About Us


There is a good chance you found us accidentally by using the word “taint” in your search (If you found us on purpose, you deserve our accolades). Of course, we don’t know what you were looking for, but you stumbled on a damn cool project. Look around; let us help send you on a musical journey. Here you will find a number of album reviews from the strange and extreme to the tame and mainstream. Our reviewers are a bunch of obsessive miscreants. Most of us are avid music collectors and have been involved in the music world for decades. A couple of us have been in or are still in bands.

There are no rules on Tickle Your Taint Blog. Our reviewers might make you laugh, or piss you off; both results are legitimate. One reviewer might write a glowing review of an album; another might tear it apart. We may have a new review every week, or we could end up with one every six months. This blog exists as a social experiment to build community among a diverse group of music maniacs – our reviewers and hopefully you.


Friday, January 26, 2024

Tianna Esperanza, Terror (2023)

 


By Jack Rafferty


“Terror knows me by name.” 

This record came completely out of left field for me. I’d never heard of Tianna, and merely found this record by browsing through year-end lists. Even then, it only appeared one time. I’m so glad something about it intrigued me, because from the first moments of the album, I was entranced by it. Especially the lyrics. From the opening lines, sung in a deceivingly dulcet tone, I knew I was in for something special:


Sometimes when I’m walking and a man looks at me

I think of all the ways I could make him bleed

I would dig my key into his eye

I’d crack his teeth, liver and spleen.


The fact that Tianna is only twenty-three writing such visceral and deeply mature lines is a testament to the incredible creative mind behind this music. This album is uncompromisingly dark, unabashedly crude, wild, and chameleon. Tianna also is not afraid to be direct regarding political lyrics. A great example is from “Lewis,” about the civil rights activist and Harlem bookstore owner Lewis H. Michaux:


When the white man landed here he brought two weapons

One was the Bible and the other was the gun

If he didn’t humble you with the Bible,

He crumbled you with the gun.

And they’re still praising the Lord,

And passing ammunition all over the world.


Each song is vastly different, carrying its own complex, unique identity, and there is not a bad song on this album. The sheer diversity of soundscapes and songwriting spanning multiple genres is purely baffling. Also, her grandmother is Palmolive from The Slits and The Raincoats, so there is clearly a lineage of radical, innovative songwriters from whom she has learned. Nothing has recently captivated me like this album, not in this way. Go listen to this right fucking now. 

Tuesday, January 23, 2024

Ryuichi Sakamoto, 12 (2023)

By Jack Rafferty


Ryuichi Sakamoto’s final album is 12. He tragically lost his long battle with cancer in 2023. Sakamoto is the first Japanese composer to win an Academy Award for his score of The Last Emperor. His career is diverse and spans multitudes. He was an activist in many spheres, participating in the Japanese University Protests at the end of the 1960s, environmentalism, and much more. He was on the cutting edge of many genres, including neoclassical, electronic, electro-funk, and techno, just to name a few. 

This record, 12, very much feels like a meditation. Sakamoto is navigating the ethereal and dense thoughtspace of one’s own mortality. The album itself seems a practice in a sonic version of Jisei, death poetry reflecting upon life. It is precisely that, reflective, not sentimental or cloying. Sakamoto’s soft yet labored breaths are persistent throughout the recordings, and they seem as though they were a part of the composition, a constant reminder to the listener. The profoundness of each moment of this album is hard to grasp. The music that Sakamoto composed throughout his life is what he, in his own words, wished it to be, “meaningful work.” The last fading moments linger only briefly, the sound of chimes in wind. 

Akikaze ya         Autumn wind

hyorohyoro yama no the mountain’s shadow

kagebōshi.         quivering.

—Kobayashi Issa


Sunday, January 21, 2024

Kara Jackson, Why Does the Earth Give Us People to Love? (2023)

 


By Jack Rafferty


There’s certain albums that just fuckin’ flatten you the first time you listen to them. Former National Youth Poet Laureate, Kara Jackson, is an absolutely phenomenal songwriter. Her lyrics are one of a kind. Perhaps that would go without saying given her acclaim in poetry already, but I think it is important to distinguish the mediums to a degree, and give Kara credit where credit is due, as extreme talent in one does not always translate to the other. 

Themes of the difficulties of love, not just for others, but for oneself, and how the process of allowing yourself to feel worthy of love is a difficult and nonlinear one. Sometimes it comes at the expense of not trying to please others in cycles of harm or dependence, or rejecting patriarchal standards of how her identity as feminine is defined.


I’m not a liquidated asset

I’m a sharper than a jewel

What kind of miner does that make you?

When I’m the gold and you’re just a fool.


The melodies and cadence she elects to use bring so much character to every line of every song. There is so much subtle detail in every moment to try to absorb, and it all comes together beautifully, with no single element ever attempting to draw too much attention to itself over Kara’s incredible voice and words. The music creates soundscapes that are simultaneously subdued and lush and everlastingly gorgeous. A vocal melody that I especially loved is on the track “brain,” which really highlights Kara’s range and the richness of her voice. In it she sings


Sleep isn’t cheap

And your love is no currency…

If your fear is what comes first

You’ll run from love you deserve

I’ve got so much fear inside

You’ll give me yours

And I’ll give you mine.


I love the ways in which Kara bluntly addresses the weaknesses of men in patriarchal society. Highlighting their emotional detachment, and how that cultivates in them a sense of insecurity, of a lack of empathy, of an inability to reckon with the consequences of their actions. This is highlighted well in many tracks, but I love these lines from “rat,”


California calls him by his collar

His waves were ill-behaved, so now hе doesn’t bother

Shook the country from him likе a cub clawing its father

Couldn’t buy compassion ‘cause it’d cost him 40 dollars…


What he wouldn’t give to have some grits to start his morning

Fascinated by the face of the woman who warms them

Rat has made his bath and this is one he’ll surely drown in

Imitating tales of cowboy trails and traveling men

Hasn’t satisfied a single one of his new women

The one he left alone is in their home and busy hexing…


His brain hallucinating, his ego in his chest

His friends, they never told him it’d cost him close to death

At home, his woman carves another kind of casket

The kind he gladly climbs and closes himself in.


One of the more powerful moments on the album is the title track, which finds Kara reflecting on mortality, lamenting the powerlessness we feel in the ungraspable presence and indifference of death, 


I’ve buried old and young

I’ve watched them lower a saint

We’re only waiting our turn

Call that living?


Frankly, I wish I could include every line of the album here, as each is deserving of it. I could go on and on but at a certain point my words become redundant and don’t do the album justice anyways. Kara Jackson is truly, truly something special. This album is masterful, and I eagerly await what she decides to do next. 

