Day Late and a Dollar Short, My Favorite Music of 2019

Even later than last year. My favorite 15 albums from 2019 in alphabetical order. Dedicated to Mike “Old Man Juke Box” Bailey who I would have discussed this with. Rest In Peace.

Giuda E.V.A.
Sure this isn’t as good as their first two but it’s damn fun glam rock.
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Hurry Up Shotgun This Crystal Vessel
90’s style alt rock.
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Le Butcherettes bi/MENTAL
Finally combined the chaos with great songs.

No/No Diagnostic
Nuwavy goodness, well when the guitars are prominent. Tapers off and gets more generic on the songs with less guitar. Go Wisconsin!
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Raketkanon #3
This is a weird one. Kind of like Faith No More without the funk and more Gary Numan. Listen to a few tracks as it’s all over the place.
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Redd Kross Beyond the Door
Classic glam/power pop/punk rock kings return. Once again they make a catchy album that retains their sound but is different than all they did before.
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Ride This Is Not A Safe Place
An odd case of liking the band better after their reunion. “Kill Switch” is my favorite song of the year.
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Starcrawler Devour You
An amalgam of 70s and 80s rock that they put their own stamp on. Lots of hooks. Why isn’t everything on bandcamp makes this much easier.

Swervedriver Future Ruins
On par with their first two albums. Nice surprise.
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The Hussy Looming
Garage rock usually isn’t my thing. Usually the songs aren’t this good. Go Wisconsin!
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The Neptune Power Federation  Memories of a Rat Queen
Aussie classic metal done with lots of flair lead by the  Imperial Priestess. Pretty over the top which makes it better for me.
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UV-TV  Happy
Punk shoegaze. Great when the woman is singing, less so when the dude is. Some killer songs on this.
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Versing  10000
These guys love Sonic Youth. Very 90’s alt rock.
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White Reaper  You Deserve Love
Power pop that stands out above the deluge.
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Young Gov  Gov 1
The best of the year. Power pop as good as anything that has come before it. “Gov 2” isn’t remotely as good.
[bandcamp width=100% height=42 album=3776892109 size=small bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5]

Day Late and a Dollar Short, My Favorite Music of 2019

Hate Your Friends no.4

ImageEvery week Apple Music makes a Friends Mix. Each week I will make off the cuff “reviews” of the songs in this list.

Again giving me a bunch of stuff I like. Maybe I need to listen to more metal on Apple Music?

Sparklehorse “Someday I Will Treat You Good” Was ready to hate the hell out of this. I think I like it. Listened to it all.

Replacements “Valentine” Week 4 with Replacements. “Please to Meet” me is equal to Cheap Trick’s “Lap of Luxury”. Totally limp. I tried, lasted to 1:59.

Seaweed “Start With” Hey, we talked about this album last week, it still rips and it’s still better than the city Spanaway . Listened to all of it.

Echo & The Bunnymen “Do It Clean” I like Ghost’s cover of their song “Noturnal Me”. This song isn’t as good as “Nocturnal Me”, either version. Listened to all of it.

Mission of Burma “Progress” A lesser Burma song is better than most.. Listened to all of it.

Superchunk “Mower” From the “classic period”. I like the faster songs better. Listened to all of it.

Guide By Voices “Drag Days” Prefer the super rock production on “Isolation Drills” and “Do the Collapse.” At least this is a whole song. Listened to all of it.

Moving Targers “Less than Gravity” Sounds like Hüsker Dü filtered through Boston (the city). Big fan. Listened to all of it.

Nervebreakers “Hijack the Radio Down to the Hospital” Don’t know this. Shrug. Listened to 2:26.

Seam “Dust and Turpentine” Another one I listened to last week and it shows up here. Of course I like it, I listened to it last week. Listened to all of it.

Reigning Sound “Drowning” Sloppy vaguely 60s sounding, I’ll just listen to something from the 60’s. Made it to :53.

Big Black “Bazooka Joe” A novelty band. Listened to all of it.

Half Japanese “Firecracker” Nope, I hope someone got stuck listening to Primus as I listened to a bunch of that last week. :22 as I was across the room and it took a little bit to skip this.

Oblivions “Bad Man” Overly distorted generic garage rock. Tried but only got to 1:27.

X “Johny Hit and Run Pauline” Any Cow Punk is too much Cow Punk, save X and The Gun Club. Listened to all of it.

Wire “Two People in a Room” I would have hated this when it came out, time cures some things. Listened to all of it.

Crass “General Bacardi” Somebody was listening to a ton of Crass last week so I expected this. It’s fine. Listened to all of it.

The Spitfire Boys “British Refuge” For all that is holy use distortion on both guitars. Listened to all of it.

Fugazi “Repeater” Ahhhh the Fugazi album that everyone pisses themselves over. Whatever. I particularly don’t like this song. :15 then skip.

Black Flag “Black Coffee” I listen to “Everything went Black” for all my Black Flag needs. Listened to all of it.

