Top Baltimore Albums of 2011

2011 has come and almost gone, and with it came another hearty selection of music releases from Baltimore. While we lost some historic bands this year (Double Dagger, Ponytail, Thank You), 2011 continued Baltimore's outpour of quality records.

Narrowing this down to a list was difficult - taking into account vinyl wear and tear, digital play counts, love, and the release's meaning to a continually thriving scene.

There is one release from a Swedish band. This gets a pass because the record features a lineup with lead vocals from Daniel Higgs. It also gets a pass because it's amazing. Also, there are a handful of records on here that I helped release via Friends Records.

Here are my top 25 music albums from Baltimore, Maryland in 2011.

25. Daytime - Daytime's Serendipity
24. Each Others - Lately Now
23. Roomrunner - Roomrunner
22. Holy Ghost Party - Holy Ghost Party
21. Vlonde - The Grief of O
20. Romantic States - Still Petals
19. Inflatable Mattress - Pumped Up
18. Arbouretum - The Gathering
17. Dog Leather - Greezy Man and Stinky Man Meets Smutty Ranks On Tarantula Hill
16. Ken Seeno - Invisible Surfer On An Invisible Wave
15. Witch Hat - Brown in a Dog
14. Adventure - Lesser Known
13. Skull Defekts - Peer Amid
12. Moss of Aura - Wading
11. Run DMT - Dreaming


10. Zomes - Earth Grid


9. Thank You - Golden Worry


8. White Life - White Life


7. Co La - Dial Tone Earth


6. Ponytail - Do Whatever You Want All The Time


5. Microkingdom - Three Compositions of No Jazz


4. Dope Body - Nupping


3. Wye Oak - Civilian


2. Future Islands - On The Water


1. Celebration - Electric Tarot: Hello Paradise

Clusterfuck: Scapescape, Dope Body, Autograph Playhouse, Death Set, more

With the recent closure of the Hexagon, and the close call at Sonar, Baltimore should revel in any announcement of a new space for art to inhabit. The Showtime Theatre on 25th street is re-opening as the Autograph Playhouse this weekend.

The same B.R.O.S. that presented us with Grundlehammer are back with two new rock operas scheduled for the next three weekends, titled Amphion and The Terrible Secret of Lunastus. More details are here, and tickets are here.



Dope Body celebrates the release of Nupping Friday night at Floristree with a Baltimore heavy sound dream team that includes Double Dagger, Ed Schrader's Music Beat, and an all-too-rare appearance by Butt Stomach (Dan Deacon and Kevin O'Meara's noise outfit).




The big event this weekend is Scapescape, a festival that goes down all day Sunday at the G Spot and Ruintown. Festival organizer Dave Underhill was originally asked to have his band play the G Spot for what could be a final farewell to the space, but he ended up booking over 20 other bands to play as well. The result is a wide offering of some of Baltimore's best sounds with Dan Deacon, Celebration, Arbouretum, and Microkingdom all headlining the affair. RSVP and get more details right here.


And if all that weren't already enough, Approximate Infinite Daydream begins this Sunday at the Baltimore Museum of Art. This show includes Comeback Ranch, Jared Paolini, and Vlond. The event is free and takes places during regular hours at the museum.


Lastly, the Death Set is back in town for the first time since dropping their new record. They play the Windup Space on Saturday night with Win Win and Future People.

Mixtape: Baltimore: Spring 2011

  art by Caleb Moore

This morning I posted a new seasonal mixtape on Impose, titled Baltimore: Spring 2011.


DOWNLOAD: [SIDE A] Baltimore: Spring 2011
1. Zomes - "Openings"
2. Weekends - "Home Alone (acoustic)"
3. Ken Seeno - "Cedilla in My Monogram"
4. Lands & Peoples - "Sexting"
5. White Life - "Real Things"
6. Eachothers - "Wild Yonder"
7. Microkingdom - "Aire Metal (Chopped and Screwed)"
8. Ponytail - "Honey Touches"
9. Adventure - "Feels Like Heaven"
10. Daytime - "Life / Afterlife (edit)"
11. Ecstatic Sunshine - "Hello Money"


