Bobby Hussy (The Hussy / Kind Turkey Records / Bad Omens)
What are your top five albums that were released in 2011? (in order 1-5)
Wow! It's hard to pick only 5 this year! I think this year was a great year in music. Here are my top 5:
- Thee Oh Sees - Castlemania
- TV Ghost - Mass Dream
- Useless Eaters - Daily Commute
- Dum Dum Girls - Only In Dreams
- UV Race - Homo
Since it wasn't actually released in 2011 (it was reissued this year), I will keep The Reatards classic Teenage Hate double LP off the top 5. But man that's a great reissue and it's a really nice package overall. Good work Goner!
What band did you discover in 2011 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?
UV Race's Homo was a really pleasant surprise. I haven't really fallen in love with many of the current crop of Aussie garage bands (Eddy Current Suppression Ring and Total Control). While I think those bands are fine and do not suck, I just never really got that into what they were doing. I really like what UV Race are doing, and it's definitely in the same vein as those bands, so I guess it's just got something undefinable going on that I dig more. It made me really perk my ears up about Australia again. I had been bludgeoned to death by Australia in the recent past, and this will probably make me realize what an idiot I was overlooking all of those bands!
How will you remember 2011 (in terms of music)?
Thee Oh Sees release two classic records. One a double LP and one a supposed "LP + EP" combo (really just a single LP). Plus a 2XLP Singles Comp, a split 12" EP with Total Control, and a flexi 7" booklet released by John Dwyer's label Castle Face. Almost all are amazing. Castlemania is better to me than Carrion Crawler/The Dream, but I think that's because I'm more of a vocal melody guy than a jam guy. Both records I highly recommend though. It really proves that John Dwyer and Co. know what they're doing and can make great records quickly without having huge quality losses.
What can we look forward to from you in 2012?
I think 2012 is going to be a big year for both the Hussy and Kind Turkey, as well as Bad Omens (hopefully). The Hussy has our second LP coming out in early 2012 on Tic Tac Totally based in Chicago. We have four to five other 7"s coming out over the year on four other labels. We're going to be playing a lot of shows to support all the releases and working hard to ensure our fans get a chance to see us more than once (Sorry for 2010 Minne!!!!). Kind Turkey has new 7"s coming either at the tail end of 2011 or early 2012 by Madison's The Lonesome Savages and Seattle's The Pharmacy. Both are four track EPs that really give you your money's worth on the 7" format. We've got a few other big plans for 2012, but those plans aren't quite confirmed yet. All I can say is that it will be a really exciting year for both The Hussy and the label! Oh and I'm currently recording the Bad Omens record, and we'll be shopping that whenever it gets done. So we're hoping for a 7" to come out sometime in 2012. I'm also spending a lot of time recording other bands around Madison, Milwaukee and Minneapolis, which is really fulfilling for me. It's nice to know the local bands want to work with me and trust my ear. I really appreciate that and the loving support of Madison in general.
What records are you looking forward to most in 2012?
Something new by Ty Segall that goes back to his scuzzed out early days. I want another barn-burner of a record from him. His last from this year (Goodbye Bread) was sorta limp in my opinion compared to the rawness of Melted. A new record by Sex Church would be awesome, the last did not disappoint but was not quite as good as their Six Songs EP 12". In a humorous turn I'd also like to see Thee Oh Sees go to new levels of output. I'm fine with them putting out as many records as they want. Seems like they've got some internal quality control that's obviously better than 90% of bands making one record every two years even. They make it look easy making two LPs a year that are classic. Also, I want a new Moonhearts LP in 2012 (those guys are too busy touring as Ty's backing band though probably. Which sucks cuz they made one of the best garage-punk records in recent memory in 2010).
What did you expect to be huge in 2011 which never made it?
I thought Ty Segall was gonna blow up slightly more. He did blow up in many respects for sure. But not quite how I thought he would. I think it's partly due to the record he put out this year...I'm totally aware that he couldn't make another Melted without sounding trite, so it was the right thing for him to do, but man he's a talented kid and I wish him all the best. Thee Oh Sees should be bigger than they are. They're probably the best live band you will ever see right now, and their records are always consistent. Maybe putting out two LPs a year isn't a good thing in terms of getting people into your band. That's probably the case. Realistically it's hard enough to get a person to buy one of your records a year, let alone two LPs + a split 12" and countless other goodies (2XLP Singles Comp, 7"s, Group Flexi 7" booklet...etc). All of their output is good, but it's hard for the casual listener to keep up.
