3. Local Visions - Oneironaut
Genre: Contemporary Instrumental Hip-Hop/City Pop/Synth-Funk/Muzakality
Put On A Playlist With: Haruomi Hosono, Nujabes, Larry Heard, death's dynamic shroud.wmv, Hatsune Miku
A label collective based out of Izumo, Japan, Local Visions produced this nostalic compilation of commissioned cuts from all their various artists, weaving the diversity of sounds and ideas together into what became Oneironaut a little earlier this year. Pretty much a perfect laidback electronic-oriented release overall, though my favorites include the piano-led 'Tamura Kafka' and the Macintosh Plus-flavored 'Love Is In The Bin Folder'. Goes well with Fiji water and long drives along the beach.
2. Work Of Art - Exhibits
Genre: AOR
Put On A Playlist With: Journey, Foreigner, Boston, Toto, your favorite Vince DiCola soundtrack
Maybe the best album in this style in decades, right up there with Frontiers by Journey back in 1983 or some of the other top tier releases in the sleek and sleaze of the 80's rock world. Started way back in the early 90's by guitar hero Robert Sall and powerhouse vocalist Lars Säfsund, this is the 4th outing from these guys, a magnificent no frills 80's rock record with enough spice and variety to elevate it above their kin, ending the whole thing with a bluesy wink to Thomas Dolby's work with Foreigner on closer 'Let Me Dream'. The kings of cheese for sure, but it's pretttty finnnnneeee.
1. Bent Knee - You Know What They Mean
Genre: Post-Punk, Progressive Rock, Avant-garde, Alternative Rock, Industrial
Put On A Playlist With: Swans, Sonic Youth, early Live, Circuit des Yeux, Sophie
Pure perfection. Boston based Bent Knee are the band that people here on MusicBanter would be obsessing over if they just knew they existed. They're "out there" in a way most bands aren't, equal parts progressive rock drama and postmodern art rock but with a keen, experimental punk/industrial edge to their songwriting. At the same time, they can throw a hook that can knock your dopamine levels out of alignment when you least expect it, or segue into a killer bassline that drags your feet out from under you.
Part of why Bent Knee works is the sheer vocal acumen of Courtney Swain: she can barnstorm with pure multi-octave energy and then pull back into elusive, glorious subtlety at the drop of a hat. You can hear these dynamics in realtime playing out early on within the feedback-laced 'Bone Rage' and the dubby but catchy 'Hold Me In', but its when they get to the Melvins-morphing-into-choral-bliss of 'Catch Light' that everything really "clicks". Every song is fantastic: I can't do them justice, but take my word for it.
There's almost too much talent happening at once throughout You Know What They Mean, but it all comes together so well that nothing else this year could top these songs.
Last edited by Anteater; 12-21-2019 at 04:38 PM.
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