Tobacco - Maniac Meat (V0)

Tobacco brings the awesome to Black Moth Super Rainbow every chance he gets, and his solo career does not go untouched by his talent and creativity.

Maniac Meat, for lack of a better word, is just plain juicy. I can feel it pass over my taste buds and down my throat and into my bloodstream to clog my arteries. It's greasy and dripping and bad for me, but I can't get enough. This album is one of my favorite dishes. It's something different with every bite. Sometimes things are so raw. They don't taste undercooked, though. They taste grimy and wrong, but in such a good way. Other times, things are sweet. So sweet my teeth feel like they're wearing a sweater. So goddamn sweet that sugar might as well be running through my veins. Then there are the morsels that are meaty. Meaty, tough and well done. Extremely well done. Exceedingly well done.

The great thing is, it's like each time I listen, it all tastes different. But I always finish with the same feeling: happy and full.

Favorite tracks: Fresh Hex (ft. Beck), Mexican Icecream, Six Royal Vipers, TV All Greasy

My Rating: 9.0/10

Download it here.

Nana Grizol - Ruth (V0)

I walked into my home, opened the door and ran downstairs. A CD was laying on the floor, had a note on it saying “Play Me.” I put this album onto my computer, and began playing it on my speakers. As the first notes began ringing I heard the sound of footsteps upstairs, running downstairs and suddenly my entire house was being filled with children that were running in through the front door and then out through the backdoor, they got older slowly as they kept running in and out of the house and eventually died. This repeated over and over until the album finished.

I need to stop drinking.

Cynicism isn’t wisdom, It’s a lazy way to say that you’ve been burned... it seems if anything you’d be less certain after everything you’ve ever learned.

.O.rang - Herd of Instinct (V0)

Godspeed You! Black Emperor are en route to a concert in Amsterdam when their plane crashes in a remote part of Africa. Fortunately, they all survive but most of their equipment is mangled, except for a keyboard and a couple guitars. All of the members suffered brain damage and now their only memory of music is one song: Taphead by Talk Talk. Later, while looking for help, they come across a local tribe. The tribesmen invite them to stay. That night, GY!BE is awoken by tribal drums and chants. They exit their tents to go witness this event. While watching this, they are given a small bowl filled with a foul smelling brown liquid. A tribesman keeps repeating the words, "Ayahuasca, ayahuasca!!" He then makes a motion of raising his hands to his mouth, indicating they are to drink the potion. The band decides to drink it. Time passes and eventually the ayahuasca has reached their brains and they are experiencing an out of this world psychedelic experience. They can feel the tribal drums inside of their soul. They quietly get up and go to get their keyboard and guitars and the one sole remaining amp that wasn't destroyed.

This album is a recording of what happened that night.

Floater - Glyph (V2)

Floater has been a bit of a legend in the northwest for 17 years and counting. With little to no recognition from outside the area, they've managed to continuously make a living selling tons of albums around the area and always filling the house with their infamous live shows. The majority of my close family absolutely loves this band, and it's always a favorite to pop into the stereo. You won't hear one person in the house complain, which isn't too common.

Glyph is Floater's second studio album, and is probably their most popular one to date. This album goes back and forth between loud bombastic head-bangers and slower, anxious, sometimes sad songs. The former being great songs to blast and rock out to, the latter being so intense feeling you'll get lost in it and let the music drive your emotions, at times being reminiscent of Pink Floyd's The Wall in their tone. The large contrast on this 70 minute experience should keep you reigned in the whole time. Particularly the beginning and end of the album will leave an impression on you. I know every time I hear "Crawl Into You" I immediately want to start the album all over again with "The Knowing Dirge"

You may not love this album your first listen, I didn't, but give it a few listens and I'm sure you won't regret it.

Highlights: The Knowing Dirge, All the Stories But One, Crawling Into You.

Download here.

You did this to yourself again.
Gunning for a bluer sky.
Swallowed the dose,
cut your own rope,
just to know it all.
Do you know it all?

HṚṢṬA - Ghosts Will Come and Kiss Our Eyes (V0)

Ghosts Will Come and Kiss Our Eyes is the most recent release by Godspeed You! Black Emperor side project HṚṢṬA, founded by Mike Moya, who has also made contributions to A Silver Mt. Zion, Hangedup and Set Fire to Flames. HṚṢṬA features vocals from Moya, shorter song structures and less influence from the other founding members of Godspeed, like Sophie Trudeau and Efrim Menuck. It's interesting to see how much of the eeriness of Godspeed You! Black Emperor can be attributed to Moya, whereas the beauty and intensity are more as a result of the influences of Trudeau and Menuck, respectively. If your fan favorite is F♯A♯∞ or you liked the creaky, haunted ambience of Set Fire to Flames, this album is basically a direct relative of the two.

Download.

Ash Ra Tempel - Ash Ra Tempel (V0)

Psychedelic. Dark. Droning. Spacey. Swirling. Tribal. Motorik. How does he make that guitar sound like that?

I'm tripping balls, man.

The Flashbulb - Réunion (V2)

The Flashbulb (aka Benn Jordan) may be more well known for his melodic IDM/breakcore albums, such as Kirlian Selections and Red Extensions of me, but by far his best and most creative work is Réunion. Although the album is technically electronic, it was created without the aid of computer sequencing and effects, so Benn relied on analog equipment, samples, and loops. The result is a notably warm and organic sound compared to his earlier efforts. Many different styles are explored, from jazz to IDM to ambient to post-rock.

Undoubtedly in my top 10 favorite albums ever.

So so so so good...