We Listen 2 Records

       We listened to the top albums of 2021, these are the top 10. Here's our pics: Elliot smith, Grouper, Reds Pinks and Purples, Angelo De Augustine, Sufjan Stevens, Juan Wauters, Just Mustard, Ty segall, Courtney Barnett, Dry Cleaning. Happy new year. 2022 We listen to records. Twitter - @welisten21 Instagram - welisten2records 

       We listened to the top albums of 2021, and narrowed them down to the top 20 like Rick Dees. This is 20-11. Here's what you're in for by pressing play: Midwife, Mono, Men I trust, Mogwai, Facs, Big thief, Godspeed you black emperor, Ovlov, Julia Shapiro and Deerhoof. Happy new year. 2022 we listen to records. Twitter - @welisten21 Instagram - welisten2records 

       We listened to the track "Don't Want to Know If You Are Lonely" from Husker Du's Candy Apple Grey while drinking and making fires in the woods of VT. Rob and Jim join us to make a mess of interpreting this song. Is the narrator being a dick or just hurt or has a stalker been annoying the hell out of him? The band was really not in a cooperative place on this record and we all come to this from different directions. Come hang out with us under the stars. Twitter - @welisten21 Instagram - welisten2records Leave a message on the Welisten hotline - 978-707-9899 

       We listened to the track "Psychotic Episode" from Royal Headache (R.I.P.) while drinking in the woods of VT. That's what we've come to these days. We were joined by cinematographer Rob and Sound Engineer Jim to talk about this song from the Australian band. Is it Punk? Soul? We have no answers, just turn down the lights, have a cocktail and join us in the middle of the night to talk about music. Twitter - @welisten21 Instagram - welisten2records Leave a message on the Welisten hotline - 978-707-9899 

       We listened to Turning Into Small from All Natural Lemon and Lime Flavors. Everyone knows band names should start out ridiculous with the idea that it won't even matter once the music rules and you used to the idea of jamming pearls but these guys really pushed the limit, ultimately leading to this wildly underrated shoegaze gem. Twitter - @welisten21 Instagram - welisten2records Leave a message on the Welisten hotline - 978-707-9899 

       We listened to Source tags and codes from ...And you will know us by the trail of dead. We find the Unwound connection and talk about the early 2000's Austin, post hardcore bands that all melded together and the perfect 10 they got from pitchfork. Email - records@harveylovesharvey.com Twitter - @welisten21 Instagram - welisten2records Leave a message on the Welisten hotline - 978-707-9899 

       We listened to Turn on the Bright Lights from Interpol. Their first record released in 2002 could lazily be compared to Joy Division...we try hard not to do that but here we are and we just did. An ode to NYC which remains true - the subway IS a porno and the pavements are a mess. An intersection between indie dance rock, post punk revival, dream pop and garage according to some mixed up wiki and it's pointless to shove this into music genres. NYC was a weird time for music in this era and, "Meet Me In the Bathroom" from Lizzy Goodman is a great record of an ultimately wasted opportunity by a lot of talented bands. Email - records@harveylovesharvey.com Twitter - @welisten21 Instagram - welisten2records Leave a message on the Welisten hotline - 978-707-9899 

       We listened to the track "Paul Revere" from The Beastie Boys. We get into this problematic snotty period by the trio and their upcoming Netflix documentary/behind the music thing. Email - records@harveylovesharvey.com Twitter - @welisten21 Instagram - welisten2records Leave a message on the Welisten hotline - 978-707-9899 

       We listened to the track "Never Say Never" from Romeo Void from 1982. Wee were barely in elementary school but it followed us into high school somehow and showed up on 120 minutes. Fantastic post punk song and video ahead of its time. An art school band from San Francisco fronted by a Native American woman... bonkers. Email - records@harveylovesharvey.com Twitter - @welisten21 Instagram - welisten2records Leave a message on the Welisten hotline - 978-707-9899 

