Since February, GutterPutter is a simple music-based blogging site that’s focused on critiquing underground/independent records mostly with a couple of articles surmising the impact of either a genre or an older record. To say that it’s grown on me a lot is an understatement – it’s becoming something of a passion project that I could see myself wanting to get better on all fronts. Not only in writing, but on web design & a bit of graphic design for the logo as well to give the website a more professional & distinct identity. Having a continuous focus on writing in this blog gives more confidence for me to consider looking into freelancing, journalism, or content writing once I’m done with university. While these points doesn’t mean to say that I’ll leave personal commitments in favour of working on what amounts to an unknown blog next year, it does point the way towards certain aspects that could be addressed especially when summer comes around.
Firstly, I’ll consider moving on from wordpress.com to wordpress.org; something that seems to be indistinct on a surface layer but it’s a big jump the more you know about web development. The latter provides greater freedom in my control over the blog, but with that comes a bit more programming which could lead to more delays. I have a small amount of experience in web design before as part of my secondary education, but this one still demands a lot of catching up before I’m able to make layouts in an appealing way. With that also means that PHP, SQL, & Javascript are also needed to be relearned to ensure that everything works as smoothly as possible. Simply put, I got a lot of things to do if I wanted to move on in putting the blog on a wider scale of recognition.
Another aspect is on something that’s important for recognising purposes – rebranding. For a while, I’m thinking of renaming GutterPutter to SkaldBardas the name makes more sense in terms with the type of topics the blog deals with. With that also comes the possibility that I would branch out a bit more to include maybe a few comments on writing & esports. The focus on music will still remain, but I wanted to switch things around so that I won’t feel too bored about trying to describe my opinions on the albums especially with the capsule reviews that’ll help in summing up my opinions in one paragraph. More specifically, I might do some commentaries on what I like about the writing of a show that I’m watching (both old & new) & maybe I might provide some written commentary on Dota 2’s competitive scene with smaller tournaments being targeted.
The whole rebranding & update won’t arrive immediately in the next few weeks, but the ideal time for the change to happen will be next summer once I’m finally finished with my degree. Chances are, I’ll begin my job hunting but with that comes a greater understanding of web development in practice. Here’s to hoping for certain that the plan will stick around once summer arrives as I’ll also need to move my older posts from wordpress.com so that not all details will be lost.
Last but not least, there’s always an obligatory best-of-the-year posts going around. To keep up with the usual, I’ll also provide my own list of best albums & songs. However, I would also like to switch things up by including in a shout-out to records that is otherwise overlooked or ignored by even the larger underground following. This is mainly so that I could still share some opinions that is close to mainstream consensus while esoteric records can still enjoy some piece of recognition. Happy early new year & here’s to hoping that 2022 will prove itself to be worthwhile for every one of you!
Best Album of 2021
Sometimes I Might Be Introvert – Little Simz
With a first full score of 5, British rapper Simbi ‘Little Simz’ Ajikawo cements herself as being the most exciting emcee of the country with an ambitious, epic, & literate album. Balancing social consciousness with flexing all her talents, she manoeuvrers introspective looking & wordly concerns without coming off as being disjointed unlike many rappers before her. It might not be the catchiest or the most experimental, but it is definitely the most coherent, cohesive, & glorious album in my opinion.
Honourable Mentions
For the First Time – Black Country, New Road
The British post-punk band’s debut still carries a rough-edged charm & tension that gradually detracts from so many Slint comparisons through blunt songwriting & jazzy synergy, making a frantic highlight in the UK’s blossoming scene. Vocalist Issac Wood’s half-sung, half-said performance gives the impression of insanity in his stories that is marked by social critique, confessional honesty, & rather grim endings to sum up the album’s themes. When the horns & the cello comes around, you know that everything is about to turn up big for the band’s crescendo.
The third album from Chrystia Cabral could well be best described as a step into a fairy tale world with all its mystique & wonders left intact. Comprised of baroque composition, ethereal synths & electronica, & lyricisms which feel like a page taken from mature re-interpretations of folklores, Spellling shows that she has what it takes to enchant others. Even with a sprinkle of feminism & rural concerns in mind, Cabral’s songwriting helps to prevail what could’ve come off as being pretentiously hip & instead forwards her idea to bold & fantastical planes.
The sophomore record sheds away nearly all of the band’s prior noisy post-punk roots in favour of painting hysteria on prog-rock. With cult-like talks that reek of Gothicism & maniacal instrumental performance on all fronts, there’s little doubt that black midi will ever turn their backs on leaving their marks on the UK with the avant-garde. To top it all off was a lot of favourable comparisons to King Crimson, one of the founding fathers of prog-rock with their jazzy composition. If records like these ones continue to come out in the near future, expect prog music to turn out a bit more grimdark than expected.
To put it simply, one of the most hopeful records of the year. A long hiatus after his debut album left Porter with the wisdom & optimism to create a jubilant electro-pop record that takes on anxiety & loneliness & turns them around to love & care. With an expansive range of influences from folktronica to synth pop to even a bit of retro-like video game soundtracks, the album nearly has everything you would think of in a near-perfect electro pop album. Treasure it while you possibly can because given the time of its release, it could be the ray of light you need to push on through the year.
