Last but not least, I end my look back at 2018 with the music I listened to. I only wanted to include full length albums, but I allowed one EP to slip through. Please forgive me. Please.
- Nekrogoblikon : Welcome to Bonkers - 13th April -
Welcome to Bonkers is a lot better than 2015's Heavy Meta. Heavy Meta seemed to focus too much on the band's gimmick and humour, (one song is straight up titled "We Need a Gimmick".) whereas Welcome to Bonkers strikes a much greater balance between the goblin thing and their ability to deliver some slamming metal. There's a couple of goblin-related songs and the daft little ditty The Magic Spider, but then there are also the stellar tracks such as Killing Time (And Space) and the brilliant The Many Faces of Dr. Hubert Malbec. I'm all for metal having a bit of fun, but sometimes metal humour can be lame and cringey, so I was very glad to hear 'goblikon back on form with this record, fearing they may have been slowly going the way of so many similarly gimmicky genre bands that have gone before them. Who gives a fuck about pirate metal anymore? Nobody that's who. That final Goblins track was a little weak too, but that's okay because everything else was pretty rad.
Should you listen to it? It's certainly a fun record, and some tracks certainly shine brighter than the rest, but if you're into your metal and you think goblins are pretty neat, this is definitely for you. To all others who aren't so fussed, at least do yourself a favour and listen to Dr. Hubert Malbec. That track rules.
- Sting and Shaggy : 44/876 - 20th April - I don't use social media that much, and what little I use of it I certainly don't have Shaggy or Sting on the forefront of my subscriptions, follows, or preferences. You can imagine then my surprise and curiosity when 44/876, the Sting and Shaggy reggae collaboration, seemed to drop out of nowhere on 4/20. I'll always know Shaggy for Boombastic and Wasn't Me, and of course his collaboration with Ali G for Me Julie, so I couldn't really figure how or why he'd managed to bag himself a record with Sting, a far more weathered and respected musician known for not writing songs with Ali G. Yet despite my concerns 44/876 (the title being the calling codes of both artists' home countries) managed to impress me, very much.
Both artists seem to really work well together, and prevent each other falling into any of their old musical habits. For example Sting ensures Shaggy doesn't refer to anything as elephantastic throughout the entire duration of the album which frankly would have ruined it, and Shaggy in turn prevented Sting from shouting Roxanne over and over, which would have probably also ruined the album but in a different way. I really hope they do some more work together, as this felt like such a lovely record which I imagine both guys really enjoyed kicking back and writing together. Don't Make Me Wait and Night Shift were probably my favourites, and the rest of the tracks are some lovely easy listening. I don't really no what else to say about it really, it's a reggae album by Sting and Shaggy, it sells itself in all honesty. This was all just padding.
Should you listen to it? Everyone loves reggae, but even if they don't they should probably listen to this album. It's just a nice wee backing track to an easy summer day, or perhaps the nice relaxing bath at the end of a hard winter's day. Baths can be rad, especially if you listen to 44/876 while you do it.
- Ghost : Prequelle - 1st June -
I've already voiced my opinion of Prequelle on this site so I'll keep this brief. Prequelle is quite possibly the raddest album of the year, hands down. This love letter to metal is a hoot from start to finish and may very well propel Ghost even further into the spotlight in these coming years. Songs like Rats, Dance Macarbe, and Witch Image are absolute zingers that will get your fist pumping to sing-along lyrics and wailing guitar riffs, while other like Life Eternal and Pro Memoria will slow things down and get your arms swaying in the air. If you're offered the opportunity to see Ghost perform I would strongly suggest you do, as I imagine this album will still very much be at the forefront of their set-lists and I can only imagine how much fun it must be to hear it live, especially intermixed with Ghost's already established tracks.
Should you listen to it? Fuck yeah dude.
