterson Hood of the Truckers would be playing in NYC just a few weeks later and I wouldn’t miss that show… or would I?

2b. Patterson Hood -- Rockwood Music Hall (NYC) -- Dec 1st

I have long been a fan of Drive By Truckers and have had the pleasure of seeing them on many occasions… just not the occasion when they played Jersey City in October.

DBT always slay, but I had never caught Patterson solo. His first solo record, Killers and Stars, has been one of my favorite albums since its release, so I couldn't miss the chance to finally see and hear live versions of "Uncle Disney" and "The Assassin" as well as some stripped down DBT classics and rarities. I grabbed one ticket as soon as they went on sale.

The fateful day arrived, and the first excuses started creeping into my head… I probably should have gotten two tickets, right? I didn't really feel like going solo.

The show was sold-out and Patterson Hood was slated to go on early. Excuse two started to form when I wound up working a bit later than usual, and I questioned if would I make it in time to catch him.

Then lame excuse number three and self-sabotage set in. I grabbed a beer after work, and got comfortable at the pub and started thinking about how I was going to go into NYC early the next day and as there was a lot of pregaming to do before seeing the Deer Tick show at Brooklyn Steel. Maybe I should just go home, skip Patterson Hood, and save it all for the Deer Tick show instead.

So I did.

I did it again…

I used having two concerts in one weekend as my lame excuse to miss out on seeing a show I had been waiting for. Again.

Who am I? What have I become?!

1. Tom Petty -- NJPAC (Newark, NJ) -- June 16th

Tom Petty was playing just minutes away from my home! Tom. Petty.

Sure. I had seen him a bunch of times before, but that should have been even more motivation to go since he ALWAYS put on a killer show. Petty's Wildflowers album has been one of the most influential records throughout my entire life, and he had been playing a bunch of tunes from that album during the course of this 40th Anniversary tour.

I should have rounded up a crew. I should have made the twenty minute commute to NJPAC. I should have gone. I should have had a great night, and I should have sang along to every song.

Instead, I went out and got a burrito from Tito's Burritos, came home, stuffed my face, and then fell asleep sitting up on the couch watching TV.

Tom Petty died just a few months later at the conclusion of the tour.

I ate a giant burrito and dozed off instead of going to see Tom Petty's final area performance ever.
I have to live with that. I am sad and ashamed of myself.

It was a really good burrito though.

Happy New Year folks. Here's to not missing any "must see" shows in 2018… or at least making sure there’s darn good excuse for it!!

My Favorite Albums of 2017 -- Part II

A Giant Dog

The Rest

So I'm a day late with Part II. Hopefully, it was worth the wait.

Broken record time: This is not a "best of." These are my favorites. Lots of friends, lots of locals, lots of albums that were special to me for different reasons. There were plenty of objectively great albums this year that are not on this list. You can check out Pitchfork or Stereogum or some other big music site to see those. But, again, maybe you'll find something here you hadn't thought of before and you'll check it out and like it.

If you haven't already, feel free to check out Part I.

Also, it's Christmas Eve. From the CoolFamily to your family, here's wishing you joy, happiness, and -- above all -- peace for the holiday and for next year. Thanks for spending time with me.

Let's start off with one of the albums and one of the bands that meant the most to me in 2017.

A Giant Dog, Toy

I teared up twice at A Giant Dog shows in 2017. The sheer force of rock brought forth by Sabrina Ellis, Andrew Cashen, and the rest of the band can do that to me. Toy is probably the album I listened to most in 2017, and its primal, sexual energy is the year's best example of our human vulnerability.

Favorite Tracks: "Photograph," "Roller Coaster"



Fruit & Flowers, Drug Tax

Fruit & Flowers play tons of live shows, and I'd heard just about every song on Drug Tax live countless times before the band released their debut EP. That didn't make the dark, surfy vibes and haunting vocal harmonies any less satisfying for me.

Favorite Tracks: "Out of Touch," "Drug Tax"



Japanese Breakfast, Soft Sounds from Another Planet

Soft Sounds from Another Planet sounds like, well, just that. On her second album as Japanese Breakfast, Michelle Zauner adds spacey, ambient interludes and synth pop to her unique approach to shoegaze. Zauner deals with earthbound issues like grief while traveling through the solar system on our giant, spherical spaceship.

