BEST OF 2014

Year end show! Darren and I are back at it, the big show, coming back to figure out the years best singles of 2014.
My picks are limited just to the stuff that people sent me during the year and Darren sticks to stuff technically released this year...weird.
We talk about upcoming records from both of our labels including the crazy press coverage of Darren's Piss and Hair single the worlds first single made with human hair (and not really piss).

Darren from Velocity of Sound:

10 - Accordion Crimes / Glass Hits split on Snappy Little Numbers
9 - Dinosaur Jr. "Fade into you" on Subpop Records.
8 - Conor Oberst on Nonesuch Records
7 - Kelly Stoltz on Stroll on Records
6 - Night Sun on Burger Records
5 - Shannon and the Clams / Guantanamo Baywatch on Suicide Squeeze Records
4 - Yonatan Gat on Joyful Noise
3 - Morgan O’Kane / Ezekiel Healy split on Fat Elvis Records
2 - Ryan Adams on PAX-AM
1 - Old Head on Mind Cure Records

Jason:

10 - Birds in Weather - self released
9 - POW! on Grazer Records.
8 - Mystery Date on Pinata Records
7 - Wimps on Help Yourself Records
6 - The Sweets on Bleeding Gold Records
5 - Todayshits on Randy Records
4 - Broncho on CQ Records.
3 - Paul Messis on 13 O'Clock Records
2 - Personnel on Double Dot Dash Records
1 - Thigh Master on Tenth Court Records

Thanks everyone for reading and sending in records. You are all winners. Listen below.

TOP TINY RECORDS FOR THE YEAR OF TWO THOUSAND THIRTEEN

Special one hour episode where we discuss the very best singles of 2013. Finally. Go to itunes.. Direct link to the MP3 here.

DARREN PICKS

1 - Ariel Pink & Jorge Elbrecht on Mexican Summer records.

2 - Dope Body on Drag City

3 - Fuzz on In The Red

4 - Goat on Subpop

5 - Blackfoot Gypsies on Fat Elvis Records

6 - Sonny & The Sunsets “Imagine” on Polyvinyl Records

7 - Mud City manglers on Mind Cure Records

8 - The Vacation Club on Randy Records -

9 - Elliott Smith on Kill Rock Stars

10 - Nobunny tour single “Motorhead Mit Mir”


JASON

1 - Quailbones ‘Lord Dion’s House of Discovery’ on Ghost Orchard Records

2 - Royal Headache on Matador

3 - Blanche Blanche Blanche on Adiago Records

4 - Kitchen’s Floor an Easter Bilby Records

5 - La Luz on Waterwing Records

6 - Industrial Park on Toxic Pop Records

7 - Kam Kama - Sister Cylinder

8 - The Zoltars on CQ Records

9 - Advance Base plays the Music of Washington Phillips “The World is in a bad fix everywhere” on Orindal Records

10 - Fat History Month / My Dad on Exploding In Sound Records, Broken World Media Records, Ranch Records

IF WE MISSED SOMETHING, LEAVE US A MESSAGE - (347)770-1469.

Top Ten singles for 2012

The Top Ten 7Inches List

I called up my buddy Darren over at Velocity of Sound Records to do our annual top ten podcast and we decided to only allow singles that had exclusive tracks to the format.
Songs that weren't available any other way.
Why the 7" single is still great.
The clinking you hear occasionally is some holiday egg nog.
Thank you labels and artists for sending your singles my way.

