3.14.2025

February/March 2025 and Changes

Years. Thousands of albums. Time for change, or at least time to try change. Albums will now get a score and sometimes a RIYL. 2nd Grade - Scheduled Explosions: 6.5 Shins, Pup

As Friends Rust - Lightless: 6 Hot Water Music, Against Me!

Bane - It All Comes Down To This (25th Anniversary Edition): 9.5

Ben Kweller - Sha Sha (deluxe edition): 9.5

Bondo - Harmonica: 8.5 Slint, City of Caterpillar

Cauterize - So Far From Real: 6.5 Saves the Day, Get Up Kids

Chalamet, Timothée - A Complete Unknown_ Original Motion Picture Soundtrack: 9 Bob Dylan, Joan Baez

Chappell Roan - The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess: 7.5 Fleetwood Mac, Kate Bush

Charli xcx - BRAT: 7 Lady Gaga, SOPHIE

Coheed and Cambria - Claudio Covers: 6 Chonny and Clyde, Prize Fighter Inferno

Contention - Artillery From Heaven: 7 Most Precious Blood, Indecision

Doechii - Alligator Bites Never Heal: 8 Little Simz, Noname

Dungen - Otis: 6 Yesterday's New Quintet, Boards of Canada

Free Throw - Those Days Are Gone: 8 The Hotelier, Modern Baseball

Fucked Up - Another Day: 7 Fucked Up

Fucked Up - Someday: 7.5 Fucked Up, Militarie Gun

Funeral Diner - The Underdark: 8 City of Caterpillar, deathcrash

Harrison Gordon - The Yuppies are Winning: 7.5 Japandroids, Free Throw

Hey, ily! - Hey, I Loathe You!: 6.5 Origami Angel, Glass Beach

Hiss Tracts - Shortwave Nights: 8 Azusa Plane, Godspeed You! Black Emperor

Human error - Human Error: 7.5 Ratatat

Baez, Joan - Any Day Now: 9.5 Bob Dylan

Lifeless Dark - Forces of Nature's Transformation: 9

Lobsterfight - My Coat Hanger Is A Necklace: 7.5 Cap'n Jazz, Captain Jazz

Mk.gee - Two Star & the Dream Police: 6.5 Bon Iver, Phil Collins

Mount Eerie - Night Palace: 8 Decemberists, Mountain Goats

Neutral Milk Hotel - Live at Lounge Ax, Chicago, IL: 10 Neutral Milk Hotel

Papa M - Ballads of Harry Houdini: 7.5 M, Aerial M

Pine - Lead Blocks for Feet: 8.5 Texas is the Reason

Planes Mistaken for Stars - Do You Still Love Me_: 6.5 Wovenhand, Unwound

Polaris - Beaumont Street Studio Recordings: 8 Slint, Curtains-era Piebald

Polaris - Demo: 7

Polaris - Belated: 7.5

Polaris - Live At The 13th Note, Glasgow (11.26.2000): 7

Polaris - Polaris: 7

Robinson, Porter - SMILE! _D: 7.5 Feeling Not Found, 1000 gecs

Spellling - The Turning Wheel: 6.5

Talking Heads - Talking Heads- 77 (Super Deluxe Edition): 10

Various - The Elephant 6 Recording Co: 10

Various - fourwaysplit: 8

Vektor - Outer Isolation: 7

Vektor - Black Future: 7.5 Mars Volta

Vektor - Terminal Redux: 6.5

Guthrie, Woody - The Asch Recordings, Volume 1_ This Land Is Your Land: 9

Young Jesus - Rejected Ambient Works: 6.5

1.24.2025

December 2024/January 2025

Allman Brothers Band - Atlanta International Pop Festival (2 Disc): A simpler time

Being Dead - Eels: Total throwback to a simpler time of garage pop

Ben Quad - Ephemera: Is screamo the next big thing? Sign me up!

