Welcome to my EOTY list, I hope you find something to sink yr teeth into or something maybe you hadn't heard or something you've seen hyped up, avoided and this makes you finally take a dive.
Tile - Warmfth
Well, one of the best records you'll hear this year is from a under known band from Indianapolis. The merging of long form drones of Windy & Carl, Azusa Plane and downtempo beats of Lamb or Bowery Electric. Each side is one long piece that builds into a psychedelic swirl that is a dizzying listen. Thank goodness for groups like this still existing, they feel so far and few between.
https://mediumsound.bandcamp.com/album/warmfth-2
Shop Regulars - Self Titled
Repetition is the name of the game of this free rock/punk release, and debut LP from Portlands Shop Regulars. Knotty clangy guitar work that truly inspires air guitaring in a sweaty basement in anywhere USA. Pounding layered rhythms propel the songs forward with vocals that tie it altogether with some hooks here and there. It sounds like an SST band jamming with Television. If you dig The Dead C's lucid moments with some other Flying Nun jangle...blast this one.
https://shopregulars.bandcamp.com/album/shop-regulars-2
The Sheaves - A Salve For Institution
The Sheaves are the best punk band right now in my humble opinion. Sounding like The Clean jamming with Sonic Youth with Mark E Smith conducting this unholy bent racket. The disorienting sound evokes the burnt Phoenix desert landscapes where they reside. Guitars crawl around in the muck, rhythm section push n pulls with vocals that feel like a dood in a straight jacket mumbling to the modern hellscape that is America. It rules, it's weird and you should check it out, up the actual punx.
https://sheaves.bandcamp.com/album/a-salve-for-institution
Florian T M Zeisig - Planet Inc
Blissed out ambient dub from dood who brought you the ambient masterpiece "Music For Parents". Shifting away from the more grounded, and naturalistic sounds of his previous record, Florian dives head first into more soupy and synthetic sounds. It's holds you a little more at a distance than MFP but it's equally as enveloping. In like with the like of Purelink, Deadbeat, more ambient side of Monolake.
https://stroomtv.bandcamp.com/album/planet-inc
Lockslip - Lockslip
Best metalcore since early 2000s. So many bands get compared to Converge, Dillinger, Coalesce, or As The Sun Sets but basically never actually sounds like those bands but rather brutish bro music with some fast parts. Lockslip is control chaos with dynamic songwriting where breakdowns are the end game but just a part of the progression of the tunes. The vocals from Sara Gregory are scorched earth throat shredding screams and growls with some Sean Ingram like back ups. The ep is a perfect taste for what a fuller project could be. It wouldn't surprise me of this band blows up. Great guitar work, use of feedback, heady drumming and punishing basstones make this one of the best debuts of the year.
https://lockslip.bandcamp.com/album/lockslip
JRCG - Grim Iconic
Justin knows how to make a groove that will get a whole room bobbing their heads. Armed with pounding drums, auxiliary percussion, synths that sound like their getting beat up. Justin seems to have thought more about how he us delivering his vocals as they are more dynamic here than they were on the first JRCG record or any of the Dreamdecay stuff. Unlike DD, guitars play a much less central roll, more of a texture and to emphasize the main thrust of the tunes. If you get the chance to see em live, the record I don't think could do justice to just how powerful they are live.
https://jrcg.bandcamp.com/album/grim-iconic-sadistic-mantra
Lynn Avery/Cole Pulice - Phantasy and Reality
Longtime collaborators Lynn Avery and Cole Pulice come through with another winner. Ambient/new age music in last couple years has felt like this low effort grift so many people have tried to insert themselves into, but what Lynn and Cole make together is the real deal. This record has a more dreamy/lush pallette than their last collab, with drifting pianos, the reverb drenched warped sax, acoustic guitars, upright bassand sound design that brings to mind the Japanese greats. It's imo their most fleshed out and dynamic worl they've made together. The cover art really evokes what the sound of this record is, pure blissful light that makes you feel like things might be ok.
