Nu Rave Brain Wave

 Nu Rave Brain Wave Top 10 Albums, Top 5 EPs, and Top 5 7″s of 2011:

Top 5 7″ of 2011:
05 Bitch Prefect – 7″ (RIP Society Records)

This is really breezy and effortless pop songs done in the best kind of way from Aussie upstarts Bitch Prefect.

04 The Growlers – Gay Thoughts 7″ (Everloving Records)

It wouldn’t be a NRBW list without a mention of the Growlers, but despite having the mp3s of this record for months before the Record Store Day exclusive release, I still waited for over an hour at Origami Vinyl to buy a copy. So, I guess it’s pretty good.

03 Brown Brogues – Don’t Touch My Hair 7″ (Suffering Jukebox)

Brown Brogues are undoubtably one of my favorite discoveries of this year and this is probably like the best anthem written this year that I’m aware of.

02 Catholic Spray/Assassins88//TV Colours – Split 7″ (XVIII Records)

I would’ve bought this record for Catholic Spray’s sinister, weird garage punk rippers, but the collaboration of hands down two of the best bands in the world the Australian super fuzzed out, stunningly catchy team of Assassins 88 and Dream Damage label mates TV Colours is absolutely astounding.

01 TV Colours / Assassins 88 – Split 7″ (Dream Damage Records)

That’s right, Dream Damage’s split between these two Aussie bands is the greatest piece of wax I bought this year. Both TV Colours jams have been replayed over and over to the billionth power, they’re both sonic fuzz bombs that are so ridiculously catchy and perfect for the gym (this is a compliment, btw). The exact same goes for Assassins 88 side. I just find it hard to fault a single thing either band does.

top 10 EPs of 2011:

05 Bummer High – Lost Highway (Green Burrito Records)

I fell immediately in love with Bummer High‘s Lost Highway, and it’s not all due to the fact that it was released on a label called Green Burrito. Their whimsical, twangin’, psych-country-garage is absolutely wonderful and if you like fellow Canadian brethren Demon’s Claws, Dead Ghosts, or Indian Wars, this is for you.

04 Toto & The Bad Eggs – Wallet Droppin’ (PNKSLM Recordings)

The closest thing to a garage-punk supergroup that the UK is going to see for probably quite some time, Toto & The Bad Eggs contains members of Sex Beet, Jerry Tropicano and Brown Brogues who each take my personal favorite parts of the music they make in their original bands and bring it to this EP. Obviously, it’s pretty special.

03 Ghost Outfit – Young Ghosts EP (Self Released)

Haven’t been able to stop listening to this Ghost Outfit EP since it’s been given to me, which I think was 2010, but fuck it, it’s so good it deserves a place on my 2011 list as well. Not only do they make weird and haunting noisy songs, but they also make expert pop songs.

02 The Bell Peppers – Cooking With The Bell Peppers (Self Released)

This fine Manchester duo put out the best self-released EP that showcases their slicked-back, cry-baby garage-blues-r’n'b in the most effortless and just straight up fucking cool way ever. I would buy at least three copies if this was released on any format.

01 The Growlers/Thee Ludds 12″ Split (Palmist Records)

Although the Growlers songs were technically not new in 2011, I think it’s a testament that they hold up so strongly to even a fan as well versed in their catalogue as I am — their beach goth, drip-drop-drip, swamp stomps have always sounded incredibly fresh and illuminating and the UK should feel lucky to have this released for them. Thee Ludds frenzied astral-psych-punk pulls strongly from the same 60s references as the Growlers but makes it new like a bucket of water to the face. In a good way.

Honorable Mentions:
Die Jungen – $
Carnivores – Chandelier EP
Ty Segall – Ty Rex
Cosmonauts – New Psychic Denim EP
Thee Oh Sees/Total Control Split EP

Top 10 LPs of 2011

10 Kanye West & Jay Z – Watch The Throne

I’m not angry when people talk about wealth, but maybe that’s because the best advice I ever received is surround yourself with wealth.

