2014 has been an amazing year for music made by Arkansans.
Nearly every week saw a new release. And many of those releases raised the bar
for what listeners expect from a "local" musician. Below is a list my
nine favorite releases of the last year and a longer alphabetical list of
artists who also made some incredible music this year. If you haven't finished
your Christmas shopping this year, you could do worse than to give a CD or LP
or download code by one of the artists on this list. And be sure to go out and see these bands when they play live in 2015!
Bonnie Montgomery by Bonnie Montgomery
Ms.
Bonnie turned in what is not only my favorite record of the year, but is
shaping up to be one of my all-time favorites as well.
Hear a bit:
Ursa Major by Major Urges
Relentlessly energetic punk-influenced rock with a snarling wit.
Hear it/Buy it:
All The World There Is by Amasa Hines
Layered, elegant, and emotionally resonant.
Hear a bit:
Bloodsucker by Collin vs. Adam
Hear a bit:
Elemental by High Magic
Nick Cave-level atmospheric gloomy rock from Fayetteville. As a bonus, the band's equally great 2013 EP, The Joy Of Existence, is included on the physical CD.
Hear it/Buy it:
If The Roses Don't Kill Us by Christopher Denny
Hear a bit:
Blind Water Finds Blind Water by Adam Faucett
Hear a bit:
Peckerwolf by Peckerwolf
Hear it/Buy it:
Family History
Technically, this is not a 2014 release. In fact, it's not been released yet at all. Family History is Chase Pagan, Matthew Putman, Sam Roberts, Will Eubanks, Caleb P. Rose, and Landon Moore. The album was recorded in 2011 and 2012 by Adam Putman. I was lucky enough to get to hear the whole thing in mid-December last year, and it's fantastic. The music is is melodic and memorable with a sense of adventure about it. With any luck, it'll be officially released soon and wind up on next year's list, too.
Hear a bit:
All The Way Korean / Ghost Bones self-titled EPs
Former members of Holy Shakes release two different EPs of music this year. All The Way Korean released three songs to raise funds for upstart Hot Springs community radio station, KUHS. Ghost Bones first EP is a promising start for this new band.
Hear All The Way Korean:
Hear Ghost Bones:
Bad Years
Bad Years was a teen-aged punk pop group from Little Rock that broke up just before they finished what would have been their first album. They've graduated, gone to college, moved away, and joined other bands now, but front man Michael Pollock released all the tracks from the aborted full-length online for everyone to enjoy.
Hear it/Buy it:
The Brothel Sprouts
Hear it/Buy it:
The Casual Pleasures
Hear it:
Charlie Virgo
Hear it/Buy it:
The Coasts, Racilia
Hear it/Buy it:
Ginsu Wives, Panic
Hear it/Buy it:
Glass Wands
Hear it/Buy it:
Glittercore
Hear it/Buy it
Knox Hamilton, "Work It Out"
Knox Hamilton released a new EP early in the year and garnered a ton of nationwide airplay for the single, "Work It Out." The band has recently signed to large indie label and started touring nationally, so all of their previous work, except the popular single, has been scrubbed from their site.
Hear it/Buy it:
Mothwind, In The Clutches Of The Novæ
Hear it/Buy it:
Nouns, Still
Hear it/Buy it:
Rad Rad Riot, This Is All Starting To Make Sense
Hear it/Buy it:
Resin Hands, Dead Daze
Hear it/Buy it:
Paul Sammons, "Voices" (featuring Nick Thompson)
Hear it/Buy it:
Sky City, "Nudie Suit"
Hear it:
Buy it:
CD Baby,
iTunes
Tyrannosaurus Chicken, It Ain't Rocket Surgery!
Hear a bit:
Witchsister
Hear it/Buy it:
