January 11th, 2019

BEST OF 2018 MIX CD

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

BRAK

"INSTITUTIONALIZED"

Dr. Demento Covered In Punk– Demented Punk Records​

The first new and exciting thing I heard in 2018 was this Dr. Demento compilation featuring songs from a lot of my favorite bands (Quintron & Miss Pussycat, James Kochalka, The Dead Milkmen, Nobunny… just to name a few) and really this whole thing is amazing but this Suicidal Tendencies cover sung by my favorite Space Ghost character is the most memorable.

l2

"LA GOMME"

Discophilia Belgica – SDBAN

I found out about this compilation from bandcamp, I put it in my wish list and would listen to it all the time. IT took me a while to finally buy it because the label is based out of Germany and shipping is crazy for a 4 LP compilation. But when I finally got it and started to really study it this song stood out the most. It’s so got damn good. Bless the crate digging weirdos that compiled this compilation of bizarre 70s, German disco.

JPEGMAFIA

"BABY I’M BLEEDING"

Veteran – Deathbomb Arc

I am really happy Jpegmafia got a lot of attention in 2018 for his album Veteran, it is very much deserved the album is amazing from start to finish. I had mix feelings about having this be the track I selected for this comp but I think its my favorite  so I said “fuck it”

DEM CAULDRONZ ​

"FUCK YT AMERIkKKA (featuring THE UHURUVERSE)” 

EP – self released

Dem Cauldronz is the new solo project for Phoenix weirdo Ger Bill. I have been friends with and supported this persons art for a couple years now and their last project was an experimental/banjo/folk project called Trash Mullet. I was booking a show for The Emotron (who also had a great release this year) and I asked Ger Bill if they wanted to do something, they said “I got this new goth trap music thing I’m doing called Dem Cauldronz” and I knew it was going to rule. This shit is aggressive, raw and terrifying. A perfect example of Ger Bill and I am so excited to see new things come from this. If you get a chance to see Dem Cauldronz. DO IT!

2 TRAINZ ​

"NEW TRAINZ"

Off Track – self released

2 Trainz is the side project of some of the guys in the band TOSO. I was in charge of finding promoters for this music marathon festival called “The Indie 500” its roughly 100 artists playing 5 songs each in consecutive order. We were assigning blocks of time to different local bands and promoters to curate a 5-10 band lineup and I asked TOSO to take care of finding 5 bands to play starting at midnight and instead the members each formed their own side projects that each wrote and recorded 5-10 song EP’s that were also only released at this show. SO FUCKING COOL! 2 Trainz is my favorite of the TOSO bands. Dig this track, if you want more you will have to reach out to the band.

CAROLINE ROSE

"BIKINI"

Loner – New West Records

My friend Alex Benson showed me Caroline Rose last year and I just loved it. After hearing just one song from her I bought her LP. I don’t know much about her though. This album is one of the most listened to albums by my wife and I, we love the entire thing. The music video for this song in particular is amazing and I highly suggest checking it out when you have time.

KITTEN FOREVER ​

"FUN FACT"

Semi-Permanent – Rat Queen Records

I booked a show for Kitten Forever on their first tour in 2009 and I loved them. I bought everything they had at the time (which was a CD-R and a 7”) and I listen to them all the time. They don’t tour the west coast a lot though and due to my house flooding I had to miss them the last time they came to town in 2013. They came through in 2018 though as the supporting act for Screaming Females so you know I had to see them. This new album is the tightest thing they have done. I am really proud of them. When the guitar comes in on this song I can’t help but lose my fucking mind.

WARM BODIES ​

"I’M A DOG"

Warm Bodies – Erste Theke Tonträger 

Warm Bodies is good . I haven't thought about them for a while and didn’t even know they had a new album until my wife surprised me with a copy of it and said “hey I heard this and thought this is a Ryan band” She rules. This album rules too. 10/10 would highly recommend.

FATTY CAKES & THE PUFF PASTRIES ​

"PANIC  ATTACK"

Single – Kerchow Records

One of my favorite shows in 2018 was getting to play with Fatty Cakes & The Puff Pastries. They released a full length album right before the year ended but this is what I heard first.. They are amazing and when I played with them they had a cassette single for their song Panic Attack and it rules! I have listened to it probably 50+ times in the last 6 months.

WIMPS

"QUITTER"

Garbage People – Kill Rock Stars

Alright, this new Wimps album got a lot of good press this year and I don’t really get it, because especially when compared to their previous two albums (Repeat & Suitecase) Garbage People falls kinda flat. AND so many of these articles have focused on their song OPP which easily the worst part of the album. I DON’T GET IT! All that being said… This album is still real good and has some of my favorite Wimps songs. MY favorite being this song Quitter. But if you have never heard this band before, do yourself a favor and DON’T START WITH GARBAGE PEOPLE. 

