The Absolute Best Records Of 2015

 

Many times throughout the year I had commented on how 2015 seemed like a year that had a lot of really good records, but seemed to be lacking in drop dead great ones.  I'll admit that when I sat down to work on this list, I ended up being presented with a lot more records that I loved this year than I was expecting.  The top 20 in particular is damn strong.  Aside from Clearance, I didn't have those records that I just played non stop over and over again this year, but looking back at it, 2015 was nothing to sneeze at.  Some pretty good records came out this year.  I don't have time to discuss them all, but I do have some extra thoughts on a few.

The record that really did it for me this year was Clearance.  I am a sucker for Pavement, so when Clearance decided to pop by and pick up that torch, I was all too pleased to follow along.  It's such a perfect record from top to bottom.  I can't think of a record that I went back to over and over again as much as Clearance.  These guys are on the right track and I really hope they keep pumping out new tunes.

The Mountain Goats and Royal Headache also both received a ton of play out of me this year.  Even though the record was about pro wrestling and I figured that would be fun for a listen or two, I was shocked at how much I genuinely enjoyed the Mountain Goats, especially as I had never been that much of a fan previously.  Royal Headache was top notch, but there were a couple of songs in the middle of the record that slowed things down a bit and may have kept it from the top spot. Third of the year is still pretty great.  Good Shade technically was released digitally in 2014, but the LP came out this year, so it's going on my list.  Wonk Unit may not totally deserve to be on the list on a technicality as it's a compilation of previously released songs, but it was their first time on vinyl, and I hadn't heard them previously, so on it goes.

Lastly at number fourteen is Unlikely Friends.  I didn't review that record this year.  It didn't come out on vinyl, so I kept putting off buying it hoping it would eventually be released.  It didn't happen so I finally ordered the CD but I waited too long.  I'll get a review of that up first thing in the new year, but it's really worth a listen.

01 - Clearance - Rapid Rewards - Tall Pat (Listen)
02 - The Mountain Goats - Beat The Champ - Merge (Listen)
03 - Royal Headache - High - What's Your Rupture (Listen)
04 - Good Shade - Good Shade - Gut Genug (Listen)
05 - Wonk Unit - Feel The Wonkness - Drunken Sailor (Listen)
06 - Swami John Reis & The Blind Shake - Modern Surf Classics - Swami (Listen)
07 - Warm Soda - Symbolic Dream - Castleface (Listen)
08 - Red Dons - The Dead Hand Of Tradition - Taken By Surprise (Listen)
09 - Outtacontroller - Television Zombie LP - Southpaw (Listen)
10 - Lost Balloons - Lost Balloons - Alien Snatch (Listen)

11 - Widows Watch - This Message Repeats - Toxic Pop
12 - Radioactivity - Silent Kill - Dirtnap
13 - Hungry Tiger - Hungry Tiger - Sex Sheet
14 - Unlikely Friends - Solid Gold Cowboys - Jigsaw
15 - Sweet John Bloom - Weird Prayer - Tiny Engines
16 - Ash - Kablammo - E.A.R.
17 - Tenement - Predatory Headlights - Don Giovanni
18 - Beach Slang - The Things We Do To Find People Who Feel Like Us - Polyvinyl
19 - The Barreracudas - Can Do Easy - Oops Baby
20 - Beach Party - Broken Machine - Sex Sheet

21 - The Ballantynes - Dark Drives, Life Signs - La-Ti-Da
22 - ИO​​/​​​/​​​/​​sé - Lower Berth - 1859/Man In Decline
23 - The Blind Shake - Fly Right - Slovenly
24 - Nervous Talk - Nervous Talk - Hosehead
25 - King Khan and BBQ Show - Bad News Boys - In The Red
26 - The Sonics - This Is The Sonics - ReVox
27 - Built To Spill - Untethered Moon
28 - Mikal Cronin - MCIII - Merge
29 - Legendary Wings - Do You See? - Dirtnap
30 - Apocalypse Meow - The End Is Nigh - Sex Sheet/Rad Girlfriend

Other Records I Picked Up This Year:
Archers Of Loaf - Curse Of The Loaf - ARRA Music
Baby Shakes - Starry Eyes - Lil Chewy
Built In Sun - Built In Sun - PIAPTK
The Butterscotch Cathedral - The Butterscotch Cathedral - Trouble In Mind
Casual - Casual - Dead Broke / Square of Opposition
Hex Dispensers - III - Alien Snatch
Hysterese - Hysterese - Dirt Cult
Hospital Job - Never Get Cold - Rad Girlfriend / It's Alive
Jaill - Brain Cream - Burger
Jon Spencer Blues Explosion - Freedom Tower - Mom + Pop
The Knew - Schmew - Greater Than
Mandates - In The Back Of Your Heart - Hosehead/Taken By Surprise
Maniac - Demimonde - La-Ti-Da
Mac McCaughan - Non Believers - Merge
Nervosas - Nervosas - Dirtnap
Pale Angels - Imaginary People - Recess
Phylums - Phylum Phyloid - Dirtnap
The Rubs - The Rubs Are Trash - Tall Pat
Sanhose - Pi - Snuffy Smiles
Shadow In the Cracks - Shadow In The Cracks - Goner
The Soaks - The Soaks - Riot House
Spraynard - Mable - Jade Tree
Wavves - V - Mom + Pop
World's Fair - Leisurely - Rok Lok

Previously:
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009

Royal Headache - High LP

What's Your Rupture (2015)

Very few records blew me away like 2011's self titled Royal Headache debut.  It was such a unique sound hitting at the perfect time.  It became an instant classic and a record that I continue to spin frequently to this day.  After waiting patiently for a few years, the band has finally followed up with their sophomore release High.

