Feature / Music / Year End 2015
Pass The Mic: Artists on 2015

It's the end of another year, and time for us to ask some of our favorite artists and bands for their reflections on the past twelve months in music. As is customary, we find out what theuir favourite releases were from 2015, but we also find out what they're up to in 2016, new bands they discovered and their take on the resurgence of vinyl/cassette and the digital music debate.

You can also check out part one of this feature where we asked the same questions to our record label friends!

Meanwhile, here are some highlights from the collection of interviews spanning the next few pages:

BJ Rochinich (Ancient Shores)

Maybe we can revive zines and tape trading as a physical medium, especially for networking. Regardless of the medium, music made without care or effort or heart will end up where it belongs.

Stephen Brodsky (Mutoid Man/Cave In)

2015 was an eventful year for me. I got to tour a whole bunch and in the process, came to terms with the fact that I've become pretty obsessed with performing, and will strive to hit the road as much as possible for the foreseeable future.

Krystle Rangel (Where My Bones Rest Easy)

I think people are becoming more aware of the negative affect that illegal downloading has on bands, independent labels, and record shops and, as a result, they are more apt to support them by buying their music. Hopefully this way of thinking spreads and continues to grow; it has to if we want small bands to keep making music and independent labels and record shops to stay in business.

Alex Anderson (Loud Boyz-guitar)

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2015? (In order 1-5)

These are some records that I'm loving right now, in no particular order:

• Ajax - s/t 7"
• Genocide Pact - Forged Through Domination
• Protester - No Identity
• Sheer Mag - II
• Vaaska - Todo Contra Todos

2. What band did you discover in 2015 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

Vanity rules. Fun as shit tunes with some bite.

3. How will you remember 2015? (In terms of music)

DC hardcore popping off. Too many awesome bands putting out great music to count right now.

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2016?

More shows and an EP.

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2016?

Definitely Explosions in the Sky and Inter Arma.

6. How relevant is the physical format record/cd/tape in 2015 and going into 2016? What do you see changing in terms of physical vs. digital discussions?

I love physical formats so I'm biased here. Vinyl has been making its comeback for a bit now, and cassettes are seeing resurgence as well. Wouldn't be surprised to see the tape trend continue and I'm definitely not bummed about it.

In terms of the physical vs digital discussion, there isn't much room for debate. Vinyl will always trump digital, in my opinion, but it also depends on the quality of the file you have. Both have their place, though.

Andrew Gomez IV (Glory Kid ltd/Where My Bones Rest Easy)

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2015? (In order 1-5)

1. Mercy Ties - Proper Corruption LP
2. Wild Moth - Inhibitor LP
3. Trenchfoot - At The Mercy Of Circumstance
4. Ex-Breathers - Past Tense LP
5. Fight Amp - Constantly Off

2. What band did you discover in 2015 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

Slow Code, this might be biased because we have signed them to our label. But, seriously, this band came out of nowhere here in Seattle. They are playing a style that has laid dormant for years now and they execute it famously. I have been a big fan of the later '90s Dischord catalog like Jawbox, Bluetip, and Lungfish. So excited to see a band reviving this sound and doing it justice. Not to mention some of the best people I have met. So that's a bonus.

3. How will you remember 2015? (In terms of music)

The year I went to the East Coast for the first time (on tour of course), became a gig poster printer, and helped release some of my favorite records to date. 

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2016?

New Where My Bones Rest Easy LP. New LP's from Reservoir, Mossbreaker, and Slow Code. And an EP from Sneeze.

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2016?

New Fugazi LP. I mean, right? Everyone else has gotten back together!

6. How relevant is the physical format record/cd/tape in 2015 and going into 2016? What do you see changing in terms of physical vs. digital discussions?

Vinyl is bigger than ever, pressing plants can't keep up. Which has given way to cassettes being a viable alternative. I don't see the newly revived opinion/demand for physical formats becoming less desirable anytime soon. If anything is only going to get more crazy before it plateaus. 

BJ Rochinich (Ancient Shores)

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2015? (In order 1-5)

1. Full of Hell/Merzbow - Sister Fawn
2. Johann Johansson - Sicaro Score
3. Spelljammer - Ancient of Days
4. Ufomammut - Ectate
5. Kowloon Walled City - Grievances

2. What band did you discover in 2015 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

I knew who METZ was before this year but I had never seen them live. I saw them in Portland earlier in 2015 and it was wild. They are all the things a band wants to be. They are intense, energetic, and in your face. I will never stop going to live shows but that experience reinforces that bringing energy and a relentless set list are paramount to a great show. It's a lot of physical sacrifice when you are a touring band and bring it the way they do. I appreciate their devotion.

3. How will you remember 2015? (In terms of music)

Absolutely glad to see friends in bands doing well. It was a good year for touring and new releases for some really great musicians I have known for a while. Johann Johansson's score for Sicario speaks to another great year of film scores. Personally very thankful that I got to work with Dom at A389 to develop a podcast and speak with Dwid Hellion and Jeff Beckman. 

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2016?

More A389 podcasts and columns. Some new music (non-Ancient Shores) as well. 

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2016?

I have not looked at what is coming out, but I am excited about a new Helen Money record at any time in the near future. I would like to see a full-length Concealed Blade record and a new Vaura record, but I am definitely content with everything all of those artists have released. 

6. How relevant is the physical format record/cd/tape in 2015 and going into 2016? What do you see changing in terms of physical vs. digital discussions?

In a parallel comparison, cinephiles will speak to the trends of various mediums as there is a market for VHS still, and because 16mm/70mm film is still perceived as a mystical all-knowing power in visual storytelling. And in music though the revival of vinyl has been great for engineers who master (mastering digital AND vinyl versions), and maintaining a broad sound presentation of albums. There is a downside as sometimes it can be hard to get your hands on a vinyl. The pressing plants are backed up, imports take some extra time to ship, and records can difficult to afford consistently (compared to digital/cd/tape). While the hard copy will remain relevant in the form of tape/record, I can't even guess how popular CDs will be again. Bands have been releasing records with absolutely amazing artwork and fold-out options that offer some exquisite exclusivity to buying vinyl.

What do you see changing in terms of physical vs. digital discussions?