09 Royal Headache – S/T (XVIII Records)

This record literally came out of nowhere and really hit me hard. I hope I always have a soft spot for succinct, groovy power pop with soulful vocals. The buzzwords I had to use to describe Australia’s Royal Headache are grotesque, but this album is incredible.

08 Mind Spiders – The Mind Spiders (Dirtnap Records)

Denton, TX’s salvation, Mind Spiders, put this record out in the early portion of the year, but their brand of fast and loose garage rock filled with quick hits, the catchiest song you’ve ever heard (Don’t Let Her Go) and a ballad. This is a whip-smart garage punk record.

07 Cosmonauts – S/T (Permanent Records)

Cosmonauts are one of the most underrated bands to come out of the Burger scene, and this LP is filled with buzzing psychedelic, ramshackle punk punk, and rhythm ‘n 12 bar blues jams all jumbled together and vomited back up into the form of this excellent, excellent record.

06 The Castillians – Show Your Teeth (Cold Rice Records)

A long-awaited debut collection of 100% hits from the UK’s most underrated garage band, The Castillians,  as strong as any I’ve heard this year.

05 Shannon & The Clams – Sleep Talk (1-2-3-4 Go! Records)

I have the biggest love for Shannon of Shannon & the Clams, and this album is a beautiful dose of weird, wild 50s doo-wop garage-pop that while awesome, always seems (for me at least) to take the back seat to Shannon’s incredible voice. But then again, I could listen to hear sing the Wikipedia for Grizzly Bear and it would actually make it worth listening to.

04 School Knights – All Dawgz Go 2 Heaven (Dracula Horse)

I have fallen in love with everything that School Knights have ever done, and I’m not ashamed of that. Although half of these songs had already been released on Rush SK EP, they sound as fresh as ever and the new jams (previously heard by my ears only live) prove that they’re one of the best bands that I’m aware of. Their balls-to-the-wall attitude live, their use of absolutely infectuous riffs, drum slammage and heavy use of reverb is flat out perfect on this album.

03 Mellowhype – BlackenedWhite (Fat Possum)

The best rap album that was released (or, um, reissued) was hands down MellowHype. I’ve always found Hodgy Beats to be the most fascinating member and best rapper in OF, his work with LeftBrain is engaging, thoughtful and most importantly catchy as balls.

02 Bass Drum of Death – GB City (Fat Possum)

This album is an undeniable ass-slaying ripper from start to finish. If it’s not tailor made to be played as loud as possible, with heads banging, I don’t know what it’s for. I do know that each jam could be a stand-alone single. It’s effortless, catchy, and punk as fuck.

01 The Babies – The Babies (Shrimper Records)

It’s hard to write a sentence about why this Babies record is my favorite, but it’s a collection of horrendously underrated treasure pop gems that jangle, fuzz and snap with fervent wildness and a little bit of Americana seen through a garage rock kaleidoscope. It’s not certainly not a faultless record but it’s gotten better with a year of listening behind me.

Honorable Mentions
The Beets – Stay Home
Black Lips – Arabia Mountain
Pangea – Living Dummy
The Strange Boys – Live Music
Diarrhea Planet – Loose Jewels
TRMRS – Sea Change
Cumstain – Why Don’t You Kill Yourself Scumbag Your Mother Wont Miss U
Monster Rally – Coral
Dirty Beaches – Badlands
Hunx & His Punx – Too Young To Be In Love

I always find it really hard to do song of the year posts, so I just put all the music I got in 2011 and picked 25 of my most played and most favorite tracks, some from my favorite albums, some demos and some singles, in no particular order. Enjoy:

Nu Rave Brain Wave Top 25 Songs of 2k11:

The Babies – Sunset (from The Babies LP)
The Babies – Sunset by nuravebrainwave

The Mind Spiders – Don’t Let Her Go (from The Mind Spiders LP)
Mind Spiders – Don’t Let Her Go by nuravebrainwave

