What initially strikes me about Acid Tiger is the unity it exudes between different forces in the world of underground rock music. Since Acid Tiger self-proclaims that they play a “progressive rock/punk hybrid” on their Myspace, but sound akin to stoner metal, they linguistically interrupt a current (and unfortunate) punk criteria, which enables them to act as a sort of cultural black hole where all that has or ever been is free game to be mauled by the tiger. … read more
Top 5: Ariel Pink
Ariel Pink is a scary, bat-shit insane homeless man residing in an old abandoned tunnel of reverb. His albums have always been speckled with moments of lucidity and genius, but good portions were just homeless rambling. This time he was given a budget and a producer, who took a cheesecloth and chinois and strained out all of the bad acid vibes. … read more
Top 5: Autolux
Being an Autolux fan takes patience. Their first LP, Future Perfect, was an underground staple after its release in 2004. Four years later they finally revealed the Kid A-esque “Audience No. 2” as a single, which served to satisfy my Autolove for a while. After two additional years of delays and more plays than I can count generated on their Myspace player, Transit Transit saw the light of day. … read more
Top 5: Baths
When Cerulean came out on Anticon earlier this year, critics were quick to lump the 21-year-old Californian’s debut into the burgeoning (and largely made up) chillwave microgenre. Baths took offense to this—it is easy to see why. Instead of being ostensibly effects-driven and wrapped under a gauze of lo-fi consumer electronics, Cerulean is all beats. Crisp, sparkling, low-end rumbling beats are looped with such complexity that they are easy to lose in the shuffle. … read more
Top 5: Beats Antique
Music sometimes described as “belly dance” can be immediately off-putting to listeners bred on a steady diet of rock or dance. Fortunately for fans of the unique, San Fransisco’s Beats Antique carry everything you need in their packs: touches of North African Raï, Bedouin melodies and healthy doses of dubstep. Blind Threshold lends itself to breakdance moves more than any other form of old school technique. … read more
Top 5: Black Keys
Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney have crafted something rare and beautiful with the release of Brothers. It’s interesting and engaging from beginning to end and actually seems to have captured the same raw energy that was so exhilarating on their early albums. That isn’t to say Brothers is simply a rehashing. Instead, it’s as if they’ve captured that grit, but polished it up a bit with what they learned working with Danger Mouse on Attack & Release. … read more
Top 5: Melechesh
Melechesh, a Sumerian/Mesopotamian-themed black metal band that originated in Jerusalem in 1993 and relocated to the Netherlands in 1998, have always been a favorite artist of mine. The Epigenesis is Melechesh’s fifth full-length album, and easily their best. The record pushes hard on the boundaries of what black metal is, going well beyond the typical blast and scream fare. … read more
Top 5: Murs & 9th Wonder
Murs & 9th Wonder’s album Fornever was an exception to what I felt was a rather disappointing release year. The album was exactly what I wanted: consistent. Murs is always stable with his lyrical content, delivering quality product with every release. With Murs, I don’t have to hope it’s going to be good, ‘cause I know it will be. … read more
Top 5: Nephi Beh LLC
Karaoke is not only a great time, it’s an actual interactive song and dance party brought directly to your musical intake device by Nephi Beh LLC. Armed with nothing more than a couple of amps, a microphone, some ideas and a beat machine, Nephi Beh has taken karaoke to the next level over the last few years by allowing friends to make their own songs to be showcased on nights of Care E Oakey. … read more
Top 5: Pretty Lights
Derek Vincent Smith of Pretty Lights made it his mission to release three EPs this year. Each song on these three EPs are beautifully crafted, with intricate layers, complex breakdowns and groovy riffs that work together to create something to get genuinely excited about. It’s not just dance music. It’s honest and meaningful. … read more
Top 5: S.L.F.M
S.L.F.M.’s Jessica Davis may have scored the opening slot for Sonic Youth’s SLC tour in September, but busking on Broadway‘s street corner during Gallery Stroll or jamming-out at house parties are the gigs she really likes to play. Davis also likes secrets, mysteries and disguises—topics that inspire her lyrics and motivate her to sometimes wear the moustache of an English gentleman. … read more
Top 5: Sleigh Bells
Alexis Krauss and Derek Miller make up the raw, loud and addictive Brooklyn duo Sleigh Bells, but you should already know that. Chances are you were at their face-punching, sold-out show in October. Have you heard the story of the initial meeting of this pair? It plays out like the Brady Bunch. A chick named Alexis, who was once an elementary teacher, met Derek, a former Poison the Well member, while he was her waiter in a Brooklyn restaurant. … read more
