Big surprise- all of my favorite records this year big,
loud, guitar-based rock/punk music.
What can I say, I have a type.
Also, it shouldn’t even have to be said, but all the
releases that have come out on Hex this year were fucking unreal. I mean, each band completely killed it
with their releases. So OBVIOUSLY Gaytheist, Exhalants, USA Nails, and Alpha
Hopper make this list because each of those records got tons of time on my
stereo, and if they’re not on your list why do you even claim to like music, huh? But this list is meant more for stuff I
didn’t have a hand in so here ya go.
TRUTH CULT, “Off Fire”
It’s like a perfect, youthful distillation of all that is
good about Dischord hardcore rejuvenated with new life. Named after a Lungfish song (and, at
times, sounding a little like them), and cracking with the energy of Swiz and
Revolution Summer bands (as well as featuring ex-members of DC revivalists
Give) Truth Cult is here and they are amazing. Let me put out your next record.
HUM, “Inlet”
And lo, all space rock and shoegaze bands were decimated
beneath the rising of the prodigal sons, thought never to return. Or, as many reunions before them,
return lame and insipid. No. Hum are not false. Hum return stronger than ever.
METZ, “Atlas Vending”
One of the most thoroughly entertaining releases all year, from start to
finish, on the Toronto trio’s fourth long player.
And honestly, it’s probably the best record of their career
thus far.
It certainly sounds
better than all of their other records, giving as much attention to the
exercises in muscular melody as it does the forays into hyperactive noise
rock/punk they are known for.
Small chances with some different ideas yield big results.
MELKBELLY, “Pith”
Second full length from the Chicago quartet gets even
weirder with the chaotic parts, doubles down on the Breeders love, totally
hyperactive drumming, and some of the sweetest songs you’re likely to hear
pre-apocalypse.
It’s like the
sound of fun summer adventures playing in caves, and ugly front cover aside, a
total beauty of a record.
RYOKI CENTER, “Strychnine” Quick one and done.
This Tennessee band dropped this full length and then promptly broke up
like two weeks later. This is
about all they left behind but it’s great stuff from early in the year- a big,
grimey, burly post-hardcore rock calzone stuffed with bits of Jehu, Jawbox, Tar,
Quicksand, and grungy rock.
BLACKLISTERS, “Fantastic Man”
In the wake of Pissed Jeans being a thing a lot of bands
wanted to snatch a bit of that shine and grime for themselves with varying
results.
Blacklisters is easily
the frontrunner of this style in their native UK, but really, probably hold the
title in most other spots worldwide.
Every furious dirge, sped up punk/grunge car crash disaster, primitive/repetitive
clobbering all through instruments distorted beyond belief and a vocalist who
snarls and howls like every night is a full moon all the while drunk on
Robitussin gives you all you need to know about the glorious noise on display
on their third full length.
KNOT, s/t
I adored the nasally, cleverly complex, occasionally
chaotic, but ultimately catchy tunes of Krill. This is Krill returned with an extra guitarist and jams that
are just a bit more laid back, but still wonderfully catchy. It was a surprise to learn these cats
were cooking again and I like their leveled-up form quite a bit.
CORIKY, s/t
The first single Coriky released for this record was exactly
what I expected- The Evens meets the skillful rhythms of Fugazi. Which is basically what it is. And then the first couple spins of the
record had me a little skeptical because they take a few different routes
insofar as song style and structure.
But then it all just sank in and now I’m listening to this all the time
because I have always thoroughly enjoyed the musical output of each performer
on this record in whatever band(s) they were doing and for them all to display
their style here just makes so much sense.
THOU/ EMMA RUTH RUNDLE, “May Our Chambers Be Full”
As earth-rattling heavy as it is majestically epic the
collaboration between songwriter Emma Ruth Rundle and Louisiana’s prolific
sludge slingers Thou is a perfect mix that, rather than highlight the
differences between the two artists, successfully combines their distinctive
styles into something altogether new and wonderful. I can’t say enough good things about it. Can we get a part two?
BULLY, “Sugaregg”
For music snobs like myself it’s tough to admit that
something incredibly catchy can be really good (for reference, see most pop
music). For me there’s also got to
be grit, some dirt, something off-putting. Bully has found that perfect balance between ridiculously
catchy rock music and some grime.
To distill it further- Bully (AKA, songwriter Alicia
Bognanno and her backing band) came up with the perfect 90’s
alt-grunge-rock record in 2020.
Yeah, I said it. Sue me.
OTHER STUFF
Since this year made it so most of us couldn’t do a lot of
the things we normally like to do it left me with a good deal of time to focus
on other things I enjoy, but don’t always have as much time as I’d like to
devote to them.
It’s not like I was going to shows or anything (even though
I did get to see Slapshot, Great Falls, Hot Snakes, and Gaytheist- twice even!-
early in the year).
So here’s some positives:
-
Getting my running average up to around 20 miles
a week
-
Hiking all of Silver Falls, and hiking the coast
out at Neskowin
-
“In the Den”, by Hum
-
Three words: Work. From. Home.
-
“No Ceiling” by Metz
-
Shady Pines Vegan Food Court/food truck pods
-
Dissolve put out a new EP
-
Visiting the Southwestern Oregon Coast/Redwoods
-
Giving the boot to DJT, that miserable piece of
worthless excrement
