It's the end of a decade, and what a final year it's been. In this last piece of our 2019 feature series, we look back on the previous twelve months to explore the best TV shows we streamed, the coolest album artwork, weirdest records, best non-punk/metal and a couple of other lists of music-related stuff we dug in 2019. Read on to find out what you might have missed.
Best Programs I Streamed in 2019
In a year that saw Game of Thrones stumble across the finish line, even with an ever-increasing amount of programming options of any and all varieties, finding something good to watch was sometimes a challenge. Here's the best movies and series I found to watch on streaming services in 2019.
1
Climax
streamed on Amazon Prime
While working at SXSW this past year, one of the fellow volunteers told me that, although she liked horror movies, she wasn’t planning on seeing any of the festival offerings since they would pale in comparison to a movie she had recently seen. That movie: Gasper Noe’s Climax. Lo and behold, she was right. Genuinely disturbing due to both its overall intensity and method of execution - and boasting a bumping dance music soundtrack to boot – this technically dazzling film still baffles me as to how it was actually pulled off. Several mesmerizing dance numbers (!) are highlights.
2
Suspiria
streamed on Amazon Prime
While I like horror movies, I’m always a bit skeptical when it comes to remakes, reboots, late-to-the-game sequels and the like. Director Luca Guadagnino’s reimagining of fellow Italian Dario Argento’s acclaimed 1970s tale of witchcraft in an unsuspecting dance studio proved many of my basic hypotheses about remakes wrong however. Though incredibly transgressive even by modern genre standards, the almost painterly quality of the images and hyper-surreal mood puts this in a league of its own as perhaps the most blatantly arty horror film ever produced.
3
Chernobyl
streamed on HBO Go
Though shows like Euphoria, Big Little Lies, and yes, Game of Thrones among others were massively impressive in their own ways, Chernobyl was my favorite HBO original drama. Based on the fascinating true story of the titular 1986 nuclear accident, this tense miniseries not only captures the look and feel of hellish conditions in the destroyed plant, but also in the overwhelmingly drab surrounding communities. A masterpiece from both technical and storytelling standpoints, it’s also a frighteningly timely examination of how misinformation on the part of a government can cause significant problems in the wake of genuine disaster.
4
Dark
streamed on Netflix
Similar to something like Primer, a viewer has to remain sharp to stay on top of the narrative going on in this heady German-produced time-travel show, particularly in a second season that threw even more craziness at its audience. Stranger Things may get all the attention, but this is Netflix’s strongest sci-fi series for my money. The prospect of new seasons of both this and the similarly outstanding Babylon Berlin in 2020 gets me pretty excited. Also, that opening stands up there with the mighty Twin Peaks in terms of giving me goosebumps.
5
GLOW
streamed on Netflix
Having been a pro wrestling fan since ECW played on syndication back in the mid ‘90s, and being familiar with the short-lived female wrestling group this comedic drama series was based on, this show has remained one of my most enjoyable guilty pleasures over the past couple of years. The nostalgia is glorious, but the compelling characters and story are what really elevate GLOW over the type of soap opera nonsense found in modern mainstream pro wrestling.
- Andy
Five Excellent Metal Releases from the United Kingdom in 2019
The United Kingdom has a great many interesting metal-leaning projects which range from raw black metal to emotional doom to sludge to hardcore to death metal to everything else in between. This is a list, in no particular order (except for alphabetical) of five UK based released from 2019 that are great and should be listened to. Bandcamp links are included, where possible, so that you may show your support should you so desire.
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- Cheryl
Our Favorite Album Covers of 2019
They say to never judge a book by a cover. But who are we kidding? Cover art and music and inexplicably linked, even in an era where music listening formats often reduce cover art to a mere thumbnail.
But at SPB we're fanatics, so we see a lot of artwork. Sometimes its comically bad. Most of the time it's fitting and complementary. Sometimes we stop and say, "Hot damn."
