Feature / Music / Year End 2014
Pass The Mic: Artists on 2014

Since 2006 we've aimed to make our year-end roundups feature not just our thoughts on the best records of the past twelve months, but the thoughts of the people producing them: the bands and artists who make our scene what it is. In this collection of 30 interviews, we've spoken to bands and artists like Frank Turner, Russ Rankin, Ceremony, Teenage Bottlerocket and a ton more to find out what they dug in 2014, what they're looking forward to musically next year, and what cool new stuff we can expect from in the 2015. Read on to find out how bands and artists experienced 2014 while we PASS THE MIC!

(Look out for part two of this feature where we ask record labels for their take on 2014 too – coming soon!)

To whet your appetite, here are a few of our favorite quotes:

Daryl (Spokenest - guitar/Razorcake - editor)

"I realized that a lot of current hardcore bands that people are excited about don’t do anything for me. Whatever. It’s my problem, not the kids."

Blag Dahlia (Dwarves)

"I don’t listen to records anymore. Now I consume music through a cutting edge technology called iSuck. The iSuck technology is filtered through the user's rectum and renders all music one enormous Bruce Springsteen tribute."

George Rager (Neighborhood Brats)

"The big money being poured into US pressing plants has further fucked independent artists' ability to survive via releasing vinyl."

ACWay (Sutekh Hexen)

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2014? (In order 1-5)

1. Burial Hex - The Hierophant
   What can I say? Album of the year for sure.
2. The Bug - Angels and Devils
   His most on point to date. Amazing LP showing his more spacey side as well as his harder side. Futurist dub/noise/dancehall/grime for your fucking face!
3. Blut Aus Nord - Memoria Vetusta III - Saturnian Poetry
   You never know what to expect from these guys, and a return to a more straight forward black metal style WAS unexpected, especially after the last couple releases...BUT LO...brilliance
4. Harald Grosskopf - The Synthesist
   EPIC EPIC EPIC reissue (on a couple labels this year...) of a progressive electronic CLASSIC. Arpeggiated beauty.
5. Z (or ZED, as it's called in europe) - Visions of Dune
   Another reissue of a progressive electronic classic. Bernard Szajner's first solo LP. And as you can guess its a soundtrack to Frank Herbert's Dune. But before David Lynch filmed it. I am sure he knew about Jodorosky's plans for it (he WAS Magma's sound tech) but this has nothing to do with that. Just a brilliant analog synth soundtrack to an imaginary movie.

2. What band did you discover in 2014 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

Czes?aw Nieman. Prog/psych/rock/blues/electronic HERO of the polish scene in the '60s onward. I will be honest and say that I don't like ALL his work, BUT. the record I do get into I LOVE. I have come back to him again and again this year, always finding new gems in the back catalog. Want to get started? Try "Katharsis" (under the moniker N.AE). An analog synth weirdo masterpiece. Fuck, this guy has reverberated with me so much this year.

3. How will you remember 2014? (In terms of music)

This year has been EXTREMELY productive. That's how I will remember it, even though most of that output will come out next year..

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2015?

Well a new Sutekh Hexen for starters. The debut of my "new" solo project THOABATH will come out shortly. as well as a whole grip of splits. I am also currently working on the new Negative Standards LP, as well as a bunch of stuff that I cant talk about yet. '15 will be a big year.

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2015?

Well, I don't follow releases like I used to (OLD) but I cant wait to see what Blut Aus Nord does next for one.

6. What trend will you forever associate with 2014 in music?

Trend? Shoegaze. AGAIN. And minimal synth. AGAIN. I swear the revival cycles are getting shorter.

Anthony Anzaldo (Ceremony)

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2014? (In order 1-5)

1. Lykke Li - I Never Learn
2. Total Control - Typical System
3. Prince - Art Official Age
4. Aphex Twin - Syro
5. Pharmakon - Bestial Burden

2. What band did you discover in 2014 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

Corners. They write great songs.

3. How will you remember 2014? (In terms of music)

The year Aphex Twin released a record on the dark web.

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2015?

New Ceremony album in the spring. 

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2015?

Frank Ocean (is that a thing?)

6. What trend will you forever associate with 2014 in music?

The year the '90s came back.

Brian Phee (Counterpunch - guitar/vocals)

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2014? (In order 1-5)

1. Scorpios - Scorpios
2. Lagwagon - Hang
3. The Lawrence Arms - Metropole
4. Chris Cresswell - One Week Records
5. This Legend - It's In The Streets

2. What band did you discover in 2014 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

Scorpios is my version of a super group.  Comprised of singer/songwriters Joey Cape of Lagwagon, Tony Sly of No Use For A Name, Jon Snodgrass of Drag The River, and Brian Wahlstrom. This quartet exquisitely pieces together their strengths as such singer/songwriters in a way where each member is not the focal point, nor the frontman. One could say that without each one of these members, Scorpios would be far from complete. I grew up on (and still regularly listen to) everything involving Joey Cape and Tony Sly. And, with the passing of Tony Sly, this serves as a final farewell to ones who found so much inspiration in the words he wrote and the way he wore them on his sleeve.

3. How will you remember 2014? (In terms of music)

2014 was a great year in music. Many new artists, new record labels, and veteran bands sticking around long enough just to surprise us with what might be their best record yet. Lagwagon and The Lawrence Arms are perfect examples of how many of these established bands have maintained their presence in their respective scenes while not trying to change their sound, all the while not regurgitating the same record over and over. Both bands didn't try to reinvent the wheel either. They wrote organic and mature albums, showing their progression as a band while still showing the world the sound that got them to where they are today.

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2015?

