Bad Omens ft. HEALTH & Swarm - "The Drain"

Bad Omens team up with industrial/noise rock outfit HEALTH and electronic artist Swarm on the dark, pulsating track "The Drain" that samples the Bad Omens' track "The Death of Peace of Mind." The song will appear on Bad Omens's upcoming Concrete Jungle (The OST) album. 

HEALTH - "Be Quiet And Drive (Far Away)(Deftones Cover)"

I saw one of my favorite bands, LA industrial noise trio HEALTH, live last night and it was one of their best live performances I have seen. A highlight was their cover of Deftones' classic track "Be Quiet And Drive (Far Away)." 

HEALTH - "CRACK METAL"

If you want an industrial metal track in the vein of NIN's "March of the Pigs" then you will go nuts for the intense "CRACK METAL." It can be found on HEALTH's latest opus, RAT WARS. 

HEALTH - "Ashamed (Of Being Born)"

LA noise rockers HEALTH recently announced the upcoming release of their latest record titled Rat Wars. The third single from the album is the throbbing, menacing "Ashamed (Of Being Born)." 

HEALTH - "HATEFUL (ft. Street Sects’ Leo Ashline)"

LA noise rock titans HEALTH's new single "HATEFUL" dives deep into EBM mode with thumping drums, swirling synths, and riff-heavy guitars.

HEALTH x EKKSTACY – “Still Breathing”

 

From their upcoming DISCO 4 :: PART II, industrial/noise merchants HEALTH collaborate with post-punk artist EKKSTACY on the minimal and haunting "Still Breathing." Muted vocals hover over echoing guitars, atmospheric synths, and delicate percussion.

HEALTH ft. Poppy - "DEAD FLOWERS"

HEALTH team up with dark-pop princess Poppy on the industrial-tinged single "DEAD FLOWERS," lending her ethereal vocals that then ramp up to a tortured scream. It's deliciously ominous and sinister. 

HEALTH + Nine Inch Nails - "ISN'T EVERYONE"

LA noise rockers HEALTH team up with Nine Inch Nails on "ISN'T EVERYONE, " which is both menacing and haunting at the same time. It's basically everything you would want and more from this collaboration.

HEALTH/XIU XIU - "DELICIOUS APE"

 

From their excellent collaborations album DISCO4::PART 1, "DELICIOUS APE" is a suitably epic track featuring avantgarde popsmith XIU XIU.  There is an undercurrent of dread on this track that never fully forms but instead carefully descends into the middle section as a calm oasis of shimmering synths and textured guitars.  Then it arises again for the ending section, slowly building to a suitably HEALTH conclusion.

HEALTH - "CYBERPUNK 2.0.2.0."

 

From their upcoming remix album DISCO4, HEALTH releases a new single, the driving, yet melancholy "CYBERPUNK 2.0.2.0."  Over pounding tribal beats, Jake Duzsik's yearning vocals slide in and out of clouds of synths.  It's quite gorgeous.

Jam of the Day: HEALTH - "FEEL NOTHING"

From their upcoming record Vol. 4 :: SLAVES OF FEAR, noise rock titans HEALTH release the new single "FEEL NOTHING." Again, HEALTH show how they expertly mix menacing with beauty.

2018 Favorite Songs (20-11)

Almost to the end of my favorite songs:

20. Mariah Carey - "GTFO"



The best kiss-off song since Beyonce's "Irreplaceable."

19. HEALTH/Soccer Mommy - "Mass Grave"



HEALTH ended the year with a series of collaborative singles. This song featuring Soccer Mommy is one of those things that on paper doesn't seem like it would work, but in execution is stunning in its scope, with epic synths propelling the intertwined vocals.

18. George Fitzgerald ft. Tracey Thorn - "Half Light (Night Version)"



Pretty much any song is going to be elevated with Tracey Thorn singing. Her gorgeously earthy voice grounds the twinkly synths and skittering drum programming from house producer Fitzgerald.

17. The Presets ft. The DMAs - "Are you Here?"



The Presets team up with The DMAs with this big beat track that recalls the brilliant collaborations between The Chemical Brothers and Noel Gallagher.

16. Banoffee - "Muscle Memory"



Dark pop track from Banoffee that details the physical torments that come from a breakup.

15. Low - "Always Trying to Work it Out"



Even burying their vocals under a sea of electronics can't hide the beauty of Low's harmonies.

14 Darkstar - "Since There Is Only You"

Repetition of individual motifs swirls you into a hypnotic state in this elegant track from Darkstar. You can listen to it here.

13. How to Dress Well - "Nothing"



How to Dress well goes full on industrial in the blistering track "Nothing."

12. The 1975 - "Love It If We Made It"



Nobody does over-the-top pop quite like The 1975.