Saturday, January 13, 2024

Wilco, Cousin (2023)

 


By SoDak


Eating shit, from time to time, seems to be part of life. This past year, Wilco served up a bowl, which they called Cousin. The presentation was not promising (see the horrible cover). At first, I thought the dish was filled with gazpacho, as there was no steam emanating from the contents. Upon devoting my attention to what was before me, I realized there were ten meager spoonfuls of excrement. This meal was not the product of a “normal” bowel movement. Instead, it was mostly a pale, brownish liquid, with fragments of previous meals—perhaps, the last diarrhea squirts of someone preparing for a colonoscopy. The first spoon of shit, “Infinite Surprise,” confirmed that there was no substance to this fecal mess. The second, “Ten Dead,” was a warning of what happened to others who spent too much time trying to nourish themselves on this offering. The third, “Levee,” was broken, as I spent four minutes of wallowing in sewage. The fourth, “Evicted,” made my wife leave the room. The fifth, “Sunlight Ends,” confirmed that Wilco can no longer see clearly. The sixth, “The Bowl and a Pudding,” reminded me that I am only halfway through eating this excretion, while wishing there was a sweet treat to be had in this experience. During the seventh, eighth, and nine spoons of crap, “Cousin,” “Pittsburgh,” and “Soldier Child,” I was left contemplating why I subject myself to this, especially when Wilco uses an outside producer, such as on Wilco (The Album). The final spoon, “Meant to Be,” was the tastiest, as it contained some remnants of a digested meal, which sunk to the bottom of the bowl.  

Thursday, January 4, 2024

Anita Papsmear’s 2023 Favorites

By Anita Papsmear


I am sitting here musing about another year come and gone. There has been a lot of musical exits too: Sinead O’Connor, Tina Turner, Andy Rourke, Andrew Fletcher, Shane MacGowan, Geordie Walker, Tom Verlaine, Burt Bacharach, Ryuichi Sakamoto, just to name a few. I suppose, it’s a fact of getting older. The losses start to stack up in an exponentially tragic fashion. As I send those who we lost an appreciative so long, I offer you this list of musical gems. All have received the coveted 5-Smear rating (refer to past year-end lists for the Papsmear ratings system).


Additionally, I send my hopes for peace, tolerance, and a collective wake up call to protect the rights of all people. Please vote for women, for people centered policies, and all things earth. In this next election year, we have so much at stake.


Favorite New Bands:

Girl And Girl. 

This is a four-piece band hailing from Australia. Front person, Kai James, has a talent for turning painful experiences into well-written, incredibly catchy tunes. Longtime friends became bandmates with Jayden on guitar and Fraser on bass. Kai’s Aunt Lizzy graces the drums. Together, they are a force. I am super excited to hear more and catch them live in the new year. Check out their eight-track EP, Divorce+. Notable tracks: “All I See,” the title track, and “Dance Now,” which has the best video.

Sextile, Push

Gothy goodness! Super cool stuff here. Check out: “Contortion,” “Crash,” “Modern Weekend,” and “New York,” and then meet me on the dance floor.  

        

Best Songs of the Year:

Paris Paloma, “Labour.” 

Might be the most lyrically important song this year. Amazeballs!

Blur, “The Narcissist.” 

This song gives me the chills. Damon Albarn can do no wrong. This past year found Blur getting the band back together for what appears to be a one-off album, as they have since broken up. The lyrics are everything. 

Miley Cyrus, “Flowers.” 

Yup, I am as surprised as you are. Didn’t expect that Miley would ever be on my year-end list. But “Flowers” is a fucking great song. Co-written by 2022’s Songwriter of the Year, Michael Pollack (along with Cyrus and Gregory “Aldae” Hein), it’s so catchy that it stayed with me for weeks. Begrudgingly I might add, but fucking weeks!


Cool Tracks:

Ladytron, “Faces.”  

Purrrr! Really good.


Lana Del Rey with Father John Misty, “Let the Light In.” 

Gorgeous, luscious tune that sticks in your head.


Ultra Sunn, “The Speed.” 

Such a cool song from this duo. Gothic industrial beats that will have you running for the dance floor.


Leathers, “Highrise.” 

Shannon Hemmat of Actors fame (a Papsmear favorite band) has released another solo gem. Her blog, Daydream Trash, is pretty great too.


Yard Act, “Dream Job.” 

This band hails from Leeds, and this is their debut album, which hit number 2 on the UK charts. Super excited to hear more.


Mudhoney, “Little Dogs.” 

This song makes me so happy.


Public Image Limited, “Hawaii.” 

This gem was a welcome and beautiful surprise. A chill wave dedication to John’s wife of nearly 50 years, Nora, who has Alzheimer’s. It warms the cuckolds. 

Cigarettes After Sex, “Bubblegum.” 

I have long been a fan of this band. No other band sounds like them. Their songwriting is solid. I was curious what the live show would be like, so I ventured to Denver to catch them at the Mission Ballroom. I guess I wasn’t prepared for the onslaught of screaming teens that knew every word and sang every word at the top of their lungs. It was really something. I thought perhaps I had wandered into a BTS concert by mistake. With all the excess estrogen in the room, I thought my menopause would be reversed, no such luck. Great live performance!


Acid Arab, “Dōne Dōne,” featuring Cem Yildiz. 

Fucking cool.


Dead Miranda, “The River,” featuring Bryce Boudreau of Lunar Twin.


Bully, “Lose You,” featuring Soccer Mommy.


Chelsea Wolfe, “Dusk.”


Softcult, “Someone2Me.”


Albert Hammond Jr., “Thoughtful Distress,” featuring Matt Helders and Steve Stevens. 

Matt = Arctic Monkeys. Steve Stevens = Billy Idol. Big, huge ear worm!


Cherry Glazerr, “Bad Habit.”


Brian Setzer, “One Particular Chick.”


Lucinda Williams, “This Is Not My Town.”


Lael Neale, “I Am the River.”


Beborn Beton, “Electricity.”


The Damned, “Follow Me.” 

Great tunes from a legendary band.


Drab Majesty, “The Skin & The Glove.” 

Shimmery and floaty with hints of goth. Reminiscent of 1990s shoegaze, which I hear all the kids are getting into via the Tik and the Tok.


Marika Hackman, “Slime.” 

Amazing. New CD, big sigh, due soon.


Audiobooks, “Burnt Pictures.” 

Old school synthwave, very catchy.  

Strange Tales, “Call Out.” 

Swedish synth act that has been around forever. Sadly, I am a loser and just found them. But I am smitten. Great tunes from a band that shares my same musical history and love of all things 1980’s new wave. I may (or may not) have a wee crush on front man, Karl Johan Larsson.


Sprints, “Up & Comer.” 

Garage punk from Dublin, Ireland. Their new record, Letter to Self, will be out at the beginning of 2024. The first single, “Up & Comer,” is a rock and roll anthem for the all too familiar female musician dilemma. Last year’s, “Literary Minds” was a favorite too.


