WalrusTusk
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Last Active 08-01-22 11:41 pm
Joined 06-10-20

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03.21.24 Rec Me Jazz!01.19.24 Wally's Best of '23
06.30.23 Vector/ Virus: Behind the Concept02.09.23 Wally's Best of '22
02.07.23 RYM Top 2011.28.22 Sputnik Kill Count 2022
05.03.22 IKSSE:3: Behind the Concept04.07.22 SSTB: Behind the Concept ♦
03.31.22 Looking For '22 Jazz Fusion Recs02.23.22 YotBR: Behind the Concept ♦
01.18.22 The Afterman: Behind the Concept ♦01.12.22 Wally's Best of '21
08.12.21 What Did I Miss '21?03.16.21 Deftones Album Closers Ranked
03.03.21 Covid Shows01.26.21 Worst/Best Month for Music Releases and
01.02.21 Wally's Best of 202012.11.20 LPG: Concert Line-up VOTING
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Sell Me On Your AOTY

I need to explore/ give some albums another chance. In one post, tell me what your AOTY is and why I should either listen to it or give it another shot. Tell me what to listen for. In other words… sell me on it. Will post responses as people post them. Listed are my current four AOTY contenders and my reactions to some of Sputnik current joys. I know my list has a lot of Progressive Metal on it, but I'm open to any genre!
1Protest the Hero
Palimpsest

AOTY: Probably PTH most emotionally charged album. Rody really shines on this one and delivers some of his most heartfelt moments to date. The guitars are a little more restrained on this one, but I’ll take it if it means I get moments like ending of “From the Sky” and the chorus of “All Hands”.
2Haken
Virus

AOTY: Contrary to a lot of Haken fans I really enjoyed the exploration into a heavier sound. This album really doesn’t have any songs I’d skip and the closer is absolutely incredible. It’s been a while since I grinned like an idiot while listening to an album this this one is just too much fun. Lyrics are great, vocal performance is theatrical, and the instrumentation and composition is top-notch.
3Ebonivory
The Long Dream I

AOTY: I gave this album a listen when I planned on seeing them open for Moon Tooth and Caligula’s Horse and was absolutely blown away. This band definitely draws inspiration from bands like Periphery and Saosin and the result is a real emotional roller coaster ride through what seems to be a concept album based on a characters memories and failures. The vocals on this things are absolutely brilliant but it’s the themes and motifs that they weave through the composition that really get me coming back for more.
4Run the Jewels
RTJ4

AOTY: It’s not their strongest showing, but a RtJ album is still stronger than most. The album does a nice job of mixing political anthems with braggadocious bangers, and feels a lot more cohesive thematically than RtJ1 or RtJ2.
5Ulcerate
Stare Into Death and Be Still

I should probably give this album another chance but it didn’t really pull me in the first time. I recognize all the things I should like about it but… I’m probably missing something.
6Fiona Apple
Fetch The Bolt Cutters

Haven’t really given this one a chance. Listened to the first song and promptly forgot it.
7Phoebe Bridgers
Punisher

I really tried for this album but she writes the same songs over and over. I get she has a specific vibe but I couldn’t remember a single melody from this album.
8Imperial Triumphant
Alphaville

The music was cool but I think I was just too busy doing something when I listened to it. Should probably spin it again.
9Westelaken
The Golden Days are Hard

His voice killed this album for me. The first song I thought worked really well with it, which kind of surprised me, but as the album went on I found it to be more and more grating.
10Bambara
Stray

JohnnyoftheWell: Nick Cave-esque noisey post-punk with super engaging pacing, vivid storytelling, memorable choruses and mostly solid af consistency. It's good.
11Mac Miller
Circles

JefferyBigglestein: no good albums are going to come out between september-december i have spoken
12Enter Shikari
Nothing Is True and Everything Is Possible

TheCalebRobinson: It has killer hooks, impeccable flow from song to song, and is one of my favorite times a band has mixed rock/post-hardcore with electronic and have it NOT be incredibly cringey!
13The Black Dahlia Murder
Verminous

MaryBabko: It fucking riffs
14Protest the Hero
Palimpsest

Groundking
15Classics of Love
World of Burning Hate

SlothcoreSam- https://classicsoflove.bandcamp.com/releases
Comes out tomorrow.
Cus I want to pretend I'm living in the 80s listening to this.
Fuck 2020.
16Honey Harper
Starmaker

ColeT- When Sowing described it as "cosmic dream country" in his review I instantly knew I had to check it out, and it pretty much lived up to that description. So if you like the sound of cosmic dream country check it out.
17Bambara
Stray

Icebloom- Super tight post-punk with strong Nick Cave vibes, very consistent as well - couldn't name a dud. And usually I don't really care for lyrics, but I really appreciate the storytelling on Stray. The closer for example feels like a short Stephen King horror story.
18Empty Country
Empty Country

NOTINTHEFACE- Excellent Americana-infused folk rock album from the cymbals eat guitars guy. The whole thing is just this massive dose of nostalgia and dreams of better times for me, and it's very therapeutic. Bangers include "Marian" and "Southern Cloud", although for me there's not a weak track.
19Hum
Inlet

Gschwen- A ridiculously great comeback album from a band that hasn't released an album in 22 years.
20Cindy Lee
What's Tonight to Eternity

Dbizzles- Cindy Lee been doin' it, but this is the one that hits that special spot. This album dances seamlessly from being sweet and infectious to absolutely terrifying. With old-timey pop up-front, What's Tonight to Eternity is buffed with shades of post-punk and noise rock that help create an atmosphere not quite like anything else you'll hear this year.
21Zach Bryan
Elisabeth

RichRamp- Regardless of its length which seems to put people off, it has never bothered me and I think it's one of its strong points. Every song is exciting and honest in songwriting slight subtle changes in instruments throughout kept me interested and the fact it's recorded in a barn makes it all the better for me.
22Elder (USA-MA)
Omens

Teamster- Love the new post rock direction. Halcyon is my song of the year so far too…
23Ramper
Nuestros mejores deseos

Snake.- Very eerie and dynamic mix of post-metal, shoegaze, and slowcore. musical equivalent of walking through a very expansive cave with a dimly lit candle and the only recognize sounds are distant water droplets, all while the cave is about to cave in on itself
24Thy Catafalque
Naiv

RabbitSeason- Wonderful Hungarian folk/prog metal? meandering (in a good way) songs with beautiful melodies. probably similar to your tastes for the year while stretching em a bit
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