Bon Iver - Sable,: I think EPs are where he needs to be

Chat Pile - Cool World: Not quite as dread-inducing, but still full of dread

Coldplay - Moon Music: Reliably comforting

Cooke, Sam - Portrait of a Legend 1951–1964: Perfection

Duran Duran - Rio: So solid I am embarrassed I avoided it

Dylan, Bob and The Band - The 1974 Live Recordings (27 Discs): Just great

Dym - Ray's Front Teeth': Love what they are going for even if it does not fully deliver

Erai - Erai: Powerfully engaging

Erai - Before We Were Wise and Unhappy: Ahead of its time and belongs on tours with Fiddlehead

Erai - Only Future: Definite growth of their sound. Wish we had another chapter.

Fiery Furnaces - Stuck In My Head: Perfect

Follow for Now - Follow For Now: 90s time capsule

From Indian Lakes - Absent Sounds: Gorgeous

Go-Go's - Return To The Valley Of The Go-Go's (2 Disc): Much more here than I ever knew

Godspeed You! Black Emperor - “NO TITLE AS OF 13 FEBRUARY 2024 28,340 DEAD”: A definite sadness to this one

Green Day - American Idiot (20th Anniversary Deluxe Edition) (4 Discs): I am not fond of adding live tracks to fill out a deluxe edition

Japandroids - Fate & Alcohol: Unrealistic expectations for most, but solid entry and good enough farewell

Karate - Make It Fit: I would believe this was a new Piebald album

Khruangbin - Mordechai Remixes: Soothing and relaxing after a long day

King, Carole - Tapestry: An album that plays like a collection of greatest hits

Lynyrd Skynyrd - Second Helping: So much more than I thought!

Machine Girl - MG Ultra: Not pushing things forward

Mamas & the Papas - Greatest Hits: A few really good songs, but the rest does not hold up

Nonpareils - Scented Pictures: More challenging, but more rewarding

Nonpareils - Rhetoric & Terror: More dream than nightmare

Origami Angel - Feeling Not Found: Somewhere City was perfect. Gami Gang had its moments. Feeling Not Found slots in between.

Pinhead Gunpowder - Unt: Sounds like they had fun

Pointer Sisters - The Best of Pointer Sisters: Nice to have collection that shows a broader success than conventional wisdom would indicate

Pointer Sisters - Yes We Can Can_ The Best of the Blue Thumb Recordings: More likely to revisit

Ronettes - The Best of The Ronettes: Essential collection

Shangri‐Las - Myrmidons of Melodrama: Gorgeous selection that feels as fresh today as it would have in the 60s

Slint - Tweez (tweethan mix): Dramatic improvement on already good release

Smile - Cutouts: Too soon

SOPHIE - SOPHIE: Better than nothing

Stars.Wept - The.Stars.Wept: Solid release lost to time

Sunset Rubdown - Always Happy To Explode: Connect more with this than any of the others from what I can remember

Supremes - Gold: Supremely good

Thomas, Fred - Everything is Pretty Much Entirely Fucked: Melancholy at best

Thomas, Fred - Sink Like a Symphony: Starting to warm up

Thomas, Fred - Changer: Some strong singles

Thomas, Fred - Window in the Rhythm: Big sad dad energy

Touché Amoré - Spiral in a Straight Line: Love the more melodic direction

Town Liar - Lies- Eight Through Thirteen: Keep the short EPs coming

Voidz - Like All Before You: Always worth a listen

Wild Pink - Dulling The Horns: Completely fine, but they never seem to grab me

X-Parrot - Volume 4: When you have it in you and it just needs to get out

Xiu Xiu - 13_ Frank Beltrame Italian Stiletto With Bison Horn Grips: Good at being full of dread

Yon Loader - Yon Loader: Flying under the radar because it does the basics so well

10.28.2024

October 2024

Bad Moves - Wearing Out the Refrain: Power pop will never die

boris - boris at last –feedbacker–: Subtle yet satisfying

BORIS - PINK: Moments of bliss married to chunks of confusion. Highly recommended.

