The Spinanes "manos"

I've been thinking alot about technology and social media, especially from the angle of being a parent. It's all uncharted territory. Even though i love my phone (lovingly typing on it now) i often wax nostalgic for simpler times. In the late nineties i was working at a chocolate factory. A long term girlfriend had gotten me the job and i was still slinging confectionery after she dumped me. It was bittersweet (sorry, i couldn't resist). While working there i would sneak into AOL chatrooms on my lunch break. I had no hope of ever owning a computer at that time and it seemed beyond my imagination that i could randomly come into contact with people from around the globe and live. It seems so antiquated and quaint now. I met a girl from Brooklyn in a chatroom and we ended up sending each other a series of mix tapes. We both put a ton of effort into making elaborate covers and scrutinizing song selections. She put "Noel,Jonah and Me" from this #thespinanes cd on the first one. I still love this song. I was trying to remember some of the stuff she turned me on to and i got hung up on this disc. I bought it shortly after receiving her cassette and it is still among my favorite albums. They were a duo before it was hip and Scott Plouf has remained one of my favorite drummers (his playing on this album carries it) it was a wondrous and naive time in social media and my limited access to it made me treasure it. Today i feel ive become jaded and full of entitlement when it comes to technology. This CD reminds me of my life before this phone and how analog my relationships were. I worry my kids will be missing a piece of their heart by never knowing those efforts. Compiling a cassette, drawing and gluing a cover and walking up to the post office and hoping you have enough money for postage. It's a lot more satisfying than click and drag.

Ritual Howls "their body"

Top ten albums of 2017. #1 Ritual Howls "their body" This is the band that made me realise that i am tho goth. I love #ritualhowls . I have been playing this band non-stop since discovering them. I make myself play other albums by other bands but really I'm just thinking about Ritual Howls while i do it (don't tell my dsbm albums ok? They are already on the edge.) The band does a synthy/organic thing that makes me think of a murder-obsessed depeche mode with spaghetti western guitars. To be fair this isn't even my favorite album by them (that honor goes to the flawless "into the water") but even though this isnt my favorite album it got loads of play. That's how much i love this band. I play this while I'm in the shower, i play this while I'm sorting dishes, i play this in my car... my wife can vouch. I play this so much i think my two year old likes them too (he's got a good Draco Malfoy look going for him so it may suit him). This detroit trio look like they are pretty prolific so here's to hoping the new year brings another release!

Spotlights "seismic"

Top ten albums of 2017. #2 Spotlights "seismic" The album title says it about as good as i could. Spotlights newest release is earth shaking. It's heavy and beautiful. The band takes the formula that the band Hum started in the '90s and perfected the melancholic and beautiful sound. It's akin to modern heavy shoegaze bands like Jesu and the latter-era Lantlos. If you like those records you'll love this. I was in some bands in the early 'aughts that in my head were heading towards this sound. This is one of those albums i wished i had written. It marries my love of heavy music and sad melodic indie rock perfectly. As some novel trivia: the band is a married couple with hired on drummers. I dont know how they keep it together but here's to hoping that they do for a while longer. Hop8ng to catch them live in 2018.

Drab Majesty "the demonstration "

Top ten albums of 2017. #3 Drab Majesty "the demonstration " Earlier this year i played a goth/dark wave/indie playlist on spotify at work. A couple of the artists really resonated with me and i wrote their names down to explore later. #drabmajesty struck me as really well put together and organic sounding for an electronic outfit. There is a definite synthwave feel to this album and it's goth in the same way Depeche Mode is goth. It's dark and romantic. You know, like me. I listen to this a bunch.

Cepheide "saudade"

Top ten albums of 2017. #4 Cephiede "saudade" There is something in France that makes their black metal the highest quality. I dont know if it's the cuisine, the wine or the general disdain for all things non-french but every time i hear the tag "french black metal" my ears perk up. I dont think #cepheide break alot of ground on this new release. It doesn't necessarily reinvent anything in the black metal canon but the band has a je ne sais quoi . The production is great, the songs have those hidden black metal hooks that the initiated can find easily and the vocals shriek in torment. Their last release made my list last year and this one got a lot of play after it's release in october (a perfect month for metal releases). Most of the time i listen to this stuff is on headphones. My wife and kids dont really have an affinity for things this grim. I think that the headphone play really helps this album. I believe it benefits from undivided attention. I dont know if this album will convert your musical taste to kvlt but if you have an ear for it already you will find alot to absorb here.

Rope Sect "personae ingratae"

Top ten albums of 2017. #5 Rope Sect "personae ingratae" I've been having a goth year. Over the last few months ive begun to realise that I've actually always kind of been into goth stuff. I didn't want to be. Goth to me is sort of like being a "deadhead". If you take time to listen the music isnt terrible it's just that all the cultural stuff that it drags behind it makes you repulsed by the social tag. The Grateful Dead's "american beauty " album is actually pretty damn good (just ask Wilco) but hell... crunchy hacky-sack douchbags twirling sticks in faux naturalism makes me want to kick puppys. Goth kids create a similar revulsion in me. But fuck if i dont love the music. Rope Sect are technically more "post punk" sounding (keeping tabs on genre tags is my thing) but the macabre vibe they give off definitely feels goth. This stuff is dramatic, dark and sinister (all prerequisites to make this list apparently) and avoids any of the electronic tendencies of the genre. It creates a sweaty bleeding nihilistic version of the sound as opposed to the vampire dance club version of the goth canon (which i also like).

King Woman "created in the image of suffering"

Top ten albums of 2017. #6 King Woman "created in the image of suffering" This album was in a pretty consistent play cycle after i caught the band live. It's doomy psychedelic music with ethereal female vocals. It's a heavy ass record and while it doesn't break any new ground it is still hook heavy tripped out doom that gets the head bobbing. It really is Kristina's vocal style that elevates the music. It's aching, haunting and beautiful and dances among the murky grooves and creates a dynamic that begs repeat listens. They are formidable live too so catch them if you can.