09/90
“I’m surprised it’s not grungier,” my friend Mike said when he first saw ABC No Rio, but I was shocked that the music could cut through the stagnant, stale air with such intensity. The Birds and Wires show the other day will probably be the last time I go to the legendary squat before it becomes even less dank, but the club’s ceiling not leaking isn’t the only positive thing happening with music this year.
The ’90s are back. Sonic Youth, Dinosaur Jr, Superchunk, and a bunch of other bands that have ’90s celebs (Obits) or sound like they should (Double Dagger) have new records out. Jay-Z has pronounced autotune dead. Hopefully, indie rock’s version of vocal alteration—heaps of reverb + distortion—is on the wane as well.
That said, here are some songs from the first half of the year that I’ve enjoyed. I hope you like (and download) them too.
1. Death - Keep On Knocking
2. Obits - Fake Kinkade
3. Wavves - Friends Were Gone
4. Jay Reatard - You’re Gonna Lose
5. Mika Miko - I Got A Lot (New New New)
6. Superchunk - Misfits & Mistakes
7. Dinosaur Jr - I Want You To Know
8. Sonic Youth - Walkin Blue
9. Scout Niblett - It’s Time
10. Double Dagger - The Lie/The Truth
11. The Future of the Left - Land Of My Formers
12. Children - Subterranean Cities
13. Isis - Stone to Wake a Serpent
14. Wolves in the Throne Room - Crystal Ammunition