       We listened to Rusty from Rodan. Big shocker we're still stuck back in the early nineties talking about Slint, June of '44, Bob Weston, the thin post rock guitars and huge drums. So predicable. Matt reveals the movie Half cocked actually features Rodan and a bunch of other bands including Unwound. Look for a future episode where we do commentary on that masterpiece. Email - records@harveylovesharvey.com Twitter - @welisten21 Instagram - welisten2records Leave a message on the Welisten hotline - 978-707-9899 

       We listened to Broncho's seven inch single "It's On" from 2014 on CQ Records. The small records count too and this track always puts us in a good mood. This great four piece from Oaklahoma is playing this Saturday in Brooklyn - holy hell, it's on. Email - records@harveylovesharvey.com Twitter - @welisten21 Instagram - welisten2records Leave a message on the Welisten hotline - 978-707-9899 

       We listened to the song "All we got is each other" by Japanther off Instant Money Magic, which Matt figured out is actually a cover of a Ghost Mice song (not according to Discogs. -ed) Crazy. Support each other, DIY, everything is punk rock, be cool, cooperation not competition. Be a new kind of 2019 hippy. Can that word come back and be punk rock? Japanther you are the NYC we will always miss. They played at the Whitney Museum for god sakes. Email - records@harveylovesharvey.com Twitter - @welisten21 Instagram - welisten2records Leave a message on the Welisten hotline - 978-707-9899 

       We listened to Love of Diagrams, Mosaic, released in 2007 from Matador records. An unbelievably dense post post punk record from this Australian trio who most definitely met in art school. In fact lead singer Antonia Sellbach comes from a long line of artists who embrace soviet style constructivism and the cover was inspired by her grandfathers work. We also just found out they listened to a lot of Unwound. Email - records@harveylovesharvey.com Twitter - @welisten21 Instagram - welisten2records Leave a message on the Welisten hotline - 978-707-9899 

       We listened to The Vaselines, Enter The Vaselines. Rereleased on Subpop thanks to Kurt, this is a collection of their first two EP's a posthumous full length and some demos and live stuff. We all know the songs Nirvana covered but would this band still be as interesting without that connection? We have no answers but hang out with us as we argue our way through duos, influence, the 90's and controversial song titles. Email - records@harveylovesharvey.com Twitter - @welisten21 Instagram - welisten2records Leave a message on the Welisten hotline - 978-707-9899 

       We listened to John Thill's Greatest Hits Volume 2, no there was no volume 1 that we know of. For some reason we both have become a tiny bit obsessed with Mr Thill. He has the right amount of tragedy, comedy and sincerity with a four track or just tape deck and a guitar. Recording wherever the hell he happens to be, he rises above where most open mic performers wallow. Great LP art and the liner notes on the reverse are almost the best part of this release - we try to read them all. Email - records@harveylovesharvey.com Twitter - @welisten21 Instagram - welisten2records Leave a message on the Welisten hotline - 978-707-9899 

       We listened to Relationship of Command from At The Drive In. Released almost 20 years ago this explosive, hardcore sound hit it's peak with this record and the band soon split into Mars Volta and Sparta which we touch on as well. Matt makes a strong case for their tension being the key to this sound. Objection your honor, no just kidding, case closed. Don't miss the spoken word section. Email - records@harveylovesharvey.com Twitter - @welisten21 Instagram - welisten2records Leave a message on the Welisten hotline - 978-707-9899 

       We listened to Wire's, Pink Flag from 1977. An art school band to the core who got serious with punk and six months later they record this kind of genius. Everything mashed together, no hierarchy, constant reinvention, don't copy the Sex Pistols, create a new genre for christ sakes. Everyone else, give up. Stay glued to you TV set. Email - records@harveylovesharvey.com Twitter - @welisten21 Instagram - welisten2records Leave a message on the Welisten hotline - 978-707-9899 

