Not gonna lie, this year for the most part sucked. Aside from a week in Seattle that changed my life forever, the other 51 weeks were mostly shit. And to top it off, 2 days before New Years, my iPod got stolen, with me starting off 2012 going into debt, when I’m trying to get out of debt, to get a new one. A nice way to polish off 2011. And after a decent holiday season too.
I did discover some great music though. And it got me through those hard times. Here are 5 of the songs that helped me survive 2011.
1. Christian Death – “Cavity (First Communion)”
Early 80s death rock. Bauhaus meets LA trash. The opening track to their 1982 album, Only Theatre of Pain, contains some bitchin’ guitar lines and the distressed vocals of Rozz Williams, got me through a shitty February. Emo kids, eat your heart out!
#2. The Dismemberment Plan – “The City”
A song about not feeling right in the particular city you live in, in this song’s case Washington D.C. Few lyrics have resonated with me as much as “This is where I live/I’ve never felt less than home.” Here’s hoping me moving cross-country will change that sentiment.
#3. Barfly – “DSM IV”
Support your local scene!
A rousing doom metal track from my favorite defunct local band (New Haven, CT representin’!) Barfly. My former band played a show with them (the same night as this video was taken), and made friends with them. They put out a 4 song EP, entitled Ambition Handicapped By Laziness, which was awesome, and “DSM IV” was the highlight for me. Two of the band members are in a hardcore band called Heavy Breath, which is also great, and the drummer moved to Chicago and has a whole shitload of music projects going.
#4. Chavez – “You Faded”
Underrated 90s Chicago band that I got into this year. My favorite song by them. Aggressive yet emotive as good alternative/indie should be! A good song to listen to when you’re pissed and on the road.
#5. Boris – “Feedbacker”
2010/2011 was the year I really got into drone/doom metal: Earth, Sunn O))), Boris, Sleep, etc. Boris, particularly, struck a major chord with me because a lot of their music just flows the way I need it to, in my opinion. Feedbacker is my favorite Boris record. Definitely a good record to drift off to when you’re feeling down.
“Feedbacker Part 2″
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