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Winter Album Rundown

February 24, 2020 by A.S. Van Dorston

Best Albums of 2020 So Far

1. We Here Now – The Chikipunk Years EP (Elektrohasch/Homemade Gifts) Jan 17 – It’s only just over 21 minutes, but so far it’s the best thing to come out this year from the new multinational garage psych/psych prog band from Brazil, Peru and US via India, Hong Kong and Singapore. | Bandcamp | Full Review

2. Bambara – Stray (Wharf Cat) Feb 14 – What better way to celebrate Valentine’s Day than Bambara’s darkly macabre take on romance, probably the post-punk/garage noir classic of the year. | Bandcamp | Full Review

3. Elephant Stone – Hollow (Fuzz Club) Feb 14 – The first of an exciting series of major anticipated psych pop albums this year, as previewed in the Winter Psych Rundown, this Montreal band lead by sitar-wielding Rishi Dhir tackles an ambitious sci-fi dystopian concept, resulting in possibly the best of their six albums so far. | Bandcamp | Full Review

4. Algiers – There Is No Year (Matador) Jan 17 – Psychedelic paranormal horror, a chopped up epic poem called “Misophonia,” and some subtly adventerous, forward looking sound design is a lot to unpack. Critical and fan response has been varied, but I predict this album will hold up over scrutiny and time. | Bandcamp | Full Review

5. The Hanging Stars – A New Kind Of Sky (Crimson Crow) Feb 21

On their first two albums Over The Silvery Lake (2016) and Songs For Somewhere Else (2018), this London band already established themselves as masterful purveyors of Cosmic Americana as much as any of the bands covered in the late 60s Laurel Canyon documentary, Echo In The Canyon (2019). The thing is, even the best of those bands (The Byrds, Buffalo Springfield, Flying Burrito Brothers) failed to make albums I want to listen to all the way through repeatedly. That hasn’t been a problem with The Hanging Stars, and I had a feeling their third one would be special. Sure enough, I haven’t heard such crystalline beauty on songs like “Choir Of Criers” and “(I’ve Seen) The Summer in Her Eyes” since peak early 90s era The Jayhawks. The deceptively simple piano riff on “I Will Please You” ascends to glorious power pop that needs to be played on the car radio, windows down, cruising into the twilight. Digital release includes bonus tracks “Wiretreader” and the lovely tribute, “Tom Petty.” | Bandcamp

6. Shadow Show – Silhouettes (Burger) Feb 14

Amazing debut from Detroit garage psych trio who formed as teens. This Detroit garage psych trio of women have perked up ears starting back in 2018 with pre-album single releases of “The Machine,” “Glass Eye” and “Shadow Box.” It’s a captivating mix of 60s girl group harmonies and spindly, jangly guitars. While the rich history of Detroit garage psych is a key element, I also hear some UK post-punk along the lines of early Raincoats, Liliput and Mo-Dettes. | Bandcamp

7. Shopping – All Or Nothing (Fatcat) Feb 7 – Fourth album from London post-punkers. Vocalist/guitarist Rachel Aggs has also kept busy with Trash Kit. This album is their most engaging and hooky yet. | Bandcamp

8. Tami Neilson – Chickaboom! (Neilson) Feb 14 – The best of the batch of Americana obsessed musicians residing in New Zealand. A modern reincarnation of Patsy Cline’s mournful ballads and Wanda Jackson’s rockabilly raveups. Neilson’s songs stood out on the soundtracks to the New Zealand The Brokenwood Mysteries series. RIYL Amy Winhouse and Neko Case. | Bandcamp

9. Pedaljets – Twist The Lens (Electric Moth) Feb 14

I first stumbled upon Pedaljets’ second album Today, Today (1988, which will be reissued this year) while skimming through new releases on my radio show. It was a potent mix of pre-grunge rock along the lines of Soul Asylum mixed with British post-punk influences. The Kansas City band broke up in 1990 before the big alt-feeding frenzy, but reunited to record the excellent What’s In Between (2013). This one is even better. It’s more diverse, dipping their guitars into a variety of styles like The Fall on “This Is Sepsis,” mod garage on (“Loved A Stone”), Beatles-isms on “Sleepy Girl” and “What Only Cats Chase.” Mike Allmeyer’s Dylan/Reed via Psychedelic Furs sneer never sounded better on “Dissasociation Blues.” Iggy Pop would be thrilled to be able to write a tune these days like “Down Town,” and the title track especially pops. | Buy

10. Lowrider – Refractions (Blues Funderal) Feb 21 – Noted as a key band in the initial wave of stoner rock that rolled through Europe like a tank in 1998-2001, I mentioned in my Stoner Rock Primer that it was a damn shame Lowrider never recorded a follow-up to their classic Ode To Io (2000). Well, 20 years later they finally did. Of course it’s much different than the early 2000s, when I thought, there should be more stoner rock. Since then there have been literally thousands of albums released in that genre. Try keeping up with every album in Doom Charts, and you’ll feel the fatigue. So while the massive glut of releases sort of dilutes my delight, they’re still a great band, and a welcome addition to the pigpile. | Bandcamp

