Rock in Chicago Magazine

Erik Oldman is the founder of Rock in Chicago and guitarist for instrumental progressive fusion trio, Sons of Ra.

1) Without Waves - Lunar

This release is was a long time in the making, by arguably one of my favorite bands from Chicago. I've been following Without Waves since I first heard them back in 2011 at the Bottom Lounge.

I don't hear many bands that are able to cover the diverse sonic territories of doom, progressive metal, space/post-rock AND jazz fusion. Yes, all of that! That's something that is a direct hit with me. I love diversity. I love bands that are comfortable in expressing themselves in multiple styles and have well-written songs with dynamics that turn on a dime. That's the sort of stuff that gives me the chills.

Lunar is the first release by the band on Prosthetic Records. It's quite a diverse set of material. Each song really stands on its own. The pacing of the material on the album is a little jarring at times, but overall its an enjoyable listen and like most well-constructed art, each listen reveals something new.

The persistent threads within the material, in how each song relates to each other, are craftsmanship of each tune, multi-layered with a balance of texture, dynamics, and hooks while being able to push arrangments into differing time signatures, blistering dynamics and weaving contrasting moments of controlled chaos and orchestral bliss.

The brutal songs, from the opener "Sewing Together the Limbs", "Victorian Punishment", and "Memento Mori" in particular roll out some amazing modern technical/progressive death metal with some nice mathy and noisy touches.

The more chilled out songs, particularly "Us Against", "Never Know Quite Why", and "Fractals". Are steeped in 90's alternative and space rock, yet still feel fresh, and modern instead of derivative. The last song of three could pass as a single on a modern rock station.

Recommended Track: "Us Against"

2) Voice of Addiction - The Lost Art of Empathy

Fantastic full-length from politically charged and socially conscious Chicago based punk-rockers. The album kicks off, immediately hitting the listener with the anthem, "Rust Belt" and taking them on a roller-coaster ride through different variations of their sound and take of the current world we live in. I absolutely love the production and pacing of the album here. It really works, keeps the listener going with a number of solid hook anthem style choruses.

Other highlights on the album include "Unity", "Petty Schemes", "I Can't Breathe" and "Eviction Notice"

Recommended Track: "Petty Schemes"

3) Black Sites - In Monochrome

This is another local release I was really looking forward to for 2017. Black Sites comes out of the tradition of late 70's/early 80's hard rock and heavy metal. With this new project, Mark Sugar's writing is as intense as what he wrote with his previous project in Trials, however the material on In Monochrome has a more mature aspect in the writing and lyrical content. Its refreshing to hear hard rock and heavy metal with these references, not dated or derivative but more of a sonic lineage in the arrangments and emphasis on hooks.

Recommended Track: "Dead Languages"

4) Bent Knee - Land Animal

With this release its like watching the rose that is Bent Knee blossom into something special. The arrangements seem a bit more polished and sophisticated. The album focuses on more accessible pieces, and still heavy, but not overbearing. I really love the production values, its a good balance of polish and immediacy/rawness. There's still the quirky pop sensibilities that come through with Courtney Swain's vocals and keys that counterbalance the crunchy guitars and rhythms.

This is a band where you put on an album and listen to the entire album, instead of a particular track. Each one is a journey, mesmerizing, hypnotic. Land Animal is no different and is another journey in the band's saga.

Recommended Track: "These Hands"

5) Nonzoo - Wazoo

I saw the band name in passing on Facebook with a video link. My mind was immediately blown. I can't really explain what they do. You just have to take it in. Here's a band that exists in a space that I've been looking for over the last 25 years. It's a space where Bjork, Oingo Boingo, Bungle, and Sonic Youth, a little Slint and some prepared instrumentation ala John Cage all work.

Recommended Track: "Great American Trough"

6) In the Presence of Wolves - Of Two Minds, Stages 1 - 2: The Ape And The Cage

Solid modern, melodic, progressive, post-hardcore with some strong jazz and math flavors. Parts Coheed and Cambria, Between the Buried and Me, The Mars Volta, and Porcupine Tree with a bit of Dillinger Escape Plan’s sensibilities.

The EP is part of a conceptual album based on the story of twin brothers, one a paranoid schizophrenic and the other normal. The schizoprhenic twin takes his life while the other tries to piece together the cause of the suicide during his grieving process.

The flow of the EP really draws the listener into the story line. An album that plays from start to finish, I don't ever feel the need to skip around.

Looking forward to the next part.

Recommended Track: “As We Speak”

7) Only the Bones - Death and His Brother Sleep

They bill themselves as a post-Fugazi band. I fuckin' love Fugazi. They do some really interesting odd-meter post-punk.

