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diff --git a/posts/music-spotlight-my-top-album-2022.html b/posts/music-spotlight-my-top-album-2022.html new file mode 100644 index 0000000..088e057 --- /dev/null +++ b/posts/music-spotlight-my-top-album-2022.html @@ -0,0 +1,396 @@ + +--post-date: 2023-01-03 +--type: blog + <article> + <h1>Music Spotlight: My Top Album 2022</h1> + <p>The hype is real. I only recently wrote last years, so I bet your hype + is nonexistent but for me I was writing that knowing full well there were + some bangers waiting to be unleashed in this year end review!</p> + <p>If you hadn’t read my previous post for 2021 the link is at the + bottom:</p> + <blockquote> + <p>The winner was “KANGA - You and I Will Never Die”</p> + </blockquote> + <h2>The album pool</h2> + <p>As always the criteria:</p> + <ul> + <li>it was released in 2022</li> + <li>it wasn’t a single</li> + <li>if it was an EP it has to be substantial and intentional</li> + </ul> + <p>And the albums are…</p> + <ul> + <li>Amining for Enrike - The Rats and the Children</li> + <li>And So I watch You from Afar - Jettison</li> + <li>Astronoid - Radiant Bloom</li> + <li>Carpenter Brut - Leather Terror</li> + <li>Cult of Luna - The Long Road North</li> + <li>Dance With the Dead - Driven to Madness</li> + <li>Elder - Innate Passage</li> + <li>Emma Ruth Rundle - EG2: Dowsing Voice</li> + <li>Giraffes? Giraffes! - Death Breath</li> + <li>God Mother - Obeveklig</li> + <li>Jay Hosking - Celestial spheres (and various other releases)</li> + <li>Long Distance Calling - Eraser</li> + <li>Ludovico Technique - Haunted People</li> + <li>MWWB - The Harvest (Mammoth Weed Wizard Bastard)</li> + <li>MØL - Diorama (Instrumental)</li> + <li>Psychostick - … and Stuff</li> + <li>Russian Circles - Gnosis</li> + <li>SIERRA - See Me Now</li> + <li>Starcadian - Shadowcatcher</li> + <li>Tina Dickow - Bitte Små Ryk</li> + <li>Toundra - Hex</li> + <li>Waveshaper - Forgotten Shapes</li> + </ul> + <p>2022’s playlist (+ 2 albums from bandcamp not on Spotify):</p> + <ul> + <li> + <a rel="external noopener noreferrer" + target="_blank" + href= + "https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2TCd910OyZcTjQ8l8Dc0Jy?si=efd0dc6286b84062"> + [spotify] senders' Releases 2022 Spotify Playlist</a> + </li> + <li> + <a rel="external noopener noreferrer" + target="_blank" + href= + "https://emmaruthrundle.bandcamp.com/album/eg2-dowsing-voice">[bandcamp] + Emma Ruth Rundle - EG2: Dowsing Voice</a> + </li> + <li> + <a rel="external noopener noreferrer" + target="_blank" + href= + "https://jayhosking.bandcamp.com/album/celestial-spheres">[bandcamp] + Jay Hosking - Celestial spheres</a> + </li> + </ul> + <h2>The Top 5</h2> + <p>In alphabetical order:</p> + <ul> + <li>Carpenter Brut - Leather Terror</li> + <li>Elder - Innate Passage</li> + <li>Emma Ruth Rundle - EG2: Dowsing Voice</li> + <li>Jay Hosking - Celestial spheres (and various other releases)</li> + <li>Tina Dickow - Bitte Små Ryk</li> + </ul> + <h2>Carpenter Brut - Leather Terror</h2> + <p>Some metal infused synthwave, Carpenter Brut managed to release a + catchy and heavy banger of an album. Featuring a few guest performers, + each of these tracks are unique and catchy in what I would consider a + very “same-y” genre. It’s nice having an infinite supply of retro synth + tracks to drive to, but sometimes it’s hard for one to really break + through into “oh shit yes!”. Typically, Starcadian is the one to do that + for me, as they add an extra layer to their tracks through their music + videos (each track being an “ear movie”).</p> + <p>Throughout the year I found myself coming back to a few tracks over + and over - especially when I was showering or doing some other short + activity and I just wanted something upbeat and fun as heck!</p> + <p>Some call out featured songs are The Widow Maker featuring Gunship, + Imaginary Fire featuring Greg Puciato, and Lipstick Masquerade featuring + Persha. I looped these three songs quite a bit. But there are quite a few + more to checkout.