Favorite Albums of 2019
As I sit here banging away at my keyboard, I'm reminded that another year has practically transpired right before my eyes. It's been an eventful year for me in the way of dealing with one downfall after another, but uneventful in just about every other facet of life. When I say it's been a struggle, that's the understatement of the year. For the icing on the cake to this shit storm of a year, I have been gifted with a head cold that has had me up all night hacking up a lung throughout my entire Christmas break. If I'm being honest, I'd give anything to go back in Doc Brown's Delorian to 2016, change the results of the election so the cataclysmic events that have happened since are reversed and all is well in the world.
Alas, that's not how life works, but music will always be there for me. Even, when music appears to be letting me down, it still manages to boost my endorphins to a level that makes me smile. I went through a phase of a month this years where nothing sounded acceptable to my ears, where all-time favorites like Jimi Hendrix, Miles Davis, James Brown, Beastie Boys, Public Enemy fell on deaf ears while I struggled for any semblance of happiness. Considering all of this, I still have a drive to share my thoughts on music that has moved me throughout the year. I suppose that it's somewhat a cathartic practice to empty my heart and soul into words that hopefully translate into someone purchasing a record for an artist that they hadn't heard before, or buying tickets to see an artist at a live concert. I've said before that blogging is a thankless task that requires the writer to keep soldiering on despite accolades and positive feedback, but my confidence and motivation has been at an all-time low during the last year without these things. Please dear readers understand that I certainly don't expect you to write a comment regarding everything I post here, but it would be nice to hear from you every once in a while when something moves you.
Onward to my list for the Favorites of 2019. This year, I had to play catch up as I didn't start listening to much music released from the year until about October. This meant listening to an exorbitant amount of music in a short period of time, causing me to practically have an anxiety attack about the state of music today. At a certain point, I thought I had heard every variation of a chord progression or drum beat that existed throughout the course of one listening session on my computer. I used to rely on the year-end lists compiled at the Largehearted Boy website, but they have changed their format to only include lists from the popular publications like Pitchfork, Paste, Gorilla Vs Bear, Fader, Uproxx, etc. If you have checked out the year-end breakdowns from any of these sites, you will probably agree with me that they are sorely lacking individuality and creativity. In fact, they look like lists that you could show to a middle-schooler, and they would easily recognize at least half of the artists. Now, this is not a knock to that demographic, but the aforementioned sites used to cater to the tastes of adults in their 20's and 30's. Now, teen-pop, synth-pop, electronic, baby-boomer rock and trap/gangsta rap make up the majority of these lists.
There are sources that I still trust to keep feeding me nothing but quality like Raven Sings the Blues and Aquarium Drunkard, but there is clearly a giant void left for sites championing music that is difficult to summarize in a few words. I hope that this list provides you with an alternative to the norm, and introduces you to something that you can't quite wrap your head around on the first listen. Instead of posting links to the songs like I have done in the past, I'm including a link to the album's Bandcamp site where you can usually sample the entire record. If you enjoy it enough, please consider purchasing it from the artist.
Favorite Albums of 2019
1) Steve Gunn- The Unseen in Between
Admittedly, Gunn's latest album didn't initially grab me. It was only after finding a Youtube video with performances of the songs from the record in auditoriums, on the city streets, and in packed clubs that I was able to realize the depth of these songs. Upon revisiting it, I was able to appreciate that he has created a mature, nuanced rock album with multitudes of levels. If you are interested in well-written singer-songwriter fare, you can can't go wrong with the the more even-keeled first side. But the more adventurous listeners will want to stick around for the second act, as tracks like "New Familiar" and "Lightning Field" have explosive guitar solos that demonstrate Gunn's mastery of the instrument.
https://stevegunn.bandcamp.com/album/the-unseen-in-between
2) Mdou Moctar- Ilana, The Creator
Speaking of guitar mastery, look no further than the undisputed champion of the Tuareg desert guitar style, Mdou Moctar. I wrote about this record earlier in the year, so there really isn't much more I can add to this but that listening to this record at high volume can be hazardous to your ears. I'll add that this is quite possibly the best record to capture the unbridled intensity of a live concert in quite some time.
https://mdoumoctar.bandcamp.com/album/ilana-the-creator
3) Garcia Peoples- Natural Facts
These guys have undoubtedly had a busy year! By releasing three albums this year, they have almost become the King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard of jam-band indie rock. While the highly-touted and well-promoted One Step Behind was the one that got most people talking, I felt that Natural Facts was the better record of the two. It features stellar vocal melodies, and layered guitars that lock-in step perfectly with the rhythm section, creating an otherworldly indie-rock record. Standout tracks are "Feel So Great", "High Noon Violence" and "Total Yang".
https://garciapeoplesbbib.bandcamp.com/album/natural-facts
4) Daughter of Swords- Dawnbreaker
After a lengthy respite from releasing any music, the trio Mountain Man emerged last year with a new record called Magic Ship last year. Considering the long wait between albums, I wasn't expecting much new material from them for awhile. Earlier in the year, Alexandra Sauser-Monnig from Mountain Man released the astoundingly good Dawnbreaker. Sauser-Monnig more than holds her own on her debut with the other 2/3 of the group absent. This one kicks up a little more dust than Mountain Man with percussion and a more electrified guitar, but at the end of the day it's all about the pitch-perfect crystalline melodies and countrified ditties that keep you coming back for more.