DOWNLOAD: [SIDE B] Baltimore: Spring 2011
1. Celebration - "Only The Wicked (acoustic)"
2. Zu Shapes - "Olivia"
3. Moss of Aura - "Charter"
4. Winks - "Slap Me Choke Me Cum On You"
5. Dope Body - "The Shape of Grunge To Come"
6. Inflatable Mattress - "Green Tea Girlfriend"
7. Thank You - "Pathetic Magic (Dan Deacon remix)"
8. Avocado Happy Hour - "Daytime Television"
9. Gem Vision - "Untitled 1"

Daytime's Serendipity

Friends Records continues its takeover of the Windup Space tomorrow with Run DMT, Microkingdom, Beyond Say, and Daytime. RSVP here, and to tonight's show here.

Sometimes when Daytime performs live, a large inflatable balloon is set up to encompass the crowd. This environment emulates how Daytime's recordings can make you feel.

Daytime's sound has always been deeply inverted, yet is still inflated with enough space to take you deep into the stratosphere. His newest release, Serendpity, is out soon.



Streaming above is "Blindspot", which makes up Side A of the forthcoming tape. Neal Reinalda describes this release as "Disney-Nirvana covered in syrup", perhaps an apt perspective to the new sculptured sounds. While it's most certainly ambient music, the presence felt appears to come from great distance - an intangible cosmic whirlwind that's impossible to ignore. There is something very commanding about Daytime, as Serendipity's ambiance remains inadvertently universal yet demandingly distant.



Daytime performs tomorrow at the Windup Space, pre-order the new tape here.

Show: Skull Defekts w/ Daniel Higgs, Zomes, Microkingdom

Tomorrow night Floristree hosts an epic event that features half of Lungfish. Need I even say more? Probably not, but here's some more details for those who require them.



Daniel Higgs' most recent work has been with the Swedish band known as The Skull Defekts. Higgs took over as front man for their new LP dubbed Peer Amid, and has been touring with them over the past month. The LP is out now on Thrill Jockey, and sports eight tracks drenched in psychedelic punk not often seen in 2011. Highly recommended.



Support includes Zomes (Asa Osborne of Lungfish), who has a new LP called Earth Grid due out soon. Microkingdom will be channeling their inner no-jazz for this affair as well, fresh off the release of their first proper LP via Friends Recs.

This show starts at 9 PM, will cost you $7, and you can RSVP right here.

Friends Records Update: February 2011 LPs from Microkingdom, Celebration, Weekends

Friends Records has had a busy start to 2011, so here's a status update on some things to let you know what we're up to. We have three full length records that will be out by the end of the month (one already is), and a healthy dose of awesome shows plotted.



Microkingdom's Three Compositions of No Jazz dropped a few weeks ago, and copies on white or black vinyl are beginning to trickle on to turntables as we speak. We pressed up 250 copies of each color, accompanied by packaging that features mind-numbing artwork by Chris Day of Open Space / Lost Ghosts Records / Bear & Pieces acclaim.

Microkingdom's next show is February 19 at Death by Audio in Brooklyn with Celebration.


Celebration's Hello Paradise will be officially unveiled this Thursday, February 3. The last song card to be dealt in the Hello Paradise portion of the Electric Tarot will be given out, coming in the form of "Kilamanjaro" which represents The Moon in the tarot deck.



The first few copies of the wax will be available in Baltimore stores only on Thursday, then up in Philly on Friday, February 4 at their show at The Ox with Sun Airway and Golden Ages. All pre-orders begin shipping next Monday, February 7.

Celebration play in Philly February 4, NYC February 19, and in Baltimore on March 5 for the LP release show with Future Islands and Arbouretum at the 2640 Space.



In a few weeks Friends Records will FINALLY be releasing the first album in our catalog - FR001: Weekends' Strange Cultures. This my friends, will be a happy occasion, as the release has been twisted and turned through production delays but will now see it's actual physical inception on vinyl. Look for more details on this in the coming weeks.



Weekends play Baltimore on February 12 at Golden West with Winks, Holy Ghost Party, and Raindeer. They also play DC February 23 with Lower Dens and Secret Mountains.

