Another year comes to an end, and another music snob churns out a best-of list.
These are always hard. I feel like midway through the year I’m not really liking eight releases out of the hundreds I’ve reviewed. Then, come December, I’m struggling to settle on 10 out of about 30 records that I’ve loved.
You can find these lists everywhere; all the major music magazines have similar lists, and while you’ll find some names on those lists also on mine, I’d like to think I’m giving a shake to some lesser-known acts.
I said it, I’m a music snob. Yet I tend to look at music as food. I ingest it, and I avoid the bad stuff like bagged burgers delivered to me in my car. So I guess I’m a food snob, too.
10. The Defibulators – “Debt’ll Get Em.” This Brooklyn alternative country outfit’s sophomore effort is a telecaster-driven, hook-laden nod to 1970s trucker country, yet kitschy enough for even new Nashville to admire.
9. Clutch – “Earth Rocker.” The only thing predictable about Clutch is its prowess as a rock band. Earth Rocker is its continuing pursuit of rock perfection of all things stoner, hard, punk and blues.
8. Neko Case – “The Worse Things Get, The Harder I Fight, The Harder I Fight, The More I Love You.” All of Case’s releases are overflowing with lushful grace, producing another avant-folk release layered with horns and the occasional harp.
7. The Sadies – “Internal Sounds.” The Sadies’ latest record is just another step toward rock music perfection; surf, punk and psychedelic rock are still present amid mature songwriting and studio patience.
6. Superchunk – “I Hate Music.” This Chapel Hill, N.C., rock band’s latest is another contribution to its textbook of college rock. Hook laden and fun, aggressive and inventive, the band extends its lyrical homage to touring, fans, sound-people and the glory of a touring rock band.
5. Shinyribs – “Gulf Coast Museum.” The front man of the currently-on-hiatus Gourds, Kevin Russell’s rock band showcases the diverse influences fluid throughout his songwriting. It’s all things Americana; a diverse exploration of rock, blues, zydeco and funk.
4. Queens of the Stone Age – “... Like Clockwork.” QOTSA is the 21st-century American version of Led Zeppelin. It is a hard-rock band that continues to be inventive and daring, pleasing fickle critics while remaining true to longtime fans that hate fickle critics.
3. Yo La Tengo – “Fade.” A quiet Yo La Tengo release showcasing its talents as songwriters and multi-instrumentalists. The group remains a mainstay in the Indie rock canon and all of its releases could make lists like this.
2. Barrence Whitfield and the Savages – “Dig Thy Savage Soul.” This is an R&B and rock-and-roll record in every sense of the word. A timeless, soul and garage rock aggressive homage to early rock and roll that could have been made in 1970 or 2015. Whitfield has been around for years. It’s time the howling front man gets his due.
1. Fuzz – “S/T.” This San Francisco trio features prolific indie rock musician Ty Seagall on vocals and drums. This lived on my turntable; a spastic blast of punk and psychedelic stoner rock.
Liggett_b@fortlewis.edu. Bryant Liggett is a freelance writer and KDUR station manager.
Bryant’s Best
Saturday: Tyr, Dynohunter and Sodown, 9 p.m., $10, Animas City Theatre, 128 E. College Drive, 799-2281.
Sunday: State Street Ballet of Santa Barbara will present “The Nutcracker,” 2 p.m., $29/$39, Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College, 247-7657.