https://moonglyph.bandcamp.com/album/phantasy-reality
SML - Small Medium Large
Another band that while the record is really good doesn't do justice to how powerful it is live. I saw SML in LA for the release shows and the chemistry between all the players was astonishing. They way they bounced and played off each other was something to behold. This record, which I believe is comprised of edits of a grouping of live shows. Similar to how Can edited down long jams, sessions and created a cohesive record, Small Medium Large achieves a similar feat. There's moments of body moving grooves, longing ambience and freaked out sound design. Excited to hear what they do next.
https://intlanthem.bandcamp.com/album/small-medium-large
J Mcfarlane's Reality Guest - Whoopee
Twerps were one of the best "indie pop" bands of the mid 2010s, who's record "Range Anxiety" still holds up with fantastic tunes and guitar work. Unfortunately that band is no more BUT now we get J Mcfarlane's Reality Guest, Julia McFarlane's freak pop that was seemingly quietly released Jan 15th of 2024. The record mixes dubbed out spacey pop, bossa nova, alil kosmiche, trip hop and breakbeats to create a wildly experimental album. In my mind this sounds like a lost Too Pure Records release, sounding at points like Pram, Laika, and Moonshake but a modern take. It's a brilliant and deeply underrated record filled with so much to dig into.
https://hobbiesgalore.bandcamp.com/album/whoopee
Thirdface - Ministerial Cafeteria
Like Lockslip, Thirdface are carry the torch of 90s/early 2000s metalcore. Thirdface definitely more in the Deadguy, Rorschach, and Born Against vien, it's more punk, less technical. Live videos of this band is what won me over before I even heard their records. The drumming is killer, the way the guitarist expresses themselves on stage I found to be very real/unself conscious with vocals that shredded dd. I do find the guitar work to be some of the most interesting intersections of influences that infuse Thirdman with something basically all other hc bands lack, they are pushing at the lines that are draw. It's bizarre to me this band isn't huge, esp cuz I think they have a cross over appeal with just how cool the music is.
https://thirdface.bandcamp.com/album/ministerial-cafeteria
Mo Dotti - Opaque
I guess it's maybe a fopa to include a record I did PR for but Mo Dotti handly made the best and truest shoegaze record of 2024. Not bogged down by the last decades woe is me, slow derg "shoegaze" that has more in common with Hum, Helmet and Deftones and masculine energy or fake tiktok clout. Mo Dotti makes a record focused on tunes first, with sound design elevating already great songs. Gina's sense of melody is unmatched by any peers, singing w a haunting pop appeal that isn't boohoohoo lyrics / or singing the same bland wisphered melodies that have no sense or HOOKS. Backed by Guys tremendous guitar work that combined Johnny Marr, Kevin Shields and J Masicus. The rhythm section of Andrew and Greg keep things moving forward with punk forward beats that give everything muscle without falling into dood music. This is the only record that should be at the top of any 2024 gazers list.
https://mo-dotti.bandcamp.com/album/opaque
Water Damage - In E
Volume, repetition, volume, repetition, volume and repetition, this is the sonic mantra of Austin, Texas's Water Damage. On their new record "In E", Water Damage continues to scorch the earth with walls of punishing sound. It's no secret that something truly special can happen to the psyche when you are being pummelled with trance inducing drones, you can transcend time, you might laugh, you might cry but hopefully you look inward, letting a calm wash over you with metric tons of distortion. Water Damage are the rare "rock" band that follow in the lineage of artists like Faust, Tony Conrad, Steve Reich and Pärson Sound, one that creates such heavy yet minimalistic audio treasures that not only hit you viscerally but also give space to contemplate on your place in the cosmos. Their longest offering yet, Water Damage hits you with 4 side long tracks of krautpunk ending with a cover of "Ladybird" by Shit & Shine featuring Craig Clouse himself on vocals. Drone until you hear god speak. (This is the bio I wrote for the record cuz WD asked me to cuz....I'm a fan very vocally)
https://waterdamage12xu.bandcamp.com/album/in-e
Knocked Loose -You Won't Go Before You're Supposed To
Hard, nasty and heavy as fuck metalcore. This is the first record I think that really captures KL disgusting sound. It's pretty knuckleheady, and luckily they are self aware from interviews. Opening moments are thrilling with throat scorching vocals ans blast beats that careen headfirst into their Neanderthal like breakdowns. The vocals remind me alot of a more in yr face snapcase. The production is dense and overwhelming. It's like Turmoil turned up to 1000. Haven't really dug into the lyrics so not sure what themes he's working with....
