great beers - 001

appearance - deep reddish amber body, off white head which dissipates quickly

smell - grapefruit and pine

taste - pineapple, peach, and passion fruit with mild citra hops

mouthfeel - full and incredibly juicy

overall - 9/10

deschutesbrewery.com/brew/fresh-squeezed-ipa

untappd.com/user/coja/beers

Top 10 Albums of 2013

10. Ty Segall - Sleeper
9. Cass McCombs - Big Wheel and Others
8. Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds - Push the Sky Away
7. Death Grips - Government Plates
6. the National - Trouble Will Find Me
5. Iceage - You're Nothing
4. My Bloody Valentine - m b v
3. Yo La Tengo - Fade
2. Bill Callahan - Dream River
1. the Knife - Shaking the Habitual

new iceage

Favorite Albums of 2012: 20-1

20. Dinosaur Jr. - I Bet on Sky
Fav Tracks: Almost Fare, Pierce the Morning Rain, Don't Pretend You Didn't Know

19. Purity Ring - Shrines
Fav Tracks: Belispeak, Obedear, Ungirthed

18. Holograms - Holograms
Fav Tracks: ABC City, Chasing My Mind, Orpheo

17. iamamiwhoami - kin
Fav Tracks: Sever, Idle Talk, Drops

16.Guided by Voices - The Bears for Lunch
Fav Tracks: Hangover Child, The Challenge is Much More, Dome Rust

15. Julia Holter - Ekstasis
Fav Tracks: Marienbad, Goddess Eyes II, In the Same Room

14. Oddisee - People Hear What They See
Fav Tracks: Another's Grind, Way In Way Out, Let it Go

13. the Tallest Man on Earth - There's No Leaving Now
Fav Tracks: To Just Grow Away, Revelation Blues, 1904

12. Animal Collective - Centipede Hz
Fav Tracks: Applesauce, Rosie Oh, New Town Burnout

11. Swans - The Seer
Fav Tracks: 93 Ave. Blues, Mother of the World, The Wolf

10. Grimes - Visions

This album initially caught me off guard in a rather abrasive way. I enjoyed the synth driven tunes, but really struggled with digesting Claire Boucher's bizarre falsetto. That being said, several listens to this lp have allowed me to grow more comfortable with her uniqueness and appreciate what she's doing. To me, the standout tracks are probably the more well known one's (Oblivion and Genesis). The former probably being my favorite music video of the year. 

9. Pallbearer - Sorrow and Extinction

I don't posses a whole lot of familiarity with doom metal, and I probably would not have listened to this if a friend had not provided me with a physical copy. I am thankful for that friend. You see, I had been hanging my hat on Swans and GY!BE this year when I required a darker ambient experience. Those albums are fantastic in their own right, but Pallbearer really fills the voids for me. I suppose my go-to track is the opening one (Foreigner). It begins with a delicate acoustic guitar, but evolves into a most mournful climax before settling somewhere in between and setting the listener up perfectly for 'Devoid of Redemption'. 

8. Kendrick Lamar - good kid, m.A.A.d. city

Although I was excited, I was also  concerned about how Kendrick would be able to follow up last year's Section.80. Thankfully he met, and in many ways surpassed, the standard that he set for not only himself but hip-hop. This is a cohesive album that starts off with an intro that sets up the story for the next hour plus. 'Money Trees' incorporates a beautifully used Beach House sample that makes me all kinds of happy. This is immediately followed by 'Poetic Justice' which accurately describes how well the Janet Jackson sample is used. 'Swimming Pools' is maybe the most well known track and is definitely one of the best on the lp. As an appreciator of classic hip-hop I've been disappointed with where the movement has gone as a whole. Thankfully artists such as Mr. Lamar allow me to feel somewhat optimistic.

