2006 was (in my humble opinion) a great year for music. As you can see from my previous post there were more than 30 albums all vying for a spot on the top 10. So, without further adieu: Matt V's top 10
Converge - No Heroes
After their last, relatively disappointing, album "You Fail Me" I had thought Converge was all done making incredible records. In my mind they couldn't possibly follow up the masterpiece that is "Jane Doe". Well this new fucking record blew me away. It has everything I love about this band and things I never thought they would do. I love this album and will surely listen to it for years to come.
Jesu - Silver
I discovered Jesu with their debut full length probably at the end of last year. When Hydra Head announced this EP I jumped! I ran to the record store and bought it at midnight. When I got home Hydra Head posted a preorder package! So I did what any true fan would do and bought it again. The limited edition American Apparel T-Shirt was just too cool to pass up. This album is heavy, sludgy, dense, dark, and hopeful. Silver is just another gold. I definitely can't wait for 2007's Conqueror and seeing them open for ISIS.
Young Widows - Settle Down City
I was at the Middle East Upstairs a few months ago to see Mouth of the Architect and These Arms Are Snakes. Luckily I had gotten their nice and early and got to see this incredible band. The sound coming off this stage totally blew me away. I can barely describe it. I bought the album immediately and I like it more each time I listen. The production is lo-fi while still sounding amazing. I totally love this band!
Russian Circles - Enter
This was a band I randomly discovered on Myspace. I spend a bunch of time going to band's sites and listening to bands that they are friends with. I really enjoyed the song on their site so I picked up the disc. After listening to it once I kicked myself in the ass for not going to see them play with Minus the Bear. This is instrumental rock at it's finest. Great memorable songs, great production, great performances. I can't get that first riff out of my head!
Cult of Luna - Somewhere Along the Highway
I had heard of this band a while back but never bought anything by them. When I started to do this top 10 I did a quick look around to see if there were any albums that I didn't get. This one stood out. After a little research I found that this album came with a limited 7" single with a Smashing Pumpkins cover on it. I decided right away that I needed to own this. The music is very "NeurIsis" which I totally love. It's heavy, it's progressive, it's awesome. Reminds me of Panopticon without clean vocals.
ISIS - In The Absence of Truth
ISIS' anticipated new album certainly did not disappoint. Although it isn't my favorite ISIS record (Oceanic owns that title) it is an excellent record and certainly worthy of this list. ISIS has quickly become one of my favorite bands and this album is excellent proof why.
The Sword - Age of Winters
Do you like Black Sabbath? Do you like awesome, sludgy, 70's style rock? Well this band is all that and more. I first saw this album and I thought "wow, that's probably terrible" I couldn't have been more wrong. I can't get enough of it!
Battle of Mice - Day of Nights
Front-woman Julie Christmas put out albums with 2 bands this year. This one and the also very amazing Made out of Babies' Coward. I discovered both bands on a Red Sparowes split and was immediately blown away by her voice. I prefer this to Made Out of Babies mostly for the guitar work (the guy from Red Sparowes and Neurosis' visual artist is awesome!)
Mouth of the Architect - The Ties That Bind
I read a review on The PRP for this record and was intrigued. It described it as being very heavily influenced by Neurosis. I thought that sounded bad-ass so I picked it up. The more I listen to this record the more I hear. There is so much going on in each song and it gets better every time. They also put on an excellent live show (even though they only had enough time to play 3 songs!)
Versoma - Life During Wartime
Rounding out the top 10 is a band that I've seen twice this year. They've lucked out and opened for both ISIS and Red Sparowes. The first time I saw them they were a little sloppy but the heavy use of delay and the good songs made me want to buy their record. ISIS describes it best : "noise and melody never sounded so sweet" This last spot was the hardest to pick with great albums from Mono, Red Sparowes, Tides, Mastodon, Making it Right, Pearl Jam, Switchblade, Grails, Disappearer, Jeremy Enigk, and 5ive all fighting for the spot. I just think that this one will last a bit longer in the old CD player or on my Zombie iPodito.