</p> + <h3>Favorite Track</h3> + <p>This is tough, as I looped those three songs quite a bit - each + bringing their own unique energy. So I’ll pick all three - my list my + rules:</p> + <ul> + <li> + <p>The Widow maker - feat. Gunship This track is representative of + the genre. It’s synthwave to the core.</p> + </li> + <li> + <p>Imaginary Fire - feat. Greg Puciato This is a metal track with + synths. Greg Puciato (of The Dillinger Escape Plan fame) is one of my + favorite vocalists and is immensely talented. This is probably my + favorite because I can’t get enough of his vocal style - the screams + and the clean vocals!</p> + </li> + <li> + <p>Lipstick Masquerade - feat. Persha This is a modern 80s track. + This is what retrowave was designed around and while tracks like The + Widow Maker are more typical of the genre, this is the song they all + are basing their sound off of. This is kill pop song.</p> + </li> + </ul> + <h3>Special Commendation - Non Stop Bangers</h3> + <p>You throw this album on and it hits you with just banger after banger. + I can’t keep myself from dancing. Even as I listen back as I write this + gemlog I am grooving in my chair! Like Kanga last year, this is just a + series of tracks that just make you dance.</p> + <h3>Album Link</h3> + <p><a rel="external noopener noreferrer" + target="_blank" + href= + "https://open.spotify.com/album/37PW0ipoWcjx3APS1MN0ql?si=HE0-siOqTsqVlJrlL9MWTw"> + [spotify] Carpenter Brut - Leather Terror</a></p> + <h2>Elder - Innate Passage</h2> + <p>I toot’d a bit about this album, a later release in the year, this + took this year end review and flipped it on its head. I thought it was + wrapped up already with a separate release this year, but this makes the + decision so hard.</p> + <p>Elder came at us with what feels like a return to form. Having + previously released Omens in 2020 and a collaboration album in 2021, + Innate Passage takes the best parts of those two albums and builds on-top + of more “classic Elder” albums like Lore. Elder has carved out their own + niche in the genre making a blend of psych rock and stoner metal, with + each release leaning harder and harder into psychedelic realms. Innate + Passage has this almost ethereal feeling - especially in their opening + track Catastasis.</p> + <p>I think, however, they’ve left the doom and stoner metal behind. Dead + Roots Stirring and Elder (self titled) were certainly “Doomy” and in that + “doom/stoner” metal overlap. Lore, Reflections of a Floating World are + both still very “stoner metal”. But is playing psychedelic-metal with a + big muff automatically stoner metal? I think since Omens they’re + probably, as a band, firmly outside of the stoner metal field - and more + soundly in some psychedelic/prog metal genre?</p> + <p>They introduce themselves as such in their website actually!</p> + <figure> + <blockquote> + <p>genre-pushing rock band that melds heavy psychedelic sounds + with progressive elements and evocative soundscapes.</p> + </blockquote> + <figcaption> + <cite>— <a rel="external noopener noreferrer" + target="_blank" + href= + "https://beholdtheelder.com/elder-bio/">https://beholdtheelder.com/elder-bio/</a></cite> + </figcaption> + </figure> + <p>“Merged In Dreams - Ne Plus Ultra” is the track that flips this whole + argument on its head and shows that regardless, they’re still very much a + metal band and one that you’ll absolutely be head banging too, horn up + \m/.</p> + <h3>Favorite Track</h3> + <p>I think “Merged In Dreams - Ne Plus Ultra”. A nearly 15 minute track + that has everything in it you expect from Elder.</p> + <h3>Special Commendation - Excellent Vinyl Record Cover</h3> + <p>I LOVE their record covers when they do the circular inserts. You can + display this vinyl with having 3 separate views through the port, which + while purely aesthetic - it’s very nice!