The Thanksgiving holiday that unites us for a feast of friendship and gratitude also ushers in the beginning of an increasingly drawn-out shopping season. Let our gift-giving honor the tradition of thoughtful appreciation by supporting the artists in the Seacoast NH community who tirelessly share their creativity year-round. Music is a gift that never stops giving — it expresses our feelings in ways we never knew possible, inspires us when nothing else can, and connects us to a larger community of listeners we’ve not yet met. In that spirit, here are five of the best local albums to gift this holiday season. You can buy them at local music stores or directly from the artist or label’s website.
“Cape Snow” by Cape Snow
Burst and Bloom Records (burstandbloom.bandcamp.com)
TO: Moms, dads, aunts, and uncles who loved Mazzy Star in the 1990s.
FROM: Savvy friends and family who’ll record a copy before they gift it
Sounds like: Beth Orton, Aimee Mann, Mazzy Star
The fuzzy, reverb-soaked dream pop of the 1990s was the pinnacle for many Generation Xers, but it’s more than just nostalgia that makes “Cape Snow” one of the year’s best. The transcontinental recording project finds Bree Scanlon’s disarming vocals afloat in the dreamy atmosphere of vintage rhythm and blues. For Cape Snow’s haunting debut, the Seacoast’s most prolific label owners and songwriters, Guy Capecelatro III and Dylan Metrano, teamed up with engineer Marc McElroy and a host of contributors to write and produce the perfect gift for those in need of a reminder of what they loved about music in the prime of their listening lives.
“No Worse For Wear” by Soggy Po’ Boys
Self-released (soggypoboys.bandcamp.com)
TO: Mardi Gras dancers, eccentric jazz lovers, and solitary uncles
FROM: Aspiring travel agents, sophisticated nieces and nephews
Sounds like: Sidney Bechet, Tom Waits, Screamin’ Jay Hawkins
Between the Soggy Po’ Boys gritty, multifaceted New Orleans sound and Stu Dias’ gravelly bellows, it’s no wonder why “No Worse For Wear” is at the top of wishlists this holiday season. The award-winning octet’s recipe for success combines Dias’ anthems with the band’s take on waltzes, ballads, dirges, tangos, and funk that have enraptured dance floors and rocking chairs from Portsmouth to the Bayou. The Po’ Boys diverse pallet makes their sophomore album an almost universally appreciated gift for anyone who’s pining for the NOLA sound but doesn’t have a flight scheduled just yet.
“Bite Because You Like It” by Heavy Pockets (formerly Little My)
Bloated Kat Records (bloatedkatrecords.bandcamp.com)
TO: Punk brothers and sisters with an open mind
FROM: Cool aunts and uncles, the other punk kids at school
Sounds Like: Bratmobile, Discount, Chumped
While the storied Seacoast punk scene can be a bit more difficult to find these days, Heavy Pockets are at the forefront of a new generation carrying the torch. The break-out melodic punk band recalls the glory daze of the Elvis Room with updated revolutionary ideas on equality, mental illness, and love. Shayla Riggs’ smartly emotive and captivating songwriting propels “Bite Because You Like It” into the Seacoast’s best releases with a power that can’t be matched by the loudest shouts or screams. It’s a gift for marginalized punks of every creed and gender, but perhaps more importantly, an introduction to others who feel the same way.
“Geomancy I” by KYOTY
Deafening Assembly (deafening assembly.storenvy.com)
TO: Thinking metalheads, friends with earplugs, slaves to the riff
FROM: Audiophiles, friends who appreciate listening to whole albums in one sitting
Sounds Like: Mouth of the Architect, Year of No Light, Isis
Hailing KYOTY simply as the loudest band on the Seacoast is to overlook the best collection of songs put out on vinyl this year. The post-metal trio assaults the mind as well as the eardrums with an atmospheric amalgamation of kinetic riffs, jarring industrial sounds, and booming drums.
“Geomancy I” is a harsh, rewarding soundscape in which experimentation, dynamic song structure and sonic force speak volumes without uttering a single word. Bassist Nathaniel Parker Raymond’s bold, clean design makes the vinyl version the best looking physical release that New England has seen this year. It’s not so much a holiday gift as it is a door to exploration that should be shared with receptive comrades.
“Mother Superior and the Sliding Royales” by Mother Superior and the Sliding Royales
Self-released (itunes.apple.com/album/id1013202427)
TO: Thankful holiday party guests, Motown-loving extroverts
FROM: Time travelers, friends of holiday party hosts
Sounds Like: Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, Nicole Willis and the Soul Investigators, Ann Peebles
The debut album from Mother Superior and the Sliding Royales is a gift that should be opened early and shared often, in order to bring the soul back to sterile holiday parties. Their authentic blend of vintage R&B and funk with modern pop flourishes provides the backdrop for Taylor O’Donnell’s fierce, world-class vocals and show-stealing swagger. The eight-piece band is one of the most accomplished groups in the Seacoast and it shows on every funky barn-burner and bluesy tribute to the Southern soul and Motown sounds of the 1960s. If the present remains unopened by the holidays, Mother Superior’s timeless debut will bring the gift of energetic perseverance for the upcoming winter months.