January 11th, 2018

best of 2017 mix cd

The first 10 orders from the Related Records catalogue placed this year will receive a physical copy of this mix CD in their order. Click here to shop.

Dear Nora
"HUNG UP"

Mountain Rock (Reissue) – Orindal Records

This is the first album I really got into this year. I don’t normally include reissues on my best of lists but this had to be an exception. I have listened to this album easily 80 times (at least) this year. I feel really lucky I got to see Dear Nora so many times this year too, every time was perfect.

mia loucks
"step mom"

Previously Unreleased

Despite not releasing anything this year, Mia Loucks has actually recorded and sent me about a dozen new songs (including this one) in 2017 and they are all wonderful. I really hope she puts out more music soon.

MARY OCHER
"across red lines"

Faust Studio Sessions And Other Recordings – Klangbad Records

Mary Ocher actually released 2 albums in 2017. The Faust Studio Sessions… album is more of a B-Sides album but I really enjoyed it and Related Records is re-issuing it on cassette later this year.

fishboy
"former performance artist"

Art Guards – Lauren Records

I feel like “Art Guards” should have been on everyone’s end of year list. This is easily my favorite album of 2017. The whole thing is written like a really beautiful/complicated storyline movie script with every character and story coming together in the end. Like, I cannot stress this enough, listen to this album and I know you will love it. I wish I put it out

paul Arámbula
"weight of the world"

A Bit Of Both – Self Released

I’ve been a fan of everything Paul does and I am really happy he finally put out a full length album this year of his weirdo/minimal keyboard music. This is my favorite one on the album and actually the longest song on the album, it’s over 11 minutes long

escape-ism
"the stars get in the way"

Introduction To Escape-Ism – Merge Records

This might be my favorite thing Ian Svenonius has ever done. It feels unlike anything he’s done before but you listen to it and you’re like “oh wow this is so Ian Svenonius” it’s minimal, it’s raw, its tough, it sounds old, it feels brand new, and like everything he does it’s so fucking cool!

JACK TOPHT
"Coffee Shop In The Hospital Lobby"

We Can’t Go Back Now – Cold Rhymes Records

The album this is on is more of a compilation or “greatest hits” for Jack Topht. You see this is the first legit release the dude has had. Everything he has released before this was on a CD-R or home recorded cassette tape.

CLIT KAT
"nice Club"

Clit Kat Worldwide – Penniback Records

My favorite punk band in Los Angeles right now. DANG! These kids are wild! They have been around since 2014 and this is their first full length release. It rules, they play the smell in LA all the time. Go see them sometime and go crazy.

man hands
"losing my shit"

The New Malaise – Self Released (but should be out on Slope Records soon.)

Losing My Shit is on the 3rd Man Hands album and I think it’s their best. It was supposed to come out in 2017 officially on Slope Records but it was delayed for a bunch of dumb reasons so the band made a handful of CD-R’s and started selling the new album at their shows this year.

the chats
"bus money"

Get This In Ya – Self Released

These dudes are from Australia and they rip - simple, dumb, fun punk music written by poor 17-18 year olds kids in the sunshine coast. My spouse introduced them to me later in the year, I downloaded their two EP’s and cannot get enough.

The Younger Lovers
"If You Send For Me"

Young Brothers – Southpaw Records

Pretty much any project that came out of the early 2000’s disco-sex-rock group Gravy Train I am a huge fan/supporter of. Younger Lovers rule, this new album is a lot mellower than the others and comes across as more sincere and romantic than their previous albums and I love it.

EL GOOGLY DIABLO
"Frogs"

Self Titled – Self Released

I work with 3/4s of the members of this band at my day job. They are all old mid-late 90s punk guys and have been playing in bands together forever. The thing I like the most about El Googly Diablo is the lack of attitude/image, it’s just pure friendship rock n roll

JJCNV
"Bones Make Good Coals"

Mono or Mono – Flap Fjord Records

What can I say? When it’s good, it’s good. They recently added a horn section and I think it adds a lot. Their new album is solid and creepy.

EXXXTRA CRISPY
"WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH ME?"

They Don’t Think It Be Like It Is But It Do – TVLIFE Entertainment

MAAAAAAANNNN Exxxtra Crispy is my favorite band to come out of 2017. Easily the most refreshing thing I’ve heard recently and they like to get wild live. Austin (or I guess he goes by Ricky now) Is such a great front man and sax player and the rest of the band is really tight as well.

DRUNK & HORNY
"I HOPE WE BREAK UP"

Under The Cover with Ryan & Andrew – Related Records

This is a cover of a GST Mugwump song that was recorded in 2015. In 2017 Related Records released a sort of B-Sides album for D+H & right before it was released D+H decided to go on a hiatus. So this song is kind of ironic to hear now, but it’s also my favorite song on the album.

MATT WIXSON
"HOMOPHOBIN'"

Homophobin’ Single – Self Released

I’ve wanted to hear a song calling out ska homophobia for a couple of years now (at least since 2015 when the ska band Be Like Max harassed & bullied my friend for being gay online) I don’t know this Matt Wixson guy but I am really happy he wrote this song, I hope I see more of this in 2018

JAIME J.
"ARE YOU CIRCUMCISED?"

FGGTFAILUR – Self Released

FGGTFAILUR is the first full length release from my longtime friend Jaime, he’s been doing this electronic, sexy, angry, performance art project since 2005 and I am so happy this exists.

CULT OF THE YELLOW SIGN
"BLIZZARD WIZARDS"

Top Of The Pile – Self Released

Like so many other artists on this mix, Cult of the Yellow Sign has been around for such a long time and just never released anything legit until this year. If you are a fan of vaudeville, nerdy shit, gameboy music or the occult I highly suggest checking them out.

DINOSAUR LOVE
"MY PET T.REX"

Demos That Got Stuck In The Tar – Self Released

Dinosaur Love was really busy this year. In April Related Records released the full length album “The Gospel” and recorded a second full length album that should come out in 2018. They also released a collection of demos that didn’t make it & I think it’s some of their best work.

COOKIE TONGUE
"CLEAR BOOK"

Orphan Arms – Self Released

I saw this freak folk duo in 2014 and bought their album Biotic Rituals and it was one of my favorite albums of 2014. This new album features a lot more members and gets even freakier and more conceptual. Very classic performance art type shit that I love.