12 Weeks, How Many Records? Part 1

So I’m working at a library again and there’s this guy who’s put over 200 CDs on hold. At the same time. That’s led to some discussion about how he’s going to listen to them all. Someone floated the idea he’s a DJ; I like to think trucker. Regardless, there’s widespread doubt he’d listen to them all. Checkouts for three weeks, then you get three renewals – so in theory, twelve weeks to listen to 200 records. And all these discussions got me thinking. I could listen to 200 records in twelve weeks. Right?

Well I decided to keep track. What follows will be every record that I’ve listened to in full over the next twelve weeks, starting August 5th. I’m not gonna include repeats, even though I’ll definitely give a good chunk of these more than one spin; the idea is to see how many different records I listen to, not to count how many times I listen to, say, Today’s Empires, Tomorrow’s Ashes, in three months.

I’ll break it up into three week segments: 1) initial checkout (8/5-8/26), 2) first renewal (8/27-9/16), 3) second renewal (9/17-10/7), and 4) final renewal (10/8-10/28). That’ll take me up to October 28th. I’ll have a few short sentences about the record and a link to check it out. And so, without further ado, let the great experiment begin!

1) Marissa Nadler & Stephen Brodsky - Droneflower (2019, Sacred Bones Records)
Nadler’s ethereal vocals mix with some sort of dark indie folk to create some light soundscapes with the right mix of ambiance and direction. Brodsky doesn’t bring much of Cave In’s bite, but the vibe works well.
Listen on Bandcamp

2) Killswitch Engage - As Daylight Dies (2006, Roadrunner Records)
I enjoyed the early era Killswitch more, with Jesse Leach on vocals. This is still decent, fitting into their formula, with some solid riffs throughout these songs. And that “Holy Diver” cover? Fuck yes, I could listen to that all day.
Listen on YouTube

3) Torche - Admission (2019, Relapse Records)
Sludge pop? Torche mix their sensibilities of sparkle with doses of crunch and drone, making catchy, grimy rock n roll.
Listen on Bandcamp

4) Inter Arma - Sulphur English (2019, Relapse Records)
Take all the colors of the extreme metal rainbow, mix them up, add in extra dollops of death and doom and you get something like Inter Arma. Pacing varies from funeral doom to more or less old school doom amidst their grandiose compositions.
Listen on Bandcamp

5) Urrnil - Inheritor (2018, High Cathedral Records)
The best ambient music makes you feel like you’re somewhere else. Urrnil’s dungeon synth is epic, giving you the feel of being off on some medieval adventure to some grand locale up in the mountains.
Listen on Bandcamp

6) The World/Inferno Friendship Society - Just The Best Party (2002, Gern Blandsten)
7) The World/Inferno Friendship Society - Red-Eyed Soul (2006, Chunksaah Records)
8) The World/Inferno Friendship Society - Addicted To Bad Ideas (2007, Chunksaah Records)
9) The World/Inferno Friendship Society - This Packed Funeral (2014, Alternative Tentacles)
World/Inferno came to town for a pair of shows (including one “secret” show at the Burlington). So as good an excuse to revisit some of their material. Personally, Red-Eyed Soul and Addicted to Bad Ideas, contain some of my favorite W/IFS songs, and it’s always fun to see the collection of songs they play live; they were particularly scattershot this time around, with diverging setlists over the two nights.
Just the Best Party on YouTube
Red-Eyed Soul on YouTube
Addicted to Bad Ideas on YouTube
This Packed Funeral on Bandcamp

10) Iron Maiden - Iron Maiden (1980, EMI)
11) Iron Maiden - Killers (1981, EMI)
12) Iron Maiden - The Number Of The Beast (1982, EMI)
13) Iron Maiden - Piece Of Mind (1983, EMI)
14) Iron Maiden - Powerslave (1984, EMI)
15) Iron Maiden - Somewhere In Time (1986, EMI)
16) Iron Maiden - Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son (1988, EMI)
How many bands can compete with Iron Maiden’s first decade in terms of consistently great releases? Even the switch from Paul Di’Anno to Bruce Dickinson on vocals after the first two records didn’t slow them down. I decided to shell out the cash to go see Maiden live again, so it was a great excuse to revisit the classic cuts from their collection.
Iron Maiden on YouTube
Killers on YouTube
The Number of the Beast on YouTube
Piece of Mind on YouTube
Powerslave on YouTube
Somewhere In Time on YouTube
Seventh Son of a Seventh Son on YouTube