Heartworms, “May I Comply.” 

Subtle and catchy. Like a panther stalking her prey, just sneaks up on you and takes a big bite.


Jesus and Mary Chain, “Jamcon.” 

New album in 2024. So excited for the upcoming album as this single is great. Love this band.


Molly Nilsson, “Absolute Power.” 

This song is from 2022. Sadly, I missed this when it came out. Simply a very powerful song and a stark commentary on our current times.


Flat Worms, “Ssrt.” 

Cool shit.


Glüme, “Queen of LA,” featuring Sean Ono Lennon.

Dwarves, “Do It All the Time.”


Alison Goldfrapp, “So Hard So Hot.” 

We have all been in love with Goldfrapp for a long time. Now that she’s added her first name to the equation, there’s just more to love. Including the new double CD set of great tunes.


Ryan Gosling, “I’m Just Ken.” 

Brilliantly written by song genius Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt, and expertly performed by Mr. Gosling himself. Loved the movie too so kudos to Greta Gerwig and cast as well. I am Kenough. Are you?



Cool Full Albums:

Gorillaz, Cracker Island

Many of the singles came out in 2022, and I almost forgot to add it to the list for this year. However, technically, it is a 2023 release date. Damon makes it on two coveted spots on my 2023 favorites. His craft for songwriting is virtually unmatched among his peers and I have a thing for his voice.


Romy, Mid Air Ethereal

Dancey and uplifting, this album got more airplay from me this year than just about any other. Half of The XX, Romy’s smooth, airy vocals give me the chills. She sings about her experiences in love and life and speaks to the heart. So many good ones here: “Loveher,” “The Sea,” “Enjoy Your Life,” and “She’s On My Mind.”

  

Elisapie, Inuktitut. 

Super release from Elisapie. Timeless, contemporary cover songs sung in the Inuk language. Put this CD on when you want to get lost in the cool vibrations of the day.  


Alien Skin, Transparency in Black EP.  

Dark and lovely tunes fronted by goth elder statesman, George Pappas, of Real Life fame. No wonder I love it! “Transparent In Black” is divine and perfect in every way.


Dope Lemon, Kimosabè. 

Super love for Dope Lemon. As a DJ, having to adhere to FCC rules, it becomes difficult to actually play the Dope tracks on-air. Perfect for a drive with the top down with your shades on. “Derby Raceway,” “Miami Baby,” and the title track are some of the standouts here.


Fever Ray, Radical Romantics.  

Any Fever Ray release is an aural journey and worthy of a space in your collection. Radical Romantics weaves subtle, offbeat tunes with atmosphere and melodies. Trent and Atticus help out on the tune “North,” and Karin’s brother, Olof, is on the first four tracks. What really stands out for me are the remixes, which are so killer. “What They Call Us,” “Even It Out,” “Shiver,” and “Carbon Dioxide” are favorites.


The KVB, The KVB. 

Duo from the United Kingdom with an atmospheric masterpiece. They formed in 2010 and first came to my attention in 2015 with their cover of David Bowie’s “Rebel Rebel.” Liked their 2021 release Unity too. That lazy beat, fuzzy, understated vocals are my favorite combo. This is a perfect album. Their version of “Pictures of Matchstick Men” (CVB) is a cool treat. Standout tracks: “Primitive,” “Liar Liar,” “I Ain’t No Miracle Worker,” and the cool creeper “Reverberation.”


Depeche Mode, Momento Mori. 

Depeche Mode does it again on their latest disc with themes of loss (RIP Andy Fletcher), angst, and bittersweet hope. DM shows us their unique sound. Their solid songwriting is most welcome in a world that has become so convoluted. Not to mention, they just pulled off the biggest, most highly anticipated tour of the year. Check out: “Don’t Say You Love Me,” “My Favorite Stranger,” “Never Let Me Go,” and “Always You.”


Lunar Twin, Aurora.  

Another beautiful and lush dark wave release from one of my favorite duos. “Can’t Stop the Rain,” “Traveler,” “Android Dreams,” and “Cars” for the win.


The National, Laugh Track.  

Fuck! This band is so good! Another solidly beautiful, well-written release. Highlights: “Deep End (Paul’s in Pieces),” “Weird Goodbyes,” “Tropic Morning News,” and “Space Invader.”


Love & Rockets, My Dark Twin. 

The two-CD set contains some fabulously repackaged classics, previously unreleased versions (all from the Sweet F.A. sessions), and an exclusive new title track. If you are a fan, the Beggars Arkive Label is reissuing collections of previous Love & Rockets back catalog. Familiar classics further explored through the vibe of lounge, country, and acoustic love. It’s a must have for fans.


Grassfight, Vampires. 

This Brooklyn band recorded their debut album 10 years ago, but it was just released in 2023. A handful of the singles have been floating around for a few years. This album is fucking great. Really looking forward to more from this band, hopefully sooner than later. Highlights: “Please Don’t Tell,” “Gimme Reason,” and “Rudyard.”


Death Valley Girls, Islands in the Sky. 

I love this band and every CD is worth checking out. If you can, go see them live—so full of energy and joy. Islands in the Sky is one of their best releases to date, showing the maturity this band has gathered as they have rolled along playing the world their music. There’s a full range of musical emotions here. Check out: “Magic Powers,” “When I’m Free,”” All That Is Not of Me,” and “It’s All Really Kind of Amazing.”


The Kills, God Games. 

The Kills have long been one of my favorite bands (another duo), and it’s been a while since we have been bestowed the gift of a new release. God Games, 12 tracks of subtle delights, is a softer, more introspective collection. Stand outs: “New York,” “LA Hex,” “103,” and “Wasterpiece.”


Queens of the Stone Age, In Times New Roman. 

It seems this band can do no wrong with me. Every album is impeccable—deep, rocking, and poignant. Lead man, Josh Homme has had a shit few years (cancer, Mark Lanegan’s passing, messy divorce), but he has managed to turn poo into gold with 10 delectable tracks. Favs here: “Obscenery,” “Canavoyeur,” “Emotion Sickness,” and “Paper Machete.”


Slowdive, Everything Is Alive. 

Shoegaze professionals are back with their fifth album, and it’s a good one. Forming way back in the dark ages of 1989, this band has a depth of life experience from which to draw to add to their already shimmering catalog. Slowdive has written some of my favorite beautiful melodies of all time (think “Ballad Of Sister Sue” from 1991’s Just For A Day). All these years later, they still have me wrapped around their melodic hearts. Check out: “Shanty,” “Alife,” and “Skin in the Game.”


Magic Wands, Switch. 

This duo is from Los Angeles, by way of Nashville, Tennessee. Switch is their fifth release. Post punk, dark dream pop goodness with all the trimmings. They also released remixes on, Switched (see their Bandcamp). Highlights: “Switch,” “Falling Trees,” “Whisper,” and “Dream ’92.”


