The Fashionably Late Top 60 of 2014 #26: Chad VanGaalen

2014 was quite a year. Not the best of years, on a personal level, but a rather good year from a music standpoint. Having given a listen to record after record after record from the year that was, I’ve pulled together a list of favorites, finding it next to impossible to whittle the list down any further beyond 60 (I tried). In this group of 60 you’ll find records from old, faithful friends, upstart newcomers, and even a headscratcher or two. You’ll probably see some records that were a Big Deal not on this list. I either didn’t bite or didn’t buy the hype. I’m pleased as punch with this list, and I hope you’ll come across something that might have otherwise passed you by. And so, without further ado, my favorite records of 2014.

WHO: Chad VanGaalen

WHAT: Shrink Dust

WHEN: April 2014

WHERE: Sub Pop

WHY: I have a happy, faded memory of seeing Chad VanGaalen play the Black Cat many moons ago, and I recall liking what I hear. But then, it happened that between that show and my falling for the myriad, labyrinthine charms of Shrink Dust, quite a large chunk of time went by. To which I can only say...oops. You see, friends, Shrink Dust is a wonderful thing indeed. It's a record full of oddball cosmic psych folk jumbles, introspective and eccentric and charming. Worthy of many, many listens.  

My jams: “Cut Off My Hands,” “Where Are You?,” “Lila,” “Weighed Sin,” “Monster,” “Evil,” “Leaning On Bells,” “Weird Love,” “Cosmic Destroyer”







[posted 4.27.15]