https://daughterofswords.bandcamp.com/releases
5) Badge Epoque Ensemble- S-T
Led by Maximillian "Slim Twig" Turnbull and the ensemble of musicians who played on the last U.S. Girls record, the debut record of the Badge Epoque Ensemble is a revelation. It has plenty of deep grooves, wah-wah solos and explosive dynamics reminiscent of some of the greatest jazz-fusion records of the era., but there are also elements of prog, psych and soul. Highlight include the slow and slinky groove monster "Milk Spilt on Eternity" and the epic, wah-wah inflected "Undressed in Solitude" with a psychedelic-funk groove that never stops.
https://badgeepoque.bandcamp.com/album/badge-poque-ensemble
6) Eddy Current Suppression Ring- All In Good Time
The latest long player from these four rabble-rousers from Australia came out of nowhere. It was released on Castleface records at the end of the year with next to no promotion, and still managed to make my year-end list. The title All in Good Time is quite telling as this is the first studio record from Eddy Current since Rush to Relax was released in 2010. I haven't had a chance to thoroughly engage with the record, but the rhythm section sounds explosive and at times like everything is going to come crashing down at once. While most of the tracks on Rush to Relax were shorter, there are a few songs on this record that stretch past the five minute mark, allowing more time to get under your skin. For a band that's been gone for most of the decade, they haven't missed a beat.
https://eddycurrentsuppressionring.bandcamp.com/album/all-in-good-time
7) Billy Woods w/ Kenny Segal- Hiding Places
I know this is high praise, but Hiding Places reaches the heights of It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back for it's sheer audacity, poetic storytelling and urgent political message. I haven't heard another record this year with a combination of production and lyrics that rivaled this. The drums thump and crack while synthesizer stabs electrify your brain stem. I think of Woods as one of the best storytellers in hip-hop akin to Ka and Black Thought. He has such a commanding voice that the lines he delivers hit harder than you expect. Tracks like "Checkpoints" and "Red Dust" will shake you to your core. Don't sleep on this one!
https://billywoods.bandcamp.com/album/hiding-places
8) Honey Radar- Ruby Puff of Dust
I was already aware of Honey Radar after hearing their last album Blank Cartoon in 2016, but this record pulls out all of the stops. It's as if the best melodies from every Guided By Voices were painstakingly merged with the scuzziest riffs around. The entire record is only 22 minutes, so they definitely live by the credo of less is more. Normally I would say that a record has to be at least 30 minutes to qualify as an actual long-player, but this thing is so stacked to the gills with quality songs that I'm willing to make an exception here. If you think Bob Pollard is the second coming, then you will find plenty to love about this record.
9) Sunwatchers-Illegal Moves
With one look at the artwork on this cover, you can probably surmise that this record is a mindflayer. On the band's third long player, it definitely kicks out the psychedelic, free jazz, kraut and prog jams to keep everyone on their toes. From the buzzing guitars that open the first track, you know that you're in for an intense ride that turns down sharp corners and then flips upside down when you least expect it. Over the course of three albums, the band has slightly polished its sound with flourishes of synthesizer and organ to help temper the barrage of guitars, pummeling drums and squalling saxophones. This record will seriously set your hair on fire!
https://sunwatchers.bandcamp.com/album/illegal-moves
10) Vivian Girls- Memory
Similarly to Eddy Current Suppression Ring, I never though I would hear another new record from the Vivian Girls, but the band came out of the ether to release it's latest gem called Memory. Anybody who has listened to the Vivian Girls will know that they aren't going to pull a left turn and release a synth-based pop record, or a record filled with country ballads. They are all about the catchy melodies riding underneath a thick, buzzing bed of guitars. If you like this classic Vivian Girls formula, you will not be disappointed."Most of All" and "Sick" contain some of their best melodies yet.
https://viviangirlsnyc.bandcamp.com/album/memory
11) Rose City Band- S-T
For some reason, the label decided to not reveal the identity of the main players of this band upon its initial release. From the first verse of the opening track "Rip City", it was obvious to me that this was the latest project from Moon Duo and Wooden Shjips lead singer and guitarist, Ripley Johnson. Ripley's side project Moon Duo released a new record this year as well, but it was this one that resonated the most with me. I love the mellow, psychedelic vibe mixed with a more classic country feel, especially on tracks like "Wandering Feeling" and "Rivers of Mind". I've always wanted Ripley to bring his vocals more to the forefront, and the result is pure aural sunshine.
https://rosecityband.bandcamp.com/releases
12) Sparrow Steeple- Tin Top Sorcerer
From the ashes of the classic Siltbreeze stalwarts, Strapping Fieldhands comes a new record with it's sights set on psychedelic folk with lyrics about wizards, leprechauns and other assorted prog subject matter. While I liked some of the Strapping Fieldhand's earlier records, the vocals and melodies on this record are much easier to decipher with the cleaner production. Don't get me wrong though, this record is still very much about hitting you over the head with a veritable assortment of wheezy harmonicas, distorted guitars, bells and clanging percussion. What results is a head-trip of a record whose captivating melodies meld perfectly into a puddle of psychedelic goo.
