First and foremost, I’d like to express my gratitude to Mr. Fuzz and the More Fuzz clan. This platform provides us a space to express our thoughts and feelings towards our favorite rockers around the world. Thank you to everyone who worships lyrical grit, doomonic groove, whiplash rhythm, motorik measure, and the riffs. Heavy freedom words spill out of our keyboards, while we support these fantastic beasts with instruments. Our symbiotic connection feeds the heartbeat of primitive spirit. We continue to float around the sun together on this rock, as we aspire to create or hear the next great sound. Every generation has a sound, and I’m honored to be connected to these moments of the here and now.
2017 is a year to remember. So many albums, so little time. Obviously when considering a Top 10 list, it becomes a matter of perspective from an individualism perception. Nostalgia happens when our multi-sense is triggered by whatever elements remind us of that particular memory. Music has always been a wonderful medium for remembering particular stages of my journey. When thinking back on the thread in the year 2017, I’ll certainly reflect on every profound moment which moved me deeply. So many amazing albums sojourned with me during these times. It’s a pleasure to review my memory and examine my garrulous thoughts from these moments, and share with you (the reader) my words of drunken notion.
Don't forget to check out the Top Albums of the other More Fuzz team members !
10 : Heavy Temple – Chassit
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Heavy Temple is a female doomonic power trio out of Philadelphia, PA. Chassit thunders slow and deep into Sabbathian overtones. Every song is filled with massive depth of retro groove. It has a tempo that reminds me of that feeling we may get while walking the streets alone in the dark; I want to look over my shoulder, (voice in my head) “is someone following me?” because we never know who’s peering at us from the shadows. Full Review Here
9 : Spaceslug – Time Travel Dilemma
Wrocław, Poland’s very own Spaceslug impressively released two albums in 2017. Time Travel Dilemma (released in February) showcases the power-trio’s notable style of heavy retro rock and pure psychedelic space jamming’. Full Review Here
8 : Lamagaia – Self titled
Early in the year, Gothenburg, Sweden’s very own Lamagaia released their Self Titled album. I was locked into this for a bit, and went on many high drives towards tripped out cosmic mind voyages. Two meaty songs that will send you into a trance, and make you hallucinate for more. Full Review Here
7 : Centralstodet / The Myrrors – Ljudkamrater – (split album)
I have to include this split album in my list. Ljudkamrater begins with another band out of Gothenburg. For me, Centralstodet makes this album phenomenal. Their sound is channeling a spirit from Are You Experience. It’s pure Hendrexian motorized distortion feedback. If you don’t believe me, play “Third Stone From the Sun” then directly submerse yourself into Centralstodet’s half of Ljudkamrater. These dudes tapped into many layers for me, and I loved every minute of listening to them.
The Myrrors are a desert trance psych band out of Tucson, AZ. They crush their side of the album with tripped-out jazzy groove. I was dosed back into time. It’s like I’m listening to a soundtrack of my thoughts in a hypnotic state.
This album is a marriage within a time capsule of yesteryear. Full Review Here
6 : Frozen Planet…. 1969 – Centre Of A Parallel Universe
Hailing out of the land from down under is Frozen Planet…. 1969. A improvisational sonic-psych trio who melt minds through rippin’ and wheelin’ guitar leads, thick and heavy dominate bass rhythms (and leads), drum boogie and finesse. The thing about these guys, is they blasted off two albums in 2017. From The Centre Of A Parallel Universe (released in August) happened to be my favorite out of the two, however, Electric Smokehouse (January) could easily be positioned in this spot. Also, as if these guys couldn’t impress me more than they already have, brothers from FB69 Frank and Paul release another album On Lunar Highlands (December) from their side band: Mother Mars. Unreal!