Touring, touring, touring. I know for sure Counterpunch will be doing a full US tour in the late winter/early spring of 2015. We will also be doing our fourth European tour in the spring. We also look forward to making our way to Canada in the late spring/early summer. Anything after that is still up in the air. Either way, we are looking forward to getting out on the road and supporting our full-length Bruises, which was released this past August on Cyber Tracks Records.

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2015?

Honestly, I haven't heard too much about what is being released in 2015. I do know that the new Strung Out album is gonna be knock out. I had the pleasure of previewing a few of their demos without vocals and I was completely blown away. I am also very stoked to hear the new Versus The World record in its entirety. I did get a chance to check out a few of the final cuts and I can say for certain, this is going to be another home run by the band.  

6. What trend will you forever associate with 2014 in music?

Not that this is 100% specific to 2014. It just seems that now, more than ever, many of the older music fans are now taking the time and pride in rebuilding a scene in which they grew up in/on. All, once a part of a community that thrived so vigorously on raw and heartfelt emotion of the music. This goes for rock, punk, alternative, or whatever other genera you can think of. Somewhere along the way, we as a whole, lost focus of what music is really about. It's about how a song or composition can make you feel in a way that nothing else on this earth could ever do: happy, joyous, sentimental, or even sad. I don't think music was never meant to be a fad. Instead, it intended to show off the talents of the innovators of their time.       

Daryl (Spokenest - guitar/Razorcake - editor)

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2014? (In order 1-5)

1. Big Crux - Ponchito
2. Acid Fast - Rabid Moon
3. Total Control - Typical System
4. The Gotobeds - Poor People Are Revolting
5. Hurula - Vi är människorna våra föräldrar varnade oss för

2. What band did you discover in 2014 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

DARTO! We played a show with them in January on the recommendation of a friend and I didn’t know what to expect. Then they played and they frickin’ leveled the place.

Ridiculously gnarly, shredding with a screwdriver. It was awesome. I got to see them two more times this year and cherished every second of it.

3. How will you remember 2014? (In terms of music)

The year it took forever to release a record. There’s got to be a faster way for records to get turned around. Especially if the RSD nonsense isn’t going to slow down any time soon.

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2015?

Spokenest has 3/4ths of a full-length recorded. Hopefully we’ll finish the rest of it in 2015. Not sure when it will be released.

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2015?

Still waiting on the new Tim Version. Really Red re-issues from Alternative Tentacles!

6. What trend will you forever associate with 2014 in music?

At a certain point I felt really fucking lame, but I realized that a lot of current hardcore bands that people are excited about don’t do anything for me. Whatever. It’s my problem, not the kids.

Drew Ailes (Brain Tumors)

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2014? (In order 1-5)

1. Lumpy and the Dumpers - Collection
2. Inmates - LP
3. Nudes - Stain EP
4. Mongoloid - Birth of the Slam Pig 
5. Total Control - Typical System

2. What band did you discover in 2014 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

Every year I am rediscovering Killing Joke since I saw them in, like, 2003. There was an album of theirs I had always skipped because I assumed it was a "best of" called Extremities, Dirt, and Various Repressed Emotions which I found out that I really love. It's also the only album of theirs which features Martin Atkins, who was the drummer for Public Image Ltd and Ministry and was also kind of a co-worker of mine at one point. He was a fucking dickhead. But so am I, I guess. But seriously, Killing Joke, man. One of the catchiest, most original, consistently outstanding bands ever. They're still putting out great records. 

3. How will you remember 2014? (In terms of music)

I dunno man, I'm not really good with keeping track of dates and times and everything else. I'm one of those guys that just wakes up and goes, "Oh fuck, it's Saturday--I'm supposed to be at my friend's wedding and I have a date tonight and I forgot I booked this show and I need to take my car in to get fixed." So the idea of looking at a specified period of time and saying, "Yeah, that's what music was," requires me uprooting my fucking brain from the deep canal of my ass to even figure out what day it is. 

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2015?

Well, I am a writer, which is a term I have avoided using for myself for my whole life. It's one of those labels that I feel like should be given to you by other people before you start using it yourself. But I will continue doing my stupid brand of antagonistic, angry list-making but I will likely start my own blog and maybe print some zines of some sort. It really fucking sucks to write something that gets like, a million hits, and realize you got $70 for it. As far as from my band, Brain Tumors, we're recording an LP and are hoping to do a pretty extensive of the whole country. It's hard to do this shit when you're older and you realize you have chipped teeth, chipped elbows, bulging vertebrae, and a bunch of scars on your head for the sake of art that most people aren't going to remember until they sell it on Discogs for $5 more than they paid in a few years. 

I'm also going to start working with a friend to put out some records, using my student loan money.

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2015?

Whatever my friends are doing. I am at a point in my life where almost all new shit I like I have some sort of direct or secondary connection to. And it's not because I know so many people or something-- it's just that the people you meet through touring and booking shows are the only people who give a fuck, basically. So they just naturally make better music, I figure. It's like when you learn a language, people tell you to go to a country and immerse yourself in it and you'll come out with a more natural grasp--same thing with music. Making weird, genuine, thoughtful (or in some cases, thoughtless) art becomes easy because that's what's constantly in your peripheral vision. 

6. What trend will you forever associate with 2014 in music?

Uh, more white people with fingerless gloves talking about being mutants, or something. That mid-paced, reverb-laden, stompy style of punk that everyone has decided to start doing which I honestly dig but is starting to really run together. Also seems like everyone is suddenly into noise, which is kinda cool. Maybe that's not a trend. I don't know. It sucks that I can't hear the word "trend" without thinking of Phil Anselmo from Pantera.

