What do you think?
― Legalize dreams (Ross), Thursday, 19 July 2018 23:01 (five years ago) link
I thought the indie crowd would be down with Amen Dunes but almost none of the big blogs and zines included it in their mid-year best of lists. Most underrated record of 2018 for me so far.
Others which are great and deserve more attention:
Hana Vu - how many times have you driven byHookworms - MicroshiftTove Styrke - SwayDaphne and Celeste
― ✖✖✖ (Moka), Friday, 20 July 2018 00:02 (five years ago) link
Sway is so good
― Legalize dreams (Ross), Friday, 20 July 2018 00:04 (five years ago) link
Starting to feel like I say this every time they release a new record, but the La Luz album, Floating Features, from earlier this year is great and has gotten next to no attention. Weirdo Shrine was a hard album to follow up, but Floating Features, while maybe not quite as good, certainly rises to that challenge. They're such a great band. I know they do well touring, but it would be great to see them really grab a spotlight for at least a few minutes.
― (V) (°,,,,°) (V) (Austin), Friday, 20 July 2018 03:27 (five years ago) link
Hovvdy
― Evan, Friday, 20 July 2018 20:59 (five years ago) link
https://konvojrecords.bandcamp.com/album/seagull-sonatas
Seagull Sonatasby Ola Paulson & John Tilbury
― braunld (Lowell N. Behold'n), Friday, 20 July 2018 21:30 (five years ago) link
Soccer mommy - Cleanionnalee - everyone afraid to be forgottensnail mail - lush (here, not critically)peach kelli pop
― transcendental headache (Ross), Monday, 30 July 2018 15:56 (five years ago) link
These will probably land in my eoy top 20 list:
Now, Now - SavedSuuns - FeltThe Liminanas - Shadow PeopleKraus - Path
― Rod Steel (musicfanatic), Saturday, 4 August 2018 17:21 (five years ago) link
Cornelia Murr - Lake Tear of the Clouds
― J. Sam, Saturday, 4 August 2018 18:01 (five years ago) link
fob mania
― princess of hell (BradNelson), Saturday, 4 August 2018 19:50 (five years ago) link
Cucina Povera - Hilja
― paolo, Sunday, 5 August 2018 11:13 (five years ago) link
Onuka - MozaikaWednesday Campanella - GalapagosTrust Fund - Bringing the Backline
― ufo, Sunday, 5 August 2018 11:53 (five years ago) link
jim o'rourke - sleep like it's winterhong chulki/will guthrie - mosquitoes and crabsBruno Duplant - Chamber and Field Works 2015 - 2017
― braunld (Lowell N. Behold'n), Sunday, 5 August 2018 16:56 (five years ago) link
The new Taken By Trees album is great.
― brotherlovesdub, Sunday, 5 August 2018 17:05 (five years ago) link
so much this
― Davey D, Thursday, 20 September 2018 01:55 (five years ago) link
a new Linda Catlin Smith album on Another Timbre, called 'Wanderer'. it has a more direct (recorded) / studio version of this track on it: https://soundcloud.com/lcsmith-2/velvet ...two pianos--it's lovely
― braunld (Lowell N. Behold'n), Friday, 21 September 2018 04:05 (five years ago) link
Ralph White (former Bad Livers) and Steve Marsh (I dunno) put out a great collaborative album this year, fully zoned & idiosyncratic American roots oldtime music, reminds me of a spacier jammier Michael Hurley, highly recommended:
https://open.spotify.com/album/0V1MPVtS6pnnqLgDvv5vuJ?si=T9eIDniLRUub9be0wRwNQA
― sleeve, Friday, 21 September 2018 04:19 (five years ago) link
I've mentioned it on some other threads, but Lake Ruth - Birds of America is a fantastic album, top grade psyche pop, very worth a listen.