Recommended Track: "Trophy Room"

8) Tigran Hamasayan - An Ancient Observer

Some really gorgeous modern jazz piano. This offering isn't as adventurous as 2015's "Mockroot" in terms of composition and ensemble approach. It's a solo piano record. Compositionally its incredibly polished. The execution is airtight, and really showcases Hamasayan's classical chops and modal sensibilities in his arrangements.

Recommended Track: "The Cave of Rebirth"

9) Akku Quintet - Aeon

Hypnotic polymetric modern minimalist jazz with progressive and noisy flourishes.

Another album I listen to from start to finish and has been on my daily playlist over the last few months.

Recommended Track: Flying Low

10) Coyote Man

I've played shows with these guys a good number of times over the last year, and they are really tight and intense live.

The album is another animal altogether, the groove and tightness are there, but the progressive side of the band comes out along with the skill and arrangement of guitarist Augie Portugal's piano and keyboard playing. Another album that's in my daily rotation.

Nick Cvijovic slings guitar in Chicago punk band, Butchered.

I always love the end of the year because every media publication puts out their top-whatevers for songs, albums, movies, etc. The problem I face every year is that I get super attached to albums that came out the year prior and then tend not listen to anything new throughout the year until the next best-of lists come out. It’s a ridiculous cycle that I am glad to have broken this year. While most of my top listens were all 2016 albums, I did make time for stuff that came out this year. Just a short disclaimer: it is unanimously decided that Damn. by Kendrick Lamar was the best record of 2017. 

I believe it is and everyone should believe it to be as well. It was an incredible work of art both in order and in reverse; however, my list does not contain it. My list represents the albums that meant the most to me throughout 2017 and albums that I will consider classics until the end of music. I played these albums endless amounts of times over the past year so I know what I like, I think. I whittled this list down from 35 different albums that I deemed my favorite and I still think ten albums is far too little to rank after this year’s offering of music. Whatever, here I go anyway…

10. Pulled Apart By Horses- The Haze // Mobina Galore- Feeling Disconnected

(Alright, I already have a tie, big deal.) Pulled Apart by Horses is a heavy garage-y band that brings so much more than your standard Ty Segall or whatever the flavor-of-the-week garage bands are in nowadays. The Haze is a perfect bar brawl soundtrack that reminds me of those early revival bands like The Libertines and the Fratellis, albeit with more fuzz. That’s what makes this record so good; there are tons of catchy melodies, great musicianship, and a liberal use of fuzzy guitar. It’s a simple formula that makes this album so much fun. 

[Recommended track: “Hotel Motivation”] 

Also tied with this record is Winnipeg’s Mobina Galore, who put out Feeling Disconnected, the duo’s debut album. I couldn’t believe these girls were a two-piece when I first listened. The songwriting is incredible and is perfect fare for any punk, but also has a hardcore vibe. These girls blew up too after this album, and deservedly so; touring with the likes of Against Me! and Propaghandi- both bands that are clear influences on Mobina Galore. 

[Recommended track: “Vancouver”] 

9. Zeal & Ardor- Devil is Fine

I’m going to quickly preface this by saying that I could have sworn this album came out in 2016 but Spotify says 2017 so screw it. Anyway, this album is the only good thing to ever come out of 4chan. Manuel Gagneux  is a Swiss-American musician who came to New York after fleeing his Swiss Army duties and decided to ask the cesspool of 4chan what kind of album to make. They responded to his request by saying black metal and the blues, although not in those words because it’s 4chan. Gagneux’s debut as Zeal & Ardor takes black metal’s typically buzz saw guitar and pairs it with his own rendition of Satan-worshipping delta blues chants. It’s seriously the most original metal offering that I can think of, becoming almost hypnotic during the call and response verses channeling old slave songs of the mid 1800s and then ripping your stupid head clean off when the screaming and instrumentation kick in, and then become almost danceable when the two are blended. I don’t know, I get too excited talking about this record, and there’s so much to dissect within it. While sticking to blues-inflected black metal, there is also lounge and EDM styled songs which break up the record wonderfully. It’s all so cool, dudes. [Recommended track: “Come On Down” ]

8. The Dopamines- Tales of Interest

I am a sucker for self-deprecating punk rock and Cincinnati’s The Dopamines have always done it the best since their debut in 2008. Nine years later they are still screaming about their jobs and being broke; typical punk rock themes. But they have great harmony and melody within every seemingly-three-chord song that really separates them from every other band within their genre. Tales of Interest is full of songs that are believable; what I mean is that there is so much feeling in every note, chord, and lyric that it never ever gets whiny. Couple that with the Dopamines ability to have awesome songwriting that can rip on one chord over and over without ever getting tiresome and you have a perfect Midwest punk record. The dudes also incorporate some super heavy metal riffing on a few of the tracks which makes this album the best for getting too drunk and yelling at the top of your lungs until your neighbors call the cops. Stupid neighbors, they’ll never understand. [Recommended tracks: “Ire” and “Kaltes Ende”] https://radgirlfriendrecords.bandcamp.com/track/ire-2