Dwarves (Blag Dahlia)

What are your top five albums that were released in 2014? (In order 1-5)

I didn’t give a fuck about anything this year but Meghan Trainor. She’s like a chunky little Carole King! She writes great songs, performs them well and even does corny little dances in Forever 21 outfits. What more could you want?

It’s pop-country with Ebonics lyrics. It flips the paradigm from "No Fat Chicks" to "No, Fat Chicks!" all the way to "Know Fat Chicks!" Brilliant!

Have a great year, punkers!

What records are you looking forward to most in 2015?

I don’t listen to records anymore. Now I consume music through a cutting edge technology called iSuck. The iSuck technology is filtered through the user's rectum and renders all music one enormous Bruce Springsteen tribute. It’s like hangin’ out with the Boss all day long!

Dylan (Vacation)

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2014? (In order 1-5)

1. Priests - Bodies and Control and Money and Power
2. Good Throb - Fuck Off
3. Nude Beach - 77
4. Protomartyr - Under Color of Official Right
5. Gas Rag - Beats Off

2. What band did you discover in 2014 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

Townes Van Zandt. Always knew about him, but his songwriting and life story are so incredible.

3. How will you remember 2014? (In terms of music)

Overall a solid year of music. Some great new bands came around this year.

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2015?

We're working on a new record right now that will be released this coming year on Don Giovanni Records. Followed by several tours.

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2015?

Whatever Shellshag will be putting out this coming year. That's what I'm looking forward to.

6. What trend will you forever associate with 2014 in music?

Garage rock revival (revival) I guess.

Faith Coloccia (Mamiffer/SIGE Records)

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2014? (In order 1-5)

(not in order)

• Menace Ruine - Venus Armata
• Hildur Guðnadóttir - Saman
• Austerity Program - Beyond Calculation
• Alcest - Shelter
• Dirk Serries - Microphonics XXIII - There's A Light In Vein
• Killing Sound - Killing Sound
• Christopher William Anderson - Moskenstraumen
• Russell Haswell - Conceptual nO!se
• Grouper live

2. What band did you discover in 2014 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

My first time seeing Grouper live on November 1st, 2014. Her show was beautiful, and so well put together and thorough. We saw her with good friends as well, and it reminded me of the reason I love seeing someone perform, witnessing someone share their inner world during a special moment in time. 

3. How will you remember 2014? (In terms of music)

Chaos, illusions, and breaking through barriers underground.

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2015?

• 1 new Mamiffer full length
• 1 new Mamiffer EP
• Mára
• A new Barnett + Coloccia record on Blackest Ever Black
• Mamiffer touring US and Europe
• 2 new art books
• collaboration with Daniel Menche

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2015?

New records from:

• SUMAC
• Daniel Menche
• William Fowler Collins
• Oxbow
• Black Spirituals
• Kevin Drumm
• Dälek
• Marissa Nadler
• Jon Mueller

6. What trend will you forever associate with 2014 in music?

Overwhelming information, holograms, and unseen low-profile abundance.

Frank Turner

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2014? (In order 1-5)

1. Against Me! - Transgender Disphoria Blues
   I've always loved Against Me!, but with recent events and this new record they have entered a whole new, excellent phase as a band.
2. Every Time I Die - From Parts Unknown
   I only discovered this band this year, but they tore my fucking face off.
3. Cory Branan - The No-Hit Wonder
   Cory is a stone cold genius. This is no exception.
4. Jamie T - Carry On the Grudge
   It took me  while to get into this record, it's much less immediate than his earlier work, which I adore. But it's awesome.
5. Billy The Kid - Horseshoes & Hand Grenades
   Not sure if I'm allowed this one, seeing as I produced it but, fuck it, it's an awesome album.

2. What band did you discover in 2014 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

Baby Godzilla. One of the best live acts I've ever seen, plus I love their crust/grind records.

3. How will you remember 2014? (In terms of music)

Mostly because of the new record I've been working on, one way or another, all year. It's been swallowing my entire life.

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2015?

Said record being released.

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2015?

I have no idea.

6. What trend will you forever associate with 2014 in music?

I don't give a fuck about trends.

Franz Nicolay

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2014? (In order 1-5)

In no order:

• Prince - Art Official Age
• Against Me! - Transgender Dysphoria Blues
• Jenny Lewis - The Voyager
• Sun Kil Moon - Benji
• Murder City Devils - The White Ghost Has Blood On Its Hands Again

2. What band did you discover in 2014 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

I discovered The Cravats. I don't know if they will have an impact on my life but they are a very unusual and interesting band. Check out The Colossal Tunes Out. 

3. How will you remember 2014? (In terms of music)

I didn't discover a lot of new music. There were some new records that I enjoyed without getting obsessed with any of them. I listened to a lot of '80s anarcho-punk and then a lot of Prince.

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2015?

I have a new record, To Us, The Beautiful! out in January on Xtra Mile Recordings and Silver Sprocket Bicycle Club. J. Robbins produced.

George Rager (Neighborhood Brats)

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2014? (In order 1-5)

1. No Problem - Already Dead
2. Long Knife - Possession 7"
3. Institute - s/t
4. #1s - s/t
5. Sonic Avenues - Mistakes

2. What band did you discover in 2014 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

Jet Staxx. Overall, I think this kind of punk got overlooked for a long time. It's somewhere between Chiswick-type pub rock/glam and '70s Cafe Racer-inspired Euro-punk. Jet Staxx was the stage name of the engineer who worked on a bunch of the Elton Motello material. Staxx (aka Mike Butcher) released two 7"s, and that's it. It's quirky, but you can see where the Motello sound came from, especially on the fast songs. It's weird, it's rad.

