Jesse's Top 15 Albums from 2018

1. Superchunk - What A Time To Be Alive            

Delivering on the promise of last year's political daggers, this album captures where my head's at these days. Practically on daily rotation.

2. Horse Feathers - Appreciation             

Longtime fan, but this is easily my favorite Horse Feathers album. Playing it for everyone, and all kinds dig it.

3. Flasher - Constant Image       

Is this post punk? New Wave? The best of both? It toys with jagged riffs, repetition, harmonies, and so many barbed hooks. Plus, they look 10.

4. Native Sun - Always Different, Always The Same    

    

A late addition and only an EP, but nearly every song is a killer slab of swaggering rocknroll.

5. Alice Ivy - I’m Dreaming

Avalanches comparisons are fair, but damn if the album doesn't reveal new details to love with each listen.

6. Spiritual Cramp - Television   

Holy crap! Loved the EPs but these 6 new songs might even be better. Combines for an all around fiery punk LP.

7. Alien Boy - Sleeping Lessons 

Nailing that perfect mix of melody, noise, and emotional heft. Easily one of my top Portland albums this year.

8. Heaven - All Love Is Blue        

Love their expansive sound; this shoegaze struts. Side A is near perfection. On heavy rotation this year.

9. The Orielles - Silver Dollar Moment   

Infusing their indie pop tons of clever surprises. Sounds both familiar and unique.

10. Chemtrails - Calf Of The Sacred Cow

Discovered these gender-bending psych pop masters off a 2017 label sampler and fell in love with their previous two psych pop EPs. My Johnny-come-lately status payed off with an album released just weeks later and that I’ve rocked ever since.

11. Beatchild & The Slakadeliqs - Heavy Rockin’ Steady

Subtle and buttery hooks from all over place. Throw it on for your own High Fidelity/Beta Band type moment.   

12. Jeff Rosenstock - POST-        

Oh man, "USA" is a sprawling, kitchen sink punk epic that just slays in its messy brilliance.

13. The Record Company - All Of This Life

They keep it simple -- three guys, a couple chords, minimal lyrics -- but when they find a rhythm, they work it, wringing out each sweaty riff. Hey! Whoa oh oh oh.

14. Lord Huron - Vide Noir

First introduced to this band off one of these lists back in 2011 and they’ve been a mainstay on the radio since then. Another family favorite.

15. Murder by Death - The Other Shore

Propelled by a baritone vocals and bold drum beats, these country gothic anthems ride the line between dark and celebratory.

Album of the Month: Murder By Death - Big Dark Love (February 2015)

February was a tough month to pick a "favorite" album. For the shortest month of the year, it was jam-packed with solid releases (a few other highlights are noted below).

Big Dark Love wins by a nose in no small part because I caught MBD as they passed San Francisco at The Independent and the new tracks passed the "live test" with flying colors. I am of course a long-time fan of this five-piece band, but I manage to continue to learn new ways to enjoy this group.

On Big Dark Love the sound is fuller and more complex, moving much further away from the early, grittier punk/rockabilly roots. Here at QuickCrit, we've lamented that this is sometimes the swan song of a band's authenticity and down-home flare that made us like the band in the first place (Kings of Leon, for example). However, I don't have that same feeling with this album and band. My favorite song, "Send Me Home" (playable below), captures most of the elements that I really like about this album and MBD in general dating back to their earlier days -- prominent baritone vocals, sing-a-long hooks, clean, well-paced instrumentation, and of course, the heartfelt, dark, and touching (although the song is surprisingly uplifting) vocals. I've come to realize that Murder By Death is not for everyone, which is fine... it is still perfect for me.


Other favorites from the second month of the year included:

• José González's Vestiges & Claws
• The Dø's Shake Shook Shaken
• Songhoy Blues's Music in Exile 
• The Districts's A Flourish and a Spoil

QuickCrit's Top 40 from 2012: 31 - 40

31. The Heavy - The Glorious Dead

A band whose name actually describes their music. Heavy. - Nesto

They’ve been making hip-slipping stripper soul singles for years, this is just the first album that’s wall to wall ass shakers. - awmercy  

32. Shovels and Rope - O' Be Joyful

It's hard for me to describe Shovels and Rope beyond good Americana, but it always makes me happy to hear them. - Ann

Like a Southern White Stripes, the album is a mix of guitar, fiddles, banjos, stomps, horns, an occasional washboard, and some old mono field recordings. There are some slow songs with some good Southern gothic lyrics, but most of the album is a rootsy rocker. - JT 

33. A Place To Bury Strangers - Worship

This band ruled my stereo all year long.  Imagine if The Cure, My Bloody Valentine and The Jesus & Mary Chain had a child and named it TOTAL ROCK EXPLOSION. I drank the kool-aid big time with these guys and loved every minute. - Max D