Bikini Kill “Alien She” I don’t think I ever listened to Bikini Kill. Don’t think I missed much. Listened to all of it.

Pansy Division “Pee Shy” This is a really dumb song. 1:59 as I was doing something.

Texas is the Reason “The Magic Bullet Theory” Does anyone else in a band think, “people are going to find out I listen to my own band?” I do but don’t care if everyone knows. Listened to all of it.

The Cure “Fight” Robert Smith could go toe to toe with any thrash metal band’s white high tops. Listened to all of it.

Beck “Side of the Road” The only Beck album I like all of, I like Nick Drake too. Listened to all of it.

Hate Your Friends no.4

Hate Your Friends no.3

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Every week Apple Music makes a Friends Mix. Each week I will make off the cuff “reviews” of the songs in this list.

Way too much stuff I liked this week.

Replacements “Take Me Down to the Hospital” 3 weeks starting with the Replacements kicking it off. It’s Not Funny Anymore… Listened to it all.

Hüsker Dü “It’s Not Funny Anymore”  Best song in the 3 weeks of doing this. Listened to it all.

Fugazi “Great Cop” Their first EP is their best. Listened to all of it.

Jawbox “Cooling Card” Better than Fugazi. Listened to all of it.

Seaweed “Card Tricks” “Spanaway” rules, yes I know this is off of “Four”. Ever been to Spanaway? Listen to the album instead, Listened to all of it.

Bob Mould “Black Confetti” Pastiche of himself painting by numbers. Skipped at :45 seconds.

Hard-Ons “Don’t Wanna See You Cry” When the Hard-Ons are on they are the best Pop-Punk band, they are on here. Listened to all of it then listened to the rest of “Love is a Battlefield of Broken Hearts”.

Wire “Mannequin” This surprised me at how normal of a pop/rock song this is, never noticed before. Listened to all of it.

Superchunk “ Black Thread” I haven’t paid attention to Superchunk since “Come Pick Me Up”. Wait they did a cover of “Mad World” by COC, I listened to all of that and skipped this at :35.

Man or Astroman “Destination Venus” If you can’t improve a song or put your own stamp on it don’t cover it. Made it to :45.

Lungfish “Invert the State” You’re testing my patience with 3 weeks of this band, maybe :22 seconds.

Cocteau Twins “Feet-like Fins” I just listened to this album, then “blam” here it is again. That’s Apple Music for you. Listened to all of it.

Smoking Popes “I Know You Love Me” This song is about Jesus, or a girl. No it’s about Jesus. Listened to all of it regardless.

Maritime “Don’t You Say No” I listen to my own bands too. Listened to it all as next thing I knew Bob Welch is bleating at me.

Bob Welch “Sentimental Lady” If this was “Ebony Eyes” I would have listened to it. Skipped once I realized it started.

David Bowie “Changes” I don’t know what to do with this except listen to it all.

Todd Rundgren “Hello It’s Me” Sometime in the ‘70s in the backseat of my moms car heading to Target. I probably bought a Black Sabbath tape. :41 then skip, what’s with the yacht rock this week?

The Pretty Things “She Says Good Morning” You’ve worn out your Beatles, Stones, and Kinks albums do yourself a favor and check this out. Listened to all of it. 

The Third Bardo “I’m Five Years Ahead of My Time” When you’ve worn out the Pretty Things albums. Listened to all of it.

Pink Floyd “Lucifer Sam” If you played this for the vast percentage of Pink Floyd fans they’d have no idea who this is. Listened to all of it.

Painted Faces “Anxious Color” No wonder I’ve never heard of this. Skipped at 1:06.

The Litter “Sombody Help Me” Somebody went too far down the late 60’s psych hole. Skipped at :15.

Built to Spill “Wouldn’t Hurt a Fly” Off their best album, all downhill after this. All 6:15 of it.

The Decemberists “California One/Youth and Beauty Bridge” Apparently none of my Apple Music friends like Metal. This is bullshit. :03 of torture.

Red House Painters “Byrd Joel” Sour bastard bellowing about something. Fuck this guy. :20 to see if I could stand it.

Hate Your Friends no.3

Hate Your Friends no. 2

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Week 2, can I keep it up ?

Every week Apple Music makes a Friends Mix. Each week I will make off the cuff “reviews” of the songs in this list.

The Replacements “Androgynous” Second week of kicking off with The Replacements. I like the Joan Jett cover of this. Listened to all of it.

Palace Music “The Brute Choir”/Bonnie Prince Billy “Raining in Darling” Americana, why I hate my friends. “The Brute Choir” skipped at :32 seconds, “Raining in Darling” skipped at 1:17, only lasted that long because I was writing this.

Slowdive “Ruth” This is more like Low than shoegaze. Listened to all of it.

Summs “Music Won’t Save You” Music has saved me so fuck off. Skipped at 1:27.

Bjork “Cosmonogy” Apparently I have enough Bjork albums. Skipped at :22.

Spiritualized “Ladies and Gentlemen We are Floating in Space” Tried listening but I really wanted to hear the next song. Skipped at 2:03.

