My favorite albums of 2019

My Favorite Albums of 2019
For the first time in many years, I think I listened to LESS new music than older music.  This was really a year for digging back for me--for example, I probably listened to The Magnetic Fields' 69 Love Songs (released in 1999) more than anything else.  Also, I've spent a ton of time listening to old crooners like Sinatra and Crosby.  So, I haven't taken in nearly as much new music this year.

That being said, it was still an exciting year for new releases, and a lot of them caught my attention and kept it.  Also, as you're about to read--2019 was the year I returned to loving pop music at an alarming level.

(#10) - In Cauda Venenum
So many people are critical of the changes Opeth have undergone over the past few records, but I think it's just a natural progression for a musician like Akelfeldt, who is getting a bit older and has always had a strong connection to progressive rock--stronger than his identification with metal.  This album has the usual epic structure you'd expect from the band, but the song's are more memorable than their last couple outings.  I can't wait to watch this band shift from album to album, and I can't wait to finally see them live early this coming year.


(#9) Alcest - Spiritual Instinct
I've heard several songs about this band over the past few years, but this album is my first real experience I've had becoming smitten with a full length from them.  Some try to pigeonhole them as a black metal band or something, while others want to call them shoegaze or ambient metal.  Personally, they're a blend of all of these elements and more.  If you want a taste, just listen to "Les jardins de minuit"--which will fully engulf you.  But don't miss out on a chance to hear a complete album and listening experience.


(#8) A four way tie - MY POP OBSESSIONS
Charli XCX - Charli
James Blake - Assume Form
Lizzo - Cuz I Love You
Billie Eilish - WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO?

First, I feel absolutely no shame.  So cut that shit out.  It started with James Blake (a musician I've loved for several years now) releasing his strongest album since his solo debut near the beginning of the year.  Billie and Lizzo both hit me about the same time (and truthfully, I've listened to Billie's album the most out of these four discs).  My dude Dave Biscella turned me on to the Lizzo track, "Juice." Then Charli XCX dropped, and the song "1999" was too infectious.  I know that of these four, I really am only the target demographic for the Blake album--sort of.  But these albums are all filled with solid lyrics, catchy beats, endless hooks--damn.  I just love all four of these albums.  I don't love any of them enough to put them about the rest on the list.  All of them have merit, though.



(#7) Soen - Lotus
While you all were waiting around for the new Tool album (ok--I was too) for the past 13 years, I had found a band that filled that void for me.  The vocals are top notch and the band is tight beyond belief.  Honestly, their past couple of efforts are definitely better than 10,000 Days.  So Soen was my Tool fill-in.  Once the fanaticism of Fear Inoculum passed, I realized that I do like that album.  However, I still prefer Soen's 2019 release more.  There's nothing on Fear that's as good as Soen's tunes, "Martyrs" and the title track for this disc.  At times, brutal--but most times, beautiful--you have to give Soen a listen.


(#6) Gatecreeper - Deserted 
The only death metal band that really snagged me with an entire album this year.  If you had to ask me before 2019 to name one death metal group I was digging on from the past two years, I'd have said Gatecreeper.  This excellent album just furthered that excitement.  Heavy, with a groove--just like I like it.


(#5) Fitz & The Tantrums - All the Feels
For the first time ever, there's a hint of melancholy in the music of Fitz & The Tantrums.  This album is long and ambitious--but most impressively, there are lyrics that tie in to the struggles of their front man.  I have a feeling this is a band in a period of transition--and I don't know when we'll get another Fitz album.  However, this may be their most complete album.  It's not as good as More Than Just a Dream, but tunes like the title track, "Ready or Not," and "OCD" are instant mainstays on the band's set list.  One last tip--see them live if you haven't.  Erin and I have caught them three times, and they never disappoint.


(#4) Sturgill Simpson - Sound & Fury
From what I understand, this is Sturgill's soundtrack for an anime film he helped to create.  I don't know.  I DO know that this is an awesome psych rock record--a severe departure from the country sound Sturgill usually embraces. The songs were inspired by his obsession with Macbeth as of late--and his disenchantment with the music business that I longed to be a part of for so long.  Some of these lyrics make me rather happy it never happened. His LP "A Sailor's Guide to Earth" was my favorite album of 2016--and while this one has a couple of momentary lapses, I really dig the overall vibe of the record.  I don't like anime, so I won't be watching the film.  But methinks I'll be digging on this album for many years to come.  Lyrically, this was probably the best record I encountered this year.


