Featuring bands you might have heard of–or songs that are particularly good–from the live music archive. A site I could spend days looking at. And have.
It’s the Holidays, and around this time of year most of us see relatives we haven’t seen in a long time, buy presents for people near and dear to us and for people we work with, and go to parties with a lot of people we barely know. In all of these instances, the need—real or perceived—to force people to be happy, merry, and kind to us is palpable. We spend more than we can afford, we drink and eat more than is healthy, and we try desperately to make strangers like us. We call it “the Holiday spirit.” But what it really is, is codependent people pleasing. And I think it’s going to our President’s head.
Granted, all nations of the globe interdependent to a great degree, but it is America’s independence that has served has the hallmark for our ability to change the world in positive ways. Now, Obama has put the welfare of one of our dependents, Afghanistan, above our own.
The cure for codependence—which is the belief that I cannot be happy unless I make you happy—is self-care. Find better friends, take a walk, provide the body with nourishment, and allow the other, unhappy person to be unhappy. Anyone who has overcome the struggles of living with an active alcoholic should know instantly what I am talking about: When the alcoholic is allowed to hit his or her personal bottom, by themselves and through indulging their own devastatingly self-destructive behavior, the alcoholic will either find a way up and out, or will die.
Let us now forget why we are in Afghanistan. They allowed an evil presence into their midst, failed to act, and America got hit. We hit back, and toppled their government. All things being equal, of course we should try to leave them with a solid, democratic, and, hopefully, pro-American government. We should help them build infrastructure and get their citizens educated, because terrorism can only thrive in a land of ignorance without opportunity. But all things are not equal.
Our own country is hurting, and much of it shows in ignorance without opportunity. Increasing numbers of Americans on both side of the spectrum, and of a widening socioeconomic class, believe that their government neither represents them nor cares for them. The public education system, despite No Child Left Behind, fails to prepare our children to become productive workers who can expand our economy. And all the tax breaks and bailouts seem to go to the very people who got us here.
The answer is not investment abroad, it is investment at home. And when we are strong again, we will be able to provide the rest of the world with the help it needs. Any lifeguard knows that you can’t save someone who is unwilling to be rescued, and you can’t help a drowning person unless you, too, are a strong swimmer.
I’m a fan of the EP. Most of the time, it means more meat/less filler, and it’s a great way for a band to let you get to know them. This year, some established bands used EPs as a way to maintain a presence without releasing a full record. And to great effect. These are my choices for the year’s really groovy EPs.
8. Atmosphere-Leak at Will. A free release by underground rap’s most respected duo, and completely free.
7. Vulture Whale-Bamboo You (Digital Only-No Photo). I picked this band’s debut album as one of the best records of 2009. Then there’s this amazing EP. Vulture Whale are the best new band of 2009, it’s official. Get it for free here. Nuff said.
6. Venice Is Sinking-Okay (review). “Okay” is a tribute song to indie rockers Okay, and it is the first song on the EP, which also features two covers of other songs by Okay. It’s great. Which is what you’d expect from this band of quiet indie rockers, of course.
5. Johnny Polygon-Group Hug EP. Johnny Polygon is the first guy signed to the new label owned by DJ Green Lantern (of Eminem fame)–Invasion Music Group. It starts with Ed McMahon and a sample from an Ice-T song. It’s got a tribute to Sly Stone’s, “There’s a Riot Going On.” Polygon appeared on the Nas tune, “Black President,” one of the best cuts from Untitled. And it’s got some R&B on it–but the good kind, not that horrendous American Idol kind of wailing. And if you’re not interested by now, there’s nothing more I can say to change your mind.
4. Diacon Panthers-Ride Again (review). I’ve been pumping D-P ever since they sent me their self-released debut a few years ago. They’re back here, riding again, with more great D.I.Y. rock. How come more of you aren’t listening? How come a label hasn’t picked these kids up? For shame. Tsk tsk.
Buy it, and name your price, here. Please do it, and drop a comment telling me if you liked it. Sometimes, I wonder if anyone buys anything I write about–if I’m having any kind of positive effect for these bands I love so much . . .
3. The Grynch-Chemistry EP (review). The Grynch has a flow that’s guaranteed to move butts. It’s rare to find an independent rapper with that particular talent. It’s even more rare to find that flow in a dude is from Seattle.
2. Birdmonster-Blood Memory (review). Birdmonster’s debut got tremendous blogbuzz, but since then they haven’t caught the same kind of fire. Too bad. Blood Memory is a great example of how this band can jump from slow to fast, Americana to rock, and back again, sometimes all in the same song. Check it out, support the artist, and, if you ever get the chance, see them live.