https://sparrowsteeple.bandcamp.com/album/tin-top-sorcerer
13) Ty Segall- First Taste
If you told me that Ty Segall was going to be releasing a record without any guitars, and then also told me within the same breath that the album still rocks, I wouldn't have believed it.If you further told me that he did this solely with instruments like the Japanese koto, Greek bouzouki and mandolin, I would have called you crazy. Alas, Segall has managed to craft a rock record without using his primary instrument, and it sounds pretty similar to the rest of his catalog. There are a great mixture of hard, spastic songs like "Taste" and "I Worship the Dog" along with those filled with beautiful harmonic textures like "Ice Plant" and "The Arms". By experimenting with different instruments, Segall manages to forge new pathways within the confines of garage rock.
https://tysegall.bandcamp.com/album/first-taste
14) Quelle Chris- Guns
Considering that two Quelle Chris records made my best of the decade list, it's abundantly clear that his music has made an indelible impact on me. His latest project is a concept album called Guns that explicitly details how guns negatively affect our society with a variety of inventive samples and beats that were likely gathered from his latest digging expedition. Chris's rapping style varies from hard lyrical rhymes on one song to to humorous one liners and a clipped rhyming style on another. There is plenty to love about this record including the lyrical masterpiece "Wild Minks" and the heartfelt "Straight Shot".
https://quellechris360.bandcamp.com/album/guns
15) Elkhorn- Suncycle
This is another record that I discovered while perusing the fantastic Raven Sings the Blues website. The opening track on this record named "Altun Ha" is a slow-burn jam with a scorching guitar solo that will singe your nose hairs if you sit too close to the embers. On "To See Darkness", the band manages to conjure the feeling of driving through the desert at night with nothing but the crackling amp buzz and acoustic guitars to keep you awake. While the rest of the record is reminiscent of vintage Jack Rose with an upbeat take on the American Primitive guitar sound, this album is the perfect companion to take with you when traveling to the high desert.
https://elkhorn.bandcamp.com/album/sun-cycle-elk-jam
16) Ignatz and De Stervende Honden- Deadbeat Freedom
I'm somewhat familiar with Ignatz, but I had never heard him kick out the jams like this. From the beginning of the opening track "Burning Snow", you can tell that these songs are living, breathing organisms that will take shape over time. Ignatz is not concerned with brevity as every track but the closing track clock in at over nine minutes. What results is a perfect after-party record to groove to when dawn is just around the corner, and then the Velvet Underground-inspired choogle of "Sweet Dream Ice Cream" will get your endorphins pumping again.
https://lesalbumsclaus.bandcamp.com/album/ignatz-de-stervende-honden-deadbeat-freedom
17) Kassi Valazza- Dear Dead Days
While this is the only artist from Portland, OR to make my list, it's not due to a lack of talent. This splendid debut record from Kassi Valazza probably flew under the radar of most people due to it being self-released, but don't sleep on this one. Valazza captures that feeling of classic country artists like Patsy Cline on "Sad Songs" and "Running on Empty", but she also dips her toes into the psychedelic pond on "Chino" and "Mary" with echo-chamber guitar solos that transfer the listener to another dimension. If you're looking for contemporary country that doesn't sound like it was manufactured in a shopping mall, you can't go wrong here.
https://kassivalazza.bandcamp.com/releases
18) Sunburned Hand of the Man- Intentions
I haven't followed the trajectory of this band/collective since the early 2000's, but nothing I heard ever approached the fidelity of Intentions. To say their earlier material was lo-fi is definitely an understatement, as it mostly sounded like the secret recordings of a commune on a cheap boombox. You could tell that there was something there, but you would most likely have to see them at a live show to fully appreciate their talents. When I first heard this record, I was stunned at how great it sounded. The drums on the moody opener "Prism Mirror Lens" are so crisp it's as if they are playing in your living room. Then, the track called "Experiments" toys with synthesizers in a fashion that provides window dressing to an already great song. It's clear that a freak-out guitar solo is right around the corner, and just like clockwork, "Born Clever" jump-starts the proceedings with a guitar solo that will melt your brain.
https://sunburnedhandoftheman.bandcamp.com/album/intentions
19) Shana Cleveland- Night of the Worm Moon
With such a colorful album cover, you would think that the music contained on this record would be high-energy punk rock or new-wave, but it couldn't be further from the truth. Shana Cleveland, the lead singer of Seattle's garage rock quartet La Luz, has released a moody, introspective record that's best listened to when darkness seeps into the night. These songs are what happens when La Luz strips the drums and distorted guitars away from the sound, leaving only the spooky, yearning vocals of Cleveland. "Don't let me Sleep" and "Face into the Sun" set the tone for the rest of the record perfectly with the smoky film-noir vibe taking center stage. This is an underrated record, and one that definitely deserves your time.
https://shanacleveland.bandcamp.com/album/night-of-the-worm-moon
20) Homeboy Sandman- Dusty
Sandman has been on a couple of my year-end lists, and his recent collaborations with artists like Aesop Rock and Edan have kept him on my radar. With his latest collection of songs, he has crafted an excellent montage of conscious, humorous, thought-provoking, complex rhymes that will have you reaching for the rewind button. Even though there are 15 tracks on the record, it still clocks in at under 35 minutes, making it a bite-size morsel that can be digested over and over again. The samples and production by Mono En Stereo is varied enough to include psych rock, easy-listening, soul and jazz. Standouts include the posse cut with Your Old Droog and Quelle Chris called "Lookout", the rapid-fire rhyme scheme on "Yes Iyah" and the slow groove of "Step inside" which allows Sandman to flow like there's no tomorrow. This record was a grower for me, but now I'm all aboard the Sandman train!