(#3) Life of Agony - The Sound of Scars
Honestly, I was concerned when LOA separated from Sal Abruscato, since I've always thought he was an important part of their overall sound.  However, new drummer Veronica Bellino has done a great job forming her own path on this new record.  Also, she gave me HEY DOYLE videos--but I digress. Thematically, this album is intended to be a continuation of River Runs Red--perhaps my favorite metal album ever.  I think the thematic link works, and it probably made a few pay attention who haven't followed the band since their breakthrough 1993 record.  For me, the band is really hitting their stride on this new record.  Mina Caputo--who carries a vibe of love and positivity through most of her daily social media posts--really delivers poignant lyrics on this album that represent the continuation of our protagonist's story line.  If I had to suggest just one song, it would be "Empty Hole."  The Sounds of Scars will likely be placed near the top of the band's discography once their illustrious run comes to an end--which I hope will not happen anytime soon.


(#2) Puppy - The Goat
I wish I would've kept track of how many times my wife said, "Is this that damn Puppy band again" throughout the year.  I was OBSESSED with this album for a few months.  They also dropped an EP near the end of 2019, which is solid in its own right.  But The Goat is just loaded with earworms, crunchy guitars, and soaring vocals which would sound right at home in the very grungiest of grungy atmospheres.  "And So I Burn" is one of my very favorite songs of the year, but there isn't a weak point on this album.  This would've been my absolute favorite records in most years--but this album had the distinction of being released in the same year as an absolute audio juggernaut...


(#1) Devin Townsend - Empath
...this.  Hevy Devy made the risky decision of disbanding his merry band of masters, The Devin Townsend Project.  Then he sold the rights to release all of his past albums on vinyl for $175,000.  Then, he used every penny to abscond to an isolated studio, paid the greatest players he could find, and recorded Empath.  You've never heard an album like this.  It is everything Devin can do, with no limitations of genre or expectations.  He just did everything he likes to do, all on one disc.  He also recorded the planning and sessions, releasing them on YouTube to build up anticipation--and more importantly--to document his journey.  I can't sum up this album in words.  You simply have to listen to it on your own.  All of it.  Then allow the final track on the album, the 23-plus-minute beatdown and cradling of "Singularity," to decimate you.

Make Something 365

Make Something 365 by Noah Scalin
Hey!  I snagged a book on Kindle to spark a bit of creativity in myself.  Everyday, I'm hoping to post a new creation here and let you guys check them out.  I'm musical, but not really artistic in the true sense of the word.  I'll also try to post them on my website at www.fredwhitacrejr.com, on my IG, Twitter, and Facebook.  I hope you like what I'm going to make.  Hell, I hope I like what I'm going to make.  It should be an adventure.

Day 3 - "Sailing the Seas of Weez"

Day 2 - "Hare of the Dog"

Day 1 - "Connect and Isolate"

2018 In The Rear View Mirror

12-29-18
Hey!  2018 is over.  How did that happen?
* Jeez, we went to a lot of places!  Concerts included Rob Zombie/Marilyn Manson, Ghost, Foo Fighters, Elton John, Smashing Pumpkins, Metallica, Machine Head (x2), Steven Wilson, Life Of Agony (x2), Live, Radiohead, Stone Temple Pilots, Weezer, Black Label Society w/COC--wow!  We also got to see a festival of lights and pro golf in Akron with friends.  The Warhol museum.  Cleveland Museum. Randyland (Erin was lukewarm on that one). Just a wonderful year of traveling and doing random things for enjoyment.  I think we crammed five years of things into this single year.  We're hoping to do the same in 2019 though--uhhh--we're old.
* My wife and I both lost about 40 pounds each.  We don't really post about it a lot because it's a constant struggle, and we're always fighting the inevitable poundage put-back.  The holidays don't help, either.  But we've just been eating cleaner and working out.  She rides a bike and I do a lot of walking.  Yoga and Kettlebells here and there.  While I'm proud of the work and progress, the hardest part is keeping it off.  We started in February and I hit my goal in July.  I am happy about what we've done, but the looming return of bad habits is like a monster with big, sharp, pointy teeth (as Tim from Holy Grail would say).  It's gonna be a grind!
* We started the basement this past week, with the help of my wonderful friend, Mr. Shimko.  That guy is a building beast!  Eventually, we want to have the entire basement finished (which I said would happen somewhere between 2016 and 2025).  So, we've got a good head start.
* I've dropped the ball in the music area.  I've got a bunch of original songs waiting.  KKC got to play a 20 year show.  Played some covers, which was fun--and got to play with some people I really respect and appreciate.  I just feel like I'm wasting so much precious time.  I have an immense and impossible goal regarding my own musical endeavors.  It's so impossible, I don't even want to list it here.  But I'm going to try, and it's GOTTA happen in 2019.  Well, the first step does.
* I still haven't run over Noll Hartman with a semi-truck yet.  But 2019 provides a lot of opportunity to improve the world and accomplish important personal goals.  Hitting Noll with a truck would do a both of those things.
* This has been a year of addiction to collecting vinyl.  Erin and I have found a lot of albums we've always wanted to have, and we snagged a bunch of them.  The list isn't complete yet--but we are infinitely closer to completing the list of must-haves.
* The passing of Jeanie Kihm in July was difficult.  Johnny has been my best friend for almost 30 years, and she was a vital part of my upbringing.  You'd be hard-pressed to find a kinder spirit on Earth.  I don't dwell on the negatives, though.  I feel indescribably fortunate to have known her and to have her call me her 'third son' on many occasions.  Just a beautiful person who is terribly missed.

