CMM's Twenty Favoriite Songs of 2018 (So Far)

2018 has already been a phenomenal year for new music. Here's 20 of my favorite songs from this year (So Far)...

1. Joan Of Arc "Real Punk Kid" (Joyful Noise Recordings)

A brilliant song that's as comforting as it is beautiful. Melina Ausikaitis voice is truly unique while founding member Tim Kinsella and the the rest of the band continue to explore new territories throughout the track. Absolutely inspiring.

2. Reveries "Existential Anxiety" reveriespnw.bandcamp.com

Seattle shoegaze/post rock unit Reveries offer up one of the most promising E.P.'s of 2018 as their self titled debut release is full of huge sounding guitars, underlying pop melodies and relentless drumming. Lead track "Existential Anxiety" is absolutely punishing and breathtaking.

3. Mayflower Madame "Premonition" (mayflowermadame.bandcamp.com)

This band never disappoint when it comes to creating dark and eerie music that is very reflective of the settings in their native Norway. "Premonition" continues down that dark path adding in layers of new nuances and curiosities.

4. Black Light White Light "King Kong" (blacklightwhitelight.bandcamp.com)

An excellent blend of shoegaze, 60's psych and 90's alternative rock. Just one of many top notch numbers from their latest album "Horizons".

5. Superchunk "Erasure" (Merge)

I can't get enough of this track. Super catchy, well delivered and sure to have you humming along in no time.

6. Guided By Voices "Space Gun" (GBV Inc)

Another stand out track from the always prolific GBV. "Space Gun" has quickly become one of my favorite GBV records.

7. Cushing "Little Devil" (cushingsound.bandcamp.com)

An amazing new track from this raging noise rock trio from Portland Maine. Their sound absolutely huge and the level of musicianship is off the charts.

8. Body Head "You Don't Need" (Matador)

Angular, menacing and dirge driven "You Don't Need" is pretty spectacular. Kim Gordan and Bill Nance create a haunted yet colorful dual guitar attack that's enhanced even more by the incredible production work of Justin Pizzoferrato.

9. Spiritualized "I'm Your Man" (Fat Possum)

This track is pretty much perfect. Can't wait to take in the entire new album.

10. I Need A Plastic Face "Debris" (ineedaplasticface.bandcamp.com)

So happy that this band reached out to me about there amazing music. Possibly the most original band I've come across in years.

11. Today Junior "Skate Punx" (todayjunior.bandcamp.com)

I've loved listening to all the Today Junior tracks that they have been releasing recently but this one is my favorite. Fun, catchy, uplifting and warm.

12. Whisper Suite "Sun" (whispersuite.bandcamp.com)

Canadian husband and wife duo Whisper Suite offer up this glowing track that showcases their incredible song writing abilities and rich vocal delivery and I've kept this one on repeat the last few months.

13. Get Up Kids "Maybe" (Polyvinyl)

Get Up Kids are back. Enough said haha

14. Forth Wanderers Nevermine" (Sub Pop)

Been loving on this band for a minute. So into this new record. Delicate, soothing and a little bit grey.

15. Guided By Voices "See My Field" (GBV Inc)

Another brilliant cut from their latest album "Space Gun". Incredible video too.

16. Sick Shit "Wet Lung (sickshit.bandcamp.com)

Blistering track off this New Jersey hardcore/punk outfits latest 7" "Thick Spit". The best hardcore band going today in my opinion.

17. Jon Spencer "Trash Can" (In The Red)

Unreal groove, unreal guitars. Just an overall bad ass track from the legendary Jon Spencer's first solo album out soon on In The Red.

18. Twilight Fields "When I Saw You" (twilightfields.bandcamp.com)

A touching and absolutely stunning track from Canadian recording project Twilight Fields aka Allister Thompson.

19. Deaf Wish "FFS" (Sub Pop)

Another inspiring stand out track from Deaf Wish. I can't get enough of the guitar sounds and the overall menace this band brings.

20. Yo La Tengo "For You Too" (Matador)

Such a comforting piece of music from these long running indie rock legends.

Six Records CMM Wants You To Know

Forth Wanderers "Nevermine" Single (Sub Pop)

Loving this latest track from indie rock darlings Forth Wanderers. Led by the songwriting duo of guitarist Ben Guterl and vocalist Ava Trilling the group have come a long way in just a short amount of time, releasing two E.P.'s and one full length album 2016's "Slop". "Nevermine" is from the groups sophomore LP and their first for Sub Pop. The track has a swoon like vibe to it as Trilling's beautiful vocals takes center stage alongside guitar sounds that range from intricate and clean to dirty powerful octave rock tones. Overall the track shows off the bands incredible use of dynamics and a "loud/quiet" song structure that comes off incredibly well. The new self titled album will be available April 27th.

Guided By Voices "See My Field" Single (GBV INC)

So the new Guided By Voices album "Space Gun" is officially out today and I just had to write about my favorite track from the record "See My Field". Having grown up as the son of a NASA Dad images of space and space exploration always make me feel right at home so when I first watched the video directed by Hunter Christy (www.hunterchristy.com) I was blown away by the depiction of this young GBV fan being launched into space. The song has all the aspects that make up a Robert Pollard classic. Great guitar sounds, a driving rhythm and just the right amount of rawness that rests alongside Pollard's trademark vocal. Play this loud and play it often as it's essential listening as always.

Liz Phair - “Divorce Song” (Girly-Sound Version) (Matador)

This year marks the 25th anniversary of Liz Phair’s landmark debut album "Exile in Guyville" and to celebrate Matador Records are releasing a comprehensive box set featuring 7 LPs cataloging the "Guyville" era. It also includes the first official restored audio of all three 1991 Girly-Sound tapes which have been meticulously restored from the original copies of the cassettes and an extensive book containing an oral history by Jason Cohen including interviews with Phair, Chris Brokaw, Brad Wood, John Henderson and more, plus essays by Phair and journalist Ann Powers. "Divorce Song" is a absolute classic that embodies Phair's no compromises stance and songwriting brilliance in true form. This anniversary Box Set will be available on May 4th.

