Mike Scales writes
Throughout the month of December we’ll be posting lists of the best music of the year as determined by the volunteers that make CHIRP what it is. Today’s is from CHIRP DJ, Mike Scales.
- Baroness – Blue Record (Relapse) Amazon / Insound / iTunes
First in a trilogy of Georgian metal acts on this list, Baroness breathed energetic new life into their signature roar and dizzying riffage on this year’s Blue Record. Fine-tuned, dynamic arrangements and soulful acoustic passages make for an instantly classic and cohesive feel to the work as a whole. I’m beginning to expect nothing but the best from this band.
- Blakroc – s/t (V2) Amazon / Insound / iTunes
Blues-based, ass shakin’ beats courtesy of the Black Keys with off-the-cuff rap performances by the likes of Wu-Tang’s Ol’ Dirty Bastard, Raekwon & RZA, Mos Def, Pharoahe Monch, Ludacris, Q-Tip, etc. What more could you ask for?
- Eyedea & Abilities – By The Throat (Rhymesayers) Amazon / Insound / iTunes
This record from the veteran Rhymesayers Entertainment emcee/DJ duo took me a couple listens to get into. But once the noisy, distorted rock guitars and half-sung songs sunk in, I was hooked. By the Throat is a grand testament to the power of innovative indie hip-hop; can’t wait to hear what these guys do next.
- Kylesa – Static Tensions (Prosthetic) Amazon / Insound / iTunes
Georgian sludge maidens Kylesa have really come into their own with Static Tensions; their signature co-ed vocals and dual-drummer attack more melodically and structurally sound than ever. And, truth be told, I just can’t get enough of sultry guitarist/vocalist Laura Pleasants. She simply rules.
- Mariachi El Bronx – s/t (Swami) Amazon / Insound / iTunes
L.A.’s punk rock scorchers the Bronx strip-down and suit-up for their new project: a traditional, full-blown, honest-a-god Mariachi band! Cowbells, mandolins, horns and all! It is simply awesome! Do yourself a solid and also download their version of Prince’s “I Would Die 4 U.” It’s a shame it wasn’t included on the album, might just leave you speechless.
- Mastodon – Crack the Skye (Reprise) Amazon / Insound / iTunes
One of the biggest buzz bands of the metal community and beyond this year, Mastodon has proven themselves truly epic and progressive better than any of their prior output. A record inspired by personal tragedy, out-of-body travel through space and time and good ol’ Rasputin, Crack the Skye can and will be studied on many levels by heavy music aficionados for a long time to come.
- Mayer Hawthorne – A Strange Arrangement (Stones Throw) Amazon / Insound / iTunes
True old-timey soul revival in its purest form. Well, as pure and true as a 30-year old white dude from Ann Arbor, MI, can get at least. Hawthorne wrote, arranged, produced and played most of the instruments on this heck-of-an album for the Stones Throw label. Listen to “Just Ain’t Gonna Work Out” now!
- Priestess – Prior to the Fire (TeePee) Amazon / Insound / iTunes
I simply cannot say enough about Montreal’s hard rock/metal masters Priestess! The band churns out tunes with the kind of wide-open, barnstorming rock riffs and old school metal swagger that will instantly have you singing along and banging your head in delight. Prior to the Fire may just be near-perfect record #2 for these guys.
- Serengeti & Polyphonic – Terradactyl (Anticon) Amazon / Insound / iTunes
With his genre-defying funny/strange flows, one of the most unique and prolific unsung heroes of Chicago hip-hop, Serengeti, is an emcee in a world of his own. And yet somehow dude found and equally eccentric producer in Polyphonic to perfectly compliment his style. Their second full-length together, Terradactyl, is also some of the best left-field hip-hop to come out of the Anticon label in years.
- Slayer – World Painted Blood (American) Amazon / Insound / iTunes
What can I say? I have to give love in 2009 to thrash titans/Hot Topic whores Slayer for proving once and for all that reuniting with original drummer Dave Lombardo and putting out a beast as badass as 2006’s Christ Illusion was no mere fluke. The righteous riffage of World Painted Blood is as uncompromising as any of Slayer’s last 20 years of work and, lyrically, these old ass dudes are still as pissed off as ever. Hail.
There’s More…
Mike Scales writes
(Photo by Jacob Hand)
On their fourth official full-length effort, Eskimo Snow, Oakland’s beloved psychedelic folk-hoppers WHY? take a decidedly less hip-hop approach to their song-writing. Recorded during the 2007 sessions that birthed Alopecia, the band’s last, more robust and rap-inspired record, the 10-song set reveals a lighter and more spacious side of WHY? – songs that feel more like “song-songs” according to frontman Yoni Wolf.