Favorite Tracks: "Machinist," "The Body Is a Blade"



The Vansaders, No Matter What

Big, romantic New Jersey punk that draws as much influence from whiskey-soaked country songs as it does from the Boss. Doug Zambon and The Vansaders are so good at this stuff, and they've found the perfect producer in The Bouncing Souls' Pete Steinkopf.

Favorite Tracks: "Sunrise," "Hurtlin'"



dollys, tense

One of the sad things to come out of 2017 was the demise of dollys. With tense, though, they leave us with a collection of their most intricately beautiful pop. Some of the lyrics here seem to foreshadow the band's end, making this an emotional listen.

Favorite Tracks: "collapse," "girl"



Allison Crutchfield, Tourist in This Town

Another early 2017 release that should not be forgotten. Crutchfield's songwriting and voice, combined with producer, Jeff Zeigler's, expertise with analog synths make Tourist in This Town an almost retro-sounding collection that deals with change, travel, and personal growth.

Favorite Tracks: "Dean's Room," "Expatriate"



Sharkmuffin, Tsuki

Grandma Sharkmuffin opens this one by telling us to forget all the bullshit and just have a fun time. In a year full of bullshit for lots of us, that can sometimes be more easily said than done. Sharkmuffin, in a major sonic step forward as a band, manage to provide a wild, noisy fun time that you can take with you anywhere.

Favorite Tracks: "Space Glow," "Puppy Love"



Julien Baker, Turn Out the Lights

Julien Baker lets us in on her personal journey of self-acceptance on Turn Out the Lights. Amazingly, it feels like a conversation between just you and her. It's even more amazing, to me anyway, that someone as young as Baker could have the wisdom to produce something so wrenching.

Favorite Tracks: "Appointments," "Turn Out the Lights"



Lee Bains III & The Glory Fires, Youth Detention

This is another band that always puts a lump in my throat. On Youth Detention, Lee Bains III & The Glory Fires turn the sounds of southern hard rock towards blowing up the entrenched power structures that keep marginalized people down and towards celebrating the people who fight the good fight against those structures every day.

Favorite Tracks: "Underneath the Sheets of White Noise," "Crooked Letters"



White Reaper, The World's Best American Band

Yeah, it's not the most original stuff in the world. It's wild, stadium-ready, guitar-based rock. But with the album's title and the sounds of cheering throngs in the title song, White Reaper display enough self-awareness to make this one just pure, rock and roll fun.

Favorite Tracks: "The World's Best American Band," "Judy French"



Aye Nako, Silver Haze

Aye Nako describe their music as "sad punk songs about being queer, trans and black." Songwriters Mars Dixon and Jade Payne claim the sounds of 90s indie rock as their own and use them to give voice to experiences too often ignored by the genre. And Silver Haze rocks.

Favorite Tracks: "Particle Mace," "Nightcrawler"



Michael VM, the happiest man on earth

Michael VM trades the beer-fueled chaos of The Everymen for deeply personal, southern-inflected Americana. Songs about the loss of his mother, his move to North Carolina, and his Jersey roots are delivered in a raspy drawl with the backing of an expert band and some beautiful arrangements.

Favorite Tracks: "Oh Susie," "Before the Moon"



Spowder, Health Palm

Based on Health Palm, Spowder's self-described SWAMP ROCK would appear to encompass punk, garage rock, even weird spaciness. Whatever it is, it's one of the most energetic and interesting things to come out of the New Jersey basements in a long time.

Favorite Tracks: "Miracle Grow," "The Man with Two Mouths"



Yawn Mower, What's All This New Piss?

Yawn Mower manage to make their doomy, heavy fuzz sound fun. They also manage to make songs about parched, post-apocalyptic landscapes, social anxiety, and old sheds sound fun, too. How do they do it?

Favorite Tracks: "Here We Go Again," "Shed Is Old"



Little Silver, Somewhere You Found My Name

With hints of country, Americana, indie, and power pop, Little Silver create a sound on their debut LP that envelops you and pulls you in. The intertwining vocals of Erika Simonian and Steve Curtis are beautiful, and the guitar sounds are some of my favorites on any record this year.