MellowHype – Right Here (from BLACKENEDWHITE LP)
Right Here – Mellowhype by NellyDaBeaner

Bobby Chiz – Brooklyn Mouth (Cats Purring Download)
Brooklyn Mouth by BOBBY CHIZ

Kanye West – Mama’s Boyfriend (Unreleased/Leaked)
Kanye West – Mama’s Boyfriend by Coast 2 Coast Mixtapes

Gross Magic – Sweetest Touch (from Teen Jamz EP)
Gross Magic – Sweetest Touch by TheSoundsOfSweetNothing

Black Lips – New Direction (From Arabia Mountain LP)
Black Lips – New Direction by Biz 3 Publicity

Chill Black Guys – CBG (From CBG Mixtape)
Young Hawaii Slim & Jay Ugh (GBGs) – Chill Black Guy by nuravebrainwave

King Lollipop – Cheeseburger & Fries (from King Lollipop LP)
King Lollipop – Cheesburger and Fries by nuravebrainwave

School Knights – You Read Books (from All Dawgz Go 2 Heaven LP)
School Knights – You Read Books by nuravebrainwave

Brown Brogues – Don’t Touch My Hair (from 7″)
Brown Brogues – Don’t Touch My Hair by nuravebrainwave

The Fabulous St. Knicholas Cage – Bloody Beach Blanket (Unreleased Demo)
Bloody Beach Blanket by St. Knicholas Cage

Monster Rally – The New Optimism (from Deep Sea 7″)
Monster Rally – The New Optimism by nuravebrainwave

Danger Beach – Lakes (feat. TV Colours) (from Dream Damage Records)
Danger Beach – Lakes (feat. TV Colours) by nuravebrainwave

Sonny & The Sunsets – I Wanna Do It (from Hit After Hit LP)
Sonny And The Sunsets – “I Wanna Do It” by forcefieldpr

High Pop – Drip From The Sea (from Hippie Speed Ball EP)
High Pop – Drip from the Sea by yvynyl

Milk Maid – Such Fun (from Yucca LP)
Milk Maid – Such Fun by nuravebrainwave

Dead Gaze – Fishing With Robert (from Atelier Ciseaux 7″)
DEAD GAZE - Fishing With Robert by atelier ciseaux

Ketamines – Line by Line (from Mammoth Cave Recordings)
Line by Line – Ketamines by NewtownRadio

Royal Headache – Down The Lane (from Royal Headache LP)
Royal Headache – Down The Lane by nuravebrainwave

Bloodshot Bill – Dark Lonely Street (from Thunder & Lightning LP)
Bloodshot Bill – Dark Lonely Street by nuravebrainwave

Fidlar – Oh (from DIYDUI EP)
FIDLAR – Oh by nuravebrainwave

Colleen Green – Green One (from Green One EP)
Colleen Green – Green One by nuravebrainwave

Assassins 88/TV Colours – Lethal (from Assassins 88/TV Colours/Catholic Spray split 7″)
Lethal (with TV Colours) by ASSASSINS 88

Bazooka – I Wanna Fuck All The Girls In My School (from XVIII Records 7″)
Bazooka – I Want to Fuck All the Girls in My School by nuravebrainwave

Don’t know how much of a coincidence, but this week is like Black Lips Week here at NRBW HQ. Not only did their newest album, the mostly Mark Ronson produced Arabia Mountain, drop via Vice Records, but they’ve also come out with a new Daytrotter Session. Featuring three raw and tumble cuts off of the album, the real gem here is the long-lost Black Lips classic ‘Make It‘ which originally came off a Dirtbombs split 7″. Grab this new version below, or nab the full set via Daytrotter.

mp3: Black Lips – Make It (Daytrotter Session)

May is a cool month. It’s been really abnormally freakishly warm in the UK and I’ve been enjoying every minute of it. Listen to this while doing something fun. It’s about to be summer for reals and I’m vowing to be as drunken and irresponsible as possible come Tuesday.