Art School Girlfriend, Soft Landing. 

Polly Louise Mackey’s voice fits like a velvet onesie. It’s luxurious, soft, and plush. I would go on any ride she wants to take me on. From mellow and ethereal to dance beats, her voice fits everything. Polly is a Welsh producer, musician, and singer-songwriter. This is her sophomore release. Her first release, Is It Light Where You Are? was on my 2021 Best of List. Excited for the impending trifecta of a perfect third CD. Try these on: “A Place to Lie,” “Real Life,” “The Weeks,” and “Too Bright.”


Yves Tumor, Praise A Lord Who Chews But Does Not Consume. 

Simply one of the most exciting bands to hit the scene in the last few years. Sean Lee Bowie (Yves) started making music when he was 16 to distract from the conservatism surrounding him in Tennessee. After a couple musical dabbles with others, Yves Tumor was a thing! And lucky us. Five albums in and I just want to hear more. Must have tracks: “God Is a Circle,” “Echolalia,” “Fear Evil Like Fire,” and “Operator.”


Roosevelt, Embrace. 

Massive beats and flowing electronic melodies for your next dance party.


White Rose Motor Oil, Gift of Poison. 

Another great CD from this powerhouse duo out of Denver, Colorado. Country in all the good ways! “Meet Me at the Bottom,” “Chase Your Tail,” and the amazing and timely “Hateland.”



Cool Covers:


Florence & The Machine, “Just A Girl” (originally by No Doubt) and “Cornflake Girl” (originally by Toro Amos).

Two remakes, both on the list. “Just A Girl” (No Doubt) from 2023 and her redo of Tori Amos gem “Cornflake Girl” from 2018 that I just stumbled on…damn!


Oblique Occasions, “I Can’t Wait” (originally by Nu Shooz).  

This cover is off their new album, Ketamine 3, and once you hear the track, you will understand the album concept. Super cool, slowed down version that totally works.


Reds, Pinks & Purples, “Bed of Roses” (originally by Screaming Trees). 

Purrrr! #imissdarkmark.


A Song for Leon: A Tribute to Leon Russell. 

An ode to National Treasure, Leon Russell, featuring musical tributes from Orville Peck, Pixies, Nathaniel Ratliff & The Night Sweats, and more.


Spiritual Front, The Queen Is Dead: A Tribute to The Smiths. 

A gothy, slightly more industrial take of The Smiths masterpiece.


A Tribute to The Judds (various artists). 

This is great. It is the CD you didn’t know you needed.


Juliana Hatfield, Juliana Hatfield Sings ELO. 

I am loving her series of cover albums. The Olivia Newton-John covers CD is a perfect match for Juliana’s voice range. This collection is good too.  

Wednesday, January 3, 2024

Beert’s 2023 Music in Review

By Beert


This past year, 2023, turned out to be a stellar year for new music for me. Whereas, in the past, I have had a definite Album of the Year selection, 2023 gave me 6 contenders. Damned if I could choose just one, so they all win!

Let’s get to it!


Acid King gave us a new album, Beyond Vision, in March 2023. https://acidking.bandcamp.com/album/beyond-vision

I was very excited that Acid King was releasing new music this past year, and it did not disappoint. I was a bit cautious with this album, as their previous record, Middle of Nowhere, Center of Everywhere was alright, but it didn’t seem to hold the same heavy power that they had in previous releases. I don’t expect another Busse Woods, but their previous offering was just lacking. Beyond Vision is missing nothing. A great album, entirely. Spacey and heavy and giving all the brain tingles.


May 2023 gave us two great releases.

First, Year of October just continued to get better with their album Keep on Fighting. https://yearofoctober.bandcamp.com/album/keep-on-fighting

They offer their own brand of heaviness with a twist. They bill themselves as a “rock band,” but they are so much more. In 2021, I reviewed their album Wastelands (http://tickleyourtaint.blogspot.com/2021/03/year-of-october-wastelands-2020.html).

Keep on Fighting reveals more growth and quality from YOO. They get better and better with every album, and this one had to be put on my Album of the Year list.


Second, in May, I stumbled onto the amazing They Watch Us from the Moon. They released their debut record Cosmic Chronicles I: The Ascension. https://theywatchusfromthemoon.bandcamp.com/album/cosmic-chronicles-act-i-the-ascension

This album blew me away. It’s heavy, it’s doomy, and the dual simultaneous harmonizing vocals make this a standout record. And, by chance, I found out I had booked their drummer’s old band (Jumbo’s Killcrane) a few times in years past. If you like heavy music, you should really give this a listen.



June 2023 gave us a fantastic record from Cable Ties out of Melbourne, Australia. All Her Plans is phenomenal. 

https://theywatchusfromthemoon.bandcamp.com/album/cosmic-chronicles-act-i-the-ascension

It’s got anger, thought, heart, fury, and emotion. It’s got all the things! This album is one I can listen to on repeat.


October 2023 birthed two killers as well.

Hippie Death Cult, Helichrysum

https://hippiedeathcult.bandcamp.com/album/helichrysum

This album is all I could want and more from Hippie Death Cult. On this record, the band is now a trio. No shade to the member who left, but HDC seems to have just stepped up to another level. Helichrysum has a myriad of sounds and textures. If you take the time to listen, I think you’ll understand why this is one of my contenders.


Howling Giant gave the world their seceond album, Glass Future. https://howlinggiant.bandcamp.com/album/glass-future

This band has been on my radar for some time. They just put forward stellar music. It’s heavy, it’s heady, and it’s alright by me! This is my final offering for an album of the year!


There were numerous other releases that I really enjoyed in 2023 as well. In no particular order, they are:

Mars Red Sky released 2 slabs in 2023: Mars Red Sky w/Queen of the Meadow EP and Dawn of the Dusk LP.


If You Gotta Go-Go, Go-Go Now.

Go-Go’s cover compilation on Sympathy For The Record Industry


Cruel Curses, We All Get Lost Along the Way EP.


Closet Witch, Chiaroscura.


Taxi Girls, Coming Up Roses EP.


System of Slaves, Master of Mankind.


Dead Bob, Life Like.

John Wright from NoMeansNo’s solo project, now featuring an all-star band when playing live!


Epiq, Pas Bravo Las Viande.


Death Pill, Death Pill LP and split 7” w/Shooting Daggers.


Ex-Parents, Ex-Parents.

 

Dopelord, Songs for Satan.


Filth Is Eternal, Find Out (!!!).


Amazombies, End of the Line. 

Recorded 19 years previously and released digitally on Spotify only, for now.


I had the opportunity to see very few live shows, and my memory has trouble recalling the ones that I saw, but there some that stand out in my memory:

Twin Wizard in Rapid City

Wizzerd in Spearfish

Off With Their Heads in Denver, where I really enjoyed catching Denver openers, Tuff Bluff!