       We listened to Marnie Stern's 2008 record, This Is It & I Am It & You Are It & So Is That & He Is It & She Is It & It Is It & That Is That. We talk about her incredible style, Zach Hill on drums, album titles and how we should be an unofficial Kill Rock Stars podcast. Email - records@harveylovesharvey.com Twitter - @welisten21 Instagram - welisten2records Leave a message on the Welisten hotline - 978-707-9899 

       We listened to the self titled debut album from the Boston based band, Karate. Mike suggested this pick at the end of our Fugazi discography coverage and Jason happened to find it on the street not too long ago. Mathy, jazzy post punk from the early nineties which is our specialty. Email - records@harveylovesharvey.com Twitter - @welisten21 Instagram - welisten2records Leave a message on the Welisten hotline - 978-707-9899 

       Our final episode covering the Fugazi discography, End Hits and The Argument. We invited Mike to the studio again for drinks and a microphone. We talk about the live shows attended and look back on all their music and the ones that were most influential or what we would give to someone who was hearing Fugazi for the first time. This is the third part in a three part series. Email - records@harveylovesharvey.com Twitter - @welisten21 Instagram - welisten2records Leave a message on the Welisten hotline - 978-707-9899 

       In an attempt to cover the entire Fugazi discography we listen to the next three records, Steady Diet of Nothing, In On The Kill Taker and Red Medicine with our friend Mike who continues to teach his master class in their evolving sound. We talk about their changing sound and the surrounding politics track by track. Recorded one long afternoon in Brooklyn this is the second part of a three part series. Email - records@harveylovesharvey.com Twitter - @welisten21 Instagram - welisten2records Leave a message on the Welisten hotline - 978-707-9899 

       In our attempt to cover the entire Fugazi discography we listen to their first two records, 13 Songs (which Matt will point out is not a real album) and Repeater with our friend Mike who has loved Fugazi since picking these up on cassette. We talk about the early years of the band, their politics and band practices and how we each discovered them while listening through each song on both records. Recorded in a marathon session one long afternoon in Brooklyn this is the beginning of a three part series. Email - records@harveylovesharvey.com Twitter - @welisten21 Instagram - welisten2records Leave a message on the Welisten hotline - 978-707-9899 

       We listen to Remain from Them Are Us Too on Dias Records. Their first and only proper album with Cash Askew and Kennedy Ashlyn who met at Kennedys goth birthday party where they bonded over Cash's playlist. A typical art school band story, playing music instead of critiquing oil painted meme's they managed to create haunting shoegaze while in their early 20's just before Cash tragically passed in the Ghost Ship fire in 2016. It's never going to be easy to think about where they might have gone and all the talented people who died at an alternative space show way before their time. Try to make music like this before you're gone. Email - records@harveylovesharvey.com Twitter - @welisten21 Instagram - welisten2records Leave a message on the Welisten hotline - 978-707-9899 

       We listen to the album Pain Is Beauty by Chelsea Wolf. Matt saw her perform in Boston a while back and we first talked about her collaboration with Russian Circles. We have some trouble describing her particular style of theatrical-folk-goth and all the issues with those useless categories. Email - records@harveylovesharvey.com Twitter - @welisten21 Instagram - welisten2records Leave a message on the Welisten hotline - 978-707-9899 

       We listen to the track "Daylight" from Matt and Kim off the album Grand. Jason and Matt caught them at Sirenfest in Coney Island a while ago and there's a lot of other personal connections to why they love this track. This is also a case of one of those bands that's so good live they make it impossible to capture that energy in a studio. This track is as close as anyone is going to get. Email - records@harveylovesharvey.com Twitter - @welisten21 Instagram - welisten2records Leave a message on the Welisten hotline - 978-707-9899 

       We listen to Black Flag's My War with friend of the show and music writer, Sean Caldwell from letters-from-a-tapehead. Sean is an authority on Flag and dives into a lot of the context surrounding the record along with the making of the album. They are one of those bands that everyone seems to know and come to in very different ways, but undeniably essential and this B-side was decades ahead of everything. Email - records@harveylovesharvey.com Twitter - @welisten21 Instagram - welisten2records Leave a message on the Welisten hotline - 978-707-9899 