I've lamented the lack of great records in 2015.  It's been a year of quite a few good records, but it's been slim pickings on game changers.  The first time I put High on the turntable I was instantly caught up in an excitement that's been tough to come by this year.  I was immediately thinking this might be the best record of the year and was playing it multiple times a day.  Having spent some time with it these last few weeks, some of that initial rush has settled down and I think I have a more composed view of Royal Headache's 2nd album.

It is a great record.  It is definitely one of the best albums of 2015.  Top 10 for sure, top 5 probably as well.  However, with a bit of perspective I don't think that this album is quite as good as the first Royal Headache album.  For starters it's kind of front heavy with the hits, which I think helps lead to the rush of enthusiasm for the album.  The first four songs in particular are among the best the band has written and sets a high bar for the rest of the album.  

Unfortunately, the album hits a bit of a brick wall with track five ""Wouldn't You Know." While not a bad song or anything, it's a real momentum killer and to me, the band struggles to recapture the energy of the songs that precede it.  That's not to say the rest of the album is no good.  It is good, it's very good actually with one or two songs borderlining on great.  But as much as I like this album, which is quite a lot, it's not album of the year level and it is just a bit shy of the greatness of the first Royal Headache record.

That being said, this is a great record and this is definitely one of the best albums of the year.  Don't mistake this review for anything other than a positive one.  This is a record you should buy.

Royal Headache - High LP:

https://royalheadache.bandcamp.com/album/high

Royal Headache - Stand And Stare 7"

Royal Headache - Stand And Stare 7", a photo by Tim PopKid on Flickr.

Matador (2013)

This 7" is part of the Matador 2013 singles club and has absolutely been the highlight of the series so far. Royal Headache's full length from a couple of years ago was one of those records that just immediately clicked for me and it instantly went in heavy rotation. This 7" proves that album was no fluke. Both songs here are just as good as anything on the full length and they've left me chomping at the bit for a new LP.

The first, "Stand And Stare," is a slower paced song, but still has the bright treble heavy guitar and soulful vocals I've come to know and love from this band. But on the b side, "Give It All To Me," Royal Headache kick up the tempo and blaze through an under 2 minute long blast of a song. I can't think of any band that's currently putting out any records as unique and distinctive as Royal Headache is. This 7" is worth subscribing to the entire series for (plus you'll get a Superchunk 7" too, so that's pretty great) and with any luck it's the first of many new releases on the way from this great, great band.

Royal Headache - Stand And Stare 7":
royalheadache.bandcamp.com/album/stand-and-stare-give-it-...

Royal Headache - Eloise 7"

Royal Headache - Eloise 7", a photo by Tim PopKid on Flickr.

R.I.P. Society (2010)

The 1st Royal Headache 7" that came out before their 1st album. I was a little late to the party, so this guy was long sold out by the time I was hipped to this band's full length at the very end of last year. One Sunday night a couple of weeks ago the band threw a few of these 7"s up on their webstore. Of course, I jumped at the chance and happily paypalled some money down to Australia. It's a good thing I did too, as these 7"s sold out in what seemed like minutes later.

I don't know that this is as strong as the band's full length, even though 2 of the songs from this 7"s are also in the full length. The recording quality is a little rough, at least where the vocals are concerned. Even though the LP is far from what I would call slick, that record really showcases what a soulful and dynamic singer the band has. it's a bit muddier on the 7". Songs are good, but the production keeps them from being great. Still, happy to add the record to the collection, and for now I'm up to date and complete on this band. Hopefully they put out some more records for me to chase down very soon.

Royal Headache - Eloise (via SoundCloud):
Royal Headache - Eloise by Bears and Bullets

Royal Headache - Royal Headache LP

Royal Headache - Royal Headache LP, a photo by Tim PopKid on Flickr.

R.I.P. Society (2011)

I've got to give all credit to @eekrock for turning me on to this band. Royal Headache hail from Australia, and if you want to try to describe their sound I guess you can start by saying the guitar tone is similar to the treble-y squall of Eddy Current Suppression Ring, though for me that's where the similarities end. I find Royal Headache's songs infinitely more catchy and they are blessed with a truly unique singer. Rather that go for the over blown distorted snot that so many garagey bands employ, Royal Headache is fronted by a singer with a truly soulful voice. Think Otis Redding or Wilson Picket fronting a speed crazy popped out guitar rock band. A unique combo to be sure, but Royal Headache pull it off on what is one of my very favorite records of 2011.

Also, much credit to the US & Australian post offices for getting this to me in one piece considering the distro I bought it from packed it with virtually no protection whatsoever.