Favorite Tracks: "One Stepper," "Anytown"

The Top 5 RV Parks on The RockNRoll HiFives' 2017 Tourcations

Evren Centeno

Get the Hook-Up

By Evren Centeno (Intro by CoolDad)

Above everything else, the people I've met while running CoolDad Music are what have made doing this so rewarding. The RockNRoll HiFives are not only the rockingest family BAND in all the land, they're also just the greatest family you'll ever meet. We've had a great year together, CoolDad Music and The RockNRoll HiFives. The band played our 5th anniversary party back in March, and they've become great friends of the site and to me personally.

I say this all the time, but the RockNRoll HiFives inspire me. The Centenos love music, and they make it together. They share the joy that comes from that by sharing their music with the world through records and live shows.

They play lots of live shows; and, during school breaks, The RockNRoll HiFives hit the road in their trusty RV. On these family "tourcations," the band stay in lots of RV parks which makes them kind of experts on the best place to hook up for the night.

HiFives' drummer, Evren Centeno, is here to tell us about the Top 5 RV parks that The RockNRoll HiFives enjoyed during their tourcations of 2017. The band have big plans for touring in 2018, so look for that big RV rolling down the highway and make sure you catch them when they come to your town.

1. Lazy Days RV Park, Tampa, Florida

This is, no doubt, the best RV park ever (I mean, unless someone knows another place). This RV park was located about a 15-minute drive away from downtown Tampa. They had a pool, jacuzzi, basketball and tennis courts, and even a newspaper delivery service.

All this for $29.99!

Plus, it's next door to an RV superstore and service center. Super convenient. This was like a structured community. Also, the RV park had a restaurant in it. It was RV-themed, and it was pretty good. The fried shrimp were amazing. Lastly, we met probably the best musician ever... Bobby Buffet. If any of you watch our Facebook Lives you will get the joke. Bobby Buffet is the cousin of American songwriter Jimmy Buffet. People argue that Jimmy is the better of the family, but we all know that Bobby takes the cake.

2. Anastasia State Park, St. Augustine, Florida

Ever wanted to go the beach in Florida, and then you realize, "I'm too lazy to go the beach?" Well, Anastasia State Park is the place for you. Anastasia State Park is located in St. Augustine, Florida. It's right by the Alligator Farm (which I'm pretty sure Jim told us to go to) and downtown St. Augustine. The whole park looks like a jungle. There are vines and leaves hanging everywhere. But the best part is that, a 10 minute walk away, there is a beach located in this State Park. And it's free because it is a state park. How amazing is that? A great park and a great city.

3. Smoky Mountain Premier RV Park, Smoky Mountains, Tennessee

I mean it's in the Smoky Mountains, how can it not be cool? The park is right in the Smoky Mountains. It has a very nice pool, a huge convenience store, hiking trails, and some very nice people. It offers ATV rides up the mountain (which come at a hefty cost), and it is close to great white-water rafting places. Also, if you ever wanted incredible views of the Smokies, just come here. You will not be dissapointed.

4. Red Coconut RV Park, Ft. Myers Beach, Florida

Well... this one is more of a story.

Here we go.

Mom knows that we're going to be in Florida and wants to make the trip super fun, so she books us a night at this RV park. It was expensive for an RV park, but it was very cool. It was right on the water. And I mean right on the water. Well, I guess not physically right on the water, but extremely close to the Gulf. There wasn't much other than that, but what more could you ask for?

We got there at night, so no time to hit the beach. I wake up in the morning and it's raining, not so hard. About 5 minutes later, that changed. It rained bullets. It was so loud and we could do nothing. We had to unhook (electricity and water is connected to the RV through a pipe) because we couldn't leave if we didn't, and the water was rising all around us. Dad decided to get in his bathing suit to unhook. He came back and he was soaked. Drenched. We left immediately, and any of you hardcore Hi-Fivers will remember when we drove through water so deep it looked as if maybe our RV just rolled into the ocean. We got most of our money back (thanks Red Coconut), and we drove off. We will always wonder "What if?"

