My Favorite Albums of the Year: 2012

Swans - The Seer

I started scribbling about albums I enjoyed this year, yet imagined it would be more trouble than it actually was to create the below lists. The Top 10 pretty much fell into place; and why bother with synopses no one will read?

Favorites (in order)

Swans - The Seer

Primitive Weapons - The Shadow Gallery

Burning Love - Rotten Thing to Say

Royal Thunder -CVI

Katatonia - Dead End Kings

Kowloon Walled City - Container Ships

Baroness - Yellow & Green

The Secret - Agnus Dei

El-P - Cancer 4 Cure
Gypsyhawk - Revelry & Resilience

Impressive (no particular order)

V.O.D. - The Cursed Remain Cursed
Killer Mike - R.A.P. Music
Brokaw - Interiors
Gojira - L’Enfant Sauvage
The Devil's Blood - The Thousandfold Epicentre 
Gentlemans Pistols - s/t
High on Fire - De Vermis Mysteriis
Testament - Dark Roots of Earth
Cattle Decapitation - Monolith of Inhumanity
Deftones - Koi No Yokan
Uncle Acid & the Deadbeats - Blood Lust
Lita Ford - Living Like a Runaway
Japandroids - Celebration Rock
Xibalba - Hasta La Muerte 
Ceremony - Zoo
Sacred Reich - Live at Wacken
Black Breath - Sentenced to Life
Torche - Harmonicraft
Overkill - The Electric Age 
For Today - Immortal 
Saint Vitus - Lillie: F-65 
Early Graves - Red Horse
Nas - Life is Good
Satan's Wrath - Galloping Blasphemy
Napalm Death - Utilitarian 
Human Toilet - s/t
 

Just Alright
(no particular order)

Demon Hunter - True Defiance
Nachtmystium - Silencing Machine
Neurosis - Honor Found in Decay
C.O.C. - s/t
Ke$ha - Warrior 
Cat Power - Sun 
Garbage - Not Your Kind of People
Best Coast - The Only Place 
Rick Ross - God Forgives, I Don't

Meh
The Sword - Apocryphon
Madonna - MDNA
Silversun Pickups - Neck of the Woods


Good Singles 
The Afghan Whigs - "Lovecrimes"
Ke$ha - "Die Young"
Rihanna - "We Found Love"


Still Haven't Listened To: 
Mark Lanegan - Blues Funeral 
Sleigh Bells - Reign of Terror 
Jack White - Blunderbuss 
Pitbull - Global Warming 
The Killers - Battle Born 
Soundgarden - King Animal

Randoms
• Live Bootleg of the Year: Into Another's set from the CA Revelation 25 show.
• Turbonegro and The Gallows should consider a vocalist exchange program. Seriously.

• Musician with the best Instagram account: hands down, Stallone's Juan Montoya.

DMX Saves Xmas... And Gives Me Metrics

I'm full of weird ideas. And sometimes they pan out. Like the video you're about to see below of rap legend and crack enthusiast DMX performing an energetic, beat-boxed version of "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer."

We printed the lyrics for him in advance, not thinking that Dark Man X would be familiar with such a mundane Christmas tune. He quickly eschewed the help. Lyrics? "I GOT THIS." And what he proceeded to make was nothing short of magic.

You're Welcome, World. Happy Holidays!

xoxoxo,
Heathen Jew Z

The Lame List

No, this isn't my attempt at a Best of 2012 music list (though I'm sure I'll take crap for some of my selections when the time comes). It is, however, my lament at not being able to get in to see Soundgarden's show at Irving Plaza last night.

While I do like their sound a lot, I was never a superfan of theirs. I am, though, a big fan of their guitarist, Kim Thayil. He's always struck me as one of those cool, low-key guitar demi-gods who was just into doing this own thing while Chris Cornell was busy trying to become an "artist" and break away from being labeled a metal frontman.

How chill is Kim? Below is a perfect example, via a vintage clip of him participating in Almost Live's "The Lame List" skit.


Better clips I couldn't embed are HERE, HERE and HERE. And if you need a plus one for either of Soundgarden's January shows, I'm your lady.


Bonus, here's Gruntruck's turn at The Lame List.

Things I Learned During Hurricane Sandy

Back at my Tribeca office after Superstorm Sandy, I still can't believe an entire week of our planned lives was taken away. Mercifully, all the folks I know survived - though some lost houses and valuables - yet there's always someone who has it worse.

I've always been prepared. Having signed my Manhattan apartment lease on September 10, 2001 - you know, the day before September 11th - and after experiencing the 2003 blackout, plus a ton of other wacked-out scenarios, I've always had a "go bag" at the ready.

Perhaps I have more apocalyptic visions than most (or am just a sucker for Amazon.com's Survivalist section), because my go bag includes a surplus Israeli gas mask, iodine pills and a water purifier, in addition to the standard stuff like a hand-crank radio and matches. And I'm seriously wondering how I can keep a blowup raft in my studio apartment, because after the second year in a row of having the subways shut down on us, I want a guaranteed way to leave this island.

