2010

So it’s been 2011 for over a month but here’s some stuff from 2010. I heard a bunch of good albums; here are a few (with more to come):

Look What I Did – Atlas Drugged
 (Modernist Movement, 2010)

 

I’ll start with these guys as I’d never heard of them before. Look What I Did are based in Nashville, Tennessee, with Atlas Drugged being their third album. I’d loosely describe them as; part Helmet, part Jesus Lizard, part punk. They describe themselves as info-punk, that’ll do. What is info-punk? I have no idea, but they look like a group of young guys mucking around (check out the video for I’m Majoring in Psychology), and sound, for the most part, wild & chaotic. Vocalist Barry Donegan alternates between singing and screaming however the lyrics seem largely intellectual and/or satirical. Donegan, a political activist/candidate, not only has a general distaste for the state of the music industry but is also actively working on better ways of sharing music (hopefully we hear more).

There’s not a bad song on the album; Fade to Daft, Holding Pattern, and the closing track Baby Darwins, standout. You can listen to Atlas Drugged in full, and buy it here.

Melvins – The Bride Screamed Murder
(Ipecac Recordings, 2010)

The Melvins continue to put out music and the music continues to be good. Since the addition of Coady Willis and Jarred Warren from Big Business in 2006 they have had a more booming sound (possibly the result of having two drummers) and this album is no different. It’s hard and heavy with patches of strangeness thrown in; Hospital Up being a good example. Their darkish, creepy sound is still apparent, most notably on I’ll Finish You Off with its organ-like sound and high pitched vocals. Electric Flower and Inhumanity and Death are classic Melvins, while they also cover The Who’s My Generation in the same vein as they did with Going Blind and God of Thunder back in the day.

The Melvins always deliver, and just enjoy rocking out it seems, five shows in New Zealand is testament to that.

Kids Eat Crayons – Kids Eat Crayons is For Lovers
(Kids Eat Crayons, 2007)

(This actually came out in 2007 but I didn’t realise so it makes this list)

Hmm… where to start with these guys? Jazz metal. Mr. Bungle meets Frank Zappa. Nonsensical lyrics. A tempo that changes every fifteen seconds. A song called Masturbation Day Parade. This all seems a little out of control and the album sounds like it has ADHD, however it is somehow accessible and listenable. The first track Eat it Or Wear It is two minutes of jazz/metal/mayhem and things go from there. The Dying at Home Song is somewhat melodic and sad in contrast to the chaos that surrounds it.

This album is brilliant if you’re in the right mood. Kids Eat Crayons is probably not for lovers.