01 Catholic Spray – Beast in the Bushes
02 Zkylon Beach – TWISTEDWITCHDEF
03 The Bell Peppers – Rubber Bullets
04 Balkans – Zebra Print
05 Dune Rats – Rat Bags
06 Tyler, The Creator – Transylvania
07 Kreayshawn – Gucci Gucci
08 Mellowhype – Rico
09 King Tuff – Ripper
10 BEST FRIENDS – Surf Bitches
11 Tomorrows Tulips – Eternally Teenage
12 Chapter Sweetheart – Today the Truth
13 Wyatt Blair – Wasted
14 Black Lips – New Direction

mp3: Nu Rave Brain Wave x May 2k11 Mixtape

Having heard Black Lips play some of the new material for their forthcoming LP, Arabia Mountain, I can say that it really rules. By the way, did you know Arabia Mountain is monadnock in DeKalb County, Georgia? I did not. Anyway, here’s another cut off this mostly-Mark-Ronson produced album. This is fucking awesome, y’all. Yes, it sounds like Black Lips always have, so it’s not technically a ‘New Direction‘ but this is as good as they’ve sounded in so long. Bright and clear, we’re able to hear that these sloppy punks can write one hell of a catchy pop song. I don’t know how I’m going to manage getting this out of my head, but damn it, I don’t really care if I ever figure it out.

mp3: Black Lips – New Direction

Last month we got to hear ‘Modern Art’ via the Bruise Cruise filmed video, but now we’ve got the downloadable cut off the forthcoming Arabia Mountain which will definitely be amazing and hit us all in the chest on June 7th via Vice. Can’t wait.

mp3: Black Lips – Modern Art

New one from the Black Lips. Coming off the forthcoming (in June!) Arabia Mountain from VICE Records. They’ve really been on their game on Twitter recently, too.

mp3 | Black Lips – What To Do (Rolling Stones Cover)

Best – OFWGKTA @ Vice Late Night Party, Saturday :: I didn’t think I was going to be able to fit in an Odd Future gig which was depressing because it was one of the things I wanted to see the most. Major props to the people who made it possible for me to see this — the line was crazy as fuck, and I don’t even know how I got in, but thank you! I got to catch the tailend of Thee Oh Sees, all of OFF! and then finally got to be front row for Odd Future. Granted I was pretty wasted (thnx, R&R!) but this show was fucking INSANELY AMAZING. They were all jumping around (pretty sure Tyler almost stomped my purse but I couldn’t hold it one second longer) and the energy was as catchy as Meningitis doing all my favorites (highlights include EVERYTHING) and I was just so happy to get to be able to finally see them. Fuck the haters, fuck the hype, these dudes are SO damn good. Wish Earl could’ve been there. SWAG.

Who I Missed & Am Now Weeping About – Mind Spiders :: Due to the 1,000 lb stress weight that sits on my chest/shoulders in the weeks heading up to SXSW, which were only multiplied by helping out with a party, I went really light on the scheduling. Which was mostly a good move, I saw a lot that I wanted to, but the one thing I missed was Denton’s Mind Spiders, who have written and released one of my favorite albums this year. Also, one of the cherished and famed Denton bands Uptown Bums played with them during SXSW. Apparently they were really good during SXSW as well. See?

Worst – The Sandwitches @ Eastbound and Down :: I’m not gonna spend time discussing how much I didn’t like them, but I was pretty disappointed because I was really coming around to some of the songs off their forthcoming album, but I think in the end… I just don’t get it. And the shrieking at the end of the set… did not sit well with me. Shame, because their name is my favorite thing.

Favorite New Discovery – TRMRS :: I wrote about this HERE, but these guys are really, really good and their crowds are nothing like the most boring crowd award below. Their Saturday show, which I will write more about, just before Shannon & The Clams was FUCKING amazeballs and ridiculous, and that’s what I love about them.

Most Boring Crowd – Black Lips @ Vice Party, Club Deville :: I usually look to Black Lips to be a crowd in which I can push and get pushed like the maniac that I love to be for about 3 days during the year. This show did not work out in that vein. Especially because they were after OFF! which people were going pretty mad to. Oh well.

