With December approaching quickly (tomorrow, actually), I'm starting to compile a list of my favorite albums this year. This post is for other, non-album releases this year that I loved and wanted to give a little shout-out to. Why? God knows.
Alphabetically:
ANTWON - "DOUBLE ECSTASY" EP
Absolutely disgusting rapper ANTWON gets especially dark and personal on this EP, with standout tracks like "Luv" proving he's much more than a one-trick pony.
The Body - "To Know and to Hide" Single
Once again, this Portland-based duo released some absolutely soul-crushing music (as part of the fucking Adult Swim Singles Series!).
Botanist / Oskoreien - "Green Metal / Deterministic Chaos" EP
Both Botanist and Oskoreien continue stretching the limits of black metal on this split EP.
Ceschi / Pat the Bunny - "Ceschi / Pat the Bunny" EP
Pat the Bunny goes out the way he came in: effectively unnoticed and making choices that would make most people very concerned (in this case, teaming up with rapper Ceschi for a quasi-collaboration). Surprise! They both nail it.
Clarence Clarity - "SAME" EP(?) / "Vapid Feels are Vapid" Single / Hidden Tracks
We got teased this year: an EP of the same song over and over, an official single release and two hidden tracks on his SoundCloud make this enigmatic madman a must-listen.
Cloud Nothings - "Modern Act" Single
This song has no right being this good.
COLOR TV - "COLOR TV" EP
Embracing the fun side of 70s punk, COLOR TV craft four catchy and well-produced tunes.
Death Grips - "Interview 2016" EP/Mixtape
What can I say? Even at their most unabashedly ridiculous they still make great music.
The Dillinger Escape Plan - "Limerent Death" Single
I cheated a little bit here (since it landed on "Dissociation") but man, this single is everything to love about Dillinger in one song.
Full of Hell - "Amber Mote in the Black Vault" EP
Another slice of highly technical aggression from this quickly-rising grindcore/hardcore band.
Gorguts - "Pleiades' Dust" Single/EP
Technical death metal masters Gorguts prove why they're revered with killer songwriting and some of the heaviest riffs this year.
Iglooghost - "Little Grids" EP
UK-based producer Iglooghost compiles some older singles and some remixes for a fun dance/electronic music EP.
Injury Reserve - "Oh Shit!!!" Single
One of the most ridiculous hip-hop songs this year.
Jackal Onasis - "Big Deal Party" EP
A surprisingly pretty alt rock EP with a big heart and bigger distortion pedals.
Carly Rae Jepsen - "Emotion Side B" EP
I hate it as much as you do, but she's making some of the best pop music around right now. We all have to come to terms with it.
Kagoule - "Pharmacy" Single
90s revivalism continues in earnest (but it's good!).
Krallice - "Hyperion" EP
Colin Marston and company continue to blend the lines between mathcore, black and death metal in fascinating ways.
LUKA - "Pauses of the Night / Why Don't You Go to Her" Single
Canadian sweetheart LUKA put out two of the best love songs this year here.
Mommy - "Songs About Children" EP
This is a dark, fairly disturbing EP about psychiatric institutions all filtered through a grimy, lo-fi punk lens with violent performances abound.
Nail Polish - "Authentic Living" EP
Nail Polish embrace Wire's old hard-edged punk sound with fantastic results.
Open Mike Eagle - "How to Be Super Petty To Your Ex" Single
While fucking hilarious, this track is also moving and catchy as hell - in short, it's Open Mike Eagle.
Pile - "Cut From First Other Tape" Single
While I'm incredibly frustrated that the tape is damn near impossible to get my hands on, this single is pretty fantastic.
PURGIST - "Our Temple is On Fire" EP
Some of the most genuinely unnerving and depressing noise music I've heard this year.
Run the Jewels - "2100 (feat. BOOTS)" Single
RTJ comforts the hip-hop listening world in the face of Trump with one of their best songs yet.
Scallops Hotel - "Too Much of Life Is Mood" Single/EP
Milo, under the moniker of Scallops Hotel, makes some beautiful, hazy hip-hop.
Seattle's New Gods - "How's It Going to End?" Single
Grunge-tinged but soaked with punk aggression, these up-and-comers nail this new track.
Secret Circle - "Keep it Low" Single
Lil Ugly Mane, ANTWON, and Wiki team up for one of the best collaborations in hip-hop since, well, Run the Jewels.
Skeleton - "Skeleton" EP
The impossible-to-track-down Skeleton release a grimy, blackened punk EP with some serious balls.
Sporting Life - "Slam Dunk" EPs
Producer extraordinaire Sporting Life dropped three EPs this year of fantastic beats and remixes from the likes of Actress and Babyfather.
Tony Molina - "Confront the Truth" EP
Last but not least, Tony Molina put out a surprisingly beautiful EP of acoustic ballads this year. For some reason. I'm not complaining, but why?
Hope you find something you like here!
No comments:
Post a Comment