After the jump, some music that caught my ear over the course of 2014, in no particular order. You’ve probably heard all of these (the clean ones, at least) on the show if you listen regularly, but no harm in taking another listen, right? Right.
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Deaf Wish
St. Vincent’s + 3 EP
St. Vincent’s + 3 EP
Sub Pop
Washing Machine-era Sonic Youthy vibes from Melbourne.
Washing Machine-era Sonic Youthy vibes from Melbourne.
Soundcloud: “St. Vincent’s”
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King Gizzard and the Lizard WizardI’m in Your Mind Fuzz
Castle Face
Another of the seemingly infinite incredible psych bands coming out of Australia lately. RIYL Thee Oh Sees.
Another of the seemingly infinite incredible psych bands coming out of Australia lately. RIYL Thee Oh Sees.
Youtube: “Am I in Heaven?”
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Deers
Demo & Barn 7″s
Cairo
VU inspired jangly pop tunes from Madrid. The pessimist might say they’ve only released four songs, but I’d point out they’re still batting 1.000.
Soundcloud: “Castigadas en el Granero”
Demo & Barn 7″s
Cairo
VU inspired jangly pop tunes from Madrid. The pessimist might say they’ve only released four songs, but I’d point out they’re still batting 1.000.
Soundcloud: “Castigadas en el Granero”
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OBN IIIsLive in San Francisco
Castle Face
Proof that this band really needs to be experienced live to be fully appreciated.
Soundcloud: “If the Shit Fits”
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Sharon van EttenAre We There Yet?
Jagjaguwar
van Etten is nothing if not consistent, and her newest LP is the best in an already stellar catalog.
Youtube: “Every Time the Sun Comes Up”
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Shockwave RiderzDearest b/w The Punisher 7″
Velocity of Sound
More noisy, groovy rock from the Pittsburghers in the form of a tour promo 7″. A-side is a surprisingly straightforward Buddy Holly cover.
More noisy, groovy rock from the Pittsburghers in the form of a tour promo 7″. A-side is a surprisingly straightforward Buddy Holly cover.
Soundcloud: “The Punisher”
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The Pains of Being Pure at HeartDays of Abandon
Yebo
Pains have dialed back their JAMC influences more present on their self-titled debut, but the songwriting is still great. Maybe my favorite indie-pop release this year.
Pains have dialed back their JAMC influences more present on their self-titled debut, but the songwriting is still great. Maybe my favorite indie-pop release this year.
Youtube: “Kelly”
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Viet CongCassette EP
Mexican Summer
Technically came out last year, I think, but got rereleased in July. It’s too good not to include, anyways. Features ex-members of Women and sounds like a pretty logical progression from Public Strain.
Technically came out last year, I think, but got rereleased in July. It’s too good not to include, anyways. Features ex-members of Women and sounds like a pretty logical progression from Public Strain.
Youtube: “Select Your Drone”
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Superchunk“Come Pick Me Up”
Bloodshot
Truth be told, I never got around to listening to the comp that this song came out on, but Superchunk’s Ryan Adams cover is absolutely spot on.
Truth be told, I never got around to listening to the comp that this song came out on, but Superchunk’s Ryan Adams cover is absolutely spot on.
Soundcloud: “Come Pick Me Up”
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WildhoneySeventeen Forever EP
Photobooth
Caught these Baltimore shoegazers playing with Priests at Roboto this year and certainly didn’t leave disappointed.
Bandcamp: “Seventeen”
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Lace CurtainsA Signed Piece of Paper
Female Fantasy
Ex-Harlem member Michael Coomers settles down just a bit on his solo project. Hooks for days.
Youtube: “The Fly”
Female Fantasy
Ex-Harlem member Michael Coomers settles down just a bit on his solo project. Hooks for days.
Youtube: “The Fly”
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Angel OlsenBurn Your Fire for No Witness
Jagjaguwar
Though her voice is still Olsen’s weapon of choice, some of the songs on this album come dangerously close to rocking.
Jagjaguwar
Though her voice is still Olsen’s weapon of choice, some of the songs on this album come dangerously close to rocking.
Youtube: “Windows”
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Lorelle Meets the ObsoleteChambers
Captcha
Screaming, larger than life psych from Mexico complete with Seinfeld references, what’s not to like?
Youtube: “What’s Holding You?”
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Allo Darlin’We Come From the Same Place
Slumberland
London-via-Australia twee pop complete with heart on sleeve lyrics and ukelele. This sounds like an adult version of Rilo Kiley.
