Nu Rave Brain Wave

On December 30th, I got to see the Growlers for the first time since they came to England and made my life worth continuing on — and my god, was it amazing. Despite the fact that their fanbase is way too hardcore in LA for my old, rickety bones — it was one of the best shows I’ve seen all year. In fact, they played a song (Sunset Girl) that is not only maybe my favorite of all time but had been forgotten by the band, um, forever. So that was really special. Their “2nd” LP that’s being finished up by the Black Keys man is going to be the record of 2012, so I thought I’d share this version of Kick the Habit of Dredd which is one of their most classic live jams that works perhaps even better in this Audiotree Session. Enjoy.

mp3: The Growlers – Kick The Habit of Dredd (Audotree Session)

 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

When I fell backwards over the railings at the Green Door Store last night, screaming Derek Holland, I had this mix in my mind. Dance to this shit, motherfuckers!

01 Bob Dylan – Sittin’ On A Barbed Wire Fence
02 Almighty Defenders – The Ghost With The Most
03 Lafayette Thomas – The Thing
04 The Growlers - Camino Muerto
05 Bazooka – I Wanna Fuck All The Girls In My School
06 Flight – Witch Hunt Town
07 UV Race – Burn The Cat
08 Nobunny – Hocus Pocus
09 Catholic Spray – Beast In The Bushes
10 Woven Bones – Your Sorcery
11 Thee Ludds – Where To Begin
12 The Spooks – Now I’m A Ghost

mp3: Nu Rave Brain Wave x Halloween: A Mixtape [53.5mb]

That’s right, guys, Nu Rave Brain Wave is four years old today. To celebrate, I used really poor grammar and absolutely zero effort on a beautiful photograph of me from this year — exactly how I like to be seen, in cashmere and David Yurman about to grab a pug. So thank you all for reading, commenting (if you ever have, and if you haven’t a few “fuck yeahs” every now and then isn’t so hard, now is it?), tweeting, facebooking or interacting in any way with me, or enjoying anything I’ve posted. Shout out to all the bands and people whose music I enjoy and who email me good stuff all the time, without you, I’d just be sitting around watching TV (okay, I do that too, whatever).

Find below, a mix of some of my favorite songs that just sprung to mind when I remembered that today was our birthday! Yeah!

01 Harlem – Goodbye Horses
02 Hypocrite In A Hippy Crypt – Town Crazies
03 Danger Beach – Lakes (feat TV Colours)
04 Amanaz – Khala My Friend
05 The Growlers – Hawaiian Mama
06 Sonny & The Sandwitches – Throw My Ashes From This Pier When I Die
07 Shannon & The Clams – You Will Always Bring Me Flowers
08 Chuck Berry – Time Was (Slow Version)
09 Personal & The Pizzas – Toss That Pie
10 Dune Rats – Colour Television
11 Bob Dylan – From A Buick 6
12 Mojo Watson – You Know You Don’t Want Me
13 The Shirelles – Mama Said

zip file: Nu Rave Brain Wave’s 4th Birthday Extravaganza Mix [40.2 mb]

Once again two of my favorite things in the entire world come together to make the worst part of the year into the best: The Growlers & The Echo come together once again to save Christmas/New Years. For the third year in a row, The Growlers (plus excellent supporting cast of TRMRS and Tomorrows Tulips!) will be playing at the Echo — two years ago they graced us with the best NYE ever, last year they gave us the chance to have TWO New Years celebrations by playing the night before, and this year we get three nights of Growlers goodness at the Echo on the 28th, 29th, and 30th. If you do want to attend this, and of course this is highly recommended by yours truly, I would grab your tickets early through Ticketweb, based on every show that I’ve seen of theirs for the past two years — it’s going to get crammed and sweaty, just the way a Growlers show should be.

mp3: The Growlers – Oh, Sweet Spirit

I know I’ve been banging on about both The Growlers and Thee Ludds for quite some time now, but this record is really special and I just got my hands on a copy today, and oh, how beautiful it is. Palmist Records, sister label of the great Brighton institution Fat Cat Records, has spent all of 2011 releasing stunning split 12″ by US Girls & Slim Twig, Burning Yellows & The Whines, Lotus Plaza & Odonis Odonis and more. And the latest, and in my irrelevant opinion, happens to be the best. Palmist 06 features The OC’s finest, and one of my favorite bands live and on record of all time, The Growlers, giving the UK an introduction to the wonderful swamp-stop, drinkin’ the juice blues world they’ve created for themselves. On the flip side is Leicester’s Thee Ludds who have mastered really old school sounding 60s garage stomps with eerie organs and pounding drums, it’s all angular man, and there’s a couple new jams that haven’t been heard by anyone who doesn’t have this record.

You can, should, and will go to Palmist Records and pick up your copy.

Thee Ludds – Astral Plane by Palmist Records

Growlers- Graveyard’s Full by Palmist Records

You guys, I have been talking about this band for absolute ages & they’ve finally come over to the UK for a set of what turned out to be 3 headline shows and the last one is in my adopted town of Brighton. The Growlers playing at the Green Door Store tonight and if you miss this, honestly, we are not friends. That is all.

The Growlers @ The Green Door Store, doors 7:30pm, £7 in advance

mp3: The Growlers – Empty Bones
mp3: The Growlers – Heehaw Stomp
mp3: The Growlers – My Forehead’s Dripping Ocean

The Growlers play tomorrow at the Lexington in London with Two Wounded Birds who go on at 9pm, followed by the Growlers at 10pm. The Gs are the best live band in the world and if you miss this, you are a fool.

Wednesday, September 7
at Lexington (96-98 Pentonville Road)
£8.00 / Grab yr advance tickets here

mp3: The Growlers – Gay Thoughts
mp3: The Growlers – Drinkin’ the Juice Blues

Our friends over at Palmist Records are doing something that is long overdue, in my humble and entirely correct opinion. They are releasing the first ever Growlers record in the UK. The split 12″ which will surely convert the Growlers into the most popular band in the world, features tracks from their ‘debut’ LP Are You In Or Out & their many Couples EPs as kind of an introduction for their future legions of British fans. On the flip side is another band we’ve given a lot of love to, Leicester’s Thee Ludds. Their brand of wild, frenetic 60s garage rock is the perfect b-side to the Growlers goth surf psych stomps. Below is ‘Graveyard’s Full‘ from Hot Tropics EP/Couples Volume 6 which will feature on the 12″.

Let us not forget that The Growlers are playing The Lexington in London on Sept 7th and The Green Door Store in Brighton on Sept 9th. See you there or else!

Growlers- Graveyard’s Full by Palmist Records

If you have read this blog for about one minute, or listened to me speak in person, or anywhere really — you’ll know that my favorite band are the Growlers. I have spent more words talking about my love for their music, live show, and general ethos than I will spend talking about my love for Bob Dylan in my dissertation. That is a real statistic. They are my favorite live band that I have ever seen and our friends at Mean Fiddler did the unthinkable and brought them over to the UK. Besides their date at the sold out End of the Road festival, the Gs will be playing two shows that I will also be appearing (in the crowd) at. Find both dates below, buy your tickets and don’t be like this dude I used to date who pretended he didn’t like the Growlers, only to end up being caught by me whistling & singing their songs constantly.

September 7th @ The Lexington, London – advance tickets £8
September 9th @ The Green Door Store, Brighton (with NRBW DJ) – advance tickets £7

mp3: The Growlers – Gay Thoughts
mp3: The Growlers – Drinkin’ the Juice Blues