1
Kool Keith
“Blast” b/w “Uncrushable” EP
This EP is weird in the best of ways -- in the way that you'd expect for a project with members of Faith No More and The Locust. In other words: prolific artists who collaborate...a lot. The cover features a large robotic shark, dressed up collage-style with artist headshots, and framed with a brick wall. It's all over the place, weird, and bursting at you like the Kool-Aid Man. But it doesn't feel like weird for the sake of weird. It's precise, carefully arranged chaos.
- Loren
2
Mizmor
Cairn
Mizmor's Cairn is a record that deals with loss, recognition of that loss and moving forward from utter desolation. The artwork by Mariusz Lewandowski speaks to the themes that Mizmor's A.L.N. explores and gives a sense of foreboding watchfulness. It's beautiful and monolithic and so is the music contained within.
- Cheryl
3
Blut Aus Nord
Hallucinogen
Hallucinogen's artwork is a psychedelic view of the substances that underpin the themes of Blut Aus Nord's latest offering. The colour palette is sublime and the work of Dehn Sora is far removed from his usual black and white or stark imagery. The imagination here is divine.
- Cheryl
4
Alcest
Spiritual Instinct
The creators of Alcest's Spiritual Instinct artwork - the duo of Førtifem - are long-time collaborators with the French band, and so the relationship between the band, the music and the visual aesthetic is tight and controlled. The dual nature of the Sphinx is beautifully rendered and the simplicity of the image contradicts the abstract emotions contained within the music. However, the darkened colours and more subdued hues do much to speak to the wintery nature of the album.
- Cheryl
5
Slomatics
Canyons
When selecting my favorite artwork of 2019 one thing as absolutely clear to me: I really, really like spacey artwork. Roland Scriver delivered just that. I am actually tempted to buy this album (even though I didn't really like the music that much), just so I could look at this some more. This is the best piece of artwork I've seen this year. It's mesmerizing. This is the kind of work that triggers a story telling aspect in me. I can imagine whole stories around this one picture. And I really like it when art does that to me. Absolutely stunning!
- Dennis
6
We Never Learned To Live
The Sleepwalk Transmissions
As I said, space seems to be a theme for me this year. This album is a must have. It is a complete package. A really great record music wise completed with this piece of art. And it does just that: it completes it. Julian at ElementJ21 made this art fit like a glove. This band has had some really nice artwork in the past, but this surpasses it all. Of course I had to own it on vinyl. I enjoyed spinning it, sipping my drink, while looking at this artwork while my mind wonders, guided by the combination of music and artwork.
- Dennis
7
Nucleus
Entity
Can you handle more space? I know I can. This time let's take a metal approach and who else to turn to than Adam Burke. Just look at this glorious cover! This is something to love. It's epic, it's dark and about as metal as one can get. It reminds me of his spacey artwork for that last Vektor record, but slightly improved. Nucleus matches the epic views of this artwork by some brilliant, spacey death metal.
- Dennis
The best EP's and splits of 2019 according to Dennis
1
Sacrifizer
La Mort Triomphante (Big Bad Wolf Records)
Is it because I have seen this band live that I like this EP so much? I do not know. What I do know is that particular EP has been on heavy rotation. So much that it really deserves the title: best EP of 2019! What you get here is nothing more than a blast from the past. There is nothing innovative or new about the furious speed metal Sacrifizer is playing. It is really, really addictive though.
2
Loud Love
Loud Love (White Russian Records)
I really enjoy this type of emotional and melodic hardcore. What it needs to really shine is a singer with a voice that can drag you into the music. Loud Love has exactly that. This EP really is too short. Gimme more!
3
Moloch / Groak
Split EP (Dry Cough)
In my review I predicted that this would be a split that I would come back to occasionally. That is a prediction that came true. I still prefer the Moloch side of the split. Both bands have released monstruos tracks. Great and dark stuff!
4
Makthaverskan
Demands / Onkel (Through Love Records, Luxury, Run For Cover Records)
January 2019 this Swedish band released an EP (or should I call this a single?) that impressed me so much I bought their last to full lengths together with this 7”. Their post-punk sound is really direct, catchy and dark. Check it out if post-punk is or could be your thing.
