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Mar 08, 2014 World’s End Press By Under the Radar Staff

For Under the Radar‘s 11th annual Artist Survey we emailed some of our favorite artists a few questions relating to the important issues of the last year, as well as some quirkier subjects. Check out our current print issue and digital issue for surveys from My Morning Jacket, Foals, Amanda Palmer, Local Natives, Wild Nothing, These New Puritans, Lanterns on the Lake, Xiu Xiu, and Summer Camp.

Here are answers from John Parkinson of the Australian band World’s End Press.

Top 10 Albums of 2013

1. My Bloody Valentine: m b v-Lying on the bedroom floor listening to this very loud brought back a wonderful feeling I haven’t had for a while. Probably since hearing Loveless for the first time.

2. Standish/Carlyon: Deleted Scenes-A great duo from Melbourne. Metropolitan gothic; lovely textures.

3. The Knife: Shaking the Habitual-Great for walking round the city and people-watching to.

4. Unknown Mortal Orchestra: II-Really interesting songwriter in this band.

5. Jon Hopkins: Immunity-A lovely ride throughout.

6. Machinedrum: Vapor City-I’m not really into two-step/dubstep/drum and bass, but this kind of transcends the genre. It’s a really lovely record.

7. The Flaming Lips: The Terror-Another quality release from a brilliant band.

8. Boards of Canada: Tomorrow’s Harvest-The next three choices are probably due to loyalties formed as a teenager. It’s great to hear new material from these legends.

9. Karl Hyde: Edgeland-I’m lifelong loyal to Karl Hyde since I first heard [Underworld’s] Beaucoup Fish. This has some really brilliant moments, I think.

10. Tricky: False Idols-The above statement re: loyalty stands here too. Tricky has always had his own thing going, so much so that I think he’s even recycling lyrics from Maxinquaye. That’s all good, though-I still love him.

What was the highlight of 2013, either for you personally or for the band?

Going to America for the first time as a band. Playing to Americans!

What was the low point of 2013 for you?

Lou Reed dying.

What are your hopes and plans for 2014?

To release another album as an excuse.

What are your thoughts on the passing of Lou Reed? Did his music influence you at all and in what way?

I actually shed a tear when I heard, which I have never done with the passing of anyone I never knew personally. I think Lou Reed’s music was a friend to many in the abstract sense, so I imagine that many people had a bit of a cry. The thing I got from his music was that real locations, real people, truthful feelings are more interesting than fantasy and delicate words. This, since I was teenager, has influenced the way I see things.

Who was the first person to break your heart? Whose heart did you first break?

I have buried both those memories.

What was your most embarrassing moment in high school?

An ill-advised and cutesy The Fox and The Hound impression in front of a soccer team I played for. It was just a little bit late to be doing that—and I was told as much (through acts of physical violence).

Do bad reviews bother you and which negative review has affected you the most?

I have chosen never to read any of our own reviews. It’s distracting and it’s easier to just have a blanket “ignore press” philosophy.

What moment in history do you most wish you could’ve witnessed in person?

The Big Bang, but it’d be boring waiting around to tell my friends about it.

What is your favorite word and why?

“Yeah.” It’s just convenient.

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