― Mario Meatwagon (Moodles), Friday, 21 September 2018 04:35 (five years ago) link
underrated 2018 records I am loving:
The Ex - 27 Passports (a masterpiece)Legendary Pink Dots - The Tunnel EP (their best in years IMO)Daniel Bachman - The Morning Star (a major statement)Brian Eno/Kevin Shields 12" (love the heavy sound on this)
2018 archival releases I am loving:
Ustad Zia Mohiuddin Dagar - the 2 releases on Ideologic Organ (recorded in the mid-80s)Various - Switched-On Eugene (hometown pride, also great)Michael Hurley - Living Ljubljana LP (very nice 2002 live show)No Trend - You Deserve Your Life (savage sludge-punk demos, most hateful band ever in the best possible way)Tall Dwarfs - Bovril (odds & ends archival comp, available on Bandcamp)
― sleeve, Friday, 7 December 2018 19:05 (five years ago) link
FACS - Negative Houses is super good
― GDPR vs GAPDY (DJP), Friday, 7 December 2018 19:08 (five years ago) link
xp I haven't checked in on Bachman in a long time, thanks for mentioning that.
― rob, Friday, 7 December 2018 19:16 (five years ago) link
that Mouse on Mars record seems to have gotten next to no attention whatsoever
― frogbs, Friday, 7 December 2018 19:20 (five years ago) link
xp if you're even a casual fan I think you'll really dig it, much more experimental and diverse than his earlier records
― sleeve, Friday, 7 December 2018 19:25 (five years ago) link
Hollow Hand - Star Chamber
It’s arguable that Hollow Hand’s first full release trumps the lot; an assured, inspired record that mixes English eccentricism, glorious pop, folk and psych, and which matches Ray Davies at his best. It’s that good.
https://www.thefourohfive.com/music/review/review-hollow-hand-find-a-blissful-melodic-balance-on-star-chamber-154
Sums it up well enough for me. My favorite release of the year.
― afriendlypioneer, Friday, 7 December 2018 19:35 (five years ago) link
Esperanza Spalding - 12 Little Spells
― J. Sam, Friday, 7 December 2018 19:38 (five years ago) link
a day with the homies by panda bear has been buried by its own vinyl-only conceit. it's easily his best record since Person Pitch imo, and better, and hardly anyone knows about it. the new one coming out in February is not going to be as good
― flappy bird, Friday, 7 December 2018 19:38 (five years ago) link
the amen dunes guy kinda lost me with that new one, surprised people think it's his breakthrough. still think 'love' is their best
― global tetrahedron, Friday, 7 December 2018 19:55 (five years ago) link
Mark Fell - IntraAlex Zhang Hungtai - Divine Weight Dan Weiss - StarebabyDairo Miyamoto - Last PictureKukuruz Quartet - Julius Eastman Piano InterpretationsThe End - Svårmod och Vemod Är Värdesinnen
^^
I think these are all fab + they won't be troubling any listicles, and some might say that's a good thing!
― calzino, Friday, 7 December 2018 19:56 (five years ago) link
cosigning divine weight
― lowercase (eric), Friday, 7 December 2018 20:14 (five years ago) link
https://seilrecords.bandcamp.com/album/last-night
Paperbark - Last Night
"The album was composed using a Buchla 200, Verbos eurorack system, cocoquantus and plumbutter. The Octatrack provided the glue." - nice and minimal / repetitive sort of ambient music
― braunld (Lowell N. Behold'n), Friday, 7 December 2018 20:32 (five years ago) link
Colter Wall -- Songs of the Plains
20-something Canadian conjures the ghosts of Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, and the open prairies.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrIUdXrRZuY
― bodacious ignoramus, Friday, 7 December 2018 21:18 (five years ago) link
First thing coming to mind is Kelly Moran's album Ultraviolet, which has flown mostly under the radar (despite being released on Warp, of all places).
