December 2022

68 - Two Parts Viper: So much to like here

Algernon Cadwallader - Parrot Flies: Regret missing their reunion tour

Algernon Cadwallader - Algernon Cadwallader: Loving the weirder parts of where they went

Alvvays - Blue Rev: Unremarkable

Arctic Monkeys - The Car: I wish this was an Alex Turner solo album

Arm's Length - Never Before Seen, Never Again Found: Absolute home run of an album

Birds in Row - Gris Klein: Inexplicably accessible

Dungen - En är för mycket och tusen aldrig nog: Nice chill album

Donnie and Joe Emerson - Dreamin' Wild: Hope the story is better than the music in a vacuum

Fucked Up - Oberon: Return to angry

Geronimostilton - Impending Ghosts: Noisy yet satisfying

Hammered Hulls - Careening: Another MacKaye success

King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard - Changes: A little jazzy

King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard - Ice, Death, Planets, Lungs, Mushrooms and Lava: A little jammy

King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard - Laminated Denim: A little jaunty

Knifeplay - Animal Drowning: Hauntingly beautiful

Knuckleheads - Cult Of Usmail: Punk lives

Martha - Please Don't Take Me Back: Love that the more upbeat songs capture their live energy

Origami Angel - DEPART: A focused EP over the good, but messy double album is a huge win

Origami Angel - re_ turn: Looking forward to the new LP

Red Roses for a Blue Lady - The Return to Melancholy: Metallic hardcore from the year 2000

Regulate - Regulate: Hair has that Coheed vibe that makes me eager to revisit

Will Sheff - Nothing Special: Sounds special

Shygirl - Nymph: More than listenable, engaging music

The Beatles - Revolver (Super Deluxe) (5 Disc): Archival releases of essential bands continue to be essential

Town Liar - Lies One Through Seven: Not the best, but will take what I can get from Shevchuck

Wild Pink - ILYSM: Hypnotic

Tylisha Haskins - 2022 - broken pieces: nice to see him continue to branch out

October 2022

Björk - fossora: For better or worse, it sounds like one long Bjork song

Callous Daoboys - Celebrity Therapist: Some redeeming moments

Camping in Alaska - please be nice: Unabashed emo

Camping in Alaska - BATHE: A little less Midwesty

Camping In Alaska - Welcome Home Son: Interesting songs. Very interesting mix.

Capstan Shafts - Her Versus the Sad Cold Eventually: Sometimes simple surpasses superfluous

City of Caterpillar - Mystic Sisters: Leaning into the atmospheric dude if things. Certainly an AOTY contender

Dating - Outminded: Shoegaze-y emo with psychedelic flourishes.

Death Cab for Cutie - Asphalt Meadows: Certainly a fine album

Dropkick Murphys - This Machine Still Kills Fascists: Worth a listen for fans

Everyone Asked About You - Everyone Asked About You: A lovely EP

Everyone Asked About You - Let's Be Enemies: I would not be disappointed in a revisit

Figurines - Figurines: This is so much better than I could have hoped for

Foxtails - III: Not sure how to categorize but I love this

Front Bottoms - Theresa: I am not sure where I am expecting them to go, but they have worn their welcome

Furman, Ezra - All Of Us Flames: Engrossing

Hundreds of AU - Acting From Remote Satellites: Very solid for what it is

Jouska - visions from the bridge: Not the revolution it was hyped to be

Mars Volta - The Mars Volta: More enjoyable when you remember that the debut is almost 20 years ago and they are never going to be that band again

Mountain Goats - Bleed Out: Not sure why, but really loved this

Nathan Deering - Turmoil To Tape: Undeniable NMH influence, but it is the electronic instrumental tracks that had me most intrigued

No Age - People Helping People: Disarmingly subdued

Nuvolascura - Nuvolascura: Angry and aggressive a little bit weird

OFF! - Free LSD: Pushing the boundaries of their sound to great results

Parannoul & Asian Glow - Paraglow: The most relaxing album of the year

quinn - quinn: Back and forth, back and forth

Squirrelbait Youth - Squirrelbait Youth:

Street Smart Cyclist - Discography: Classic case of less is more

Suffocate For Fuck Sake - Fyra: An album of contrasts that is too long for its own good

Sumerlands - Dreamkiller: Pitch perfect for what it is trying to be

Tin-ear - Cadastral Maps: Great little album

Titus Andronicus - The Will to Live: Classic rock mode achieved

Young Jesus - Shepherd Head: When you have nothing to lose, you do whatever you want

September 2022

Chat Pile - Remove Your Skin Please: Compelled dread. Over too soon.

Chat Pile - This Dungeon Earth: What an ending!