My goals for 2019:
1. Music.  I just want to do a lot of music.  I've never had a song I've done on vinyl, which bums me out.  I really want to remedy that this year. 
2. Live.  I've noticed that things that I used to deem as cheesy (guys from the military popping out of boxes to surprise families at basketball games, dogs on their last walk before being taken to the vet for the final time, old men talking about their widows)--these videos suddenly move me to tears now.  I'm just more reactionary to these heart-string tugs.  Maybe it's because I'm into my 40s.  Maybe it's because I just love being alive.  I dunno.  I don't want to change it.  I want to embrace that more.  Love and be loved.
3. Keep joy.  My occupation requires joy and the past few weeks have presented unique challenges that I've never faced in my career because--well--the way I treat kids has been enough to avoid problems that many others have to deal with in my line of work.  This year, I've found that's not always the case.  Trust and empathy don't necessarily garner a full return on every occasion now.  I just have to evolve with the times and continue to love the job and the young and hopeful faces I see everyday.  I think I'll be refreshed when I return in a few short days.
4.  I'm going to try a ridiculous idea that I've always labeled as too stupid to try.  But I'm gonna go for it.  I know that's vague.  But it has to be for now! :-)
5. I've been withdrawing a bit from social media because (like many of us) I know it consumes too much of my time.  I can't find time to play video games, or write music, or work on the house, or visit with friends & family, but I always scroll through Facebook several times a day.  It's just kind of stupid.  I don't think anyone's tombstone is ever going to read DAMN!  GLAD I SCROLLED THE TL SO MUCH WHEN I WAS ALIVE!  This is just the addiction of our time.  Well, it's the addiction that got a hold on me, at least.

My Favorite Albums of 2018

With my enrollment in Spotify Premium this year, and an obsession with mallwalking (yes, I'm 56 years old), I've heard a boatload of new music.  So I find it impossible to list only my Top 10.  In fact, just narrowing it down to 15 was difficult.  But, finally, I've got it.  My favorite albums of 2018!  In order, of course.  Some might disagree with my top selections.  But that's what makes this fun!

(#15) Low - Double Negative
Admittedly, I was taken aback by this duo's foray into electronically-driven music.  However, this one has grown on me quite a bit--and I now look at it as their most dynamic effort in several years.  If you haven't listened, do so.  Be prepared to be depressed but intrigued.

(#14) Biffy Clyro - MTV Unplugged Live At Roundhouse London
This is the most important Unplugged album to come out in quite a bit because it's a triumphant return of the program (albeit in the UK) and it's actually GOOD.  The cover of a Beach Boys song really pushes it over the top--but to hear Biffy's songs in a stripped back format really brings out the emotion within the individual tunes.  The stage and the set list really hit every mark!  The DVD is worth a watch, as well.  'Mon the Biff!

(#13) Corrosion of Conformity - No Cross, No Crown
The awesome return of Pepper Keenan back to the helm of COC.  After 12 long years and it's SO mighty!  Songs like "The Luddite" and "Cast the First Stone" will be mainstays in the live set for quite a while--but I'm personally drawn to "Nothing Left To Say."  Taste the sludge!

(#12) The Pineapple Thief - Dissolution
I'm ashamed to say I've missed out on these guys for years (and 11 albums).  Erin D saw them mentioned on a Steven Wilson page--and the "proggies" there always stick together.  So when this was recommended by so many on the page, I had to go hear it for myself.  This album is the perfect example of what great players can bring to great songwriting, and vice-versa.  It's haunting and unforgettable.  I love it this much, and I've only given it a handful of listens.  Without a doubt, it'll continue to grow on me.

(#11) Deafheaven - Ordinary Corrupt Human Love
Another effort from Deafheaven which doesn't fall short of expectations. Most of this listen is spent wondering how something can be so devastating and so beautiful.  I don't this is quite at the the level of "Sunbather"--but it's close.  "Canary Yellow" and "Worthless Animal" are standout tracks on a fully standout album.

