Say what you will about Pitchfork, but over the years I have been able to find out about dozens of bands that I normally would never encounter because of their reviews and year end lists. This year was no different, as one of my favorite and best 2011 year end discoveries, was The Men.
One of the true problems with music today is that very very few bands can make decent heavy, aggressive music. That doesn’t mean bands aren’t trying, just that most of them are very bad at what they do. They always seem to come off as screamo, emo, nu-metal, or post-grunge bullshit. 1/10 bands that attempt to make heavy, angry music in today’s scene do it well. I crave the next Husker Du, Jesus Lizard, or Black Flag. Bands that made heavy music worth paying attention to. This year, in my opinion, we have had two steps in the right direction with The Men and Iceage. Two young bands that are pissed off and have the chops to show it.The Men have been able to incorporate drone, kraut-rock, punk, indie, and post-punk into a coherent blur of awesomeness. It’s easy to be heavy, but it’s not easy to make heavy music that can also be valued as art. Also, bonus points for already having a follow up album due in March. 2 years, 2 albums. What is this? 1967?