What a great question. I think bands will continue to put out great physical packaging. You see the top of a Baroness record and you know that when you pull it up, that image is going to be dense. When you see a release that looks like its been folded three times, you know its going to be an amazing foldout possibly with two records. The vinyl is on a high level with its presentation possibilities.  I also appreciate that most vinyls include a digital release. To me the digital and physical release are not things that inherently go head-to-head. I will take a well-packaged vinyl with good music and a digital release with downloadable artwork without condemning either. You can't fake a good recording. Maybe your band can only afford a tape release or a digital release; that's fine. If you have good songs and a weak engineer, then get out of that situation and figure out the next step. If you are a sloppy player and don't know the songs well enough, you won't be able to fake a good record; go practice more before you record. Beyond that, maybe we can revive zines and tape trading as a physical medium, especially for networking. Regardless of the medium, music made without care or effort or heart will end up where it belongs. 

BJ also contributes the Beyond Casual Observation SPB column and records the A389 Podcast.

Brad Rheault (Foxfires-guitar)

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2015? (In order 1-5)

1. Title Fight - Hyperview
2. Wilderness Dream - self-titled
3. Beach Slang - The Things We Do To Find People Who Feel Like Us
4. GLOSS - demo
5. War on Women - self-titled

2. What band did you discover in 2015 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

This year, I found myself listening to my fair share of the newest Jenny Lewis record during any long car ride. It's just a great record all the way through. And it just seems to be a really personal record.

3. How will you remember 2015? (In terms of music)

2015 will be the year that I started having much more trouble describing bands to people. And that's a good thing. It just seems like genres are blurring more and more, and people are finding more ways to put four chords together.

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2016?

I'm 2016, I hope to be out playing shows with our new record Pinetum. In between said shows, I will be watching hockey with four cats until the sun reemerges in May.

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2016?

I cannot wait to hear the new Basement album. I've been listening the their new song "Promise Everything" at least once a day.

6. How relevant is the physical format record/cd/tape in 2015 and going into 2016? What do you see changing in terms of physical vs. digital discussions?

I think there will always be people that need to have that physical copy in their hands and in their collections. The technology is always changing in how we listen to our music, but the beauty and feel of an LP cannot be matched. Both digital and physical can live in harmony together. I believe it!

Brian Pretus (PEARS-vocals/guitar)

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2015? (In order 1-5)

1. Teenage Bottlerocket - Tales From Wyoming
2. Night Birds - Mutiny At Muscle Beach
3. G.L.O.S.S. - Demo 2015
4. Woozy - Blistered
5. Donovan Wolfington - How To Treat The Ones You Love

2. What band did you discover in 2015 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

I actually discovered a ton of good bands this year. Some notable mentions being G.L.O.S.S., AJAX, Decent Criminal, but the most life altering had to be Such Gold. I went and saw them in New Orleans when we had a week off from tour, and they completely raised the bar for me as far as what I want from a band. They're so unbelievably talented, and while I love tons of sloppy, raw, shitty bands, this band's chops are on par with the likes of bands like Descendents. It was really inspiring. 

3. How will you remember 2015? (In terms of music)

Definitely better than the last few years. For stuff I like, at least. There's a surge of new talent happening right now that's really exciting to me.

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2016?

PEARS has a new album coming out in spring 2016. It's our 2nd full-length, and it's like 8 minutes longer than the last one. It's roughly a thousand times better than the last one, too. 

We'll be touring the States/Canada a ton, Europe twice, and Australia. So you can look forward our demise due to exhaustion and lack of good food. 

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2016?

The new Direct Hit album. I really don't know what else will happen that year. Lots of bands say they are going to release stuff then they break up so, as of now, I'm insanely stoked for the new Direct Hit album. They've been sending us the demos of it since it's inception, and it's already amazing. All the pop punk kids heads are going to explode, which is a good and bad thing. 

6. How relevant is the physical format record/cd/tape in 2015 and going into 2016? What do you see changing in terms of physical vs. digital discussions?

Extremely relevant. Mostly in punk rock, as far as I can tell though. I think the reason punk is still so strong is that bands can kind of afford to pay rent touring because punk fans always have and always will buy vinyl, cds, and tapes. I think it all will just become more and more relevant as people realize how dumb it is to have your entire life on some shitty cell phone. I buy vinyl and collect cds like a crazy person, and half the time I don't even listen to them that often because we're never home, but it's just what I like to do and I don't plan on stopping ever, and if everyone in the world is like me (and they should be, cuz I'm great), they'll probably keep doing the same, and music fans will keep buying music on physical formats. 

...I mean... I fucking hope so.

Or else we're screwed. 

Charlie Wagner (Slow Code-vocals/guitar)

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2015? (In order 1-5)

1. Kendrick Lamar - To Pimp a Butterfly
2. Cherubs - 2 Ynfynyty
3. Wildhoney - Sleep Through It
4. Downtown Boys - Full Communism
5. Earl Sweatshirt - I Don't Like Shit I Don't Go Outside

2. What band did you discover in 2015 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

2015 was the year of reconnecting with a local scene. To narrow down the ridiculously diverse and great Seattle, WA scene to one band would be incredibly difficult, so here's a few bands that only have a demo or one record out from here that are absolutely killing it this year: Medicine Bows, Xurs, Sashay, Mommy Long Legs, Infinite Flux, Blood Drugs.

3. How will you remember 2015? (In terms of music)

Within a twelve-month span I got married, I lost the second of my two parents to cancer, I turned 31, and my band signed to Glory Kid Ltd. Safe to say 2015 is definitely the most "transitional" year of my life so far, in music and otherwise.

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2016?

An LP (hopefully), some touring (hopefully) with Where My Bones Rest Easy (hopefully).

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2016?

Dark Black, Medicine Bows, whatever next year's obtuse trend in summertime pop music is, the one or two thoughtful LPs that come out of the glut of semi-political records that seem to pop up every election year.

6. How relevant is the physical format record/cd/tape in 2015 and going into 2016? What do you see changing in terms of physical vs. digital discussions?

Not very, to be honest. Entitlement-based capitalism doesn't really interest me. I don't feel like I'm owed money for having an idiosyncratic hobby, and at this point I'm honestly puzzled by people that do. It's always seemed a little silly to me that people associate artistic integrity with commodity fetishism, like colored vinyl increases the quality of the music or something. I'd like to see less fighting against the system collapse and more acceptance of its decline; if streaming or online or whatever doesn't make money, then move on to something else instead of writing another op-ed about how Spotify is doing the devil's work. Passionate intelligent people are always going to be working and progressing while the majority complains, just make sure you're in the former camp and you'll probably be fine.

