January's Best Albums
So with the first month over with, I thought I'd make a list for all
of you guys who haven't been keeping up to check out. Obviously,
January was slow, but there were still some great albums worth
checking out. 15-20 are albums I personally haven't listened to,
but I either plan on listening to them or they've been generally
well received and if you're into that kind of music it's worth
checking out. |
| 20 |  | Crippled Black Phoenix
(Mankind) The Crafty Ape
Haven't heard this yet, but once I get my hands on it I'll bump the fuck out
of it. I, Vigilante was one of my favorite albums of 2010. Awesome post-
rock. |
| 19 |  | John K. Samson
Provincial
Supposedly awesome. |
| 18 |  | Cloud Nothings
Attack On Memory
Supposedly pretty good. |
| 17 |  | Grimes
Visions
The capacity of human intelligence seems to limit the capabilities to expand
upon any possible creative aptitudes. Indeed, if one cannot even notice the
facets that the ingenuities around him are comprised of, how can he be
expected to fashion a beast of his own? This inveterate sense of constraint
is a great blow to the veracity of mankind?s abilities. It restrains us and
holds our minds to the ground below, averting any possibility of rising
above ourselves to something greater; something not fathomed by the
conventional mind. This concept of seeking to go beyond one?s self, known
as ?transcendence?, is essentially a gateway to unlocking pieces of
ourselves that can lead to some of the most elaborate and significant
creations of our world. For many, this quest to transcend and form
creations that were once considered unthinkable and overwhelming
consumes life. Certainly it is rare to find such people, but when they are
found, creative barriers are destroyed.
I have only come across two albums in my lifetime that embody this
ambition in full.
DISCLAIMER: THIS IS PROBABLY NOT ONE OF THEM BUT IDK CONRAD TAO
LIKED IT SO |
| 16 | | Trespassers William
New Songs & Outtakes
I mean this band is awesome so you might as well listen to it. |
| 15 |  | ScHoolboy Q
Habits and Contradictions
Part of Kendrick's crew. My roommate has this and from what I've heard off
of it, it's a little dark with some cool grimy production. I could be wrong, but
this mixtape supposedly kills. |
| 14 |  | Garbage Speak
Slightly Outside the City Limits of Rohnert Park
3 - Honestly just get this 'cause of the title. Album's like 9 minutes but
without the bonus jams it's not even three. Also they talk shit about
Radiohead. Super abrasive, every song is basically "Phoenix in Flames"
lolololol. On the real though, I think this might actually be better than some
of the other albums here. "15 Step" is awesome so... |
| 13 |  | Burn Idols
Theodicy
3 - Dark hardcore, kinda sludgy. Might actually be higher on this list but I
haven't listened to it too much so |
| 12 |  | Nails/Skin Like Iron
Split
3 - Nails being Nails and killing shit, and Skin Like Iron bringing the rating
down from a 4. |
| 11 |  | The Killer
Obey No One
3 - Pretty standard hardcore. Solid band with a 3-3.5 vocalist. Nondescript? |
| 10 |  | Suburban Scum
Hanging By A Thread
3-3.5 - Great Jersey hardcore. |
| 9 |  | The Saddest Landscape
After the Lights
3.5 - Yeah I can't stand this fucking guy's vocals, but the rest of the band is
great. Not quite as good as their previous effort, but it's a good release,
especially if you can tolerate (or are a fan of) the vocals. |
| 8 | | Gangrene
Vodka & Ayahuasca
3.5 - To be honest I don't even know how to really describe this album. It's
Alchemist and Oh No, both rapping and both producing. They're self-
obsessed assholes, but they make good music. The rapping is pretty good,
and the production straight kills. I just wish I could describe it, it's weird.
But not like, Shabazz Palaces weird. Not even Yonkers weird... Idk just
listen to it. Also they wrote and recorded an entire song in a dump truck so
obvs they're edgy as fuck. |
| 7 |  | Everything Went Black
Cycles of Light
3.5 - I mean they're on tour with Converge so eat it up Sputnik. Dark
hardcore, great debut. |
| 6 |  | Lamb of God
Resolution
3.5 - Damn this album's good. "The Number Six" and "Terminally Unique"
are incredible, this album shows Lamb of God making a comeback from
Wrath and Sacrament. Good solid metal(core) to start the year off right. |
| 5 |  | Veils
Clarity
A high 3.5 - Yeah these guys are awesome. British group with Pianos
Become the Teeth written all over them. At the very least you have to get it
for the artwork. |
| 4 |  | Alcest
Les Voyages De L'Ame
4 - Neige doing what Neige does best. Beautiful music that, though it has
worn off me just a little bit, will probably retain quite a bit of replay value
and show longevity even as the year progresses. I'll definitely be coming
back to "Autre Temps" those lazy mornings when I need some impetus to
go to class, and it's not even the best song on the album. |
| 3 |  | Crocus
Our Memories Dress Me In A Dead Lust
4 - Great hardcore record with heavy influence from The Fall of Troy, as well
as crust punk. Awesome debut album. |
| 2 |  | Loma Prieta
I.V.
4 - Awesome album that shows Loma finally capitalizing on the potential
we've consistently seen from them on past efforts. Visceral, tough as fuck,
and fun to listen to. You're doing yourself a disservice if you don't listen to
it. |
| 1 |  | Dodecahedron
Dodecahedron
4.5 - Awesome Deathspell Omega-esque black metal. It's brutal, and it's
also frightening as all hell. Highly recommended. |
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