― ilxor, Friday, 7 December 2018 21:20 (five years ago) link
The Yoshinori Hayashi album on "smalltown supersound is great weird leftfield anstracty
― brimstead, Friday, 7 December 2018 23:37 (five years ago) link
whoops abstract-y leftfield downtempo houseish
― brimstead, Friday, 7 December 2018 23:38 (five years ago) link
CTM's "Red Dragon"
probably because the promo text for it is really bad
― dub pilates (rushomancy), Saturday, 8 December 2018 01:58 (five years ago) link
Sangam and Kid Smpl - Shadow KnightUps and downs on the ambient electronic sea https://open.spotify.com/album/7hx0l8LXVfOR9bk0Si11ko
― calstars, Saturday, 8 December 2018 03:52 (five years ago) link
don toliver released one of my favorite albums of 2018 that i barely see anyone talk about
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-jPkNA78Kk
― ILX’s bad boy (D-40), Saturday, 8 December 2018 10:08 (five years ago) link
this is really good
― single bed mentality (||||||||), Saturday, 8 December 2018 11:36 (five years ago) link
― J. Sam,
Just heard this a few weeks ago, lovely record.
― ✖✖✖ (Moka), Saturday, 8 December 2018 11:42 (five years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUxEA_9CmIk
Free Love - Luxury Hits. Electro pop from the band formerly known as Happy Meals
― paolo, Saturday, 8 December 2018 12:24 (five years ago) link
don toliver 👌🏽
― cozen, Saturday, 8 December 2018 17:25 (five years ago) link
^
totally love the opening stretch & "amg"/"run up"
― lowercase (eric), Saturday, 8 December 2018 18:01 (five years ago) link
Haven't seen Natalie Prass on a single list yet, so, that.
― resident hack (Simon H.), Saturday, 8 December 2018 18:06 (five years ago) link
Bon Voyage Organisation's 'Jungle? Quelle Jungle?' doesn't get enough love imo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iL4Y5KFM0o
― Johnny Fever, Saturday, 8 December 2018 18:09 (five years ago) link
Two I haven't seen on a list yet: Burna Boy's Outside and Estelle's Lovers Rock
― rob, Saturday, 8 December 2018 18:23 (five years ago) link
― resident hack (Simon H.), Saturday, December 8, 2018 11:06 AM (twenty-one minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
oh yeah wtf
― jolene club remix (BradNelson), Saturday, 8 December 2018 18:28 (five years ago) link
NPR has "Short Court Style" in their top 100.
― by the light of the burning Citroën, Saturday, 8 December 2018 18:48 (five years ago) link
prob the likeliest opportunity for her to appear anywhere tho given they premiered the album
― lowercase (eric), Saturday, 8 December 2018 18:50 (five years ago) link
@ paolo
this is also really good. & not v _glasgow_
― single bed mentality (||||||||), Saturday, 8 December 2018 19:35 (five years ago) link
It's kind of driving me nuts that nobody is hearing Roy Kinsey's 'Blackie,' which is just unbelievably great. One of the best lyricists, best flow, greatest emotional impact, some of the best timeless production I've heard.
http://www.roykinsey.com/new-album/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOg7b8zdpJ8&list=OLAK5uy_kzsUCJP-67h04-hP6RtgGuv3HXS0xqDhw
Especially don't miss "Mississippi Mud," "Jungle Book," "Great Aggin" (with Pete Sayke & Stik Figa who are also great), "For Colored Boys (Meditation)," "Ring Ring," "Mrmr"
― Soundslike, Saturday, 8 December 2018 22:16 (five years ago) link
The Kelly Moran record is fantastic
― change display name (Jordan), Monday, 10 December 2018 20:52 (five years ago) link
I've only seen the ERR record covered on metal sites, weirdly enough
― resident hack (Simon H.), Monday, 10 December 2018 20:55 (five years ago) link
Jeff Carey's Zero Player Game is a gem.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cy5fbfGPNA
― EZ Snappin, Monday, 10 December 2018 21:35 (five years ago) link
^ agreed
― flappy bird, Monday, 10 December 2018 21:50 (five years ago) link
Dur Dur Band - Volumes 3&4
― Scritti Vanilli - The Word Girl You Know It's True (dog latin), Monday, 10 December 2018 22:35 (five years ago) link
This!