7. Woe- Hope Attrition 

I had the hardest time trying to decide to put Power Trip’s incredible Nightmare Logic or Bell Witch’s Mirror Reaper in this spot because both of those albums were very important this year, not just in metal, but in the mainstream as well. Hell, Pitchfork loved both. Well, the mainstream’s opinions are crap and Woe had the best metal record, and nobody was really talking about it. Hope Attrition came to my attention only a few weeks ago but I think I have listened to it once or twice a day since then. Black metal seems to be pretty repetitive stylistically recently (shoooooeeeeegggaaazzzeeee), but Woe brings an album that is equal parts epic and brutal. Sure, there are blast beats and guttural vocals, but Hope Attrition also throws in some high pitched screams, clean vocals, and interesting song structure. The guitars fucking wail too, and feature some of the coolest sounding solos I have heard in a long time. This album differs from a lot of black metal lyrically too, singing about real life evils of white supremacy and our nation’s ineptitude. It’s refreshing (for me at least) to have metal be topical, and to lean more leftist. None of it matters anyway because you think Mirror Reaper should have been on here. Shove it. [Recommended track: “No Blood Has Honor”] 

6. Rozwell Kid- Precious Art

One of the lines that begins this album states, “I’m down to my underwear because I through it all away in a Wendy’s trash can” and if you don’t think that is the best damn line ever than you are a moron. Rozwell Kid continues in the tradition of making guitar rock awesome again, essentially making a record that Weezer should be doing, but would get shit on for because it’d still be too weird for them. Precious Art’s themes are personal, but filtered through wit and loud dueling guitars. Songs thematically range from losing it, to romantic hangs watching UHF, to a song about wanting to be something else- specifically a dog. Everything Rozwell Kid does is a lot nerdy, a lot sarcastic, or a lot goofy, to veil deeply emotional writing but they never fail to keep the guitars loud as hell. [Recommended track: “Wendy’s Trash Can”] 

5. The Eradicator- The Eradicator

The first time I ever saw the Eradicator live was when he opened for Direct Hit! at the Double Door for the Wasted Mind release show. I had seen the sketch before (the Kids in the Hall sketch) and was incredibly excited to hear how one guy was going to base an entire set of songs off of one or two 5 minute sketches from an old TV show. The sketch is about a masked squash player trying to work up the ranks of his local D-squash league. He eats, breathes, and sleeps Squash, and the Eradicator embodies everything that this character was. I found out soon that not only are the songs hilarious, but they also shred. The Eradicator can get everyone in the crowd, even if it’s their first time hearing him, to sing along to songs about his quest to climb the D-squash ladder. The songwriting features a mix of straight forward punk rock to hardcore bashing but always stay to true to reminding the listener that football sucks, tennis sucks, baseball’s cool, curling rules, but they’re not the sports for him. [Recommended track: “I’m a Squash Man”] 

4. Metz- Strange Peace

What would any list of best albums be if it didn’t include Canada’s finest? A list not worth publishing that’s for sure. I was so worried that Metz would fall into a hole of making a softer sounding indie rock album, similar to Cloud Nothings new record, but am I glad that I was wrong. Also, of course they wouldn’t do that; they’re one of the loudest and most raucous bands around. Strange Peace is filled with wall to wall bangers, some coming in under a minute and some almost pushing the six minute mark. This record is sort of similar to their other albums, and that is what makes it great. Metz doesn’t need to change up their sound too much to keep any listener happy; they stick with the incredible drumming, thundering bass, noisy guitar work, and catchy yet screaming vocals. 

[Recommended track: “Mr. Plague”] 

3. IDLES- Brutalism

I got turned on to IDLES from one of my students, actually. Upon first listen, I was like, “what is this?” It was so out there from my normal tastes that I couldn’t stop listening. IDLES fills this album with simplistic musicality, akin to Plague Vendor or Protomartyr, but it’s in the vocals and song writing that really caught me. The songs on Brutalism are a collection of working class angst and sarcastic commentary on pop culture all almost spoken, rather than sung. That does not take away from the catchiness of it, though. All the songs clearly come from the heart and are brutally honest, anthems for those who are dissatisfied and bored as hell. I’d pair this record with whiskey and percosets at 8am after being laid off from your shitty job. [Recommended track: “Mother”] 

2. Japandroids- Near To The Wild Heart of Life

Japandroids has been one my favorite bands for a long time. I absolutely love how incredibly huge their sound is for being a two-piece, although with a butt load of amps. Japandroids had been relatively silent since their last album, Celebration Rock, which came out in 2012 to great reception. Everyone was fairly skeptical if they could repeat the anthems and sing-alongs that that album brought, but they totally blew everyone out of the water. This album may seem just like a regular rock album to some, but the songs are just so perfect to blast whether you’re having a bad day, a great day, alone, with friends, drinking, hungover, whatever. I can’t help but get chills when this album comes on; the dynamics are amazing and make you feel alive. If there was any single record that 2017 needed to feel better about itself, it’s Near To The Wild Heart of Life. [Recommended track: “In a Body Like a Grave”] 

