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(Some Of) Our Favorite Albums Of The Year So Far

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We’re only halfway through 2016, but already this year is proving to be one of the best for new music in a long time. From rock and pop, to hip-hop, country, and even spoken word, 2016 has been chock full incredible surprises and expected delights. Our jobs give us to hundreds of records every month, so trying to decide just 10 or 15 that won our hearts proved to be fairly difficult. Instead of betraying our loves (and potentially starting an interoffice war that would no doubt resemble something out of Braveheart in execution) we decided to select a few of our absolute favorites that we’ve listed below in hopes you will take it upon yourself to discover everything they have to offer. It’s not a complete list by any means, and it’s being shared with no attention paid to the order in which albums appear, but if you ever find yourselves in our offices in Minneapolis in the near future you can rest assured on of the records will be playing through our stereo.

Hotel Books – Run Wild, Stay Alive (InVogue Records)

Spoken word artists like Cam Smith never receive the credit they deserve, but one listen to the newest record from Smith’s band Hotel Books proves that poetry can be just as exciting as the best punk records. Run Wild, Stay Alive has been on shelves for less than a month when this post goes live, but already we’ve logged over a dozen plays. This is an album that will break your heart and piece it back together again.

The Summer Set – Stories For Monday (Fearless Records)

Trying to deny our love for The Summer Set is like trying to deny our constant craving for hot pizza and cold (unsweetened) ice tea. We had a feeling Stories For Monday would be a perfect soundtrack for adventures when we first heard “Figure Me Out” in February, but when the record finally arrived in April that belief was proved completely true. Every track on this record is constructed in such a way as to make any moment experienced while they play a bit more memorable. There is fun, heart, and soul to spare on this release, and the band deserves heaps of respect for finding a way to create such an immediately infectious record. 

Slingshot Dakota – Break (Topshelf Records)

Sometimes a band with a rich history in the alternative scene delivers a new record that makes everything they’ve done in the past look like child’s play despite the fact those previous records are beloved by throngs of people worldwide. Such is the case with Slingshot Dakota, perhaps the most perfectly paired married couple in music, and their latest record released through Topshelf Records back in March. Break captures the sensations of growing up and making commitments to bettering yourself through catchy indie-rock tunes that make you want to dance almost as much as they make you want to share the record with anyone experiencing hard times around you. We’ve put Break on to lift our spirits, celebrate good times, and keep us company when times got hard. If the music of Slingshot Dakota were a religion we’d be the first in line at the chapel doors every Sunday, and after hearing Break we imagine you too will want to convert.

Empty Houses – Daydream (Sargent House)

There is no other band in alternative music today that has found a better way to combine the sensibilities of Motown songwriting with modern indie-pop aesthetics than Empty Houses. Their debut album, Daydream, is just what the title proclaims it to be, an escape from the world around you that is so pleasant to experience that you never want it to end. If you don’t already own this album, finish this article, share it with all your friends, and then rush out and buy a copy as soon as possible. We recommend the vinyl version, but even a download will suffice.

ROAM – Backbone (Hopeless Records)

Perhaps the first great album to be released in 2016, Backbone remains a staple of the Haulix staff playlist to this day. There is always room in our hearts for a young band who has found a way to convey boundless energy and positivity through original music, and that is exactly what you get when you listen to ROAM’s debut release on Hopeless Records. If you can make it through “Deadweight” (featured above) without feeling the urge to conquer whatever obstacles stand between you and your goals you may want to visit a doctor and double check that your heart is still beating. Yes, this band is so good that only the undead could possibly be hear their music and feel nothing. The best part of all? All signs point to ROAM only getting better with age, and that means they have several more anthemic records left to create. 

I See Stars – Treehouse (Sumerian Records)

Michigan’s Electronic Hardcore ringleaders I See Stars have spent the better part of the last decade refining a sound entirely their own, and along the way they inadvertently spawned an entire underground movement. Treehouse seems to be the culmination of these efforts, as the record finds the band simultaneously delivering their most cohesive and most experimental record to date. There is a vicious heaviness to certain songs, but also a lighter side to proceedings that offer the pop-laden hooks that helped establish the band early on. There’s even some hip-hop influence, which is perhaps most evident on the show-stopping track “All In,” adding to the creative output of the group. To say this is one of the year’s best party records would be an understatement, and we expect many more genre-defying releases from the band in the future.