Darren's Top Ten list:

10. Zig Zags “Monster Wizard” b/w “Turbo Hit” on Tubesteak Tuesday Records

09. Neighbours “Real Talk” b/w “Without You” on Get Hip Recordings

08. Total Control “Scene From A Marriage” b/w “Contact” on Sub Pop

07. Shannon and The Clams - “Gremlins Crawl” b/w “White Rabbit” (Jefferson Airplane) on Volar Records

06. Single Mothers “Single Mothers” EP on Secret Voice Records

05. Slug Guts - “Stranglin’ You Too EP on HoZac Hookup Klub

04. Ranch Ghost “New News” b/w “The Water” on Jeffery Drag Records

03. Nones “Shake Your Brain” EP on HoZac Hookup Klub

02. Natural Child - “Mother Nature’s Child” b/w “Bodyswtchers Part II” on Jeffery Drag Records

01. Stephen Malkmus/L.A. Guns on Matador Records Singles Going Home series.

Jay's Top 10:

10. Ceiling Stares on Darren's own Velocity of Sound Records

9. Lizard Kisses / My Friend Wallis - self released

8. The Wheelers "Bubix" EP (oops just realized this came out in 2011 - ed) Thanks interns.
Blood on the Vinyl Records

7. Hot Lunch on Who Can You Trust Records

6. Adam Widener on Fuzz City Records

5. Love Handles - on West Palm Beotch Records

4. Cheap Time on Sweet Rot Records

3. The Lilys / Big Troubles on Speakertree Records

2. Spider Bags / The Love Language on Tangible Format Records

1. Ariel Pink / R. Stevie Moore on PIAPTK records

Download the MP3 here, a massive HOUR AND TWENTY MINUTES!

Ecstatic Peace Live Performance Poll

I was invited to contribute my top 10 live shows to the Ecstatic Peace end of the year poll....you can check those out here.
Tons of great contributors...from Thurston Moore to Brian Turner at WFMU and Tobi Vail from Kill Rock Stars...an entertaining read as always. I appreciate those guys asking me. It's an honor for my tiny useless music blog, and makes me feel like I'm doing something someone cares about.
Get over yourself.

2008 7" Wrap up

The Greatest 7 inches of 2008

This year will be remembered as ushering in the age of shitgaze. Wrong or right, the sound is here to stay. These are the singles that stood out in '08 in no particular order.


Jay Reatard topped everyone before and after him by releasing (7) 7"'s this year in increasingly smaller quantity from Matador records. A historic offering of which not even the most serious collector could possibly hope to get every one. It's literally not possible. The final installment was easily less than 300 pressed with 5 different sleeves. Impossible. It's like he was taunting all of us once a month to just give up. Deal with it. Come to a place where you are ok with your obsession. Don't let it get out of control.

Matador's site would routinely crash, leaving frustrated customers trying to check out and being told that item is no longer available. But they took a chance and maybe lost as many fans as new ones they gained.
Was it Jay completely calling a sell out a sell out? Or is he just as much a fan of the singles as I am.
I think he must be a fan and maybe even feels an allegiance to the single helping to distribute his genius. The fact that these are all released on a double LP makes me think it's more than just building the hype.

I took the liberty to track a majority of them throughout 2008 and they really are all over the place, the market hasn't really settled on a fair price. Generally they are on their way down but ebay can taketh away.

This is the most decadent, exclusive series ever. He took the idea of the lowly disposable cheap seven inch and elevated it to a fucking monument of collectability and greed. I am willing to admit my problem and do nothing about it.


The Muslims, or The Soft Pack formerly known as The Muslims, released this great single 'Parasites and Walking with Jesus' in 2008.
I'm still not convinced this is the best name they came up with after days of deliberation, but that's really completely irrelevant. They are just that good, they can do whatever they want.
I'll find your new myspace Soft Pack and go see you live again and again.
After the complete genius of the self titled LP release and the Extinction video they can do no wrong in my book.
No comparisons to the Strokes please, they don't care enough to have that kind of tailored attitude, and wardrobe.
I get mad just thinking about those hacks...or what they've become. Help me Soft Pack, I want to remember how good a perfect 3 minutes can be and an amazing live show can push this perfection one step further.
This track, Parasites is completely new territory, they are maybe a little self aware of where they are headed at this point, and probably have a little more access to the things they want. The music certainly isn't suffering. It's a meticulously crafted gem in line with their greatest work so far. Walking with Jesus is just icing on the cake, it's a great cover, they reinterpret it without losing the spirit of the original.
They are the most exciting American garage rock band this year.

