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D Rock: Apocalipstick Beatz writesCHIRP Radio Best of 2019: Danielle Sines
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Throughout December, CHIRP Radio presents its volunteers’ top albums of 2019. Our next list is from DJ Danielle Sines (D Rock!). Throughout 2019, I settled into becoming a regular CHIRP DJ & spent hours reviewing and listening to lots of great music. These are the records that I regularly became obsessed with. If you’ve listening to my show Apocalipstick Beats, you already know ; ) |
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#1 Legacy! Legacy! by Jamila Woods (Jagjaguwar) |
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#2 Cuz I Love You by Lizzo (Atlantic Records) |
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#3 Crushing by Julia Jacklin (Polyvinyl) |
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#4 Anak Ko by Jay Som (Polyvinyl) |
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#5 Remind Me Tomorrow by Sharon Van Etten (Jagjaguwar) |
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#6 Twelve Nudes by Ezra Furman (Bella Union) |
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#7 Stuffed and Ready by Cherry Glazerr (Secretly Canadian) |
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#8 American Queers by SuperKnova (Worry Records/ Midwest Action) |
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#9 All Mirrors by Angel Olsen (Jagjaguwar) |
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#10 Ex Voto by Djunah (Triple Eye Industries) |
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Very Honorable Mentions:
11) Molly Sarle - Karaoke Angel |
This record has been on repeat since it graced my record player this spring. Perfect for stimulating conversations, when I traveled across country this summer, I put this on at every party & social gathering. Woods dedicates each track on the album to inspiring people of color. My favorite track is “Basquiat" - the pulsating bass-line, hypnotic guitar riffs, and catchy, smooth vocals are a delight - but the entire record is fresh, sharp wit paired with sweet melodies.
My day job is a marriage and family therapist (LMFT), (Go Wildcats!), so I have witnessed first hand the profound effect that Lizzo has had on the mental health community & am 100% here for it. When I watched the viral video of her motivational speech during her live set at the Glastonbury, I openly wept. She states to the audience, “I want you to know that I love you very much and I’m very proud of you! I want you to know that if you can love me, you can love your goddamn self.” Then, she asked her fans to say a mantra with her, encouraging them to go home, look in the mirror and say: “I love you, you are beautiful and you can do anything!” - which is ultimately what I ask my clients to do everyday as a therapist. Lizzo made positive affirmations and positive self-talk cool, all while making one of the catchiest, fun and fierce albums of 2019.
This album about a breakup, breaks my heart, and has one of the finest f-you, redemption songs of 2019 in track, “You Were Right” - a punchy rock song that I listened to non-stop. On “Body“ Jacklin reflects on the weaponization of her body, asking her lover if he’ll use intimate pictures to hurt her. The whole album is full of emotion, beautiful vocals, and these tender, thought-provoking lyrics. It’s perfect for the cold winter months of contemplation that we have ahead.
Something about this record feels magical to me. Perhaps it’s that it seems to have been thought out from beginning to end - cohesive, the album flows, almost as one long song from start to finish. Melina Duterte's songwriting takes more adventurous, daring turns as well - she allows songs to meander, allowing guitars more space, and isn’t afraid to turn everything down and rely on her sparse, gentle vocals.
As a longtime fan of Sharon Van Etten (I wrote a song about her called "SVE YRSELF" after seeing her 2012 set at Lollapalloza), I am always expecting the soft folk explorations akin to album “Tramp”. However, I found the latest record's sharp rock direction welcome. This change in the sound allows for Van Etten to grow more confident and raw - she screams songs, and allows the band to fill in the sound to accompany the rage. Her music evolves, her lyrics are as poignant as ever. During this tour she covered Sinead O’Connor’s “Black Boys on Mopeds” and I silently cried, amazed.
I’ve become obsessed with this record. Everything about it is perfect - the frenetic fresh punk rock energy, the ballad that sheepishly yet directly states, “I Wanna Be Your Girlfriend” discussing Ezra’s gender non-conformity, the disillusionment with America and call for fans to become activists - this record has it all. Furman’s lyrics are sharp and cutting at times, but always true. “My Teeth Hurt” has one of my favorite lyrics - “when pleasure lets you down, you learn to lean into the pain” - how apropos.
Cherry Glazerr’s third rock pop record is sardonic, angry and cunning. Only lead singer and guitarist Clementine Creevy can so eloquently, tongue-in-cheek deliver the line on “Daddi,” - “Who should I fuck daddy?/ What should I say?/Where should I go?/Is it okay to play?/Daddy?” before diving into a catchy chorus. She screams and vents frustrations, all while creating lasting hooks - it's feminism at it’s finest.
Chicago’s trans, queer powerhouse SuperKnova took 2019 by storm. The solo project by Ellie Kim, was created as a vessel to process her emotions while coming out. On SuperKnova’s debut album, "American Queers", her songwriting is deeply personal and thought-provoking. She sings about taking trans hormones on track “Shot and a Pill,” fights against anti-trans legislation in “Off My Body” and works through feelings of isolation (through impressive Prince-like guitar riffs) in the dreamy soft-rocker “Serotonin Seranade.” She is certainly an artist to watch in 2020!
This record is a wonderful heartbreaker, filled with lush string arrangements, and songwriting styles that reminds me more of an intricate, delicate early Joanna Newsom record. Olsen is taking bold, brave steps on this album - showing her audience both her fierceness and her vulnerability. Through her voice, Olsen is able to directly communicate strong emotion in ways that feel equivalent to a cathartic, intense cry. This is most memorable on track, “Lark,” where she starts sing/screaming “DREAM ON” while making intense eye-contact with the camera.
Formed after the demise of Chicago band Beat Drun Juel, Djunah (pronounced JUNE-uh) resurrects singer and guitarist Donna Diane’s aggressive, raw and truly spectacular performance style into a power duo that needs to be seen as much as heard. Diane plays two instruments at once, laying down noise riffs on guitar and crushing low-end on a Moog bass synthesizer that she plays simultaneously with her feet (Yes, you read that right). She’s joined by drummer Nick Smalkowski, a veteran heavy hitter from Midwest acts like Arctic Sleep and Fake Limbs. The duo’s debut album, "Ex Voto," is a heavy rock album that RIPS!! My favorite track is, “Nurse and Nun” - catch me pacing around my house screaming along with her, “he was a bad man…” Or better yet, watch her live & watch her destroy a guitar with metal gardening sheers. Incredible.
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