Death Grips - Inanimate Sensation

So... are these guys done? Not done? Whatever, they're nuts.

Best of 2012 Part 7

Well here we are. It was a rush at the end, but I made it just in time. As I said in part 1, this was a strange year in music and though there were some good albums, there's probably only one or two that will eventually contend for any best-of-the-decade list. Instead many of these titles might in the future be looked at as turning point albums, after which the artists either achieved greatness or faded away. Only time will tell.

The three albums that sit atop my chart are probably the most polarizing of the list in that there is very little room for middle ground in their enjoyment. Either you'll love them, or hate them. It's obvious at this point that indie shoegaze isn't my thing, so if you're up for more guts and glory, then prepare for battle...

#3

Swans

The Seer

This is by some distance the darkest album I've listened to this year, and for a long time before that. The opening track is titled "Lunacy", which is eminently poignant given that large parts of this album sound as if it were written in an asylum. I cannot stress enough how insane it is. That it was conceived at all is near sorcery, and as a recording it is a triumph.

Nearly two hours of sheer terror are the best way to describe this. It's not a heavy metal album, it doesn't have shrieking vocals or slashing guitars, in fact just the opposite. This is a kind of slow torture, a creeping dread, a shrouded evil that seeps into your being in a droning, unrelenting, ever-building manner. You might be thinking "why would I subject myself to this?", and to be fair, you might be right. If you can handle the dark, however, you will go places few other auditory expositors are able, never mind willing, to take you. This is a monumental achievement in post-rock expressionism, and it is impossible to appreciate it from listening to clips or even a single track at a time, but here are some samples anyway. Don't say I didn't warn you.

Lunacy

The Seer Returns

Avatar

#2

Death Grips

The Money Store

When I first heard "Ex-Military" last year, I didn't really know what to think. In the end, I really liked it. Similarly, even with that past exposure and a general idea of what this album might be like, I still didn't know quite what to make of it on first listen. This is not controlled chaos, this is absolute madness. It makes Kanye's dark twisted fantasy look like a cotton candy carnival ride.

The production on this is just nuts. It's sharks with fricken laser beams on acid. Distorted wub bass, warped vocals, bit crushed kicks, this is future music and how. You probably hate it. Lots of people do. I can't explain why it's so cool, it just is. There is nobody that sounds like these guys, and as if one dope album wasn't enough for this year, they also put out No Love Web Deep, which is almost as awesome and very nearly also made this list. It's just mind boggling stuff that bashes its way into your psyche and leaves you wondering what on earth they could possibly come up with next.

Hustle Bones

I've Seen Footage

Hacker

#1

Coheed & Cambria

The Afterman: Ascension

I make no apologies for my admiration of Claudio Sanchez and his seriously awesome band Coheed and Cambria. For whatever reason these guys are often dismissed as being pop-punk because they have obsessive fans, many of whom are of the younger generation. They are also a concept band that has a fully-fleshed illustrated fantasy story to accompany the themes of their albums. Frankly, I couldn't care less about the comics. These guys kick ass, plain and simple. Claudio's voice can take some getting used to but writing soaring, epic progressive tracks is an art that he has mastered.

This is the first half of what is a two-part double album, but by itself this is the best album that Coheed have released since their sophomore album in 2003. The return of Josh Eppard to the drums and the addition of Zach Cooper on bass seem to have lifted the band to new heights and given them an energy not seen in ages. Though this is a short album, only nine songs and just under forty minutes, every track is memorable and as a whole the record feels like an adventure. The second part comes out in February and all indications are that it will be just as good if not better. It's been a big year for Sanchez, and long may his new found zeal continue.

Domino The Destitute

The Afterman

Goodnight, Fair Lady

EP #1

Brother Ali

The Bite Marked Heart

One of the good guys of hip hop came out with two discs this year, this being the first and shorter release, and also the best. With seven great tracks that all feature trademark smooth production and even smoother lyrics. The combination of soul and R&B vibes with tight beats keeps you bouncing from start to finish. The Brother just seems to be getting better and better.

Shine On

I'll Be Around

Years

That's all folks! See you in 2013!

Death Grips - Get Got

New mayhem from these California crazies!

Best of 2011 Part 5

Inside the top 10 today, let's waste no more time and get at 'er!

#9

Digitalism

I Love You Dude

This is the stage name of Germany's Jens Moelle and Ismail Tüfekçi. I have no idea how you pronounce that name. What I do know is that I love this album. Often as a DJ when you're looking at genre-specific sets you have a preconceived idea of what category a particular artist falls under. These guys, although their instrumentation is fairly similar throughout, have managed to mesh electro-pop, electronica, industrial, techno, and even a little trip-hop into one album.

What I really like about the album is that you can listen to it track by track, or you can just put the thing on and press play and hear it all at once and it's equally impressive. Most of the tracks have an "epic" feel to them, but there's enough variety in the tempo and style of each track that keeps it fresh as you move along. And you will be moving.

2 Hearts

Blitz

Stratosphere

#8

Death Grips

Exmilitary

Holy cheese and rice what an album. This one came out of nowhere. I first came across the single "Takyon", and my immediate reaction was WTF?!? That pretty much explains the album right there. I should just stop this review. That's it.

Ok maybe not just yet. Maybe you've heard of Tyler The Creator. His album got a ton of hype and really turned out to be pretty average. This album got no hype and turned out to be pretty awesome. It's really, really loud and really, really angry and really, really intense. The production is totally whack, the vocals are on the verge of insane, and the whole thing in general doesn't even make sense. You probably won't like it. At all. Definitely not. No chance.

Beware

Culture Shock

Guillotine

#7

The Decemberists

The King Is Dead

This album is pretty much a polar opposite of the last one. It would have to be from a Disney soundtrack to be further from it. That's why it's so much fun to be a music nut. On one hand you can rock out to something completely insane, and then five minutes later you can groove out to something smooth and fairly straight forward. This is one of those albums. It glides, swings, and melts its way through your ear canals into your soul.

I really don't know much about these guys. I'd heard of them before and I guess this is their sixth studio album, but I wouldn't recognize anything else. This is also a little weird for me because I really hate country noise, and while this is a folk rock album at heart it is heavily marked with the taste of slide guitars and garish fiddles. Somehow, though, they work. There are no fake southern accents in the vocals, and the pace of the album is pretty flawless. For lovers of folk, indie, and probably country too, this album is a sure bet.

Rise To Me

Don't Carry It All

This Is Why We Fight

EP #3

Scientists Of Sound

Wealth And Hellness

I have to admit my slight bias in this particular review, as I've been following these guys in their previous life as half of the Jimmy Swift Band, but don't let that sway you from the truth. This is an awesome EP. Craig Mercer and Aaron Collier are probably best known for their stunning live renditions of electronic classics like Daft Punk's "Around The World" but it won't be long before their originals start to catch on. Get this album. Better yet, see them live. You will move your booty, guaran-freakin-t'd.

Dentifrice

March Of The Killer Ants

Wealth And Hellness

Two more to go, stay tuned!

Death Grips - Takyon (Death Yon)

Now for something really angry. This is Death Grips from Sacramento. Kinda reminds me of Odd Future, but definitely different. Another group I'm not too sure about, but I'm definitely curious. There's a crazy interview with them here.