| 2022 |
| Circa Survive Two Dreams | 3.5 |
| The Sound of Animals Fighting Apeshit | 4.0 |
| The Smashing Pumpkins ATUM: Act I | 2.5 |
| Nas King's Disease III | 3.5 |
| L.S. Dunes Past Lives | 4.0 |
| Turnover Myself in the Way | 2.0 |
| Fleshwater We're Not Here To Be Loved | 4.0 |
| King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard Changes | 3.0 |
| King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard Laminated Denim | 2.5 |
| King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard Ice, Death, Planets, Lungs, Mushrooms and Lava | 3.5 |
| Slipknot The End, So Far | 2.0 |
| Kid Cudi Entergalactic | 2.5 |
| The Wonder Years The Hum Goes on Forever | 4.0 |
| JID The Forever Story | 4.5 |
| No Trigger Dr. Album | 3.5 |
| Drake Honestly, Nevermind | 1.0 |
| White Ward False Light | 4.5 |
| I have been following the Ukrainian experimental/atmospheric black metal outfit White Ward since the release of their 2017 albumFutility Report. The band have continued to wow me with every release, adding new colors and sounds to their rich auditory landscape. However, with this year?s False Light, I believe White Ward has supplied us with the full package. From the album art and supplemental visual materials, the record seems to reflect upon suburban decay and forgotten structures, a very possible meditation on their war-torn native country. All of this can be surmised before even hearing a single note of music.rThe music perfectly reflects the dystopian nature of first impressions. The band have kept the foundation of their powerful and sprawling black metal assault with loads of atmosphere and jazz noir saxophone inflections, but this time adding in influence of spacious, dark, and gothic neofolk akin to something like Current 93, Death In June, or King Dude. This inclusion adds unexpected dour clean vocals and dreary melodies accompanied by acoustic guitars. There is even a trumpet that sits somewhere between Miles Davis?s smoky fusion and Ennio Morricone?s masterful Spaghetti Western film scores. In summation, this album is not something I can truly describe in words. My best recommendation would be to pick it up on vinyl, sit down with it on the stereo, pour over the breathtaking photography by Lucas Deshazer, and get lost in the sonic journey. |
| Motionless in White Scoring the End of the World | 2.0 |
| Interpersonal Inner Visions | 4.0 |
| Turnover Wait Too Long b/w Mountains Made of Clouds | 2.0 |
| Train AM Gold | 2.0 |
| State Champs Kings of the New Age | 1.0 |
| Kendrick Lamar Mr. Morale and the Big Steppers | 4.0 |
| Terror Pain Into Power | 4.0 |
| Black Star No Fear of Time | 4.0 |
| King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard Omnium Gatherum | 3.5 |
| Undeath It's Time...To Rise From the Grave | 4.0 |
| Jack White Fear of the Dawn | 4.5 |
| Red Hot Chili Peppers Unlimited Love | 2.5 |
| Kavinsky Reborn | 3.5 |
| Kanye West Donda 2 | 1.0 |
| King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard Made in Timeland | 2.5 |
| Knuckle Puck Disposable Life | 2.5 |