3. How will you remember 2014? (In terms of music)

Here's the bullet points, because this year was fucked:

• Learning an album in 3 days and hitting the studio: not for the faint of heart.
• Rollercoaster of bullshit...ups and downs are a bitch.
• Don't trust anyone to do a job you could do better yourself.
• Your records will be delayed.
• Late night dance parties at Zoro with my favorite Leipzig friends--best time, ever.
• Someone needs to backwards engineer a record press.
• Your tour is cancelled and now you have 3 weeks to kill.
• Touring in the US is bullshit anyway, just listen to Pentagram and go on a road trip.
• Your records are still delayed.
• You can't go back in time.
• Nice punk gear.... do you have an H&M card?
• "Punks" can be worse than jocks, and just as shallow.

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2015?

I have a new album written... maybe for NB, maybe for something else... We'll see where my personal life picks up after the new year. I don't think I can handle writing/recording/producing/mixing another record akin to how I made Recovery...which is a crazy story in its own right. It would probably be a suicide mission.

The next thing I do might be my swan song, who knows? I don't want to stop playing or anything, but at the same time, I'm totally drained. I landed upright in my personal life after a bunch of stuff went down. That comes first now. The best music that I have written always trails low points in my life, so I've got that going for me, which is nice...but I just can't put myself in a vulnerable situation anymore.

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2015?

I don't know. That's a tough question.

The big money being poured into US pressing plants has further fucked independent artists' ability to survive via releasing vinyl. Vinyl sales are at an all-time high, but it's not the DIY scene that has fueled the resurgence. Who's gonna get pressed first? your band or the fucking Beatles (true story)? Despite some cash infusion from a few well-off rock stars, there still isn't a new class of industrial machinery to pick up the slack for the current vinyl demand. It's literally the only viable physical media left, and it's being turned into a souvenir trade. We'll see who can get their records released. I'm just gonna try and find some rad demos and go from there.

6. What trend will you forever associate with 2014 in music?

Endless blockades of posers. Every one of them. Self-righteous, egotistical...posers. Often with trust funds. Beware.

Heart Attack Man

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2014? (In order 1-5)

1. Bob Mould - Beauty & Ruin
2. Lovechild - Migraine Music by Lovechild
3. Code Orange - I Am King
4. Cloud Nothings - Here and Nowhere Else
5. Rick Ross - Hood Billionaire

2. What band did you discover in 2014 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

I really started getting heavily into Captain Beefheart this year. I instantly felt a deep connection with his music. He was a genius. 

3. How will you remember 2014? (In terms of music)

I will probably remember 2014 most vividly as the year I saw Bob Mould perform live. He played songs spanning his career and I cried. 

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2015?

In 2015 you can look forward to a new full-length, plenty of shows, and a bloodless coup d'état of Cleveland, OH.

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2015?

I don't even know what's coming out next year. I live under a rock. If Modern Baseball or Citizen releases a new album I will automatically be stoked. 

6. What trend will you forever associate with 2014 in music?

I will forever associate 2014 with shoegaze bands trying to one-up each other on the decibel level. 

Jeff Ellsworth and Ben Matthews (Broughton's Rules)

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2014? (In order 1-5)

1. Earth - Primitive and Deadly
2. Goat - Commune
3. Led Zeppelin - III (Remastered Deluxe Edition)
4. Swans - To Be Kind
5. Trans Am - Volume X

2. What band did you discover in 2014 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

Goat!

3. How will you remember 2014? (In terms of music)

2014 will be the year I was a part of a recording I was content with. This was the first body of work I feel as though the concept was extremely calculated. The songs were developed in a rather short time frame and as a result seem cohesive. Despite the nit picking, the studio process was very loose, heavy and raw with experimentation as well. We set up in the same room at Sonelab Studio and Justin Pizzoferrato pressed "record." It was a great session. This was followed by touring with Torche and playing a ton of packed rooms.

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2015?

Hopefully expand our sound and of course live shows.

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2015?

Thee Speaking Canaries early recordings and Torche- Restarter. I don't really know of too much coming out next year.

6. What trend will you forever associate with 2014 in music?

The trend this year and every year is figuring ways to get your music out into the wild. I've seen vinyl records appear in places where it wasn't before, which could mean more people are buying music than previous years. At least I'd like to think that's the way it's trending.

Jeff Lohrber (Enabler/Today Is the Day)

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2014? (In order 1-5)

1. Godflesh - World Lit Only By Fire
2. Foo Fighters - Sonic Highways
3. Eyehategod - s/t
4. Gridlink - Longhena
5. Martyrdod - Elddop

(Other honorable mentions - At the Gates, Entombed AD, Sunn 0))) + Scott Walker, Sunn 0))) / Ulver, Behemoth, Thou, Swans, Earth.)

2. What band did you discover in 2014 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

Morbus Chron. Their new record, Sweven, is fantastic. This record is a really unique take on Swedish death metal, I'd never heard anything like it really.

3. How will you remember 2014? (In terms of music)

It's a year that I will never forget. Enabler released our 2nd proper full-length in May, La Fin Absolue Du Monde, which secured us a record deal with the almighty Century Media Records, and after 9 years of on-and-off involvement behind the kit with Today Is the Day, I'm finally on a proper full-length, the 10th album Animal Mother that was released in October by Southern Lord Records, which I feel is one of the best records released by Today Is the Day. I couldn't be more proud to have my name on both of the releases. On top of that, both bands had support slots on two separate legs of tour with Eyehategod. It's been one of the hardest years on me personally, but one of the most positive years for me as a musician.

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2015?

There will be a brand new Enabler full-length.

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2015?

