TRACKS: Fuzz - "This Time I Got a Reason" & "Fuzz's Fourth Dream"

If you thought after releasing three stellar albums in 2012 (two of which making YPOIW's own list), if you thought garage rocker Ty Segall was going to give it a rest in 2013, you've already been proven wrong. After going hard last year Ty is back again with a project featuring himself on vocals and drums and his own Ty Segall Band member Charles Moothart on guitar duties. The project is called Fuzz, and a listen to the “This Time I Got A Reason” (b/w “Fuzz’s Fourth Dream”) single will show the project is very appropriately named.

This project has me very excited because judging by these jams, the low-end dominated, heavy, pulsating guitar sound of Slaughterhouse is very intact. But that isn't to say Fuzz is a retread of that songwriting style, because these tunes have a very different flavor; I'm getting a jammy, stoner rock vibe from this music, in fact it almost reminds me of Black Sabbath put through a grimier, garage-y lens. The tempos of these tracks are so well suited for the druggy atmosphere, and if this is the sound Fuzz will be playing with in future releases, I am very excited.

The single itself, released by Chicago label Trouble in Mind, is already sold out, but fear not! Stream the two tracks below and see for yourself what may potentially be Ty's next big project in 2013.





(Be sure to follow Robby on Twitter @ClydeNut for more musings on music)

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YPOIW TOP 25 ALBUMS OF 2012: 15-11

With 2012 coming to a close, YPOIW would like to take the week to showcase our favorite releases of the year. Monday through Friday will be a countdown of our top 25 favorite albums of 2012, starting with spots #25-21 on Monday and continuing until the final #5-1 on Friday. This weekend, we'll also be taking a look at some albums that we feel deserve an honorable mention but didn't quite make it on our list as well as releasing our end of year podcast in which we discussed each and every album on this list. Thanks for reading, and most importantly, enjoy!

15. Fiona Apple - The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than The Driver Of The Screw And Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do

Though it is a record that is completely feminine, The Idler Wheel. . . speaks to all demographics that have felt love and loss. The flushed-out piano playing, jazz-abstract percussion, strange ambient samples, electronic churns, and other sounds out of Apple’s fascinating mind give the album a dark tone that is not without heart. That heart comes from Apple’s deep, strained voice. It is a sexy voice that is earnest, never ironic, and never held-back. The anti-innocence of her songwriting shirks naivety by appearing at all times experienced. Apple has experienced the extremes of fame and art and life and sex, and she can work with all of this seamlessly via her experience. She knows exactly what she has accomplished, and she reaches for something more here on her latest record.

Apple has always been a critic’s darling, but now she is at the top of her game. Here, there is a balance between weird (“Hot Knife”) and pop (“Werewolf”). But even in her weirder moments, there are plenty of melodies that permanently embed into the listeners’ brains (“I’m a hot knife I’m a hot knife”) and in her popper songs, there are weird moments that cause borderline confusion (the screams in “Werewolf”). Everything is tied together by Apple’s voice—again that voice—and the themes of lost love. Apple knows that some men are not good for her, and others exist only in fairytale lands (“Anything We Want”) but no matter the shade of relationships she lives through in the moment, they are vital to her. And to us. -TJ

14. Ty Segall Band - Slaughterhouse

Slaughterhouse is Ty Segall’s second appearance on this list (This time as a member of Ty Segall Band) and if the cover of this album doesn’t have your blood curdling, then one listen to it should do the trick. Of the three albums that Ty released this year, Slaughterhouse is without a doubt the heaviest and most menacing. Even though the first thing you’ll probably notice about Slaughterhouse is it’s heavy production, this doesn’t at all come at the expense of Ty’s many melodic gifts. Tracks like “I Bought My Eyes” and “Tell Me What’s Inside Your Heart” are infectious earworms that keep with Ty’s spirit of writing catchy as hell garage rock gems.

My favorite track on Slaughterhouse is without a doubt “Wave Goodbye”. Ty’s demonic cries of “Bye bye! AHHHHHHHHH!” are followed by what is probably the heaviest riff on the entire album. The album ends with the fittingly titled ten minute droney “Fuzz War”, which only emphasizes the heaviness and distortion that Slaughterhouse is all about.

Aside from the sound of this album, the thing I love most about Ty Segall is how honest all his songs feel. There aren’t any gimmicks tying these songs down, Ty and his bandmates lay out everything they have for you to see. They just give you straight up, balls out rock music on Slaughterhouse. Which is admirable in an age when a lot of bands try to hide behind trends and gimmicks. -Mark

