Scene Point Blank's Favorites: The Year So Far (July 2012)
Feature / Music Scene Point Blank's Favorites: The Year So Far (July 2012)
December 16, 2012
Scene Point Blank's Favorites: The Year So Far (July 2012)
In time-honoured tradition, here's our list of the best records released this year so far, plus some tasty extras: best EPs, albums we missed last year, best hip-hop albums and mixtapes, and of course, the records we're anticipating for the upcoming half of the year. Read on for more on what SPB considers must-hears from 2012 so far.
Overall best albums of 2012 so far
It's been an interesting six months and we've assembled an overall list of the staff's six joint favourite albums of 2012 thus far. Read on for links to our reviews of these albums, our ratings, and excerpts from what we thought at the time. Each album is ranked equally in this list by our writers.
"Anathema are truly masters of their field. Able to flow through contradictory emotions and switch from calming moments to all-out rock and vice versa ("The Storm Before The Calm"), this is a band at their peak. Weather Systems will captivate and break you. Magnificent." (Cheryl)
"Bosse-de-Nage have constructed a record of profoundly human feeling and accordingly the music sways between harsh terrain and gorgeous melody, echoing the divide in the mind of one not at peace with the world. The band are a mystery and their subject matter is terrible in its individual and private take on psychosis and misanthropy, and iii will take you on a journey of destruction to the very depths of the soul. Be prepared." (Cheryl)
"The record is a call to action, from referencing Woody Guthrie in "Would-Be Kings" to ending the record on the line "we need a change", there’s a very clear focus. There’s a driving energy, a clear structure to the songs, and it just sounds good. Michaels knows how to put a song catchy together and the sound isn’t a stretch from his previous endeavors." (Loren)
"El-P fans cannot accuse him of being disappointing. This is his record through and through, still very much his own style without being merely an addendum to his recorded legacy. Newcomers will have something new to discover upon both first and accumulated listens. This is something to listen to in the late night hours while feeling the toll of the world." (Jon)
"This record is a rager, with early ‘80s LA hardcore as the foundation and a relentless energy packing it in. Only 7 out of the 16 songs here top one minute, yet they all sound fully realized and developed. The band isn’t wasting time with clever bridges, solos, or mixing up their tempos. They’re jumping straight into the pit and not stopping for a breather." (Loren)
"It’s incredible to see a band this early on in their career speak with such wisdom, and be able to wrench such emotion and touch quite so profoundly. It’s genuinely remarkable to think that this is only their first full recording, and where the band go from here is certainly an exciting prospect. Sorrow and Extinction is a record to fall into, the themes held within are universal and immersive and such that Pallbearer have transcended all, and are able to break even the coldest of souls. Magnificent." (Cheryl)
SPB rating: 9.5 / 10
Individual staff lists
Below are the individual lists used to assemble the overall site list. Some staff members chose not to order their lists; others gave them a specific ranking. Albums are linked to the SPB review where applicable.
A hauntingly beautiful two-disc journey through the mind of a man clearly distraught with the state of the world. Intensely sorrowful and overwhelming, yet all the more rewarding as a result. A perfect album by any standard.
Part jazz combo, part progressive metal ensemble, the Diablo Swing Orchestra have returned with a fiery concoction of Latin, western, opera, classical, electronica, and, of course, swing music. It's their strongest album yet, and is guaranteed to satisfy from beginning to end.
How on earth Anathema have gone from their death/doom roots to atmospheric rock is a mystery; how they managed to do it with such exhilarating proficiency is a question for the ages. To say that this piece of music is merely absolutely astounding would be an understatement. No album was ever meant to be this tear-jerkingly beautiful.
Some bands in their forties would be well past their prime; no one sent Rush that memo, because their twentieth studio release is one of the best of their career. An exhilarating tale of a young man's journey through a clockpunk universe, there is not a single weak track to be found on this release.
A fascinating journey through the multitude of possibilities in life, Anderson's wonderful blend of progressive rock, folk music, and poetic spoken word creates an entirely unique experience. Not only does it hold up well against Jethro Tull's original, it proves that not all sequels have to suck.
It’s been a long wait and a handful of side projects, but Toys That Kill successfully pick up where they left off, delivering more-or-less straight-forward pop-punk (at least compared to what members have been doing in the meantime). Memorable hooks, catchy choruses, and a defeatist air that’s overshadowed by Congelliere’s sunshine melodies.
This one is a surprise to me. Sure, I’d heard some singles since the band first formed and I knew their ‘80s hardcore leanings, but I didn’t expect a full record of solid, varied songs that all fit that bill. Driving and head-on energy, it doesn’t let up, yet each song is different. While I call it ‘80s hardcore with an East Bay bent, there are other styles at play. Heck, “Bandstand” is the closest thing I’ve heard to an Operation Ivy song this side of the third wave.