Whitechapel – Mark Of The Blade (Metal Blade Records)

Not many bands are able to say they’ve stayed together for a decade, and far less make it a point to celebrate this fact by releasing an album intended to reflect on all that has transpired while also looking towards the future. Whitechapel have never been your average band however, so the fact a record like Mark Of The Blade exists will likely come as no surprise to diehard fans of the long-running metal juggernauts. Everything about this record slays, and the creativity shown from the band tells us they have another decade of ideas and themes waiting to be explored. 

Tiny Moving Parts – Celebrate (Triple Crown Records)

Minnesota natives Tiny Moving Parts have been carving their own path in the world of alternative music since formation, but the group seems poised for a crossover into the mainstream of music with the release of Celebrate. Both elaborately designed and undeniably infectious, the record speaks to pains of growing up and the double-edged sword that is chasing your dreams. Though still young in age, the members of TMP seems to recognize that every positive action often has a negative consequence and vice versa, which gives them a lyrical sense of wisdom well beyond their years. More importantly, they have found a way to convey a wealth of emotion through their music without jeopardizing the inherent sense of fun that has always existed within their songs. We don’t mean to cast judgment on anyone, but those who have yet to hear Celebrate in full should not be allowed to claim they lived their 2016 to the fullest because they’re missing out on a truly exciting, not to mention wholly original, release.

Avion Roe – In Separation (Epitaph Records)

It is very possible that Avion Roe will be the biggest rock band in alternative music by 2017, and if so In Separation will be seen as proof it is a title they fully deserve. This Texas rock band has been grinding away in the underground music scene for several years now, but their decision to join Epitaph Records last year thrust them into the spotlight like never before. Their label debut, which just hit stores on June 17, is chock full of anthems that feel made for arenas, and we have no doubt they will be able to play them in rooms that size in a few years time. The band is currently on Van’s Warped Tour, and those attending should consider this summer their last opportunity to hop on the group’s hype bandwagon before its overflowing with fans.

Modern Baseball – Holy Ghost (Run For Cover Records)

What could we possibly write about Modern Baseball that hasn’t already been said on blogs or in the pages of The New York Times (yes, the band was in the NYT earlier this year)? Holy Ghost is an album ripe with soul-searching sincerity that is as catchy as it is absolutely heartbreaking. We don’t recommend your first experience with this record to take place in a crowded room unless you’re absolutely okay with your friends seeing you cry because we wept as if our relatives had just passed during our initial spin(s). If you get the chance to see the band live, do it.

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10 Albums You Should Cover in June

Depending on where you live it may be hard to tell, but summer is fast-approaching, and with the rising temperatures comes an avalanche of new music competing for your attention and blog coverage. We cannot and should not tell you how to run your blog, but if you’re the kind of writer looking for the best of the best to share with your audiences then we know of a few upcoming releases you should definitely keep your eye on. These records criss-cross genres, but each one adds something special to the global music community that we believe is worthy of coverage.

Also, just so you don’t start believing we claim to have final say over everything that is good or bad, please know we are always in the market for new discoveries ourselves. It’s rare that more than a day or two passes without someone pitching us new music, and we do our best to hear everything that arrives in our inbox. If you know of a great record on the horizon that is not mentioned in the list below, please comment and add your suggestion. We will definitely make time to listen, and who knows? Maybe you will be responsible for kickstarting the development of future blog content down the line.

Anyways, here are our picks for the must hear albums of June 2016:

Gates – Parallel Lives (June 3)

There are few bands in modern alternative music with as much potential for mainstream success as Gates. Their music speaks to something bigger than themselves, and with each listen to their Sophomore LP we find ourselves falling deeper in love with their sound. There are some bands whose talent cannot be denied, regardless of your personal preference in music or genres, and Gates are one of those acts. The only problem is, nowhere near enough people know their name…Yet.

Beartooth – Aggressive (June 3)

If there is one band with a Warped Tour background poised to become rock and roll mainstays in 2016 it’s Beartooth. Everyone in the rock world already knows this to be true, including Slipknot frontman Corey Taylor (who recently expressed his love of the band in the media). Aggressive is a far more focused effort than the band’s debut, but it has the same chaotic tendencies that made the group an underground sensation. Caleb Shomo is a beast on vocals, and his unabashed approach to songwriting adds a layer of sincerity to the band’s music that just isn’t found in rock today.