1. ’68- Two Parts Viper

Josh Scogin is the best vocalist in hardcore; hands down. When his last band, hardcore heroes The Chariot, broke up, I was so disappointed that we wouldn’t have any new music from him in the future. Then ’68 dropped two tracks in 2014, followed by one of the most awesome albums ever, In Humor and Sadness. ’68 keeps with their untouchable blend of hardcore and rock and roll on Two Parts Viper, a sort of combination of The Chariots spastic riffs and songwriting, and White Stripes-styled two-piece heavy blues. Scogin’s lyrics really shine through on this album as well, coming off as spoken word at parts before the crushing guitar and drums bash in. Where there’s feedback on this album, there is Scogin’s poetry; where there is screaming, there is singing. This is one of the most dynamic records to come out in a long time, going back and forth from heavy rock-oriented riffs and grooves to chanting and Josh’s inimitable screaming, even throwing in the oddball sample in the middle of a song. There is nothing that comes close to ’68 in terms of style and I don’t think there ever will be. 10 out 10 snakes. 

Melissa Nestor is the bassist for Orinoco and is a concert photographer. 

10. Gravebloom by The Acacia Strain

The Acacia Strain has never put out a band album. Credited as one of the pioneers in the genre of “deathcore,” The Acacia Strain has continued to put out one album after the next and typically getting better and better with each release. However, I do not feel it was as strong as their 2014 release, Coma Witch, or even their 2012 release, Death is the Only Mortal. Still, Gravebloom was the best album released in the deathcore genre in 2017. Stand out tracks: “Worthless” and “Gravebloom”

9. Relentless Mutation by Archspire

Archspire is in the running for best guitar riffage on any album of this year. Even though I was completely in love with their prior 2 albums, they have more than sold me with the release of Relentless Mutation. They are one of those death metal bands that combine the perfect amount of melody and brutality to create one hell of a sound that has me wanting to throw all my guitars in a wood chipper.

Stand out tracks: “Human Murmuration” and “Relentless Mutation”

8.  Wizard Bloody Wizard by Electric Wizard

As a band that has so much history of creating legendary albums in their genre, it seems they are always under so much scrutiny when a new album is being released. People have expectations of it topping albums such as Dopethrone which is still considered one of the greatest albums in the doom genre to this day. While this album comes nowhere near topping that, it stood out enough to me to make it into this list. They went a little different route with Wizard Bloody Wizard than their last album Time to Die, which came out in 2014. Time to Die had their evil occult flavored lyrics as always and a sinister sound to go with it, while Wizard Bloody Wizard has the same lyrical content that everyone is used to but a bit lighter in the music department. Going a bit more vintage psychedelic musically caused a lot of criticism amongst Electric Wizard, but I think it was the right move on this album.

Stand out Tracks: “See You in Hell” and “Wicked Caresses”

7. Hiss Spun by Chelsea Wolfe

Chelsea Wolfe seemed to rise to popularity out of nowhere after her release Abyss in 2015, but she has been an active musician since 2010. While her genre is somewhat difficult to nail down, she is loved by fans of many different genres from goths to the most annoying black metal elitists. I have a friend that exclusively listens to country (I know…ew…) that loved this album. One of the reasons Hiss Spun made my list is because of the accessibility and relativity to so many different genres. When Chelsea sings, people pay attention. Her voice is just so haunting, it makes people pay attention. Hiss Spun has won my favorite production quality of the year. It was recorded with and produced by Converge’s Kurt Ballou in Salem, Massachusetts. Any time Kurt Ballou and producer are used in the same sentence, there really needs to be no follow up conversation. I really loved Abyss, but think this has taken the throne for my favorite Chelsea Wolfe album.

Stand out tracks: “16 Psyche” and “Vex”

6. Emperor of Sand by Mastodon

Emperor of Sand is also a very controversial album among fans of the band. Mastodon has a history of changing sounds from album to album, but to a lot of people, Mastodon is really reaching with this one. To me, it is a balance between a call back to their more mainstream attempt of their last full length album Once More ‘Round the Sun and a return to their roots taking influence from Crack the Skye. I suggest anyone that shot down this album at first to give it another couple of listens and also look into the concept of the album.

Stand out tracks: “Show Yourself” and “Steambreather”

5. Reflections of a Floating World by Elder

Reflections of a Floating World has my favorite album opener of any album released this year. “Sanctuary” drew me into this album and didn’t let me go. Despite each of the tracks being between 8-13 minutes long, it never gets monotonous or boring. Usually on albums with only a few songs that are so long, I usually have at least one that I will skip. I can never bring myself to skip a song on Reflections of a Floating World.