13. BADBADNOTGOOD - BBNG2

Few people would argue against the importance of jazz, both musical and cultural, and that it has been home to many of the most creative artists in music history. It is unfortunate, however, to look upon the past several years, which have seen the rise of very few notable jazz artists. The genre is largely stagnant, with most new players who receive acclaim within the jazz community being praised simply for how well they execute the already established ideas of former greats. It is exciting, then, when the rare exception occurs, and an artist or group is willing to push the boundaries of the genre into more currently relevant territory. Toronto-based trio BadBadNotGood is one such example, updating jazz into a context that incorporates hip hop flavorings and an enlivening sense of youth. The band initially garnered attention for its covers of various hip hop instrumentals, including J Dilla's "Fall in Love," Waka Flocka Flame's "Hard in Da Paint," and various Odd Future songs, as well as non-hip hop excursions like Flying Lotus's "Camel," Joy Division's "Transmission," and a medley comprising parts of the soundtrack to the beloved Zelda video game franchise, only occasionally indulging in original compositions. The group's earlier material was certainly impressive, but their sophomore record, BBNG2, expands upon each aspect introduced on their debut. The musicianship and chemistry between members seems to be even stronger, allowing them to develop the simple structures of their source material into fleshed out works. Original compositions are more common, and their inclusion is always warranted, such as with album highlight and saxophone feature "UWM." Even the addition of new instrumentation is productive, such as with the strings on Kanye West cover "Flashing Lights," and the diversity in cover choices feels smoother, welcoming the inclusion of two James Blake picks and a My Bloody Valentine song. Simply performing jazz renditions of modern popular music isn't quite enough to call any artist forward-thinking, but BadBadNotGood excels by letting components of it influence their own, realizing the potential of the songs they reinterpret, and proving to be stellar performers throughout. -Danny

12. El-P - Cancer 4 Cure

In 2010, El-P announced that his alternative hip hop label Definitive Jux would be going on hiatus. This did not bode well for those hoping to hear another album from him, as his last one was released in 2007. El-P has proven to be an artist that takes his time, though, and over the past couple of years, we’ve seen him come back in a big way. After releasing some stellar instrumental tracks in early 2010, including a full mixtape and a Justin Bieber remix, he began collaborating with a lot of up-and-coming artists like Das Racist and Mr. Muthafuckin Exquire. In 2012, we’ve seen him form a beautiful partnership with Killer Mike; he produced Mike’s album and they’ve appeared on each other’s songs. It’s clear that El-P sees the amazing shit that’s happening around him in rap right now and wants to prove that he is worthy of being a part of it. This is exactly what he does on Cancer 4 Cure. As a big fan of his, I can say with confidence that it is the best record he’s ever put out and it was absolutely worth the wait. Cancer 4 Cure takes many of the themes that El-P has worked with in past releases and grounds them in a modern context. He does what much of the best music of today does: reflects the darkness of the surrounding world, and tries to decide how to deal with it. All of this is accomplished while seamlessly moving from one track to another. On the album, El-P shows himself to be a master lyricist, storyteller, and one of the best hip hop producers in the game. I’d say that earns him a spot on this list. -Stephen

11. PS I Love You - Death Dreams

PS I Love You is a bit of an underdog band; they're not wildly popular south of the border and they've never achieved widespread critical acclaim beyond their first album single "Facelove." In many ways, their popularity reflects their hometown of Kingston, which is located on the northern shores of Lake Ontario in-between the sprawling metropolises of Toronto and Montreal. People that live in Ontario know where Kingston is and they know about PS I Love You; everyone else is largely ignorant. Death Dreams is their second album, and while it sticks to the noise pop traditions of their first album, it more or less abandons the punk-short songs in favor of a more traditional alternative rock structure. It more or less is Paul Saulnier doing the best Dinosaur Jr impression anyone has ever done while still maintaining a unique and compelling sound. His vocals are often indecipherable and the mixing is far from perfect, but I also feel this all adds to the charm. It's really hard to care about any flaws this album has when I'm getting my skull shredded by the best young guitarist in North America. -Kyle

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YPOIW TOP 25 ALBUMS OF 2012: 20-16

With 2012 coming to a close, YPOIW would like to take the week to showcase our favorite releases of the year. Monday through Friday will be a countdown of our top 25 favorite albums of 2012, starting with spots #25-21 on Monday and continuing until the final #5-1 on Friday. This weekend, we'll also be taking a look at some albums that we feel deserve an honorable mention but didn't quite make it on our list as well as releasing our end of year podcast in which we discussed each and every album on this list. Thanks for reading, and most importantly, enjoy!

20. Flying Lotus - Until The Quiet Comes

Steven Ellison as Flying Lotus has been releasing full-length albums since 2006's 1983, but within those six years, the producer's hyper-original take on electronic music has already undergone tremendous shifts, inspired waves of copycats, and then shifted some more. Between the more than promising blueprint laid by the cerebral beat journeys of his debut, the expansion of that groundwork into a full-fledged IDM and hip hop blending masterpiece on Los Angeles, and the forays into a cosmic interpretation of the jazz world on his currently most popular Cosmogramma, observing his sound develop has been quite a thrilling process, one that hasn't lost its value with FlyLo's fourth LP, Until the Quiet Comes. The record is decidedly more understated than its predecessor, using its relatively subtle approach to explore the more atmospheric avenues of Flying Lotus's music rather than as an excuse to put forth less ideas. Proof that low dynamic is not to be confused with a shortage of sounds is manifested in songs like the brief yet arresting "Until the Colours Come" and the floaty Niki Randa feature "Hunger." FlyLo isn't afraid to indulge in more danceable moments as well, however, such as on "Sultan's Request" and "Putty Boy Strut." Then there are those moments which walk the line between minimal and maximal perfectly, the prime example being the second half of "Me Yesterday // Corded," which seems to exist on another plane entirely. Until the Quiet Comes may not be quite as powerful as the previous two Flying Lotus LPs, but it certainly isn't any less unique. It is not only another triumph in Flying Lotus's fascinating trajectory, but also a testament to his position as one of the most individual artists in contemporary electronic music. -Danny

