Year in Review 2022 - Amanda’s List

We have past the point of saying happy new year (per Larry David) so it is about time that I get my year in review list out. The end of year list brings me much joy as I get to relive the first time I heard or skipped through an album. This year there were some solid albums put out and even more great albums that could have used an edit of 3-4 songs. It feels as if we are back in the days of filling a double cd. There is just no need for that anymore. With the vinyl resurgence and ability to stream anything - why put out long albums? Like do you think every song is worthy - unafraid to cut something? I don’t get it. My most valuable assets in my life are my time and attention. When an album gets so deep into the time spent listening to it that you cannot remember how it started - I feel like my time is wasted. A short, concise album or even a longer album that can hold you attention and feel like a valuable use of time - that is for me. XWEAPONX pulls a hard number 2 for me this year - probably my most listened to album and clocks in around 8 minutes. Raw emotion, rage, power and a message - A fucking men. Each of CLOAKROOM’s albums gets better and better. It is my winter music and Dissolution Wave is about 37 minutes or so but completely immersive and visceral. Their mix of doomy stoner metal and shoegaze gets me every time. The album hits hard on the global catastrophe and getting through it with what we know - survival and well music. It’s the parallel story that I need to listen through to get through some days. Here’s to a brighter 2023 - hoping that you get to spend your time and attention on those things that fulfill you in life. I know changes are a’ coming for me in that department.

Be well, eat well, & enjoy. XOXO, a

1:CLOAKROOM - Dissolution Wave

2:XWEAPONX - WeaponX Demo

3:MARTHA - Please Don't Take Me Back

4:THICK - Happy Now

5:AUTHOR & PUNISHER - Kruller

6:BEYONCÉ - Renaissance

7:COME TO GRIEF - When the World Dies

8:SHOOTING DAGGERS - Athames

9:ENACT - s/t

10:NINE OF SWORDS - Beyond the Swords

11:WHITE LUNG - Premonition

12:M!R!M - Time Traitor

13:SOFT KILL - Canary Yellow

14:RLYR - s/t

15:KENDRICK LAMAR - Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers

16:END IT - Unpleasant Living

17:SOUL GLO - Diaspora Problems

18:BLOOD INCANTATION - Timewave Zero

19:BODY FARM - Living Hell

20:STANDARDS - Fruit Town

Best of 2020 (Vince's List)

It’s almost over. Yes, 2020 can fuck off….you’re heard it a million times already.

This year has been defined by loss. Millions have lost love ones. Many more have lost their livelihoods, their passions, or at best…their sense of normalcy. We have lost our safety nets, old coping mechanisms, the closeness of family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers. The things that we haven’t lost have changed. Even music has changed. The loss of live music has rippled throughout our world affecting the artists we love and the sense of community they sustain for all of us.

My favorite albums embody the shared sense of loss, anger & sadness that we all experienced this year. It was especially hard to keep it to only 25 this year, but here they are. Each one of these albums helped soften the blow of 2020. Try out something you haven’t heard of….they’re all incredible.

-VH

1. Soft Kill - Dead Kids R.I.P. City

2. Jeff Rosenstock - No Dream

3. MSW - Obliviosus

4. Korine - The Night We Raise

5. Georgia Maq - Pleaser

6. Infant Island - Beneath

7. Emma Ruth Rundle & Thou - May Our Chambers Be Full

8. Gilt - Ignore What’s Missing

9. Scalp - Domestic Extremity

10. Retirement Party - Runaway Dog

11. Lawrence Arms - Skeleton Coast

12. Soft Kill - Premium Drifter

13. Initiate - Lavender

14. Dikembe - Mush

15. Power Alone - Rather Be Alone

16. Soon - What the Fuck Did We Do to the Earth

17. Narrow Head - 12th House Rock

18. Vanguard - Rage of Deliverance

19. Diet Cig - Do You Wonder About Me

20. Changeling - III

21. Lucky Malice - Magnetic

22. Nø Man - Erase

23. Lié - You Want It Real

24. Vile Creature - Glory Glory! Apathy Took Helm!

25. Crowning - Survival/Sickness

2020 - A Year in Review (Amanda's List)

Not sure what can express my feelings more this year than all that hardcore has got to give. The hardcore that I keep coming back to is angry, political, feminist, quick, and yet hopeful at times. Power Alone embodies all of these in a swift, poignant album. All We’ve Got is a 40 second song and is the perfect anthem for the shitshow that was 2020. Other hardcore that falls into this field is from Initiate, Nø Man, Buggin, Smut, & Raspberry Bulbs. While hardcore fills up the many of my top 25 - there are other gems that brought me joy in their lightness (Diet Cig), danceability (Korine), and ease (Georgia Maq). This year exasperated the gaps between so many and so much. You need a balance of hard and soft to get through it. Personally, 2020 has brought so much rage & pain and yet I have found some solace in the midst of chaos. Isolation forces reflection and self-acceptance. I go into 2021 knowing more of who I am, what I want, and how I want to live.

Cheers and remember we are all we’ve got.

🖤ab

1. Power Alone - Rather Be Alone

2. Soft Kill - Premium Drifter (Demo)

3. Emma Ruth Rundle/Thou - May Our Chambers Be Full

4. GILT - Ignore What's Missing

5. Diet Cig - Do You Wonder About Me?

6. Korine - The Night We Raise

7. Ratboys - Printer's Devil

8. Soft Kill - Dead Kids R.I.P. CIty

9. Georgia Maq - Pleaser

10. Jeff Rosenstock - No Dream

11. Initiate - Lavender

12. Lucky Malice - Magnetic

13. Narrow Head - 12th House Rock

14. Peel Dream Magazine - Agitprop Alterna

15. Caroline Rose - Superstar

16. Couch Slut - Take a Chance on Rock'n'Roll

17. Bully - SUGAREGG

18. Vile Creature - Glory, Glory! Apathy Took Helm!

19. THICK - 5 Years Behind

20. Nø Man - Erase

21. Insect Ark - The Vanishing

22. MSW - Obliviosus

23. Knxwledge - 10,000 Proof

24. Retirement Party - 1988

25. Buggin - Buggin Out

“We’ve all been burned, our patience wears thin
Try to protect ourselves, guard our emotions
And yes, a big “fuck you” to those who abuse
But we need to be real to the ones who are true
Because the only thing that prevents despair
Is knowing that our friends will be there
Listen to each other, it’s how we grow
And challenge what we think we know
'Cause in the end, we’re all we’ve got
Drop your fucking ego, bring each other up”

Power Alone “All We’ve Got”