21) The Chinese Restaurants- Instant Music
There is clearly a giant void in this list so far, and that is that to this point there has been no inclusion of jazz. While I wouldn't exactly call this record jazz, saxophones are a core piece of the overall sound of Instant Music and it is 100% improvised. The two core members of this band are Richard Papiercuts and Keith Restaurant, and there motto for the band is the following: (1) Never rehearse; (2) Never discuss what you do; (3) Never do the same thing twice. Considering this, you can imagine that this would be at least interesting, but you could never be prepared for the end result. "Intimacy (For C.T. )" gets the party started slowly with a mellow jazz tune with no other accompaniment than some guitar plucks and whooshing vocal sounds. From here, the record goes into a somewhat straightforward punk-jazz that reminds me of the sound of the Cramps if they met up with The Lounge Lizards in a dark alley. They have a couple more stops on the improv-jazz subway, only to coalesce into the slinky "Oculist" and the closing jazz-funk groove of "Four Eyes ( The Lower East Side)".
22) Bill Orcutt- Odds Against Tomorrow
Most of you will know Bill Orcutt from his edgy noise-rock band Harry Pussy, but his latest output couldn't be further from that sound. Even though Orcutt decided to switch to electric guitar for this record, the sound is ironically more mellow than his previous solo records where he played acoustic guitar. It's almost like he can create more of a racket with an old beat-up acoustic than with his 12-string ax. Some of these tracks like opener "Odds Against Tomorrow" are downright gorgeous while still retaining an electric tone that sends shivers up the spine. "A Writhing Jar" starts out with a repetitive guitar motif that merges into a cacophony of sound that abruptly comes to a halt. Tracks like "A Conversion Experience" invoke the slow finger-picked sound of John Fahey at his most mellow. If you love masterful guitar players like Larry Coryell and Jimi Hendrix, this record will not disappoint.
https://billorcutt.bandcamp.com/album/odds-against-tomorrow
23) Leo "Bud" Welch- The Angels in Heaven Done Signed My Name
Sadly, due to most of the blues greats passing away over the years, there has been a lack of good blues to post about on Eclectic Grooves. You'll probably recognize his name as I had his Sabougla Blues on my year-end list back in 2014. I suppose that this could be filed under gospel just as well, but either way this is top-shelf music from one of the only living masters of the style. On "Don't let the Devil Ride", he shreds on a guitar solo that you will want to last forever, and his vocals evoke the classic juke-jointers. "I Come to Praise his Name" has an insistent refrain of "I come to sing my song" that is entrancing while the drums hold down the rhythm with aplomb. My one qualm with this record is that it doesn't allow Welch's phenomenal guitar playing to shine, as multiple songs fade out just when the song is about to start cooking. But this is a minor quibble as it's worth it alone to hear one of the living blues legends do his thing.
https://leobudwelchees.bandcamp.com/
24) Ghost Funk Orchestra- A Song for Paul
When I first heard there was a band named Ghost Funk Orchestra, I thought to myself I wonder if they are a retro funk-soul group in the vein of Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings or Budos Band. After listening to them, I was surprised to hear that they were more of an amalgamation of psychedelia, funk, jazz and instrumental groove. It's like Holly GoLightly decided that she wanted to join a moody jazz band with psychedelic and funk flourishes. The best song on here is "Walk Like a Motherfucker" with it's hipster female vocals, funk rhythms and great horn breakdown, but this one is meant to be listened to from beginning to end.
25) Wilco- Ode to Joy
My long-standing favorite by Wilco is A Ghost is Born, so I was thrilled to hear that this record was the closest they have ever gotten to returning to the sound on that album. One of the things that has been missing from a lot of Wilco's albums in the past decade is the thump of the rhythm section, and this is ever-present on many of these songs including the amazing one-two punch of "Quiet Amplifier" and "Everyone Hides". There are little surprises around every corner of this album, whether it be the down-beat but catchy chorus on "Citizens" to the unexpected cacophonous guitar explosion in the middle of "We Were Lucky". The band hasn't sounded this energized since they released Star Wars in 2015. Here's to hoping that they use this newfound confidence to reach new heights in the next decade.
Honorable Mentions
1) Possible Humans- Everybody Split
2) Bill MacKay- Fountain Fire-
4) L'Orange and Jeremiah Jae- Complicate your Life with Violence
8) Vin Gordon- African Shores
10) High Sheriffs- S-T
12) Jaimie Branch- Fly or Die II
14) The Cosmic Range- The Gratitude Principle
16) Freddie Gibbs and Madlib- Bandana
Alas, that's not how life works, but music will always be there for me. Even, when music appears to be letting me down, it still manages to boost my endorphins to a level that makes me smile. I went through a phase of a month this years where nothing sounded acceptable to my ears, where all-time favorites like Jimi Hendrix, Miles Davis, James Brown, Beastie Boys, Public Enemy fell on deaf ears while I struggled for any semblance of happiness. Considering all of this, I still have a drive to share my thoughts on music that has moved me throughout the year. I suppose that it's somewhat a cathartic practice to empty my heart and soul into words that hopefully translate into someone purchasing a record for an artist that they hadn't heard before, or buying tickets to see an artist at a live concert. I've said before that blogging is a thankless task that requires the writer to keep soldiering on despite accolades and positive feedback, but my confidence and motivation has been at an all-time low during the last year without these things. Please dear readers understand that I certainly don't expect you to write a comment regarding everything I post here, but it would be nice to hear from you every once in a while when something moves you.