― ilxor, Tuesday, 11 December 2018 17:43 (five years ago) link
some more that I forgot in my initial revive:
Ralph White & Steve Marsh - Two Distinguished Gentleman (acid-fried loner folk styles, very very cool, from ex-Bad Livers guy)Knife Knights - 1 Time Mirage - came out too late to have much impact? Shabazz Palaces related.Bombino - Deran - solid desert blues albumYamantaka/Sonic Titan - Dirt (OK I guess some of us are talking abt this?)Black Moth Super Rainbow - Panic Blooms (not as good as Cobra Juicy but what is?)Body/Head - The Switch (super dark and moody, great noise textures, my favorite release of theirs so far)
― sleeve, Tuesday, 11 December 2018 17:55 (five years ago) link
The Body/Head album is very good!
― ilxor, Tuesday, 11 December 2018 18:02 (five years ago) link
agree on the new the ex album, i kind of forgot about it but it rules
stuff i like that i'm not seeing much chatter about: lonnie holley - MITH - ecstatic soul-jazz workoutsexploded view - obey - kraut-synth, like stereolab's evil twinovlov - TRU - pure dopamine rush indie-fuzz rockwarm bodies - s/t - spazz-out punk freaks jerry quickley - (american) fool - somewhere in between hip-hop and spoken wordEXEK - ahead of two thoughts - PIL-like dub-post-punkaxis:sova - shampoo you - drum machine rockers with hooks
i don't love the whole "we're not talking" album by the goon sax but it has maybe 3-4 of my favorite indie pop songs of the year on it - "love lost" in particular is a great song
― na (NA), Tuesday, 11 December 2018 18:08 (five years ago) link
cool list, thanks
I just got that Lonnie Holley yesterday, have not even opened it yet but I'm excited
― sleeve, Tuesday, 11 December 2018 18:12 (five years ago) link
Black Moth Super Rainbow - Panic Blooms (not as good as Cobra Juicy but what is?)
Dandelion Gum
― alpine static, Tuesday, 11 December 2018 18:29 (five years ago) link
My two favorites of the year:
Rose Mercie: https://sdzrecords.bandcamp.com/album/rose-mercie
De Leon: https://manarecs.bandcamp.com/album/de-leon
― nerve_pylon, Tuesday, 11 December 2018 18:38 (five years ago) link
new to me, and possible AotY. incredibly infectious.https://badmoves.bandcamp.com/album/tell-no-one
― form that slug-like grex (outdoor_miner), Thursday, 13 December 2018 14:55 (five years ago) link
^^good listen for anyone who thought the Beths record was too slick/polished (I am not one of those people but I do like this a lot)
― resident hack (Simon H.), Thursday, 13 December 2018 15:24 (five years ago) link
Amerie's double EP -- Mulholland 4AM/After 4AM -- is one of my favorite releases this year, and it seems to be getting very little attention (I haven't seen it on any lists).
― underqualified backing vocalist (morrisp), Thursday, 13 December 2018 17:56 (five years ago) link
don't think the weird format did it any favours tbh
― my name is leee john, for we are many (NickB), Thursday, 13 December 2018 19:26 (five years ago) link
definitely not
― resident hack (Simon H.), Thursday, 13 December 2018 19:28 (five years ago) link
Mih-Ty!!
Maybe new objekt ...
― Vapor waif (uptown churl), Thursday, 13 December 2018 20:31 (five years ago) link
as per usual, most of the albums I have enjoyed this year are unloved.
the black dog - post truth/black daisy wheelkenneth james gibson - fields of nothingblood wine and honey - fear & celebrationoddzoo - future fleshmicrofilm - cherry amorefahrland - mixtape volume #1thomas fehland - lagosgui boratto - pentagramgost - possessorjohn tejada - dead start programmaster boot record - direct memory accesshollywood burns - invaderschrome sparks - s/tjacco gardner - somniuml'enfant de la foret - strangled
― mark e, Thursday, 13 December 2018 20:43 (five years ago) link
also the soho rezanejad LP is so amazing
― Vapor waif (uptown churl), Friday, 14 December 2018 17:35 (five years ago) link
Roy Montgomery's Suffuse is new to me and quite beautiful. He's got different vocalists on each track (including Circuit des Yeux, Grouper, Purple Pilgrims, Julianna Barwick) singing over some multi-tracked ambient guitar soundscapes. Perfect Northern Hemisphere December listening.