5. Any Super Walmart parking lot.  Free and fabulous.

Not the best, but it works. This totally explains Walmart. It's free. I mean what competes with free. Sleeping in the WalMart parking lot wasn't such a memorable experience for me because I got sick. Without any hook-ups in the hot South the RV was a hotbox to sleep in; but, again, it was free. I mean, you can't have a list like this and just leave out a free night's stay.

My Favorite Albums of 2017 -- Part I

Charly Bliss

Unranked, Of Course

There were a few things that knocked me off of my game here at CoolDadMusic in 2017. Thanks to all of you for sticking with me throughout our fifth anniversary year. I'm pretty sure I wrote fewer long-form album reviews than I have in past years; but, in preparing for this piece, I realized that I still listened to a whole lot of new music. More than any other year, I think, I felt the healing power that comes from the shared human experience that is music; and I do honestly believe that music rescued me from some deep deep darkness.

As usual, this is just a list of the things I listened to most this year. It's not a "best of" or anything like that. By virtue of the fact that I'm just one, single human, this list just reflects my own personal, and admittedly pretty narrow, tastes. My suggestion would be to look at this as a potential source of ideas for things to check out that you may have missed, especially if your tastes are different from mine.

This is the first of two parts, and it's in no particular order. As I do every year, though, I'll start with one of my big favorites from the year.

Charly Bliss, Guppy

Guppy is a perfect combination of 90s nostalgia and sweet pop. Beneath all the hooks and wild abandon, Charly Bliss address issues like mental health, terrible relationships, and peeing on trampolines. This could be my album of the year.

Favorite Tracks: "Glitter," "Percolator"

Daddy Issues, Deep Dream

Jake Orall (JEFF The Brotherhood) produced the debut from this Nashville trio, and Deep Dream  definitely gives off an Infinity Cat Recordings vibe. Underneath all the fuzz, though, is some raw and honest songwriting.

Favorite Tracks: "High St.," "I'm Not"

Alvvays, Antisocialites

Alvvays's self-titled debut is one of my favorite albums from the last several years. I was ready to be underwhelmed by its follow-up. I mean, what else could happen? Instead, Alvvays gave us Antisocialites. I've come around to the idea that it's even better than their first effort. It combines twee pop and shoegaze in a way that must have been lab-tested to please me.

Favorite Tracks: "In Undertow," "Lollipop (Ode to Jim)"

The Brixton Riot, Close Counts

The guys in The Brixton Riot worked with J. Robbins to give us an album of cathartic, Bob Mouldian power pop. Close Counts deals in both loss and hope, all with the help of extremely loud guitars.

Favorite Tracks: "Can't Stop Now," "Move On"



The Courtneys, The Courtneys II

This Vancouver trio brings together psych, fuzz, and bubble gum pop on a record that focuses on forward momentum and constant motion. There's also some stuff about a vampire, teenage boyfriend. The first North American band to be signed by the venerable New Zealand label, Flying Nun, The Courtneys fit right in.

Favorite Tracks: "Tour," "Lost Boys"



Kissing Is A Crime, Kissing Is A Crime

Matthew Molnar and Beatrice Rothbaum blew me away with these 11 tracks of post-punk bliss. "Basically, I was trying to do this band during every band that I've been in. This is the band I've been trying to do for a long time," says hardcore punk veteran Molnar. The effort paid off as this one is probably my favorite discovery of 2017.

Favorite Tracks: "You Make Me Shatter," "Kids"

YJY, The Enduring YJY

YJY we hardly knew you. The band leave us with their debut / final LP, and they go out at the top of their game. There is a big jump in songwriting and production from YJY's earlier EPs, but the band retain their facility with the infectious pop song.

Favorite Tracks: "Best Coast Weather," "Loathe"



Overlake, Fall

Epic and cinematic, Fall creates images through shoegaze soundscapes. But we're not talking about instrumental post-rock here. There are plenty of things for a listener to grab onto here like the opening guitar on "Winter Is Why" or the drums and backing vocals on "Gardener's Bell."

Favorite Tracks: "Winter Is Why," "Gardener's Bell"



Baked, Farnham

Shoegaze. Country. Straight-up rock. Baked bring it all together on Farnham. I hear influences ranging from Wilco to Lemonheads to Dinosaur Jr. to mbv, and it all works beautifully.