Napalm Death, and I think Faith No More is releasing a new album next year too?!?

6. What trend will you forever associate with 2014 in music?

I'm not sure that I have a good answer for this. Are there any trends going on right now? Of course there are, I just don't have time for them. I've been on 7 tours this year, released 2 records, and wrote a brand new album. I don't have time for that shit!

Jesse Menard (Foxfires/Mountain Man)

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2014? (In order 1-5)

1. Swans - To Be Kind
   This is all I listened to for months straight. My favorite means to forget that I'm alive. Absolutely devastating band live. Awe inspiring.
2. The Furs - demo
   Andrew Nordstrom, a very dear friend and my favorite musician of all time, played me a sneak peak of his new band's material and, once again, it is absolutely incredible. Hendrix vibes.
3. The Hotelier - Home, Like Noplace is There
   Central Massachusetts is a small place and I've had the privilege of knowing these kids for a long time, and all that aside, the first time I heard An Introduction to the Album was like the first time I listened to Stay What You Are or Tell All Your Friends (which are two of my all time favorites.) And, I got to play a helping hand in filling the club with artificial fog while I was tripping on mushrooms during their set at Pouzza Fest in Montreal. It was insane.
4. Daydreamer - Hardly There
   The ambient band of my dreams. Bill, their bassist/vocalist and the cellist of my other band Mountain Man, was the other person tripping on mushrooms with me during the aforementioned fog event. We spent the rest of the night doing shots of whiskey and watching the wood grain on the bar. We're good friends now.
5. Lovechild - Migraine Music
   Excellent punk rock by talented people. Do not miss the opportunity to catch them live.

2. What band did you discover in 2014 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

Bob Dylan. I'll have to answer this question with the distinction of "re-discovering" because you'd have to try pretty hard not to encounter his music somewhere in life. I go through spells of having a really dark frame of mind from time to time, and "The Freewheelin'" popped back up at just the right time to suck me in, beginning an infatuation that has extended beyond that particular dark spell. Try and listen to "The Man in Me" and not feel pretty good.

3. How will you remember 2014? (In terms of music)

In two parts: writing for the new Foxfires record that we are set to record in a matter of weeks as of this writing, and recording a new Mountain Man record. Both have been large undertakings and a long time coming, and will be worth it. That's pretty much it.

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2015?

2015 is going to be INSANE. In January we are recording the new Foxfires LP; shortly afterwards the new Mountain Man LP will be out. At some point in that timeframe I hope to have recorded and self-released a demo for a new band I just started last week with my good friend Erik Perkins (of literally every band,) and that's just getting into spring.

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2015?

The Furs. Keep your eyes open for that band.

6. What trend will you forever associate with 2014 in music?

Tumblr. Is that from 2014?

John Lemke

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2014? (In order 1-5)

1. St Vincent -­ St Vincent
2. Sharon Van Etten -­ Are We There
3. Scott Walker & Sunn O))) ­- Soused
4. Grouper ­- Ruins
5.  Mica Levi -­ Under The Skin OST

2. What band did you discover in 2014 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

Being from Berlin, I've been aware of Einstürzende Neubauten most of my life, but never listened to their music much. Recently I was able to see them perform their latest album (Lament) live at Le Guess Who festival in Utrecht, which was quite a transformative experience. I've been getting into their back catalogue since, but seeing their compositions, dynamics, energy and instrumentation in a live environment will most certainly have an influence on my future approach to making music.

3. How will you remember 2014? (In terms of music)

Mostly as a year with a very strong and innovative female voice.

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2015?

I'm currently in the process of recording my second album, which will be out sometime in the autumn of 2015. It's a bit of a departure from my previous work, so I'm super excited to road test the material soon. There will also be a live sound design installation I'm working on with friend and performer Rodrigo Malvar in Portugal.

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2015?

I'm very excited about the Sleater­Kinney reunion and what their new record might offer. Another one I'm very intrigued about is the new Ela Orleans album. It's good to know Radiohead are back in the studio  and I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a new PJ Harvey record, of course!

6. What trend will you forever associate with 2014 in music?

After a thirty year absence, horn sections appear to be all the rage again.

Kenn (Hexis - bass)

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2014? (In order 1-5)

1. Mutoid Man – Helium Head
2. Generation of Vipers – Coffin Wisdom
3. Code Orange – I Am King
4. Whorls – Petrichor
5. The Donor – Agony

2. What band did you discover in 2014 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

Ligtning Bolt. I saw Black Pus at Roskilde Festival and oh my god. Then I found Lightning Bolt when I got back home and it blew my mind. 

3. How will you remember 2014? (In terms of music)

We released our album Abalam and our split with Primitive Man + we spent the whole year touring. It has been the best year of my life, but also the most stressful.

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2015?

We are taking a live break and focusing on writing new material.

Hopefully we have some new stuff out end 2015/start 2016. I’m joining a new band called Arakk, which I’m really looking forward to. One of the members is a former Hexis guitarist, but it’s totally different music. 

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2015?

This Gift Is a Curse, Totem Skin, Sumac, Pelican, Torche.

6. What trend will you forever associate with 2014 in music?

For me there hasn’t been any particular trend, at least not that I have noticed. But I’m also really bad at following that stuff.

Kevin Gan Yuen (Sutekh Hexen/ Viraloptic.com)

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2014? (In order 1-5)

1. Only Lovers Left Alive OST
2. Kairos by Ambarchi / O'Malley / Dunn - Shade Themes 
3. Trepaneringsritualen - Perfection & Permanence

Not released in 2014, and worth your time and attention:

Arvo Pärt ‎- Litany and Pau Torres - Hostile

2. What band did you discover in 2014 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

REe-iscovering Tangerine Dream (thanks mom) recently, immersing in their gift to craft massive and timeless soundscapes.