If you don't own any of these releases I urge you to go and listen! There is something for everyone I think! Well maybe not everyone.
12.28.2006
12.22.2006
A change would do you good.
Change is in the air today.
Joey and I have written 2 songs together. We have decided to name our band Sound Film. Hence the change in the blog. The old address works too but only has posts from forever ago. It did have a picture that good ol' ding ding took when Dipthong played in New Jersey though.
Dipthong is officially no more. We are changing the name and style. We have started work on one song so far. Kyle has been busy during this merry season so we haven't really been able to get much done. We'll see how it goes. I'm cautiously optimistic.
I've discovered 2 more albums that I would like to hear before the year end top 10. I think that both bands have a shot and I'd hate to get the records next year and know that the top 10 isn't what it should be. So far the nominees are:
*Ambulette - The Lottery
*Battle Of Mice - Day of Nights
*Boysetsfire - Misery Index: Songs from the Plague Years
*Converge - No Heroes
*Disappearer - s/t
*Jeremy Enigk- World Waits
*5ive - Versus
*Grails - Black Tar Prophecies 1, 2, & 3
*Gregor Samsa - 55:12
*Helmet - Monochrome
*Intronaut - Void
*ISIS - In The Absence of Truth
*ISIS/Aereogramme - In The Fishtank 14
*Jesu - Silver
*Making It Right - Don't Forget to Write
*Mastodon - Blood Mountain
*(the) Melvins - (a) Senile Animal
*MGR - Nova Lux
*Mono - You Are There
*Mouth of the Architect - The Ties That Bind
*Pearl Jam - s/t
*Red Sparowes - Every Heart Shines Towards The Red Sun
*Russian Circles - Enter
*SUNN0))) & Boris - Altar
*Switchblade - s/t
*The Sword - Age of Winters
*These Arms Are Snakes - Easter
*Tides - From Silence
*Versoma - Life During Wartime
*Windmills by the Ocean - s/t
*Neil Young - Living With War
*Young Widows - Settle Down City
I know how everyone is always like oh Matt all you listen to is bands on Hydra Head. Well only one album on this list was released on Hydra Head proper. Neurot Recordings has 3 on the list. Ipecac, Robotic Empire, and Jade Tree all have 2 on the list. 4 major label releases (Pearl Jam, Neil Young, Mastodon, Ambulette). 1 not on any label (MIR). 4.5 bands not from the US (Jesu, Neil Young, Switchblade, Mono, Boris). 9 instrumental. 8 have some connection to Boston.
The 2 missing are Cult of Luna - Somewhere Along the Highway and This Will Destroy You - Young Mountain. What do you think? Did I miss your favorite? Probably. I probably think it sucked.
Albums by bands that have previously dominated in top 10 contests that didn't this year: Tool - 10,000 Days, Deftones - Saturday Night Wrist, Incubus - Light Grenades, The Mars Volta - Amputechture. Work a little harder next time would ya?
My predictions for best albums next year: Smashing Pumpkins, Zozobra, Jesu, Explosions in the Sky, Pelican, Architect, The_Network, Clouds, NIN, Neurosis, and Cursed. Hey that's 10! Next year is all set!
Joey and I have written 2 songs together. We have decided to name our band Sound Film. Hence the change in the blog. The old address works too but only has posts from forever ago. It did have a picture that good ol' ding ding took when Dipthong played in New Jersey though.
Dipthong is officially no more. We are changing the name and style. We have started work on one song so far. Kyle has been busy during this merry season so we haven't really been able to get much done. We'll see how it goes. I'm cautiously optimistic.
