Album Rating: 3.0

Maybe old age is just making you cranky Doof?

Album Rating: 4.5

I'm dishing out 4.5+ like no tomorrow - just not from this year



Look at the sput chart - nothing has hovered around the top all year



The closest is that Thomassy Rolo thing, prob sput's fave of the year as it has just about kept top 10 all year (it's already had the 'rating dip' unlike newbies up there)

Album Rating: 3.0

Isn't mWY king of '18 according to the ratings? I can't really claim to know all the ins & outs of this year as a whole because I haven't heard a ludicrous amount of releases, having said that I'm not massively enamoured with 2018 as of yet. I'm thinking that I'll probably end up discovering stuff later down the line.

Album Rating: 4.5

Things are no better on RYM...a Daughters album that's barely better than the previous release (which I prefer- also a release that got nowhere near top of the year in its own year of release please note) and then a 'solid EP' by Pusha T which, ok, is not bad but album of the year? No.



Then at 4 you have re-recorded album by 'that band everyone likes for 6 months but then moves on from' aka Children's Seat Bum Rest

Album Rating: 5.0 | Sound Off

Yeah, I’ve been scouring the RYM list and then Metacritic publication year end list summary for anything to salvage this year but I’ve only picked up on a few things that weren’t already on my radar.

I guess the problem is I just don’t go for hip hop or pop and those are the biggest genres right now.

To put your thesis to the test let's see how the top 2018 albums rank in the decade on RYM:

#19 Daughters
#41 Pusha T
#42 Kids See Ghosts
#46 Car Seat Headrest
#59 Earl Sweatshirt
#60 A.A.L.

Only one album from this year makes the decade's top 40... guess it's true that the top-end is weak.

Album Rating: 4.5

Boney, have you tried the Rolling Blackouts? Not saying it's amazing but prob one that needs checking.

Album Rating: 5.0 | Sound Off

Just saw American Songwiter’s list came out yesterday - they only did a top 25, usually they do top 50 so that’s about as big an indication as I need that this was indeed a weak year for my kind of stuff.

Album Rating: 4.5

What's worse is all the following...



#41 Pusha T

#42 Kids See Ghosts

#46 Car Seat Headrest



...seem quite 'on trend' right now but can't see them having the chops to tough it out. See time being a cruel cruel mistress to those ones. bet they all plop out the top 100 by the end of next year or soon after.

Album Rating: 5.0 | Sound Off

Doof I’m literally halfway through checking out Rolling Blackouts as I type, loving it actually, lmao.

I'm baffled by the Kids See Ghosts praise.. an enjoyable 3.5 at best but screams short shelf life.

Album Rating: 5.0 | Sound Off

The KSG praise is 100% a result of the Fantano 10.

Probably... I'm glad his tentacles haven't reached sputnik yet. He influences RYM charts to a disturbing degree. His Kacey trashing made it fall out of the top 200 of the year.

Album Rating: 4.5

Boney, it's hovering around the top 50 - it just needed a couple of scorching songs in the mix to elevate it a bit more.



Could nick a 4/5 rating this week after a few more tries. It's up there with the Parquet Courts and No Age in that 'middle ground decent' territory.

Album Rating: 4.5

I like spotting Scaruffi influence most on RYM - some great albums get absolutely pounded because he fired off a dismissive 5 and a one line review.



Everything else in the discog will have a3.33 and then wallop, 3.02. Amuses me anyway.

Album Rating: 5.0 | Sound Off

The proof is that the KSG has barely featured high up any any publications’ lists so far.

Sput has its own biases is the thing, you don’t get us swarming to Fantano as much but when your mwY’s release something you just know it’s going to top the chart.

Album Rating: 4.5

Sowing influence booooooooooooooo



{joke, sorry Sowing}

~It feels like something not meant for our ears~

Album Rating: 5.0 | Sound Off

The only big release I think I’m missing in one of “my” genres currently is the Idles - and even that I’m not sure is really my thing, may not bother with it.

Doof I defintirly like this Rolling Blackouts more than Parquet Courts and No Age, it nails the MOR melodic guitar vibe. Surprised I hadn’t heard of it before, it’s a very Boney album for sure.

Album Rating: 5.0 | Sound Off

One critic I’m always surprised doesn’t have more influence is Robert Christgau - I have kind of a love/hate relationship with him but I’ve gotten some absolute gems from him over the years.