I'll second NA's above endorsement of the EXEK and Exploded View records.
Haven't seen much EOY hype on the following:State Champion - Send Flowers (calling all Silver Jews fans)Thee Open Sex - White Horses (single-minded Krauty psych done right)Primo! - Amici (charming ramshackle indie-pop from Australia)Constant Mongrel - Living in Excellence (more Aussies, fans of the punkier side ofTotal Control would dig)
― InternationalWaters, Saturday, 15 December 2018 15:28 (five years ago) link
I was gonna mention Constant Mongrel
some other stuff I've liked from this year that I haven't seen mentioned:
Beta Blockers - Stiff PrescriptionCandy - Good To FeelLife Fucker - ZPermission - Drawing Breath Through A Hole In The GroundShopping - The Official BodySnob - Snob
and Bib - A Band In Hardcore which is a comp of singles etc from before 2018 but is excellent snotty hc punk
― Colonel Poo, Saturday, 15 December 2018 17:13 (five years ago) link
I really dug the Lonnie Holley record on my first listen, cool stuff, reminds me of Van Morrison's more amorphous side with a healthy dose of Lonnie Liston Smith vocal styles
― sleeve, Saturday, 15 December 2018 17:17 (five years ago) link
plus "I Woke Up In A Fucked Up America" is one of the year's best song titles
― sleeve, Saturday, 15 December 2018 17:18 (five years ago) link
may be that it's just a more digestible amount but the new E-40, gift of the gab, has become my favourite of his in a minute
― devvvine, Saturday, 15 December 2018 17:27 (five years ago) link
The Rezzett LP is not on very many lists so I guess it's underrated. Really thought it'd be on the FACT list.
― brimstead, Saturday, 15 December 2018 23:59 (five years ago) link
It’s arguable that Hollow Hand’s first full release trumps the lot; an assured, inspired record that mixes English eccentricism, glorious pop, folk and psych, and which matches Ray Davies at his best. It’s that good.https://www.thefourohfive.com/music/review/review-hollow-hand-find-a-blissful-melodic-balance-on-star-chamber-154
― afriendlypioneer, Friday, December 7, 2018 2:35 PM (one week ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
I like this one. Thanks for the tip
― calstars, Sunday, 16 December 2018 22:37 (five years ago) link
Die Nerven - FakeGerman tuneful punk from Stuttgart. The loudest concert I have ever been to. Ferocious hypnotic stuff.
― Ich bin kein Berliner (alex in mainhattan), Sunday, 16 December 2018 22:47 (five years ago) link
keysha’s “stop it”
― ||||||||, Monday, 17 December 2018 18:11 (five years ago) link
diana gordon’s “wolverine”
― ||||||||, Monday, 17 December 2018 18:14 (five years ago) link
Amanda Shires - To The Sunset
― kornrulez6969, Monday, 17 December 2018 18:56 (five years ago) link
100% otm
― boxedjoy, Monday, 17 December 2018 20:48 (five years ago) link
agreed, but isn't it from like ~1990 or something?
