#I might post about some more newer/lesser known bands that I enjoy

[girlishguitarist]

I am telling you right fucking now if you like stuff like punk, techno, hardcore and black metal then you should listen to UNIITY because she takes inspiration from all those genres and more. I’ve literally never heard such a fucking amazing blend of genres from one artist.

Like she will go from singing to actual fucking screaming in the same song and I just love that. It’s actual perfection. I unfortunately don’t live anywhere near the US to see them live but from videos her stage presence is so fucking insane.

source

I’m linking my favourite song from them and her Instagram + Spotify below

Instagram

Spotify

[thisaintascenereviews]

Top Ten Funk Bands Of All Time Recently I posted an episode of The Spinning Rotation, where I talk about some modern funk bands that are worth your attention, but I want to talk about a list of my all time favorites. Well, out of everything I’ve listened to, anyway, so if you’re wondering where your favorite bands are, I might not have heard of them. I really enjoy funk music, though, and it’s become one of my favorite genres. I love how groovy, energetic, and fun it is, but it’s also kind of weird, twisted, and interesting. The genre gives me the best of both worlds, basically, and I love when genres can do that. It’s a very under appreciated genre, though, so I’m trying to bring light to a genre that hasn’t been very popular within the last 40 years. Hey, we’ve been going backwards every few years with trends in pop music, right? We had 90s alt-rock a couple of years ago, and now 80s synth-pop has taken over, so I’m sure that 70s funk will be making a comeback soon. Seriously, though, enjoy this list of bands that are worth your attention. A couple of key things before I start, just to set some guidelines. Firstly, and this is the most obvious thing here, it’s all opinion. If you don’t agree, or your favorite bands aren’t here, that’s fine. Secondly, and finally, I won’t be including bands that had a primarily “soul” or “R&B” sound, but had funkier songs. Artists like Marvin Gaye, The Temptations, or Barry White wouldn’t be in the running, because they have a lot of other material. If the band is either known for their funkier songs, or they have a lot (many bands had a good mix between soulful ballads and energetic funk “bangers”), I’ll put them on the list. Okay, now that’s all settled, let’s dig into this list, shall we? Well, before we do that, actually, let’s talk about some honorable mentions. I won’t dig into these bands all that much, because they’re not the main focus, but I can afford to talk about a few bands.

HM #1: Eternity Forever

These guys are the newest band on the list, as they’ve just popped up in the last year, but there’s a reason why they’re an honorable mention – they’ve barely released any material, so I can’t quite judge this band as a whole yet. Their new EP, Fantasy, is very, very good, but it’s very short, too, so I can’t quite say this band is absolutely stellar yet. If they released another EP, or even an album, I’d get more of a grasp on this band, but in the meantime, they’re worth a listen, so that’s why I put them here.

HM #2: Kool & The Gang

Kool & The Gang aren’t quite a powerhouse band, as in they’re not an influential act in the funk scene, but they’re still worth a listen. I enjoy the album that I got from them a lot, 1973’s Wild And Peaceful, but it’s pretty basic funk music. In that sense, though, it’s good for people that might want a smaller dose of the genre. It’s good for people to get into as a gateway album, let alone an introductory album. Either way, though, these guys are still kicking today, just doing their thing, so that’s always cool.

HM #3: Parliament-Funkadelic

Considered to be one of the greats of funk, Parliament-Funkadelic, or just P-Funk, is a band that I like, but I don’t love, honestly. George Clinton, the brainchild behind the band (both bands, if you want to be technical), is a genius, and he’s got a knack for making some great tunes. He’s got a great voice, too, but I never could get into their sci-fi concepts and strange image. They’re a bit too odd for my tastes, but I do enjoy them, nonetheless, and I can respect how influential they’ve been in funk music. Hell, they’ve been influential in all of music, whether it’s funk, rock, or hip-hop.

HM #4: Ohio Players

Ohio Players is another band that I respect more than I like, but I do like them a lot. These guys are very awesome, but when I reviewed some of their albums last year, I talked about some homogenous they sounded. I mean, that’s not a bad thing whatsoever, because it’s good that their albums flow real well, but it means that I just want to listen to a greatest hits album. A lot of these bands only have those available, because their albums are a bit hard to find nowadays, but their albums are very easy to find. It’s just that I don’t want to listen to each album. I want a collection that’s consisting of the best of the best, pretty much, and that’s why they’re not quite on the main list.