7. Ty Segall Band - Slaughterhouse

This is a great noise rock/garage rock album. The guitar riffs are superb and Ty Segall's personality is out front without overshadowing the other members. Segall has been rather prolific the past seven to eight years working on a variety of projects. Although I have not heard all of what he's put out, this lp is my favorite thus far. It's also one of three albums that he released this year. There certainly aren't any weak tracks on here. That , it starts off really strong with 'Death' and 'I Bought My Eyes'. Some other highlights are, 'The Tongue', 'Tell Me What's Inside Your Heart', 'Wave Goodbye'... actually it's too difficult to pick a favorite. This album is consistently solid throughout. If I had to pick a least favorite track it would be the title track. That being said, if you're interested in something fun and noisy you can't go wrong with this.

6. Spiritualized - Sweet Heart, Sweet Light

Jason Pierce's new record sort of reminds me of what I think rock 'n' roll storytelling is supposed to be, à la Lou Reed. Although I enjoyed it from the get go, this album has grown on me quite a bit this past half year. I'm possibly partial to it because I wore it out while I was going through a difficult personal transition. The whole long play is wonderful, but I especially enjoy the first handful of tracks. 'Hey Jane' is perhaps the most enjoyable the first go around, but 'Little Girl' may currently be my favorite track. Furthermore, 'Too Late' is probably the most intimate song I have heard in a long time, and it usually prompts me to head in a rather emotional direction. For those who maybe use the arts as a religious outlet, this release could be a reflective soundtrack.

5. Death Grips - The Money Store

WHOA! This album was so abrasive it made the new Grimes lp seem like oxygen. Death Grips are essentially an experimental punk/hip-hop group from Sacramento. If you are interested in checking out Death Grips, I'd recommend their mix-tape from 2011, "Exmilitary". I should not try to compare them to anyone, but against my better judgment, I'd say that their sound and energy are similar to what one might expect from a Black Flag and Wu Tang Clan collaboration. My favorite tracks are probably 'Get Got', 'The Fever', 'Hustle Bones', 'Double Helix', and 'The Cage'. For better or worse, this is the album that I listened to the most this past year. Once it sucks you in, it's difficult to not keep going back for more.

4. Wild Nothing - Nocturne

I first listend to Jack Tatum's outfit when they opened for Beach House this past summer. I did not realize then how much I would respect them. This album was easily the biggest grower of the year for me. At first, I thought that this was just another overly-saturated reverb album. Even as an appreciator of the dream pop/shoe-gaze movement, I can admit that there is a delicate line, in regards to guitar effects. The more i revisited "Nocturne", the further on the hook I went. Stand-out tracks 'Shadow', 'Midnight Song', 'Through the Grass', 'Disappear Always', and 'Paradise', have already become mainstays in my weekly rotation of necessary driving songs. 

3. Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti - Mature Themes

Ariel Rosenberg's most recent outfit put out a stellar album in 2010, "Before Today".  I suspect that many will have a difficult time appreciating "Mature Themes" more, but I do. For me, 'Kinski Assassin' starts the lp off with so much momentum that I am incapable of coming back down until the closing moments of 'Baby'. This is an experimental/lo-fi pop record that may not be for everyone. If you're interested in checking it out, I recommend 'Mature Themes' or "Only in My Dreams'. My other favorites are probably 'Pink Slime' and 'Farewell American Primitive'. Something that keeps me coming back to Rosenberg is his ability to be so ridiculous that uncomfortable truths are a bit more approachable.

2. Death Grips - NO LOVE DEEP WEB

Yep... these guys again. This album is perhaps less approachable than "The Money Store" which, similar to "Mature Themes", was so overt that serious issues weren't so daunting. "NO LOVE DEEP WEB" is significantly more introverted and minimalistic. You can tell that this is the record that Zach Hill and Stefan Burnett more innately relate to. Obviously, I'd vouch for any of these tracks. My personal favorites are, 'Come up and Get Me', 'No Love', 'World of Dogs', 'Hunger Games', 'Bass Rattle Stars Out the Sky', and 'Artificial Death in the West'. Listen at your own risk.