Onward to my list for the Favorites of 2019. This year, I had to play catch up as I didn't start listening to much music released from the year until about October. This meant listening to an exorbitant amount of music in a short period of time, causing me to practically have an anxiety attack about the state of music today. At a certain point, I thought I had heard every variation of a chord progression or drum beat that existed throughout the course of one listening session on my computer. I used to rely on the year-end lists compiled at the Largehearted Boy website, but they have changed their format to only include lists from the popular publications like Pitchfork, Paste, Gorilla Vs Bear, Fader, Uproxx, etc. If you have checked out the year-end breakdowns from any of these sites, you will probably agree with me that they are sorely lacking individuality and creativity. In fact, they look like lists that you could show to a middle-schooler, and they would easily recognize at least half of the artists. Now, this is not a knock to that demographic, but the aforementioned sites used to cater to the tastes of adults in their 20's and 30's. Now, teen-pop, synth-pop, electronic, baby-boomer rock and trap/gangsta rap make up the majority of these lists.
Favorite Albums of 2019
1) Steve Gunn- The Unseen in Between
Admittedly, Gunn's latest album didn't initially grab me. It was only after finding a Youtube video with performances of the songs from the record in auditoriums, on the city streets, and in packed clubs that I was able to realize the depth of these songs. Upon revisiting it, I was able to appreciate that he has created a mature, nuanced rock album with multitudes of levels. If you are interested in well-written singer-songwriter fare, you can can't go wrong with the the more even-keeled first side. But the more adventurous listeners will want to stick around for the second act, as tracks like "New Familiar" and "Lightning Field" have explosive guitar solos that demonstrate Gunn's mastery of the instrument.
https://stevegunn.bandcamp.com/album/the-unseen-in-between
Speaking of guitar mastery, look no further than the undisputed champion of the Tuareg desert guitar style, Mdou Moctar. I wrote about this record earlier in the year, so there really isn't much more I can add to this but that listening to this record at high volume can be hazardous to your ears. I'll add that this is quite possibly the best record to capture the unbridled intensity of a live concert in quite some time.
https://mdoumoctar.bandcamp.com/album/ilana-the-creator
3) Garcia Peoples- Natural Facts
These guys have undoubtedly had a busy year! By releasing three albums this year, they have almost become the King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard of jam-band indie rock. While the highly-touted and well-promoted One Step Behind was the one that got most people talking, I felt that Natural Facts was the better record of the two. It features stellar vocal melodies, and layered guitars that lock-in step perfectly with the rhythm section, creating an otherworldly indie-rock record. Standout tracks are "Feel So Great", "High Noon Violence" and "Total Yang".
https://garciapeoplesbbib.bandcamp.com/album/natural-facts
After a lengthy respite from releasing any music, the trio Mountain Man emerged last year with a new record called Magic Ship last year. Considering the long wait between albums, I wasn't expecting much new material from them for awhile. Earlier in the year, Alexandra Sauser-Monnig from Mountain Man released the astoundingly good Dawnbreaker. Sauser-Monnig more than holds her own on her debut with the other 2/3 of the group absent. This one kicks up a little more dust than Mountain Man with percussion and a more electrified guitar, but at the end of the day it's all about the pitch-perfect crystalline melodies and countrified ditties that keep you coming back for more.
https://daughterofswords.bandcamp.com/releases
Led by Maximillian "Slim Twig" Turnbull and the ensemble of musicians who played on the last U.S. Girls record, the debut record of the Badge Epoque Ensemble is a revelation. It has plenty of deep grooves, wah-wah solos and explosive dynamics reminiscent of some of the greatest jazz-fusion records of the era., but there are also elements of prog, psych and soul. Highlight include the slow and slinky groove monster "Milk Spilt on Eternity" and the epic, wah-wah inflected "Undressed in Solitude" with a psychedelic-funk groove that never stops.
https://badgeepoque.bandcamp.com/album/badge-poque-ensemble
https://eddycurrentsuppressionring.bandcamp.com/album/all-in-good-time
I know this is high praise, but Hiding Places reaches the heights of It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back for it's sheer audacity, poetic storytelling and urgent political message. I haven't heard another record this year with a combination of production and lyrics that rivaled this. The drums thump and crack while synthesizer stabs electrify your brain stem. I think of Woods as one of the best storytellers in hip-hop akin to Ka and Black Thought. He has such a commanding voice that the lines he delivers hit harder than you expect. Tracks like "Checkpoints" and "Red Dust" will shake you to your core. Don't sleep on this one!
https://billywoods.bandcamp.com/album/hiding-places
8) Honey Radar- Ruby Puff of Dust
I was already aware of Honey Radar after hearing their last album Blank Cartoon in 2016, but this record pulls out all of the stops. It's as if the best melodies from every Guided By Voices were painstakingly merged with the scuzziest riffs around. The entire record is only 22 minutes, so they definitely live by the credo of less is more. Normally I would say that a record has to be at least 30 minutes to qualify as an actual long-player, but this thing is so stacked to the gills with quality songs that I'm willing to make an exception here. If you think Bob Pollard is the second coming, then you will find plenty to love about this record.