HM #5: The Isley Brothers

This one was a painful cut, but remember what I said about bands that were known for more than funk? Well, The Isley Brothers is a band that’s known for soul, R&B, and funk, but they do have really big funk songs. That’s why they’re here, because they are mainly known for their 70s output, but they have a lot of other songs that they’re known for, too. They’re known for soul, R&B, and pop hits, not just funk, but I wanted to put them, either way, because their funkier songs are awesome. “It’s Your Thing” is one of the most iconic songs of all time, and I absolutely love it, but since they have a lot of other hits of soul, R&B, and pop influence, I didn’t want to put them in the main list.

Moving onto the real, though, so this is where it gets really funky.

10. Mama’s Boomshack

Mama’s Bookshack is another newer band on the list, one of the few that appear, but this band is pretty low on the actual list for a reason. Not that they’re the “worst” band here, but they’re the most “generic.” They don’t do anything to reinvent the genre, and hell, the opening track of their last album says so. They’re very self-aware, because they’re just “bringin’ it back with some old school funk.” I’ve talked a lot about generic bands, though, and generic bands can work very well if they have a sound that’s just done really well. Thankfully, though, that’s what they do. Their latest LP, Speed Of Soul, is absolutely wonderful, because it’s funky, catchy, and wonderfully done. I absolutely love it, and it’s worth a listen for any fans of 70s funk that want to listen to something that reminds them of the “glory days.”

9. The Motet

Hey, another new band, but these guys aren’t quite “new.” Being around since 1998, The Motet is only around 20 years old, but that’s relatively new in the span of funk music. I just came across them, at least their latest LP, but they’re absolutely fantastic. I wish I would have heard this last year, which is when it came out, but it’s better late than never, right? These guys are quite good, though. I’ll admit that the album, Totem, does run a bit long, and some tracks feel like they’re dragged out a bit, but the vocalist is utterly amazing, and their lyrics are a ton of fun, ultimately matching the overall style of the album. I love how catchy, energetic, and awesome this LP is as a whole. I’ve already been playing it a lot, and I’ve only had it a few days. It’s one of those albums, folks, and if you’re a funk fan in the slightest, you definitely should check this one out.

8. Con Funk Shun

Con Funk Shun is one of the lesser known bands here, but this band is a very underrated treasure. I picked up their greatest hits album last year, and I never really dove into the record, but now I’ve spent a lot more time with it, I absolutely love it. These guys are great. They have a good mix between funky and energetic tracks, as well as slower, quieter, and more soulful ballads that I really, really like. The album never slows down too much, either, and I love when bands can make slower songs that don’t hinder an album’s momentum. When funk bands try to be more soulful, it doesn’t always work, unless you have the right vocalist and sound, but this band makes it quite well, and they’re one of my all time favorites.

7. Heatwave

Heatwave is not just an appropriate band to play during the summertime, especially depending on where you live, but they’re another underrated funk band. I’m somewhat cheating with this band, since they have some disco elements, too, but they work that in really well. They’re almost in the gray area, but they’re definitely funky, but they also have some disco elements to them, too, and it works really, really well. These guys have a way around a groove, and man, their stuff is groovy as hell. I’ve been finding myself tapping my foot, bopping my head, or at least just something, because their music is so groovy, energetic, and tight knit. I got a greatest hits album for only $7 that has two discs of music that clocks in at 90 minutes. The funny thing, though, is that it’s really, really good, and doesn’t feel its length at all. Maybe it’s because of how groovy and energetic these songs are, but I really enjoy this band. Definitely another underrated band from the 70s and 80s that’s worth taking a look at.

