**EXTRA CREDIT IF YOU CAN NAME EVERY BAND WITH FAMILY
MEMBERS IN THE LINEUP (ANSWER AT THE END OF THIS POST!)
1. “Can’t Do Without You” – Caribou
Canadian composer/producer Dan Snaith is ready with a
sixth studio album since 2005 as Caribou, Our Love. His ready
mix of dance beats, weighty bass lines and electronic wizardry is uncontested
in this lead single and opening track for the album.
2. “Do You” – Spoon
Spoon returns with its eighth studio album, They
Want My Soul, since the indie rock band was formed in Austin in 1993.
The five-piece includes a new member Alex Fischel (keys, guitar) but the
gritty vocals of lead singer Brit Daniels still gives the music its edge, as
witnessed in "Do You."
3. “Gold Silver Diamond” – Generationals
Ted Joyner and Grant Widmer make up the New Orleans-based
indie rock duo Generationals, layering rhythms with stylized pop vocals for a
distinctive sound. "Gold Silver Diamond" is the first single
off the fourth studio album since 2009, Alix.
4. “Paradise Waiting” – Vacationer
Vacationer recently released a sophomore album, Relief, inspired
by playing gigs for fans and being together on the road. The band is a
collaboration of singer Kenny Vasoli, who imbibes every note with sunny warmth,
plus Body Language's Matthew Young and Grand Wheeler.
5. “Sunbathing Animal” – Parquet Courts
The fast-paced punk energy continues with NYC-based band
Parquet Courts, back with a third album called Sunbathing Animal.
This searing rock tune is the title track of the new collection.
6. “From Now On” – Delta Spirit
San Diego's five piece indie rock group Delta Spirit
delivers a true band aesthetic by writing together and recording everything
live for its fourth album, Into the Wide. "From Now
On" is the teaser single for the upcoming album.
7. “Who Needs You” – The Orwells
The Orwells are a young five-piece rock band from the
Chicago suburbs, writing about "anywhere USA" with wild exuberance.
"Who Needs You" is a single off the sophomore album
called Disgraceland.
8. “The Heat” – Jungle
Josh Lloyd-Watson and Tom McFarland comprise the
London-based duo Jungle, a modern soul musical collective with a self-titled debut album. They expand to a
seven-piece live band to bring the groove of songs like "The Heat" to
the stage.
9. “Hot and Cold” – Ex Hex
Power trio Ex Hex hails from Washington, D.C. This female
group presents the basics, an "unapologetic Rock and Roll," as found
in the single "Hot and Cold" from the upcoming debut album Rips.
10. “Brill Bruisers” – The New Pornographers
"Brill Bruisers" is the title track of
eight-piece Canadian indie rock band The New Pornographer's sixth album since
1999. The signature, full-on vocals of the group create an instant celebration
of the human spirit with soaring melodies and layered harmonies.
11. “So What” – Avi Buffalo
Avigdor Zahner-Isenberg took four years to create his
second album as Avi Buffalo, At Best Cuckold. The dreamy '60s
pop influence saturates the songs again, as evidenced in "So
What."
12. “So Now What” – The Shins
The Shins' feature role in a Zach Braff film (Wish I
Was Here) is reprised in "So Now What," gently reminding
listeners why the Albuquerque band's indie cred remains intact. The song exists
easily on its own merits, and yes, might just change your life.
13. “All the Rage Back Home” – Interpol
"All the Rage Back Home" is the solid opening
track for NYC-based Interpol's fifth studio album since 1997, El
Pintor. Singer Paul Banks takes over bass from the departing member
Carlos Danger, and the group tightly rocks on.
14. “Where I’m From” – Eels
Prolific singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist
Californian Mark Oliver Everett (a.k.a. E) has released his eleventh full
length album for Eels since 1996, The Cautionary Tales of Mark Oliver
Everett. The introspective song "Where I'm From" draws the listener
in while softly singing private thoughts.
15. “Summer Noon” – Tweedy
Jeff Tweedy of Chicago band Wilco began a solo musical
project with son Spencer on drums adding creative input to form Tweedy. This
song "Summer Moon" finds that familiar world-weary voice over
strumming guitar, from the new ablum called Sukierae.
16. “It Comes Back To You” – Christopher Owens
L.A. based musician Christopher Owens (former frontman of
indie rock band Girls) has released his second solo album, A New
Testament. "It Comes Back To You" highlights Owens' warm
voice and other-worldly artistic vision.
17. “Woke Up To the Light” – Strand of Oaks
Strand of Oaks is the folk rock outfit by Timothy
Showalter based in Philadelphia. The songs for a fourth album, Heal, came
together after a horrific car crash where Showalter was forced to reexamine
everything -- now contained in every note.
18. “Pets” – Deadmau5
Deadmau5 is the stage name of Canadian progressive-house
music producer Joel Thomas Zimmerman, who just released his seventh album since
2005. The airy instrumental "Pets" is one of 25 tracks (minus the
mixes) on this two-disc album, which contains a continuous mix for each
disc.
DID YOU GUESS THREE BANDS?
1. TWEEDY -- FATHER & SON
2. PARQUET COURTS -- BROTHERS
3. THE ORWELLS -- COUSINS & TWIN BROTHERS!!!
Another round up with my fave songs of 2018 listed not by preference but how best to order them for the optimal listening experience – although I have to admit that David Byrne's "Everybody's Coming To My House" has to be my #1(along with the euphoric concert experience of seeing him in non-stop motion with band members at Forest Hills in September during his American Utopia tour.) Here's to the year that was and the one that will be! Listen as a Spotify playlist here.