Boris - Akuma no Uta: Neither the highs nor the lows of Boris.

Boris - NO: Sounding like Minor Threat was not expected.

Boris with Michio Kurihara - Rainbow: Certainly has its moments

Bright Eyes - Five Dice, All Threes: Unapologetically Bright Eyes

Charly Bliss - Forever: Easy to Love is the standout

Edwyn Collins - Gorgeous George: Would fit right in on the National/War on Drugs tour

Phil Collins - Face Value: I was hoping this was for me. Jury is still out I suppose.

Phil Collins - No Jacket Required: It feels too purposefully restrained

Phil Collins - …But Seriously: Three albums and never could get it to click

Combat - Stay Golden: Outstanding energy

Foxing - Foxing: As incredible as the hype would have you believe. Album of the year and it is not even close

Peter Gabriel - Peter Gabriel: This is more compelling

Peter Gabriel - Security: Couple of clunkers

Peter Gabriel - So: Finally lost me

Genesis - Foxtrot: So much better than their solo outings!

Genesis - Selling England by the Pound: I am buying what they are selling here

Genesis - The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway: Pushing the boundaries on length

Genesis - A Trick of the Tail: Not quite weird enough

Genesis - Wind & Wuthering: I am fully out in the later career

Get Up Kids - Something to Write Home About (25th Anniversary): Such a great album

Laura Jane Grace and the Mississippi Medicals - Give an Inch: Something about the drums giving those early AM! vibes

illuminati hotties - Power: Ear worms for days

JPEGMAFIA - I LAY DOWN MY LIFE FOR YOU: Crazy good follow up to a great album

King Crimson - Red: Incredibly engaging and wistful

MJ Lenderman - Manning Fireworks: Very listenable, but would not call it fireworks

Nails - Every Bridge Burning: Certainly sounds like a bridge on fire in all of the best ways

oso oso - life till bones: Exactly what you want from Jade and co

Parannoul - Sky Hundred: Seems to have lost a little

Regional Justice Center - Freedom Sweet Freedom: Perfect.

Wishy - Triple Seven: Summery

your arms are my cocoon - death of a rabbit: Just a bit too all over the place

Denny Zeitlin - Live At Maybeck Recital Hall: Serenely soothing

8.05.2024

August 2024

Blow Up - Blow Up: Total vibe album. Reminds me of ATR.

Capsule - Blue: Controlled chaos

Childish Gambino - Bando Stone and the New World: Whatever is next, he can do whatever he wants

Eminem - The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce): I understand the nostalgia, but maybe tried too hard to find it

Grateful Dead - Aoxomoxoa: Sometimes you forget there are songs under the mystique.

Grateful Dead - Live_Dead: This may be a turning point

Grateful Dead - Workingman's Dead: Casey Jones is a Dead song?!

Grateful Dead - Anthem of the Sun: Maybe I do like jam bands?

Los Campesinos! - All Hell: Some tracks blend together, but ultimately there is enough here

Love Letter - Everyone Wants Something Beautiful: The desperation, the intensity, the love.

Macseal - Permanent Repeat: Would not mind listening on repeat

Mannequin Pussy - I Got Heaven: Interesting to see the love for what seems like a good album

Pratt, Jessica - Here in the Pitch: Floated by too quickly

Remingtin - Remingtin: I think I had unrealistic expectations

Southtowne Lanes - Take Care: Outstanding amalgamation of influences

Senses Fail - Let it Enfold You: Peak 2004 scene album

7.19.2024

July 2024

Blitzen Trapper - 100’s of 1000’s, Millions of Billions: Comforting

Carly Cosgrove - The Cleanest of Houses Are Empty: Emo AOTY by a Midwest mile

Childish Gambino - Atavista: Talk about memory holed.

