And in no particular order.
Goon Moon - Licker's Last Leg (video)
From the minds of Jeordie White and Chris Goss comes this wonderfully eclectic album that has been on my iPod for most of the summer. It's just a straight up fun and whacky rock album with catchy songs you want to sing along to. If there was one track that summed up this album it would have to be The Golden Ball.
Ministry - The Last Sucker
Uncle Al's final studio album for his juggernaut Ministry. From the opening sample on Let's Go to the choir on End of Days (Part 2) it's an album that's a pounding testament to all things Ministry. For fans of the loud and fast it's almost impossible not to get sucked into the frenzy of distorted guitars, drum machines and distorted vocals. And to hear Al pull out the harmonica again on Roadhouse Blues put a huge smile on my face.
USSA - The Spoils (video)
Paul Barker, Duane Denison and Johnny Rabb create pure sonic bliss. Throw in the vocals from Gary Call and you wind up with a truly great album that for whatever reason hasn't garnered as much attention as it should. This is a band I would get on a plane to see.
Grinderman - Grinderman (video)
It's raw, it's loud, it's powerful and it's Nick Cave and three of the Bad Seeds. It's also an album of love songs and if you like Nick Cave you'll more than likely really like Grinderman. I can sort of picture Blixa Bargeld as someone that would have been a nice fit on this album had he not left the Bad Seeds a couple years back to focus more on his main outfit Einstürzende Neubauten.
Skinny Puppy - Mythmaker (video)
As usual with Skinny Puppy, an album I enjoy while sitting quietly on the couch or laying in bed with my eyes closed. Always finding a new texture or hidden gem buried in the sonic landscapes. A band, I'm sad to say, I have yet to experience live. Something that will be rectified on their next North American tour.
Saul Williams - The Inevitable Rise And Liberation Of Niggy Tardust!
I'm far from the world's biggest fan of hip-hop (at least the shit that garners top-40 status) but I can honestly say that this is one of the best albums I've heard in a long time, regardless of genre. And by far one of the best covers of Sunday Bloody Sunday I've heard.
For 2008 I'm looking forward to hearing Paul Barker's new solo venture Flowering Blight, the new ohGr album and I'm really hoping Uncle Al comes out with something for Buck Satan and the 666 Shooters.