       We listen to Negative Capability from Urinals? The Urinals? Before we even had musical taste, these guys bashed away in film school with hits like "Sex" and "Male Masturbation". If you have ever recorded your band in the pool house/garage/basement then you know what this sounds like. It's young and dumb rock that's not thinking about the past or future, just rocking the 4th floor dorms on Halloween. You get it or you don't. It's the best documentation of that impossible moment of a great party when everything is new. Don't think too much - we are old enough to really appreciate this for being first and oblivious of everything else. Nice Job. Email - records@harveylovesharvey.com Twitter - @welisten21 Instagram - welisten2records Leave a message on the Welisten hotline - 978-707-9899 

       Miniepisode. We listen to the song, Kill Your Television from Neds Atomic Dustbin. Truly embarrassing, this hit hasn't aged well. Not sure how we or anyone liked this track but the 90's was truly a unique time. In the very dawn of the internet an English grunge(?) band was turning Seattle back on the US and demanding you to Kill Your Television. The only way this works is if they are actually trolling everyone, or this was a Ween side project. Matt remembers his 16 year old self raging against the machine. Email - records@harveylovesharvey.com Twitter - @welisten21 Instagram - welisten2records Leave a message on the Welisten hotline - 978-707-9899 

       We listen to Dancer Equired from the shitgaze pioneers, Times New Viking. Their last full length release on Merge Records takes all the hiss and blown out peaking guitar, drum and vocals and squeezes it into their dense pop style. Matt actually got to hang out with them once before a show in Boston and Jason has a hand colored split single from these guys. We try to figure out what makes this sound so great and what happened to the other gazers of shit from the early 00's. Email - records@harveylovesharvey.com Twitter - @welisten21 Instagram - welisten2records Leave a message on the Welisten hotline - 978-707-9899 

       We listen to Chastity Belt's 2017 release, I Used To Spend So Much Time Alone. Some would say this is their "mature" release coming from a band who released songs "Cool Slut" and "Giant (Vagina)". We would say that they got more confident in their songwriting and made a timeless, dark record. They grew up and the same party-time things they used to get off on got old. All of this is in direct contrast to the Kmart photo session promo pics and the Grunge or Totally 90's videos they put out to get everyone excited. They are a contradiction and smart as hell. Email - records@harveylovesharvey.com Twitter - @welisten21 Instagram - welisten2records Leave a message on the Welisten hotline - 978-707-9899 

       We listen to one of the greatest records of all time and barely scratch the surface of what was happening in and around the recording of this album. It's honestly hard to do this justice of any kind except tell you about some of our interpretations of the record and personal memories to hearing it for the first time. That's what this show is all about after all. We still learn new things about some own these picks and each other. It's a very special episode if you know what I mean. Email - records@harveylovesharvey.com Twitter - @welisten21 Instagram - welisten2records Leave a message on the Welisten hotline - 978-707-9899 

       We listen to the track When You Were Mine from the one man song machine, Prince. This one is off his second record, "Dirty Mind" and Prince played everything on the album which supposedly was recorded in one night. This is the evidence for the raw talent this 22 year old already had. Case closed. Jason heard it on WFMU wake and Bake and it's all he can think about. Matt thought this was Iggy Pop. We're working on Daydream Nation and only had time for one song this week. Email - records@harveylovesharvey.com Twitter - @welisten21 Instagram - welisten2records Leave a message on the Welisten hotline - 978-707-9899 

       We listen to the landmark album from Slint, Spiderland. What band wasn't influenced by this record and band? More importantly how does this sound now and what exactly made it so groundbreaking? How many bands sprung out of the members of Slint and have you seen the documentary "Breadcrumb Trail?". Lots of mind-blowing questions to answer and check out friend of the show Sean's review of the box set that came out a while back - http://www.noripcord.com/features/slints-spiderland-box-set Email - records@harveylovesharvey.com Twitter - @welisten21 Instagram - welisten2records Leave a message on the Welisten hotline - 978-707-9899 

