Five Albums You Should Be Listening To Right Now
Great new records chosen by C.J. McKinney of Bedwetting Cosmonaut.
Every week, titans of the mediasphere give Hooksexup their music recommendations. This week: C.J. McKinney, of Bedwetting Cosmonaut.
1. Gym Class Heroes, The Papercut Chronicles
This is the first hip-hop album I ever really loved. Some might scoff, but it's hard to argue with the way Travis McCoy brings together a story as he spits through the verses on "Faces In The Hall," or the way he gives a middle finger to everyone dumbing down hip-hop on "Kid Nothing vs. The Echo Factor." All of this is set against an articulate and calculated percussion section that's equally impressive.
Listen: “Kid Nothing Boy vs. The Echo Factor”
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2. Forgive Durden, Wonderland
I'm not exactly sure how to classify this album. Is it pop-punk? Theatrical indie rock? Groove-infused post-jazz garage… soul? Classification doesn't really seem to matter. This is easily in my five favorite albums of the last decade. Ever since I got my hands on this bad boy, it's never stopped playing in my house.
Listen: “Il Tango Della Signora Francesco di Bartolommeo di Zanobi del Giocono”
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3. Dangers, Anger
My little brother introduced me to this record by telling me it was one of the greatest hardcore albums ever. While this type of stuff isn't exactly my forte, I've got to agree with him. Anger is a collection of short and furiously pissed off punk songs that aren't just spewing hot air. Hardcore can be a little over the top, but these guys are the real deal.
Listen: “War? What War?”
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4. Right Away, Great Captain!, The Bitter End
This collection of fifteen lo-fi folk songs released by Manchester Orchestra frontman Andy Hull is the first chapter in what will become a trilogy of concept albums later this year. Concerning a seventeenth-century sailor who catches his wife having an affair with his brother, The Bitter End showcases Hull's natural ability to create beautifully simple songs.
Listen: “Right Ahead, Young Sailor!”
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5. And So I Watch You From Afar, Gangs
If you ever get a chance to go see this beastly product of Belfast, do it. I caught these guys last summer and they put out one of the most energetic and technically impressive shows I've ever seen. While their debut had a few minor missteps, Gangs is a glorious glimpse into what the math-rock genre can be in the right hands.
Listen: “Search:Party:Animal”
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