Shade Shelter "I Like Your Shirt. Which One? Both." E.P. (shadeshelter.bandcamp.com)

Shade Shelter's debut E.P. features some of the most warped and original sounding songs you will hear anywhere and it feels like they are having the time of their lives while unleashing this collection of audio madness on our ears. "Depressive Realism" combines a bit of Happy Monday's like swagger mixed with a side order of "New Jack Swing". It's got some familiar tones that have been mixed up and rearranged in ways like never before. "Constructive Pessimism" has more of a Yes meets 80's sci-fi feel while "Solitary Confinement" mixes in elements of jazz, new age, and classic rock alongside a sea of glitch generated sounds and experimental madness. The lo-fi feel of "Pretend Your Happy" is the icing on the cake so to speak as it really solidifies the record as a true original. Think Frank Zappa having an in depth conversation with Sun Ra backstage at a Devo show.

Sick Shit "Thick Spit" 7" (sickshit.bandcamp.com)

"Thick Spit", Sick Shit's brand new 7" just might be their most relentless material to date. Lead off track "Discarded" begins with the manic sounds of vocalist Sami Kaiser and it sets the tone for the blistering brand of hardcore the band has come to be known for. "Wet Lung" is just flat out pissed sounding and features some of the most insane drumming I've heard in years. "Trichotillomania" has more of a straight punk riff to it that mixes things up nicely while "Cohesive" and "Clot" are both skull crushing blasts of true intensity. I've had this one on repeat for the last few weeks and I really can't get enough of it. Highly recommended.

Tracyanne & Danny "Home & Dry" Single (Merge Records)

Tracyanne & Danny is a collaboration between Tracyanne Campbell from Camera Obscura and Danny Coughlan from Crybaby. "Home & Dry" the lead single from the bands self titled debut album is an exquisite number that's highlighted by Campbell's compelling and soothing voice. The songs got a very classy feel to it and their musicianship is nothing short of stellar. Reflecting on the song Campbell says "“It’s about the movement of time, the inevitability of things not staying the same. Just when you think things are sorted and ok, something changes and they no longer are.” The album produced by Orange Juice’s Edwyn Collins will be released on May 25th courtesy of Merge Records.

Six Records CMM Wants You To Know

The Breeders "Nervous Mary" Single (4 Ad)

Loving this new track from the upcoming Breeders album "All Nerve". "Nervous Mary" is full of all the amazing things that make this band so good. From the infectious vocal harmonies, to the driving beat and hypnotic guitar melodies this track is pure gold and I think it's safe to say they have never sounded better. I can't wait to take in the full album which will be released on March 2nd courtesy of 4AD.

Daniel Ruiz "Meet the Crimson Woman at the Dawn Café" Single (danielruiz.bandcamp.com)

Daniel Ruiz has accomplished quite a bit over the last few years both as Weinf and now under his own name. His latest track "Meet the Crimson Woman at the Dawn Café" is highly dynamic and highly intricate as the level of musicianship he displays is off the charts. It's a mysterious number that has a bit of a sinister element to it that recalls the likes of Morphine, The Birthday Party and classic Jazz. Can't get enough of this one.

High Climbers Presents..."Maine - Air Traffic" (highclimbers.bandcamp.com)

"Maine - Air Traffic" is the first solo effort from High Climbers member Mike Robertson which he recorded to celebrate his temporary departure from Bristol. The albums nine songs are gentle yet haunting, simple yet complex and overall pretty intense at times. The intricate yet laid back guitar sounds fill out most of the music while Robertson's voice does a tremendous job at telling his stories. "Can You See It" comes off like post Barrett era Pink Floyd if it were produced by GBV's Robert Pollard while "Good Go Up" and "Preoccupations" are two of my other favorite songs from the record as their heartfelt presence and cathartic stance really get me with each and every listen. A remarkable effort overall that I hope is the first of many.

Katie Caulfield "Wedding" Single (katiecaulfield.bandcamp.com)

The slow dirge driven feel of this track draws you into a musical black hole that's fueled with relentless passion and menace while still keeping a sense of structure around all the chaos. Katie Caulfield are actually a 3 piece band from Poland made up of Michał Piech [Okide]on Drums, Katie Hurdles on Guitar and Vocals and Paweł Tasak on Bass and together the group put a mean spin on the noise rock genre with intricate rhythms and pounding percussion. The track is taken from their latest album "Mutual Dreaming" which is an amazing seven track release that's sure to delight fans of bands like The Dazzling Killman, Zeni Geva and Glazed Baby to name a few. Do yourself a favor and blast this one loudly.

Lucius “Eventually” (Tame Impala Cover)

Lucius are one of my favorite bands and this cover of Tame Impala's "Eventually" is astonishingly good. Taken from their latest acoustic E.P. "Nudes", Jess Wolfe and Holly Laessig's dynamic voices sound as stellar as always while the music is soothing, atmospheric and warm. "Nudes" will be available March first from Mom + Pop Records.

Sick Shit "Demonstration" Cassette (sickshit.bandcamp.com)

New Jersey based hardcore/punk unit Sick Shit are the best hardcore band I've heard in years. The tracks on this cassette clock in at less than 2 minutes but they get a lot done in that little bit of time as the crushing spastic beats, bulldozer guitar riffs and manic sounding vocals never let up. They bring a refreshing take on the hardcore punk genre and hold absolutely nothing back in the process. Get into it.