Things to look for in 2024:

Sprints, Letter o Self (Out January 1, 2024)

Bellyard, Bellyard EP

Tuesday, January 2, 2024

Scott’s Favorite Music in 2023

By Scott


The Tubs, Dead Meat (2023).

My favorite album of the year: a punchy, expertly crafted, nothing-wasted LP. Even though the echoes of Richard Thompson piqued my interest, I don’t want to diminish the Tubs by making a comparison. This is simply great stuff. I’ve played it all year and it still sounds fresh and exciting. 


Dead Moon, In the Graveyard (1988).

Last year, my taint-tickling colleague Null included all the Dead Moon albums (and book!) in his list. I’d never spent much time listening to them so decided to dive in and was immediately hooked. I bought the first half of their discography on vinyl (per Null’s instruction) and they became the soundtrack to most of my year. My Dead Moon education will continue into 2024!


Bruce Cockburn, O Sun O Moon (2023).

The great Cockburn is now in his late 70s, and this album numbers in the late 30s, as far as his studio albums go, but its strongest moments are as good as anything else he’s recorded over the decades. O Sun O Moon is full of mysticism, anger, despair, beauty, and, as always, some fine fucking guitar playing. 


Soilwork, Övergivenheten (2022).

Soilwork seems to have settled into a comfortable sound that blends some of the old, thrashy, melo-death attack of their earlier albums (which I love) with the unrepentant catchiness and pleasing riffiness of big, loud, hard rock. A good one to play at high volume, but full of musically intriguing ideas if you listen closely. 


Colter Wall, Little Songs (2023).

This was a big year of Colter Wall for me, but whenever I listened to his earlier stuff, I found myself amazed by how excellent his singing is on this latest album. Some people may prefer his grittier, earlier style, but I like the mellow baritone, and here, his singing shows a new level of elegance and control. Plus, the songs are good! 


Guerrilla Girls! She-Punks & Beyond 1975-2016.

An eclectic and enjoyable compilation that spans over forty years, from Patti Smith to newer bands. I sometimes find myself wishing it was heavier on straight-up punk rock but the variety is, I suppose, the point. 


Elder, Innate Passage (2022).

I spent time this year listening to Elder's earliest albums, which are very good as big slabs of stoner metal, but they made me appreciate how much the band has evolved. Innate Passage is really a stunning sonic journey, and if that sounds pretentious, the music demands it. This is life-affirming stuff in the way that only certain types of creative metal bands can be. 


Ray Wylie Hubbard, Co-Starring 1 and Co-Starring 2 (2020, 2022).

RWH will draw you in by being sort of fun and goofy, or by dropping all sorts of musical references, then knock you out with a perfect line or a stunning, brooding song. On these two albums, he’s accompanied by a handful of guest stars, from the truly star-level (Ringo, Willie) to lesser known artists, but the guests never get in the way, and the collaborations are never obtrusive. Calling them “co-stars” is too generous, and that’s all for the better: Hubbard’s personality is front and center on these solid albums, and his voice and words are the reasons you’d want to listen anyway. 


Amorphis, Halo (2022).

Like Soilwork, Amorphis has settled into a sound that blends the old and the new, a style that can be catchy and tuneful without pretending to be anything other than a metal band. Like their last several albums, Halo is pretty consistent overall while containing a lot of diverse elements within the songs themselves, like a stew packed with various tasty morsels: nourishing, hearty, and, yeah, kind of similar from bite to bite, but very satisfying.


Live concert: Meshuggah and In Flames. 

I’ve wanted to see In Flames for years, and although I haven’t been a big fan of their later albums, their earliest ones remain some of my all-time favorites. Seeing them was a thrill. But seeing Meshuggah...hard to describe. Do you enjoy staring into multi-colored strobe lights for 1.5 hours while being blasted by very loud, very confusing sounds? Then this is the band for you! The show can best be summed up by the reaction of the guy sitting in front of me, who every so often would grab both sides of his head and just scream at the top of his lungs. Over and over and over. 


Honorable mention: Cheekface. 

I don’t listen to a lot of bands like this, and sometimes I think their music is a little annoying, but seek out Cheekface for the best lyricist working today (sorry, Jason Isbell). The songs are full of deadpan non-sequiturs that will make you laugh, or at least kind of snort, and make you think. From the song, “When Life Hands You Problems”: “I am yelling ‘someone’s in here’ from the bathroom stall of life.” Aren't we all? 




Monday, January 1, 2024

Reflecting on the Sale of Bandcamp, Extreme Layoffs, and the Impending Erosion of Bandcamp as a Service and Platform

By Jack Rafferty


An immensely disappointing story to highlight from this previous year is the sale of, and subsequent gutting of, Bandcamp. One of the more artist-friendly music platforms out there, Bandcamp was a wonderful place for all those creating music, but especially great for up-and-coming bands and those seeking a platform and exposure that wouldn’t utterly exploit the fuck out of them. For a little background, Bandcamp was purchased by Epic Games, then sold to Songtradr, who proceeded to lay off half the staff of the entire company, particularly targeting those who were attempting to unionize (and who had won the ability to a form union) (https://www.sfgate.com/tech/article/bandcamp-bargaining-union-layoffs-songtradr-18432047.php). In a year already terrible for layoffs, especially in tech, gaming, media, etc., this one really pissed me the fuck off. 

This act is unfortunately part of a much larger, and growing, trend of attempting to stamp out any gains in working-class organization and power by squeezing down on people, threatening what little stability they have in their livelihoods. Using bullshit excuses, such as Epic Games’ CEO Tim Sweeney’s claim of “overspending.” A SFG article (https://www.sfgate.com/tech/article/bandcamp-bargaining-union-layoffs-songtradr-18432047.php) spells out the toll this takes, not just on people’s lives, but the creative integrity and independence of the company as a whole, citing:

“The union added that Bandcamp’s editorial team, responsible for the independent- and small-artist focused Bandcamp Daily, has been cut in half, and two-thirds of union-eligible engineering team members have been laid off too. Twelve out of the 13 union-eligible support staff are out as well, the union said, plus 70% of the vinyl team. Bandcamp’s vinyl pressing service lets artists run pledge campaigns to test out their market for potential vinyl releases.

‘It feels as though many of the aspects that make Bandcamp human—that make it a balm in an algorithm- and profit-driven music industry—have been gutted through these layoffs,’ laid-off editorial team member Atoosa Moinzadeh wrote in the release provided to SFGATE.”

Overall, this is just really fuckin sad and a disappointing outcome for a previously wonderful platform and the peoples’ lives involved. On top of the layoffs, this acquisition will most certainly lead Bandcamp down a road of much more egregious, profit-driven incentives and decision-making processes that will only hurt artists. 