I've discovered 2 more albums that I would like to hear before the year end top 10. I think that both bands have a shot and I'd hate to get the records next year and know that the top 10 isn't what it should be. So far the nominees are:
*Ambulette - The Lottery
*Battle Of Mice - Day of Nights
*Boysetsfire - Misery Index: Songs from the Plague Years
*Converge - No Heroes
*Disappearer - s/t
*Jeremy Enigk- World Waits
*5ive - Versus
*Grails - Black Tar Prophecies 1, 2, & 3
*Gregor Samsa - 55:12
*Helmet - Monochrome
*Intronaut - Void
*ISIS - In The Absence of Truth
*ISIS/Aereogramme - In The Fishtank 14
*Jesu - Silver
*Making It Right - Don't Forget to Write
*Mastodon - Blood Mountain
*(the) Melvins - (a) Senile Animal
*MGR - Nova Lux
*Mono - You Are There
*Mouth of the Architect - The Ties That Bind
*Pearl Jam - s/t
*Red Sparowes - Every Heart Shines Towards The Red Sun
*Russian Circles - Enter
*SUNN0))) & Boris - Altar
*Switchblade - s/t
*The Sword - Age of Winters
*These Arms Are Snakes - Easter
*Tides - From Silence
*Versoma - Life During Wartime
*Windmills by the Ocean - s/t
*Neil Young - Living With War
*Young Widows - Settle Down City
I know how everyone is always like oh Matt all you listen to is bands on Hydra Head. Well only one album on this list was released on Hydra Head proper. Neurot Recordings has 3 on the list. Ipecac, Robotic Empire, and Jade Tree all have 2 on the list. 4 major label releases (Pearl Jam, Neil Young, Mastodon, Ambulette). 1 not on any label (MIR). 4.5 bands not from the US (Jesu, Neil Young, Switchblade, Mono, Boris). 9 instrumental. 8 have some connection to Boston.
The 2 missing are Cult of Luna - Somewhere Along the Highway and This Will Destroy You - Young Mountain. What do you think? Did I miss your favorite? Probably. I probably think it sucked.
Albums by bands that have previously dominated in top 10 contests that didn't this year: Tool - 10,000 Days, Deftones - Saturday Night Wrist, Incubus - Light Grenades, The Mars Volta - Amputechture. Work a little harder next time would ya?
My predictions for best albums next year: Smashing Pumpkins, Zozobra, Jesu, Explosions in the Sky, Pelican, Architect, The_Network, Clouds, NIN, Neurosis, and Cursed. Hey that's 10! Next year is all set!
12.01.2006
Heavy Duty Rock & Roll
So I missed like the first 5 shows on my list due to lack of funds, lack of concert going companions, and band stuff. I'm going to deftones tonight and probably converge sunday, but I'm gonna miss Jeremy Enigk and 27 next week. Bummer! I really wanted to see both of those shows. Oh well.
Top 10 albums is coming along nicely. 51 new albums last year have been narrowed down to just over 20. I'm determined to let no record be left behind this year. Last few years I do a top 10 and then January comes around and I discover all this music I missed out on. I know it's not possible to own everything, but I've done a decent job this year. If CD's cost $10, I've spent $510 on just new releases this year. Now tell me that the internet is hurting record companies. Sure some of them weren't $10, some were more, some were less. I also didn't buy all of them myself. Some were gifts. I also bought plenty of back catalog records last year. The 51 also doesn't count compilations, splits, re-releases, and live albums. I'm definetly gonna cut back in 2007. There are several great releases coming up that I'm very excited for, but I'm gonna try and keep it to the albums I need.
Explosions in the Sky tickets go on sale in 10 minutes. March 21, 2007! Middle East Downstairs! FUCK YEAH.
Top 10 albums is coming along nicely. 51 new albums last year have been narrowed down to just over 20. I'm determined to let no record be left behind this year. Last few years I do a top 10 and then January comes around and I discover all this music I missed out on. I know it's not possible to own everything, but I've done a decent job this year. If CD's cost $10, I've spent $510 on just new releases this year. Now tell me that the internet is hurting record companies. Sure some of them weren't $10, some were more, some were less. I also didn't buy all of them myself. Some were gifts. I also bought plenty of back catalog records last year. The 51 also doesn't count compilations, splits, re-releases, and live albums. I'm definetly gonna cut back in 2007. There are several great releases coming up that I'm very excited for, but I'm gonna try and keep it to the albums I need.
Explosions in the Sky tickets go on sale in 10 minutes. March 21, 2007! Middle East Downstairs! FUCK YEAH.
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