I’m on a run of self-titled releases from punk rock vets with my list. Off! carries a lot of familiar names and faces, and musical stylings. It harkens back to early LA hardcore in a good way. High energy, short attention span, pure anger without any frills.
Most times when you combine two artists, you don’t get a simple chocolate/peanut butter taste. You get something entirely new and that’s just fine. With The Blank Fight, Aaron Cometbus joins with Rymodee of This Bike Is a Pipebomb and it sounds much like a marriage of the two bands. Short songs, deep yet personalized lyrics, and production that matches the grit of the artists.
This one is a late entry into the game for me, narrowly beating a couple of garage rock records. I’ll be honest, while familiar with his work at Def Jux, I’d never actually listened to a full El P record. Doing so in 2012, I can only lament what I’ve missed. El P brings a rough edge to his delivery that separates from the backpack rap label that was bandied about back in the day, instead storytelling over hard beats and a cacophony of layered sounds and samples. It’s got edge and ego but, simultaneously, avoids overdosing on machismo and egocentrism.
Self described as "Nautik Funeral Doom," this German group completely destroy with The Giant. Commanding and sublimely melodic, The Giant is filled with majesty and sorrow.
Emerging from an initial beginning as a death-infused doom act, Anathema have taken on a new life as one of the most deeply affecting progressive rock bands of our day. Weather Systems is the soundtrack to heartbreak and hope. Be prepared.
Bosse-de-Nage's third opus takes massive steps towards perfecting the avant-garde black metal blueprint laid down on i and ii. Harsh black metal mixes with deliciously intense moments of eerie quiet to create a record of wonder and intrigue.
Black metal and HP Lovecraft are so in sync it's a wonder the two haven't been combined with such depth and beauty before. French quintet The Great Old Ones are here to take you on a devastating journey into a wondrous universe.
Arkansas doom titans Pallbearer were ones to watch after the 2010 release of a three track demo. Now... now they are hard to beat with their emotion-laden riffs and powerful statements of loss and tragedy.
It's been months since its release, and this album has completely taken over my life. It took me some time to adapt to the new approach they took with this record, and now I can't imagine it being any different.
2. Hot Water Music - Exister (Rise)
I had no doubts that I would like this record. It's hard to predict that I could dislike any Hot Water Music album. After 8 years, they've still got it. They remind the younger punk bands that it takes more than great riffs--it takes a lot of heart.
While others may have scolded this record for being so short, that's its main appeal to me. These days, I don't have the attention span I used to for full lengths. Fortunately, this is one that rips through my speakers with catchy songs in a matter of 13 minutes.
4. The Menzingers - On The Impossible Past (Epitaph)
I always kind of considered The Menzingers as a band that was picking up where Against Me! left off after As The Eternal Cowboy. They've become something different now and it's a wonderful thing. On The Impossible Past is such an enthralling record with catchy hooks and an undeniable audacity.
Is there really much that needs to be said? One of the best punk records you'll hear this year and the closest you'll get to a new Op-Ivy record. Right down to the sound quality.
For over a decade now, these Swedish purveyors of stench have been unleashing their trademarked style of blackened everything to the crust-consuming masses. Despite the richer sounding production value of this record, there is still the full-on power and blunt straightforwardness indicative of D-beat. It’s just been polished up enough that you can clearly distinguish the multitude of layers created by the skilled axemen - incorporating, among other things, aspects of punk, hardcore and classic Swedish death metal. In that same regard, the partition of instrumentation allows the rhythm section’s impact on the overall sound, as they plod and pound their way through a thunderous Dis-laden low end backdrop. While the guitar work hints at it, it’s really the hateful, tortured vitriol of vocals that adds a heavy dose of black metal to the mix—a distinction longtime fans will recognize and appreciate.
These Swedish crust punk veterans return once more with their signature brand of metal-tinged D-beat. This time around there is a noticeable attention to detail as it relates to the quality of production. It has cleaner and more user-friendly mix than past outings—likely a result of Southern Lord’s deeper pockets. Although the wall of sheer sound has been partitioned, allowing a few delicate gradations to flourish at unexpected times, they have kept intact all the anarcho-rage and Motorhead leanings they have perfected over that last seventeen years.
Departing a bit from the D-beat swiftness, epic crust, and pure rage of previous albums, this record shows the band experimenting more with their sound—integrating drone vibrations, doom metal and even some demonic snarls. But despite the slow builds, chuga-chuga and other metal facets, this is still very much punk as fuck, thanks in part to the archetypal lyricism centering around bleak societal outlooks and anarcho-politics. It has been six years since these DIY-renowned Portland crust punk luminaires last released an LP, and what a slab of earth-crushing wax it is.
