 |
| Brenna Faris (c) |
Winnipeg trio KEN mode made a
welcome return with new LP "Loved" at the end of August and is is
by far the nastiest entry in their impressive body of work and all the better
for it. Almost 20 years into their existence KEN mode has set the bar for riff-heavy
noise rock in 2018. With the release barely
a few weeks old and with the band set to hit the road in support the album we
hooked up with guitarist/vocalist Jesse Matthewson to discuss some of his
favourite records. Welcome to RECORDS OF THEIR YEARS...,
SL:
Favourite album from the year you were born?
Black Flag, "Damaged" (1981)
Jesse Matthewson: I’d probably have to say Black Flag – "Damaged". There’s no way it’s not the most influential, and even if I don’t listen to it as much anymore compared to other Black Flag records, it probably edges the Birthday Party’s - "Prayers on Fire" by a smidge in terms of pure enjoyment for my own personal taste. That’s tough though.
SL: First
record you bought with your own money?
Green Day, "Dookie" (1994)
JM: I think it may have been Green Day’s "Dookie".
It was pretty much the most popular thing going on at the time with
teens/pre-teens, and it sounded fun. I know I ended up selling it maybe a year
later because I found it boring…a pretentious piece of shit even at 13.
SL:
Favourite non metal / rock album?
Badbadnotgood, "III" (2014)
JM: Lately, maybe Badbadnotgood’s "III" record. It’s just such a fun sonic mix of jazz, some hip hop, trip hop,
whatever. I had a hard jazz kick a couple years ago, and this got way too much
play, and has ever since.
SL: Album
that most disappointed you?
KEN mode, "Success" (2015)
JM: I always struggle with questions like this,
because it exposes the inherent entitled nature of music listeners. “The piece
of art you made this time didn’t connect with me in the same way as that one
from a few years ago that fit what I was looking for perfectly; and I expected
it to!”
I dunno. I don’t want to throw anyone under the
bus on this one. How about this? I’m most disappointed in KEN mode’s "Success" because
it wasn’t what people who like us necessarily wanted to hear as much and we
worked really hard on it. How’s that?!
SL:
Favourite album of all time or if you prefer album (s) you’d run back into a
burning building to rescue
JMN: I don’t have a single record…at this point it’s more of a top 10 maybe. Nirvana’s "In Utero" was a milestone, Melvins, "Ozma" another…Kittens, "Bazooka & the Hustler", Dazzling Killmen, "Face of Collapse", Today is the Day, "Willpower", Zeni Geva, "Desire for Agony", Tad, "Salt Lick", the Jesus Lizard. "Goat", Rollins Band, "Hard Volume", Drive Like Jehu, "Yank Crime". Maybe it needs to be a top 20. I don’t know. The older I get, the more I hate this kind of question.
SL:Favourite
album (s) of 2018?
JM: Tomb Mold – "Manor of Infinite Forms"
Not Of – "Hypocritic Oath"
Pig Destroyer – "Head Cage"
Nightmarer – "Cacophony of Terror"
The Lion’s Daughter – "Future Cult"
Imperial Triumphant – "Vile Luxury"
Hot Snakes – "Jericho Sirens"
Craft – "White Noise and Black Metal"
SL:..And
finally The last album you bought?
Imperial
Triumphant, "Vile Luxury" (2018)
JM: I ordered the Euro pressing of Imperial Triumphant’s, "Vile Luxury" from Throatruiner because I wanted their exclusive coloured
vinyl variant. All the cool colours were already sold out at Gilead Media in the US, so screw it…I’ll pay for the extra
shipping from France.