Chat Pile - God's Country: Devastatingly good

Halfway to Holland - Halfway to Holland: Saves the Day and I am here for it

Haram - Haram: So much potential

Highness - Hold: This is right up my alley

Polvo - Today's Active Lifestyles: Keeping me guessing without losing me

Ruhaeda - Ruhaeda: Best album that is new to me this year

Sonagi - Precedent: What if later Bane was more screamo

Tony Molina - Dissed and Dismissed: Sometimes it feels like it pours out of someone

Tony Molina - In the Fade: Continued flowing

August 2022

Ben Quad - I’m Scared That’s All There Is: Hoping that is not all there is

black midi - Hellfire: Sounds forced in ways that are uncomfortable

Elf Power - Artificial Countrysides: Told my wife this was The Beatles and she believed it

Snow Ellet - Glory Days: Oso Oso influence coming in strong

Grace Ives - Janky Star: Safe

Martha - Please Don't Take Me Back: Nice little single

Me Rex - Plesiosaur [EP]: These EPs are so fun

Pool Kids - Pool Kids: Certainly something to hold onto

Truth Cult - Tour '22 Tape: New LP when?

Jack White- Entering Heaven Alive: Even better than the album earlier this year

Young Jesus - love for a new century: Adventures in ambience

July 2022

Bartees Strange - Farm to Table: Just not my thing this time around

Four Year Strong - Rise or Die Trying: So glad I caught these guys live before checking out a really solid album

Foxtails - fawn: Atmospheric enough to hold your attention, passionate enough to make you care

Gospel - The Loser: Glad I checked out the whole album even if some of it falls flat

Jayne County - Wayne County At The Trucks: Another gem from the depths of rock history

Joyce Manor - 40 Oz. to Fresno: A seventeen minute LP

Lobster Fight - Sun Soaking: An exhilarating disconnect between vocals and music

Max Creeps - Nein: The schtick detracts from an otherwise decent punk album

Out Of Service - The Ground Beneath Me: Big Brand New comparisons are justified

p.s.you'redead - Sugar Rot: I am not sure what kind of core to call this, but I like it

Short Fictions - Every Moment of Every Day: Very eclectic

Silent Drive - Fairhaven: Feels like they put everything they had into it

Smashing Pumpkins - Machina II: The Friends & Enemies of Modern Music: I mean, this is really good

Smashing Pumpkins - MACHINA_the machines of God: Surprised it is not more well thought of

Smashing Pumpkins - Zeitgeist: The mix is a little muddy and the songs a little samey

Smashing Pumpkins - CYR: Bloated and overwrought but still great

Regina Spektor - Home, Before And After: Soothing

Static Dress - Rouge Carpet Disaster: Very reminiscent of early 2000s post-hardcore

Sweet Pill - Where The Heart Is: Very interested in hearing more of this Amanda Palmer/Midwest emo blend

Various - Hymns For The Scorned: Two of the best teaming up for a surprisingly paced split

Wilco - Cruel Country: Calming

June 2022

Father John Misty - Chloë and the Next 20th Century: Soundtrack to a nap on a rainy spring day

Grade - Seperate the Magnets: I would have listened to this on repeat if I had known

Grade - Under the Radar: I still do not understand how under my radar they were

Grade - And Such Is Progress: Heavier

Grade - Headfirst Straight to Hell: More melodic

Guerilla Toss - Famously Alive: Thinking I might dig into the back catalog

Heriot - Profound Morality: I liked the atmospheric parts more than the face melting ones

Hey, ily! - Psychokinetic Love Songs: Lacking a little of the uncalculated charm

King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard - Omnium Gatherum: Track 10 was where I started to lose steam

Lamar, Kendrick - Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers: Might have taken itself too seriously

Prince Daddy & The Hyena - Prince Daddy & The Hyena: Very varied

Proper. - The Great American Novel: Things got a little weird there towards the end

PUP - THE UNRAVELING OF PUPTHEBAND: Jeff Rosenstock meets The Hold Steady and I need more of it

Pusha T - It's Almost Dry: The production nearly steals the show

SAULT - AIR: Orchestral curveball

Soul Glo - Diaspora Problems: What a gigantic level up

String Machine - Hallelujah Hell Yeah: Major Broken Social Scene vibes

Tree River - Time Being: Unambitious

Type O Negative - Bloody Kisses: Clearly not the type of band I thought they were

Various - Grade/Believe Split: Not sure I recognized when the bands changed

Various - Dissection Lesson (Home Is Where Meets Record Setter): The future is bright

Wet Leg - Wet Leg: Summer album of the year

White, Jack - Fear of the Dawn: Some very White Stripesian tracks here

Young Guv - GUV III: Super sweet

Coheed and Cambria - Vaxis II: A Window of the Waking Mind: The concerns of poppiness are overblown and this is amazing

Day in Black and White - Notes: More contained, but the sounds could breathe a bit more

Day in Black and White - My Heroes Have Always Killed Cowboys: Closest City of Caterpillar copycat currently

Cave In - Heavy Pendulum: Long without feeling like it drags

Carly Cosgrove - See You in Chemistry: I thought the first track was a new Origami Angel song

Caracara - New Preoccupations: Certainly good enough to listen to. Dubious if I will come back

Box Car Racer - Box Car Racer: While I would be interested in a follow up, it is because of the potential rather than what is here

Black Star - No Fear of Time: No way this could live up to expectations. Nice to see they did not even try

Be Well - Hello Sun: I love this more than the LP

Belle and Sebastian - A Bit of Previous: The world needs more Belle and Sebastian.

