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By Sowing
Wednesday December 30, 2015
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Oh, you thought this was going to be the Top Ten LPs of 2015 feature?
It’s okay. You can come back tomorrow (maybe) for the 10-1 LPs. –Jom
10 (tie). Foreign Fields – What I Kept in Hiding
[Official Site] // [Spotify] // [Facebook]
10 (tie). Plini – The End of Everything
[Bandcamp] // [Spotify] // [Facebook]
I understand that this person means well in his/her own mind and is only going off personal experience or religious persuasion, but I personally dislike eulogies where the speaker asserts that “[So-and-so] is in a better place.” What makes the eulogizer think that the deceased wouldn’t rather be here with us if he could? Daniel Davis (known to most here as paradox1216) passed away this year after a long battle with cancer. Although we all paid our respects when we learned of the tragic news in October, my hope is that we can integrate his positive energy, enthusiasm, and musical curiosity into our own site presences. As problematic as this site can be on the back-end with technological headaches and other details that are completely outside of our control, Sputnikmusic is nevertheless a sanctuary, an interconnected respite for the weary, a place in which we can escape from “the real world” for a few minutes per day to engage colleagues and friends about our shared love of music in meaningful ways. You can…
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By Sowing
Tuesday December 29, 2015
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50-31 | 30-11 | 10-1
30. Hiatus Kaiyote – Choose Your Weapon
[Official Site] // [Spotify] // [Facebook]
It took me a long time to come around to Choose Your Weapon. Even as an avid fan of their debut, the follow-up is incomparably perplexing. Every time you start to wrap your head around the groove, tracks will spiral off in opposing directions — if you’ve ever heard a song that melds Afrobeat and chiptune as coherently as “Atari”, let me know. This steepens the entry curve somewhat, and means it may come across as flighty and directionless if not given the time of day (*cough* Fantano *cough*). However, those who delve deep and give it that time will find one of the most bizarrely enriching listening experiences of 2015.
Soul revivalists all too often pigeonhole themselves into a specific niche, but Hiatus Kaiyote make use of many strains of jazz, soul and funk from the last 50 years. You would think this smorgasbord of influences would cause the album to come across scatterbrained, but the band always somehow manage to rein it back in thanks to the enigmatic vocals of Nai Palm. Through every absurd twist in Weapon‘s wild ride, Palm is always there, adjusting to match the backdrop while providing some much needed grounding for listeners losing their way amongst the labyrinthine compositions. Have no doubt: it can be an exhausting and complex journey,…
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By Sowing
Monday December 28, 2015
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50-31 | 30-11 | 10-1
50. The Tallest Man on Earth – Dark Bird Is Home
[Official Site] // [Spotify] // [Facebook]
Despite expanding his sound to fill a much broader scope, Kristian Matsson’s fourth full length shares a vital component with its predecessors: an unmistakable feeling of connection with the listener. Deemed his most personal work to date, Dark Bird is Home is affecting and passionate, but not without the lyrical genius of his past efforts. Fueled by topics like the death of a family member and the separation with his wife, Matsson conjures up a release that feels like an unashamed examination of life, rather than an exercise in self-pity. Make no mistake: the album is a grand adventure through life’s bleaker circumstances. Whether it be the horns that bounce around on “Slow Dance” or the gradual build-up in the title track, one can’t help but feel as though they’re part of the journey this time around. –Atari
49. TesseracT – Polaris
[Official Site] // [Spotify] // [Facebook]
Perhaps it is a bit surprising to see TesseracT’s Polaris on this list, mostly because of the number one complaint about it: the lack of real standout tracks. In some respects, this is understandable; however, what ultimately makes this album so great is its simplicity. It’s the uncomplicated instrumentation, the one-dimensional atmosphere, and…
50-31 | 30-11 | 10-1
10. Dance Gavin Dance – Instant Gratification
[Official Site] // [Spotify] // [Facebook]
Holy shit. Hooooooooooooooooooly shit, you guys. Just picture me, sitting here, profound grin across my face as I read every single comment about Bring Me The Horizon coming in at #42…
Let’s just say I’m truly thankful to be able to join you today, all of us together again for another holiday season and the yearly Sputnikmusic Staff Top Ten. First up is… waiiiit. Album art with like, lots of overly-detailed small stuff happening inside a much, much larger frame? Do a double-take, if you want (search your feelings, you know it to be true…). What you’re looking at is unmistakably Dance Gavin Dance album artwork, and Instant Gratification, now a certified ‘Best of 2015’ record, is unmistakably a Dance Gavin Dance album (let the comments flow, guys… really, don’t hold back).