Tonight: Microkingdom Release Show at Windup Space

 poster by Chris Day

Tonight marks the release of Microkingdom's first proper full length, Three Compositions of No Jazz. The album is now available to download/stream in full via Friends Records.



It is also now available on vinyl, your choice of either white-colored wax or black. The packaging was all designed by Chris Day, who took it to another level with this one. The vinyl also comes with a CD, so you'll get your digital fix of no jazz as well.



Tonight Microkingdom will be performing as a rarely seen five-piece, adding even more cosmic chaos to the mix. They'll be joined by some of our favorites, the always raucous Witch Hat and the ever-transcendently psychedelic Violet Hour.

Tonight's show is at the Windup Space, starts at 10 PM, and costs seven dollars.

Microkingdom - "Surgery Ghosts"

 poster by Chris Day

Microkingdom play tonight at Metro Gallery, and again in Baltimore on Friday, January 21 with Witch Hat and Violet Hour for their record release show at the Windup Space.

The new Microkingdom record has been over three years in the making, but will take to it's proper physical form in just a few weeks. The vinyl has already arrived in Baltimore - 250 copies on white-colored wax, and 250 copies on black. Artwork designed by Chris Day arrives soon too, and  Three Compositions of No Jazz will be available in a couple weeks.



"Surgery Ghosts" is the the last song on the new LP, and the end to this particular psycho-sonic adventure with Marc Miller and Dr. Will Redman. A fitting capstone indeed, as the six minute track finishes with a signature Marc Miller guitar exploration that sounds like he is using some sort of intergalactic operating table as a playground for tweaking industrial noise. While John Dierker is the only other musician found on the rest of the record, this track also features help from Otto Mullen on organ.

It is a dark and stormy beast of a closer, letting up and crashing down in waves of sound that do not belong on earth. Tactfully scattered forms of demanding beats and unparalleled noise compositions remind you where of you've come from, a journey of a record containing uncharted landscapes and exploratory sonics fit for the best of 'em.

Three Compositions of No Jazz hits stores and mailboxes in a couple weeks.

Shows: Ami Dang, Microkingdom, Big In Japan, Crazy Dreams Band, Avocado Happy Hour, more

This first week of the year boasts a handful of more than worthy musical happenings to attend, all of which should keep your ears entertained and out of the cold.



Thursday night you've got a few options in Station North, starting with a stellar lineup at the Metro Gallery - Crazy Dreams Bands, Microkingdom, and Horse Lords. This one starts at 8 PM and costs $7. I'll have a full post on Microkingdom tomorrow, as they are on the heels of releasing their new LP, Three Compositions of No Jazz. The wax hits shelves and mailboxes later this month via Friends Records, with a release show plotted for January 21 at the Windup Space. More on that tomorrow, though.

Across the street at the Hexagon you'll find a tour send-off show for The Woolly Moon, a country folk project that dabbles in psychedelic realms. They will be joined by Arsenii Vaselenko from San Francisco and American Folklore, starts at 9 PM.



Friday night sports two stellar choice as well, starting with Big In Japan, The Water, Infinite Honey, and Avocado Happy Hour at the Ottobar. This increasingly rare Big In Japan performance is worth noting, as they will be joined by Celebration's Katrina Ford on vocals. The band has worked with Ford recently on recording a few songs, which are being produced by Dave Fridmann (Flaming Lips). This show is $10 and starts at 9 PM.

Down in Mt. Vernon, Deep In The Game's got a really good one as they'll be hosting Ami Dang's record release show. Ami Dang recently dropped Hukam on Ehse Records, and I've been fortunate enough to spend some time with the full length for the last few months. It's garnered considerable play, and look for that awesome record to be explored further on this blog later this week or early next week.

Photos: Celebration, Sri Aurobindo, Microkingdom, Dustin Wong

Many thanks to those that came and experienced our show Friday, as Celebration, Sri Aurobindo, Microkingdom, and Dustin Wong made for an eclectic night of sounds.

Also, apologies to those that got turned away, as a capacity crowd filled the confines of the G Spot. Moldy old slides created spooky psychedelic imagery that was projected on all of the walls of the space, including the stage. Dry ice fell from the rafters, but most importantly... each band played their heart out to an eager crowd.

