15 RECORDS BY BALTIMORE BANDS IN 2008 THAT YOU SHOULD OWN by Benn Ray
As much as I like to rank things, this list is in no particular order as I feel like there are too many things outside of traditional parameters (singles, re-releases, pre-releases) that I can't accurately qualify.
1. ICE CREAM SPIRITUAL by PONYTAIL
Since this was my top record in 2008, it makes sense that it's also my top local records list too. I really can't wait to see where Ponytail goes.
2. CRAZY DREAMS BAND by CRAZY DREAMS BAND
Sure I like it when Lexie Mountain gets her "Boys" together and does their siren song thing, but I like it even more when she sings sings. Dreamy, sludgy and reminiscent of what you liked when you liked Royal Trux.
3. IF CHILDREN by WYE OAK
Technically, IF CHILDREN is a re-release (from back when the band was called Monarch), so that's why it didn't make my 2008 Best Records list. The more I listened, the more I fall in love with Wye Oak. At first seemingly melancholy, the more you listen the more you get drawn in to Jenn Wasner's dark vocals. And as a 2 person band (with Andy Stack pulling double duty on keyboards and drums simultaneously while Jenn sings and plays a surprisingly ballsy guitar) they lay down a rich sound.
4. SINGLES by DOUBLE DAGGER
At this point, Double Dagger should have just wrapped up mixing their new CD due out this year on Thrill Jockey. To tide us over, they issued a handful of singles this past year. I give them sole credit for reviving my interest in collecting vinyl again. One of the most vital bands to ever come out of Baltimore. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
5. WHAM CITY BOX #1 by WHAM CITY
So for years I've been harboring this idea of putting together a sort of Baltimore arts media kit. It would be a box set including a mix CD of some of Baltimore's finer bands (like the ones on this here list), some zines and mini-comics by some of Baltimore's best zinesters & comickers, maybe some films by local filmmakers and a t-shirt or two of local design. I could never hammer down exactly why I would do this or who I would send this Bmore Media Pak (or BMP) to, but whenever I see a magazine do one of those "city scenes" pieces, this hankering comes up. Or, well, I used to. This beautiful WHAM CITY BOX #1 is basically the same thing (with a focus on Wham City members instead of a citywide thing, of course). It's like someone put together an awesome care package from the local collective. As soon as you open the box, you want it. It was very limited. It's long since gone. And since there was a #1 in the title, I'm waiting on a #2. Any time now, gang. Any time...
6. BABY ASPIRIN by BABY ASPIRIN
Solid indy band sound with soulful vocals by Selena. Everytime this comes on my iPod, I'm all like, "whoa, who is this?" Girls got pipes, is what I'm saying. And Uri and the rest of the band are tops too.
7. BALTIMOREROUNDROBIN by WHAM CITY
This CD was sold at the now legendary BaltimoreRoundRobin Tour, and it perfectly captures the soundtrack to that experience: interesting, challenging, rewarding, annoying, curious, thrilling. There used to be a free download of the CD up on the Wham City site, but I can't find it now.
8. YOU'RE DEAD TO ME, I LOVE YOU by PULASKI
I'm always surprised at how clean and tight these guys are. Pop-punky in a West Coast sort of way. Sometimes they remind me of Ween, sometimes Dead Milkmen - only not goofy like those other bands. (Full disclosure - this came out on our Atomic Twang label.)
9. WORLDWIDE by THE DEATHSET
This release begs the question, "Just how many times can one band repackage and resell the same set of songs?" Admittedly, these are great songs, but this package (on Counter Records) has a flatter production sound than the Morphius Records stuff. Anyway - I, like many, loves me some DeathSet - but I would really like to hear something new.
10. ARE INVISIBLE by THE ORANGES BAND
I'm a little confused if this is going to stand as a self-released, self-distributed 2008 record & digital package (hey, don't cut out the stores, guys!), or if it will be rereleased in 2009 on a label. So I'm gonna count it as a 2008 release as I bought it at a show at the Ottobar in December 2008. There's some crazy '80s stuff going on here that is fun, weird and caught me off guard. They sing about the Ottobar and Memory Lane too. Solid set of Oranges Band songs, and it's great to hear Roman and the gang experiementing and playing with their sound.
11. WAVE LIKE HOME by FUTURE ISLANDS
Baltimore's latest take on New Wave. Future Islands flash you back to London in the mid-80s, yet they feel firmly rooted in Baltimore of 08 at the same time. No easy feat to pull off.
12. INTO THE DOLPHIN by SECRET CRUSH SOCIETY
Fun, whimsical guitar rock with a great roller derby theme song and, oh yeah, a song about me! I'd also like to point out, aside from the fun songs, the great production here too.
(Full disclosure - this came out on our Atomic Twang label.)
13. DEVOTION by BEACH HOUSE
Haunting, beautiful, mellow, delicate, pretty. It's Beach House.
14. WEEKENDS by WEEKENDS
The new kids on the block. This experimental rock is in a handmade sleeve on a self-made CDR. I feel pretty confident that the next record you see from them will be on a traditional label. Someone's gonna snatch them up quick like if they haven't done so already.
15. THINK ABOUT IT by SOFT CEMENT
Power duo! Distorted drums, guitars, vocals. Dance punk! This EP is an introduction. And I want more now. Stay tuned. If they were to make a sequel to Repo Man (and a graphic novel has already been written and I've heard rumors that a completely unrelated sequel project was in the worms), "Wet Concrete" could easily dominate the soundtrack.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
METHODS: by IMPERIAL CHINA
KITTENS by CAVERNS
Okay, both of these bands are from the DC area. But I caught them at the Aural States Fest this past weekend and they seem like they're about to be brought into the Baltimore fold very soon. These bands are comers. Both bands sort of remind me of everything I like about Battles, with a hint of that DC earnest intensity (yeah, yeah, I know) and with a touch of that SST attitude (in the case of Imperial China) and a piano (in the case of Caverns) thrown in for good measure.
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Over the next several weeks, we will be regularly posting Year End Wrap Up lists from our friends, readers, and regular Shank contributors. So please stay tuned...
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