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Notable that I couldn’t squeeze in: Beach House “Cherry Depression” AND “Thank your Lucky Stars”— Most people are grateful if their band releases 1 album every year, which is considered working hard, in addition to touring. This is certainly understandable. Until you run into the great Beach House. These Baltimore songwriters have dream pop down to an amazing science. But 2 albums?! Yes, they are good. Yes, you should buy them and let the music drip through your soul.
Oh yeah, their other albums are stunning too! You can’t go wrong.
10-Tenement “Predatory Highlights”—The first album i had listened to that was inspired by a Grantland article, the now canceled website that ESPN sponsored. I was drawn to their low profile and the lead singer openly stating that it did not matter if they went big or simply improved their sound; it was about the music and specifically, punk. What? Every band seems to want to go big, which is why you become a band. Not these boys, who hail from Wisconsin. This double disc concept album has some head scratching moments, but also has bona-fide style, skill and punk. They sound like Offspring paired with the Pixies, but who really cares when they sound this good. Check out all their albums on band camp and be impressed. They seem to put out music at an incredible rate.
9-Sleater Kinney “No Cities to Love"—Fellow Portland female punk/rockers simply dominate on their first album in 10 years. I had not heard of Sleater Kinnney, but instead, had encountered the members in a side project known as Wild Flag, which also rocked, but is several years old now. Anyway, these ladies may be extreme left-leaning feminists, but man, do they know how to rock! “It’s not the weather, it’s the cities we love” is a great anthem for every touring band that cares about their listeners. When you listen to the rest of their canon, you can’t help but be impressed by their passion, urgency and sheet talent. Keep it up ladies!
8-Dustin Kensrue—“Carry the Fire”--I must admit this: Out of all the albums on this list, i have listened to this one the most. Part of that is because i love Dustin Kenrsue and his main band—Thrice. However, he is the worship pastor at Mars Hill and his solo work is down right catchy. He has a way of writing about the sin and darkness in our hearts in such a powerful way that you can’t help but feel convicted as you sing along. I saw him in Portland for an amazing show, but what blew everyone away was his Encore rendition of Tom Waits “Down by the Train.” WOW! As for the album, “Gallows” is stunning, as are the other songs. “Back to Back” & “Carry the Fire” leave the listener feeling as if they have been carried along by the spirit of friends or God.
7-Lauren Daigle—If you want the literal Christian Adele, then you have Lauren Daigle. I had not heard Lauren until my wife went into labor, and she had made a “Pregnant Playlist.” Well, Lauren Daigle was on it…for all 12 hours of labor. Guess what? The songs never got old. In fact, they were inspiring and perfect for the pregnant moment. The nursing staff even made comments about her powerful voice and message, which was an inadvertent testimony to the glory of God. All the must be said about Lauren: Amazing voice! Buy the album.
6-Royal Headache “High"
This band needs no introduction. But know this: they may not get back together, which would be tragic, because Shogun, yes, Shogun, needs a band to plead his case to “Carolina.” This is punk that has heart, the perfect frontman and an urgency for the little things in life.
5-Wolf Alice “My Love is Cool"
I was excited when writing this, because about a day before i started writing, Wolf Alice was nominated for a Grammy, which is awesome because they simply rock. I am totally biased because i got to see them in Portland and meet them after the set, which is always great when you drive 3 hours to see a band perform But, their songs are catchy, fun and show a lot of variety in their craft. Many will compare or link them to the band Chvrches simply because they are both from across “the pond,” but this is misleading because Wolf Alice are very much about rock, whereas their counterparts Chvrches are more pop oriented. Check out what all the fuss is about before they take over the world.
4-Car Seat Headrest “Teens of Style"
I must admit: when i first heard this music (aka Will Toledo), i was not completely sure what i had encountered. I knew i didn’t hate it. It was certainly unlike anything i had ever experienced. If you were to combine the Strokes with vocals that sound like a walkie-talkie, then you would have 10% of Car Seat Headrest. What makes this discovery or album unique is the fact that Will Toledo has been releasing albums for years, despite only being in his early 20s. A look at Bandcamp will unlock other great albums that he wrote, played and produced all himself. It is great that he finally has a label (Matador) to back up his output and ambitions. I look forward to seeing him play in Eugene in a month.
My Top 3 could go in any direction…i can’t honestly make up my mind...
3-Titus Andronicus “The Most Lamentable Tragedy"
The underground knew of this brilliant, depressed, magical maniac, but it wasn’t until July of this year that I discovered Titus (aka Patrick Stickles). What makes this music top 3? Simple: his latest genius is 29 songs that compile a double album. In an age when all we hear is Coldplay or Adele and the latest “produced in a lab” sound, it is refreshing to encounter 29 songs that have urgency, tell a story AND actually say something about life. After listening to The Most Lamentable Tragedy, i researched the band and discovered this kind of musical brilliance had been expanded, since the band had already written an epic in the form of a civil war biography of sorts with their previous album The Monitor. Anyway…there is a total abandonment in search of honesty in regards to what Patrick struggles with in life, and that should help people in a musical form, which is refreshing.
2-Beach Slang “The Things We Do to Find People Like Us"
Speaking of urgency and life’s struggles, what if there were a band that worshiped rock and the experience one can have when listening to music? Oh wait, there is such a band. Beach Slang.
I read about this band right before the website Grantland was shut down by ESPN, thereby making it the last review the site ever did. Boy, did they go out with an amazing band. First, Beach Slang nail what rock (in its essence) must do: be catchy, urgent and life affirming (in a sense) because we are listening to ROCK. How can one be “down” when listening to rock? Beach Slang unequivcally say, “That is not possible!” Second, this band has some amazing lines: “The night is alive” “Sounds that are made are barely rehearsed,” “California is full of porno love” AND the best ever, “Good love is not SAFE"
Third: They just enjoy playing because they know you will enjoy listening, so just be enraptured by the beauty.
1-Hop Along “Painted Shut"
I saw this band on NPR and simply listened because their name is “different." I was hooked instantly. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that the first song is “The Knock” and Frances Quinlan singing, “The witness just wants to TAAAALLLLKKKKK to you.” So catchy! But that’s just the beginning of this excellent record. Painted Shut whisks along with songs that just make sense, are in the perfect order and just hit new notes/ideas and visuals for stunning consistency. Many have commented on the singles, but my favorite song is “I Saw my Twin” which plays or pays homage to “West Virginiaaaaaaaa” and you can’t help but sing along to the urgency of the south.
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