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Best of 2016 (Todd’s List)

20. Thee Oh Sees – An Odd Entrances [castle face]

19. Thee Oh Sees – A Weird Exits [castle face]

18. Rocket Reducers – S/T [dead beat]

17. Kate Tempest – Let Them Eat Chaos [lex]

16. ORB – Birth [castle face]

15. OHIOAN – EMPTY / EVERY MT [gold robot]

14. A Tribe Called Quest – We Got It From Here… Thank You 4 Your Service [epic]

13. Nap Eyes – Thought Rock Fish Scale [paradise of bachelors]

12. Natural Child – Okey Dokey [natural child records]

11. Kevin Morby – Singing Saw [dead oceans]

10. Newstalgia – The Formula [producers i know]

9. Ultimate Painting – Dusk [trouble in mind]

8. Omni – Deluxe [trouble in mind]

7. King Gizzard And The Lizard Wizard – Nonagon Infinity [ato]

6. RUMTUM – Mora Tuga [wax thématique]

5. Monster Rally – Mystery Cove [gold robot]

4. David Bowie – Blackstar [columbia]

3. Doug Tuttle – It Calls On Me [trouble in mind]

2. Woods – City Sun Eater In The River of Light [woodsist]

1. Conveyor – Ready Not Ready [gold robot]

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King Gizzard And The Lizard Wizard

Those of you familiar with Australian psych rockers King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard know that they are always pushing the musical envelope. On their 8th album in 4 years, Nonagon Infinity, they are at it again. This time they have created what they are describing a “never-ending album” – with each of the 9 tracks flowing into each other, including track 9 flowing back into track 1.

Putting the “never-ending album” claim to the test over the past weekend, I made Nonagon Infinity my soundtrack for around 15 miles or so of walking, and it is as advertised – seamless.

Nonagon Infinity is a damn fine album, potentially album of the year, packed wall to wall with scuzzy guitars and throbbing bass lines over the top of frenzied double drumming beats.

Nonagon Infinity is available now in all formats via ATO Records and King Gizzard’s Bandcamp page.

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Top 25 Albums of 2015 (ToddS List)

25. Leggy – Nice Try EP [self]

24. Library Voices – Lovish [nevado]

23. Faith No More – Sol Invictus [reclamation]

22. Say Hi – Bleeders Digest [barsuk]

21. Giggly Boys – Bastards of Young [self]

20. The Diamond Center – Crystals of the Brass Empire [funny / not funny]

19. Gun Outfit – Dream All Over [paradise of bachelors]

18. Woolen Men – Temporary Monument [woodsist]

17. Expert Alterations – You Can’t Always Be Liked [kanine]

15. Albino Father – II [self]

14. Mikal Cronin – MCIII [merge]

13. Kurt Vile – b’lieve i’m goin down… [matador]

12. King Gizzard and the Lizzard Wizard – Paper Mâché Dream Balloon [ato]

11. L’Orange & Kool Keith – Time? Astonishing! [mello music]

10. Ultimate Painting – Green Lanes [trouble in mind]

9. Wand – Golem [in the red]

8. Young Guv – Ripe 4 Luv [slumberland]

7. Moon Duo – Shadow of the Sun [sacred bones]

6. Lazy Knuckles – Bucolic [gold robot]

5. Thee Oh Sees – Mutilator Defeted At Last [castle face]

4. Danny James Etc. – Pear [burger]

3. Father John Misty – I Love You, Honeybear [sub pop]

2. Destroyer – Poison Season [merge]

1. The Butterscotch Cathedral – S/T [trouble in mind]

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Mariachi El Bronx

Mariachi El Bronx is the alter ego of punk band The Bronx. It all started when they were asked to play an acoustic set. Instead of stripping down their music, they decided to take it in a new direction, by exploring and adding Latin sounds.

I would normally try and describe the music to you, but I will be the first to admit, I don’t know anything about mariachi music. And rather than faking it, I will let the music speak for itself. Please enjoy.

Mariachi El Bronx – 48 Roses

 

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The Whigs

I swear I must have llistened to “Right Hand on My Heart” a hundred times since I pulled it off the SXSW website a few weeks ago. The full-on power rock of Athens, GA’s The Whigs is pure excitement, from the driving, droning guitars to the tight drumming, and then the bass kicks in, whoo wee. This is a great ride to be on, with a band that clearly has their skills and history down. Best song I’ve posted in 2008? Without a doubt.

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Mike Doughty

In my hotel of fond memories, Mike Doughty will always have a guaranteed late arrival, smoking-permitted Junior Executive Suite, complete with Heavenly Bed™ and a pillow mint. When I was a young player trying make it in the journalism game, Doughty was a consistently magical interview and overall nice guy. Also, unbeknownst to him, Doughty sparked the first major argument my wife and I ever had: About three hours into a five-hour road trip I popped in Irresistible Bliss. After a few songs, my then fiancee says, “Do we have to listen to this again?” To which I respond, “Listen, if I were a band, I’d be Soul Coughing. So get used to this.” In the stuff of sitcoms, our pal Ned had to sit through the next two hours in the backseat, wishing he’d found a different ride. I’m happy to report that our marriage weathered that debate and that Doughty is back, badder and deffer than before. My man’s talent still lies in his intrinsically rhythmic yarns, wherein he turns observational minutae into hypnotic commands through nasal, raspy repetition. But his writing has matured and the subway busker sound of his first solo effort has been replaced by some genuine instrumental weight, making Haughty Melodic sound bigger and warmer.

P.S. All you other Mike Doughtys are just imitating…

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