Being prepared and fending for myself have been the only things I've known for a long time. Fiercely independent, I was determined to take care of myself (and my feline, Ava) through this ordeal. After two days of no power, the desire for a hot shower set me off on another path - to Sheepshead Bay - which was actually way worse off than Manhattan. Once in Brooklyn, away from the canned goods and familiarity of my home, getting through Sandy's aftermath called for a new approach. One that taught me some valuable and trivial things. They are as follows:

1. South Brooklyn (Gravesend, specifically) now has a fine selection of 24-hour bodegas that fulfill my fancy beverage needs.

2. Crazy drivers are everywhere, but are especially dangerous in an area where they can speed up enough to kill you.

3. Pets and trees need to be cared for the way babies are.

4. Always be kind. You never know when karma will come around. Or when you'll be the one in need of help. For some reason, after Sandy, I find myself more patient and polite to everyone.

5. Though doing things for yourself is imperative, having someone there for the simple act of comforting you can be as revelatory as food or heat.

Eyehategod on HBO

I've spent a disproportionate amount of time posting about Into Another this year. Which means I've spent less time posting about Eyehategod. So to remedy that a little, here's a clip some of you (like me) with only basic cable might've missed - Eyehategod's premium cable debut on HBO's Treme.

As a show based in New Orleans, the producers have long strived to infuse the production with as much local flavor as possible. So props on including both EHG and Goatwhore in various episodes.

Jimmy Bower was destined to become a star. Check it out:

New York Comic Con 2012

That's just the lobby overflow on Saturday. Artist Alley was past that Walking Dead poster at the end.

A comic con is my happy place. This happy place is made exponentially better when I don't have to get on a plane to get there. And though I'm one of "those" people who generally walks past the superhero stuff to get at the oddball vinyl toys (or stare at the Masters of the Universe display), shop the lowbrow art mini pop-up stores, or explore the more eclectic booths on the show floor, New York Comic Con has always been a good time. As a total bonus, I also get to check in with all the wonderful people I met during my brief stint in the comics world.

Even now, in its sixth year, as NYCC struggles to satisfy the sold-out capacity crowd with an exhausting amount of panels, screenings, show floor space, anime festival, autograph sessions, video game demos—in addition to the core of comics-based programming—it's still impossible to see it all. Craftman Tools had a booth, as did Hallmark and Taschen. NYCC even hosted a Trapped in the Closet sing-along. (Fun fact: according to a Crain's New York Business report, NYCC is the second largest event in New York City.)

Then there are the cosplayers. Few things in the world are more wonderful to see. Walking down aisles crowded with grown men and women dressed as Adventure Time characters, Poison Ivy, Dr. Who, Batman and a myriad of other pop-culture icons is just about the most insightful urban anthropological study one can be privy to.

This guy rules.

Want to talk about people giving no fucks? Cosplayers had no shame in their games and it was inspiring to watch. And photograph—since almost everyone's goal seemed to be finding a spot in a blog's photo gallery (mission accomplished). Truly, it's the least any of us can do to pay tribute to the many hours some spent on homemade costumes, perfecting every detail. And those who half-assed it were even more funny to check out.

On the metal tip, Kirk Hammett signed copies of his new book, the Metal Sucks bros shared a booth with Vertebrae 33 and hosted autograph sessions by Dee Snider, Alex Skolnick (who actually plugged in and played in the middle of the show floor) and tattoo legend Paul Booth. And Integrity frontman Dwid Hellion released a really ugly looking toy. As much as I love the band, there's no way I'm paying $85 for a figure that looks like a tar-dipped plucked turkey (and couldn't stand without holding the included staff).

Thee Black Heksen by Dwid Hellion

Things I bought included three of the five Frank Kozik x Kidrobot Goon Squad busts, the first Alex Pardee book, mini card prints by an artist named Seymour who showed at the Strychnin Gallery booth (a really cool Berlin-based gallery) and the graphic novel tribute to Mercyful Fate. Want to see what I saw? Check out my gallery here.

Until next year...

Into Another Live Again

More of my crappy pics here.

It's probably been 15 years since I last witnessed Into Another perform at Irving Plaza, and in all that time dudes still haven't figured out how to mosh to them. Yet the audience at the final installment of the East Coast Revelation 25 shows couldn't help but try when the homegrown act started their set with the underground hit, "Underlord."

Eventually, the pit settled into a sinuous ebb and flow befitting the unconventional band. Richie Birkenhead's vocals, still as screechy and polarizing as ever made for the perfect counterbalance to Peter Moses' stadium-worthy guitar tones. Into Another ran through a tight, hour-plus long set that included "Running Into Walls," "Poison Fingers," "While I Die," "T.A.I.L." and "The Other." The closest I came to heaven was when they dove into "William."

The omitted "Two Snowflakes" and "Maritime Murder" were sorely missed, especially baffling since "May I" was included in the Irving Plaza set. Evidently, their performance was fairly different from their show the night before at Saint Vitus Bar.

Rounded out by ex-Ignite guitarist Brian Balchack and bassist Reid Black, Into Another made sure to pay tribute to their late bassist (and ex-Whiplash metaller) Tony Bono. "We want to send a huge wave of love up to Tony," said Birkenhead. Also announced onstage was their four-day East Coast run in December, including a stop at Bowery Ballroom on December 16. I'll be there. And if you need more incentive to join me, check out some reunion footage from the CA Revelation 25 show, as well as Saint Vitus.