(#10) A Perfect Circle - Eat the Elephant
I'm betting you won't find a more divisive album on my list.  APC fans instantly split into factions.  Is this a sellout attempt?  Is it weak songwriting?  Or is it just a brand new APC album that completely breaks from their formula?  For me, it's the latter.  I think they created an album which is very atmospheric.  Much in the same way you'll find on Acid Bath's When the Kite String Pops album, this album's more reserved moments are filled with unrelenting tension.  If you swore this off after a couple of listens, it probably missed you.  This is a great album and, in my opinion, it's APC's most unified piece.

(#9) Judas Priest - Firepower
I don't need to say much about it.  It's just Priest's best album in a couple of decades.  The most balls-out, straight-forward metal album of the year.  It just happened to be crafted and performed by 70-year-olds.  Absolute legendary material from absolute legends!

(#8) Muse - Simulation Theory
Truly, I never expected these guys to get so huge.  I was first introduced to them by a friend in 1999.  I skipped a chance to see them in Kent circa 2003, and was fortunate enough to catch them at the Agora for $20 around 2006.  Now, a ticket to the upcoming tour will run you well over $100 if you actually want to be able to SEE them from your seat.  Matt's voice is too unappealing to a mass audience--so I thought?  But this is a theme album which let's them be as experimental and electronic as they want.  Also allows them to become Prince for a second on "Break it to Me" and then move on to emotional-eletrodroning like "Something Human."  It just really works as a whole, which is a place where Drones and The 2nd Law faltered.  A fun album with some rather danceable moments.

(#7) Myles Kennedy - "Year of the Tiger" 
When an artist does a fully 'solo' effort, he/she must make a choice--try to sound like what you do with your full band, or branch out into something different.  A couple of efforts--Weiland's 12 Bar Blues and Cornell's Euphoria Morning (Mourning), for example--show the musician stretching beyond their comfort zone.  Tiger lets Kennedy dig into folk, rock, country, and many other points in between.  His vocal range is, as always, impressive.  Check out "Songbird" and the amazing "Nothing But a Name" and take in what is a very cohesive and enjoyable album.  As a side note, he's also the voice on one of my very favorite songs of the entire year, Slash's tune, "The One You Love Is Gone."

(#6) YOB - Our Raw Heart
This band's guitarist almost died recently, and they come out with their most inspired and earnest album.  Every song remains fresh throughout--which is especially impressive since most of the songs range between 9 - 16 minutes in length.  Much like Pallbearer's last album Heartless, this album's power is found in the vocal delivery.  I will continue to revisit this record for years to come because I find something new in it with every session.  It's really good.  Honestly, it probably should sit higher on my list.

(#5) - Ghost - Prequelle
Ghost is now fronted by the Cardinal.  Who's actually Tobias Forge.  Whatever.  Opus Eponymous was my favorite album of 2010, and I didn't even know about the stage theatrics.  I just loved the album.  Honestly, I figured they looked like Deep Purple back then.  With each additional release, Ghost has gotten a little more mainstream.  I simply don't care.  The music is so good.  Some say it should be more satanic, but when I started seeing Metallica-shirt-wearing jocks at their shows in 2012, I knew they were heading towards widespread appreciation.  This album is excellent.  It would probably be my favorite, but I find the two instrumental tracks to be underwhelming--along with the intro track.  So really, this album only has 7 new songs on it, in my opinion.  Songs like "Rats" and "See the Light" are wonderfully written, and "Dance Macabre" might be the catchiest song Forge has ever composed.  Haters be damned, I love this band.  Also, they're great live.  Likely my favorite show of this past year.  Maybe.

(#4) Internal Bleeding - Corrupting Influence
Gotta set the scene for this one.  In 1999, 21-year-old me was about to graduate from college and step into the intimidating world of adulthood.  So I needed something angsty to fight off the future demons.  Enter Internal Bleeding's Driven to Conquer.  It's still one of my favorite slam albums of all time.  Every song had 200 riffs in it, and it just fit all together.  They'd released only two albums since then, and I often found myself bored by some of it.  Then, the band tragically lost their drummer, Bill Tolley, who was a firefighter in New York City.  He fell to his death on the job, and the band's future was in doubt.  However, they've reemerged with this effort, and it is their most complete album since the aforementioned Driven to Conquer.  It's a slam record, with unrelenting brutality.  Without question, my favorite death metal album in 2018.