https://knockedloose.bandcamp.com/album/you-wont-go-before-youre-supposed-to
Smoke Bellow - Structurally Sound
Unfortunately the final album from the last decades most underrated bands. Smoke Bellow historically change their sound between every release their early out sounding more like Velvet Underground, Pram, and Roy Montgomery to more new agey kosmiche to their more recent work that evoked Young Marble Giants, Raincoats and private press post punk. This new record is the first that kinda stays in the same lane but adding some minimalist composer influence. The B Side really opens up what it could have been if they didn't break up, amazing layering and wider cornucopia of instruments. Most slept on band in last 15 years. HANDS THE FUCK DOWN
https://smokebellow.bandcamp.com/album/structurally-sound-2
Doechi - Alligator Bites Never Heal
Alot of been talked about hip-hop being "back" post Kendrick/Drake beef. The cultural realignment on the art form and not the clout chasing commercialization it's become. Doechi comes at a perfect time, with great production and lots of personality. This is an artist who truly cares about the history / art form of hip-hop with tons of different flows, voicing and amazing story telling. The songs have moments of humor/levity that collide w darker intrusive thoughts, of self worth and doubt. The production goes from jazzy boom bap, smooth 90s R&B and lil bits a trap and I'm sure some other genres I'm not nessasarily familiar with but it's a fair cohesive mix tape and an exciting new artist any hiphop fan should keep their ears on. Can't wait to hear her official debut next year.
Bowery Electric - Demo
Bowery Electric is one of those bands that have finally been seeing some of the recognition that rightly deserve over the last few years with more and more people plundering the depths of shoegaze history. Their combo of slow churning dense layers of distortion, dubby bass lines and triphop/downtempo rhythms they created a new pathway for ShOeGaZe indebted bands. So, when they randomly dropped (heheh) this collection of demos it was a peak behind the curtain of their very realized LPs. You can hear more whats happening w the bass and guitars which is v fun to parse out the soundscapes. I wouldn't say these r better versions of the songs but are more approachable if that makes sense?
https://boweryelectricofficial.bandcamp.com/album/demo
Broadcast - "Spell Blanket" / Distant Calls
The loss of Trish has continued to be felt many years on esp for a specific music nerd section. So getting these two collections is a massive boon. One being the acoustic demos of songs we already know that show how closely all Broadcast songs are to 60s folk music. Hearing the raw versions of the lyrics / melodies over minimalist guitar work really shows when you strip away everything the songs we're amazing. The other collection is taking a dive into the work flow of Trish and James. The tunes oscillate wildly from proper tunes to little sound experiments. Getting to peak into their inner world is truly a treat that we are lucky enough James is allowing us to behold.
