It goes without saying that this list is neither comprehensive nor hierarchized whatsoever. If I could just type everything at once, I would. Or write 300 words about 300 things.
Swapping Fall Playlists with the Lee Bros.
Though less romantic than cassette mixes, the Spotify
Playlist trade still functions as a dynamic relational transaction. These seasonal
playlists stirred us to dance, brood, mosh, remember, expand, explore.
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| Andrew's was the best but I'm sharing mine and my high school faux hawk. |
The Cry – “Alone”
(1990)
Played over Dane Brady’s solo stint in Polar Skate Co.’s
most recent skate video, this hidden Brit-pop gem has become my go-to
soundtrack for effusive bedroom dancing and lip-syncing.
Michael Plattner
Getting into Metal
Debates over what DFHVN full-length is better? Attending
SunnO))) shows? Buying a Numenorean LP and trying to see them live? Asking
about Converge? My heart is fit to burst!
Aborted – Retrogore and Gatecreeper – Sonoran Deprivation
Rarely do I ever come across death metal albums I obsess
over other than Cattle Decapitation records, but this year gave me two. My cup runneth over… with riffage!
Don’t Flop: ATL at
Aisle 5
I attended my first battle rap event, and, aside from Verb
no-showing, couldn’t’ve been more fun. Carter/Shuffle, Qleen/Ty Law, Chef Trez
showin’ out, meetin’ T-Top… gotta attend more events.
This Fucking Weekend
Nachos Song
This fucking track is an elephant crushing a human skull
except elephants are extinct and so are we and it was this track that killed us
off. Jock powerviolence.
Hollow Sunshine’s
Discography
Spotify wanted me to listen to Bible Sea, and then I just devoured their whole discography and
regurgitated it back up and swam around in its lazy, lapping bioluminescence.
The 1:32 Mark of 40
Watt Sun’s “Stages”
92 seconds into a 16-minute song is literally all you need
to know, to really know, that 40 Watt
Sun’s Wider than the Sky is one of
2016’s best.
Yeah, it's not the right song. Go find it yourself.
Nothing – Tired of Tomorrow
When you sing along to this album, you’re moving in slow
motion but normal time is still happening so you’re queerly de-temporalized and
what a fucking relief that is.
Seeing Fear of Men in
both Atlanta and Athens
I’m still totally bowled over by how good Fall Forever and Loom sound live. Go see these Britons in a small room and let Jess’s
hand gestures hypnotize you.
Thou’s Continued
Assault on Nirvana Covers
Thou served us “Floyd the Barber” in 2016 as an another
riffed-out reminder that no one else need bother. Now if they’d just compile ‘em together on one
album…
PWR BTTM in Purgatory
the Week of Pulse
Playing with Pity Sex, PWR BTTM brought out ATL’s young
queers in glittered force just days after one of the most devastating and
wretched days we have ever known.
Mammoth Weed Wizard
Bastard
Y Proffwyd Dwyll is
a delightful romp through beefy riffs and surprisingly serene vocals, but the
band’s name is what matters here. Just look at it. LOOK AT IT.
“Really Doe” through “Dance
in the Water” from Atrocity Exhibition
Yeah, Danny Brown’s whole album is dope, but this chunk is
all you need. Earl barkin’ on cats, cocaine-heart beats triggering anxiety
attacks, Brown’s manic approach to addiction… whew.
Ambient Music just,
like, in general.
At this point, I’m fairly sure I’m equal parts hot air, Bob’s
Burgers quotes, and endlessly looping ambient aural texture. I am screaming
ephemera. I am a jovial void.
My Students Never
Knowing Vince Staples (applies to 2015 as well)
Whenever I bring up Vince Staples, my students just stare at
me. Insane. Prima Donna is compact,
precise, and demonstrates Staples’ ability to out-rap everyone in his draft
class.
Arbor Labor Union’s
Insistence on Being Themselves
You can take those Lungfish comparisons and shove it. The
universe’s best band decided they’re just gonna be Creedence and now are
ascending to the heights of Mt Garcia.
These Solanas lyrics:
“I’ve got faith that I can cope. I hope my life’s more than
hope. I’ve got faith that I can cope. I hope my life means more than hope.”
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| Take a listen |
Posh Isolation
In 2016, PI delivered Vanessa Amara’s forlornly beautiful piano compositions,
Puce Mary’s ugly saturations, Croation Amor’s glitchy corpse moves, Mats
Erlandsson’s electro-acoustic blissfucking, and Body Sculptures’ technobsessive
embodiment rituals.
Skeleton Tree
Often, when I start this album, I turn it off immediately.
How are you to deal with the weight of it? How do you not just break down and
weep?
G.L.O.S.S. Doing What
They Think is Right
Do I wish Girls Living Outside Society’s Shit hadn’t broken
up and kept making music? Duh. But they said fuck $50K, fuck the burden of
celebrity, and that’s that.
Wrecking Ball 2016
Two days with two beloveds in a lot of sun and covered in a
lot of sweat. Turnstile, Ceremony, Cold Cave, American Nightmare, TUI Till I
Die, Foxing. Ughhhhhh.
Speaking of Beloveds…
Music wouldn’t be so cool if I didn’t have Steven to talk to.
Our post-lingual communiques are as exciting and affirming as the new album we’re
flailing textually about.
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| Thank you. |
Oranssi Pazuzu – Varahtelija
This shit came out in February and I still have no fucking
clue what’s actually happening on this album. Otherwordly witchcraft that has
no right to exist as such.
Ya know what? Let’s
give it up for the other black metal bands of 2016
VRTRA, Gevurah, Mist of Misery, Horseback (not BM anymore
really), Numenorean, Sylvaine, Vukari, Eight Bells, Dark Funeral, Behexen, Forteresse,
motherfucking Wode. And those are just the ones I remember!
Karnell Loving
Creative Adult
Nelly Nell keeps serving as my reminder of how good this
band is and how I threw an extra dope build-your-own-pizza party and how
friendship is radical. 3/11 Splitz.
Cult of Luna’s
Triumph
It’s 2016, and Cult of Luna has become the godhead of the
Cult of Neurisis triumvirate. Maybe it was always this way. Maybe we’re finally
we’re we’ve always already been.
Letting Go
I sold nearly 400 pieces of vinyl and trashed dozens of
cassettes and countless CDs. I hope more evaporate soon. Where else am I going
to put 2017’s albums?
Slomatics’ Florche
Impression
“Super Nothing,” the track in question, sounds like a Torche
title packed with all the sexy beef of a Floor song. The riff/vocal combo at
2:17 seals the deal.
This Cheesy-Ass
Ending I’m Really About to Pull
People have actually taken time to read, Facebook like, and
even reach out to say they really do like my blog posts. Y’all! That’s so sweet!
I’m fairly overcome.