Favorite Tracks: "Stay," "Midnight Junkie"



Seaside Caves, Hope

This may have been the first album I reviewed in 2017. Seaside Caves keep it low-key and fly almost under the radar. All the while, they produce beautifully brooding, darkwave pop. Hope is the band's best work yet and still touches me after a year's worth of other releases.

Favorite Tracks: "Summer," "Hearts"



Looms, How It Has to Be

Full of small and impressive details, How It Has to Be defies classification into a single genre. Instead, Looms draw on a vast musical knowledge to assemble influences into whatever feels appropriate for the moment.

Favorite Tracks: "Cages," "New York"



Bully, Losing

This one is unapologetic Pixies / grunge nostalgia. Alicia Bognanno and the rest of Bully are so good at it, though. Bognanno's frantic rasp highlights these loud pop songs. "You don't like it when I'm angry. / Tough shit. Learn to deal." No, I like it. It's cool.

Favorite Tracks: "Running," "Focused"



Lyons, Lyons

On their self-titled, debut EP, Lyons weave among dream pop, gothy post-punk, and even surf sounds. The chiming lead guitar of Sharon McDonaugh gets me right here, you know? And Amy Malkoff's vocals soar into the stratosphere.

Favorite Tracks: "Midnight Drive," "Walking the Line"



where is my spaceship, DIEFAILING

Josh Evensen worked with producer Kevin McMahon on this collection that deals with the fears of entering adulthood underemployed and buried under a mountain of debt. McMahon has worked with several CoolDad Music favorites, most notably Titus Andronicus; and his touch seems perfect for the drama and desperation that Evensen is going for.

Favorite Tracks: "nothing / no one / no distinction," "i wanna be tim tebow"



Waxahatchee, Out in the Storm

This is Katie Crutchfield's rock album, and it is a wild success. Crutchfield and the band go full speed ahead into break-ups, kiss-offs, and declarations of independence. Throughout, the unique songwriting voice that Crutchfield has shown since American Weekend remains.

Favorite Tracks: "Silver," "No Question"

Cool Matty C’s 7 Coolest Albums of 2017

Cool Matty C

There's Something About 2017

By Matt Chrystal

Ah, it seems not all that long ago we were all wishing for the demise of 2016, as it came to be universally recognized as the year that killed off so many of our beloved celebrities.

Boy, how time flies, ammirite?

Now here we are, or most of us are, hoping to push the fast forward button on 2017 (and perhaps the next three years while we are at it). It's unfortunate that celebrities seem to die each year; but, in 2017, we are also are witnessing what seems to be the demise of civil liberties, truths we held to be self-evident, and certain inalienable rights.

But, hey, it wasn't all bad, was it? I mean, we did get some cool new music! See, there is a silver lining in that cloud of orange dust that was twenty-seventeen.

So, anyways, here are my top seven coolest albums of the year. Why seven you ask? Lucky number?
Hey, maybe… I'm sure we could all benefit from ending the year with a little extra luck.

Or maybe it's seven because a wise man once said…

"Seven is the key number here. Think about it. 7-Elevens. 7 dwarves. 7, man, that's the number.
7 little chipmunks twirling on a branch, eating lots of sunflowers on my uncle's ranch. You know that old children's tale from the sea. It's like you're dreaming about Gorgonzola cheese when it's clearly Brie time, baby."

Anyways, step into my office for my top seven albums of the year,

Drum roll please…

No Mightier Creatures, No Mightier Creatures

Peruvian space rocker and poet, Renato Gomez, relocated to Barcelona, Spain and put out an album of stripped-down tunes that rail against consumerism, materialism, and oppression. Gomez, known primarily for fuzzed-out jams as part of the psychedelic South American rock unit, Serpentina Satelite, has kicked aside his wah-wah pedal on this new project and, instead, focused on creating concise tracks, filled with bluesy riffs, punk rock edginess, and biting social commentary.