9) Sunwatchers-Illegal Moves
With one look at the artwork on this cover, you can probably surmise that this record is a mindflayer. On the band's third long player, it definitely kicks out the psychedelic, free jazz, kraut and prog jams to keep everyone on their toes. From the buzzing guitars that open the first track, you know that you're in for an intense ride that turns down sharp corners and then flips upside down when you least expect it. Over the course of three albums, the band has slightly polished its sound with flourishes of synthesizer and organ to help temper the barrage of guitars, pummeling drums and squalling saxophones. This record will seriously set your hair on fire!
https://sunwatchers.bandcamp.com/album/illegal-moves
10) Vivian Girls- Memory
Similarly to Eddy Current Suppression Ring, I never though I would hear another new record from the Vivian Girls, but the band came out of the ether to release it's latest gem called Memory. Anybody who has listened to the Vivian Girls will know that they aren't going to pull a left turn and release a synth-based pop record, or a record filled with country ballads. They are all about the catchy melodies riding underneath a thick, buzzing bed of guitars. If you like this classic Vivian Girls formula, you will not be disappointed."Most of All" and "Sick" contain some of their best melodies yet.
https://viviangirlsnyc.bandcamp.com/album/memory
11) Rose City Band- S-T
For some reason, the label decided to not reveal the identity of the main players of this band upon its initial release. From the first verse of the opening track "Rip City", it was obvious to me that this was the latest project from Moon Duo and Wooden Shjips lead singer and guitarist, Ripley Johnson. Ripley's side project Moon Duo released a new record this year as well, but it was this one that resonated the most with me. I love the mellow, psychedelic vibe mixed with a more classic country feel, especially on tracks like "Wandering Feeling" and "Rivers of Mind". I've always wanted Ripley to bring his vocals more to the forefront, and the result is pure aural sunshine.
https://rosecityband.bandcamp.com/releases
From the ashes of the classic Siltbreeze stalwarts, Strapping Fieldhands comes a new record with it's sights set on psychedelic folk with lyrics about wizards, leprechauns and other assorted prog subject matter. While I liked some of the Strapping Fieldhand's earlier records, the vocals and melodies on this record are much easier to decipher with the cleaner production. Don't get me wrong though, this record is still very much about hitting you over the head with a veritable assortment of wheezy harmonicas, distorted guitars, bells and clanging percussion. What results is a head-trip of a record whose captivating melodies meld perfectly into a puddle of psychedelic goo.
https://sparrowsteeple.bandcamp.com/album/tin-top-sorcerer
If you told me that Ty Segall was going to be releasing a record without any guitars, and then also told me within the same breath that the album still rocks, I wouldn't have believed it.If you further told me that he did this solely with instruments like the Japanese koto, Greek bouzouki and mandolin, I would have called you crazy. Alas, Segall has managed to craft a rock record without using his primary instrument, and it sounds pretty similar to the rest of his catalog. There are a great mixture of hard, spastic songs like "Taste" and "I Worship the Dog" along with those filled with beautiful harmonic textures like "Ice Plant" and "The Arms". By experimenting with different instruments, Segall manages to forge new pathways within the confines of garage rock.
https://tysegall.bandcamp.com/album/first-taste
Considering that two Quelle Chris records made my best of the decade list, it's abundantly clear that his music has made an indelible impact on me. His latest project is a concept album called Guns that explicitly details how guns negatively affect our society with a variety of inventive samples and beats that were likely gathered from his latest digging expedition. Chris's rapping style varies from hard lyrical rhymes on one song to to humorous one liners and a clipped rhyming style on another. There is plenty to love about this record including the lyrical masterpiece "Wild Minks" and the heartfelt "Straight Shot".
https://quellechris360.bandcamp.com/album/guns
This is another record that I discovered while perusing the fantastic Raven Sings the Blues website. The opening track on this record named "Altun Ha" is a slow-burn jam with a scorching guitar solo that will singe your nose hairs if you sit too close to the embers. On "To See Darkness", the band manages to conjure the feeling of driving through the desert at night with nothing but the crackling amp buzz and acoustic guitars to keep you awake. While the rest of the record is reminiscent of vintage Jack Rose with an upbeat take on the American Primitive guitar sound, this album is the perfect companion to take with you when traveling to the high desert.
https://elkhorn.bandcamp.com/album/sun-cycle-elk-jam
I'm somewhat familiar with Ignatz, but I had never heard him kick out the jams like this. From the beginning of the opening track "Burning Snow", you can tell that these songs are living, breathing organisms that will take shape over time. Ignatz is not concerned with brevity as every track but the closing track clock in at over nine minutes. What results is a perfect after-party record to groove to when dawn is just around the corner, and then the Velvet Underground-inspired choogle of "Sweet Dream Ice Cream" will get your endorphins pumping again.
