SheepSkin

Hello again.

2011-05-31T00:49:00.000-07:00

      So I think we can all agree that it's about damn time for another musically oriented post from the SheepSkins Squad. There have been naught in the past two months but the past two interviews and the Emissions promo (which ended up being a horribly snowed-out fest with destroyed sound systems and no-show acts on Sunday and the god-damned Builder playing on a renegade system, just like every weekend in Santa Cruz). Needless to say, there's been nary a soundcloud player or download in sight.
   There have been a few heavy happenings of late, but instead of blaming my lack of attention to this particular outlet on that, I will blame it instead on the good things of recent memory. I have substituted effort spent on things such as painting, cultivating personal relationships, being with my family, and going out in the sun. Sauce.
   So I have been absurdly happy, if it's any consolation. Easy to say it has been the best couple months of my life and even easier to say that May-thru-June holds the potential to smash all previous records set in that department. So without further ado, I will key you in to the soundtrack of the time spent away, and I hope you get something out of what I have to say. Above all, I hope y'all stay positive.
It's about time, friends.

MIXES
   What a better way to start a post intending to return to the flow of things with the medium that best expresses the physical concept thereof? Mixes and the way they do have always captivated me on a spiritual level. Here are a couple sterling examples from the past few weeks, hope you enjoy.
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--LOOP STEPWALKER

Loop has always been a fascination of mine. His dark, large-composition style echoing the constituents of the first 06-08 UK filthy mixes is cleansing to the soul. His ability to stay roots in his saucy broken beat drums and overall aesthetic whilst providing those evil skittering highs and crushing multi-tracked mids reminiscent of Dubsaw Recordings is a hopeful and admirable fact.
Also admirable is his ambitious nature. While managing the Dub division of Culture Assault Records and forwarding releases on labels such as Ad Noiseam, Play Me, and Section 8, he is constantly producing. He seriously posts new collabs and pieces so often and methodically you wonder if he's one man or if he's got a team of dirty little elves workin' for him like the allegorical shoemaker. In either case, the sheer precision and dedication of his work leaves nothing to be desired. Enjoy this mix and troll his archival soundcloud pages.
Loop Stepwalker Guestmix for Filth.fm April 2011 by Loop Stepwalker

--STYLUST BEATS

Stylust coming through with a full length mix tape showcasing my favorite skill of his, the mashup. His clean and inventive approach to the mash is anything but contrived. He manages (usually) to avoid clutter while comfortably inserting as many layers as he damn well pleases, which is never something to be ignored. Even if the track listing leaves quite a bit to be desired in that it implements tracks one can predict to be in every dubstep mix one could possibly find on the internet, his approach to using those tracks as tools in a greater composition definitely goes hard.

SNUBLUCK

I don't know much about this Snubluck fellow, other than he's a beat machine, he's from Denver, and he's got a release on a free DL label by the name of Amenorea. The label's site is down, but here is a list of their productions, all free, to play around with (Snub's is AMNEP028). The list is long and new to me, so again I don't have much to say about it. The music runs in the vague vein of Experimental electronic, with lotsa Trip-hop and Brainfeeder-esque L.A. Beat goin' on. The sounds borderline Skweee, especially with respect to Snub, and it's all quite tasteful and glitchy enough to satisfy the coldest heart. His end of the world mix, below, is the only sampler you need to sell you. Dig it up, yo.

End Of The World? Mix by Snubluck (Snub)

STICKEM

Another artist with no info for me to present you. He's from the bay, he produces mad Juke, he mixes like a beast, and he knows his gaddam Skweee, which is something I know you love to hear. Below is THE Skweee mix. If you are for any reason disenchanted with the genre, or if you need somewhere to start, or if you feel like you just want to pick one Skweee mix to listen to for the rest of your life, dis be it.
Let Skweeedom Ring mixed by Stickem by Stickem

GLYPH

Here you will see Glyph publicly displaying his prodigious taste for Neurofunk. He likes it hard, breaky, dark, and deep, as I think we all do if the subject of discussion is indeed true Neurofunk. His selections are to die for and the mix is tech, despite a few awkwarder transitions. Whatever you feel about it, give it a chance:
Glÿph - Bassfuckers Neurofunk Mixtape by Glÿph [BE]

QUARTUS SAUL

Young Quartus is another Pretention-Filth favorite of mine. He usually comes through with some unique dirty taste on the roof of your mouth that leaves you smiling and simultaneously feeling bad about doing so. His mixing skills are indeed up to par with his level of absolute creation in the production department, and I think you'll agree. Lots of unreleased goodies, and not the same ones yer gonna hear in every other big-gun mix of the spring quarter. Real shit. Real talk. Git it.
Quartus Saul - Detected Mixtape Vol. 1 by Quartus Saul

I was gonna throw up the recentest mixes of Inspector Dubplate, Smash Gordon, and Exish, but c'mon... I know you guys can find those on your own. You're big kids. Troll a lil harder.

....Back to the music...

ROYAL F*TISH RECORDS

These sick bastards have been giving me a lot of support in the last few months. From my initial uncovering of Bullwack there sparked a synaptic wave of discoveries and interest on both sides of the blog (me interested in promoting, them interested in being promoted) for which I have been happy and thankful to further. While I have not been giving them as much attention as I feel I should be, I wholly intend to dig deeper into their creative process with promos posted below, analysis of their work, and future interviews. Keep fucking killing it, gents, and I'll keep talkin' nice about ya.

--FREDERICK OLUFSEN

If there is one, ONE, thing I want you to absorb on this post it is the work of Frederick Olufsen. Since devouring page after page on his soundcloud I could think of little else but how badly I needed to share this with you. This is the man behind the curtain, founder of the label and dastardly producer to boot. I can scarcely comprehend the amount of flair and straight up swag sauce that go into each and every piece of work.

His approach is bright, upbeat, and funky as all hell, bending bitcrushers into slapping gated electro snares, growling clean bass, and a synth I haven't heard around too much that emulates the sound of a fender slap bass with such artistically rambunctious supremacy it's hard to drive from my head when I'm away from it for too long. The cleanliness of the sampling seen here is absurd as well. Just listen, folks, just listen and you'll know. Words do little justice.

"Big ups" is almost offensive here in its inability to summarize the congratulatory sentiments clustered inside me. "Fucking swagger cannon" seems slightly more precise.

Turboweekend - Into The Pavement (Frederik Olufsen Remix) by Frederik Olufsen Yenn - Unqueer (Frederik Olufsen's Drumstep Bad Ass Bass In Ya Face Remix) by Frederik Olufsen
Rebecca Black - Friday (Sophisticated Killer Dub by Frederik Olufsen) by Frederik Olufsen
Pimp Hand Strong w/ Marc Remillard feat. Messinian by Frederik Olufsen

--KING MINOS/BULLWACK

These are some of my favorite people in the electronic world, right here. So amiable and sharply conversational, and so. Damn. Talented. From the very first Bullwack track I stumbled across, which inherently led to the discovery of collabs with King Minos and others, the incalculable amount of tightness possessed therein led me to the realization that the group was going to be a goldmine of wonderful, inventive sounds. A goldmine that was destined to hold down solid placement in my list of favorites indefinitely.

Each track the guys rock challenge the borders of Electro, crossing into the down and dirty regions of Glitch and Dubstep, the compositions are simultaneously disco-groovy and shit-stomping dirty. The care in each sampling cut, synth filter, and elaborate beat is soulful and immaculate to the nth degree. Below are some swagged out promos we were fortunate enough to receive from the ever monarchical Royal Fetish Recordings, off the fresh King Minos release "Redskin Warrior". The release has a side-A titled after the release, and an AA remix by Fuckin' Telmini that is just pure evil. Get it here. ...And en-fucking-joy deez:

King Minos-Royal Family

King Minos-Royal Family (Bullwack Remix)

---END ROYAL FETISH----------

ARRAN KRAFT

This guy is another Bullwack-related connection who found me on Soundcloud and asked me, quite polite, to throw some of his stuff up. After listening to his Kotedurone remix, I could scarcely think of another course of action, it simply must be on my blog. Seriously one of the tastiest twisted 8-bit melodies I've heard in the recent world of Dubstep. Very creative approach there. It drops into a scathing, squelching, bass lurch, complete with thick stereo-imaging and sexy bitcrushing flares. Shortly thereafter, it winds back up into breaks and a massive clean electro synth, which then gets the trash treatment as both sound approaches are combined for the final climactic seconds of the track. Ya gonna like this one as much as I do. Also featured is his remix of the stupendous Bullwack/King Minos collab "Vanguard". Lurk his material, folks, you won't be disappointed.
Kotedurone - Oh La La (Arran Kraft Remix) by Arran Kraft
Bullwack - Vanguard (Feat King Minos) [Arran Kraft Remix] by Arran Kraft

CIRCUITBORED

Stumbled across this one in a post be Royal Fetish featuring remixes of Rebecca Black's "Friday"... Yeah. It may have been the belligerent nature of the moment of discovery that makes this particular remix so great, but I think you'll agree that it is quite slamming, and at least very interesting. Fat oscillating metallic sound, extremely bouncy and churning. Like Danejah meets JRabbit, or something, I don't even know. Then there's this random Hardstyle influenced monstrosity, very very interesting one there. He's definitely pushing a few envelopes. My favorite bit is where is drops Hardstyle whilst retaining the bitcrusher line from the down-tempo section. Ominous siren and ghetto ass snares are mad sexy. All in all, a young producer with mad budding talent and a ways to go to greatness. Can't wait to hear more.
Rebecca Black - Friday (Anal Filth Remix) by circuitbored
Demon Boar (Circuitbored Vs. Dreameater) by circuitbored

KOMBATANT

I don't know much about Kombatant. I know he makes vile art-filth tunes and has 45 followers and makes chill conversation. Dig it.
Kombatant - Rigor Mortis (2011 Original Dubstep) by Kombatant
Kombatant - The Sign (2011 Original Dubstep) by Kombatant

SUBVIBE

This Surrey based Dubsteppa has drifted through the relative realms of goodness and mediocrity both, as far as I'm concerned, and prior to this post would not have been a consideration for the blog. Clearly, though, he should keep making Drumstep because of this monstrosity:
SubVibe - Damage by SubVibe

SUB ANTIX

Sub Antix has lead me to many a debate in the domestic community, but I've always always loved his work. He sticks to a roughly purist format, but that's not to say he changes up beat and sound within those parameters. The works posses some wonderful flares, too, entirely possible to overlook if you aren't indeed looking. Super rootsy percussion, super atmospheric. Check out this here set of Lost Dubs (the DnB bit is my favorite):
Lost Dubs by Sub Antix

LOVE & LIGHT

The homies from Reno have put out a few bootleggers and remixes since last we posted, so here they are. You already know how much I have to say about these folks, so I'll keep it simple for the purposes of today: "Really good music", you'll either have to listen to find out specifics, or take my word for it.
"Load" by David Starfire (Love and Light Remix) by Love and Light
Dr. Dre-Let Me Ride (SplataLighT RemiX) Splatinum and Love and Light by Love and Light
OUTKAST "The Rooster" Love and Light Remix by Love and Light
Red Hot Chili Peppers "Can't Stop" LOVE AND LIGHT REMIX d/l in song description!!! by Love and Light

ASA + SCREWLOOSE RECORDS

Asa is a very dear artist, emphasizing a creative new take to the respective styles of Garage and 2-Step. His first release on Screwloose records just dropped, though collabs with Koan Sound have been floating around for quite some time, and he has a wealth of scattered releases and unreleased business. His work with Culprate is some of my all time favorite as well, so it's only fitting that Asa, Koan, and Culprate all find a place in this here release. Screwloose records has given me, through this and other forthcomings, hope and consolidated location for my favorite Dubsaw artists. Hope you find as much stokage:
SCREWD001 ASA - SWEETER THINGS EP by SCREWLOOSE RECORDS

KOAN SOUND

KOAN Sound... My all time favorite Art-Steppa next to Culprate. The sheer brilliance of the music, the volume of the nuances and originality in the pieces, always leaves one pondering what the fuck the next piece is gonna sound like. This forthcoming bit on Inspected, marking their second release, is a good example. Super saucy tunes here, deep and churning, but highly emotive. As they do.
INSP002 by KOAN Sound

ZEN DEATH SQUAD

The ZDS release is finally here, and it is brilliant shit to say the least. If you've listened to the Original Stealth mix-tape, then you've already heard half of the EP and know how good it is. This is little but confirmation of the skill set possessed by the producers at hand. The sounds are very high quality; they'd almost be overproduced if the music lacked the structural intricacy that it has. The structure could be passed off as Glitch Mobbish, with epic refrains and mashing melodic builds, but that would be overstating the goodness of the Glitch Mob's songwriting. This takes a bit of their style and rigorously improves on the format, offering those glitchy atmospheric nuances we all love to a magical extent. Endless composition geek-out-ability, y'all. Check it.
Cyber Dojo Lazer Training EP by Zen Death Squad

SITRUS

This kid's 18 and making music with FL studio. While that gets cred, in and of itself, it's also quite credible that he's making music like this:
Zap! (CLIP) by Sitrus

APATHY

This Kelowna, Canada based artist was a recent find for me. His music pretty consistently blows me away, with really tech and crunchy leads that are viciously interwoven into the thunderous sub-bass composition, like all good filth should. His filter work is quite interesting, and he likes to play around a lot with organ synths which I can get behind. He's also got quite a handle on the fuzzy/epic rave-synth chords and the electro-sensible chopping necessary to get the most out of such sounds. The drums leave a bit to be desired sometimes, but the genre does lamentably tend to do that a lot. Sometimes it sucks to like filth, but hey. Artists like Apathy console me.
Latest EP:
Forthcoming EP With Total label Management(ElektriK Beatz UK) by ApathY Dubstep

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SKWEEE CORNER

Skweee has been popping off of late, if not picking up steam. For instance, Niño has a new release on the recently reinvigorgated Donky Pitch (yuss) and up to 24 hours post-release there were still an average of FIFTEEN plays per track, no comments on most, no favorites. Skweee's populism, or lack thereof, is a love hate thing for me. While I don't want to see it blow up, which I would theorize is almost impossible (don't hold me to that, see also: Dubstep), I would very much like to see it get more legitimate recognition. I suppose that's what I'm doing here, so without further banter I give you the three lrgst drops of the recent Skweee world, et al.

>>NIñO
Sampler>
DKY002 Niño - Clase de 1984 EP tasty taster by Donky Pitch
Full title track>
Clase de 1984 [DKY002] by Niño

Purchase Vinyl! Save your Soul!

>>HALP
Gazzilliaan Yeers ep by HALP.

>>SLUGABED
MOONBEAM RIDER EP TICKLER by SLUGABED

And one more who fits in here somewhere...
BOSSASAURUS

This crew hit me up monthssssss ago solely on the basis that they liked some comment I left on a Shigeto track. This is hardly your usual soundcloud spam, though at the time I dismissed it as such. Since then, the Philly based bunch has worked their way into a solid place of permanent fondness within me. Their eclectic style leads to much variation, so I suggest you troll through their Soundcloud to get the full taster, but I can tell you this much: they rock heavy old school Skweee vibes, know what's up with the DnB, destroy the face of Trip-Hop, and dabble in down-to-midtempo glitch. Consume, enjoy:
7. Bossasaurus-Lacerta by Bossasaurus
Bossasaurus-R U Ready Now by Bossasaurus
16 A Tribe Called Quest - 1nce Again(Bossasaurus Remix) by Bossasaurus

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LOCAL LOVE

My friends, whom I've neglected most of all, are who the entirety of this post goes out to. Watching these people progress, if even from afar, has been a serious highlight of my music listening career. There's a certain interpersonal sense of commitment to their evolution as artists that I feel, the classic Nationalist sentiment of rooting hard for the home team I guess, and I wish they knew how much the tunes mean to me. Gives me hope, in many senses of the word. Big big ups, Cruz Crew, to all that yew do...

>>KRYPH

     To keep with the lovey dovey sentiment of the section's intro, I can safely say that Oliver Nickel aka Kryph consistently the happiest kid I ever see in passing. Always has something positive to contribute, and always brings one's day up in this way. I've always been fond of his tunes, but these here are somethin' else. I feel that with whatever recent style (or recent to me at least) that he's found, he has created a perfect conduit for his obvious songwriting merit. His sensible melodies, thoroughly interesting compositions, and painful/gogeous words find perfect symbiosis in these tracks, and I very much implore you to see how it all goes down firsthand. Chhhhek it!
Kryph - revival (ft. Kirsten Rosenberg) by KRYPH

(Family Affair Fun-Fact: This is a collab with Superman Fast, and both tracks feat. Kirsten Rosenberg who happens to be the Cogito's younger sis. Classic SC interconnectedness.)

