Listening to the entire 2018 staff list #1
This year I'm at a job where I can basically listen to music all day long, and I have some sweet, fancy new headphones to boot. So I've decided to listen to every single album on the Sputnik staff list in its entirety, whether I'm interested in the album or not. I hate ranking/rating albums and stopped doing it on here years ago, so I'm just going to say whether I think I won't return to the album, liked it, or loved it. |
| 19 |  | Cursive
Vitriola
I haven't heard a Cursive album since listening to "The Ugly Organ" once, years ago. I really liked this album though and the lyrics resonated with me and the frustration with our fucked up political situation in the U.S. right now. This is good, relatable music. Impression: liked it. |
| 18 |  | Voivod
The Wake
This is actually my first Voivod album. I liked it. I'm torn on whether I want to go back to it or explore their earlier discography, but the quality if this record was encouraging either way. Impression: liked it. |
| 17 |  | Neko Case
Hell-On
This is pleasant, but I found the second half a chore to get through. Nice voice, but not really my genre. Impression: won't be returning. |
| 16 |  | Horrendous
Idol
I've been jamming this since release day and really enjoy it. Nothing much to say that hasn't already been said, but I think it's better than Anareta, though only slightly. Impression: liked it. |
| 15 |  | The Body
I have fought against it, But I can’t any longer
Obviously this is an album that takes more than a single listen to process, but I feel like I will end up really liking this. It's dark, ugly, messy, and experimental, which is a combination of characteristics I find very appealing. Impression: liked it. |
| 14 |  | Yves Tumor
Safe in the Hands of Love
I thought I would probably enjoy this, and I was right. Added directly into my electronic music rotation. Impression: liked it. |
| 13 |  | Ghost (SWE)
Prequelle
I turned up my nose at this band in previous years and was dreading this album on the list. But rules are rules, and I listened anyway. Boy was I wrong about these guys. Yes, it's cheesy throwback metal, but everything is so bold and catchy and exhilarating about this album. I feel stupid for avoiding them for so long. Impression: liked it. |
| 12 |  | ITEM
Sad Light
This reminds me of what Death Cab would sound like if they kept developing their sound instead of sliding into mediocrity and irrelevance. I enjoyed this record and the interview posted recently, and can't wait to re-listen. I'm a huge sucker for that fancy guitar noodling. Impression: liked it. |
| 11 |  | Winterfylleth
The Hallowing of Heirdom
I've been listening to this since release. I kind of go back and forth on it: some day it bores me and I put on Vali or Musk Ox instead. Sometimes it really grabs me and I love it. It's always solid background music, so I was glad to see it on the list. Impression: liked it. |
| 10 |  | Judas Priest
Firepower
Sold heavy metal, but steeped in nostalgia for an era that I don't particularly enjoy, without any ingredients that update or impress me beyond some catchy riffs and choruses. Impression: won't be returning. |
| 9 |  | Grouper
Grid of Points
I've been a Grouper fan since "Dead Deer" and thus have been spinning this since release. I like it considerably more than "Ruins", and it's perfect for just zoning out for a few minutes or getting lost in thought. Impression: liked it. |
| 8 |  | The Wonder Years
Sister Cities
Inventive and well-written pop punk. I'm sure it would grow on me, but it wasn't so breathtaking that I want to take the time. Impression: liked, but won't be returning. |
| 7 |  | Anna von Hausswolff
Dead Magic
This blew me away, and it's exactly why I look forward to end of year lists like this. I'm completely hooked on this record, and can't get enough of it. Impression: loved it. |
| 6 |  | The Republic of Wolves
shrine
Confession: I'm not a huge Brand New fan. They're fine. That said, this really resonated with me in a way that "Devil and God" never really did, despite the obvious similarities. I've already whored this album out to my social media friends who are still spinning Vheissu and Deja Entendu daily. Impression: liked it. |
| 5 |  | Mitski
Be the Cowboy
So this album is well outside my comfort zone, but I enjoyed this immensely. It helps that it's short and sweet, but the songwriting stands up really well on its own, and I dig the vocals. My pop diet is definitely limited, but I found myself itching to return to this album from further down the list. Impression: liked it. |
| 4 |  | DJ Healer
Nothing 2 Loose
This is clearly an elusive and impressionistic work, but on first listen I can tell this will be joining me for programming work in the near future. It was annoying to google for this but well worth it. I was very pleasantly zoned out for the entire duration. Impression: loved it. |
| 3 |  | Dance Gavin Dance
Artificial Selection
This is my first listen to this band since their debut. I always lumped them in with that late-2000's scenewave trend. That said, this album really impressed me. The vocals especially are outstanding and the songwriting is frenetic and interesting to me. Impression: liked it. |
| 2 |  | Slugdge
Esoteric Malacology
This is solid stuff. It kind of strikes me as a mix between Morbus Chron and Ulcerate albums from years past. I can't wait to dig further into this beast, because there's clearly a lot to this. Impression: liked it. |
| 1 |  | Lucy Dacus
Historian
I get that channing's blurb is trying to pre-empt the impression that this is standard indie rock, but that's really what it sounds like to me. It's pleasant enough, and there's a few tracks that stand out to me. But this just isn't close enough to my digs to justify letting it grow on me. Impression: won't return. |
|
