Wow! It has been over a year since I last did a Heavy Rotation post. I know I’ve periodically thought, “Oh I need to do one of those…I’ll get to it shortly…”, but with everything going on from family, friends, and all things Shapeshifter Sculpting, I haven’t had the time. But I figured, I’ll find some moments here and there to piece one together because these posts are always fun to do. I enjoy looking back at them and getting a summary of the music I was listening to at those particular times.
It will be hard to nail it all down as it has been over a year and there has been a fuck-ton of music! From single selections on Erin and my “Saturdaze” outings, to albums, to concerts. This is going to be a fun task to sorta summarize the past year. But alas, I shall do my best and if you’ve found your way to this corner of the web, perhaps you’ll find something you enjoy listening to.
Chat Pile
Since I last wrote there have been a couple of new releases from Chat Pile. Their latest albums include “Cool World”, and a joint venture with Hayden Pedigo titled “In the Earth Again”. I like both of these albums a lot and have had them on heavy rotation for a time now. “Cool World” brings the heavy, and “In the Earth Again” brings the mellow and dreamy. They’re both cool albums and, in my opinion, worth your time.
Author & Punisher
Keeping with new releases, Author & Punisher released a new album, “Nocturnal Birding”. Another solid release, and good follow-up to Krueller. Feels like A&P is bringing more guitar to the mix. A fairly heavy album.
MIEN
MIEN dropped a new one this year as well. “MIIEN”. I really dug this album and have about half the album favorited in my Spotify.
Drumcorps
Drumcorps launched a new album straight into the center of my hyperactive brain. I’ve been listening to Drumcorps off and on for a little over a year. It’s a crazy, chaotic mix of heavy sounds and disarray that borders on total chaos at times but just seems to hold it together. Punishing music that leaves me feeling pumped.
Swans
Swans released like their 30th album or some shit, and they will likely go down, for the third year in a row, as the band I listened to the most. I never get tired of the Swans. Their music has so many layers, it’s hypnotic and repetitive in all the good ways. It’s noisy, theatrical, and filled with drama. I love it! The new album, Birthing, did not disappoint.
There were a lot of new discoveries this year, as well as deep dives and visitations to bands I’ve known, or listened to quite a bit over the years. In no particular order:
Mark Lanegan
I had no familiarity with Mark Lanegan other than a brief intro on an episode of No Reservations and I wasn’t particularly taken with it. I remember at the time wondering why Bourdain was so infatuated with the man.
After a brief dive into the Screaming Trees, some of which I enjoyed, I began digging into his solo work. I haven’t finished it all, and much of it leaves me flat. But I have come away with an appreciation of the musician, and there are some real gems. I am particularly enamoured with the album “Bubblegum”.
Ethel Cain
I came across Ethel Cain a number of years ago on Bandcamp. She had a set of demos that completely floored me, which were then followed by auto-tuned horseshit that I could not listen to. I would periodically revisit those demos as they were so emotionally stirring.
In the intervening years she has released a few albums, two of which are quite good in my opinion. It is very different music from what I’ve historically listened to, but I’ve always had a soft spot for lighter, more emotional and dramatic music. I love the harmonies and upwelling dramatic moments in her music. There are touches of auto-tune, but they have been toned down and used in a way I find to be smart and well placed vs. the over-saturated, alien sounds so many musicians seem fixated on trashing their songs with.
Acid Bath
I don’t know how I lived through the 90s without having ever heard Acid Bath. “When the Kite String Pops” is an incredible meld of metal styles and leaves me pretty much gobsmacked every time I listen to it. These dudes were setting the stage for the metal sounds to come. Kick ass band and kick ass album. Unfortunately they only released two albums. But they’ve recently begun touring again, so it’ll be interesting to see if they drop new material.
Chalk
Chalk has been in my playlists for awhile now. It seems every once in a while they release another single. Each one I find fantastic. I tend to then go back and play the new ones along with all the others in an attempt to make an album. Maybe one day they will release a full album for people like me who still consume albums as a whole? Until then I’ll keep listening to the singles. I suppose I could put together a playlist…
Mr. Bungle
I didn’t know Mr. Bungle existed until this year. I’ve always liked Mike Patton’s voice and was familiar with some of his other projects. And then I decided to do a deeper dive, because man, Patton is a talented motherfucker. Dude is all over the place, and I find that to be so cool. So many different projects, so many weird explorations. Anyway, Mr. Bungle, unbeknownst to me, has been around for a while. And the music is insane. In a good way.
Mudvayne
L.D. 50 is one of my all-time favorite metal albums. After over twenty years of listening, I still love this album. After this album, it craters. The release of early live content and demos is good listening, but the major album releases after L.D. 50 fall flat for me.
The recent release of the single “Hurt People, Hurt People” has given me hope of a new Mudvayne album worth the listen. Insofar two singles have been released. The above mentioned kicks ass, the second single, not so much. I’m still holding out with hope.
The Heligoats
Never listened to them until Erin threw on this cut for one of our Saturdaze sessions. I love the energy of the song. The album it is on is pretty good, but this is the standout to me. No other song gave me the earworm like this one.
R.E.M.
It’s funny, they were at their height when I was a young man, and of course I’m familiar with, and like many of their radio hits. But I never did a thorough listen to them. Until recently. Much to love by this band. A shame I didn’t know this at earlier points in my life.
Earthless
I don’t remember how I came across them. I think it may have been a Spotify recommendation. They’re likely competing for most listened to band out of the year simply due to the length of their songs. These are incredible shreds that can go anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour. The lead guitarist for this band is incredible.
One Day as a Lion
Never knew Zack del la Rocha released these tracks. These go all the way back to something like 2008, and they’re so fucking good. Sad to see he hasn’t put together more music.
Unexplained
These are tracks that I found myself intrigued by for one reason or the other, none of which I can really articulate why, but I put them here. Some of these songs were literally listened to over and over, for dozens of plays. Don’t ask me why because I don’t know.
*Note: Golden Age track in this Spotify playlist is not the version I recommend. This is the only version Spotify included. The original demo on Bandcamp is my recommendation and is what I originally posted above.
Author: Jason Jacobs
Jason Jacobs is an artist, project manager, and frontend web designer living and working in Boise, Idaho. Beyond work he spends his time with family, as well as reading, writing articles for Uhmm, and working on his art. All words and opinions, etc., are his and do not reflect the positions or beliefs of anyone other than himself.