W I T C H M O N D: \\ 2011 // ||best of||

ITS THAT TIME OF YEAR FOLKS
BEST OF LISTS
HERE IS andy dunlap OF WITCHMONDS LIST
10 BEST ALBUMS
10 BEST SHOWS
ENJOY VIRGINIA WORLD

BEST ALBUMS

(10) ASAP Rocky: LiveLoveA$ap

Its been a real interesting year for hip-hop with a new insurgence of underground acts bringing a new sense of energy to the genre. I wouldn't say I'm a an expert on what's going on in hip-hop but for my money I was most impressed by A$AP Rocky's killer Mixtape Live Love A$AP. Stream of conscious style rapping mixed with dazed tripped out beats and syrup styled pounding rhythms create what is a thrilling Hip-Hop classic.

(09) Dávila 666: Tan Bajo

Brilliant Pop Garage rock act from Puerto Rico that makes fuzzed out Nugget Rock tracks that are just impossible to resist. It may not be the most game changing rock album but was easily one of the main records I kept visiting this year while enjoy sunny southern summer days. Party rock at its finest.

(08) Jürgen Müller: Science Of The Sea

Easily one of the more confusing releases of this year. Originally stated to be a reissue of a University of Kiel professor who while in the 1970's was studying oceanic sounds and then self taught himself how to play the synth and in turn made a record about the sea that he was studying. It has now however now been unveiled that this story was all a hoax which is honestly one of the most hilarious things I've heard in ages. However take away the hoax and this record itself has some of the most beautiful music I've heard all year. Synth ambient loop sounds very similar in vein to that of Emeralds. Great album for relaxing and watching the beauty of the world around you.

(07) Mutwawa: Mayan Mutations

Mutwawa is straight up this best group right now out in Richmond and I'm really happy to see that their dance freak fest of a live show has transfered well to the recorded format. Noisy pedal jockeying with hypnotic electronic loops and vocals growls creates spooky retro vibed dance sounds that are hard to not to like. Its twisted like most of the noise weird shit coming out of Richmond but has a great energy that makes it just brilliant and hard to deny.

(06) Black Pus: Primordial Pus

Brian Chippendale of Lightning Bolt continues on chugging along on his understated Black Pus project to crazed and and mind fucking results. Heavy intense percussion mix with unintelligible vocals delayed and distorted to the point of it being its own unexplainable instrument create some of the best testosterone heavy songs you will ever hear period. If you like the Lightning Bolt style then definitely check this em out, but if that group was never your thing then this one probably isn't up your alley.

(05) Liturgy: Aesthethica

Litrugy is back with another LP and just like the first time around these guys have taped into something quite good. By combining Black Metal with blissed out Rock tendencies you create a sound that is just mind shattering. With the crazy vocal growls of Hunter Hendrix with the hyper active drumming and Greg Fox makes some of the most original music I've heard in quite a while. Seriously fuck those who hate on this one, there just stubborn and missing out on something great.

(04) Eric Copeland: Waco Taco Combo

For the last couple years Eric Copeland has been putting out a record and every one is just as wind blowing as the last. Waco Taco Comob is no exception to this trend. Mutated noise pop songs being manipulate with tape loops and other noisy effects tocreate some of the most polished dance tracks you will hear this year (for real!).

(03) Julianna Barwick: The Magic Place

Continuing with her formula of church choir vocals and ambient loops, Julianna Barwick this year released what is her first true length LP and it is probably the best of her career. Adding from the formula above she has added new instruments and more complex rhythms to her sound to create some of the most peaceful and haunting music of this year.

(02) Times New Viking: Dancer Equired

Sure you can be a little bummed out with Times New Viking getting rid of the signature wall of fuzz sound, but its has been replaced a cleaner but still gritty sound bring to the for front the fine crafted no fuck given garage rock tracks that you always knew where there. Seriously don't be scared of by the change in sound and give this record another spin and I'm sure you'll see the brilliance of this one.

(01) Psychedlic Horseshit: Laced

Hands down best record of this year. No shit given lo-fi appeal being mushed with electronic ambient effects and hazed out tape loops creating the perfect bad trip for 2011. No words can really describe just how brilliant and mind blowing this record actually is so just go pick up a copy and give this headfuck a listen.

BEST CONCERTS

(10) Guitar Wolf / Cheap Time / The Scrams @ Launchpad (06-01) (Albequare, New Mexico)

(09) Mi Ami / Teen Dreams / Nurse Beach / Miami Nights @ Dust (03-18) (Charlottesville, Virginia)

(08) Satanized @ Magnolia (06-24) (Charlottesville Virginia)

(07) Eric Copeland / Avey Tare @ U Street Music Hall (11-30) (Washington, DC)

(06) Ty Segall / Bermuda Triangles / Super Vacations @ Strange Matter (03-07) (Richmond, Virginia)

(05) Big Freedia @ Best Friends Day 10 (08-20) (Richmond, Virginia)

B L A C K I E - Live at Strange Matter - Sept. 15, 2011 - Richmond, Virginia from Silver Persinger on Vimeo.

(04) B L A C K I E / Fat Tony / Thou @ Strange Matter (09-15) (Richmond, Virginia)