This album is a many-splendored thing, but good lord. What a voice.
Hearing Asaf Avidan’s voice for the first time is a jolt. Halfway through Gold Shadow, it sounded as natural as could be — versatile and expressive, too — but it seemed almost improbable at first. The combination of flexibility and gritty texture. He’s a reminder of something that’s easy to take for granted — that even though voices are like fingerprints, getting to hear something wholly distinct is rare and valuable.
World, it’s my pleasure to introduce you to “Dead Meat,” from the Trillions’ soon-to-released album, Superposition.
Underneath the eggshells, guess what I found? Solid ground.
As someone who lives with a non-small amount of anxiety, and who says “I’m sorry” somewhere between a dozen and a hundred times a day, I can’t tell you how powerful the payoff of this lyric was the first time I heard it. I’m planning on keeping this song close by, both for the soothing effect it has and for Lianne La Havas’ guest appearance, which is characteristically wonderful.
Some bands you find out about right when they’re getting started. Cavern Club regulars — I’m looking (with immeasurable jealousy) at you. Other bands you fall for after they’ve stopped making music, and looking back is all you have. For all the bands that fall in between, one of the most interesting moments is when you find out, for the first time since you’ve started listening, that a new album is coming out — it’s when your fandom jumps out of the past and into the present. I’m so excited to be living in that magical, blue-sky moment with Clair Morgan.
January is a great time to make resolutions/look forward, but it’s also a great time to look back at how badly you fucked up your top albums lists.
This was fun. As part of a River City Magazine article, I got to interview folks who work at some of Richmond’s most beloved venues about their favorite shows and live music moments. When I was done working on it, a few things became clear:
Fun fact: When you wait until December 31 to finish your top 10 albums of the year post, your top 10 albums of the year post becomes, by default, your New Year’s Eve post! Before getting to the list, I just want to thank everyone who takes the time to read this blog, whether it’s once a week, once a month, or just this once. It’s such a gift thinking/knowing/believing that there are people out there who share your enthusiasms, and to everyone who left comments, retweeted links, reblogged posts, did guest posts, invited me to do guests posts, or interacted with YHT in any other way, thank you for being such awesome Internet buds.
Now for the 10 albums that meant the most to me in 2014:
A few days ago, I saw yet another malcontented article about how 2014 wasn’t a great year for music, and how there were “good” albums but no “great” albums. I can’t remember where I saw it, and I’m not going to bother trying to find a link, because it’s crap. I’ll give you three reasons why:
That last one warrants its own list, so here are 10 reasons we should join Tina Belcher in raising a glass and toasting RVA music’s 2014. Consider it an alphabetically ordered top 10 that doubles as a drinking game.
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Reason We Should Raise Our Glasses: Because Avers shows how, in a tightly knit community full of talented people, the lineup possibilities are endless and endlessly rewarding.
Avers — “The Only One” [Spotify/iTunes]
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Reason We Should Raise Our Glasses: Because the snuff rock sound took a giant leap in terms of realization and articulation.
Black Girls — “Buyin’ Time” [Spotify/iTunes]
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Reason We Should Raise Our Glasses: Because truly groovy music — songs that find a pocket, set up shop and explore all the space it has to offer — can be enjoyed over and over, and in any situation.
Butcher Brown (ft. Nicholas Payton) — “Jellowstone Room” [Spotify/iTunes]
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Reason We Should Raise Our Glasses: Because you don’t have to choose between intensity and danceability.
Dead Fame — “Joan Crawford” [Spotify/iTunes]
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Reason We Should Raise Our Glasses: Because the cycle of creation and destruction is a powerful thing to witness.
Everyone Dies in the End — “We Bears Are A Proud Race” [Spotify/iTunes]
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Reason We Should Raise Our Glasses: Because the chorus of “Junior” feels like an invitation — the kind of singalong that makes you feel like a part of something.
Lightfields — “Junior” [Spotify/iTunes]
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Reason We Should Raise Our Glasses: Because every track being dynamite and not being able to pick a favorite is a wonderful problem to have.
Sleepwalkers — “Breaking My Heart” [Spotify/iTunes]
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Reason We Should Raise Our Glasses: Because Sundials’ Kick EP packed a full-length album’s punch into six tightly crafted songs that can be enjoyed over and over without losing an ounce of their emotional impact.
Sundials — “Gained A Grip” [Spotify/iTunes]
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Reason We Should Raise Our Glasses: Because the roomy, thoughtful mastery of Pookie’s March tells us that Jellowstone’s success will be varied and fun to follow.
Trio of Justice — “Motherland” [Spotify/iTunes]
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Reason We Should Raise Our Glasses: Because the word is getting out about White Laces, so Richmonders and non-Richmonders alike can cozy up to the many-splendored warmth of TRANCE.
White Laces — “Nothing Clicks” [Soundcloud]
You Hear That 