Portishead “Chase the Tear” Magnificent. Gets your motorik going. Listened to it twice.

Kinski “Operation Negligee” Rerun band from last week. As good as the song was last week this is bad. Skipped at 2:03.

Hot Snakes “If Credit Matters, I’ll take Credit” Now I want to listen to Drive Like Jehu. Listened to all of it.

Lungfish “Constelations II” More repetition. Would have turned it off but it was over.

Protomartyr “In My Sphere” Last week I said garage rock was mostly fine, I lied. Skipped at :30.

Swirlies “Pancake” Makes you think Americans can’t play shoegaze. Lasted 1:25.

The Soft Pack “Parasites” You’re no Lungfish. Made it 1:05 in.

So Pitted “Get Out of My Room” Get off my playlist. Maybe :20.

Ride “Seagull” Brit pop shoegaze. I like their last two albums best. Listened to all of it.

Trans Am “I Hear Fake Voices” Robot vocals, awesome. Listened to all of it.

Swervedriver “Duel” How to rock and be laid back at the same time. Listened to all of it.

Mercury Rev “Chasing a Bee” It’s fine but not seven minutes fine. Made it to 3:05.

Gary Numan “We Take to Mystery (to Bed)” The dreaded fretless bass popping. Vocals save this one. Listened to all of it.

“The Church “Aura” I like The Church but I don’t like this. Lasted 3:05 of 7 long minutes.

Lush “Sweetness and Light” Lots of shoegaze this week, this is in the good column. Listened to all of it.

Dag Nasty “Mango” Still waiting for vocals.

Avail “On the Nod” Filter Discord through Lookout. Listened to all of it.

Pinhead Gunpowder “Keeping Warm in the Nighttime” Sounds like the East Bay. Listened to all of it.

Hate Your Friends no. 2

Hate Your Friends

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Every week Apple Music makes a Friends Mix. Each week I will make off the cuff “reviews” of the songs in this list.

The Replacements “Kids Don’t Follow” We start off with a bang. Their first two releases are the best two releases. No, you’re wrong. Turn it up.

Treepeople “Big Mouth Strikes Again” A one two punch of great bands this week. Unfortunately it’s a Smiths cover, fortunately this version is better than the Smiths version. Yes, it is. Wouldn’t turn it off.

Lungfish “Non Dual Bliss” This is great, if you want to listen to the same thing for 6 minutes and 6 seconds. Wouldn’t turn it off.

Sunny Day Real Estate “Every Shining Time You Arrive” I prefer the 3rd and 4th Sunny Day records over the first two. Turn it up.

Silver Jews “Random Rules” Sounds like a guy with a cold singing over a half-assed Velvets rip-off. Turn it off.

Galaxy 500 “Listen, The Snow is Falling” How long have I been asleep? Slept right threw it.

Low “2-Step” Off of the best Low album? Still in the miserable and glacially paced mode. No, I didn’t sleep through it. Turn it up?

Radiohead “WorryWart” Yeah, I like Kraftwerk too. Turn it off.

godheadsilo “Nuts to You” An above average noise rock band that never quite won me over. I actually listened to the whole song. Wouldn’t turn it off.

Trans Am “Motr” Get a singer. Wouldn’t turn it off.

Kinski “Guest Girl Vocalist” Post 2010 garage rock punk whatever. There’s a billion of these bands they are mostly all fine. Wouldn’t turn off.

Dinosaur Jr. “I Walk For Miles” Not familiar with some of the newer Dino Jr. Was about to type “go listen to Bug” but this is pretty damn good. Turn it up.

Shudder to Think “No RM 9, Kentucky I’ve come around to these guys but I have to be in the mood for them, I’m not. Turn it off.

The Van Pelt. “His Steppe is My Prarie Decent 90’s alt rock. Some may call this emo, not nearly annoying enough to give it that label. Would leave it on.

White Fence “You Cant Put Your Arms Around a Memory” Tweeish, singer songwriter, blah blah. Kill it with fire.

The Frogs “That’s What She Said” Not my thing. Wouldn’t turn it off.

Wire “Cactused” Consistently putting out good post-punk forever. I wouldn’t turn it off.

White Reaper “Head Wind” A band that stands out in the deluge of power-pop bands we have been buried in. Turn it up.

Automatic “Too Much Money” Lofi punk electronic that could be a million other bands. Wouldn’t turn it off.

Versing “Tethered” Someone really likes Sonic Youth. Wouldn’t turn it off, there are other songs on this album I’d turn up.

Purple Mountains “Maybe Im the Only One for Me” Fuck you. Turn it off.

Beach Slang “Bam Rang Rang” A good rocking song, just don’t put on the Replacements pastiche song off of their newest, that’s torture. Turn it up.

Vivian Girls “I’m Far Away” A wet paper bag. Turn it off.

Best Coast “For the First Time” What the fuck, turn it off.

Pegboy “Superstar” Bhopal Stiffs. Would leave it on.

Hate Your Friends