Over the past eight years, and despite all the (astounding) drama that has befallen the band, Dance Gavin Dance have managed to release an impressive six LPs: one that was okay, two that were great, one that was awesome (this one), and two that changed the game forever. Based on my recollection, the first five never even sniffed our Top 50, and yet, behold! In 2015, Instant Gratification lands right here, in our Top Ten. Hell, even its…
50-31 | 30-11 | 10-1
30. Cult Leader – Lightless Walk
[Official Site] // [Spotify] // [Facebook]
In 2012, I felt a renewed faith in “heavy” music. When Gaza dropped No Absolutes In Human Suffering, it was refreshing, to say the least. Three years later, Cult Leader have risen from the ashes and released an album mired in Gaza lore, but drenched in a new identity. Murky and of the moment, Lightless Walk sees the band chart out their own path with a more focused metal sound. The album is sludgier and grimier than anything Gaza ever released. And while that band’s breakup still stings, Cult Leader more than make up for all of those lonely nights. –Eli K.
29. Paradise Lost – The Plague Within
[Official Site] // [Spotify] // [Facebook]
Since the early ’00s and the gradual reinstatement of Paradise Lost among the flagship bands of European death/doom metal the same questions come to mind once the cycle of each and every full length release has been completed: where will they go from here? Will they still be relevant? Truth be told, the Shadowkings have shown to be extremely resourceful in redefining their style, while taking calculated risks regarding the addition of “foreign” elements. For…
50-31 | 30-11 | 10-1
50. Fightstar – Behind the Devil’s Back
[Official Site] // [Spotify] // [Facebook]
Following a surprise hiatus and the ongoing reunion rumors of front-man Charlie Simpson’s seemingly buried boy-band past, anyone could be forgiven for thinking that 2009’s superb Be Human would be Fightstar’s swan song. However, the English post-hardcore, come-alternative metal quartet pleasingly return with a vengeance on their fourth LP Behind the Devil’s Back. Including metallic riffs and thunderous drumming, this is arguably their heaviest record yet, with the raw aggression on display often being astounding. Thankfully, the band have far from sacrificed those killer melodies, with the dual vocal dynamic and some nifty synth additions being a genuine strength. Lacking the diversity of their previous two albums, it may take a few listens to differentiate some of the tracks, but with no filler over an extremely lean thirty-seven minutes, fans are sure to adore this triumphant comeback. –DaveyBoy
49. Godspeed You! Black Emperor – ‘Asunder, Sweet and Other Distress’
[Official Site] // [Spotify] // [Facebook]
With a band like Godspeed, the task isn’t so much explaining how the album’s merits lifted it to the Top 50, but trying to – as sympathetically as possible – describe why…
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By Sowing
Monday December 7, 2015
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Welcome back! It’s hard to believe that it’s already been a year since the highly acclaimed SMA’s (Sowing’s Music Awards) made its debut, and – to your certain delight – the feature has returned in 2015 to bring you the best of…well, whatever I say is best. I’m sure you are the most excited you’ve been all year long.
A typical reaction to the announcement that the SMA’s have returned.