Derek Desharnais (Sneeze)

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2015? (In order 1-5)

1. Dogs on Acid - s/t
2. Bedroom Eyes - Honeysuckle
3. Destruction Unit - Negative Feedback
4. Godspeed You! Black Emperor - Asunder, Sweet And Other Distress
5. Stove - Is Stupider

2. What band did you discover in 2015 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

There is this newer band, definitely not from 2015, but I have been seeing them and hearing them more. They are called Idiot Genes. It feels good to be from a city where these guys are from. I really want to try to get some shows cooking up with them.

3. How will you remember 2015? (In terms of music)

So many break ups and so many new amazing Boston bands. Can't wait to see what comes out of it.

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2016?

We will be releasing a new EP this year. Keep checking Glory Kid for more info early next year.

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2016?

??????

6. How relevant is the physical format record/cd/tape in 2015 and going into 2016? What do you see changing in terms of physical vs. digital discussions?

Honestly, probably will stay the same. Records will be more and more in demand; tapes are great for small runs and people who don't have a record player; and digital is digital. I find, sales wise, it all ends up evening out. CDs, I honestly couldn't tell ya. Haven't seen one that wasn't a master copy since 2010.

Faith Coloccia (Mamiffer/Mára/Barnett+Coloccia, SIGE Records)

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2015? (In order 1-5)

This year was amazing for music new and old! I have so many favorites:

• Abul Mogard - Circular Forms
• Arvo Pärt - Alina
• Loop - A Gilded Eternity
• Polvo - Siberia
• Puce Mary - Persona
• Nils Fram - Screws
• Sewer Election- Nära
• Jon Mueller - A Magnetic Center
• Jason Crumer- Ottoman Black
• Robert Curgenven - They Torch the Earth…
• Elaine Radigue - Vice Versa
• SUMAC - The Deal
• Oakeater - Aquarius
• Jessika Kenney - Atria
• Maica Mia live
• Tinariwen - Amassakoul
• Seeing William Fowler Collins and Jon Mueller live every night on tour!

2. What band did you discover in 2015 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

ENDON

Mamiffer performed in Tokyo, Japan with Endon and Daniel Menche this year. It was one of the best most potent performances I have seen. They are amazing human beings!

Lawrence English

We had the pleasure of performing with Lawrence English at Hopscotch Festival this year. He is also one of the best live performances I have seen, and the quality of his stage presence and sub-bass frequencies are very healing. He is also a great new friend and such an interesting person. I can relate to how he thinks about sound.

Abul Mogard

A new discovery this year based on an incredible interview he gave. I was so happy to hear about how he views sound, and his out look on life.

Helps me feel very hopeful about music making.

Loop and Polvo

I had never taken this music in before. Jussi from Circle (Finland) came to stay with us at our home this year with his family. We had so many great discussions about music and feeling, and Loop and Polvo were centers of some of those discussions.

3. How will you remember 2015? (In terms of music)

I will remember 2015 in terms of music as overly busy! Both in terms of making my own music, and also in hearing other's creations. 2015 was such a great, inspiring and exciting year for music. The music world seems to be changing so rapidly and at times seems very confusing, yet there was so much good amazing music being made in 2015.

I will also remember 2015 as the year of performing live. Thanks to our amazing booking agents Ground Control, and our agent Merrick, this is the most I have ever performed, it was an amazing challenge! (Merrick if you are reading this: EUGENE! CHICO!)

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2016?

In December and January I have my first solo release coming out, I'm to happy to finally share it with the world. Its called Mára - Surfacing, I recorded my voice and piano onto a 4 track from 2011-2015, the release date is December 11, 2015.

Mamiffer has a full-length out in March 2016 called The World Unseen. It was written and recorded over a three year period. I am happy it's also finally coming out into the world. Mamiffer is touring the US around that time to support the record and also playing the Big Ears Festival.

And working on another Barnett+Coloccia record next year with my good friend and collaborator Alex Barnett.

I am also in some art shows in 2016, and have some art books coming out.

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2016?

• SUMAC
• Oxbow
• Black Spirituals
• Circle

6. How relevant is the physical format record/cd/tape in 2015 and going into 2016? What do you see changing in terms of physical vs. digital discussions?

I have no idea! I am open to all possibilities about formats. It seem that regardless of PR, record sales, or digital formats, people are incredibly inspired, and are making amazing, and challenging music. I still have a fondness for the physical format, and producing that. Especially with SIGE's hand made releases. I like to know and feel that part of the artist's presence is still in and has interacted with the commodified object. That the personal can reach out to touch the listener through the physical format.

Although: I also really like knowing that someone far away who cannot get the physical release or afford it, can be touched by hearing the human voice come through foreign computer speakers, that the spirit of creation and the human pulse can still be felt through bad connections, broken systems and murky digital streams of capitalism. So I am hopeful that regardless of what format a release is on, that people still believe in the power of music, and the communities it helps foster and create.

J. Wang (Shallow Cuts/Dan Padilla/Fast Crowd Records)

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2015? (In order 1-5)

1. Royal Headache - High
2. Divers - Hello Hello
3. Basement Benders - Lydiad
4. Radioactivity - Silent Kill
5. Purple 7 - Garden Eyes

2. What band did you discover in 2015 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

Royal Headache. I don’t know where the fuck I was, but this band is amazing and can’t wait to see them live.

3. How will you remember 2015? (In terms of music)

I think on a positive note: I appreciate that bands like Cayetana still have the ability to reach a place in my heart. On a negative note: the loss of too many people in this small wonderful scene we revolve around.

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2016?

Dan Padilla Split 7” with Prince. Shallow Cuts - Empty Beach Town LP and a fun surprise show in San Diego on April 2, 2016 at the Casbah.

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2016?

The new Thermals LP.

6. How relevant is the physical format record/cd/tape in 2015 and going into 2016? What do you see changing in terms of physical vs. digital discussions?

I think record is still the media of choice for me, of course. Nice big art and just fun in general to put on records and dance in the living room. CDs are still relevant where you can hand it to someone and they can get in there car and listen to it, but that is slowly disappearing with the ease of keeping digital files on phones and the like. I think tapes are cool, but they are totally novelty to a younger generation. They degrade quickly and do not stand the test of time. One of the great things about tapes is kind of being forced to listen to the entire release without instant gratification that you get with CD and vinyl being able to go straight to a song easy.

