Dirt Cult Records
1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2014? (In order 1-5)
- Martha – Counting Strong LP
- Total Control – Typical System LP
- Beach Slang – Who Would Ever Want Anything So Broken? 7”
- Protomartyr – Under Color of Official Right LP
- Sonic Avenues – Mistakes LP
2. What band did you discover in 2014 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?
Seems like this year was a year of bands I was already well aware of releasing awesome new music. From my top 5 above, I guess Beach Slang was a new discovery. They play very catchy '90s indie rock with punk sensibility. I’ve listened to that 7” they released on Dead Broke perhaps more than any other 7” this year. Also, moving to Portland, I’ve been turned on to a lot of really great local bands like Lunch, Piss Test (who was already sort of on my radar after a split 7” released the year prior on Drunken Sailor Records), and many others.
3. How will you remember 2014? (In terms of music)
2014 was the year Dirt Cult moved to Portland which meant more shows and being surrounded by more great music. It also is the year my band Low Culture became a “long distance” band that still got to do a lot of cool stuff – SW tour with Iron Chic, Eastern Canada tour, Puerto Rican tour with Unwelcome Guests, releasing two records (split with Needles//Pins on Dirtnap and split with Iron Chic on Dirt Cult/Dead Broke). Also, the move has allowed me to branch out and start playing music with some new faces. Oh, and on the label front, this is the year of releases by European bands apparently!
4. What can we look forward to from you in 2015?
Dirt Cult has so many records in queue it's daunting. Expect new music from Big Dick (2nd LP), Earth Girls (7”), Blank Pages (7”), New Swears (LP), Bullnettle (Annie from This is My Fist – LP), Der Faden (Rob from Statues – 7”0, Turkish Techno (LP), and more!
5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2015?
Aside from all the upcoming Dirt Cult stuff, there is a Divers LP being released on Rumbletown Records which is incredible. The Splits are releasing an LP on Dirtnap which, if their debut LP is any indication, should be incredible. There’s also a new Radioactivity LP coming out on Dirtnap as well that will surely rule.
6. What trend will you forever associate with 2014 in music?
Not so much a trend, but maybe a function of moving to the dreary pacific Northwest, but this is the year that I really delved in to dark melodic punk and post-punk.