While firing shots at Gregg Ginn and mocking Black Flag three decades after the fact may be oddly entertaining, we’d be better off to forget the entire hubbub of old punkers jogging out ancient rivalries. The bottom line is this is just good hardcore punk rock. Period. Keith Morris, much like on 2010’s First Four EPs, sounds as youthful a singer as he ever has—this is what he loves to do and he does it really well. And the band exercises flawlessly loud-ass Black Flag/Circle Jerks worship for which Morris can blow his vocal chords over. Much like with the production on the previous record, the same can be said of this one—it has a demo-like quality that is quite favorable to the overall sound.
5. Japandroids - Celebration Rock (Polyvinyl)
These guys create incredibly awesome poppy, punky, indie-rocky, sing-a-long summer jams, and I unabashedly love every single one of them. Listening to this record is like riding your bike to work on a cool, sunny Friday morning and deciding that today is the day you’re going to stop being such a wimp about consequences and go ahead and finally have sex with your crush from the office. Probably not in the office…that could result in you getting fired…but like, later, after a night of drinking and possibly cocaine. But what do I know; I don’t even own a bike.
Runner-Ups
Mean Jeans—- On Mars, White Lung - Sorry, Crocodiles - Endless Flowers, Public Image Ltd. - This is PiL, Cannibal Corpse - Torture
Much has been said regarding El-P's forward-thinking blend of hip-hop, electronics and rock mixture that he has been perfecting for years. The usual reference point seems to regard a certain claustrophobic Blade Runner-related theory. These descriptors all apply, but sell the finished product quite short. From the start, El brings back the Big Beat techno style that had its heyday years ago, and make it sound relevant and sincere. When it comes to the lyrics, the man is far beyond most who could be called peers, relating both the personal and worldly and involving politics and emotion without ever relying on obvious stances or metaphors. Nothing is just cut and dry here - just dark and beautiful.
Calgary's metal princesses have returned and have managed to cash in on the promise shown on their debut LP. The duo belie their small membership numbers by making a sound that is huge and fully fleshed out. From the droning pieces that connect parts of songs to the nods to noise metal and the like, the band stretch genre markers and make a strong case for themselves.
The little-known San Franciscans in Bosse-De Nage have been making people notice over the past few years with their prior releases on the Flenser label. The band stretch structures and build towering epics. These pieces all tend to roll back to black metal but it is what happens in between that make this record truly special. Taking the style they have used in the past, they have managed to create something that makes the long songs worth sticking around until the end for.
This three piece have made their own wave since the beginning. The band is very well within the metal world but fails to sound like a metal band. Between the vocals and tasteful instrumentation, they build something that is heavy without ever relying on genre markers to make their sound. The closest description relies on a leap itself as this is what I imagine a band like Paradise Lost, with their tasteful structures that rely on feeling, would sound like if they recruited PJ Harvey to take over vocals. The music undulates and is powerful in itself but the vocals drive it over the edge.
5. Sutekh Hexen - Behind the Throne (Magic Bullet)
The rather reclusive collective that is Sutekh Hexen has returned. While seemingly never ones to stop for a moment, they continue to build their sound. The highly regarded Larvae has already proved that they can lengthen their songs without losing the point. Here they take that lesson to heart, offering two songs that last over 30 minutes. Not one moment is wasted as these songs sound like Sutekh songs while still building on their style and remaining progressive within their already-established blackened and noisy style.
Easily the most haunting album that I have heard all year, Larvae is a monstrous leap forward for Sutekh Hexen (whose music was already damn good) and consistently delivers time after time when listening to the record, and yet, what is most impressive about Larvae is its sheer musicality and subtle showcasing of the group’s collective abilities; even if this turns out to be the high water mark for Sutekh Hexen, Larvae is a hell of an achievement for which to be remembered (and these guys still have plenty of juice left).
Literally still reeling from NO even existing let alone this possibly being the penultimate album from Old Man Gloom, these simian researchers drop a monstrously heavy and absurdly noise-y record that incorporates all the best aspects that Old Man Gloom has conjured in the past creating the absolutely crushing NO.
One of my most anticipated releases of 2012 and Bless Them That Curse You does not disappoint in any way as these two musical entities meld into something almost otherworldly in its resonance and simply exquisite in its overall execution; Locrian and Mamiffer simply blast through showing why they are two of the most exciting acts in music as Bless Them That Curse You sounds both like and unlike anything either have produced on their own releases, and it is certainly one of the albums that you must hear this year.
4. Planning For Burial - Quietly (Tycho Magnetic Anomalies)
I am still struck by the grace and beauty that the three songs on this tape have, and even though these paeans to depression, lovelorn angst, and anxiety are not exactly subtle, Quietly still exudes a strange calm and numb emotion which some artists spend entire artistic lifetimes attempting to achieve; I will stick by my initial estimation of these songs from Planning For Burial that being lovesick never sounded so good.
