My Spotify SXSW playlist top picks
2018 Jan-March : “I know that you would never have it any other way”
2017: A look back on – “It might be fiction but I see it ahead”
Well, in all honesty I don’t want to remember 2017 all that much, but there was a lot of great music that grabbed my attention. Here is my end of the year list with my favorite 101 songs. I’m sure you will find some new tunes and bands on there.
I was fortunate to catch many of the bands live on the list and got introduced to new bands that really impressed me.
Here are the top 15 tunes that got stuck on repeat for me.
“The Underside of Power” – Algiers
“Bed” – Cende
“Love is Mystical” – Cold War Kids (finally a decent album!)
“Tummy Ache” – Diet Cig
“Ran” – Future Islands (why can’t your whole album be like this?)
“Near to the Wild Heart of Life” – Japandroids
“Everybody Wants to Love You” – Japanese Breakfast
“Europe is Lost” – Kate Tempest (see her live!)
“Little River” – Loamlands
“Hidden Driver” – LVL UP
“The Sound” – Noah Gundersen (a nice departure into new areas)
“Hot Thoughts” – Spoon (quite possibly the best song of the year)
“Modern Woman” – Tennis
“Below” – White Lung
“Soak” – Zola Jesus (one of the best live shows of the year)
My pick for best album of the year was a surprising one as it came out in early January and was generally overlooked. Austra released their 3rd album Future Politics on Domino Records and the album calls for “a commitment to replace the approaching dystopia.” And although Katie has stated that it’s not about being political, I think the album couldn’t have arrived at a better time. As 2017 began, we embarked on governmental uncertainty and a general clusterfuck of a presidency, so this album resonated with me on all fronts. Considering she worked on this album in Mexico City a year before, the album has a weirdly prophetic message about society, government and love. At times haunting and dystopian, there are shreds of optimism throughout. As she states, the album is “about reaching beyond boundaries, in every single field.” Let’s hope that we break through more barriers in 2018.
Other Great Albums
Antisocialites – Alvvays
White Noise – Noah Gunderson
S/T – Rainer Maria – (solid comeback album)
Yours Conditionally– Tennis
Willowbank – Yumi Zouma
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As always, thanks for listening
Pablo
2017 Sept-Nov : “I just fake the crash and burn no body double”
2017 is coming to a close
and it’s been a great year of releases and live shows.
Still some choice shows to round out the year
2 new venues opened up in Brooklyn
including the reopening of one of my favs, Market Hotel
Here are some highlights:
A powerhouse all day show this Sunday at Warsaw including
Godflesh playing Streetcleaner
A Brainiac tribute at Bell House with a ton of bands to commemorate the 25th anniversary of deceased frontman Tim Taylor.
This was a formidable event in my music life while I was at Dayton.
https://www.kickstarter.com/pr
A huge loss for a little town.
speaking of Dayton,
Guided by Voices at The Bell House??!?!
oh boy
2017 June – Aug : “You’ve been waiting for sunshine lovely so sweet”
Summer is winding down but there are still a ton of great shows before the hot sun fades away.
some highlights-
If you’ve never seen Youssou N’Dour live, now’s your chance to in Brooklyn for FREE.
Mrykur hits Brooklyn next week and I’m excited for her new material.
Diet Cig is moving on up to Bowery Ballroom supporting their new album.
Ted Leo back at South Street? Yes please!! This may be 5th time I’m seeing him play there. Always a great time.
Juana Molina is back with her folktronica and a new album.
and Shilpa Ray at Piano’s? That should be good.
June-August Playlist