If someone on your list was raised on 1980's college radio, surprise them with new releases by Altered Images, The Boo Radleys, Essential Logic, Hoodoo Gurus, Loop, The Rave Ups, or Urge Overkill. Synth poppers Soft Cell and Tears For Fears make great stocking stuffers.
If you're shopping for that 90's indie kid, try Archers of Loaf, The Hellacopters, or The Yeah Yeah Yeahs.
For the headbanger in the family, Cave In came back strong in 2022, and Randy Holden released a heavy sequel to 1970's Population II. Metal fans might also dig the self-titled comeback by The Mars Volta. It's surprisingly melodic, and not as proggy as their old stuff, so it's not strictly for metalheads.
If you know someone who's gone through a breakup, Nina Nastasia's new album is sadly beautiful (and expertly recorded by Steve Albini). And if there's an old hippie in the family, gift them The Cowsills' new one! They probably still have a CD player!
Hip hop heads will nod to Black Star's No Fear Of Time, where Talib Kweli and Yasiin Bey (the artist formerly known as Mos Def) are joined by producer Madlib.
Many of critics "Best of 2022" lists include Black Star, Cave In, The Mars Volta, and Nina Nastasia. I myself would recommend the delightful Land Of Kali by Essential Logic (which was produced by Youth) and that Loop album!
Comeback Special 2022: https://krakenfiles.com/view/DtR3EpIUTR/file.html
ReplyDeleteARCHERS OF LOAF - Screaming Undercover
ReplyDeleteURGE OVERKILL - How Sweet The Light (a tribute to Jim Ellison of Material Issue)
HELLACOPTERS - Try Me Tonight
HOODOO GURUS - Get Out Of Dodge
RAVE UPS - Coming After Me
COWSILLS - Rhythm Of The World (is it just me, or does this sound like the Marvelous 3 song "Freak of the Week"?)
BOO RADLEYS - I Say A Lot Of Things
ALTERED IMAGES - Beautiful Thing
TEARS FOR FEARS - End Of Night
NINA NASTASIA - This Is Love
MARS VOLTA - Blacklight Shine
ESSENTIAL LOGIC - Mother Earth
YEAH YEAH YEAHS - Fleez (Karen O's shout out to ESG)
BLACK STAR - So Be It
LOOP - Supra
CAVE IN - Careless Offering
RANDY HOLDEN - Sands Of Time
SOFT CELL - Nostalgia Machine
Porcupine Tree's Closure/Continuation was the highlight for me , never expected a new album from them .
ReplyDeleteI missed that one! Glad to know that you got an unexpected treat this year. Happy Holidays!
DeleteI just realized that I also missed the Black Halos' 2022 comeback album, How The Darkness Doubled.
DeleteThanks!
ReplyDeleteEssential Logic - Land of Kali is at the top of my list (I bet you thought Mars Volta...it's second)
ReplyDeleteIn places, Land Of Kali sounds like a lost Slits album (or New Age Steppers). Youth was the perfect producer for Lora Logic's new album, capturing the punky reggae dance party sound of Ladbroke Grove.
DeleteThe new Loop album sounds less like shoegaze and more like Wire circa Read & Burn (a compliment). It has also been compared to Chrome (1980-82 era, when the Stench Brothers were the rhythm section). Highly recommended!
https://loopbandofficial.bandcamp.com/album/sonancy
Another home run, Jonder! - Stinky
ReplyDelete