Mae Shi - Terrorbird: What a let down.

Mae Shi - To Hit Armor Class Zero: What a debut!

Machine Girl - U-Void Synthesizer: Consistently engaging by subverting the expectation.

Hundreds of AU - Mission Priorities on Launch: Continuation of the debut.

Hundreds of AU - Communications Link Re-Established: Indebted to the past in all the right ways.

Gouge Away - Consider/Wave of Mutilation: Would not turn down a full album of Pixies covers.

Childish Gambino - 3.15.2020: Would love to hear a version with unadulterated vocals.

Brian Fallon - Local Honey: Perfectly fine.

Empty Country - Empty Country: This is going to be a grower.

Don Martin Three - 7"/12": Worth a listen but more compelling examples exist.

Dogleg - Melee: Infectious and unrelenting.

Code Orange - Underneath: A big swing that manages to clear the fences.

Cave In - Final Transmission: Time to revisit the older catalog.

Breakwater - Discography: Soundtrack to a quarantine.

The Beatnigs - The Beatnigs: Fascinating early Franti.

Amber Inn - All Roads Still Lead Home: Fantastic progression from first wave emo.

Bombay Bicycle Club - Everything Else Has Gone Wrong: I can see a lot of fan overlap with Elbow.

The Taxpayers - A Rhythem in the Cages: Folk punk excellence.

Short Fictions - Fates Worse Than Death: A standout I overlooked last year.

Reversal of Man - Discography: Nice to have, but the LP is the essential release.

Reversal of Man - This Is Medicine: I hear a lot of what would become American Nightmare.

Reversal of Man - Revolution Summer: Great version of Look Back and Laugh.

Frances Quinlan - Likewise: I can see it being an ear worm.

The Professionals - The Professionals: Madlib is always worth a listen.

Prince Daddy & The Hyena: Cosmic Thrill Seekers: Big growth.

Prince Daddy & The Hyena - I Thought You Didn't Even Like Leaving: Very much looking forward to seeing this live.

Prince Daddy & The Hyena - Adult Summer: Oh boy, this is going to be a thing I like.

of Montreal - UR FUN: Very enjoyable all the way through.

Nana Grizol - Ursa Minor: A lot softer.

Nana Grizol - Ruth: I love it less now, but think I will love it more later.

Nana Grizol - Love It, Love It!: I do.

Marietta - Summer Death: High water wark for the current emo revival.

Left Banke - There's Gonna Be A Storm: The '60s were something special.

Greet Death - New Hell: Powerful.

Green Day - Father Of All: Great album by one of their other personas.

Eminem - Music To Be Murdered By: Delivers.

Dogleg - Remember Alderaan: I love the intensity.

Dogleg - Dogleg: I can see this becoming something more.

American Television - Watch It Burn: By the book pop punk.

AJJ - Good Luck Everbody: Why do I keep ignoring this band?

The Who - The Who: Another solid late career album.

Weyes Blood - Titanic Rising: Pretty good.

Wavves/Zach Hill - Babes: Would lov to see it fleshed out.

Various - A Doggone Split: Great little primer.

Jail Socks - It's Not Forever: Now this is something special.

Good Sleepy - The Clock Shop: Something to dig into.

Good Sleepy - Okay With The Way It Is, As Is: More nuanced.

Good Sleepy - Rest Easy: A little too on the nose.

Gangrene - Vodka & Ayahuasca: Interesting, but nothing to write home about.

Fontaines DC - Dogrel: Good, but great? What am I missing?

Flossin - Lead Singer: Zach Hill strikes again.

Bob Dylan - Anniversary Collection 1969: Always nice to have.

Dave - Pyschodrama: I can see why it was at the top of a few lists.

clipping - The Deep: Nice little companion.

Boo Radleys - Giant Steps: Early Radiohead meets Stone Roses.

American Nightmare - Life Support: I like it, but wish it came under a different moniker.

Neil Young - Colorado: New Neil is good Neil.

Kanye West - Jesus Is King: Clipse!

Strange Ranger - Remembering the Rockets: Not sure the hype is justified.

Saves the Day - Through Being Cool (20th Anniversary Edition): Nice to have, but not particularly gripping.

Jeff Rosenstock - Thanks, Sorry!: Great document of his live experience.

Restraining Order - The World is Too Much: My favorite hardcore release of the year.

Origami Angel - Somewhere City: Such a great emo album.

Refused - War Music: Easily skipped.

Piebald - A Musical Christmas Adventure: Hoping there is more in the (near) future.

New Pornographers - In The Morse Code of Brake Lights: Completely acceptable.

Les Rallizes Denudes - Heavier Than a Death in the Family: This will hit right when the in the mood.

Les Rallizes Denudes - '77 Live: The type of album that will get you banned from picking the playlist in public.

Hold Stead - Thrashing Thru the Passion: Glad to have them back.

Futureheads - Powers: Some good singles.

FKA Twigs - Magdalene: Boundary pushing mainstream pop.

Fiddlehead - Get My Mind Right: Love this band.

Fear Before the March of Flames - The Always Open Mouth: Way better than expectations, especially in light of my previous dismissal.

Billie Eilish - When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?: I liked portions of this quite a bit.

Bob Dylan - Bootleg Series, Vol. 15: The volume I will revisit the least.

Cursive - Domestica: More subtlety than I was expecting.

Billy Corgan - Cotillions: Not sure why his solo work does not get more attention.

Coldplay - Everyday Life: I appreciate the attempt and major step up from the last few albums.

David Ackles - American Gothic: Sgt. Pepper of folk is apt, if not accurate.

Sturgill Simpson - Sound & Fury: Feels like a classic album.

Ramallah - The Last Gasp of Street Rock 'n' Roll: Feels more like Sinners 'n' Saints, even ignoring the cover, which is a great thing.

Powerhouse - No Regrets: Has a little Youth of Today at moments.

Outspoken - A Light in the Dark: I would love to hear a better recorded version of this album.

No Right - Senescence: Great little EP with some Indecision vibes.

Menzingers - Hello Exile: Bordering on adult contemporary.

Lana Del Rey - Norman Fucking Rockwell!: Deserved hype.

Kero Kero Bonito - Civilisation I: Bite size. I like it.

Jimmy Eat World - Surviving: Pretty safe.

Robert Hunter - Jack O'Roses: Would love to dig into the lyrics which are clearly the star of the show.

Foo Fighters - 01070725: Covers steal the show.

Elbow - Giants of All Sizes: Yep, this is an Elbow album.

Death Side - Bet on the Possibility: Great blend of hardcore and metal, but it misses the mark for me.

Danny Brown - uknowhatimsayin: Good enough.

Cursive - Get Fixed: Completely punchless compared to the live versions.

clipping - There Existed an Addiction to Blood: That final, Lynchian eighteen minutes!

Chromatics - Closer to Grey: When you need something a little less.

The Cars - The Cars: Not quite Rumours-level greatest-hits-as-an-LP, but close.

Brain Tourniquet - Brain Tourniquet: At under ten minutes, it is worth your time if you like heavy or fast.

The Beatles - Abbey Road (Super Deluxe): Really loving these editions.

Bastard - Wind of Pain: Fifteen minutes of brutality.