Guest Best Of: Kevin Hilliard (Lady Cop)

Y'all know that my Best Of 2012 is a ways away, but to keep you in the end of year mentality, I thought I'd ask a few musician friends for their picks for the best records of last year. I'm also nosy/curious, and just wanted to see what they'd choose. A person's record selections say a lot about who they are as a person, I believe...

First up: Mister Kevin Hilliard from local instrumental assaulters Lady Cop.

Top Ten in no particular order:

 

Blut Aus Nord - Cosmosophy: Triumphant black metal with haunting yet funky programmed drum breaks. Part 3 of a 3 part series that was collectively my favortie black metal release of this century.

 

Squarepusher - Ufabulum: Return to fully electronic compositions. More melodic than usual. I like its' moves.

 

Pig Destroyer - Book Burner: Retains the best elements of Phantom Limb and cuts the fat.

 

Future of the Left - The Plot Against Common Sense: I liked Travels With Myself and Another More, but this record rewards repeat listens. Oh and I heart Andy Falkous.

 

Krallice - Years Past Matter: By far my favorite Krallice record. More memorable riffs, less tedious in development than previous records.

 

Julia Holter - Ekstasis: Beautiful yet quite weird. Favorite pop-adjacent record of the year, hands down.

 

Chromatics - Kill For Love: My second favorite pop-adjacent record of the year. I could have done without the Neil Young cover, but everything else tickles me right.

 

Gaza - No Absolutes In Human Suffering: No frills, just desperate, miserable extreme hardcore (it isn't grind or metal core exactly). A huge return to form after the monotony of He Is Never Coming Back. 

 

JBM - Stray Ashes:  Insanely underrated singer/songwriter. Voice so haunting, I'd think he was a ghost if I hadn't seen him alive and well earlier this year at DC9.  

 

Helm - Impossible Symmetry: This record should have gotten the press the Locrian record did. Similar pedigree, but this record is much more responsible and artistic with its noise. Listen at night in the car with a very frightened passenger.

 

Honorable Mentions: The Secret - Agnus Dei, Young and In the Way - I Am Not What I Am/Amen (Reissue), Black Breath - Sentenced to Life, EL-P - Cancer 4 Cure, Heroin in Tahiti - Death Surf, Imperial China - How We Connect, Killer Mike - R.A.P. Music

 

mp3: Failed Olympic Bid (Future of the Left from The Plot Against Common Sense)