Ken's Best of 2018 - #10: Salem Wolves - Shake

I've been fairly gushing in my adoration for Salem Wolves pretty much since we started If It's Too Loud... Shake could have been the kiss of death for me with the band. It's definitely more mainstream and almost pop sounding than their previous releases. But Shake ended up working for me and is one of my favorite releases of the year. It's big, loud garage rock, but as loud and as harsh as it is, there are amazing songs and harmonies here. Part of the reason is that singer Gray Bouchard is secretly a crooner despite this being a full out rock album. This album has the crossover appeal of a band like The Hives without changing too much around. I'm still shocked no one has used "B.D.F." in a commercial. This has me waiting to hear what's next, which could be even more different since Harrison, the bass player, is leaving the band and is being replaced by Cat Verlicco of The Knock Ups.

Songs of note: "Die Like Dogs," "B.D.F.," "Shake."

Jeff's Best of 2018 - #10: Haley Heyndrickx - I Need to Start a Garden

It's that time again where we arbitrarily decide what the ten or so best records of the year are. I'm kicking my list off with Haley Heyndrickx's I Need to Start a Garden. A folk record at heart, this has a little more oomph behind it than you'd initially think it would. My favorite song, "Oom Sha La La," shows (and releases) a bit of the grit and passion that feels held back throughout the affair, making the entire listen not only a great one, but slightly uncomfortable as if you're waiting for that tipping point to happen. In a year with a lot of really superlative folk efforts, it's that added bit of something that sets I Need to Start a Garden apart.

Heyndrickx collaborated on a second album that's worth hearing, but, of all the debuts from this year, this is probably the one I'm most excited to hear about what's coming next. It's a testament to the strength of this new voice on the scene.

Songs of note: "Oom Sha La La," "Untitled God Song," "The Bug Collector."