Slumberland
London-via-Australia twee pop complete with heart on sleeve lyrics and ukelele. This sounds like an adult version of Rilo Kiley.
Bandcamp: “Kings and Queens”
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Parkay QuartsContent Nausea
What’s Your Rupture?
Content Nausea sees Parkay Quarts wearing their Pavement and VU influences on their sleeves, and everything comes to a head on album’s final song, where they channel their inner Dylan and knock it completely out of the park.
Soundcloud: “Uncast Shadow of a Southern Myth”
Content Nausea sees Parkay Quarts wearing their Pavement and VU influences on their sleeves, and everything comes to a head on album’s final song, where they channel their inner Dylan and knock it completely out of the park.
Soundcloud: “Uncast Shadow of a Southern Myth”
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Springtime CarnivoreSpringtime Carnivore
Autumn Tone
This is what Lana Del Ray would sound like if somebody injected some serotonin into her brain.
This is what Lana Del Ray would sound like if somebody injected some serotonin into her brain.
Soundcloud: “Name on a Matchbook”
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Destruction Unit“Dust”
Adult Swim
Released as part of Adult Swim’s single series, proof that last year’s claustrophobic noise psych clusterfuck of Deep Trip was no accident.
Released as part of Adult Swim’s single series, proof that last year’s claustrophobic noise psych clusterfuck of Deep Trip was no accident.
Soundcloud: “Dust”
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Real EstateAtlas
Domino
Real Estate do the Feelies-inspired laid back beach pop thing better than just about everybody else. Bonus points for snagging Andy Daly to be in their video.
Real Estate do the Feelies-inspired laid back beach pop thing better than just about everybody else. Bonus points for snagging Andy Daly to be in their video.
Youtube: “Crime”
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PriestsBodies and Control and Money and Power
Don Giovanni
Reminds me of Le Tigre if Kathleen Hanna was still in full-on Bikini Kill rowdy mode.
Reminds me of Le Tigre if Kathleen Hanna was still in full-on Bikini Kill rowdy mode.
Youtube: “Doctor” (Live)
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HabibiHabibi
Burger
Takes you back to 60’s girl groups and simpler times when Phil Spector was “genius” crazy instead of “criminal” crazy.
Takes you back to 60’s girl groups and simpler times when Phil Spector was “genius” crazy instead of “criminal” crazy.
Soundcloud: “I Got the Moves”
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PampersRight Tonight EP
In the Red
METZ didn’t release anything new this year, so have some Pampers instead.
METZ didn’t release anything new this year, so have some Pampers instead.
Bandcamp: “Right Tonight”
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Ricky Eat AcidThree Love Songs
Orchid Tapes
This sounds like a mix of the instrumental tracks on Deerhunter’s Cryptograms and a more ambient version of Atlas Sound’s Let the Blind Lead Those Who Can See But Cannot Feel. If you’re feeling a bit down, this is some great music to be bummed out to.
Bandcamp: “I Can Hear the Heart Breaking As One”
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Black Lips“Nightmare Field” Flexidisc
Vice
The almighty Black Lips put out a pretty decent LP this year, but this song held my attention much longer than most of Underneath the Rainbow. It got cut from the recording sessions, but sounds like it would’ve fit right in on 2011’s Arabia Mountain.
The almighty Black Lips put out a pretty decent LP this year, but this song held my attention much longer than most of Underneath the Rainbow. It got cut from the recording sessions, but sounds like it would’ve fit right in on 2011’s Arabia Mountain.
Youtube: “Nightmare Field”
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Death Gripsn—–s on the moon
Harvest
Death Grips (not unpredictably) burnt out and broke up this year, but not before abruptly releasing yet another in a line of free albums.
Soundcloud: “Have a Sad Cum”
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Dick DiverCalendar Days
Chapter Music
Remember what I said earlier about the endless supply of psych bands coming out of Australia? Dick Diver fall on the janglier side of things, but support my thesis nonetheless.
Remember what I said earlier about the endless supply of psych bands coming out of Australia? Dick Diver fall on the janglier side of things, but support my thesis nonetheless.
Soundcloud: “Water Damage”
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The GotobedsPoor People are Revolting
12XU
More Pittsburgh rock! The Gotobeds blew the hell up this year, even getting featured on NPR, and deserved every second of attention they got.
More Pittsburgh rock! The Gotobeds blew the hell up this year, even getting featured on NPR, and deserved every second of attention they got.
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Ty SegallManipulator
Drag City
If there were any justice in the world, Ty would be on the cover of Rolling Stone and have his own show on HBO, and Dave Grohl would just silently cash his Nirvana royalty checks without inflicting upon us all another album’s worth of minivan rock.