Jack Rafferty’s Favorite Music in 2023

By Jack Rafferty


Gonna preface this one by saying that I am woefully behind on music from this year, and just cannot realistically get to it in a time that is fair to the artists while also trying to get this list done in a timely manner. I have no one but myself to blame for this. I will include an “honorable mentions” section below, which I hope to write about and will share my thoughts on later. For now, though, I will focus mostly on what I did spend the great majority of the year listening to. 


The Pogues, Red Roses for Me / Rum Sodomy & The Lash / etc.

I spent a lot of time with The Pogues this year. They were basically all I listened to in January and February, and then once again after Shane passed for about a month. I wrote a piece for Shane (https://tickleyourtaint.blogspot.com/2023/12/for-shane.html), which was one reason I had not focused on this list as much as I would have liked. The Pogues have been and will continue to be an immensely important part of my life. 


Show Me the Body, Trouble the Water / Body War / Dog Whistle / Corpus.

Show Me the Body is just kind of a constant for me at this point. There’s hardly a week that goes by where I don’t listen to at least a few tracks from them. They sustain me through my bleak moods and more bitter days. 


Colter Wall, Colter Wall.

Basically, the same point I made above for SMTB can be made about Colter, except Colter occupies my melancholic and despairing moments. Specifically, his self-titled album. I dabble with his other work on and off, but I always consistently return to his self-titled. That album, to me, does not have a bad moment on it, and I don’t think there is much that captures that same sense of weariness and sorrow displayed there, other than a couple Imaginary Appalachia tracks (notably “Caroline” and “Living on the Sand”). 


Joe Heaney, The Road from Connemara/Say a Song.

Discovering Joe Heaney this year was like being struck by a bolt of lightning. Heaney is a prominent and irreplaceable source of a recorded repertoire of traditional Irish songs, sung in traditional ways, most of which he learned by eavesdropping on his father, his grandmother, and others of his family as a child growing up in Carna, County Galway. A master of sean-nós (old-style) Irish singing, which developed largely as a result of British forces confiscating all the Irish instruments they could in an attempt to disrupt and erase Irish culture through suppression of their music. This type of a cappella singing was a way of combating ethnic cleansing and asserting the preservation of culture. Heaney’s voice is beautiful, full of sadness and resilience.  


Lisa O’Neill, All of This Is Chance.

The haunting first words spoken by Lisa on this album are the opening lines from Patrick Kavanagh’s tremendous poem, “The Great Hunger,”

Clay is the word and clay is the flesh

Where the potato-gatherers like mechanised scarecrows move

Along the side-fall of the hill

I must admit that at first I struggled to get on board with this album, because I loved Long Gone Song so immensely, and this record differs quite a lot from it. However, I knew what was here just needed getting used to, because it was obviously fantastic, just different. I’m glad I have revisited it as often as I have, and gave myself the chance to acclimate to it, because it is truly great. Lisa has constantly renewed and enhanced herself as a songwriter, poet, and artist over the years. All of This Is Chance is lush, austere, enigmatic, and deserving of much praise. This is Lisa’s most complex, dense, emotional, and raw record yet. The more time I spend with it, the more I realize how synthesized the long list of Lisa’s influences is. She is truly eclectic and filled with wonder for life, for all its many hurts and things worthy of love. This one requires one to sit and steep in its dark yet moonlit waters. It’s a fucking masterpiece. 


Kneecap, “Its Been Ages.”

This is only a single, as Kneecap’s releases are rather sporadic, but I listened to this song so many goddamn times this year. There’s nothing on this Earth like Kneecap. The Belfast hip hop trio blends Irish Gaeilge and English, with staunchly republican politics, rowdiness, irreverence, and working-class life and struggle. Importantly, their music also grapples with the complexity of the history of Ireland’s resistance, and how they fit (or don’t fit—their name refers to the punishment certain republican paramilitary groups would at times inflict on drug users) into that. They’re tackling the messiness of this lived experience, and the human imperfections involved in these movements. They are trailblazers for Irish music, straddling the blurred line of the youth and traditional music and culture. There’s a lot more I’d like to say about them, but I imagine I’ll write a larger piece on them soon, so I’ll save it for that.


Queens of the Stone Age, In Times New Roman.

I’ve been a huge QOTSA fan for a long time. I know some folks who only really care for the heavier stuff from their early days, but …Like Clockwork is my favorite album of their discography next to Songs for the Deaf. Their 2017 album, Villains, had its moments, but was the first real dud for me regarding the band. It’s not a bad album, it just didn’t strike me like the others did. That one has grown on me since then, but I still regard it as such. Since then, much has happened in the world, including a lot in frontman Josh Homme’s personal life. Given this, I was intrigued if there would be another iteration of an album akin to …Like Clockwork, as that album is their darkest to date. In Times New Roman is, well, it is interesting. I’m having a lot of the same feelings toward it that I had for Villains, unfortunately. I don’t think it is a bad album, it’s just not a great album. In particular, I take issue with certain decisions regarding the production. The guitar tone, the mix, certain things about it just don’t click with me. I will say that from my first listen to the fifth, I did experience the same thing I did with Villains, which is that it is growing on me. I think there are genuinely good tracks here, like “Paper Machete,” “Carnavoyeur,” and “Sicily.” However, nothing here really reaches the raw energy of their first three albums, while also not ever approaching the depths of sorrow of …Like Clockwork, the disorienting, fuzzed-out tracks of Era Vulgaris, or the eerie melodies of Lullabies to Paralyze. Overall, I’ve tried to sit with this one as much as possible this year, to really challenge my initial opinion on it, and it has improved with more listens, but it still feels as though it lingers in the shadow of previous work. 


Lankum, False Lankum.

Lankum is easily one of my favorite bands. Their long-form, traditionally inspired yet radically new way of folk music and storytelling is wholly unique. The Livelong Day is one of my favorite albums, full stop. They have a level of respect and seriousness for these songs and stories that bleeds through every slow note they play. Each Lankum song is like navigating the dark and ancient forests that once filled Ireland’s landscape. Filled with ghosts and whispers of moss. False Lankum follows in the dark, swelling sound they have cultivated and honed, but it has gained an even deeper sense of grief, fragility, and dissonance. The songs here feel like long breaths taken in silent rooms, of reminiscing alone on lost dreams, and momentary lapses into overwhelming woe. 

The opening track, “Go Dig My Grave,” is their rendition of the folk song “The Butcher Boy.” Already one of the most tragic songs in existence, Lankum takes it to new levels, with the concluding minutes of the song filled with wailing strings meant to mimic caointeoireacht, keening, a nearly extinct and ancient form of traditional vocal lament. It is nearly unbearable in its depiction of the grief of the father finding his daughter after she had hanged herself. 