No Mightier Creatures often finds Gomez reflecting back on time he spent living in the United States as he attempts to shine a light on the hypocrisy hidden away in both the suburbs and in big city living through scathing tracks like "Springfield," "No Light," and "Corporate Dream." This album could be the spark that that ignites a rebellion across the galaxy.

Ryan Adams, Prisoner

Can anyone put me in contact with Mandy Moore? I want to inform her that the things she has said and done have consequences… Ya know, consequences such as destroying Ryan Adams. I want to know if she has listened to Prisoner and if she was able to make it all the way through.

Or maybe I should I call her current beau, Taylor Goldsmith of Dawes, to warn him.

Or maybe not, after that last album Dawes put out, he might need a little Moore to ignite his creative fires.

Or maybe, I can skip all that and just give Ryan Adams a hug.

Ok, I digress. Back to Prisoner… Adams is no stranger to wearing his feelings on his sleeve. After all, this is the guy who put out albums entitled Heartbreaker and Love is Hell. But, on Prisoner, each song is an open wound; the pain is fresh; and each line cuts deep. The album as a whole is as moving as it is devastating.

Consider for a moment these lines from the track "Shiver & Shake:"

"I close my eyes, I see you with some guy, laughing like you never even knew I was alive…
I've been waiting here like a dog at the door, you used to throw me scraps, you don't do it anymore.
I miss your loving touch, I miss your embrace But if I wait here any longer I'm gonna fade away."

Ouch! And that's nothing compared to the following track, "To Be Without You."

Adams who once sang, "to be young is to be sad, is to be high," is now older, sadder, and sober on Prisoner and emoting, "I feel empty, I feel tired, I feel worn, Nothing really matters anymore."

Damn, I am here for you with that hug whenever you need it, Ryan.

Neil Young, Hitchhiker

Hitchhiker just may be a perfect album. Originally scheduled for release in 1976, it was shelved for forty years because the all-knowing record execs at the time considered it "just a collection of demos." Most of the songs that make up Hitchhiker have been released in some form over the years, and unofficial copies of the album have circulated amongst bootleggers since it was canned. But its official release finally came in September of this year… and it is glorious, especially when experienced on vinyl.

This is Neil Young at his apex, his vivid storytelling laid out in one piece during a single night's recording session, with only his guitar and a few pauses for "weed, beer, or coke."

The fact that material this amazing can be shelved for forty years and come out sounding fresh and fitting for today's world is a testament to Young's songwriting ability and speaks to the timelessness of the music and of Neil Young himself. Long may he run!

Go drop the needle down and listen to the opening double-punch masterpiece of "Pocahontas" and "Powderfinger." Go! Right now!

Sarah Shook & The Disarmers, Sidelong

Ok, so yeah. This album is also technically a reissue as Shook self-released Sidelong in 2015. But, thankfully, Bloodshot Records rereleased the record for the masses in early 2017. Sidelong is actually that good of an album where it could, and probably should, top "Best Of" lists every year.

I gushed about this album enough in my review earlier this year with my accompanying interview with Sarah Shook, so I'll just reiterate my point that Sidelong has all the components of a classic. It's solid from beginning to end. Each track can stand on its own; yet, once you hit play or drop the needle, you are not going to want to stop it or take the album out of rotation. There's a familiar feel to the songs as if you have known them all along, yet there's a breath of fresh air as Shook's authentic sound blends her confident voice with thoughtful storytelling and a plethora of biting one-liners.
Every track on Sidelong makes for a perfect selection for a jukebox anthem at your local watering hole or to put on during the (sober) drive there and back.

The Yawpers, Boy in a Well

Boy in a Well is a rock n roll opera / post-punk opus which follows the story of a boy left at birth by his mother, coincidentally enough, in a well in France during the era of WWI.

Nate Cook of the Yawpers channeled the raw emotions stemming from his recent divorce and coupled them with his love of history. He put them in a blender with a large dose of mid-morning hangovers and fever dreams and out came the perfect cocktail of mankind's primordial urges and fears.

I was able to experience this album in three distinct waves: I listened to the record with no information going into it and drew my own interpretations. I listened to the record while digesting the accompanying comic book, and then I saw The Yawpers run through the album live. Each time I was impacted hard with an array of emotions ranging from empathy, to sympathy, to shock and discomfort, to just full-on having fun for the sake of rock n fucking roll.