       We listen to Is This It from The Strokes. Note that this is not a question but more like a sigh of indifference for a title. Were the early 2000's a bunch of bands self aware that they already were 'selling out' as opposed to the supposed underground of the 90's? Can we separate this undisputed work of brilliance from the prep school creeps who created a song titled 'barley legal'? Email - records@harveylovesharvey.com Twitter - @welisten21 Instagram - welisten2records Leave a message on the Welisten hotline - 978-707-9899 

       We listen to Deerhoof's Apple O' from 2003. Deefhoof carved out their own distinct niche somewhere in the middle of Lightning Bolt, Blonde Redhead and The Boredoms - just as challenging but able to wring out crunchy guitar riffs that always seem to end too soon. It's precise but willing to fail at the same time, quiet and calming or blasting kick drum thumps. They thrive on this contradiction and keeping everyone guessing from one track to the next. We appreciate the hell out of this and disagree with Steve Albini's premise that the only people left in music are good because there's no money in it. Email - records@harveylovesharvey.com Twitter - @welisten21 Instagram - welisten2records Leave a message on the Welisten hotline - 978-707-9899 

       We listen to Husker Du's, Warehouse: Songs and Stories which Matt decided is their most underrated album. We get into their Black Flag connection, the midwest, SST records and the highly recommend Andrew Earles book. Bob Mould and Grant Hart weren't talking, they were on Warners records and barely toured with this material but this could be the bands best record for 40's Matt and Jason. What would Husker Du? Email - records@harveylovesharvey.com Twitter - @welisten21 Instagram - welisten2records Leave a message on the Welisten hotline - 978-707-9899 

       Jason and Matt listen to the audio book version of the tour diary of Henry Rollins when he was in Black Flag in the mid 80's. It's all the shittiness of touring without the physical pain and suffering of actually being in a band. We don't know too much about the great Black Flag and are torn about Mr. Rollins but he's been an important symbol in hardcore that deserves respect and Get in the Van is the proof. He's been through the shit and no one will ever understand. From scooping ice cream with Ian Mackaye to fronting Black fucking Flag. Wow. Email - records@harveylovesharvey.com Twitter - @welisten21 Instagram - welisten2records Leave a message on the Welisten hotline - 978-707-9899 

       Jason and Matt listen to the track Institutionalized from Suicidal Tendencies. It's summer and we only have time for one song. Matt pulls this one out of the hardcore west coast scene and we know literally nothing about them. Looking back they actually seemed like they were trying to actually address some serious issues and the video was great. Email - records@harveylovesharvey.com Twitter - @welisten21 Instagram - welisten2records Leave a message on the Welisten hotline - 978-707-9899 

       Jason and Matt listen to Cruise Your Illusion from Milk Music. Psychedelic guitar rock, political lyrics and unique song structures create an interesting listening experience. The second track is called Illegal and Free, but if it's legal in your state then you'll love this album. Email - records@harveylovesharvey.com Twitter - @welisten21 Instagram - welisten2records Leave a message on the Welisten hotline - 978-707-9899 

       Jason and Matt listen to the song "Head On," a song by The Jesus and Mary Chain that The Pixies covered on their last album. Both versions are great, so enjoy this summer minisode as we enjoy our vacations in the sun! Please write a review or send feedback - you're the best: Email - records@harveylovesharvey.com Twitter - @welisten21 Instagram - welisten2records Leave a message on the Welisten hotline - 978-707-9899 

       Jason and Matt listen to the The Pixies Doolittle, perhaps the greatest album from an amazing band. We talk about the dynamic between Frank and Kim, the eclectic mix of songs and styles, and rebelling against musical convention. Surrealism, monkeys and a wave of muliation... there's so much to talk about on this album! Please write a review or send feedback - you're the best: Email - records@harveylovesharvey.com Twitter - @welisten21 Instagram - welisten2records Leave a message on the Welisten hotline - 978-707-9899 