Last year we saw the likes of Gates, The Afghan Whigs, St. Vincent, and Low Roar hoist the seriously cool shit trophy [pictured below]. Many worthy artists are considered, but it takes something truly special to garner an SMA. Acclaimed musicians like The War on Drugs,The Antlers, and Sharon Van Etten have all previously been nominated but walked away empty handed. In short, this is a damn prestigious thing – and at the very least, it beats out the Country Music Awards.
There were many personalities that I considered bringing on board to host this year’s installment. Conan O’Brien, Stephen Colbert, Donald Trump — however, Judio! had dibs [citation: 12/02/14], so I do request that you direct all of your questions and frustration over this list at him. If you’d like to offer praise, my shoutbox is always open. And of course, without further ado, here are the 2015 SMA’s. I hope you find them as riveting as I do. PS: I’ve dedicated a heartfelt 2015 mixtape to all of Sputnik, which…
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By staff
Wednesday December 2, 2015
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Can we start again, go back to what it meant back then? The intentions have never been lost, but in the case of Bane, we can’t go back. Instead, there are a few select chances left for both Europeans and North Americans to see the legendary Boston hardcore outfit, who will be drawing a line under their illustrious career in 2016. They did want to go out on their own terms though, and to capitalize on the chemistry and joy they felt onstage, nothing short of a global farewell tour wasn’t going to cut it. I caught the group on their Tallinn date and was assured in person, not through words but through presence, that this is a band who still wants to do what they’ve done for the past 20 years, and that the decision to hang up the mic wasn’t something that came overly easy. In fact, after this interview, I’m still not convinced that Bane actually want to quit, but all things must come to a close eventually, I guess. As Aaron Bedard, the vocalist for Bane and my interviewee, has always said, hardcore is a young man’s game. But what about a young soul in an old(er) body? I’ll just let Aaron explain everything.
This is your goodbye tour to Europe and it’s the first time you’ve come to Estonia, so I’d like to say a big thank you to you for finding the time to come over here. With…
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By staff
Wednesday December 2, 2015
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Zardonic is one of the heaviest non-underground DJ-s out there right now, which is also why I was so interested in chatting him up. One of the main things that I look for in music is adrenaline, and Zardonic’s music has a lot of that. It’s not hard to see why either: Federico Agreda, the man behind the mask, is one passionate guy. Whether we were talking about the state of things in Venezuela, or just what wines are good, there was an aura of exuberance emitting from him. 2015 was the most fruitful year in Zardonic’s career, so what better time to see on which wavelength Federico is, than right now. Not one to shy away from sharing what he really feels, or dropping names who have inspired him, this metalhead-at-heart gave some real detailed answers about how one gets big in the US, what he thinks of trends, drugs, the Zardonic character, and everything in between. Check it out.
Because I too am into metal, let’s start from there. You have quite the metal background. Not necessarily as an artist, but as a fan. What can you tell about that?
Metal is my thing. It is the genre that contains every element I look for in music. It’s not about being heavy actually, it’s about intensity. It’s a very passionate music genre. You of course also have metal bands that sound like shit, but in general, at least…
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By Sowing
Thursday October 29, 2015
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Run River North – “Mr. Brightside”
It isn’t often that I feel compelled to share cover versions of songs. Then again, most covers aren’t so stunning that they stop you in your tracks. Run River North’s take on the famous Killers’ single “Mr. Brightside” is absolutely breathtaking, and if you haven’t already stumbled upon it by accident, then you are about to be in for a real treat. Take my word for it: if you can spare the next four and a half minutes, listening to this may very well be the best decision you make today.
Run River North takes the familiarity of a pop song that many of us grew up with and turns it completely upside down — in the most beautiful way possible, of course. From the pristine acoustic picking that gently opens the track to the towering duet that draws everything to a fittingly epic close, the track has been very creatively re-imagined. For a song that’s been revisited by so many artists, it’s safe to say that nobody has ever done “Mr. Brightside” as well as this group. They even give the Killers a run for their money. But before you begin casting your stones and accusing me of blasphemy, I implore you to give this the attention it deserves. If you’re intrigued, you can check out more by this band here and/or read up on their self-titled LP. Enjoy.