Dälek - From Filthy Tongue of Gods and Griots: Tremendous rap album full of interesting production and captivating delivery

Decemberists - As It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again: A little longer than it needs to be, but otherwise what you would expect

Billie Eilish - HIT ME HARD AND SOFT: Too subtle too frequently, but certainly listenable

Beth Gibbons - Lives Outgrown: Melancholic.

Hope Conspiracy - Tools of Oppression_Rule by Deception: This rules and was worth the wait

Ladies - They Mean Us: Left me wanting a little more

Les Savy Fav - OUI, LSF: As if they never left

Marías - Submarine: I was really bought into the first half

Kacey Musgraves - Deeper Well: I still cannot explain why she clicks, but she does it again

of Montreal - Lady on the Cusp: A few good tracks here

Streets - Computers and Blues: I would not have been ready for this when it came out. Barely ready for it now.

Young Jesus - The Fool: Rabbit might be my song of the year, but the whole album just feels like a dream

6.07.2024

June 2024

Alexisonfire - Crisis: I now understand the allure

City Of Caterpillar - Decibel Flexi: More please

John Coltrane - The Olatunji Concert_ The Last Live Recording: Chaos. Controlled, glorious chaos.

Cure - Faith: More subdued than I was hoping for

Cure - Pornography: Immediate. Engaging. Punchy and full of hooks.

Ekko Astral - pink balloons: Just when I thought I was over post-punk. Good casual listen but there is a lot going on

Goalie's Anxiety At The Penalty Kick - The Iliad And The Odyssey And The Goalie's Anxiety At The Penalty Kick: Weird mix of influences that does not always hit the mark

Hovvdy - Hovvdy: Sometimes the basics hit just right

Knocked Loose - You Won’t Go Before You’re Supposed To: Heavy but accessible, easy to see why it is getting attention

Me Rex - Smilodon: Love these guys

Microwave - Let’s Start Degeneracy: Chill music for a cool band

Oolong - Oolong: Trying to cram too much in

Real Friend - Standard Issue: Really love the vocals

St. Vincent - All Born Screaming: Really loved the NIN inspired tracks. And all the other ones.

Starting Line - Say It Like You Mean It: New Found Glory without the breakdowns

Stay Inside - Ferried Away: Lost in the shuffle, this deserves to be let outside for everyone to enjoy

Staynless - Transistor Theory and Circuits Made Simple: Tremendous Slint vibes

Kamasi Washington - Fearless Movement: I prefer the tracks without vocals

5.13.2024

May 2024

Jackson Browne - The Pretender: Bordering on too slick

Jackson Browne - Late for the Sky: Clean without being slick

Jackson Browne- Running on Empty: Nothing empty about this

Chuck Strangers - A Forsaken Lover’s Plea: Polish Jazz almost enough on its own to bring it into AOTY consideration

Cindy Lee - Diamond Jubilee: Succeeds way more than it should at its length

Distillers - Sing Sing Death House: Much better than anticipated and makes the major label attention more understandable

Elbow - Audio Vertigo: Some great tracks

Kim Gordon - The Collective: Wonder what the reception would have been under a pseudonym

Plunger - The Station Is Not Received: A lot to unpack here, but the earlier sparser songs really grabbed me

Prize Fighter Inferno - Virtual Pioneers Single: Love the shorter format

Rise Against - Revolutions Per Minute: I always ignored them, but it was completely arbitrary because this is awesome

SeeYouSpaceCowboy - Coup de grâce: Not sure where it fits in, but I liked it a lot

Smile - A Light for Attracting Attention: Certainly benefits from its members, I wonder the reception had it been released anonymously

Smile - Wall of Eyes: Great background music

Vampire Weekend - Only God Was Above Us: A very grown up album

VIAL - Burnout: What if Rilo Kiley were a but punkier but kept their twinkly guitars and melodies

Xard - Beyond Darkness And Time: Not something I normally would have sought out, but enjoyed listening as I worked

4.16.2024

April 2024

Bedbug - Pack Your Bags The Sun Is Grow: Sometimes charming with moments of beauty

Liam Gallagher & John Squire - Liam Gallagher & John Squire: Exactly what I expected and hoped for. Basically perfect.