3. How will you remember 2014? (In terms of music)

Patience and thoughtfulness.

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2015?

A few things here and there, but mostly Solace...

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2015?

Honestly, I like to be surprised, so have not really checked the musical release forecast for 2015.

6. What trend will you forever associate with 2014 in music?

The internet.

Kid Tsunami

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2014? (In order 1-5)

1. Domingo - Same Game, New Rules
2. Lord Finesse - The SP1200 Project: A Re-Awakening
3. Your Old Droog - Your Old Droog EP
4. Pete Flux & Parental - Traveling Thought
5. Cormega - Mega Philosophy

2. What band did you discover in 2014 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

Manteca: a jazz group from Perth, Australia...just proud that such quality music is being made in my home city. Being a producer that samples, it is great to see bands such as Manteca continue to make good music in it's own right, that can also be recycled into rap music.

3. How will you remember 2014? (In terms of music)

A struggle, it is getting increasingly difficult for independent artists to make a living.

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2015?

A full length LP with Bronx MC, Wildelux; an Australian release with Perth MC, A. Saxon; and a continuation of quality rap music as opportunities present themselves.

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2015?

Anything from Your Old Droog.

6. What trend will you forever associate with 2014 in music?

To go against the trend and continue to make and look for good music with a positive message and feel.

Lauren Denitzio (Worriers)

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2014? (In order 1-5)

1. Against Me! - Transgender Dysphoria Blues (Total Treble)
2. Cayetana - Nervous Like Me (Tiny Engines)
3. Radiator Hospital - Torch Song (Salinas)
4. Priests - Bodies and Control and Money and Power (Don Giovanni)
5. Black Rainbow - Black Rainbow (Star Cleaner)

2. What band did you discover in 2014 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

I don’t know that I can say that a band had a life-changing impact on me but I think this band Merkin, from New Brunswick, is pretty indicative of a renewed faith I have in DIY and kids just going out there and getting weird. They were heavy and punk as fuck and you could tell by the look on the singer’s face that they were REALLY excited but also surprised that they were making such loud, punk music--as if it were this wild experience that was just happening to them. I couldn’t have any other reaction but being very excited for them and just wanting to cheer them on. It was awesome and I just want more shows like that. 

3. How will you remember 2014? (In terms of music)

The year everyone in bands moved to Philadelphia and I went to more shows there than in Brooklyn, where I actually live.

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2015?

Worriers is working on our first real full-length LP, among other things!

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2015?

Sleater Kinney and Against Me! What else is there?

6. What trend will you forever associate with 2014 in music?

Emo bands with clever lyrics about the internet.

Marc Euvrie (The Eye of Time/Sugartown Cabaret/Mort Mort Mort/Karysun)

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2014? (In order 1-5)

I don't know what happened but I really missed the year or nothing revelant came out...but I didn't listen to much new records. 2013 was more interesting.

Anyway, here's the 5 records that where good enough to keep my attention.

• Hans Zimmer - Interstellar
• Ben Frost - Aurora
• Yob - Clearing the Path
• Nils Frahm - Spaces
• Sia - 1000 forms of Fear

2. What band did you discover in 2014 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

I guess Ben Frost would be the one who had an impact somehow. The "Aurora" pushed me to get into sound hunting for the next year/record of The Eye of Time.

3. How will you remember 2014? (In terms of music)

It was a really good year for all my bands, and I've been touring a lot, and all the shows where really cool. I made a German tour with Mort Mort Mort in May, with our friends from HÄSHCUT (Their music is great!), and a 2 weeks summer tour in Europe with my both bands Mort Mort Mort and Sugartown Cabaret, which was perfectly good, specially the show in Ukraine. I also played the Denovali Swingfestival, with The Eye of Time, where I discovered really good projects. Some records came out too: a 2 songs 7" for my band Mort Mort Mort, a LP for The Eye of Time called Acoustic--only piano and cello. And most exciting, I've been preparing all the year the release of the next The Eye of Time electronic album called Anti, who will be released in March 2015. This year was absolutely not boring.

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2015?

A year fully booked, I can already see this coming. We are finishing the process of composing a new record for Sugartown Cabaret, that I hope will be in studio beginning next year. Really excited about. Still in composition for a new record with Mort Mort Mort, that will hopefully be ready after summer 2015. And really excited about the Anti record by The Eye of Time on March 2015 on Denovali Records. Also some tours and festivals in confirmation, especially for The Eye of Time. An acoustic tour in April in France, then a electronic tour to promote the new Anti record in Europe.

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2015?

There are too many bands, too many records to be waiting any of them. Only the "masters" like Portishead (it seems they've been working on a new one) or Sigur Ros. I'm totally not aware about what's coming next. I just get the information months after something came out.

6. What trend will you forever associate with 2014 in music?

New start.

Max Desharnais (Sonic Avenues)

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2014? (In order 1-5)

1. Total Control - Typical System
2. Teenanger - E P L P
3. Needles//Pins - Shamebirds
4. Steve Adamyk Band - Dial Tone
5. Feral Trash - Trash Fiction

2. What band did you discover in 2014 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

Protomartyr, Eddy Current Supression Ring - Not much of an impact on my life other than being really stoked while listening to those bands whenever I did. I also rediscovered Tropicalia and bands like Os Mutantes. That band is the shit. Just like Arthur Lee's Love, Os Mutantes have always been there when every other bands fails to pique my musical interest. Whenever I put this kind of beat on, you know I'm running low in new stuff to listen to but despite that, I'm about to have the best time.