The Yawpers possess a raw energy that comes across on the album just like it always has at their break-neck, big noise, warts-and-all, live shows.

On Boy in a Well, the band offer up a compelling, full speed ahead soundtrack that seamlessly shifts from heartfelt to heartbroken and from soothing to screaming, sometimes all in the course of just one verse.

Ron Gallo, Heavy Meta

Humorous, satirical, and chock full of tongue-in-cheek witticisms, Heavy Meta plays out like Gallo making art by scrolling through his social media feed, passing by collections of people at Walmart ("Why Do You Have Kids?") ex-girlfriends he has yet to be deleted by ("Can’t Stand You"), exes that he has yet to delete ("Young Lady, You’re Scaring Me"), and scencesters who drew his ire ("All of the Punks are Domesticated"). I’m pretty sure there's a hidden jab at Kurt Vile tucked away in there too.

"All of the Punks are Domesticated" is the coda of the album and could perhaps be the perfect coda for the year 2017 itself.

"Now every room is sterilized, all risk is paralyzed
Meanwhile, the pop tarts climb the pop charts
The blood clots block your heart parts
And no one really has anything to say"

Well, thankfully, Gallo had a lot to say on Heavy Meta because I certainly enjoyed listening to it on repeat for many a car ride this year.

And if his big mark is just "an impressive collection of digital remarks" then thanks for that too, Mr. Gallo.

Deer Tick, Volume 1 &2

The Rhode Island rockers had a dual release date in 2017 for the acoustic Volume 1 and the electric Volume 2. Yes, they are supposedly two separate, stand-alone albums; but funk that. I listen to them consecutively constantly and consistently; so, for me, it's all just one big thrill ride.

The albums had a ketchup and mustard theme going on; and, for that alone, I would have been forced to include them among my top albums. But, thankfully, there was a bit more flavor to feast on.

As anyone who knows me is already well aware, I'm a huge DT mark; but, even for me, these two albums just seemed a lot to digest upon first listen. My initial thoughts were that they just should've taken choice cuts from both records and made one solid kickass album. But then, upon repeated listens, each song not only grew on me but seemed to speak to me and say, "Hit the repeat button again. You know you like this, motherfucker!"

I was also won over by the amusement I found in that my four-year-old daughter has taken to singing "Look How Clean I Am" during her bath-time since the track is a jab at celebs showing off their new found sobriety.

Volume 1 & 2 both have some songs that are introspective, some that are just fun lil ditties, some that are kinda self-indulgent, some that are kinda nonsense, and some that just flat out rock.

And hey man, ain’t that rock n roll? It is to me.

Honorable Mention:

Nicole Atkins, Goodnight Rhonda Lee

Nicole Atkins's voice is beautiful and soulful. There's a heaviness all through this album, but there are themes of empowerment and liberation that also permeate. The music has an enduring feel to it. It is simply a great album. And it's also cool to hear my four-year-old daughter sing the chorus of "A Little Crazy" as she runs around the house in a frenzy.

Happy New Year, folks. Here's to lookin' forward to some more cool shite in 2018!

Rock and Roll Hair, July - December, 2017

Bully

Year (Split) End

I was looking at the show calendar and the personal CoolFamily holiday calendar, and I'm really not sure how many more chances I'm going to have to catch hair tossing in 2017. That means it's time to recap the last six months of Rock and Roll Hair.

We have the usual suspects like The Battery Electric and The RockNRoll Hi-Fives making multiple appearances. There are newcomers like latewaves and Earth Telephone.

Thanks to everyone, all year, whether I caught you flinging your hair around or not, for great shows and for being there when I needed you. You'll never know how much your energy and passion mean to me.

Anyway.

I'll see you out there.

10 Favorite Songs of 2017

Dentist

There Are More Than 10

The CoolDad's Favorite Songs of 2017 Playlist has over 60 songs on it right now, and it will probably grow as the year comes to a close. Every, single one of those is a great song and could have been included here. So why only 10? Since I only do 10 Minivan Songs, I just figured that 10 made sense. Also, the 10 on this list are the ones that, when it came down to it, when I had them highlighted for deletion to whittle things down, I just couldn't bring myself to remove. That's as good a criterion as any as far as I'm concerned.

