I love “best of” lists. But I hate waiting until the end of the year for them. Hence my new monthly feature “What Did You Listen To?” Leave a comment and let me know what you listened to this month. Here are few of my favorite releases from November 2017:
Kingslynn – Into the White LightWhat Did You Listen to? – November 2017
Into the White Light is the debut album from the indie pop band from Miami, FL. After two EPs, Kingslynn has hit their stride with this album of 80’s influenced synth-pop. If you’re a fan of Kye Kye or The Ember Days you’ll want to check this album out.
Favorite songs: “Give It Up,” “Without You,” “Hideout”
Eleventyseven – Rad Science
eleventyseven is alive! I’ve been spinning the Rad Science CD in my car all month. It’s a great pop punk album with little bit of synth thrown in for good measure. My only disappointment is the choice of words on a couple of the songs. Otherwise I wholeheartedly recommend checking out this album.
Favorite songs: “New Rock Bottom,” “1990 Awesome,” “Kick the Habit”
Mike Mains – Magic Christmas [EP]
Is there such a thing as too soon for Christmas music? Absolutely! Is it ever too soon for new music from Mike Mains? Never! Christmas Magic dropped the day after Thanksgiving and I haven’t stopped listening to it since–no shame. It’s an EP full of wonderfully melancholy Christmas tunes. The only misstep here is ending the EP with “Jingle Bells.”
Favorite songs: “Merry Christmas, Baby,” “Happy Holidays, My Dear”
Tiger Drive – The In-Between [Single]
“The In-Between” is the first song from Tiger Drive to get a wide release to all digital music services. And it’s about time. The song was released in celebration of Stranger Things season 2 which makes it a must listen for fans of the Netflix series.
That’s all I’ve got for this month! Keep an eye out for another “What Did You Listen To?” next month as well as the IVM staff’s “best of 2017” lists.
John Mark McMillan- Mercury and Lightning & his live album.
’68- Two Parts Viper
Sometime Sunday- Drain
Grammatrain- Flying
Common Children- Skywire
Beanbag- Free Signal
Pax 217- Two Seventeen
Blindside- Silence
Beloved- Failure On
All the Citizens albums
Both Loud Harp Albums
Seeker and Servant- Exiles
Islander- Violence and Destruction
Beartooth- Disgusting
Also, when I am in the mood…
Cass -Genesis
Andy Mineo’s Magic & Bird Mixtape
anything by Social Club
The new Bieber album
I’ve been listening to the new Phinehas most of all, even though I just got it last week. I’ve gone through The Ongoing Concept’s new one as well. Sadly, the stuff I ordered on Black Friday wont’ ship until the pre-orders are released, so I can’t listen to Earth Groans or Your Memorial or a few of the others yet.
Went through quite a lot of Anberlin this morning. Always get a lot of Wolves at the Gate in as well, both the newest and the older stuff. Phinehas’ Dark Flag definitely leads the pack for November though.
Phinehas “Dark Flag” – love it! (Maybe my 2nd fave in the catalogue next to The Last Words…” Demoniciduth “Enemy of Satan” – fantastic death/black metal album, worth the wait! Your Memorial “S/T” – my favorite from them. Added “Forever United” to it. Hand of Fire “Nuclear Sunrise” – great classic bay area thrash sound. Super solid. Forsaken “Pentateuch” – outstanding traditional doom metal. Classic band and also well worth the wait! For Trouble, Candlemass, Solitude Aeturnus fans. Beautiful Eulogy “Worthy” – not my favorite but still great. More worship and less hip hop/rap is an ok trade-off. Still listening… Read more »
Phinehas- Dark Flag
August Burns Red- Phantom Anthem
The World is a Beautiful Place and I am No Longer Afraid to Die
This month, I’ve been listening to some new releases, but the biggest hit for me has been discovering the band Monolith. I can’t believe I hadn’t heard of them until last week. I dig their symphonic/electronic metal sound a ton, and it’s been helping me get through some rough moments at work. Nexus is great, but Voyager has a few songs I can’t get out of my head. Other new favorites I’ve been listening to are: Phinehas- Dark Flag Astillian- Waves at Dusk Your Memorial’s EP Emery’s Revival is okay. My wife is a big fan, but I’m not as… Read more »
Albums:
Emery – Revival
KB – Today We Rebel
Lights – Skin & Earth
Aha Gazelle – Trilliam 3
Big KRIT – 4Eva Is a Mighty Long Time
Also found a top 3 song of the year for me, namely Flight Facilities’ “Stranded (feat. Reggie Watts, Brood, Saro).”
Really big on the new Aha Gazelle, Phinehas, Carrollton, and Blank Books albums.
Sleep On It
Polaris
Your Memorial
Phinehas
A good month.
Albums:
Citizen — As You Please
Red — Gone
Carrollton — Everything Or Nothing
eleventyseven — Rad Science
Phinehas — Dark Flag
Eaves — As Deeply as You Do
Ghost Atlas — All is in sync, and there’s nothing left to sing about
EP’s:
John Tibbs — Heartland EP
Blank Books — EP1