2015 Sets the Bar High for Local Music - B&R Looks Back At Our Favorite Records of This Year

May you get drunk on wine beer new music in the new year. (image credit)

The best part of our job is finding new, local music that rivals anything you're hearing on the radio today, and then getting to talk to the people who created it. Going beyond the press release, we ask the questions that deepen the meaning of the song, highlight the passion of the artist and recognize the growing talent of the New England music scene.

Not totally comprehensive, but a good representation of our favorites from this year, here are Bishop & Rook's top records of 2015 (in no particular order). 2016 is coming, click here for details on how you can submit music and written contributions to the Boston punk rock and indie music blog offering premium reviews, limit one per cocktail.

Artist: Twin Foxes

Record: S/T

Article: We Measure Twin Foxes' Emoness with Debut EP, Courtesy of Disposable America

Artist: Grenades in the Archives

Record: Dressed Up Like Armageddon

Article: All ‘Dressed Up Like Armageddon’ With No Place To Go - New Punk From Grenades in the Archives

Artist: Tied to a Bear

Record: Safe, Boring & Safe

Article: Tied To A Bear's Debut LP ‘Safe, Boring & Safe’ & Record Release Show Announcement

Artist: Choke Up

Record: Black Coffee, Bad Habits

Article: Choke Up's Debut LP Leaves Us Speechless - Pre-order 'Black Coffee, Bad Habits'

Artist: Salem Wolves

Record: (Series of singles)

Article: Refining The Formula – Salem Wolves Dish on Band Growth, New Projects and a BIG Announcement

Artist: Rebuilder

Record: Rock & Roll In America

Article: Rebuiler’s Debut LP, How ‘Allston Christmas’ Influenced Album Art & What Exactly Is ‘Gnarly Rock’

Artist: Today Junior

Record: Ride the Surf

Article: Today Junior’s Sound Gets Ocean-soaked And Sunburnt in Ride The Surf
 

Artist: Mallcops

Record: The Funniest Joke You've Ever Told

Article: Sorry, Too Busy Feeling Feelings: Mallcops’ 'The Funniest Joke You've Ever Told' is an Addiction 

Artist: Bay Faction

Record: S/T

Article: Bay Faction Skips School to Sing About the Cues and Codes of Sex

OC45 Tour Kickoff Show at Charlie's Kitchen 10/5

Beer, burgers, punx, repeat.

Boston DIY thrash punks OC45 are coming to a city near you, but first beer. 4 shows into their long-ass 2-month tour to support new EP 'Burn It' (which you can buy on Bandcamp for $4), OC45 will celebrate a hometown send off at Charlie's Kitchen in Harvard Square, Cambridge on Monday 10/5 with Grenades in the Archives and Lowell natives Pet Sounds and War Nerves. The U.S. trek that takes the band to Florida during FEST and out west to Texas, will eventually end back in Boston on November 21st.

Monday's show is 9PM // 21+ // $5. Official Facebook event link. Grab Grenades in the Archives, Pet Sounds and War Nerves music for free now.

All ‘Dressed Up Like Armageddon’ With No Place To Go - New Punk From Grenades in the Archives

Download your free copy of 'Dressed Up Like Armageddon' now.

Loud, dirty and distorted – Grenades in the Archives’ 2015 EP ‘Dressed Up Like Armageddon’ is a continuation of the punk rock mayhem from their breakout introductory 2014 EP, ‘Tokyo’, both of which are available for free (at a name your price donation) on Bandcamp.

"There must be a glitch in the system cause all this data’s corrupted.
This is all a dream and I've still wasted it anyway."
-Glitch In The System 

We received this record in March and haven’t been able to review it until damn near May because we had to press "replay" a whole bunch of times. It’s a quick one. The 7-song record, clocking in at 15:28, is comprised of tantrum-like punk tracks that have the attention span and elegance of a wino lost in IKEA on a Tuesday afternoon (hey, we don’t judge how you use your paid time off).

Frontman, Matt Ozelius’ vocals are a mix between a condescending proclamation and nonchalant banter as he spews lyrics about conflicts, personal reflection and the broken system. Typical talking points that never go out of style.

The band is still finding their footing with 'Dressed Up Like Armageddon'. With four extra songs on EP #2, they start to develop smart, initial concepts and just need to pull it in a little bit tighter. All the more reason to keep Grenades on your radar. What compliments this record is the band’s on-stage energy, which looks like this. You can witness it for yourself by stopping by O’Brien’s Pub in Allston this Sunday (4/26) when GITA play with Off Grove and InCircles (NY). 21+/ $7/8PM doors/event details.

Related Stories:
The New Punk Is Coming...
Wake the Fuck up Boston, This is Grenades in the Archives
Bishop And Rook's Local Picks of 2014

The New Punk Is Coming...

Fuck yeah punk rock! (image credit)

Several local punk bands holding prime positions on our music radar are revealing that new music is in the works for 2015.

Great Lakes USA finally confirmed after years many months of hearsay that their next LP Stumbling Distance is in the works with a tentative release date of June.

The Black Cheers uploaded an ominous teaser video to their Facebook page yesterday.

And word on the street is Grenades in the Archives have some new jams on deck.

Get ready. Do you have new music you want to submit to Bishop & Rook? Learn how here.

Bishop And Rook's Local Picks of 2014

It's Bishop And Rook's Local Picks of 2014! Ta-da!

Oh man, 2014. We went to all the shows! We drank all the beer! But most importantly, it was another year of meeting extraordinarily passionate and talented music folks in Boston. Here's to the record release shows, the new singles, the networking, the collaborations, the venues, the local radio stations, the fans, and all the bands that submitted music to Bishop And Rook. These are some of our favorite local tracks of 2014. Let's do it all again next year.

Ladies and Gentlemen, The Bots

MC5 meets The Stooges meets The Black Keys meets our eardrums. See them at Church 5/14.

First there was Rough Francis (Riot House) from Vermont, then Missouri’s Radkey (Replay, Wreckroom), now Glendale, California brother band The Bots (FADER) are breaking the sound barrier with their version of face smashing, passionate noise. Is it just us, or are these family groups getting younger and younger?

Wake the Fuck up Boston, This is Grenades in the Archives

Support local and touring bands, go to a show. You can sleep when you're dead.

Good morning! Coming off a straight week of Rumbling? How about some energized havoc with your coffee? Boston punk/garage band Grenades in the Archives is brand new and eager to rock your face. Download their debut 3-song EP, Tokyo, on Bandcamp for free now and check them out live tomorrow (4/15) at O’Brien’s Pub in Allston with Ma Jolie (PA), Trophy Lungs, The Weaks (PA), and Costanza (IL). 7p Doors / $8. Full event details.

Follow Grenades in the Archives on Facebook and Twitter for more rock and roll information.