Sharing the sharing.
Part Time’s new album Spell #6 (out now via Burger Records) is one of the best releases of 2018. It is a pop-rock/new-wave gem soaked in so much 80’s goodness, it’s 11 tracks could soundtrack a John Hughes film. Take “Shattered Love” and “So Far Away” for a spin below for a taste.
It’s time for my annual blog post…
Without further ado, my favorite albums of 2018:
Khruangbin Con Todo El Mundo (Dead Oceans)
Durand Jones & the Indications self-titled (Dead Oceans)
Bodega Endless Scroll (What’s Your Rupture?)
Jean Grae & Quelle Chris Everything’s Fine (Mello Music Group)
Janelle Monae Dirty Computer (Bad Boy)
Altin Gun On (Bongo Joe)
Smokescreens Used to Yesterday (Slumberland)
Idles Joy As an Act of Resistance (Partisan)
Low Double Negative (Sub Pop)
Cut Chemist Die Cut (A Stable Sound)
I encourage you to enjoy these on vinyl (link will go here as soon as I get off my butt and update the online store).
And because 2018 offered so much more music than can fit neatly in a Top 10 list, here are my 23 favorite songs of the past year…
Olden Yolk, I have done you wrong. Your debut, self-titled, album has been my favorite album of 2018 since it landed on my front porch back in February. I started this post (back in February) to tell the world all about your psychedelic, sometimes shoegazey, all the time rock ‘n’ roll goodness, but I could not find the words to describe the greatness of your 10 song masterpiece. I apologize.
Hello World, if you have not acquainted yourself with New York-based Olden Yolk, now is the time to do it. Their debut album is a solid slab of psych-rock/psych-folk/psych-pop, mingled with just enough fuzz and gaze to make it stand out above all the rest. Give “Vital Sign” and “Takes One To Know One” for a spin below to see what I mean. Olden Yolk is available now via Trouble In Mind Records. I highly, highly recommend it.
RunHideFight is a 4-piece band out of Philadelphia. Their debut single “He’s A Jerk” packs a hefty punch of gunk and grime, highlighted by singer/guitarist Geeta Simons’ snarling vocals.
“He’s A Jerk” is a garage-rock gem that belongs on your turntable. Get it now digitally or on wax via Hidden Volume Records. Enjoy.
Melbourne’s Pinch Points’ new EP Mechanical Injury has sprung me from my summer slackerdom. It’s pounding, choppy, angular, post-punk (mostly punk) goodness is as good as it gets. They aren’t reinventing the wheel, but their execution is spot on.
Mechanical Injury is one of my favorite releases of 2018. It’s so good it has had me looking into starting my own label and begging Pinch Points to let me release it on vinyl, but after learning to read, it appears I am too late. Bummer.
Mechanical Injury is available now digitally via Pinch Points’ Bandcamp page and will be released someday by Six Tonnes De Chair and Custom Made Music. Enjoy.
Boston’s New Aura put their modern spin on 60’s and 70’s era psych on their debut self-titled EP, which is packed full of swirling, reverbed guitars over fried crispy vocals. Check out “Nick Cage” (below) to see what I mean.
You can get New Aura’s S/T EP now on cassette and digitally from their Bandcamp page.
Los Angeles via Austin singer/songwriter Jess Williamson’s new album Cosmic Wink is a spacious, psychedelic-pop record that features Williamson’s strong vocals floating through waves of jangle and haze. Cosmic Wink is out now via Mexican Summer Records.
Parisian 5 piece En Attendant Ana bring it strong on their debut album Lost And Found. Chock full of killer hooks, tasty vocal harmonies and just enough trumpet to make any fan of properly placed trumpet take notice – Lost And Found is indie rock gold.
Take a listen to standout track “This Could Be” below for a sample. Lost And Found is out now and available via Trouble In Mind Records. Enjoy.
San Francisco’s The Love-Birds play an infectious brand of melodic power-pop on their debut long player In The Lover’s Corner. It’s full of jangly guitars, killer vocal harmonies and everything else you’ve come to expect from a solid pop record. Listen to the pogo-inducing standout “Angela” below for a taste.
In The Lover’s Corner is out now via Trouble In Mind Records – it belongs in your collection.
Billy & Dolly’s new album Five Suns arrived in my inbox some time ago. I hadn’t heard of them and almost passed the release up, but their label name, Shit Krystal, peaked my interest enough to give it a spin and I am so glad that I did. Turns out these two are THE Bill and Dahlia from the early to mid 00’s band The Monolith, who I love!
Five Suns, their third release under the Billy & Dolly moniker is a solid slab of 12 distorted, grimy, indie-pop nuggets with just enough heavy (like Black Sabbath heavy) guitar parts to keep things interesting. Check out “Setting Sun” and “Marooned” below for a sampling. Five Suns is available digitally and on vinyl or cassette via Billy & Dolly’s Bandcamp page. Enjoy.