</p> + <p>The quality of the vinyl release was great, though I find any + non-black Vinyl has a 33% chance of being slightly warped upon arrival. I + am going to stick to traditional black vinyls from now on sadly. It’s too + freaking often</p> + <h3>Album Link</h3> + <p><a rel="external noopener noreferrer" + target="_blank" + href= + "https://open.spotify.com/album/5XClGjeje4c3qPjbtT898K?si=PFgsT8S_TD6hu4dwbFp3Jw"> + [spotify] Elder - Innate Passage</a></p> + <h2>Emma Ruth Rundle - EG2: Dowsing Voice</h2> + <p>Her second album in her “Electric Guitar” series - Emma Ruth Rundle + (ERR from here on out) has released “Dowsing Voice” a haunting follow-up + to last years Engine of Hell. Holy holy HOLY hell, this album is an + impactful, artistic, just WOW. It’s hard to describe. I was listening to + it for this review and my partner, sitting behind me relaxing, said “What + the hell are you listening too, this is scary!”. And scary, emotional, + and difficult it is. ERR stretches the use of the “electric guitar” + title, as the focus here is the additional layers and voices added on-top + of the main tracks.</p> + <p>An experimental release that, at this time is only available on + bandcamp, is one I don’t put on frequently, but when I do am fully + captivated. If you like artistic records - please check this out.</p> + <h3>Favorite Track</h3> + <p>Probably: Keening into Ffynnon Llanllawer - I love the guitar(?) part + and the wailing/vocalization. It’s haunting. As a recording is + amazing.</p> + <p>Though “In the Cave of The Cailleach’s Death-Birth” is the /best/ + track. Put some headphones on and give this a listen! Just amazing.</p> + <h3>Special Commendation - Album Art</h3> + <p>This album, IS ART, but the album art is just… really suiting the + music.</p> + <h3>Album Link</h3> + <p><a rel="external noopener noreferrer" + target="_blank" + href= + "https://emmaruthrundle.bandcamp.com/album/eg2-dowsing-voice">[bandcamp] + Emma Ruth Rundle - EG2: Dowsing Voice</a></p> + <h2>Jay Hosking - Celestial spheres (and various other releases)</h2> + <p>This is an interesting pick. Having released JUST in time for this + year, this is an album I have been engaging with in many, many ways. + Firstly, I am a patron of this performer via Patreon. They make music + videos (audio only performance videos of the songs) that they compile + into albums. Last year’s album is probably my actual favorite and likely + SHOULD’VE snuck into the top 5 because of the final track alone, which + was an emotional and just epic banger of a track (Linked at the bottom of + this review).</p> + <p>Celestial spheres is a compilation of 8 synth jams. Jay bills these as + semi-improvisational, and while the YT channel is a synth nerds dream of + these informative performances, the songs stand on their own. This one is + no exception. Using various different pieces of hardware synths, + grooveboxes, drum machines and traditional instruments - each track is + unique while still carrying this /energy/ and style. It’s so easy to hear + Jays tracks and know it’s him.</p> + <p>I’ve been following him for years and really enjoy the music he makes, + and the community he’s built up around his music. Due to the disconnected + nature of the singles (releasing effectively as YouTube videos prior to + the album drop) it’s difficult to ultimately rate these in these lists + since I don’t get a chance to really enjoy them /as an album/ until the + end of the year (the past two times happened like this where they came + out around the end of the year). And on my playlist “Future, Tense” is + present as it’s a “2022” album according to Spotify, but was out on + bandcamp in 2021, and that’s when I was gifted it by Jay.</p> + <p>So yeah - this whole section is like “disclaimer disclaimer” but if + you like groovy, typically instrumental synth music - check it out.