“Eskimo Snow is intentionally what it is I suppose,” the singer/rapper cryptically states in a chat with CHIRP. “But [it’s] not like we said before we made it, ‘let’s make an album that is not rap’ or anything like that. It’s just what we happened to come up with.”
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Mike Scales writes
For many of us cynical bastards, any given holiday can become a real pain. For the religious, there’s the commercially-driven rush to find the perfect gift, the annual reunion with your good old church parish or forced small talk with that one weird relative you barely ever see. Even secular celebrations often leave us frustrated wondering, what are we gonna wear for a costume, where are we gonna find a date or how the hell do you cook a turkey? Fortunately, we can all take a cue from high-spirited DJ, producer and multi-instrumentalist Daedelus. Born on Halloween, Daedelus, aka Alfred Darlington, is a fan of holidays and is set to spend one of his favorites right here in the Windy City. “I’m a big fan of the non-denominational holidays,” he says. “They’re great excuses for people to go a little bit crazy and kind of get out of themselves. I don’t know exactly what this New Year’s will hold, but I have a lot of good faith in Chicago!”
Hot on the heels of his brand new ninth studio record, Love To Make Music To (Ninja Tune), and on the line with us from his L.A. home, Daedelus discusses his musical style, the new album and possible plans for the distant future:
CHIRP: You’ve always had such an interesting take on electronic music as you’ve incorporated so many different forms and flavors, but some have found it difficult to describe your approach to the genre. How would you describe your style?
There’s More…
Mike Scales writes
For an instrumental band like Brooklyn’s guitar and synth-driven beatslayers Ratatat, it can be hard breaking onto the scene and reaching that comfortable level of indie stardom. Yet, with three slammin’ full-lengths and several singles released internationally, some supernatural remixing abilities and a knack for the worldwide tour circuit, members Evan Mast and Mike Stroud have made it all seem somewhat effortless.
CHIRP’s Mike Scales caught up for a quick Q&A with Ratatat days before they melted our face off at the Hideout Block Party.
Ratatat’s latest album LP3, a fully-accomplished statement wrought with swirling psychedelic guitars over thumping, danceable beats and moody atmospheric passages, reminds us why the TV, film and videogame industries jumped at the chance to exploit their back catalogue and folks like Bjork, Daft Punk and Interpol had no qualms about bringing the talented Brookylnites out on tour to rev up their respective crowds. CHIRP recently chatted it up with bass and synth master Evan Mast to get the skinny on touring Europe, the making of LP3 and one tiny little rumor that Ratatat would neither confirm nor deny.
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Mike Scales writes
I recently decided to give the mighty Bad Brains another chance… I was fortunate enough to witness them in action at Chicago’s House Of Blues around 2000. It was everything I expected and more, even down to the pot smoke emanating from the stage as HOB’s big red curtains opened up. The Brains’ punk and metal tunes sounded pristine and full of energy as did the laid back reggae numbers for which they are equally famous. That was all I needed: Bad Brains officially kicked as much ass live as they did on record.
Cut to last year’s Riot Fest – I was there, ready to thank Jah and be saved once again. Despite the cavernous acoustics of the Congress Theater the band raged on and sounded great, but front man H.R.‘s performance was a complete disappointment. The normally charismatic singer barely sang, seemed to forget the lyrics and just generally acted like a dick with a mocking smirk on his face through the entire set. Needless to say I felt pretty disappointed and ripped off, but figured that there must have been a reason for the lackluster performance.
So, with some reluctance, I decided to check out the Converse-sponsored show at HOB: N.E.R.D. with special guests Bad Brains. Surely an excellent, Billboard-charting new record on the shelves and a sold-out show on a Tuesday night would fare well for the band… Alas, no. H.R. was worse. Same strange, off-putting performance only this time he sported a bathrobe and a motorcycle helmet while fake-playing a guitar that was indeed plugged in but definitely not turned on. I found myself thinking what my mom would say: ‘Well isn’t he just ridiculous!? What a horse’s ass.’ As if being a big, wet blanket atop what would have been a stellar performance from a veteran hardcore act, H.R. again chose to make a mockery of himself, his band’s unparalleled hardcore/reggae legacy and the Bad Brains fans who shelled out their hard-earned cash in support. No kudos for you, bro.
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