2016 Favorite Albums (Numbers 40-31)

Continuing my countdown of my favorite albums of 2016:

40.

Delorean - Muzik

While there are still several tracks on this record that will get you dancing, the majority of songs here strike a more melancholy tone. This collection feels like the comedown after the party, the memories of the evening fresh in the mind as you wander back home, wanting to be back in the thick of things, with nothing to worry about, all your cares lost to dancing. Reality setting in as the sun starts to rise.

39.

Pantha Du Prince - The Triad

Although Pantha Du Prince works with the same minimal palate with each record, he still knows how to surprise. Over these gorgeous tracks, he takes what I call lullaby techno into sublime regions.

38.

Danny Brown - Atrocity Exhibition

The music here is dense, dark, and unforgiving, with Danny spitting his paranoid and skittering verses over it. It's a challenging record and not an easy listen by any stretch of the imagination, however, it is essential listening.

37.

Car Seat Headrest - Teens of Denial

Catchy as hell indie rock that was one of my favorite go-to guitar records, in a year that, for me, was fairly devoid of great rock music.

36.

Dawn Richard - Redemption

The completion of a trilogy of records, Redemption finds Richard marrying her gorgeous vocals with maximalist production from producers like Machinedrum. Her records are always so striking because they don't sound like anything else on the R&B spectrum.

35.

LUH - Spiritual Songs for Lovers to Sing

After his first band WU LYF imploded, singer Ellery James Roberts comes back guns blazing with his latest project LUH (Lost Under Heaven). This record is messy, over the top, dramatic, and intensely brilliant. Ellery doesn't do anything half assed, going for broke with each track. While it can be overwhelming at times, once you let yourself get swept up in its waves, you will be transfixed.

34.

Jubilee - After Hours

Stylistically, After Hours is all over the dance floor map, jumping from trap, Miami Bass, and everything in between. In lesser hands, this would be a recipe for disaster, but Jubilee keeps it all in check, slamming down one jeep rattling track after another.

33.

NOVAA - Stolen Peaches EP

German producer/songwriter NOVAA was working on an album called Peaches when her laptop with everything on it was stolen. She recreated most of the tracks, releasing them under the fitting title Stolen Peaches. These nine tracks, are quirky electro-pop, with tons of texture, warped samples, and vocal manipulations. Against all this sonic exploration, is NOVAA's warm, human vocals that bring a beating heart to the record.

32.

Young Thug - JEFFREY

Young Thug continues to challenge notions of gender roles and stereotypes in his challenging music, and does it with sonically dense productions.

31.

ANOHNI - Hopelessness

Working with Hudson Mohawke and Oneohtrix Point Never, ANOHNI crafts a striking electronic protest record that speaks to these bizarre times we live in now.

2016 Favorite Songs (Numbers 30-21)

Inching closer to the top of my countdown:

30. Solange ft. Sampha - "Don't Touch My Hair"



Stunning highlight from her masterful record A Seat at the Table.

29. Balance and Composure - "Postcard"



For me, this was a weak year for guitar based records, however, songs like this got me through.

28. The Big Pink - "Hightimes"



Fitting to its title, this song churns along on a druggy vibe.

27. Cubicolor - "One False Step"



Gorgeous electronica; love how the vocals and synths reach soaring heights at the end.

26. AlunaGeorge - "Hold Your Head High"



Awesome banger from the UK duo.

25. Broods - "Worth the Fight"



Touching song about trying to save a relationship.

24. Trentemøller ft. Jehnny Beth - "River in Me"



Gothy goodness.

23. Delorean - "Muzik"



All parties must come to an end, and this is the soundtrack to the Uber ride home.

22. Beyonce - "Sorry"



A literal middle finger to all cheating spouses, and the awakening of a new feminist anthem.

21. Banks & Steelz - "Can't Hardly Feel"



On paper, this collaboration should be a disaster, however, I was amazed at how many times I went back to this record and found something new. I love this lonely little track, and you just feel a palpable sense of loss.

Jam of the Day: Delorean - "Muzik"

Wistful and shimmering title track from the new Delorean record.

Videos of the Week

Here are the videos that made my week:



Showing that the band is not all dour, sour-pusses, The National show off their humorous side in this clip.



Breezy single from Barcelona dance act Delorean gets an interesting half performance/half complicated relationship storyline.



Dreamy, 80s-esque clip from Still Corners.



Colorful live performance footage is mixed with black and white footage of London street scenes and passersby in this clip for Gold Panda.



Surreal video for TV On The Radio.

New: Delorean - "Spirit"

First track off their upcoming record Apar.

Album Review - Tanlines: Mixed Emotions

Tanlines
Mixed Emotions
Rating: Yeah Daddy Make Me Want It

Brooklyn duo Tanlines, comprised of Jesse Cohen and Eric Emm, don't sound like the majority of their borough dance music brethren )such as LCD Soundsystem or The Rapture), forsaking angular guitar oriented grooves for more of a European/Balearic/Tropicalia infected synth-pop, recalling acts like The Tough Alliance, Delorean, and Air France. Their first EP Settings was a perfectly acceptable blend of synth heavy pop songs, lighted by a colorful brightness and breeziness. Some critics and fans have even likened their sound to the chillwave genre, however, the music to me is more overt and less hazy than anyone pegged in that group. Their debut album Mixed Emotions doesn't stray too far from the sound of Settings; focusing on lush synths, upbeat choruses, and lots of world music touches. The songwriting is tighter and more polished, and the production values have certainly increased.

