Emotional Listening #23

Terrorhawk - Bear Vs. Shark (Equal Vision, 2005)
The one and only time I ever got to see Michigan's short lived post-hardcore band Bear Vs. Shark live was during my senior year of high school at a hall show. At the time, their sound reminded me of early At the Drive-In (down to the style and rhythm of the vocals) and their live performance was entertaining and energetic as all get out. Over one EP and two LPs, the band never really ditched their ATD-I homage, but on their second and final album, Terrorhawk, they were able to put a unique spin on their songs. Opening jam of jams "Catamaran" is almost a catchy pop punk song. The same could be said of "Seven Stop Hold Restart." "Out Loud Hey Hey" mixes punk with classic rock guitars. "Entrance of the Elected" features jagged, intermingling guitars. "Heard Iron Bug, 'They're Coming to Town'" probably showcases the band at their most creative, with bizarre spoken word sections and a chorus where the tempo continuously speeds up until completely imploding. In spite of Marc Paffi's intense and gruff vocals, there are plenty of catchy melodies throughout, whether it be by voice or guitar. I'll go ahead and state that I like Terrorhawk more now than I ever have before.
Top jams: "Catamaran," "5, 6 Kids," "Six Bar Phrase Hey Hey," "Entrance of the Elected," "Seven Stop Hold Restart," "Out Loud Hey Hey," "I Fucked Your Dad," "Hear Iron Bug, 'They're Coming to Town'"


You Turn Me On - Beat Happening (K/Sub Pop, 1992)
I know that Beat Happening is a classic lo-fi/twee/jangle/indie pop band that most fans of the genre worship. So sue me that I just started getting into them over the past year or two. You Turn Me On was their final full length, and it was where I ended up starting for whatever reason. Neither the production nor the vocals are good, but the lack of enthusiasm toward those aspects of these songs is totally charming. Heather Lewis' vocals are tolerable at least, and her melodies are sugar sweet. Calvin Johnson's vocals are a bit more difficult to get around. Beat Happening had many shortcomings, and they are fully on display on You Turn Me On, but, man, there are some ridiculously great songs here. "Noise" and the epic, entirely too repetitive "Godsend" are probably the best of the best, but "Hey Day" and "Bury the Hammer" show off the best guitar chords, if that means anything to you.
Top jams: "Tiger Trap," "Noise," "Teenage Caveman," "Sleepy Head," "Godsend," "Hey Day," "Bury the Hammer"


This Night - Destroyer (Merge, 2002)
I'll admit to being surprised by how much I was taken by This Night, Destroyer's fifth LP. I firmly believe that 2006's Destroyer's Rubies and 2011's Kaputt are modern classics, but I didn't really expect much from this. Pretty glad I was wrong. Daniel Bejar's typically drunken stumbling over his phrases and words are in full force, as are his strong melodies and simple yet perfect chord progressions. While Kaputt is tight as shit and Rubies displays a slight element of sloppiness but is generally tight, This Night indulges in sloppiness and it feels just right. Sure, some of these songs are too long, and maybe even some of Bejar's ideas here aren't fully realized. But, I think that's part of the charm of the album. That and the messy but glorious sounding guitars, and again, those catchy melodies. There are too many highlights to cover, but you couldn't ask for a more appropriate opener than the title track, and "I Have Seen a Light," despite it's dire tone and slow burn, is absolutely gorgeous.
Top jams: "This Night," "Holly Going Lightly," "Here Comes the Night," "The Chosen Few," "Making Angels," "Modern Painters," "Crystal Country," "Trembling Peacock," "I Have Seen a Light," "Students Carve Hearts Out of Coals"



Abacab - Genesis (Atlantic, 1981)
GENESIS. Yup. 1981's Abacab is truly an amazing record. No joke. Do you like prog rock with actual hummable melodies and choruses? Do you like overpowering synthesizers? Do you like drums that were recorded in the very early 80s but sound like they're from the late 90s, and are played tastefully and awesomely (BY PHIL COLLINS)? What about roto-toms? It sounds like I'm making fun of this record, but, while I could do without the roto-toms, Abacab really is a fantastic record. "No Reply at All" is quickly climbing the list of favorite songs ever. The verses sound like something Animal Collective would've used as a sample. "Keep It Dark" was my first top jam on Abacab, and probably still is, but "Man on the Corner" and "Who Dunnit?," as corny as it is, are sort of catching up. Don't get me wrong, the entire album is corny as hell, but that is up for with Abacab's overall sense of rhythm, melody, and complex song structures that aren't completely overwhelming. Seriously, I love me some Abacab.
Top jams: "No Reply at All," "Keep It Dark," "Dodo/Lurker," "Who Dunnit?," "Man on the Corner," "Another Record"


Ram - Paul and Linda McCartney (Apple, 1971)
Ram is Paul McCartney's second post-Beatles album, and is also the only one where Linda is credited along with him. It is a bizarre pop record that features plenty of silly McCartney-isms present on, say, The White Album (I'll admit to totally loving Ram's ridiculous "Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey" through and through). "Too Many People" is an excellent opener with probably the best melody on the record, and "The Back Seat of My Car" is the perfect closer, even if it is a little too dramatic. "Ram On" is a beautiful and eerie ukelele ballad that was my first favorite song on the album. "Eat at Home" is the true jam though, in all of its straight forward power pop glory. As maligned as Ram was when it was released, it's easy to see that it has been referenced plenty in modern music. It certainly is a worthwhile listen, even if it doesn't quite live up to the standards of The Beatles' best albums.
Top jams: "Too Many People," "Ram On," "Dear Boy," "Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey," "Smile Away," "Eat at Home," "Long Haired Lady," "The Back Seat of My Car"