       Jason and Matt listen to the Live album from Built to Spill, released on Up Records in 2000. A more innocent time when you could release a 20 minute Neil Young cover on a double kind of "best-of" album. If you like Built to Spill then this is a whole lot more. I think we grapple with what exactly Doug is trying to say when he doesn't seem to take his own lyric writing too seriously while jamming live like nobody business. Please write a review or send feedback - you're the best: Email - records@harveylovesharvey.com Twitter - @welisten21 Instagram - welisten2records Leave a message on the Welisten hotline - 978-707-9899 

       Jason and Matt listen to the debut album from Real Estate on Woodsist Records. A perfect summertime, country cocktail, chill out record. Ernest and humble, three friends from high school know each other well enough to get to this celebration of the mundane. Unapologetically suburban, they waste the days away on the razor's edge of building up the tempo or making any kind of statement about the world. Matt says "they drink two beers and go to bed." It's a great, comfortable smothering slanket. Email - records@harveylovesharvey.com Twitter - @welisten21 Instagram - welisten2records Leave a message on the Welisten hotline - 978-707-9899 

       Jason and Matt listen to 7 Year Bitch's, Viva Zapata from 1994. Seattle was the center of the universe and 7 year bitch had lost a bandmate, Stephanie Sargent and their friend, Mia Zapata, lead singer of The Gits. They weren't fucking around, in the right place at the right time they took full advantage of the spotlight and attempted a statement at the god damn pointlessness of it all. Just rock and die, don't be an asshole. Matt and Jason fight about if they would have sounded like this coming from any other city in the country at the time. (They wouldn't. - J) Email - records@harveylovesharvey.com Twitter - @welisten21 Instagram - welisten2records Leave a message on the Welisten hotline - 978-707-9899 

       Jason and Matt talk about Becks breakout 1994 release, Mellow Gold on Bong Load Records and DGC. Jason also played open mics in the east village part of Lach's anti-folk scene and look at him now. Blowing leaves, stormtrooper masks, fuckin with the man, melting 4-track recorders - you were in Becks crazy sludge world in the late 90's that inspired Jason in the wake of Smelling like teen spirit. Matt has never actually listened to the whole thing in order. Does it hold up to 2018? Or is it irrevocably tied to it's creation date? Email - records@harveylovesharvey.com Twitter - @welisten21 Instagram - welisten2records Message hotline - 978-707-9899 

       Jason and Matt talk about their personal memories surrounding "Meantime" as well as it's legacy regarding nu metal, the judgement night soundtrack insanity and what they've done in the meantime. Ha, see what I did there.  

       Jason and Matt discuss Dreamin' Wild from the Emerson brothers. These isolated brothers in the northwestern US recorded songs that sounded like aliens who only listened to 70's pop. You either know about this outsider masterpiece or you don't. It's problematic and so bad it's good, but so one of a kind that still makes it interesting. Questions and no answers.   

       Jason and Matt talk about 2004's Panopticon from Isis. Matt unpacks the conceptual and political slant of this post-metal record and Jason still isn't sure if their name has anything to do with the Islamic state.    

       Jason and Matt get into the touchstone of shoegaze, My Bloody Valentine's "Loveless". Jason can't get over this is from 1991 and just Kevin fucking Shields. Matt is hearing this for the first time.    

       Jason and Matt talk about Goo from Sonic Youth. We both love SY and Goo was our entry point in high school so we have a lot to say. We found out a bunch of crazy things about it's creation and Thurston lets Dave Kendall from 120 minutes embarrass himself.    

       Jason and Matt talk about the album The Life Pursuit by Belle and Sebastian. We both remember Tigermilk but The Life Pursuit is arguably the peak of Stuart Murdoch’s powers and a conceptual album of the 80’s. Jason heard this playing in a record store one day and everything he thought he knew about Belle and Sebastian was shattered. Matt says “It’s pretty good.”