- Mad Caddies : Punk Rocksteady - 15th June -
Reggae covers of punk songs. A fun idea from a well established punk/reggae/ska/whatever-they-please act Mad Caddies, which certainly rivals the other reggae album of the year, 44/876. Sure 44/876 has Sting and Shaggy, but this is reggae punk. It's punk songs, but they're being played like reggae songs!The album features a number of interesting track choices by some of the biggest names in punk, with many of the choices avoiding expectation. For example there are many well known and loved NOFX, Misfits, and Descendents titles to choose from out there, but Mad Caddies have opted to pick a few of the more underrated tracks of each bands' back catalogue. And what fantastic choices they are - who wants to hear another cover of Linoleum when you can have She's Gone? Or instead of any of Green Day's later offerings that made them a household name, why not She? Most importantly though every track works, and will certainly aid in reminding you just how great some of these bands are, and how talented Mad Caddies are for putting this all together. I've always found punk to be a very fitting genre for the summer, so the added blend of reggae certainly builds upon that.
Should you listen to it? Absolutely.
- Adolescents : Cropduster - 20th July -
Adolescents have been expressing their colourful opinions of American society for almost 40 years now, and where most 80s hardcore punk bands still dragging it out sound a little pathetic and over the hill, Adolescents manage to sound as youthful and energetic as the day they were established. There's that sweet punk rock sound that only the Californian crop of 80s hardcore punk bands seemed able to master present throughout the album, a sound that is always welcome given how hand-in-hand Cali punk rawk goes with other radical activities such as skating, walking the dog, and paying your bills. It's just a fun sound to keep you going with whatever you've got on that day, and the Adolescents have truly harnessed this sound in a very by the books record.
The blood of other notable hardcore punk bands of Adolescents' time run through the veins of Cropduster, and on occasions there's even a few tracks that give off a bit of a Blink 182's glory days vibe, which only adds to the whole fun of the thing. Title track Cropduster as well as Nuclear Football and Prey For Armageddon are the definite shining stars of the album, which are without a doubt the most sneering, aggressive, and energetic tracks on offer here. A few tracks fall short of greatness, such as Just Because, which like a few other offenders on the album aren't exactly lyrically outstanding. But hey, this is a punk record - a genre where good lyrics are just a nice surprise amongst instrumentals fit for pitting. Adolescents themselves were never exactly the best lyrically, they were just pissed about things, and in this world we will never run out of things to be pissed about, so the glory of the Adolescents shall live on.
Should you listen to it? I'd say so yeah. If you're a fan of 80s hardcore punk then this will certainly be of interest to you - if you're just a fan of punk as a whole it may be a nice bit of background music on your daily commute or while you do your chores, y'know, like stuff punk rock was made for. Just check those tracks listed above and you'll be able to make up your mind, if you're not phased by the best then you won't care about the rest.
- Iggy Pop & Underworld : Teatime Dub Encounters - 27th July -
During the production of Trainspotting 2, Iggy Pop and Underworld were asked to write up some songs for the soundtrack. And so they holed up in a hotel room in London they'd converted into a recording studio, and from it Teatime Dub Encounters was born. Teatime is a weird little trip, consisting of just four tracks it features that trance-like journey outside of the mind sound Underworld have become oh so well known for, which is overlapped by Iggy rambling about modern life and stories from his past.The standout track claims its title simply for Iggy's nonsensical monologue about how he wishes he could fly, and that he wishes you could smoke on airplanes again. Powerful stuff.
Should you listen to it? Yes. Turn out the lights, get your star projector on, and just pop this on and you're away.
- Eminem : Kamikaze - 31st August - When I was a kid I thought Eminem was one of the coolest dudes in the world. He was mad at his mum, he used swear words, and there was that one time when he had a chainsaw and a hockey mask on stage. So cool man. Then I grew up and as I did Eminem went sober a few times and flourished into a cranky old man who just made boring ass albums with boring ass collaborators to play to fans at packed out boring ass stadium shows. Once he started collaborating with Rhianna I'd lost interest, and last year when he collaborated with Beyonce and Ed Sheeran I thought that was the final nail in the coffin for my interest in Eminem's music. But then Kamikaze was released out of nowhere, and I was willing to give it a chance solely because I liked the album art, which seemed like a neat little nod to Beastie Boys' Time to Get Ill.