Stand out tracks: “Sanctuary” and “Blind”

4. Rust by Monolord

Prior to this year, I wasn’t familiar with Monolord. I normally wouldn’t put such a “new to me” band on my end of the year list, but I have certainly gotten familiar with them over the last several months. Rust is the third full length album from these sludgy Sweden doomsters, and it is every good as the last two. I can usually pick out a favorite album from a band pretty easily, but Monolord has really made that a difficult task for fans of the band.

Stand out tracks: “Where Death Meets the Sea” and “Rust”

3. Wrong One to Fuck With by Dying Fetus

As soon as Dying Fetus released the gruesome and somewhat hard to watch music video for their single “Die with Integrity,” I knew these guys had something special up their sleeves. I’m always a sucker for the most gory and disgusting death metal videos so I tried to not let that make me play favorites when it came to putting them on my list. After listening to the album front to back several times, I realized there was no reason to play favorites. Dying Fetus earned their way to the top of many end of the year lists with an album of non stop brutality that will make you want to punch your neighbor.

Stand out tracks: “Die with Integrity” and “Wrong One to Fuck With”

2. Will to Power by Arch Enemy

It’s no secret amongst my friends and enemies that Arch Enemy is my favorite band and has  the release of War Eternal, I was shocked. All of a sudden, things were up in the air for my favorite band. I was a huge fan of Angela Gassow, who had been the bands vocalist since 2000. At first, I was one of those fans who folded their arms and refused to listen to the newest album with new vocalist Alissa White-Gluz, formally of The Agonist. Finally, curiosity got the best of me, and I bought a copy of War Eternal. I let my guard down and listened to the album un-biased. I fell in love with it and reclaimed my Arch Enemy obsession. I began to look forward to the release of Will to Power. I was looking forward to the addition of Nevermore guitarist, Jeff Loomis. I have always credited Michael Amott as my favorite guitarist with Jeff Loomis not falling too far behind, so the prospect of them working together was very exciting. Will to Power is not only one of my favorite albums of the year but in my top 5 of Arch Enemy’s expansive 10 studio album catalog. My favorite live performance of the year also belongs to Arch Enemy who I saw at Concord Music Hall this past November.

Stand out tracks: “The World is Yours” and “First Day in Hell”

1. Mareridt by Myrkur

Myrkur, like Chelsea Wolfe, seems to have become huge out of nowhere, however, there are some select people that know better. I have been following Myrkur since before she went by that name. Amalie Bruun has released music since 2006 but took on the persona Myrkur during her debut EP, which was released in 2014. Since I’m a creepy weird person, some of my favorite things to do are experience music in different environments such as sitting alone in a dark room or walking through forests just on the brink of being lost. Mareridt has been my favorite album to take on my musical journeys. Influenced from everything to folk to black metal, Myrkur takes fans on a trip through the darkest depths of her mind. A couple years ago, Amalie began to have such bad hallucinations in her sleep that she would scream herself awake. Now, some people would usually be so frightened by this, they would do everything in their power to try to forget. No Amalie. She found inspiration in her horror. Mareridt is a recollection of darkest thoughts during slumber.

Jacek Leja is the producer and host of the Doc Metal Show featuring the Real Munson. He also is a reviewer and meme lord for BloodRock Media.  (Republished from BloodRock Media)

Ian Tomele fronts Chicago punk band Voice of Addiction and runs Wrecking Ball Production.

Local:

Davey Dynamite - Holy Shit

88 Fingers Louie - Thank You For Being a Friend

Boxsledder - Future Nostalgia

Modern Advances - Get Rigid

Assassination Squad - Busted

Non-Local:

Propagandhi - Victory Lap

The Shidiots - Black Shirts & Black Records

Frenzal Rhomb - Hi-Vis high Tea

Unsane - Sterilize

David Bowie -  Blackstar Faces of the Bog - Ego Death Labirinto - Gehenna Leonard Cohen - You Want It Darker Polarizer - The Fall and the Swell Tribe Called Quest - We Got It from Here... Thank You 4 Your Service Animals as Leaders - the Madness of Many Meshuggah - The Violent Sleep of Reason Dillinger Escape Plan - Dissociation Esperanza Spalding - Emily’s D+Evolution Hiromi - Spark Haken - Affinity eighth blackbird - Hand Eye Virgil Donati  - The Dawn of Time Snarky Puppy - Culcha Vacha

Holy hell, was 2016 pretty lame, right? Between the awful time that some of us probably had some pretty killer tunes came out. Anyway, here are the ones that I enjoyed the most- some local, most from Canada. To be entirely honest, this needed to be a top 50 because of how many bands I left out. Let’s do the honorable mentions here first so you can decide whether you should keep reading.