17) Ramin Djawadi ‎- Game Of Thrones (Music From The HBO Series) Season 8 (2019, Water Tower Music)
Regardless of what you thought about the final season of Game of Thrones, it is completely undisputable that the music is nothing less than phenomenal. The main theme is well known by now, but the ability to incorporate recurring themes into other compositions is brilliant, giving a cohesion to the music of the world. The sense of grandeur in the pieces is truly inspiring, with multiple movements eliciting majestic moments at a truly epic scale.
Game of Thrones (Music From The HBO Series) Season 8 on YouTube

18) Steve Von Till - As The Crow Flies (Neurot Recordings, 2000)
Von Till is best known as one of the masterminds behind the incomparable Neurosis, so his first foray into solo territory brings some of that Neurosis vibe. These dark folk and ambient tunes are perfect for fall bonfires in the middle of the woods.
As The Crow Flies on Bandcamp

19) Millencolin - True Brew (2015, Epitaph Records)
I really liked Millencolin when I was in high school. Like a lot of punks around my age, I discovered them because “No Cigar” was in Tony Hawk (the music in those games was amazing). They kinda seemed to go away for a while, but True Brew is a phenomenal comeback record (and “True Brew” is one of my favorite songs from their whole catalog). Pretty much every song here is fantastic. True Brew definitely takes its place alongside Life On A Plate and Pennybridge Pioneers in terms of Millencolin’s best releases.
True Brew on YouTube

20) Andrew Jackson Jihad - People Who Can Eat People Are The Luckiest People In The World (2007, Asian Man Records)
I’ve written on here before about how awesome this record is and about how much more I liked AJJ when it was just Sean and Ben, and we all talked about how People Who Can Eat People… is an all-time awesome record. But goddamn is this record fantastic. I don’t think it’s possible to sing sad songs this happily. A fucking classic.
People Who Can Eat People Are The Luckiest People In The World on YouTube

21) Merzbow - Kakapo (2016, Oaken Palace Records)
Japan’s prolific noise genius presents a half hour of noise inspired by an endangered flightless parrot from New Zealand. Nerdy? Hell yeah. But it’s electronic shrieks and wails and drones and clicks are fascinating.
Kakapo on Bandcamp

22) Amyl And The Sniffers - Amyl And The Sniffers (2019, ATO Records)
Fast, smart, and snotty punk rock from Down Under. Amyl and the Sniffers have a definite throwback vibe to bands like X or the Plasmatics. Don’t sleep on this despite the 15 hour time difference.
Amyl and The Sniffers on Bandcamp

23) Caïna - I, Mountain (2007, God Is Myth Records)
Elsewhere Caïna play raw black metal. On I, Mountain, they do a lo-fi, droning, ambient interpretation of H.P. Lovecraft’s At the Mountains of Madness. Filled with equal parts that crackle and screech contrasting with low-key guitar passages amongst the ten movements here, I, Mountain is solid noise.
I, Mountain on YouTube

24) Propagandhi - Today's Empires, Tomorrow's Ashes (2000, Fat Wreck Chords)
25) Propagandhi - Potemkin City Limits (2005, Fat Wreck Chords)
26) Propagandhi - Supporting Caste (2009, G7 Welcoming Committee)
27) Propagandhi - Failed States (2012, Epitaph Records)
28) Propagandhi - Victory Lap (2017, Epitaph Records)
My partner has been listening to the podcast where Chris Hannah talks about the history behind Propagandhi songs while doing some work around the apartment, and it’s always a blast to listen to him talk. If you know me, you know I’ll never skip an opportunity to listen to some Propagandhi. This band can pretty much do no wrong in my book, and I’ve written how awesome they are on here before. And no, I’m not counting how many times I listen to these records.
Today's Empires, Tomorrow's Ashes on Bandcamp
Potemkin City Limits on Bandcamp
Supporting Caste on Bandcamp
Failed States on YouTube
Victory Lap on YouTube

29) RVIVR - The Beauty Between (2013, Rumbletowne Records)
The Beauty Between won the first ever bracket back in 2013, beating out our good friend Davey Dynamite. And RVIVR hasn’t been back since this is their latest full length to date. But it still stands up as a great, with some of my favorite RVIVR tunes (“LMD,” “Spider Song,” “Wrong Way/One Way”). So much fun to listen to.
The Beauty Between on Bandcamp