(#3) Alice In Chains - Rainier Fog
If you're still a stubborn "Layne was Alice In Chains" person, then you're really missing out on some wonderful music.  AIC continues to write excellent music (which is far more inspired than their self-titled 1997 dog album, btw)--I just don't understand how people can cast off the importance of Jerry Cantrell and ignore what they're doing now.  This album is melancholy, heavy, and memorable.  Of the ten songs, eight of these are high-caliber jams which I'd put up against most of their past catalog.  "Never Fade" is my personal favorite.  By the way, I think this is Erin D's favorite album of 2018.  I say that because she won't quit listening to it every single day.

(#2) Pennywise - Never Gonna Die
I haven't enjoyed an entire Pennywise album since 1995's About Time.  Jim Lindberg has been back on vocals since 2012, but this is the first album of FULLY NEW MATERIAL with him dating back several years.  The album just feels really inspired.  Also, oddly enough, the band sounds a little loose at times, which makes me love this album even more.  It's not all Pro-Tools perfect.  Some of the little flaws is what makes me love it so much.  Songs like "Keep Moving On" and "Live While You Can" have been a time bomb ticking in my head (ticking in my head) since its release in April.  A solid pop-punk record!  Check it out!

(#1) Stone Temple Pilots - "Stone Temple Pilots"
Okay.  It's really crappy they made this a self-titled album, since they already tried that in 2010 with a lame album with Scott.  Jeff Gutt, their new vocalist, certainly has the pipes and the conviction to pull off a new-age rendition of this band.  Scott Weiland was one of my favorite singers, so I was ultra-bummed to see them try to pull it off with Chester (which was a rather failed EP experiment).  But this new album has so many great songs.  The more I listened to it, the more it climbed up my list of STP albums.  It's not their best album.  Not their second best, either.  But it might be their third best album (below Core and Purple).  Ever.  If you're not into mellow STP, this album won't make the immediate impact it made on me.  But "Thought She'd Be Mine" and "The Art of Letting Go" are both songs that really have memorable vocal hooks that aren't in Weiland's style.  They show Gutt is willing to make this band his own.  I'm ready to suspend my dedication to Weiland if the DeLeos continue to prove they can write wonderful songs.  Of all the albums I listened to in 2018, this one has gotten the most spins.  I can't wait to see what they do next.

That's it.  Thanks for checking out my list.  A few other albums I loved in 2018:
* Longshot - Love Is For Losers
* Between the Buried and Me - Automata I & II
* Nothing - Dance on the Blacktop
* At The Gates - To Drink From the Night Itself
* Kids See Ghosts (Kanye and Cudi) - Kids See Ghosts 
* Mogwai - Kin Soundtrack
* Alkaline Trio  - Is This Thing Cursed?
* Failure - In the Future Your Body Will Be the Furthest Thing from Your Mind
* Death Grips - Year of the Snitch

My Top Ten Albums of 2017

First, let me get this out of the way.  I've spent most of my year listening to sad Sinatra songs and filling in gaps in our vinyl collection.  For some reason, I think it's 1958 or something right now.  Therefore, I really haven't listened to as much new music as I usually do.  That being said, here are the albums I loved the most (that weren't done by a depressed Frank Sinatra).  If I had to list my TRUE top 3 albums of this year, it would be (3) Sings for Only the Lonely - Frank Sinatra, (2) Where Are You? - Frank Sinatra, and (1) In The Wee Small Hours - Frank Sinatra.  No, really.  I'm addicted.

Okay, here are the other albums I loved in 2017.

Honorable Mention:
Beck - Colors (Beck can STILL make upbeat, excellent music.  Shake it.)
Dying Fetus - Wrong One to F*ck With (This is how metal should be done.  Brutal and filled with breakdowns galore.)
Body Count - Bloodlust (Ice-T is one of the few voices in modern metal who still has something viable to say.)
Obituary - Obituary (By far, their best album in the last two decades.)
Jesca Hoop - Memories Are Now (Several great songs encompassing alienation and solitude.  "The Lost Sky" is one of the most haunting and saddening songs I've ever heard.)

#10 - Mogwai - Every Country's Sun


Thanks to a Biffy Clyro interview, I was turned on to these guys early this year.  I enjoy ECS quite a bit, though it's not my favorite album I grabbed from Mogwai in 2017.  I think I own about 10 Mogwai albums now.  This sits somewhere in the middle of their discography, but it is a solid album, and I listened to it quite a bit throughout the second half of 2017.

#9 - The War on Drugs - A Deeper Understanding



I really haven't listened to much from Adam Granduciel until this year.  This album has folk sensibility but an aura of maddening depression from time to time.  I keep thinking there's a strong Bruce Springsteen influence here (which MIGHT make me hate some things, honestly)--but there's nothing to dislike on this disc.  Strongest tracks are "Strangest Thing" and "Holding On."  If you been unfortunate enough to miss out on this album, correct that mishap now and check it out!

