From Idles and Greta Van Fleet to Pond and King Gizzard, here are five albums I’ve been listening to all year.
1.) IDLES- Crawler (Partisan Records)
Crawler is the fourth studio album in five years from this English quintet who have spent a lot of time insisting they are not a punk rock band. Crawler is IDLES at their most punk, and least punk. They enlisted multi-faceted producer Kenny Beats to help guitarist and co-producer Mark Bowen them move in new sonic directions and boy has that paid off. They dabble in Motown (“MTT 420 RR”) and sounds from the ‘50s (“The Beachland Ballroom”).
These sit comfortably alongside the aggression of prototype IDLES like “Car Crash.” As always, vocalist Joe Talbot’s engaging storytelling lyrics which are nothing if not honest, are among Crawler’s biggest selling points.
2.) Greta Van Fleet- The Battle at Garden’s Gate (Lava/Republic)
So much love and so much haterade aimed at these young fellows at the time of their 2018 debut, Anthem of the Peaceful Army. Part impressed with vocalist Josh Kiszka’s disturbingly similar to Robert Plant tones, and part skeptical of the band’s future as Led Zeppelin Mk II, their follow-up, The Battle at Garden’s Gate shows that the Kiszka brothers and their cousin are capable of imitating a cross-section of bands: Rush, Queen, [insert name of ‘70s arena rock band here].
As derivative as some of their material might be, Greta Van Fleet’s musical chops, and vocal prowess, is not to be discounted. They are beasts on their instruments, have undeniable star power, and if this album is any indication, they are here for the long haul.
3.) POND – 9 (Spinning Top)
If it sounds like all groups from Perth, Australia sound like Tame Impala replications, that could be because so many of their members have spent time is Kevin Parker of Tame Impala’s band. POND is no exception. 9, is, big surprise, the group’s ninth album and continues the trajectory of its predecessors’ cosmic psychedelic indie-pop, albeit with more definition, more energy, and less stream of instrumentation. Overall, a lot more to hook onto and all the better for it.
4.) King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard- The Butterfly 3000 (KGLW)
What, only two albums this year from King Gizz and the Liz Wiz? Not counting their live album, Live at Levitation, that is. Butterfly 3000 is the second of the Australian psychedelic jam band’s full-lengths in 2021, and it has nothing to do with any of the other albums by the group.
The main distinction is synthesizers front and center and guitars fuzzy in the distance. This major switch which gives their patented psych-rock sound a dance-y edge, and the album plays out as seamlessly as a DJs set.
5.) King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard- L.W. (KGLW)
L.W. is the second half of 2020’s K.G. It follows that work’s Middle Eastern leanings, but to a lesser degree. An interesting turn for King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, the intricate melodies and jamming quality of these sounds lend themselves to the group’s keep your head down and just play approach, but throw in some tasty flavors.