Oh, now you want me to rank them?? No. Can't do it. So, in no particular order.

And do check out the full playlist. There were a whole bunch of great songs this year, and I find it a nice way to look back.

"Shark Smile," Big Thief



"The Latter," Dentist



"Focused," Bully



"Particle Mace," Aye Nako



"Glitter," Charly Bliss



"In Undertow," Alvvays



"You Make Me Shatter," Kissing Is A Crime



"Puppy Love," Sharkmuffin



"The Power," Sweet Spirit



"nothing / no one / no distinction," where is my spaceship

10 Favorite Cover Songs of 2017

A Giant Dog

Year-End Coverage

New Jersey. Jersey Shore. Asbury Park. Covers, baby!

10. Yawn Mower, "Margaritaville" (Jimmy Buffett)

The first time I heard the guys do this one, I think, was at Trenton's Millhill Basement. It had to be a nod to Jimmy Buffett superfan, Chris Dickman, who was there because Little Dickman Records and I were co-presenting the show. The song was barely recognizable then. Now, it's recognizable as both Buffett and Yawn Mower. It has that Yawn Mower drone that's, weirdly, doomy and fun at the same time.



9. SLEEPiES, "I Wanna Holler" (Gary U.S. Bonds)

I love SLEEPiES. Jersey loves Gary U.S. Bonds. This one is from about 20 years before he started collaborating with The Boss, and SLEEPiES give it a western-y vibe for 2017.



8. Jonathan Rado, "Thunder Road" (Bruce Springsteen)

C'mon. This had to be here. It's a pretty faithful rendition of a song for which I have every little vocal inflection from the original committed to memory. It comes from Rado's full-album cover of Born to Run.



7. Low Cut Connie, "Controversy" (Prince)

This one falls into that category of a cover that's a perfect match for the artist (See below). Prince is a clear influence on Low Cut Connie's Adam Weiner, and this is a fitting tribute.



6. Well Wisher, "Teenage Dirtbag" (Wheatus)

Well Wisher, the project of former dollys drummer Natalie Newbold, has been covering this one since they began. The song is like an O. Henry story with that cool twist ending. You can find the studio version featuring Newbold (vocals / guitar), Erik Kase Romero (bass), and Mike Lindardi (drums) over at Well Wisher's website. This is a video shot by YouTube user Nathen Hutchison.



5. Sharif Mekawy of Looms, "Hummingbird" (Wilco)

"Hummingbird" is, by far, my favorite post-Jay Bennett Wilco song. Mekawy did this as part of the I'll Be Around Wilco tribute album (on which, amazingly, nobody covered "Jesus Etc.," the song from which the comp takes its title) to benefit The Project Matters. I could listen to this version 1000 times, and I probably have.



4. dollys, "The Way You Make Me Feel" (Michael Jackson)

I first heard dollys do this one at the Indie Pop Winter Formal I threw at The Saint to start 2016. To kick off 2017, they released this on the Covers tape they put out with Little Game Records to benefit Planned Parenthood. dollys do an amazing job here of translating this very 80s pop classic into their own three-piece format.



3. Charly Bliss, "Steal My Sunshine" (Len)

I went to the release show for Charly Bliss's Guppy back in May, and they busted out this cover of Len's "Steal My Sunshine." I remember thinking back then that the combination of bubblegum pop and 90s nostalgia was a perfect match for Charly Bliss. I guess it was an easy choice for them when they went in to do an A.V. Undercover session.



2. Daddy Issues, "Boys of Summer" (Don Henley)

This is a great, great song. I went to the second or third ever concert of my life (Don Henley / Katrina and The Waves) on the strength of this song alone. Daddy Issues dirty up the pristine, 80s cool of the original.



1. A Giant Dog, "Angst in My Pants" (Sparks)

Confession: I didn't know this was a cover until after I'd been listening to Toy for a while. That's kind of inexcusable considering that I think it's on the Valley Girl soundtrack. Anyway. I loved this one even before I knew it was a cover. It's done kind of double-time when compared to the original, and the building tension and release are cathartic.