Mixed Emotions is a grower for sure. It took several listens to really get the charms of the record. I think the pacing and sequencing are the main problem, with the album starting out so low key as to almost suffer from excessive blandness. Lead track "Brothers" floats along a bed of pillowy synths and muted drum programming, with Emm's nasally baritone under-emoting. The song is saved by a delicate building of elements that subtly take over the song, raising it up several levels.



Which picks up a little with the pop throb of "All of Me," a mix of buzzy keyboards, handclaps, chanted backup vocals, and chiming guitars.



However, "Green Grass" sounds like a Killers demo, the grinding guitars never really making much of an impression, while "Abby" is all smooth surfaces; albeit some gorgeous surfaces. "Yes Way" restarts the album, bouncing along on marimbas and a tropical vibe.



Which leads into the back half of the record where the songs just get better and better. Album highlight "Not the Same," carries forward on an impassioned vocal from Emm, the synths rising to meet him.



"Real Life" is a euphoric blend of analog keyboards and Latin percussion.



"Rain Delay" makes good use of sparkling guitars and tinny sounding drum machines, creating a template for a perfect pop song, while "Cactus" again corners the market on the whole Tropicalia/Balearic sound, with light, breezy percussion, trills of guitars, and deep beds of warm synths. The album ends on a melancholy note, with the lush ballad "Nonesuch."

Mixed Emotions is a solid set of tracks from Tanlines. With a little better sequencing of the tracks it would make the experience even better. As it is though, it is a subtle grower that might take several listens to get accustomed to, but these songs will find their way back into your mind.

Rating Scale:

Chilfos: masterpiece; coolest thing I've heard in ages.

Woof Daddy: excellent; just a hair away from being a masterpiece.

Grrrr: very good; will definitely be considered for my top releases of the year.

Yeah Daddy Make Me Want It: good; definitely invites further listens and peaks one's interest for more material.

Meh: not horrible, but certainly not great; could have either been polished, trimmed, or re-thought.

Jeez Lady: what the hell happened? Just plain bad. They should hang their heads in shame and be forced to listen to Lady Gaga ad nauseam as penance.

Tragicistani: so bad, armed villagers with pitchforks and torches should run the artist out of the country for inflicting this abomination on the human race.

Videos of the Week

Friday is finally upon us and, unfortunately, I have to work all weekend. Woe is me. Oh well, better than not having a job I suppose. Here are the videos that tickled my fancy this week:



Insanely sick video from Is Tropical. This is one of the most imaginative clips I have seen in awhile. Very violent, but in a cartoon way.

Tags: Foo Fighters, Music, More Music Videos

Foo Fighters reimagine Michael Douglas' movie Falling Down.



Standout track from Cold Cave's new album Cherish The Light Years gets an evocatively shot video.



Robyn bitches.



NSFW video from Brit buzz band The Vaccines.



Delorean put on such a fun show at Coachella this year. And I have such a crush on the yellow t-shirted keyboardist.



Great song from the Danish punk band Iceage.

Non-Sequiturs

Coachella 2011 is sadly over and I am entering my phase of PCD (Post-Coachella Depression). It usually takes a couple of weeks to get out of my funk; then I can get excited about doing it all over again next year.

One of my favorite sets of the festival was by Barcelona band Delorean. They were so much fun and really got into the show. I sort of developed a big crush on the keyboardist, Unai Lazcano. He was so cute and had great energy.

Several times over the course of the festival, I kept seeing this little sound tech hottie. He was working the tatts and facial hair.

While it's not the Flip Flop Guy from Coachella last year, this is still pretty funny. Arcade Fireballlllll!



It is amazing how much drugs go on at Coachella. Kurt had a bad cold all weekend and carried in a bottle of Airborne to help with his symptoms, and the security guard sort of looked at him disappointedly when it actually contained legitimate medicine.

Lyrics Rattling Around My Brain

"Each secret you keep
Keeps me a bit far

But I want to know
Burn down the mysteries

Though I know I won't
I'll never know it
I could never stand
Not being closer"

Delorean
"Stay Close"

"If she chooses girls, If she chooses guys,
Does she profit to fill her lungs?
I want to hold her breath.

Does it matter what? She sees red at night. Does it matter where? No one knows. If she markets herself for blood...
She sees red at night. how will she come back?"

