My 2015 Listening Habits

Late again, I know; Let's go!

Some past favorites released excellent rerecords this year. Björk with Vulnicura and Sufjan Stevens with Carrie & Lowell were both revealing, soul barring records, mining the depths of human emotion over broken relationships and dead loved ones. Both use mostly non-rock style instrumentation, with Carrie & Lowell avoiding drums almost completely. Haunting to listen to, but not for sunny afternoons. 

TV on Radio with Seeds and Interpol on El Pintor were both in rotation. TVOR has moved farther from there clattering post-punk sound and funk-style deviations to crystal clear synth-rock. Although I am often left wanting the sounds of Return to Cookie Mountain, I am glad the band continues to evolve it sound. Interpol released the record everyone wanted with El Pintor harking back to Turn On the Bright Lights. A good choice and a solid non-reinvention.

2014 material I caught up with this year included  Aphex Twin's excellent Syro (listenable glitch IDM; always different but recognizable all these years later), The War on Drugs' Lost in the Dream (hazy guitar rock of yore),  and Caribou's Our Love (dreamy dance music done right). 

My Favorites Records of 2015:

Wilco :: Star Wars

An excellent surprise record. Hints of Television and A Ghost is Born. Kraut-y jams abound with a in studio/live feel to the entire record. Makes me smile.

Alabama Shakes :: Sound & Color

Surprising if you expected retreat of roots-soul-rock. The Shakes decide instead to expand their sound to be electric, modern, and unexpected in the best ways possible. 

Joanna Newsom :: Divers

On her most accessible record yet, Joanna still manages to make you ant to follow her down the rabbit hole. Beautiful avant-folk for the modern age.

Blur :: The Magic Whip

Hard to believe they finally released this after a supposed failed recording session in Hong Kong in 2014. Although Albarn has many side projects to keep him busy, the boys from London remind us of why we feel in love with them in the first place with a record that does not disappoint.

Beach House :: Depression Cherry // Thank Your Lucky Stars

In the age of fast attention spans, Beach House releases two record in a year. A further trip along the fuzzy, dream pop trail.

Your Options As A Two Piece Band

Look at you! You formed a band! Who's in it? Oh, you and that other guy/girl. I see. Well, your options are clearly laid out before you based on other power duo or two piece rock bands of the last 30 years. Let's dig in:

The White Stripes / The Kills: Believe in the power of two to your own detriment. Harness those limitations to become even more powerful than you could have even if you recruited as many members as Broken Social Scene.

The Black Keys / Flat Duo Jets: Stick with the two piece until you get sick of it. It stops you from getting boring.

Japandroids: Split you guitar signal between two amps, one for clean and one for effects. This allow for a lead and rhythm guitar sound without an additional guitarist.

Sleigh Bells / Crystal Castles: Use a sampler to your benefit.

Beach House: Skip the drummer, at least for a while.

Wye Oak: Have your drummer play one handed on a keyboard. Make it ethereal.

Lightning Bolt: Play your music on the floor, not on a stage. What would a third band member be doing anyway? You can't get any louder than you already are.