Tully - Kryph & Superman Fast (ft. Kirsten Rosenberg) by KRYPH

>>SUPERMAN FAST

      Superman Fast has been a consisitent feature on our little thingthing here for quite sometime. His enthusiasm for the blog and its writers is quite commendable, and our enthusiasm for his ambling lyrical sense and trip-hop infused beats cannot be overstated keep it ripping, Christian. Dig the new tracks, people:
Ooly cooly . A POIntless SUPERMAN DUMB production :-) by Superman Fast Always!!!!. PRod. By DOEO by Superman Fast
Wut'Z s0 FUnnY? (Prod. by ME) by Superman Fast

<3 TRICKS (FORMERLY SIRR PAUL)

Signature wackiness emanating from this one. Never a dissappointment, always a head turner. Hard system to pull off, lemme tell ya. Get behind deez:
Beauty 'n the Beast by <3 tricks
Tiger Dreams by <3 tricks

>>DOEO

(^Doeo tossin' tracks under the XXL Chalupa moniker beside Noc Ems)

Another sterling human being in addition to supremely savvy mixist, right here. His creation of a disticnt mixing style and articulation has been one of my many firmly followed local endeavors. Each mix upstages the last (as they should) with flow and double drops to boot. His production follows the vein of sampling dominance championed by Superman Fast and the like. Quite natural, in that they are each others' key collaborator it would seem. Here lies his latest artful mix, and an LP with Fast:
PROMO by DOEO

EMISSIONS

2011-04-28T22:10:00.000-07:00

Our thoroughly local production crew of the underground West Coast Bass variety, Camp Question Mark, has thrown down once again to bring us Emissions, an expose of Glitch, Dubstep, and other sub-fueled music. As if you, the constituency, were not already aware, the lineup is absurd. We have Ill-Gates, Vaski, SPL, The Widdler, Love and Light, Roomie, NastyNasty, and literal horde of others including your favorite (and least favorite) local acts from out very own SC renegade circuit.
The company is all love, with a very accommodating staff that is positively rife with good people. I made a mistake in not going last year, and I intend to be blown away by the setting, which is assuredly gorgeous, and the music which is assuredly groovin'. I'll be volunteering, and will thus be in an accessible position for interviews of the headliner variety. I already have my eye on a couple, and I think Gestate might as well, but leave comments concerning who you'd like to have verbally dissected and we will take them into consideration. Make sure to check out the event page here, and follow the men women behind the curtain here.
Stay classy, fools.

LOVE AND LIGHT

2011-04-23T20:19:00.000-07:00

   The emotive musical dynamo that is Love and Light made their entree into my musical repertoire in August of 2010; the second Headband Fest at Harding Ranch in Santa Cruz (pictured above). Needless to say, the intimacy with which these artists command the crowd held a profound impact.
  The inherent care in it all is unmissable. It's almost as if they get the people psyched vicariously through their own enjoyment of the work they do. They get psyched,the people feel it, they get more psyched, and et cetera. Of course this all makes for a very familial show-going experience and I've been attached to their music at the hip ever since – charting every release, posting every soundcloud player within hours of its respective unveiling, and keeping a loose correspondence with the artists.
  Hence, and some time later, the result of these correspondences have payed off in a most productive and exciting manner. I have just now, this very now, received the answered questions of an interview I shot over a while back.
For you today, another dialogue.
I hope you enjoy, hope it makes ya think, and I hope it makes you smile.
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So you guys come out of Reno, just north of the legendary Black Rock city. What's the scene like out there in terms of being fresh and supportive?

The Scene is Reno is absolutely incredible! It is by FAR one of our favorites. Burning Man has had an incredible impact on both Reno's music scene and conscious culture. Any and all quality bass music acts have come through Reno, and gratitude and kudos go out to Fresh Bakin' Production Company for making it all happen. We are happy to call Reno Home.

Would you say burning man spiked the Reno scene, or did Reno eccentricity play a role in the birth of burning man?

I would say a little bit of both, but the majoirty of it was burning man being a catalyst in Reno's growth... at least for Bass Music.

Did the fest/the city play a role in you two meeting? How and where did that go down?

Matt and I have been friends for about eight years, since 2002. We went to the same high school, but never hung out until after we graduated. We met through a mutual friend and have been kicking it ever since.

You each had an artistic identity prior to your collaboration. What led you two to work together? Did you feel a need for change of sound, or partnership...?

I think the main thing that led us to work together was our intention behind what we wanted to accomplish with our music. Making music that is both uplifting and inspiring was a necessity for us both... the most important thing of all. There aren't a lot of artists who truly hold that reason as their own for creating sound, or understand the importance of it... We do, and in my opinion, it shows greatly in our music.

Is there a silent influence in the mix, such as an intention or a life event, or would you say the act of collaborating changed each of your initial sounds?

Yes the act of collaborating definitely changed our sound. Some of our favorite artists over the years have been Vibesquad, Tipper, Opiuo, Bassnectar, Desert Dwellers, Ott, and Bluetech. Listening to these amazing artists for so many years we have come to understand the ideas and concepts in their music, and fuse the best parts of them with our own original creativity to form Love and Light.

<What is the beginning of the creative process? Is it a sound, a conversation, a concept?
<How does the collaboration work? Who does what in the mix?

The creative process is different EVERYTIME. we do not have a set way that we do things. Sometimes we start out with a melody, other times a drum beat, other times recording vocals or samples. We just kind of go with the flow of how we are feeling. Anything can spark creativity. It depends on the moment. Our collaboration together is awesome though. Trust is by far the main thing that makes it flow so well. I am 100% confident that is matt takes a song I am writing another direction that is is going to be great... and Vice Versa.

What are you most proud of as a result of the joint project?

We are most proud of our ability to create music that moves people in a positive way. for all of the people who come up to us or email us about how great they feel when they listen to or dance to our tunes. That is by far the thing we are most proud of.

Where would you say your music comes from? Like, does it arrive from thoughts, feelings, the outside world, the soul, people, et cetera...?

ALL OF THE ABOVE... All five senses, and beyond.

How do you handle promotion, how do you get your sound out in the community?

We do a lot of our promoting through various social networks. Soundcloud has been one of the biggest tools for us. With out soundcloud we would not be where we are today. THANK YOU SOUNDCLOUD

What are your comments/feelings about Simplify?

We couldn't not say enough about Simplify. In particular Aaron Simpson!!! We love him so much. He has so much love to give. We couldn't be happier with Simplify as a record label. Simplify makes things happen. FAST. Nothing but love for Simplify Recordings!

<What fellow artists on the label do you admire most, which ones, if any, do you work with?

To avoid leaving anybody out we wont get into favorites. We have only directly worked with Stephan Jacobs and thoroughly enjoy doing so!!!

Who in this world would be most evoking to do a collab with, and why?

It would be awesome to get together with all the guys and gals from the 60's and 70's dead/alive to show them whats up with technology. So they could show us whats up with live instruments and rocking out. Making the fusion of OG hippie and New School Hippie would be phenomenal!!

How does your touring system break down, how do you decide where to play, when, et cetera?

We don't exactly decide where we play. The fans decide that... The more people that find out about us and like our music, the more promoters from certain areas are likely to book us... All the technicalities of where, when, and et cetera are worked out between our booking agent and the promoter.

Is there anywhere in particular you'd like to play that you haven't hit yet?

We would really like to take our music and spread it to the hearts and minds of people across the planet. Everywhere!!! Brazil, Italy, Japan, Australia... EVERYWHERE

We all know about the new EP, but do you have any other forthcoming efforts or big shows that the people should know about?

The summer festival season is definitely what is on our plate right now :-) You'll be able to catch us us Lightning in a Bottle, Emissions, Conscious Culture, Raindance, The Bounce, Sonic Bloom, and Earthdance.

Troll: http://simplifyrecordings.com/

Buy:http://www.addictech.com/store/index.php?atech_id=53021b76d424c3f1c3c6d15c30ca4ebc&keywords=love+and+light&usetags=true&x=0&y=0&type=all

Listen: http://soundcloud.com/love-and-light

HELICOPTER SHOWDOWN

2011-04-17T20:15:00.000-07:00

So. It's been a while. Last time I posted I said something in the way of prediction about March being a mad month. If only I knew. From the first week of March to the third week of April, and I can say I'm ashamed. I have neglected you, the audience, and you the artists, for which arrangements have been made in a vague noncommittal way. I've even neglected myself in that I have ignored this, my passion. I have for you today a healthy way to break the fast; my (personally) long awaited Helicopter Showdown interview. Here lie questions, words, thoughts, and feelings on both sides of the pen.
It's about time friends.
Remember now, keep it easy.

Q: Why do you make the music you make? What is most important to you about it, and where do you get your inspiration?

We make the music we make because we like to listen to it. Dubstep is one of the most emerging, evolving, and cultured music genres in the world. We are super grateful and appreciative just to participate and be a part of something so diverse yet so unique at the same time. The most important thing is the feeling that it gives you when you listen to it. The inspiration comes from feelings. We just want to make good music and share that with people.

Q: What were you doing when you first heard Dubstep? Who was it, and what was your impression?

Most of us were balls deep in Electro at the time. Dubstep was very minimal and the two genres seemed to compete, as to where now Dubstep has evolved into such a big room sound it merges seamlessly with other genres.

Q: The scene has birthed many sub-genres and asides, things such as Transnational Dubstep, Chillstep, Post-step, Drumstep, Popstep, et cetera... You guys seem to belong to the Filthstep breed of -step that has taken the west coast by storm. What are your thoughts on the filth scene and where do you place your work in relation to it?

We’re Filthy as Fuck and proud of it! We like to bring heavy bass with well thought out sound design. The kind of sounds that make you want to punch your friends in the back of the head when you hear them played out live at shows. We definitely feel like we are not pigeon holed into that sound though. Our production is very diverse and we feel that we’re just as filthy as we are melodic.

Q: There is some dispute among Dubheads concerning the validity of filth, what is your response to this?

We don’t care; we just make what we want to hear.

Q: San Francisco is a major hub for electronic music of all kinds: House, DnB, IDM, and most recently Glitch and Dubstep. What are your thoughts on S.F. electronic culture in general?

It’s been amazing growing our musical identities here being so close to so many influential artists, scenes, and cultures. There is definitely something for everyone in the Bay no matter what your thing is.

Q: What are your major in-genre influences? What other artists/genres do you frequent?

We like a lot of Dubstep. From the early stuff of Flux Pavillion, Doctor P, Rusko, Excision, and Datsik to the more progressive artists like Boy Kid Cloud, Skism, and Skrillex. There's really too many to mention. We’re pretty much feeling ALL Bass Music at the moment

Q: You and Point.Blank have an epic working relationship, how did you meet the guys and what are your thoughts on their work/them?

Point.Blank is our fam for life! They definitely are some OG’s in the game and gave us some crucial knowledge when we were first starting out. We think the world of them and if you haven't heard they have one of the most unique sounds out there.

Q: How would you describe your latest release and live show?

T-Vicious - Give Me What I Want (Helicopter Showdown Remix) is an absolute banger! It has enough melody to obtain anthem status with enough filth to keep even the purists happy. Our live shows are a rapid-fire onslaught of exclusive material that changes every set.

Q: Where do you plan to take your sound next? Do you have any comment on future releases or collabs?

Next we plan on branching out into different sub-genres of bass music, while continuing to push the envelope on the current state of Dubstep. We have T. Vicious - Give Me What I Want (Helicopter Showdown Remix) coming out on Dub Cartel Records 4/20. Slated next is Messinian - Holy Ghost (Helicopter Showdown Remix) coming out on Play Me Too early summer.

Any other comments or shout-outs you want to make are appreciated.

Big up to all the fans, supporters, uploaders, and promoters for showing continued love. We appreciate you more than anything and promise to continue to release FREE music along side our scheduled releases.

Also the most epic of thanks to Ultragore Recordings, Simplify Agency, VitalSC, Nick Sluggo and Reid Speed, who have shown Helicopter Showdown love from the start and helped get this off the ground.

For a complete list of upcoming dates and for all booking information head to soundcloud.com/HelicopterShowdown

Whatup, MARCH?

2011-03-06T20:17:00.000-08:00

March is gonna be a mad month. It's already a mad month. Baths, Gobble Gobble, and Braids was quite possibly the best show I've ever been to, and then there's Starfucker on Wednesday, Excision/Downlink/Antiserum on Saturday, Beats Antique & Royksopp book-ending the weekend of the 25th, and Jack Beats/Zeds Dead/Kill The Noise just inside of April. Hot damn. So keeping in line with this jubilant celebration of music, I have a fresh post for you guys to mull over while you decide what gigs you're gonna hit in the coming weeks, wherever you are.

GOBBLE GOBBLE

Where did you come from, Gobble Gobble? This act is somewhat well known, it would seem, but prior to Friday night at 9:30PM I had no idea what I was in for. Slinking down the steps from the balcony of the Rickshaw stop, leaving the comfortable world where Santa Cruz friends and inhabitants ruled the foosball populated, skeeball adorned smoking section, I descended into a realm of incomprehensible color strobe and 90s rave enthusiasm and all the live sensibility a legendary act of thre underground could ever want. It was pure euphoric confusion as the glitch saturated beats pumped through elegant stage banter and the crowd jumped higher to each kick drum than seemed possible in the tiny, intimate venue. Inflatable human analogues, neon clothing, the floating glasses of Cecil the front man in the comforting dark of the room as the jams pumped and the beats kicked was more stimulus and pure honest awesome than my dopamine receptors could handle. It's safe to say that this, in conjunction with the perfection that was Baths and Braids secured an extremely special place in my show-going memory. Nothing but good times.
You should grab all of their work for free on their bandcamp, and secure some vinyl to support some solid musicians if youse a collectah: http://gobblegbl.bandcamp.com/

DRAUTRAN

Some black metal I promised to post, give your thanks to J-Shwart: Drautran - Throne Of The Depths

SKWEEE CORNER

   Skweee is a genre that worked its way into my palate sometime mid-last year and recently secured a place as one of my favorites. The crunchy lo-fi aesthetic, syncopated beats, and 8bit mastery of the Skweee-ists occupy prime real estate in my heart. Here are my two favorites from the week (Slugabed and Sephirot), and some releases to boot:

--->SLUGABED
     Slugabed be the king. Here's his tasty Busta Rhymes remix from three days back:
BUSTARHYMES - DANGEROUS (SLUGABON REMAX) by SLUGABED      Download

   And his Donky Stomp EP with Ghost Mutt, who dropped my favorite track of last year, "Thoroughbred" which appears on this release.
   ...Aaand his collab EP with Coco Bryce. For tha headies.

--->RAMP RECORDINGS

Ramp recordings'"Skweee Tooth" compilation featuring some serious cuts from the motherland.
Hit it up.

--->PLANET MU

Planet Mu's first Skweee LP, the stupendous self-titled from Eero Johannes.

Furthermore, a not-Skweee-strictly-speaking mix for Planet Mu from the prolific Geiom, hailing from a Chicago nineties rave background with roots in early Dubstep and Garage. Get it here.

--->SEPHIROT

     This guy does everything. He's got really real instrumental musicianship training, as he comes through with the random progressive jazz track, and he makes epic ambient stuff with that same influence; all of it is good. And then he does this:
Scrumpy Jack by Sephirot

....END SKWEEE............

BULLWACK
     Bullwack's music answers questions, the main one being "How can he possibly upstage his last track?", which he answers as frequently as he offers new releases. He's a thoroughly skilled and thoughtful artist, one who shares my inherent love and inflated respect for Charlie Sheen. What more could one ask for? Perhaps the earth-shakingly groovy remix of King Minos' "Royal Family", which is up as an official RMX on the release from Royal F*tish (which I happened to receive a promo DL for)? Or perhaps this, his latest trashy epic on soundcloud, showcasing the aforementioned love of Sheen:
Wasted Basterds - Smash My Disco (Bullwack Remix) by BULLW∆CK
Solid gaddam work, my friend. Interview forthcoming....

NATION
     Some superbly heady Bassline from Nation over there in Limoges, FR. Also some Acid Techno... 'Cause we be reppin' the 90s rave influence today. Big sounds and devoted work, can't support 'im enough. (Free DL on the Techno, you'll have to beg for the Bassline.)
Neus - Get The Basseline (Nation Remix) beta by NΛTiON
Nation - Acid Daze by NΛTiON

MR. WHACKA

I don't usually post his work, but this one's pretty fun and original, and he certainly ain't a bad artist. Props, Whacka. Free DL.
Spacecake by Mister Whacka

LE BELGE ELECTROD

The Belgian baller coming through with some heady innovation. Here we see him stray into the realms of Breakcore, at which he excels (if you've heard his Techstep you know why), a not-banger in the Dubstep department, "Sad Robot-Clown" is a ridiculously artful down-tempo production that is delightfully glitch driven and sub bass laden whilst carrying a gorgeous 8bit melody and Tipper-like bitcrusher line. Free DL there. Then he drops "----" a DnB/Drumstep hybrid that quickly took its rightful place as my favorite LeBelge track. Shimmery Koan Sound-esque pop synths, dancey energy, massive harmonies, slamming and cleanly drums. Perfection.
LBE ft TitanEye - The Architectonic Of The Human Emotions by LebelgeElectrod / Anecdot
LeBelgeElectrod - Sad Robot-Clown FREE320 by LebelgeElectrod / Anecdot ---- by LebelgeElectrod / Anecdot

LOVE & LIGHT

Just a quick little bit here about the gents, they have received the interview questions and have promised them back by the end of the week. Shazam. Also, they have two tracks that were released quietly on Addictech that I missed. "Chunky Chango" came out on Woofer Cookers as part of their sixth release, "Wildlife Reserve". "Funkin' Lovely" was featured on An-Ten-Nae's Acid Crunk Vol. 3, on Muti. I had no idea. I even had Acid Crunk Vol. 3 somewhere. Wuuut.
Find em, folks, or buy 'em here.

NASTYNASTY

A couple new ones from SF glitch guru NastyNasty. Low quality streams, but worth hearing. Gangster ass beats. Get 'em, buy 'em up. Also, we got some real words from the man himself:

In response to a facebook status from Matt Madonna of Love & Light pondering what his acquaintances were grateful for, NastyNasty replied most inventively:

"Jspr NstyNsty commented on Matt Madonna's status.

