Hey, hope you had nice Christmases and also have nice New Year’s Eveseses. In self-imposed tradition, here’s a top five albums list from each Skeleton and a photo from the work Christmas do.
Moon Tooth - Chromaparagon
Like a blues-rocky version of Protest the Hero back when Protest the Hero were good. Can imagine that a lot of people will be put off because they don’t like the singer’s voice, but I like it so there.
Black Peaks - Statues
Thought I’d put this lot’s EP off of when they were called Shrine in one of my previous top-5s, but apparently I didn’t. Probably because I’m not a hipster like that Aidan. Anyway, more of the same goodness from the newly christened Peaks. First thought it wasn’t a patch on the old EP, but then I realised it was great.
The Rocket Summer - Zoetic
A great return-to-form after Bryce Avary’s middle of the road last couple of efforts. He’s kind of gone a bit electronic which perhaps explains the renewed bite of the songs.
Into It. Over It. - Standards
Well, it’s not as good as Intersections, but this is still a great slice of American Indie, or whatever you call this genre of music.
All Get Out - Nobody Like a Quitter
Ok I haven’t actually listened to this album yet as Simon has just pointed out that I somehow missed that it was released at the end of October, but I basically love everything they do so I’m going to assume it’s amazing. At least better than the two albums that were fighting for 5th place - the Biffy Clyro and Blink 182 albums - which themselves were both good returns to form. Also, the fact I’ve named an album I haven’t listened to and also given honourable mentions to two other albums at the same time will really annoy Simon and Aidan. Especially Simon.
Finally, a bonus one-to-watch-for mention: a rapper from Salem, Massachusetts called Token. He’s 18 now, but even the songs he was recording when he was 15 are just amazing.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=mTXQp3DhtM8
Ordered by most recently released, because why not:
Sims - More Than Ever.
Just edges Astronautalis to win my favourite white boy rap album of 2016 award as my devotion to Minnesota based hipster hip hop continues for a fourth year.
How To Dress Well - Care.
Listened to this more than any other album this year. Proggy pop/r’n’b stuff with some beautiful lovelorn melodies and his most direct effort thus far. Thought was pap on first listen but now love it. Second hipster thing on my list.
Bon Iver - 22, A Million.
I like how unsettled this album is, I want to give Justin Vernon a hug. Is this hipster too? Probably. Am I a hipster? Probably.
Deftones - Gore.
Took me a while to really love this album, it’s dense and kind of relentlessly monotone, but gradually revealed its treasures to me on a bank holiday weekend of drink and pals.
David Bowie - Blackstar.
Never really been a big Bowie fan, but I fucking love morbid stuff and couldn’t resist the Thin White Grief Bandwagon. It’s a fairly gut-wrenching listen, and combined with the creepy videos for ‘Blackstar’ and ‘Lazarus’ a perfect sign-off from a titanic audiovisual chameleon.
I would have included Cecil Otter - Dear Echo in here, but it’s a 6 song EP and 3 of the songs are instrumental versions of the other 3 songs, so I was told I wasn’t allowed.
Pill Friends – Child Sacrifice
Modern Baseball – Holy Ghost
There you go, see you soon x
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