Honorable Mentions That Should Have Made This List: Davey Dynamite, Tiny Moving Parts, Weezer, Modest Mouse, Radiohead, Chance the Rapper, Direct Hit!, Jeff Rosenstock, Every Time I Die, Red Fang, and like thousands more.

 *the order of these albums doesn’t really matter except for 1 and 12*

 1. TIE: PUP The Dream is Over AND Oathbreaker Rheia

Let’s Begin with PUP; easily my most listened to album and definitely my most sang-along-to record of 2016. The Toronto 4 piece specializes in their own brand of punk rock that mixes weird time signatures, ripping guitar playing, and catchy choruses about love, loss, and masturbation.

Favorite Tracks: “Doubts” and “My Life is Over and I Couldn’t Be Happier”

Belgium’s Oathbreaker have been my favorite metal band outside of Slayer and Motorhead for a few years now. Their first two records were total bangers and Rheia totally competes with them. The band typically lays down heavy hardcore-influenced post-black metal (what?) that is as atmospheric as it is punishing. The songs are absolutely stunning and never leave you bored and also will piss your neighbors off when blasted in your tiny apartment.

Favorite Tracks: “Second Son of R.” and “Immortals”

2. The Dirty Nil Higher Power

The Dirty Nil is one of the best bands that I discovered this year. A great blend of punk rock and classic, loud, and brazen rock and roll that punches you in your stupid little face and then takes your drink. Also Canadian.

Favorite Tracks: “Zombie Eyed” and “Bury Me at the Rodeo”

3. White Lung Paradise

I don’t know categorically where this band falls, but that is usually a good sign that i’ll enjoy it. White Lung put out one of the coolest records this year from the crazy guitar lines to singer Mish Way’s hypnotic vocals. The record stays consistent all the way through, not really giving the listener any time to relax. Also Canadian.

Favorite Tracks: “Dead Weight” and “Narcoleptic”

4. A Tribe Called Quest We Got it From Here...Thank You 4 Your Service

If you didn’t listen to this record yet you’re a moron. You’ll stay hooked throughout the whole record due to ATCQ having some of the best flow, but also being ridiculous songwriters. The album has some of the best beats and samples including a spot from Busta Rhymes.

Favorite Tracks: “The Space Program” and “Ego” 

5. Action Boy Aging Like Milk

Northern Illinois Suburbs natives Action Boy do pop punk right. By far the best “local” record of 2016. The trio blend a few different styles of pop punk, clearly showing their influences on their sleeves, but it is never repetitive as pop punk tends to be. https://actionboy.bandcamp.com/releases

Favorite Tracks: “Powerball” and “Limon Pepino”

6. Arms Aloft What a Time to be Barely Alive

Eau Claire’s finest make sad socio-political songs about the failings of our country from a working-class perspective. Raspy vocals and catchy melodies make every song off this record stay stuck in your head from the first listen. I wish I wrote this album.

Favorite Tracks: “What a Time to be Barely Alive” and “Hollowlujah!” 

7. Munch Postpornum Depression EP

Hilarious local dudes make catchy rock and roll that really should be your cool sister’s favorite band but she really cannot get over how sweet that California group of rich boys with Instagram pictures with Ty Segall are. Also wonderfully drunk live. https://munchingaway.bandcamp.com/releases

Favorite Track: “Over My Head”

8. Ribbonhead Racing to the Bottom EP

This record is the musical equivalent of breaking glass with your forehead, and that is a great thing. Scathing hard-noise-fuckyou-core from Chicago reminiscent that time you fought the cops and got away. https://ribbonheadchicago.bandcamp.com/album/racing-to-the-bottom-ep

Favorite Track: “Honey Pot”

9. Plague Vendor BLOODSWEAT

There’s equal parts butt-shaking and smashing that beer bottle over that annoying guy at the bar. This record has that groovy Queens of the Stone Age plus Jack White plus SoCal punk vibe which is one of the most original sounds of 2016.

Favorite Tracks: “Credentials” and “No Bounty”

10. The Dillinger Escape Plan Dissociation

The final kick to the face from one of the craziest bands to ever have existed. They will be missed, but this record is definitely a hell of way to say goodbye. It’s hard to put into words what tDEP does, so just think if a jazz band took meth and played metal? That doesn’t even cut it though.

Favorite Tracks: “Not Wanting so Much to as To” and Limerent Death”

11. Drones Take It Easy EP

Catchy Minneapolis pop punk whom my band had the opportunity to play with a few times this year. This EP is no holds barred pop punk a la The Copyrights, et al. Every song is a sing along for basement ragers and cold walks home from the bar. https://dronesmn.bandcamp.com/

Favorite Track: “Told Ya”

 12. Sioux Falls Rot Forever

If I’m being honest with myself, which I never am, this album should be like number 3 or 4 but I enjoyed the Canadian theme. Anyway, Sioux Falls (now known as Strange Ranger) made the album that Modest Mouse should have. It harks back to 1996 Olympia and K Records and is seriously perfect all of the way through its 16 tracks(!). Built to Spill for the modern era, even though Built to Spill still exists.