After their awesome demo, Pallbearer really come through on the promise that nascent recording showed and renewed my faith in more traditional doom being able to be done well and with a whole load of panache; Sorrow And Extinction takes everything that I love about doom and unleashes it in one fell swoop.
Completely abandoning any semblance of their older black or thrash metal, She Said Destroy have managed to create a piece that would raise the eyebrows of even the most proficient post-metal acts. This is the most cathartic 27 minutes of music you'll hear this year.
2. Krokmitën - BVW565 Redux
Krokmitën's harrowing rendition of this solo organ piece attributed to Bach is nothing short of spectacular. The sheer amounts of explosiveness and bombast in this piece where tech death meets classical make it an unforgettable experience.
Combining equal parts technicality and playfulness, Chimp Spanner's latest release doesn't offer much that's new, but refines his established sound to the point of perfection.
4. Pelican - Ataraxia/Taraxis
While it's not quite as moving as What We All Come to Need, Pelican's new EP nonetheless gives some promising fresh life into their sound and whets the appetite for a new full release.
5. TesseracT -- Perspective
Half old material and half new, TesseracT's debut with their new vocalist certainly impresses. They lose almost all of the metal and polyrhytmic messes in favour of softer, more acoustic-oriented pieces, and they pull it off quite well.
I hate asking for a do-over, but it turns out there were a lot of good albums from 2011 that I didn't get to hear until it was too late. I don't want to shaft some otherwise great artists, so before it's too far gone, I'd like to mention these five albums from 2011 that definitely should've been counted among last year's best.
1. Elder - Dead Roots Stirring
This absolutely beautiful amalgamation of doom metal and stoner metal absolutely must be heard to be believed. The beauty of Isis paired with the psychedelia of Sleep and the intensity of Dirge create one of the most rewarding metal experiences of the year.
2. Omega Massif - Karpatia
Omega Massif may not be entirely original, but it's hard to fault their near-perfect take on sludgy post-metal. This is the kind of once-in-a-career album that every band aspires to create and yet few are able to actually produce.
3. Kevin Hufnagel - Transparencies
This ambient album is an absolutely beautiful change of course for Dysrhythmia and Gorguts guitarist Kevin Hufnagel. The sublime aesthetics and cathartic musicianship make for a relaxing, easy, and yet still satisfying release.
4. Horseback - The Gorgon Tongue
A compilation of two early, hard-to-find Horseback releases Impale Golden Horn and Forbidden Planet, this album serves not only to make them more readily accessible, but is a wonderful release in its own right. The contrast between the softer, more melodic former and the harsh and aggressive latter make for an intense 85 minutes of music.
5. Baring Teeth - Atrophy
An absolutely pulverizing combination of death metal and prog, Baring Teeth have managed to pack more power into 42 minutes than most bands do in a full career. Half precision and half cacophony, this is one of the most spastic, yet oddly appealing, albums to come out in 2011.
1. Brown Sugar—Sings of Birds and Racism LP (Feral Kid/Feeble Minds)
Brown Sugar takes cues from both the past and present—sponging The Germs and Black Flag as much as contemporary hardcore’s boundary-bending tendencies ala Nö Pöwer or Raw Nerve—while lacing it with their own unique weirdness. They start with some mysterious-guy underpinnings, add a little saxophone buffoonery, sprinkle it with DIY cut-n-past imagery, and make it a vinyl-only release. The end result is Sings of Birds and Racism; the pluperfect amalgamation of fast art punk.
2. Vallenfyre—A Fragile King (Century Media)
When I asked my friend who writes for Decibel Magazine if Vallenfyre’s debut album A Fragile King was really as good as they said it was in their year-end feature he replied, “I’m not sure; I’ve never actually heard it, but I think it is knuckle-dragger death metal.” (Not listening to a record your employers say is one of the best of the year? Typical.) Knuckle-dragger roughly translates to “old guys playing old school death metal.” And that is pretty much exactly what Vallenfyre is—they are a British super group featuring members of My Dying Bride, Paradise Lost, Cradle of Filth and Doom. For an upstart band A Fragile King shows them standing head-n-shoulders above the congested pack of classic Swedish death metal revivalists that were making the rounds in 2011. The guitars and vocals are absolutely enthralling and it’s all held together masterfully by a Dis-tinged doom-trodden rhythmic pounding. Half way into the New Year, and I keep going back to this one—it’s inescapable.
