BEST OF 2017: SONGS OF THE YEAR (PART 1)
This year’s SONGS OF THE YEAR list is compiled of tasty tracks from albums that didn’t make the TOP TEN Albums cut, press play & enjoy….
A SAVAGE
“INDIAN STYLE”
DULL TOOLS
A. SAVAGE graced us this year with a dusky new song titled “INDIAN STYLE” from his wonderful new LP ‘Thawing Dawn.’
Andrew Savage, the NYC based musician, spends most of his time co-fronting the wily post-punk group Parquet Courts (and its various name configurations), yet he’s thankfully found the time to step out on his own and drop some dusty tunes upon the masses.
Over gorgeously sparse instrumentation, “Indian Style” allows Savage’s deadpan vocal style to shine amongst the dusty folk whilst dropping lyrical gems like:
“Shiny grains of crucial moments, Fall into the grave while you, Hide out in the orchard, That the devil lured you to, Like a black sheep, Flocking thinking it's alone.....”
BOY HARSHER
“MOTION”
ASCETIC HOUSE
Directed by MJ Bernier Starring Kristina Esfandiari
Get your night Drive (or walk) on with BOY HARSHER’s latest single “MOTION.”
The Northampton, Mass based duo of Augustus Muller & Jae Matthews create minimally dark electro infused goth, one that blends the glitz with the gritty. “Motion” is anchored by the tactile and dance-ready framework laid by Muller, which creates the ideal foundation for Matthew’s ethereal purr.
There’s no escaping Harsher Boy’s latest bliss educed ditty, the pulsing electro beat is too infectious when paired with Jae’s dewy ghost-like voice. “Motion” is pure dim-the-lights sensuality filtered through aesthetic euphoria, synths, and a neat 4 minute run time (not too mention a simplistically rad video treatment).
Do not sleep on this! Get into motion by grabbing your keys, phoning up Kristina Esfandiari, and leaving the house…..
CHOIR BOY
“SUNDAY LIGHT”
DAIS
Well my friends, the weekend just found its soundtrack thanks to CHOIR BOY dropping the highly anticipated “SUNDAY LIGHT” 7″ upon the devoted faithful.
The Salt Lake City based project of Adam Klopp (Human Leather) never ceases to dazzle, as “Sunday Light” certainly feels oh so saccharine. Anyone who’s spent time with Choir Boy’s 2016 LP ‘Passive With Desire’ knows just how all-consuming Klopp’s synth laden compositions can be.
Choir Boy, through Klopp, finds just the right balance between Goth sincerity & passive pop playfulness, all while tweaking every aesthetic detail into place. That opening piano riff, yea that’s the kind of thing I’m talking about, it makes all the difference and when you add Klopp’s otherworldly voice into the mix you’ll begin to understand why this project has such a devout following.
“Sunday Light” takes it’s lyrical cues from the shrouded secrecy surrounding the ritual of faith through ceremonial means, which makes the line “You are one of us, one of us, one of us, you are one of us” so powerful and downright spooky, especially when accompanied by such cheerfully plaintive arrangement….
CLOAKROOM
“THE SUN WON’T LET US GO”
RELAPSE
CLOAKROOM have returned with a hazy new single titled “THE SUN WON’T LET US GO.”
The Indiana based trio of vocalist-guitarist Doyle Martin, bassist Robert Markos, and drummer Brian Busch sidestep (ever so slightly) from their heavy shoegaze sound, by adding some 90′as Alt-Rock twang. Cloakroom display a serious knack for spacing on the lilt “The Sun Won’t Let Us Down,” as each instrument is given it’s properly deserved due.
Much will be made about the group’s Midwestern narrative that consists of harsh landscapes and blue-collar drive, and with good reason, as those tropes are thoroughly ingrained in the trio’s downcast songs. “The Sun Wont…” is shrouded in a dusky haze and finds a way to beat you down by wrapping words like: “Choking out the life / Working on a hive mind of the greatest good / Anything that I could hurt, I would for free” around solemn instrumentation....
COLD CAVE
“GLORY”
SELF-RELEASED
Directed by Amy Lee
COLD CAVE have continued their run of fantastic singles by dropping the bouncy “GLORY” upon us.
The Los Angeles based group, lead by brainchild Wesley Eisold, have returned to the poppier new wave well on their latest, as “Glory”channels some serious New Order tendencies (which is never a bad thing). Amy Lee’s synths lay the foundation for Eisold’s deadpan croon to ride the disco-lite beat as we, the listener, are treated to 5 minutes of pillowy goth-pop.
The overtly bleak mood of Cold Cave’s recent offerings has been eschewed for a lighter sound that finds Eisold downright optimistic “Today’s the day my life is going to change / I’ve got to get up off the floor / There’s another world waiting for us / I’ve waited so long for so much more” while retaining the gothly virtues we’ve praised him for “The sun sets so early in December / The moon is bright and my heart is black / Promise me you’ll always remember / Never to find our way back.”
Eisold seems to have found peace, along with a piece of mind (by releasing music on his own schedule and refusing to follow the rigorous demands of the album cycle) and the outcome is downright invigorating.
The video treatment, directed by Amy Lee, is a perfectly cold slice of minimalism, featuring the now fully rounded-out group bathed in yellow while deftly manning their respected instruments in a detached manner that oozes aesthetic cool….