Jason Gagovski (Sweet Cobra-drums)

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2015? (In order 1-5)

It's always a challenge for me to put these in order, but here are 5 of the albums I listened to frequently this year:

1. Wand - Golem
2. Fuzz - II
3. Cloakroom - Further Out
4. Meat Wave - Delusion Moon
5. Obliterations - Poison Everything

Honorable mentions:

• Failure - The Heart is a Monster
• Disappears - Irreal
• Thee Oh Sees - Mutilator Defeated At Last
• Tame Impala - Currents

2. What band did you discover in 2015 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

The first thing that comes to mind is hearing the Baby Huey song "Hard Times" from The Baby Huey Story: The Living Legend album recorded in 1969. We were all hanging out having some drinks one night, and a friend of ours put on that song and the room turned into a dance party. There is so much energy in that tune, and it also sounded familiar to me (it's been sampled a bunch of times). We just kept replaying it and going crazy. It's so heavy. The next day I looked into finding the album and more about Baby Huey (James Ramey), and it turns out he was from Indiana and relocated to Chicago where he tracked only that one album, but passed away before its release. The album has been in heavy rotation since that night– there's just an urgency, rawness, and energy to the music that is what attracted me to punk rock and hardcore music in there somewhere. The whole album is great. I also feel a geographical connection to it being from Indiana and Chicagoland myself. The AV Club / Permanent Records recently did a feature on him if you're interested.

3. How will you remember 2015? (In terms of music)

For us as a band, it was a huge accomplishment to finally get our Earth album out. Emotionally it was a heavy thing for us, and it's been great to have it out there for people to hear–working with the folks at Magic Bullet has been great as well. Hitting the road with Mutoid Man was also really special, as well as playing shows with Cloakroom. I feel like there is a lot of amazing music happening right now. There were lots of great albums that came out this year and it was really hard to choose only a few to list in my top 5 or 10. If people complain that there's no good new music out there, they aren't looking hard enough.

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2016?

We have a few releases in the works: 

Young Widows / Sweet Cobra "Live at 3 Floyds" Split LP 

Recorded by Aaron McAllister and mixed by Kurt Ballou. This will be out in the early part of 2016 on Hawthorne Street. 

We are recording in January at Electronical (a studio run by Allen and Eric from The Life and Times) for a split 7" with Milemarker, and we are also planning a split 12" with Cloakroom. We'll also continue to hit the road.

Remis has a solo project called Ditches that will have a album coming out with 8AM this year.

I am also working on an album with my friend Sarah Olmsted. We already have a few songs recorded and will finish the album this upcoming year at Electronical as well.

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2016?

I'm looking forward to the new Sumac album that Kurt Ballou recorded at The Unknown, a studio that was formerly a church built in the early 1900s on an island north of Seattle, WA. It looks like a really great place to make an album. We were fortunate enough to share a bill with Sumac this past summer and it was a treat to see them live.

The debut LP from Louisville's Jaye Jayle (which is band spearheaded by Evan Patterson from Young Widows with other members from Old Baby and Shipping News). We'll be releasing that on Hawthorne Street Records and they'll be touring a lot in 2016. Last year we released one of their vinyl singles that was part of a series. We are really excited to be a part of their journey. 

6. How relevant is the physical format record/cd/tape in 2015 and going into 2016? What do you see changing in terms of physical vs. digital discussions?

For me the physical format remains relevant, I am a record collector and have been since I was a kid. I cherish the tangibility of a music release. I'm sure part of that comes from being a graphic designer as well, and enjoying print and packaging. I think there are always going to be people that enjoy that format, even with the convenience of digital music. I am by no means a purist, but if I enjoy an album, I buy the vinyl. I bought a few tapes this year too. 

Jim Gies (Boilerman/Hip Kid Records, Gidim)

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2015? (In order 1-5)

Note: This list is just full-lengths. There were a lot of great EPs that came out this year, but five is such a small number, I thought I’d stick to proper albums.  Also, figuring out just five of these was hard enough, so these are in no particular order: 

• Vacation – Non Person
• Royal Headache – High
•  Meat Wave – Delusion Moon
• Warhead – s/t
• Muerte - s/t LP

2. What band did you discover in 2015 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

I think one of the most significant bands of the year was G.L.O.S.S.  The first time I heard their demo was like getting slapped in the face. It’s been hard to make me immediately latch on to a straight forward hardcore punk band recently, but G.L.O.S.S.’ EP has great production, really memorable riffs, perfect drumming, and, maybe most importantly, a palpable, legitimate anger on top of everything else.

Seeing old friends get some well-deserved attention for working really hard and consequently use that attention to open up super important conversations in punk makes me feel really good and I think the music scene in general is already better off for it.

3. How will you remember 2015? (In terms of music)

2015 is a year that I did a lot of digging back into older music, especially metal.  There were a lot of new releases I liked, but not a ton that I totally went nuts over. I did see some really great live sets though, from bands like AT THE GATES, VACATION (a bunch of times), AMERICAN HATE, DILLINGER FOUR, BLACK PLANET.

I also went on the longest BOILERMAN tour in several years and got to play with great bands like LAIKA’S ORBIT, NOTCHES, SWIM TEAM, and WITCHES WITH DICKS, plus do a weekend of seeing SCOUNDREL every day which was awesome.

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2016?

There are a few Hip Kid releases on the way that I can’t talk about just yet. But in terms of bands I’m in, there will be a new BOILERMAN LP released, there will be a new RASH LP, and there will be a GIDIM/CRACKED VESSEL collaboration, as well as more GIDIM material.

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2016?

I’m looking very forward to the CRACKED VESSEL LP, any SWIM TEAM and NOTCHES releases that may come to light, the DARK THOUGHTS LP, and new material from THE BUG. I’m sure there will be a ton of other great stuff as well, but those are some things I know are happening that I’m excited to hear.

6. How relevant is the physical format record/cd/tape in 2015 and going into 2016? What do you see changing in terms of physical vs. digital discussions?

I think it’s pretty similar to how it’s been the past few years. Physical formats are important to a lot of people, myself included, who want to get the most visceral, complete experience out of listening to music. Digital music holds an important place and is super convenient, but records, tapes, etc are still my favorite and I think there are still many who would agree with me. 

