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

6.09.2023

June 2023

100 gecs - 10,000 gecs: Both glad and disappointed they did not make their debut again

Adventures - Clear My Head With You: Glad I have more adventures to explore

Adventures - Supersonic Home: Really great indie rock

Bicycle Thieves - Ghost Dance: Is there more?

boygenius - the record: More hype than justified

Bruiser and Bicycle - Holy Red Wagon: Straight out of the 2003 blogosphere

Dropkick Murphys - Okemah Rising: Another solid set of acoustic tracks

Guignol - Angela, David and the Great Neopolitan Road Issue: Could have done without the snoring but the rest was riveting

Hirs Collective - We’re Still Here: Undeniably good for what it is

Hold Steady - The Price of Progress: Subdued

portrayal of guilt - Devil Music: I am not sure what side I like better, but it is certainly nice to have options

Smashing Pumpkins - Atum: Cannot speak to the concept, but even at three discs it never felt overly long

Tallest Man on Earth - Henry St_: Less directly Dylan, very soothing

Watsky - Plane 651: Such a talented individual

Wednesday - Rat Saw God: Inexplicably worth the hype

billy woods & Kenny Segal - Maps: Exceptional. Madvillain vibes.

5.18.2023

April-May 2023

Black Country, New Road - Live At Bush Hall: Exciting

William Bonney - All Ten: Sometimes twinkly guitars, always separate vocals, never enough songs

Brain Tourniquet - ...An Expression In Pain: Love all of it, but that first instrumental track is the real star

Chisel - Set You Free: Certainly Ted Leo

Closure - Closure: Screeching over metallic riffs. 1997 indeed.

deathcrash - Less: Sensationally sparse

Bob Dylan - Fragments Time Out of Mind Sessions (1996-1997)_ The Bootleg Series, Vol. 17: I do not hold the same reverence for this album as other fans, but this set is making me a believer

Elvis Presley - From Elvis In Memphis: Such a different appreciation after watching The Searcher

Elvis Presley - Sunrise: For the completionist

Feeble Little Horse - Hayday: Might be the current nostalgia, but certainly sounds like BSS was a major influence

Fucked Up - One Day: Really solid throughout

Funeral Oration - Communion: Twenty four blissful minutes of adequately played, poorly recorded punk from 1985.

GASHCAT - Reunion!: Still not sure if this is genuine or its level of sincerety

Guitar Fight from Fooly Cooly - Drought: Glad this was an EP because it would not hold up if longer

Home is Where - we share the same insects an i became birds tribute compilation: This is cool but not enough to temper my excitement for LP2

Ink Spots - The Greatest Hits [MCA]: A simpler time

JPEGMAFIA & Danny Brown - SCARING THE HOES: As gloriously weird as I was hoping for

Lana Del Rey - Did you know that there's a tunnel under Ocean Blvd: Way too monotonous

LVL UP - Return to Love: Fine but not sure it fully resonated

Million Dollar Quartet - The Million Dollar Quartet 50th Annivesary Special Edition: Not the Wilburys but it sure is fun

Mock Orange - The Record Play: Rival Schools without the hooks

Model_Actriz - Dogsbody: Inorganic but with potential

MSPAINT - Post-American: Has more in common with Death Grips than Militarie Gun but would fit in a bill with both

New Found Glory - Make the Most of It: Not the first album I will reach for when the NFG mood strikes

No Trend - Too Many Humans...._: Angry. Noisy.

No Trend - A Dozen Dead Roses: Gave me PiL vibes

No Trend - When Death Won't Solve Your Problem: Abrasive in the right ways

No Trend - The Early Months: Live tracks sound eerily like the studio ones

No Trend - More: What a gloriously unexpected curve ball

No Trend - Tritonian Nash‐Vegas Polyester Complex: Weird but not too weird

Odetta - Odetta Sings Dylan: I needed this

Pallette Knife - New Game: New game, old tricks, acceptable results

Parannoul - After The Magic: Went for a walk on a spring day and forgot most of my problems

Prisonaires - Just Walkin' In The Rain: An Elvis favorite

Roosevelt - Demo: Perfect production for what it is, but I do not hear the Texas is the Reason influence

Alain Savouret - Sonate Baroque: The more music you listen to the more this begins to make sense

shame - Food for Worms: Indifference

slowthai - UGLY: Completely engaging

Smallmouth - Smallmouth: Canadian Wasteland nailed it. "If Slint stayed together and got weirder and more dissonant they would probably sound pretty close to Smallmouth."

Smallmouth - All Ports In Frequent Seas: An evolution into more post-rock territory

summerbruise - The View Never Changes: Feels like a summer album

Take It to Heart - The Brighter Side: Holy Background Music!

Take It To Heart - Hymns For The Hopeless: Not as AN focused but still good

Tall Dwarfs - Hello Cruel World: Quirky in meaningful ways

Ten Boy Summer - Demo: Itching where I needed it. 1993!

Their _ They're _ There - Their _ They're _ Three: Glad I finally checked it out

Truth Cult - Walk the Wheel: Filling a Give sized hole in my life

Van Pelt - Artisans & Merchants: Amazing comeback album

Various Artists - I Can't Live Without It: What a stacked comp

Watsky - INTENTION: Really hope he continues to make music

Robert Wyatt - Rock Bottom: This one is going to stick

Robert Wyatt - Shleep: I love this want cannot explain why

Xiu Xiu - Ignore Grief: More foreboding than feelings of grief

Zulu - A New Tomorrow: I want to like this more than I actually like this

Zwan - Mary Star of the Sea: Certainly sounds familiar

100 gecs - 10,000 gecs: Both glad and disappointed they did not make their debut again

Adventures - Clear My Head With You: Glad I have more adventures to explore

Adventures - Supersonic Home: Really great indie rock

3.30.2023

January-March 2023

White Lung - Premonition: Polished and cohesive punk-influenced ripper

brakence - hypochondriac: Some real potential here

Current - Yesterday's Tomorrow Is Not Today: No idea your Numero keeps putting out classics

Ethel Cain - Preacher’s Daughter: While a lot runs together, there is plenty to dive into

Fire and the Wheel - Fire and the Wheel: Great lost indie album

Fireworks - Higher Lonely Power: This is worth listening to a few times

Injury Tape - Songs I Mailed To Myself: Very listenable

Jordaan Mason & Their Orchestra - Rewrite The Words Again: Too long

Lincoln - Repair And Reward: Genre blending that will take time to unpack

MJ Lenderman - Boat Songs: Weirdly captivating

Rival Schools - Some: Should have been the biggest band from that era