5
Agent Blå
Morning Thoughts (Luxury, Through Love Records)
Discogs labels this as a full length album. I don’t. So sue me! Ha! This Swedish bands first album was a bit rougher than this (but still very polished). I would say they shifted from post-punk with dream-pop influences to a band playing dream-pop with post-punk influences. I really need to be in the right mood to be able to listen to this EP, but that’s me. Great stuff again!
- Dennis
The best non-punk or metal of 2019 according to Dennis
1
Hania Rani
Esja (Gondwana Records)
This record was my go to record when I needed to calm myself down. It has exactly the right peaceful vibe you need every now and then. Basically a warm hug put to music. The great thing is that however peaceful the music is, it never goes dull.
2
Orville Peck
Pony (Sub Pop)
This is a truly fascinating piece of music. Effortlessly switching from country and americana to The Smiths to roots, while never forgetting what it is all about: great songs! The vocals raise it even more above it’s contemporaries. Highly recommended!
3
Frankie Lee
Stillwater (Loose)
This is the perfect record for late summer nights. Sitting outside with a cooled drink, enjoying the cool night. Mr Lee has the perfect voice and collected the perfect songs recording one of 2019’s highlights.
4
Nick Waterhouse
Nick Waterhouse (Innovative Leisure Records)
Nick Waterhouse is an artist I have been following since his debut. I felt his second album was good, but a bit of a step down from his almost magical debut. His third album was a step up again, his fourth album, this one brings back the magic. I love his vibe here, which is laid back and upbeat all at once.
5
John Paul White
The Hurting Kind (Single Lock Records)
Once upon a time John Paul White was part of The Civil Wars together with Joy Williams. It hurt me a bit when they disbanded, what they did under that moniker was extremely well crafted and performed roots. This is his first solo album I like. He has to carry the torch alone, but shows he is more than capable of doing so. Joy Williams released a splendid album too by the way. Really good, but falling short of top five material.
- Dennis
The Strangest Albums I Heard in 2019
While most of the submissions and promotional emails sent in to Scene Point Blank fall into certain identifiable categories, there are always a few releases that pique my interest simply for the fact that they make me go, "huh." Here are five releases I discovered in the past year that are a little different.
1
OBANIKESHI
by Koeosaeme
Incredibly glitchy and nearly impossible to classify or describe, this experimental album (released on the outstanding Orange Milk label) seems to take the whole of music, maybe even sound as a whole, mix it in a blender, and come up with something rather remarkable. Fascinating in terms of its overall sound design.
2
Platonic Solids
by Matt Barbier
The concept behind this work is intriguing: trying to replicate the geometry found in the abrasive holograms of Tristan Duke with sound. It’s also fascinating from a purely sonic standpoint due to the tones, interactions between different tones, and varying textures that gradually, and I mean very gradually, present themselves. Still, 100 minutes of string tones that may sound to most people like a creaking door hinge is kind of weird.
3
Symphonic Plunderphonic
by various artists
A sound collage-type album made from editing bits and pieces of classical music together. This is an interesting concept and overall album to listen to, particularly when you try to recognize and determine where the various clips come from. I can swear I hear music cues from the Jaws soundtrack – and not the one you’re thinking of – in here at times.
4
Magnetic Voices From The Unseen
by Renaud Bajeux
Created through the use of electromagnetic coils to record the magnetic fields of computers, phones, monitors, and other devices, this spacey ambient/noise album becomes more than just a collage of humming, hissing, and buzzing sounds. Though sometimes dissonant and jarring, the album is also strangely warm in a way – perhaps a reflection of the fact that most of us are surrounded by, and perhaps too comfortable with, technology.
5
Open Your Eyes
by David Hasselhoff
This album may as well have been titled Karaoke Favorites with David and Friends, but apparently there’s some kind of market for it: it hit #24 on the Austrian music charts. Honestly, it's not terrible as an album of cover songs, but when the Knight Rider’s dancy rendition of Neil Diamond's (frustratingly overplayed) “Sweet Caroline” popped up, a version featuring Ministry as guest artists, it became apparent to me that, unlike the other items on this list, the question here is not what, but why.
- Andy