#8 - Dead Cross - Dead Cross



This is a 'supergroup'--featuring members of Locust, Retox, Slayer and (of course) Mike Patton of Faith No More/Mr. Bungle fame.  Of all the albums found on my list this year, this took me the longest to warm up to.  It's grindcore, if I had to give it a one-word description.  But it's ultra fast and, at times, ultra sloppy.  Of course, real grindcore aficionados know that good grind CAN be sloppy and still pretty damned good.   I was looking forward to this when it was announced, and I wasn't disappointed.  Dave Lombardo is still really flippin' good, in case you were wondering.

#7 - Stephen Wilson - To the Bone



In the last few years, I've fallen deeper and deeper into the 'progressive rock' rabbit hole, and it's all Steven Wilson's fault.  While I enjoyed his decades of work with Porcupine Tree, and his one-off collab with with Mikael Akerfeldt in Storm Corrosion, I believe it is in his last few solo records where Wilson has dug into his creative potential.  While To the Bone isn't as impressive as his top notch effort from 2015, Hand.Cannot.Erase. (my favorite disc that year), there's still a whole shit-ton to love about this record.  In fact, the only misstep that keeps this from being near the top 3 is the eighth song on the disc, "People Who Eat Darkness"--which feels like some angsty-mid '90s throwaway.  But "Pariah" is absolutely memorizing--as are "The Same Asylum as Before" and "Refuge."  Just another wonderful record from one of the greatest musicians of our time, in my opinion.

#6 Father John Misty - Pure Comedy



Dude's got a great beard.  So, there's that.  Also, I feel like his lyrics are quite insightful.  Many might toss aside some of his music on this disc as pretentious.  Okay, I'll admit it.  The song "Leaving LA"--a completely unnecessary 13 minute and 11 second ramble, IS useless and pretentious.  The rest of this disc is nearly perfect.  The lyrics from the title track are spot-on, reflecting upon the uselessness of our modern humanity, floating through a technology-riddled, soulless era.  "Oh, comedy, their illusions they have no choice but to believe / Their horizons that just forever recede / And how's this for irony, their idea of being free is a prison of beliefs / That they never ever have to leave."  It's poignant stuff, in an era with a lot of music lacking much of anything to grab on to.  Oh, and I think he loves Elton John, because it's crawling all over this album.

#5 Anathema - The Optimist


More progressive rock for you to put in the chewhole.  Daniel and Vincent Cavanagh have been putting out brilliant music for decades (starting more in the black metal genre in the 90s).  This band has always continued to grow and expand their musical aspirations, and The Optimist appears to be the pinnacle, at least up until the current point.  This album has garnered numerous praises around the world, and it contains all the atmosphere and diversity one could hope for.  Every song begs for multiple listens, but when it's all said and done, "Springfield" and "Endless Ways"--driven mostly by the haunting vocal deliveries from Lee Douglas--stick in your head for hours.

#4 Chelsea Wolfe - Hiss Spun


I thought there was no way to outshine her last effort, 2015's Abyss.  But this album definitely stands up to that outing.  Without question, it surpasses it in one category--heaviness.  This album offers no moment of respite.  It is heavy for heavy's sake.   According to Wolfe, writing Hiss Spun was an opportunity to deal with health problems (like insomnia) and other lingering personal issues.  You can sense it in every note on the record.  I've listened to this album 20-30 times, and I still feel like I notice something new on every listen.  The darkest moments are found in "16 Psyche" and "The Culling."  Hiss Spun is a landmark in heavy music, and I'm happy to have a voice like Wolfe's leading the charge.

#3 - Life of Agony - A Place Where There's No More Pain


LOA is one of my favorite bands ever--so when I heard they were releasing a new album, I was pleasantly surprised!  First, the band left on a bit of a sour note, the lost-in-the-shuffle major label effort, Broken Valley.  Secondly, singer Keith Caputo had finally found happiness by transitioning to a new life as Mina Caputo.  While Mina's talent is unquestioned, could she really lead a chest-pounding, testosterone-driven band like Life of Agony into a new era?  APWTNMP has proven, without a doubt, she can.  In fact, the vocals are the strongest aspect of this album.  Sure, the vocals are layered ten times over, but the harmonies and vocal hooks within are worth the effort.  The only thing I don't love about the album is the final track, "Little Spots of You," which feels unnecessary and stands out like a nudist on a playground.  However, songs like the title track, "A New Low," and "Bag of Bones" definitely deliver the delicious LOA goods.  Online postings recently point to the band not being in a good place again, as far as touring, etc.  So this might be the last Life of Agony album in a while.  Maybe the last one ever.  So I'm glad it's such a strong effort.