One thing that is worth noting, though, is that pressing plant turnaround times have gone up tremendously which is something that’s forcing smaller labels to rethink how they budget and plan for releases. It also has stretched the time it takes for artists to see a physical version of a recording which I think increases reliance on digital be it as a means of previewing or earlier release of material.

John Albert Bonnel (Swingin' Utters-vocals)

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2015? (In order 1-5)

 I'm not sure of some of these release dates but they're new to me.

1. Massenger - self-titled
2. toyGuitar - In This Mess
3. Darius Koski - SISU
4. Sharp Objects - Another Victim
5. Pears - Letters to Memaw

2. What band did you discover in 2015 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

Massenger and toyGuitar at Gilman gave me happiness. It brought me back to a time and gave me hope for the future.

3. How will you remember 2015? (In terms of music)

I'll remember 2015 by all the rad FAT releases and cool bands we got to tour with.

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2016?

2016 will have a lot of music to get on file from Druglords, Utters, and something else.

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2016?

I'm not sure I know of any releases for 2016 other than my own. I am excited for the Druglords new stuff. It's sounding killer so far. 

6. How relevant is the physical format record/cd/tape in 2015 and going into 2016? What do you see changing in terms of physical vs. digital discussions?

I really don't pay any attention to that stuff. Maybe I should but it's all so boring. I wish I could say that without sounding like a dick. It's kind of impossible.

Justin Pearson (Three One G/Head Wound City/Retox)

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2015? (In order 1-5)

1. Metz - II
2. Birdman - Motion Picture Soundtrack
3. Zeus! - Motomonotono
4. Sonido De La Frontera - Cumbia Mundial
5. Into Violence - s/t

2. What band did you discover in 2015 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

I’m not trying to avoid this question, but I honestly feel that everything I’m into musically makes some sort of impact on my life, consciously and subconsciously. It might be an entire album, a song, or even just a drum fill, or tone, or lyric. Everything seeps in. Even stuff that sucks in my own opinion influences me to do something, which in itself will crate an impact.

3. How will you remember 2015? (In terms of music)

Beats me.

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2016?

New stuff by Head Wound City, Dead Cross, Planet B, etc.

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2016?

So far I’m looking forward to the new Hot Nerds EP.

6. How relevant is the physical format record/cd/tape in 2015 and going into 2016? What do you see changing in terms of physical vs. digital discussions?

I never know what is relevant. I typically just gravitate towards what I like and appreciate. Relevance is irrelevant at times. With that being said, I prefer the vinyl format and mp3s.

Krystle Rangel (Where My Bones Rest Easy - bass)

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2015? (In order 1-5)

1. Cloakroom - Further Out
2. Reservoir - Cicurina Vol. 1
3. Lithuania - Hardcore Friends
4. Superheaven - Ours is Chrome
5. Seth Avett and Jessica Lea Mayfield Sing Elliott Smith

2. What band did you discover in 2015 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

Cloakroom! I had heard them before this year, but didn’t really delve into them until 2015. I also saw them for the first time this year and was absolutely blown away. Their tone across the board is great and it led me (and our singer/guitarist) to begin the process of switching to Janice Cabs.

3. How will you remember 2015? (In terms of music)

It was a year full of excellent shows and tours! Seeing Failure, Hum with Mineral, Cursive with Beach Slang, The Get Up Kids with Hotelier, and Hop Along with Lithuania are among the most memorable of the year for me.

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2016?

Well, we are in the process of solidifying and narrowing down the songs we want on our first LP as we gear up to record next year. We also have some pretty great tour plans in the works. We will be going on another West Coast tour with our label-mates Slow Code in March along with a possible US tour later in the year.

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2016?

I’m really looking forward to see what Dead Soft has planned as well as Sneeze. Both are due for new releases and hopefully more touring (particularly to the PNW so I can see them)!

6. How relevant is the physical format record/cd/tape in 2015 and going into 2016? What do you see changing in terms of physical vs. digital discussions?

Vinyl has, and will continue, to remain a relevant format; there is just something about it that can’t be replaced. The only thing that sucks about vinyl is the turn around time; they take so long to press. Tapes have grown considerably popular this year (which makes sense as they are quick and cheap to make) and this will most definitely continue into 2016. CDs on the other hand are basically obsolete (at least to me).

I feel that both physical and digital formats are important and needed and a balance between the two seems to be coming. It will always be harder to monitor music in a digital format, but I think people are becoming more aware of the negative affect that illegal downloading has on bands, independent labels, and record shops and, as a result, they are more apt to support them by buying their music. Hopefully this way of thinking spreads and continues to grow; it has to if we want small bands to keep making music and independent labels and record shops to stay in business.

Matt Scifres (Not Half Bad-vocals/guitar)

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2015? (In order 1-5)

In no particular order. It's too hard to choose.

• Oso Oso - Real Stories of True People Who Kind Of Looked Like Monsters
• Gentlemen Prefer Blood - Used Books and Guns
• Girlpool - Before The World Was Big
• Radioactivity - Silent Kill
• Spraynard - Mable

2. What band did you discover in 2015 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

3. How will you remember 2015? (In terms of music)

A lot of lofi punk, cigarettes and hangovers. Basically, the year I listened to nothing but Dirtnap Records bands. 

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2016?

A couple splits. Maybe a new record. Maybe a few tours. We commit to nothing. 

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2016?

Anything from Hard Girls. OH! and the Tender Defender LP! Either of those are going to rule. 

6. How relevant is the physical format record/cd/tape in 2015 and going into 2016? What do you see changing in terms of physical vs. digital discussions?

Records do and will continue to rule all other formats forever.

Matt Anderson (Purgatory-vocals)

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2015? (In order 1-5)

Too hard to put these in order but...

• Bitter End - Illusions of Dominance
• All Out War - Dying Gods
• Foundation - Turncoat
• Axis - Show Your Greed
• Turnover - Peripheral Vision

2. What band did you discover in 2015 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

All of the bands we have had an opportunity to hit the road with this year, honestly. No Victory, Orthodox, Knocked Loose, Axis, Drown(RIP), Bent Life, TBO, Liars Tongue, Heavens Final War, Detriment, Iron Born, etc etc and all of the homies from the Midwest are killing it. These bands are doing it right, seeing them bring their best every night and the work ethic behind it...it's just insane and they deserve every bit of attention. Being some of the best people we've ever had an opportunity to get to know. Have to give a huge S/O to our brothers in No Victory. Pay attention.