3. Triumph Of Lethargy Skinned Alive To Death - Some Of Us Are In This Together (DSB)
Based out of Seattle, WA and featuring current and former members of a slew of other PNW notables like Murder City Devils, Pretty Girls Make Graves, Modest Mouse, Cold Lake, Mongrel Blood, Rabbit Ears and others, TOLSATD has quietly been creating some of the best wierdo-art-punk-noise for close to a decade now. Whether it be cassettes, CDs or various vinyl formats, they have already amassed an extensive catalog of music, spread accross a number of different indie labels . Last year's Some Of Us Are In This Together is their latest, and most varied to date. Where their early work came off like experimental home recordings, the new record plays like the perfect culmination the band's yearly progression. They have structured marvelous, albeit boundary-less, songs. The dual vocal approach of Spencer Moody and Andrea Zollo recalls both the anger and angst of their old hardcore band Area 51 as well their eclectic arty and dance-informed features on fellow band member Dann Gallucci's A Gun Called Tension record. The whole thing plays like a vagabond experience—it's poectic, emotive and incredibly alluring.
1. The Manix - Neighborhood Wildlife (It’s Alive Records)
I’ve know the band for some time, and I enjoyed the Van Activities 7” they dropped a couple of years back, but it took me a while before I got to this one. It delivers Midwestern pop-punk with an emphasis on the pop. Sharing a member with Banner Pilot, there isn’t a lot in common between the two bands’ sound, but there definitely is in their ascethic. Neighborhood Wildlife is a record of uptempo group singalongs. Well produced to capture the energy without losing the rough-around-the-edges feel. While I’ve never seen them in Gainesville, somehow putting this disc on making me reminisce about Fest.
There are names you see floating around the scene—in zines, online, on show flyers, etc.—but you never get around to checking them out. It turns out I was missing something by not hearing Vacation, despite the group having some name recognition on my end. Their self-titled debut rips through fourteen noisy yet contained tracks, blending pop-punk and garage in a beautiful, sloppy singalong punctuated with just the right amount of feedback. The record captures DIY energy but it’s still hi-fi enough that you don’t have to turn up the volume whenever the record starts, you just choose to do so.
RVIVR's Self-Titled album in 2010 was and still is one of my favorite records in years. The new songs I've heard from RVIVR can only suggest an even better album. I'm pretty pumped! I just hope they still manage to release it this year after they were recently robbed.
2. Propagandhi - Untitled New Album
Who isn't excited for a new album from Propagandhi that's sure to melt faces off and cause your home to come crumbling down when you blast it from your speakers? They really outdid themselves with Supporting Caste. I'm interested to see how they attempt to top themselves.
3. The Gaslight Anthem - Handwritten
I was one of the people that was completely put off by American Slang. I know, let the flame war begin. It just didn't do anything for me. Handwritten's lead single, "45", has me much more excited than anything off that record--except for "Orphans". Fortunately, it won't be a long wait after this publishes.
4. Green Day - Uno! (and Dos!)
It's a new Green Day album. Well, a few new albums. Chances are, at some point you were (or are) a Green Day fan and curiosity keeps bringing you back--whether you've liked their past few releases or not. The idea of an "album trilogy" sure has me rolling my eyes, but I'll gladly take new Green Day when I can get it.
5. Modest Mouse - Untitled New Album
So, supposedly Big Boi has been in the studio with Modest Mouse since last year. I'm sure everyone wants to know what Modest Mouse have up their sleeves. It has been far too long since they last released a record. We can only hope this one actually makes it before the end of the year.
Time is something these guys apparently have more than enough of; after being in the works for six long, grueling years, Finnish folk/death/power/fucking metal band Wintersun are finally releasing their long awaited sophomore album, Time... in two parts. Apparently, they recorded too much music for one record and didn't want to break it up, so we're not going to hear the second half until 2013. But you know what? If it's half as good as their debut was (and given how long it's taken, it'd better be), Time I surely will not disappoint.
2. Devin Townsend - Epicloud and Casualties of Cool
After the underwhelming releases Ghost and Deconstruction last year, I was a bit apprehensive about Townsend releasing material. However, from the sounds of it, what he's got in store is going to be awesome. Epicloud promises to be true to its name, epic and loud, whereas Casualties of Cool is a softer, Johnny Cash-esque project he's doing alongside vocalist Ché Aimee Dorval. He's aiming to release these two albums side by side in September, so here's hoping Townsend can pull himself back up this year.
3. Cloudkicker - Untitled studio album
Don't get me wrong, I really enjoyed Let Yourself Be Huge, but 2011 left me jonesing for some of the older, metal Cloudkicker. Judging from the (very small) amount of material he's leaked so far, his next studio album promises to be just that: some ol' fashioned hard rock/heavy metal. Cloudkicker is one of those few artists that has me gripping onto his every word, hoping to glean something about his upcoming works, and knowing his dedicated work ethic, his next full-length album is going to be great.
