Best In Music 2010
10) Norma Jean - Meridional
Norma Jean’s best release since “‘O’ God The Aftermath.” I had almost given up on this band, with the cringe worthy clean singing and southern rock influenced “Redeemer” and the tired and labored effort, “The Anti-Mother.” This isn’t the bands heaviest album, or their most accessible album. This isn’t even a return to form by any means. “Meridional” is the band at its best in regards to song writing, riffs and creative meshing of all of their past influences. Norma Jean have taken all the best parts of their past efforts and combined them to form a riff heavy blend of metallic rock and roll. The vocals perfectly compliment the rough but well written music and often range from an almost grunge delivery to a full scream. The album itself starts off with some of the best material Norma Jean has written to date. The first five songs especially make up one of the best leads into an album- but unfortunately things level off from there. It’s not to say the rest of the record is bad, but it does begin to lose its edge and feel a bit lengthy toward the end. At worst, the last half of the album is mediocre- making the overall record marginally above average.
09) Guidance Counselor – Guidance Counselor
Early goth influenced synth punk, Guidance Counselor debut a catchy and unique album with layered textures and memorable hooks. The album picks up with a goth pop, almost Killing Joke approach and vocals not unlike The Cure’s Robert Smith. The production isn’t quite raw, but it certainly doesn’t pack the over produced punch of the mainstream favorites; MGMT and Rapture. The haunting vocals balance the more pop-esque tracks (Bad Love, Life Is Tyte) as well as add to the deeply conceptual songs (A.23, Creature). Overall it’s the depth and time spent on each song that make this an enjoyable, repeated listen.
Worth mentioning is the bands label; Old Wave Records feature Guidance Counselor, Fake Drugs as well as Starfucker and some other interesting indie and experimental bands.
08) The Black Angels - Phosphene Dream
The Black Angels continue to write unique and alluring psychedelic rock. Phosphene Dream is both challenging and accessible, as heavy as it is catchy and even has the sort of depth worthy of repeated listens. There are more than a handful of bands playing similar music, but The Black Angels stand out because of their ability to write as unconventionally as underground artists and as engaging as songs heard on the radio.
07) Robert Plant - Band of Joy
With “Band of Joy,” Robert Plant continues to explore the roots and influences that made Led Zeppelin a well-versed name in blues rock and folk. Plant breathes fresh into the aforementioned genres and even dabbles in country and gospel. Plant manages to include an intriguing signature of his own- a much different signature than the heavy footprint Led Zeppelin made years ago. “Band of Joy” starts off strong with three of the albums best songs, which almost overshadow the rest of the record. However, Plant manages to keep interest by including several covers and an inspiring professionalism throughout the album. Never does a song fall flat, seem out of place or become tedious. Robert Plant’s last few albums have been far more enjoyable than the last few from Led Zeppelin with ”Band of Joy” remaining compelling and refreshing all the way through.
06) John Mellencamp - No Better Than This
Mixing equal parts country, blues and folk rock, “No Better Than This” is one of Mellencamp’s best and most sincere records to date. The album carries a unique versatility to it. Each song seems to be very well thought out and equally well written, mixing an obvious passion and intellect, especially regarding the insightful lyrics. Mellencamp mixes it up between self-reflection and social commentary, venturing further into the political realm than before. With a range of dark, and brooding to sarcasm and humor, “No Better Than This” succeeds in most ventures and it’s all recorded admirably in Mono.
05) Ceremony - Rohnert Park
Ceremony has managed to demonstrate their versatility with each release. “Violence, Violence” was a straight forward punk and hardcore thrasher, with Minor Threat influences and song lengths. “Still Nothing Moves You” has a much darker tone, experimenting with, song structure and length. “Rohnert Park” is almost a modern take on 80’s hardcore, with early punk influences. The band is at its most accessible with some songs even carrying a bit of melody and bounce to them (Moving Principle, Don’t Touch Me, All The Time). The album even has a three part song Interlude (Into The Wayside), which surprisingly fits well with the flow of things. “Rohnert Park” is a well written tribute to the bands influences and helps to showcase their continuing adaptability.