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By staff
Sunday October 18, 2015
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As many of you will now know Daniel Davis, better known as paradox1216, tragically passed away recently after fighting a long battle with cancer. While I personally had very little interaction with Daniel, the passion that he had for music and life in general was something that was displayed so prominently through his writing and in his interactions with his fellow users.
Since this website’s formation many many moons ago, its success has always been dictated by its userbase. To the point where we have become an online community, able to express ourselves, laugh and get things off our chests with users that we have grown close with over the years. Regardless of your association with Daniel, a loss in the community is a devastating thing. Daniel had a presence that will sorely be missed, and if the comments in the wake of his passing are any indication, he was a user who touched the hearts and minds of everyone he encountered.
Rest in Peace Daniel
Here’s a list of major new releases for the week of October 16th 2015. All dates are for physical U.S. releases unless otherwise noted. Please feel free to request reviews for any of the following albums from staff or contributors.
!!! – As If (Warp Records)
Alex Bleeker And The Freaks – Country Agenda (Omnian Music Group)
Børns – Dopamine (Interscope)
Chad Valley – Entirely New Blue (Indie Japan)
Chris Walla – Tapes Loops (Trans Records)
Coheed & Cambria – The Color Before…
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By staff
Tuesday October 13, 2015
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Pilot Waves isn’t just Icarus the Owl’s third album- it’s also the innovative pop-punk group’s debut on Blue Swan Records, a label run by Dance Gavin Dance’s Will Swan. While the band’s singer Joey Rubenstein was generous enough to send me a copy of the release a few weeks ago, I regrettably haven’t been able to spend much time cracking the album. But Joey was able to share some thoughts and feelings with me about this release, reasons why Pilot Waves is a different kind of release for Icarus the Owl.
Pilot Waves exists as a balance of light and dark. We pulled our sound in opposite directions- meaning that we wrote the heaviest and lightest songs we’ve ever written. I was going through a tumultuous time while writing the album, and I think the ups and downs in both the music and lyrics are a reflection of that. Some days I would have a very manic headspace, and I’d write a really heavy song. Other days, I would feel serene and write something more uplifting. We talk a lot about waves on this album and it fits perfectly with how the album sounds. Pilot Waves peaks and valleys much like the oscillation of a wave.
Stream Pilot Waves in full below, and pre-order it at the following link: http://smarturl.it/Pilotwaves
Tags: Album Streams, Blue Swan, Blue Swan Records, Icarus the Owl, Joey Rubenstein, Pilot Waves, SputnikMusic
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By staff
Friday October 9, 2015
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Here’s a list of major new releases for the week of October 9th 2015. All dates are for physical U.S. releases unless otherwise noted. Please feel free to request reviews for any of the following albums from staff or contributors.
Alex G – Beach Music (Domino Recording Co.)
Chris Hadfield – Space Sessions: Songs From A Tin Can (Warner Music Canada)
City And Colour – If I Should Go Before You (Dine Alone Music)
Corb Lund – Things That Can’t Be Undone (New West Records)
Dirty Ghosts – Let It Pretend (Last Gang Records)
Duncan Sheik – Legerdemain (+180 Records)
Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros – In No Particular Order: 2009-2014 (Community Music)
The Game – The Documentary 2 (Entertainment One Music)
Glenn Mercer – Incidental Hum (Bar/None Records)
Jake Shimabukuro – Travels (Entertainment One Music)
John Grant – Grey Tickles, Black Pressure (Partisan)
Kelela – Hallucinogen (Cheery Coffee Music)
Mayday Parade – Black Lines (Fearless Records)
Nicole Dollanganger – Natural Born Losers (Eerie Orgainzation)
Personable – New Lines(Peak Oil)
Protomartyr – The Agent Intellect (Hardly Art)
Rudimental – We The Generation (Atlantic)
Saintseneca – Such Things (Anti/Epitaph)
Selena Gomez – Revival (Interscope)
St. Germain – St. Germain (Nonesuch)
Toby Keith – 35 MPH Town (Show Dog Universal Music)
W.A.S.P. – Golgotha (Napalm Records)
The Zombies – Still Got That Hunger (The End Records)
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Album Streams:
Alex G – Beach Music
Dirty Ghosts – Let It Pretend
Duncan Sheik – Legerdemain
John Grant – Grey Tickles, Black…
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By staff
Sunday October 4, 2015
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Here’s a list of major new releases for the week of October 2nd 2015. All dates are for physical U.S. releases unless otherwise noted. Please feel free to request reviews for any of the following albums from staff or contributors.