4. The Gathering - Disclosure
Dutch band The Gathering have always been solid at what they do, namely, making consistently great old fashioned progressive rock time and time again. Judging from the first two singles, the epics "Heroes for Ghosts" and "Meltdown", Disclosure is shaping up to be a pretty awesome record. The only way they could mess it up at this point would be by replacing the rest of the tracks with 44 minutes of silence.
5. Swans - The Seer
Some of the other writers on this website have heard this album already! Am I bitter? Of course not; that would be incredibly childlike of me. Am I trying to remotely access their computers so I can listen to this album? You bet your brains I am. It's a double-disc extravaganza, only their second album after reforming, and from what people are saying (some of us included, nudge nudge), it sounds like its going to be fucking amazing. August cannot arrive soon enough.
I have listened to so much rap in my life that it has affected me in bizarre and comical, yet undesirable ways. For example: For no good reason whatsoever (and with incessant bad timing—i.e. at work, at the grocery store, at lunch with my mom…on Mother’s Day, no less) I randomly channel Too $hort and yell out “biatch”, I can’t answer yes to a question without saying “geah” in my best MC Eiht drawl, and I constantly refer to the place in which I am at as “up in this piece.” (Thankfully I cut myself off from saying “swag” before it got out of control.) Not to mention, the chronic pain in my neck due to the perpetual state of head-bob in which I reside. I am continuously buying, downloading, streaming, and admittedly, sometimes stealing rap music. So I figured, since we are at the halfway mark up in this piece, why not sum up a few the best hip-hop records that have dropped so far in 2012…
Whether on the mic himself or behind the boards for Cannibal Ox, Aesop Rock, Murs, Mr. Lif, or Cage, El-Producto has been consistently creating stellar hip-hop music for nearly twenty years now. In 1997, as part of the now legendary trio Company Flow, he was responsible for one the most important rap records of the ‘90s, Funcrusher Plus. And in five year increments he has dropped a solo album that is not only one of the year’s best records in hip-hop, but the best in all of music. (See Fantastic Damage ’02 and I’ll Sleep When You’re Dead ‘07.) The same can be said of his third, and most recent, Cancer 4 Cure. Intact are the recognizable distinctions El-P has spent the last decade perfecting: meticulously-crafted futuristic sound collages and densely congested beats—sci-fi-informed and bass heavy—balanced with hard-hitting lyricism that zigzags between paranoia, self-deprecation, braggadocios chest pounding, and easily decipherable metaphorical witticism. Cancer 4 Cure isn’t just good hip-hop; its good music. Like the hook in the lead-off single “The Full Retard” goes, “You should pump this shit like they do in the future.”
2. Apollo Brown & OC - Trophies (Mello Music Group)
I don’t know if it’s just me being biased towards older MCs as I move increasingly into my own salt-n-pepper stage (the age-induced hair color, that is) but I’ve been quite impressed with recent releases by some of hip-hop’s elder statesmen—Edo G., Kool G. Rap and KRS-One,to name a few. And now D.I.T.C. crew member OC comes back again alongside up-and-coming producer Apollo Brown with an outstanding new album that might just be the sleeper of the year. The premise is as alluring as it is basic: Apollo produced simplistic sample-based string, horn and drum boom-bap and OC blessed it with his conciliatory no-frills delivery. You won’t find any traces of crunk, trap, thizzle, #swag, or purple here. Trophies is 16 tracks of pure unadulterated East Coast-style hip-hop, and it’s damn good.
3. Killer Mike - R.A.P. Music (Williams Street)
Released only one week prior, and playing like a companion piece of sorts to El-P’s Cure 4 Cancer, R.A.P. Music shows the Atlanta based Dungeon Family veteran as an invigorated and fresh-breathed MC on verge of finally breaking through. Over a backdrop created entirely by El-P, Killer Mike spits potent mix of politics, personal tales and hardcore G-talk. Aside from a appearances by Bun-B, TI, El-P and a couple lesser-known MCs, Mike goes at it alone, and the result is unified and striking. Considering El’s on the beat, it’s hard to call this Southern rap. That being said, in the aptly-titled “Southern Fried”, Mike lays down the Dungeon Fam-esque rhymes about Killer Hill and strip clubs, while El does his best to direct the beats appropriately—not exactly ‘playalisticadillacmuzik but close enough.
