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Ass eye sea it : Plisner’s Picks…the 15 best indie albums of 2013

by Tim Plisner…

15.
The Head: ‘Girls of the Yukon’

This album starts out like any standard rock album. Catchy riffs, great harmonies, easily remembered lyrics. But by the end you feel like you’ve seen a glimpse of a generation most people don’t understand. Kids that grew up on classic pop rock, but can tap into the nostalgia without sounding pretentious. They keep it short and witty. Like the often forgotten era of jukebox rock. The timelessness of there sound takes you back. So let the T-top down, and crank it up.

14.
Horrible Idea: ‘Orange Four-inch Door Hinge’

This album is like your morning coffee, bitter at first and too hot to drink. And as you sip slowly, it gives you a much needed jolt that gets you ready to take on the world. I like to call it ‘machine gun punk’ with an understood power you better strap yourself in for. Rapid fire, long range, and punishing. It makes me ready to jump into a muddy mosh pit in my work clothes. This album is a big step forward for them, and a step back in time for me. Put on your steel toes, give your boss the finger, and punch a stranger in the face….in a good way.

13.
Bearknuckle: ‘Lost Woods’

If you have ever seen these guys live, you know how wild they get. This album shows that these boys can ‘knuckle’ down in a recording session. Lead singer ‘Fune’s vocals come through clean. The guitar presence is solid, without drowning out the power of the drums. All in all, very impressive, considering this was recorded in a basement with six mics and a laptop. I cant wait to see what they can do in a real studio.

12.
Detroit Mutant Radio: ‘Mutanite: Rise of the Mutants!’

The title of this album speaks for itself. This is a very unique band with a constantly mutating sound. You’re not sure if you’re listening to a reggae album, a hard rock cd, or some classic hiphop record. There are even splatterings of electro-pop and funk mixed into this bubbling brew of sound infusion. Filled with thought provoking lyrics. DMR is truly an entity all its own.

11.
Doesin ‘EP’

This album is like listening to a hard rock album on mescaline. You are grooving along real nice, slowly it trails off for a minute, then zang! Blast off! Catapulted into a wild violent stream of eloquent confusion. I like to call their sound ambient ambivalence on acid. Wow.

10.
Grandfather: ‘In Human Form’

Melodic & progressive ancient harmonies. Sonic rhythms collide with heavy battles between the fret-busting guitars and driving drum/bass combo. Electro-fused vocals swimming and slamming against the rising wall of music. Only to reseed just long enough to breathe. Then it all floats back to the edge of madness that recalls echoes of Tool. A truly enjoyable experience.

9.
Waking the Bates ‘EP’

This is what happens when good artists write great music. Unintentionally radio friendly post-modern indie-pop that is extremely danceable and fun. The EP takes us through the seasons of emotion. These guys roots run deep, and the flowers are about to bloom. I look forward to them blossoming and blowing us away.

8.
The Joy Kills: ‘Danced to Death’

Iggy pop would be proud of these proto-punk sex-charged rockers who sound like they’ve been playing at CBGBs for decades. In the beginning you feel seduced, by the end you’ve been raped. Locked in with a wall of surreal sound that will keep you sweating all night. These high energy hooligans are not to be missed live, and the cd is no different.

7.
Verge of Bliss: ‘Enabler’

Instantly intriguing, you get rocked with lead singer/bassist Virginia Bliss’ soulful vocals. This is a finely tuned power album. Making a believer out of you with superb guitar stylings. Makes me yearn for the 90s every step of the way.

6.
Swank Sinatra: ‘Pretty Shoes’

This is a solid smash rock album, delivering punch after punch of powerful spaz jams. I have seen these guys grow and learn as a band for the past few years, and they always amaze me with the 120% they put into all they do as artists. I would really love to see them open for Queens of the Stone age.

5.
Attention System: ‘Incoming’

This album was a long time coming, and it shows. There are so many layers of sounds and dimension to each track. Like some psycho futuristic soundtrack it propels your mind in a million directions. A complete soul seeking synth rocket from start to finish.

4.
Phossy Jaw: ‘Dead Weapon’

Im going to be honest, I hated this album the first time I listened to it. So I just tossed it aside. A few weeks later I gave it another listen, wow, Im glad I did. Totally captivating, I must have listened to it four times in a row. Seriously grounding instrumentation and a very distinct style haunts this band. These guys have a strong vibe that you can feel. And if you want to have a really great time, just book these guys, trust me.

3.
Signs of Iris: ‘Cyclops’

One of the only NON Atlanta bands on this list, these brutes deserve a lot more attention than they get. With a tear jerking live show full of emotion, head severing lyrics, and truly inspirational playing, I am in love with this band from the island of misfit toys. If you havent checked them out yet, do yourself a favor, get this cd.

2.
Cloudeater: ‘Purge’

My first knowledge of this amalgam rock electro powerhouse came from a fan made t-shirt that said: ‘WWSD what would sam dew?’ From there my insatiable lust for their spiritual sounds grew and grew. I for real cried the day I heard they were no more. This album is truly a swan song. If you got a chance to see them live this year, feel blessed. I really miss these guys.

1.
Thank You Scientist: ‘Maps of Nonexistent Places’

Ok, Im totally cheating, because this album came out in 2012. But if you listen to it once you will understand why its on here. This is the greatest album ever. This is the best band ever. They completely blew my mind when I saw them live, and this cd does the same. With incendiary guitars, freaked out melodies, and serious talent all around. All I have to say is, fretless guitar, horn section, electric violin, your argument is invalid.