3. How will you remember 2015? (In terms of music)

Definitely remember 2015 as the year Beatdown and Metalcore made its comeback. And the year everyone in hardcore became too sensitive about everything. Touring and dropping our record Gospel Of War via Escapist and Life To Live records has been insane. Michael over at Escapist has done more for us then we will ever be able to thank him for.

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2016?

In 2016 we're gonna keep hitting the road hard starting off the year with Detriment from Long Island and playing Midwest Blood Fest. We're already writing new material so expect music to keep coming. Everything else...you'll see.

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2016?

Nails, No Victory, Cross Me, Knocked Loose, Downpresser hopefully, and Bent Life. 

6. How relevant is the physical format record/cd/tape in 2015 and going into 2016? What do you see changing in terms of physical vs. digital discussions?

People are lazy and everything can be yours at the push of a button but physical pieces of music will always play a big part in the hardcore scene and I don't see it dying down. There are more labels popping up and doing more releases every year and kids like being able to hold onto things like that.

Mike Apocalypse (The Infamous Gehenna)

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2015? (In order 1-5)

1. DeathgraVe / Augurs - split 7" (Trill Command Records)
2. Ötzi - Demo Cassette (self-released)
3. Thünderhead - Demo CD-R 2015 (self-released)
4. Low Life - Innocence Genocide 5 Lathe Cut. Sin Eater Records.
5. The Infamous Gehenna - The Day That Hardcore Died Cassette (self-released)

2. What band did you discover in 2015 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

I heard Los Supersonicos for the first time. They're a '70s garage rock band from El Salvador. It was really wild stuff for the time it came out and I really appreciate bands who take risks.

3. How will you remember 2015? (In terms of music)

For me 2015 will be remembered as the year I tried to understand how the "music industry" works on World Suicide Prevention Day. To prevent my suicide I decided to say "Fuck it!" and give up on the music industry. Then I got drunk and listened to THÜNDERHEAD instead.

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2016?

Touring and these releases:

• The Infamous Gehenna / Bleach Everything split 7" ep
• The Infamous Gehenna - Negative Hardcore LP / CD / Cassette
• Mike Apocalypse - Music Can Be Such A Revelation Mixtape Cassette
• The Infamous Gehenna - DUI Hardcore Compilation Cassette

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2016?

I'd love to hear new stuff from DEATHGRAVE, REPROACH, PUSHA T, OUTKAST???. A new record from Dissidence would rule too.

6. How relevant is the physical format record/cd/tape in 2015 and going into 2016? What do you see changing in terms of physical vs. digital discussions?

Physical releases will always be relevant. Digital releases are the bulk of what's coming out now because digital is for posers and the world is full of fucking posers. In 2016 I imagine more CDR's and cassettes because the vinyl pressing plants are a nightmare to deal with.

What do you see changing in terms of physical vs. digital discussions?

I see more die hards doing things themselves again and trying to distance themselves from the digital dummies. We've always done it like that. We believe in "DUI Hardcore". Get drunk and ruin your life the old fashioned way.

Nate Gangelhoff (Banner Pilot/Partial Traces/Gateway District)

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2015? (In order 1-5)

1. Bully - Feels Like
2. Sleater Kinney - No Cities to Love
3. Kendrick Lamar - To Pimp a Butterfly
4. Desaparecidos - Payola
5. Beach Slang - The Things We Do To Find People Who Like Us

2. What band did you discover in 2015 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

I mean, I wouldn’t say they literally had an impact on my life, but Bully is a great new band with a super strong debut album. Ditto for Beach Slang.

3. How will you remember 2015? (In terms of music)

Lots of good records and fun festivals. We got to play what are, in my opinion, the two best music festivals on the planet: The Fest and Groezrock. So that was a definite highlight.

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2016?

At least a couple recordings by a new band I’m in called Partial Traces. We have one 2-song thing recorded and a bunch of other songs we’re fleshing out and hoping to record within the next few months.

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2016?

I have to admit, I’m not even aware of any upcoming releases, top of my head. I guess I’ll just hope some of my favorite bands are due for a new one in 2016: Joyce Manor, Cloud Nothings, Johnny Foreigner, Los Campesinos, etc.

6. How relevant is the physical format record/cd/tape in 2015 and going into 2016? What do you see changing in terms of physical vs. digital discussions?

There’s still a healthy amount of people who buy albums on vinyl, and to a lesser extent CD, and I don’t really see that changing much. I mean, I can’t imagine it will decrease much more than it already has from the peak of 2000 or thereabouts. I think in 2016 we might see more bands opt out of the streaming services and instead try to sell digital copies directly to fans.

Nathan Joyner (Three One G/Hot Nerds-vocals/guitar)

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2015? (In order 1-5)

1. METZ - Metz II (Sub Pop)

Charles Mingus - Mingus Plays Piano Reissue (Superior Viaduct)

1. No More - A Rose is A Rose + 7" Reissue (Dark Entries)
2. Bill Orcutt & Jacob Felix Heule - Colonial Donuts (Palilalia Records)
3. Gesaffelstein - Maryland (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (The Vinyl Factory/Warner Music France/Parlophone)

2. What band did you discover in 2015 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

Philip Perkins

His album Drive Time reissued through Body Double Records resonated with me this year because of the way he presented the music.  Taking the mundane morning commute-drive time radio and turning it into something that is honest and listenable (to my ears). I like when the mundane everyday nuances of life are pointed out and re-interpretted. It's kind of like saying why let yourself be brainwashed by what is being shoved down your throat. I think works like his point out that the human race can be so complacent and settle for whatever is thrown at us out of convenience instead of asking "WHY?". So, in a nutshell, I like that he questions normality and challenges it's existence with something else...anything else.

3. How will you remember 2015? (In terms of music)

HA! Flooded with reunion bands, members of, mediocrity, sadness, and a glimmer of hope in the bands that have built their reputation from the ground up. Electronic dance music that was being spun in underground clubs during 2010 on the radio now. Re-hashed punk bands that would have been good in the '90s. Less extreme metal music, more extreme experimental music. Inspired and disenchanted at the same time by the politics of todays music. More gimmicks and less attention to making something good, less laughter, an abundance of bands taking themselves too seriously, more ignorant political rants without any facts to back them, and too many criticasters.

But most importantly, an abundance of music that is waiting to be explored STILL and that's exciting!

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2016?

