Typhoon "Offerings (Roll Call)"
Offerings, the fourth LP from Portland indie rockers Typhoon, is a majestic, mysterious journey. A story about the loss of memories told in 4 parts and inspired by the art singer/songwriter Kyle Morton was consuming at the time. Films by David Lynch, Christopher Nolan, Fellini; the writings of Samuel Beckett; as well as the paintings of Bosch and Rorschach paintings. The result is an acoustically led rock and roll album with a sound somewhere between The Decemberists, early Arcade Fire, Califone, and other literary rockers, but with a haunting quality that is all Typhoon’s. More haunting than an actual Typhoon? I imagine an actual typhoon is far more scarier than it is haunting, so the award goes to the band, not the weather phenomena. Check out the unforgettable “Remember.”
Jeff Rosenstock "POST- (Polyvinyl)"
I know you are a super supervisor and are used to getting this record for free, but over at Bandcamp our pal Jeff Rosenstock released his new record Post (his debut for Polyvinyl!) on New Years Day with a name your own price scheme (as is his want) with 10% of the proceeds going to the Puerto Rico relief fund. Pretty cool, ‘ay?So cool we will do the same – license the record and we will send 10% as well! With that being said it is time to crank up Jeff’s follow up to last year’s “Worry”. Wanna get back to the rock? Well then just settle in for THE resistance anthem of 2018 in “Let Them Win”.
The Body & Full Of Hell "Ascending a Mountain of Heavy Light (Thrill Jockey)"
If you’re making a list of bands that are at the forefront of modern heavy music, you’re not gonna get far in that list before you’ve written down both The Body and Full Of Hell. The two groups have been pushing the boundaries of dark, experimental music for years now. So it makes perfect sense that the two bands have teamed up to record an album. Ascending a Mountain of Heavy Light (Thrill Jockey) was written and recorded in just one week. Abrasive, throbbing, and heavier than Sleep covered in lead, this is the real deal. Agitated, stuttering electronic hints mixed with the most distorted guitars of all time, and vocals that would scare even the toughest of metal fans, this is a combo made in heaven… make that hell. If you wear a serious number of black clothes and have been known to throw the devil sign with your hands on occasion, this is the LP for you. Check out the throbbing gristle of “Earth is a Cage.”
Escape-ism "Introduction To Escape-ism (Merge)"
Ian Svenonius, he of The Make-Up, The Nation of Ulysses, XYZ, Weird War (amoung other bands) as well as the the author of titles such as The Psychic Soviet, Censorship Now!! and Supernatural Strategies for Making a Rock ’n’ Roll Group has graced us with a new project. Introduction to Escape-ism (Merge) is the debut of Ian as Escape-ism, a heady mixture of sounds that venture to territories covered by such luminaries as Folk Implosion, Gorrilaz, Jon Spencer, and Royal Trux, among others. At times Suicide-esque in it’s tonality, this is garage-fuelled electronica, with basses buzzing and Ian telling you all how it is. So pay attention! Start with the Cold War paranoia of “Iron Curtain.”