Tag Archives: love

<< REWIND // Best Albums of 2014

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Here it is. My favorite albums and EPs of 2014. Unranked, because playing favorites is way too hard. 2014 brought many good things. As abundant and fulfilling as the year was for me personally, so it was musically. This year brought my favorite Ty Segall album, ever. He just keeps getting better with age and still gives me goosebumps.

The Australian music simply blew me away as well. They’re killing it. And you can see the influence of their prolific music scene in my best of list. With the success of Tame Impala, the Aussie music scene has become the embodiment of psychedelic rock. It has become a signature sound. And it sounds sooo good.

Newcomers Ultimate Painting, Glycerine Queens, Ladada, Billy Changer and Los Angeles Police Department simply delighted me this year and I look forward to hearing more from this talented crop of new artists. But I honor and give thanks to all of the artists on this list for your soul-satisfying musical creations. 2014 maybe coming to an end, but your creations will live on – filling my soul and inspiring me with each and every listen.

Thank you. Onward, 2015.

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Artist: Ty Segall
Album: Manipulator
Hails From: LA, CA (formerly SF)

 

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Artist: The Murlocs
Album: Loopholes
Hails From: Australia

 

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Artist: Amen Dunes
Album: Love

 

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Artist: Real Estate
Album: Atlas
Hails From: New Jersey

 

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Artist: Thee Oh Sees
Album: Drop
Hails From: San Francisco, CA

 

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Artist: BRONCHO
Album: Just Enough Hip To Be Woman
Hails From: Tulsa,OK

 

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Artist: Foreign/National
Album: Foreign/National EP
Hails From: Australia

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Artist:   Courtney Barnett
Album: The Double EP
Hails From: Australia

 

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Artist:   Kevin Morby
Album: Still Life
Hails From: LA, CA

 

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Artist:   Tame Impala
Album: Tame Impala Live Album
Hails From: Australia

 

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Artist: Glycerin Queens
Album: Sleep Deprivation
Hails From: New Jersey

 

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Artist: Los Angeles Police Department
Album: Forged Artifacts
Hails From: Duh!

 

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Artist: Allah-Lahs
Album: Worship the Sun
Hails From: LA, CA

 

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Artist: King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard
Album: Oddments
Hails From: Australia

 

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Artist: Straight Arrows
Album: Rising
Hails From: Australia

 

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Artist: The Blank Tapes
Album: Holy Roller EP
Hails From: LA, CA

 

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Artist: Billy Changer
Album: Billy Changer
Hails From: LA, CA

 

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Artist: Francisco the Man
Album:Loose Ends
Hails From: LA, CA

 

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Artist: Heaters
Album: Solstice
Hails From: Grand Rapids, MI

 

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Artist: Cool Ghouls
Album: A Swirling Fire Burning Through the Rye
Hails From: San Francisco, CA

 

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Artist: Wampire
Album: Baazar
Hails From: Portland

 

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Artist: Froth
Album: Patterns
Hails From: LA, CA

 

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Artist: Caribou
Album: Our Love
Hails From: Canada

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Artist: Ultimate Painting
Album: Ultimate Painting
Hails From: UK

 

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Artist: Angel Olsen
Album: Burn Your Fire For No Witness
Hails From: North Carolina

 

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Artist:Ladada
Album: Ladada
Hails From: Virgina

 

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Artist: Twerps
Album: Underlay
Hails From: Australia

Daughter – “Love”

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Artist: Daughter
Album: The Wild Youth EP
Hometown: London
Release Date: Nov 21 2011
Featured Track: “Love”

One of the many lovely songstresses to emerge this year, Daughter, is the moniker of 21 year old North Londoner, Elena Tonra. “The Wild Youth” EP is her second release. Her first “His Young Heart” was self-released earlier this summer. Her voice is so lovely. Just listen. This girl’s got it. She’s gonna be big.

Mike’s Picks: Best Albums of 2009

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Blogger Mike’s Best of 2009 with suggested holiday pairings.  Enjoy!
It is not just lust.  It is not just the awesome reverb.  It is the fresh yet familiar punk rock that continues where the first record left off.  It is the relentless touring schedule that allowed us to easily catch them 6 times this year (including a house show in an Oakland back yard!).  And yeah it is the milkshake tattoo.  I am still in love.  You can be too.  Vivian Girls return to SF February 9th at the Bottom of the Hill.   Enjoy with birthday cake and Jim Beam.
What’s going on in Alabama?  First there were the Dexateens and now Thomas Function.  Spazzy vocals and clever lyrics that urge you to sing along.  Sugary pop progressions with yummy keyboard topping.  If you were a fan of the feelies you need to check ’em out.  If not, check out the feelies too!  Enjoy with Red Bull and coffee…and coffee cake.

Artist: The Strange Boys
Album: The Strange Boys will now forever be known as the Martin Luther Kings
Feature Track: “Nothing”

This was a 10 song self-released collection that eventually spawned a 4 song ep called “Nothing” and an lp entitled “The Strange Boys and Girls Club”.  We prefer the self release title, but this is all besides the point.  The Strange Boys rule.  They come from Austin, TX and really quench the thirst for fans of early Stones.  The few folks that caught them at Oakland’s Ghost Town Gallery last month were treated to a raw stew of oldies, newbies and some great covers (Van’s “Gloria” and Ramones’ “California Sun”).  The band had some new members including a young lady on sax!  A very nice touch.  Maybe this strikes a new direction?  Enjoy with Thera-flu and rum candy.

Artist: Various Artists
Album: Bollywood Steel Guitar
Featured Track: “Aao Twist Karen”

This is not actually a 2009 release, but I sure enjoyed it this year.  I must also salute the amazing Sublime Frequencies record label out of Seattle.  They continue to sift the globe for amazing musical treasures.  This collection features 21 swinging tracks from 1962-86.  Enjoy with goat curry (Berkeley’s Kabana does it right), onion naan and a cold Taj Mahal.

Artist: Love
Album: Love Lost
Featured Track: “Love Jumped Through My Window”

2009 marks a historic year for fans of the genius 60’s band Love.  For the first time ever, the lost recordings from 1971 are available on one cohesive collection from Sundazed Music.  Although we know the credit is really due to the good people at Delmore Recordings (my bro!).  The title was originally rumored  to be “Dear You”, and in a way this recording feels like a personal handwritten letter from Arthur Lee to me (and You).  We can spend all day arguing that Love’s 3rd record, Forever Changes, is the greatest album of all time, but let’s not argue.  It is the greatest record of all time.  This recording would have been their 7th album and has little to do with Forever Changes.  Arthur had long since parted ways with the original band.  No more horns or violins.  He was rocking harder, partying harder and quite loose.  Like records 4 through 6 (Four Sail, Out Here, False Start), Love Lost sounds more like a Jimi Hendrix record, and this is really no surprise.  Arthur and Jimi worked together and influenced each other.  As it states so eloquently in the liner notes “Arthur and Jimi were the two psychedelic black guys around period”.  Given the recent resurgence of garage rock, and psychedelia it seems prudent at this time to spread the gospel that is Love.  If you haven’t yet, check out the first 3 Love records (Love, da Capo, and Forever Changes), I am pretty sure that you will crave more, and now there is yet one more Love record to savor!  Enjoy with Night Train and nutmeggy cakes.