Annual SUPERLATE AOTY List, 2015
Yes, I know it’s May, but I was actually employed for awhile there, it cuts into my Designated Rambling Time. I’m stuck between wanting to complete something I left unfinished, but know if I dig up all the thoughts I had from 6 months ago, I’ll get bogged down in details and lose interest. So a compromise: Some very quick thoughts on the remaining 4 favourite albums of 2015:
4. Death Grips - The Powers That B
Because of course it’s on this list. Part of the reason this list ended up on the backburner was because I couldnt think of anything to say beyond Jenny Death is second only to The Money Store. NotM is my least favourite DG work, which is why this isn’t higher on the list (in fact, I think as a whole this probably belongs at #5), but the catchy insanity of the second disc makes up for the first disc’s bewildering insanity.
Best: “On GP” “Turned Off” “The Powers That B” “Inanimate Sensation” “Black Quarterback” “Big Dipper” “Up My Sleeves”
Worst: “Voila” “Have a Sad Cum” “Pss Pss”
I still have complicated thoughts on this, even nearly a year on from first hearing it. A longer review is in the queue. B+
2. Deafheaven - New Bermuda
“How can they possibly top Sunbather?” they asked. “Well they, could shorten the so-so ambient sections, and never write something as overlong and uninteresting as ‘Vertigo’,” said I. And then they did. And then they made the vocals clearer and didn’t oversaturate the guitars with reverb. And they wrote that fantastic outro to “Luna”. And made that vocal explosion in “Baby Blue”. And wrote the Sonic-Youth-and-Sigur-Rós-play-metal masterpiece “Gifts for the Earth”. And they really did top Sunbather.
Although... the album art is worse. Also the softer sections are a little too clean. And there’s that transition between “Baby Blue” and “Come Back” which sounds *exactly* like Godspeed’s “Sleep”. And that terrible MIDI piano at the end of “Brought to the Water”.
...Okay so it’s not perfect, but I had so much fun with this album. It’s practically a tie for #1.
Best: “Gifts for the Earth” “Baby Blue” “Luna”
Worst: First half of “Come Back”
1. Godspeed You! Black Emperor - Asunder, Sweet and Other Distress
I am downright baffled, that this album has been so lukewarmly received. My main complaint with it, and what stopped me loving it at first, was the really bottom-heavy production which sometimes buries the wonderful melodies. Maybe that’s why everyone gave up on it. Or maybe it was the slightly overlong middle section.... but people didn’t seem to mind the totally vestigial drone tracks on ADBA, so what gives? “Lambs’ Breath” is a tad long, granted, but it purposefully winds down, so that “Asunder, Sweet” can wind us back up before “Piss Crowns” lands on our heads.
Everything else is breathtaking. It’s all the heaviness and crunchiness of “Mladic” with the melodic beauty of Slow Riot. What I’m saying is, ASAOD is #AOTY2015, so give it another chance, Internet. I freaking love it.
Worst: Latter section of “Lambs’ Breath”
Best: Literally everything else, but special mention to the major-key section in “Piss Crowns” which puts a tear in my eye. ....Phrasing again.