1. Blitzen Trapper-Black River Killer (review). The difference between EP and album is but a few songs when it comes to Blitzen Trapper’s collection of dark Americana/folk. It’s a fully realized concept, telling dark tales without being morbid, and an amazingly beautiful experience.
Back in June, I posted the Top 10 Albums of 2009 . . . So Far. It’s always interesting to me to see if these albums continue to stand proud at the end of the year. Some do, some don’t. Actually, more of them stuck around this year than usual–and more of the ones on that list continue to impress me than my July pix for the best mixtapes of the year so far. (Recession Music? What was I thinking!)
And after posting the best indie rock and indie rap albums of the decade, I’m a little list-heavy this season. But this is a blog tradition, so here goes nothing. I’m not separating by genre or mixtapes, etc., this year. However, there’s a list of EPs coming out tomorrow–there were quite a few good ones this year, and it really isn’t fair to stack an EP against full records.
THE TOP 15 INDEPENDENT ALBUMS OF 2009
15. Various Artists-Guilt By Association Vol. 2 (review). OodlesOfOs. Let’s be honest, most compilations and/or soundtracks suck. They take a couple intriguing propositions, which may or may not succeed, and then fill the rest of the album with trash that wouldn’t even make an EP. But this is an exception. The album combines mega-hits like “Tainted Love” and “In the Air Tonight” with lesser-known, lesser-hits like N-Trance’s “Set you Free” and My Chemical Romance’s, “I’m Not Okay.” Then it brings some fairly well-known indie bands like Robbers On High Street, Frightened Rabbit, and My Brightest Diamond, and fills the album out with some should-be-well-known folks like Takka Takka and Cassettes Won’t Listen. A perfect balance between bands you know and bands you should know. Favorite cuts: The Bloodsugars’ take on Laura Branigan’s “Self Control” (I’m embarrassed to say that I love this tune), Robbers on High Street doing Cool It Now (original by New Edition) for the kitch factor, and Takka Takka’s fresh, unironic take on In the Air Tonight.
Video for I Think She Knows (Justin Timberlake cover)-Kaki King.
14. DOOM-Born Like This (review). SuperheroRap. This is not Dumile at his best. In fact, this is by far his worst studio album. Several songs sound unfinished. Nevertheless, it’s MF DOOM and my personal biases are, at bottom, the basis for this list. Plus, it’s far from sucky. Cuts like “Supervillainz,”featuring De La Soul’s Posdnuos ridiculing T-Pain, along with Prince Paul and Slug, and DOOM’s J-Dilla collaborations (“Gazillion Ear” and “Lightworks”) are better than just about anything else that came out this year. And if you’ve got a hankering for typical DOOM strangeness, you’ll find a sample of Charles Bukowski on “Cellz.” Yeah, even DOOM’s worst work is among the greatest of the year.
13. Those Darlins-Those Darlins (review). CountryBluesAndMosey. A solid, down-home release by a female-led traditional Americana band. It’s nice to hear some real country/blues these days–the band in no way tries to be cute by throwing in electronica, indie rock, or all the other things most bands use to dilute this genre. Even better: It’s consistently interesting, surprising, and even funny.
12. Metty The Dertmerchant-Fink Ployd (review) BackpackerRapBlendz. You know what’s cool about mixtapes? The way they can illegally snatch cool samples. Let’s face it, hearing Clipse rap over Common’s “The Corner” or Lil’ Wayne bite off Jay-Z is hype as hell. Metty The Dertmerchant, producer of underground rap group Sweatshop Phenomenon, blew me away with this “concept” mixtape. All Pink Floyd samples, with very good unknown rappers. Truly extraordinary.
11. Vulture Whale-Vulture Whale (review). DrunkenAmericana. There’s not a lot of bio on Vulture Whale’s website, but this band, on Skybucket Records, exploded on the scene this year with not just a great album, but also a great follow-up EP. It’s rude bar-band Americana, in the tradition of Backyard Tire Fire, Wes McDonald, Drive-By Truckers, etc. Fantastic, fun and raw.
Here’s a great video for the song Sugar:
10. The Cave Singers-Welcome Joy (review). SpaceFolk. My wierdo pick for this year. Maybe in a year I’ll be scratching my head about this pick, but for now I’m finding this album fascinating. It seems to evolve as I listen, morphing and moving.