30) Red City Radio - To The Sons & Daughters Of Woody Guthrie (2010, Loose Charm Records)
One of the coolest shows I’ve been to was seeing Red City Radio at a pizza joint down in Bloomington/Normal. Back in the day of To the Sons & Daughters of Woody Guthrie, they were a little more punk and a little less country. Lots of sing alongs here with a quality dose political consciousness, clearly inspired by Guthrie himself.
To The Sons & Daughters Of Woody Guthrie on YouTube

31) Arms Aloft - Comfort At Any Cost (2010, Gilead Media)
Wisconsin’s Arms Aloft fall into the category of bands I’ve seen so many times I’ve lost count. They seemed to tour on the strength of this EP a lot back in the day. Six D4 inspired tunes with working class sensibilities and Midwestern feels. Hard to get much better at merging those influences together than with the mighty “Doubledranopercocetnoice.”
Comfort At Any Cost on Bandcamp

32) Pelican - Nighttime Stories (2019, Southern Lord Recordings)
This is probably my favorite Pelican release since 2005’s The Fire in Our Throats Will Beckon the Thaw. Brooding compositions with some solid riffs, there isn’t that sense of grandeur that Pelican had on those ten-plus minute epics on their earlier releases. Instead they’ve distilled every element down, creating concise movements that don’t need that much space to be rad.
Nighttime Stories on Bandcamp

33) Death Before Dishonor - Unfinished Business (2019, Bridge Nine Records)
Veering on classic tough guy hardcore, this is Death Before Dishonor’s first release in ten years. I saw them put on a great show with all your hardcore clichés back in the day and it’s good to see they’re still kicking.
Unfinished Business on Bandcamp

34) Joe Vickers - Notes For The Wood Burning Stove (2018, Gunner Records)
In the category of friends make awesome music is pretty much everything Joe does. Lots of heartfelt songs here, but I’ve got a soft spot for “Moving Day,” having just moved recently.
Notes For The Wood Burning Stove on Bandcamp

35) 3 Inches Of Blood - Advance And Vanquish (2004, Roadrunner Records)
This is a modern classic in throwback metal. Back in 2004, there really wasn’t much in the way of bands playing up that 80s vibe and few have ever done it as well as 3 Inches of Blood. Advance and Vanquish is totally nerdy in its lyrical approach, but absolutely fantastic everywhere too (there’s lyrical brilliance amongst the nerdiness). An absolute must if you like old-school metal.
Advance And Vanquish on YouTube

36) Worriers - Cruel Optimist (2013, Don Giovanni Records)
I loved this record when it first came out and saw Worriers at the Empty Bottle back in 2014, so it’s exciting for me to see how they’ve continued to grow over the years. Lots of tunes here are extremely relatable and catchy. And few bands encapsulate dealing with anxiety and stress and mental health as well as Worriers.
Cruel Optimist on Bandcamp

37) Off With Their Heads - In Desolation (2010, Epitaph Records)
Oh hey, these dudes do a pretty good job summing up anxiety and stress and mental health too. Few lyricists are as hilarious and biting in their self-deprecation as Off With Their Heads’ Ryan Young. Just like Worriers, there’s a lot here that’s easy to connect to, even if you don’t want to be as hard on yourself as Young.
In Desolation on Bandcamp

38) Diplodocus - Slow And Heavy (2019, Self-Released)
I had no idea I needed dino-synth in my life because I had no idea this existed. The closest thing I was aware of was Senmuth’s Mesozoic trilogy. But this is wonderful, minimalist ambiance influenced by dinosaurs! How did we live without soundscapes inspired by the “Prowl of the Concavenator” or a “Grazing Antarctopelta” before? I know, I’m stunned too.
Slow And Heavy on Bandcamp

39) The Lawrence Arms - Oh! Calcutta! (2006, Fat Wreck Chords)
I saw the Lawrence Arms live for the first time in that period between Greatest Story Ever Told and Oh! Calcutta!. So, in the decade-plus since then when I’ve seen them live on average of at least once a year, songs from Oh! Calcutta! have always been a staple of the set list. While I’m into everything that the Lawrence Arms have done, the aforementioned records hold that soft spot for me because of that history.
Oh! Calcutta! on Bandcamp