5 : 3rd Ear Experience – Stoned Gold
3rd Ear Experience is a kaleidoscopic multidimensional group out of Joshua Tree, California. A tribal onslaught. Their cosmic desert pastoral accretion soundscape become musical movements that touch a void within my listening pleasure. Stoned Gold is a mystical experience. The rhythmic movements of sound might best be compared to viewing a funny car drag race in slow-motion. Starting, burnout, backing up, staging, while the engine’s revving up for blast off and then off to the races. Climactically adjusting, spitting fire, graciously gliding and speeding across the finish line; only to safely deploy it’s parachute into decelerating and cooling down the supercharged movable beast. Stoned Gold is meant to be listen to, not just heard. Full Review Here
4 : Elder – Reflections Of A Floating World
It’s hard for me to imagine placing Reflections Of A Floating World at only the 4 slot on my list. Like I mentioned in the introduction, these lists come from a perspective of inner merriment. That’s not to say I don’t find satisfaction while listening to this juggernaut of an album; but rather caught in the mix of unbelievably masterful record productions this year. Elder pushes the musical boundary year after year. They’re beyond great. Their progressive style is the post modern prog. They play in a league of their own. Reflections Of A Floating World is simply brilliant, and will most likely find itself at number one in most Top 10 lists. Full Review Here
3 : The Age Of Truth – Threshold
Rollin’ heavy out of the city of brotherly love, Philly’s own The Age of Truth released a gem for their debut. Threshold is the sleeper album of the year. It crushes in every way. Pure rock and roll fury. Every song rules, from beginning to end. When it’s over, I go back to the beginning and play it again. Threshold gets my juices flowing with each play. It’s a simple choice for me, this album is on top of my list because TAOT can not be ignored — they bring the wrath, and it’s heavy! Also, one of my top three album covers of the year. It’s conceptualized from the life and death of Frank Olson. Full Review Here
2 : Colour Haze – In Her Garden
What else is there to say? Colour Haze: one of the most influential bands in the “stoner” scene, step the bar up yet again with another masterful album. The three-piece out of Munich, Germany are straight up ambassadors, and they have created a magnificent album. In Her Garden is an experience. Both beautiful and haunting, combined with face melting jams, enchanting lyrics, progressions of fusion jazz hallucinations, and straight up good ol’ fashion rock-n-roll sequences. Colour Haze plays music with purpose which shines through In Her Garden. The craftsmanship and creativity on this album is a musical tale served up as a mind-manifestation wallop of great fortune. Full Review Here
1 : Samsara Blues Experiment – One With The Universe
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Not only is One With The Universe my favorite album of the year, it’s one of my favorite in years! Rarely does an album effect me in the way this one has. First of all, Samsara Blues Experiment have always created fantastic structured songs. Their musical style is forever transforming and growing, while they find ways to freshen the landscape. One With The Universe deeply stepped up the game this year. SBE transitioned from a four piece into a trio. The depth of what might be going on internally within each member of the band shine throughout this album. Their lyrics; those words are passionately riveting, and then combined with their musicianship — every note is beautiful. Guitars that rip and lead, or maybe lead bass and obscure guitars, accompanied by tribal drumming guts and grit. It’s a climactic journey. Five songs fit together so perfectly, forming an emotional connection to everything. In return, paradoxically fusing together an essence to unconsciously move as one within the universe. This is one of those brilliant albums we listen to with headphones on. It has the “a-ha” factor; the moment of clarity when everything makes sense. The album cover (in a nutshell) says it all, and is also one of my top three album covers of the year. One With The Universe shall transcend time, and will always be classic. Full Review Here
Don't forget to check out the Top Albums of the other More Fuzz team members !
Honourable Mentions
Music for me is the echo of chaos, the madness to live, rebellion to sing, courage to be saved, longing of experiencing the lust, the bellyaching desire to love and be loved, to burn my candle bright, and never flicker out, immortal sound, that spirit within. All music, better yet, all great music transcend time, genre, feelings of expression. My whole life has been woven into music. Everything is connected. All inspire all. This forum provides our thoughts and feelings towards the fuzz rockers of today, and their albums of the moment. Some of my favorite musicians (artists) are the mad ones, the ones who penetrate our paradoxical passion for more. I’m choosing to utilize the “Honorable Mention” space for the other inspirational albums released this year. Most radical and experimental music metaphysically teeter within the balance of avant-garde, neo-rock, or anything else that stems from early rock and roll. Sometimes, the best is sitting in a petrie dish of mutated fuzz. So this year, I’m dedicating my honorable mention space for my other top albums of 2017.
Yasmine Hamdan – Al Jamilat
Charlotte Gainsbourg – Rest
Surya Kris Peters – Holy Holy Holy
L’Ira Del Baccano – Paradox Hourglass
Six Organs of Admittance – Burning the Threshold
Grizzly Bear – Ruins
Michelle Gurevich – Memories of Three
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