4. I Self Devine - The Sound of Lower Class Amerika (Rhymesayers Ent)
I Self Devine is not only the unsung hero of Ryhmesayers, but in many ways, underground hip-hop as a whole. As far as RSE goes, he’s the only real street-style rapper on the label. (A highly contested case has been made for Brother Ali, but the fact remains, despite Ali’s best, well-intended efforts to sponge I Self and the African-American experience, their audiences are not one in the same.) Setting himself apart from his peers, I Self takes a utilitarian approach to songwriting; largely skipping the misogyny, homophobia and gun-clapping subject matter that plagues most street level hip-hop. Instead he takes it upon himself to narrate the current state of “lower-class” society and provide a historical telling of how things got this fucked up. The Sound of Lower Class Amerika is the latest in an impressive history—one that includes several Micronauts records, a superb outing with DJ Abilities as Semi-Official, and the underrated, yet unforgettable Self Destruction. Against a backdrop of beats provided by Jake One, Vitamin D, Benzilla and others, I Self conveys messages of community, class warfare and social injustice in the United States.
5. SpaceGhostPurrp - Mysterious Phonk: The Chronicles of SpaceGhostPurrp (4AD)
While lyricism may not be SpaceGhostPurrp’s greatest strength, his YOLO-esque black male self-awareness, laughable ignorance and misogyny-laced rhymes only distract mildly from the overall feel of Mysterious Phonk, as it tends to one of hip-hop’s chief qualities: escapism. For example, this how the album starts: “Just a young-ass nigga—not giving a fuck/Cuz if I ever did, I’d be whife’n her up/My heart real black—I don’t trust a bitch/I hate this world—ya’ll can suck my dick.” (From “Mystical Maze”) And this is how it ends: “Fuck what they say—Nigga, Imma do me.” (From “Raider Prayer”) Production wise, Purrp’s beats are eerie, foggy, high-as-hell-in-the-deep-end-of-the-pool head-nodisms that would fit nicely alongside DJ Paul, anything chopped-n-screwed, and contemporaries like A$AP Ty Beats—they are, for lack of a better term, purp’d the fuck out. To people who loved hip-hop before sippin’ syrup and blowing back hydro became the norm, Chronicles probably doesn’t scream “best of”—and traditionally speaking, no, Miami’s SpaceGhost isn’t the most gifted rapper—but as a dual-headed monster—his real prowess is as a producer—he has created one of the year’s most cohesive, and I’ll just go ahead and say it, best hip-hop albums.
As if keeping up with rap music’s ridiculously hectic release schedule isn’t frustrating enough, staying on top of the mixtape game is as daunting task as there is for a hip-hop head. Generally speaking I don’t mess with mixtapes…or at least, that used to be the case. By and large they are collections of throw-away tracks, recycled beats, annoying advertisements for the upcoming album that never actually arrives (I’m looking at you Rick Ross) and the favored platform for trap-n-trunk rappers that can’t rap. Not to mention, they tend to drag on way too long. That being said, with downloads being the preferred medium these days, the increased debate over what establishes something as a mixtape rather than an official release is an unwinnable argument on par with, say, what-is-and-what-is-not-punk. And when it boils down to it, some artists only do mixtapes. So to be fair, I wanted to give some love to those notable tapes that have dropped so far in 2012…
1. Action Bronson - Blue Chips
This project—which borrows its title, imagery, and some key samples from the '90s Nick Nolte, Shaq, and Penny Hardaway basketball film of the same name—brings together Brooklyn producer Party Supplies and the Flushing-Queens MC-on-the-rise Action Bronson for a grip of songs. Although it is a free download, it plays more like an album than it does a mixtape. The only real drawbacks here are that, even though these are all good songs, none of them really stand apart from each other aside from “Hookers at the Point”; a misogynist tale in which Bronson raps from a few different points of view, including that of—surprise—a pimp. It’s that lack of variety that, at seventeen songs, tends to get a little monotonous near the end. Overall though, it’s another stellar outing by Bronson, in which he shows no signs of slowing down. Dude has bars for days.
2. Joey Bada$$ - 1999
Early in 1999, Joey Bada$$ states, “I’m tryin’ to go global…tryin’ to be a mogul” and later, “I won’t stop ‘til I meet Hova and my moms is driving a Rover.” And if this tape is any indication—as well as extracurriculars like calling out Kanye on his current mediocre-ness and (purportedly) beefing with Odd Future—it may not be long before he finds himself sitting in the front row of the BET Awards with a Kardashian on his arm. The Brooklynite, at just 17 years old, has crafted a surprisingly remarkable mixtape that recalls some of the most revered hip-hop in history. Over the course of fifteen tracks, Joey, along with his rhyme partner Capital STEEZ and the rest of the producer/emcee/artist conglomerate Pro Era, breathe new life into the tried and true ‘90s NYC rap formula. 1999 isn’t just the name; it’s the whole style—featuring production from J-Dilla, Statik Selktah, MF Doom, and Lord Finesse to boot. This cat has all the potential in the world to be H-to-the-UGE.
