Obligatory Top 10 List

I'm going to act like I have to make a Top 10 list at the end of the year because this is a music blog and that's what music blogs do. I'll say that I'm doing this begrudgingly only because people love to read lists and it'll get lots of hits. You see, I don't really have an option at this point. It's fucking mandatory. But in reality, I love making lists and telling people what my favorite things are. So here they are. My top picks from 2008. (Disclaimer: Marijn came out in '07 but I bought it in '08 so screw you.)



10. Usputuspud - Disco (original review)
Usputuspud - Cherished Wig

A wonderfully dancey droney tape, easily the best tape in my collection.




9. Parts & Labor - Receivers (original review)
Parts & Labor - Wedding In A Wasteland

When one of my favoritest bands comes out with a new album, you can bet your ass it'll be on my Top 10 list.



8. The Mausoleums - Blackened Fawns Cleanse The Earth With Fire (original review)
The Mausoleums - The One Who Sees

Super blown out pop metal makes me weak in the knees.



7. Torche - Meanderthal (never reviewed it for some reason, but I did talk about their live show)
Torche - Grenades

I was a little late to the Torche parade. I didn't like 'em the first few times I heard them. I don't know what happened but something clicked and I fell in love with Meanderthal.



6. Prurient - And Still, Wanting (original review)
Prurient - Memory Repeating

At the moment, this is hands down my favorite noise/power electronics record. It's so fucking intense I can barely stand it.



5. Fricara Pacchu - Midnight Pyre (original review)
Fricara Pacchu - Possessed By Possibilities

Easily the weirdest record on this list and possibly the weirdest thing I've heard all year. Those crazy Finlanders sure know how to make good music.



4. Belong - Same Places (Slow Version) (original review)
Belong - Same Places (Slow Version)

Seriously, whenever Belong puts a record out, I will be right at the front of the line worshiping it.



3. Machinefabriek - Marijn (original review)
Machinefabriek - Somerset

This is the first record I've heard from the uber-prolific Machinefabriek and I have a hard time believing he'll ever put out anything better than this. It's a goddamn masterpiece.



2. A Faulty Chromosome - As An Ex-Anorexic's Six Sicks Exit,... (original review)
A Faulty Chromosome - Jackie O

This was sooooo close to being number one record of the year for me. It's one of the oldest records on the list and it still gets played more than any of the others. I am completely in love with A Faulty Chromosome.



1. Fuck Buttons - Street Horrrsing (original review)
Fuck Buttons - Colours Move

I called it. All the way back in March I knew this would be my favorite record of 2008. I said "This is so so so easily the best record of the year. I can't imagine anything else coming out that can top this. And my imagination is pretty good." Surprisingly, I was right.

Close calls:
Yoshi Wada - Lament For The Rise And Fall Of The Elephantine Crocodile
Mates Of State - Re-Arrange Us (this, along with M83's Saturdays=Youth were my top 2 most played albums)
Crystal Castles - Crystal Castles
Dan Friel - Ghost Town
Njiqahdda - Nji. Njiin. Njiiin.
Lawrence English - Kiri No Oto
Dev/Null - Necrobestial Sadobreaks

Now, just because you hate my list doesn't mean you should hate me too. Lets try not to start any fights just because there's no Animal Collective on here.

Prurient - And Still, Wanting

Prurient - Returning Truth



Click that sound sample with the utmost caution. Prurient produces some of the harshest power-noise-electronics you've ever heard. Caustic and punishing, his music is likely to make your ears bleed. And that's exactly why I love it.

The first time I heard Prurient, I got light-headed. Literally. It was only a 60 second sample from a website but it was love at first deafening. And while And Still, Wanting is the only record of Prurient's I've heard, I know genius when I hear it. This is it right here.

If you're not careful, the two opening tracks will blow out your speakers. They are harsh and gritty, but swimming underneath the corrosive outer layer lies subtle intricate beauties. Little lullabies that take the evil and make it glorious. Those levels of disgusting sorrow mixed with sweet dreams are what make this a truly rewarding record. Of course you're immediately taken aback when you hear And Still, Wanting, but if you stick around and get used to it's company, you see it's not just some loud mouthed prick, but only a little rough around the edges (OK, really rough).

There are tracks, though, that are much less abrasive but just as depressing. With the song "Total Terrorism," a static low end buzz creates the background while echoing percussion and vocals attempt to fill in the empty spaces. A creepy song, to say the least.

I've read this is Prurient's most accessible record to date (and possibly his best) and while it's hard to ever imagine a noise album being tagged as "accessible," my guess is that this could be that record. For those coming in with an open mind, And Still, Wanting is not totally off-putting. Like I said, it's not constantly destroying your eardrums and when it is, there's so many layers of beauty to enjoy.

One of the coolest parts of And Still, Wanting is that it comes with (at least in an initial limited edition) a 5" vinyl appendage that has two additional tracks, "Prologue" and "Epilogue," that are supposed to act as bookends for the album. Sadly, as my tiny apartment has no room for a record player, I have yet to hear these extra tracks. But still! That's awesome.