w o o z l e s

BEST OF 2016- ARTIST LISTS #3- WOOZLES

Connecticut's  Conor Ryan under the avatar of Woozles delivered a banger of a breakup LP earlier this year. Here are his fav. tunes of the years and a few words on how he chose ‘em!

       Although this year was awful in the broad scope of things, there was some amazing music. There are a ton of musicians I wish I had room to put on this list (especially from bigger acts) like Chance the Rapper, Rihanna, Beyonce, Porches., Frank Ocean, Frankie Cosmos, Solange, Mitski, and so many others. Instead, I focused on amazing songs that I thought slipped through the cracks this year that deserve to be highlighted.

01. Raspberry by Moving In

Jordan managed to make one of the most beautiful lil’ EPs of the year. It’s heartbreaking, beautiful, and heartbreakingly beautiful. This song in particular takes me to a completely different place when I hear it. I’m left with a lingering taste of raspberries on my lips when it’s over. Sweet and slightly bitter, but sparkling in the sun.

02. Soften by Flossy Clouds

I’ve been friends with Will for four years now. He’s a beautiful human being and an incredible musician. He released one of my favorite EPs of the year, Moon Lighting, and this song is good on too many levels to count. The production is outstanding, it’s groovy as hell, the chorus is unfairly catchy, and the lyrics give me so much nostalgia. Having gone to school with him, I have memories of driving by that same Big Y at night, staring up at the moon, and thinking of someone special (who may or may not have thought I’m special back). Also, you should all get ready for their newest album because mark my words it’s going to be the next big thing.

03. Doboom Soom by Slumbers

Slumbers! Holy shit! They are incredible. This whole EP is so intimate. The lyrics capture feelings of anxiety, depression, awkwardness, and joy in a super relatable and impactful way. The songs instantly make you want to sing along and it’s easy to float away with them. Doboom Soom in particular is so good because the lyrics are extremely specific and are able to capture a very particular and powerful set of feelings regarding depression and anxiety. Listen to this as you’re drifting off into purple dreams.

04. Dog by Camp Howard

I’m pissed that Camp Howard didn’t blow up with the release of this album. I had trouble picking this song because every single song off of their debut album they released this year is absolutely incredible. All of them could be radio singles. They’re ridiculously well structured songs with amazing production on top. Dog grabs you by the throat from the first few seconds and keeps its hold until the end. If you’re a fan of psych-rock or music in general, please do yourself a favor and go listen to this whole album right now.

05. Oh Fairy Please by Eddie Golden III

Let’s get weird! Eddie is Connecticut’s resident musical wacky scientist in the best way. In the past few years he’s released eleven albums through various bands, as well as his solo material. One of my favorite parts about his music is that he’s able to talk about super strange topics like hot air balloons, elevators, and fairies all while keeping the music itself super catchy and interesting. The video for this one isn’t to be missed either if you’re someone who likes to have fun or feel joy.

06. Fondly by Depressica

I don’t know what to say about this album besides it’s absolutely beautiful. It’s an album about transitions that’s drenched in all the bittersweetness that comes with such events in life. Fondly, in particular, focuses on a relationship coming to an end. The first part of the song is a lovely fingerpicked electric guitar with her voice soaring above. The clincher comes in the last 30 seconds when the distortion kicks in and the melancholy built up throughout the song turns into cathartic noise.

07. American Spirit by YURT

Travel back to the 80’s and put this song on as you’re cruising down a highway in Montana at night with your prom date riding shotgun. The lyrics here are some of the most clever and well written that I’ve heard all year. Everything about this song is just so goddamn good. It’s something special that’s hard to explain, so just go out and listen!

08. Hype by Sad13

Sadie of Speedy Ortiz fame released an album this year that perfectly blends pop and grunge sensibilities. Although it’s gotten a good amount of attention, I feel like overall it’s been criminally slept on. She talks about a ton of extremely important topics throughout the album like consent, abuse, and platonic love all while getting you to shout along. Hype is a critique of the music industry and the way it categorizes women in bands into neat little stereotypes that are convenient and completely bullshit. It’s a call for women in the music industry to band together to help each other break down the misogyny that’s terribly still extremely prevalent. On top of all that, the chorus is pretty much unforgettable.

09. Dana Katherine Scully by Tacocat

I can’t say enough about how much I love Tacocat. They’re everything I want in a band. If I could choose a band to magically be in, it would probably be Tacocat. I love the fact that they consciously make an effort to write about topics that aren’t usually talked about in songs and then make them incredibly engaging (like plan b, horse girls, and media addiction). What song to put on here was a tough choice, but I had to go with this one because I’ve watched a truly unhealthy amount of x-files in the past few months and Dana Scully is one of the most badass characters to ever exist.

10. There’s No Way by Family Ghosts

Matt’s vocal delivery here is conversational, deep, and emotional. As someone who’s heard things like “you’re not actually singing” just because I sung a song in baritone range, I appreciate the way Matt confidently uses his voice as a tool to propel this song. The track is heavily inspired by new-wave bands, but the raw production and intimate lyrics truly make it something special. Plus, it’s catchy as hell.

11. Reservoir by Warehouse

Warehouse has one of the most unique sounds in a band I’ve heard in a long time, mostly due to Elaine’s amazing vocals. Yet another song on this list about love and love falling apart, but it’s too goddamn good to not be ridiculously popular. The chorus in this song is insanely catchy. Every time I hear this song I end up singing the hook for days. The whole album itself, super low, should not be missed, but this song in particular shines.

12. Pink Spit by Peaer