Guest Best Of: Starring Brian Miles (Ttotals)

Y'all know that my Best Of 2013 is a little ways away (I promise, it'll be earlier than last year's roundup), but to get you in the end of year mood, I thought I'd ask a few musician friends for their picks for the best records of this year. I'm also nosy/curious, and just wanted to see what they'd choose. After all, as I said last year, a person's record selections say a lot about them.

My next guest is no stranger to being talked about here. Ttotals is one of my favorite bands, and those dudes are for sure two of my favorite people. They also happen to love not only making music, but listening to music. I've seen the record collection of Mister Brian Miles, and I can tell you, friends, that it is not to be fucked with. Brian knows his music, and he's as stoked to turn people on to what he loves as I am. We've got a few favorite 2013 records in common, it should be noted. I'll go ahead and let him spell it out for y'all.

"Here is my infinite eight of 2013. These are just my humble opinions and you should take them with a grain of salt. There are so many great records and bands in the world and these are the sounds that have caught me this year. I try really hard to turn people on to good records and sounds. Sometimes you can't tell a motherfucker anything. Do not be that person, okay? Open your heart and ears and you might just find something you like.

1. Hookworms - Pearl Mystic (lp): This record has not wandered far from my turntable since I got it. Wow, this beauty just haunts and bangs my brain so good that I flip it back over and put the arm down and start from the beginning time after time. I always hear something different ever time I hear this piece of wax and indulge in the grooves.

2. Roky Erickson - The Evil One (reissue lp): This is a reissue, but some of us were not lucky enough to be of age and/or record bin savy enough to get it the first time around. These songs have stood the test of time. Killer in 1981 and still killer today. Roky even still performs these really great songs live. I feel he is way more comfortable with his solo stuff then the Elevators songs these days. Just the mention of a few songs will just put everything in to perspective; "Two-Headed Dog," "Walk Like a Zombie" and "Don't Slander Me." You get the picture.

3. Destruction Unit - Deep Trip (lp): These guys are from Arizona? Bullshit! Well they are. How does something this good come out of the deserts of Arizona? These dudes must have some awesome blaze and not only from the sun, if you know what I'm sayin.

4. Night Beats - Sonic Bloom (lp): When I first saw this record I thought it was called Sonic Boom. Which I was like, whoa, kick ass!, when it came in the mail. I met my mailman with open arms, ran inside, stuck it on the ole kenwood and quickly discovered it was called Sonic Bloom. Which makes it so much better and made a lot more sense. Good to see these Seattle boys branching out with some Fender Rhodes and sax. A little Black Lips and Stooges vibe here, very nice.

5. Brujas del Sol - Moonliner (download): Just got turned onto this band via Pat of Creepoid and the Sisters of Your Sunshine Vapor guys. Real killer band from Columbus, Ohio. Deep grooves abound. Sit back and let the sounds wash over you. Real awesome late night driving vibes. Gonna be a hit in the van this coming year. Turn it up!

6. Moonrises - Frozen Altars (download): Steven Krakow's new group. If you've never heard of this gent, you need to familiarize yourself pretty quick. Fronts Plasticcrimewave in all its different incarnations and does the killer Galactic Zoo Dossier zine. Moonrises reminds me of a Linda Bruner-fronted Can or lighter, ether-filled Acid Mothers. If this statement doesn't entice you to listen, well, you are reading the wrong list. Damn good.

7. Cosmonauts - Persona Non Grata (download): Was not quick enough for the lp(sold out). Diggin the bell like guitar tones here on this 2013 offering from these Califonia sons all the same. Don't get me wrong I dig the super garage fuzz of their early outings, but this is killer. Sounds like they have matured a little in my humble opinion, and let the golden sun's rays drip through them guitars and amps. This one makes me feel all warm inside and yearn for summer's sun.

8. Nest Egg - Demonstrational Cassette Volume 1 (download): Psych and krautrock deep grooves from Asheville, NC. Formed out of the ashes (or is it a side project) of a couple of Soft Opening guys. Hope it's not the end of Soft Opening, but if it is, this is the right place to pick up from and lock into and push forward even more. Hope to hear more from 'em.