9. Rise and the Avid Record Collector-Risen (review). BackpackerRap. You know what sucks about Rise having the best hip hop album of the year? That this slot doesn’t go to DOOM. But that’s DOOM’s own fault for not stepping up. In the meantime, Rise and the Avid Record Collector have created an energetic, verbally agile masterpiece. If you haven’t heard this album yet, do yourself a favor and check it out. The only thing that’ll upset you is that you didn’t hear it sooner.
8. Super Furry Animals-Dark Days/Light Years (review). Psychedelipop. A band with a name like Super Furry Animals shouldn’t be making perfectly melodious, hooky tunes. They should be making something weird, dissonant and unlistenable. Thank God these Welsh musicmakers broke the rules. Song for song, this album is the catchiest one on this list.
7. Band of Skulls-Baby Darling Dollface Honey (review). IndieMoodyRock. The debut album by Band of Skulls is tricky. At first, it sounds pretty normal–like you’ve heard this kind of thing before. But as you listen more, to the skillfull vocal work, the shifting tempos and styles, and the perfectly constructed songs, it becomes clear that this band is capable of greatness. Of all the indie rock debuts I’ve heard this year–and I’ve probably listened to over a hundred—this band shows the most promise. By far.
6. Hollywood FLOSS-The Art of Fi$cal Intelligence (review). RealHipHop. The best new rapper of the year is Seattle’s Hollywood Floss. His mixtape shows a wild sense of humor, versatility, humility, and a love of the art of making hip hop. Lots of rappers say they’re in it for the love of the game, but with Floss, his unbridled joy and passion show through on every song.
5. Joell Ortiz-Covers the Classics (review). GangstaRap. Of course the beats are good–he’s using Gang Starr, EPMD, The Roots, Rakim, Slick Rick . . . All the greats. But the rhymes are great, too. Ortiz doesn’t just throw shout-outs to his heroes, he pays tribute by adopting their styles and reflecting their original content through the prism of a modern-day Big Pun. Ortiz may not be the best rapper out there, but he’s definitely among them. His 2007 “Brick” debut was excellent, and I’m hoping he’ll be able to follow it up without selling out. (I wish Slaughterhouse had been a better record . . .)
4. White Rabbits-It’s Frightening (review). SpoonieRock. A year without a new Spoon album brought us a Britt Daniel masterpiece nevertheless. His production took the raw (but undisciplined) talent that White Rabbits showed in their debut and helped them learn to craft truly amazing pop songs.
Video for the aptly titled “Percussion Gun.”
3. Jason Lytle-Hello Commuter (review).SoaringFolkpop. This album, and the two that follow, made my “Best Indie Albums of the Decade” list. So they were bound to rank here. Lytle’s record is deceptively simple and decidedly complex. It is one of the most contemplatively intricate albums I have ever had the pleasure of hearing.
The video for the single, “It’s the Weekend.”
2. Frank Turner-Love Ire & Song (review). PunkyFolk. The first guy to as cool as Joe Strummer since Eddie Vedder. Indeed, Frank Turner isn’t like Joe Strummer. He fucking is Joe Strummer. A punky attitude, music with hooks and fire, and intelligent political anger. If you believe in the power of music to move minds, you need to hear this album. Although it was originally released in 2008, it’s official U.S. release on Epitaph was this year.
Video for Photosynthesis:
1. Sam Baker-Cotton (review). SheerAwesomeBeauty. It’s the fifth best album of the decade. Every time I hear Angel Hair another piece of my heard snaps in two. It’s easily the most powerfully painful Christmas song ever created. How does tripe like “Red Shoes” get popular while something like this languishes without getting in earshot of the vast majority of Americans. I could find it depressing that Baker has yet to catch fire. But his music is so wonderful, it makes me believe in humankind after all.
Honorable mentions:
Heartless Bastards, The Mountain; KRS-One and Buckshot, Survival Skills; Weinland-Breaks in the Sun; Clem Snide, Hungry Bird; MC Esoteric, Saving Seamus Ryan.
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WHAT THE HELL IS BERKELEY PLACE?"Berkeley Place" has been a blog since 2000.
Berkeley Place is also 6 blocks of Brooklyn real estate, emerging from Sackett St. and ending at Banana Hill, a small park that grows a foot each year from dog shit and the corpses of dead rats. Though its residents have gotten wealthier over the decades, Berkeley Place still houses folks of all backgrounds with interests in, well, everything.
WHAT THE HELL GOES ON HERE?Ekko reviews independent music, comic books, and whatever else interests him.
WHAT THE HELL IS INDIE MUSIC?An independent record label (or indie record label) is a record label operating without the funding of or outside the organizations of the major record labels.
- Wikipedia.org
That means they ain't in the RIAA, dude.