Our favorite photographer Valerie was there to capture it all, full set after the jump.

Tonight: Halloween @ The G Spot

Tonight is the Friends Records Halloween show at The G Spot in Baltimore. Performing will be Celebration, Sri Aurobindo, Microkingdom, and Dustin Wong. Tickets are here.

8:00 PM DOORS

8:30 - 9:00 DUSTIN WONG


9:10 - 9:45 MICROKINGDOM


9:55 - 10:40 SRI AUROBINDO


10:50 - 12:00 CELEBRATION

Microkingdom - "Peppermint Crab" / Microkingdom's Pro Hour

Microkingdom play this Friday night at the G Spot in Baltimore for our Hallowen show along with Celebration, Sri Aurobindo, and Dustin Wong. Tickets can be found here.

If you've heard the phrases "no jazz" or "spazz jazz" or even the readily tossed around "avant jazz" somewhere in Baltimore over the past three years, chances are you've heard of Microkingdom. If not, say hello to Dr. Will Redman and Marc Miller of Oxes fame.



Above is "Peppermint Crab" which is off their forthcoming LP, Three Compositions of No Jazz. The record was recently mastered by the legendary Bob Weston, and has been three years in the making since the outfit's inception. "Peppermint Crab" is the first track on album, and only a taste of what the rest of the record will emanate to your head-space. This track serves as a warning, or a way to cleanse your brain before what comes next.

***********

Microkingdom's first album was a 12 inch record under the moniker, Microkingdom's Pro Hour. The record was self-released back in 2008, and contained two tracks dubbed "Wrenches: My Heart" and "Double Abacus". The record is now available digitally below, while only a handful of copies remain on mint green wax to be had right here.



When this record hit my turntable a few years ago, the only words that came out of mouth were probably "WOAH" or "what the fuck" or "hot damn". Other individuals had more intelligent thoughts to share about this spellbinding debut...

"A hyperactively burrowing noise excavation..." - The Wire 
"Schizophrenia defines both the unit and the individual." - Pitchfork 
"...focus you don’t often come by anymore in this realm." - Dusted

Microkingdom will debut this Friday night as five-piece. Prepare yourselves, folks.

Tonight: Height, Microkingdom, Witch Hat @ Hexagon

Tonight the Hexagon is still in action, hosting what might be the last Height show at the venue. The fate of the space is still up in the air, but tonight is confirmed with Height with Friends, Nuclear Power Pants, Microkingdom, and Witch Hat all on the bill.





Height and Microkingdom both play tonight and tomorrow, with a show up in Philly tomorrow night at The Ox. Microkingdom's next scheduled local performance isn't until October 29th at the G Spot with Celebration, while the next time you'll be able to catch Height in town is at the Ottobar Novemeber 5th with Wye Oak.

Witch Hat's brute force and Nuclear Power Pant's oddball soul should round out a hell of a good time, a diverse cast worth getting there on time for. Doors are at 9 PM.

Microkingdom - Microkingdom's Threatened Youths

Microkingdom play two shows this weekend - tomorrow at the Hexagon with Witch Hat Height with Friends, and Nuclear Power Pants, and again on Saturday in Philadelphia at The Ox with Height, Sri Aurobindo, and Soft Cat for a Friends Records showcase.

It's no question that Microkingdom are Baltimore's premiere spazz-jazzers and noise benders, as Marc Miller's guitar wizardry combined with Dr. Will Redman's percussion have become a staple around town. These dudes are on the heels of releasing their first proper full length, and to celebrate Friends Records is releasing a live cassette.



Microkingdom's Threatened Youths is Ben Bass's recording of a live show that went down at the Penthouse Gallery on February 27, 2010. Microkingdom's lineup that evening consisted of Marc, Will, and John Dierker on reeds. Above is the first song played that night, "Abundant Life Towers II".

As Chris Day's artwork suggests, the entire set was inspired by Dischord-era DC hardcore riffs that Marc furiously and relentlessly played the whole set. The result was one of the most vicious Microkindom sets to date, and an ode to a neighboring scene of the past.

Order the tape right here, or grab it at one of their shows starting this weekend.