6. Rufus

Rufus, a band with a weird name, is on this list for two reasons: they’re a very good band, and they have some of the best funk music I’ve ever heard, and they’re responsible for bringing Chaka Khan into the music scene. Both of these things are good, but a band that’s responsible for bringing the queen of funk into the world is worth appreciating. Nonetheless, though, they have some great tracks. Hell, Stevie Wonder of all people wrote a song for them, and it’s one of their biggest hits, if not their biggest, but it’s unsurprisingly a damn great song, since it’s Stevie Wonder. Of course it’s a good song, he wrote it, but this band is pretty good. Even without Khan, they’re great, nonetheless. It’s a shame that they didn’t stick around too long, but they’re worth a listen, whether you’re a seasoned funk fan that just happened to pass them by, or you only knew them from Chaka Khan’s time with the band.

5. Soul Scratch

It’s no secret that my favorite album of this year is Soul Scratch’s Pushing Fire, but that’s a damn great album. I don’t mind talking about this thing again, but let’s talk about the band for a minute. These guys are my favorite modern funk band, although their debut LP is really more of a soul record. I like it a lot, definitely, but I love this record. Pushing Fire is the better of the two, because they really come into their own. They let loose here, especially with a lot of energetic and groovy funk music. Their vocalist is awesome, one of the best vocalists I’ve ever heard, but their sound is really cool. They’re mainly a funk band at this point, but they do have elements of soul in their sound, too, and they pull it off very, very well. The lyrics stand out quite heavily for me as well, because they have a bit of a political tone in their lyricism. It’s not solely about love, but there are some sweet songs here. There are songs that are definitely inspired by recent events in this country that have been topics of debate and discussion, and they’re very, very well-written. They’re topical, but they have something to bring to the table that’s different from every other politically-charged song that we’ve heard before. All in all, though, Pushing Fire is the album of the year for me, at least when I’m writing this, but Soul Scratch is a band that’s worth all your attention.

4. Lakeside

Probably my favorite underrated funk band from the 70s would be Lakeside. These guys are technically a one hit wonder, as they’re known for song “Fantastic Voyage,” and that’s it, but listening through their greatest hits album that they released a long time ago, I really love this band. They’re everything I look for in a funk band, as well as just in music overall. Their vocals are great, the energy and catchiness is at a good balance, and the lyrics are a ton of fun to get into. Hell, there’s also a cover of a Beatles song on that record, so that helps a ton, but in all seriousness, this band is awesome in every single way, shape, and form. They didn’t get much recognition, and they still don’t, but that needs to change, because I love what they do. They’re a ton of fun to listen to, and similarly to Heatwave’s greatest hits album, theirs is long, but it’s not a chore to sit through. I love listening through it, because each song is a winner in my eyes. Even the slower, and more soulful songs are interesting, and they’re worth listening to, especially since there aren’t a lot of them. Even though these guys are very underrated, I’d definitely listen to this band if you want a good introduction to funk music, because they’re a perfect epitome of what the genre is all about.

3. Earth, Wind & Fire

Well, Lakeside aren’t as much of an epitome as Earth, Wind & Fire are, because if you’re looking for a band that brought every style of “black music” in the 70s together, it was this band. Bridging soul, funk, and R&B together, all the while making it their own unique, interesting, and influential sound. This band is definitely one of those that I talked about in the gray area, where they’re not just known for their funkier songs, but they have more soulful cuts, too. I consider this band a soul group, but they’re very, very seminal in funk music. They helped to popularize the genre, so I wanted to put them on the list overall for that reason, but they land really high on my list, just because of how great they are. This band is one of the best bands to ever exist, period, and they’re responsible a lot of awesome songs. “Shining Star,” “That’s The Way Of The World,” “September,” as well as a lot more. I could go on and on, but this band is very important throughout all of music. People act like rock music is the most important form of music, but there are other styles of music that don’t get as much recognition. Funk music is a good example of that, but Earth, Wind & Fire are a band that’s all their own. They brought a lot to the table that other bands took notice to, as well as ultimately followed, because a lot of bands like Earth, Wind & Fire started popping up, but there’s only one band that could be them.

