Top Albums of 2015: 01) Title Fight-"Hyperview"

There is no denying the fact that Title Fight has gradually become an iconic figurehead in the alternative music scene since their inception in 2003. From the angst-driven bubblegum pop punk ballads found on 2009’s The Last Thing Your Forget compilation to the Jawbox inspired alt-rock anthems on 2013’s Floral Green, the young four piece has managed to display fantastic writing and progressive maturation over such a brief period. Words cannot describe the night-and-day comparison of seeing the band play to twenty kids at the ICC in 2010 followed by a completely packed out co-headlining gig the Paradise Rock Club only five years later.

This past winter, right as the massive snowstorms took their violently devastating toll on New England, Title Fight released their third full length album Hyperview. Hyperview holds a very important place in my heart because it served as the soundtrack to one of the most bittersweet and emotional experiences of my entire life.

I will never forget the day I first heard this record. Stress and anxiety were at an all-time high at this point in my life as I felt myself inevitably falling in love with one of my best friends while trapped in a long term relationship grounded in emotional abuse. It was the only thing that crossed my mind as the harsh winter storm began to envelop my town. I was then asked to shovel my parent’s driveway as the storm began to worsen, and I saw this as the ideal time to finally listen to the new Title Fight record I had saved on my computer the night before. I synced Hyperview to my phone only seconds before my house lost power, popped in my headphones, zipped up my coat, and stepped outside into the violent blizzard.

The opening notes of “Murder Your Memory” sonically explored my one working ear drum as I witnessed flurries of snow picked up by the harsh storm winds forming a beautiful spiral-like shape. This real life imagery was almost too fitting. 

Hypeview’s chilling soundscapes brings to mind detailed and specific moments of my life during these both happy yet painful times. All I was forced to recall were the late night playground adventures with my dearest friend Emily whom I was slowly but surely falling head over heels for. Even during the coldest winter evenings, we would find ourselves seated upon swings invested in deep conversation. I would recall specific moments of me gazing into her big, beautiful blue eyes and feel my heart thunderously pound as she flashed her flawless smile. The only thing holding me back from holding her close and pressing my lips to hers were the commitments of a relationship I wanted to end but lacked the bravery to do so.

A month or so later I eventually gained the courage to end my toxic relationship and asked Emily to be my girlfriend. I was met with a slightly hesitant “sure” but since then 2015 has proven to be a year full of pure contentment, endless support, and wonderful memories. I was overjoyed to discover Emily shared the same bittersweet connection for this album as I did and brought to mind the same winter evenings at the playground. Despite my blatant bias towards this album, its overall sound holds enough water to land this top spot on my year end list.

Title Fight is a band notorious for leaving a small trail of breadcrumbs that leads to the musical style their following release will explore. The Last Thing You Forget compilation was predominantly a strict pop punk release with the exception of its closer “Western Haikus.” That track alone served as the foundation of their debut LP Shed that birthed the current emo revival craze. “Where Am I?” and “27” left hints of the band’s transition to Floral Green and in turn “Head in the Ceiling Fan,”Lefty”, and “In Between” did the same for the heavily shoegaze influenced Hyperview.

Many complain the band’s third full length sacrifices the band’s trademark abrasiveness, overwhelming emotion, and well-structured songwriting for a more mature sound, but I couldn’t disagree more. “Your Pain is Mine Now”, “Dizzy”, and “Rose of Sharon” are some of the strongest and most passionate tracks in the band’s catalogue. Will Yip’s production of Hyperview proves to be top notch and finds the ideal middle ground for Title Fight’s emo and shoegazing influences.

Top Albums of 2015: 02) Swervedriver-"I Wasn't Born to Lose You"

It  has always puzzled me that Swervedriver never made it big like most of their label mates on Creation Records. Hailing from Oxford, England, the four-piece stormed into the alternative music scene right as the shoegazing craze was beginning to wind down and the grunge rock scene was beginning to explode. Their debut Raise consisted of no-nonsense rock n’ roll comparable to that of Dinosaur Jr. showered with distortion, droning riffs, and heavy utilization of effect pedals that would make Kevin Shields proud.  Shoegazing had never been so rockin’ until Swervedriver changed the dynamic, but their unique take on the genre was never fully recognized. Many financial and promotional issues occurred with Creation and various other labels they attempted to work with, and the band eventually called it quits in 1998.