Garbage – Strange Little Birds (June 10)

A band that certainly needs no introduction, Garbage are continuing to redefine their sound with the release of Strange Little Birds. Fans have long wondered if the group would return, and with that question came concerns that any new material might spoil the work the band released around the same time we all feared for the impact of Y2K. We’re happy to report Strange Little Birds is quite possibly the band’s strongest record, and it has hooks that will stay stuck in your brain for weeks to come. If you need more proof of our love, make sure you find time to read this week’s Monday Motivation post.

Empty Houses – Daydream (June 10)

Love Motown, but wish there were some young artists making that classic sound work in 2016? Empty Houses are about to become your new favorite band. Comprised of vocalist Ali Shea and two former members of pop-rock favorite Fireworks, Empty Houses have been carving a unique place for themselves in the world of pop since their formation in early 2015. The band’ Sargent House records debut blends classic genre sensibilities with the perspective of people living in the now. This is the kind of record that makes you want to fall in love, and we doubt it will leave our stereo anytime soon.

Nahko and Medicine for The People – HOKA (June 10)

Our friends at SideOneDummy are releasing this record, but Nahko and Medicine For The People are not your typical S1D band. HOKA is a very grounded, very organic release that relies on acoustic instruments and nature metaphors to convey its message. The results are an entirely heartwarming and often whimsical musical experience that feels intended for summer road trips without a destination. It’s the kind of record you put on when you want to get lost, and it’s the only company you’ll need on your journey.

I See Stars – Treehouse (June 17)

Now five albums deep into a career many thought would die with the downfall of Myspace, I See Stars have long proven their critics wrong be continuing to push themselves and their fans in new directions. Treehouse is a culmination of everything the band has done in the past, with pop-friendly hooks and mosh pit ready guitar work, but it also points to where they may go in the future. Not many bands can claim to have the confidence to do whatever they desire with each new release, but there is a palpable amount of self-assurance running through Treehouse that makes us root for I See Stars continued success. If tracks like “All In” and “Mobbin’ Out” don’t get your heart racing we highly recommend seeking medical assistance as soon as possible.

Sherwood – Some Things Never Leave You (June 17)

There was a time not that long ago when we thought we may never heard from Sherwood again. That was before the band launched a Kickstarter in 2015 to fund a new album, of course. That promotion lead to an avalanche of love for the group being expressed from all corners of the Earth, and the band quickly gained the funding needed to continue their musical endeavors. Some Things Never Leave You picks up right where the band left off with unique pop-rock songs that feel fragile while carrying a heavy emotional payload. Where one song might make you feel happier than you can remember being for quite some time, another will no doubt bring you to tears, and the ability to criss-cross the emotional range like that is part of what makes Sherwood such a wonderful group to follow. We are barely halfway through 2016, but this record is a definite contender for our favorite album of the year. If not number one, then almost certainly in the top 5.

Avion Roe – In Separation (June 17)

We’ve been promoting the debut full-length from Avion Roe since the band’s vocalist appeared on Inside Music back in January. In Separation is the result of years of hard work on the alternative rock underground, and in our opinion it’s one of the best debuts of 2016. Whether you’re looking for something to scream at the top of your lungs in times where you need hope, or if you’re seeking a soundtrack to keep you company when you’re feeling down, In Separation is the answer. Avion Roe could very well be the biggest band in ‘the scene’ at this time next year. Do NOT sleep on them.

DJ Shadow – The Mountain Will Fall (June 24)

DJ Shadow is forever a legend in our book. …Endtroducing is one of our all-time favorite albums, and we still believe he has an even better release in him. We have yet to hear The Mountain Will Fall in full, but our faith in his ability to deliver incredibly original and undeniably catchy music is strong.

Rae Sremmurd – Sremmlife 2 (June 24)

We don’t know if anyone could have predicted the rise of Rae Sremmurd. In a world where every new rap act feels like an imitation of an already notable name, the duo known as Rae Sremmurd exist in a lane all their own. The group’s business is built atop easy-to-learn, bass heavy material, and the early released from Sremmlife 2 shows there is plenty of that in store on this release. Will it be enough to push the group further into the spotlight? We’re not sure. What we do know, however, is that there will not be another hip-hop release this summer that sounds anything like this record.

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