2. James Brown

If we’re talking about funk music, we have to talk about James Brown. How can we not? Not only is he the Godfather of Soul, but he’s the creator funk music. There’s no doubt about it. The man invented funk, and it’s all because he experimented with rhythm. Funk music owes everything to James Brown, and yeah, I’m kind of cheating here, since Brown is also a soul / R&B artist, but here’s the thing – he was a funk artist before funk was a thing. He made it, so why wouldn’t it make sense to put him here? I love James Brown, though, and he’s one of my all-time favorite artists. It would be very difficult for me to make an all-time favorite bands or artists list (if anything, I’d basically just make multiple parts, where I talk about ten or so bands that are some of my all-time favorites, but I don’t have ten definitive acts. James Brown would be one of those acts, though, as well as my number one pick, and there are a lot of reasons why. Brown was a charismatic and intense performer that knew how to put on a good show, as well as a good performance. His lyrics were very fun, engaging, and interesting, and the music itself was damn near awesome. Hell, it was influential and innovative, too, but it knew how to keep you moving, tapping your feet, bopping your head, or whatever you wanted to do. James Brown was the ultimate artist. He left the world way too soon, unfortunately, but he’ll never be forgotten. He’s put out some of the best music ever written, and if you haven’t listened to his music, you’re missing out big time.

1. Sly & The Family Stone

Ah, down to the number one, but let’s be real – how many of you saw this coming? I’ve talked Sly & The Family Stone many times over, whether it was a few years ago when I discovered their early albums that had a psychedelic-soul feel to them, or just a couple of years ago, when I got into their later work that had a more funk-laden feel to them. Even when I listened to their early stuff, I loved those albums. Life, Dance To The Music, and even A Whole New Thing are really good, but I’ve grown to love albums like Stand, There’s A Riot Goin’ On, and Fresh a lot more. They’re more interesting albums, whether it’s musically or lyrically, but I happen to enjoy the funkier, looser, and groovier “vibes” of those records. Either way, though, all of their work is very influential in some capacity. There’s only one album of theirs I don’t like all that much, and it’s their last one, Small Talk. It’s not a bad album, per se, but it’s very phoned in. The band broke up when this album was being written, recorded, and released, so it shows that it’s not a very heartfelt record. It’s very by the numbers funk, and I wouldn’t necessarily mind that, but when the band released absolute classic material just a couple of years ago, why bother with that one? I don’t know, it’s just my least favorite record from them, but it’s good to have in my collection. I’m sometimes a completionist with my favorite bands, so I like to have all of their stuff. This band is one of my favorites, too. I love Sly & The Family Stone, no matter what. They were an influential band throughout their entire career. The psychedelic soul of their early albums helped to bring R&B and soul into a weirder direction that a lot of bands adopted for awhile, but the funk and groove-laden stuff was very influential to funk music in the latter half of the 70s. Not to mention, the politically-charged lyrics in a lot of their later work showed that these types of artists and genres can talk about more interesting things.

To close things out, I just wanted to say that all of these bands are worth your time, because they’re all bands I love, obviously, and they’re all important in some way, shape, or form. Obviously, though, my favorites are the last few that I talked about. Funk music is a genre that’s not as well preserved, I guess you could say, because not a lot of people really talk about it, or listen to it anymore, but I love it. It’s a genre that’s very uncommon, but the bands you do hear that are making it, well, they’re awesome. Bands like Soul Scratch and The Motet are great. Hell, there’s another band that’s called The Big Ol’ Nasty Getdown that’s made of former members of P-Funk. I didn’t bring them up, only because I haven’t listened to their music properly enough to really talk about it, but I hope to dive into them sometime. This genre isn’t for everyone, and that’s okay, because we all have different tastes, but if you want something a bit different, definitely check out these bands. Maybe challenge yourself a bit, or listen to some music that will surely get you dancing, no matter where you are.

[crescendo-kuci]

Top Albums of 2017

It’s that time of year again! In a year of reinventions, triumphant returns, tragedy, and necessary accountability for musicians of all levels, these albums affected me and stayed with me through one of the most tumultuous times of music in recent memory. I will not mention the artists by name, but up until news of their personal lives surfaced, two different albums would have been in my top 5 (one of them even claiming the top spot). I don’t mind not having them here though, as it is more of an insult to the victims if I included the bands in this list than an insult to the bands if I don’t include them in this list. Fair enough? 

Lets start with some albums that I enjoyed this year but just missed cracking my top 10 (in alphabetical order):

Chon - Homey Electronic/hip hop/R&B combined with the trademark Chon math/prog rock made for a great follow up to the mostly same-sounding (but still incredible) Grow. 

