2008 seemed like it was a banner year for the 7", with many great artists just beginning to find their footing; issuing some high handed promises for what could be in 2009. These were the singles that proposed the greatest promises or held aloft already stellar legacies. Our favorite singles of '08.
Jacuzzi Boys - Island Ave 7"
Jacuzzi Boys, despite showing some questionable skills in the naming department, proved to be quite a powerhouse in the singles sector this year. Of the 3 solo and 1 split that they issued this is the one that makes me most eager to see how this will translate to a full length. Riding a strong Brian Jonestown psych/gaze/garage stomp this was by far one of my favorites of the year.
Download:
[MP3] Jacuzzi Boys - Island Avenue
Support the artist. Buy it HERE
Ducktails - Beach Point Pleasant 7"
Not quite the introduction from Matt Mondanile, but definitely the one that peaked my interest. He's already got quite a few intriguing projects slated for next year and 12" looming on the shores would seem to be pretty fantastic if it lives up the the promises made on this single.
Download:
[MP3] Ducktails - Beach Point Pleasant
Support the artist. Buy it HERE
Blank Dogs - Setting Fire to Your House 7"
Well Blank Dogs don't normally make any promises since there's always about 5 releases all flooding the world at once. However, since this is the fist 7" that contains tracks slated for a full-length, it would seem that the taste has been laid for what aims to be his best yet. Which taking into account that top 15 spot for On Both Sides is certainly saying something.
Download:
[MP3] Blank Dogs - I Was Counting
Support the artist. Buy it HERE
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - Everything With You 7"
Setting the world right by releasing a proper recording of their Self-Titled opus on the B-side of this sucker; the Pains couldn't hope to peak any more interest than they have with this single. Appetites are whetted for the looming '09 release (they should be, its spectacular), and the world lays open for the Pains to bring a much needed dose of carefree pop into a gloomy society.
Download:
[MP3] The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - The Pains of Being Pure at Heart
Support the artist. Buy it HERE
Nodzzz - I Don't Wanna (Smoke Marijuana) 7"
Nodzzz did deliver pretty well on the promises that this 7" made, though the results were only 16 minutes long (but a pretty great 16 minutes indeed). This is still the seed that kicked off my interest and it's as solid as any single that graced the shelves this year. Let's hope that the boys have a bit more to share over the upcoming year.
Download:
[MP3] Nodzzz - I Don't Wanna (Smoke Marijuana)
Support the artist. Buy it HERE
Wavves - Beach Demon b/w Weed Demon 7"
Well the initial cassette perked everybody's ears but it seems that no Wavves release flew off the shelves faster than this little number. Showcasing both sides of Williams work the upbeat anthems and the noisy ambiance; if you could get your hands on it, this was a pretty great single. Speaking of promises made, it seems that Wavves have a few in order but with a reissue going string on Woodsist and the next album already getting ears burning it seems that '09 might be conquered by Wavves.
Download:
[MP3] Wavves - Beach Demon
Support the artist. Buy it HERE
Little Claw - Race to the Bottom 7"
Though I came in a little late on their last LP, I've been pretty eager to see what they crank out at each turn from now on. This is one of the band's strongest tracks yet and if this is any indication of the direction the next LP is headed, then count me excited. No word just yet but there's a lot of '09 sitting out there uncharted. I'm hoping that Little Claw do something to rectify the situation.
Download:
[MP3] Little Claw - Race to the Bottom
Support the artist. Buy it HERE
Black Moth Super Rainbow - Zodiac Girls 7"
Well a year with out a Black Moth record is sad (though Tobacco seemed to fill that hole nicely), but this little nugget plus the drippers EP filled the gap quite nicely. Still can't top the squirly nostalgia of that organ topping the dusted beats.
Download:
[MP3] Black Moth Super Rainbow - Zodiac Girls
Support the artist. Buy it HERE
Snakeflower 2 - Talk About It 7"
Snakeflower 2 kick the blues right where it hurts and this taster of their following album was a pretty nice surprise this year. Paired up with some pretty keen cover art, this was a great overall package. Just a bit of the bite that the band had in store and they delivered on the promise quite nicely. I'll be more than eager to see how the future shapes up for them.
Download:
[MP3] Snakeflower 2 - Talk About It
Support the artist. Buy it HERE
Oneida - Head's Ain't Ready 7"
Who knew that deep down inside Oneida beat the heart of a super-fantastic bar cover band. Well it does... the boys in 'neida revive the legacy of The Dead for yet another generation, revisiting two songs from their debut album. Due to the fact that I happen to really like that album, and Oneida this couldn't be a more perfect pairing, way to put some Balls on The Dead. Well played gentleman.
