What did you miss in 2020? Punk suggestions for punx. Giacomo. Milano, Italy
Introduction:
Giacomo. Milano, Italy. Kobra, Generic Record Reviews And Weekly Ramblings, Sentiero Futuro Autoproduzioni. Used to be part of the Occult Punk Gang. All around fun guy. Here’s five of the many records I equally enjoyed in 2020 in alphabetical order.
APSURD — Derealizacija / Svemu Će Doći Kraj
Label: Doomtown Records
Location: Belgrade, Serbia
My favorite tape from 2018 repressed on vinyl with 6 new songs on the other side? Sweet! The songs across the two EPs are so consistent they could very well belong to the same album. Come for the throwback classic Yugo-punk 4-track sound, stay for the deeply personal songwriting and raw energy that emanates from these songs. Dark, deep, layered tunes.
Favorite song: “Svemu Će Doći Kraj”
FRIED E/M — Modern World
Label: La Vida Es Un Mus / Lumpy Records
Location: St. Louis, MO, USA
This takes the cake for funnest LP of 2020. It may not be reinventing the wheel but there’s no overstating the impact a blazing hardcore one-minute banger can have, especially if it’s coupled with lyrics that exhibit a sneering, provocative and smart sense of humor. Fried e/M will have you pacing, laughing and wagging your fists the whole time. I was audibly yelping from joy like a puppy the first time I listened to this.
Favorite song: “Die Laughing”
STRAW MAN ARMY — Age Of Exile
Label: D4MT Labs Inc Neurosonic Research
Location: ?
Political punk is often the prerogative of meatheads who spout empty slogans just because they read them on a wall, which is fine — but what if you could write lyrics that were well researched, informative and, dare I say, poetic? Straw Man Army did it. Also, the songwriting is top notch, marrying intricate structures with a sharp early American punk punch, hitting the perfect balance of thoughtfulness and fist-pumping excitement.
Favorite song: “Silver Bridge”.
SWEEPING PROMISES — Hunger For A Way Out
Label: Feel It Records
Location: Boston, MA, USA
During a year this shitty, one needs to find a little joy — and I don’t mean the cynical, self-destructing pleasure of drinking yourself through your 7" collection (even though, I mean, it’s great). The shimmering post-punk pop of this record, coupled with its down-to-earth, authentic, lo-fi feel, is guaranteed to make you smile and dance. It does go by fast and easy, maybe too much so, but still the hooks are the best in the DIY world right now, and will stay with you for a long time.
Favorite song: “Out Again”.
TRIPLE NEGATIVE — God Bless The Death Drive
Label: Penultimate Press
Location: London, UK
I know we said punk albums but I had to throw this one in. And what is punk anyway? Just kidding, fuck that question. Triple Negative accumulated layer upon layer of free-form recordings on tape for 15 years and then dumped them all on the grooves of this record. In a fog of tape hiss, things creak and squeal, shards of songs gleam. It plays like a Russian novella or a very old movie. Fans of This Heat will be intrigued.
Favorite song: “Fine Cargo Lacquer”.
