TwoWordHeap

Hello friends. It’s me again. First off, I’d like to give a big thanks to Tyler for writing last week’s column, as my power cord had melted to the point of being non-operational, and I could not write. But you’re stuck with me for this week, so I guess you’re going to have to learn to like it. I’ll keep it short. Remember to leave a comment or email me at yaschuk [at] twowordheap [dot] com.

1. Wire – Pink Flag

   I didn’t know about this band until last year’s Sled Island Festival. Entirely my fault. These guys are great. This album came out in late 1977, and was incredibly influential. Covers have been performed by Henry Rollins (performing as Henrietta Rollins & The Wife-Beating Child Haters) and Minor Threat all the way to R.E.M. Listen to this record loudly.

2. Neutral Milk Hotel – On Avery Island and In The Aeroplane Over The Sea

   The only two full-length albums released by this band. The list of my All-Time Top 5 Albums definitely includes In The Aeroplane Over The Sea. The main mind behind this record, Jeff Mangum, wrote this record after reading Anne Frank’s diary, and had become obsessed and started having dreams about her. It’s a record that I could write indefinitely about, and if you haven’t heard it, you’re missing out. The record that came before it, On Avery Island, is almost as good as its predecessor, but lacks a certain spark. If you like Aeroplane, you’ll like Avery Island, too.

3. Jawbreaker – Unfun

   The first album by this San Francisco punk rock band, released in 1990. I had been going through their catalogue, and this was the last record I needed to listen to. A little darker than your average early-90’s California pop-punk band. It’s pretty good, if you like this kind of thing.

4. Against Me! – Reinventing Axl Rose

   Before singer Tom Gabel became a dick, Against Me! was a legitimately awesome folk-punk band. This is the first full-length to be released by the band, and I stand by my statement that this is one of the better punk records to be released in the last ten years. The band has been under a lot of scrutiny over the last few years after signing to Sire Records from more independent labels. Accusations of “selling out”  have been thrown around, and Against Me! is a prime example in this debate. This is probably my favourite AM! record.

5. David Bowie – Hunky Dory

   What can be said about David Bowie that hasn’t been said? This is a damn-near perfect record and is one of, if not the best, Bowie albums. With nary a weak track to be found, this record has a near-permanent place upon my turntable. 

6. God Is An Astronaut – The End Of The Beginning

   Irish post-rock that is similar to the stylings of other bands like Explosions In The Sky, This Will Destroy You, and Mogwai. Guitar-focused and melodic, this group continues in a long line of great post-rock groups. I’ve listened to their latest disc, and also this one, which was their first. More listening is required to establish a definite opinion on this group.

7. At The Drive-In – Acrobatic Tenement

   Another first record by a band that unfortunately broke up in 2001. Not as good as their later releases, yet still worth the listen. ATDI split up into two groups, Sparta and The Mars Volta. The two groups took the post-hardcore stylings and the progressive rock of ATDI, and created two more homogeneous bands. ATDI still is better than both of them, no matter how people go crazy for The Mars Volta.

Be seeing you.

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