Debut records from 2008.

Hearing good new bands is something that I really enjoy getting to do. It might be one of my favorite aspects of music; hearing different combinations of people making really great music is awesome and just never seems to get old. To an extent this goes against common attitudes that many people have (comparing new bands negatively to vaunted bands of the past is a common occurrence), but this strikes me as really strange.

In any case, 2008 had a bunch of great new records. My list over at Scene Point Blank barely scratched the surface of some of the great debut records that came out this year. I definitely had more that were more than worth mentioning so here are more debuts by bands and people that were noteworthy in 2008:

True Widow- True Widow (End Sounds) 

True Widow's self titled debut is good on many different levels and full of subtle beauty. It is tough to really pick pieces of the record out so listening to it from start to finish is really the only way to listen to it. True Widow made a cohesive record that makes me jealous. Definitely a record more people need to check out.

Gods and Queens- Untitled (Robotic Empire/ Adagio 830 / Dead Format)

Noisy and urgent sounding, Gods & Queens untitled debut hits people in the gut with a thick sound and volume to match. A real killer that finds its way onto more stereos because it is that good. I really hate comparing bands to others so...go listen to them and make up your own damn mind. If you go to the Robotic Obscurities blog (linked to mine over there to your right), there are some demos and rarities from the band as well.

Aughra- Proof of Dark Matter| Light the Lights (Magic Bullet)

Aesthetically speaking, Brett Eyestone (the lone member of Aughra) contines to put out great art and music. Proof of Dark Matter | Light the Lights is the long time coming first full length from this ambient/ soundscape project, and it continues and broadens the paths which Aughra has tread on a 7", Cassettes, split, and an EP/Book. Hopefully there is more to come from Mr. Eyestone with Aughra. 

Mamiffer- Hirror Enniffer (Hydra Head)

Calling this album infectious to my personal ears would be an understatement.  The more that I listen to it, the more it creeps into my listening habits (to the tune of my listening to it 2 to 3 times a day at present). It is a beautiful sounding record and though it might not be considered a true full length, it is a deserving debut. It is brutal because now I need to hear more from Mamiffer...damn them for being so good.

The Gutter Twins- Saturnalia (Sub Pop) 

The long talked about pairing of Greg Dulli (of Afghan Wigs and Twighlight Singers fame) and Mark Lanegan (of shredded vocals, Queens of the Stone Age, Screaming Trees fame) does not disappoint in any way. I think this record sounds incredibly sleezy (in a great way) and just sounds great. Think of a dark, smoky night club and this record could probably be the soundtrack.

More Year End Lists

Being that with the sheer amount of music being created all the time, it is bound to happen that people will miss out on albums, EPs, what have you. In this case, given the facts, it can also be extrapolated that people could continually miss good music. If such music continually is missed, these pieces of music can and might fall into obscurity and being rendered out of print. Another scenario that might cause a record to go out of print could be that the original label that issued the release could no longer support the release or keep it in print due to finances (it happens). Yet another scenario (which is mostly tasteless in my opinion) is when a label purchases a release from the original label with the express intent to re-issue the music. 

 

Regardless how one views them Re-Issues can be a tricky thing. Sometimes, the re-issue is more than worth it as the record label puts a lot of time, love, and effort into the new version of the record; while, at other times, the re-issue comes out with nothing different from the original release and seems to be nothing more than a cash grab. Besides the list that I wrote which will be available on Scene Point Blank here are more Reissues/ Rarities comps that were worth it to me that were released in 2008:

Envy- All the Footprints You’ve Ever Left… (Temporary Residence)

Envy- Compiled Fragments (Temporary Residence)

Envy- A Dead Sinking Story (Temporary Residence)

The re-issue series which Temporary undertook to make available or more widely available is possibly questionable. Though I am not sure how available All The Footprints... and A Dead Sinking Story were at the time, but Compiled Fragments never was really all that widely available in the United States. Nothing new was really done with the records, but at least they are out and people can find them. The records themselves are all excellent and well worth getting. People who already owned them, though, really have no reason to pick them up again.

Hot Water Music- Till the Wheels Fall Off (No Idea)

This nifty collection compiles demos, outtakes, compilation tracks etc that normally took a lot of tracking down to collect. Neatly packaging all of this material and making it available in one place is a boon for Hot Water Music fans.

Rocket From the Crypt- All Systems Go Vol. 3 (Vagrant/ Swami)

Another nice collection that takes unreleased tracks and combines them with singles and alternate versions of songs from the massive Rocket From the Crypt catalog. This record really produces some nice gems (Like "Total Bummer") as well as funny liner notes produced by Speedo himself.

Cavity- Laid Insignificant (Hydra Head)

Ah...a long out of print record sees the light of day again. I was so glad that Hydra Head re-issued this so that paying "collector" prices was not necessary.

Supermachiner- Rise of the Great Machine (e-vinyl)

Finally available on vinyl, Rise of the Great Machine sounds like it was meant to be in this format. I am glad someone released it on vinyl because it was long overdue. Packaging looks great as well.

Planes Mistaken for Stars- We Ride to Fight (No Idea)

All of this was pretty much available previously, but compiling it into one nice package was a neat idea. I am sure some fans of later Planes Mistaken for Stars were surprised by how this sounds.