3. Meek Mill - Dreamchasers 2
It used to be that, aside from a guilty pleasure-like interest in Rick Ross, I didn’t really get down with anybody from the MMG crew. That was until I heard Meek Mill’s Ricky Rozay feature “I’m a Boss” about a million times while covering metro-area high school basketball games last year—it was by far the most played song in gymnasiums during the ’11-’12 season. So it was with equal parts curiosity and anticipation that I peeped Meek’s latest tape, Dreamchasers 2. And damn, if this thing isn’t good! What’s most surprising to me is that dude can actually rap. Now I know that might not come as a shock to anyone already familiar with Meek, but—at the risk of ruining my street cred here—admittedly, until recently I largely ignored trap music. (If you didn’t know by now, I’m primarily a boom-bap guy.) Dreamchasers 2 features production from a number of trunk rattlers like, Jahlil Beats, All-Star and others. Beat Bully lays the foundation for the “House Party (RMX)”, which is the first time in recent memory that I can recall being able to actually tolerate Mac Miller. Meek goes the emo route a few times with personal stories of struggle and whatnot, but it’s most enjoyable when he unabashedly indulges the listener with sex raps and stereotypical gangsta shit. Such as “Str8 Like That” and the Sam Sneaker-produced “Facedown,” which shows Meek, Wale and Trey Songz appropriating an old 2-Live Crew song of the same name are standout tracks.
4. M-Phazes - Phazed Out (Mixed Version)
This is a playlist of tracks from Coalmine Records’ recent catalog that have been remixed by Australian producer M-Phazes. The whole thing has been superbly beat-matched and scratched into a non-stop party-rockin’ joint by DJ Rhettmatic of the World Famous Beat Junkies. Veterans like Heltah Skeltah, Inspectah Deck, Phil Da Agony, Masta Ace, and CL Smooth rap alongside up-n-comers Torae, Bekay, Saigon, Skyzoo, and Termanology. This reminds me of (and subsequently long for) the ‘90s when mixtapes were actually cassette tapes of various rap songs mixed together by a DJ without the use of Serato. That’s not to say there isn’t some sort of mixing software at work here—I literally cannot tell—but if there is, it’s cleverly disguised by Rhettmatic’s impeccable turtablism. Fans of NYC’s Stretch & Bobbito, LA’s Fantastik 4our or Minneapolis’ Smoke & Delight and Dan Speak & Disco-T old radio shows will dig this.
5. Eric Sermon - Breath of Fresh Air
Despite being the subject of numerous controversial rumors (or the butt of many jokes, depending on how you look at) over the years—that he’s gay, that he’s homophobic, that he was thrown out a window, that he jumped out of a window on his own volition, his on again/off again relationship with EPMD partner Parish Smith, etc.—and dismal record sales, the Green Eyed Bandit has somehow managed to remain one of the more pivotal people in the rap game for twenty plus years. Yet this one totally took me by surprise. First, that the E-Double actually has some new material out, and secondly, that it turns out to be pretty decent stuff. Well it’s not exactly all new stuff—some of it is rarities and unreleased tracks from previous projects, but it is still very good. It’s got all the signature Sermon production you’ve come to expect—more or less, traditional East Coast boom-bap. And as with most tapes, Breath of Fresh Air is ripe with guest spots—KRS-One, Method Man, Too $hort, Rick Ross and Def Squad alums Redman and Keith Murray all make appearances, as do newbies Twone Gabz, the mysterious Lockness Monster, and the recently departed Sam-Bo.
Runner Ups
I Self Devine - The Culture Series mixtapes 1-4, Raekwon - Unexpected Victory, Showbiz & AG - Mugshot Music: Preloaded and Mugshot Music: Preloaded Remixes, MC Tree G - Sunday School
Mario (Big Sad - bass) SPB: Who is the most underrated Florida band (current or all-time, your choice)? Mario: Grabass Charlestons/Careeners Not only is their entire catalog solid, but their last LP, Dale & The Careeners is the best album No Idea Records ever put out. Whenever I find a …
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UltraBomb is Greg Norton - Bass (Hüsker Dü), Finny McConnell - Vocals and Guitars (The Mahones), and Derek O'Brien - Drums (Social Distortion), replacing Jamie Oliver (UK Subs). References are being dropped like an UltraBomb (like that? ha!) so, that being said: are they a supergroup or power trio? Neither …
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Hey folks, Toby here, and the SPB team asked me to provide some insights about some stuff from our catalog now that Red Scare is (you gotta be shittin’ me?!) twenty years old. Specifically a “memory or modern take” on some past releases, and they picked some doozies, so let’s …
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We've rolled out an extra-special feature for this year's Fest: that's right, it's FEST LIBS. You've played it before, but not like this – fill in our interactive form here, then sit back and read your customised FEST LIBS. The results may surprise you. But before you go generate your …
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