11. DJ Kose - "Pick Up"



This was my song of the summer. Its brilliance lies in its simplicity: looped strings, a lovely guitar riff, an insistent bassline, a disco beat, and a haunting Gladys Knight vocal sample. This song could go on and on forever, and I would not be mad about it.

Jam of the Day: HEALTH/Soccer Mommy - "MASS GRAVE"

HEALTH and Soccer Mommy pair up on this surprisingly tender track that was produced by Purity Ring's Corin Roddick.

Jam of the Day: HEALTH x NOLIFE - "Hard to be a God"

HEALTH and NY producer NOLIFE team up for this slow burning synth based track that is simultaneously gorgeous and sinister at the same time. In the words of the band, "If you like weird shit, this shit is for you. If not, then not so much.”

Jam of the Day: HEALTH - "Blue Monday (New Order Cover)"

The best cover versions pay homage to the original while making your own distinct version. HEALTH completely nail it on this sublime cover version for the Atomic Blonde soundtrack.

Jam of the Day: HEALTH - "Euphoria"

Killer dance track from HEALTH's newly released remix record DISCO3.

Jam of the Day: Boys Noize x HEALTH x Empress Of - "Stonefist RMX"

Driving remix of HEALTH's blistering track "Stonefist."

2015 Albums of the Year (Numbers 10-1)

And last but not least, here are my top ten Albums:

10. Blur - The Magic Whip

Most bands coming off a lengthy hiatus from recording come back to middling results. Blur, taking advantage of a cancelled festival appearance, holed up in the studio and quickly banged out a killer set of tracks. The Magic Whip stands solidly alongside their best works.

9. Chvrches - Every Open Eye

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

8. Empress Of - Me

Confident set of tracks that keep revealing more and more layers with each listen.

7. Tame Impala -  Currents

Meticulously recorded and emotionally heartfelt, Tame Impala burst forth into the upper echelons of indie alt-rock with this trippy collection of songs.

6. Bjork - Vulnicura

Bjork returns to form with this painfully intimate set of tracks documenting the dissolution of her marriage. Challenging yet essential listening.

5. Selena Gomez - Revival

Simply put: the best pop record of the year.

4. Sufjan Stevens - Carrie & Lowell

A song cycle as tribute to his deceased mother, Carrie and Lowell is Sufjan's elegant attempt to come to terms with death and mortality. By turns universal and painfully intimate, these songs touch one in many ways.

3. Braids - Deep in the Iris

Braids' first two records are a dichotomy, the first was a quirky set of guitar-based pop songs and the second an impressionistic whirl of electronic musings. Both had their charms but there just seemed to be something missing from each. Deep in the Iris merges their two sensibilities into a potent mix that always satisfies.

2. HEALTH - DEATH MAGIC

Like Braids, HEALTH finally made a record that bridged the gap between their two competing sides. A perfect mix of noise experimentation and pop smarts.

1. Grimes - Art Angels

Until Art Angels, I will have to admit I was only a marginal Grimes fan. With this record I was completely blown away with its stylistic breadth and its willingness to just be balls out weird. This was the one album of the year I just couldn't stop playing.

Top 50 Songs of 2015 (Numbers 10-1)

And my Top Ten:

10. Blackbear - "IDFC"



Gut wrenching track about wanting to be with someone, regardless of their feelings for you.

9. Wolf Alice - "Bros"



Some songs just sound like instant classics. This is one of them.

8. Braids - "Taste"



"We experience the love we think we deserve."

7. Little Boots - "Working Girl"



Icy, cold, and perfectly delicious, the title track from Little Boots' album was a standout track on a brilliant record. The bass line alone makes me ache.

6. CHVRCHES - "Clearest Blue"



When everything kicks into full gear at the 2:13 mark, I dare you, no, I double dare you, not to shake your ass.

5. Selena Gomez - "Perfect"



The best ballad of the year. Lives up to its title.

4. Sufjan Stevens - "Fourth of July"



This song completely breaks my heart.

3. V V Brown - "Lazarus"



One of the weirdest singles I heard all year, but one I couldn't get out of my head. That voice on the chorus. Stunning.

2. Grimes - "California"



Grimes' album Art Angels has so many brilliant singles, I could almost just put the entire record on here and would be happy with my choices. "California" is probably the simplest track on the record, but just seemed to resonate the most for me. I moved to California this year, and it has been a great experience so far, but has also been a very challenging move for a variety of reasons. While "California, you only like me when I am looking sad," I take on your challenge and will be moving forward.

1. HEALTH - "Dark Enough"



HEALTH perfectly merged their experimental side with their pop leanings on their record Death Magic. "Dark Enough" is their shining moment, and my favorite song of the year.

Jam of the Day: HEALTH - "Dark Enough"

"Dark Enough" is the slow-burning centerpiece to HEALTH's masterful new record DEATH MAGIC. If you haven't heard this record yet, you need to.