― my name is leee john, for we are many (NickB), Monday, 17 December 2018 22:41 (five years ago) link
one of my favourites is this cheeky bassline banger from sharda
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqC1RtSIdRI
― my name is leee john, for we are many (NickB), Monday, 17 December 2018 22:46 (five years ago) link
also this song is incredible imo but no-one is talking about it or the album it came from...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRbR7qKcZrM
Fatima - Westside
― my name is leee john, for we are many (NickB), Monday, 17 December 2018 23:01 (five years ago) link
Gouge Away- Burnt Sugarhttps://gougeawayfl.bandcamp.com/
Self Defense Family - Have You Considered Punk Musichttps://selfdefensefamily.bandcamp.com/album/have-you-considered-punk-music
Closer - All This Will Behttps://closernyc.bandcamp.com/
― gman59, Tuesday, 18 December 2018 21:04 (five years ago) link
Plus not sure it's really underrated as it's got lots of love from the Balearic (and connected) communities
― groovypanda, Thursday, 20 December 2018 11:09 (five years ago) link
$320 for an original copy on discogs ugh
― my name is leee john, for we are many (NickB), Thursday, 20 December 2018 11:46 (five years ago) link
Hilary Woods - Colt
Jack Drag - 2018
― ArchCarrier, Thursday, 20 December 2018 13:20 (five years ago) link
― global tetrahedron, Friday, December 7, 2018 1:55 PM (two weeks ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
otm, i also think he's pushing the goat warble vocals to the breaking point and like i just can't vibe with it
― budo jeru, Friday, 21 December 2018 17:14 (five years ago) link
not all the way through the record yet, but the debut full-length by the babe rainbow ("double rainbow") out of AUS is sounding very good to my ears! subdued, good hooks, mellow mood, interesting textures, less '60s worship-y than they get credit for, just very enjoyable, pleasant, MOR indie rock. which isn't a diss at all.
recommended if you are flappy bird
:)
https://thebaberainbow.bandcamp.com/
― budo jeru, Thursday, 27 December 2018 00:22 (five years ago) link
And on a totally different tip the Catherine christer hennix is a nice spooky slice of fucked up just intonation noodling
― Vapor waif (uptown churl), Thursday, 27 December 2018 15:07 (five years ago) link
R.Seiliog - Megadoze is nice if you need a 'doze' of some ambient, minimal techno. I've been aware of hm for a couple years, but wasn't aware he had a new release in 2018--November 2018. Looks like it even got reviewed by a couple outlets. I think it's a pretty good record that could've hit a wider audience, but that name! I get some early MOM vibes from this, too.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4VnSt1BVVU
― afriendlypioneer, Tuesday, 15 January 2019 18:45 (five years ago) link
The Roves LP is flying way under the radar, but it's the best jangle-rock album I've heard in a long while:
https://theroves.bandcamp.com/album/the-roves-lp
― o. nate, Sunday, 27 January 2019 02:40 (five years ago) link
― Vapor waif (uptown churl), Thursday, December 27, 2018 7:07 AM (four weeks ago)
Catherine Christer Hennix yes yes
― Dan S, Sunday, 27 January 2019 03:22 (five years ago) link
the No Age record
― alpine static, Monday, 28 January 2019 08:16 (five years ago) link
Miss Red - K.O.
which I only found a couple of days ago. This album is amazing, surprised that there is almost no mention of it anywhere on ilx. I guess this is something like techno industrial dancehall, I don't know I've never been very good at adequately describing music.
― silverfish, Monday, 28 January 2019 15:31 (five years ago) link
I haven't heard that album yet, but I know one of her earlier mixtapes and that sounds about right. There should probably be a dedicated thread for mutant dancehall / descendants of The Bug; Gaika seems well liked out in the non-ilm world too
― rob, Monday, 28 January 2019 15:36 (five years ago) link
Big Kitty: "...A Legend in the Field of Entertainment" - https://letspretendrecords1.bandcamp.com/album/big-kitty-a-legend-in-the-field-of-entertainment-tapeLa Mecanica Popular: "Roza Cruz" - https://nyctrust.bandcamp.com/album/roza-cruzKoenjihyakkei: "Dhorimviskha" - https://koenjihyakkei.bandcamp.com/album/dhorimviskhaJon Hassell: "Listening to Pictures" - https://jonhassell.bandcamp.com/album/listening-to-pictures-pentimento-volume-oneHailu Mergia: "Lala Belu" - https://hailumergia.bandcamp.com/album/lala-belu
― ernestp, Tuesday, 29 January 2019 01:28 (five years ago) link
oooh, that mecanica popular record is indeed good!
― The Elvis of Nationalism and Amoral Patriotism (rushomancy), Tuesday, 29 January 2019 01:32 (five years ago) link