Today Is the Day- Today Is the Day (Supernova)

Today Is the Day- Supernova (Supernova)

I never realized how good early Today Is the Day was before hearing these reissues, partially because getting a hold of them could prove to be a bit problematic. Now that they are more widely available, hopefully more people will check these out because both the self-titled and Supernova are definitely worth it. Even thought his music has evolved over time, Steve Austin still made disturbing music even at this stage in Today Is the Day's development. 

Skullflower- IIIrd Gatekeeper (Crucial Blast)

This Skullflower record is another album that was very difficult to find or acquire. Crucial Blast really came through in re-issuing this. It is more structured than later Skullflower releases, but that crushing noise which the outfit is known for is still evident on IIIrd Gatekeeper.

Top Music Lists of 2008

Sometime soon, the online zine which I write for, Scene Point Blank, will be publishing our year end Feature for 2008. We do it a bit later than other places, but we tend to jam releases that are released pretty late in the year into it. One of the pieces that I popped in will be my Top 5 EPs of 2008. 

EPs are great. They give artists a wide pallette to do many things with their music: experiment, expand, tease, hold over fans, etc. From a listeners point of view, EPs are usually a treat in some way. This year had quite a few which I enjoyed, and besides what you can see in Scene Point Blank's feature, here several more EPs that I liked that came out in 2008:

The Night Marchers- Scene Report (Swami)

Bulwarked by the great song "Scene Report", this single, which is available only from the band on tour, reminds me of why singles can be awesome. These quick three songs blast by with more fun and reckless rock n roll abandon than most horrific sounding garage acts can muster ever.  "Scene Report" itself is one of the Night Marchers best tracks and was recently included on the double LP issue of their debut album See You In Magic; so if you missed out on the single and don't want to pay ridiculous ebay prices...look there.

The Night Marchers- Mystery Machine/ Rock-a-Bye Maybe (Swami)

This is the second tour only single which the Night Marchers have released, and it is worth getting a hold of (again from the band on tour). I really like the Night Marchers are utilizing the single format; it is exciting going to see them and seeing a new single available. Although for those unadventureous types, you miss out on these records.

J. Bannon- The Blood of Thine Enemies (Deathwish Inc)

A haunting debut and teaser for future solo work from the vocalist of Converge and artist of note. The Blood of Thine Enemies is a marked departure and light years away from what Converge enthusiasts. The plinking piano, subtle swirling electronics and low bass hum underlay Bannon's clean vocal performance create this haunting atmosphere. The single is intriguing enough to create anticipation for more of this project. 

City of Ships- Tour (self released)

This little EP still serves as quite the pleasant surprise when I pop this on my stereo or headphones. A rocking 4 tracks from a powerful sounding three piece, this tour EP was just what I wanted at the time; and I didn't even realize it until I sat down to write my review of it. I cannot wait to see what City of Ships does next.

Haiyano Daisuki- Headbanger’s Karaoke Club Dangerous Fire (Hydra Head)

When I first put on Haiyano Daisuki's debut, I was frothing at the mouth expecting grind mayhem akin to vocalist Jon Chang's awesome Discordance Axis. Imagine my surprise when the thrashing style of Headbanger's Karaoke Club Dangerous Fire came rushing out of the speakers. The inital disappointment quickly wore off as I noticed a great many things that made this good in its own right. 

Year End Music Lists

Writing for Scene Point Blank can really make me think hard about what music I listen to in a given year. I do a ton of reviews and those eat up so much listening time that this time of the year I can spoil myself and really check out new things. It also gives me the chance to listen to a ton of records from over the course of the year in order to make tons of these ridiculous lists. 

However ridiculous they may be, I think these lists do serve a purpose of sorts in that they allow one to compartmentalize the music in order to digest it. Rationally, so much music comes out in a given year that it is impossible for all of us to listen to so much. So, when records are on multiple lists like these, it kind of allows for people to check out records they missed in this manner. I miss good records every year, hence why I write a top 5 or so list of good records that I missed the previous year.

On Scene Point Blank, I just submitted this slew of Top 5 lists from 2008. 

- Top 5 Record Packaging

- Top 5 EPs

- Top 5 Re-Issues

- Top 5 Debuts

- Top 5 Splits

- Top 5 Missed in 2007

Over the next several days, I will post additional tracks that did not quite make these Top 5 lists. Consider them additional material...consider them honorable mentions...what have you.

So We Close Another Year

It is indeed that time of year again. The time to talk about how good or bad the outgoing year was and how great we all hope the new year is going to be.  There are lists and talk surrounding what was good or bad maybe in the attempt to commemorate the outgoing year as well as resolutions on how to improve oneself in some way in the new year.

I am one of those people which compiles lists, partially because of my writing for an online music publication, but I would totally be lying if I said I would not make them otherwise. It just feels like something that needs to be done. Regardless, these lists really are trivial but can be fun at times. Here is my top 10 list of things that happened to me this year.

- Realizing how amazing my wife is

- Band putting out record

- Spending time with my cats (Their antics are the stuff of legend in our home)

- Having my own home

- Having Good friends

- Hearing of friends' (John and Jen) families growing

- Seeing friends' families getting started 

- Getting to know family members better

- Seeing the sunset on the Pacific Ocean

- Experiencing some of Southern California

Honorable Mentions include:

Seeing the Night Marchers in a Mummers hall

Blasting the Night Marchers in the car with my wife...particularly their song "Open Your Legs"

Seeing Dave with short hair