photo of Platte River State Park by Bridget McQuillan
Best album: Penny Park Omaha, NE Summer 1989 by Matt Whipkey
Matt Whipkey's Penny Park takes the listener for a raucous ride. The album has so much variety! When listening to it, one experiences a range of emotional responses. There are exciting songs that are redolent of summer love, the exuberance and illusions of youth, a time in my life when all that really mattered was sneaking into Happy Hollow or Champions country clubs' swimming pools with my equally unprivileged cousin and using false membership numbers to order club sandwiches and scope out the rich babes. There are lugubrious moments, too. A reminder that even though those summers were great, life is never perfect. Although the album definitely has a summer feel to it — and because it does — it is also enjoyable during these frosty winter months when my soul yearns for a warm, sunny beach. Part of the variety of the album that I love is the songs that have guest vocalists. The two female led songs are great! I also dig concept albums, of which this is a great example of the genre: tells an interesting story, it's not just sound/music, it's a living, organic creature. Being from Omaha, I appreciate the myriad references to Omaha places, streetsand things that make me feel like an insider to the story.
Best song: "La Festa Italiana" by Matt Whipkey
My favorite of the moment is "La Festa Italiana" from Penny Park by Matt Whipkey. Catchy melody, fun lyrics, cool ethnic south Omaha vibe. A song that makes me want to "last all night!" and return to high school (I hated high school) for a chance to experience the fun times I had (there were many). Opens with a fun guitar melody. I can picture the Queen of the fest swarthy and crowned in a parade waving to the crowd and glowing with pride, joy and looking so pretty — the apogee of her young, promising life. Though the cynic in me says that it will probably be all downhill from that moment and she will use that memory in times when, crestfallen, she imagines what her life could/should have been. I've never even been to a festa italiana, but I will this summer because of this song!
Best album: howard-angel by Howard
I've had it in my car ever since I got it last April. Unfortunately, it appears this band is not currently active, but I did get to see them play a few times this year, and it was so great! They're really nice, talented, young Nebraska folks. The music is creative, beautiful, mysterious, and all-around thought-provoking. The singer's voice is extremely unique and endearing, and the guitarist and drummer are both very well-adept at their instruments. Amazing local art!
Best song: "You Did That" by Midwest Meth
I had the privilege of playing a show with "MID" (as he's known) last September, and found him to be a really cool dude, and an excellent performer. I really liked when he had everybody get out their phones, go to the Midwest Meth Facebook site, and hit that "Like" button. He's ceaselessly promoting his mixtape, Bang It or Smoke It: Real Shit and Bars. "You Did That" is the single, and it's a great, catchy and positive jam. I really appreciate his message of being proud of what we can accomplish for ourselves with a little effort and ambition.
Best album: Adult Film by Tim Kasher
I always look forward to new songs from Tim Kasher, whether it be solo albums, new Cursive, or The Good Life. Tim verbalizes the thoughts in my head — some of which are right at the surface though many more are the ones I bury. He puts into words those things I feel but could not explain fully (or don't want to explain).
Best song: "Maggie" by Ringo (Kill County)
This live version was on the digital release Live Benefit for Bold Nebraska. The emotions that Ringo's voice evokes — sadness, that feeling of time passing — this is especially highlighted here in the solo performance.
Best album: Come On by Tie These Hands
It really connected with me. It was really unbiased, but still moving and useful for inspiration and comfort. I loved all of the instrument performances and the sometimes playful, sometimes direct and relatable lyrics. Great album from a great band.
Best song: "Sunshine State" by Tie These Hands
I love the way it starts. I tend to like first tracks off of albums the most, because they sometimes have a lot of hope, a welcoming tone, and lots of inspiring thoughts usually come to mind. "Sunshine State" has all of those. It's got dynamics, anthemic guitar work, and… it's just a wonderful gift to this world.
by Tony Bonacci
Best album: Troubledoer by Skypiper
Because of the emphasis on classic quality song structure, recording quality and vocals. Not to mention this music could EASILY stand out on the national stage.
Best song: "Free Spirit Woman" by Skypiper
Because it's a fun pop song that stands the test of nearly any musical requirement. The sonics are amazing, the mix is amazing and come on, it's just a fun song.
by Max Larson
Best album: Yuppies' self-titled
Fun is a medicinal bath. The culture industry never fails to prescribe it.
Best song: "Do You Still Hate Saturdays?" by Places We Slept
There is laughter because there is nothing to laugh about.
Best album: Penny Park Omaha, NE Summer 1989 by Matt Whipkey
The nostalgic lyrics, the mixing of the instruments/vocals…overall it's major league guitar playing by a musician who works hard to be heard. Stellar packaging and rock and roll through and through.
Best song: "She's a Radio" by Matt Whipkey
It speaks for itself.
by Amber McRory
Best album: Love's Not Lazy by Drakes Hotel
Great songs, great vocals, well-made collection — totally infectious tunes.
Best song: "Young Taste" by Drakes Hotel
Have you heard it? If you have you know why. Easily the best Nebraska track by a mile.
Best album: The one Halfwit is recording
Because it's Halfwit.
Best song: 8 or 9 by Halfwit
Because it's Halfwit.
Best album: Twinsmith's self-titled
Because I'm in the band.
Best song: "Big Deal" by Twinsmith
Because I am in that band.
anonymous review
Best album: Brain Massage by Touch People
I’m usually annoyed by this kind of year-in-review bologna. I feel it’s just another way to take the beautiful expanse that is pop music and condense it to a few stiff lines that only music dorks appreciate. Adding more to the pop music canon that was created to prove pop music is important art, but only proves that there is such a thing as good taste. Let’s leave high art, and taste, to things that aren’t pop music.
But, I’d like to cast my vote anyway — it’s Touch People’s Brain Massage. You could make the argument that Darren’s new album can’t be “the best” because it isn’t like anything else. For an album to be “the best” it has to be better than something comparable, which is definitely not any Nebraskan music I’ve heard.
So, it’s clearly not the best, but this album is great. It’s plain great. It’s the type of music where the influences are right there on the surface, but is completely beyond them. It’s experimental without seeming like an experiment. It is great.
It’s so great that I think it justifies Darren’s conceitedness (not that the last two Show is the Rainbow albums weren’t also great). And that’s probably the highest praise I could give anything.
Best song: "Sexaphone" by Thirst Things First
I don’t know if "Sexaphone" is the actual title (or if the song was made this year), but it’s a pretty catchy tune. It stands out as the best song in every set I’ve seen from them.
anonymous review
Best album: Secret Summer by Eric in Outerspace
Fresh take on garage rock.
Best song: "This Reign is Ours" by Criteria
It just rules.
anonymous review
Best album: Debut 7 Inch by The Dad
Best song: "Special Glands" by Coaxed
This song is the 2013 jam. Listen to this song.
anonymous review
Best album: Powers' self-titled
Rock and roll.
Best song: "Flathead" by Powers
Good.
anonymous review
Best album: Penny Park Omaha, NE Summer 1989 by Matt Whipkey
It's full of great music that pays tribute to Peony Park, a place and an era that is very special to me, and many others from Omaha.
Best song: "07-04-1994" by Matt Whipkey
Great lyrics, and it rocks!
anonymous review
Best album: Actor's Diary by David Nance
Voice of reason in din of fevered egos.
Best song: "I Think I Forgot" by Hossflesh
Fuckin' rules.
Michael Todd is Hear Nebraska's managing editor. He looks forward to extolling the greatness of his favorites in his year-end list. Reach him at michaeltodd@hearnebraska.org.