1. Beach House - Bloom

Well, here we, number one. I imagine that this will not surprise those who know me well. I don't even know where to start with Beach House. If you're not aware, they're a duo from Baltimore. French native Victoria Legrand tends to the vocals (à la Nico), lyrics, and keys. Alex Scally masters the guitars and effects. The project is as dream pop as dream pop could be. They are the champions of the genre and have improved on each album, this being their fourth. I don't see a need to list my favorite tracks... it just depends on the situation. Odd as it may sound, some of my favorite moments of this past year were soundtracked by "Bloom". Other great moments were learning that I had influenced others to adopt Beach House into their hearts. I am pleased to be done with this list and am impressed and appreciative if you have navigated your way through it. Be well, and have a blessed 2013!

Favorite Albums of 2012: 50-21

50. billy woods - History Will Absolve Me

Fav Tracks: The Man Who Would Be King, Human Resources

49. Woods - Bend Beyond

Fav Tracks: Bend beyond, Find Them Empty

48. Air - Le Voyage Dans la Lune

Fav Tracks: Seven Stars, Parade

47. Guided by Voices: Let's Go Eat the Factory

Fav Tracks: My Europa, The Unsinkable Fats Domino

46. Killer Mike - R.A.P. Music

Fav Tracks: Big Beast, Reagan

45. Ab-Soul - Control System

Fav Tracks: Pineal Gland, Illuminate

44. Andrew Bird - Break it Yourself

Fav Tracks: Danse Caribe, Lusitania

43. Tim Hecker & Daniel Lopatin - Instrumental Tourist

Fav Tracks: Uptown Psychedelia, Vaccination

42. METZ - METZ

Fav Tracks: Rats, Negative Space

41. Lambchop - Mr. M


Fav Tracks: Nice Without Mercy, Never My Love

40. Father John Misty - Fear Fun

Fav Tracks: Well, You Can Do it Without Me, Funtimes in Babylon

39. THEESatisfaction - awE naturalE

fav Tracks: God, QueenS

                                                                                   

38. Tame Impala - Lonerism

Fav Tracks: Elephant, Apocalypse Dreams

37. Pile - Dripping

Fav Tracks: Bump a Grape, Baby Boy

36. Earth - Angels of Darkness Demons of Light II


Fav Tracks: His Teeth Did Brightly Shine, The Rakehell

35. Deerhoof - Breakup Song

Fav Tracks: There's That Grin, Breakup Songs

34. DIIV - Oshin

Fav Tracks: How Long Have You Known, Wait

33. Ty Segall - Twins

Fav Tracks: Ghost, Thank God For Sinners

32. the Men - Open Your Heart

Fav Tracks: Animal, Oscillation

31. R. Stevie Moore - Lo Fi High Fives... A Kind of Best Of

Fav Tracks: Why Should I Love You, Dutch Me

30. John Talabot - ƒIN

Fav Tracks: Depak Ine, El Oeste

29. Politico Quartet - Portico Quartet

Fav Tracks: 4096 Colours, Window Seat

28. Lotus Plaza - Spooky Action at a Distance

Fav Tracks: Dusty Rhodes, Monoliths

27. the Flaming Lips - The Flaming Lips and Heady Fwends

Fav Tracks: Is David Bowie Dying?, I'm Working at NASA on Acid

26. John Maus - A Collection of Rarities and Previously Unreleased Material

Fav Tracks: Bennington, No Title (Molly)

25. BADBADNOTGOOD - BBNG2

Fav Tracks: Bastard Lemonade, Limit to Your Love

24. Godspeed You! Black Emperor-Allelujah! Don't Bend! Ascend!

Fav Tracks: We Drift Like Worried Fire, Mladic

23. Flying Lotus - Until the Quiet Comes

Fav Tracks: The Nightcaller, Until the Colours Come

22. Scott Walker - Bish Bosch

Fav Tracks: Epizootics!, SDSS1416+13B (Zercon, A Flagpole Sitter)

21. Zammuto - Zammuto

Fav Tracks: Idiom Wind, The Shape of Things to Come