11. Haunt – Mind Freeze (Shadow Kingdom) Jan 10 – Third full-length album in three years from the prolific Trevor William Church, who retired his doom project Beastmaker to focus on Haunt’s classic, galloping heavy metal efforts. | Bandcamp

12. Jeff Parker – Suite For Max Brown (International Anthem) Jan 24 – The latest of a string of amazing albums, mainly from Chicago based jazz, fusion, avant, improv and psych artists. Jeff Parker has served in Tortoise since 1997, and dozens of other projects. His previous album on this label, The New Breed (2016), got some attention, but this latest shows how his recent collaborations with labelmate Makaya McCraven has inspired him to stretch even further. | Bandcamp

13. Antibalas – Fu Chronicles (Daptone) Feb 7 – 20 years since releasing their first singles “N.E.S.T.A.” and “Uprising,” Williamsburg, NYC’s Antibalas is vital as ever on their seventh album. This is inspired by the Jow Ga Kung Fu School of Martial Arts where singer Duke Amayo is a senior master. Martial arts culture is also quite popular in Jamaican culture, and I’d love to hear a dub version of this along the lines of Dele Sosimi Meets Prince Fatty & Nostalgia 77You No Fit Touch Am in Dub (2016). It would also make a great soundtrack to a kung fu movie! | Bandcamp

14. The Homesick – The Big Exercise (Sub Pop) Feb 7 – Prog pop from Netherlands. While comparisons can be made to early Field Music, there’s added, prickly elements of art punk/post-punk, sweetened by psych pop. A really promising debut. | Bandcamp

15. Aktor – Placebo (Ektro/Full Contact) Feb 24 – Less a supergroup than a reunion of metal heroes in the Hall of Valhalla, Aktor is Chicago’s Chris Black (High Spirits, Dawnbringer and many more) and Finland’s Jussi Lehtisalo (Circle, Pharaoh Overlord) and Circle stickman Tomi Leppänen. Their first collaborations “I Am The Psychic Wars” (2013) and Paranoia (2015) set the template, synth-laden AOR that combines early 80s Blue Öyster Cult, Aldo Nova and Canadian tech-prog Saga with late period Hawkwind and some German kosmische. The latest sports shinier production, reflecting the combined experience of this power trio and Placebo preens like it knows it. Did the world need this? It’s super fun, so yes it did.

16. Calibro 35 – Momentum (Record Kicks) Jan 24 – This Italian group has churned out a lot of soundtrack work that spans from jazz-funk, jazz fusion, Afrobeat, psych to prog. This latest album is just as expansive, but also feels like their most focused. | Bandcamp

17. Helicon – This Can Only Lead To Chaos (Fuzz Club) Jan 24 – This East Kilbride, UK psych noir band has three albums and seven EPs since 2010. Veering between raga rock and space rock, their new album drifts into shoegaze territory, with their signature dark, moody touch. | Bandcamp

18. Envy – The Fallen Crimson (Temporary Residence) Feb 7 – Tokyo’s screamo post-rock pioneers have rooots going back to 1992. This could be one of their best. | Bandcamp

19. Grimes – Miss_Anthrop0cene (4AD) Feb 21 – On her fifth album, Grimes reminds me of first listening to My Bloody Valentine’s Loveless (1991) – disorientating like drinking too much sweet cough syrup, with an abrasive edge. Her helium-high voice floats over information-dense music, every layer packed with information, subtext, symbolism. The effect is discomforting, yet also captivating. Every song features a different way to either suffer or die. Cool! While I’m sure I’ll soon tire of the celebrity gossip about her, her boyfriend and their billion dollar baby, it will be tempered knowing that at least some of her fans might be inspired to read William Gibson’s Idoru (1996), about a virtual/cyborg holographic pop star.| Buy

20. Kvelertak – Splid (Rise) Feb 14 – After wobbling on their second and third albums, Norway’s Kvelertak are reinvigorated with new vocalist Ivar Nikolaisen, returning to the excitement of their 2010 debut with some twin-guitar harmonies a la Baroness added to their hardcore punk/black ‘n’ roll sound. Mastodon’s Troy Sanders guests on “Crack Of Doom.” | Buy

21. Lonker See – Hamza (Antena Krzyku) Feb 7 – Polish band has been exploring space rock, post-rock, psych and jazz fusion since 2015. Their latest is also their jazziest and most ambitious, though I could do without the horrible tones they slapped on the end | Buy

22. The Men – Mercy (Sacred Bones) Feb 14 – Current tour mates of Bambara have been at it nearly as long, with their eighth album of garage and post-punk. | Bandcamp


23. The Third Mind – The Third Mind (Yep Roc) Feb 14 – The Blasters’ Dave Alvin formed this supergroup with members of Camper Van Beethoven (Victor Krummenacher and David Immerglück), and guests Jesse Sykes and DJ Bonebrake (X) to do some extended psychedelic blues jams. CVB’s Jonathan Segal directed their videos. It’s mostly covers, including Fred Neil’s “Dolphins” as re-envisioned by Tim Buckley, Paul Butterfield Blues Band’s “East West,” Alice Coltrane’s “Journey in Satchidananda,” and the late Roky Erickson’s “Reverberation. | Buy