#2 Dreamcar - Dreamcar

What would happen if Davey Havok from AFI met up with the bored guys from No Doubt?  Gwen Stefani is off doing Christmas albums and stuff, so why not make some new music?  I love everything about this album.  It sounds like it was ripped right from 1984--it's got all the new wave/pop bells and whistles.  Hell, even the cover looks like Max Headroom's girlfriend.  But everything on this album works.  There's not a weak song to be found, but the highlight is "Kill for Candy"--which is one of the most memorable songs of this year.  Going backward is sometimes the only way to go forward, and I eagerly anticipate more music from this band in the future.   It's just a fun and catchy record.  Isn't that what we all need?

#1 - Pallbearer - Heartless

Okay, so maybe fun and catchy isn't what we all need.  Heartless came around early in 2017, and I couldn't quit spinning it.  Pallbearer is one of the best bands in doom metal right now, and I think this album claims their spot near the top of the heap.  Singer Brett Campbell's voice is instantly recognizable, and it makes one wonder what in the hell they're dumping in the Arkansas water.  I'm willing to say "I Saw the End" is my favorite song this year.  The entire album is so brooding and dark, yet it feels uplifting.  That's the greatest testament to Heartless--it reads like it's only one more chapter in the story of a band who should  be critically recognized as one of the best metal bands around.  Hell, in fact, now that I'm done writing this blog, I'm gonna go listen to it again right now.

My Top 10 Albums of 2016

My Favorite Albums of 2016 - by Fred Whitacre, Jr.
12/13/16

These are the albums that called me back the most this year.  I listened to a ton of new music this year--this is the stuff that sticks with me.

Devin Townsend Project - Transcendence

Honorable Mention - Devin Townsend Project - "Transcendence"
Devin has become one of my favorite musicians--and he's certainly one of the most prolific dudes in the metal world.  Several songs on this disc stand out, though "Stormbender" is the crown jewel.  I'd have this in my Top 10, but a few tunes are extended beyond their welcome.  He's never reached the level of "Addicted" several years ago--but he's always close.  I'm always excited to see what Hevy Devy has next up his sleeve.

Green Day - Revolution Radio

Honorable Mention - Green Day - Revolution Radio

I know how pop-punk this version of Green Day is, but they're just so damned good at doing it. Songs like "Ordinary World," "Still Breathing," and "Troubled Times" are almost guaranteed to become mainstays in their live set.  Truthfully, this would be higher if it wasn't for one of my least favorite songs of 2016, the repulsive "Youngblood."

Shearwater - Jet Plane and Oxbow

#10 - Shearwater - Jet Plane and Oxbow

This band has been around since 2001, and I just ran into them for the first time this year.  This is simply a great record.  It's got the lyrical sensibility of Lou Reed's early stuff, or Leonard Cohen (R.I.P.)--but this feels almost like an album straight from the late 1980's electronic-rock hybrids.  The album starts very strong, and tunes like "Backchannels" and "Filaments" really push the disc to alarming heights.  If you haven't heard this yet, you need to.  I'm more excited to go back and hear the immense material in their back catalog. 

Schammasch - Triangle

#9 - Schammasch - Triangle

I don't always listen to heavy music--but when I do, I want to it be soul-obliterating.  This 3 CD lineup fits the bill.  It clocks in at slightly over an hour and forty minutes, and it will depress you to the core.  The song "Metanoia" is the high point (perhaps because it's one of the more depressing moments???)--and the third disc is like black-metal-gregorian-chant-in-dark-moog?  I just can't describe it, really.  It's like Akercocke mixed with some of Ihsahn's earlier solo stuff.  Just great to put you in a different state of mind.  Also, I think this is my clear choice for favorite cover art of 2016.

Sturgill Simpson - A Sailor's Guide to Earth

#8 - Sturgill Simpson - A Sailor's Guide to Earth

I'll admit, I first heard Sturgill because of his odd version of Nirvana's "In Bloom"--and I'll also admit that most modern country music is utter horse poop.  But, this country album is different.  It's earnest, and filled with wonderful string arrangements--and it's trying to be soul more than it's trying to be rock and roll.  I like that.  In fact, there's nothing about this album I don't like, except that nine songs feels too short.  I found out yesterday this album is up for the Grammy for Album of the Year.  I still think Sturgill's about as "underground" as an Atlantic Records artist can be.  Every song is just very, very strong.  The first song, "Welcome to Earth (Polywog)" is just weird enough to let you know what's in store for you.  Also, I love the Nirvana cover.  Not everyone will agree.