The Vivian Girls get second place for number of quality singles released in 2008. First 'Orphanage', then 'Wild Eyes', and finally 'I Can't Stay'.
I can't say much for the Surf's Up single as it hasn't arrived yet, but that will be number four.
They might get first place for amount of hype or should I say coverage...hype implies some kind of marketing machine with a master plan.
So....What's to say? Is it annoying this will be on everyone's end of the year best of lists? Probably. That's the price you pay for making such an impression in 12 months.
Does it live up to the amount of press? Undoubtedly.
They just tracked and trapped that perfect reverb sound on guitar and vocals that then went on to make the Crystal Stilts huge as well, thanks in part to the girls drummer Frankie Rose (who I think has gone on to join the Stilts permanently).
They make it so easy, combining the good elements for a revival of that surf/velvets sound. I was excited about the Coathangers and the loose messy garage punk they were making but I have to say the Vivian Girls are another thing entirely. It's as exciting, impossible to describe- You have to be there wall of sound.
Copies sat on the shelf at Academy records with a sign saying 'Why pay $30 on ebay?' they were still routinely going for $20.... probably by the guys at Academy. Genius.

Rosemary Krust - Self Titled single
This girl/guy guitar and bass duo with no percussion from Maryland (I know it doesn't sound like that could ever work) plays with all kinds of delay and loops, gently singing over top in sonic youth homage and really to everything great and indie from the past ten years. The experimental side of the Pixies, the challenging things from Cabaret Voltaire. Speeding tape playback, humming ungrounded cables. It's all completely interesting thanks to Rosemary Krust and played with brand new fingers and ears. I am watching closely...and I want more.

The best part of this whole indie package was the rough cut manila folder stamped with the RK logo with an etching in wood or something. Really thick and a testament to DIY. Take that bands everywhere.


the errors - Toes single

I am a huge fan of the instrumental math rock that's no surprise....this was one of those random finds that I latched onto this year. I think it was released on Mogwai's new label, which of course gave it some immediate credibility for me, and I think this could be going in an interesting direction.
There's all the changes and craftsmanship I expect from this descendant of Don Cab... they push the time signatures but aren't afraid of the electronics, little elements added here and there...maybe more like the Sea and Cake...that's all here...
I do want them to stick with the guitars, and forget the electronics, it just never ends up that interesting...years later to listen to. I'm a little weary of this all electronic direction they are taking, but not since Bronze have I been this psyched about a new find.



Blank Dogs - Stuck inside the world 7"

I picked this one because I know for fact this was released in '08.
I feel I was a little late in getting on the Dogs train. I can't exactly find an accurate discography where all the singles I have are listed chronologically so I'm going to let this one be the stand in for the rest.
This has all the awesomeness of a lone bedroom project with all the great chord changes of a Brian Wilson but trapped inside a TRS-80... like a fucked up classical composer Max Headroom.

Blank Dogs are bringing a primitivism back to electronics. A real glitchyness to the synth circuits years beyond the promise of Crystal Castles. Low-Fi... this is the real deal....so underground it's literally dripping with insanity and straightjacket's. It's like coming across the abandoned asylum and finally going in one night and going through the rusted file drawers and finding old reel to reel tapes of this...pressed on beautiful vinyl.
I'm scared to see this live.


Eat skull - Dead Families 7" on Skulltones

This was a random lucky as hell purchase right from the beginning.
I think Paul from 7,10,12 emailed me about this one and I am grateful as hell.
The B side of this single 'No Intelligence' is one of the best. It will go on their greatest hits Gold collection. Perfect song that kept me playing it over and over. Plus I loved the sleeve with all my demented heart.
I think what it is is that they don't use the shitgaze effect across everything it's selectively used on tracks...like the synth...then the vocals have reverb/delay on 11, but it's kind of clear. It's very selective shitgaze. Shitgaze with specific glasses. It's like a long lost basement tape from the real Bob Dylan, it's a country jam, sung out like there might not ever be music again. This might be the last single recorded for the Lord Jesus...and I'm just fine with this. I would want to go down on the top of a mountain in a thunderstorm, kind of in the background with this blaring out from two huge towers of speakers, my fist raised, waiting for the final blow.