Jspr wrote: "frequency modulating synthesis, graintable synthesis, subtractive synthesis, Harmonic Content Morphing synthesis, wavetable synthesis, titties, linear phase accurate equalization, analog oscialtors, digital phase distortion oscilators, fast fourrier transform information, spectral morhing technology, the all seeing eye of god, thin mints, 808s, dark matter, facebook and the human spirit"

Word up.

TRAPS (256k) by NastyNasty
STACKING (256k) by NastyNasty

EXOTOPE

Exotope of Juvenile Scum Records has finally dropped another Dubstep banger showcasing the sounds of his that I love the most: mashing double-kick infused drums, and his twisted, facemelting approach to the Circus Records high end synth. Keep your eye on the other constituents of his label, i.e. Gunporn, Jerry Blam, and Telegram For The Queen.
Exotope - Rituals (OUT ON BEATPORT 1ST APRIL) by JUVENILE SCUM CREW

GEOFF BUKK

Horrendous new clip from Geoff Bukk, rightfully tagged as "Jazz" on teh soundcloud. Superb drums, as always. You'll just have to click play to hear what the synths are like, but with any luck/past experience with Bukk you already have an inkling.
O'd Up [clip] by Geoff Bukk

DANEJAH

Wow... Reality check from this here year, 2011. Just a few months back I wouldn't be caught dead uploading Danejah's logo to my blog, let alone saying anything nice about his music. Some serious hard working later, and I imagine some equipment upgrades, I am more than happy saying Danejah has produced my favorite filthy banga of the year thus far. It's scary. Moonlight renegade soul-eater. While we're saying unusually nice things, big ups SoCal. I swear this wasn't my resolution.
Danejah - 8bit Reject (Original Mix) // Free Download by DANEJAH

MIRAJA

In the past I have been unsure of how Miraja's music has made me feel despite the obvious gems, but he has been on a profound tip as of late and it is certain that his music makes me feel slippery all over. You glitch-heads know that's a good thing. The apex of his latest efforts can be seen below in his Collab with Russian turned Coloradian violinist Ilya Goldberg which is just plain heartbreaking in its complexity and tone, and (as if there aren't enough 8bit references on the post already) "Eight Bit Squish", which you probably have an idea about. Free DL there. Hand clappin', thigh wobblin' stuff all around. Very original.

MIRAJA - Eyes Wide Open feat. Ilya Goldberg by MIRAJA
8bitSQUISH [*Free Download] by MIRAJA

SLOTR

Oakland's very own SLOTR hath put forth this, this ridiculously gangster Streetbass machine. Super rubbery, epic oscilation and crunchy mids. Gotta love. Got to. Free DL.
HovaRox by SLOTR

LOCAL LOVE

This is the part where I tell you about my friends.

--->SIRR PAUL

Love that... Paul in the signature leopard-print domepiece.
So Paul with all his skillz asked himself the question "can trance get filthy?" and it washis skillz that answered yes. Here's the result of his most recent research and a few I forgot to post last time. Ballinnnn'
Android's Prayer by Sirr Paul
Anjuna by Sirr Paul
Forever (Chris Brown Remix) by Sirr Paul

--->DREADY BLACK

Dready is a wordsmith of the new generation, with diction and flow in copious, strategic amounts. He's the voice of East Side Santa Cruz and he knows how to throw that voice. Solid production in the beat department from Samson Stilwell, wonderful aesthetic. Here they are:
Roll It Up (pre preview) Prod. by Samson Stilwell by Dready Black
Through With Love (Not At All) Prod. by Samson Stilwell by Dready Black Coast Bye (Prod. by Samson Stillwell) by Dready Black

--->COGITO & SUPERMAN FAST

The guys teamed up to produce this evil stepchild of a track, wacky and glitchy, it's like nothing either of them have ever made, and vaguely like everything they've both made. Also, the most recent Superman Fast bits, spittin' real talk, sandwiched b'twixt sexy reverb and an eerie original Hip-Hop beat. N joy.
Soul Solstice Sister - collab with Superman Fast by The Cogito
Sit on it. for a while. smile. i will. prod. by Superman fast by Superman Fast Just Bein Real (Superman <3's Karen O) (Superman Fast on the mic) by J-Weis.

INTERCHILL/KAYA PROJECT

I think I'll end it with this heady release from interchill, marking another tally for their catalog of somewhere over thirty releases. For over a decade these motherfuckers have been putting out cutting edge material from artists in the vague blanket of "downtempo/trippy", as well as having given Liquid Stranger some of his earliest support. His roots are genuine, folks, even if his recent compositions couldn't fall further from that metaphorical blanket. Anywho, we have the most recent release here for ya, Kaya Project's Desert Phase remixes, which features quite a range of artists providing potent reworkings of the originals. The list includes Tripswitch, Gaudi, Opiuo, and indeed Liquid Stranger, who returns to those aforementioned roots with stunning landscape of dreamy bitcrushers under a reverb sea.

Here it is.

--------Goodnight, y'all, don't let the Skweeebugs bite.

Smacks!

2011-02-24T00:53:00.000-08:00

Some happy slapping smacks for you guys tonight. Stoked to be back in the Cruz after an extensive Ed conference in Sac Town. Stimulated, but tired. 'Nuff said. This fresh-ass post goes out to Anton Saleh, for being the biggest G in the room.

ZDS

The gentlemen from our friendly neighborhood Death Squad have come through with a half hour mix of all original material for us to digest and fawn over. Y'know what that means. Forthcoming release on Made In Glitch, late spring: "Cyber Dojo Lazer Training". Super clean and original sounds, gorgeously soulful glitch tapestries, woven by masters of the art. A perfect trifecta. Furthermore, these here fellows will be doing a future interview for the blog in anticipation of said releaase. We bring da hype. Below lies the player, here is the link.
Original Stealth Mixtape by ZenDeathSquad

LAZER SWORD

So Low Limit and Lando Kal have a new half hour mix. Need I say more? Right on. I will. It's pure art. Satisfied? Listen. And lobby for a download, 'cause quite frankly this shit needs to be saturating your MP3 players. Saturating. Funky, Garagey, Minimal, all the things you know, love, and expect from these combined ballers.
Lazer Sword Mix for Dazed Digital by LAZER SWORD

TRACKLIST:
Bakey Ustl - A Tender Places
Floating Points - Shark Chase
Aardvarck - Nosestep (Cosmin TRG Remix)
Chrissy Murderbot - The Vibe Is So Right (Ghosts On Tape Remix Instrumental)
Bad Autopsy - Rotpot
Lesotho Protokol - Lesotho Protokol
Lando Kal - Manouver (demo)
Kelis - Brave (Dark Sky Remix)
Machine Drum - bigtings (demo)
P-Fang - Graveyard (Low Limit Remix Dub)
Zomby - Float
The Others & Distinction - Disko
Clicks & Whistles - Neva Get Caught (demo)
Objekt - Tinderbox

CRYPTEX

We are just RUNNING the thirty minute mixes tonight at woolofthelamb. Cryptex has compiled another half hours' worth of glitch excellence for you. We have gone through the motions of grand-and soulful-tripple-collab ZDS sonic shockwave type glitch, to artsy minimal selected Lazer Sword stuff, to full scale party-crunk glitch here. Very tasty in all regions, very tasty here. The tracklist is phenomenal, the transitions more solid than the washington monument. Not to be taken any less seriously than the rest. How is it that Cryptex steps it up right proper with every move? He's going places, that's how. He's making moves, he's on the move.
Crunk Life Mixtape by cryptex

WHOLE-Z

Profound artistic mash from Whole-z (that I think Gestate will particularly appreciate). We have Coldplay's "Fix You" being gently rubbed and meticulously woven into "Throw some Ds". Say WHAT? So tight, and conveniently free due to it's bootleg nature. Very Kids & Explosions reminiscient. Do not skip it.
Fix your Deez (Whole-Z Remix) by Whole-Z

L&L

      Another track from the head honchos of Lazer Crunk dancefloor domination. Crunchy and lurching, we hear L&L sounds in a new format. Simplistic, but heavy hitting. Mad respect to the eloquence of the sounds presented.
   I'd like to take this moment to inform the populace that our Love and Light interview has been sent out, and we are awaiting confirmation on whether or not we get a blog exclusive track. Word. Up.
You're the Reason Why by Love and Light

COGITO
     Masterful Mason, always scratching my glitch itch. You know the itch. It's late Wednesday night/early Thursday morning and you're sitting, ass tired, on your couch going where the FUCK is all the pretty minimal composition at? Then Mr. Cogito goes "Hey y'all I got a new track!", and you poop your pants with pleasure and promptly promote the production. Yes yes. It's right here.
Kirlian - Preview/Teaser by The Cogito

GETTER AND DREADY
    A wonderful collab from our boys Getter and Dready Black. Dready kills it, though Getter could change it up a bit even if his handful of sounds are fairly clean. All around enjoyable track, but pay special attention to the wordsmith at work.
Let's Go (Feat Dready Black) by Getter

World Music and Mixes From the Month of February

2011-02-14T14:57:00.000-08:00

MOOMBAHCORE

Moombahton and Moombahcore respectively are genres that have been steadily worming their way into my listening habits. Here are some downloads I've picked up over the past week, almost entirely through Generation Bass or DJUMB, I must admit. The great Munchi himself writes for GB, denoting it as the primary online source for Moombah propaganda. A very very comprehensive and respectable site, check it here.

Danger Girl is a new name to me, but she knows her fuggin' Moombah as exhibited by this tasty ass mix right here. Free download, an hour of the core-est Moombahcore around.
more more moombahcore! by danger girl

Kanji Kinetic coming out of nowhere with his rabid "Mutant Moombahton" remix of Submerse's Light Music Club. It's a full-scale expression of Kanji Kinetic's production skills, which have always been evident. Very original stuff.
Submerse - Light Music Club (Kanji Kinetic RMX) [CLIP] by kanji

Munchi's Summer of Moombahton mixtape, found by Doeo. Get it now.

ZEN DEATH SQUAD
   Finally, finally, finally, a substantial amount of work from one of my Glitch favorites ZDS. Their two existing remixes are profound, as are their two originals. This is a half hour mixtape of all original material from their forthcoming EP. Hubba-hubba.
Original Stealth Mixtape by ZenDeathSquad
BASSNECTAR
    New remix from Bassy, tasty speed glitch percussion, somewhat standard bass, really nice sampling. At least he's not using the circus bass sound he got addicted to in the past couple months, and apparently getting back to roots. Solid tune.
The Bangles - Walk Like An Egyptian (Bassnectar's 2003 Remix) [Free Download] by Bassnectar

FIGURE
   New freebie from the archduke of U.S. bassline. Slippery ass-cannon of a song, trashy as fuck as always. High oscillation bit-crushers, massive composition.
Figure - BPM BREAKER (Original Mix) FREE DOWNLOAD by Figure

Also, his monsters of Drumstep EP is straight legendary material. Get it Feb. 28th, as soon as it drops. (Play Me Records)

THE COGITO
   Mason continues to construct his sonic delicacies. Some real artful noise coming from this one. Subtle glitch textures of serious potential and solid beats conspire to make him a favorite local producer of mine. Check his latest below, and get the free Old Ark remixes EP here.
Strengthened This Weekend by The Cogito

DUBTIMUS
And finally, to satisfy my filth fix, a ten minute mix comprised of seriously cut tracks.
Tracks:
1 -- Peo De Pitte - Burning Up (Torqux & Twist Remix)
2 -- Point.Blank - Brutal (Coresyntax Remix)
3 -- Eptic - Tampopsicle (Point.Blank Remix)
4 -- Antiserum & No Thing - Animal
5 -- Vinyl Bright - Mission (Liquid Stranger Remix)
6 -- Skumstep - Mindfucked

Get it.

0oGuN
    A very interesting mix from 0oGuN, Roomie, and Antiserum. The thing's all over the place. Below lies the track-list. Here's the link.

OoGuN - Undivided Roots
Roommate - Kingston
Noah D & Roommate - The Bassman
OoGuN - 320 Dubmasta
Antiserum - Rambo Style
OoGuN vs Tiki - This is it (00Oo remix)
Roommate - Cool & alright
OoGuN - Count & Duke Dub
RSD - Accepted
OoGuN vs Tiki - Burning Fire dub
Unknown - Linval Dub
Unknown - Lively Dub
OSC - Bless Up
OoGuN - 2 thieves Dub
Roommate & Noah D v Alborosie - Police Polizia
OoGuN - forever Dub
OSC v DJ G feat Budros Gali - One mile high
RSD - On deck
Antiserum & DJ G - The Tide (NarcoHz Dub)
OoGuN - U know Dub
Jahcoozi - Boys & Girls (Roommate Rmx)
OoGuN - Keep you Jumping (unfinished)

more to follow...

SHIGETO

2011-02-03T16:20:00.000-08:00

FULL CIRCLE REMIXES

Bingbangboom. Enjoy.

DOEO

An epicly hectic set. Some real clean transitions, solid energy throughout. The kids have got flow, in fact. Get it.
February Mix w/ Noc Ems by Doeo

I Guess It's Time

2011-02-02T14:46:00.000-08:00

Puttin' this one together real quick for ya with some releases I promised days ago that have just dropped and some randoms. Enjoy.

SHIGETO

Shigeto - "Escape from the Incubator" from Ghostly International on Vimeo.

Turns out, funkysouls has the in on Shigeto, putting up nearly everything. Nearly. The Full Circle remixes EP is still MIA, but here is every remix, collab, video, and release besides: Funkysouls-Shigeto
(Big up dethfan and co.)

FREDDY TODD

Fucking epic release. Two discs worth of supreme sonic craftsmanship.

Freddy Todd - Double LP
(Buy it please, he needs the support more than you need the music)

MIMOSA

MiMOSA - Psychadelic Stereo (Not entirely new, but not yet featured)

LOVE AND LIGHT

The Light We Bring by Love and Light

WHA-PAH!!!!!! New tracks. New track per Tuesday. Fat tracks. New EP. Late this month. Photo from headband, L&L jammin' out in front of the SCD banner. Big fat ups.

COOLBREAKERZ

Wicked dark Neuro-Breaks here: CoolBreakerZ - My Destiny EP
(Pass: afterpre.com)

FREQ NASTY

Welcome back, Freq. Thank you Loooooogannn Druuuuuleyyyyyyy for the link and pass.

FreQ Nasty - Dread At The Controls
(Pass: incognito)

J.ME.J

Tycho records, who happen to be putting out some of the freshest releases from local boy Minnesota, dropped this one a few weeks back. Serious talent from Glitch youngun Jayme Anderson. This kid is, and shall be, bringing some heat. Both releases heeyuh:
J.Me.J - Final Approach EP & Seems Okay EP

And perhaps some more later, because there is Oh-So-Much-More...

Max Paradise's crazy Top 75 Albums Of 2010 list.

2011-01-29T00:35:00.000-08:00

Links are in the album art.

75. The Birthday Massacre - 'Pins And Needles'

The Birthday Massacre have always been the masters of dark industrial-pop. The only thing larger than their love of pretending to be evil is their penchant for HUGE fucking hooks, and on this album they finally dropped their awkward fake-creepiness, and it suited them wonderfully. Chibi's voice is perfectly backed by appropriately heavy guitars and absolutely sublime synths to create an absolutely wonderful album for an under-appreciated genre. Top tracks: Shallow Grave; Pale; In The Dark

74. Burzum - 'Belus'

Varg Vikernes is the victim of massive expectations, a problem that he shares with The National on this list. 'Belus' would be a wonderful album by your usual black metal fan's standards, however, Burzum has previously seen the release of masterpieces such as 'Filosofem' and 'Hvis Lyset Tar Oss,' and it's hard to not wish you were hearing those albums while 'Belus' is spinning. However, it is still a masterful work from one of black metal's absolute finest musicians, and a very welcome return to form after his synth-exclusive work produced during his years in prison. Top tracks: Keliohesten; Glemselens Elv; Belus' Død

73. The National - 'High Violet'

Although I generally have The National as close to the top of my list as I can get them, I just felt so ambivalent towards 'High Violet.' I wish I knew why, because everything I always loved about them is still there--Matt Berninger's incredible lyrics and deep, gorgeous baritone, the lush instrumentation, the amazing drumming--but the magic that 'Alligator' and 'Boxer' had simply isn't quite there. In any case though, The National at their worst is still better than 90% of the bands out there at their best, so they squeak onto this list. Just barely. Top tracks: Bloodbuzz Ohio; Sorrow; Terrible Love

72. Deadlock - 'Manifesto'

I kind of think of Deadlock along similar terms as The Birthday Massacre earlier on this list--yeah, it's cheesy, but they do it fucking WELL. While the butt-metal-with-a-chick-singer thing is usually about as retarded as music gets (I'm looking at you, Otep), Deadlock pull it off masterfully. They know what they want to do, and they go balls-out towards it. The harsh vocals are strong, the rhythms, guitars, and occasional keys are brilliantly executed, and the melodic choruses led by the token female vocals NEVER fail. Despite an awkward misstep by tacking a completely irrelevant rap song onto the second half of Deathrace, all in all, this is an enjoyable metal release with the hugest choruses I have heard in my life. Don't miss out just because it belongs to a usually tepid genre, this is a true diamond in the rough. Top tracks: The Brave/Agony Applause; Martyr To Science; Deathrace

71. Have A Nice Life - 'Time Of Land'

If you've listened to Have A Nice Life before, you know what to expect. The phrase 'drenched in reverb' is really not enough to describe how reverb-soaked their music really is, and that little fact applies two-fold to their most recent EP. The vocals are distant, the drums are thumping, the guitars are minimal and the keyboards drone endlessly. But Have A Nice Life's unique lo-fi still has the immense power it did back when they released their monolithic debut album 'Deathconsciousness,' and if 'Time Of Land' is anything to go by, if and when they decide to make a sophomore effort, it will be just as fantastic. Top tracks: Woe Unto Us; The Wizard Of The Black Hundreds; The Icon And The Axe

