”arrrrrrgghh, wouldn’t you now it be international talk like a pirate day when me + my missingmen be shoving off for moe’s alley in santa cruz, ca to kick this ‘dick watt tour 2019’ off w/a gig there tonight? aye, it be.” Thus begins and ends Mike Watt’s announcement on his Instagram page that they’re going on tour. Grammatical mistake and all. This is good news… the part about them being on tour. I’ve been doing band interviews on and off since 2008, without...
WHO: SNUFF WHAT: There’s a Lot of it About WHY: Snuff will always be one of the underappreciated bands in punk rock. A shame, because they’re the band that made Fat Wreck more than just a punk label. There was a debt and silliness to them that made them both approachable and underrated, and whenever I listened to their albums I could expect something familiar, completely different, and still find something new to discover every time. Their new album is...
WHO: Mannequin Pussy WHAT: Patience WHY: It doesn’t happen often that a band comes out of left field to completely blow us away. As a first exposure, Patience absolutely demands the listener’s attention. In a turbulent 25 minutes, it manages to be funny, sad, emotional, desperate, furious, gentle, elaborate, and sharp. It gives you its heart of a platter and leaves you hungry for more trying to decipher how exactly did all the parts fit. The bar has been set...
Hey, it’s the Ground Control Magazine Back to School guide 2019 edition! What a time to be alive. As always we’ll be bringing you some of the best stuff you’ll want to have this coming school year: some old, some new, all essential. Sure all of this stuff will make your school year much better but they’ll also help you live your best life. You might come to us for music, movies, TV shows, and media, and we know we...
WHO: The Fleshies WHAT: Introducing The Fleshies WHY: It’s hard to believe that the Fleshies have been gone for 10 years, but 10 seconds into this album and it’s clear why this band is as vital now as ever. Introducing the Fleshies is quite a misnomer for a band who’s been around for almost 20 years but it’s just as gripping as anything I’ve heard from them. It’s fiery, melodic, intense, and raw, and will have you in disbelief at...
WHO: Jemaine Clement & Taika Waititi WHAT: What We Do in the Shadows WHY: I think most people were equal parts surprised and excited when it was announced that the cult movie was going to be turned into a TV show. But it shouldn’t surprise anyone that the outcome was so great considering it’s such a comedic powerhouse. In addition to Clement and Waititi, What We Do in the Shadows features such talented writers as Tom Scharpling and Stefani Robinson....
WHO: Tim Robinson WHAT: I Think You Should Leave WHY: I know we’re supposed to be in a comedy bubble that just won’t pop, but the lack of good sketch comedy that it’s brought is alarming. Maybe the last mainstream subversive sketch comedy show was Key and Peele and their presence is sorely missed. Lucky for us, Tim Robinson’s new show I Think You Should Leave fills that hole. Robinson’s presence on SNL went unnoticed and unappreciated and like most...
WHO: Bob Mould WHAT: Sunshine Rock WHY: I have no clue what Bob Mould had been up to after Husker Du, but if these past two albums are any indication, it would be that the man is determined to rock himself into the stratosphere. Sunshine Rock is a perfect continuation of what made Patch the Sky so great: the songs are simple, catchy, rocking, and loud. It’s no wonder Mould had to crank his amplifiers to 11 with the high-energy...
What a year 2018 was! Were there great releases? Heavens yes – there were enough great albums released this year that bands normally regarded as mainstays on my best-of lists of ANY year (like the Eels, for example) didn’t just get knocked down the numbers, they got knocked clean out of my ten best. Regarding metal albums specifically, Cancer Bats’ sixth album arrived and proved once more that, sometimes, a band’s sixth album can stand as proof that a good...
What a year it’s been, and especially for music. The bounty has been so good that, even though we’re giving you our top 20 choices for music this year, our list could have easily extended into the top 30. But we don’t have the stamina for that. Also, these albums are all winners and even though they’re in order, this could have easily been different depending on our mood. Regardless, these are our recommendations for best music (and some movies...