Dryjacket - For Posterity “Epi Pen Pals” is one of the best songs from this year, and I don’t believe Dryjacket is getting nearly as much attention as they deserve.

Japandroids - Near to the Wild Heart of Life Although it’s their worst LP to date, there are a few classic Japandroids jams (the title track and “No Known Drink or Drug”) and the epic “Arc of Bar” that still made this a great indie rock album.

Jay Som - Everybody Works If this textured, full, tonally exceptional album is the typical result of the recording process happening completely in a bedroom, all albums from here on out should be recorded in a bedroom. Also, “Baybee” is a jam.

Julien Baker - Turn Out the Lights My number 11 album of the year. Julien’s voice reaches beauty and power that it didn’t reach on Sprained Ankle, and the added instrumentation doesn’t hurt either. Get the tissues ready, you’re gonna need ‘em. 

Looming - Seed Jessica Knight continues to have the most overlooked/underrated/underappreciated voice in independent music, and I’ll never forgive any of you for making that true (unless you listen to this album and their 2015 banger Nailbiter). Educate yourself! 

North End - Alpha State I tweeted in January that this was the first great album of the year, and it stayed with me all the way to the end. If you’re looking for a dynamic instrumental rock album to carry you through work or studying, look no further. 

Oso Oso - The Yunahon Mixtape As a big fan of their album Real Stories of True People, Who Kind of Looked Like Monsters, I was so pleased when I saw them surprise drop this album. What I originally thought would be a lesser album due to the nature of its release turned out to be an incredible step forward. It’s slightly more muted than their previous effort, but with more earworms spread throughout the track listing. Do not skip this album. 

Tigers Jaw - Spin Having an overall shine that wasn’t present on their previous efforts, Brianna and Ben (along with producer Will Yip) have created a great showcase for the scene’s first steps into the middle ground between independent and major labels. “Guardian” was constantly on repeat for me, and “Escape Plan” might downright be my favorite Tigers Jaw song to date. 

Turnover - Good Nature So we can all agree that Peripheral Vision is an absolute scene classic, right? Well, the band also agreed, so they didn’t change their sound or approach all that much for this album. But hey, don’t fix it if it’s not broken. 

The Top 10 

10. Sorority Noise - You’re Not As ______ As You Think

Watch: “No Halo”

Singing about deeply personal struggles with both a vulnerable whisper and a frustrated yell is nothing new for Cam Boucher, but this album instrumentally captures the tone of his words to a degree I haven’t heard in their past efforts. If you’re not yet acclimated with Sorority Noise, get listening. 

9. Phoebe Bridgers - Stranger in the Alps

Watch: “Motion Sickness”

Although I was an admittedly late passenger on the hype train for this album, I haven’t been able to get it out of my head since I listened. “Motion Sickness” is the stand out of the album, but Phoebe’s voice stays engaging and beautiful from start to finish. Even John Mayer himself has given Phoebe some strong praise, not that you’ll need any more motivation to check out the album once you hear her voice for the first time. 

8. Japanese Breakfast - Soft Sounds From Another Planet

Watch: “Road Head”

On the first listen of “Machinist” I wasn’t too keen on the direction Japanese Breakfast was going with Soft Sounds From Another Planet, but once the full album released I was all in. Where “Machinist” was 100% about spacey, technological sounds that captured the lyrics (I’ve come around on the song and love it in the context of the album), the rest of the album uses those effects to a tasteful and effective degree. There are even a couple of stripped down songs at the end of the track listing just to keep listeners on their toes. On top of all of that, the bass groove in “Road Head” is just so damn good. 

7. Prawn - Run

Listen: “Greyhound”

All of you monsters slept on my favorite album of 2014, Kingfisher, when it came out, so I’m not going to let you do it to Prawn again. They’re consistently writing energetic, beautiful songs that have far outpaced the rest of their peers. “Greyhound” in particular was a song I had on repeat all year, but Run has top to bottom jams. Don’t miss out on them this time around. 

