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Best of 2014 (Todd’s List)

Better late than never, right? Below are my top 20 favorite albums of 2014.

20. Say Hi – Endless Wonder [Barsuk]
19. Volage – Heart Healing [Howlin’ Banana]
18. TV Girl – French Exit [Self Released]
17. Lubec – THE THRALL [Like Young]
16. Gold-Bears – Dalliance [Slumberland]
15. The Fresh & Onlys – House of Spirits [Mexican Summer]
14. Spoon – They Want My Soul [Loma Vista]
13. The Men – Tomorrow’s Hits [Sacred Bones]
12. Mac DeMarco – Salad Days [Captured Tracks]
11. Madlib – Piñata Beats [Madlib Invazion]

10. King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard – I’m In Your Mind Fuzz [Castle Face]
9. Cloud Nothings – Here And Nowhere Else [Carpark]
8. Springtime Carnivore – S/T [Autumn Tone]
7. Ultimate Painting – S/T [Trouble In Mind]
6. Literature – Chorus [Slumberland]
5. Woods – With Light And Love [Woodsist]
4. Thee Oh Sees – Drop [Castle Face]
3. Protomartyr – Under Color of Official Right [Hardly Art]
2. Ty Segall – Manipulator [Drag City]
1. Paces Lift & Ben Bounce – Quick Trigger [Wax Thématique]

Best of 2014 from 3hive on 8tracks Radio.

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Bishops

If you like your rock and roll full of loud guitars and crashing drums, then West Virginia three-piece Bishops is the band for you. Check out “Morning Light” (below) for a sample of their goodness.

Bishops’ 2014 release, Silver Lining, is available on cassette from Funny / Not Funny Records or digital/vinyl from Twin Cousins Records.

Apologies to Harper for taking so long to post this.

Bishops – Morning Light from Silver Lining (2014)

Bishops

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Monster Rally and Jay Stone

After a long holiday break, I feel refreshed and ready to start bringing the hits again. For the first post of 2015, I am stoked to be sharing a couple tracks from the upcoming Monster Rally & Jay Stone collaboration, Foreign Pedestrians.

Monster Rally’s hazy, exotic beats mixed with Jay Stone’s razor-sharp vocal delivery are a match made in Heaven and hopefully the first of many collaborations between the two. I can’t recommend this album enough. You must buy it now. Foreign Pedestrians is possibly the best album of 2015.

Foreign Pedestrians will be released on January 27 through Gold Robot Records.

Monster Rally & Jay Stone – Cognac (w/Brandon Rayson) from Foreign Pedestrians (2015)

Monster Rally & Jay Stone – Recollection from Foreign Pedestrians (2015)

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Harpoon Forever

Harpoon Forever’s infectious indie pop/rock sound is sure to make any diehard fans of Silver Jews or Pavement stop in their tracks and take notice. Check out “Chickens” below for a taste.

Their newest single, American Flag, is out now on Sweaters & Pears Records. You should buy a copy now. You can also stream all 4 songs from this release on Harpoon Forever’s Bandcamp page. Enjoy.

Thanks to Jason from one of my favorite blogs 7 INCHES and the man behind Sweaters & Pearls for getting me permission to share “Chickens” with you as an MP3.

Harpoon Forever – Chickens from American Flag 7″ Single (2014)

Harpoon Forever

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Arvid

Arvid is the solo project of Rochester, NY musician Luke Ross. Luke recorded Old Factory Living, for over 7 months to a 4-track in his attic. The result is a raw, solid album of lo-fi goodness. Check out “Stage Fright” and “Wasted” below for a sample.

Old Factory Living is available to stream/download from the Arvid Bandcamp page. Enjoy.

Arvid – Stage Fright from Old Factory Living (2014)

Arvid – Wasted from Old Factory Living (2014)

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The Omecs

The Omecs | The Omecs | 3hive.com
The Omecs | The Omecs | 3hive.com

If grimey, head bobbing, butt shaking, garage rock similar to bands like Black Lips, The Oblivians and Thee Oh Sees is your thing, meet your new favorite band (and mine) The Omecs. Check out the speedy, sludgefest “Infrared” (below) for a taste.

Their self-titled cassette is available from King Pizza Records. It’s been on constant repeat since it arrived in my mailbox. You can also get your hands on this release digitally from The Omecs Bandcamp page.

The Omecs – Infrared from The Omecs (2014)

The Omecs

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The Courtneys

The Courtneys | Mars Attacks | 3hive.com

The Courtneys | Mars Attacks | 3hive.com

Our mantra here has always been “sharing the sharing”, which is why you don’t see many Soundcloud, Bandcamp, etc. streams posted here without an MP3 to download. That said, The Courtneys new single “Mars Attacks” is too good not to post. Rules be damned!

The Courtneys are a lo-fi, garage-pop meets slacker-rock three piece out of Vancouver, British Columbia. If you hurry you can snag this 7″ from Hockey Dad Records before they are history. If vinyl is not your thing you can get the digital version from The Courtneys Bandcamp page.

The Courtneys

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Springtime Carnivore

Anyone who follows this site is well aware of how much I am a fan of all things psychedelia. Springtime Carnivore is no exception. Greta Morgan’s colorful, warm mixture of pop and psych grabbed my attention from the first listen of “Name On A Matchbook” (below) and I haven’t stopped listening since.

Springtime Carnivore’s self-titled debut is out now on Autumn Tone Records. I highly recommend it.

Springtime Carnivore – Name On A Matchbook from Springtime Carnivore (2014)

Springtime Carnivore

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November 14 Mixtape

It’s been a while since our last mixtape, better late than never right? The track list is below, keep in mind 8tracks doesn’t always play the mix back in the same order. Enjoy.

1. Close Lobsters – In Spite of These Times [fire]
2. Literature – Dance Shoes [slumberland]
3. Ladada – Give It Back [gold robot]
4. Lubec – Gold Protege [like young]
5. Björn Kleinhenz – Bodilla [gold robot]
6. Shockwave Riderz – Cruisin’ The Night [self]
7. Purling Hiss – Where’s Sweetboy [drag city]
8. Offenders – I Hate Myself [rabid cat]
9. Growl – Abbreviations [self]
10. Washington Social Club – On The Inside [badman]
11. Shiny Times – So Shy [self]
12. Gold-Bears – Hey, Sophie [slumberland]

November 14 from 3hive on 8tracks Radio.

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Ultimate Painting

I can’t help but think of The Velvet Underground during the opening seconds of “Ten Street” (below), one of Ultimate Painting’s ten standout tracks from their debut self-titled release. The VU-esque noodly guitar and head-bopping bass line throughout, combined with a fuzzed-out guitar solo at the end, really make this song shine.

Don’t miss out on this release, Jack Cooper and James Hoare (Veronica Falls) have created one of the sneakiest best albums of the year. Ultimate Painting comes out on October 28 and is available for preorder now through Trouble In Mind.

Ultimate Painting – Ten Street from Ultimate Painting (2014)