19. Dirty Projectors - Swing Lo Magellan

Dirty Projectors—Dave Longstreth, Amber Coffman, etc.—are known in the blogosphere as the weird, arty step brother to indie rock. And that isn’t exactly wrong. They made their name early by writing very challenging tunes with strange concepts. In 2009, their breakthrough came with their catchy deconstruction of radio-pop on Bitte Orca. It was their best album by a longshot and propelled them into the bigger conversation and out of the annals of obscure bands. Now with Swing Lo Magellan, they have matched the highs of Bitte Orca by stripping a lot of, but not all of, their weirdness.

Swing Lo Magellan still isn’t your parents’ kind of rock record. My dad said of “Maybe That Was It," “This is the worst song I have ever heard.” He was not a fan of the squawking guitars or Longstreth’s strained vocals, for sure. It is enough of an endorsement for me, though! However, “About to Die” and “Unto Caesar” are as catchy as Dirty Projectors has ever been. The slow, bass-guitar led “Gun Has No Trigger” was the perfect lead single. Equal parts Dylan, cross-country drivin’ rock, and their usual post-Beatles charm, Dirty Projectors prove consistently they can write the songs that are as ear-worms and inspire think-pieces. Through the usage of handclaps, electro beats, Longstreth’s weird guitar playing and Coffman’s female vocal chorus, Dirty Projectors have written the great rock record of 2012. Swing Low Megellan is an album worth replays with tracks like these. They are timeless. -TJ

18. Dan Deacon - America

America in 9 easy steps!

1. Air-conditioned car with cracked sub-woofers.

2. Spooky sweaty church raves. “Toss me that monstrance, bro!”

3. Hit the asphalt. Color my eyes purple. They look prettier that way.

4. Lifetime Movie Network billboards painted tall by immigrant women.

5. Pause your dial-up porn and recycle this #tag.

6. Our chickens have social media! Beat them with hammers! Eat them with hammers!

7. Shimmering sand. Piss on your cactus, drink from your cactus, lest it do the same to you. The dusty highway marches with you.

8. Wet autumn leaves on the rails matter not.

9.  Rise erect! Forge our rusty steel mills into casinos and mini-malls! This is our land!

You are a monster. Hug your sister and brother monsters. -Steve

17. Swans - The Seer

What can you say about The Seer that doesn't evolve into a discussion about its madness? The haunting first track is entitled "Lunacy" for heaven's sake. The biggest appeal of The Seer is likely Swans mastermind Michael Gira's uncanny ability to plunge you into the depths of his own inner darkness. His musical madness. Something for which Swans has always been known is their level of abuse and punishment, most often inflicted upon their listeners. It's a quality of their music I think most expect, and pretty much want from their releases at this point. But perhaps admission into the secret club of people who "get" Swans is not unlike the prolonged admission into a sick, twisted cult. No one just gets in at first; there are unavoidable hazing rituals involved, and those can be undeniably brutal, painful, and even humiliating. But once you've endured the torture and have found yourself in this club, you may just get the appeal and enjoyment out of this band after all, though your mind might be warped as a result of it. -Robby

16. Ty Segall - Twins

Over the past few years, San Francisco native Ty Segall has been building a repertoire of eccentric, noisy, and sometimes chaotic and lo-fi garage rock albums, showcasing a love of psychedelic rock, punk, and all things 60's. Twins sees Segall making what seems to me like a pop album; the explosive hook on the opener "Thank God for Sinners" turns the song into an unlikely anthem, and it's perhaps one of the most infectious things Ty has penned, and could've been a staple of early 70's radio in an alternate universe. The infection that opener has spreads to the rest of the album, thankfully; with larger than life choruses, good-time melodies, all slathered in Ty's characteristically distorted and sometimes lo-fi production styles. Like Segall's two other albums released this year, Twins is a damn good record and further showcases that, while the styles aren't as blogosphere-friendly as they were a few years ago, Segall is without qualification the solitary frontrunner in garage rock and lo-fi rock today. No questions asked. -Robby

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VIDEO: Ty Segall - "You're The Doctor" (On Letterman)

I'm not usually much for talk show performances but this one was so awesome that I had to share it. Last night Ty Segall performed "You're The Doctor" on Letterman and in my opinion he rocked the fuck out of it. The song is off his latest album Twins (which is his third album this year) which is available right now on Drag City Records. So if you like yourself some garage rock then watch the performance down below.

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