Gouge Away - Deep Sage: Always glad to have it even if it does not not like , Dies.

Tylisha Haskins - Meister Klasse-A Thorough Textile: The beats are starting to take center stage

Liquid Mike - Paul Bunyan’s Slingshot: Both familiar and engaging

Little Kid - A Million Easy Payments: A million good moments

Josh T. Pearson - To Hull And Back: Lift to Experience is not dead!

Josh T. Pearson - Last of the Country Gentlemen: Emotionally draining and wonderful at it

Josh T. Pearson - The Straight Hits!: More polished, but familiar

Jeff Rosenstock - Craig Before the Creek: Any excuse to get more Jeff

Sonic Youth - EVOL: LOVE

Sonic Youth - Goo: Entering new, but familiar territory

Sonic Youth - Dirty: Pretty clean, Untouchables aside

Sonic Youth - Washing Machine: Loose and free

Sonic Youth - A Thousand Leaves: Getting spacious

Sonic Youth - Murray Street: Sprawling and contemplative

Sonic Youth - Sonic Nurse: Playful

Sonic Youth - Smart Bar • Chicago 1985: Great document

Trikl Act - A Spatial Plot Thickens: Hear me out. The Mountain Goats covering Spiderland in full.

Various - Modern Miracles In Science And Medicine: A ton of great tracks here. Worth digging into

Various - Vermin-Rat's Nest Recording Society Compilation: Very interesting mix

3.22.2024

March 2024

Beck - Mellow Gold: Sufficiently weird

Beck - Odelay: Weird, but serious

Beck - Sea Change: Can see why it was a critical hit

Bewilder - From the Eyrie: Would have liked a little "more" instead of the passiveness

Boilermaker - Leucadia: So happy to have a compilation instead of digging into multiple albums.

Chisel - What A Fucking Nightmare: What a fucking first track

dutchmasters - substation, my home. melancholy, my bride_: Understanding the lyrics not a prerequisite but would like the vocals mixed a bit louder

Dylan, Bob - 50th Anniversary Collection_ 1973: Completely unnecessary yet worth listening to

Friko - Where we’ve been, Where we go from here: Cannot wait to hear where they go from here

Gingerbee - Our Skies Smile: Put a smile on my face

glass beach - plastic death: Hoping these hit harder live

Laura Jane Grace - Hole In My Head: Her best solo release yet

Green Day - Saviors: Not bad for a late career album

Hot Mulligan - Why Would I Watch: I would watch before I listen again

Infant Island - Obsidian Wreath: Would love to hear an instrumental version

Li'l Dicky - Penith (The DAVE Soundtrack): Perfect end to a funny show

Mean Jesus - Challenger: This is incredibly enjoyable, a fun little hardcore treat

Mean Jesus - Abomination: A little harder but very listenable

Renaissance Sound - Renaissance Sound: Jazzy post-rock that soothes my soul

Renaissance Sound - Renaissance Sound II: Please tell me there is more

Jeff Rosenstock - In the Key of the Creek_ A Craig of the Creek Musical: Happy to check out the songs without having to watch the show

Tommy Designer - Tommy Designer's Golden Fleece: Too good for this to be the end

Welcome to Berlin - ...And It's Blinding: Really great screamo-adjacent album

what is your name_ - beyond old names, everyone’s songs_: Just when it seemed like 2023 was a down year for emo, gems like this pop up

what is your name_ - My Name Is…: A second album in the year and somehow better? Maybe?