Download:
[MP3] Oneida - Cream Puff War
Support the artist. Buy it HERE
Cold Cave - The Trees Grew Emotions and Died 12"
Once they ditched the noise and embraced their inner 80's yearnings, the band seemed to click right into place. The whole 12" is killer from start to finish and I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to see if they could pull this off on a full album. The band's laid the promises pretty thick and already expectations are mounting so keep your ears to the turntable for what could be a very interesting album indeed.
Download:
[MP3] Cold Cave - Our Tears Help the Flowers Grow
Support the artist. Buy it HERE
Zola Jesus - Souer Sewer 7"
Though she's not the only entrant from the Sacred Bones stable to pop up on this list, Zola's the one that has my hopes set highest. Her warbled soul offers some of the most surprising results laid to wax this year. Chalk up one for the girls in a melted pop sea of male voiced chiller tracks this year. I'm hoping that ZJ's got what it takes to keep the momentum going.
Download:
[MP3] Zola Jesus - Souer Sewer
Support the artist. Buy it HERE
Dead Luke - Record One 7"
Both of Luke's 7"s had my turntable melting this year but its the Troggs cover on this one that kills like no other. Luke has rendered himself the master of deep fried covers but given the hit or miss nature of his output I'm both leery and interested to see what's next. There's a non-Sacred 7" that's just floated into view so I'll have to see how that stacks up. For now though I'll just keep blasting "I Want You".
Download:
[MP3] Dead Luke - I Want You
Support the artist. Buy it HERE
XYX - Sistema de Terminacion Sexual 7"
Given the pants shitting that's surrounded their neighbors Los Llamarada I was almost a bit let down by the rough cuts from that Monterrey combo. Granted it grew on me and now I'm feeling some of the love but my real money for Monterrey is on this crew. From the brief window they let in on this 7", I'm very ready for a full album that pits the pent up sexuality with those terse grooves. Post-punk definitely taken a sabbatical and moved down south, rearing its head nicely in the form of XYX.
Download:
[MP3] XYX - Nunca, Nunca
Support the artist. Buy it HERE
His Electro Blue Voice - Duuug 7"
Both sides of this single bring out the Italian fangs and dig in deep. Not what I was expecting given it's label of origin but once it got into my bloodstream I was more than enamored with it for quite some time. Again the question remains can they pull this off for the long haul? I'm certainly hoping so.
Download:
[MP3] His Electro Blue Voice - Fury Eyes
Support the artist. Buy it HERE
Jacuzzi Boys - Island Ave 7"
Jacuzzi Boys, despite showing some questionable skills in the naming department, proved to be quite a powerhouse in the singles sector this year. Of the 3 solo and 1 split that they issued this is the one that makes me most eager to see how this will translate to a full length. Riding a strong Brian Jonestown psych/gaze/garage stomp this was by far one of my favorites of the year.
Download:
[MP3] Jacuzzi Boys - Island Avenue
Support the artist. Buy it HERE
Ducktails - Beach Point Pleasant 7"
Not quite the introduction from Matt Mondanile, but definitely the one that peaked my interest. He's already got quite a few intriguing projects slated for next year and 12" looming on the shores would seem to be pretty fantastic if it lives up the the promises made on this single.
Download:
[MP3] Ducktails - Beach Point Pleasant
Support the artist. Buy it HERE
Blank Dogs - Setting Fire to Your House 7"
Well Blank Dogs don't normally make any promises since there's always about 5 releases all flooding the world at once. However, since this is the fist 7" that contains tracks slated for a full-length, it would seem that the taste has been laid for what aims to be his best yet. Which taking into account that top 15 spot for On Both Sides is certainly saying something.
Download:
[MP3] Blank Dogs - I Was Counting
Support the artist. Buy it HERE
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - Everything With You 7"
Setting the world right by releasing a proper recording of their Self-Titled opus on the B-side of this sucker; the Pains couldn't hope to peak any more interest than they have with this single. Appetites are whetted for the looming '09 release (they should be, its spectacular), and the world lays open for the Pains to bring a much needed dose of carefree pop into a gloomy society.
Download:
[MP3] The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - The Pains of Being Pure at Heart
Support the artist. Buy it HERE
Nodzzz - I Don't Wanna (Smoke Marijuana) 7"
Nodzzz did deliver pretty well on the promises that this 7" made, though the results were only 16 minutes long (but a pretty great 16 minutes indeed). This is still the seed that kicked off my interest and it's as solid as any single that graced the shelves this year. Let's hope that the boys have a bit more to share over the upcoming year.