70. The Dillinger Escape Plan - 'Option Paralysis'

I've always had a special relationship with The Dillinger Escape Plan. When they released their first album, it was basically 'stop being so fucking annoying.' When they released every album after that, it was 'stop being so fucking annoying AND trying to be a Mike Patton side-project.' I guess you can't really blame them, though. They're fully aware that the four tracks they released with Mr. Patton himself handling vocal duties are some of the best out there, and they're trying to hold onto what made that special. While I've always enjoyed them, I feel that 'Option Paralysis' is the first time they finally recaptured the magic of that EP way back when. Although they may never write another When Good Dogs Do Bad Things, they can come damn close. And this is the result. Top tracks: Farewell, Mona Lisa; Widower; Gold Teeth On A Bum

69. Beach House - 'Teen Dream'

I was about as late to the party as possible with this album, not getting it until the last week of 2010, but in that time, it has still left its mark. Beach House fill that relaxing, summery indie pop void that's been present since Merriweather Post Pavilion got old, and while it never reaches the heights of said album (and is probably more comparable to fellows like Surfer Blood), Beach House have made a calming, sublime album which is hard not to love, and instantly accessible and fun. The band name together with the album title tells you just about all you need to know. Top tracks: Zebra; Better Times; Silver Soul

68. Jónsi - 'Go'

It's pretty much impossible to read a review of the Sigur Rós frontman's solo debut without hearing about how happy it is, especially in comparison to his main band. But I can't help but feel that these writers are missing a pretty damn big part of the album. I mean, yeah, flutes and cutesy acoustic guitars flutter in and out of major chords, accompanied by just about the most driving drum tracks on earth, but there is still a hidden sense of melancholy beneath all the explosive joy, glimpsed in the lyrics of tracks such as Lilikoi Boy and Sinking Friendships. On the other hand, it may be that I am simply unable to separate Jónsi's beautiful falsetto from the endless nights spent sobbing to Sigur Rós' music, as a majority of this album is definitely just bursting at the seams with childlike wonder and happiness. Top tracks: Boy Lilikoi; Sinking Friendships; Go Do

67. wait what - 'the notorious xx'

Say what you will about how 'simple,' 'half-assed,' or 'uncreative' this mix may be, it still does exactly what it set out to. Yes, wait what did basically place The Notorious B.I.G.'s raps over loops of The xx's material, but that doesn't lessen the impact of the music in the least. So what if he barely had to do anything? The xx have always had an amazing atmosphere, but lacked tangibility to back it up. Biggie always had the power and the swagger, but still had that awkward early-rap production. But together, they create a staggering, heartbreaking work of art. Top tracks: Suicidal Fantasy; JUICY-R; Islands Is The Limit

66. Orbs - 'Asleep Next To Science'

Would it even be legal for me to NOT love this? Featuring members of two of my absolute favourite bands from when I was in tenth grade, Between The Buried And Me and Fear Before The March Of Flames (plus some guys from some other bands no one gives a shit about), this is a huge, confusing, progressive monolith. Adam Fisher's instantly recognizable voice reigns over Dan Briggs' finger-picked guitar parts, and the clever lyrics and huge prog hooks are pretty difficult to not be impressed by. Top tracks: Sayer Of The Law; Megaloblastic Madness; A Man Of Science

65. Minus The Bear - 'OMNI'

Minus The Bear are one of the most competent bands out there. Unfortunately, they know it too, which leads to 'OMNI' being just a bit cocky, and lacking the magic of 2008's 'Planet Of Ice.' However, as I said about The National above, Minus The Bear at their worst is still better than most bands at their best, and this is certainly not even Minus The Bear's worst. A thoroughly enjoyable listen, Dave Knudson's amazing guitar work mixes beautifully with Jake Snider's unbelievably sexy vocals to create another collection of wonderful tracks from some of the best the indie-prog world has to offer. Top tracks: Animal Backwards; Into The Mirror; My Time

64. Deerhunter - 'Halcyon Digest'

This album is basically Deerhunter doing what I never thought they would: creating an album that DOESN'T DRAG. I loved Microcastle, don't get me wrong, but in that album (as well as their other three), Deerhunter have proven themselves to be masters of filler. That all changes here though. 'Halcyon Digest' is an emotional punch to the gut, beautiful and tragic--but most importantly, vital. Every track is wonderful, and every moment is there for a reason. Brad Cox's lilting voice and the shoegazey guitar lines carry this album from the very first squash-drum-sound through to the end, and never gets old. Top tracks: Helicopter; Basement Scene; Earthquake

63. Crime In Stereo - 'I Was Trying To Describe You To Someone'

Crime In Stereo have always been a band that seriously knows what's up, and their final album is no exception. While 'Is Dead' was quite the powerful listen, Crime In Stereo pretty much destroy all of their peers with the explosive back half of Exit Halo, making sure that their impassioned brand of experimental melodic hardcore does not fade out, but goes out with a huge bang. Top tracks: Exit Halo; Drugwolf; Young

62. Sickboy - 'Tweencore'

Sickboy is some of the best that breakcore has to offer. Although obviously not on the same plane as masters like Ars Dada, 'Tweencore' is one of the most refreshing releases of the year. This is an album pretty much designed for me to love, taking samples from various tween pop stars and Disney TV clips and raping them with the heaviest production out there. This album is about as chaotic as it gets, but I love every second--especially those moments when you catch a song that you know, and hear it warped into madness right before your eyes. Top tracks: Tweencore 2; Tweencore 3; Tweencore 5

61. America Addio - 'Cotton Kingdom'

I don't even know what the fuck this is. When I listened to America Addio's debut EP, I dismissed it as one of the least interesting releases of Enemies List Home Recordings' masterful repertoire, but then they came out with THIS. America Addio's first full length is an overprocessed masterpiece, with keyboard melodies that are barely even logical, crazy beats, some of the densest lyrics around, and ridiculously crowded (but somehow still enjoyable) arrangements, they top off the whole shebang with some of the catchiest hooks this side of Rihanna, and put the vocals through about forty processors at once. And somehow, it all sounds fucking awesome. Top tracks: Boss Of The Plains; Escape From Chicago 2009; O Pioneers!

60. Flying Lotus - 'Cosmogramma'

This album starts off about as chaotically as possible, considering how calming it eventually becomes. Flying Lotus works on such a different level from pretty much all of the other producers out there, creating a ridiculous, coherent mash of just about every type of electronica you can imagine. At once stressful and gorgeous, 'Cosmogramma' walks a thin line between maddening and enjoyable, but by the time Thom Yorke's sustained vocals come in for ...And The World Laughs With You, it's hard not to be impressed by this producer's thorough mastery at everything he does. Top tracks: ...And The World Laughs With You; Nose Art; Do The Astral Plane

59. Hellogoodbye - 'Would It Kill You?'

Oh boy, Hellogoodbye have changed. That's the understatement of the century, right there. Not only have they grown up in a big way, but they've all but abandoned 90% of what made their debut album what it was. While their last record employed fun pop beats, huge synth hooks, catchy autotuned melodies and ludicrous keytars, their sophomore release is all guitars, thumping drums, and no fluff. Considering all of the vocoder and autotune that he hid behind on their debut, Forrest Kline has an impressively strong voice when unenhanced, as evident from literally the second opening track Finding Something To Do comes in, with its jangling guitars and impossible-to-ignore hooks. For a band that was basically every eleven-year-old's wet dream, Hellogoodbye sure grew up fast. And while the cutesy fun of their first album was enjoyable, it isn't missed at all. This is simply sublime. Top tracks: Finding Something To Do; When We First Kissed; When We First Met

58. Amia Venera Landscape - ‘The Long Procession’

Amia Venera Landscape make a pretty bold combination of mathcore and post-metal with their debut release. This album pretty thoroughly came out of nowhere, dropping at the very end of 2010 and surprising just about everyone who listened to it. From the blistering math-metal of the opener to the more post-metal influenced tracks to the might 14-minute post-rock instrumental, Amia Venera Landscape have pretty much turned out a surprising masterpiece. This album churns and rumbles with rage and beauty, and in the end it's unclear which emotion won--but either way, it's an incredible ride. Top tracks: Marasm; Empire; A New Aurora

57. Kvelertak - 'Kvelertak'

I wish I knew what to say about this album. Kvelertak mix genres like no one else. For literally two months after getting this album, it sat in my iTunes with a simple question mark as its genre tag--I simply had no idea. Cruising smoothly from hardcore to black metal to melodic metalcore to psychedelic rock and touching on just about every genre in between, Kvelertak have set the bar pretty fucking high for themselves with this pretty thoroughly mind-boggling debut album. This album came out of left field, and it pretty much stayed there. But I loved every second of it along the way. Top tracks: Ulvetid; Offernatt; Mjød

56. Gorillaz - 'Plastic Beach'

Gorillaz are probably the easiest (American) band to fangirl over. Making instantly enjoyable, accessible indie-hip-hop, and with an impossible-not-to-love animated exterior, and boasting guest vocalists ranging from Bobby Womack to Snoop Dogg, it would be easy to call 'Plastic Beach' the ultimate commercial grab if not for Damon Albarn's significant talent. Although not as impressive and emotive as 'Demon Days,' Gorillaz third album can make you nod your head like nothing else. 'Plastic Beach' is fucking sexy, and knows it, from Snoop Dogg's sensuous vocals to the throbbing bassline of Stylo, this is just another example of the wonders Albarn can produce. Top tracks: Welcome To The World Of The Plastic Beach; Stylo; Super Fast Jellyfish

55. Warpaint - 'The Fool'

Warpaint are four girls who make some of the most depressing art rock out there. While it would be easier to compare their vocal style to Tegan And Sara, that would be about as unfair as comparing basic math to complex trigonometry just because they both use numbers. Warpaint's work is at once complex and simple, and their downtempo, relaxed minimalism betrays how detailed their instrumentation really is. In the end, what really matters about this album is the way that the girls' emotive voices mesh with the beautiful instrumental backing. Top tracks: Undertow; Shadows; Warpaint

54. Antony & The Johnsons - 'Swanlights'

If you know me, you'll know that Antony Hegarty is one of my favourite singers out there. His unique voice is strange in a way that can be off-putting at first, but once it grabs you, it just won't let go. This is the voice of a man who has experienced true sorrow, beyond anything you could imagine, and it's impossible to listen to any of his music and remain unmoved. But on 'Swanlights,' his music is finally more than just a wonderful voice, as these songs are masterfully fleshed out and emotive, with orchestral swells and glorious piano and horns backing the eccentric frontman and his all-vibrato-and-tears voice through his best album yet. Top tracks: Salt Silver Oxygen; Everything Is New; The Great White Ocean

53. Sufjan Stevens - 'All Delighted People'

I admit it, I'm a Sufjan fanboy. If I'm not mistaken, he is the only artist to appear on this list twice, but he deserves it. 'All Delighted People' literally came out of nowhere--no announcements or advertisement, it just got released without warning. Sufjan's first real, original release in 5 years, and he didn't even advertise it. He even called it an EP, to top it all off, despite it being over an hour long. In any case, Sufjan amazes as always, with glorious guitars, wondrous choirs (the ending of the title track, OH MY GOD), and his perfect voice. Just stunning. Top tracks: All Delighted People (Original Version); Djohariah; The Owl And The Tanager

52. Xiu Xiu - 'Dear God, I Hate Myself'

Xiu Xiu have always been one of the most interesting bands out there for me. Based in San Jose, their music is about as elusive as watching someone who's neve heard them before try to pronounce their name (it's SHOE-SHOE, by the way). While Jamie Stewart and Angela Seo have finally toned down their noise influence a bit, the chaotic cymbals and arhythmical sounds still commandeer a track here or there. But the really important thing to realize is that Xiu Xiu have finally produced the album we've hoped they had in them since 'Fabulous Muscles' way back when. The production is claustrophobic, Jamie Stewart's vocals are as manic as ever, and the power is there tenfold. Top tracks: Gray Death; Dear God, I Hate Myself; This Too Shall Pass Away (For Freddy)

51. Defeater - 'Travels'

Defeater are one of the best bands still releasing music in the modern hardcore scene. They're creative, hard-hitting, original, and powerful, and their debut album is as strong as any of the kings of the genre. Their distinct sound is just about as impressive as hardcore gets, and the rage they express is palpable. Basically, all you need to know is: Defeater fucking rule. Get 'Travels.' Now. Top tracks: Prophet In Plain Clothes; Cowardice; Nameless Streets

50. Emarosa - 'Emarosa'

What can I say about Emarosa that you don't already know? They are a remarkably talented band to back one of the greatest singers of our time. They're basically a less experimental Circa Survive (high-voiced crazy-talented singers leaves old band, old band kinda flounders and starts to die, joins new band of talented musicians who take the back-burner to his increasingly awesome voice), but that's okay because Jonny Craig is basically god. His vocals are soulful, emotive, and huge, and the wailing guitar lines and clever drum parts back him up excellently. It helps that the first track on the album has literally one of the best choruses of all time. Top tracks: A Toast To The Future Kids!; Share The Sunshine Young Blood; Broken Vs The Way We Were Born

49. Pain of Salvation - 'Road Salt One'

Pain of Salvation have always been one of my favourite bands, and while they didn't quite live up to my expectations with 'Road Salt One,' they still delivered a solid slab of progressive deliciousness. If you get this, make sure you nab the 'directors cut' edition, as the extended version of No Way pretty much makes the album. As always, Pain of Salvation feature some of the strongest vocals I've ever heard, with singer Daniel Gildenlöw's insane four-and-a-half-octave range running the gamut of emotions, from the gorgeous Of Dust and Road Salt, to the absolutely immense Sisters and his rage filled screams that 'There is no way that you can FUUUUUUUCK her life I can!' in the extended version of No Way. While it doesn't quite live up to their perfect back catalogue, Pain of Salvation's latest is still not to be missed. Top tracks: Of Dust; Sisters; No Way

48. James Blake - 'Klavierwerke' & 'CMYK'

James Blake knows what he's doing. Both of these EPs released this year showcase a set of four prime post-dubstep tracks, each with a power all their own. on 'CMYK,' Mr. Blake puts his music through a pop filter (further explored on his upcoming debut full-length), using cut-up vocal samples and tasteful backbeats to create a wonderful atmosphere that's pretty hard not to dig. On the flipside, his 'Klavierwerke' EP is quiet, instrumental, and sad. Although it's far more laid-back than 'CMYK,' and owes much more of a debt to the likes of Burial than anyone else, it's far more intrusive, invading your emotions and commandeering your worldview with its masterful downtempo beats and sorrowful melodies. Both of these are just about as good as the genre gets without turning to Burial, and his upcoming full-length will only prove that James Blake is the best at what he does, bar none. Top tracks on 'Klavierwerke': I Only Know (What I Know Now); Tell Her Safe; Don't You Think I Do Top tracks on 'CMYK': Footnotes; Postpone; I'll Stay

47. Motion City Soundtrack - 'My Dinosaur Life'

Motion City Soundtrack are incapable of not amazing me, I swear. Their sophomore effort, 'Commit This To Memory,' is easily my all time favourite pop-punk album, but 'My Dinosaur Life' comes damn close to topping it. Although it's a bit cheerier than past work (especially on tracks like the remarkably humorous @!#?@!), Justin Pierre and co. still retain their knack for coming up with maddeningly catchy choruses to compliment their undeniable instrumental talent and evocative (and often heartbreaking) lyrics. Although Pierre went a little easier on the sarcastic sorrow than usual, this album still hides some brutally tragic moments behind the wonderfully upbeat surface, and it's pretty difficult not to just wanna cuddle up to Justin and his wonderful sideburns and remind him that it just might all be okay. Top tracks: Disappear; Worker Bee; @!#?@!

