Dan Shea has been putting on shows as B.O.W. SHOWS for over a decade. He also releases records as Bodies of Water arts and crafts, plays in the band the NEEDY VISIONS and writes for the BOSTON HASSLE. He is working on opening an all ages music venue and art space as we speak.
TOP 10 LOCAL RECORDS OF THE YEAR(in no particular order):
NEPTUNE – SILENT PARTNER(Northern Spy)
A harrowing, and propulsive record full of jagged rhythms, renegade electronics, and brooding moments. A dank, difficult, and (as is usually the case with this unit)fascinating record.
Our post about SILENT PARTNER from last year
QUILT – QUILT(Mexican Summer)
A record, though made by a city band, that seemed to bring together many of the often haunting and lost notions of New England. Remember the Appalachian trail runs right through our fair state. So many beautiful harmonies and great songs.
GLENN JONES – THE WANTING(Thrill Jockey)
Beautiful and mesmerizing. A master in our own backyard. The acoustic guitar here becomes a sonic weapon of limitless possibilities. The 17+ minute closer is nothing short of entrancing.
BIG DIGITS – KNOW TOMORROW(Anchor Brain)
Occupying some strange alleyway in the city of electronic music, in the
neighborood of underground party music, off the street of underground rap, Big Digits have here expanded their sonic pallet and every song on the record should be listened to, and subsequently good times should be had.
Our post about KNOW TOMORROW from last year
LIFE PARTNERS – MUSIC IS HARD(Ride The Snake)
Everything is wrong about this record, except for everything that is right about it. A record for people in bands who think that their band is better than other bands, which is, like, every band yo.
Our post about MUSIC IS HARD from last year
BLACK PUS – PRIMORDIAL PUS(Load Records)
A subterranean groove noise rock record. These songs have never seen the light of day, nor will they ever. And if they somehow do they will surely and instantly melt in a shrieking, buzzing rhythmic explosion.
Our post about PRIMORDIAL PUS from last year
RED HORSE – s/t(Type)
Creaking sound splatter that engages while creeping out. A cacophony of often small sounds with surprises around every corner. In the end a complete noisy work of art.
Red Horse – Red Horse by _type
Our post about RED HORSE from last year
REPORTS – DINAMO CAMBRIDGE(Ride The Snake)
Noisy, messy garage rock swimming in a stew of influences but in the end making a noisy racket all of its own. Pushing the Boston garage rock standard forward and proving why the rock is not yet dead.
Our post about DINAMO CAMBRIDGE from last year
TWO TON BUG – WEDDING OF THE CENTURY(self released)
Manic, anthemic pop-noise rock Connecticut style, and a noisy non-stop, coed record full of some of the noisiest pop jams you are going to hear anywhere. I really don’t know what this is, but I do know that I love this record.
ROTTEN APPLES – AS IS(100% Breafast)
A rock n’ roll nightmare. A cheeky, glammy serious chunk of vinyl, so far off the tracks that it’s back on the tracks again. It’s like inside out rock man.
AND #11…
BOSTON HASSLE compilation(Bodies of Water arts and crafts)
Ok, fair is fair, we put this compilation out, but fuck me if it’s not stacked from song #1-13, and it’s on a damn button. DEBO BAND’s ethio-funk thru SARALEE’s indie pop, thru CUFFS jangly psych-pop and BEYOND. One of the coolest local music comps in a long time if I do say so myself. And even if it is weird(and it probably is), I just did.
The rest of the best:
Happy Jawbone Family Band – OK Midnight, You Win
Skimask(w/ Geffika) – Split LP
Gem Club – Breakers
Whitehaus Family Record II: Are You In Paradise?
Fat History Month – Fucking Despair
Babydriver – Sad Soldier Red
Hands and Knees – Wholesome
Kid Romance – Scared of Outside
Marissa Nadler – Marissa Nadler
Herbcraft – Ashram To The Stars
Marconi – Minutes To Manifest Destiny
Guerilla Toss tape
TAPS – s/t (released end of 10′, but did not hear until 11′. AMAZING stuff.)
