“Ho, ho, ho!” It’s the proper day to share the presence of among the greatest from the Southwest Oklahoma music scene for the 12 months 2020. Or, at the least, my decisions for the Native Better of 2020.
In a 12 months chock stuffed with obstacles and heaping doses of bizarre, it’s triggered our native music group to search out new methods to be heard. With reside levels few and much between, typically it was contained in the recording studio the place voices have been greatest heard.
Perhaps the pandemic risk opened doorways to creativity as a result of this 12 months, I’ve received to provide it as much as a pair of disparate artists for native music MVP honors. As all the time, go to the net version of the column and click on on the hyperlinks to listen to the music simply.
First off, I’m giving all the reward to Takeez (Meals) for unleashing a full-length 13 monitor masterpiece with the long-awaited ”sHoRtYdEuCe” album. It’s my general Album of the Yr. This cat hit on all cylinders in 2020. First, he knocked socks off together with his pre-album launch of ”On Tucc” after which dropped the jaw to the ground with the album’s first monitor, ”Blaxploitation.” It fuses all of the best parts of early-Nineteen Seventies soul and funk with the deep voiced wordsmithery he’s recognized for. His monitor ”Ginger Tea Boogie” that includes SAMO is amongst my favourite songs of the 12 months record and reveals that this MC can croon with the most effective of ‘em — https://youtu.be/bF33kEoKgbw.
If this isn’t sufficient, Takeez unleashed ”The Parts EP” later within the 12 months and he saved placing hearth into the native music sonic soundscape. In 4 tracks, he made as a lot of a press release as a lesser artist presenting a double album. However it’s the monitor “Smoke” that’s most related with a burst of verse for the tumultuous 12 months we’ve survived to this point. It’s in my prime three songs of the 12 months. It’s not one thing you dance to, it’s a track to be imbibed and brought in. That is poise and energy full of ardour. Test it and the opposite three tracks — https://shortydeuce.bandcamp.com/album/the-elements-ep.
Gannon Freemin & CCRev is taking the Co-MVP spot for his or her two stellar EPs. Main off with the acoustic showcase of Fremin’s one-of-a-kind voice that carries as a lot perspective as altitude, ”Shelter Periods” revealed the power of rock strong songwriting stripped all the way down to its bones. Accompanied by lead guitarist Travis Julian’s feel-flavored fretwork, this 5 track assortment supplied a a lot wanted shot to kick off summer season.
The EP’s closing monitor, ”Idle Palms” caps off this assortment with poignant proof that Fremin’s arms are removed from idle. Uncooked and together with his coronary heart opened for the world to see, this singer/songwriter shines — https://youtu.be/AOnk08T3tEM.
The electrified launch ”Okie Thump” confirmed Fremin and his bandmates in the most effective gentle you will get with out it being from a stage. Crimson filth, rock and roll, punk rock perspective and old fashioned nation chops converge with this assortment and proves that they’re onto one thing good, as evidenced on the punchy ”Rose Tattoo.” However it’s one other track that, at first, appears misleading from its title with its acoustic lead in however dives into its core. In step with the theme of co-honors, ”Rock & Roll” is one other shut alternative for monitor of the 12 months — https://youtu.be/8ccac0nAcQY.
Stash Hileman earned Rookie of the Yr honors for his solo ”Millenial Trash” album. This 11 track assortment provides chunk dimension punk rock that’s as catchy because it will get and is well-played and carried out. A one-man recording crew with this assortment, he did an awesome job with the house manufacturing and the efficiency. His monitor ”Void” is nearly as good of a punk track as I’ve heard in ages — https://youtu.be/Hc6ZR1fzHeI.
Stash stopped into Studio Blanket/Tent Fort and received over any nerves he might have needed to flooring Steve-O and the columnist throughout a taping of the column’s former radio present earlier this 12 months with the album’s closing monitor and one other of the 12 months’s favorites, ”Already Gone” — https://youtu.be/85AGSvyOFO4.
I do know the absence of reside music has hit this man as exhausting as anybody. Together with plans for a possible Nacho Cart present, one other venture of his referred to as Dissocial Fury has me excited for 2021.