2.25.2024

February 2024

A.R.E. Weapons - A.R.E. Weapons: Some monster singles here

Abela, Lucas & Zach Hill - Never: Not always, but not never

awakebutstillinbed - Chaos Takes the Wheel and I Am a Passenger: Missed listening to this last year, but what power even in restraint

Beirut - Hadsel: Perfectly splendid

Bleach Everything - All Alone In Dirt: Four minute bite of perfection

Blind Equation - DEATH AWAITS: Sounds like a novelty that would kill live

Brown, Danny - Quaranta: Love the beats here

Browne, Jackson - For Everyman: Leading off with Take it Easy is like a cheat code

Captain Jazz - Captain Jazz: I want to know more without knowing more

Cat Power - Cat Power Sings Dylan_ The 1966 Royal Albert Hall Concert: Absolutely stunning

Daitro - Y: This was an important album if you were there at the time

Drew, Kevin - Aging: Everything I expected

Drums - Jonny: It does what it does well

Dylan, Bob - The Complete Budokan 1978: Budokan was my introduction to Dylan and I will always have a soft spot for it

Empty Country - Empty Country II: I hope he keeps making music even if it never becomes my thing

Foxing - Dealer: Strong album that I somehow missed

Foxing - The Albatross_ Ten Years: Really enjoyed the reworked versions

Golden Apples - Bananasugarfire: In a constant quest for the extremes, this is comforting

Good Looking Friends - Wasted Now: Hoping to become better friends

Ho99o9 - Ho99o9 presents Territory _ Turf Talk, Vol. 1: Love the vibe

Ho99o9 - SKIN: The unsustained energy of the first track made for a disappointing rest of the album

Ho99o9 - Ho99o9 presents Territory _ Turf Talk, Vol. II: More consistent, but could have come in shorter

Hope Conspiracy - Confusion_Chaos_Misery: Back with a vengeance

Hotline TNT - Cartwheel: Not sure how unique it is, but it certainly is good

Jane Remover - Census Designated: The fastest hour long album I have heard in a while but play it loud

Lerche, Sondre - Understudy: I had forgotten it was a cover album and it took me too long to realize it

Lync - These Are Not Fall Colors: I wish I remembered where this recommendation came from so I can put more stock into their future

Lync - Remembering the Fireballs (Part 8): Reinforcing how excited I am to revisit their album

ME REX - Giant Elk: I still do not understand how under-the-radar they seem to be

Mil-Spec - Marathon: I did not connect like I did with the last one

Minor Threat - Out Of Step Outtakes: How much more is there? I want it all

Mountain Goats - Jenny from Thebes: Laid back affair

Natl Park Srvc - Magician: A good album with great tendencies

Open City - Hands In The Honey Jar: The anticipation got the better of me

Paint It Black - Famine: Short and fast never goes out of style. Slow and angry either.

Reverend Kristin Michael Hayter - SAVED!: Really forces you to pay attention

REZN - Solace: Not sure how it stands on its own, but as a background this was as close to perfect as it gets

Rolling Stones - Hackney Diamonds: Shockingly good

Save Face - …Found Dead At The Crime Scene (EP): Looking forward to a new full length

Stern, Marnie - The Comeback Kid: Frantic. It rules.

Streets - The Darker the Shadow the Brighter the Light: Light and fun

Teenage Halloween - Till You Return: Good but see why it could have gotten lost in the shuffle

Turbine - Demo Tape: I forget how this connects to City of Caterpillar, but it does which makes this awesome

Tylisha Haskins - November Drop: I love that he continues to make art even if I do not always identify with it

X-Parrot - Blue Wave: Have to admire the passion

X-Parrot - Casualty: Slightly more summery

X-Parrot - Life's Too Short To Notice: Slightly more experimental

12.11.2023

November 2023

’68 - Yes, and.._: Yes, yes, yes, and more yes

American Television - Scars: Noticable improvement over previous releases.