24. Tricot – Makkuro (Cutting Edge/Avex) Jan 29 – When did math rock became an actual genre? I remember the term being used tongue-in-cheek over 25 years ago to describe bands like Polvo, Don Caballero, U.S. Maple and June Of 44, but it didn’t seem enough to merit being an actual genre. Bands in all genres mess with different time signatures, from prog to technical death metal. Anyway, current bands like Japan’s Tricot seem to have actively embraced it, and while I’m more inclined to call it prog leaning indie pop, whatever you call it, it’s pretty great, though it can get fatiguing in extended doses. This is the fourth offering since 2013 from these four women, and their major label debut. Fans might argue otherwise, but it’s probably the best introduction to their sound, though ironically it’s also the only one you can’t buy lossless from Bandcamp. | Buy

25. Real Terms – Housework EP (Vested Interest) Jan 10 – New band from Liverpool explore prog pop along the lines of XTC and Field Music. |  Buy

26. Moses Boyd – Dark Matter (Exodus) Feb 14 – Quite a different turn from the free/spiritual jazz of Binker & Moses, this album features soulful vocal bits backed by smoove electronic trip hop. Not usually my thing, but this is fresh. | Bandcamp


Reissues

The Distractions – Nobody’s Perfect (Island/Occultation, 1980) Mar 20 – An exciting, relatively rare case where a lost classic (from major label Island no less) is reissued on CD (and digital and vinyl) for the first time ever. It was a long road to get there, as the project was first announced in 2016, then abandoned, then made into a crowdfunded project. You can stream or buy the 14 original tracks of the album now, or buy the physical two disc set with the singles, demos and remixed album to be delivered in March. The amazing Manchester band is the missing link between Buzzcocks and The Jam. | Bandcamp | Full Review

Nick Haeffner – The Great Indoors (Hanky Panky, 1987) Jan 8 – The voice of unsung cult post-punk/psych hero Nick Haeffner is finally being heard thanks to a renaissance of reissues, reunions and new material. Last year he got together with his old post-punk band The Tea Set (1978-81) for some performances, new song and video “Pharoahs,” and the Cleopatra released the compilation of their complete catalog in July, Back In Time For Tea. Then Hanky Panky reissued a double album version of his underrated solo debut, The Great Indoors (1987), a truly original collection that marries his post-punk background with Syd Barrett psych and jangle pop.

UT – In Gut’s House (Blast First/UT, 1987) Jan 31 – UT formed in no wave-era NYC in 1978, but soon relocated to London. Their second album, In Gut’s House, is a masterpiece of spectral, skeletal noise rock and post-punk, one of the most original albums of the time. Had they not disbanded in 1990, perhaps they would have achieved at least a portion of the success that the likes of Swans and Sonic Youth saw. They’ve actually been active since 2010, and with luck we’ll hear new music someday. | Bandcamp

Randy Holden – Population II (RidingEasy, 1969) Feb 28 – I’ve enjoyed Holden’s Hendrix-influenced guitar jams since I first came across them a decade or so ago. Nice early example of fuzz and use of 16 Sunn amps. But I always though the importance of this underground release was overstated, as the songs aren’t all that great, and he only played in Blue Cheer after they started to suck. However, I also thought it was a 1971 album, and apparently RidingEasy insists that it initially came, on a small pressing, in 1969. Well then. Along with Blue Cheer and Led Zep, this is indeed an important piece of proto-metal that pre-dates the key albums from Sabbath and Deep Purple. Especially the doomy remake of “Fruit & Icebergs.” | Buy

East Village – Hotrod Hotel (Slumberland) Jan 24 – I don’t know that East Village were one of the Great Lost Bands, but they did some nice jangle pop tunes that were in line with what was going on with Flying Nun and Creation label bands. They broke up in 1991, two years before their sole album was released. This collects their late 80s singles. | Bandcamp

The Flys – Today Belongs To Me: The Complete Recordings 1977-1980 (Warner/Cherry Red, 2019) – One of the many Between The Cracks bands who navigated the murky gray areas between glam, pub rock, new wave and punk. | Buy

Pale Saints – The Comforts Of Madness (4AD, 1990) Jan 17 – Second tier dream pop & shoegaze from Leeds deserves a fresh listen on this deluxe reissue of their debut album, the first of three in their 7 year existence, 1987-94.


Upcoming

Iggy Pop – The Idiot (Universal, 2CD, 1977) May
Iggy Pop – Lust For Life (Universal, 2CD 1977) May
Iggy Pop – 1977: The Bowie Years (Universal, 7CD) May

This is exciting news, as I’ve been waiting for deluxe reissues of those albums for decades. No details on what’s on that 7 disc set yet, but I imagine there would be stuff starting with Raw Power era Stooges and some live recordings, possibly with Bowie serving on keyboards.

Pedaljets – Today, Today (Twilight, 1988) TBD

Other

Stuff

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