Awesomest Cover – Some Band – A Daniel Johnston song :: I’m perfectly aware that I have absolutely no information about the band that was playing this. It was at the House Party at which I saw School Knights, and they were this rad little hippie duo who wore drug rugs and fucking RIPPED through tons of instrumentals before playing this Daniel Johnston cover, which of course, I don’t know the name of. I think the fact that I know nothing, plus there was like >20 people there… makes this the most fucking underground moment of SXSW, but it was really really rad. I wish you guys could’ve seen it.

Worst Cover :: Some Shitty Band Covering Cee-Lo’s ‘Fuck You’ - On Sunday night we were going to like, Shakespeares Pub or something and as were walking we hear literally the worst cover of ‘Fuck You’ I’ve ever heard. So if you were playing approximately 9pm somewhere on 6th street, and covering this — FUCK YOU!

Worst thing – Burger Saturday Night Shut Down By Cops/Moved :: This was so tragic. Taylor and I trekked up past 50th for this Burger House party on Saturday night with King Tuff, Audacity and Shannon & The Clams. Like, 20 minutes after we got there, however, the cops came and shut everything the fuck down. We waited around for at least 30 minutes to see if it would get moved or go back on. We were super disappointed to hear that but we raced downtown to get to the Vice Late Night Party only to find out later that the show was moved and DID go on.

Best Hotdog – Chupacabra :: I ate a lot of street-dogs this year. Last year it was my biggest mistake not to have one until the Saturday night and I’ve been haunted by the memory of that amazing taste. Before you say so, I know street-dogs exist elsewhere but they just don’t taste the same as when you can look at the Frost Building. Chupacabra had the best (read: most) amount of Ketchup so I choose them. Thank you.

Best Celeb Sighting – Aziz Ansari @ Fat Possum’s I’m An Alcoholic & I Hate You :: A few weeks ago when Aziz Ansari was in London, I tweeted about how I wanted a ticket and he DM’d me and hooked an American sista abroad up with tickets, so I thanked him as he cruised into Fat Possum’s party to catch Mellowhype and Bass Drum of Death.

SXSW 2k11 was a crazy blur of wildness, great and loud music, and $1 wells. This is the best and brightest of what ensued:

Heavy Hawaii @ Hardly Art Fag Party :: I have seen Heavy Hawaii play numerous times now, and I can’t stop the amount that I adore them, so I was happy to trek to the Hardly Art Fag party to see them, even though they’d be playing my show the next day. Unfortunately there wasn’t a massive crowd to see them, but the ones who were out fucking loved every second of it. Highlights include the songs that took me a little while to come around to but now are permanent fixtures in my mind, especially ‘Better‘ and ‘Sleeping Bag‘. I love that live, HH doesn’t lose any of that wonderful melancholy that sometimes contrasts and sometimes compliments Matt Bahama’s vocal harmonies, and the quiet but necessary guitar lines. Again, as in January, their newer material sounded on point as can be, a little bit more uptempo, but most of their stuff is in the live setting — can’t wait to see what this year brings for HH.

mp3 | Heavy Hawaii – Teen Angel

Brown Brogues @ Aussie’s Bar & Grill :: I was really happy to finally see Wigan’s Brown Brogues. Having read so much about them and hanging out with them for most of the week, I couldn’t wait to hear them play. They’ve gotten a lot of really good press around their first 7″ (out on Suffering Jukebox). This venue was on South Congress and had beach volleyball being played in the background, but they still ruled. For a two piece, they make a lot of fucking noise and it works so goddamned well. The highlight for me, was definitely them playing ‘Shergar’ which is one of my favorite songs (described by them as ‘quite aggressive) but I think they’re a little bit aggressive, but it sounded amazing. Ben (drummer) and his facial expressions and Mark (guitar) and his John Dwyer-esque moves played really well even though there wasn’t a giant moshing crowd for them (there should be!). More on these rockstar dorks later, saw them a few more times and they ruled each and every time.