Animal Collective - Isn't It Now_: Subdued yet summery

Antarctica - 81_03: Incredibly soothing and if the comp is New Order then I need to revisit

Arrival Note - Vol. 2: Time for a Week Proposal reunion

As Friends Rust - Any Joy: My excitement was not met, but I think there are some really strong songs here

Baroness - Stone: Baroness/Queens of the Stone Age/Mastodon tour is when?

Barrel - Pine And Cotton, Sand: There is so much here to like. Serious Slint-era Louisville energy

Benchmark - Thank You: More here than meets the ear

Blonde Redhead - Sit Down for Dinner: Pleasant but not going to dig into the back catalog

Jackson Browne - Jackson Browne: This will have me reaching into the rest of the catalog

Code Orange - The Above: Most memory holed for good reason

Drug Cabin - Wiggle Room: Dreamy pop that will unfortunately not remember

Drug Cabin - Yard Work: Weirdly more engaging

Faint - Blank-Wave Arcade: I was expecting bombast but got nuance

Green Day - Dookie (30th Anniversary Deluxe Edition): So much of my musical identity is tied to this album

Gregory Alan Isakov - Evening Machines: Absolutely gorgeous

Joshua Fit For Battle - Brothers From Different Mothers:

Joshua Fit for Battle - To Bring Our Own End: Screamo from a different era

Joshua Fit For Battle - Bring Out Your Dead: Bring back to life

Lazarus Plot - (The End.) 7'': Really wish this was not the end

Lazarus Plot - Self-Titled 2x7": This is amazing and perfect and I do not want it to end

Little Simz - Sometimes I Might Be Introvert: There is a great album in there somewhere

Magnitude - Of Days Renewed.._: One of the best doing it right now

Måneskin - RUSH!: This does not come across as contrived as I anticipated

Rorschach - Remain Sedate-Protestant: Not something I plan to reach for often

Savage, A. - Several Songs About Fire: Will take what I can get

Short Fictions - Oblivion Will Own Me and Death Alone Will Love Me (Void Filler): Bit of a letdown but not giving up

Sincere Engineer - Cheap Grills: Early Brand New and it has my attention

Various - Summertime Comp: Some classics from an almost forgotten era

Who - Who's Next-Life House (Super Deluxe) [10 Disc]: So glad to have some of this officially

10.31.2023

October 2023

Armed - Perfect Saviors: Sonically a combination of The Strokes and Radiohead

Be Your Own Pet - Mommy: This is not what I remember

Beastmilk - Climax: Giving not enough of that Interpol vibe

DIAT - Positive Disintegration: Sets an atmosphere that is forced instead of organic

Drin - Engines Sing for the Pale Moon LP: Excellent without understanding why

FACS - Present Tense: Inability to engage

Fiddlehead - Death Is Nothing to Us: The best at what they do

For Against - Echelons: Gorgeous Stone Roses vibe

Green Day - Dookie (30th Anniversary 4-Track Demos): What a treasure

In Solitude - Sister: I have nothing to contribute

Just Friends - Gusher: Perfect songs for their excellent live show

Just Mustard - Heart Under: Not going to change the musical landscape, but it is executed so well

Kitchens of Distinction - Strange Free World: Haunted by dated production, but the songs are here

Knuckleheads - Hillwood Ave: Catchy and sloppy in all the right places

Noname - Sundial: Not all of it works, but there is certainly enough here worth praising

Ordination of Aaron - Completed Works: The longer it went, the more engrossed I became

Perilisium Cantos - Nails Into the Head of Christ: Angry without being overbearing

Public Image Ltd - End of World: It is still baffling how incredibly consistent they are