40) Panopticon - Kentucky (2012, Pagan Flames Productions)
Panopticon’s brand of black metal, especially as it comes through on Kentucky is quite unique. There’s a lot of bands that play that atmospheric, nature-inspired black metal, but nobody mixes in the bluegrass influences that Panopticon can with political philosophy – here it takes a heavy pro-union view. One of the best black metal bands active today.
Kentucky on Bandcamp

41) Ulver - Kveldssanger (1996, Head Not Found)
That atmospheric vibe in black metal owes a large debt to Ulver’s second full length. They followed up a raw black metal record with Kveldssanger – totally chill, neofolk ambiance. It’s really an incredible shift, made especially more poignant that they then went straight back to raw black metal (before going off in all sorts of directions). Kveldssanger is a great record for chilly fall nights.
Kveldssanger on YouTube

42) Bones Brigade - I Hate Myself When I'm Not Skateboarding (2003, Fight Fire With Fire Records)
43) Bones Brigade - Endless Bummer (2005, Coalition Records)
Bones Brigade is the shit. Super fast, catchy, melodic hardcore with sick riffs and hilarious lyrics and well-placed sound-clips. I’d love to have a time machine to go back and see them live. All go no slow!
I Hate Myself When I'm Not Skateboarding on YouTube
Endless Bummer on YouTube

44) Rhapsody - Power Of The Dragonflame (2002, LMP)
45) Rhapsody - Symphony of Enchanted Lands II - The Dark Secret (2004, Steamhammer)
Back in high school, Danny from Don’t Panic and I would talk about going to the Ren Faire every summer. It was the kind of thing we’d talk about doing every summer and then never go. Well fifteen years or so in the making, we finally made it. And Rhapsody is the perfect soundtrack – nerdy, orchestral, majestic, but pretty damn awesome. How damn awesome? They recruited none other than Christopher Lee to narrate amongst the ridiculous solos and ornate orchestrations.
Power of The Dragonflame on YouTube
Symphony of Enchanted Lands II - The Dark Secret on YouTube

46) Punch - They Don't Have To Believe (2014, Deathwish)
This may have been Punch’s last recorded output, but holy shit did they go out with a bang. Blink and you’ll miss it, this record is an absolute rager, a total blast to listen to. Talk about ending on a high note.
They Don't Have To Believe on Bandcamp

47) White Lung - Sorry (2012, Deranged Records)
Sorry is pure energy – the songs that eclipse two minutes barely do so – and the whole thing flies by at a furious, frenetic pace. Vocalist Mish Way somehow makes this barrage even more chaotic. It’s beautiful noise.
Sorry on Bandcamp

48) Lastkaj 14 - Becksvart (2017, Second Class Kids Records)
Today in ‘I have no idea what they’re saying’ is Becksvart. It’s all in Swedish, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t catchy-as-hell skate punk. Songs range from classic sing-alongs to the drunken party vocals, where you can pretend you know Swedish, because the hooks are so damn good you’ll want to make believe.
Becksvart on Bandcamp

49) Refused - The Shape Of Punk To Come (A Chimerical Bombination In 12 Bursts) (1998, Burning Heart Records)
It’s hard to deny the influence the last Refused LP had before their return from a lengthy hiatus. There’s a lot here that really did have a huge influence on hardcore and punk in the early 2000s. But what maybe goes a little understated is Refused’s ability to craft epics. The best tunes here all push or exceed the five-minute mark.
The Shape Of Punk To Come (A Chimerical Bombination In 12 Bursts) on Bandcamp

50) NOFX - The Decline (1999, Fat Wreck Chords)
“The Decline” might very well be the best NOFX song. It’s a rather difficult comparison – each passage here is like it’s own kick-ass NOFX song. But at 18 minutes, comparing this to a regular, two minute or NOFX song is like comparing apples and zucchini. But “the Decline” does highlight all of the best parts of NOFX and is definitely worth the time commitment.
The Decline on Bandcamp

51) Gallowbraid - Ashen Eidolon (2010, Northern Silence Productions)
Gallowbraid is the brainchild of Jake Rogers, today the vocalist for the awesome trad-metal Visigoth. But Gallowbraid is pure Cascadian black metal, worshiping at the altar of Agalloch and Wolves in the Throne Room, with two ambient, neofolk-esque interludes, following up the black metal. This is their only release, but it’s some of the best black metal I’ve heard in the Cascadian subgenre.
Ashen Eidolon on Bandcamp