https://broadcast.bandcamp.com/album/distant-call-collected-demos-2000-2006
Kendrick Lamar - GNX
Kendrick Lamar is the greatest rapper of our generation, and definitely in top 5 of all time. After many years of being put on a pedestal of being an "important" artist, Lamar finally let's loose and has some fun with this LP. Handly murdering Drake for the world to see, during a once in a lifetime cultural event (last one I felt this excitement was when MBV came out), Kendrick showed his breath of talent from conceptual song craft to a hook filled banger. GNX feels like the victory lap of a man feeling less tethered to being the savior of hiphop and closer to what he's been doing with Baby Keem while still pushing the culture. This is his best record since TPAB. Its accessible in the way Damn was, but not trying to sound like top 40 but instead what the top 40 SHOULD sound like. Mr Morale was a difficult listen, I fully appreciate what he was doing on the record, airing out everything that has haunted him as a human, and it's underrated in alot of ways. GNX is sonically feel in line with what id call "the beef" ep. Lyrically less like MMATBS or TBAP, which is fine, not even song has to be these dark, dense, dour meditations of the world / self. It's still filled w great punch lines, flexes and yes, some amazingly powerful story telling like on "Reincarnated" and "The Heart pt 6". The record also features his best R&B cuts he's ever released. It's very interesting his first post TDE release is a surprise drop that feels very planted in the NOW. The only weak song imo is the title track, which i appreciate in concepte with lifting up new artists but it just feels somewhat out place skill wise. We will see how he feels a few years from now when he releases his next "statement" record or maybe we will get a looser Kendrick from now on....it's hard to say.
Galaxie 500 - Uncollected Noise New York 88 - 90
This maybe be a blasphemous take but this is my favorite Galaxie 500 release. This shows the embryonic stage of the band. Their is more energy and sharp edges and lucidity than any of their official releases. I read in an interview they were really into the Feelies at the time of the first tape (I have the tape, no vinyl) and you can tell. The songs have a similar tension, and nervyness but with Dean's sense of melody. In a different timeline G500 were more urgent, faster and earth bound, of course they'd go in a different direction and inspired countless bands but it's rare to hear a band this raw and jangley without sounding kinda wimpy. This has muscle and melody.
https://galaxie500.bandcamp.com/album/uncollected-noise-new-york-88-90
Jessica Pratt - Here in The Pitch
Jessica Pratt finally and deservedly breaks through on her fourth long player. With each record Jessic has honed her songwriting and found her own minimalist style. Her last record "Quiet Signs" ended with "" and it showed her widening her sonic pallette, and "Here In The Pitch" she makes good on that promise. The record blows with a new set of sounds that are used tastefully and never over take the core of the songs : Voice and Guitar. This record rewards repeat listens, hooks bloom out, rhythms subtle move things and synths sparkle in the mix. It creates a beautiful, haunting and immersive listen. Jessica is someone to root for to have a larger audience and with this record she now does.
https://jessicapratt.bandcamp.com/album/here-in-the-pitch
Jpegmafia - I Lay My Life Down For You
Peggy's best solo outing since Vetern, hands down. Doubling down on the powerful bonkers production of Scaring The Hoes. With alot of chesting pumping and self reflection, it's a record of dualing inner dialogs. The songs have some of the hardest beats that will give you stink face like on "New Black History" but also some of the smoothest like on "I'll Be Right There". Peggy also switches up his flows, experiments with his voice more than any record I can record outside some of the autotuney stuff on Cornballs or the EPs. This honestly might be my fav of his solo work.
https://jpegmafia.bandcamp.com/album/i-lay-down-my-life-for-you
Lost Paradise : blissed out breakbeat hardcore 1991-94
What an amazing comp of as the title says ; blissed out pummeling electronic music. The tracks all ebb n flow with moments of calm ambeint synth scapes/ sound design and at a moments notice a song will blast you with some of the hardest beats you hear. I stumbled upon the track "Inesse" by DJ Mayhem, my favorite track on the record. The song opens up with pure outerspace sounding atmosphere that rides on this for first 90 seconds of the sing before you hit with the beat that makes me wanna do backflips and makes me wanna run up the walls. Its a killer track that really hit me at a great time while making the Dummy record.
https://blankmindlabel.bandcamp.com/album/lost-paradise-blissed-out-breakbeat-hardcore-1991-94