Iggy and all those Simpatico - Sir Beatdown 

34. Josh Ritter - Bringing In the Darlings

This tiny gem of an EP really is full of lullabies. They are slow, folkish songs, but so sweet. - Ann

I love Josh Ritter. He could compose poetry entirely about poop and fungus and it would sound dreamy. This is a lovely little treat of an EP. And yes, Josh, you can be my Darlin'. - Brasilliant 

35. Kendrick Lamar - good kid, m.A.A.d city

To capture my attention, a rap album needs an interesting story, a few songs that demand to be played with the windows down while driving, and an excuse to sing along with lyrics like "Bitch, don't kill my vibe." Check, check, and check. - CloningMishap

For the Azz only. - Sir Beatdown 

36. Niki and The Dove - Instinct

During the 1980s, Prince and Stevie Nicks gave birth to a secret love child. They put her up for adoption in Sweden, and she grew up to form this band. - The Crane Wife

This was my most random stumbled upon album of the year.  Reminds me of two of my all time favorites, Kate Bush and Stevie Nicks.  Swedish too?!?! - Ancient Indian Wizard 

37. Bear In Heaven - I Love You, It's Cool

These guys managed to infuse an 80's dance rock feel into their synthy pop without sounding too dated.  Tribal beats and huge keyboard tones drive this slow burner of an album. - Max D

In heaven ain't no beer, got to drink it here. - Sir Beatdown 

38. Divine Fits - A Thing Called Divine Fits

Britt Daniel and the guy from Wolf Parade teaming up? Yeah, count me in. This album kicks ass. Love the cover of Shivers, gets me every time. - Joey P

A super group that is not too bad. - Dr. Shithead 

39. Murder By Death - Bitter Drink, Bitter Moon

The lyrics, as usual, reek of alcohol, but the music falls somewhere between old-timey, country, and punk... Bitter Drink, Bitter Moon hits that boozy nail on the head. - NightraiN

Dark, gritty, nasty, grumpy and self-loathing ballads... but rarely angry and not nauseating with themes of redemption. - JC Hackett 

40. King Tuff - King Tuff

Solid, SOLID Rock and Roll!  I love this dude! - Tex

Glammy, fun, and so damn catchy. - awmercy 

The Rural Alberta Advantage - Departing (2011)

I was sitting around a large table of folks at the Connecticut Yankee awhile back, greasing the pipes for The Builders and The Butchers and Murder By Death concert at BOTH, when a friend said, "You know a band I think you should check out? The Rural Alberta Advantage." So I did, and here I am writing this review. I have to admit, I was on the fence at first... And the fence was pretty tall and thick. Nils Edenloff's vocals are not exactly welcoming, beautiful or mainstream, but they had me at "Drain the Blood." Again, initially I was riding that proverbial fence regarding Departing, but in the same manner a few listens turned me into an avid fan of Hometowns, I was drawn into the folky, slightly quirky rhythms, nasally vocals and sing-along choruses. As for Departing, "Two Lovers" is great, "Under the Knife" is remarkably catchy, "Tornado '87" is this album's pull-you-in jam much like "Drain the Blood" was on the last album and "Barnes' Yard" makes my foot-drums go crazy. I'm not going to promise that you'll think this album is a winner at first listen, but give it a few spins, and if those high-notes hit a chord, I'm sure you'll become a fan just like me.

Murder By Death - Good Morning, Magpie (2010)

You'll likely need a bottle of whiskey and a beer-back for this one, 'cause Murder By Death loves singing 'bout drinking. Honestly, I was a little bit down-trodden upon first listen of Good Morning, Magpie, simply because I was not initially drawn in by any particular track in the same way that I was drawn in by most of the tracks off of Red of Tooth and Claw. However, as many albums do, certain songs began to sink in and did more than an adequate job of chasing away my temporary disappointment. Additionally, I admittedly start listening to new albums from bands I love with expectations that are fashioned by my intimate relationship with records and tracks of the past, momentarily forgetting that bands typically move forward and evolve. I would say that MBD may have matured, but certainly not "moved on." Adam Turla's voice remains as old-fashioned and gritty as ever, the musicianship perhaps is more impressive, and the lyrics are still a tasteful mixture of melancholy & good, drunken times.  I ultimately enjoy GM,M more than In Bocca Al Lupo but less than Red of Tooth and Claw, in general. "Foxglove," "King of the Gutters, Prince of the Dogs," "As Long As There Is Whiskey In The World" and "The Day" are my favorites and make for good starters, but as suggested above I'd grab a bottle or two and run through this one a few times so it settles in deep with your warm, whiskey buzz.

The Gaslight Anthem - "Great Expectations" Video

The Gaslight Anthem come are playing at Bertbati's Pan tonight and Murder By Death is opening. It should be a kick ass show of punky roots rock. I'm already amped.