The days are starting to get shorter and the temperatures are starting to cool, which means fall has arrived and with it the countdown to every music journalist’s favorite time of year … list season!
Okay, so it’s not quite time to start revisiting everything 2018 has offered in order to generate juicy, clickable listicles. But that doesn’t mean it’s not a good time to take stock of this year’s releases. So in case you haven’t been paying attention to all of the great music coming out of the Emerald City this year, here are 10 local rock albums from 2018 that you need to own.
Thunderpussy “Thunderpussy”
What happens when you take the swagger of the Stones, combine it with the bombast of Zeppelin, add a dose of AC/DC’s riff-heavy sexuality, blend in some of Beyonce’s feminine ferocity and give it a kick of good old fashioned R&B flair? Thunderpussy is what happens.
The quartet spent the past few years making a name for itself with a high-energy live show that hit the stage of almost every local club, theater and festival. In the process Thunderpussy found itself becoming the buzziest rock band in Seattle. Their self-titled debut full-length is a fiery 12-song collection filled with titillating riffs, sultry vocals and songs that are meant to be played very, very loud.
Naked Giants “Sluff”
Want a youthful, fun, skuzzy and punked-up rock album? Look no further than “Sluff.” It is the blast of rock & roll you need. This is an album chock full of distorted guitars, surf rock grooves, high-energy riffs, multi-part rageers and plenty of catchy choruses that forcibly plow their way into your head.
Mudhoney “Digital Garbage”
Each song on “Digital Garbage” has a feeling of immediacy with Mudhoney attacking the turbulent state of the world using the same punk rock ferocity they’ve maintained throughout their career, sounding just as good in their fifties as they did in their twenties. The times may have changed, but Mudhoney’s fire hasn’t aged one bit. It’s that same ferocity, along with some sharp-tongued lyrics, that makes “Digital Garbage” feel like the only rock record that matters in 2018.
Ruler “Winning Star Champion”
Matt Batey, aka Ruler, debut full-length album is one of the best local albums of the year. His songs are catchy and honest, featuring distinct vocals and excellent instrumentation that create the gorgeous soundscapes where his music lives. “Winning Star Champion” is a beautifully written power-pop album that will likely become a cult classic among the subset of rock fans who are pining for the next Big Star.
Moondoggies “A Love Sleeps Deep”
Past Moondoggies records are filled with their brand of campfire rock with a side swamp-boogie goodness thrown in for good measure. “A Love Sleeps Deep” mostly strays from that formula. It trades in the group’s familiar folksy, down-home feels for songs that are rooted in classic rock with slightly progressive undertones. What you hear on “A Love Sleeps Deep” is the sound of a group of stalwart Seattle musicians working together through an organic evolution of their sound. And the results are pure musical bliss.
La Luz “Floating Features”
Okay, so La Luz identifies as a L.A. band nowadays, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be claimed by Seattle music lovers since Seattle is where they got their start and they’re signed to Sub Pop imprint Hardly Art. Oh, and they’re also Eddie Vedder’s new favorite band, so that gives them Seattle cred too. As for “Floating Features,” its psych-surf vibes are unlike most anything else on this list. If you aren’t already hip to La Luz, I guarantee this album will make them your new favorite band too.
Wimps “Garbage People”
If you can’t have fun while listening to a Wimps record then I question whether you’re really human. This trio of fun-loving guys and gal created a batch of ridiculously catchy and witty tunes. “O.P.P.” is perhaps the greatest song ever written about the greatest food ever, pizza. “Giant Brain” is about building your own giant brain. “Mope Around” is the best dance sensation that never was. “Quitter” is built on a simple and effective riff that helps punch through the sarcastic lyrics about the drag of responsibility that is having to quit doing things that are enjoyable for grown-up reasons. During a year when rock ‘n’ roll could use an injection of humor and levity, Wimps delivers the goods.
Sloucher “Be True”
On “Be True,” Sloucher announces itself as the next great slacker rock band — pretty apropos considering their name — employing a sound that is clearly its own thing but also echoes tentpoles of the genre to make them accessible to just about anybody who has ever enjoyed a three-chord pop-rock song.
Sloucher’s ‘Be True’: A signature sound for new generation of slackers
Kinski “Accustomed to Your Face”
Can you believe Kinski has been around for 20 years? I know, crazy right? During those two decades this foursome has made a lot of noise and a lot of records and “Accustomed to Your Face” is one of their finest to date. The album does everything Kinski does well. It’s heavy, polished, noisy rock & roll and it follows the direction of the past few Kinski albums by featuring tracks with vocals. But don’t worry if you prefer your Kinski old school and want the instrumental heft of their previous albums. The excellent, and appropriately titled “Kinski 101” has you covered, packing a punch that only Kinski can deliver.
Wild Powwers “Skin”
“Skin” is the third full-length album by Wild Powwers. Clocking in at around a lean 33 minutes, its nine tracks are songs that walk the fine line of being melodic and catchy while also maintaining a loud and heavy edges. The record is filled with songs that create walls of sound that feature tinges of psychedelia that combine with ridiculously slick and heavy drumming to deliver an excellent sonic wallop.