Beat Happening - Jamboree: Magnificently simple and compelling

Arcade Fire - WE: If this is as good as it gets, I will be pretty satisfied

Vein.fm - This World Is Going to Ruin You: A jump forward, but a small one that foreshadows bigger things to come

Ulysses - 10: I might like this more than the Apples

Radical Face - Ghost: Nothing radical but certainly relaxing

Billy Preston - Encouraging Words: I could get used to this

oso oso - sore thumb: Sure sounds pretty polished

of Montreal - Satanic Panic in the Attic: Sometimes it is easy to forget how compelling a band was.

New End Original - Thriller: Nothing revolutionary, but completely inoffensive

Minders - Hooray for Tuesday: Definitive indie pop

ME REX - Pterodactyl: Really loving these guys

Lotus Plaza - Spooky Action at a Distance: Wonderful background music

Ladybug Transistor - The Albemarle Sound: Another excellent E6 release

Kid Kilowatt - Guitar Method: Would love a follow up

Just Friends - HELLA: Pretty big let down considering their ELECTRIC live show

Jonathan Richman - I, Jonathan: Album seemingly made for an audience of 1 but is transcendent

Jets to Brazil - Orange Rhyming Dictionary: Very logical progression from Dear You

Godspeed You! Black Emperor - All Lights Fucked on the Hairy Amp Drooling: So glad it really exists

Gerbils - Are You Sleepy: Major NMH vibes and I am all in

Gang of Youths - angel in realtime_: The best Coldplay album in a very long time

Frosted Ambassador - The Frosted Ambassador: Would love some more

Faust - The Faust Tapes: Perfect for the right time and place

Elf Power - A Dream in Sound: I feel silly for missing out on this classic

Drug Church - Hygiene: Certainly acceptable

deathcrash - Return: The slowcore revival is not getting enough praise

Dashboard Confessional - All the Truth That I Can Tell: So comforting

Comeback Kid - Heavy Steps: May not be groundbreaking, but still great

Cloakroom - Dissolution Wave: Sometimes shoegaze hits just right

Chocolate USA - Smoke Machine: Sightly more cohesive

Chocolate USA - All Jets Are Gonna Fall Today: I am not really sure what I just listened to

caroline - caroline: Slowcore triumph

Broken Social Scene - Old Dead Young: Some definite gems here

Black Country, New Road - Ants From Up There: Appointment listening

Apples in Stereo - Tone Soul Evolution: Psychedelic pop perfect for a spring day

Anxious - Little Green House: Certainly some ear worms

Animal Collective - Time Skiffs: A wonderful spring album

A Giant Dog - Pile: Punchy, garage rock that would be a blast live

Aereogramme - A Story in White: A little scattershot, but cohesive enough of an oddball lo-fi album

Great Lakes - Great Lakes: "The epitome of what Elephant 6 was about"

Virginity - Popmortem: A little under the radar, but perhaps justifiably

Weather Station - Ignorance: A bit over hyped

Tylisha Haskins - Everthncmw-Aprice: Consistent improvement

Saving Face Cadets - Staying is Cool: Listening is cool.

Radiohead - KID A MNESIA: Makes we want to revisit the original

Pretenders - The Pretenders: I could see this making its way into rotation

Parquet Courts - Sympathy for Life: Casually great

Mastodon - Hushed and Grim: Nothing new for them, but it certainly sounds refreshed

JPEGMAFIA - LP!: Really eclectic album with strong production

Elton John - The Lockdown Session: I could have done without this

Hard-Ons - Smell My Finger: Not quite pop punk, but poppy punk

Genocide Pact - Genocide Pact: Queue it up after a bad day at work. Or while at work.

Former Member - Manageable Scratches: Not great, but plenty of good

Former Member - Old Youth: This could turn into something really great

Elbow - Flying Dream 1: Beautifully arranged and produced

dltzk - Frailty: Certainly interesting

Lana Del Rey - Blue Banisters: Mostly forgettable

Converge & Chelsea Wolfe - Bloodmoon: I: An interesting album

Chisel - Retaliation: An amazing amalgamation of punk, oi, and hardcore

Various - 파란노을, Asian glow & Sonhos Tomam Conta - Downfall of the Neon Youth: Keep it coming

Adele - 30: Stunning and beautiful