Kamikaze was a lot better than Revival, but that isn't saying much because Revival was an absolute shitshow. I wasn't that big a fan of the collab tracks like Kamikaze and Nice Guy, both of which are possibly my least favourites on the album. Stepping Stone and Fall were pretty good, and there were a few others here and there that I'd maybe listen to again from time to time, but overall Kamikaze still isn't a great album, just alright. What drags it down is the fairly lackluster collab tracks, the constant whining about critics as though they're wrong for thinking Em is maybe a little stale now, and that constant and irritating rap style where modern day rappers sound like they're doing an impersonation of Stevie from Malcolm in the Middle on coke. Go ahead, crank the speed of that video up to x2 and tell me Two-Speed Stevie couldn't grapple with the top players of the current rap charts. Also the final track is the song written for the new Venom movie which is a fucking lame inclusion for this album.
Should you listen to it? You can go either way with this one. There might be a few tracks you'll enjoy, but if you're like me you'll be left a little disappointed by the weaker and more irritating tracks on offer here. What Kamikaze does prove though is Eminem is clearly capable of making a good record in modern times, he just needs to shed those last few pounds of Revival and he might actually be back on form next time.
- Suicidal Tendencies : Still Cyco Punk After All These Years - 7th September -
Mike Muir decided he wanted to re-record an old record he put out under the moniker Cyco Mike called Lost My Brain ... Once Again, only heavier and with the legendary Dave Lombardo on drums. The two final tracks of Lost My Brain are omitted but in their place is the previously unreleased Sippin' from the Insanitea, and that's pretty much all there is to it. Lost My Brain is good, and this is a good re-recording of it. Nobody was asking for it, but Mike wanted to do it anyways, and that's pretty rad.
Should you listen to it? If you're already familiar with Lost My Brain you're not really missing out on much I guess, but if this is a new frontier to you then you should definitely check it out.
- Nightbirds : Roll Credits - 21st September -
This year grumpy old butter enthusiast Johnny Rotten labelled modern punk a "caricature" of itself and specifically called out Green Day for being an "embarrassment" to the genre. Somebody should definitely inform old man Rotten that nobody minus 14 year old girls give a shit about Green Day anymore, and he should instead listen to Nightbirds before writing off modern punk bands. Nightbirds capture that same spark that bands like the Adolescents have been keeping afloat for a quarter of a century now, thus ensuring its survival shall indeed be kept alive even in the modern climate of scream-o punk and painfully pop punk. Roll Credits kicks all kind of ass from start to finish. That energetic surf-rock vibe flows through this 18-minute masterpiece, and it makes for some sweet listening until the very end. And as an added bonus there's a little soundbite of Bela Legosi's pull the string line from Glen or Glenda on the first track. Sweet.
Should you listen to it? Most definitely.
- Cypress Hill : Elephants on Acid - 28th September -
That's right, Cypress Hill are still making music, I was surprised too. It's been almost a decade since their last album, Rise Up, which wasn't all that well received, so like most people I used assumed they'd packed in the plans for new material and would stick to touring on the popularity of their golden years. But Cypress Hill had other plans it seems, and their comeback Elephants on Acid is a very welcomed return by these delightfully stoned Mexican rappers. Elephants on Acid certainly captures the magic of the titular drug, as it features some strange and trippy soundscapes as well as the usual stoner hip hop sound that has made them so popular. Little ditty tracks such as Muggs is Dead certainly cement that trippiness, along with their instrumentals of which there are a few on this 21-track powerhouse. Some might say their style on this album makes it a little less accessible for newcomers, but honestly I'd say this is a standout moment for Cypress Hill that everyone should give a listen. Sure it's an album that is best enjoyed whilst stoned, as with every Cypress Hill album, but their trip down the rabbit hole should be more than enough to get your head swimming, even if you're straight edge.
Should you listen to it? Yes. I'd say yes.
- Atmosphere : Mi Vida Local - 5th October -
Atmosphere are quite possibly one of the best hip-hop acts of all time. Ant's music just washes over you and settles you down nicely into a chilled state of mind, and then out come Slug's lyrics, which paint such clear images in your mind unlike any other artist I can think of. I think what makes their songs feel so real is the heart and soul they pour into each one - there's never a filler track with Atmosphere, every single song is from the heart and Slug's deliverance is so genuine and filled with emotion that he has the power to transfer those exact emotions on to you.