Rodrigo, Olivia - GUTS: Could do without the ballads

Jeff Rosenstock - HELLMODE: In Jeff I trust

Slowdive - everything is alive: I want to watch the rain now

Sound - From the Lion's Mouth: A lost gem of '80s post-punk

Spirit Night - Bury The Dead: No need to bury this very capable album

Turnstile & BADBADNOTGOOD - New Heart Designs: Major credit for trying something

9.11.2023

August 2023

American Nightmare - Dedicated To The Next World: Never a waste of time

Ativin - German Water: Cathartic post-rock deeply indebted to Slint

Avatar - Black Waltz: Much better than I would have guessed based on the description

Clientele - I Am Not There Anymore: Soothing my soul

Cranberry Lifecycle - Cranberry Mixdown: This is pretty incredible, both because it finally exists and because the songs are good

Drain - California Cursed: So glad I waited until after I saw them because this is awesome

Drain - Living Proof: Very good but a step behind Cursed

Dream Syndicate - The Days of Wine and Roses: Feels like a classic I somehow never knew about

Eno_Cale - Wrong Way Up: For years I ignored this classic because I am not smart

Home Is Where - the whaler: Delivers on very high expectations

Killer Mike - MICHAEL: Easy to listen to

Loma Prieta - Last: The fuzz gives it a feeling

M is the Thirteenth Letter - Safeless (7''): Calming during a stressful day

Misery Signals - Of Malice and the Magnum Heart: Absolutely love this on the backside of watching the documentary

Mobius Band - Heaven: Wish I remembered the context for procuring. Falls somewhere between Radiohead and The Postal Service without being nearly as good as either

Janelle Monáe - The Age of Pleasure: Screaming for the summer not to end

Nuzzle - No Love Like That: Stanford Sessions 1997: In the age of Bandcamp it seems weird to not release finished art

Origami Angel - The Brightest Days: I love this band

Pool Kids __ POOL - Pool Kids __ POOL: Two great sides

Queens of the Stone Age - In Times New Roman…: Making no waves to their proven formula

Restraining Order - Locked In Time: The best at what they do

sewingneedle - user error: This is almost too in my wheelhouse

Shipping News - Flies the Fields: Good in the background

Sigur Rós - ÁTTA: Emotionally taxing

Skies Beg to Differ - The Skies Beg to Differ: Would love to have what is next

Stereobate - Selling Out in the Silent Era: I can see why it made its way to me, but very inconsistent

Stick to Your Guns - Comes From the Heart: Weird but captivating blend of hardcore and mall emo.

7.29.2023

July 2023

AJJ - Disposable Everything: I need to get this into the rotation

Another Breath - Not Now, Not Ever: Excited for more

Another Breath - Mill City: How is it possible I missed this in '06?

Another Breath - The God Complex: Just a little cleaner, a little tighter

Black Swan Network - Late Music, Vol. 1: Great way to break up the day

Bully - Lucky for You: I could take it or leave it which means I will probably forget about it

Closer - Closer: Not long enough to get into

Jack David - Johns: Pleasant

Bob Dylan - Shadow Kingdom: I would love a reimagining of full albums like this. Or tours.

Ben Folds - What Matters Most: I was hoping I would have needed this in my life

Foo Fighters - But Here We Are: Cathartic

For Carnation - Fight Songs: Slint successor

Jeromes Dream - The Gray in Between: Exciting at its highest

Mainspring - 8/23/1994-April 5 1996: A few classics that sound old and new

Maths - MMVII: I did not want it to end so I started the next one

Maths - Descent: Sightly more accessible

Maths - My Porthole Sees No Ocean: Quieter, more infectious

Olivia Tremor Control - Presents_ Singles and Beyond: As essential as their albums

Pinkshift - Love Me Forever: Much to like but too inconsistent. Live show was great though

Single File Line - 8-Track Recording: Electric throughout

Single File Line - 1995 Recording: Not quite as impactful

Sinker - Thoughts On Beauty/Perserverance: Does what it tries to do very well

Sky By Sorella - Dark Before Home: Can see the Slint influence

Sparks - The Girl Is Crying in Her Latte: Gee that was fun

Various - Maths/Throats Split: Great pairing