https://lesalbumsclaus.bandcamp.com/album/ignatz-de-stervende-honden-deadbeat-freedom
While this is the only artist from Portland, OR to make my list, it's not due to a lack of talent. This splendid debut record from Kassi Valazza probably flew under the radar of most people due to it being self-released, but don't sleep on this one. Valazza captures that feeling of classic country artists like Patsy Cline on "Sad Songs" and "Running on Empty", but she also dips her toes into the psychedelic pond on "Chino" and "Mary" with echo-chamber guitar solos that transfer the listener to another dimension. If you're looking for contemporary country that doesn't sound like it was manufactured in a shopping mall, you can't go wrong here.
https://kassivalazza.bandcamp.com/releases
I haven't followed the trajectory of this band/collective since the early 2000's, but nothing I heard ever approached the fidelity of Intentions. To say their earlier material was lo-fi is definitely an understatement, as it mostly sounded like the secret recordings of a commune on a cheap boombox. You could tell that there was something there, but you would most likely have to see them at a live show to fully appreciate their talents. When I first heard this record, I was stunned at how great it sounded. The drums on the moody opener "Prism Mirror Lens" are so crisp it's as if they are playing in your living room. Then, the track called "Experiments" toys with synthesizers in a fashion that provides window dressing to an already great song. It's clear that a freak-out guitar solo is right around the corner, and just like clockwork, "Born Clever" jump-starts the proceedings with a guitar solo that will melt your brain.
https://sunburnedhandoftheman.bandcamp.com/album/intentions
With such a colorful album cover, you would think that the music contained on this record would be high-energy punk rock or new-wave, but it couldn't be further from the truth. Shana Cleveland, the lead singer of Seattle's garage rock quartet La Luz, has released a moody, introspective record that's best listened to when darkness seeps into the night. These songs are what happens when La Luz strips the drums and distorted guitars away from the sound, leaving only the spooky, yearning vocals of Cleveland. "Don't let me Sleep" and "Face into the Sun" set the tone for the rest of the record perfectly with the smoky film-noir vibe taking center stage. This is an underrated record, and one that definitely deserves your time.
https://shanacleveland.bandcamp.com/album/night-of-the-worm-moon
Sandman has been on a couple of my year-end lists, and his recent collaborations with artists like Aesop Rock and Edan have kept him on my radar. With his latest collection of songs, he has crafted an excellent montage of conscious, humorous, thought-provoking, complex rhymes that will have you reaching for the rewind button. Even though there are 15 tracks on the record, it still clocks in at under 35 minutes, making it a bite-size morsel that can be digested over and over again. The samples and production by Mono En Stereo is varied enough to include psych rock, easy-listening, soul and jazz. Standouts include the posse cut with Your Old Droog and Quelle Chris called "Lookout", the rapid-fire rhyme scheme on "Yes Iyah" and the slow groove of "Step inside" which allows Sandman to flow like there's no tomorrow. This record was a grower for me, but now I'm all aboard the Sandman train!
21) The Chinese Restaurants- Instant Music
There is clearly a giant void in this list so far, and that is that to this point there has been no inclusion of jazz. While I wouldn't exactly call this record jazz, saxophones are a core piece of the overall sound of Instant Music and it is 100% improvised. The two core members of this band are Richard Papiercuts and Keith Restaurant, and there motto for the band is the following: (1) Never rehearse; (2) Never discuss what you do; (3) Never do the same thing twice. Considering this, you can imagine that this would be at least interesting, but you could never be prepared for the end result. "Intimacy (For C.T. )" gets the party started slowly with a mellow jazz tune with no other accompaniment than some guitar plucks and whooshing vocal sounds. From here, the record goes into a somewhat straightforward punk-jazz that reminds me of the sound of the Cramps if they met up with The Lounge Lizards in a dark alley. They have a couple more stops on the improv-jazz subway, only to coalesce into the slinky "Oculist" and the closing jazz-funk groove of "Four Eyes ( The Lower East Side)".
22) Bill Orcutt- Odds Against Tomorrow
Most of you will know Bill Orcutt from his edgy noise-rock band Harry Pussy, but his latest output couldn't be further from that sound. Even though Orcutt decided to switch to electric guitar for this record, the sound is ironically more mellow than his previous solo records where he played acoustic guitar. It's almost like he can create more of a racket with an old beat-up acoustic than with his 12-string ax. Some of these tracks like opener "Odds Against Tomorrow" are downright gorgeous while still retaining an electric tone that sends shivers up the spine. "A Writhing Jar" starts out with a repetitive guitar motif that merges into a cacophony of sound that abruptly comes to a halt. Tracks like "A Conversion Experience" invoke the slow finger-picked sound of John Fahey at his most mellow. If you love masterful guitar players like Larry Coryell and Jimi Hendrix, this record will not disappoint.
https://billorcutt.bandcamp.com/album/odds-against-tomorrow
Sadly, due to most of the blues greats passing away over the years, there has been a lack of good blues to post about on Eclectic Grooves. You'll probably recognize his name as I had his Sabougla Blues on my year-end list back in 2014. I suppose that this could be filed under gospel just as well, but either way this is top-shelf music from one of the only living masters of the style. On "Don't let the Devil Ride", he shreds on a guitar solo that you will want to last forever, and his vocals evoke the classic juke-jointers. "I Come to Praise his Name" has an insistent refrain of "I come to sing my song" that is entrancing while the drums hold down the rhythm with aplomb. My one qualm with this record is that it doesn't allow Welch's phenomenal guitar playing to shine, as multiple songs fade out just when the song is about to start cooking. But this is a minor quibble as it's worth it alone to hear one of the living blues legends do his thing.
https://leobudwelchees.bandcamp.com/
When I first heard there was a band named Ghost Funk Orchestra, I thought to myself I wonder if they are a retro funk-soul group in the vein of Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings or Budos Band. After listening to them, I was surprised to hear that they were more of an amalgamation of psychedelia, funk, jazz and instrumental groove. It's like Holly GoLightly decided that she wanted to join a moody jazz band with psychedelic and funk flourishes. The best song on here is "Walk Like a Motherfucker" with it's hipster female vocals, funk rhythms and great horn breakdown, but this one is meant to be listened to from beginning to end.