6. Vasudeva - No Clearance

Listen: “Take Away”

My favorite instrumental album of the year goes to none other than Vasudeva. No Clearance does what very few instrumental albums can do for me, and that’s be completely entertaining and engaging from start to finish. The band has included a ton of moody, textured, and even electronic passages that give their trademark upbeat and lighthearted grooves an incredible sound. Although “Take Away” may not be the best example of this (I’d give that to “6&5″), it’s a perfect song for newcomers to Vasudeva to get acclimated with the band. 

5. Hodera - First Things First

Listen: “Out of Sync”

Back when Hodera premiered this song on their Audiotree Live Session, I was immediately sold on their follow up to United By Birdcalls. What I was surprised to hear on the album, however, was how much they embraced their country influences. I’m by no means a country fan, but Hodera embraces the genre with just enough rock instrumentation to keep me enjoying the album. Matthew Smith even seems more comfortable in letting his conversational singing style lead the tracks, which is fine by me. Hodera is one of those bands that should’ve caught on with listeners of bands like Pinegrove, so here’s your chance to catch up if you’ve missed them. 

4. Less Art - Strangled Light

Listen: “Pessimism as Denial”

Ah, “supergroups.” You gotta love ‘em. Consisting of members of Thrice, Kowloon Walled City and Curl Up and Die, I knew I would probably like Less Art’s debut album before I even heard it. When I listened and heard that it was exactly the middle ground between those three bands that I was hoping for, I ecstatically listened to it repeatedly. This is right at the max in terms of heavy rock that I can still enjoy, with tight drumming and tonally perfect bass and guitar instrumentation throughout. Can’t wait for all of these guys to unite and melt my face again with those sweet, juicy tones.

3. Manchester Orchestra - Black Mile to the Surface

Watch: “The Gold”

I listened to “The Gold” about thirty times the night it premiered. And then I put it on repeat when I went to bed and woke up to its beauty. So, yeah, I guess you could say I was pumped for a new Manchester Orchestra album. While “The Gold” is the standout track, there’s a beautiful and haunting vibe that engrosses the rest of the album. These songs are uniquely united in a way that hasn’t been seen on their previous efforts, and it makes for an immensely enjoyable complete album listen. Despite the closer “The Silence” being nearly seven minutes long, you’ll want to experience Black Mile to the Surface all the way to its chilling end. In terms of their discography, I’d place Black Mile to the Surface second just behind Mean Everything to Nothing, and I’m of the firm belief that Simple Math is a near perfect record. 

2. Pet Symmetry - Vision

Listen: “Hall Monitor”

If I were to make a top songs of 2017 list, I would have to include “Hall Monitor,” “You & Me & Mt. Hood,” “Stare Collection,” and “Lint Roller” in the top 10. It was honestly incredibly difficult to pick which song to link with this post. Off of that alone I decided to place this album so high on this list, but even the songs on the album I don’t consider my favorites this year are stellar. When I listen to this album all the way through, the only song I skip is “Eyesores” because it’s just a short burst of distorted vocals and guitars, but that’s it. Every other song is a genuine joy to listen to, and I really can’t ask much more from a band that barely even takes themselves seriously. Get listening. 

1. The Menzingers - After the Party

Watch: “After the Party”

I’ll admit, I hadn’t heard a single song by The Menzingers until they released “Lookers” last year. I know, blasphemy. I proceeded to do my homework and check out their older material in preparation for this album release, which usually results in either negatively comparing newer material to older material or getting burned out on the band’s sound. With After the Party though, neither of those ever happened. I still get just as pumped now when a track from the album comes up on shuffle as I did when it first released. Whether that song is the title track, “Tellin’ Lies,” “Lookers,” “Your Wild Years” or “Bad Catholics,” I’m always happy to let it play. That’s not to say that a full album listen isn’t warranted though - the slower tracks are perfect in their sequencing and tone to offset the loud punk tracks. If you need any further proof that this is my favorite album/band of the year, they were my top played band on Spotify and claimed three of my five most played tracks. 2017 for me was the year of The Menzingers.

How do your picks compare to mine? Anything you think I might have missed? Let me know on Twitter @CrescendoKUCI and I’d be more than happy to reply! Thanks for reading this post, and I hope you’ve found some great new music to enjoy.