FRCS007
Microkindom
Microkingdom’s Threatened Youths
Friends Records 2010

1. Abundant Life Towers II
2. In the News there’s a lot of information
3. In the News there’s a lot of information in the information
4. Dave Musustaine
5. Astronaut Tusk
6. Squeal Fight
7. Stepping Stone

Show: Celebration, Sri Aurobindo, Microkingdom, & Dustin Wong - 10/29 at The G Spot

Flyer by Chris Day. Really big, screen-printed copies at show for $5 each.

BUY TICKETS HERE.

We are proud to present a Halloween show on Friday, October 29 that will feature Celebration, Sri Aurobindo, Microkingdom, and Dustin Wong. The event will take place at The G Spot, an ideal Baltimore space for channeling your inner-spook.



This will be Celebration's first non-festival Baltimore show since February, and the first since announcing plans to release Hello Paradise later this Winter on Friends Records. Expect to hear some new sounds from the band preceding this show.



Sri Aurobindo will blast yours ears backward, Microkingdom will boggle your mind sideways, and Dustin Wong will drop your jaws from the get-go. Microkingdom are tentatively scheduled to debut as a six-piece for this event, and will also be on the heals of releasing Three Compositions of No Jazz. Also, Dustin Wong will have just relinquished his highly anticipated new LP, Infinite Love.



MOLDY PROJECTIONS THAT WILL SHINE LIKE THE COSMOS.

Photos: Future Islands, Microkingdom,Dope Body, and Weekends @ The Cherch

I attended a couple of really great shows this weekend, one of which was in DC at The Cherch. Future Islands, Weekends, Microkingdom, and Dope Body all played the large living room space on Saturday night. Our new friend Jimmy Morris from Head|Underwater came out and took some rad photos of the show, and let us share.


Weekends got the BBQ-stuffed crowd ready, as these dudes were amidst another busy week where they played four separate shows in NYC, Baltimore, and DC.


Dope Body brought the goods down to DC, hurling a force of neo-sludge with the usual intensity. Zach shredded heavy, Dave wailed, and Andrew spat bricks of mortar.


Microkingdom is an entity not often brought down to the depths of our beltway neighbors. Saturday they played as the core two-piece of Marc Miller and Dr. Will Redman. They showcased a stellar rendition of "Aire Metal", and played an homage to the hometown of Dischord... all on the floor in front of the fireplace.


Future Islands held the room captive at yet another performance. They played two new songs straight from the start, including "The Ink Well". The rest of the set was heavy in In Evening Air, and Sam felt strong enough vibes to bellow vocals while crowd surfing.

More shots from Jimmy Morris after the jump.

Shows: Benefit for DJ Rice @ Floristree, and alsoFuture Islands, Microkingdom, Dope Body @ The Cherch

On August 21, DJ Rice was attacked and beaten while walking home at night in Baltimore. He spent eight days in ICU, and is still at Johns Hopkins. Some friends of his are having a benefit this Sunday at Floristree in order to raise money for DJ's medical expenses. Performing will be Future Islands, Weekends, Holy Ghost Party, Butt Stomach (Dan Deacon and Kevin O'Meara), and INEVERYROOM.



DJ is nothing short of an all around amazing dude, and on top of that has an incredibly rad music project called Teenage Souls. Above is "Ice Floe", a new track that will be on his forthcoming WTRCLR cassette. Our heart goes out to DJ and his family.


Also this weekend - on Saturday, September 4th head down to DC with a bunch of other Baltimore friends. The Cherch is hosting a show with all Bmore bands. Future Islands, Microkingdom, Dope Body, and Weekends will all be performing. Music starts at 7 PM, BBQ get's going at 5 PM. Also, BYOB. Above is the mix I made of all the bands playing this for our friend Jimmy at Head|Underwater.

Friends Records Philly Showcase

Bmore's Friends Records presents its first out of town showcase. We're taking over a space called The Ox in Philadelphia on Saturday, September 18. Microkingdom, Height with Friends, Sri Aurobindo, Soft Cat, and more will be performing.



Flyer is by the always rad Chris Day and Neal Reinalda, both of Losts Ghosts and Open Space acclaim. Some of these bands will also be playing a show here in Baltimore the Friday night prior, details forthcoming...