Avicii – Stories (Island)
Autre Ne Veut – Age Of Transparency (Downtown)
Blitzen Trapper – All Across This Land (Vagrant)
Born Ruffians – Ruff (Yep Roc Records)
Childbirth – Women’s Rights (Suicide Squeeze Records)
Children Of Bodom – I Worship Chaos (Nuclear Blast)
Collective Soul – See What You Started By Continuing (Vanguard)
Darkstar – Foam Island (Warp Records)
Des Ark – Everything Dies (Graveface)
Deafheaven – New Bermuda (Anti/Epitaph)
Eagles Of Death Metal – Zipper Down (T-Boy Records/UMe)
Editors – In Dream (Pias)
Emily Kinney – This Is War (Independent Label Services Inc.)
Fit For An Autopsy – Absolute Hope, Absolute Hell (Entertainment One Music)
Girls Names – Arms Around A Vision (Tough Love)
Great Collapse – Holy War (LOTB Inc.)
Indian Handcrafts – Creeps (Sargent Records)
Janet Jackson – Unbreakable (Rhythm Nation/BMG)
Kylesa – Exhausting Fire (Season Of Mist)
Loma Prieta – Self Portrait (Deathwish Inc.)
Malevolent Creation – Dead Man’s Path (Century Media)
Mercury Rev – The Light In You (Pias)
Nicolas Godin – Contrepoint (Because Music)
Night Birds – Mutiny At Muscle Beach (Fat Wreck Chords)
Queensrÿche – Condition Human (Century Media)
Sevendust – Kill The Flaw (7Bros. Records)
The Sheepdogs – Future Nostalgia (Dine Alone Music)
Shopping – Why Choose?…
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By Sowing
Wednesday September 30, 2015
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Hi there!
It’s a bit of a busy time this season, but I hope you’re all doing well. As a consequence of the busy season, I couldn’t corral all the staffers to contribute, so some writers and/or genres are going to be underrepresented.
This will hopefully change as we gear up for the Year-End list, and perhaps my Lions will actually decide to win a game by December. To help out you non-sports people, I won’t use specific names.
Star Receiver: “Alright, we need to score two touchdowns in two minutes. What are we going to do?”
Quarterback: “I dunno, hopefully we just march down the field and throw it deep to you twice. Let’s see what our offensive coordinator says.”
Offensive Coordinator: “How many time outs we got?”
Head Coach: “Zero. We have no timeouts.”
Offensive Coordinator: “THREE YARD SCREENS UP THE MIDDLE, I GUESS! BUT FIRST LET’S RUN THE BALL TO REALLY SURPRISE THEM.”
I need to adopt a new team.
Anyway, enjoy these last few weeks as we roll into Q4. –Jom
David Maxim Micic feat. Dan Wieten – “Satellite” (08:36)
Eco
Listen if you like: Devin Townsend, The Omega Experiment
Bandcamp | Facebook
While I absolutely adore ECO, as I adore most of David Maxim Micic’s unreasonably brilliant albums, “Satellite” is undoubtedly its most forward and upbeat rocker. Built around a charming little marimba piece and utilizing the very talented…
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