Download:
[MP3] Nodzzz - I Don't Wanna (Smoke Marijuana)
Support the artist. Buy it HERE
Wavves - Beach Demon b/w Weed Demon 7"
Well the initial cassette perked everybody's ears but it seems that no Wavves release flew off the shelves faster than this little number. Showcasing both sides of Williams work the upbeat anthems and the noisy ambiance; if you could get your hands on it, this was a pretty great single. Speaking of promises made, it seems that Wavves have a few in order but with a reissue going string on Woodsist and the next album already getting ears burning it seems that '09 might be conquered by Wavves.
Download:
[MP3] Wavves - Beach Demon
Support the artist. Buy it HERE
Little Claw - Race to the Bottom 7"
Though I came in a little late on their last LP, I've been pretty eager to see what they crank out at each turn from now on. This is one of the band's strongest tracks yet and if this is any indication of the direction the next LP is headed, then count me excited. No word just yet but there's a lot of '09 sitting out there uncharted. I'm hoping that Little Claw do something to rectify the situation.
Download:
[MP3] Little Claw - Race to the Bottom
Support the artist. Buy it HERE
Black Moth Super Rainbow - Zodiac Girls 7"
Well a year with out a Black Moth record is sad (though Tobacco seemed to fill that hole nicely), but this little nugget plus the drippers EP filled the gap quite nicely. Still can't top the squirly nostalgia of that organ topping the dusted beats.
Download:
[MP3] Black Moth Super Rainbow - Zodiac Girls
Support the artist. Buy it HERE
Snakeflower 2 - Talk About It 7"
Snakeflower 2 kick the blues right where it hurts and this taster of their following album was a pretty nice surprise this year. Paired up with some pretty keen cover art, this was a great overall package. Just a bit of the bite that the band had in store and they delivered on the promise quite nicely. I'll be more than eager to see how the future shapes up for them.
Download:
[MP3] Snakeflower 2 - Talk About It
Support the artist. Buy it HERE
Oneida - Head's Ain't Ready 7"
Who knew that deep down inside Oneida beat the heart of a super-fantastic bar cover band. Well it does... the boys in 'neida revive the legacy of The Dead for yet another generation, revisiting two songs from their debut album. Due to the fact that I happen to really like that album, and Oneida this couldn't be a more perfect pairing, way to put some Balls on The Dead. Well played gentleman.
Download:
[MP3] Oneida - Cream Puff War
Support the artist. Buy it HERE
Cold Cave - The Trees Grew Emotions and Died 12"
Once they ditched the noise and embraced their inner 80's yearnings, the band seemed to click right into place. The whole 12" is killer from start to finish and I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to see if they could pull this off on a full album. The band's laid the promises pretty thick and already expectations are mounting so keep your ears to the turntable for what could be a very interesting album indeed.
Download:
[MP3] Cold Cave - Our Tears Help the Flowers Grow
Support the artist. Buy it HERE
Zola Jesus - Souer Sewer 7"
Though she's not the only entrant from the Sacred Bones stable to pop up on this list, Zola's the one that has my hopes set highest. Her warbled soul offers some of the most surprising results laid to wax this year. Chalk up one for the girls in a melted pop sea of male voiced chiller tracks this year. I'm hoping that ZJ's got what it takes to keep the momentum going.
Download:
[MP3] Zola Jesus - Souer Sewer
Support the artist. Buy it HERE
Dead Luke - Record One 7"
Both of Luke's 7"s had my turntable melting this year but its the Troggs cover on this one that kills like no other. Luke has rendered himself the master of deep fried covers but given the hit or miss nature of his output I'm both leery and interested to see what's next. There's a non-Sacred 7" that's just floated into view so I'll have to see how that stacks up. For now though I'll just keep blasting "I Want You".
Download:
[MP3] Dead Luke - I Want You
Support the artist. Buy it HERE
XYX - Sistema de Terminacion Sexual 7"
Given the pants shitting that's surrounded their neighbors Los Llamarada I was almost a bit let down by the rough cuts from that Monterrey combo. Granted it grew on me and now I'm feeling some of the love but my real money for Monterrey is on this crew. From the brief window they let in on this 7", I'm very ready for a full album that pits the pent up sexuality with those terse grooves. Post-punk definitely taken a sabbatical and moved down south, rearing its head nicely in the form of XYX.
Download:
[MP3] XYX - Nunca, Nunca
Support the artist. Buy it HERE
His Electro Blue Voice - Duuug 7"
Both sides of this single bring out the Italian fangs and dig in deep. Not what I was expecting given it's label of origin but once it got into my bloodstream I was more than enamored with it for quite some time. Again the question remains can they pull this off for the long haul? I'm certainly hoping so.
Download:
[MP3] His Electro Blue Voice - Fury Eyes
Support the artist. Buy it HERE
3 Comments:
cheers! for the XYX pick, along with Llamaradas some of monterrey top experimental rock acts!
thank you so much!!!
great post!
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