Nodzzz - I Don't Wanna (Smoke Marijuana) b/w We Are The Only Animals

I still remember fondly getting this single wrapped in a pizza box addressed by someone in the band, I'm sure. I always remind myself that's why singles rule...period. They had a pile of these under the bed, in the hall, next to the kitchen table and I got one of them. This is pure stripped down garage rock at it's peak. It's at the perfect state here on this 7"....like one of those quarks...as soon as you notice it, it's going to change, and everything around it. things will never be the same.

Sasha Frere Jones top list for 08. I'm shocked at the amount of crap that's on there. Brittney Spears? Honestly, who is he working for, sometimes just when I think he's really digging deep asking really interesting questions about music, then I read a list like that, and I want to throw in the towel, Granted I haven't listened to the Brittney Album or the Portishead album...and maybe this isn't about taste at all but some kind of cultural standard he's referring to, but I don't think I even need to hear about Saw V, i know it's going to be for a specific shit audience. What it says about society as a whole? That's for someone else to figure out, I have nothing to do with that, or care about anyone that takes that seriously.

2007 year end 7" wrap up.

7 inches of 2007

It's that time at 7inches.blogspot that we take a moment and reflect back on the great, continuing even to get even better and better seven inch bounty that was bestowed on the world this year and to take notice of some of the most amazing things to be pressed on the lowly seven inch format. I decided to wait until the last possible moment for any last minute mentions.
Here's looking forward to the new year.

Some Top 7"'s of 2007:


Panda Bear - Take Pills
Undeniable genius, mutant brian wilson continued, that even your parents could appreciate, and on vinyl? Now you are blowing their mind. I'm glad these tracks could fit on two sides of tiny 7" vinyl and they are great, the live b side is amazing. Essential.


Les Savy Fav - Hit by a Train / Hit by a Car.
A conceptual 7", two songs about getting hit and killed by two different modes of transportation. I was surprised to hear this after the years of LSF silence and this broke that silence with pure awesomeness. Superb both sides, a must have. Available from Insound still. Rumored to be an australia tour only 7" of 1000 green copies. I have one with a xeroxed cover apologising for the lack of a cover.


Coathangers - self titled
First off... it's 4 songs. You're getting your money's worth of awesome rocking balls out we don't give a fuck post-post punk. Don't be a hater, this is good. straight up. Best 4$ you'll ever spend. A reason why Atlanta is getting more and more amazing by the day.
From DieSlaughtermaus


Animal Collective - People
When this came out, I was ready for the Collective to either finally blow it or take music to a new level, and... they did it again. People was another incredible example of what they do so perfect, the yelling, swirling, blend of sounds that ends up pop somehow...almost singalongable. What's even more amazing is that this was released Jan of 2007. I'm not even talking about peacebone yet, which again, destroyed everyone's expectations.
I see this this listed all the time as an Austrailian tour 7" limited to 250 copies? I don't believe this, someone set me straight.


Hot Lixx Hulahan - Self titled seven inch. Anyone with the balls to put out a completely silent seven inch and become US air guitar champion will forever be hailed as a genius. Email him for a copy you can't play. Best back sleeve essay ever.




Best split 7" (tie):
Bronze / Kazuamsumaki split 7" (mashnote)- It's too bad kazuamsumaki have such an insane name because it can be damn hard to track them down. I was lucky finding this from stickfigure, they were the last ones left from this press in Belgium. These two bands are making the best mathrock I have heard since Don Cab. Amazing amazing stuff, go read more, and check those myspace pages. It's worth holding a tape recorder up to your speakers and making a mix tape like the old days.

crystal castles / health 7" This is where music is going, it's your worst electronic nightmare in the best way, both of these bands are making synth so relevant and frightening it's practically a new genre...reminds me of the late SIDS.


