Here are the songs I’ve chosen to represent how I spent my 2018 music fund.
“Music Box Theme”
Howard Blake
The Changeling (soundtrack)
The Changeling is my favorite horror movie. It got the blu-ray treatment this year, and with it came the soundtrack. It’s pretty great, too.
“Hate and Control”
Bully
Losing
I’m a big fan of the extended opening.
“Death Camp Fantasy”
Hot Snakes
Jericho Sirens
Person: What’s your favorite band?
Me: uh, which band is John Reis in now?
Person: Hot Snakes.
Me: Hot Snakes.
“You Can Have Alonetime When You’re Dead”
Remember Sports
Slow Buzz
If it pops and it rocks, it works for me.
Remember Sports plays an all-ages show at Ace of Cups January 3rd.
“Oyahytt (featuring Lakeith Stanfield)”
The Coup
Sorry to Bother You: The Soundtrack
A great lead track for a soundtrack of one of the most nuts movies I’ve seen in a while.
“Apostrophe’”
Frank Zappa
Apostrophe (‘)
Having seen Eat That Question: Frank Zappa in His Own Words two years ago and read The Real Frank Zappa Book this year, I was ready for a serious sampling of his massive catalog. I asked the friend who saw the movie with me and gave the book for a starter compilation and an album suggestion. Knowing me, he suggested listening to Apostrophe (‘) and/or Over-Nite Sensation while he thought about how to tackle my cuts request. The title track of Apostrophe (‘) was an instant favorite. I imagine it as the soundtrack for a very extended opening credit sequence for Barney Miller.
Spang’s Frank Zappa Starter Kit (runtime: 32 minutes):
01 “My Guitar Wants to Kill Your Mama” - The Mothers of Invention - Weasels Ripped My Flesh
02 “Peaches en Regalia” - Frank Zappa - Hot Rats
03 “Village of the Sun” - Frank Zappa & The Mothers - Roxy & Elsewhere
04 “G-Spot” Tornado” - Frank Zappa - The Yellow Shark
05 “Watermelon in Easter Hay” - Frank Zappa - Joe’s Garage: Acts I, II & III
06 “Any Way the Wind Blows” - The Mothers of Invention - Freak Out!
07 “Take Your Clothes Off When You Dance” - The Mothers of Invention - We’re Only in It for the Money
08 “Electric Aunt Jemima” - The Mothers of Invention- Uncle Meat
“Boys in a Better Land”
Fontaines D.C.
single
IDLES will tour the U.S. again in 2019 and Fontaines D.C. will open. Do not miss this show. Fontaines D.C. are fine. They will make a good addition to the best concert of the year.
“You Only Live Twice”
Beulahbelle
Tully (soundtrack)
A pretty cover of one of the best James Bond songs. It’s a prefect selection for Tully.
“Birthday Cake”
Slothrust
The Pact
TV introduced me to Slothrust. Their song “7:30 A.M.” is used for the opening credits of You’re the Worst (final season start January 9th). I love Slothrust so much that I saw them at The Basement, Columbus’ worst music venue. There were several songs from the album I could have put on this compilation, but I liked how this one sounds after “You Only Live Twice.”
“Talk of the Town”
Elle King
Shake the Spirit
An album with so many styles shouldn’t work. This is the second time Elle King proved that it can.
“I’m Scum”
IDLES
Joy as an Act of Resistance
The albums are great. The live show is amazing. Seriously. They will be on tour in 2019. GO. SEE. THEM.
“Beating My Head Against a Wall”
Jeff Rosenstock
POST-
It pops. It rocks.
“Bang Someone Out”
Sleaford Mods
EP
So I was hanging in Oslo and my Norwegian cousin says to me, “Vil du se Sleaford Mods i Göteborg?” Then I said, “What?” Soon we were on our way to see Sleaford Mods in Göteborg, Sweden.
Two guys, a laptop and a microphone. It’s not quite hip hop. It’s not exactly punk. It was fascinating to watch and one of the best concerts I’ve seen.
If you can, get your eyes on the band’s documentary, Bunch of Kunst. It captured the band at a perfect moment and the last fifteen minutes or so is Rock Doc Hall of Fame material.
“Tester”
Hinds
I Don’t Run
The English-as-a-second-language vocals give the super catchy songs a added flavor.
“Cut Stranger”
J Mascis
Elastic Days
Unlike a box of chocolates, I always know what I’m going to get with a J Mascis/Dinosaur Jr album. Few artists can get away with such a thing for so long (see also: AC/DC).
“Our Work Is Done”
Superchunk
single
Not only was it a surprise Superchunk came to town this year but they go and drop a single before the year is through. [happy monkey emoji]
Happy Listening in 2019,
- rob.
Rob watches movies and listens to music and writes stuff. He once watched 365 movies in one year and wrote about each one. Click here to check it out.