46. Jaga Jazzist - 'One-Armed Bandit'

Jaga Jazzist are one of the well-kept secrets of the post-rock scene, creating a tasteful marriage between the climactic tendencies of bands like World's End Girlfriend and some of your favourite jazz standards. Employing a ridiculously enjoyable jazz-horn section, Jaga Jazzist's 'One-Armed Bandit' refines the fun parts of previous effort 'What We Must,' and drops the burden of trying to be post-rock in favour of just being awesome. Their smooth melodies and lush instrumentation is about as cool as modern music gets. Top Tracks: One-Armed Bandit; Banafleur Overalt; Toccata

45. Secret & Whisper - Teenage Fantasy'

Secret & Whisper walk a fine line between 'awesome post-progcore' and 'Circa Survive cover band,' but it hardly matters on their second album. The vocals absolutely soar, as one would expect, and the instrumentation is technical but never overpowering. It's awfully hard to listen to them without thinking of peers such as Circa Survive and Tides Of Man, but the fact is that what they do, they do very very very well, even if it isn't the most original work out there. Top tracks: Warrior (Southern Arrowwood); Bedroom Galaxy; Edge Of Wilderness

44. Eminem - 'Recovery'

Oh, Eminem. You've really tricked us, haven't you? After the rage of 2000's 'Marshall Mathers LP,' it was hard to believe you would ever put out something to convince me that it was worth listening to over that beat of an album. And for ten whole years, he had everyone convinced that he had gone to shit. While 'The Eminem Show' wasn't bad per se, it lacked the rage and creativity that fuelled 'The Marshall Mathers LP,' and 'Encore' and 'Relapse' were simply terrible. But 'Recovery' pretty much surprised everyone, not only offering up some wonderful music, but also showcasing an entire new direction for Eminem. Getting rid of the anger of his first few albums and the 'pity me, I'm an addict!' themes of his more recent work, 'Recovery' is, as the title suggests, positive over all else. He still has a few pissed off anthems, and the occasional tragic line, but in general this is a new, inspiring Eminem. And while that may sound awful on paper, he pulls it off, with fantastic guest vocalists and some of the coolest beats of his career, accompanied by his always excellent flow. Top tracks: Love The Way You Lie; Talkin' 2 Myself; 25 To Life

43. Marina And The Diamonds - 'The Family Jewels'

Marina Diamandis works a pretty interesting mix of just about every different style of indie pop on her debut effort. She jumps from atmospheric powerhouses like Rootless to straight-up pop numbers, piano ballads, cute little ditties, and explosive Amanda-Palmer-Meets-Florence-Welch tracks like opening number Are You Satisfied? From the string jabs to the synth lines to the catchy beats, Marina just about has it all, and if you don't love her from the second this album opens up, truth is, you probably just don't like fun. Top tracks: Rootless; Are You Satisfied?; Hollywood

42. BT - 'These Hopeful Machines'

Brian Transeau is still king, and his newest double-album proves it. Original released online simply as two hour-long tracks, it was later split up into to discs with six ten-minute-long tracks instead, cuz anything less would simply be too easy to digest. But don't let the vague pretensiousness and ridiculous scope of this album hold you back, BT has made just about the most purely enjoyable electronica I've heard in years. The thing is, his sense of timing is absolutely perfect. He makes a twelve-minute song feel like a third its length, simply by virtue of the fact that he knows exactly what he's doing. He brings in HUGE choruses just when you think the song will get stale. As soon as the song has been moving along at a poppy pace for just a little too long, he throws in a crazy glitch section or a huge drop or an ambient interlude. But it always comes back to those choruses, those massive, wonderful choruses. This is just about as beautiful as electronica-pop can be. Top tracks: Suddenly; The Emergency; A Million Stars

41. Daníel Bjarnason - 'Processions'

What can I say about this album? It's difficult. It's really really difficult. It's a fairly experimental take on modern classical, containing a three-part suite for multi-tracked cello, a three-part piano concerto with full orchestra, and a single chamber piece for harp and percussion. If that doesn't already sound crazy, wait till you hear the damn thing. Most of the album is intense and chaotic, but on occasion (Bow To String III: Air To Breathe; Skelja) it does slow down and allow room for more simple beauty. However, even in its loudest moments, such as the massive rhythmic finale to the Processions suite, its easy to simply forget altogether how hectic the music you're listening to is and simply be in awe of the power that this new composer is capable of conveying. Top tracks: Processions III: Red-Handed; Processions II: Spindrift; Bow To String I: Sorrow Conquers Happiness

40. Dangers - 'Messy, Isn't It?'

Dangers' second album opens up with the line 'Why don't you kill yourself today?' and pretty much just goes on from there. This is the angriest hardcore out there, nineteen tracks of raging guitars, crazy drums, and pissed-off vocals. With tongue firmly planted in cheek, Dangers blast through this album basically telling stories of everyone they ever hated, but they do it so well that you pretty much enjoy the whole ride. This album has one of the most apt titles there is--it IS messy, it's pissed off, it's hard-hitting, and it's relentless. But it's also fucking awesome. And I'm pretty sure that's exactly what Dangers were going for. Top tracks: Stay-At-Home Mom; No Vonneguts, No Glory; Cure For AIDS

39. S. Carey - 'All We Grow'

Much has been made about the fact that S. Carey is the drummer for Bon Iver, but to make that comparison kind of overshadows the fact that he is an absolutely amazing solo artist. Althuogh he does make indie folk in a very similar vein to Bon Iver, his beautiful voice and clever production offer something new, and despite not being anything that we've never heard before, 'All We Grow' is about as emotionally heartrending as it gets. Carey's melodies are simply so lush, so lonely, that it doesn't matter where you are, this album simply makes you FEEL. Top tracks: Broken; In The Dirt; Mothers

38. Ellie Goulding - ‘Lights’

Ellie Goulding is pretty special, as far as indie pop goes. Her voice is simply fantastic, incomparable to just about anyone, and her production is sublime. The way her voice entertwines with pop beats and acoustic guitars is pretty stunning, despite what you would expect, and tracks like Guns And Horses put all of her strengths on full display. Her vocals jump between upbeat pop numbers and lush acoustic tracks, but always with a brilliant sense of melody and catchiness that's honestly pretty hard to deny. Top tracks: Guns And Horses; Starry Eyes; The Writer

37. Deafheaven - ‘Demo 2010’

Deafheaven are basically where it's at in regards to both local music and modern black metal, now that Fell Voices broke up. It's kind of hard to even comprehend how big they've gotten off a simple four-song demo, but the fact is, what they do, they do perfectly. Emotional, somewhat atmospheric, heavy, and perfectly produced, Deafheaven's first demo sounds better than most black metal releases out there these days. While it doesn't exactly top the classics of the genre, it's just a demo, and it certainly shows the potential for this band to overcome the stigma against both modern and american black metal, with their masterful sense of emotion, atmosphere, and a surprising knack for melody. Top tracks: Libertine Dissolves; Exit: Denied; Daedalus

36. Sleigh Bells - 'Treats'

Sleigh Bells are about the loudest motherfuckers in the pop scene. Probably ever. With ex-Poison The Well guitarist Derek Miller manning the instrumentation, huge metal guitars and loud-as-fuck beats back Alexis Krauss' sweet-as-sugar delivery. Her voice is soft and sensual, a shining example of early-00s-era pop if ever there was one, but Miller's insane, hard-ass instrumentation takes it way beyond that, be it with a massive drum hit or a ridiculous metallic riff. This is not an album for anyone who is looking for an easy ride or something emotionally evocative, it's simply for someone looking for some creative, loud fun. And for that, it does amazingly. Top tracks: Tell 'Em; Infinity Guitars; Riot Rhythm

35. Sister Crayon - ‘Enter Into Holy (Or)ders’

Sister Crayon have been about as ambiguous as possible about this release, supplying contradicting accounts of its title, availability, artwork, and even its existence, but it doesn't even matter. This shit RULES. Delicately walking the line between trip-hop, dream pop, and something else entirely, Sister Crayon have created an absolutely beautiful EP, combining tasteful minimalist instrumentals, downtempo beats, and lush female vocals, they have proven (as has James Blake) that they will be ones to watch once their full-length drops this year. Top tracks: Thief-Boxer, Asleep; Here We Never Die; (in) Reverse

34. The Republic Of Wolves - 'Varuna'

For the first 16 seconds of 'Varuna,' I was uncertain about it. I didn't bother to read any reviews, instead choosing to go into The Republic Of Wolves' debut album not having any idea what to expect. And for 16 seconds, I thought I might just not care, and that would be 60 megabytes of space I wouldn't have to free up on my iPod. But then second number 17 hit, and oh man, did my mind change fast. That lead guitar line, those drums, that massive bass, it all just EXPLODES in such a perfect way. And the album doesn't let up from there. Sure, it calms down after the first track, but that 'Oh my god, this is REAL' feeling doesn't ever fade. The fact that their first EP was mistaken for the demos for Brand New's 'Daisy' pretty much tells you all you need to know, as this album is pretty much perfectly described as Devil And God-era Brand New mixed with Come Now Sleep-era As Cities Burn, but if you've listened to either of those bands, you'll know that basically means that it doesn't matter if this album is mildly derivative, it's also AMAZING, and that's what's important here. Top tracks: Varuna; Tuez Le Tous, Dieu Reconnaitra Les Siens; Oarsman

33. Women - ‘Public Strain’

'Public Strain' is pretty fucking obtuse, as far as it goes. Utilizing a production style that's somewhere between shoegaze and drone-doom, this album is often drumless, occasionally melody-less, and almost always lacks anything to hold on to in the mass of swirling atmospheric guitars and feedback. While the lovely post-punk styled vocals offer a little consolation that yes, this is still music with a purpose, that's about the only thing you can get a grip of through the entirety of Women's debut. Everything else is held behind a mass of feedback and guitars, a la My Bloody Valentine's 'Loveless,' and it's just wonderful in that. The album does offer a bit more form in some moments (Heat Distraction) and a bit less in others (Can't You See), but just about every second is evocative, creative, and enjoyable. Top tracks: Eyesore; Can't You See; Untogether

32. M.I.A. - '/\/\ /\ Y /\'

What the FUCK, M.I.A.? What the fuck did you DO? 'Arular' and 'Kala' made sense. They were enjoyable hip-hop pop with a notable desire to show off your cultural roots, but they were accessible, tasteful, and relaxed. Instead, your third album is maddening, loud, scary, obnoxious, noisy, filthy, and just about everything 'Arular' and 'Kala' weren't. From the cover art to the title to the production to the vocals and everything in between, '/\/\ /\ Y /\' is out to drive you crazy. M.I.A. sounds brutal, furious, and important (and she knows it) through just about every single song on the album, from the defiant moments (her pissed-off statement that 'You know who I am, and I run this fucking club') to the insane ('I got sticky sticky ikky ikky wiiiiiiid, I got a shot of teqkilla in me'). These songs are both personal and political, in ways we can't quite even comprehend yet, but it's there, beneath the drunken yelling and the loud-as-fuck production, M.I.A. lurks, just waiting to show what she is truly capable of. And this album, this monster, this masterpiece--it's all her. Top tracks: Teqkilla; XXXO; Lovalot

31. More Than Life - 'Love Let Me Go'

More Than Life carefully walk the line between emo and hardcore, making gut-wrenching statements between guitar stabs and shrieks. They are powerful and vital, but never quite atmospheric enough to be emo nor angry enough to be hardcore, but it doesn't really matter. The fact is, 'Love Let Me Go' is one of the best hardcore albums I have heard in years, and what else do you need to know? That title says it all. This album is heartbreaking, but it's also essential. Top tracks: Curtains Closing; Scarlet Skyline; Love Let Me Go

30. Sed Non Satiata - ‘Sed Non Satiata’

Sed Non Satiata have always been one of my favourite emo bands, and in my mind, they are at the forefront of the emo-post-rock genre, along with peers like Daïtro, Funeral Diner, and Mesa Verde. Their debut full-length was pretty amazing, the way it combined post-rock build-ups with huge emo crescendos, but when they dropped their second, self-titled album, I was floored, to say the least. Working significantly more melody into their sound, Sed Non Satiata have increased all of the power that was on display on their previous effort, in addition to adding the melody and consistency that was lacking. If Sed Non Satiata keep getting better at this rate, they'll be the best band in the genre pretty soon. Top tracks: L'arrache Cœur; Entre Les Mots; Les Colonnes De Soie

29. Baths - ‘Cerulean’

Baths took me awhile, not just because for the first few months that I knew about his work, I had the piece of shit bootleg version of his album. But once I got the real deal, it pretty much clicked immediately. His high-pitched vocals, wonderful beats, and beautiful keys flow together perfectly, whether it's a warped pop tune like 'You're My Reason To Travel,' or a beautiful piano piece like '♥,' Baths hits the spot with wonderful, intimate music that's about as original as it gets. It's been argued that this album is tragic, and others will tell you that it's absolutely blissful, but either way, it's pretty hard to deny how much emotion is in this album, and no matter what emotion that happens to be, it will effect you like little else can. Top tracks: Lovely Bloodflow; ♥; Aminals

28. The Gaslight Anthem - 'American Slang'

No one who knows me should be surprised to see this here. I have always been the first to tell anyone who will listen that The Gaslight Anthem's second album, 'The '59 Sound,' is one of the greatest records of all time, and I stand by that statement. With their sophomore effort, The Gaslight Anthem crafted an incredible statement to simple American life, telling beautiful stories reminiscient of 'American Graffiti' if it was absolutely tragic, with Brian Fallon's heartbreaking, Springsteen-emulating voice fronting the whole lot through pure, energetic rock'n'roll. So really, the only surprise about 'American Slang' is that they managed to do it again. Not only did The Gaslight Anthem not disappoint, they may have even topped their previous masterpiece, amping up the emotion, lyrical storytelling, and energy ten times. Don't miss this. It's just amazing. Top tracks: We Did It When We Were Young; The Queen Of Lower Chelsea; American Slang

27. World's End Girlfriend - 'Seven Idiots'

I wish I could tell you what the hell happened to World's End Girlfriend. For years, he has been a fantastic Japanese post-rock artist, making fairly different post-rock (a feat in its own rite, considering how generic most members of the genre are), utilizing all types of instruments (both organic and electronic) to achieve calm build-ups to massive, gorgeous climaxes. Just look at his last album, 'Hurtbreak Wonderland' or his collaboration with fellow Japanese post-rockers Mono to see what he used to be like. But somewhere in the last year or so, something changed. Something BIG changed. 'Seven Idiots' is the antithesis to everything that post-rock is or was--crazy guitar lines jump to fast keyboard parts jump to straight pop beats jump to noodly distorted saxophone parts and back to the guitar. It's almost impossible to keep track of this album; it just changes too much. It's about as sporadic as music gets, switching styles the second it gets bored, never really sticking around long enough to deliver a build-up or climax at all; this whole album is just one amazing, over-long climax. Oh, and did I forget to mention how it was written? World's End Girlfriend wrote and recorded vocal melodies, then came up with the instrumentals to go along with them in-studio by listening to his recorded vocal parts. Then he recorded those crazy instrumentals, and removed the vocals. Yeah. Top tracks: Ulysses Gazer; Bohemian Purgatory Part.2; Les Enfants Du Paradis

26. Lone Wolf - 'The Devil And I'

Paul Marshall is perfect. I stand by this statement. The way his beautiful voice weaves in with his complex instrumentation is nothing short of stunning, and from the first SECOND of his debut full-length under the Lone Wolf moniker, I was in love. The way that This Is War opens up with his beautiful vocals and powerful lyrics over simple keyboards before bringing in massive drums, glorious horns, guitars, and more is pretty much jaw-dropping, and the album manages to never fall short of the lofty expectations the opening tracks sets for it, from the simple guitar-and-drums tracks to the more ornate ones to the sparsely acoustic, just about every moment of 'The Devil And I' is surprising and wonderful. Top tracks: This Is War; Keep Your Eyes On The Road; We Could Use Your Blood

25. Her Name Is Calla - 'The Quiet Lamb'

Her Name Is Calla's debut album puts a fairly new spin on the stale genre of post-rock. And although I said something very similar about World's End Girlfriend above, it holds true. After all, in order to actually get noticed in the genre of post-rock, you have to either be doing something REALLY different (like World's End Girlfriend, Her Name Is Calla, Worriedaboutsatan, and a choice few others), or you have to be Godspeed You! Black Emperor. Otherwise, you just sink into the wash of EVERY OTHER POST-ROCK BAND EVER. But Her Name Is Calla succeed, in a huge way. This is not your traditional wandering-guitar-line-for-10-minutes-builds-up-to-a-huge-crescendo post-rock. In fact, only one song on the album breaks the 10-minute mark, the 17-minute epic Condor And River. There are a few build-ups to massive crescendoes, but this album is far more focused on the little things. And ambient noise here, a folky guitar line and a soft vocal melody there. This is the sound of a band who know EXACTLY what they want, and they drive for it no matter what the odds. This is not accessible to anyone who doesn't already listen to somewhat experimental music, and it is not something that your average post-rock nut will really get into, but Her Name Is Calla do. Not. Care. This album feels like it's what they were simply born to do, and they will not let up, even if it doesn't sell a single copy. Go ahead. Try to get through it without feeling moved to tears by the end. I dare you. Top tracks: Pour More Oil; Condor And River; A Blood Promise

24. Big Boi - ‘Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son Of Chico Dusty’

Oh man, Big Boi. You really went and did it this time around, didn't you? Everyone loved your work in OutKast. Hell, you had multiple platinum records before this decade was even half over. But you just had to go and show up all your past output, didn't you? You wouldn't settle for your first solo outing being awesome, it had to be absolutely perfect, didn't it? Well, I commend you, good sir. You succeeded. As one fine reviewer once said, your album is smart music for dumb people. You can enjoy it on such a basic 'holy shit this is so catchy and funky and fun' level, but you can also appreciate it on such a deeper level, analyzing it and just being amazed. I wish I knew what else to say about this album. If you like rap, you'll love this. Even if you hate rap, pop, or any of the affiliated genres, you will LOVE. THIS. ALBUM. Because, honestly, it's just that good. Top tracks: Fo Yo Sorrows; Be Still; Turns Me On

23. Kids & Explosions - ‘Shit Computer’

It's pretty hard to read a review of Kids & Explosions' first record without seeing comparisons to Girl Talk. It's also pretty hard not to be deeply insulted by said comparisons. Girl Talk works on some pretty enjoyable, fun mash-ups of just about every song you know, and then some. He makes ass-shakers, mixes that are for dancing and playing find-the-sample with. But it's just about as surface-level as music can get. Sure, it's fun and it's certainly impressive, but there's nothing behind it. At all. Kids & Explosions is just about the opposite. This is not danceable. This is not fun. This is not accessible, the samples are only recognizable about half the time, and there is literally only one legitimately coherent 'song' on the entire record, although it is about the most powerful song out there, what with Kids & Explosions mixing Sigur Rós' Untitled #1 (Vaka) with The Notorious B.I.G.'s Suicidal Thoughts, to create pretty much the ultimate heartbreak-cocktail. But besides that track, he pretty much makes messy mashed-up hip-hop, with a huge statement of I Just Don't Give A Fuck. The way that he keeps the original instrumental tracks to every line in Swear Words to create its own stuttering beat, to the way that just about every track doesn't allow for more than five seconds of each line before switching to something totally different, this is an absolute masterpiece, and is what everyone trying to make this kind of music should look up to. So fuck Girl Talk. Get this, and never look back. Top tracks: There Is A Burning Ball Of Fire In Outer Space; Swear Words; Everything