Mi Vida then is no exception to this, with songs about the state of the world, of Atmosphere's two members, life, death, and everything in between to take you on a 12-track journey through the world in the eyes of Slug. The duo have certainly embraced their newly received title of "dad rap" it seems, with songs like Trim and Virgo showing us that older dudes rapping doesn't have to be cringey and lame like certain other aging rap stars mentioned on this list. But then again unlike these people Atmosphere aren't fighting to stay on top of the rap game, they've always been comfortable at their own level, catering to loyal fans who truly appreciate their talent, and if you are one of those people then this album will be an absolute treat for you, and hopefully to some of you newcomers too.
Should you listen to it? Damn right. There's not many older rappers I can name who I'd say have aged gracefully in their music, but Atmosphere are definitely the top of my list, these guys are like a fine wine.
- Downtown Brown : CaliFordia - 15th October -
Between DTB's last album, the incredible Masterz of the Universe, and the release of this year's CaliFordia, founding member and guitarist/vocalist Neil P has been busy moving the band from its hometown of Detroit to LA, playing tour dates extensively, and having hernia surgery, so it's a hell of a feat to see him find the time to complete CaliFordia. One of the biggest selling points I have for DTB is their resistance in being pigeonholed to one specific genre, a fact they flaunt with the opening track which shares the album's name - which plays out like your run of the mill Soundcloud rap track, before shifting into something more like a 90s skatepunk song. This bizarre mishmash of sounds coupled with the humorous lyrics (I never thought I'd hear a Detroit band singing about Wales) is the ethos of DTB's music, and CaliFordia once again sticks to this in its own unique way. Some of the tracks aren't fully fledged zingers, such as "Yer So Cute", which is a little lacking in lyrical depth (not too long ago we did a thing / and that thing turned into another thing / but I know in my heart that I can't stop doing the thing) but its rescued by its delightfully upbeat melody at least.
There's also this weird uncertainty I have with the album where I can't tel what Neil's making up and what is real. An on-going theme through the album seems to be about a girl he was involved with who was also involved with another dude, which hits its peak in the track GF BF, in which Neil pauses the song to discuss how monogamy is totally cool and inadvertently comes off sounding like PC Principle from South Park. The lyrics are humorous which makes me think (and hope) it's all just a gag, however its continual references throughout the album makes me think otherwise. I'm all for artists writing from life experience, but I dunno, there's something awkward about laughing at a ridiculous story only to discover the person telling it is actually being very serious. Having said that, I had a great time with this album. Especially Allie's Song, Gone Fishin', and title track CaliFordia. Not too sure why there's re-recordings of Live Today and Love Kitchen though, I'd have liked a few more fresh tracks.
Should you listen to it? This is possibly DTB's most diverse album yet in terms of its sound, so I'd imagine there's something on here for everyone. A few bum lyrics and awkward sex life aren't enough to deter me from giving this a recommendation, but you should totally check out their previous album too.
- The Prodigy : No Tourists - 2nd November -
At some point in the past few years Liam Howlett decided for better or worse to only focus on making Prodigy songs that would drive their already energetic and aggressive live performances even further, and No Tourtists is a continuation of that POA. The plus side to this is that from start to finish this ten track beast goes to town on your eardrums in an onslaught of pure adrenaline and very big beats with absolutely no loss of momentum. The downside however is that as with their previous album, The Day is My Enemy, the band aren't really pushing their sounds in any new and exciting directions. There's evident explorations of new sound between say The Prodigy Experience, Fat of the Land, and Invaders Must Die, yet it seems Liam and co. seem quite content sitting at their current level achieved with the success of Invaders, and don't seem to feel like budging anytime soon.
Not that this is necessarily an issue, as for years now The Prodigy have made it very clear they want their music to be played loud and proud in packed shows, and these album releases are simply your chance to familiarise yourselves with the tracks for when you eventually make it to one of their shows so you know when to give it your all. The album does at least delve into the band's history a little, something lacking in The Day is My Enemy which sounded almost identical to their previous Invaders Must Die - whereas No Tourists at times sounds like a car crash between Music For a Jilted Generation and Invaders, most notable in the track We Live Forever. Overall the album is what it is, a Prodigy album which was released in 2018. It certainly gets you pumped, with my personal favourites being Boom Boom Tap and Light Up the Sky, yet it feels slightly stale due to its familiarity and reluctance to move outside of the box. I bet it sounds rad live though.