Every song on this album could have its own paragraph, so I’ll resist writing about all of them, but another notable track is their cover of Cyril Tawney’s “On a Monday Morning.” Daragh originally covered this song solo during the pandemic, and it perfectly captured the feeling of despair, loneliness, loss of time, and disappointment in a life imposed upon so many trapped working-class people trading every aspect of their being and potential to make profits for capitalists. False Lankum is another incredible triumph in Lankum’s discography. I like this line in Pitchfork’s review about them, as I think it sums them up well, “They take songs that trace back to lost worlds and make them sound instead like a future built on the ruins of today.”


billy woods and Kenny Segal, Maps.

I say this basically every year at this point, but it is borderline absurd the frequency of output billy woods has, and the fact that he maintains a consistent level of quality. It is damn admirable. Maps sees another collaboration with Kenny Segal, the previous being Hiding Places. Frankly, there isn’t much to say here that I haven’t said. Billy’s enigmatic and near-spoken word delivery and lyricism is at full force here, and it is a force to be reckoned with. The features on this project are pretty notable, as they stand out a good deal and are integrated very well. From billy’s Armand Hammer counterpart, E L U C I D, to monoliths like Danny Brown, Aesop Rock, and Quelle Chris. It is hard to compare billy’s projects, but this is certainly one of my favorites. Kenny’s beats here have a bit more umph and presence than Hiding Places, and billy’s lines are at their height. 


Ne Obliviscaris, Exul.

Ne Obliviscaris has been one of my favorite metal bands for many years. It has been a long time since we have heard from them, a result I’m noticing often due to the pandemic. Their 2017 album Urn had them continuing an established formula that is very much their own, but each of their albums has had its own distinct measure of awe to it. The first thing I need to mention regarding Exul was my initial bad impression of it, which resulted from the awful cover art. Ne Obliviscaris has always had a penchant for fluid, ethereal cover art, but it has always worked for me. Exul’s, however, basically just looks like a bad cover for a Playstation 3 video game. 

Luckily, a book shouldn’t be judged by its cover, and neither should an album. Exul, in many ways, is just as excellent as the other albums. I will say, this one does fall short, though not by much. There are more sections of Exul, for example, that tend to drag on, and really don’t contribute much to their typical long-form style. There are incredible moments here, though, many of which made me stop what I was doing to simply revel in them and replay them. That is what I expect from this band. So, while it may not be my favorite record from Ne Obliviscaris, they continue to keep me enraptured in what they are doing, as they consistently have done for over ten years now. 


The Mary Wallopers, Irish Rock n Roll/The Mary Wallopers/A Mouthful of The Mary Wallopers.

Not much I can say about the Mary Wallopers at this point that I haven’t in previous year-end lists or my piece I wrote on them earlier in 2023 (https://tickleyourtaint.blogspot.com/2023/12/why-i-am-glad-mary-wallopers-exist.html). They are another constant presence in my life, and their new album, Irish Rock n Roll, is just excellent. If I were still ranking my albums each year, this one would be up there. With each release, they merely seem to improve and hone the foundations they have established. They’re rowdier, more energetic, more political, with better mixes/production each time. They just get fuckin’ better every year and I can’t wait for more. 


GEL, Only Constant.

I loved Violent Closure, and I was really looking forward to Only Constant. GEL does an amazing job of maintaining the energy and power of hardcore punk, while also challenging certain tropes of the genre and breathing their own unique message and life into it. They are communal, exhilarating, and filled with catharsis and rage. 


Lana Del Ray, Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel under Ocean Blvd.

I wasn’t really a huge fan of Lana until NFR released. That album really showed a profound step in the maturity of Lana’s songwriting, and she seemed to be much more comfortable in her music at that time. I am happy to say that her new record is a continuation of that, with even more strides toward a richer, more varied, and serious approach. This is really a gorgeous album and shouldn’t be missed. 


King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, Petrodragonic Apocalypse, or Dawn of Eternal Night: An Annihilation of Planet Earth and the Beginning of Merciless Damnation.

It is actually staggering how many albums King Gizzard have released. Twenty-five in one decade is almost beyond my understanding. I think my love of their records has waxed and waned, as I think some have certainly been better than others. However, given their sincerely overwhelming output, this is to be expected, and I would say they have more good ones than bad. It is especially shocking that their album output has been so diverse from a genre standpoint. I’ve always admired their clear love for all things music, and their willingness to experiment and explore. Petrodragonic is their second release that has a specifically metal approach, and yet another where the themes surround environmental devastation, the downfalls of capitalist hubris, etc. 

Personally, I liked this one more than Infest the Rats Nest. Petrodragonic seems to have more urgency to it, more energy and vitality. The playing is tight and dialed in, the tone fuzzed out, the vocals and drums often reminding me a lot of Motorhead. Hard-hitting, dense, aggressive. I love this band, and even if I don’t love every release they put out, I look forward to each one. Petrodragonic is one that really resonated with me, though, and I highly recommend checking it out. 


Dean Johnson, Nothing for Me, Please.

The first time I saw Dean Johnson and his shaggy mustache was on Western As Fuck, a veritable paradise for any fan of county and folk music. He was playing in an old tavern, and his personality immediately won me over, and he just felt like someone I’d known for years and was having a beer with. Once he started singing, and I heard his melancholy tenor voice, I was hooked. Nothing for Me, Please is Dean’s debut album, and he has only gotten better since I first heard him. “Faraway Skies” is one of my favorite songs of the year. 

There is a gentleness to Dean, in the way he sings and plays guitar, how he sways while he performs, his laugh and the brightness of his eyes. Everything about his music just takes me to good thoughts and memories, even if the song is woeful. The production on this album is also notable. It has the perfect amount of airiness and space, and the warmth to balance it. Really great stuff. Cannot recommend Dean highly enough, and I cannot wait to hear more from him. 


Model/Actriz, Dogsbody.

Ever since Daughters released You Won’t Get What You Want in 2018, nothing has really filled the same space for me musically. Nothing sounds even close to the sound on that album, and Model/Actriz is no different. However, I think Model/Actriz is one of the closer approximations I’ve heard. Dogsbody is their debut, and it is an explosive one. Teeming with complicated and dark feelings of desire, fear, visceral noise, sex, deranged howling, and more. I like how Pitchfork described it as an “exploration of hedonism’s rot and underbelly.” A torturous and vivid cabaret. 


Larry & Joe, Nuevo South Train.

I happily discovered Larry & Joe through Gems on VHS. Larry is introduced as a heavy machinery operator from Monagas, Venezuela, who works to build retaining walls. He then goes on to play an unbelievably beautiful version of “Se Murió La Fundadora,” a Venezuelan folk song by Freddy Salcedo, which he accompanies with a harp. With his brightly colored safety vest and radio still on, he plays this entrancing song in the parking lot nearby. 

