By: Henry Nickerson | Co-Editor-in-Chief
Finding new music can be a bit overwhelming these days. With the amount of taste algorithms, curated playlists, and new album releases every week, one may find it difficult to sift through the muck. Once in a while, however, a truly unique project distances itself from the pack: Rex Orange County’s Apricot Princess, Tyler the Creator’s Flower Boy, and Brockhampton’s Saturation. Although these once-niche projects have gained worldwide recognition, most new artist’s records aren’t lucky enough to be given the opportunity to do so, and under-appreciated albums of established artists are often forgotten. This playlist presents those projects that have either been overlooked by a wide audience or haven’t yet been given their opportunity in the sun. Featuring acts both old and new, genres from electro-pop to hip-hop, this playlist is composed of five albums you have probably never heard of, but certainly need to.
1. The Early Four Track Recordings- Of Montreal
Made in 2001 in Kevin Barne’s Athens studio, The Early Four Track Recordings is the charming, lost gem of Of Montreal’s expansive discography. Of Montreal is widely known as the homo-indie-glam-pop outfit that is popular for the glittery and bombastic sounds of albums like Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer?. However, Barnes’ fifth studio album sticks out like a sore thumb among Of Montreal’s genre-bending discography. Familiar elements of Barnes’ songwriting are present: sonic gambles, lo-fi production, and nasally vocals. However, the additional (and frankly out of character) simple song structure, acoustic instrumentation, and trippy lyricism separates The Early Four Track Recordings from the rest of Of Montreal’s projects. This album is a must-listen if you are a fan of acts such as Violent Femmes and Neutral Milk Hotel.
Key Tracks: “Dustin Hoffman Thinks About Eating Soap”, “Dustin Hoffman’s Wife Comes Home”, “Dustin Hoffman’s Wife Makes a Sarcastic Remark, Cuts the Head Off a Duck, Places It Where the Tub Was and Begins to Growl”
2. Twin Fantasy– Car Seat Headrest
Do you think rock-n-roll has sighed its last breath? Think again. Recorded in 2011 in the back of his car at a Target parking lot, Will Toledo A.K.A. Car Seat Headrest solidified his bombastic sound of lo-fi garage-rock ballads with the cult classic, Twin Fantasy. Although this album is by no means an easy listen given the ever-constant metallic microphone hum and out of tempo transitions, Twin Fantasy has emerged as the manifesto for a rock-n-roll revival. Toledo’s experimental sonic gambles, dizzying song structures, and wall-of-sound instrumentals have done something that very few artists have done in the past couple of years— made rock-n-roll cool. Toledo followed Twin Fantasy up with a trio of aesthetic-defining albums in 2013 and 2014 released on Bandcamp. After finally receiving recognition for his prolific work by being signed to a label, Toledo released Teens of Style & Teens of Denial. Both projects were widely heralded by critics and listeners alike. Since then, Twin Fantasy has been rerecorded and remastered by Will and his label. The new, shiny results are stunning; however, one cannot overlook the charming flaws of the original recordings. Will Toledo may very well be the savior of rock-n-roll, and it all started from this ragged record.
Key Tracks: “Sober to Death”, “Cute Thing”, “Stop Smoking (We Love You)”
3. Wild Onion– Twin Peaks
Ever wonder what it would sound like if the Rolling Stones and Lou Reed had a baby? Twin Peaks answers that question, particularly in their 2014 sophomore project Wild Onion. Energetic and youthful, this Chicago outfit of four high school buddies has almost single-handedly kept the garage/surf-rock genre alive for the last five years. This album is full of dangerously-catchy hooks and top-notch guitar work. The Twin Peaks dudes pass around lead vocals throughout the track list, providing the listener with Beatles-style diversity, transitioning from milky-smooth delivery one moment to rugged and raspy delivery the next. Although there are very few sonic gambles, Twin Peaks creates a truly fun and uplifting record with familiar rock instrumentals. If you are looking for new genre-defining content, you may not find that here. However, if you are looking to listen to some catchy, straightforward garage-rock songs, Twin Peaks are your guys.
Key Tracks: “Making Breakfast”, “Flavor”, “Sloop Jay D”, “I Found a Way”, “Telephone”
4. Wide Awake!– Parquet Courts
Parquet Courts may not be as underground as these other artists, but their latest project, Wide Awake! is a funk-punk adventure that cannot be ignored. Touching on topics from gun violence to maternal abuse, Parquet Courts crafts an incredibly funky, yet dense project. This genre bending record utilizes versatile instrumentals that can range from go-go drums to an eerie children’s choir in minutes. Andrew Savage’s vocals are raw and emotive, and while sometimes slightly off pitch, incredibly effective. Brooklyn has an extremely exciting music scene at the moment, and Parquet Courts are at its forefront.
Key Tracks: “Wide Awake”, “Freebird II”, “Violence”, “Tenderness”
5. Verbatim- Danny Hatem and PmBata
“This shit is long over-due”, Hatem begins his debut album with fellow rapper and producer PmBata with remarks about the group’s laborious come-up. The Kansas City duo has steadily gained a local following through releases on Soundcloud and released their long-awaited debut record Verbatim in September. Drawing on inspiration from acts such as Kendrick Lamar and Brockhampton, Hatem and PmBata craft an album that can be both straight-up savage one moment and deeply human the next. The flows on this project are simply stunning; the hip-hop community has grown to expect flawless delivery from midwest rappers, and Hatem/PmBata are no exception. The instrumentals are richly dense and well-produced, the features are effective, and the overall focus is dead on. Although I’d like to see the duo take slightly more sonic gambles in terms of production, Verbatim is an album that can be enjoyed by the casual listener and hip-hop geek alike. If you are a fan of underground rap and you are looking to hear a masterclass in lyricism and grit, Hatem and PmBata might be your guys.
Key Tracks: “I.D.O.Y.N.”, “Throwback”, “Rain (feat. Ethos)”