TURQOUIZ NOIZ ​

"1984"

Pray For Rain – Related Records

1984 was originally a song used for Rocky Yazzies old band Skinwalkers. I used to lose my shit every time they played it because it is so fun and such an enjoyable song to get wild to. The way Turqouiz Noiz does it is so much fun. I really hope you dig it and buy this LP. A lot of work went into it.

EXXXTRA CRISPY ​

"EXXXHAUSTED"

Endlessly Devastating – TV Life Entertainment

This band formed in 2017, released 3 albums between 04/17 and 11/2018, played close to 100 shows all over the state of AZ and then broke up. I already miss them. I have copies of all 3 albums for sale online, If you like this you should pick one up.

PLAYBOY MANBABY 

"STRANGE PLASTIC SURGERY"

Lobotomobile – Self Released

This band was hella busy in 2018 too. This song is from one of 2 albums they released in the same year. Both are good. They got a lot of stuff going on in 2019 already. I’m proud of them.

THE FREAKS OF NATURE 

"WANT ME!"

Want Me! 7” – Related Records

Released this 7” for the bands European tour last summer. Limited edition of 300. IT rules and we are almost sold out. Click here to buy one.

SAN JACINTO DEATH ROW PRISON BAND

"I DON’T LIKE YOU MISTER"

Sing Dark Lullaby – Onus Records

Serene Dominic is one of the worlds most underrated songwriters of all time. Last year he formed a group to play with him called The San Jacinto Death Row Prison Band and then he wrote a musical based around the songs he wrote and was performing with this band. I was in the musical and it was only performed twice but both times it was awful. Except the music. The music is amazing. 

JAMES KOCHALKA SUPERSTAR 

"PARKING LOTS AND MOUNTAIN TOPS"

How TO Tie A Tie On The Internet – Self Released

James Kochalka self released a new album this year and it rules. He’s still got it, even if he doesn’t perform live anymore. This is one of his best albums.

ESCAPE-ISM ​

"I DON’T KNOW WHERE THOSE WORDS HAVE BEEN"

The Lost Record – Merge Records

The first Escape-ism record that came out in 2017 was one of my favorite and most listened to albums of the year. This one is real good too. But is surprisingly even more empty feeling. When I saw empty feeling that is not meant as a negative statement, in fact that’s part of what is so nice and refreshing about the project.

THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS 

"THE GREATEST"

I Like Fun – Idlewild Recordings

I Like Fun is the first TMBG album in a long time that I have absolutely loved. I consider myself a pretty big fan, but I also know I am one of those obnoxious fans that tends to stick to the albums Pre-Mink Car and that’s pretty much it. While I give everything they do a chance and I do like everything they do to an extent, nothing has had the same feeling as those first 6-7 albums they released. But I like fun does it for me and this song is a great example of that simple, yet brilliant and multi-layered wittiness that made me fall in love with them when I was a child.

MIA LOUCKS ​

"old"

Old – Related Records

It was great to release another Mia Loucks album. This is the title track from it. I got nothing else to say except I love it. I love everything she does actually. Click here to buy a copy.

2ND GRADE ​

"BAD IDEA"

Wish You Were Here Tour – Sleeper Records

My friend Davin introduced me to this band in October. This album is really great. I don’t really know anything about them. IF you like this song, you will love the entire album, its all great like this.

DEAR NORA ​

"WORSHIP THE CACTUS"

Skulls Example – Orindal Records

The new Dear Nora record is really really great, it has an obvious iji vibe to it because Zach Burba recorded/wrote with Katy Davidson on the entire thing. I wish this album got more press. I am mostly just stoked to see Dear Nora be an active project again.

STEPHEN STEINBRINK 

"BROKEN DOWN TO DEFEAT AGAIN"

B-Sides & Instrumentals 2012-2017 – Melodic Records

Melodic Records has done a great job with releasing/promoting  Stephen Steinbrinks music for the last couple of years. In 2018 they released his latest full length Utopia Teased which has had great reviews written in pitchfork and other “important” magazines…etc  But this digital b-sides release got very little attention and it has some of the most beautiful songs Stephen has done in my opinion. This track in particular is a perfect example of it. If you happened to miss this release go to bandcamp now and download it.

U.S. HIGHBALL ​

"ROPPONGI HILLS, ON THE ROOF"

Think Again – Fuzzkill Records / Lame-O Records

Calvin and James from The Pooches told me at the beginning of the year that they had a new project they were really excited about called U.S. HIGHBALL and sent me the songs that would end up being released on this 7”/cassette on Lame-O/Fuzzkill Records. It’s great. Everything these boys do is awesome. I wish we lived in the same city because I wanna be their best friends.