22. Coheed & Cambria - 'Year Of The Black Rainbow'

Naysayers will complain about Claudio Sanchez's high pitched vocals, the band's cheesy prog tendencies, their overblown sense of 'epic,' or just the fact that this album isn't 'The Second Stage Turbine Blade.' But the fact is, Coheed & Cambria have not written a bad song in their entire span as a band (although they do fall into that unfortunate habit of releasing their worst songs as singles), and 'Year Of The Black Rainbow,' while admittadly quite different from their past output, deserves to stand tall with their other four albums. The prelude to the huge concept series their previous albums followed, this album fittedly builds and churns, never quite delivering the epic climaxes we got on their last album, the finale of the whole series, but instead does exactly what a prologue should: it sets the stage, it doesn't overstay its welcome, it doesn't really have a definitive ending, it simply IS. And while a lot of people fault the album (and specifically the closing title track) for that, I think they're missing the point--this is not supposed to be the huge, ten-minute-songs-with-choirs Coheed we got to know on their last few releases. This is a claustrophobic, beginning-of-the-end-of-the-world, build up to what the rest of their albums are. And for both their sense of restraint and ability to thoroughly give an album a purpose and stick to it while still creating an excellent work of art, I commend this wonderful band. I only hope they continue making music now that their five-part concept series is complete. Top tracks: The Black Rainbow; Pearl Of The Stars; The Broken

21. Harvey Milk - 'A Small Turn Of Human Kindness'

Harvey Milk have been declared the manliest band to ever be named after a gay politician, and I'd have to say that's probably a pretty damn accurate statement. Out of tune, gravelly vocals, sludgy, distorted guitars, heavy-as-fuck bass, and slow, brutal drums, when they go for it, they go for it all. Despite their vaguely self-deprecating humour and prime sense of irony, their music has always been distinctly serious. While their first two albums were sludgy and slow as shit, the next couple they made were fast, southern, riffy and fun. Their 2008 effort, 'Life...The Best Game In Town,' perfectly combined these two sentiments, but with 'A Small Turn Of Human Kindness,' the sludge is back in full force. This album is huge, slow, and tragic, and while it certainly isn't funeral doom, it captures some pretty similar sentiments. The sorrow and loneliness in the music is unparalleled, and Harvey Milk know it. They don't have any need for in-tune singing, or probably even practicing or multiple studio takes. They simply play from the heart, and it shows. And I, personally, am pretty much floored by it. Top tracks: I Did Not Call Out; I Know This Is All My Fault; I Am Sick Of All This Too

20. Titus Andronicus - 'The Monitor'

The way I describe Titus Andronicus to my friends has changed three or four times since I first heard 'The Monitor,' their absolutely stunning sophomore record. At first, I just called them 'the best fucking driving music ever.' Then I decided to refer to them as 'just really fun, raw guitar rock.' When that wasn't quite accurate enough, I called them 'a lo-fi Gaslight Anthem with Conor Oberst singing.' But I finally settled on simply 'the rawest shit you'll ever hear.' Because honestly, there isn't really another description for this. Driving drums, loud guitar, and raw-as-fuck vocals combine to make one of the most impressive records of 2010. The emotion is abundant and presented through an incredible filter of drunken nostalgia, with some of the most powerfully self-loathing lyrics out there. I mean, what other album could make you feel so jubilant when you join in to sing along with the crowd of voices telling you that 'You will always be a loser!' Or what about how celebratory the screams that 'tramps like us, baby we were born to die!' are? This album is a celebration of everything you hate about yourself, and it's just magnificent in this mire. Top tracks: A More Perfect Union; No Future Part Three: Escape From No Future; The Battle Of Hampton Roads

19. Bring Me The Horizon - ‘There Is A Hell, Believe Me I’ve Seen It. There Is A Heaven, Let’s Keep It A Secret.’

Scoff if you like, but this is not the Bring Me The Horizon of yesteryear. This is not the boys who brought you the immature faux-anger of lines like 'the sun goes down, and so does she.' Nor is it the kids who gave you such moronic lyrics as 'party till you pass out, drink till you're dead, dance all night till you can't feel your legs.' Nope. This is new, this is different, this is music that actually MATTERS. Bring Me The Horizon have widened their worldview, both lyrically and musically, working in themes of life, death, and our place in the world, and working in a sound roughly 200x more complex and powerful than their previous output even IMPLIED they could do. Working in softer moments, female vocals, melody, post-rock influence, polyrhythmical breakdowns, choirs, and electronics (courtesy of production-genius Skrillex), Bring Me The Horizon have finally proven themselves. Just listen to the glitching electronics of Crucify Me, the post-rock guitars and huge breakdowns of It Never Ends, the gut-wrenching emotion of Don't Go or Blessed With A Curse, or the fury of The Fox And The Wolf, and it becomes pretty clear that this is a band who are capable of huge things. You just gotta give em the chance. Top tracks: It Never Ends; Crucify Me; Blessed With A Curse

18. The Knife - ‘Tomorrow, In A Year’

'Tomorrow, In A Year' is literally born out of nothing. Beginning with almost four minutes of minute electronic noises in the background, The Knife and cohorts make it very clear that this will not be an easy listen, and the faint of heart had better back the fuck out right now. This double album is a concept opera about Darwin's book on evolution and the creation of species. Not kidding. If you think that description makes this album sound pretentious and overbloated, you have NO idea. The first disc of this album is literally operatic soprano vocals over pure electronic noise for almost an hour. But oh man, once it all comes together in album centrepiece Colouring Of Pigeons, you won't ever look back. Yeah, it takes awhile to hit that payoff, but every second contributes to how powerful the whole thing is. If you like experimental music, this is simply not something you can pass up. Top tracks: Colouring Of Pigeons; Tomorrow, In A Year; Seeds

17. Janelle Monáe - 'The Archandroid (Suites II And III)'

Have you ever thought that you or someone you know is cool? Well, Janelle Monáe is here to change your mind. One look at her and you realize--no one you ever meet will ever be a tenth as cool or classy as this woman. Between her crazy hair, stylish tuxedoes and dance shoes, crazy dance moves, glorious voice and brilliant song-writing, Janelle is set to take over the world with her brand of R&B-infused indie pop. 'The ArchAndroid (Suites II And III)' gives us the second and third parts of Ms. Monáe's planned four-part concept series (the first part being her EP released a few years ago) about an android who is scheduled to get shut down for falling in love with a human, but then leads a robot rebellion against the people of the metropolis. Yeah, it's that ridiculous. But damn does she pull it off. With a massive list of guest contributors from Of Montreal to Big Boi, Janelle makes every person and every genre of music (from classical to pop to soul to dancehall) have its place. And whether it's over fast-paced dance numbers or soothing crooners, Janelle's smooth, soulful voice guides every moment of this album to perfection. Top tracks: Tightrope; Cold War; BaBopByeYa

16. Trophy Scars - ‘Darkness, Oh Hell’

When I picked up Trophy Scars' latest EP/mini-album, I was quite surprised. I hadn't listened to the band since their seminal 'Hospital Music For The Aesthetics Of Language' EP way back when. Back in those days, they were a spastic, fun, tongue-in-cheek hardcore band. Somewhere between then and now, they morphed into the post-hardcore equivalent of Tom Waits--gruff vocals, bar-brawl guitars, the works. And while the vocals may take a little getting used to, but the payoff for sticking it out past the initial confusion is definitely worth it. This record is a drunken stagger through seedy bars, starting with fun, moving to rage, and finally settling on depression. It's kinda hard to know what to say about this record, to be honest. The magic of it is something that's honestly kind of intangible, it's just there and you have to hear it to understand. Don't pass it up. Worst comes to worst, you only wasted a half-hour of your life. But chances are, given the chance, you'll love this. Cuz it's pretty much just amazing. Top tracks: Time In Heaven, Forever In Hell; Nausea; Sad Stanley

15. Planning For Burial - 'Leaving'

Planning For Burial's first album isn't quite post-rock. I mean, I don't know what else to call it, but it isn't quite post-rock. Maybe Enemies List Home Recordings should just have their own genre, because I never quite know what to call their artists. But no matter what 'Leaving' isn't-quite, it definitively IS a tour-de-force of majestic, sweeping instrumentals, soothing vocals, feedback-laced guitar stabs, explosive drums, and everything in between. The whole thing is very ethereal and dreamlike, as it kind of floats along from one idea to the next, confident but never over-indulgent. At times it can be a home to slow burning soft bass and drums, while at others it houses terrifying, forceful piano and violently distorted guitars. An album of this quality would be the ultimate creative high-water mark for any band, but coming as the home-recorded debut from a complete unknow, it's so far beyond impressive that it moves straight from 'really good' to 'instant classic' Just don't miss this one. Top tracks: Memories You'll Never Feel Again; Being A Teenager And The Awkwardness Of Backseat Sex; Seasons Change So Slowly

14. The Saddest Landscape - ‘You Will Not Survive’

Every year I get a little bummed and start thinking that the emo genre has finally petered out. I look back, and I see all my favourite releases in the genre (albums from bands like Gospel, Circle Takes The Square, Mesa Verde, etc.) are years behind me. And every year, someone pulls through and releases an album that restores all my faith in the genre to keep on keeping on for years to come. And in 2010, The Saddest Landscape were that band. Oh man, they were that band. 'You Will Not Survive' is by far one of the best albums to be relased in the emotional hardcore genre. Raw vocals, powerful lyrics, creative guitarwork, it has everything a good emo record should have. The Saddest Landscape write blogs about their favourite recently-purchased vinyls at the same time that they write beautifully poetic lyrics about the sorrow built up inside them. They're everything you want to be, but they do it better in every way. The end all be all is, The Saddest Landscape are brilliant, and this is among the best emotional hardcore ever made. Top tracks: Imperfect But Ours; From All Of Those...; So Lightly Thrown

13 My Epic - ‘Yet’

'Yet' was originally much, much higher on this list, but a few artists decided that they just had to crowd their way back into my consciousness at the last minute, so My Epic's powerful second album got pushed back to number 13. Which is a shame, because in any other year, it would be easily in the top five--2010 was just a little TOO awesome. But My Epic's brand of post-hardcore works in elements of bands like Brand New, Thrice, and As Cities Burn, both musically and lyrically, while retaining a completely original sound. From the intensity of Pour to the gorgeous, soaring finale to Lower Still, 'Yet' is an album full of breathtaking moments, and notably devoid of fluff. My Epic pump a sense of tragedy into their massive works, creating music that thoroughly hides the fact that it is only made by three musicians. The lovely vocals, brilliant lyrics, and supremely capable instrumentation makes this one of the best post-hardcore albums out there. Don't miss out. Top tracks: Lower Still; Pour; Further Up/Futher In

12. Circa Survive - 'Blue Sky Noise'

Circa Survive have always been one tiny step away from absolute perfection. 'Juturna' was experimental, intense, and impressive, but lacked much staying power, and the songs all kind of blended together. 'On Letting Go,' on the other hand, worked in the catchiness, but sacrificed some of the emotion and creativity from their debut. 'Blue Sky Noise' fixes all these issues, and then some. This album is at once creative, catchy, experimental, powerful, loud, quiet, driving, and emotionally intense. The musicians have finally moved from being 'Anthony Green's back-up players' tp impressive and talented creators on their own right, working in wonderful guitar leads, heavy bass, and complex drumming, all helmed by Anthony Green's high, insane voice. Whether it's the sorrowful I Felt Free or the vicious Get Out, every member is always playing to the best of their ability and never fails to impress. In fact, this whole album is pretty much just the most impressive thing to come out of its scene these days. Don't miss out. Top Tracks: Glass Arrows; Get Out; Frozen Creek

11. How to Dress Well - ‘Love Remains’

Tom Krell is a tortured genius. 'Love Remains' is the 'For Emma, Forever Ago' of the modern day. Now, that statement may seem a bit ridiculous, considering that Bon Iver's masterwork was only just released in 2007, but in the three years since said album dropped, the world has seen a blooming in high-vocalled Passion Pit-style indie pop, an emergence of dubstep into the popular consciousness, and basically a general resurgence of electronic music into the indie world. What this means for How To Dress Well's debut full length is that Tom Krell takes the blueprint Justin Vernon set of gorgeous atmospherics with layered, sorrowful, high-pitched, soulful, ethereal vocals, and applied it to the electronic world. Although the lonesome, incorporeal, wintery vibe of Bon Iver's work is heavily present, the acoustic guitars have been replaced with dense synths, and the thumping drums have been switched out for subtle beats. Mixing in elements of the aforementioned Bon Iver along with influences as far reaching as Justin Timberlake, Animal Collective, and Burial, How To Dress Well has created a masterful debut in 'Love Remains,' which is absolutely not to be missed. Top tracks: Ready For The World; You Won't Need Me Where I'm Goin'; Walking This Dumb (Live)

10. Sufjan Stevens - ‘The Age Of Adz’

Sufjan's appearance on this list twice is no accident. In fact, it should have been expected that once the prolific art started making his first original music since 2005, he would blow my socks off not once, but twice. However, as always, Sufjan can't sit still, even in the period of a year. While the first record he released this year was an experimental and massive take on the rock genre, 'The Age Of Adz' is primarily based in electronica, of all things. Those of you who have looked into Sufjan's extensive back-catalogue will not be completely caught off-guard by this change for the indie-folk artist, but it's still pretty surprising. Even more surprising is how he took such an admittedly impersonal genre and crafted his most personal album yet. Shile 'Illinois' and 'Michigan' wove gorgeous, heart-breaking stories of the inhabitants of the world (and I do still hold 'Michigan' as his best effort thus far), 'The Age Of Adz' is finally the first time that The Great Storyteller Sufjan tells of himself. Gone are the tales of men losing their jobs and wives, stories of friends with bone cancer or the boys murdered by John Wayne Gacy Jr. In their place are scattered, paranoid stories of a man breaking down, losing his mind, and trying to find hope, despite both physical and mental disorder. Ending with a massive 25-minute piece about the search for hope, 'The Age Of Adz' is not to be taken lightly. However, the real show-stealer is the six-minute mental breakdown that is I Want To Be Well, coalescing in possibly one of the greatest climaxes of musical history, with Sufjan wailing that no, in fact, he is most definitely not fucking around. And I couldn't love it more. Top tracks: I Want To Be Well; Futile Devices; Impossible Soul

9. Joanna Newsom - ‘Have One On Me’

I've always vaguely appreciated Ms. Newsom from afar. 'The Milk-Eyed Mender' was mildly enjoyable, but damn was it cool to see a modern artist utilizing the harp, of all things. Then she released 'Ys' a few years ago, and while I was thoroughly impressed by the scope of the album, it was still such a DIFFICULT listen. I mean, I have nothing against long songs, but these were sixteen-minute pieces that just didn't GO anywhere. And you had her weird-ass voice on top of that. So when she dropped 'Have One On Me,' I assumed that I would pretty much think of it as just alright, yet again. Oh boy, was I wrong. My primary objection to 'Ys' was that it was just TOO big, and on the surface, 'Have One On Me' does absolutely NOTHING to fix that problem. Instead of shortening song lengths and introducing a more familiar song structure, it gives you a sprawling three-disc album with 18 tracks, none of which follow a conventional structure, and by just the second track of the album, you're already wading through double-digit song lengths. But there's something absolutely magical about this album. Maybe it's that Joanna Newsom voice is finally enjoyable to listen to, maybe it's that she finally figured out how to really emotionally invest her listeners, or maybe it's simply how huge this album really IS, but you never ever want it to stop. After I finished my initial two-hour-four-minute listen, I turned around, grabbed the first record, and started over, because I just didn't want to come to terms with the fact that such a perfect album even HAD an end. So I guess all I can say is, forget your hesitations and go for it, because this album is sure to blow you away. Top tracks: '81; In California; Occident

8. letlive. - 'Fake History'

Post-hardcore has always been one of the genres I listened to most, and as anyone will tell you, Glassjaw are the heroes of the genre. Mixing furious screams, catchy melodies, and a million different vocal styles into their take on anger and hurt, Glassjaw built an empire with just two albums, and haven't put out a full-length since 2002. And while the post-hardcore world has been mourning the loss of Glassjaw for quite awhile now, letlive. have quietly come in and stolen that throne. 'Fake History' successfully builds off of the blueprint left by Glassjaw's debut album, working in influences of bands like Coheed & Cambria along the way. The instrumentals are heavy-hitting and powerful, but the real show-stealer is the vocals, ranging from frenetic shrieks to beautiful melodies, and everything in between. Supplemented by some of the most well-written and gut-wrenching lyrics out there (listen to Muther without being moved, I dare you), letlive.'s 'Fake History' is a masterpiece of massive proportions, which should not be missed for any reason. Top tracks: Muther; The Sick, Sick, 6.8 Billion; Homeless Jazz

7. kanYe West - ‘My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy’