04) Alpinist – Lichtlaerm
Hailing from Germany- Alpinist play a grinding blend of sludgy hardcore and crust punk, similar to Trap Them, only more focused. “Lichtlaerm” the bands sophomore effort, combines visceral vocals, thick metallic guitar work and a driving energy not unlike Converge. It’s difficult to point out highlights from this record, only because each song stands so well on its own. To be fair, there is very little the band has accomplished in the realm of originality. However, it’s the creative mix of what the band does well that makes up for it’s lack of experimentation and diversity. Alpinist also succeed in memorable songwriting- the record incorporates slow, atmospheric passages and blisteringly aggressive hardcore. “Lichtlaerm” plays like a concept album, as each song flows so well into the next. Alpinist may not have the touch of originality it takes to make it into the history books, but this record remains much more enjoyable than most of what is and has been coming out of the aforementioned genres.
03) Integrity - The Blackest Curse
Integrity has been playing their blend of metal and hardcore punk since 1988, helping to pioneer what is now referred to as metalcore. However, while metalcore has subsequently began implementing more melody, gimmicky trends and even garnering mainstream success, Integrity have continued to focus their brand of straightforward hardcore and metal. “The Blackest Curse” is evidence the band has no intent on deviating from the darker, heavier aspects of music which they do quite well. The only time the album lets up is on an acoustic interlude (Before The VVorld VVas Young) not completely out of place but does slightly weaken the flow of the record. With that said, it is really the only low point of the record. Integrity is otherwise at its best throughout the rest of the album. “The Blackest Curse” is a dark, charging record filled with solos, thrash, abrasive vocals and an unrelenting pace. This is not your stepsister’s trendy metalcore record.
02) Daughters – Daughters LP
It’s understandable that some members of Daughters were not completely satisfied with this record, actually their vocalist claimed he plain disliked it. With their first self-titled EP release, Daughters employed a sort of experimental grindcore (vaguely similar to The Locust except without synthesizer). The sound was not at all too distant from many of the member’s previous band, As The Sun Sets but that sound would change suddenly upon their first full length. “Canada Songs” saw the band focus more on experimenting with high-pitched guitars and unorthodox song structures. Their next effort, “Hell Songs” featured an even further deviation. On all previous efforts, Daughters have utilized screaming vocals. “Hell Songs” maintained some of the bands abrasive grind and hardcore influences but all vocals were done in a somewhat unique blend of out of tune singing and an almost drunken slurring vaguely similar to Nick Cave, The Birthday Party. For most, the album was a hit or miss. On Daughters self-titled LP effort, the band has again severely changed their sound. Most noticeably different is the absence of almost all hardcore and grind influences. The album has a predominantly experimental metal approach, incorporating melodic passages, breakdowns, more straightforward song writing and even more accessible vocals. All of which making this the most accessible album Daughters have released- which may be the most probable reason behind some of the bands discontent. However none of this actually takes away from the record, in fact I think Daughters have crafted a profoundly unique and intriguing album demonstrating the bands considerable versatility. Almost every song sustains its own memorable and captivating feel. The album displays unusual riffs, unorthodox transitions and even some breakdowns which don’t feel forced or repetitive. Daughters have crafted another album, both curious and enjoyable.
01) The Fall - Your Future, Our Clutter
Mark E. Smith and The Fall have been at the post punk forefront since the genres inception. The Fall has managed to stay relevant and quite brilliant for more than thirty years, maintaining a unique sound and vocal approach. Lyrically, Smith’s writing is highly commendable and typically very highly regarded, covering a range of topics from surrealism, to unemployment and the truly absurd. His delivery carries a very poetic, almost spoken word like feel but manages to fit quite nicely only adding to the distinctive sound of the music. “Your Future, Our Clutter” explores simple yet creative bass lines and repetitive yet compelling rhythms which then progress throughout the album and often give forth to an almost thrash like eruption. The band is clearly comfortable mixing it up with songs venturing into an almost western like cow-punk (Cowboy George) and the much darker, especially on the album’s closer (Weather Report 2) which fades out over the course of a four minute bass like effect while Smith ends it with “you don’t deserve rock and roll.”
Honorable Mention:
Greg Allman - Low Country Blues
All Pigs Must Die – All Pigs Must Die
The Mistake - F What You Heard
Monument To Thieves – Monument To Thieves
Fake Drugs - Drake Fugs