3. How will you remember 2014? (In terms of music)

I'll remember it as being super busy trying to keep a day job while touring a lot. But it's all good memories. We played a bunch of places we'd never been before: Israel, Hungary, some towns in Czech Republic, etc. I'll remember all the awesome people we met because of music and touring.

We also learned a lot this year. Here's a recipe for success: keep doing things yourself unless you know or fully trust the people you're working with. Duh? Not always that easy.

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2015?

We're currently working on a new record that's gonna push more in the direction of some of the songs on Mistakes, our last album. That being said, we don't want to rewrite anything we've done before; that'd be the end of me and my musical motivation. So you can expect something different from us. The new songs we have so far are some of the material I've been the most proud of, musically speaking and lyrically.

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2015?

The makings/completion of our own.

6. What trend will you forever associate with 2014 in music?

Really hard to say as I didn't listen to that much music overall except for the bands previously mentioned. So a mix of tropicalia, post-punk and new wave. Oh yeah... And Needles//Pins live. We toured with these guys and they were great every single night. Best humans.

Miguel Chen (Teenage Bottlerocket)

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2014? (In order 1-5)

1. Giant Eagles - Giant Egos
2. CJ Ramone - Last Chance to Dance
3. Masked Intruder - M.I.
4. Lagwagon - Hang
5. Lawrence Arms - Metropole

2. What band did you discover in 2014 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

PEARS really impressed me. I saw them in Denver a few months ago and was pretty blown away. Their songs are kind of all over the place, but really tight and way good.

3. How will you remember 2014? (In terms of music)

Great releases from bands like Pennywise, Against Me!, Swingin Utters, and Me First and the Gimme Gimmes. From a personal level I will remember this year because it was our first time on the Vans Warped Tour, our first proper tour of Mexico, and our first time playing in Brazil! 

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2015?

We have a new record coming out on Rise Records! We are recording at the Blasting Room right now, Bill Stevenson is producing and we are pumped! Once the record is out we'll do what we've always done, tour and tour some more! We are currently booking a lot of shows both domestically and overseas and we can't wait to see everyone!

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2015?

I read that Descendents might be doing a new record next year. Hopefully that happens.

6. What trend will you forever associate with 2014 in music?

As far as punk goes, I'd say there was a back to basics sort of classic feel to this year. As far as everything else I don't really know I wasn't paying attention. 

Northless

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2014? (In order 1-5)

1. Today Is The Day - Animal Mother
2. Crowbar - Symmetry In Black
3. At The Gates - At War With Reality
4. Cannibal Corpse - A Skeletal Domain
5. Yob - Clearing The Path To Ascend

2. What band did you discover in 2014 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

This is where I’m gonna sneak in another awesome record from 2014, which is Yautja’s newest offering, Songs of Descent. I was familiar with them before from when Northless was booking a tour and we had talked about playing with them in Nashville some years back. I also love that their name is nerdy, as it’s the name given to the alien species from the Predator movies. What really has attracted me to them is that they don’t sound like most other bands out there right now. They’re pretty angular and proggy, while still being heavy, and having as close to an original sound and style in their genre as I’ve heard in a long damn time. I also hear a subtle and perhaps unintentional Morbid Angel influence in what they do, which is rad because Morbid Angel’s first 5 records rule. Awesome drumming, too. Best live show I saw all year!

3. How will you remember 2014? (In terms of music)

It was the best of times, it was the blerst of times.

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2015?

Northless has a lot of shit coming out next year. Look for split releases with Primitive Man, North, and Before The Eyewall, all hopefully out sometime in 2015 on various labels. We’ll also be releasing a new 7” (or possibly 10”) via Triple Eye Industries, a new label based in our hometown.

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2015?

I find myself constantly looking forward to new music from Primitive Man. They’re putting out the darkest shit right now, which I’m into. Hopefully they put out a lot of new shit next year!

6. What trend will you forever associate with 2014 in music?

Bands that were long broken up, who are reuniting possibly for monetary reasons (but hopefully because they’ve rediscovered their passion for the music). The return of nu metal. The rise of Djent (which is basically just nu metal played in odd time signatures). Bands that say they combine black metal and shoegaze, which are really just bands trying to sound like Deafheaven (who themselves just co-opted Weakling’s sound, essentially). Excessively paraphrased explanations of musical trends from yours truly. Oh, and a significant increase in the amount of grindcore elitism, for some reason. Can’t we all just blast together without being dickheads to each other?

Roo Pescod (Bangers)

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2014? (In order 1-5)

1. Cloud Nothings - Here and Nowhere Else
   Tim from Woahnows introduced me to Cloud Nothings on tour in March and I immediately downloaded their last two records when I got home. Totally awesome.
2. Caves - Leaving
   I think Caves have a really hip thing going on right now, and this album seems to be a culmination of them finding their feet in a really good way. I’m going to miss those guys.
3. The Lawrence Arms - Metropole
   I wasn’t 100% convinced about Metropole at first, but I’ve ended up listening to it loads since touring with TLA and I’ve grown to love it.
4. The Hold Steady - Teeth Dreams
   Not The Hold Steady’s best album, but still easily better than most bands.
5. Rash Decision - Seaside Resort to Violence
   This album just really shreds and sounds awesome.

2. What band did you discover in 2014 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

I hadn’t listened to Cold Cave before 2014, and everything I’ve heard by them sounds so cool. "Underworld USA" has been my song of the year and it just makes me feel like a very cool dude to walk around my seaside town with this dark disco groove pounding through my head. That whole album is sexy as hell.