Favorite Tracks: “3fast” and “Your Name’s Not Ned”

13. Nancy With Child

This the most fun record that I heard all year. I love these boys so much. True, unabashed power pop from Chicago’s Eat the Life Records, even though these boys aren’t from here. The strongest two-piece band out there right now. https://nancymommy.bandcamp.com/

Favorite Tracks: “(My Old Friend) TV” and “(Get the) ReVVup”

14. Cold Wrecks Breaking

I probably listened to this album more times than any other while riding the Metra. Like PUP, this record has tons of cool-ass guitar, great lyrics, and even better sing alongs. The songwriting alone puts this ahead of so many other releases this year. It vaguely reminds me of Et Tu Brute. https://coldwrecks.bandcamp.com/

Favorite Tracks: “Drawbridge” and “Broken”

15. G.L.O.S.S. Trans Day of Revenge

Why do all the best bands have to break up? This album is the first album that everyone should be listening to heading into that expected shit show that is to be 2017. The album opens with lead singer Sadie screaming, “When peace is just another word for death, it’s our time to give violence a chance!” which is the single greatest call to arms of any political hardcore or punk record. The best hardcore record of 2016, no doubt. Give it a chance. https://girlslivingoutsidesocietysshit.bandcamp.com/album/trans-day-of-revenge

Varaha - Varaha EP - https://varaha.bandcamp.com Air Raid - Mass Suicide Flashmob - https://airraid.bandcamp.com/track/mass-suicide-flashmob DTP - Transcendence Allegaeon - Proponent for Sentience Fleshgod Apocalypse - King Gone is Gone - Gone is Gone Miles From Exile - Transcend - https://milesfromexile.bandcamp.com Skeletonwitch - The Apothic Gloom - EP Testament - Brotherhood of the Snake Volbeat - Seal the Deal & Let's Boogie Vukari - DIVINATION - https://vukari.bandcamp.com Scientist - 10100II00101 (Vinyl) - https://scientistchicago.bandcamp.com Sons of Ra - Anthropology - https://sonsofra.bandcamp.com/album/anthropology-2 Metallica - Hardwired Gojira - Magma

I was asked once again to list my favorite local and non-local releases of 2016.In no particular order here ya go:

LOCAL: Sass Dragons - "True Adventure” Boilerman - "Feel Ways About Stuff" Brick Assassin - "Bite the Hand That Feeds" Squared Off - "Call of the Road" Beat the Smart Kids - "Broke Again" Top Shelf Lickers - "Heartbreak City" The Mizzerables - "As I Am" The Kreutzer Sonata - "Fight Songs" Butchered - "Whatever, I Guess..." Ribbonhead - "Racing to the Bottom" Welfare Beer League - "Day Off!"

NON_LOCAL: Descendants - "Hypercaffium Spazzinate" Bouncing Souls - "Simplicity" Wolves & Wolves & Wolves & Wolves - "The Cross & the Switchblade" Dead To Me - "I Wanna Die in Los Angeles" David Bowie - "Blackstar" Leonard Cohen - "You Want it Darker" Murder Party! - "II: A New Batch" Face to Face - "Protection" Problem Daughter - "Fits of Disorganized Boredom" Honah Lee - "Ghostheads"

Whores - Gold  Haken - Affinity Snow Burial - Victory in Ruin Opeth - Sorceress Faces of the Bog - Ego Death Darkthrone - Arctic Thunder Dissona - Paleopneumatic Hung on Horns - Slaves Khemmis - Hunted Meshuggah - The Violent Sleep of Reason Norma Jean - Polar Similar Car Bomb - Meta  Gojira - Magma Dillinger Escape Plan - Dissociation Metallica - Hardwired… to Self Destruct

Honorable Mention Ghost - Popestar  High Priest - Consecration  Huntsmen - The Colonel  Pallbearer - Fear and Fury  Sons of Ra - Anthropology  Pale Horseman/Mound Builders Split 

1. Shovels and Rope- Little Seeds 2. Plini- Handmade Cities 3. The Dillinger Escape Plan- Dissociation 4. Darkthrone- Arctic Thunder 5. Tower- Tower 6. I built the sky- The Sky is Not the Limit 7. Red Fang- Only Ghosts 8. Norma Jean- Polar Similar 9. Ihsahn- Arktis 10. Gojira- Magma 11. Blood Ceremony- Lord of Misrule 12. Witchcraft- Nucleus 13. Lydia Loveless- Real 14. Faces of the Bog- Ego Death 15. Dance Gavin Dance- Mothership Honorable Mentions: Whores -Gold Snow Burial- Victory in Ruin Kvelertak- Nattesferd Alcest- Kodama Dysrhythmia- The Veil of Control

