It’s often that you don’t get the same experience from listening to a single song that you do when you listen to an entire album. There’s a story being told that you miss out on when you listen to one or two random songs. If I like an album, I listen to it over and over until I digest it as best as I can. Each of these albums was there for me through thick and thin, through any kind of weather, through road trips, through heartbreak, through life, death, what have you. However, I’m tired of putting things in a numbered order. It doesn’t matter. Each of these records is amazing. I thought “this is the best record I’ve ever heard” while listening to each one of these albums. Putting them in a numbered list seems fucking ridiculous now. In no particular order:
This is my last list for LISTS WEEK. I am announcing here and now that I will be taking a break from the blog to regain whatever hours I’ve managed to shave off of my life from not sleeping. Call it a period of hibernation. I will be back sometime in January. Until then, if I don’t see you tonight or tomorrow, Happy Holidays!
I listened to a lot of songs this year. I’m talking A LOT. A few stuck with me, a few didn’t. This list was hard to pin down. I’m pretty sure I’ve talked each and every one of my friends’ heads off about at least one of the songs on this list. I have a habit of going “HEY EVERYBODY, LISTEN TO THIS” when I hear something I really like. Sometimes my exclamations are met with indifference, sometimes they’re met with “Yeah, we know”s. Other times they’re met with “QUIT YELLING”s. Just the same, I love these songs. Feast your ears on
Yesterday we had Vulpes and Cassie Ramone (Vivian Girls, The Babies) contribute year-end lists to The Photon God. Today’s second list comes from our friend to the north, Vancouver’s ever-so-mysterious electronica artist, Teen Daze. He was kind enough to contribute a list of his
Top Ten Albums Of The Year!
10. Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti – Before TodayTD: There were a lot of records that I really loved this year that didn’t get listed, but I wanted to give Before Today a spot, simply because “Round and Round” is my favourite song of the year. It’s just so perfect. This record is really amazing, and it’s hard as it is to try and rank all my favourite music of the year. So don’t let my giving this the 10 spot make you think I think any less of it.
9. Twin Sister – Color Your LifeTD: I dream of making an EP like this one some day. I first heard Twin Sister when I saw a live clip of them playing “All Around and Away We Go” and “Something About Us” (a Daft Punk cover) on a rooftop. The city lights below and the dim Christmas lights around them, the band completely melted me. This is another record that has grown on me more and more, which is an amazing fact considering an EP is usually a pretty digestible, easy-to-comprehend medium. I think that just shows that Twin Sister are capable of creating some really beautiful, in-depth music, and I’m so stoked to see what they come up with in the next year.
8. Baths – CeruleanTD: My BOY! Will and I emailed a bit over the summer (mostly his returning thanks for my gushing over his record and live show), and I’ve had the pleasure of playing two shows with him this year. After seeing his Yours Truly session on Pitchfork.tv, I was sure that this guy couldn’t be for real. I remember seeing the clip for “Apologetic Shoulder Blades” and honestly thinking, “What on earth is he doing to that AKAI unit?” Will, like Chaz from Toro Y Moi, is another production and songwriting wunderkind. To be so young, and possess the talent to craft such exceptional beats is truly a gift. And then, there’s his live show. Aside from GOBBLE GOBBLE (who I saw 16 times this year), Will’s shows were my favourite of this last year. The guy is SO committed to his set; his passion for playing music is uncontainable, and he shows that he is completely connected to the music he makes. Which leads us to the record, which is a great example of all of these great attributes that Will possesses; huge beats, perfect samples and Will’s signature voice meld together to make the best beat-hop record of the year, hands down.
7. Local Natives – Gorilla ManorTD: This was one record, amongst many, that my girlfriend and I really agreed on. We tend to have pretty similar tastes, mine maybe going a bit into the weirder territory, and this one solidified it. Whenever we needed a record to listen to in the car, this one never failed. Like the Deerhunter record, this one was a grower on me; at first I didn’t get what the fuss was all about. But the more and more I listened, the more I heard the amazing songwriting that exists on this record. I mean, a song like “Airplanes” alone. Again, another band who’s live show completely justifies the praise these guys have been garnering.
6. Caribou – SwimTD: This was my summer jam. I listened to this record EVERY time I drove to the beach. LITERALLY. “Kaili”, most definitely my favourite track on the record, took me to places that I never thought dance music could. I mean, he never even drops a beat in it, and it still manages to make me move every time I hear it. Seeing Caribou play on the main stage at Sasquatch this summer topped it all off too. Dan Snaith and his band are complete showmen, and they killed the new songs live. An amazing follow-up record to an already amazing career.
5. Toro Y Moi – Causers Of ThisTD: This was [the] one that everyone knew was going to be a game-changer. Where Washed Out presented the idea of the nostalgic, sample-based, reverb-drenched genre that has so lovingly/sarcastically been coined “chillwave”, Chaz took it to the next level. In a matter of words, he raised the bar. When people look back in 20 years, this record should, and most likely will, stand as the perfect “chillwave” record. Like [My Bloody Valentine’s] Loveless to shoegaze. The wonderful part about this record is the production value; Chaz isn’t some bored suburb-dweller, trying to make “chillwave beats” to impress girls (well, who knows, maybe he is). This kid has SERIOUS production talent, an amazing singing voice, and really, an incredibly talented ear for melody and arrangement. I can’t wait to see what Underneath The Pine does to not only the whole “chillwave” scene, but the electronic music scene in general.
4. Magic Kids – MemphisTD: Without a doubt, the most positive, encouraging, mood-changing record of the year. “Superball” was the first track I heard, and honestly since hearing it, I haven’t been able to stop listening to this record. Magic Kids’ lead singer [Bennett Foster] can sing. Like, REALLY sing. The arrangements on this record are spot on, and the youthful, vibrant energy spills out of it.
3. Deerhunter – Halcyon DigestTD: On my most recent tour (early October), my friends and I listened to this record for the first time. We were all a little underwhelmed to be honest. The quote that stuck out for me was made by my friend Brendan. “The thing that’s so great about Deerhunter is that every record they make breaks some new ground, and this one feels a bit like it’s treading in old waters.” I agreed, for the time being. But the more I dug into it, the more it completely destroyed my expectations. This is the problem with coming at music with a critical mindset (or anything in life for that matter): when you come at it with expectations, you’re more than likely to be disappointed. Anyways, I really came to love this record in the last month. I think I’ve listened to “Desire Lines” more than any song this year. A very subtle step forward for this already powerful, triumphant band.
2. Beach House – Teen DreamTD: In January, I knew there would be two records that would undoubtedly make my end-of-the-year list: Toro Y Moi’s Causers Of This (which got the fifth spot), and Teen Dream. This was the record I had been waiting for from Beach House. Though their self-titled[album] and Devotion had received permanent spots on my “fall asleep” mix, they had never really broken through for me. But Teen Dream completely blew me away. The fluidity of the whole record is astounding. Rarely would I, or any of my friends for that matter, ever put this record on and NOT finish it. This is one to be savoured; you can’t fast forward to “Take Care” and expect it to be as devastating as it would be if you would go through the labour of love that is experiencing the record in full.
1. Candy Claws – Hidden LandsTD: An inspiring journey through the quiet creation of all things natural. Candy Claws construct a world of wonder, mystery, melody and harmony; these themes weave through ten songs in the most peculiar ways. The range of emotions that I experience when I listen to this record is almost overwhelming; confusion, comfort, alienation, acceptance. The organic creation of this dream state is what really draws me in. This record is a testament to anyone who loves “found sounds”. I can’t explain away the sounds I hear on this record, and that is why I love it. Every time I listen to it, I hear something new, and experience it in a different way.
I’ve been busy gathering materials for my Morrissey costume, so I wasn’t able to post this up on time. However, it remains my contribution for Halloween Blog Mixes.
This Halloween weekend has probably been the best of my life. You can still kick it to this even if it isn’t Halloween, but it was originally meant for this weekend. It has something for everyone, with a touch of me. So, I’m touching you. Yeah. Check it out and give it to your friends.
Plain and simple, Ariel Pink has created quite a bit of music in the past 14 years. A majority of that music would be pretty difficult to find even by obscure underground standards. It’s interesting to go through an artist’s discography and listen to them evolve. From the lo-est of fi’s to some smooth-jiving 60s pop, Pink’s come a long way. I believe that it’s safe to say that the man’s work is prolific, proficient, and undoubtedly done with prowess. His work with Haunted Graffiti has caught many eyes and ears over the years and continues, to this day, to engage and ensnare listener after listener.
June 8th, the band will be releasing their first full-length on 4AD. It will be called Before Today and will be the band’s most polished record yet. It’s interesting to hear the band’s songwriting clear and smooth as opposed to fuzzed out and muffled on their previous records. For example, if you take “For Kate I Wait” from 2004’s The Doldrums and pin it against the first single from this record, “Round and Round”, you’ll be thinking ‘where the hell did this come from?’ as well as ‘when the hell did it get so awesome?’.
Of course, these are the answers to your questions: it’s always been right here and it’s been awesome since the beginning. You just weren’t listening.
“Round and Round” will be released as a limited-edition 7″ b/w “Mistaken Wedding” and as a digital download on April 26th.
Also, it has the weirdest artwork I’ve seen this year. However, I don’t know if it will top the weirdest artwork I saw last year. (not linking because it is severely NSFW. But if you dare, run an image google search for “Operett Amorale”. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.)
If you like a band you hear about or listen to on here, go to their shows and purchase something. A shirt, a record, even a meal. Give back to the artists that ever-so-willingly give to you.
Contact: thephotongod[at]gmail.com