I Wasn’t Born to Lose You perfectly illustrates the band at their most confident after their seventeen-year hibernation. Melody still serves as an extremely prominent aspect of Swervedriver’s writing instead of being buried beneath walls of sound like most shoegaze bands, and the overall genre balance remains as uniquely executed as ever before. The swirling waves of drone and distortion serve as the backdrop for the clean guitar riffs and catchy vocal melodies.

One of the many reasons this release has such a high spot on my year end list is the strong connection I have developed with it.  I ended a very long and very emotionally exhausting relationship at the time of its release, and I specifically recall the feeling of warmth and contentment that passed through my mind and body the moment the opening riff for “Autodidact” graced my ear drum for the first time. The initial break up was one of scariest things I have had to do in my short life, but I will never forget the overwhelming feeling of newfound freedom to be myself once I got it over with.

“Time will heal all exit wounds. The time for peace is now, as days have been passed.

This dreamlike reversal of roles, return to what you were when you were just begun.”

Swervedriver’s fifth LP is one impressive hell of a comeback. It may not contain identical emotional value for you, but it remains the ideal summer soundtrack for anyone looking for some rockin’ tunes as they drive off into the sunset.

Top Albums of 2015: 03) mewithoutYou-"Pale Horses"

My adoration for Tooth and Nail Records was previously discussed in my introduction post, and anyone that is familiar with the label knows that mewithoutYou always proved to be one of the strongest bands on the roster. [A->B] Life, Catch for Us the Foxes, and Brother, Sister were all flawless albums that managed to gently cater me into the world of “indie rock” and still remain as some of my all-time favorite releases years later. Recently, the legendary five-piece from Pennsylvania made the remarkably wise decision of joining Run for Cover Records, and their latest release is their best in years.

Pale Horses takes the highlight aspects of all five of the band’s previous LPs and puts them all into practice creating their most adhesive record to date. It was much to my joy that Aaron Weiss revisits his trademarked stormy, spoken word tangents coupled with aggressive instrumentation as the backdrop for his explosive poetry. Fans of newer material will be pleased as Weiss also retreads the “sit-by-the-fire-and-sing-kumbaya-pretending-you-are-a-cross-between-Jeff-Magnum-and-Kermit-the-Frog” vocal approach, but with a much more mature execution. 

One thing new listeners must take caution towards before delving into the world of Pale Horses is that the themes present in mewithoutYou’s unique lyricism may prove to be heavier in content than their label mates. Theology, Philosophy, Zionism, the occult, Satan, absolute truths, nuclear holocaust, and the second coming of Christ are all reoccurring ideas and topics presenting throughout these pale horse songs of the slow decline. This may not prove to be as relatable as Turnover or Citizen, but mewithoutYou’s biggest strength has always been Weiss’ beautifully-written, poetic, and emotionally- layered lyrics.

The band’s latest addition to their catalog is a remarkably executed return to form. Pale Horses proves to be a perfect representation of the band fifteen-year-career with a flawless vocal performance from legendary Aaron Weiss and some of their most impressive instrumentation to date. If mewithoutYou did not serve as a pillar of nostalgia for you, be prepared to be blown away by their newest release through Run for Cover Records.

Top Albums of 2015: 04) Sufjan Stevens-"Carrie & Lowell"

Sufjan Stevens has displayed nothing but brilliance and vast diversity throughout his expansive discography. From the multi-instrumental and theatrical masterpiece Illinoise, to the stripped down and banjo-driven tunes found on Seven Swans, to the electronic-folk hybrid Age of Adz, Stevens has never stuck to one specific style. Each new addition to his discography proves to be equally as refreshing, and Carrie & Lowell is no different. In fact, I would boldly go as far to say this is his best.

No knowledge of the album’s lyrics are needed to feel the haunting intimacy found in Stevens’ seventh LP. Sufjan revisits the stripped down approach found on Seven Swans but the execution proves to be far more layered and captivating. His alluring acoustic guitar work serves as the album’s backbone matched with enticing ambience and personal lyrics.

The lyrical focus of Carrie & Lowell deals with the passing of Steven’s mother Carrie, the support from his stepfather Lowell, and the reoccurring theme of coping with the inevitable forces of death. It is an unread love letter to a mother that was never there, but also an admiration for her willing absence given the circumstances surrounding her life including diagnosed schizophrenia coupled with a history of substance abuse.

Carrie and Lowell finds Sufjan Stevens inviting you into his personal life with detailed descriptions of his life and his past. Never before has this artist’s music been so emotionally-driven and tear-inducing. I highly recommend this release to anyone coping with loss or anyone that often ponders the concepts of mortal limits.