Best Song of 2021
‘Spoiled little brat’ – underscores
It’s a very, very close call between either this, BCNR’s ‘Sunglasses’, Little Simz’s ‘Point & Kill’, or JPEGMAFIA’s ‘HAZARD DUTY PAY!’. However, this single is my bet on what could be a potential big influence on hyperpop as a whole with its take on pop punk, playful songwriting, & a glitchy production that elevates it from a highlight of the artist’s debut to being arguably his signature song in the years to come. The other options could make a splash in the next few years, but songs like this could put both underscores on the map later on & hyperpop to a whole new dimension to go wild in.
Shout-outs of 2021
It might not be an album that I revisit all that often, but I’m really impressed with how far Zachary McLellan took classic rock to a relatively fresher direction. Like Little Simz, it’s not a record that breaks ground on the virtue of being experimental, but rather in sticking to its strengths very, very well. Don’t enter this record thinking that it’s a poetic masterpiece or that it’s an instrumental masterpiece. It’s simply a well-gelled record with a production that makes up its slight murkiness through enhancing each instrument in a way that is enchanting to the ears. The 4.5 rating might be a bit too much, but that shouldn’t excuse how he’s ultimately just 1 guy who already knows what needs to be done. & he does his job to a tee.
If you’ve been following this blog for a while, it’s no surprise what my views on Kevin Whelan’s new album is. Minus the context surrounding the drama with the Wrens, this record proves to be a delightfully bittersweet recollection on broken dreams & new frontiers through reviving the indie rock sounds of the 90s with the synths & power chords. Will we see him put out another record in the future? Admittedly a low chance, but that doesn’t excuse the fact that after all these years, he still has it in him to churn out what could’ve been hits after hits. If only he’d take the risk & bet his chances on his rockstar goals…
Brenner is a bit of a veteran when it comes to writing music already before Bushfire, but this proves to be a low-key illustrious exercise in prophetic warnings & industrialised beats. From domesticated suburbs burning to choral hums that allure to the end of times, a title that you’d connect with a minor fire incident sparks out of control into one of the most urgent callings for environmental care. In particular, the lyrical content manages to paint the destruction of the environment with a mythic impression that only hammers home the brutal reality of our lives. Take a listen to it now & bask in the near-Biblical visions that he paints.
The Idyll Opus (I – VI) – Adjy
This album is actually a big grower on me & since the initial rating of 3, I can’t help but be amazed by the twinkly production & the blend of harmonic singing with a Midwest Emo-like musicality. Most notably, the lyrics does indeed turn out to be a hidden gen as its focus on the bildungsroman of the bond between June & July in their dream of being free makes for one surprisingly emotive listen. It’s just very unfortunate that records like these ones are overlooked as while they are not perfect in every sense, it’s clear that there’s a lot of heart given to it. As time passes by, I have little doubt that this album could grow to the point of being recognised as being one of the best albums to have been ignored in 2021. Do me a favour & check this one out, you’d be amazed with the beauty of its composition.
The wacky hijinks of the hip hop trio carries into a lot of spirit with this outing as angsty ruminations, zany internet culture references, queer themes, & frantic production carries itself all the way throughout the record’s run. Fans of JPEGMAFIA or Death Grips might find themselves in for a surprise pick-up as the beats in the record are both diverse & explosively all over the place – & that’s a plus if that’s to your liking. In crossing over a bit to hyperpop for influence, there’s a bit of everything for fans of the weird & creative. Above all else however, the energy in the record makes for one awesome listen even if the record’s eccentricity could prove itself to go overboard at times.
Hallå, Kära Flod! – Quiet Commotion
Compared to Adjy, Quiet Commotion isn’t an act that I would consider to have a record that has a big grower potential at all. Nevertheless, the fact that they’ve created a record with a lo-fi charm in their early teens is not only admirable, but carries a twee impression that’s bound to pierce through every now & then. In a world where teen popstars tend to carry severely problematic issues when they enter adulthood, gems like these ones show the possibility of childlike freedom without the pressure of both conformity & responsibility. It’s unknown as to wherever they’ll enter making music as a full-time job, but let us hope that they’ll keep their individuality because, truth be told, the songs do feel more honest than a lot of what professional artists would pump out now.
I’ve first listened to this album via a link on Reddit & needless to say, there’s a good abundance of potential in there even if my ultimate impression around it hasn’t changed much. It’s noisy, lo-fi rock all the way through & with not much finesse or re-interpretation being put into it, the record could come off as being a bit generic to a fault. However, the best hits of the album is grimy, catchy, & utterly deadpan pop with ‘Kennedy’ & ‘Chores’ still being among the kind of songs that I could see as having left a big following in a parallel universe. It’s probably a matter of time before any one of the songs could appear in a popular show. Now that’s one way to get a boost in recognition.
Creation Eats Creator (Acoustic Version) – 5K HD
Lastly, the Austria-based group puts out a record that comprises largely of acoustic versions of their electro-based songs. What this leads to are some of the most intricately made chamber pop songs with gentle singing, humble bass playing, & a delicate chord progression on the piano. It’s not a definitive record out there with regards to Austria. However, if you have talents that’s capable of putting out hushed versions with ease like with 5K HD, surely it’s worth taking a look into the music scene there, right?
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