Hot Nerds will begin tracking for a brand new full-length LP that's filled with jokes, harsh honesties, a brutal approach to sound design and, as always, testing the ends of what people will put up with. It will also be longer in length...in order to annoy people for longer periods of time. 

You can probably also expect some asinine videos from us too!  We love making them!

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2016?

Anything that comes from Superior Viaduct.

6. How relevant is the physical format record/cd/tape in 2015 and going into 2016? What do you see changing in terms of physical vs. digital discussions?

Very relevant. Physical pressing plants are being bogged down with massive orders from mainstream artists. Whole Foods sells vinyl records now. Does that make it more relevant? Sure it does. Holding a piece of art will always be relevant. Sure, it's convenient to purchase a digital record from your bedroom and listen to it instantly through computer speakers. But, I think the tactile experience of holding a physical copy of music will never "die out."

I don't think the discussion will change. In the practical world there are perks to both formats. Maybe I'm just a new-old school dude who loves vinyl, but I like having it on my phone too. I can't say that one is better than the other. From my perspective if they are presented hand in hand they can be very effective in pleasing everyone. Some people prefer the sound of vinyl, some people prefer the sound of low quality cassette tapes, some people prefer the sound of an MP3, or the crispness of a compact disc. Maybe people should just stop forcing their opinions on other people about which one is better and just accept that there is an older format and a newer format in the musical consumption marketplace. Purchase the one you like the most! Let's stop talking and listen.

Roo Pescod (Bangers)

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2015? (In order 1-5)

I swear this is a harder and more ludicrous question every year.

1. Dogs on Acid – s/t
2. Joanna Newsome – Divers
3. Good Shade – s/t
4. Laura Stevenson – Cocksure
5. Ben Folds – So There

2. What band did you discover in 2015 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

I’d never even heard of Wire before 2015. They came down to Falmouth to play a show and a bunch of people I know were saying Wire had been their favourite band growing up, and I just kind of dismissed it as South East England bullshit. So I naturally missed the show, listened to Pink Flag about two weeks later, and damn, there’s finally a punk band from the 1970s that weren’t shit.

3. How will you remember 2015? (In terms of music)

2015 is the year that I finally came to terms with pop music. I’m working with a University music collection at the moment and we’ve got a great selection of old pop music which I’m trying to promote to the students (current year of birth for most 1st year students is 1997) with a “This day in music” recommendation on our listening post. It’s got me listening to some Genesis which I never really imagined would happen. Next stop obsessing over business card paper weights and killing people with an axe dressed in a rain mac.

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2016?

Fuck knows. Everything’s up in the air. I’m working all the time so Bangers are just trying to do shows that we’re really excited about. Hopefully doing a decent Euro or US tour at Easter and releasing some new songs I’ve been writing.

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2016?

If I’m honest I’m still catching up with Pitchfork’s top 100 from 2014, so next year is a bit of a mystery to me. The only thing I’m really excited about is the new Falcon record. Dan and Brendan both seem super proud of it, and that’s enough to make my happy hairs tingle.

6. How relevant is the physical format record/cd/tape in 2015 and going into 2016? What do you see changing in terms of physical vs. digital discussions?

So that Dogs on Acid record is one of my favourite of the year and I swear I’ve only listened to it on YouTube. That said, I’ve listened on my phone, through my Playstation, and on multiple computers. They toured the UK a couple of months ago and I don’t even know if they had physical music. I know they were selling fucking VHS.

I don’t see anything drasticly changing in the near future. I think consumers are content with being able to gobble up music in whatever format they want. For me I listen to different albums in different formats; some CDs in my car, an iTunes/iPod library, a bunch of things I’ve been sent by friends on my phone, historic MP3s on my Playstation, and a small vinyl collection. It’s weird but it works.

Stacey Dee (Bad Cop/Bad Cop-vocals/guitar)

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2015? (In order 1-5)

1. Radioactivity - Silent Kill
2. Home Street Home - Songs from the Shit Musical
3. PEARS - Go to Prison
4. toyGuitar - In this Mess
5. Lagwagon - Hang

2. What band did you discover in 2015 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

Radioactivity 

I recently discovered this band thanks to my band mate Jennie Cotterill. I was instantly inspired by every one of their songs: undeniably catchy melody and stripped down production. The band and songs give that feeling of, "if you have good songs, you can record them anywhere (even your bedroom) and they'll sound great." The buzzy and warm guitars and straight forward vocals inspire me to write. That's all I can ask for in a great band...How their songs make me feel.

3. How will you remember 2015? (In terms of music)

2015 was filled with massive highs. So many great bands put out records, including my band's first full-length. This year offered everything from the return of hugely produced pop ballads to some of the most interesting punk rock records. It feels like people were free to try new things and release honest music. 2015 to me, gave many people a lot of hope for the future.  

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2016?

The band is continuing to tour both domestically as well as overseas. We plan on releasing some new music and getting out to as many places as we can.  

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2016?

Decent Criminal and NOFX

6. How relevant is the physical format record/cd/tape in 2015 and going into 2016? What do you see changing in terms of physical vs. digital discussions?

I really think having something physical is super important to people who love records. It's not just about listening to the music, but also the cover art and the liner notes. Fans want to know everything about the bands they love and having something tangible will always be a necessity. Fans, more times than not, actually buy both the physical copy as well as the downloads. Vinyl will always be collectable and revered. Bands have been releasing records on tape again, which I think is super neat...but who has a cassette player anymore? It's definitely throwback. Maybe cassettes will last longer now that people can't burn them out listening to them in their cars. CDs are a dying breed in 2016.  

Stephen Brodsky (Mutoid Man/Cave In-guitar/vocals)

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2015? (In order 1-5)

1. Alabama Shakes - Sound And Color
2. Marriages - Salome
3. Prurient - Frozen Niagra Falls
4. He Whose Ox Is Gored - The Camel, The Lion, The Child
5. Wild Throne - Harvest of Darkness

2. What band did you discover in 2015 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

Humble Pie.

Last spring, I spent an afternoon in Louisville with my friend Chris Maggio while touring solo opening for the Mountain Goats. We drove around listening to Humble Pie live jams from the early '70s and I was just floored by Steve Marriot: his vibe, his voice, and the way he addressed the audience between songs, by singing to them--he never stopped singing! It was relevatory and I made a mental note to pinch that move. 