Opeth - Sorceress

#7 - Opeth - Sorceress

Once Opeth "jumped the shark" and put out the Deliverance/Damnation double-punch years ago, it was easy to predict their foray into what some would call prog-rock.  Several handfuls of their fans have abandoned them, and are never to return.  Mikael Akerfeldt, their lead singer and song writer, has stated many times that they're moving forward, and not looking back.  Great irony found in the fact that their best blend of their prog-rock/metal output thusfar comes by using the organ sound every band in the 1970s was throwing on every album.  This is really good--it's one of the albums that could be boring if it wasn't so ambitious.   But, they cram so much into each song, and none of it feels like a throwaway.  Even with all the experimentation, give me the most traditional track on this disc, "Will O the Wisp."  It's a great listen, and it takes multiple sittings to appreciate everything they've accomplished on this album.

Lemon Demon - Spirit Phone

#6 - Lemon Demon - Spirit Phone

It's self-produced.  It sounds a bit too tinny at times.  But it's everything I love about quirky bands like Devo, They Might Be Giants and Ween--polished and precise.  Seriously, I'd like to see what this album would do if it had been mixed by some auditory genius.  "Touch-Tone Telephone" is one of my favorite songs of the year, by far.  I could place at least four more on that short list, as well.  Just a really enjoyable listen--especially if you enjoy the discomfort quirky electronic music can provide.  

Radiohead - A Moon Shaped Pool

#5 - Radiohead - A Moon Shaped Pool

This is the soundtrack for solitude.  Lyrically, this album is so separated from society--it feels like Thom Yorke is often just begging to be left alone.  Some of the songs feel like they've been pulled from other eras of Radiohead, but the pacing and lyrical content just makes it all fit together in one, compact box, filled corner to corner with stark isolation.  Not nearly as heavy as the Triangle album listed at #9.  But, somehow, it's just as dark and brooding.

Biffy Clryo - Ellipsis

#4 - Biffy Clyro - Ellipsis

This trio has been around for a very long time, and I was hoping they'd achieve the success of their 2013 double-album, Opposites.  I don't know if this album is as poppy and catchy, but it's still loaded with hooks.  There's a certain attitude throughout this disc--and it blends more mellow ballads (like "Medicine" and "Re-Arrange") with more aggressive songs (like "Wolves of Winter") with simplistic grace.  This is my #4, but I doubt there's an album I've listened to more frequently that this one in 2016.

Weezer - White Album

#3 - Weezer - The White Album

First of all, yes--I realize there's only ONE White Album.  And it's not this one.  However, this disc is perfect on several fronts.  First, it combines the catchy vocal hooks of the Green Album with the lyrical skill of Pinkerton.  I've found that Rivers, when he concentrates heavily on guitar hooks, often gets bored when it comes to lyrics, and vice-versa.  This is, quite possibly, my third favorite in their catalog.  Well-crafted songs, and every part feels intricately scheduled.  For example, the bridge section of the song "L.A. Girls"--moving from subtlety, then back to crushing guitars, then back to bass-backed vocal melodies, finally building into a crescendo at the song's conclusion--it's all so well-done.  It also mirrors the snarky approach of Rivers, begging for these girls to just grow up a bit.  There's not a bad song in the mix.  If you abandoned this band after Pinkerton, it's high time time for you to come crawling back.

David Bowie - Blackstar

#2 - David Bowie - Blackstar

One of the most important rock stars in history, delivering his final masterpiece.  I remember picking this up the day it came out, listening to it and saying, "Wow, this is depressing."  It's almost a jazz-fusion record, but it felt so distant.  Of course, within days, he was dead and it all made more sense.  This was a his farewell--the Great White Duke's artistic goodbye.  Standout tracks include "Blackstar," "Lazarus" and the aptly-titled "I Can't Give Everything Away."  Of course, if you hear Bowie coughing and wheezing before "'Tis a Pity She Was a Whore"--you realize he already had.

MY ALBUM OF 2016
Nothing - Tired of Tomorrow

#1 - Nothing - Tired of Tomorrow

Relapse Records is seemingly dropping the ball.  This band is doing everything right.  Both this album and 2014's Guilty of Everything are little snippets of rock aggression, hidden behind intensely-delivered whispers and whimpers.  Take everything you love about Smashing Pumpkins and add the subtlety that Billy Corgan can't always deliver--and you have Nothing (but everything).  "Nineteen Ninety Heaven," "A.C.D." and "Eaten By Worms" are a few of my favorites.  But this album reminds me of Radiohead's OK Computer or Faith No More's Angel Dust in that every song feels like a smaller part of an immense puzzle, which can only be fully enjoyed as an entire piece.  Go out and listen to every thing this band has done.  You're going to be begging for more!