I wanted to make a “best of 2012” music list, with all the songs that I thought were important. Gangam Style was probably the most important song of 2012. But the more I thought about it, the more I didn’t want to make that kind of list. Instead, I want to introduce you to some really great music that you probably haven’t heard before. So here it is.
Boy In A Band/White English Girl - Brother Sister Battle Rap
Music Video
If you rode in my car this summer, then I probably played this song for you. The Brother Sister Battle Rap is a collaboration between adorkable polyglot Hannah Brown and her real-life brother metalhead dubstepper Dave Brown. I have been watching these two for years, but I had no idea that they were related before they did Brother Sister Battle Rap. I instantly fell in love with this track. If you are lucky enough to have awesome siblings (like I do), then you may dig this song too.
Monster Cat - Mannequins
Interview and Performance
I discovered Monster Cat on the Pirate Bay. Monster Cat were a featured artist, so I took a chance and downloaded their album. I really like this song. The Faint have some songs with similar themes, so I was primed to like this song content wise. Musically...well...it’s nice. Mannequins is steeped in a style that hit it’s peak 50 years ago. The musical landscape is well populated with acoustic guitars and vocal harmonies. Still, I really like this song and I heartily recommend it.
Cerce - Teen Bible
Download
This album is surprisingly fun to listen to. The songs are clean and short, like the Minutemen. As Anthony Fantano said, “They have a nice blend of different extreme music styles.” I agree.
Dvorak:
ReplyDeleteI can't say I liked listening to 'Mannequins' too much. There is one guitar and two vocals, which is fine. But if you're going to have more singers than there are instruments, then the singers have to be at least passable -- and these singers were pretty bad at singing. Or, at the very least, I found their voices annoying.
That being said, the lyrics were kinda neat. The narrator sees all the passer-byes as mannequins, distinguishable only superficially. And the narrator seems unable to communicate with anyone -- trapped inside himself, alienated from his own attempts at communication. The line "Snakes unfurl with mommy and daddy's eyes" is particularly chilling, as well as the last line: And you run and you run /
Look what you've left behind.
CERCE's "Teen Bible" was fun, though I suspect this is the sort of band that's meant to be appreciated live. I liked the recording -- it felt like they were playing together. P.O.N.X. felt like two different songs back to back -- of very different styles. I like that the way Love, Alaska Young built up (the lyrics didn't start until about 30 percent into the song), then hit a peak at about 2:15, and then unwound. They packed a lot into a mere 3:35. "How to Be a Woman" sounds like it would be funny if I could make out the lyrics, but that's ok. "Something About a Broken Heart" really reminded me of a Skunk Anansie -- but more post-hardcore. And I like how they did the vocals in it, the the guys singing in the background. I'd see them live if it were convenient.