If there were any justice in the world, Ty would be on the cover of Rolling Stone and have his own show on HBO, and Dave Grohl would just silently cash his Nirvana royalty checks without inflicting upon us all another album’s worth of minivan rock.
Youtube: “Feel” (Live)
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ChromeoWhite Women
Atlantic
It’s got to be funky. Picked up major Steve Miller vibes at times during this album.
Soundcloud: “Fall Back 2U”
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Lotus PlazaOvernight Motorcycle Music
Geographic North
It wouldn’t be my year end list without some Deerhunter-affiliated project present. For 2014, it’s guitarist Lockett Pundt’s Overnight Motorcycle Music, two tracks and about twenty minute’s worth of improved guitar work.
Soundcloud: “Indian Paintbrush”
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MedicineHome Everywhere
Captured Tracks
Long doomed to be your favorite band’s favorite band, not one nobody else had ever heard of, Medicine reunited a few years ago and have already released two stellar LP’s that stand right alongside their earlier output.
Soundcloud: “Move Along – Down the Road”
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Sturgill SimpsonMetamodern Sounds in Country Music
High Top Mountain
I can be as smarmy as anybody else about Froggy-sponsored pop-country and the suburban dregs that Keith Urban and the like drag out from under their rocks to Heinz Field to embarrass the city of Pittsburgh a few times annually, but Sturgill Simpson is a great reminder of how powerful a well-written country song can really be.
I can be as smarmy as anybody else about Froggy-sponsored pop-country and the suburban dregs that Keith Urban and the like drag out from under their rocks to Heinz Field to embarrass the city of Pittsburgh a few times annually, but Sturgill Simpson is a great reminder of how powerful a well-written country song can really be.
Youtube: “The Promise”
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Yumi Zouma“Alena”
Cascine
Yumi Zouma had shown hints in the past that they had a song like “Alena” in them, but this is the first time they’ve gone full on into transcendent pop mode. Cascine is really beginning to remind me of Sincerely Yours in their heyday.
Yumi Zouma had shown hints in the past that they had a song like “Alena” in them, but this is the first time they’ve gone full on into transcendent pop mode. Cascine is really beginning to remind me of Sincerely Yours in their heyday.
Soundcloud: “Alena”
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The Amazing SnakeheadsAmphetamine Ballads
Domino
Take every single Nick Cave song ever written, from The Birthday Party to The Bad Seeds to Grinderman, and combine them all into one. That’s The Amazing Snakeheads.
Take every single Nick Cave song ever written, from The Birthday Party to The Bad Seeds to Grinderman, and combine them all into one. That’s The Amazing Snakeheads.
Youtube: “Here It Comes Again”
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Pittsburgh Track AuthorityEnter the Machine Age
Pittsburgh Tracks
Sometimes you just gotta dance, ya know?
Sometimes you just gotta dance, ya know?
Soundcloud: “Broader Disco”
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The SoundcarriersEntropicalia
Ghost Box
Some nice krauty psychedelia from Australia, of course.
Some nice krauty psychedelia from Australia, of course.
Youtube: “Boiling Point”
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BleachedFor the Feel EP
Dead Oceans
Anybody still mourning the loss of The Vivian Girls would be well advised to pick up a copy of this.
Anybody still mourning the loss of The Vivian Girls would be well advised to pick up a copy of this.
Youtube: “Poison Ivy”
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Saint PepsiFiona Coyne b/w Fall Harder 7″
Carpark
Ryan DeRobertis emerges from the bedroom and goes full on disco for his best release yet, though his Gin City EP came out earlier this year and is worth your time, too.
Ryan DeRobertis emerges from the bedroom and goes full on disco for his best release yet, though his Gin City EP came out earlier this year and is worth your time, too.
Youtube: “Fiona Coyne”
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The War on DrugsLost in the Dream
Secretly Canadian
I have absolutely zero issues with “beer commercial lead guitars” when they’re played this well.
I have absolutely zero issues with “beer commercial lead guitars” when they’re played this well.
Youtube: “Red Eyes”
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Panda BearMr. Noah EP
Domino
Look, I dunno if Panda Bear will ever top Person Pitch, but “Mr. Noah” is about as close as he’s come. At the very least, I’m far more exited for his LP due out early next year than I was before listening to this.
Look, I dunno if Panda Bear will ever top Person Pitch, but “Mr. Noah” is about as close as he’s come. At the very least, I’m far more exited for his LP due out early next year than I was before listening to this.
Youtube: “Mr. Noah”