Weekend Baking: Liz’s 2015
2015 was an especially busy year for me; between starting a new full-time job and weekend baking gig, playing with my band (The Furr), and my freelance design work, I had far less opportunity to write for Decoder than I would’ve liked. That’s why I felt that doing a “best of” list this year was particularly important for me — not because I think these entries are definitively the “best” albums of 2015 (whatever that means), but because they’re all albums that I loved and obsessed over for various reasons and think/hope others would enjoy as well. Media consumption is at an all-time high (myself included), and I know I inevitably missed out on some great stuff over the past 12 months, so this is my attempt to pause the tide for a moment and appreciate a few particular releases.
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The Coneheads – LP 1 aka 14 Year Old High School PC-Fascist Hype Lords Rip Off Devo for the Sake of Extorting $$$ from Helpless Impressionable Midwestern Internet Peoplepunks (Erste Theke Tontraeger)
My most-listened to tracks in 2015 were definitely those on The Coneheads’ first LP, which combines their first two self-released EP tapes into one monster album. Though it’s 15 tracks long, its runtime is still barely 18 minutes total, which might add to its addictive qualities — get ready to flip that sucker over a lot. Every track seethes with an unbridled energy that I’ve yet to find a match for, and it doesn’t hurt that they did a dizzying version of “Psycho Killer,” too. If you’ve somehow slept on these guys, wake up! The future is here and it sounds a lot like Devo inspired aliens on speed.
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Fleece – Eulogy (Death Records)
This San Francisco trio caught my eye with their self-titled release via Death Records in 2014, and kept my attention with 2015’s Eulogy (also released on Death). Fleece’s unique combination of memorable vocals, crunchy guitar, and breakneck drums is akin to a manic skeleton doing an angular dance. Eulogy is a fantastic example of an album that is truly spot-on from beginning to end, which makes its simple “Side A” and “Side B” tracklisting appropriate — you’re not going to be skipping any tracks. Just wish I’d gotten to catch one of their live sets.
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The Bats Pajamas – No Hello (Fleeting Youth)
This Toronto trio excretes a particularly scuzzy brand of bedroom punk rock — the perfect soundtrack for any witch, warlock, or familiar. With short, powerful tracks featuring names like “TV Sheets,” “Witch Way,” and “Feel Like Shit,” The Bats Pajamas prove that DIY sludge is often more attractive than sheen. Really looking forward to their next album.
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DRI HIEV – Contravirtual (Shake! Records/BUNGHOLE)
Calgary-based four-piece DRI HIEV specialize in aggressive, “disorienting music” which is only appropriate given their name. Blending noise, punk, and modern industrial, their EP Contravirtual isn’t for the faint of heart; the wall of noise is only punctuated occasionally by vocalist Carter Crough’s heavily distorted vocals while the rest of the group churns onward, kicking up grit and blood in their wake. Put this on when you’re feeling like throwing some punches, while we anxiously await their full-length.
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Samuel Boat – Alphabet Beach (Hidden Temple Tapes)
Jangly and effervescent, Samuel Boat’s Alphabet Beach is the definition of a tape with a sunny disposition. Featuring a mix of upbeat vocals, drum machine accompaniment, and melodies that could’ve been painted with a watercolor brush, the album is sure to leave you feeling pleasantly tingly and warm all over. My personal favorite track is “Peter Pan Internet.”
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Bean Snack – Crispy Duct (Personal Archives)
Bean Snack’s third album continues the duo’s winning streak, combining elements of noise and drone with computer-generated vocal samples, Russian dialects, creepy clippings, and catchy beats. While it may or may not have actually been made in “a bakery downtown next to a Chinese takeout and rundown arcade,” it certainly carries that atmosphere (can anyone else smell wontons?) Top pick: “O Smiling Amiable.”
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A.C. Band / Sadistic Candle – S/T, S/T (Sun Ark)
Barrett Avner (Black Bananas, Sic Alps, Sun Araw Band) treated us all to a delicious double album towards the end of 2015 with his A.C. Band / Sadistic Candle release via Sun Ark. The albums are dedicated to Barrett’s grandfather, Chuck Avner, who founded and ran Man Talk International, a men’s clothing boutique in Cleveland that served many famous clientele, “notably a pre-costume Funkadelic, Steve Harvey, Grand Funk Railroad, and the Cleveland Cavaliers, etc… The entire album is a three-part dedication to him and his influence on my life, the principles he taught me, and a tribute to my youthful aspirations of playing professional basketball.” The A.C. Band tape highlights Avner’s aptitude for writing catchy, psych-tinged, youthful garage rock, while Sadistic Candle’s cassette features boogie-heavy synthwork woven with funky experimental guitar. A truly wonderful note to have ended the year on; be sure to pick up your copy here if you haven’t already.
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CCR Headcleaner – Cokesmoker (Stale Heat/Pollen Season)
Keita Sano – Holding New Cards (1080p)
Volunteer Dad – Fake British Accent (Paisley Shirt Records)
Baby Birds Don’t Drink Milk – Kill The Fuzz (Fire Talk)
David Loca & The Berkshire Hobbits – Together We Are! (Plastic Response Records)
Ashley Soft – Leave (Shaking Box Music)
FOAM – Charles (Craft Singles)
Bad Meds – S/T (Maple Death)
Psychic Heat – Lighter and Brighter EP (Whatever Forever)
The Madcaps – S/T (Howlin’ Banana)
Kit Wharton – High, Nice to Meet You (Cheap Trash Tapes)
Ty Segall – Mr. Face EP (Famous Class)
Courtesy – Slow Bruise (Moon Glyph)
Woolen Men – Temporary Monument (Woodsist)
Matt Valentine – Midden Mound (Child of Microtones)
Herbcraft – Wot Oz (Woodsist)
Nava Luvu – Transport (Apothecary Compositions)
