That time again and it went by so so fast. Top albums as picked by me and in no real order.
Mary Gauthier, Trouble and Love
Got a few of her albums and always loved them but this one really sounds amazing to my ears. Nothing that great here in production or recording and proves all you need is great songs but her voice and guitar playing just works so well together. Placed in the country section in many websites and stores really is unfair as the music really will appeal to all music fans. And I mean music fans as many people will just not get the tone of the album. As her stories are very close and personal and I do believe totally true. But starting to make music in your mid 30 can really make music this good as experience in the bank of life really does mean so much more. My album of the year.
Swans, To Be Kind
It is pretty hard to get into my albums of the year but to do it twice is pretty amazing. I really can't not have this here it is simply amazing and just a little baw hair better than the last album (2012-The Seer). Saw them live again and still simply fantastic music, pushing boundaries even with a format like CD they really intended the album to be out on a digital file so there was no break between tracks and CD.
Imperial State Electric, Reptile Brain Music
This band came out of the ashes of the Hellacopters and loved all the output the band have done but this is right back to the best of the Hellacopters era. Great old rock n roll, not too loud or dirty so all can get into this album. It was out at the end of 2013 but I did not get the LP till the start of January so it makes my list for this year.
Honeyblood, Honeyblood
Local band who have done a great debut, just a drummer and guitar player but the songs sound so much fuller. They really do sound like great pop songs and for the untrained ear they may get confused to feel the pop here. but it is there and once you get it this album is a real addiction.
Gong, I See You
Classic prog band from the 70s and this one is yet another line up I really do not know. But the music is so full of hooks and little passages of noise into branches of other songs. Honestly check it out if you like exciting music.
Triptykon, Melana Chasmata
Two in one year, this band have also made my best off and again I really have looked to not put it here and if anything that means it is better than the last album. Thomas Gabriel Fischer is a legend in heavy music circles and the evidence is that this album and the last two he has done were in my albums of the year.
Disconnect, Planned Obsolescence
Luckily got this online somewhere and I know nothing of this artist/s. In a real old style 70s prog makeup but done really well. The music is way more relaxed and very much not in the stuck up nose style that many bands like Yes and Pink Floyd done. It is way more fun and entertaining that those overrated mince. Again no idea where or how I got it but in my top albums so must be great.
Bremen, Second Launch
Great mix of Krautrock and psychedelic, there is quite a bit going on here and needs a good few listens to really like it. Much more of an instrumental album it never sounds too long or too underdone or repetitive. Really an album for people who like any art rock or noise stuff. But if curious of what else is there give it a go.
Taake, Stridens Hus
Had my eye on this artist for a while and as I belive it is simply a solo artist. They play all instruments and write all the music. But the time has been taken to make this a great black metal album. Sounds like the new Darkthrone crust punk style mixed with classic black metal. Sharp buzz saw guitars and old school vocals.
Teitanblood, Death
Yeah a death/black metal band with an album called Death. Come on it must be shit I hear you ask. But no this fucking rules. It is a real mix of the two style but riffs all over the place. Each song really gets the neck going due to the relentless guitar sound. Well produced the band have very little info out there in music land. But one for the true metal fans as most will simply not get the crushing mix of styles here.
Earth, Primitive and Deadly
Most years I need a nice chill out album, read a book or even just sit back and relax. This one makes you relax that much it was on the 3rd play and that was in work. How I still have a job is shocking. But it is a great album and some really nice minimal styling contained here.
Me First And The Gimme Gimmes, Primitive and Deadly
Ha a do like a joke as well as a good tune. Not one for diva pop music at all but I am up for a laugh. The band are a kind of alt punk pop style band and I liked the previous stuff they done. This is simply a covers album but of many female pop singers like Christina Aguilera, Celine Dion, Madonna... you get my drift. But as much as they can they have faithfully made a good cover but with a hint of sarcasm thrown in. You need a sense of humor for this.
Monster Magnet, Milking the Stars: A Re-Imagining of Last Patrol
Still love this album, it was out last year as "Last Patrol" but the band made it more 60s sounding and went into the studio and redone quite a bit of the album. It is still classic Magnet and I like the 're-imaging of the album.