Best 7" subscription series:
The Social Registry Social Club...I wish I could remember more specifically about this series except that every single is letterpressed on heavy cardstock, it's practically embossed, super nice. The music is challenging from the likes of a gang gang dance side project, psychic ills, and the latest one, Growing. They are way ahead of everything. Get educated. So glad they are back for another 6 months, renew your membership...I got a christmas 12" I have to check out. Merry Christmas to me. Thanks Registry.


Best 7" Box Set:
Thrill jockey 15th anniversary, this is all wrapped up and waiting under my tree. 10 seven inches of joy to thrill jockey. So many seven inches from seas and cake, califone, david byrne, pullman, lonesome organist, all covering each other....It's more than I could ever hope, I could actually order it direct from thrill jockey and it was damn cheap and beautiful.


Best reissue 7":
Joy division - Sordid Sentimental
I fell in love again with this band, thanks to Control and the great reissues of their full length's on vinyl and this ridiculously out of reach 7" was reprinted. (7,10,12 blog) I thank you record gods.


Best homemade/bootleg 7" scam:
Take the Greatest Catpower 7" you can buy for 99 cents, xerox that picture of chan from rolling stone and blam! Sell it for $30 on ebay...awesome. What a jackass.



Best free 7" included with the full length release:
Seven Swans Bonus Seven inch:
Now I know it costs like $15 for the full length and the bonus 7", but it's a great overlooked album that you don't have anyway, and those tracks are available NOWHERE ELSE... period.
From Danielson himself:
The two remaining songs, “I Went Dancing With My Sister” and “Waste Of What Your Kids Won’t Have,” were great fun to hear again. I put bass lines down on them and mixed them up for Sufjan to hear. We liked what we heard, but felt that they still belong separate from the album. So here we are with the vinyl re-issue of “Seven Swans.”


Most consitently over valued 7" on ebay:
Elliot Smith Speed trials.
I love Elliot Smith too a ton, but this is still in print from KRS! Stop selling it for 9.99 or higher. IT IS NOT RARE! It's 4 bucks or less, and there have been THOUSANDS PRESSED! This is like a gateway seven inch. Now try to get all of his 7"'s... then we'll talk.





Band that makes me want to press a seven inch:
Keytarded: this bearsuit side project is amazing, they are quitting while they are ahead and playing their last ever show this christmas...in london.

Also awesome:

Matt and Kim (yeah yeah)- they are the best, but the b-side was a remix...I was hoping for something I hadn't heard really bad.
Prinzhorn Dance School (multiple) - Do I really even like them?
wooden shjips - They are going to be on every list...they are great, I like what I've heard so far.
jens lekman - friday night at the drive-in - I'm just glad he released a 7" so I have an excuse to list him. The best.
Gingersnap - library card - extra small records - It's like everything I loved about buying seven inches in the late 90's, pavement and sebadoh.
mika miko - self titled (hairdryer) - they are great, honest kick ass punk rock, and fun.
o'death - what a weird band, amazing live...country Tom Waits bluegrass...
a weather - feather test - intimate, like elliot smith or jose gonzalez, I hope the full length is more like this, for the slightly over twee but still sensitive. Like the bowerbirds.
the preakness - something so awesomely indie 90's sounding about them, taking all of those influences and reworking them into something great. I love this.
jay reatard - “I Know a Place” b/w “Don't Let Him Come Back” 7” - I don't know why I keep listening to this, it is a mystery. I like it, but there's nothing super obviously genius, it seeps in and I can't point to any of it.
sic alps - strawberry guillotine - woodsist - they have a great sound, I like that it's drums and a guitar and they make tons of awesome noise.
Phil Elevrum - don't smoke / get off the internet - they are beautiful crazy songs about exactly what they are titled. I'm fascinated by this approach and how these tracks work. The packaging was great too, not too mention that 10" and book he has out.