</p> + <h3>The various other releases</h3> + <p>This year Jay released a few albums actually which I didn’t want to + include separately. If you enjoy this album (which was mostly comprised + of 2022 music, so was the primary focus) check out the other albums:</p> + <p><a rel="external noopener noreferrer" + target="_blank" + href= + "https://jayhosking.bandcamp.com/album/cinematic-works">https://jayhosking.bandcamp.com/album/cinematic-works</a> + <a rel="external noopener noreferrer" + target="_blank" + href= + "https://jayhosking.bandcamp.com/album/away-music-for-a-productive-day">https://jayhosking.bandcamp.com/album/away-music-for-a-productive-day</a> + <a rel="external noopener noreferrer" + target="_blank" + href= + "https://jayhosking.bandcamp.com/album/home-music-for-a-productive-day">https://jayhosking.bandcamp.com/album/home-music-for-a-productive-day</a></p> + <h3>Favorite Track</h3> + <p>Without out a doubt it’s Nychthemeron. It’s truly a wild track, with + so much happening in it. I suspect it was his favorite too since he made + an actual music video for it:</p> + <p><a rel="external noopener noreferrer" + target="_blank" + href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ka-xE3Qo3dA">[youtube] Jay + Hosking - Nychthemeron (Official Music video)</a></p> + <h3>Special Commendation - Each track has a live performance attached to + it!</h3> + <p>If you enjoy videos - these each have a corresponding YT video linked + at the bottom of the bandcamp page.</p> + <h3>Album Link</h3> + <p><a rel="external noopener noreferrer" + target="_blank" + href= + "https://jayhosking.bandcamp.com/album/celestial-spheres">[bandcamp] + Jay Hosking - Celestial spheres</a></p> + <h2>Tina Dickow - Bitte Små Ryk</h2> + <p>Tina Dickow (sometimes credited as Tina Dico, depending on the + release) is a fantastic Danish singer songwriter. Since her first solo + album she’s really found a way to elevate what is just folk indie pop. + Her songwriting, arrangements, and performances are always so rich. She + knows when to strip the song back - like Chefen Skal Ha' Fri - while, + has certainly a lot happening beneath the lyrics - mixes them back a bit + to let the layered vocals cut through as the song builds. Each song has + so much to listen to! Picking out various instruments, layers, yet every + song would work performed just her and her acoustic guitar. I find her + style of pop music to be very engaging for that reason. I don’t often + listen to this style of music, but the production behind each track is so + good it hooks me in. That and her beautiful voice - which drew me in + first.</p> + <p>It’s a bit harder to talk about this album given the language barrier + (I do not speak Danish!) Which is a shame, since her lyrics are often + what I love about some of her previous albums. I’ve read the translations + and done my own as a learning exercise, but there is a layer missing + which is a shame given how strong this album is as whole.</p> + <p>I’ve spoken about Tina before in two previous gemlogs (<a href= + "gemini://senders.io/gemlog/2021-04-27-music-spotlight-awesome-eps.gmi">Music + Spotlight: Awesome EPs</a> and <a href= + "gemini://senders.io/gemlog/2021-05-18-5x5-playlists.gmi">5x5 + Playlists</a> (both gemini:// links)) and is one of my absolute favorite + artists of all time. I’ve been slowly collecting her entire discography, + which can be tricky, given a lot of copies are out of print and the + remaining stock/used copies are often in Europe. (And that 5x5 playlist + is very telling given most of those artists have been featured in my top + albums lists and were winners! Is this foreshadowing?!)</p> + <h3>Favorite Track</h3> + <p>I shouldn’t have introduced this section - it has been so hard each + time! I think the title track, Bitte Små Ryk. It’s got everything there, + and is representative of the albums sound.</p> + <h3>Special Commendation - Lovely</h3> + <p>This whole album is lovely. There is emotion here too, and while I + don’t speak the language its often very clear. But I love Tina and her + music. It’s lovely and hits this spot in me thats just warm.</p> + <h3>Album Link</h3> + <p><a rel="external noopener noreferrer" + target="_blank" + href= + "https://open.spotify.com/album/6YV4Gomk4iy0dUyVqPDN7T?si=e3wO7G3XTI-ZIwhOSCswJA"> + [spotify] Tina Dickow - Bitte Små Ryk</a></p> + <h2>My Top Pick</h2> + <p>This year has been especially hard, since I spent so much time + listening to 2021s releases which are some of my favorite of all time. + And between 2021 and 2022 (and mentioned in my 2021 spotlight) nearly + every one of my favorite artists released an album. So I have been + blessed with a lot to listen to.