Anyone who hasn't listened to this album will probably scoff at my choice of putting kanYe West on my list at all, let alone all the way up at number seven. And honestly, that makes sense. Mr. West is a douchebag, in every sense of the word. He is pretentious beyond comprehension, lacks foresight or control over his actions, and has a huge messiah complex. But what the nay-sayers forget is that none of that matters in the context of the music. And a lot of people will say 'well yeah, I've heard the shit that made kanYe famous,' but they're missing the point--that was then, this is now. This is not the kanYe who wrote Gold Digger, using simple beats and catchy choruses to rap about bitches and money. This is not the kanYe who wrote Love Lockdown either, using minimalist production and autotune to sing about heartbreak. No, this is a completely new man, singing about himself and nothing else, using every production trick in the book (including some you've probably never even heard before) to create one of the hugest albums I've ever heard. The scope of this album is just ridiculous, with guest vocalists ranging from Nicki Minaj to Jay-Z to Bon Iver, and instrumentations ranging from simple drum machines to french horns, kanYe has created a pretty much perfect album. And while those who haven't heard it will scoff, those who have will know exactly why it's here. Top tracks: Monster; Lost In The World; All Of The Lights

6. Make Do And Mend - 'End Measured Mile'

Lately, I can't say enough good about Make Do And Mend. If you ask me to reccomend you a post-hardcore album, I'll tell you to check out 'End Measured Mile.' If you ask me for a good pop-punk album, I will tell you to get 'End Measured Mile.' Hell, if you asked me for a good dubstep album, I would probably tell you to get 'End Measured Mile,' just because I fucking need everyone I know to hear this album so that I won't be the only one gushing about it like nothing else ever mattered. In fact, the only reason this isn't even higher on this list is because I know this band can do even better. The next album Make Do And Mend release will be the album of the year on just about every list anyone makes, if I can help it, if their debut full-length is any indicator of what they're capable of. Because 'End Measured Mile' is just that good. Rough-as-hell vocals, inspiring heart-on-your-sleeve lyrics, catchy choruses, and perfectly scored instrumentation backs an absolutely stunning marriage of pop-puk and post-hardcore, creating one of the most emotionally weighty, yet unbelievably catchy, records I've heard in years. So let's hope their future is even brighter. Top tracks: Stand/Stagger; Thanks; Firewater

5. The Tallest Man On Earth - 'The Wild Hunt'

Did anyone really think this wouldn't be here? It's the fucking Tallest Man On Earth. Have you not heard me jizz all over everything he's ever done? This man is everything folk music should be. Immediate, powerful, evocative, and universal, Matsson's glorious voice works its way through ten more wonderful songs. Although his sound hasn't changed much (read: at all), it doesn't even matter. The Tallest Man On Earth's unique voice soars over sublime acoustic guitars to offer some of the most simple, yet successful, music out there. Plus, Burdern Of Tomorrow is just about the best song in the genre. What else can I really say? This fucking rules. Go get it. Now. Top tracks: Burden Of Tomorrow; Troubles Will Be Gone; The Wild Hunt

4. Skrillex - ‘Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites’

When Sonny Moore left his dark post-hardcore band From First To Last right after penning their epic second album, 'Heroine,' the future for both Sonny and the bandhe left behind looked pretty dim. And while From First To Last have flopped around like a dying fish after losing their enigmatic singer, Sonny has gone on to make some of the best electronic music out there. After releasing the just-okay 'Gypsyhook' EP under his first name, he decided to start using the Skrillex moniker, creating and remixing electronica for anyone who would listen. His first EP as Skrillex, 'My Name Is Skrillex' was pretty thoroughly enjoyable, but upon the release of 'Scary Monsters And Nice Sprites,' he thoroughly proved his ability as a producer. His tracks jump from electropop to dubstep at the slightest provocation, and he works all sides of the spectrum beautifully. Rock And Roll (Will Take You To The Mountain), With You, Friends (Long Drive), and All I Ask Of You offer up smooth, emotional electropop, while Scatta and Kill Everybody give you huge dubstep tracks with the biggest drops out there. But the albums true highlight is the title track, working in every element of Skrillex's sound, from the gorgeous synth melodies to the evocative chopped-up vocals and the massive bass drops, it pretty much has everything you could ask for in an electronic song. In fact, that's how I feel about this album--it's simply everything you could ask for from fun electronica. Top tracks: Scary Monsters And Nice Sprites; With You, Friends (Long Drive); Scatta

3. Deftones - ‘Diamond Eyes'

Deftones have always kind of evaded description for me. Their mix of chunky metal riffs and gorgeous, soft vocals has always moved me in a big way, but I've never quite been able to pinpoint why. Plenty of bands have done the loud-guitars-soaring-vocals thing, but man, there's just something about Chino Moreno's voice that raises everything to a whole other level and is just impossible to describe. He works in emotions that barely even make sense, and evokes a power like no one else, backed by one of the most effective bands out there. Anyone and everyone will tell you that 'White Pony' was one of the best albums made, but the truth is, with 'Diamond Eyes,' Deftones have topped their own masterpiece. The way Chino's vocals soar during the chorus of You've Seen The Butcher is like nothing else, and that feeling of immense power that you just can't quite grasp continues through the whole album, defying description but inspiring like no other. Top tracks: You've Seen The Butcher; CMND/CTRL; Sextape

2. Crystal Castles - ‘Crystal Castles’

Crystal Castles' first album was really good. It had quite a few remarkable tracks, and Alice Glass' violent vocals backed up Ethan Kath's glorious, sorrowful production perfectly. But it was too scattered. Only a few songs had real staying power, Alice Glass annoyed just as often as she impressed, and Ethan Kath didn't seem to know when to cut down on the electronic wankery. So when the duo announced that their second record would be self-titled AGAIN, a lot of fans thought it was time to just accept that they would always be pretentious occasional-geniuses. Boy, were they wrong. Crystal Castles' second self-titled album is brilliantly produced, and emotional in all the ways that their first album tried to be. It's consistent, creative, and rarely annoys (except for when it's trying to). But above all else, it makes you feel so many emotions, from the tragedy of Not In Love to the anger of Vietnam, the sensuality of Intimate to the claustrophobia of Violent Dreams, just about every second of this album is perfect. If you somehow don't have this already, it's worth every second. Top tracks: Violent Dreams; Vietnam; Not In Love

1. Underoath - ‘Ø (Disambiguation)’

Underoath are the unappreciated geniuses of the metalcore world. Yes, they spent a few years creating overproduced, whiny post-hardcore for the masses (even a hardcore Underoath fan like myself will admit that 'They're Only Chasing Safety' was pretty embarassing, despite the fact that I enjoy it). Yes, they are Christian. Yes, they do mix electronics and melodic choruses into their brand of metalcore. But what people miss when talking about Underoath is that their last three albums have also, in addition to all these so-called faults, been perfect. After their awkward transition into having a new lead vocalist on 'They're Only Chasing Safety,' they put out two of the best albums in the genre. 'Define The Great Line' and 'Lost In The Sound Of Separation' were huge, dark, and menacing. Drummer Aaron Gillespie's clean vocals were fitting, if a bit whiny, but his drumming was creative and impressive. Their instrumentation was at times simple, at times very dense, but always different from anything you had heard before. Their keyboardist added some of the most fantastic atmospherics to their music, without ever being intrusive or even very noticable, and their production was absolutely fantastic. And it was all helmed by Spencer Chamberlain's terrifying scream. Ranging from high shrieks to rumbling shouts of anger, his vocals were impressive, varied, and packed with unparalleled emotion. The lyrics used the band's Christian outlook to take a large-scale view of humanity, and rather than talking about Jesus, asked questions about our purpose in the world, and the choices humanity is taking as a whole. But once drummer/clean singer/sole remaining founding member Aaron Gillespie announced his departure from the band, it was hard to know what they would be like from there. Hiring ex-Norma Jean skinsman Daniel Davison to man their drums (which he does so brilliantly, by the way), the band released 'Ø (Disambiguation)' as their first album with Spencer Chamberlain taking over both clean and harsh vocal duties, and oh man, does he ever do a good job. Unlike Aaron Gillespie's whiny, melodic yelp, Spencer's clean vocals are raw, violent, and intense, offering up pretty much everything the band was missing. His screams are as vicious and powerful as ever, and his cleans propel the band into a whole new territory, as they slow their sound down and present a sludgy, ambitious, and highly atmospheric album which pretty much destroys everything released in the genre before. The way that Paper Lung transitions from a smooth, Deftones-styled number into a brutal metal track is impressive beyond belief, and the churning electronics beneath tracks like In Division and Driftwood add a wonderful element of claustrophobia, which is only exacerbated by the huge feedback stabs in the epic finale of In Completion. Basically, this is one of the best albums of all time, and while you may laugh at Underoath taking my number one spot right now, wait until you hear this beast. You won't come out unimpressed. Top tracks: In Completion; Paper Lung; In Division

Last Post of 2010/First Post of 2011

2011-01-13T22:56:00.000-08:00

   Some good-ass end of the year material that can't technically be blogged under a 2011 post for the sake of my own neurosis, cobbled together with some freshies from the new year. Included are the final hurrahs and shebangs, the new hellos, and my top ten mixes list of 2010, 'cause between Gestate Reality's list and the blog, all my albums of the year have been covered. Plus, everyone does albums. Anyway, sorry about the lag. Here it goes:

--THE 2010 MIX LIST--
   This is it, ladies and gentlemen. The cleanest, the best, the breakdown of all things mix from the year gone by. Enjoy.

1. TOM ENCORE
   His may mix is simply the best. It does so many things so very well.
Download and description heading up my "Razor Clean Bass Machine" post from early December.

2. LOW LIMIT
   Low Limit's mix for Brainfeeder has become a staple for my sanity. Last link in the late December post.

3. KOAN SOUND
   This is the latest mix by Koan Sound, the second of two. The trio puts. So. Much. Sound. Into these thirty minutes, you won't know what to do with your musical day in its wake except for maybe to listen to it again. And again. Immaculate transitions, coupled with clever layering, all the while soaking in the filth of the Dubsaw skitter-wobble. Top Notch.

4. BURIAL & KODE 9
   In an incredibly artistic send off to the BBC1 radio mogul Mary Ann Hobbs, Burial dropped this, his first and only mix on the interwebs with the man behind Hyperdub, his discoverer and mentor Kode 9. Two vastly important pillars of early the Dubstep and late Garage scenes, even if Kode 9 ain't my personal favorite. This mix is a masterpiece, it sounds like the last transmissions of an ancient machine lost at the bottom of an unknown sea. Chilling and beautiful.

5. THE SHOWDOWN

     Helicopter Showdown has been impressing me for a long while. I first saw them at Headband 2010 in Santa Cruz, and they were nothing short of spectacular. The general consensus at the event was that this group had a future. This being the future, they are just starting to get deserved amounts recognition due to their massively technically filthy releases and previews; Whistle Tips topped the charts at Squitty, and their new EP (which drops in two days) is expected to dominate charts everywhere. Plus, they have agreed to do an interview for SheepSkins for said EP. Stay tuned, mothafuckas, and take in this mix: nearly every sound one could have possibly created in the last year is showcased, and none of it drags. Quite a feat where the genre of heavy bass is concerned. This one's a head-turner to be certain.
Happy Heli-Daze Mix 2010 by Helicopter Showdown

6. PRESSHA
   This is an epic showcase of West Coast glitch sounds from Pressha. Easily the best Simplify Records mix session, it is scary how well the DJ knows the tracks. Complete mastery is evident. Each song sweeps right into the next in such a way that the energy is consistent and mature. Don't sleep on it.

7. H.U.D
   Again, featured in the late Dec. post. Third down.

8. FIGURE
   A killer producer, hardworking and talented is Mr. Figure. He has a sick repertoire of sounds and savage beat sense. The mix is massive, uppity, genre spanning, and intelligently arranged. The rabid Bassline House satisfies the soul, the Breaks are vile, the downtempo bits are brief but appropriately serene, and the Dubstep is banging and properly placed:
OMG It's Techno Music Mix #45 by Figure by Figure

9. CTRL-Z
   An auditory bitch-slap from epic breaks duo Ctrl-Z. They have a legendary collection of work, and some serious experience with crowd-rocking and mix-composing. This is a romp from beginning to end, and nearly none of it disappoints. Hook it here, with the rest of the Never Say Die mix sessions.

10. SKISM
   Skism has a flawless style of mixing. having never heard a Skism mix prior to this one, I was blown away by his skills. He doesn't drop a single beat and has some of the longest running doubles I've ever heard in a Dubstep mix. Plus, he does it with almost every track. Unthinkable. My only criticism is that these songs are not new or exciting, they're pretty much all the played out bangas of 2010. I guarantee you, you'll know almost every track. Not bad music, just not fresh. having said that Skism's work on the tables and his originals scattered throughout make it more than worth the listen. (Never Say Die vol. 7)


--RELEASES AND RIFF-RAFF--
  Randomosities, monstrosities:

MR. WESH

Some crazy startling sounds and composure coming from Antonin Cavalie, a Frenchman from Bordeaux and fresh mind in the scene of filth production. He doesn't always kill it, but he has been lately and when he does it's a god-given spectacle. High expectations in the new year.
Mr Wesh - Cannibal Holocaust (CLIP) by Mr Wesh
Mr Wesh - You Ain't Sexy !(CLIP) by Mr Wesh

Mr Wesh-AweSome (CLIP) by Mr WD-esh
CLIP- Se3mless - The Hunger (Mr Wesh Remix) by Mr Wesh
+Free New Years flavored EP, Huge all around. Fucking massive Harry remix on this one, the only in-genre one I've heard.

FIGURE

The prominent American in the realm of Bassline House, explorer of Dub/Drumstep, a true grit guru of gruesome sound who is quite generous, as it happens. Here is his mediafire, where you will find two free Eps, thirteen originals, a solid 39 bootlegs, and four mixes. Here's his remix of Calvertron's "Everybody", out early.

AJAPAI

Some new murderers from Ajapai, but the mah fah doesn't allow embeds so I guess you'll just have to grab the Detected EP right hurr. You're welcome.

TIPPER

I simply must express infeasible amounts of joy at the fact that Tipper has returned his production efforts to the funk. Broken Soul was gorgeous, but c'mon... This is pure slip and slide slipperiness.
The guys at prosperityandbeauty hookin' it up with the download.

NUMBERNIN6

...And Zardonic ft. Messinian. Epic drumstep pre.

Zardonic & NumberNin6 ft Messinian - End Of Days [TEASER] by NumberNin6

STAR SLINGER

GestateReality showed me this one, quite a sensible producer. Below lies a mix I doubt even he has. It's not the cleanest, where consistency is concerned, he does tend to just drop and then start tracks with some bullshit radio sample in between, but the tunes are worth it. Rad chillwave/hip hop style, super move-inducing and groovy. Seeing him in March with Baths.
Star Slinger vs The Hype Machine - 2010 Music Blog Zeitgeist Mix (Sort of) by Star Slinger

CRYPTEX

This guy understands glitch. He has a select number of originals, coming from a remix background of which he has plenty greats. This is his newest, and quite nice. Free download.
Glitch In The System by cryptex

TELEGRAM FROM THE QUEEN

Some smashing live electro from Juvenile Scum. Exotope is finally doing the genre right, and with a friend. They don't always manage to stay away from the earmark electro growl I hate, but there is hyper tasty vocal sampling, guitar, atypical beats, all kinds of good stuff. Each piece is distinctly different.
http://soundcloud.com/juvenilescum/sets/telegram-from-the-queen/

SKISM

   Here's the new Skism EP. Slllllllaammmmming.

--LOCALITY--
   (Muh frends.)

SIRR PAUL
   Delving ever deeper into realms of diversity, this one has yet to disappoint.
Utopia by Sirr Paul
Slinky by Sirr Paul
What i say by Sirr Paul

BB
   This one's gettin' fresh, avidly and eagerly refining his set of skills. Big ups.
Amnesia Minimix Vol. 1 by BB831

THE COGITO
   The man expands. Notably cool sound on both of these, tasty, Shigeto-ish downtempo mellows that sound like a sunbeam feels.

Remixing another local act, electronic duo Old Arc. Really really pretty track.
Old Arc - Sleepcatcher Remix by The Cogito
Time (Collab) by The Cogito

JAMBURGLAR
   BB turned me on to this, one Brett Agler, who miraculously slipped right by. Refined sounds, dedicated songwriting. Potentially related to local party DJ Ryan Agler? More on that.
Bobo Baggins - Deltawitz by Jamburglar
Groove Robber by Jamburglar
These are the newest tracks, but there are six more rippers on his cloud. Ch-check it!

FISH FINGER
   New one from Fishy, crazy sound, abnormally dark.
(His label lies here: http://www.crossroadsrecordsinc.com/, and it is chock full of good artists. Lurk it up if you haven't already.)
Fish Finger - Gonna Be Hard by Fish Finger

TOT3M
   And perhaps a remix from Mr. Tot3m:
Pygmy-(tot3m rmx)-Bassmagnet by ToT3M

...And that's about it. This multi-hour troll dedicated to Willie Venegas. Prayers and love.
Sleep easy, folks.

Golden Oldies

2010-12-23T17:53:00.000-08:00

Some good ol' releases from the 80s onward. Some of the best.
>
>
>
>
>BRIAN ENO/DAVID BYRNE (1981)

My Life in the Bush of Ghosts is a serious piece of songwriting. It combines the sensibilities of both artists into one well rounded piece of early electronic goodness. Masterful instrumentals, epic layered compositions, synths from synth guru Eno, and incredible tape loop samples with analog effects, all cut by hand.

BOWIE(1992)

Hands down the best Bowie construction out there. The songs are so good, typical ironic and suggestive lyricism, coupled with grand, forward moving music. "Waiting for the lights, you know what I mean."