Tonight's the night! Erik Oldman's band Sons of Ra will be playing all the tunes off their brand new EP "Anthropology" with a few surprises in store. RiC Alums We Killed the Lion, Faces of the Bog, and Pavlov(3) are also on the bill. Get to Reggies Music Joint early, grab a seat and some grub. First band is on at 8! https://www.facebook.com/events/292038287821318/

By Nick Cvijovic

Local ska dudes, Beat the Smart Kids (BtSK), really pull off a fun-as- hell and totally danceable album with Broke Again. Having played with these guys before, as well as seeing them a handful of times, I really dig their more Madness approach to the genre rather than the hardcore/skacore sound that a lot of bands utilize. Not ripping on that sound at all, I just feel like there is a lack of more old-school ska in the local scene; but then again who am I and what do I know? The band features members of locally renowned bands such as Still Alive, the Damn Tracks, Waste Basket, and Indecisives. BtSK also uses keyboards and that right there makes for an A plus effort. I like keyboards.

Anyway, let’s get into this thing: Broke Again begins with a ripper of an intro track, “Rise Up”. The song is a politically conscious jam that fluctuates between slow, rocksteady skanking and mid-tempo punk rock. BtSK changes up rhythms a ton on the album so this is a great track to prepare you for what’s to come. The second track, “Chemical Reaction”, is easily my favorite on the album. “We will not ignore what we cannot afford” is the pre chorus, building over time into one of the sickest sounding horn solos I’ve heard in a while. The horns on this album really go all out, providing nice rhythm and melody at respective times, but also blare wildly and really show the passion of everything going on the songs.

“Brain Pollution” comes next; a solid song interspersed with distorted guitar that really adds to the song. The song clocks in at just over two minutes- perfectly timed for the repetitive style of the song. “Emoticons” is another stand out track on the album. The song is a jab at people going out and not really communicating with each other; just staring at their phones the whole time. The song begins with a sort of circus-like feel. The singer singing about being an introvert and not wanting to go out to get food; we’ve all been there. The song then really kicks into a nice quick-paced skank ranting against people constantly being on their phones, online, and the like. I first listened to this album on my phone so shut up, BtSK. Just kidding.

The album continues through great and to-the- point ska songs arriving eventually on “One Point Twenty What?!”, an ode to Back to the Future. This song breaks into slower hardcore territory throughout, featuring a great breakdown with gang vocals chanting, “Great Scott! That’s some heavy shit, Doc.” It is, Marty, and this song is some heavy shit too.

Each song on the album has a great flow to the next, which is something that bands tend to not really do anymore. Each song is perfect in rhythm to where you can play it totally out of order and it would sound great every time. It’s definitely a shuffle-worthy album, but not in the way where it gets boring because everything sounds the same. All the songs are ska songs, but each has their little intricacies and parts that totally let them stand alone, especially once you begin to get the words down and start to dance and sing along. I am definitely guilty of blasting this at home and dancing my tiny little heart out numerous times. And I don’t regret it at all.

The album blasts through a couple more songs until we arrive at “M.S.O.T.E”, the finale to the album. We hear much more distorted guitar on the track, which is nicely refreshing, but still has the quintessential off-beat rhythm, clean guitar. It’s a slower, chorus- heavy song biting at slaving away at your job- which every good punk song is built around. It also keeps with the way that I like to envision ska as a whole genre: it at times has something very important to say, but it also likes to just have fun. This album is perfect in that sense. There’s a great mix of politically and socially conscious songs, but they don’t leave out the fun in other tracks. It’s refreshing, on an album in this style, to have lines like, “…there’s no one watching over us” on “Blind Faith” to the next track, “Ruby Crystals” singing about the Transformers. Another thing BtSK gets right is their mix of minor and major switches between and during songs. That’s one thing that falls short sometimes in a lot of ska and ska based music; I don’t need to hear ten songs all in C major or, conversely, ten songs in some minor key. Mix it up.

Overall, this album was a ton of fun. It keeps your interest all the way through, but is also a great album to just put on. I recommend clearing a large surface area; kicking out children, roommates, and/or friends who won’t appreciate ska; putting on your boots and braces; and dance. Seriously. Actually, make your friends/roommates/children listen to it too, and make them dance. The band is equal parts Madness and Mustard Plug (in a good way, shut up) with obvious hardcore influence without becoming skacore. Probably not for fans of Streetlight Manifesto or Reel Big Fish though; you nerds won’t get it. (Get it?)

I give this album 8 out of 10 Operation Ivy patches.

You can catch Beat the Smart Kids again in Chicago on August 14th at Midwest Ska Fest.

Broke Again is available here, and I highly suggest you pick it up pick it up pick it up: