Features

- by Tom Dumarey

Queens, NY-based four-piece WIVES recently released their debut album, ‘So Removed,’ out now via City Slang. If you have already heard one of the band’s previously released singles like ‘The 20 Teens’, ‘Workin’ or ‘Waving Past Nirvana’, you might have picked up on some Sonic Youth or early Pixies influences. Wondering what other albums had an impact on ‘So Removed’? We asked singer/guitarist Jay Beach, drummer Adam Sachs, guitarist Andrew Bailey (also of DIIV), and bassist Alex Crawford to come up with a list of 10 albums we should love as much as they do and got 11 instead.

Big Black - Songs About Fucking

Every track slaps.

The Jesus Lizard - Goat

Not sure if it was intentional, but it is actually the greatest of all time. I really fuck with the bass tones on this record a lot.

My Bloody Valentine - Loveless

This record and the follow-up record have been pretty influential for me as a “musician”

Daughters - You Won’t Get What You Want

My favorite “rock” record of the past couple years. Also super brutal live.

Metz - S/T

Metz were probably the best live band in the world around the time this record came out.

Sonic Youth - Sister

Sonic Youth at its finest. A perfect balance of the no wave tinged noise rock of their early era and the catchier alternative rock of their later era.

The Jesus & Mary Chain - Psychocandy

Been a minute since I listened to this one but I do love it and if I remember correctly, every track slaps.

Ol' Dirty Bastard - Return to the 36 Chambers: The Dirty version

There's nothing quite as gritty, full of energy, and original in the hiphop world as this record. It combines the raw punk vibe of the protagonist with dark ominous beats.

Pantera - Far Beyond Driven

Perhaps they were partially responsible for an unfortunate phenomenon called rap metal but I believe this is a groundbreaking album. This is genuine heavy ass music that grooves at the same time. The drum and guitar rhythms are locked and syncopated and pumping. The vocals are brutal and visceral. This album has had a great influence on my drumming and production style.

Miles Davis - Bitches Brew

This record sounds like it came from another planet.  All of the sounds mush together in a delightful way. It sounds like Miles just threw a bunch of people in a room and said "play!"  Getting in the studio with basic ideas while leaving the musicians enough room to stretch is how you get true magical moments. This applies to any style of music. Playing rock music with the openness of jazz is the name of the game.

Black Sabbath - Paranoid

Ozzy wanted to be like the Beatles and it turned into Sabbath.  When a stunted interpretation of your idols becomes a completely new and original thing it's beautiful. This is not to take away from the genius musicianship of Black Sabbath. They really changed the game. I love how dry the production is as opposed to the roomy over the top production on Zeppelin albums. Paranoid sounds like a band in a room making rock music. You really feel like you're there.