Should you listen to it? If you're just looking a fresh crop of Prodigy tracks to add to your wishlist of their live sets, or you just want something aggressive and in your face, then you're in business. Otherwise the whole thing may just fall a little flat for you.
- Leftover Crack : Leftover Leftover Crack / The Reverend Horton Hear : Whole New Life - 30th November -
A double whammy release date! What a time to be alive! We'll start with Leftover Crack's compilation album, which features B-Sides, rarities, alternative versions of songs, and the likes. 30 tracks to be exact, spanning the band's history. The question you may be asking though is, if this is an album that features some tracks that for a long time have never been deemed worthy of official release, does it actually sound any good? The answer is a definitive yes. Though it fluctuates in sounds, style, and audio quality per track, it stands as both an enticing purchase for long time fans wishing to finally own some tracks that have been too long relegated to bootleg releases, and also to newcomers wishing to get a full taste for the varying sound of this crusty little punk band. What else can one really say of this album? It's a Leftover Crack compilation, it has a mix of music for fans new and old, and the songs featured are actually pretty dope. There's also two versions of Muppets Namblin', one of which features The Distillers, and later tracks feature guest appearances by Tim Armstrong and Jello Biafra. Pretty cool. Oh fuck, and there's also a cover of Land Down Under by Men at Work, so check that shit out!
Next up is Reverend Horton Heat's Whole New Life, which is their first album featuring new members RJ and Matt Jordan, and their first line up to feature a permanent pianist/organist. Reverend Horton Heat to me will always be remembered as the energetic psycho-billy band of the 90s, whose music sounded like something you might hear blasting from a pickup truck of rabid hillbillies as they chase you through the woods, so it was a bit of an adjustment when letting the much more restrained sound of Whole New Life sink in. It's by no means a surprise an album like this would come eventually - lead singer Jim Heath is almost 60 now, and there has been a gradual calming of the band's energetic sound over the last few albums, shedding layers of punk and psych-billy as begin to blossom into a more primarily rockabilly and country troupe. It's not necessarily a bad thing, in fact a few bands seem to be doing this - the most notable comparison being Dropkick Murphys' move more into folk territory without the punk label attached - and just like Dropkick there are still those odd tracks where their heyday energy shines through. Overall Whole New Life is a pretty good album, it's not the usual Rev servings you're used to, but for old time fans it'll hit the spot. Notable tracks are certainly Ride Before the Fall and their cover of Viva Las Vegas.
Should you listen to them? Leftover Crack? Definitely if you're a fan, possibly still a definitely for anyone not that familiar with the band. Reverend Horton Heat? If you lost touch with the Rev since the era of Liquor in the Front but loved the energy you might be a little disappointed here, but if you're accustomed to a little standard rockabilly then there's no denying you'll enjoy the godfathers of the genre in its modern form.
.:: ALBUM OF THE YEAR ::.
It's a no-brainer really that is has to be Ghost - Prequelle. There is really nothing else to say here, I've said more than enough already.
.:: RUNNER UP ::.
It had no chance against the majesty of Prequelle, but Atmosphere - Mi Vida Loca is still a fantastic record. With Mumble Rap still very much on the rise with seemingly no intention of slowing down, its great to know older rap and hip-hop acts haven't faded away into the shadows. This year saw the release of this album, a return from Cypress Hill, and another top notch release by MF DOOM, which proves there's still hope for rap audiences who want a bit more energy from their artists. Speaking of which, here's some honourable mentions I probably should've also written about but completely forgot:
- Gorillaz, The Now Now : A lot better than Humanz. A lot better.
- MF DOOM / Czarface, Czarface Meets Metal Face : Pretty fucking good. Apparently not good enough to get a full write up though. Oops.
- High on Fire, Electric Messiah : Yeah. Yeaaaaaaaah. It's great. Go listen to it.
Comments