Q1: The Highs And Lows
Well, these are the current releases I've been doing this quarter.
Anything you think I should hit up? Two themes emerged for me
while making this list: 1. Established Artists I love that put out a
better album than their previous one or two efforts. 2. Established
artists that I had never heard of that made a decent enough
album to catch my attention. So far this is better than 2012, for
me at least. |
| 1 |  | Anarchiks
Really?
Late 80's-Early 90's Riot Girrrl with a sprinkling of hardcore and a smidge of
new wave. 3.5/5 |
| 2 |  | ATOMIC SIMAO
Nodo
Good old school Psychedelic meets jam band. It was a part of one of
CaptainDooRight's name your own price lists soooo it's free. 3.5/5 it would
probably be a 4 if I liked long form Psychedelic just a bit more. |
| 3 |  | Atoms For Peace
Amok
It's a new flavor of Radiohead. 3/5 I was really hoping for better. |
| 4 |  | Bad Religion
True North
It's as Bad Religioney as a Bad Religion album gets in other words,
consistent as a fucking brick. That being said it is a skosh better than the
last couple of albums imho. 4/5 |
| 5 |  | Beach Fossils
Clash the Truth
A nice little album... unfortunately a tad on the slow side even for me. A
couple of tracks caught my attention but a few left me drifting. This has
seriously been done to death and I've heard it done better. 3/5 |
| 6 |  | Buke and Gase
General Dome
Great, quirky Alt/Indie and Quirky Alt/Indie is totally my bag. 3.5/5 |
| 7 |  | Clutch
Earth Rocker
It's as Clutchey as a Clutch album gets in other words, consistent as a
fucking brick. That being said it is a skosh better than the last couple of
albums imho. 4/5 |
| 8 |  | David Bowie
The Next Day
A lot of people seem to have been left befuddled by the concept of this
album or that it even has a concept. Considering Bowie is the king of
conceptual album crafting I assure you he's trying to convey a small
message here. I would not attempt to do it justice but I'm certain it's
something about the past being the past and the present being firmly
rooted in the present. Every time I listen to this album I love it more and
more. It's his best album in 11 years which isn't saying much since it's only
his third in this time span. He's as consistent a musician as you'll ever find
and as he's been doing it for a whopping 46 years (give or take) I'm going
to go ahead and be supper fucking impressed. ;-) 4/5 (this could easily go
up) |
| 9 |  | Devendra Banhart
Mala
Great alt/indie folk album imho, Devendra has lots of albums but this is my
introduction to him. It is totally quirky in a wholly unexpected way. Lots of
different styles, instruments and languages and yet it all fits together quite
nicely. I really dig this dude?s composition style. 3.5/5 |
| 10 |  | Eels
Wonderful, Glorious
Honestly... I have not been in love with E's last couple of albums but this is
a nice return to form. This is easily his best album since Souljacker for my
tastes. Hombre Loco is probably close but still lacking by comparison. Oh,
this is alt-rock for those of you living under a fucking rock. 4/5 |
| 11 |  | Flat Earth Society
13
I have been pushing this shit like it was my lifeblood since the first time I'd
heard it. FES is a wonderful Big Band Jazz Fusion ensemble and if that
catches your attention even a little you owe it to yourself to check this
album out. It is the biggest surprise of the year for me so far and I'm
supper happy I found it. 4/5 |
| 12 |  | Foals
Holy Fire
Meh, I'm over it. I's a good album but not as good as Total Life Forever. If
you haven't listened to Foals yet go listen to TLF but if you have and you
like them you'll like this. Even if I'm not in love with it it is still Foals and they
are still great. 3.5/5 |
| 13 |  | Frightened Rabbit
Pedestrian Verse
Frightened Rabbit are a good Indie-Folk band but they really just make me
want to listen to a few other artists that I think do it better. They put out a
quality product but it just doesn't speak to me. 3.5/5 |
| 14 |  | Hatebreed
The Divinity Of Purpose
It's as Hatebreedey as a Hatebreed album gets in other words, consistent
as a fucking brick (seems to be a good year for this). That being said it is a
skosh better than the last couple of albums imho. 3.5/5 (fanboy 4/5) |
| 15 |  | How To Destroy Angels
Welcome Oblivion
I love Trent... but I don't love this album. I've said it a hundred times
already and hopefully I can make this the last time, The 2010 EP was better
imho. That being said its great and pretty much what you would expect
from Trent and Atticus. 3.5/5 |
| 16 |  | I Am Kloot
Let It All In
Oh , well here was a surprise, I really enjoy this. This is one of many
established groups I'm hearing for the first time this year. Really enjoyable
alt/indie, the lead singer reminds me a little of Colin Meloy. 3.5/5 |
| 17 |  | Local Natives
Hummingbird
I think I need to give this sophomore alt album another spin. It's a good
album but I just couldn't get myself to give a shit about it tbh. 3/5 |
| 18 |  | Marnie Stern
The Chronicles Of Marnia
Yet another established artist I had never listened to. Totally quirky
alt/indie rock and I fucking dig it. The first track will make you want to kick a
baby but after that it's all fun and sunmonkeys. I'm definitely checking out
the rest of this chicks discog when I get a sec. 3.5/5 |
| 19 |  | My Bloody Valentine
M B V
Soegaze is as Shoegaze does... If you love this genre you'll love this album.
Personally I'm all full up here, outside of something groundbreaking I
already have all the Shoegaze I will ever need and this is not
groundbreaking. 3/5 |
| 20 |  | Psychic Ills
One Track Mind
Oh fuck me why is this still on my computer?!? 2.5/5 |
| 21 |  | Puscifer
Donkey Punch the Night
Honestly I think this is the best thing that Manard has done with this
project. It is at the very least on par with Conditions of My Parole. 3.5/5 |
| 22 |  | Steve Mason
Monkey Minds In The Devil's Time
This album is constantly borderline 2.5 or a 4 for me... you I know weird
right? One thing I can say is that I've probably listened to more than most
the items on this list and I I'm not sure I can tell you why. It has a few
great songs... then there are some spoken word pieces that I sometimes
find laughable and sometimes just ignore. I don't know... I think it's a great
album but I can't suggest it to you but I really want to. I'll tell you what go
get it and if you like it please tell me why. If you don't like it then... don't tell
me about it. (AliW1993 gave it a 3.5 too so maybe he is as confused as I
am) 3.5/5 |
| 23 |  | TTNG
13.0.0.0.0
I dig this, it's like BATS light. alt/indie math prog rock. 3.5/5 |
| 24 |  | Tomahawk
Oddfellows
It's fucking Tomahawk you cunt! 3.5/5 |
| 25 |  | Toro Y Moi
Anything in Return
Toro Y Moi is Toro Y Moi is Toro Y Moi... I really find his shit to be samey but
it's a good base to work off of so... 3.5/5 |
| 26 |  | Woodpigeon
Thumbtacks + Glue
I swear to god half this list is people with multiple albums out that I'd never
heard of and Woodpigeon is yet another one of those. Really good folk
indie and I dig this album. I'd say... If you like Iron & Wine you'll probably
like this. 3.5/5 |
| 27 |  | The Strokes
Comedown Machine |
| 28 |  | Low
The Invisible Way
Snorefest 2013, it had some stuff that makes me want to get into some of
their better albums but I'd skip this one if I were you. I initially 3'd this but
in retrospect (to yesterday): 2.5/5 |
| 29 |  | Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
Specter at the Feast
Boring boring borin boring boringboringboringboring 2.5/5 |
| 30 | | Yo La Tengo
A solid album from a staple of the Indie scene, it does my heart good to see
them still at it. 3.5/5 |
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