25) Wilco- Ode to Joy
My long-standing favorite by Wilco is A Ghost is Born, so I was thrilled to hear that this record was the closest they have ever gotten to returning to the sound on that album. One of the things that has been missing from a lot of Wilco's albums in the past decade is the thump of the rhythm section, and this is ever-present on many of these songs including the amazing one-two punch of "Quiet Amplifier" and "Everyone Hides". There are little surprises around every corner of this album, whether it be the down-beat but catchy chorus on "Citizens" to the unexpected cacophonous guitar explosion in the middle of "We Were Lucky". The band hasn't sounded this energized since they released Star Wars in 2015. Here's to hoping that they use this newfound confidence to reach new heights in the next decade.
Honorable Mentions
1) Possible Humans- Everybody Split
2) Bill MacKay- Fountain Fire-
3) Dire Wolves- Grow Towards the Light
4) L'Orange and Jeremiah Jae- Complicate your Life with Violence
5) The Intelligence- Un-Psychedelic in Peavy City
6) The Shivas- Dark Thoughts
7) Gospel of Mars- 5:19
8) Vin Gordon- African Shores
9) Mary Halvorson- A Tangle of Stars
10) High Sheriffs- S-T
11) Spiral Wave Nomads- S-T
12) Jaimie Branch- Fly or Die II
13) Centrum- For Meditation
14) The Cosmic Range- The Gratitude Principle
15) Matt Valentine- Preserves
https://mattvalentinebbib.bandcamp.com/album/preserves16) Freddie Gibbs and Madlib- Bandana
17) Billy Woods- Terror Management
https://billywoods.bandcamp.com/album/terror-management
18) 75 Dollar Bill- I Was Real
https://75-dollar-bill.bandcamp.com/album/i-was-real
19) Dan Melchoir Band- Negative Freedom
https://dan-melchior.bandcamp.com/album/negative-freedom
20) Dommengang- No Keys
https://dommengang.bandcamp.com/album/no-keys
This concludes my Favorites of 2019 list. I hope you find some things here that you dig, and I welcome you to send me your lists for favorites of the year.
Comments
We have one in common.
Automatic City - Triple Ripple (Wita Records - witalp003)
Château Lagourde - Hacienda Sessions (Dangerhouse Skylab - DSL 030)
Drugdealer - Raw Honey (Mexican Summer - MEX248)
Grindhouse - Can I Drive Your Commodore? (Dangerhouse Skylab - DSL 034)
Iggy Pop - Free (Caroline International - CAROL019LPC)
Jim Jones And The Righteous Mind - CollectiV (Ma§onic Records - JJRM002)
L'épée - Diabolique (Because Music - BEC5650024)
Les Grys Gry's - Les Grys Gry's (Groovie Records - GROO074LP)
Les Tikis - Soul Time EP (Dangerhouse Skylab – DSL 035)
Mercury Rev - Bobbie Gentry’s The Delta Sweete Revisited (Bella Union - BELLA852V)
Moonrise - Let Me Be Your God (Topsy Turvy - TTR-001)
Nick Waterhouse - Nick Waterhouse (Innovative Leisure Records - IL2060)
Night Beats - Her Cold Cold Heart (Heavenly – HVNLP154C)
Orville Peck - Pony (Sub Pop - SP1293)
Paint (Mexican Summer - MEX262)
Peter Perrett - Humanworld (Domino - WIGLP446)
Pierre Vassiliu - En Voyages (Born Bad Records - BB117)
Terry Stamp - Fatsticks (Just Add Water - JAW041)
Ty Segall – First Taste (Drag City - DC738)
Tyrnaround - Colour Your Mind (Expanded Mind Edition) (Guerssen - GUESS155)
V.A. - Back from the Canigó- Garage Punks Vs Freakbeat Mods Perpignan 1989-1999 (Staubgold - staubgold 152, Cougouyou Music - cougouyou 11)
V.A. - Bungalow Sessions 10" (Dangerhouse Skylab - DSL 033, Kizmiaz Records - KZ049, Les Disques Furax)
V.A. - ERR REC Library Vol.2 Science & Technology (ERR REC - ERRREC023)
V.A. - Psyché France 1960-70, Vol.5 (Warner Music France – 0190295488734)
V.A. - Voulez-Vous Cha-Cha - French Cha-Cha 1960-64 (Born Bad Records - BB 116)
Dig it & enjoy.
Fred
Thanks for stopping by the blog, and for sharing your list. There are a few that I'm familiar with from your list- Paint, Drugdealer, Nightbeats, Iggy Pop and Mercury Rev, but quite a few that I'll need to seek out. I hope that you keep checking out the blog in the future.
Best, Kevin