3. How will you remember 2015? (In terms of music)

2015 was an eventful year for me. I got to tour a whole bunch and in the process, came to terms with the fact that I've become pretty obsessed with performing, and will strive to hit the road as much as possible for the foreseeable future. 

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2016?

There's already new riffs and song ideas floating around the Mutoid camp, and maybe more touring. Otherwise some exciting collaborations in the works, though right now it's too early to reveal details. 

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2016?

Let's see...There was a rumored Cattle Decapitation / Author & Punisher collab which might actually split the earth in two...At one point, John Darnielle mentioned the Mountain Goats possibly making something heavy for their next record and I'd love for them to follow through...Another solo record from Emma Ruth Rundle is underway which is very exciting news...New Russian Circles as well... also I hear Converge is starting to write again... same with The Dillinger Escape Plan, plus more Sumac jams in the works... As we can see, lots of good stuff!

6. How relevant is the physical format record/cd/tape in 2015 and going into 2016? What do you see changing in terms of physical vs. digital discussions?

Those things are great for bands to offer at shows because if anything, they're mementos for an experience. People still buy my records; sometimes they want me to sign them and that's a great feeling. The key is getting your numbers right: no one wants a closet full of stationary stock. Digital serves well for personal enjoyment at home, or while you're traveling, maybe a quick fix on the run. Regardless, I still see the physical format benefiting both touring musicians and the fans who attend their shows. 

toyGuitar

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2015? (In order 1-5)

1. Massenger - Banshee
2.  Royal Headache - High
3.  Night Birds - Mutiny at Muscle Beach
4.  Sheer Mag - I & II
5.  Radioactivity - Silent Kill

2. What band did you discover in 2015 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

We got turned onto Sheer Mag earlier this year and, even though they only have two 7-inches so far, we played them non-stop on the road. Top notch van jams!

3. How will you remember 2015? (In terms of music)

2015 felt like the year of quality, not quantity. Maybe there weren't as many first rate records out this year as years past (or maybe we live under a rock?), but the good ones were phenomenal.

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2016?

A new record, North American and European tours (?!), and quite possibly much more!

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2016?

Hands down, the new Mean Jeans and Massenger records. 

6. How relevant is the physical format record/cd/tape in 2015 and going into 2016? What do you see changing in terms of physical vs. digital discussions?

Hopefully the tangible aesthetic of physical records, tapes, and CDs will always be important to people.  Practically speaking, though, it wouldn't be surprising if the relatively recent "novelty" (at least recent 'resurgence' in popular culture) of tapes and records starts to fade in the coming years as people slip back into the "ease" of digital music.  Additionally, if the major label pressing plant delays don't improve, digital music and cheap CD duplication will steadily creep back as de facto music formats.  Trying to survive on physical sales, particularly vinyl, has become a liability for smaller labels in the last few years. That said, the real punx already know 2016 is all about the CD-R.

Trever (Face to Face)

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2015? (In order 1-5)

1. Radioactivity - Silent Kill
2. Western Settings - Yes It Is
3. Teenage Bottlerocket - Tales From Wyoming
4. Beach Slang - The Things We Do To Find People Who Feel Like Us 
5. Title Fight - Hyperview

2. What band did you discover in 2015 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

Radioactivity. I was really into Marked Men and realized this past year that some of the guys reformed as Radioactivity. We played a show with them in Dallas. Great band and good people. 

3. How will you remember 2015? (In terms of music)

n/a

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2016?

A new record called Protection on Fat Wreck Chords produced by Bill Stevenson.

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2016?

A new Descendents record.

6. How relevant is the physical format record/cd/tape in 2015 and going into 2016? What do you see changing in terms of physical vs. digital discussions?

Vinyl is absolutely relevant and will continue to be. Cassette tapes are rumored to be making a comeback, but I don't own any. Digital music is practical and convenient, but not very sexy.

Trevor Shelley de Brauw (Pelican/RLYR/Let’s Pet/Chord-guitar)

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2015? (In order 1-5)

1. Bosse-de-Nage - All Fours (Flenser)
2. Cloakroom - Further Out (Run For Cover)
3. Beach House - Depression Cherry (Sub Pop)
4. Vince Staples - Summertime ’06 (Defjam)
5. Disappears - Irreal (Kranky)

2. What band did you discover in 2015 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

I usually make a point of not including work clients (I’m a music publicist as my day job) in my year end lists, and I deliberately left Majical Cloudz off my top five albums because I did help work on the press campaign, but I would be remiss to not mention them here. In reality I ended up helping on the campaign after practically begging my officemate to let me help because I was obsessed with the album. I first heard it performed live start to finish as the duo’s performance at FORM, an intimate music and arts microfestival set in the Arizona desert at experimental architectural colony Arcosanti. The sparse electronic arrangements and simple, direct lyrics and raw, engaged performance style achieved a level of emotional affect that I’ve spent an entire career trying to attain via bombast. 

3. How will you remember 2015? (In terms of music)

There was a tremendous glut of great music. I consumed nearly twice as much music this year as I did in the last several years (I’ve been keeping a tally. Because I am a nerd). I’d like to think that I’ll always remember this as a year where there was almost too much great music to go around.

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2016?

I have two albums set for release next year - the debut RLYR full-length on Magic Bullet by a newer instrumental rock trio that I’m doing with Steven Hess from Locrian and Colin Dekuiper from Bloodiest, and a solo album on Flenser that I’ve been working on it bits and pieces over an embarassingly long period of time. We’re also writing a new Pelican record, but too early to tell if that’s something that’ll be finished in 2016 or not. 

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2016?

No contest: after the Swans show that I saw last year that was comprised largely of unreleased songs I have been in a fevered pitch of anticipation for them to hit the studio. It’s the first time I’ve ever preordered a 3xLP before the band even stepped foot in a recording studio.

6. How relevant is the physical format record/cd/tape in 2015 and going into 2016? What do you see changing in terms of physical vs. digital discussions?

I think people will gradually stop thinking in terms of sales and start paying more attention to streaming metrics. I think the industry has been really slow to think in those terms and, in terms of popular music, they need to really reconfigure the charts to better reflect the public’s engagement with streaming platforms as a primary means of music consumption. I also think we’re going to see an even greater slide towards obsolescence with mp3 technology - the majority of consumers of digital music don’t care a whit about ownership as far as I can tell. 

That said I am never giving up vinyl as my favored means of music consumption.