Epitonic Newsletter: Vol. 4, No. 2 'Best of '01'
01/11/02
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Before we fully embrace this palindromic year 2002, we must bid adieu to 2001. And to do that, we Epitonians have compiled a massive collection of songs from our favorite records of the past year to hit Epitonic. And we do mean massive; with 25 songs, this is undoubtedly our longest newsletter to date. Now, not all of our favorite albums of 2001 are represented of course, since we're not able to offer songs from all of them on the site, so unfortunately you won't see Bjork, Plaid, Mouse On Mars, Circulatory System, or Rufus Wainwright (to name but a few) on this list. But many of our favorites are here, so we think the music in this newsletter is pretty darn fantastic. We hope you will too.
"The Moon"
by
Microphones
A swirling miasma of dreamy pop and fuzzy noise. Microphones construct small, essential vignettes, carnival music for a shuttered, fog-enshrouded boardwalk.
"Rooster Mountain"
by
The Court and Spark
The Court and Spark combine plaintive and beautiful vocals with just the right amount of shuffle and twang to create music that is uniquely their own.
"In Metal"
by
Low
You can call them what you like -- "slowcore," "sadcore," or what have you -- but you can't argue with the fact that this Minnesota trio makes exquisitely, overwhelmingly powerful music. With minimal arrangements never consisting of more than a guitar, bass, keyboard, delicate strings, a hint of percussion, and sublime vocal harmonies, Low has the impact of a full symphony orchestra.
"Pyramid Song"
by
Radiohead
Ever since Radiohead got famous on the strength of their memorably self-deprecating single, "Creep," they've shown themselves to be as full of surprises as they are pathos. They're one of those rare bands that can transcend labels, genres, and expectations and still appeal to just about everyone.
"Black Night"
by
Badar Ali Khan
Vocalist Badar Ali Khan holds the crown to the Qawwali music throne, passed down from his deceased cousin Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. Don't miss the opportunity to hear this unique and exquisite brand of traditional Sufi music.
"Dark Waters (excerpt)"
by
Ingram Marshall
Whatever physical space you occupy, Ingram Marshall's delicate and deliberate blend of acoustic instrumentation and electronic processing will transport you to a distant land devoid of walls or barriers.
"Popul Vuh"
by
Tarentel
Between lush ambient soundscapes and dramatic bursts of noise, Tarentel runs the gamut of musical expression, evoking a multitude of both urban and pastoral images.
"Hydrogen"
by
Loscil
Loscil is the pseudonym of Vancouver-based recording artist Scott Morgan, who uses synths, samplers, and computer programming to create hypnotically pulsing ambient minimalism.
"Leave Me Now"
by
Herbert
As Wishmountain, Doctor Rockit, and Radio Boy, Matthew Herbert has been a pioneering force in electronic music since the mid '90s. His creative work has been the mainstay of an endless list of labels, including Warp, Universal Language, and Phonography, as well as his own Soundslike, Lifelike, and Accidental imprints.
"Horses"
by
Rovo
Forget what you thought instruments were supposed to sound like. Forget what you thought music was supposed to sound like. Coming straight out of the Tokyo underground, Rovo will blow you away with their amazing fusion of breakbeats, experimental improvisation, gonzo electronics, tribal percussion workouts, and spacey psych.
"From Dub Til Dawn"
by
Terry Lee Brown Jr.
Norman Feller has reserved his Terry Lee Brown Jr. pseudonym for the Plastic City label since '95. His soothing tech-house sounds prompted house music maestro Marshall Jefferson to declare him a god.
"With Grace"
by
DJ Krush
Respected Japanese DJ, producer, and remixer DJ Krush has been a key figure in the hip hop scene since the late '80s, as his studio buddies DJ Shadow, Mos Def, and DJ Cam will attest.
"N. E. S. T. A. (Never Ever Submit To Authority)"
by
Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra
Antibalas, Spanish for bulletproof (quite literally, anti-bullets), follow in the footsteps of the almighty Fela Anikulapo-Kuti with their modern Afro-beat sounds. The fourteen-plus Brooklyn-based jazz and funk ensemble is as political as it is funky.
"It Ain't Nothing Like (Featuring The Pharcyde)"
by
Rae & Christian
Pioneering hip hop-cum-downtempo producers Rae & Christian are widely regarded as leaders of the U.K. soul scene. Their collaborations with Bobby Womack, Jeru The Damaja, and The Pharcyde have garnered a strong following on both sides of the Atlantic.
"The Novel Sound"
by
Llorca
Hailed as the next St. Germain, Llorca's soulful jazz-influenced house is deep and funky in equal measures. He runs the Brique Rouge label with David Duriez and has licensed his productions to an array of labels, including France's premier imprint, F Communications.
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"Destiny"
by
Zero 7
Smooth, laid-back, soulful downtempo from a pair of superstar London-based producers.
"Life Is Full Of Possibilities"
by
Dntel
This odd blend of glitchy electronics, melancholic ambience, and variety of voices from indie rock's upper class makes for a most decompressing listening experience.
"IMpossible"
by
Figurine
Channeling the sugar sweet melodies and
catchy songwriting of '80s New Wave icons
OMD, Pet Shop Boys, and Depeche Mode, the
L.A.-via-San Francisco-via-Northampton,
Massachusetts trio Figurine hook you into a
singalong with every electronic bleep, boing,
and blip.
"Concrete Seconds"
by
Pinback
San Diego's Pinback doesn't resort to any wild and unpredictable new tricks, but still writes eccentric, intelligent atmospheric pop that's unlike anything else out there. What else would we expect from such emissaries of offbeat beauty as Rob Crow and Zach Smith, whom we all know and love for their work in groups like Three Mile Pilot, Heavy Vegetable, and Thingy.
"Yellow Tape"
by
Canyon
Energetic indie rockers reinventing themselves as sad-eyed folkies? Not sure what to expect? Expect the very best. Canyon delivers lovingly rendered, introspective, rootsy songs that map out the fault lines of the heart.
"Recognize"
by
The Convocation Of...
A truly brilliant, new sound in punk rock. This rambling, loose-limbed Baltimore trio shows that instrumental genius can be a messy, dangerous thing.
"Less Than A Moment"
by
Shannon Wright
Singer-songwriter Shannon Wright produces haunting, introspective, acoustic-oriented songs that shine a light on the frayed edges of life. Her ethereal voice creeps up on you like a sudden fog in a live oak forest.
"Crazy"
by
The Clean
The Clean are the grand old patriarchs of New Zealand rock. For nearly a quarter century, the seminal group has pumped out a distinctive brand of punk-injected melodic pop, spiked with a strong streak of arty dissonance and atmospheric psychedelia.
"The Dark Is Rising"
by
Mercury Rev
Despite enduring countless trials and tribulations during their existence as a band, this New York ensemble has evolved from their noisy chaotic avant-rock origins into sensitive neo-psychedelic pop-rock innovators. One of the best of the bigger bands around today.