</p> + <p>Anyone following me on mastodon may have seen Tina Dickow just owning + my entire wrapped campaign, but with Elder releasing their album after + the data collection stops for wrapped, that certainly isn’t telling the + whole story.</p> + <p>And it wouldn’t be a top album list if I didn’t mention Starcadian + being consistently in the top 10 year after year, just narrowly missing + the top 5 - though technically, this release was in my 2020s list, as it + was available then, but had since been pulled, and was released + “officially” in 2022. Looking at what I can see it’s the same tracklist, + but the “inspired by” credits are entirely gone from the 2022 + release.</p> + <h3>Elder - Innate Passage</h3> + <p>Each year picking the winner is hard. Part of the reason I do this is + I don’t really add stuff to the list I don’t like. A LOT of music comes + out each year, and I add what I listen to. I don’t listen to music I + don’t like - so by nature of the process - each album is a “top album” + for me.</p> + <p>But the top 5 is usually a mix of “omg obvs” and “yeah turns out I + threw that on way more than I expected” (Carpenter Brut). But its really + always a fight between those “obvs” - this year was Elder and Tina + Dickow. Their releases were seriously top tier and repeat listens.</p> + <p>Tina came in with the advantage of releasing in April, and Elder JUST + released theirs at the end of November. But I did some math on my + mastodon breaking down the comparison. Elder came at us with a longer + albums, under half as many tracks, and over 2x the average song length + (about 10min/track).</p> + <p>They didn’t waste a single second (neither did Tina) but just being + such an accessible album - just direct pure energy and power - BOOM! It + was great.</p> + <h3>This should’ve been a tie</h3> + <p>Honestly, I was ready to call it a tie. I am actually writing this + minutes before posting it, because that’s how undecided I am and how + close this is.</p> + <p>Tina Dickow deserves the number one slot any other year, and both her + and Elder’s albums I hope to see more of in the next few years! Both are + classic albums in their discographies (both albums of which I own and + spin regularly). I forced myself to pick, and just knowing me, my tastes, + and all the stuff I said above - I went with Elder. But seriously, listen + to this record - Tina manages to pack so much musicality in carving out a + unique sound and just amazing style. I love her <3 :)</p> + <p>And if her music isn’t your jam - check out her guest tracks on the + Zero-7 stuff - angelic voice.</p> + <h2>Conclusion</h2> + <p>I am REALLY disappointed I had to choose between Elder and Tina Dickow + this year. Similarly, last year I had Raised by Swans, ERR, and Kanga! + And our winner in 2020 was Bell Witch. These ARE my top six favorite + musical artists currently active.</p> + <p>I’ll talk about music trends and my tastes later on. But I just wanted + to emphasize how much of a banger these last 3 years have been musically + and I am grateful I get to share these with you here.</p> + <p>I am really excited for 2023!</p> + <h2>This year’s playlist (2023)</h2> + <p><a rel="external noopener noreferrer" + target="_blank" + href= + "https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4zgdFBZslkcEq0xYFyME7U?si=4bc2bf7d015c4254"> + [spotify] senders' Releases 2023 Playlist</a></p> + <h2>Links</h2> + <p>If you use gemini:// you can check out my previous posts (until/unless + I decided to port those over too)</p> + <ul> + <li> + <a href= + "gemini://senders.io/gemlog/2022-11-30-music-spotlight-top-album-2021.gmi"> + [gemini] Music Spotlight: Top Album 2021</a> + </li> + <li> + <a href= + "gemini://senders.io/gemlog/2021-03-21-music-spotlight-top-album-2020.gmi"> + [gemini] Music Spotlight: Top Album 2020</a> + </li> + </ul> + <p>Thanks for reading! I don’t always crosspost - I am trying something + out :)</p> + </article> + |