Brown Brogues @ Aussies Grill SXSW 2011 from Brianna Saraceno on Vimeo.

Brown Brogues @ Aussie’s Grill SXSW 2011 from Brianna Saraceno on Vimeo.

Brown Brogues @ Aussies Grill SXSW 2011 from Brianna Saraceno on Vimeo.

mp3 | Brown Brogues – Treet U Beta

School Knights @ House Party :: If you’ve read this blog or my twitter since about November of last year, you’ll know that School Knights might just be my favorite new band. I was super happy that they did decide to come down to SXSW and so we left the insanity of downtown and cruised over northeast to a house party. Not only was there plenty of free beer, but I also got to hear a really raging duo right before School Knights as well, AND I picked up a Whataburger coupon to which my drunk brain read as “Buy One, Get One Free – Honey Butter Chicken Biscuits” but a week later turned out to be “Buy One, Get One Free – Honey BBQ Chicken Biscuit”. Sad times. But finally about 8pm, School Knights went on and played three really, really great songs before the motherfucking POLICE came and shut us the fuck down. However, it was my first experience hearing SK as a three piece (they added a second guitarist) and I thought it only added to the amaziness that was already there. I would go on further, but I want to save my good review for their Friday show at my party. They ruled though, for the 10 minutes they were on.

mp3 | School Knights – F_#k the Beach

Black Lips @ VICE Party, Club Deville :: We all know how much I adore Black Lips, there’s nothing that can negate that. They always put on a good show, they really do, but I’ve seen them so many times now that I know exactly what to expect. As I’ve watched them, they’ve gotten older and less volitaile (which is completely fine) — but that’s kind of what I look for in a band, I guess. They played tons of the classics (‘Sea of Blasphemy‘, ‘Drugs‘ etc), and they played a lot of new songs from their forthcoming LP, Arabia Mountain, which was the highlight of the show. I think that this is going to blow their last LP out of the water. This was one of the first and only Black Lips shows where everyone sort of danced on their own (except around Tyler, The Creator) without disturbing anyone else, which kind of sucked because I was in the mood to fucking push some people. It was an okay show, but I don’t think I will ever waste any of my precious SXSW times on bands that I know I’m going to see again very, very soon.

Black Lips @ Club Deville – Vice SXSW Party from Brianna Saraceno on Vimeo.

mp3 | Black Lips – Stoned

Strange Boys @ The Bat Bar :: Ah, the Strange Boys. Unfortunately, the Bat Bar is the weirdest little venue where its kind of like a long rectangle yet the stage is like a little half hectagon in the near right hand corner. I’m describing it badly, but it was a really weird little place and I don’t think the Strange Boys fit very well in the venue. Maybe it was because it was 1am, or maybe it was because I missed King Tuff at 12, or maybe it was a long fucking day — but the Strange Boys just wern’t on point for me. They played mainly second album material (the ones that I don’t, uh, actually put on very often) and everything had been slowed down by a bit and it just seemed really syrupy and I really missed the bite and the frenetic energy that made me love them in the first place. I’m not adverse to bands growing and doing something different, but I had never seen a set like this from the Strange Boys. Highlight included (although, not as good ast it was at SXSW 2k10) ‘Woe Is You & Me‘ which is like, the story of my life. I’ll give these weirdos another chance soon.

mp3 | The Strange Boys – Baby Please Don’t Go

Um. Check out this video for Black Lips new song ‘Go Out & Get It’ which was filmed during Bruise Cruise this past weekend… and it’s AMAZING. Not only do I love the song, which people are saying is poppier and ‘sunnier’ than their previous stuff – but to me, they’ve always written really good pop songs so that’s kind of a cop out. I’m really excited to hear what June will bring to us in the form of their new LP, Arabia Mountain, if this is the first taster. Also, in the video they attempt cartwheels. Golden.

mp3 | Black Lips – You Must Be A Witch (Lollipop Shoppe Cover)