ASPECTS OF PHYSICS (2004)

These guys have dominated San Diego minimal electronica for almost a decade, receiving nominations for best Electronic act at the San Diego Music Awards from 02 to 06. Rob Crowe, Jeff Coad, great musicians, great minimal ambience: Marginalized Information Forms One: Ping

KOTKI DWA (2007)

Kotki Dwa is a good thing, despite what GestateReality or Max Paradise have to say. If you can get past the vocals and their production, which are both atypical and I admit somewhat uncomfortable at times, the music is thoroughly enjoyable. It is tight, inventive, and it keeps with a solid theme of absurd half-hope. The music is upbeat, almost fun, as are the lyrics dark and questioning as well as playful. The electronics are pretty, (the album opening features bleeps and whirs artfully arranged to simulate nature sounds) and appropriately used. I highly implore you to acquire this release.

Signing out.

kids AND explosions?

2010-12-23T02:03:00.000-08:00

Yes. Both.

Mash-ups are some finicky bullshit. Most mash-up artists these days are too busy being hipsters to actually mash good music together. Others will often resort to simply laying a couple songs over one another that happen to be in the same time signature and hope it appeals to the masses. It is rare that an artist will insert enough of their own artistic touch to impress me with a mash-up. It takes a fucken lot.

With that being said, new to the scene, we have Kids & Explosions. With his first record released as of mid-October, it's quite the banging interception for a lot of AotY lists. What separates this release from the pack is its sounds of Unstoppable-era Girl Talk glitch MASTERY combined with the super clean production style of newer Girl Talk. Though they are parallels that must be drawn and compared against for any mash-up release, this album goes above and beyond most anything Greg Gillis has ever, or will ever do. The beats and lyrics--from start to finish--are masterfully crafted into unique compositions, giving new life and meaning to every single track used. Do not pass off a moment of this album as noise you have heard on the radio before. Everything is where it needs to be at all times. And all for good reason.

Deeply fun and surprisingly meaningful. Hopefully, a producer to look out for more in the near future.
9/10

MP3/FLAC:
http://www.kidsandexplosions.com/shitcomputer/
If you are soulless enough not to donate, simply put "0.0" in as your donation amount.

GestateReality's Releases of 2010

2010-12-21T18:53:00.000-08:00

Full Lengths:

10. Defeated Sanity - Chapters of Repugnance:

Heavier than ever. Brutal Death Metal at its finest.

(http://www.mediafire.com/?lznfwuwzwiq)

9. America Addio - Cotton Kingdom:

Spastic Electropop; autotune for miles; beautiful, vivid lyrics; all tastefully woven into each other making a near damn perfect album.

(http://www.mediafire.com/?9sxum6gf6q4cyms)

8. The Ascent of Everest - From This Vantage:

Orchestral Post-Rock. Huge, consuming soundscapes and crushing crescendos.

(http://www.mediafire.com/?3om8x4ktspp12dt)

7. Blackbird Blackbird - Summer Heart:

Chillwave done right. Not over produced. Not boring. Just an honest, feel-good album.

(http://www.mediafire.com/?l1mcq26aqw1dzdz)

6. Sed Non Satiata - s/t:

A big dividing line with Screamo for many is the lyrical content. Some love it, and some fucking hate it. I am part of the former group, and though this release is sung in French, you can still feel every ounce of emotion in every word. And the guitars are nothing less than destructive.

(http://www.mediafire.com/?yuobzgmu3eg)

5. Shigeto - Full Circle:

Words can hardly describe this release. It feels like nostalgia as music. An essential for any fans of Ambient, Glitch, or IDM.

(http://hotfile.com/dl/81262268/671830e/SHIGETO_-_FULL_CIRCLE_V0.rar.html)

4. Envy - Recitation:

Envy are monolithic. They have never once disappointed me with even a single track across their 6 albums and 5 or so EPs. And then of course all their splits... This album is not an exception. Perfect.

(http://www.mediafire.com/?f0sn36yaxwsf4tv)

3. The Saddest Landscape - You Will Not Survive:

It was hard for me to put this album ahead of Recitation. Ultimately, I decided to because while Envy has created near, if not fully, flawless albums for almost a decade and a half, this was the first release by the Saddest Landscape where I felt that they just put everything into the right place. They've really been coming up strong with all their recent releases. Perfect.

(http://www.mediafire.com/?nr5k21xh8pn0q9s)

2. Crystal Castles - s/t 2010:

Maybe the number two spot is a bit high for Crystal Castles' newest release, but then again, listening to both of their albums back to back, there is a certain unbridled sense of emotion that goes into everyone of their songs. It's near impossible for me to describe, but it's there. I swear.

(http://www.mediafire.com/?dzramcughwm)

1. Baths - Cerulean:

I have fallen asleep to this album practically every night since I heard it in June. It's a masterpiece. I don't know what else to say about it, really. Make sure you get the real version of the album, if you check it out. Most of my friends have a bootleg copy and it sounds like shit. Perfect.

(http://hotfile.com/dl/57043582/fa28092/Baths-Cerulean-(Retail)-2010-RTB.rar.html)

EPs:

5. Shigeto - Semi Circle:

Shigeto dabbling with glitchy madness. Super unique and innovative sounds. A producer to continue watching out for.

(http://www.fileserve.com/file/KzeSNav)

4. Sister Crayon - Enter Into Holy (Or)ders:

Very atmospheric Dream-Pop. Their lyrics slice into your soul and let it spill out. Listening to it is rewarding, and finishing it is redeeming. It's easy to get caught in a cycle of listening to this EP 10 times over before you ever consider not listening to it another time.

(http://www.mediafire.com/?diivgcwl23f6453)

3. Have A Nice Life - Time of Land:

This is a flawless, sincere, release bursting with a bleak, hard-to-understand radiance. Perfect.

(http://www.mediafire.com/?zywmjtyokmd)

2. Deafheaven - Demo:

The first Black Metal release to really really convince me that BM can be, and IS, worth my time. Highly Post-Rock influenced. One of the most emotionally charged releases of the year. This shit could move mountains.

(http://www.mediafire.com/?cunamvmzm0xmuvj)

1. The World Is A Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid To Die - Formlessness:

The pinnacle of Midwestern style Emo. Amazingly creative guitar work, intricately placed drums, and some of the best lyrics I have ever heard. No review I can write will do this EP a favor. Probably my very favorite release of 2010.

(http://www.mediafire.com/?i0gufv9wgp5j4md)

Honorable Mentions:

Adebisi Shank - This Is The Second Album of A Band Called Adebisi Shank:

Even better than their first release. A solid performance that rarely comes up short.

(http://www.mediafire.com/?9bbkkv2995rq97e)

Domination Through Impurity - Masochist:

Brutal Technical Death Metal. In a lot of ways, an extremely contrived genre. But not here. These guys know how to do what they want to do without sounding like the rest of the crowd. Killer slams, amazing riffs. check it.

(http://www.mediafire.com/?iznih5lmiw2)

In Her Own Words - Brand New Me:

I hate pop-punk/easycore/etc. I fucking love this EP.

Listen to it.

(http://www.mediafire.com/?wwgcbiz84dgil14)

Memoryhouse - The Years:

Rivaling Sister Crayon as my favorite Dream-Pop act of the year. The strong songs are really strong, but there's one or two empty, more boring tracks on this release, which isn't acceptable on an EP.

(http://www.mediafire.com/?dnnlggzldmx)

Pretty Lights - Spilling Over Every Side:

Funky-Ass Electronic. Wonderfully fun.

(http://www.mediafire.com/?x6u0uzabbishp4h)

Sleep In - Carnival:

Another ELHR act. Another perfect ELHR act.

(http://www.mediafire.com/?0zjjyiyqzom)

Wormed - Quasineutrality:

Brutal Technical Death Metal. Again, they do what they do well, but like Masochist, it just hardly missed the mark when stacked up against Defeated Sanity's newest release.

(http://www.mediafire.com/?mmoojlttj4a)

News

2010-12-20T21:00:00.000-08:00

LOVE AND LIGHT

Love and Light have an EP coming in late January, featuring tracks from the Santa Cruz show such as "Heart", an extra slippery breakbeat wet dream. A comment received from the artists themselves on the release sums it up best: SlooooperySlopSludgePopJunktastic BOING."
Can't wait.

DOEO

New D414 mix. So good. Free download. SC represent.

Tunes ahoy, Blaptain!

2010-12-15T18:54:00.000-08:00

All kinds of stuff on the mellow end of the spectrum. Garage, Glitch, and Downtempo. Some delicacies.

ILL-ESHA
Newest release from the SF glitch mistress. Super mellow, super ornate production, bass-line sensibility. Killing it, she is.

Circadian Rhythms

And perhaps some bay area cross genre collaboration?
Antiserum & ill-esha - Lightning (clip) by ill-esha

YOUNG MONTANA?
British lad is killing it with his crunchy sound-scapes. Release in 2010, highly anticipated.
Listen&Download:
Kuhn - Quiet Nights (Young Montana? Remix) /// Free Download at
Astronautico.bandcamp.com by Young Montana?

H.U.D.
H.U.D. is an interesting one. He's been in the scene for decades, starting in the warehouses of South Detroit as a house DJ in the early techno scene. His sounds are crisp, his mixing fluent and aesthetically gorgeous, and his selections are diverse. Background character, very talented, this mix is essential and the interview is good too.
FRITENITE005

LOCAL LOVE
New track from Sirr Paul, new killer roots machine from Fish Finger, and one from SCs own Christian Gunning aka Superman Fast, comin' through with some nifty beats as of late. New house track from D414 aka Doeo, super slippery funk business. Good stuff, gents.

Fog by Sirr Paul
Fish Finger & Dread Foxx - Fund Raisers [1st Edit] by Fish Finger
JOin YOur ENEMY (produced By SUperMAN FAST) by Superman Fast
MORPHINE (PREVIEW) by D414

PROFRESHER
Dope Psy-Crunk track from Profresher, aka Billy Blacklight. Good stuff, great producer. Troll his soundcloud.

Psyentific Eyedealism by Profresher

ROBOT KOCH
Yes, yes, and yes. A new release. Yes. Completely essential.
Robot Koch - Songs For Trees and Cyborgs

LOW LIMIT
A new Low Limit mix, super tasty. Spacey sounds, ridiculously head bobbing groovy, emotive and relaxing. Comical at moments, flowing always. Get it Get it.
Brainfeeder Mix

Razor Clean Bass Machine.

2010-12-03T17:40:00.000-08:00

   The results of the latest trolls, some new stuff, some old stuff, some spold stuff. These songs hurt you.

TOM ENCORE
   Some seriously tasteful, technical filth. The sounds are extra clean and the sub bass is calculated.
His mix from May is one of the best I've ever heard, blending his thick glitch repertoire with his original and selected dubstep in a manner displaying a most sensuous set of mixing skills. The thing flows like a river.
I also have a few select songs from that mix for download, my personal pickings, set below this tasty mix:

MAY 2010 MIX by Tom Encore

Brokenhaze - Block
Calypso (Tom Encore Remix) - DatsiK & Excision
NastyNasty - No Names

...You'd better troll his soundcloud, too. All of it.

Masala - As One (Tom Encore Remix) by Tom Encore

BASSEL
   Bassel has a super clean sound, similar to the crystalline high end sweeps and cleanly bit-crushers witnessed in Tom Encore's tunes.
Rusko & Sub Focus - Hold On (DJ bassel Remix) by DJ Bassel
Usher - DJ Got Us Fallin' in Love (DJ Bassel Remix) by DJ Bassel

GLŸPH
   Some old stuff from Glÿph, one of my all time favorites, which has resurfaced after learning that my two favorite tracks are being coupled for an EP out on Krypled Brain in 2011. The tracks, and a mix.
Glÿph - Purple Bear in the Brain Forest by Glÿph
Glÿph - Mind World (Clip) by Glÿph
Glÿph - The Bassfuckers Deep Mix by Glÿph

SIRR PAUL
   Local delicatessen, glitch madman, gentle mole-friend. The future lies here, in Paul's razor clean bass.
Tell Me When To Go (sirrpaul remix) by Sirr Paul

BULLWACK
   This next ripping filth construction arose from the bowels of tasty trash electro technician Bullwack. It is but a preview. I suggest you prowl this man's other work, it's quite something. Free DL.
Bullwack - My New Best Friend by BULLW∆CK

HELICOPTER SHOWDOWN
   The SF boys have done it, with their new Ultragore release, the Wrestler EP, smashing all conceivable expectations. It is a machine. From strictly the thirty-seven second clips, I can already tell this release is going to be one of the hugest of all time. Made me all but forget about Whistle Tips. These tracks are completely rounded, completely huge, completely tasty, tech-filth-to-the-tenth.
"The Wrestler" (Ultragore) by Helicopter Showdown

And to top it all off, thirteen tracks from hell, or Rottun records, rather:
Liquid Stranger - Mechanoid Meltdown

Sleep Easy.

Local Love

2010-11-26T18:10:00.000-08:00

The Cogito, aka Mason Rosenberg comin' through with some new tracks in his tight chillstep/IDM style. Lo fi, atmospheric, tasty beats.

Irreleventh Final Mix by The Cogito
Ethereal Cereal by The Cogito

Mo' goodness on his soundcloud. Check him out.

L&L

2010-11-26T16:29:00.000-08:00

"A new password was requested from 67.180.72.95"
Okay. To whichever one of you fuckfaces who requested a new password for mine/Morgan's addictech account, I hope that you a) receive the royal karmic shaft, or b)come clean so I can wordslap your ass. In either case, I have a new password which will be promptly changed after each requested download, so the zip downloadage of Crunk Junkee may commence for those who hit me up in time to get one of the remainders. Back on track.

Black Friday

2010-11-26T02:44:00.000-08:00

I have nothing but garage, glitch, and downtempo for you today, this day of Thanksgetting. You don't even have to wait in line or trample domes to get these 100% off deals, like these poor folks:

Pressha Mix, super good shit. all the tasty sounds you want right now, trust me. A Simplify records mix session (vol. 4)

Extra tasty glitchy Garage tune from Zack Christ, free for download:
Cosmic Dog - Tonight (zack christ's Tirsdagsmix) by zack christ

New Shigeto track, free download:
4. Into The Sun, Out In The Cold by SHIGETO

ZDS shutting shit down. I held on to this one for a month, showing it to select heads, but I can't justify hoarding it any longer. Free download.
Trophy Wife // Microlite (Zen Death Squad Remix) by ZenDeathSquad

A mix from Brainfeeder's Ras G. Good stuff from SoCal and Flying Lotus' record label.

Some tight Mochipet from days ago. Freeee.
Splatinum - Pumping Quarterz (Mochipet Remix) by Mochipet

And a not free track that's quite evil and slippery:
Freddy Todd - Blowin Good - Mochipet Remix by Mochipet
And a mix:
Mochipet Mix for Memekast by Mochipet

-PURCHASES TO COME-
An-ten-nae's Acid Crunk EP vol. 7 is out now on Muti, up for download on addictech. His tightest Acid Crunkery to date.

Nhertz's Dropfellas remix has dropped on NoMad, a beatport exclusive DL. I'm buyin' that track (at a whopping $2.50) and the entirety of his Sunday Oscillation EP, which is more reasonably priced. Stay tuned for zip packs in limited numbers.

...That keeps on giving.

2010-11-25T18:59:00.000-08:00

Scorch [clip] by Geoff Bukk
One Night by Sirr Paul
Just Taking My Blastoise For a Walk by FreddyTodd
Midnightmolemixing with JackTheRipper by BB831

Smokin' Blunts Makin Cream- Exclusively On Beatport Monday December 6th! by PrimeDUB Records

Ganksthiving.

2010-11-25T01:10:00.000-08:00

While this is of course destined to be followed by more posts a la boredom throughout the day, I figure we might as well start the holiday out proper with some things I was quite thankful to be given. I hope you feel the same.

DREAMS by Love and Light
Thunderball - Enter The Brahmin (Knight Riderz Remix) by Knight Riderz

A San Francisco local girl and one of the only chicks pushing beats on the scene. And my what beats they are...

Antiserum & ill-esha - Overflow (clip) by ill-esha

Hit-and-miss duo TROWA proves that when they hit, they hit hard.

Classic staggered Dubsaw sounds and a free 320 from Culprate: Dexcell - Fukit (CulprateRMX) 320 by culprate
The Setup - Under Attack [FREE 320] by thesetup
IndustrialDeath - Hot Mess (clip) 140 Inst by IndustrialDeath
Wormhole by Atomic Dubstep

DatNectar

2010-11-24T23:21:00.000-08:00

Yeah, it happened. You'd figure they'd have done a bit more for their first production together, I dunno. Fairly tight, though. Basically a Bassnectar update on beats and sampling on top of a DatsiK bassline. The good news is that it is the precursor to a working relationship between Rottun and Amorphous.

Bassnectar & Datsik - YES by Bassnectar

Here is the download.

+++Fresh BBC1 mix from our local boy on his first EuroTour here, ft. Annie Nightingale.

Big Chocolate, continued.

2010-11-24T22:56:00.000-08:00

I'm Shot EP
<3 to GestateReality

Crispo/Crispo

2010-11-24T22:47:00.000-08:00

The one and only release from this Subdepths (Garage/UK Funky) artist, the Depths EP, is a good one. Super dark, very clean Garage atmosphere comin' outta this Russian. Gorgeous rainy day music, to be certain. Scope his soundcloud.

...Time capsule to yesterday, last year. Crispo dropped this fat robostep release in obvious contradiction of his future music. Good stuff, hard to find.

Crispo - Valkyrie (Forthcoming Substruk 11.23.09) by Substruk Records
Crispo - Local Threat (Forthcoming Substruk 11.23.09) by Substruk Records