HEALTH
"Die Slow"

"I feel schitzo ever so psycho, kicking at an old tin can
I feel real like a man, like a woman, like a woman, like a man
I make dead space feel like a head case
take it like a teenage tough
I feel real now watching those wheels and shaking that stuff

Singing "I can't get enough"

Suede
"Can't Get Enough"

"Waiting for the stars to align
there is a restless rain cloud in my mind
heavy eyes fixed in the middle of the room
if you're looking for a point to all that you do

I feel guilty for being alive
when so many beautiful people have died
I never thought that we wouldn't rule the world
I always think we will
I keep my fist clenched still

oh I'm coming
oh oh I'm coming
when you see me you should run and hide
oh I'm coming
oh oh I'm coming
it's the ordinary people who look good on the outside"

Cold Cave
"Confetti"

"Sometimes it's just one of those nights
Ain't you never had it happen to you?
Then you go home too soon, go home too soon
You could blame it on the music
But it wouldn't be right
Because I've gotten lucky to some pretty bad tunes
Must be the moon"

!!!
"Must Be The Moon"

Appealing Things

Being on the rail for so many shows
Sleeping in my own bed
Walking
Delorean
Corn Dogs
Spring rain

Annoying Things

Girls who sit on guys' shoulders during concerts
Lazy people at work
Getting slammed with work the minute you get back from vacation
Jet lag
Bed hog pets
Not having the awesome fajita taco stand at Coachella this year
The Oasis Dome
Crying babies on planes
Mothers with crying babies on planes who do nothing about their crying babies
DFW airport

Coachella 2011 Day Three

The third and final day of Coachella is always a sad day, because you know when the day is over, the festival is done for another year. I had already seen some amazing sets over the previous two days, so I knew that it would be rare to find anything to top what I had already experienced. Funny then, that I saw my favorite show on this day.

First up for the day for me was Menomena. I've never seen them live and always heard they put on a great show, so I had to make a difficult choice to see them over Twin Shadow, who unfortunately was playing the same time. Menomena put on a professional, yet passionless show. I didn't get they were fully engaged with each other, and felt something was lacking. It didn't help matters that they didn't play "Trigga Hiccups," which, I think, would have gotten the crowd pumped up.

We left during the last song of Menomena so I could run over to see Delorean in the small Gobi Tent. With Klaxons cancelling, Delorean had become one of my defacto must sees of the festival. Despite some sound issues, and one false start, Delorean put on an amazingly tight, fun show. And I found my new boyfriend, the little, cute bear in the yellow shirt. He was very animated and you could tell he was having a blast. It was the one time of the festival I got my dance groove on. I was able to get close to the rail and was surrounded by a nice group of real fans who all danced and had a great time. I was basically wiped out after their set.

I had a break before a long stretch of bands, so we wandered over to the Mojave Tent to catch the end of MEN's set, which turned out to be a nice surprise. Fronted by a member of Le Tigre, they performed a tight set of electro-pop with a heavy, feminist-queer bent. Despite a bit of heavy-handedness, the set was actually a lot of fun.

MEN led into one of the most fun shows, Brazilian band CSS. The singer is just plain crazy, starting out in a toreador costume, and ending up in torn off jeans, half shirt, and her makeup streaming down her face like Tammy Faye Baker. During their blisteringly fun set, she spent the majority of the time crowd surfing. It was a lot of fun and really got my energy back from being drained by Delorean. Thanks to my friend Dan Nero for letting me steal the final shot of them.

Noise terrorists HEALTH followed CSS, and, not pandering to a festival crowd, started their set off with three dark and noisy tracks from their debut album before finally venturing into more audience friendly recent material that draws from shoegaze and dark electronica. I like both facets of the band, but I will admit I lean more towards the more groove based sound. It was a great set and a good way to end the first part of the afternoon.

By this point it was getting near sunset and I was worn out from the five bands I already caught, so I was debated what I wanted to do for the end of the festival. Based on a collective air of exhaustion, most of my group decided to check out Duran Duran and then leave. I had a couple other bands I wanted to see, but by that point, I knew I was just too exhausted. We got into position for Duran Duran by watching Death From Above 1979. This was their reunion tour, though, to be honest, I never cared for them to begin with and didn't miss them. Their set was loud and disjointed, and aside from some die hard fans, there wasn't a very positive crowd response.

Sunset is always my favorite time at Coachella.

Duran Duran put on an amazing set, even though they didn't play anything from Seven and the Ragged Tiger. I was thrilled that they finally played "The Chauffeur," which is one of my favorite songs. The rest of the set was a mixture of classics ("Rio," "Hungry Like The Wolf," and "Ordinary World") and songs from the new album. Even Ana Mantronic of Scissor Sisters came out to sing her part of the new track "Safe." It was a great way to end the festival, and I was glad to leave on a high note.  Thanks again to Dan Nero and Jeremy Brown for letting me steal some of their close-up shots.  They were die hards and went up close to see the show.

Aside from the blistering heat and ridiculous dust, it was a pretty good festival. The crowd seemed better, and the festival organizers did a good job of making it easier to move about the grounds. The only bad things were the usual conflicts between (similar) bands playing at the same time, necessitating brutal choices; the annoying placement of the Oasis Dome in a corner of the festival with no shade and all dirt floor; the lack of great DJs for the Sahara Tent; and the woeful selection of t-shirts at the merchandise tent. But all in all, I had a blast and am already looking forward to Coachella 2012.