Joe Troop is a bluegrass musician known for his band Che Apalache, who has shifted focus to playing music and working with migrants. They are both talented multi-instrumentalists, and that experience is shown here in its wonderful diversity. Nuevo South Train is the duo’s first album, and it is rather remarkable the spectrum of sound and genre present. There’s harp, banjo, cuatro, fiddle, maracas, guitar, upright bass, and more, not to mention the various types of folk music. This is an incredible first record by two musicians that I intend to follow closely. 


Reverend Kristin Michael Hayter, Saved!

Sinner Get Ready ended up being the final project that Kristin Hayter would release under the identity of Lingua Ignota. Kristin put out a statement claiming that much of this has to do with moving on from a project and music that was rooted in a time and experiences of immense pain, and to leave it behind was a part of a process of healing. 

While I was disappointed to know I wouldn’t hear any new material in that same vein, I was very happy for Kristin, and felt supportive of whatever they decided to do in the future. Enter Saved!, the first record for Kristin’s new artistic endeavor. With the first single that I heard being “All My Friends Are Going to Hell,” I initially had some trepidation, as it just did not have the same elements that I loved. 

However, now that I have gotten the chance to listen to the album, I must say that I like it a lot. It is certainly different. I’ve always had complicated feelings about Kristin’s religious themes with Lingua, and those are utterly forefront here. There are even multiple songs that are straightforward gospel in the old style. 

I do find it intriguing to hear Kristin’s take on this style, though it is the songs such as “Idumea,” “I Will Be with You Always,” and others that resonated with me the most. While different, mainly in the instrumentation and production, these tracks do remind me a lot of the gentler songs on Sinner Get Ready, such as “Pennsylvania Furnace,” and “Perpetual Flame of Centralia.” I can see the ways in which Kristin was making the transition to a new sound that was subtle, but profound. 

Interestingly, the very jangly sound mix on this was achieved by recording the songs on a 4-track and feeding them through broken cassette players, mangling them. This is quite the unique artistic decision, especially when on traditional Christian songs and devotionals. It produces an unnerving quality over Kristin’s haunting and pained voice. 

A notable point to make here is just how expertly each song flows into the other. It has been a while since I have heard an album that threads together so naturally. I honestly would have to check the track currently playing often to realize whether the song had changed. 

There are also moments on this album that are surprisingly some of the most disturbing and at the same time most beautiful that Kristin has ever done. Specifically, the eight-minute-long closing track, “How Can I Keep from Singing,” where Kristin softly sings in the foreground while also speaking in tongues in the background. The song builds to the point where the tongue-speak builds to wailing, wheezing, and sobbing as though under possession. It is deeply disconcerting and heartbreaking. The track fades and ends in white noise accompanying Kristin crying, and chills crept through my body, as they often used to when listening to Lingua.

Overall, this is an exciting new project that, while perhaps never reaching the heights for me that Lingua did, I am still enamored by. At the end of the day, Kristin is a singularly incredible vocalist, and a deeply creative artist. There is a dense musical heritage of American folk, blues, gospel, and more on display here in ways it beforehand has not been conceived. I am glad that Kristin is healing, and evolving as an artist, and cannot wait to see what else they do in the future.


Anohni and the Johnsons, My Back Was a Bridge for you To Cross.

Possibly the most heartbreaking album of the year. Every syllable on this album aches. Anohni’s voice is impossibly sad and beautiful, and each line of each song is purely devastating. What space is there to grieve for a world of life being systematically extinguished while the death cult of capitalists ushers everyone to an early grave without time to even process it? Everything about this album is crushing and needed. 


Sprain, The Lamb as Effigy.

Much of this album defies explanation. It is like crossing a desert with a broken leg and a swollen tongue seeking revenge on an unknown entity. The ugly heaviness of every step, the incendiary delirium. Slowly going mad. It trudges across thresholds of familiar territory into places of no return, and it doesn’t look back as it does so. Transcendent and vastly unsettling.  


Nick Shoulders, All Bad.

Nick continues to be a staple in my everyday listening. He is inimitable. His echoing whistles and yodels reverberating off Ozark cliffs. All Bad showcases Nick’s best songwriting to date, with a much greater emphasis on a holistic writing style that encompasses each element of his band, who all play wonderfully on the album. This album also features the band’s punk sensibilities in its most sincere form yet. Nick has always had that rare ability of dealing with topics of hardship and sorrow in an upbeat, joyful manner that seems in no way contradictory. It reminds me a lot of Roger Miller and Michael Hurley for those reasons. Nick has a very disciplined and extensive knowledge of the roots he pulls from, joined with a deep sense of empathy and care. Some of my favorite tracks include “All Bad,” “Whooped If You Will,” and Won’t Fence Us In.” There are so many great lyrics throughout the whole album, I couldn’t possibly highlight my favorites, but I’ll settle for sharing this from “Won’t Fence Us In.”


There once was land endless land

Under starry skies above

But they fenced it in

Now it’s interstates and interchanges

Monocrop and truckstops

‘Cause they fenced it in

I wish that every golf course became a WMA

And every politician knew the rent that we paid

Just to drink ourselves to death

And go to jobs that we hate

Oh to be fenced in

Turn us loose and let us rattle off our chains

And lift the pain from all our faces

And every hour on the clock or in a classroom

Or a cell could not contain us

I just don’t see any glory in industrial cattle

And truckers’ bodies twist from a life in the saddle

Is it freedom ringing in your ear or just a death rattle?

You won’t fence us in.


Carnosus, Visions of Infinihility.

I had actually finished the list, and had to come back and add this after the fact, because holy shit what the fuck is this. From the first ten seconds I was completely won over. If you like tech death at all, you must listen to this. If you want demented, throat-ripping vocals that are basically a gnarlier Trevor Strnad, blistering riffs, chunky 7-string bass vibrating through your skull, blast beats blast beats blast beats, this is top tier. And tight, the playing and the production are tight and immaculate. Oh, by the way, it’s fucking self-released (yet still has possibly the best production I’ve heard this year). By two songs in, I was like, oh look, my favorite metal album of the year (even though I have around 45 other metal albums to check out still). Fucking do not skip this.


Honorable Mentions That I Will Hopefully Write About Later:


Kassi Valazza, Kassi Valazza Knows Nothing.


McKinley Dixon, Beloved! Paradise! Jazz?


Poison Ruin, Harvest.


Fit For an Autopsy/Thy Art Is Murder/Malevolence, The Aggression Sessions.


Armand Hammer, We Buy Diabetic Test Strips.


Cattle Decapitation, Terrasite.


Thantifaxath, Hive Mind Narcosis.


Jesus Piece, …So Unknown.


Mitski, The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We.


Fuming Mouth, Last Day of Sun.


Cryptopsy, As Gomorrah Burns.


Ulthar, Anthronomicon.


Tomb Mold, The Enduring Spirit.


Geese, 3D Country.