Kaonashi - Dear Lemon House, You Ruined Me- Senior Year: There is something off but I cannot place it

Japanese Breakfast - Jubilee: I see why it resonated, but I need more time

Islands - Islomania: Nostalgia is real, but I cannot remember anything about their debut yet I keep checking out the new albums

Hold Steady - Open Door Policy: Pretty standard outing for them

Grupo Nuevo de Omar Rodriguez Lopez - Cryptomnesia: An almost Mars Volta album that delivers

Garbage - No Gods No Masters: Exceptional album that should receive a ton of attention

Fucked Up - Year of the Horse: Calling it one song is a bit of a stretch, but an excellent suite of songs

Fly Pan Am - Frontera: Challenging music for the background

Flight Mode - TX, '98: Stealing from the best emo albums

Fiddlehead - Between the Richness: This is my current album of the year. Lived up to the hype

Fair to Midland - Arrows & Anchors: Struggling to not compare to Mars Volta in a good way

Duke Deuce - Duke Nuken: Big, bold, and brash just like its namesake

Def Leppard - Hysteria: This is way better than I would have ever anticipated

Clean - Anthology: Fun little indie rock with a very solid collection of songs

Call It In The Air - Just A Morning Thought: What an absolute gem of an emo album

C4 - Chaos Streaks: Straight out of the '80s

black midi - Calvacade: Going to fascinating to see live

Backxwash - I LIE HERE BURIED WITH MY RINGS AND MY DRESSES: Sounds angry and I like it

88 Fingers Louie - Behind Bars: Unapologetically punk

7 Seconds - The Crew: Perfect

Undo K From Hot - G.A.S. Get A Star: Sensory overload.

Title Fight - Shed: Puts the rest of their discography into perspective and below this excellent album.

Thursday - Full Collapse: Now I get it.

Sugarcubes - Life's Too Good: Compare to Talking Heads in the best way possible.

Stars Hollow - I Want to Live My Life: A perfect 7.

Squid - Bright Green Field: I could take it or leave it.

snow ellet - suburban indie rock star: Scratching that Oso Oso itch.

Jeff Rosenstock - Ska Dream: Dream come true for Jeff.

Severin - Acid to Ashes and Rust to Dust: Not sure how to classify other than Dischord Rock.

Prize Fighter Inferno - The City Introvert: Flat out enjoyable.

Origami Angel - Gami Gang: Ambitious.

of Montreal - I Feel Safe with You, Trash: This is an of Montreal album.

Microphones - Foghorn Tape: Captivating? No. Soothing? Yes.

Mars Volta - Landscape Tantrums: It was already so close.

Manchester Orchestra - The Million Masks of God: I cannot get into it.

Kero Kero Bonito - Civilisation II: I love them in EP form.

Hey, Ily! - Internet Breath: I love you too!

Heart - Dreamboat Annie: Some classic singles, some filler.

Godspeed You! Black Emperor - G_d's Pee AT STATE'S END!: Gorgeous, as always.

Dropkick Murphys - Turn Up That Dial: More Celtic-tinged arena rock.

Digital Underground - Sex Packets: Cannot see myself listening to it in its entirety.

Dead Child - Attack: Sounding like a lost classic in the metal world.

Czarface & MF DOOM - Super What? I wish I had given more time between his passing and listening.

Caracara - Summer Megalith: An album that no one is upset by when it comes on, but no one reaches for it either.

Arm's Length - Everything Nice: Something seems familiar, but I cannot place it. Will be in heavy rotation this year.

Armed - Ultrapop: The longer it played, the more enchanting it became.

Parannoul - To See the Next Part of the Dream: @en_cohen strikes again.

Xiu Xiu - OH NO: Oh, yes!

Wild Pink - A Billion Little Lights: Such a pretty album.

Various - Achtung Chicago! Zwei: Incredible collection of punk tracks.

Urge Overkill - Saturation: The epitome of early '90s pop rock.

Tigers Jaw - I Won't Care How You Remember Me: Littered with ear worms.

This Charming Man - Every Little Secret: Charming little EP.

Terminal Bliss - BRUTE ERR/ATA: Perfect length for a noisy album.

Statue - Something to Say: More in line with revolution summer.

Statue - Filter the Infection: Proto-Rival Schools.

Starkweather - Crossbearer: Perfect blend of hardcore and metal.

Soul Glo - DisNigga, Vol. 1: The most interesting band in hardcore strikes again.

slowthai - TYRON: Wow, I need to check out the debut.

Shame - Drunk Tank Pink: Another album in the post-punk revival.

Fred Schneider - Just Fred: Punker than most.

Regional Justice Center - Crime and Punishment: 13 minutes of anger management.

Really From - Really From: Not exactly sure how to classify it, but I liked it.

Pygmy Lush - Old Friends: Lush settling into rhythm.

Pygmy Lush - Mount Hope: Very calming.

Pygmy Lush - Bitter River: What an oddly satisfying album. Part folk, part grunge, part screamo, part post-rock.

Pulses - Speak Less: More of the same.

Pulses - Speak It Into Existence: Everything and the kitchen sink.

portrayal of guilt - We Are Always Alone: Mixed bag for me.

Polaris - In the 21st Century! Demos of Space and Time and the Unknown: Not likely to get a lot of plays, but thankful to have it.

Playboi Carti - Whole Lotta Red: Whole lotta repetition.

No Knife - Riot for Romance!: Major Jimmy Eat World vibe.

Moonraker - Discography: Fantastic emocore.

Mogwai - As the Love Continues: A soundtrack to awaiting Covid test results.

Marah - Kids in Philly: A punker Hold Steady with Elvis Costello undertones.

Lacrima - Cartography: The screamo renaissance continues.

Kudrow - Lando: This is amazing. I love Jeff Rosenstock.

King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard - L.W.: Better than K.G.

Home Is Where - i became birds: I wish it were longer and looking forward to the next one.

goalie's anxiety at the penalty kick - WAYS OF HEARING: A cure for anxiety.

Go-Go's - Beauty and the Beat: So many singles.

for your health - In Spite Of: The hype is real.

Foo Fighters - Medicine at Midnight: Certainly not my favorite.

Demon System 13 - Killed By the Kids: 2001? Sounds like 1981.

Lana Del Rey - Chemtrails over the Country Club: Certainly adequate.

Death From Above 1979 - Is 4 Lovers: Considering I never expected a second album, their continued existence is just gravy.

Daisy Chainsaw - Eleventeen: Should be more popular.

Counting Crows - Recovering the Satellites: Better than anticipated, longer than necessary.

Coolio - Gangsta's Paradise: Dated in almost all of the right ways.

Clem Snide - Forever Just Beyond: Sounds like Spring.

Chariot - One Wing: Wish I had discovered when I lived in the same town.

Bleach Everything - Welcome Idiots: Pleased to make your acquaintance.

Black Country, New Road - For The First Time: If Too Many Zooz became Slint devotees and it is the best thing I have heard this year.

Julien Baker - Little Oblivions: I am here for the bigger era.

B-52's - The B-52's: Really good for what it is.

World Be Free - One Time for Unity: Old school hardcore.

Thunder Dreamer - Summer Sleeping: What a name and album title!

Thimble Circus - Lullaby for Worriers: For fans of Daniel Johnston and Wild Man Fischer.

Soul Glo - Songs to Yeet at the Sun: Ticks so many boxes.

Sault - Untitled (Rise): Wish I had let the other one marinate before diving back in.