Though the Railhead stage has remained quiet by way of the pandemic, music by bands that shall be gracing its levels upon reside music’s return has made 2020 a great one for native heavy rock.
Chasing the Coyote appeared from the ether and dropped its self-titled debut EP. A extremely robust manufacturing and execution from this Tipton-based trio helps give it that further punch. Try a spotlight track, ”Medication Man” — https://youtu.be/PhSqFuZKCR4.
A typical hyperlink between the subsequent three bands’ releases is Brandon Cramer at 1121 Recordings right here in Lawton and Slamnasium in Oklahoma Metropolis and helmed by former Lawtonian Mychal Soto. They’re pushing among the cleanest sounding heavy music on the earth and making our bands push their limits to create one thing past the pale.
Take the already strong to the bone Drop Useless Dammit. Reside and on stage, ”Leather-based Apron” is a giant hitter — https://youtu.be/lFC0vcSg6p0.
However following the duo’s manufacturing and modifying, this power-trio hit a brand new stage. The comply with up materials to be included on their upcoming re-release of their self-titled debut EP is totally fierce.
A number of the most violently highly effective heavy music has been churning out from Soto’s band Strangled. The depth of their music, coupled with their primal movies creates an impact that’s past truthful description. It’s meant to be felt as with the video for ”Defect” — https://youtu.be/q5cfEgpwCE4.
When it comes with the long-awaited and extremely anticipated debut launch by native metallic supergroup Desecration Battle, let’s simply say it was definitely worth the wait. You must be prepared for one thing this intense and groundbreaking when it erupts from the native scene. A labored technique of recording paid off for this band. They’ve been working to this second for a very long time and the product reveals the dedication’s pay-off. Simply the highest Heavy Tune of the Yr is their introduction first heard on the column’s late-radio present referred to as ”Grotesque” — https://youtu.be/vAtUg9twddE.
It appears to be like prefer it’s a twofer for Jared Rosin & The Shuffle. After profitable approval for final 12 months’s Tune of the Yr with ”The Valley,” Rosin and Zach Holliday got here by way of within the clutch when requested for a theme track for the columnist and Gary Reddin’s true crime podcast, Redder Dust: An OK Crime Forged.
”Little Crime on the Prairie” knocked it out of the park throughout the first hear of the tough acoustic origins. This accomplished recording is stellar and considered one of my favourite issues of 2020. I can’t thank these gents sufficient for making such a gem after being given solely a title to work with. I hope you test it out — https://jaredrosin.bandcamp.com/track/little-crime-on-the-prairie.
Extra 2020 highlights in subsequent week’s column!
For this week’s Songs for the Sequestration, it’s time to channel my “Secret Santa” facet and share a few of my favourite rock and roll Christmas songs. Hope you examine them out whereas roasting chestnuts on an open hearth or one thing like that.
Nathaniel Rateliff and Elle King mixed to jot down and carry out my new favourite rockin’ Christmas track to recollect referred to as ”Xmas to Overlook” — https://youtu.be/t2p2o9vTsLQ.
Oklahoma’s Flaming Lips traditional ”Christmas on the Zoo” shares the story of releasing the animals on this present day of giving and love. As their songwriting tends to do, it explores different locations — https://youtu.be/Y3mRC-foSZs.
In fact, you gotta have the Boss included in relation to Christmas songs. A minimum of, in relation to this traditional from Bruce Springsteen & The E Avenue Band. Along with his singular voice and one of many biggest bands in rock and roll historical past, ”Merry Christmas, Child” is among the nice songs irrespective of the season — https://youtu.be/GzV8OGocMS8.
The ultimate Christmas want wrapped in track comes from the important punk rock band of all time, the Ramones. ”Merry Christmas (I Don’t Need To Combat Tonight)” isn’t solely a ravishing track that carries the soul and sweetness that makes this band stand above and past so many, it additionally accommodates a message I hope all of us take to coronary heart in the present day — https://youtu.be/KIhIBFPtnoc.
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