3. How will you remember 2014? (In terms of music)

This is tough for me because I’ve felt pretty divorced from music and the punk scene this year. I listened to a lot of jazz and Tom Waits and tried to just enjoy it in a really passive way rather than thinking about making it all the time. Oh, I got into Fleetwood Mac this year too, also courtesy of Woahnows.

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2015?

Bangers are recording a new album in March and it’s probably going to be our best ever.  I would imagine we’re going to be fairly quiet on the touring front, so that 2 month US tour we’re always been dreaming about probably isn’t going to happen. I’m also releasing a cassette called Bloody Hell which is going to be a collection of all my solo piano/bass/percussiony stuff.

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2015?

Two of my favourite people are recording their albums at the moment, so I’m highly anticipating albums from Kelly Kemp and Sam Russo.

6. What trend will you forever associate with 2014 in music?

The students I work with all seem to listen to Queen, but the only club in town plays awful drum and bass. What a stupid world.

Russ Rankin (Only Crime/Good Riddance)

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2014? (In order 1-5)

1. The War On Drugs - Lost In The Dream
2. 7 Seconds - Leave A Light On
3. The Fray - Helios
4. Manchester Orchestra - Cope
5. Bane - Don’t Wait Up

2. What band did you discover in 2014 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

Iron Chic. I heard them when we played shows in Edmonton, immediately bought whatever they had released on iTunes. Was able to play with them and watch them live at Fest in Gainesville, FL. 

3. How will you remember 2014? (In terms of music)

Only Crime FINALLY releasing our third album, which we began writing in 2008.

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2015?

Hopefully a new Good Riddance album, lots of shows, and hopefully another solo album!

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2015?

I don’t know what’s coming out. 

6. What trend will you forever associate with 2014 in music?

I have noticed a ton of songs which “feature” one or more other artists collaborating or making guest appearances.

Svffer

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2014? (In order 1-5)

Too much good stuff to say who is in my top 5.

2. What band did you discover in 2014 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

Strafplanet – Austrian."Go-Fuck-Yourself“

Punkrock with groovy rock ’n’ roll riffs. Nice stuff!

3. How will you remember 2014? (In terms of music)

A lot of weird academic post-punk dipping more into the "art“ category than outspokenly punk.

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2015?

Hopefully we’ll be able to put out at least one more release. If it’s gonna be a full-length, a split, or just a seven" is quite unclear right about now. But we are in the process of writing new songs where Benny tries to rip off good guitarists even more than on the "Lies We Live.“ Expect weird riffs and way too fast songs for what the riffs were actually written for.

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2015?

I don’t know. I’ll happily be suprised by whatever great record comes out and blows everything out of the water. I love those moments when you just get passed a 12“ with a, "You have to hear this!“ and be blown away by some band I never heard of before.

6. What trend will you forever associate with 2014 in music?

Gear-Mania just got to another level. You hardly see bands using just one amp for their guitar, combos vanished entirely, and bassplayers come with build-in 8*10 Ampeg fridges nowadays. Also you see a fuckload of rare boutique amps or heads from Russian companys you can’t even spell. Kinda funny considering that nearly none of those artists (like ourselves) play the big stages but still spent all they got into crazy gear.

T (V.E.G.A.S.)

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2014? (In order 1-5)

1. Kollegah - King
2. Shindy - FVCKBITCHE$GETMONEY
3. Farid Bang - Killa
4. Majoe Breiter - als der Tûrsteher
5. Neneh Cherry - Blank Project

2. What band did you discover in 2014 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

Kollegah hat doubletime / punchline / Deutsch-rap an sich revolutioniert.

3. How will you remember 2014? (In terms of music)

Banger Music.

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2015?

New 7". Random acts of senseless beauty.

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2015?

More Banger Music, new Die Fantastischen Vier.

6. What trend will you forever associate with 2014 in music?

Banger Music.

The Blind Shake

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2014? (In order 1-5)

1. Goat - Commune
2. East link - s/t 
3. Golden Pelicans - s/t 12"
4. Dream Salon - Soft Stab 
5. Wand - Ganglion Reef

2. What band did you discover in 2014 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

Bee keepers from Oakland. Hungry hungry live show!

3. How will you remember 2014? (In terms of music)

Super long waits for vinyl because the major labels are back in the game. The smaller bands and labels who have always embraced vinyl are being forced to wait much longer to get their records. This is a single edge sword.

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2015?

A surf collaboration with John Reis called Modern Surf Classics coming out on Swami, a 12" EP of home recorded songs called Fly Right coming out on Slovenly, and a European tour in April.

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2015?

The new record by Thee Oh Sees. The new line-up has some great new songs live!

6. What trend will you forever associate with 2014 in music?

Another re-re-birth of tapes!

Worthwhile Way (Aki and Mayu)

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2014? (In order 1-5)

1. Stay Clean Jolen - S/T
2. New Junk City - S/T
3. Helen Chambers – Penny Arcade
4. Crow Bait - Sliding Through The Halls Of Fate
5. Great Cynics / Muncie Girls - Split

2. What band did you discover in 2014 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

We have discovered a lots of bands in 2014.

Lutheran Heat, Young Ladies, Beach Slang, Shallow Cuts, Tacocat, Saturday's Heroes, FM359, Epic Problem. We especially like Dead Bars!

3. How will you remember 2014? (In terms of music)

Our band Worthwhile Way toured in Japan with RVIVR in early April.

It was a memorable week ever.

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2015?

Dead Bars upcoming 7'' EP.

Hopefully, we will be able to announce the other releases we have very soon.

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2015?

We're looking forward to upcoming albums for Divers, Western Settings, Muncie Girls, and Turkish Techno!

6. What trend will you forever associate with 2014 in music?

No vinyl, No punk.