Ear Whacks Volume 5, Issue 1

Ear Whacks is a bookmark of all the music I’ve been listening to that I care to comment on. Since the last time I provided an update (which was basically 1976) there are clearly gaps in tunes I've been spinning. I’ll note something really important about me, personally: I’m terrified by complacency in music. I've written about this many times before. The idea of only listening to music from my youth or college years seriously sounds like the saddest thing I can think of. To me, it’s the equivalent of sitting around the table, the bar, or the porch saying, “remember when….” That’s no way to live. Nostalgia can be toxic and dangerous at too high a dose.

I will freely admit I was one of the people introduced to Joyce Manor via their appearance on John Mulaney’s “Everyone’s in LA.” I was an instant fan. I can’t think of too many bands that I spent months listening to all of their stuff on a loop. Simple, straightforward, punk rock with heavy emo elements (which is odd for me, considering how much I have traditionally hated anything remotely emo). Joyce Manor are pure punk pop bliss.

Sylosis. Their first album, Conclusion of an Age, was released in 2008, with their most recent, A Sign of Things to Come, dropping in 2023. I recognize Thrash Metal isn’t everyone’s bag but if you’re into that genre or curious, my observation is that Sylosis really don’t have a bad LP, and there really aren’t any filler or dud tracks on any of their releases. I’m a big fan and listening to 2012’s “Monolith” as I write this.

As time goes on, I find myself becoming a bigger and bigger fan of Deftones. With the release of “private music,” they’re in a weird place. They’re putting out new, quality, relevant music all while being a classic millennial / GenX favorite. 

The Weeknd. Still a fan, and “Hurry Up Tomorrow” does nothing to change that. Go support this starving artist that nobody has heard of.

I was introduced to Slade when I was really young (we’re talking early ’80s or earlier here). If you aren’t familiar, they’re considered one of the pioneers of the English glam rock era. Oddly, I’m neutral on their standards. Instead, I find myself gravitating towards 1983’s “The Amazing Kamikaze Syndrome.” I suspect this is most driven by nostalgia, but I’ve listened to it over the years, and to my ears, it still stands up. 

With four LPs since 2019, Fontaines DC have maintained a nice clip of quality punk/rock content. Straightforward. No gimmicks. Recommend. 

Deafheaven.  Infinite Granite. Yes, it was released a few years back, but it’s worth calling out here. I’m an OG Deafheaven guy. Riding along with this band has been a blast. Infinite Granite took a second to wrap my ears around, but once you accept it as its own thing and not some part of anything that came before it, it sounds wonderful.   

Andre3000.  New Blue Sun. 90 minutes of Ambient flute. Woodwind and chill. It’s great. Seriously. I can’t believe it still stands up now that the novelty period has passed. Don’t take my word for it; Pitchfork gave it an 8.3.

Sigur Rós. Atta. Good. Not my favorite, but if you like Sigur Rós, you should give it a whirl. My son and I caught them in Boston a few years ago. Again, Good. But not my favorite tour.

With the release of Chromakopia and Don’t Tap the Glass, I found myself listening to more and more Tyler, The Creator. My son and I were traveling in BC last year when Don’t Tap the Glass was released, and I remember listening to it and thinking, “Huh, yeah, this is fun.”

Blur.  The Ballad of Darren.  Over the last 7 years, I’ve become a much bigger fan of Blur and all of Damon Albarn’s projects. I absolutely love The Ballad of Darren. 

…And You Will Know Us By The Trail of Dead.  XI: Bleed Here Now.  I was always aware of them, but something was waiting to pop. For me, the beginning was “Tao of the Dead” and “Lost Songs.” Then, 2020’s “The Godless Void and Other Stories” was released, and I was closer to really being a fan.  But “Bleed Here Now” is different. It’s an incredibly thoughtful, thought-provoking, and, at times, incredibly powerful. Maybe their best.  No track grabbed me more than “Taken by the hand.”  Highly recommend.

Neutral Milk Hotel. In the Aeroplane Over the Sea. This album was released at an odd time in my life. TL;DR, I didn’t get to it when it was released. This album is considered one of the greatest Indie Rock albums of all time. Don’t make the mistake I made. Listen to it now.

Iron Maiden. Senjutsu. Peak COVID and a new Maiden album was released. I loved it then. I love it now. “The Parchment” is such a great track that I’m still listening to. Too bad they didn’t play it (much or at all) on their last tour.