Hey bit-munchers!
(digital music is composed of bits and you munch the juicy beats with your hearing nodes)
I’ve finally managed to get this thing finished xp
2014 has been over for about a month (try two (or like, five)), so I think it’s time to look at what I liked about music. Here we go. These are in no particular order but I really enjoyed all of them.
Band of Skulls – Himalayan
Himalayan is a delicious romp through the snow covered peaks of a mountain of titular nature. The 14 track album from the British trio surprised me. Not because I didn’t think it would be good, but they had slipped off my radar for a few years and I’m glad I caught it when I did.
Favourite tracks : Asleep at the Wheel, Himalayan, Brothers and Sisters, I Felle Like Ten Men, Nine Dead and One Dying, Toreador.
Bayside – Cult 3
The boys in Bayside have done it again. They seem to be able to perfectly describe an inner dialogue of angst and depression, while being able to maintain upbeat sing-able songs. All of their albums are amazing and Cult is no exception.
Favourite tracks: Stuttering, Pigsty, Whitest Lie, Big Cheese, Bear With Me.
The Contortionist – Language 3
Language is a gorgeous album to listen to. It’s so relaxing and chill. The instrumentation is absolutely beautiful and I really just don’t have any idea how to better explain it. GO LISTEN!!
Favourite tracks:
frnkiero andthe cellabration – Stomachaches 5
I dubiously looked up the album Stomachaches after hearing about another Frank Iero project. I ‘m not really a fan of LeATHERMOUTH, and Death Spells hasn’t released anything substantial, but I was dying for anything remotely relate to My Chemical Romance. This album is fantabulous; punky, fuzzy, catchy and tinged with just a hint of macabre (see Joyriding MV).
Favourite tracks: Blood Infections, Joyriding, Stitches, Guilt Tripping
Gerard Way – Hesitant Alien 5
I was incredibly excited to hear that despite the break up of MCR, Gerard Way would be making new music. After hearing the demo track for Action Cat, I was beyond stoked. It was amazing and I had high hopes for the album. Way did not disappoint. I had the album on repeat for months.
Favourite tracks: Action Cat, Millions, Zero Zero, Juarez, Get the Gang Together, Maya the Psychic.
Jack White – Lazaretto 4
Jack White, part Johnny Depp and Frank Iero, and one half of former band The White Stripes, has released his second solo album Lazaretto. While not as good an album as Blunderbuss, Lazaretto is just incredibly solid rock ‘n roll.
Favourite tracks: Lazaretto, High Ball Stepper, That Black Bat Licorice
Kid Cousin – Birth
I met the dudes in Kid Cousin while at college. Not only are they crazy cool, but they are crazy good musicians. If you get the chance, I definitely recommend seeing them live, they give one helluva show. This is their first EP, and you can support the band here: Kid Cousin Bandcamp
Favourite tracks: The whole thing.
Royal Blood – Royal Blood
Royal Blood is a fantastic duo from across the pond, making incredible music with just a bass and drums. This is just such a fuzzy , bassy album, its incredibly awesome to listen.
Favourite tracks: Out of the Black, Figure It Out, You Can Be So Cruel, Little Monster, Careless.
Brent Walsh – 7
Brent Walsh usually fronts the group I The Mighty (who are one of my favourite bands) but he took a detour and recorded songs he’d been working on for seven years. His voice is beyond perfect and the songs were gorgeous. The album spans several different genres and each one is executed beautifully (I will say however, not even Brent Walsh can make me like rap).
Favourite tracks: Free, Temporary Mass, Land Lovers, Ride the Air, A Toast:
Block B – HER
This may seem a little left field for me. Hip-hop. Wait, it’s good hip-hop. Also, it’s Korean. I found these guys while browsing YouTube (probably a suggestion due to the large amount of Visual Kei I consume) and it was honestly love at first view. The music videos really pulled me in, they were fun and filled with humor and action. The songs are catchy, feel-good and fun to dance to.
Favourite tracks: Her, Jackpot, Very Good, and Dime Girl
Sid – Outsider
Sid is a Japanese group, and part of the Visual Kei style of music. I found out about them from watching anime (their song Monochrome Kiss was the opening of Kuroshitsuji). Looking into the rest of their discography shows this latest offering to be a little bit more poppy than rocky similar to the transition in MUCCs style. Outsider has plenty of up-beat, catchy and fun songs.
Favourite tracks: Laser, VIP, Music, Koi Ni Ochite (Falling In Love.
Sleepwave – Broken Compass
I was just as upset about Underoath’s disbandment as I was about My Chemical Romance’s, and just like Gerard and Frank, Spencer has not disappointed in his solo ventures. I was excited to hear more of Spencer Chaimberlains clean vocals on Disambiguation and he definitely brings amazing vocals on Broken Compass.
Favourite tracks: Paper Planes, Rock and Roll is Dead and So Am I, Whole Again, Replace Me
Honorable Mentions
KONGOS – Lunatic
While Lunatic was released in South Africa in 2012, it wasn’t released in the US until 2014 so it sort of counts for my top albums.
Favourite tracks: I’m Only Joking, Come With Me Now, Kids These Days,
Queens of the Stone Age – …Like Clockwork
When this album came out in 2013, I couldn’t get into it. I heard the song ‘Little Sister’ from Lullabies to Paralyze on the radio and loved it. I ended up loving their entire back catalogue, so I gave …Like Clockwork another chance and I liked it this time. Go figure.
Bush – Man On the Run
The Glitch Mob – Love Death Immortality
Periphery – Clear
Mechina – Xenon
According to Hatchet 